Where patriotism meets voyeurism
Dog and Crony Show

It's good to be back blogging in place for Jon. This shall be an interesting warm up to the publishing of a collaborative blog between Jon, myself, and fellow MCV contributor Bill Benz, which is not far from launch. I hope I can once again manage to maintain the level of integrity and biting political commentary that litters the pages of MCV on a regular basis.
Housekeeping
Well, I would have liked to do another update this week but it's been busy with packing and the holidays, etc. I am headed to Israel for my cousin's Bar Mitzvah right now with my family.
In the meantime, MCV friend Peter Shadzik will be keeping up this blog. Expect some sharp, witty commentary on the current political scene and how it relates to Marmaduke interfering with his family's Christmas plans (the topic of the last two weeks of the real Marmaduke strips if you haven't noticed).
And don't forget about that contest I announced a few weeks ago. Entries have been coming in already, but it isn't too late. A winner will be announced in January. Who can come up with the best political caption for the strip below:

Have a great holiday season and a happy new year. I'll see you all in 2007, just in time for Marmaduke to decide whether or not he's entering the presidential race...
Pound for Pound
Grim Tim
THANK YOU!!
I just received word that in a field of contenders such as James Baker, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Kim Jong Il, Time Magazine chose
me as its
Person Of The Year!
Time journalist Lev Grossman writes:
For seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, Time's Person of the Year for 2006 is you.
Couldn't have said it better myself, Lev. Yes, with this blog I have in fact beaten the pros at their own game. I'd like to thank my many readers, my girlfriend Anjuli, all of those who have supported me over the years, my manager, and my agent.
Expect regular postings again all this week and thank you, Bill, for filling in while I was gone.
Displays of Disaffection

This is a special holiday post by fellow blogger
Sean Eisenhauer.
Reckless Spending
It's Chile In December
Uncivil

Hey kids, especially newcomers linked from Joe Mathlete. I'm Bill, I'm not the founder of this site. Jon, the man responsible for all this is currently heading across our glorious nation (America) seeing the sites. His last checkpoint was the Grand Canyon.
I'll be guest blogging here for as long as he's gone. Enjoy!
CONTEST!!!!!! + News
Some news about the forthcoming weeks...
I am leaving Hollywood today for home (Richboro, PA). My roommates and I are taking the Southern route. Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, Mentone TX, San Antonio, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Greensboro NC, Washington DC along the way.
I'll be back in Richboro on December 17th. Until that time, our old friend
Bill Benz will be blogging. Check out his blog
Heads On Sticks & Ventriloquists.
A week or so after that, I'll be heading to Israel for my cousin's Bar Mitzvah. We'll have another guest blogger while I'm gone then. Who will it be? Patience...
I will be back here and blogging on a regular basis again around January 3rd. But in order to drum up enthusiasm while I'm gone, I am now announcing the very first
Marmaduke Can Vote Submit Your Own Caption Sweepstakes !!!!!!Here is the picture to work with:

Anyone who reads this blog is eligible whether you have guest posted here in the past or not. Just submit your politically-themed caption in the comments here, email it to me, or whatever you gotta do. Just don't be anonymous so you can, you know, win...
Thanks everyone. Have a happy Hanukkah and I'll be back in on December 18th. Don't forget to submit something to my contest. Otherwise I'm gonna look really dumb.
Enjoy the music of William Benz in the meantime...
...Exploratory Committee Has Been Formed...
The Feared Beard