# British TV movie simulates Bush assassination **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075 "2006-09-01T15:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/1 "2006-09-01T15:07:38Z")
> **[News, Politics, Sports, Mail & Latest Headlines](https://www.aol.com/news/)** > > Get breaking news and the latest headlines on business, entertainment, politics, world news, tech, sports, videos and much more from AOL Seems in pretty poor taste to me, but I guess that’s showbiz. Have they crossed a line of good taste? Would you watch this program? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/2 "2006-09-01T15:11:55Z")
Very poor taste, but we like that sort of thing\*. The picture was on the front cover of several newspapers today and was both brilliantly done, and extremely arresting. The high-contrast B&W picture clearly alluding to Jack Ruby or Bobby Kennedy, and that era. I’ll definitely be watching it - cruddy American accents notwithstanding - it’s likely to be a very interesting speculation. \*And I wouldn’t dismiss a bit of wish fulfillment too - even though Pres. Cheney is a far worse prospect. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/3 "2006-09-01T15:12:27Z")
Actually, I’d kind of like to see this one. But then, I have a taste for alternate and future history type stuff as well the pseudo-documentary style of writing and film-making. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/4 "2006-09-01T15:20:53Z")
Now THAT’S entertainment! Why not? It’s future historical fiction. What would happen if The Decider gets plugged? Sounds fascinating to me, though the thought of President Cheney should deter even the most criminal of minds from considering actually doing it. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/5 "2006-09-01T15:36:24Z")
As for whether or not it’s in bad taste, my feelings are decidedly mixed. Using the fictional assassination of a currently living public figure as the premise of a film or a novel isn’t necessarily in bad taste. I guess it all depends on how overtly malicious or mean-spirited the overall tone of the film is. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/6 "2006-09-01T16:02:12Z")
Poor taste? No. I don’t even see how a case for that can be made. Extremely interesting? Yes. I do find it funny that the BBC is doing a pseudo-doc about “what the war on terror is doing to the American body poltik.” Americans are expected to take other country’s criticisms but if America has word one to say about another country people get really touchy. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/7 "2006-09-01T16:07:40Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] the BBC [/QUOTE] Channel 4. Not the BBC. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/8 "2006-09-01T16:11:19Z")
Odds are that it will be a one-sided Bush-bash. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/9 "2006-09-01T16:13:04Z")
I’m with **LonesomePolecat** on this one. If it’s actually a serious attempt to showcase their opinions on the American post-9/11 body politic, then I don’t think it’s in particularly poor taste. If, on the other hand, it comes across as _reveling_ in it - the sort of “Ding dong, the witch is dead” that seems to be trying to nudge people into actually getting around to it- then definitely poor taste. Also, if “Yakety Sax” is used at any point during the assassination sequence, that would be poor taste. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/10 "2006-09-01T16:15:35Z")
I have already heard that a Syrian-born suspect is blamed for the assasination but turns out to be innocent, so I think I have a pretty good idea of the slant this movie will be taking. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/11 "2006-09-01T16:17:20Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] I do find it funny that the BBC is doing a pseudo-doc about “what the war on terror is doing to the American body poltik.” Americans are expected to take other country’s criticisms but if America has word one to say about another country people get really touchy. [/QUOTE] Well not really. Americans get at least as touchy about criciticisms that any other country gets touchy about. I do find it funny that you can’t see that… ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/12 "2006-09-01T16:25:12Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] Poor taste? No. I don’t even see how a case for that can be made. Extremely interesting? Yes. [/QUOTE] I agree. As far as I can tell, they’re not actually shooting anyone. _That_ would be in bad taste. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/13 "2006-09-01T16:30:05Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] I do find it funny that the BBC is doing a pseudo-doc about “what the war on terror is doing to the American body poltik.” Americans are expected to take other country’s criticisms but if America has word one to say about another country people get really touchy. [/QUOTE] “America” can say nothing, and if Americans criticize the UK (or the Blair government), I’m sure the Brits will take in better stride than most Americans would in the reverse situation. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/14 "2006-09-01T17:21:53Z")
Eh. May make more money by using Bush instead of fictional name (I’m partial to President Dusty Rhodes and VP Bill Watts), but otherwise, it’s just fiction set in the near future. If it’s shown over here, I’d probably try to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/15 "2006-09-01T17:25:51Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Well not really. Americans get at least as touchy about criciticisms that any other country gets touchy about. I do find it funny that you can’t see that… [/QUOTE] I find it funny that you you didn’t get what I said. I never said Americans don’t get touchy. I said Americans are expected to take it. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/16 "2006-09-01T17:51:56Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] (I’m partial to President Dusty Rhodes and VP Bill Watts) [/QUOTE] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/17 "2006-09-01T18:00:11Z")
Whether or not it is in poor taste will depend on the treatment. Wait until it is seen before anyone jumps in to trash it. It’s not like Presidents haven’t been assassinated before. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/18 "2006-09-01T18:19:42Z")
It’s probably in poor taste, not totally decided on that. Would I watch it? Hell yes. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/19 "2006-09-01T18:20:16Z")
[QUOTE=Push You Down] I find it funny that you you didn’t get what I said. I never said Americans don’t get touchy. I said Americans are expected to take it. [/QUOTE] And I intimated that _so is everyone else_. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075/20 "2006-09-01T18:28:41Z")
It’s not so much the criticism from Americans which gets objected to (because, consider the source an all that), so much as the starting illegal wars and killing people. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-tv-movie-simulates-bush-assassination/371075.md?page=2)