JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: OBAMA - MICHELLE AS THE ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS BLACK WOMAN - THOSE TWO INDEX FINGERS LOOK LIKE DEADLY WEAPONS - I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID BUT A REPEAT WOULD NOT BE ADVISED - NOTE THE BIG CROWD IN THIS SURREAL IMAGE - REALLY SCARY STUFF

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: FIORE - AMERICAN POLITICIAN MICHELE - YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS FROM A SECOND CITY SATIRE SKIT - BUT NO THIS IS A SINCERE FAMILY CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM A LUNATIC ASYLUM SOMEWHERE IN NEVADA - DO THEY "CARRY" TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS? TO THE MOVIES? CAMPAIGN RALLIES? IMAGINE WHAT FAMILY ARGUMENTS LOOK LIKE? A QUENTIN TARANTINO MOVIE

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: ERDOGAN - TURKEY'S RECEP IS A SCARY PIECE OF WORK - SEETHING WITH INTENSE HATREDS AND ABLE TO TURN ON A DIME - HE RECENTLY BUILT HIMSELF A ONE THOUSAND-ROOM PALACE OF BREATHTAKING UGLINESS - HE OFTEN MAKES CONTRADICTORY STATEMENTS WITHIN DAYS - HE PERSECUTES JOURNALISTS WHO REVEAL ANY UNACKNOWLEDGED TRUTH ABOUT HIS GOVERNMENT - HE IS A SERIOUSLY UNBALANCED MIND GOVERNING A MAJOR COUNTRY - YET HE CAN PLAY DANGEROUS GAMES AS PART OF NATO AND SOME PUSH FOR HIM TO JOIN THE EU

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CARTER - ASH (AS HE'S KNOWN TO HIS FRIENDS BACK AT THE ASYLUM) SERVING AS AMERICA'S DIPLOMATIC POINTMAN WITH RUSSIA - JUST THE FACT THAT THIS FRUITCAKE WAS APPOINTED AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TELLS US MORE THAN WE MIGHT CARE TO KNOW ABOUT THE STATE OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICA

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CAMERON - DAVID - LOOKING AS SMUG AND SMARMY AS HE CAN MANAGE - AND HE CAN MANAGE QUITE A LOT - LOOKS AS THOUGH HE HAS JUST SETTLED HIS NETHER BITS INTO A PIG'S HEAD AS HE WAS KNOWN TO DO BACK IN UNIVERSITY DAYS

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: HOLLANDE - FRANCOIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CONTEMPORARY POMPOUS ASSES - HERE HE STANDS RIGIDLY IN THE RAIN AS IF TO PROVE SOMETHING ABOUT HIS CHARACTER - AND JUST LOOK AT THAT JACKASS SIGNATURE - HE'S ALL EGO AND VERY LITTLE CONTENT FITTING HIS ROLE AS AMERICA'S FRENCH-SPEAKING HOUSEHOLD HELP - FRANCE HAS FINALLY HIT BOTTOM WITH THIS GUY IN ITS LONG PLUNGE FROM DE GAULLE'S GRANDEUR AND INTELLIGENT INDEPENDENCE

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: ROYAL FAMILY - 1933 PHOTO OF THEM BEING COACHED BY FATHER IN THE FINE POINTS OF NAZI SALUTE - ODD TO SAY THE LEAST - BUT IN THE 1930s THE TRUTH IS HITLER WAS WIDELY ADMIRED IN THE WEST AND WE LIKE TO FORGET THAT - ODD TOO THAT RUPERT MURDOCH'S OUTFIT WOULD RUN THIS - NOTHING BIG HAPPENS WITHOUT THAT DICTATOR'S APPROVAL - WHAT'S GOING ON THERE IS THE BIG UNANSWERED QUESTION

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: BUSH - JEB RESEMBLES A STARTLED DEER IN HEADLIGHTS - HE EXPLAINS HOW HE "MISSPOKE" WHEN HE SAID TOO MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON WOMEN'S HEALTH - WHAT IS MISSPEAKING ANYHOW? SAYING WHAT YOU REALLY THINK? HOW A MAN OF HIS AGE CAN POSSIBLY MAKE SUCH A POLITICALLY DUMB STATEMENT IS BEYOND ME - I USED TO THINK HE WAS THE SMART ONE COMPARED TO BROTHER GEORGE - BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEEP VEIN OF STUPIDITY IN THAT FAMILY

