There's a Tribune staffer who desperately needs a sabbatical: Pat Bagley. His cartoons have become all too predictable, lacking anything profound -- just daily jokes aimed at all the usual subjects.

Despite President Barack Obama's many missteps, Bagley always paints him in an optimistic light, while characterizing Utah's members of Congress as obstructionists and poor sports. Bagley especially dislikes Rep. Jason Chaffetz. It seems that nothing the congressman could ever do will win him any sympathy. Bagley consistently portrays Utah legislators, a large number of whom are women, as short, fat men with bald heads, all doing the same things, regardless of what happens on Capitol Hill. Based on past cartoons, we know how Gov. Gary Herbert will come out in the coming election. In short, Bagley keeps telling the same old joke.

One mark of a good political cartoon is, of course, humor. But it should give us something profound to think about, too. We aren't getting that from Bagley. So give him a break. He needs one.

Howard Stoner

Midway