Bush, RNC Both Heart Greek Columns, Too!
You've no doubt heard about the GOP's valient efforts to make an issue today out of this Reuters story reporting that Obama will make his Thursday speech before a reproduction of "an elaborately columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple."
The Republican National Committee blasted the news out to reporters under the title "audacity watch." Lots of wingers have been chortling about this, too. We assume the idea, if you can call it that, is to suggest Obama believes he's a Greek god or something like that. You know, celeb meets the ancient Greeks. Get it?
But of course, as Ben Smith notes, in 2004 Bush accepted his nomination before a backdrop of Greek revival columns, too. Here's an image:
This 2004 ceremony, of course, would have been partly produced by none other than the RNC.
----REPUBLICAN ---KATRINA---REDUX-------------
Will Republicans cancel their convention out of respect for American citizens who are in the bulls eye of hurricane Gustav.
Shouldn't the Republicans and the country's attention be turned towards potential hurricane victims that week -
or will it just be buisness as usual for them - and just to ignore another potential repeat of hurricane Katrina and hold their Republican
Party convention for Bush and McCain in the twin cities.
August 27, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's move onto the next stupid controversy...
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
August 27, 2008 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
ditto, this is getting old
Video: Keith Vs. Chris Another Awkward MSNBC Moment
August 27, 2008 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I think it's more likely that Set Designers hired by both Repugs and Democrats like Greek columns.
[rolls eyes]
August 27, 2008 5:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain campaign has turned into a bunch of whining babies since Steve Schmidt took over. In an attempt to control the daily news cycle, they complain about every meaningless detail of Obama's campaign. When is the MSM or the Obama campaign going to start calling them out for acting like petty, immature 3 yr olds who cry to Mommy to get attention? I find it incredibly sad that they have been successful. The MSM is gleefully reporting this nonsense.
August 27, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Video footage of McCain making his $50/hr to pick lettuce - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWOZKeOauNI
Didn't McCain make a stink about Obama not giving enough credit to the troops in Berlin? Here is McCain saying American workers are unwilling to pick lettuce for $50/hr for a whole season and even says "You can't do it".
August 27, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone ever been to DC? Lots of Greek columns everywhere.
Jeez, wasn't our government inspired from ancient Greece? I thought Republicans were supposed to revere the old traditions and whatnot. But no, their mouthpieces are simply morons.
August 27, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
sorry, a bit harsh in tone. I'm getting rowed up about Greek columns for God's sake!
August 27, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the GOP will be going for a thatched-roof and dirt floor motif this year.
August 27, 2008 6:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
[snicker!]
August 27, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I feel kinda scuzzy wading into it at all.
August 27, 2008 6:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
"scuzzy". He-he. Long time, no say. Like it.
August 27, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
They'll respond that Bush was an incumbent president at the time and "earned" the right to that setting.
So I suggest we keep digging for more blasts from the past.
August 27, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The columns are already a cliche in politics, so why the fuzz? If Bush did it...
Also, tomorrow is the 45 anniversary of the "I have a dream" speech, which happened on the Lincoln Memorial, a place with columns! Some people are just unbelievable. Stop it, please!
No way, no how, no McCain: Obama-Biden'08!
August 27, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The columns stuff is ridiculous. But I think the campaign is going to commit suicide tomorrow night with another set piece:
Check out the second photo here. You know that feeling when someone you're embarrassed for someone else? Please, please don't do what I think you're about to do, Barack. For the the sake of America, call it off.
August 27, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to agree with you here, Rafter. Unnecessary. Cheesy. And stupid. I don't mind the columns at all. The faux Air Force One. Just say no.
August 27, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
and they thought the mock presidential seal was presumptuous. Ho boy.
August 27, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dear God, he's going to bring out Gary Oldman so they can re-enact the last fight scene from "Air Force One."
You can't get more presumptuous than that.
August 27, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
And who's playing the Gary Oldman part?
I can't with to see Barack saying: "Get off my plane!". That would be badass!
Now, can we move on? Please? This is just stupid.
Watch the roll call. Even CNN has STFU! Enjoy it!
August 27, 2008 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I mean to say I can't wait. My bad.
August 27, 2008 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, it's even better. After he exits the stage, he'll appear in the doorway of the faux aircraft, and while tossing effigies of Bush and Cheney from the door, will shout, "now get these motherfucking snakes off my motherfucking plane!!!
It's all part of his secret plan to make Bill O'Reilly look even sillier for doing that piece about the "mothereffing iced tea".
August 27, 2008 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hahaha awesome. Thanks for making my day.
August 27, 2008 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
kick ass
August 27, 2008 7:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the good laugh. I am going against my own advice, and getting sucked in by the "silly season" distractions. Eyes on the prize! Eyes on the prize!