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: HARPER - STEVE'S SUIT IS UGLY AS IS HIS ILL-FITTING SWEATER AND YOU CAN SEE HIS BELLY BUTTON - A SHIP-BOARD FASHION SHOW FOR SCHMOES? MAYBE HE'S TRYING OUT FOR A MICHELIN MAN COMMERCIAL? NO, I THINK HE'S JUST TRYING DESPERATELY TO SHOW HE ACTUALLY HAS A PERSONALITY - LOOKS LIKE WIFEY BACK ON THE RIGHT EITHER STUDIOUSLY IGNORING HIM THROWING UP WITH SEA SICKNESS

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: YATSENYUK - ARSENIY GIVES THE HIGH SIGN - YOU CAN TELL BY THE STRESS ON THE LIPS THAT EVEN DOING THAT IS A BIT OF A TASK - HE MUST FOCUS HARD TO KEEP HIS THUMB POINTING UP - AFTER ALL, HE IS PRIME MINISTER OF THE BASKET CASE CALLED UKRAINE A COUNTRY THAT CAN'T PAY ITS DEBTS, IS GOING TO RUN OUT OF FUEL, HAS BATTALIONS OF ARMED NAZI THUGS LOOSE ON THE STREETS, AND CAN'T EVEN SHOOT STRAIGHT - PROSPECTS DO NOT LOOK GOOD FOR A SECOND TERM

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CLINTON - HILLARY IS THE POLITICAL GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS GIVING - HERE SHE FIRST BLOWS EVERY GASKET IN HER MOTOR AND THEN DOES AN AWKWARD VERSION OF HER MISS KITTY-FROM-GUNSMOKE COCKTAIL PARTY CHARADE - I DOUBT THERE HAS EVER BEFORE BEEN A PUBLIC FIGURE WITH SO MANY BIZARRE FACES - MAYBE SHE'S JUST BIZARRE? MAYBE SHE'S MAD? - AFTER ALL, SHE MARRIED BILL - COULD THESE PICTURES EXPLAIN WHY SHE USED HER PRIVATE SERVER AND CELL PHONE FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS AS SECRETARY OF STATE?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: GATES - BILL'S PSEUDO-BENEVOLENCE PUBLIC-MEETING LOOK - SOME CALL IT HIS PARODY OF THE DALAI LAMA - NOTE THE WALLY CLEAVER DRESS CODE - THIS FROM A MAN WHO MADE BILLIONS SCREWING COMPETITORS AND CUSTOMERS - HIS COMPANY IS THE 2000's HI-TECH EQUIVALENT OF 1970's GENERAL MOTORS TURNING OUT BUILT-IN OBSOLESCENCE - THE FIRST COMPANY OUT OF THE GATE WITH A WINDOWS-COMPATIBLE SUBSTITUTE WILL BE TREATED AS ONE OF HUMANITY'S GREAT BENEFACTORS

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: PSAKI - JEN HAS BEEN SPOKESPERSON BOTH FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT - ALTHOUGH NOT ONE PRESS CORPS REPORTER HAS YET DECIPHERED MUCH OF WHAT SHE'S EVER SAID - I SUPPOSE THAT COULD BE THE IDEA CONSIDERING THE POLICIES SHE SPEAKS FOR - THIS IMAGE CAUGHT HER IN ONE OF HER FREQUENT TRANCES

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: NULAND - VICTORIA - GENUINELY SCARY INDIVIDUAL - SHE SURE SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF EUROPE WHERE HER FULL-TIME JOB IS TO VILIFY RUSSIA AND START A WAR IF POSSIBLE - BUT WE CAN THANK HER LOUD MOUTH FOR ACCIDENTALLY TELLING US HOW THE U.S. PAID FOR UKRAINE'S COUP - HER "FUCK THE EU" QUOTE WILL NOT SOON BE FORGOTTEN - SINCE SHE IS A COMPLETE FAILURE AS A DIPLOMAT, SHE COULD LOOK TO GETTING ROLES IN FILMS LIKE THE NEXT REMAKE OF "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD"

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: MICROSOFT - BING SEARCH ENGINE TRIBUTE CARTOON FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - AN AMAZINGLY BRAINLESS EFFORT WHICH MANAGES TO INSULT OR DEMEAN EVERYONE PICTURED - BUT THEN IT IS THE OUTFIT WHICH SELLS UNFINISHED PRODUCTS FOR FULL PRICE, PATCHES THEM AS YOU USE THEM, AND SHORTLY MAKES THEM OBSOLETE

