Speaking of op--er, image--I was just looking a a photo of Miss Jenna Bush and that fine young man of hers, and in my head I could hear Karl Rove snarling, "What have you done for your daddy lately, you little bitch? Stop giving away the milk for free and set a date. There hasn't been a White House wedding in 36 years--do you know how much squishy press this could give him?"

So this is what we are left with. An administration that consists of photo ops, soundbites and striking poses for the camera. The only took they have left is media manipulation and image, since they have no clue what else to do that is SUBSTANTIVE about the President's popularity ratings or the foreign and domestic shambles they have created.

-- Bokonon

Indeed, after all is said and done, that is what we're left with.

The empty shell is finally revealed for what it is.

There was a comment somewhere else yesterday:

"My fantasy is George W. Bush, all alone in the White House. Even Barney has left him. He calls the kitchen for a peanut butter sandwich and the phone rings...and rings... and rings...."

That's the best yet.

BTW, is anyone keeping an eye on Cheney besides me and Jon Stewart?

Since we're triviaizing...

A few weeks ago when Gordon Brown was here, Bush wore this awful -- I mean awful -- looking shiny blue suit -- it looked like it came out of the bargain bin at a J.C. Penney outlet store -- with a neon limish-green tie that I'm sure is considered "chic" in a European disco, but then, Bush wasn't in a European disco. I still wonder who in the hell let him be seen in public in that outfit, and what he was thinking when he wore it. Reagan could get away with different stuff, like a brown suit and so on, because he was tall, had dark hair, good skin tone, and a sort of presence, but Bush, in so many ways, isn't Reagan. If these guys are going to make image such a central part of their governing "package," as it were, you'd think they'd pay more attention to those things. Wearing that outfit and speaking next to Brown, Bush looked like a wrinkled college graduate interviewing for his first job, not knowing how to dress properly. It's bad enough the guy embarrasses us with his policy ineptitude, but this...

Martin - just Bush being, finally, Bush.

As to "trivializing," indeed -- we're acting like the MSM when we go barking after the bright shiny object. Fun chasing it, but I still worry about the dark evil guy at the other end of he hall.

Too bad it isn't honest news, because Bush looks more,and more like he's tippsy lately, very drunk, more of that ruddy face color, and it is a constant now.

AND Bush was very nearly crying when Rove left office, as seen on C-Span, and that, well, it just looks kind-of---gay?

Somehow, I just can't see Bill Clinton doing that, not ever, when his people left office - and really I can't see Hillary doing it either. Maybe it just a maturity thing.

I see why Bush drinks, he is totally insecure.

"As he loses popularity...loses??? WTF? How far down can he go? He's is the BASEment for cryin' out loud.

What a jerk.

I think he is finally coming face-to-face with his personal shortcomings, and recognizing that he isn't in control.

When delusion is overcome by reality, anything can happen. Drinking is only one way to ease pain.

He's terribly vulnerable. His bodyguards are gone. Who will help him now?

But wrap your mind around this...

Bush sees an article critiquing his fashion sense and has Dana Perino call the reporter. Condi Rice gives him a memo titled, "Bin Laden determined to strike the US" and he pretty much ignores it despite pressure from Clarke and others.

Priorities, I guess.

Bush sees an article critiquing his fashion sense and has Dana Perino call the reporter.

Yet more evidence that GWB is queer as a three dollar bill -- not that there is anything wrong with that....

Fred - self-obsession is a curious thing, and your example is exactly on-point. It also fits with the attitude that says "I don't care what you think" which is a Bush hallmark.

Disputo - more likely than gay is a Condi relationship -- think about it.

a no. of people in this thread, and in other threads on other blogs, have commented that bush's behavior seems to have unraveled a good bit over the last couple of years

poll question: do a LOT of other readers out there also have the same feeling?

I suggest they fire the leaker and only bring in Chuck Norris for fashion advice under cover of darkness.

Yeah but you gotta consider, it must make it damn hard to clear brush with gusto.

wschneid -

My response should be obvious by now -- yes, unraveling indeed.

Added comment: I'm worried. Brutus is ready to whisper in Ceasar's ear.

"do a LOT of other readers out there also have the same feeling?"

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/celebrity/63426

The National Enquirer would never print anything other than gospel truth, would they?

I never thought of Bush as gay (Condi, definitely a possibility) but remember Jeff Gannon? Someone got him into the White House on a fairly regular basis and it would amusing if Jeff had reprised his role as prostitute rather than journalist. (Although one might argue, these days, the roles are the same.)

