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May 13, 2004
Trouble?
It seems like the administration's solution to any problem is just to show up and make some kind of scene. Trouble in Iraq? Rumsfield makes a surprise visit to Baghdad. Job losses in Ohio and Pennsylvania? Bush shows up in front of a banner that has "Job Creation" all over it. I will say that Bush's visit to Iraq on Thanksgiving probably did do a lot for the morale of the troops that were over there.
Unfortunately his advance people didn't even set him up with a real turkey to serve to the troops. That's what happens when your people put perception above all else. Even when you do something worthwhile they usually end up making it look contrived because normally that's job #1.
Posted by Chris at May 13, 2004 09:44 AM
Comments
Have you fallen for the plastic turkey legend as well?
Tsk tsk.
If you're going to promote a theory about perception being Bush's primary concern, employing urban myths might not be the best tactic!
Posted by: zachary d smith at May 14, 2004 09:59 AM
Here's where the original confusion sprang from: news reports about Bush's visit to Iraq said that Bush had served turkey to the troops, and also had pictures of him holding a big platter with a turkey on it. Then came (correct) reports that the turkey on the big platter was just a decoration and not for eating. But Bush never attempted to serve this decorative turkey to the troops. He just picked up the decoration to joke with the troops, who were well aware that this one was not for eating. At a different point in Bush's visit, he served slices of turkey to soldiers in a cafeteria-style setting. If you poke around a bit on the web you'll find pictures of this, in addition to pictures of him clowning around with the decoration-turkey.
So there was a fake turkey, but he didn't try to serve it to anyone. And there was real turkey, which he did serve to the troops. Two turkeys. Thus the confusion.
Posted by: House of Payne at May 15, 2004 04:10 PM
Picture of Bush clowning around with decorative turkey centerpiece:
http://www.deanesmay.com/archives/005624.html#005624
Picture of Bush serving slices of actual real turkey to soldiers:
http://tvh.rjwest.com/archives/003133.html
Posted by: House of Payne at May 15, 2004 04:15 PM
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