If you are, you're reading the wrong blog! But seriously now, on that great Statesman blog "Rich and Fred", Fred explains why they didn't publish yesterday and today's strip of Doonesbury. See, apparently the term "turd" is offensive. The AAS is among about 11 other papers in the nation who didn't publish these strips.
Garry Trudeau, the author of the comic (aka Jane Pauley's hubby), is defending his choice of terminology/topic:
Does Trudeau think many newspaper editors and readers are aware that "Turd Blossom" is a real nickname for Bush's close advisor, not one made up by the cartoonist?We here at Pinkdome love Rove's nickname - it fits him in so many ways . . . and Lord knows, you can't make this stuff up."My assumption was twofold -- that many people already knew it, and that most others would infer it was real from the way I teed it up," said Trudeau. "I also felt that those in the latter group would be as tickled to learn of it as I was."
he got turd blossom because "disgusting, life sucking scum fuck" was already taken.
The irony is where the "offensive term" came from:
"In a 30-year career, Rove, 50, has worked on hundreds of Republican races throughout the country. So when Bush sits down with congressional leaders, he can nod at Rove and say, "You all know the Boy Genius," and they all do. (Bush's other nickname for Rove is less flattering: Turd Blossom.)"
As reported in Time Magazine - http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,107219,00.html
My paper, the Waco Tribune-Herald, also did not run the strip. It took us like 10 minutes to find it in our database last night to see what the deal was.
"Turd Blossom?" We could not understand why something that innocuous would get the boot. I mean, everyone knows that nickname by now.
We were so disappointed.
Nate, it's WACO.
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