Bottomline, Bush just reminds me of wealthy kids I grew up with. Some turned out responsible. Others never realized that their parents' (and often grandparents') money shielded them from reality, that the world did not revolve around them, no matter how much they could buy, where they could travel on a whim. What you call spoiled brats.

Make sure to watch the video.

Anyone have a clue what pushed Bush's button? Poor reading comprehension, homophobia, and an aversion to Wrangler?

Disputo - more likely than gay is a Condi relationship -- think about it.
Posted by: wileycat on August 17, 2007 at 7:47 PM | PERMALINK

Are you implying that Condi has a penis?

. . .but remember Jeff Gannon? Someone got him into the White House on a fairly regular basis and it would amusing if Jeff had reprised his role as prostitute rather than journalist. . . .
Posted by: Fred on August 17, 2007 at 8:21 PM | PERMALINK

What about his role as a blackmailer?

Yes.

How else do you think they kept the congressional discipline? Especially among Dems. I suspect they pulled Gannon out, every time Powell started to get bitchy. Probably how they keep Bush in line as well.

OSB - Perhaps she (Condi) does (have a penis). More likely her total submission to Bush is all the explanation that's needed.

Fred -once again, I think you've nailed an important characteristic of the GWBush persona -- rich kid who never needed to grow up. He hasn't, we pay the price, he's just bewildered at what's happening.

Congressional discipline wasn't Bush's doing -- Rove, Rumsfeld, Cheney kept everyone in line, using Bush as necessary and sacrificing camp-followers (Libby, Gonzalez) as necessary.

Now it's down to Bush and Cheney.

Any guesses who'll win?

Be worried. Very worried.

the emperor has no clothes...

Supersaurus - Yup. Never did, never will. Only pretend. Like ranch-hand clearing brush.

Now that it finally has been said, what happens next?

The exposed emperor will put on some clothes and take command?

Or Brutus takes over?

Or what's your guess?

Ah, Kevin.

More breathless attacks on Bush by the liberal MSM. I guess since the unemployment rate is still historically low, interest rates are historically low and the Iraq situation is beginning to markedly improve for all but the most unapolgetic Bush haters, then the newspapers HAVE to critique something of Bush's.

The rest of us will just keep on doing the hard work of - you know - actually running the country. The rest of you liberals in your echo chambers can fret about fashion.

That says it all, doesn't it. Conservatives fight wars while Liberals worry whether their dresses make them look fat. LOL!

egbert -- I think you missed the point of this thread.

Read it again. Then see if you have something for us to think about.

It's not about fashion.

Well, we know he won't be using the F-250. It's up on blocks in Fred Thompson's front yard.

Fascism, fashionista, whatever.

He might be out of sorts if the rumor going around is true - is Jenna 3 months pregnant?

In the fall of '01, a New York sports columnist who had written that Bush was not a Yankee fan received at his home a call from... Ari Fleischer. Fleischer told him the President was unhappy with his column. It was on Romenesko back then. Can't remember the name of the sports columnist... Hey, like Ari said, gotta watch what you say.

Well, since he has already put on the construction worker hard hat, the cowboy suit, the cheerleader uniform, and flight suit, might I suggest he put on the Native American head-dress, beadwork, spandex pants etc., and sing and dance in the background?

I don't buy this Bush Presidency unraveling hype.

If the timetable of this administration's unraveling conformed to our expections, much less our wishes, the White House would have been a nudist colony by now, with no clothes left on the emperor and his minions.

I guess you miss the point egbert, that it was George who called Harpers to voice his unhappiness.

He should never have called. Hell I don't care what people think about my pants or shirts.

F'em if they don't like what I wear or what the dweebs talk about.

If the timetable of this administration's unraveling conformed to our expections, much less our wishes, the White House would have been a nudist colony by now, with no clothes left on the emperor and his minions.

George knew he was gonna become a lame duck after the 2006 elections before they happened. Now, Rove is gone and I fully expect George to take the reins and do the right thing. Stop being divisive. Heal the scars that Rove left.

Man, that Egbert guy just cracks me up every time!

He should be more sensitive to the fact that an entire year of his presidency was spent on vacation.
Or to what historians are already writing about him.
And it is about failed policy, not failed fashion sense.

egbert: "I guess since the unemployment rate is still historically low, interest rates are historically low and the Iraq situation is beginning to markedly improve for all but the most unapolgetic Bush haters ..."

I've always wanted to ask egbert if he ever dropped acid or did mushrooms. That might account for his hallucinations.

And if he hasn't, I'd highly recommend that he start doing so, just to have a ready excuse available.

shortstop: "I was just looking at a photo of Miss Jenna Bush and that fine young man of hers, and in my head ..."

