Kevin Siers: You Write The Caption

The new winner: March 8, 2013

The winner:

"You sunk bipartisanship!"

-- Ross Levin, Charlotte

The runners-up:

"The Blame Game isn't fail-safe; sometimes it backfires."

-- Deanna Hungerford, Lancaster

"You've got the smoke part down, now let's work on the mirrors."

-- Phil Clutts, Harrisburg

"It's the sequester, sir. We're out of quarters."

-- Bill McGloughlin, Charlotte

"Boy, that McCain moves fast for an old guy."

-- Ray Otstott, Charlotte

"Sorry, sir, there's nothing we can do to change the season finale of Downton Abbey."

-- Steve Schwartz, Charlotte

"I think your control may have malfunctioned."

-- Steven A. Meckler, Charlotte

"It's 'Call of Duty Barack Oops.' "

-- from several readers

Thanks for all the great entries.  Here's just a selection of some of the other better lines we received:

"How was I to know they'd broadcast my emails?"

"I think I'll be hanging on to that nuclear football."

"Your repairman was furloughed by the sequester."

"You can't manipulate Congress like you can a drone."

" 'Budget Wars' is tricky. You have to lean to the right or it blows up in your face."

"We'll address drone transparency after the smoke clears."

"It seems all your left-wing media commentators' pants are on fire."

"It's OK to use the buttons on the right side of the controller, sir."

"You have to do something about Syria to win this game."

"So much for our Congressional Simulator."

"I see you found the self-destruct button."

The Caption Contest will return Friday

We've been on a short break, and will be back with the winner and runners-up for our current challenge on Friday, March 8, with a new challenge on March 11.

Your new challenge: Feb. 25, 2013

Welcome to You Write the Caption, the Charlotte Observer cartoon caption contest, an opportunity to test your wit and win a prize. Each Monday, Observer editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers will post a political cartoon that needs a caption and invite readers to write one.  To learn more about our contest and see our caption writing guidelines, please click here.

Submissions must reach us by NOON, Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Enter as many times as you wish.  To submit your caption on-line, just click here to e-mail us. (Or address your e-mail to caption@charlotteobserver.com) 

Please include your mailing address and daytime phone number.

  To mail your caption to the Observer, address it to You Write the Caption, Editorial Department, The Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, NC 28230-0308.

The new winner: Feb. 22, 2013

The winner:

"'Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.' -- Groucho Marx."

-- Carolyn Hudson, Columbia, S.C.

The runners-up:

“At last, elements of Marx we can all embrace.”

-- Sergio Ciccone, Matthews

“I never forget a face, but in your case I’d be glad to make an exception.”

-- Groucho Marx, submitted by Billy Grooms, Davidson

“Oh, great. Now we blend in with those clowns on the other Hill.”

-- Gretchen Zollinger, Charlotte

"You Bet Your Life that the secret word is not 'sequester.' "

-- Lincoln Conaway, Cornelius

“The country’s taxes must be fixed, and I know what to do with it. If you think you’re paying too much now, just wait till I get through with it!”

-- Rufus T. Firefly, Freedonia

Thanks for all your great captions.  Here's just a sampling of a few more of the ones that caught our eye this week:

"These government coverups are getting ridiculous."

"Powerful conservatives insisted we be exposed as Marxists."

"Why bother? No one knows who we are anyway."

"Why a Baruck?"

"Gentlemen, our Congressional colleagues may talk like idiots, and look like idiots, but don't let that fool you. They really are idiots."

"We're trying to save face."

"Just act non-Presidential, like Obama."

"At least this facelift came in under budget."

"This is why the Nobel Peace Prize committee shouldn't rush more."

Feel free to join a discussion about the winners, add more captions of your own, or let us know your favorites by clicking the 'Comments' link below.  Please join us again Monday, Feb. 25, for a new cartoon caption challenge. -- Kevin Siers

Your Presidents Day challenge: Feb. 18, 2013

Welcome to You Write the Caption, the Charlotte Observer cartoon caption contest, an opportunity to test your wit and win a prize. Each Monday, Observer editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers will post a political cartoon that needs a caption and invite readers to write one.  To learn more about our contest and see our caption writing guidelines, please click here.

Submissions must reach us by NOON, Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Enter as many times as you wish.  To submit your caption on-line, just click here to e-mail us. (Or address your e-mail to caption@charlotteobserver.com) 

Please include your mailing address and daytime phone number.

  To mail your caption to the Observer, address it to You Write the Caption, Editorial Department, The Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, NC 28230-0308.

The new winner: Feb. 15, 2013

The winner:

"Happy Valentine's Day. Here's your second-term agenda."

-- Phil Clutts of Harrisburg

The runners-up:

"Roses are red, violets are blue, we have the votes and do not need YOU. -- Thom Tillis."

