Author Archives: Panda in Chief

About Panda in Chief

Anne Belov paints, writes, makes prints, and is the founder of The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire. You can find her paintings at the Rob Schouten Gallery and Fountainhead Gallery, her cartoons on The Panda Chronicles, and her new book here. She also writes regularly for The Whidbey Life Magazine, a free journal of art and culture on Whidbey Island. Her main regret in life is that there is no MacArthur Grant for Panda Satire.

What the Heck is a Caucus, Anyway?

Despite my 40 years in Washington (the one on the upper lefthand corner), I think I went to one Presidential Caucus my entire time living here. Don’t yell at me. The first 10 or so years I was here, I was usually working during those times (caucuses are not very accommodating of people who have to work evenings). The rest of the time, well, the idea that I would choose my candidate by having to actually talk to other people and couldn’t just make up my mind in private, that really doesn’t appeal to me.

I went to one in 2008, and had planned to go to the 2016 one, but the flu took care of that. But this year, WA finally got the message and now we have a “normal” primary, where we can vote whenever the heck we want (once we have our ballots and before the March 10 deadline). I love our all vote by mail state system. And my record for voting (other than caucuses) is darn near perfect!

But what were Pinky and Bubba doing at the Iowa caucuses?

Pinky is always getting Bubba in trouble! It’s more important than ever that EVERYONE votes!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

That’s Debatable

The primary races have started, HWMNBN is going full speed ahead, throwing babies off trains, blasting daycare centers with flame throwers, and throwing anyone who disagrees with him in front of the bus, let alone under it. Several of his previously fired minions have come crawling back..what? Wasn’t the fluffy green shirt on Dancing with the Stars humiliating enough, Sean?

Meanwhile, the Dems are debating each other and trying to score hits with clever talking points. I know who I want to win. it’s still early days yet. Maybe they should all take some debate prep from Pinky!

Let’s take a trip down memory lane from panda debates past! Let’s start with 2012!

In the words of Winnie ther Pooh, “I think it’s time for a little something.

Cats….you just can’t trust em.

Keep cool, cat, and don’t go blaming women for stuff. That is SO not the way to get votes…

That was the PREVIOUS incarnation of Mittens. A more terrifying spectacle was in store for us in 2016…

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

“You are all Losers!” – Mittens the Cat

Pinky is beginning to look positively presidential!

“This is not a loser tail!!!!!”

Poof!

Just a reminder, and still true….

whipped cream

Can I have EXTRA extra whipped cream?

Please don’t let us feel like this again on November 4th.

feel

Not even CUPPYCAKES????

Be the bear!
Bob T Panda

PS: felty pandas are already traveling out into the world! If you missed your chance via Kickstarter, never fear! I’ll be offering them here in a couple months, once I get all the Kickstarter pandas out the door! What with the election induced stress levels I am experiencing, not to mention HWMNBN’s reign of terror, we will all need comfort felty pandas!

It’s Time For Your Favorite Show!

That’s right! Welcome to another episode of Bear Talk! Those lovable grizzly bears, Frank and Mikey are back! (you can’t keep a good bear down!)

But first, I want to congratulate the folks that work at Kickstarter for successfully organizing and forming a union. Kickstarter has been the home to various projects of mine sine 2012 when I launched my first project. Since then, it’s allowed me to focus my energy to do 8 projects to bring more panda fun to you! It is a company that was formed with the excellent mission and intent, to help creative project creators bring their projects to life. The people who work there should have the same agency and rights as the creators they help, to have their work valued and their voices heard.

Meanwhile, Frank and Mikey have some things to say about the NooZ of the day!

WEll, it COULD have been a hunt of Mittens Jr.!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Panda

As a former Pennsylvanian, I am required by law…

…to celebrate Groundhogs Day!

In light of that fact (because we here at The Institute for Contemporary Panda Satire know that NO ONE is above the law), we present to you, the first appearance in these ‘toons, of the one, the only, Punxutawney Phil!!!

Please hold your applause!

Phil is kind of excitable, isn’t he?

I’ve noticed that many of the smaller guest animals here are rather feisty! 

Be the bear everyone!
Bob T Panda

What did we do last February?

What were we doing at this time last year? I suspect we thought things could not get possibly get worse, but then, here we are!

Meanwhile, tiny pandas are marching off to save everyone!

The discovery of thousands of tiny pandas has rocked the archeological world! This find has been compared to the thousands of terra cotta warriors, discovered in China!

Some of the tiny felty pandas have already made their way to their new homes! More are on their way. Currently, I’m able to complete the pandas for about one group every week or so. Fans of Mr. Wu, heads up! your pandas will heading your way late next week!

But let’s see what we were up to last February!

Please, just go away, KittySue!

Wee are pandas too!!!!

Unka Rusty has some seriously feisty opinions!

Dis. Will Not. STAND!!!!!

Note to Bubba: never listen to Pinky

I see trouble in my crystal ball…

Even Nancy Pelosi listened enthusiastically!

Pinky is in the House!!!!

