Blazing paper trails

Sometimes cartoonists go with the pack of our pen-pals, and sometimes we stick our pencil-necks out. Last week we drew lots of cartoons on the FDA’s decision not to allow over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill, reams more about the labyrinthian Medicare prescription plan, and scads on congressional debate over a timetable for turning the Iraq war over to U.S.-trained locals.

But while the rest of us obsessed on sex, drugs and the Iraqis’ role, some of our peers blazed their own paper trails. Surely Chip Bok inked the sole cartoon extolling the environmental virtues of windfall oil profits. And only Signe Wilkinson went back to the future, resurrecting healthcare attack-ad stars Harry and Louise, who went out with Thelma and Louise. Meanwhile, Ed Gamble and a small coalition of willing allies rallied around administration interrogation techniques. Must have tickled a few funny bones at the White House.