Tim Russert, we hardly knew ye

I read that editorial cartoonists are calling out NBC's Meet The Press and its host David Gregory for referring to their cartoons, but failing to mention the cartoonist's name.

Years ago on Meet The Press, in one of the highlights of my career, Tim Russert held then-Majority Leader Senator Tom Daschle to account by reading to him a Tom the Dancing Bug comic strip poking fun of him.  Russert very nicely stated the name of the comic strip, which he called, after a thoughtful pause, "interesting."

$4,674 RAISED IN TOM THE DANCING BUG HAITIAN RELIEF CHALLENGE

Wow, Tom the Dancing Bug readers were always known for their enthusiasm for ghost stories involving 1970s-era actors, their questionable use of grammar and punctuation in Facebook comments, and of course their dubious taste in comic strips.  But I have to thank you now for your generosity.

I said I would create special Tom the Dancing Bug drawings for the top two donors, but there was a tie for second place, so I'll create three drawings — which I'm happy to do, given the amount raised for the Save the Children Haiti Earthquake Emergency Fund, $4,674!

1. J.L. from Richmond, Va.
2. Philip Apps
2. Bruce L., from Cambridge (UK)

Thank you to the winners, and to everyone who participated and is now an official Friend of Tom the Dancing Bug.

And thanks to all those who helped spread the word about the Challenge, including the ones I know of:  bloggers/humanitarians John Glynn, Tom Spurgeon, Alan Gardner, and Mike Rhode.

The Challenge is over, but of course you can still donate through the Tom the Dancing Bug donation page.


THE TOM THE DANCING BUG HAITIAN RELIEF CHALLENGE…

ends on Saturday, February 6, at 11:59 pm.  Click here for info.  And THANK YOU to those who have contributed so far.

I originally said that everyone who donates becomes an Official Friend of Tom the Dancing Bug, "with all the benefits and responsibilities that accrue with that title," but I discreetly changed the wording of that phrase when an alert donor pointed out that a "friend" with "benefits" may have unintended implications.