Panda on everyone!
Bob T Panda

Keep laughing everyone! And remember, we are laughing AT 45, not WITH him!

 

Why won’t he go away?

So much for the hopes and prayers of GOP Senators, who thought that the impeachment experience had “taught HWMNBN a lesson.” At least Nixon’s ghost is willing to pretend that he learned from his crimes.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Now he’s moving on to the DoJ, overruling sentencing recommendations from Mueller’s prosecutors, regarding their sentencing proposals for Roger Stone, causing them to resign in protest. Pardoning Stone after sentencing would not achieve his aim. 45’s goal is denigration  and decimation of the Justice department.

Nixon looks like an amateur in comparison.

Won’t he just go away?

Wands out, everyone. The Dementors are swarming.
Bob T Panda

Still More from the Impeachment Chronicles

Just in case you were wondering, HWMNBN is still impeached and will be impeached through all of eternity and beyond. Forever. If you were, indeed, wondering. No matter how many newspapers he waves in the air (and we just don’t care) he will always be impeached. He is becoming rapidly more unhinged, if his rant at the Prayer Breakfast last week is any indication.

But we have important things to do here. We should not give in to despair, no matter how much we would like to pull the covers over our heads (believe me, I know!) The first mailing of Tiny Emotional Support Pandas went out this morning! Huzzah! Emotional support pandas are on the way!

I’ve been making different pandas randomly, as my mood takes me, and the first group to head out was the original Hold Me closer Tiny Panda group (everybody sing!). Next up will be the basic Pinky pandas. (As differentiated from Special Pinky!) Now more than ever, we all need tiny pandas!

But first, what’s happening on ZooNooZ?

What did Mr. Bun Know and when did he know it?

Hold on to your hats, panda fans!
Bob T Panda

#ImpeachmentIs4Ever

The view from the dark side…

Life in the USA seems kind of dark today. It’s not just the wind and the rain, although those definitely don’t help. As everyone, except his GOP sycophants knew, as soon as the vote not to hold HWMNBN accountable, 45 would start enacting retribution on those he perceives as his enemies.

The Purge has begun…

First Lt. Col. Vindman and his brother’s jobs went on the chopping block, and they were escorted off the WH grounds. As in everything else 45 does, maximum cruelty and humiliation are the agenda. Next, Gordon Sondland was recalled from his ambassadorship, effective immediately. I guess $1 million dollars doesn’t buy what it used to. There is no room in 45’s world for those who disagree with him, even once. He must attack and attempt to humiliate anyone who stands in his way.

I am not, in general, a fan of Mitt Romney, but his principled stand on the abuses of power by 45, are honorable, commendable, and done in the support of the Constitution. I would much rather have principled opponents, with whom I can disagree, than power hungry sycophants who want to win at any cost. Again, I would urge you to read the essays of historian Heather Cox Richardson, who is writing almost daily about the mess we find ourselves in. They are both frightening and hopeful at the same time. Gotta love those historians that can give us some perspective on all this.

Please forgive this descent into pessimism. Here are some (unfortunately) prophetic ‘toons.

Are you SURE you wouldn’t like to vote for Bob?

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

“You are all Losers!” – Mittens the Cat

“This is not a loser tail!!!!!”

what do you have to lose?

Mittens is really back.

day after

Remember the song “The Eve of Destruction”? That’s what today feels like.

happening

Are all these paper clips mine?

“Be yourself – Everyone else is already taken”
-Oscar Wilde

Banned

Buy my books! Mittens HATES them!

RESIST!!!!

Be the Bear!
Bob T Bear of the People Panda

Hey! The first felty pandas go out next week!

The State of the Union is Better with Pandas!

I did not watch the SOTU just a few hours ago. I’m sure I’ll watch or listen to the commentary, but I cannot listen to HWMNBN for more than a minute or two without wanting to throw my computer out the window, and I need it so…

Pinky has discovered Bubba and Ping holding a hearing in his bedroom!

What did Mr. Bun hear?

What did Mr. Bun know and when did he know it?

Be the bear!
Bob T Panda

Australia is STILL burning…

The Iowa caucuses are happening as I type. I hope we Dems can choose a candidate without crippling them. There are good things I can say about much of the pack, and I am truly sorry that Booker, Castro, and Harris are not still among them. I have my current fave, but who ever wins the Democratic nomination, that’s my candidate.

I have not been able to watch or listen to the impeachment trial proceedings, except in small doses. Adam Schiff is inspiring and it gives me some small glimmer of hope that there are still people serving this country who have our best interests at heart.

We aren’t going to get everything on our wish list in one candidate. The important thing to remember, is that I don’t think this country can survive 4 more years of HWMNBN and his band of evil minions.

Meanwhile, can we send some of our rain to Australia?

Do I smell smoke?

I’m working on my lists of happy panda recipients, and I’m hoping that my packing materials arrive soon, so I can start sending out the first group of pandas! I am happily making pandas in my little panda workshop and it is doing it’s job in keeping me off the internet quite so much! Huzzah!

Keep being the Bear!
Bob T Panda