Laura Bush to appear on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

[julialnyc]

Laura Bush to appear on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
By Faye Fiore
snipped...
WASHINGTON — Facing criticism that he appeared disengaged from the disaster wrought by Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has been looking for opportunities to show his concern. But the White House will take the effort a step further Tuesday, venturing into untested waters by putting the nation's first lady on reality television.

Laura Bush will travel to storm-damaged Biloxi, Miss., to film a spot on the feel-good, wish-granting hit "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Mrs. Bush sought to be on the program because she shares the "same principles" that the producers hold, her press secretary said.

In its standard format, the popular ABC series finds hard-pressed but deserving families, sends them away for short vacations and then, in a whirlwind of carpentry and appliance-shopping, gives them new homes. This time, though, the show will broadcast from an underserved shelter near Biloxi, where a convoy of trucks stocked with everything from mattresses to pants will arrive, courtesy of Sears, one of the show's sponsors.

It's not clear exactly what Mrs. Bush will do, but Tom Forman, executive producer and creator, said he is hoping that she'll just pitch in and help unload.

"I think we say, 'Mrs. Bush, the stuff is over here, the people are over there, could you grab the other end of that mattress?' " Forman said. Press secretary Susan Whitson envisioned something closer to handing out clothing and thanking volunteers.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002522643_weblaura26.html
much more...

[nini]

1. Ironic that it's a show that helps victims of W's policies n/t

.

[peekaloo]

2. Donate her spring wardrobe for the drapes/curtains?

:shrug:

[julialnyc]

3. I'm sorry, but they are very media savvy

I find this the most transparent move of desperation, but I think the general public will eat this up.

[NYCGirl]

4. That's for sure.

You bet the general public will love it. This is a very smart move.

[julialnyc]

6. Karl Rove creates characters instead of advising leaders

George Bush was a rich silver spooner from CT who somehow was developed into a cowboy/man's man.

Now they put their lovable Laura (another genius character development )on the #1 tear jerker show.

The man behind the curtain knows what he is doing (and it certainly is for their own gain,not the country's)

[titoresque]

18. Doesnt say much for the general public

I hope we're wrong! I look at her and see plastic, nothing but plastic! Nothing these assholes do is genuine...nothing! They move like robots, they talk like robots....it's creepy!

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. If....

that bitch got anywhere near me or what was left of my house, she'd have a faceful of spittle, and I'd be wearing handcuffs afterward.

FSC

[titoresque]

20. my sentiments exactly!

I wouldn't allow that evil energy in my house!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. This is so craven. They are creating Cargo Cult Republicans.

[mattclearing]

8. My bet? They will fuck this up royally.

Look for Laura to embarass herself somehow. Something's wrong in Bushville. Everything they do lately just digs them in deeper. I have a feeling she will fuck it up and this will backfire.

[VolcanoJen]

16. They only reach for Laura when they're in really, really big trouble.

I'm with you, tasteblind.

And even if they don't fuck this up royally, I don't think Americans are in the mood for more photo-ops.

Americans crave real leadership, not pose, smile, look-like-a-cowboy bullshit these days.

[BillZBubb]

9. Home Addition is really becoming a right wing extravaganza.

I've noticed a number of their shows are about injured or killed veterans with a lot of gung ho American flag waving stuff. It's more than supporting the troops, it's supporting the policies that got these people hurt.

Now this. It's soon to be off my list of watchable shows. Yuck!

[VolcanoJen]

17. Watch The West Wing, instead. It competes directly against...

... Extreme Makeover on Sunday nights now. :-)

[jane_pippin]

10. So politics and government is now LITERALLY a bad tv show.

Goodie.

[Democrats_win]

11. Good-bye ABC! Hey, Desperate Housewives is a waste of time.

A little more time to read those banned Gay books.

[Rob H.]

12. This part of the article is pretty telling

Emphasis added by me.

...(I)t could be difficult to discern whose fortunes will be lifted higher -- the displaced victims of two hurricanes or the White House, which was widely perceived as slow to understand their pain.

Which is probably why the Bush team contacted the show for a booking instead of the other way around.

It looks as if they're flailing around trying to find anything that'll make them look less incompetent. They'd better be damned sure Pickles doesn't say "Hurricane Corinna" this time, though.

[MellowOne]

13. "which was perceived as slow to understand their pain"

It takes people with a heart of stone not to understand starvation and babies dying.

But if you've never experienced suffering you feel above it all.

[rbajai]

14. Disgusting. ABC=Disney=Big GOP Monies

I hated ABC before, this time I'm THROUGH with 'em. I gave up GMA and now watch TODAY. I watch CBS Evening News. I watch NBC local.

ABC is obviously cowtowing to the * admin and I won't stand for it. I despise their sensationalistic, tear-jerker, *-worshipping ways!

[VolcanoJen]

15. Conduct Unbecoming a First Lady, if you ask me.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[DS1]

19. That show has potential to be enjoyable

They just need to get rid of Ritalin boy.

[zbdent]

21. "We're going to make over the vacation home of one of our

most distinguished Mississippi natives . . . Trent Lott! Wouldn't that be nice? And all the furniture and appliances will be donated by the Red Cross . . . "

[julialnyc]

22. Wife Swap or Trading Spouses would have been more entertaining

N/T