-- Sue Goldstein, Concord

"Roses are red, violets are blue, here's my reply to the SOTU! -- Marco."

-- Carolyn Hudson, Columbia, S.C.

"The GOP's red, the House is red too. This heart's a reminder we won't change our view!"

-- Kay Starnes, Charlotte

"Will you be my Ballantyne?"

-- Elton Parker, Charlotte

"Happy Violent Toons Day!"

-- Bill McGloughlin, Charlotte

Thanks to everyone for all the entries you sent in.  Here's just a selection of some of the other better captions we received:

"The Republicans say they love me to pieces!"

"Surprise! Love, Ted Nugent."

(My Funny Valentine): "Is your budget more than Greek, 'cause your mouth's a little weak, when you open it to speak, you sound dumb . . "

"The elephant's heart is just bursting with love."

"Elephants are red, donkeys are blue. It's the spending, stupid. Please develop a clue."

"Conservatives are red. Liberals are blue. Think Obamacare's free? The joke is on you."

"It's from Gerry Mander!"

"PS: Long live bipartisanship!"

Feel free to join a discussion about the winners, add more captions of your own, or let us know your favorites by clicking the 'Comments' link below.  Please join us again Monday, Feb. 18, for a new cartoon caption challenge. -- Kevin Siers

Your new challenge: Feb. 11, 2013

Welcome to You Write the Caption, the Charlotte Observer cartoon caption contest, an opportunity to test your wit and win a prize. Each Monday, Observer editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers will post a political cartoon that needs a caption and invite readers to write one.  To learn more about our contest and see our caption writing guidelines, please click here.

Submissions must reach us by NOON, Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Enter as many times as you wish.  To submit your caption on-line, just click here to e-mail us. (Or address your e-mail to caption@charlotteobserver.com) 

Please include your mailing address and daytime phone number.

  To mail your caption to the Observer, address it to You Write the Caption, Editorial Department, The Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, NC 28230-0308.

The new winner: Feb. 8, 2013

The winner:

"Oh, the Humanities!"

-- Rick Gay of Davidson

The runners-up:

"This is our roadmap for North Carolina's future."

-- David Hollar, Kannapolis

"Government is not all that it's cracked up to be."

Connor Parke, East Mecklenburg High School

"My first month in office was really a blast!"

-- Den Gower, Albemarle

"Rule 1: Avoid local issues!"

-- Rodney Robinson, LIncolnton

"Transit is a blast!"

-- David W. White, Charlotte

"There are jobs in demolition, and I'm teaching the course."

-- Stu Nichols, Charlotte

"Ok, who threw that poetry book?"

-- Bill McGloughlin, Charlotte

Thanks for all your entries.  Feel free to join a discussion about the winners, add more captions of your own, or let us know your favorites by clicking the 'Comments' link below.  Please join us again Monday, Feb. 11, for a new cartoon caption challenge. -- Kevin Siers

Your new challenge: Feb. 4, 2013

Welcome to You Write the Caption, the Charlotte Observer cartoon caption contest, an opportunity to test your wit and win a prize. Each Monday, Observer editorial cartoonist Kevin Siers will post a political cartoon that needs a caption and invite readers to write one.  To learn more about our contest and see our caption writing guidelines, please click here.

Submissions must reach us by NOON, Wednesday, Jan. 30.

Enter as many times as you wish.  To submit your caption on-line, just click here to e-mail us. (Or address your e-mail to caption@charlotteobserver.com) 

Please include your mailing address and daytime phone number.

  To mail your caption to the Observer, address it to You Write the Caption, Editorial Department, The Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, NC 28230-0308.

The new winner: Feb. 1, 2013

The winner:

"Visa, Mastercard or the Charlotte taxpayers?"

-- Tom Haines of Charlotte

The runners-up:

"Put it on whose tab?"

-- Bill McGloughlin, Charlotte

"Usually you pay us."

David W. White, Charlotte

"You were right. The folks at the next table said they would pay it."

-- Lou Desser, Indian Land, S.C.

"Mr. Foxx would like to pick this up for you."

-- Steve Meckler, Charlotte

"Just dessert?"

Doug Cox, Albemarle

"No, this just covers the new food tax."

Blair J. Devine, Lincolnton

"Will that be cash, credit or a tax increase?"

-- Mark Loper, Concord

"The Queen said to let you eat cake."

-- Al Vaughn, Waxhaw

Thanks for all your great entries.  Everyone seemed to be singing out of the same checkbook this week, making it tough for the judges to settle on a winner. Feel free to join a discussion about the winners, add more captions of your own, or let us know your favorites by clicking the 'Comments' link below.  Please join us again Monday, Feb. 4, for a new cartoon caption challenge. -- Kevin Siers