Judge — October 26, 1889 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge cartoon satirizes American political gridlock through a sports metaphor. Titled "'ICAMFOOTBALL" with the caption "When both parties insist on kicking," it depicts a chaotic scrum of men fighting over a football near the Capitol Building in the background. The cartoon suggests that Democratic and Republican politicians are so focused on partisan conflict—each side "kicking" (attacking)—that they've turned government into a meaningless struggle rather than constructive governance. The tangled mass of figures illustrates how political obstruction benefits no one. The Capitol looming overhead emphasizes this is commentary on Washington itself. This is a timeless critique: partisan gridlock that prioritizes winning against the opposition over actually accomplishing legislative goals for the public good.