Pictures of Bush
If you’ve spent any significant amount of time on this site, you know I don’t think much of George Bush. But as I’ve previously posted, there are, in fact, some things I like about him. And while I pretty much do think he’s a narcissistic lackwit who has no business being president, I’m aware that that view is far from universal. I consider it possible, and maybe even probable, that my negative view of Bush has more to do with my own ideological perspective than it does with Bush’s actual shortcomings. Similarly, there are lots of folks with a different ideological perspective who think he’s the greatest thing that ever happened to this country.
But we ideologues are basically crazy. Forget about us. What about those people in the middle? What do they think of Bush? It’s an important question, since those are the people who are going to decide whether he gets another four years in office.
A lot of folks are working very hard to convince those people that Bush is (or isn’t) fit to be president. And interestingly, news photographs seem to be playing a prominent role in that process. The camera doesn’t lie, after all. Give a person a compelling image, and he or she can hang an idea on it. Dukakis as Snoopy in the tank; that sort of thing.
Bush gave the commencement address today at the Air Force Academy. And boy, did he talk for a long time about the War on Terror. I mean, I’m pretty obsessively interested in his public statements on that topic, and I’m having a hard time getting through it. I seriously feel for the people who had to sit through the speech in real time. (And I’m forced to wonder what lies.com author Craig would think of Bush’s apparent willingness to hijack the commencement and turn it into a platform for his political views. But that’s a separate issue.)
Fortunately, most of us didn’t need to actually listen to the speech. Instead, we can just enjoy the stirring images that emerged from the event. Like this one, helpfully provided by the fine people at whitehouse.gov:
Even I have to admit that he looks pretty good in this picture. Just the right attitude. Way better than he looked in this one, for example. He’s obviously getting the hang of this saluting thing.
Here’s another nice one:
That’s my Commander-in-Chief!
As long as we’re on the subject of symbolic images, I’d like to include a few more. As he was boarding the helicopter at the White House for the trip to Colorado, it was stormy out, so he completed his presidential wardrobe with an umbrella. He looked pretty good with it, too. Check it out:
And this one, too; look at the way he strides purposefully into the oncoming wind. The picture is powerful with symbolism: Bush the war president, facing the storm:
Unfortunately, the symbolism that emerged from the next stage of his journey, when he reached the airport and had to walk to Air Force One, was a little different:
Whoa! Hang on, Mr. President! That storm is turning out to be stronger than you expected!
Erm, well, okay; let’s see. We seem to have a bit of a problem here. Any of you boys from the UN know how to get one of these back together?
Well, crap.
Now, I realize that anyone can have their umbrella blow out. Just because it happens to Bush doesn’t mean he’s a doofus. The picture isn’t actually symbolic of anything.
Unless it resonates.
But I get the feeling that for middle-of-the-road voters, that last image actually is fairly representative of their emerging view of Bush. Yeah, he’s a good guy. He’s a straight-shooter who believes in the same fundamental values they do. He’s ended up in a storm he couldn’t have anticipated, a storm that would have tested the most capable of leaders. And he’s given it his best, and deserves his nation’s gratitude for the effort he’s put in.
But however reluctantly, they are concluding that his best just isn’t good enough. Maybe this Kerry fellow has what it takes; maybe he doesn’t. Guess we’ll find out. But Bush, son, I’m afraid we’re going to have to make a change.
June 3rd, 2004 at 7:16 am
The difference between Bush and Kerry is that while Bush needed to grab an umbrella, a tool he’d rarely have to use in Texas, Kerry, from Massachusetts (land of Cape Cod and don’t forget his background in the Navy) probably has one of those yellow, “Gordon’s Fisherman”, rubber rain-gear deals in his closet and he’d just slog through the storm and get on the damn plane.
June 3rd, 2004 at 10:29 am
dang, I want one of those umbrellas.
