Photographing President Bush

Thank you so much. I admire President Bush greatly. The media trashed him along with many others to their eternal disgrace. His image will turn around by by virtue of Obama's success or failure - and soon.

Thanks again

Peter Quinn
Elora, ON

I believe GWB believed in himself and what he was doing.

I’m still pissed that he left their southern border wide open to third world invasion. What an abomination for the American economy and its national security.

What will that mean to Canadian’s? Well the impact of the housing crisis partially created by Senator Obamba’s & Acorns forced sub prime loans, followed by the financial crises, and the subsequent collapse of the economy to begin with. Why worry about free trade agreements when no ones buying.

2009 can look forward to continued collapse of remaining manufacturing industries, Insurance, and other financial institutes to follow, along with the bankruptcy of California the worlds 8th largest economy. Where will all of the unreported 30 million illegal third world immigrants go? Surly some will remain to work half price “the jobs newly laid-off unemployed Americans won’t do”, others may even return to their dirt farms and cardboard homes in Mexico. But dollars to donuts, what’s one more undefended border to cross, especially 3000 km long?

Exactly what Canadians need a few million economic refugees’s flooding our economy, healthcare, and social services. Considering our 1# trade partner is bankrupt, this will not bode well for us at all.

An eloquent reminder that he's not just a figurehead, he is a man. Thanks for that, Kate.

Thanks,Kate,and batb. To bad the MSM couldn't have been a bit more supportive during his terms.Hope The "O" is taking notes on how the back-biting MSM/lefty hordes can turn on you on a dime,and give back 9 cents change.

Well, it's TIME, so it will have to contain at least one bump, as in: "I was surprised to see the cult of personality ... I did not expect to see this in America". Obviously, the cat doesn't know what a cult of personality is, eh?
In the meantime, was it 13 Time covers of Obama in 2008?

While I'm bitterly disappointed with Bush's leadership, I've always felt that he was a very fine man, a man of great warmth and integrity. In fact, I think the mother and daughters are very lovely too! And did any of you see that clip of the two daughters reading their letter to the two Obama girls. Class.

On a solo motorcycle ride down to Dallas Texas (to do the JFK thing) in 2005 I swung by Crawford (grim!) and rode out to the ranch. Saw no folks, but saw the white trucks.
I was struck by one overwhelming feeling: This Man Is REAL.

As noted by other posters history will remember Bush differently than the current popular opinion would have you believe.

Above all he was a man of integrity. With "W" what you see is what you got, which in the political sphere is really rare.

Regards, BRK

Well done. God Bless that man.
Thanks Kate.

I didn't know what a ult of personality was, until I looked it up just now. This is Wiki's definition:

'A cult of personality or personality cult arises when a country's leader uses mass media to create a heroic public image through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are often found in dictatorships'

Remind yOu Of sOmeOne?

Even though I agreed with W on many of his policies I always thought that he was out of his league as the most powerful man on earth. I admire his ability to stick to a course once chosen but I often question his choices. I rate him far far above Carter and Clinton but somehow his belief in 'self evident truth' let him down in so many world events.

Yet at the end of his tenure I say to him, well done sir and God's speed.

The biggest failing of George Bush was his communications strategy. I believe he thought that if he did things according to his principles and behaved with integrity that his actions would be self-evident to all. His experience as Governor of Texas and being the son of a president in the late 80's did not prepare him for how biased the media had become. Judging by the mediocre people (Scott McClellan) he put in the communications post he obviously did not take the task seriously and this hurt him tremendously using up his electoral capital very quickly.

Clinton, even with a friendly media, had a team of attack dog spokespeople like Carville who did not let any slight go unchallenged. Clinton ran a perpetual election campaign. George Bush shunned this as beneath him. Unfortunately when 95% of the media is attacking you 24 hours a day about anything and everything you need a powerful response.

Bush just seemed resigned to negative media coverage so why bother? The reason he should care is that he eventually lost the public relations battle and his approval ratings tanked. This meant Republican Senators and Congressman did not want to tarnish themselves by being public Bush supporters. This made it almost impossible for him to push any vital program.

