This is how a Republican President sits: surrounded by Money and War

actually, i think most presidents sit that way.

Seriously. I mean, aren’t we sort of reaching at this point?
I heard Dick Cheney wore an orange polo shirt once. What an asshole.

I’m glad they all got the “red tie blue suit” memo.

The Military Industrial Complex, in all its glory.
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” –Dwight D. Eisenhower

I’m confused. Is George W. Bush the first president ever to have a Secretary of Defense and Treasury?
And the first president ever to be influenced by the cabinet?

President Bush is a bit too influenced, a regular Hudsucker Proxy.
Unka Duck and Karl Rove might be pulling the strings, but what do I know? Bush says he hears voices, you know. Satan? Ba’al? Grover Norquist on a bad connection?

I just think that, as much as I dislike Bush and all of his policies, it seems that the liberal side can get a little too infantile and frothing at the mouth for my taste, until we’re getting to the point that the guy can’t even choose an f-ing chair at a cabinet meeting without everyone going crazy.
I disagree with almost 100% of everything George Bush has said, but seriously. This crazy “unka duck”, “Shrub”, name calling stuff (not to mention near constant christian bashing …there are liberal democrat christians you know) is a bit…unproductive I guess.

I seem to remember a certain incident involving a haircut and President Clinton. The man couldn’t get a haircut in peace without getting slammed by the media.
Tell you what jess. I’ll give Bush all the slack the SCLM gave Clinton, no more.

that’s the way to further constructive debate!

Fifty Thousand Wrongs Make A Right! No thanks! We like it down here on the low road.

you think that’s wallowing in shit?
(ripping off blazer)
watch this!

If I remember correctly, there wasn’t any “constructive” debate on Iraq. Bush was all like, “You’re either for us or against us” and “WMD… gotta collect ’em all!” and then Bush was all like “Let’s roll!” and “Feels good!” and then “Mission Accomplished!”…
… And then Bush got bored with that disaster and went on to destroying Social Security and the Middle Class with the death of a thousand budget cuts, so’s he can give said money to his pals, the Rangers and the Pioneers.
Feel free to fill in any details I missed.

I have to say what these people are doing is so unpleasant it voids a lot of the typical rules of sporting conduct. Liberals tend to approach politics as a sabre duel but Rightists behave more like wild baboons. I’m not saying the Left should become monkeys as well but that they shouldn’t shy from pulling a gun while on the piste. Although ‘Shrub’ is one of my pet peeves. What the hell kind of insult is that? I think ‘The WASP Willie Loman,’ ‘Sub-literate Warmonger,’ and ‘Murderess-f*cking drunk-spawner’ are better.

Rosemary’s Baybee, here’s a napkin to get some of the spittle off of your monitor. You and I are on the same side.
My point is, if you want to illustrate yourself as more civilized, more level headed and indeed a better debater than the current administration, perhaps juvenile name calling, hysterical nazi comparisons and feces flinging ISN’T the way to go. Just remember the old Golden Rule my friend,
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
That doesn’t mean fall in line, it doesn’t mean accept the status quo, it doesn’t mean Love The Troops at All Costs…it just means, be the more humane.
Just a suggestion.

Didi, The pet name I hate the most for Bush is “Dear Leader”, but that’s because John Titor calls him that.
John Titor has to be wrong, he just has to be wrong.

That’s why I like you, jess. You’re kinda liberal.
I don’t bother with nuts like horns, ’cause the Bible also says, “don’t throw your pearls before swine”, which is very good advice.

I’m…a wierd conservative liberal. Christian, pro-choice, anti-war, hate unions, college educated, voted Kerry, Actually read the Bible cover to cover, still don’t hate homosexuals and I was angry about the tax cuts.
I’m a mystery, wrapped in an enigma.
And I make a mean pot roast.

I figured there was a reason I liked you jessica. Although I don’t make much off a potroast, I agree with you on the other points. There is nothing all that constructive with name calling. Booker T. Washington used to say that he “had no patience for negroes that led less than exemplary lives” (I think that’s the quote anyway, I mat have paraphrased a little). I think the same should be true of us. If we want respect, we have to earn it. One of the things I detest most about the right is their tendency to argue in debates almost solely via retoric. Retoric doesn’t show intellignce, it shows a certain unwillingness to think though.
All that said, I can’t stand Bush and company. Also, I don’t understand why he’s still in office. Also, if one of his cronies gets elected in 2008 I may very well move to Canada or Europe.

