Only "some" families?

[LeahMira]

Complaints about ads that use images from 9/11 and the days following have reached the White House. The Bush administration has chosen to attempt to minimize these complaints by insisting that the complaining families are part of a large anti-war effort. (Are we supposed to read that as "dupes" of a large anti-war effort?)

Now, scrambling to remove the pResidential foot from the pResidential mouth yet one more time, the White House has clarified the statement. The pResident was talking only about those families that are part of a particular group. Of course, other families have the right to object to the images (since they are doing it on their own initiative?), but there are only a few of these families.

Hmmm...

Don't people join groups so that their concerns can be heard? So that they can benefit from one another's expertise and insights? So that they can share ideas? So that they can share feelings with a group of others who understand those feelings?

Sure, Mister pResident. Divide and conquer. That's your speed, isn't it? When we address you as individual citizens, you pay at least a little attention (do you really?)... but only a little. Heaven forbid, though, that we should organize ourselves into groups, coalitions, advocacy organizations, or even protest demonstrations. Why should you even pay attention to us "rabble rousers" then?

Get a clue. Groups, coalitions, and advocacy organizations are made up of individuals... specifically individuals who refuse to be ignored or pushed aside one by one. And yes, you WILL pay attention.

:/\:/\:/\:/\:/\:/\:/\:

I would like to take the opportunity to apologize to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 and have objected to the ads in question for the obnoxious and insensitive behavior of pResident Bush. His statements do NOT represent me.

May you and all those who mourn be comforted.

[rfranklin]

1. George Dubya doesn't pay attention to focus groups...

because he's a war president ("I got war on my mind")and he is never wrong because Jesus is his co-pilot in that great Flying Fortress that is America, brining death and destruction to the Evil-doers.

[KansDem]

2. Jesus is his favorite philosopher...

God is his co-pilot...

The Chosen One

From Jesus is my philosopher to God is my co-pilot, George Bush has been nothing if not ghoulishly entertaining. Far more talented writers than I have gone completely berserk while attempting to explain what makes Bush tick. It's simple, really. The answer is Nothing. Nothing makes him tick. That's why he's the perfect foil for the warhawks and religious zealots.

Bush is a swaggering, paranoid, hubristic bully, consumed by an irrational sense of his own worth. Just your normal, run-of-the-mill Texas good ol' boy Republican -- with money. After carousing, falling down drunk, and failing at every business enterprise his daddy set up for him -- at the tender age of 40, Bush was "born again" and became the Lord's own most visible high-stepping 12-stepper. Fourteen years later, he was President of the United States. In his defense, I have to say Bush is acting no differently than any other 14-year-old spoiled bully would be expected to act under the same circumstances...
(more)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/archive/scoop/stories/ec/21/200403040031.b4f8277d.html



A good parody:

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Thank you for coming. Tonight, it is my pleasure to usher in a proud new government tradition - the lighting of the official White House lawn manger. In doing so, we dispense with the almost hopelessly secularized "Christmas Tree," and restore Jesus Christ Himself to a rightful place of government-endorsed prominence. Besides, God is my co-pilot, and as such, it simply wouldn't be neighborly of me not to let his boy camp out on my yard for a few weeks.

Laura and I had hoped to introduce this tradition last year during our first Christmas in the White House. Sadly, we were unable to do so due to security concerns. But Americans should know that in the months that passed, their First Lady was tireless in her scouring of Wal-Marts and Home Depots all across Western Texas to find a durable life-sized molded polyvinyl manger scene which passed Secret Service muster. This is that masterpiece, and with security so tight this year at the White House, I can guaran-damn-tee you that these frozen plastic Wise Men are as close as any towel-head is going to get to Laura's famous Canadian Club eggnog.
(more)
http://www.whitehouse.org/news/2002/120802.asp