Harper has the same problem in Canada. He should have people like Ezra on full time retainer doing nothing but attacking media falsehoods and continuously making a case for his policies. When was the last time anyone heard the government talk about why we are in Afghanistan. I think Harper just assumes everyone knows but he needs to remind us every day - especially when the media is doing everything possible to discredit our efforts over there. Bush should have done the same thing with Iraq.

Whatever communications staff the Democrats or Liberals have, Republicans and Conservatives need twice that staff of the absolute best people available.

Re Fritz's comment:

What he said

ditto fritz

FRIIIITZ!!!

I have a very high regard for GWB, the man, and was quite moved by this essay. Thanks, Kate.

Unlike the glib and nasty lefty caricatures of President Bush, done from a distance, this portayal, done by two men, who were in intimate contact, has gravitas and a glimpse of the truth.

God bless America and Godspeed, Mr. President!

Fritz: "Bush just seemed resigned to negative media coverage so why bother? ... Harper has the same problem in Canada. He should have people like Ezra on full time retainer doing nothing but attacking media falsehoods and continuously making a case for his policies. ... Harper just assumes everyone knows but he needs to remind us every day ...

Well-said, Fritz. I totally agree -- to a point.

I had a short exchange with Stephen Harper a few years ago, when he was still Opposition Leader but actively campaigning during the 2006 election.

I gave him the exact-same advice. I told him that he had to aggressively counter all of the lies the MSM was telling about him, especially the "secret agenda" stuff. His response surprised me. He said with a quizzical look on his face, "Yeah, that's something I've never really understood." I'm assuming what he meant was that it was so evident to him that there was no secret CPC agenda that there was no need to vigorously disavow it.

Now, that's a problem. PMSH needs people around him, especially in Communications who TOTALLY do get it. One of the first principles of winning a war -- and, let's face it, politics in Canada, especially when you're a Conservative is all-out war with the Opposition parties and the MSM -- is outsmarting your enemy, which means you have to be dedicated to understanding WHO your enemy is and HOW they operate.

That said, however, one wonders whether having an aggressive policy concerning MSM lies might just turn into a never-ending mud-slinging war and become counter-productive. I remember comments programs when Beel Cleenton was president and they were often nasty, knock-down, drag-'em-out verbal slug fests. All but the most hardened political junkies were probably turned off.

I suspect that PMSH wants to avoid these kinds of undignified brawls. He also knows that he has very few friends in the media and, obviously, distrusts their principles of fairness, no matter what his communications strategy is.

I suspect that he's caught between a rock and a hard place here, but I'd love to see Ezra verbally boxing with that Librano harpie, Susan Smith, or any of the other Librano yap dogs. Bring it on!

P.S. Fritz, I quite agree about the need for beleaguered politicians, such as Bush and Harper, to not always turn the other cheek. They need to mount a principled, official defence to the avalanche of slurs and lies. By not doing so, they allow the enemy’s propaganda to stand and to take over the public perception for far too many.

By staying hunkered down in their “fortresses”, these politicians also let down their supporters: I've given up, for the most part, talking to those who believe all the lies: 1) I'd be worn down and on permanent bad terms with anyone at work or many friends and family members, and 2) I'm not as credible a source as officials, who actually have access to the facts and documentation, which they should be using and disseminating widely.

(I also picked up the cult of personality "dig". However, in the shadow of the real Obama cult of personality, this slant fell a little flat!)

I’ve actually sent this clip to some lefty friends because TIME is not known as a Bush booster. I’ve heard from one and I used the opportunity for a bit of dialogue. However, after eight unrelenting years, the Bush Derangement Syndrome carapace is so thick, I think it’s almost impenetrable. IMO, with their superior resources, our conservative politicians should be helping us out down here on the Pelennor Fields!

Agree 100% on communications failure, for both Bush and Harper. Bad as it was, the Bush team was light years ahead of Harper's. Somebody close to Harper needs to take him to the CBC website and force him to read the comments attached to articles (any article). He may try to dismiss them as basement dwellers, but he needs to get that's a huge part of Canada's constituency, and tune his comm machine accordingly.