... I was thinking, "Stupid people really should not be allowed to reproduce."

I've always wanted to ask egbert if he ever dropped acid or did mushrooms.

Far too dangerous a practice for a Republican. When you can't tell your hallucinations from reality and start acting on them as though they were real... oh, hell, maybe it'd change nothing.

There must surely somewhere be a pastiche of the Boy Dauphin in all of his oh-so-splendid costumes.

Since we're trivializing (even moreso),

Bush owns a pig farm, last I knew.

Hogs are not an animal one ranches. The latter include cattle, sheep, goats, and more. (Hey, suburban guy who isn't playing dressup with boots and cowboy hat here.)

But not pigs.

With apologies for being the skunk at the picnic:

A party which will likely be running a woman for president should be afraid--should be very afraid--when it sees the reflexive sexism and misogyny of so many of its male members. I'm referring to the comments above, not to Kevin's post.

(Again, with apologies for slurring the saints: If you don't know why Keith mocks the blondes every night, just reread this post's comments.)

Kevin,
Your Bush wear comment missed an outstanding snark line that no doubt riled the Prez.

Whyever or however did you not include the below quotes in your piece??? The punch line that the Prez might make his future (failed) way in the world as a model for a lesser brand name made me laugh out loud.

Quote: "With only one presidential summer left in Crawford after this, perhaps it's time for Mr. President to line up work for life after the White House. Here's a thought: Follow the lead of Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who is the new face of luxe brand Louis Vuitton."

"In his Western duds, Bush easily could model for Ralph Lauren. But if his popularity is still low through the end of his presidency, he could always try Wrangler."

The edited version could be:

Perhaps it was when the offending article suggested that Bush might be well served in the future to emulate his fellow out-of-favor world leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, the new face for Louis Vuitton.

"In his Western duds, Bush easily could model for Ralph Lauren. But if his popularity is still low through the end of his presidency, he could always try Wrangler."

((Also, Cheney could advertise in the Erectile Dysfunction realm except most sentient beings think he's plenty prick enough as is.))
cognitorex blogspot

Ah, the Lupus is a'howlin this morn.

Shortstop, did you not think it was a nice touch for the engagement ring to have been ordered from Hemmerle? In that fine "Teutonic" silver of course. The Totenkopf really sets it off.

so, in addition to be the most incompetent, corrupt and destructive President ever, he is also a fucking sissy bitch.

In fairness, Jim, most "sissy-bitches" could ever, in their wildest dreams, have punched every single space on the sissy bitch credibility ticket that Bush has. I mean, it is the one thing in his life in which he has REALLY exceeded expectations. He has done everything on the list from cheerleading to verbally groping Brit Hume. The man has mastered Sissy Bitching. I give him some credit for that.
Even Rove refused to pat Jeff Gannon's ass in public.

Umm, make that: "In fairness, Jim, most "sissy-bitches" could NEVER, in their wildest dreams, have punched every single space on the sissy bitch credibility ticket that Bush has. I mean, it is the one thing in his life in which he has REALLY exceeded expectations."

I should also mention that a sissy bitch must also be a completely closeted hypocrite. It's in the rules I think.

ATTENTION, CITIZENS!

You need no longer worry about "free speech". Instead, you should rightly concern yourselves with the inherently serious risks involved in any semblance of free thinking!

Welcome to New Amerika:

Padilla Case Offers a New Model of Terrorism Trial
[The New York Times]

... "There is no need to show any particular violent crime," said Robert M. Chesney, a law professor at Wake Forest University and the author of a recent law review article on conspiracy charges in terrorism prosecutions. "You don't have to specify the particular means used to carry out the crime."

Indeed, the strongest piece of evidence in Mr. Padilla's case was what prosecutors said was an application form Mr. Padilla filled out to attend a training camp run by Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in 2000.

"It is a pretty big leap between a mere indication of desire to attend a camp and a crystallized desire to kill, maim and kidnap," said Peter S. Margulies, a law professor at Roger Williams University who has also written on conspiracy charges in terrorism prosecutions.

The conspiracy charge against Mr. Padilla, Professor Margulies continued, "is highly amorphous, and it basically allows someone to be found guilty for something that is one step away from a thought crime." ...
___________

Kevin: Sorry to once again be "off topic". But this particular piece is sheer fluff! Aren't there NUMEROUS items of FAR more pressing significance in the news lately than Bush's allegedly "manipulative" apparel choices??

... and the Iraq situation is beginning to markedly improve for all but the most unapolgetic Bush haters ...

Egbert: How are things on YOUR planet? (Obviously, you know very little about ours.)