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CLINTON - HILLARY ON ONE OF HER $300,000 A POP SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS - SHE'S "GONE POSTAL" FOR THE PENTAGON - HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU MAKE AMERICA'S MILITARY STRONGER? STATION A NUCLEAR-ARMED B-52 AT EVERY AIRPORT? ISSUE FLAME-THROWERS TO HIGH SCHOOL ROTCs? IS SHE EVEN AWARE AMERICA ALREADY SPENDS AS MUCH AS THE REST OF THE PLANET COMBINED ON ITS FRANKENSTEIN MILITARY?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CLINTON - HILLARY IS THE LIKELY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR 2016 - WHY IS IT WHEN AMERICA FINALLY GETS AROUND TO RUNNING A WOMAN CANDIDATE, SHE HAS TO LOOK LIKE RICHARD NIXON IN DRAG? NOT TO MENTION HAVING A WORLDVIEW J. EDGAR HOOVER WOULD HAVE APPROVED OF?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: MACKAY - PETER HAS ADOPTED A NEW TIGHT-LIPPED POLICY - IT APPEARS TO BE THE ONLY WAY THE POOR BOY CAN STOP MAKING DORKY AND EMBARRASSING COMMENTS - MAYBE HE'S GETTING THEM STITCHED UP JUST TO BE SURE - THE HORSE MAY BE OUT OF THE BARN THOUGH: HARD TO THINK OF MANY TOPICS WHERE HE HASN'T ALREADY BLOWN IT

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: POILIEVRE - PIERRE HAS TOUCHES OF MR. MAGOO AND TINTIN AND A CONSTIPATED BOY SCOUT - APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING - HE IS ONE OF THE NASTIEST PIECES OF WORK IN HARPER'S AWFUL CABINET - THE PURPLE TIE SPEAKS VOLUMES

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: KERRY - JOHN IN A TYPICAL NEGOTIATING POSTURE MAKING SOMEONE AN OFFER HE CAN'T REFUSE - AMERICA'S FIRST GODFATHER AS SECRETARY OF STATE - LIKE ALL MEMBERS OF LA CASA NOSTRA JOHN IS VERY PATRIOTIC, NEVER GOING OUT OF HIS HOUSE WITHOUT A FLAG PIN

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: KERRY - JOHN LOOKS LIKE HE'S BEEN INTO THE SAUCE - BUT MAYBE IT'S JUST HIS EFFORT TO SMILE - I GUESS THE FLAG PIN IS IN CASE HE GETS LOST, THEY'LL KNOW WHAT COUNTRY TO RETURN HIM TO

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CLINTON - BILL AND HILLARY CONFER ON NAMES TO INCLUDE ON HER 2016 ENEMIES' LIST - THIS SMARMY COUPLE IS SURELY AS CLOSE AS WE HAVE TO ITALY'S RENAISSANCE BORGIAS - ONLY THE GOOD TASTE IN ART AND LITERATURE IS MISSING

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: BLAIR - TONY'S PORTRAIT FOR THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY - A REMARKABLY HONEST LIKENESS FOR SUCH OFFICIAL PORTRAITS - ALMOST BRUTALLY SO - WE SEE ANIMAL CUNNING AND OPPORTUNISM - COULD EASILY PASS FOR A CRIMINAL - OF COURSE, I FORGET HE IS A CRIMINAL

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: OLMERT AND NETANYAHU - JUST TWO OLD TWO WAR CRIMINALS CONFERRING - MAYBE ON THE BEST WAY TO USE WHITE PHOSPHORUS? OR IS EHUD TELLING BENJAMIN IT'S TIME TO STOP COMBING A ROW OF SIDE HAIR OVER THE TOP OF HIS HEAD?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: OBAMA CAMERON AND DANISH PM THORNING-SCHMIDT - BARACK DAVID AND THE BLOND TAKE A CHARMING "SELFIE" DURING MENDELA MEMORIAL SERVICE - THE MOST GROTESQUELY INAPPROPRIATE IMAGE OF A NATIONAL LEADER SINCE THE ONE OF BLAIR GLARING AT HIS CHARMING WIFE YAWNING (SEE BELOW) - MICHELLE IS NOT AMUSED

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: OBAMA AND DANISH PM THORNING-SCHMIDT - BARACK AND HELLE HAVING A GOOD LAUGH AT MANDELA MEMORIAL SERVICE - MICHELLE IS MOST DEFINITELY NOT AMUSED

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: OBAMA AND THORNING-SCHMIDT - BARACK AND HELLE GETTING REAL COZY DURING MANDELA MEMORIAL SERVICE - LOOKING AT MICHELLE, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR AIR-CONDITIONING GOING HOME ON A FROSTY AIR FORCE ONE

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: FORD - ROB - AKA MAYOR OF TORONTO - CELLPHONE PHOTO AS HE APPEARED AT AN EVENT FROM WHERE HE IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE - WHICH DO YOU THINK IS RIDICULOUS: ALLEGATIONS ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR OR JUST HIM? - IS THAT BEER OR VOMIT OR JUST SLOBBER ON HIS SHIRT FRONT?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: FORD - BROTHERS ROB AND DOUG - THEY USED TO JUST BE BUMBLING AND WEIRDLY FUNNY - HERE THEY RESEMBLE THE NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE GENOVESE FAMILY - NO WONDER NEWSPAPER SOURCES WANT TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: FORD - TORONTO'S MAYOR ROB - PRACTICE INHALING AT CITY HALL? WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD? PUCKERING UP TO KISS A REPORTER FROM THE TORONTO STAR?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: HARRY - IS THE PRINCE MAD? HE DOES HAVE MADNESS IN THE MATERNAL LINE - HE BRAGS OF KILLING A MAN IN AFGHANISTAN - HE STRUTS ABOUT NUDE IN LAS VEGAS - HE ATTENDS A PARTY IN NAZI-STYLE PAJAMAS - HE'S AT BEST THE ROYAL EQUIVALENT OF GEORGE BUSH, AMERICA'S CERTIFIED MORON PRESIDENT

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: KATE - DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE - A GENUINELY CHARMING AND ATTRACTIVE WOMAN - BUT HER NEW PORTRAIT IS GHASTLY - THE EYES SUGGEST SOMETHING ELFIN - AND WORSE, THE OVERALL IMPRESSION IS UNMISTAKABLY MASCULINE-LOOKING

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: NETANYAHU AND HARPER - BENJAMIN AND STEPHEN - ARE THEY HAVING A CONTEST FOR MOST GRIMLY-SET LIPS? DOING THE MANLY THING OF SEEING WHO CAN SQUEEZE THE OTHER'S HAND HARDEST? DID THEY FORGET THEIR DENTURES? PERHAPS JUST EXCESSIVE BILE?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: NETANYAHU - BENJAMIN AT THE UNITED NATIONS WITH HIS ROAD-RUNNER-AND COYOTE BOMB IMAGE - IS HE FOR REAL? - HAS MADNESS TAKEN OVER COMPLETELY? - MAYBE HE WAS JUST A BIG FAN OF DING DONG SCHOOL - THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME GOOD LAUGHS AT DELEGATE LUNCHES

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY - A BANK AD FROM 1910 - PERHAPS THE WORST PIECE OF PATRIOTIC DRECK I'VE EVER SEEN - THIS STRIKINGLY BRINGS ALIVE THE REALITY OF THE AMERICAN CIVIC RELIGION

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: NETANYAHU - BENJAMIN COVERS HIS MOUTH BETWEEN LIES - TAKING A MOMENT TO CONSIDER WHETHER HE IS ABOUT TO CONTRADICT HIMSELF

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: ROMNEY - THIS IMAGE OF MITT IS OF COURSE DOCTORED - BUT IT DOES CAPTURE SOMETHING GENUINE - FROM HIS EARLY PRANK ON FRIENDS OF POSING AS POLICEMAN TO HIS OVERLY THEATRICAL POSING ON THE PODIUM IN HIS CAMPAIGN

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: ROMNEY - ANN HAS THAT SAME LOOK OF WELL-STUFFED PRIVILEGE AND DECAY AS HILLARY - WHAT OTHER KIND OF WOMAN WOULD HAVE ALLOWED ROMNEY TO TRAVEL 12 HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A DOG TIED TO THE ROOF?

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CLINTON - HILLARY - RESEMBLING A CHUNK OF ROCK FROM MOUNT RUSHMORE - SPEAKS ON THE BLESSINGS OF DEMOCRACY IN PLACES LIKE IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, LIBYA, SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT, BAHRAIN, AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: CLINTON - HILLARY IS NOW MORE OR LESS THE OFFICIAL FACE OF IMPERIAL AMERICA - SHE HAS DROPPED HER FORMER SWEET-SIXTEEN MAKE-UP FOR THE RAW LOOK OF ARROGANT BRUTAL POWER - RICHARD NIXON IN DRAG

JOHN CHUCKMAN'S GROTESQUES: BAIRD - JOHN IS CANADA'S FOREIGN MINISTER - HERE HE WAS CAUGHT IN A CANDID POSE EXCHANGING IDEAS WITH HILLARY CLINTON - JOHN'S GRASP OF WORLD AFFAIRS IS ALL IN HIS JAWS