Source: http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2013/10/01/112598
The subject of this political cartoon by Nate Beeler is the United States government. The cartoon creates a parallel of the government to a computer program or browser with the use of it's caption. The occasion/context of the cartoon is the announcement of the shutdown of the government due to the House and the Senate being unable/unwilling to reach an agreement on an appropriations bill. Its intended audience is anyone in the world (i.e.members of the U.S. government, the American people, and the people in any foreign country with internet capabilities), due to its being published on a free-access internet website. The purpose of the creator of this cartoon is to use humor and satire to show how the government is no longer functioning. The speaker is not only its creator, Beeler, but also the Townhall website, because he could not publish it without their approval.
The cartoon carries ethos due to its being released on a prestigious, well-known political website. The author's signature in the corner also affords it authenticity and credibility. The appeal to logos is in the caption, which is written humorously and almost satirically. The caption also appeals to pathos, in linking the government shutdown with an experience most Americans have encountered: the classic "___ has stopped responding" message on their computer screens. The tone of the cartoon is mocking, ridiculing, and humorous in its portrayal/comparison of the United States government
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