Larry Roibal

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint 

I have to catch a train this morning for a photo shoot in NY, so today’s sketch is another quickie.

Yesterday Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stoked anti Israeli sentiments and flexed his muscles by firing 9 test missiles, including one capable of striking Israel and US allies in the region… Iran may be testing missiles, but  they’re also testing the will of American’s to follow an unpopular president should the US decide to do anything about it.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

Fords stock price was already in trouble when Allan Mulally became CEO on Sept, 5th 2006. At $8.39 a share, the company was worth less than a third of what it was six years earlier.  Last month car sales in America (led by Honda and Toyota) topped Fords F Series Trucks for the first time since 1992 with sales down by 31% for the month of May. Mulally said last week that the consumer shift to smaller vehicles is going to be permanent. With China’s growing economy stretching the world’s oil supply, the middle east instability, and US prohibited from tapping our own oil reserves. Couldn’t they see this coming? Yesterday’s F close, $4.90 a share.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

G. Richard (Rick) Wagoner Jr. has been the CEO of General Motors since May 1, 2003 when GM stock price was 35.50 per share.  This year GM isn’t performing very well, Saturn sales -19%, Buick sales -21%, Saab sales -29%, SUV sales -37%. …at yesterdays close $10.24.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

The team of rescuers, who saved the 15 hostages being held for six years in the jungles of Columbia, tricked the FARC marxist guerrillas into thinking they were helping to move the hostages. Some even posed as television journalists and filmed the dramatic moments when the hostages boarded the helicopter and were told they were free. See it here. Pretty amazing stuff.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint 

Happy 4th of July!

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

This mornings doodle may set the record for the quickest I’ve done on this blog. I’m headed out the door to the Illustration Conference in NY today.

This year of the un-republican has seen the nomination of a republican candidate that party insiders love to hate. McCain may distance himself further from republicans and an unpopular administration by choosing a running mate from another party. Joe Lieberman, conservative Democrat turned Independent, is looking like McCain’s shadow.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

Youth, Beauty, and Conservative…Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin is on McCain’s short list. But the last time I checked, Alaska wasn’t in the South, and as much as I hate to admit…it always comes down to the South.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

Young, Ethnic, Southern, Conservative, McCain might choose Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Personally, I think McCain might do better running to the center and courting the independents, but it could make for an interesting campaign.

Ball point pen on paper napkin

This week lets take a look at John McCain. Today, McCain on waste. He claims never to have asked for an earmark and wants to do away with them. I’m on board with that. Lets bring the pork above board. The US Dollar has tanked in recent years, in large part due to out of control spending and budget deficits by a republican administration. (BTW, Crude oil is traded in US Dollars) Can he successfully distance himself from that?

Tomorrow, running mates…I take requests.

Ball point pen on the morning newsprint

I have an early photo shoot in the city today, so talk amongst yourselves…here’s a topic:

Yesterday the Supreme Court struck down a 32 year DC law that banned handguns and required that rifles and shotguns kept in private homes be unloaded and either disassembled or protected by a trigger lock. Will other states with tough gun control laws have their laws declared unconstitutional?