Weeell… I’ll tell you my definition of liberal and conservative, so you know where I’m coming from.
A liberal is someone who looks for the good in other people, and expects to find it.
A conservative is someone who expects the worst in other people, and expects to find it.
I know, maybe that’s a bit simplistic, but that works well for me. Of course, those two lines could be worded in other ways.
I can’t for the life of me figure out why thinking like a liberal is bad, but I guess they hung Jesus on a cross for thinking like that.
Mmm… I made this really good carrot cake for a birthday last Sunday…

ahhh, sweet liberal love. it gives me a warm feeling in my tummy!
liberals good, conservatives bad. jesus was a liberal! the people who crucified him were conservatives. liberals smart, conservatives dumb.
orgasms are liberal, e coli outbreaks are conservative. baby harp seals are liberal, the men who club them…

my mom’s pretty conservative, but she’s a very lovely woman.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, and it’s hard to follow…everybody’s different, and should be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Bizarre, I know.

bradley, I see you’ve been passing notes, do you have something to share with the rest of the class?

what are you trying to preach here, understanding and objectivity? can it! knee jerk reaction is the flava and overstatement is its sweet syrup. you baby-eating nazi communist.

I think that in a mass society government can organise resources to increase utility more efficiently than corporations or religious outfits. Beyond that we’ll fight about when we get there.
Baybee: Thanks for the tip! So Titor classifies September 11, 2001 more or less as a ‘pop culture prediction’? Man, the future is cynical.

ah, i was calling jessica the baby eater. just to clarify. because the vikes and jameson are making hard to think in straight lines.
as for notes, ah…i passed a note my friend once and it had a picture of a funny guy with big eyes but the teacher who intercepted it thought they were boobs, not eyes and threw my perverse ass into detention where a kid who took pity on my situation showed me a picture of some real boobs that he had in his wallet. i’ve loved breasts ever since.
a classic case of the Man making a criminal by imprisoning him.

Um… bradley, now you’re trolling. Do you have something to share? A point, perhaps? Observations on duality?

Okay, brad. Boobs are good. Can’t be a mammal without ’em.

I think you missed bradley’s subtle observation. Your definition of liberal vs. conservative is your favorite because it paints liberals as nothing but wonderful altruistic people and conservatives as bad, evil morans.
I know plenty of conservatives who look for the good in people
And believe me, with the advent of liberal offensensitivity and PC overload, I know plenty of liberals who look for the worst in people, assured that everyone is trying to oppress and offend everyone else.
You basically boiled it down to your definition of liberal is good people and your definition of conservative is bad people
Needless to say, I’m sure several conservatives would have a differing opinion, which you, of course, would say was wrong.
The key to a sensible debate (in which we are on the same side I have to keep saying) is in resisting black and white definitions. I do not see the Democratic Party or Liberal mindset as ultimate utopian perfection.
Howard Dean is a perfect illustration. That cat had some stunning ideas and a great plan for America, but he presented them in 100% NUTBALL FASHION and guess what…everyone turned their back. Ease up is the watchword, you know? Don’t tar everyone with the same brush.
Particularly my mom. She and I disagree on nearly all political issues, but she’s a good person, a good mother and she ALWAYS looks for the good in people.

rosemary…trolling? now i’m hurt. i’m sharing myself. if you dislike the style i employ…ah well. you’re not alone. unfortunately you’re not alone by painting the complex picture of liberal/conservative with a few simple strokes of a crayon…
“A liberal is someone who looks for the good in other people, and expects to find it.
A conservative is someone who expects the worst in other people, and expects to find it.”
this is cute in a hallmark kind of way. a bit simplistic? yeah, i’d say so. but why treat complicated issues with measured reason? the simple take is always easy to defend.

Remember, bradley.
Always use your powers for good, rather than for evil.

I gots nothing, Jess. So I’m going to quote someone smarter than myself, Kurt Vonnegut, who quotes Gilbert and Sullivan, and who makes being a liberal sound icky.
Actually Vonnegut makes being a conservative sound icky too, so I suppose it all evens out.
(mm… dunno what happened to the html, i tries again)
-quote-
Even crazier than golf, though, is modern American politics, where, thanks to TV and for the convenience of TV, you can only be one of two kinds of human beings, either a liberal or a conservative.
Actually, this same sort of thing happened to the people of England generations ago, and Sir William Gilbert, of the radical team of Gilbert and Sullivan, wrote these words for a song about it back then:
“I often think it’s comical
How nature always does contrive
That every boy and every gal
That’s born into the world alive
Is either a little Liberal
Or else a little Conservative.”
Which one are you in this country? It’s practically a law of life that you have to be one or the other? If you aren’t one or the other, you might as well be a doughnut.
If some of you still haven’t decided, I’ll make it easy for you.
If you want to take my guns away from me, and you’re all for murdering fetuses, and love it when homosexuals marry each other, and want to give them kitchen appliances at their showers, and you’re for the poor, you’re a liberal.
If you are against those perversions and for the rich, you’re a conservative.
What could be simpler?
-unquote-
The series of articles this was extracted from is here.