Thanks for the tip, Me No Dhimmi. Here's the link to the Bush girls reading their letter to the Obama girls. Very touching.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28809961#28809961

This is one more reminder that Bush is neither a monster nor an idiot.

Fritz - well said. I'm enjoying your posts!

Bush felt it was beneath the office of POTUS to engage in PR wars, and unfortunately - as noted above - it snowballed to a point where the hype and exaggerations/lies soon became perceived as truth by the US public, to say nothing of the world. Even as recent as last year, Bush had a golden opportunity to place the blame for the housing market collapse squarely where it belonged: with the carter/clinton democrats, barney frank, chris dodd et al... but he remained silent. And so the idiots in charge of the bailout/reconstruction were the same ones who orchestrated it in the first place... !

Despite the lies from the media and hatred of the left, Bush made the US a safer place. He took fighting terrorism from a law enforcement (clintonian) angle to a military one, and brought the fight to the perpetrators in their own lands, rather than try to flop through in on American soil in the courts. It's worked. We'll see of obama fares any better; I hope he does, but I doubt it. Terrorists around the world are thanking him for promising to close gitmo and forbidding the military from using waterboarding on the likes of "detainees" who hack off heads and parade them in public.

I disagree with how Bush handled the economy: his abandoning free market principles with lavish government bailouts speaks more as an attempt to save some sort of legacy, but it will hurt the US more in the long run.

But most importantly, in Bush's 8 years... no other attacks occured on US soil. Let's hope we can say the same again in another 8 years.

mhb23re
at gmail d0t calm

Yes, Bush was/is a man of deep integrity and humility. Very unlike the narcissism and egoism of Obama. Cult of personality? No, he instilled patriotism of country. No cult of personality; we have that now - and can see it in our own MSM who adore Obama.

Take a look at Travers of the Star, a man who loathes Harper with as much passion as he now adores Obama. Take a look at Jeffery Simpson of the Globe, a fan of Trudeau, who also adores Obama.And watch how they will link Ignatieff to Obama.

fritz and batb - thanks for the comments about the necessity of communication. I agree that it's a serious, a very serious, problem with the Harper government.

They don't seem to understand that by not having someone confront the MSM, they allow the MSM to control information to the public. Plus, this government doesn't communicate its accomplishments to the public who remain totally ignorant of these actions. I compiled an outline of the government activities for the past two years, primarily for Ontario.

To do this, I had to search through the govt web sites which list its actions - an exhausting, tortuous task which no-one in their right mind would bother to do because each bit of information required numerous links, each taking their own creeping time to connect, each leading instead to yet another link - the whole taking hours and hours and days.

The task was equivalent to searching through paper archives in a dusty old cellar. It was astonishing that in this modern age, the government web sites are set up in such a user-unfriendly manner.

I found out, to my surprise, a great many accomplishments - dealing with the environment, with water pollution, with infrastructure, with transportation, immigration, taxation. I was stunned. None of this had ever made its way to the MSM. Instead, what we saw in the MSM were open declarations that the Harper government was doing absolutely nothing in these areas. But I had the actual facts, I had the actual financial amounts spent, the cities and towns where the activity took place - everything. Not a word in the press - except the opposite. Claims of total inaction.

Canadians get their information from the MSM and they have no choice but to believe these articles, for the government web sites which list, in great detail, the actual accomplishments are essentially impossible to sift through.

What the government needs is to acknowledge the electronic internet age, and set up a weekly easy-to-read site which outlines these actions giving the names of the towns, the actions, the money spent.
Otherwise, we remain pawns of the MSM, who are all focused around their allegiance to the Liberal party.

I agree, ET, the Conservatives should be using the Internet to get out their message and they should definitely be letting people know of their many fine accomplishments.

I do NOT understand their silence, while their enemies are full of sound and fury. This is not a winning strategy!

In watching the video, I came across a piece which I think defines Conservative thinkers in general... mine anyway...

As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history... So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures."

find it here:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/29/america/28cndexcerpts.php

Now.. if the MSM of Canada were to rewrite this; and thereby give it good airplay; it may read something like this......

As Canadians, we believe in the power of "the Liberal Party of Canada" to determine our destiny and shape the course of history... So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of "the Natural Governing Party of Canada" to make wise decisions, "to improve the partys financial standing and ensure it's futures."