September 5th, 2004 at 12:06 pm
thats stupid
September 5th, 2004 at 1:39 pm
Up, up, and away! Back to Crawford, Texas for Bush! Where life is simple and where Bush can be a big fish in a little pond. Instead of trying to be the biggest fish, rather the ONLY fish in a global pond.
Vote for JOHN KERRY 2004!!!
October 5th, 2004 at 1:17 pm
Thanks for a good laugh!
October 5th, 2004 at 3:03 pm
Bush sucks vote kerry
October 9th, 2004 at 7:07 am
no the different between Bush and Kerry is that Kerry would have tried to talk the rain out of coming. Keep the peace right? wrong..
VOTE FOR BUSH! Pro Life!
October 13th, 2004 at 1:43 pm
bush sucks
October 19th, 2004 at 7:57 pm
I HATE YOU BUSH! YOU SUCK!
October 21st, 2004 at 3:57 pm
Bush is an arrogant SOB . . . not to mention a moron. Not only *should* he be impeached, he *needs* to be impeached for the good of our nation and the rest of the world. He lies to America every time he gets up to speak . . . you can see it in his eyes and behind that awful little smirk of his. I wouldn’t vote for him if my life depended on it!! I hope someday he will be sent to prison where he belongs!!!
ANYONE BUT BUSH 2004!!
October 22nd, 2004 at 9:40 am
BUSH NEEDS NOT TO WIN !!!!
VOTE
OR
DIE !!
October 22nd, 2004 at 9:43 am
I hope Kerry wins, he is the best
October 22nd, 2004 at 9:43 am
WE HATE BUSH!
WE HATE BUSH!
WE HATE BUSH!
October 22nd, 2004 at 2:49 pm
4 more years
re-elect bush
October 22nd, 2004 at 4:35 pm
bush rocks you guys suck obviosly you guys are on crack or something to think that kerry should win i hate that weiner (get it heins ketchup) i hope that he looses and i bet he will cry on national tv he is a gay literally gay fagget cry baby
October 25th, 2004 at 6:18 am
If you are voting for Kerry you odviously dont know crap about political issues.just face the facts …Kerry sucks!!
LOVE-YA
Diana
October 25th, 2004 at 5:00 pm
Kerry may not be a Godsend, but Bush most certainly isn’t either. Where’s the sense in taking sexual education out of schools? Great, so now not only are the teens having sex younger, they’re not going to learn about protection. Also, how dare he manipulate the Christian religion into some right-wing uptight conservative bullshit. Gays are wrong and women shouldn’t have freedom to choose? Repulsive. It sounds like America the Stupid is about to re-elect Hitler.
October 25th, 2004 at 6:02 pm
yeah well to all of you ppls that think bush should lose you wrong! he’s gonna win no matter what
October 25th, 2004 at 6:04 pm
bush is gonna win and you know it!!! all you kerry fans; hate to break it to ya! its only the truth!! go bush go bush go bush!! bush is #1 bush is #1 bush is #1
October 27th, 2004 at 1:51 pm
Bush lied about Iraqi involvement in 9/11 also Iraq had no real links to Al-Qada. There is no evidence of WMD in Iraq after 1992 and Bush said that the sanction were not working but the man how was sent into Iraq to look for the WMD said that the sanctions were working
October 28th, 2004 at 4:59 am
kerry suckssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
-melinda
October 28th, 2004 at 10:51 am
Kerry sucks big time
VOTE BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ASHLEY BRITNEY
October 29th, 2004 at 12:48 pm
You area all retarded.
October 29th, 2004 at 2:12 pm
BUSH you SUCK. GO KERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bush whats 2+2 Equal.
October 30th, 2004 at 11:07 pm
No Pro Bush people can say anything smart?
October 31st, 2004 at 9:57 am
BUSH IS GOING TO WIN
October 31st, 2004 at 11:52 am
Bush sucks and so does Kerry they both pack a bunch of lies we need to pick new candidates
October 31st, 2004 at 7:16 pm
I would rather be a jackass than a fat ass, do u get it
Demo crat specken
November 1st, 2004 at 7:29 pm
I like Bush a lot…and I don’t appreciate your remarks about hIM!