you’re kidding right? RIGHT? You don’t actually think that we should judge all of America based on a quote from Vonnegut and some Gilbert and Sullivan lyrics?
Do you think anything up yourself? I realize we live in a two party country…I, however, have been around long enough to see that not one person fits neatly into any category.
I don’t know what you’re trying to say with that last part, but suffice it to say…you’re sounding more idiotic with each post.

Baybee’s quoting Kurt Vonnegut. Who is making your point, Jessica. Now kiss and make-up so we can have dinner before the peopleloaf gets cold.

well if baybee is quoting kurt vonnegut in support of MY point then why was baybee trying to fit everyone into two neat categories only eight or so posts ago?
The bottom line is that there are some very well spoken, generous, loving conservatives and there are some assholish, selfish liberals.
Neither side is lily white.

The sarcasm gets a bit thick from time to time.
I think things are quite complicated but there are times when you need to say which side, no matter how imperfect, you are on, for the moment. I hold opinions far to the right and left of the typical divisions but I know which side I’m on this administration. Picking a side doesn’t affect how I think but how I express myself. There is something which must be defeated and the enemy of my enemy is my friend until that day. Think Stalin. In politics and history there is no consolation of ‘well, they played fair and didn’t stoop.’ The stakes are too high.

I agree that it’s fine to pick a side for yourself, to stand for what you think is right and good…but to propose to tell OTHERS what side they’re on definitively is impossible.

Well, actually, if I had a point, it would be that Kurt Vonnegut basically says, “There is no hope for the crazy monkeys,” and that’s what makes Kurt a conservative.
I might say having hope for the “crazy monkeys” is what makes liberals so darn swell, by golly, but then I recall all the times I’ve been appalled by the behavior of my fellow monkeys, uh… man…humans..peoples…
So, are we gonna throw pies, or what?

I’ll be honest, I dont’ even know what we’re talking about.
All I know is I love my mom, love pie and I’m literally falling asleep at my desk.

I’m fairly certain that this conversation is done, but I’ll put in my two cents anyway. I think it’s downright silly to try and fit everyone into a one category or another. Five Iron Frenzy, one of my favorite bands, has a song that says:
If I had a nickel for
Every single time I tried to classify
The populace around me with a word
Or a single phrase
I could quite my job for good and play
Nintendo till my fingers ached.
People don’t break off that easily. They just don’t. I’m a good example. I support homosexual marriage and a woman’s right to choose, while at the same time I’m a proud virgin who intends to wait until he’s married. Politically, I’m far to the right; however as far as personal morals go, I’m very conservative. In the end I vote democratically, but I don’t pigeonhole well.
On another note, I’m really jealous of all of you that work on computers and can have these discussions at work. I just wanted you all to know.

SON OF A BITCH! I get like, a three day flu, and you have a catfight over the president? Whaaaa? Where’s the “Get Low Culture Updates Sent To Your Cell Phone!” OPTION I HAVE TO CLICK TO FIND OUT WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENIN–
Anyway. I love Jesus, but don’t agree with the presidency, so I guess that classifies me as “a conundrum,” or, in my family, “the prodigal child.”
I think the REAL issue being raised in this photo is John Snow’s eyebrow, which looks uncomfortably large, and he should really have someone with a medical degree and a strong stomach have a good look at that thing. You can tell it’s no good, because Bush is leaning away from it, just waiting for it to strike…just to tell everyone that the budget is all wrong…
(by the way, my opinions are totally unfounded, because I’m an artist. As far as I know, the budget has alloted eleventeen trillion for the presidential mural of Bush throwing the silver dollar across the Delaware…made out of Jelly Bellys.)

Jesus. Some of us clearly need a hobby.

Man, I thought reading low culture WAS a hobby!
Guess it’s time to get that collection of stamps pasted on old Roman coins out of the closet again.

Man, I thought reading low culture WAS a hobby!
Time to get that collection of antique stamps pasted on Roman coins out of the closet again and get to work collecting.
Collecting things.. is hard work. It’s hard.

So, apparently, is avoiding the dreaded double-post.
mea culpa.

44 replies on “This is how a Republican President sits: surrounded by Money and War”