'Doonesbury' Sparks Uproar Over 'Turd Blossom' Reference

A dozen newspapers refused to run Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip on Tuesday because it referred to Bush adviser Karl Rove as "turd blossom." Editors complained about the strip's use of "potty humor," even though "turd blossom" is President Bush's own nickname for his trusted right-hand man. Some of the newspapers pulled the strip, while others edited out the scatological language, which ticked off Trudeau.

In the comic strip, an aide tells Bush: "Sir, we're still getting pretty beat up on the Rove revelations. We can't get traction on any other issue. It's just the leak thing 24-7!" Bush responds: "Yeah, I know. Karl's sure been earnin' his nickname lately." Aide: "Boy Genius? I'm not so sure, sir." Bush then calls out to Rove: "Hey, Turd Blossom! Get in here!"

View the offending strip, as well as the next day's follow-up, which contains a second "turd blossom" reference.

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