November 2nd, 2004 at 9:24 am
I still think you will win.
November 2nd, 2004 at 6:13 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BUUUUUUUUUUUUUSH YOU RULE DONT LISTEN TO THE OTHER COMMENTS BESIDES KERRYS UGLY———
November 2nd, 2004 at 6:17 pm
Republicans RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULE
November 2nd, 2004 at 6:27 pm
IM SO SORRY KERRYS GONNA LOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT
November 3rd, 2004 at 10:26 am
Anyone who suports bush is as F*cking dumb as he is. You people represent apart of America that should be dead by now. You people can run from change but you can’t hide from it. Bush would F*ck over his own suporters for oil! So Don’t Ever think he is looking out for our saftey. So Go Ahead jump on the band wagon. Follow your stupid leader all the way to the gates of HELL. But people of the future will look back at you and say “WOW people were so stupid back then”. now to sum it all up for retarted bush suporters. BUSH AND HIS PEOPLE ARE THE REASON WHY WE WILL NEVER BE FREE.
November 3rd, 2004 at 4:43 pm
YOU PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR KERRY HAVE PROBLEMS! OBVIOSLY YOU PPLS
THAT VOTED KERRY DIDNT NEED TO BUSH ALREADY WON SO BACK OF WE DA MAN!
November 4th, 2004 at 7:11 am
You guys talking about vote for Bush obivously yall don’t know what’s going on. The Republican Party sucks and I don’t care who read this. Democrats all the way!!!! Even though he won I still stand behind Kerry all the way.
November 9th, 2004 at 5:58 am
Kerry sucks nuts! I got pictures! Email me I dare you.
November 9th, 2004 at 6:09 am
MY EMAIL ADRRESS IS Hotchick@AOL.com if you want to see the pictures.
November 9th, 2004 at 6:10 am
whats u bob
November 9th, 2004 at 6:11 am
bush sucks monkey balls ps i know
November 9th, 2004 at 6:17 am
Bush Rules Kerry Drools
November 9th, 2004 at 6:18 am
Aliens are coming
November 9th, 2004 at 6:19 am
kerry sucks monkey balls and bush is the monkey
November 18th, 2004 at 10:33 am
Everyone on this whole page is stupid. Hardly any of you can spell and you think that your kids or anyones kids who are groing up to vote will if you sound so retarded! You need to understand that no matter what you say to further Bush the democrats and liberals will always try to say your wrong. They can’t even find good reasons to back up their arguments. I’m a student in high school and I think I could out argue some of you. You sound like a bunch of little pussies when you say that bush shouldn’t go to war. Where was Clinton when he had the chance to get Osama? Oh yea he was to bussy lying about his affair with Monica. That’s not the kind of guy that I want running the country and dealing with national issues.
November 18th, 2004 at 10:34 am
Vote Bush
November 18th, 2004 at 10:37 am
your fags aallllllllllll of you
November 18th, 2004 at 10:38 am
I hate long faced lyers like Kerry!!!!!!!!!!!
3 Purple hearts my ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your a pussy!
December 1st, 2004 at 11:27 am
vote kerry
December 1st, 2004 at 11:27 am
bush is an idiot
i mean budya
December 9th, 2004 at 2:33 pm
why is bush even president. we would be better of with out him. all he has done with us is screw us up even more. there is no peace in america with his as comander and chief of ouer armed forces. all his lonley ass wants to do is screw us over even more. it is bush’s falt of 9-11. if he where doing his job we wouldnt be in this predicament
December 13th, 2004 at 5:40 pm
He is getting ready to screw up Social Security and put it to the poor people and the middle class by changing the tax system so the rich can make more money on the backs of the poor and the middle class! This is a real A-hole!
January 12th, 2005 at 3:53 pm
to you republicans:
YYYYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU SSSSSSSSSSSSSSUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (BALLS)