Full of clever commentary on the major events of 2009, this collection of more than four hundred cartoons covers a range of viewpoints from liberal to conservative. Pulitzer Prize winners and other leading editorial cartoonists cover, among other news, the Obama administration, the staggering economy, government bailouts, and healthcare reform. These controversial subjects are presented with quick wit, sharp observation, and a healthy dose of humor. The year began with one of the worst economic downturns in United States history. Earmarked spending bills and heated town-hall debates nationwide did nothing to ease the country's tension over job losses. Politicians were ever-present in the news as the actions of Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, and Governors Rod Blagojevich and Mark Sanford ranged from heroic to criminal. Moreover, in other news, the H1N1 pandemic known as the swine flu killed hundreds of people worldwide, while inadvertently causing pork stocks to plummet. From sports and media to society and foreign affairs, no subject is off limits. All mistakes and failures are fair game because, as often as history repeats itself, there is often someone new to blame for it. This collection of irony and sarcasm disguised as social commentary is filled with an underlying sincerity that will either make you laugh or cry. Either way, 2009 was an interesting year.
