Thank god for Rick Perry- Part 1

It is such a blessing that Mitch Daniels isn't planning on running for President.  A hardass but visually bland.  Jersey Governor Chris Christie broke a lot of hearts in the GOP and saddened us satirists by not opting to jump into the meat grinder. Even so, the GOP so far have blessed us with some very interesting mugs to play with.  From whacky Bachmann to wild wide grinning Ron Paul.  But so far none have been as much fun to tackle as Rick Perry.  I had been hoping to dedicate this posting to the numerous Perry illustrations I've done in the past few weeks, but as a couple of them have yet to go to print and I am feeling somewhat hesitiant to wait too long- who knows what will happen by Monday?- it seemed like a good idea to at least post a couple that have already appeared on the newstands.  So for now let's consider this the first thank you posting to Perry.  The work has been good.  Please stay in the race.
 
The first was done for THE NEW REPUBLIC, art directed by the very amiable Joe Heroun, and it focused on the three ring circus that Roger Ailes has been creating with FOX-TV while 'reporting' on the candidates race for Republican nominee.  Rick Perry, a total blowhard and mean spirited fake from Texas, had just recently entered the race, the new Great White Hope.  Considering the immediate swoon by the GOP Perry became the central focus in the sketching process and once establishing his grounding position amongst  the other circus acts everything fell into place.  It was a fun illustration to do.  It was great to reconnect again with Newt Gingrich, who is also a wonderful subject to caricature.  Having stood next to him at the Philly GOP Convention in 2000 I can attest that not only is he a larger than life person but his head is enormous. 
 
Perry also played a role in another illustration for MOTHER JONES.  Working with Carolyn Perot, art director, the story centered on the secret gathering of Republican muckety mucks in Colorado at the behest of the odious Koch Brothers, wealthier than God hisself, and wanting more.  Jersey governor Chris Christie was there laying down his bonafides as well as other conservative insiders including, you guessed it, Governor Rick Perry.  Somehow a reporter was able to sneak in and tape the forum.  Now it's a sad thing that Christie is not running as well because, even excluding the weight factor, his mug is worth its weight in gold for caricatures.  I've never seen Perry in a cowboy hat, though I found photos of him holding a six shooter high.  He projects an attitude, when he's involved with what he's doing, as someone from Texas who should be wearing a cowboy hat all the time.  He's not Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush.  He's Stuart Whitman from the TV series, Cimarron Strip.  And when he's on he's got that great swagger, that shoot first, don't even ask questions later style. 
 
It seemed a no brainer to portray this get together/reciprocal back scratching event for the Koch Brothers as a scene from THE GODFATHER, only this time Don Corleone is a two headed power broker getting his hand kissed by the up and coming supplicants.   I'm certain not many people know what the Koch brothers look like so in situations like this it seems important, even with the challenge of morphing them into a two-headed Marlon Brando, to make them somewhat recognizable.