That oughta take the media’s collective mind off this pesky flood business and get it back where it belongs — in a vegetative coma.
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September 7, 2005
WB: The Potemkin President, Part II
Comments
Just when I think there’s nothing short of invading Iran that Dubyanocchio can do to make any angrier than I already am, he pulls a stunt like this. Well, of course, he didn’t do it. Karl Rove rolled up those sleeves for him and pondered whether they should slap a helmet and waders on him and let him blow the siren on the big red truck. He no doubt pouted when they said no.
When they burn the last body collected after the Administration’s five days of indifference, I wonder where they’ll have this scalawag deliver his “Mission Accomplished” speech?
Posted by: Meteor Blades | Sep 7 2005 7:24 utc | 1
I’m just surprised they didn’t shove some boots and a helmet on Shrub and stick him behind the wheel of a fire engine. Maybe with a big banner on the side: “Lets Roll!”
……………………….
Maybe its more like the weird little arsonist (who has an apartment in his parents garage) that likes to reappear at the scene and give false testamony to the firefighters putting out the fire he had set twenty minutes ago.
Create and or manage an event of unimaginable horror, so that you can then assume the leading role of savior.
Posted by: anna missed | Sep 7 2005 8:27 utc | 3
Create and or manage an event of unimaginable horror, so that you can then assume the leading role of savior.
———————-
Haldane’s Law
The Universe is not only queerer than we imagine;
it is queerer than we CAN imagine.
Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 7 2005 8:37 utc | 5
I’m disgusted with the whole fuckin’ thing.
I should just watch a bowl of rice krispies crackle and get on with my life.
Posted by: jm | Sep 7 2005 9:06 utc | 6
now now jm, have you been spending too much time in front of your computer?;)
life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans
Posted by: annie | Sep 7 2005 9:17 utc | 7
Well then I might as well enjoy this ecstasy in front of the computer and not worry about it. Let life take its merry course.
Thanks for your sage advice, dear annie.
Posted by: jm | Sep 7 2005 9:21 utc | 8
would somebody please correct the spelling of Potemkin or is there a joke I didn’t get.
I am not really being pissy or anything.
Posted by: eftsoons | Sep 7 2005 12:48 utc | 9
Can anyone identify the home department(s) of those fire fighters in the photo-op shop? There must be clues on the helments and shirts. It would be quite damming to have that image republished with the background story about how they were used as props for the “Dear Leader’s Care & Compassion 2005 Tour” while American citizens were stuck in flooded or collapsed structures.
Posted by: DC | Sep 7 2005 12:50 utc | 10
Did you notice? They’re dressed as firemen, outfitted as though they’re going to fight a fires or perform emergency services, to do a job that FEMA explicitly told them they won’t be doing. The president’s advance people not only asked for firemen, but firemen who would don equipment, then put it away and go on to community relations work.
Posted by: Brian C.B. | Sep 7 2005 12:52 utc | 11
I admit to being a pessimist, but I bet this shit works. The average guy watching TV won’t know it’s a set-up because the news media probably won’t tell him. They’ll get away with it because the news media and the Democrats have no guts, and the much of the public seems to want to believe Dear Leader. Potemkin Village it is.
Posted by: Phil from New York | Sep 7 2005 14:14 utc | 12
I’m just surprised they didn’t shove some boots and a helmet on Shrub and stick him behind the wheel of a fire engine. Maybe with a big banner on the side: “Lets Roll!”
And strumming a guitar. Why don’t we have all the firemen on the ground in a circle around the President who is sitting on an elementary school chair strumming a guitar and singing them a little song about his pet goat?
Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 7 2005 14:14 utc | 13
Just viewed as art, the picture is wonderful. The composition of the massed group of fireman is like best Social Realist idealization of the working class. There are some WPA murals at a State Fairgrounds building here, but not as gritty or as well posed.
Tante aime is better at noticing these things that I could hope to be, so if this distracts from a longer explication to follow, I certainly apologize.
Posted by: Roger Bigod | Sep 7 2005 14:39 utc | 14
You’re on to something that’s been pretty clear to many observers in the film and graphic communications and art history community. Cartoonists, too. The White House no doubt has lots of Stalinist posters, newspapers, and films on archive. No Russian need be spoken.
Posted by: Brian C.B. | Sep 7 2005 14:49 utc | 15
Bush is 5’11”. Note the falloff in the road and a pretty short crew of firemen to make Bush appear taller.
Can anyone identify the home department(s) of those fire fighters in the photo-op shop?
Couldn’t make out the department, but the name tags from left to right appear to be: Karl, Scottie, Scooter and Alberto.
The tall one directly behind “Scottie” is difficult to make out, but looks like “Karen”.
Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 7 2005 15:22 utc | 17
One hallmark of Socialist Realism was the suggestion of movement or muscle strain on the part of the workers. The shadows on the fabric of the clothes is wonderful here. And the photographer caught them in a classic pose, striding off confidently into the wonderful future of the Great Social Project.
More careful examination suggest some digital trompe l’oeil. Notice the relative positions of Bush’s feet and the firemen’s feet. They’re slightly in front. Then notice the relative position of Bush and the nearest firefighter’s arm.
Posted by: Anonymous | Sep 7 2005 15:28 utc | 18
Did you notice he appears to be “rolling up his sleeve” —
I was not surprised to see him wearing a suit when he left the WH the first time to make visit to Biloxi… everyone else had on jeans and short sleeves in Mississippi… Biloxi, fresh from vacation, was in his “WH” attire… anal to the bone. No informal attire in the WH.
These black ops theatrics of Rove’s have existed since the campaign of 2000… even Crawford pig farm is stage setting. H#$@, even Dubya is an empty suit.
Posted by: crone | Sep 7 2005 15:37 utc | 19
Amy Goodman, always a stickler for accuracy in language, no longer refers to Crawford as Bush’s ranch, his estate. He does no ranching there, and it removes the propaganda from it.
By the way, if you missed Tuesday’s “Democracy Now”, it was great.
Citizens get the leaders they deserve. The voters in Mississippi elected Haley Barbour, probably one of the 5 most crooked politicians in America. The country returned Bush to office for a second term. I checked the vote tallies from the 2004 election. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana voted collectively 2,951,223 to 1,970,998 for Bush. A margin of nearly 1,000,000 citizens. Those people didn’t ask for Katrina. However, they did ask for Bush and that snake-in-the-grass Barbour. Marry a wife beater don’t bitch about the black eyes and chipped teeth. Elect a delusional, sociopathic monster you get what you asked for in dire times of need.
Posted by: steve duncan | Sep 7 2005 16:25 utc | 21
This was sent to me.
I’m passing it along here because it aptly demonstrates the fucked upness of this rescue, by people who know how to do rescue as well.
http://www.emsnetwork.org/artman/publish/article_18337.shtml
Posted by: Elizabeth | Sep 7 2005 17:51 utc | 22
Elizabeth,
thanks for that link, I am so mad I could just scream.
Posted by: dan of steele | Sep 7 2005 19:29 utc | 23