Yeah, perhaps I should stick to a far more substantial topic like how I hate it when there is a line at the post office. Oh wait, I see you covered that one already.
Thanks for your “useful” contribution.
I was surprised to learn there was any flap about this at all, I mean so what, the Repubs are selling a picture of their man acting decisevely in a moment of crisis.
I’ve still not heard any reason that didn’t smack of partisanship why I should be offended or buy the damn thing.
My guess is most opinions as to it’s taste or lack thereof will fall pretty damn close to party affiliation.
They might have raised more money with that one.
If people were not told of the date, as they were in the printed advertisements mailed out, would they actually be able to get $150 for three photos of Bush?
Personally, I think that anything that is going to be sold that is related to 9/11 should in some small way help the people affected by this tragedy.
I don’t even think this is being used for political gain. It’s something for Republicans. They aren’t using it to get votes. They are speaking to other republicans. Bush was President on 9/11. It’s only obvious and natural to use something from that day in their literature.
Now if it’s used in a political ad for the general public, then it could be a problem.
That’s the least offensive picture you could find that day. I don’t think 9/11 should be totally off limites.
The fact that Bush and the Republican party are going through with this doesn’t surprise me in the least.
The fact that the SDMB’s resident conservatives are defending this tasteless behavior is more surprising, but only slightly.
So why didn’t they use one of the many “Deer in the headlights” shots from the president’s 9/11 address at Barksdale AFB on the Texas, Louisiana border ? That was all most americans saw of him for much of 9/11.
I’d beg to differ with this statement, rjung… “resident conservatives are defending this tasteless behavior”.
I think the whole point is that some of us don’t find it tasteless at all. Personally, I’m in no way offended by the photo. Now if I defended it simply because of my party affiliation even while I was disturbed by it, that would be pretty crappy of me but that’s simply not the case. I think your statement was unfair.
:::yawn:::
You know, Robert, the next time you contribute something of substance to the SDMB, it will be the first time. You’ve been referring to me as a conservative since just about the first time we interacted, and I’m pretty goddamned sick of it.
For the public record, there have been four Presidential elections since I reached voting age. Here are my votes:
1988: Did not vote
1992: Bill Clinton
1996: Left Presidential portion of ballot blank
2000: Harry Browne
Republicans I have voted for for Federal and State-level offices:
none
Democrats I have voted for for Federal and State-level offices:
Dick Celeste
John Glenn
Howard Metzenbaum
Dennis Kucinich
Chuck Robb
J.P. Moran
Now, do you want to stop telling lies about people, or continue to be a schmuck? Does it give you some sort of perverse pleasure to misrepresent the positions of people with whom you disagree, or is it that your opinions (such as they are) are not strong enough to stand on their own without being propped up by lies?
What was it Sam Stone called you recently–“second-tier sycophants?” Yeah, that about sums it up.
I wonder where all this outrage was in the days following 9/11 when every t-shirt/memorabilia/flag/just plain stupid junk maker went into overdrive to cash in on the event? Is it ok to do that 'cause this is capitalism and ‘greed is good’?
This might be in bad taste…who knows? It seems to be a pretty good picture of the guy looking Presidential ‘n’ stuff…and I don’t even like him…
While I’m pretty non-partisan…it seems like the Dems are the only ones offended…Everyone I know who’s Libertarian, Green, Independent, etc. etc. has responded to this crisis with a resounding :o (YAWN)
jus’ my 2 cents.
From Al Gore:
I’ve got another word for it – disgusting!
I was already disgusted by Karl Rove going on record that the Republican Party would run on the war – now apparently they’ll fundraise on it too. Can’t you just feel the tone changing?
By the way, everyone here who says the fundraiser benefits either A) Republicans or B)the RNC, but doesn’t benefit Bush, is going on my Grade A Complete Moron List. Y’all need a whack from the stick o’ learnin’!
Speaking as a liberal, I don’t find this incident particularly alarming; I find the trend of the GOP capitalizing on the events of 9/11 to label criticism as anti-patriotic and to insinuate that every Democratic challenge is because of jealousy towards their ‘popular’ (read: war-time) president as alarming. This might have bothered me shortly after 9/11, but I can’t find it all that disturbing anymore compared with some of the other tactics.
Likewise, I am offended by it, no matter who is responsible. Some people here apparently can’t comprehend that though.
Don’t agree with Bush = Democrat.
I’ve never voted Democrat, don’t agree with many things they support, but that doesn’t matter. To some, I will always be branded a Democrat. Now that is ignorant.
And Lieu, I know your post wasn’t addressed to me but it raised a good point that I wanted to expand upon.
Just for the record, I thought the sale of T-Shirts and assorted crap following 9/11 was disgusting as well. And that is regardless of the party affiliation of the people selling it.
BTW, it was publicized as a 9/11 photo.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19579-2002May15.html
The only disgraceful action here is crying crocodile tears about this “exploitation of the victims.”
I guess Al needed to remind folks that he still exists. I wish he would find better ways to draw attention to himself.
For the record I am a Democrat. I voted for Al Gore and Ann Richards before that.
I saw the issue on the six o-clock news, visited the OP link and read through this thread and all I can say is **Big Fuckin’ Deal!!! **. Good God, man. What’s wrong with you? Maybe you need to start drinking or something to help you get a perspective on things.
Even the Democratic leadership seems to be having a hrad time getting worked up about this.
Off to bed with you, musicguy. And no supper.
No,it isn’t a big hairy ass deal. Rather like campaign contributors sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom. But its just the cats paw, I figure. If the Pubbies figure they can get away with it, they will flat out state that failure to vote for them is unpatriotic. Short of that, they will imply it. Is it tawdry? Of course it is. Will they do anything to win?
Is a bear Catholic? Does the Pope shit in the woods?
Like maybe tattooing 543,895 on his forehead?
The GOP sells for its own benefit a picture with a caption bragging about Bush’s “gritty determination” (and how exactly does talking on the freakin’ phone convey that?) on 9/11, and not only should it not be offensive, it’s not even exploitative?!
Many Americans murdered -> Photo taken of President’s courageous phone call on same day -> Said photo sold later to benefit President’s party
If it were Clinton, Republicans would be howling like monkeys. (Well, howling louder than usual, anyway).
Personally, I’m disgusted with Democrats who have made a stink about what amounts to a pretty good picture of the President being the President. This wasn’t a for-profit enterprise, but a method by which Republicans hope to raise money from other Republicans for their party. That’s what political parties do. If Gore had been in the White House on September 11 (and as a Democrat, I still believe he should have been, what with more votes and all) I really think he would have taken a different view of using a similar picture of himself to raise money for his party. His statement that the picture was “disgraceful” was, well disgraceful.
Please musicguy let this be the last time you force me to defend GWB. I find him personally on a par with Dan Quayle, and defending him from your righteous, though misguided, indignation is distasteful to say the least.
Isn’t complaining about the use of 9/11 photos for political gain the same thing as using htem for political gain?
If it’s so disgusting and distasteful as Mr. Gore says, then we don’t need to be reminded of it. We can make our own decisions. If you are trying to tell us that it’s disgraceful, then you are using it for political gain and being just as distasteful.