While I'm away, I'm running some cartoons from exactly four years ago, when the conventions were also going on.

This cartoon illustrates how perceptions, and my own attitude, can change over four years. Actually, I still agree with the premise, which isn't conceding a whole lot. McCain has done a few things since that time, however, that tarnish his luster.

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While I'm away, here's another short animation I devised that was engineered by my colleague Kathy Gray. As I wrote a few days ago, I'm a techno-dinosaur.

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I'm temporarily away from the blog, so I thought I'd post one of my personal favorites from almost exactly four years ago (there were conventions going on then, too). As you may recall, an independent group calling itself "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," began a campaign to destroy John Kerry's reputation as a war hero.

One has to view this strategy through a jaundiced prism today, as John McCain, war hero, uses the POW defense for virtually every difficult question posed to him. Not to take away from his sacrifice in the least, but does it really help the electorate in making an intelligent choice when he uses it as his default answer?

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While I'm away, here is a little animation to keep you occupied. My talented colleague Cathy Gray did the technical stuff, which is way too daunting for me. I still draw with pens, brushes and India ink.

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This sketch is what I submitted to my editor, the estimable Antonio Fins, last week, right after Allstate got slapped by the state for trying to jack up its rates again. I thought it would be clever to depict an insurance executive getting a taste of his own medicine on Judgment Day.

Tony gave the drawing a shrug. I was miffed, because I was so impressed by the sharpness of my own commentary as displayed in the cartoon. Baffled by his obtuseness, I ran it past my colleague Gary Stein, who allowed as how it didn't do much for him, either.

Humbled, I returned to my office and produced the piece you see below, which Tony liked a whole lot more. Since I'm unable to decide which I prefer, and certainly unwilling to admit that Tony might have made the right call, I present both versions here for your review and possible discussion. Below it is his own take on the contretemps.

Tony says:

Admit it, I got this one right.
The original sketch for the Allstate cartoon lacked punch. I saw the devil and the punchline and I thought, Yeah, whatever. It wasn't grabbing in any particular way.
This one was much better. And it was better suited for color on the Internet version -- which is something even I take into consideration.
Too bad we can't get color on our editorial page. It could happen if, say, the publisher were to see it and really like it and make it so.
Or, having now called out the publisher, I might end up getting whacked like Allstate. Then Chan would really have something to write about in this blog.

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While I'm away from the blog, I thought it would be instructive and amusing to take a sentimental look back at the last bunch of conventions. At this particular point in the process, Kerry had just marched onto the stage, saluted, and announced, "John Kerry reporting for duty!"

The term "swiftboating" was poised to enter the American political lexicon.

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OK, politics had the day off yesterday. I'm back to bashing your favorite political icon.

Actually, this was a rare opportunity to hit both sides at once: first, Hillary for being so disloyal to her own party as to indicate she thought the Republican was more qualified than her Democratic opponent to be President. There's nothing wrong with ambition, but I think this was unprecedented in a primary campaign.

Second, John McCain for concentrating on the insults Hillary hurled months ago in the heat of a primary battle, when what the country desperately needs to know is how he plans to get us out of our mess.

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