August 27, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is how jacked-up this election has made me; I signed up to TPM just to neutralize your anxiety-inducing catch (for my own sanity). I think the Air Force One model is unrelated to Obama's speech, but, rather, is related to a traveling "American Presidential Experience" roadshow that's in Denver right now:
http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2008/8/prweb1257714.htm
That is, unless, there are TWO replica Air Force One's traveling around the city, which would be odd...
August 27, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whew!
Thank you for your investigative groundwork. Serves me right for trusting the misleading (but carefully crafted to be factually true?) caption from the Daily Mail: "Presidential image: A full-scale replica of Air Force One fuselage arrives at Invesco Field before Mr Obama speaks." Funny.
Looks like I owe David Plouffe a beer. Sorry, buddy, I shouldn't have doubted you.
August 27, 2008 7:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
This post is not fair . . . Whoreforhay Shrub43 thought they were geek columns.
August 27, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Repugs obviously believe the American people suffer from ADD or Alzheimers. It's an equal travesty that the people who really suffer from these afflictions are the mainstream media.
August 27, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
The issue here is that those Greek Doric columns were totally inappropriate for a Republican convention. No, for the Republicans, the Roman Corinthian style, a symbol of empire, would be more appropriate. Or even the Egytian columns with the papyrus capitals, to reflect winger sentiment circa 2004 that their leader was a god.
August 27, 2008 6:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Breaking News!!! The Republicans are cycling a memo around blasting Obama for not putting ketchup on his fries. The memo says Obama does not appreciate the hard working people who processed and shipped those ketchup bottles to restaurants.
August 27, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
He didn't put patriotism paste on his freedom fries?
August 27, 2008 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
ha!
August 27, 2008 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's a diary on daily kos that has a pretty good video footage of the stage. It's not a Greek Temple.
August 27, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yQwufJ_JpA&eurl
That roll call was just awesome! Kudos to the Democratic Party, to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Now it's time to fight the GOP and to achieve victory in November. Even CNN STFU! It was beautiful. Perfect. I'm fired up and ready to go!
August 27, 2008 6:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is two videos of Bush 2004 RNC speech:
The beginning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTHdhft42Ic
The end:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF1MnwJzbog
You know that way of entering the stage looked like something done by CELEBRITIES! Smoke, the virtual flags, if that is not presumptuous, I don't know what presumptuous is. Republican is synonymous for hypocrite!
August 27, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a Bush 2004 commercial where you can see the columns in better detail.
We made history tonight! Congratulations!
August 27, 2008 7:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy crap! Forgot the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iPnvACXXV0&
August 27, 2008 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT: Obama has just become the first black man to ever be nominated for the President of the United States.
CHEERS!!!!
August 27, 2008 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Facts are, like, totally Greek.
August 27, 2008 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's VP pick name has been leaked. Shocking details of who emerged as the winner, and why.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/leaked-details-about-mccains-v.php
August 27, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interject here...it is DONE. First African-American to be nominated by a major party for President of the United States.
August 27, 2008 7:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are we just making up our own controversies now and calling hypocrisy? What the fuck is going on?
August 27, 2008 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I wrote elsewhere and am writing here....
The columns are referring to Martin Luther King's speech at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28th,1963,
which was given exactly 45 years ago, which is the *same* day Senator Obama is giving his speech at Invesco Field.
I just hope his campaign just points this out and puts this nonsense to rest!
August 27, 2008 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently, the GOP only travel by helicopter to and from the Capitol building to the airport of one of their SEVEN HOMES and miss the over two dozen buildings in downtown D.C. with columns.
August 27, 2008 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did Victor Davis Hanson write a thundering nonsensical article when Bush used Greek columns as a back drop?
I didn't think so. No wonder this clown teaches at Fresno State. No offense intended toward Fresno State, but jeesh.
August 27, 2008 8:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
See a close up video of the stage at Dailykos! (not the helcopter vid but the behind the scenes one below)
http://dailykos.com/story/2008/8/27/15948/9884/39/576602
It isn't quite the parthenon. In fact it looks impressive: i think it will be great on tv.
August 27, 2008 8:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
un american billionaires GOP's =bigots,fearmongerin,divisive and liars!!!
August 27, 2008 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's Axelrod's response:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/debating-the-is.html
August 27, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was a bad sign then and it is a bad sign then.
Bush,Rehnquist and Obama all belong in the Pomposity Hall of Fame.
August 27, 2008 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was a bad sign then and it is a bad sign then.
Bush,Rehnquist and Obama all belong in the Pomposity Hall of Shame.
August 27, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was a bad sign then and it is a bad sign now.
Bush, Rehnquist and Obama all belong in the Pomposity Hall of Shame.
August 27, 2008 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry about the triple post -- the last having the correct edit. It kept telling me I wasn't getting through.
August 27, 2008 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink