I Go Pogo

Pogo is a long running comic strip that has appeared in the daily newspapers since 1948. Children like it because it is about funny talking animals. Adults see it as political satire. Pogo is an Opossum who lives in the Okefenokee Swamp on the southern border of Georgia next to Florida. Pogo Possum lives with his many animal friends, including Albert Alligator, Howland Owl (who always wears glasses), Churchill "Churchy" LaFemme, a mud turtle by trade who enjoys composing songs and poems, Beauregard Bugleboy, a hound dog, Porky Pine, a porcupine, and Alabaster Alligator. Pogo is usually fishing for food and when he catches one of his friends he is often on the verge of eating his friend but then is talked out of it. This particular series of episodes was published during the 1952 election campaign for US President. The Okefenokee Swamp where Pogo and his friends live is 600 miles from Washington DC. In spite of this distance, they decide to run Pogo for US President. Their campaign slogan is “I Go Pogo” which is a take off on the election campaign for President Eisenhower, who ran under the campaign slogan of “I Like Ike”. As you see, the cover of this book shows people holding signs. These are people campaigning for Pogo for President. All of the cartoons contain sarcastic references to the leading issues of the day, such as the fact that there are too many national holidays.

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