Thursday, May 03, 2007

"What Does The Media Need To Do To Help You?"

I haven't posted much about this sort of thing in awhile, mostly because it's no surprise at this point. But if you think the Oval Office bubble is a problem and that a lack of accountability has contributed to the disaster in Iraq, then it's worth keeping tabs on.

Here are the audience questions President Bush faced at a Washington event yesterday -- where, according to the transcript, the audience broke out into applause fourteen times:

1. "In May of 2006, my second cousin was on his second tour in Iraq. Corporal Cory Palmer, he's in the Marines, he was on patrol in a Humvee, and they ran over a roadside bomb. He and many others in that Humvee perished. What do I need to do, what does the media need to do to help you, so that my second cousin, and others like him, have not died or been injured in vain?"

2. "I'd like to know, like a lot of other people in this room, we have family members -- we have family members who are actively involved in the security of this country in various ways. From them, we've received positive information that we consider credible, who say about the success and the good things that are happening as a result of us being in Iraq. I would like to know why and what can be done about we, the American people, receiving some of that information more from the media."

3. "We're General Contractors of America, and what are we doing -- I don't hear anything about the reconstruction of Iraq. Could you fill us in on that? Are we doing enough, as general contractors? And we are at your disposal. And second is a personal question. What do you pray about, and how we can we pray for you?"

4. "You talked about the terror of 9/11, and what I wanted to share with you, my wife and I had our first child two months after 9/11. We named her Grace, because we felt that the world needed some grace at the time. And what I wanted to (inaudible) is the fact that our appreciation and keeping my family and also the families of America safe for the past five years is (inaudible)."

17 Comments:

Blogger SwimLFS said...

Ooh, they've put a bunch of Armstrong Williamses in the audience! Goodie for them!

5/03/2007 9:24 AM  
Blogger wendyo said...

Where do they find roomfuls of these people?

5/03/2007 9:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think GW wrote out the questions himself and had his staff hand them out to a few chosen shills. The language is curiously the same.

5/03/2007 11:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These questions read like passages from the libretto of an opera that's at once contemporary yet evocative of Machiavelli.

I laugh. I cry.

5/03/2007 11:47 AM  
Blogger Luneau Atheist said...

Looks like Jeff Gannon and Talon News are back in business!

5/03/2007 12:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is the point of all this? It seems to me that no one will be persuaded by these Potemkin audiences. Anyone who doesn't laugh at the contrivance is already in the tank anyway. So, for whose benefit are these shows put on? Do they just keep the president insulated? Does he not know what is going on at these events? Is this all Karl knows to do at this point? I don't get it.

5/03/2007 1:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am afraid you seem to believe that the general american public has a brain and USES it.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
A good portion of them behave like lemmings and would cheer Bush even on their way to the gallows.

America has been buying and supporting GW Potemkin America for the last 4 years and have not caught on that this WH has come as close as possible to being a facistic government as is possible.

On the one hand they condem the extremism of Islam, while promoting a form of Christian extremism themselves.

That reminds me of the Soviet Union and Germany of the 30's who preached TO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO.

This is the matra of the GOP.

5/03/2007 2:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have you picked up the latest spin? More violence in Iraq is a measure of our 'progress'. At this rate there is no way we can fail.

5/03/2007 4:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

From the tone of those questions I'd say they were asked for the benefit of Shrub himself. He must be in need of a few ego boosts to have this sort of show put on. I'm sure he has no problem enjoying fawning as obvious as this.

5/04/2007 6:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Since when have members of the Association of General Contractors represented the population at large? All members of AGC may not be profiting from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I’m guessing that most, if not all, of the civilian contractors in the region are members of AGC - so why the surprise with the brown-nose questions?

Must be a sad day in the White House PR Office when you can’t count on the William Buckleys for moral support. Almost feel sorry for the White House Webmaster who had to post such sycophantasy. Probably makes enough money to buy indulgences.

Folks on the left (always thought it was my side), I’ve not heard anything constructive from the jeering section. While we congratulate ourselves for not falling under their spells, many more will die for, or because of, the zealots; George W included.

5/04/2007 7:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

America has been buying and supporting GW Potemkin America for the last 4 years and have not caught on that this WH has come as close as possible to being a facistic government as is possible.

Ummmm.... read a poll lately?

Yes, it's scary that 30-35% of the country still supports this clown. I just moved back home to Alabama, and every morning there are letters to the editor about that evil Harry Reid standing in our Dear Leader's way. But these people have ZERO credibility left on a national scale. They're damned sure not going to win back the skeptical "independents" any time soon.

5/05/2007 12:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i think we all need to realize that currently we are spending 2.3 Billion dollars per week in Iraq -- and if they can string this game out another year until the election is literally looming, the Bush supporters (folks who bought the office and support him) will make another 104 Billion dollars.

that's it. that's all its about. every day in Iraq is another several hundred million dollars to the good....and with the tax code now "reformed", they don't have to pay taxes on much, if any, of it.

follow the money. follow the money.

5/05/2007 9:16 AM  
Blogger merlallen said...

george bush has to be the biggest coward who ever occupied the Oval Office, he ran and hid on 9/11 and people have to sign loyalty oaths to see him and ask their scripted questions.

5/06/2007 4:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for article!

8/17/2007 6:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for interesting article.

8/18/2007 4:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad to read articles like this. Thanks to author!

8/28/2007 12:35 PM  
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9/09/2007 5:50 PM  

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