Here on Earth nowadays, NOT being a "Bush hater" is widely considered indisputable evidence of either total ignorance of world events, or unabashed enthusiasm for the Fascist way of life, or both.

You clearly exhibit the former. Do you also, perhaps, exemplify the latter?

One of his advisors, speaking on background so as to be able always to give the president good unvarnished advice, said "Walker, Texas Ranger" was gay.

Since aWol knew no better, he became upset.

Someday, probably in the not too distant future, American families will be sitting in their living rooms, watching their children playing, and asking one another "Where were you on the day that President Bush declared nationwide martial law?"

And chatting about the good ol' days when there was a U.S. Congress and before the entire law enforcement authorities in our former democratic society hadn't been placed under the Martial Law Czar Alberto Gonzales.

Aaaah, for the good ol' days, before the only news channel citizens are allowed to watch is the Bush-sanctioned Fox News and the only newspapers allowed are the New York Post and the Washington Times. On radio, only Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly and Michael Savage are allowed, along with only Christian cult rock music and ol' time gospel music.

Of course, there's plenty of entertainment on television with "Leave it to Beaver" reruns and constant programming of Pat Robertson's 700 Club.

So, families in the not too distant future will have plenty of time to spend with their families, inside their homes, because of the curfews imposed by Martial Law Czar Gonzales and enforced by Blackwater private security contractors, with Predator drone aircraft (carrying Hellfire missiles) to back them up at close range, and U.S. spy satellites from on high.

Families will cower inside their homes, at least with those family members still present, because anyone dissenting with our country being locked down will have been carted off to one of the secret detention centers being built for $385 million of U.S. taxpayer dollars, supposedly for illegal immigrants, but with the bill containing the open-ended qualifier statement "...and for other purposes."

But how would Bush, Cheney and Gonzales pull this off?

One scenario would be Bush and Cheney ordering a preemptive attack on Iran, which would probably result in a domestic terrorist attack occurring inside the United States as the Iranians sought a way to attack us back.

A recent Bush executive order gives Bush and Cheney the ability to declare nationwide martial law even if a domestic terrorist attack is relatively limited in scope.

And in Congress, the Republicans and some Blue Dog Democrats just stripped language from an appropriations bill that would have ordered Bush and Cheney to get from Congress a war declaration before starting any hostilities with Iran.

One has to look at what BushCo has been and is doing in the context of a chess game. They've moved certain pieces into place, with one of the main pieces being Alberto Gonzales' politicizing of the Justice Department, filling as many positions there as possible with "loyal Bushie" partisan Republican hacks.

But when all these pieces are brought into focus, including the recent report that "loyal Bushie" pastors are joining a "Clergy Response Team" to try to assuage the fears of any citizens upset about martial law being declared, with one of these pastors, a guy named Tuberville, spouting something that reminds me of the "Divine Right of Kings," one has to really wonder if nationwide martial law being declared is really that farfetched.

This is a long-settled issue.

This is what that drunken poof gets exercised about.

Ranching requires livestock such as cattle, horses, goats or even sheep. Someone opined that he has pigs on that property somewhere, which technically would make it some kind of pig farm, but 'tis no ranch.

That goose-steppin' Friend of Dorothy ain't no rancher. Maybe a pig fucker, but no rancher.

A recent Bush executive order gives Bush and Cheney the ability to declare nationwide martial law even if a domestic terrorist attack is relatively limited in scope.

Oracle: As alarmingly accurate as your above presentation is, the situation is even MORE dire. The Bush Regime has clearly equipped itself with a complete package of legislation and Executive Orders that enables its implementation of a military dictatorship virtually "at the drop of a hat"!

And knowing this regime's penchant for deceit and contrivance, I don't doubt for a moment that if a desired "trigger" event did not occur spontaneously, these NeoConNazis would simply GENERATE a "false flag" incident themselves. (Those remarkably "convenient" 2001 anthrax attacks, for example, REMAIN utterly unsolved. And Dr. Steven Hatfill, the DOJ's widely proclaimed "person of interest" -- never officially a "SUSPECT", mind you -- is attempting to sue for defamation of character:)

Martial Law Threat is Real
by Dave Lindorff
July 27, 2007

... Indeed, the revised Insurrection Act (10. USC 331-335) approved by Congress and signed into law by Bush last October, specifically says that the president can federalize the National Guard to "suppress public disorder" in the event of "national disorder, epidemic, other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident." That determination, the act states, is solely the president¹s to make. Congress is not involved. ...

Fine Print in Defense Bill Opens Door to Martial Law
By Jeff Stein, CQ National Security Editor
Dec. 1, 2006