Hey everyone, thanks for the thanks.

One further point. If you remember during the Republican primaries John McCain went from the leading candidate to almost bankrupt - he had to lay off most of his staff. What he did next was cultivate all of the big center-right bloggers inviting them to conference calls, giving them interviews and answering their emails. Before long he was back on top.

Stephen Harper would do well to cultivate Kate, Kathy, Ezra, Stephen Taylor and all the rest of the Blogging Tories. Not just to get his message out but also for advice in how to get his message out. If the MSM is dying and the "Internet" is the future then who better than this group to advise the right wing dinosaur politicians. For the cost of what they spend on one full page ad in the Globe or Star they could get 100 times that value if invested in a few hungry bloggers.
(ps. If this happens I only want 10% as an agents fee.)

Americans have to be thankful that Bush kept America free from attack and one must remember there is no doubt there is a big evil force of terrorism out there that want to attack and inflict damage on the United States.
Secondly in view of people making a big issue that now with a black president the great advance made by blacks they should be reminded that George Bush advanced the black cause immeasurably by putting blacks in two of the most powerful portfolios of his administration with Powell in Defense and Rice as Secretary of State.
These are but two important measures that Americans are aware of now and don't have to wait for history to measure the success of Bush's presidency.

fritz - you are right. When I was compiling my Ontario list of federal government activity for the benefit of Ontario, I came up with about 40 pages for the two years. Lots and lots of activity in key areas- such as the environment, water, roads, lowering of business taxes, public transit development. It's impressive. Again, not ONE word, not one, in the MSM press about ANY of these projects.

My suggestion was to have a monthly list of activities not only on a user-friendly web site but in local newspapers. Once-a-month Government Update - that would list the activities and programs of the federal government for that area.

It would provide the town, the program, the amount allocated. A few words about the program. These are FACTS. That list would become a factual counter to the deliberate spin of the MSM.

The ignorance of our Canadian population, not only about what our current government is doing, but about our constitution, our parliamentary system and so on - is incredible.

For example, how many times have we read in the press and on blogs that a 'coalition' is legal because it's in our constitution. When I've asked for the article that says so- silence. Why? Because our constitution says nothing about coalitions.

When we read in the MSM and blogs and listen to the Liberals about 'Conservative inaction' about, eg, environment - has anyone heard of the "Turning the Corner' plan? Nope.

Transportation? Has anyone heard of the GTA FLOW program? Nope. Anyone heard of the Clean Water plan? Nope.

So, control over information is handed on to the MSM. And we know what their goal is - Liberal power.

So, maybe we should all write to Prime Minister Stephen Harper with our ideas. I think he needs some encouragement in this area:

pm@pm.gc.ca

BTW, ET have you made your suggestions to the PMO? If not, I think you should. Send his office a copy of what you've compiled, with your suggestion of a monthly/weekly update. I think it's a great idea. Hopefully his office will too.

The 'Conservatives in Canada and Republicans in US' are not up to speed when it comes to communication. Actually they border on ineptness when it comes to fighting the 'MSM' printed or news lies.

Good post Fritz and bang on. Small example on what Lookout has encountered in her former profession. Friday night I was with several long time Liberal friends, primarily teachrs, at a bar and though we didn't discuss politics one of them mentioned I make out they are stupid to my wife with my conservative viewpoint. This is because I wont let blatant lies about conservatives like Harper and Harris just be repeated endlessly without challenge.

What is so frustrating as we all know if even factually showing what has been said are lies it makes zero impression and the lies are just repeated endlessly so I have basically given up.

Harper gave us a quick, what maybe 8 minutes, talking to the nation on the threat of the coalition and what it meant in December. I believe this was the first time he had spoken to the nation on TV. This should have been at least a half hour on what his policies were and why going into a massive deficit is not an econimically good solution. Low key talks with Mansbridge don't do it.

As you all have noted Canadians should be told by Harper on CBC television, which Canada pays for, all relevent items on what are the key issues of the day and what we are doing about it. Why we are in Afghanistan, what the economic crisis means to us, HRC and free speech, what is going on with the constant shootings in Toronto and elsewhere and so on. This should be a scheduled talk bi-monthly.

As Goebbels would be proud, talk show hosts like Leno, Stewart and Letterman have humiliated, insulted and belittled Bush for 8 years. Every night they make him out to be the stupidest guy ever and eventually people believe it.

The tough thing in Canada is there is this 20-30% core of Liberals, like my teacher friends, that you will never change but the Conservatives can reach a great percentage of Canadians even those in Quebec with sustained communications at all level. Ezra would be a good start.

If this communication of Conservative legislation is done it would make it a lot easier on us little guys defending our party's actions.

Interesting comment by the 2nd photographer that after Sept 11 he was "shocked" by the display of nationalism and patriotism of this country. Shocked? How about "pleased" or "inspired"?

George W. Bush was a man of moral clarity. Something we will be missing these next 4 years.

Semi-OT but related; the Bush daughters wrote a letter to the Obama daughters about life in the White House. MSNBC had the Bushes read the letter aloud and set it to a video. Very classy:

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/01/23/video-jennas-and-barbaras-advice-to-sasha-and-malia/

Dave, great ideas. I was just saying to my husband this morning that the PM should use his prerogative to speak directly to Canadians on a regular basis. ET's ideas are superb too.

IF the Conservatives don't start tooting their horn a little--how about a LOT--more, they'll have let all of us down.

Excellent comments from all re: Harper accomplishments and communications, especially Fritz.

I have long held that misinformation must be taken on, in two ways. First, as ET has pointed out, with a communications strategy that constantly reminds people and media of what his government has accomplished, and contrast that with the dark, policy only for power, Chretien years.

Second, be sure to take on the "hidden agenda" garbage, with pointed corrections that are handled with media savvy, not anger and outrage.

Right now, the media is set to annoint Ignatieff the Obama of the north (Travers has already tried).

They have double dog dared Harper to define him as they did Dion. But, that is precisely what they must do. Ignatieff has no legislative record whatsoever; in fact, I have yet to hear him make a single policy proposal to counter the present government.

All he can do is shake his impotent fist with "we'll take him down" rhetoric, when the truth is Liberals has no money, no policies and no leadership strategy to fight election.

Yet, the Torstar still floats the fiction that Harper's career is on the line - the only people who opine the end of Harper are his political adversaries (Travels et al included) who can't convince the Canadian people he should go.

Remember folks, every time a Liberal stands up and tells us "what Canadians want," they are always referring to "what LIBERALS want."

Harper made that point in his first contest with Martin. That point must be made continually, that the Liberals offer zero alternative, in fact they are willing to hand the balance of power over to socialist separatists.

Ignatieff has already made a serious political error, not disavowing the coalition immediately. Now, in spite of MSM finger wagging it isn't true, the Liberal leader can now be tied to the NDP, Greens and Bloc.

There is no way Ignatieff can withstand this (what should be withering) attack, should he be foolish enough to defeat the budget (he won't), then compound that with a fatal and futile attempt to convince GG to give him power.

Harper should never make the mistake Mulroney made - to try to make friends with media who entire careers had been made through their association with the CBC and Liberals.

Politely, but firmly, refute their garbage, always clearly stating CPC is more than happy to approach electorate for approval, if the opposition wishes.

IMHO, Ignatieff will become the second Liberal leader in a row to not become PM. He has nowhere near the parts to defeat Harper, to convince the electorate Liberals should be given power.

Young Liberals in their parents' basements, and media dinosaurs like Travers, won't change that.

I miss him already . such a good man deserves a better legacy than that which is being espoused by the media. God Bless you George W. Bush

Stuff missing from photo essay:

"alright, you've covered your ass." - Bush's response to agent reading him a memo on Aug. 6, 2001, warming of imminent terror attacks.

"My Pet Goat" - Bush sits paralysed with panic reading a children's book during the worst terrorist attack on US soil.

"Bring'em on!" Bush incites terrorists to attack American troops that he sent into harm's way in an ill-considered war that had nothing to do with 9-11.

"Mission Acomplished!" Bush declares victory 3 months into a war that has lasted longer than WW2 and still continues.

"Heckuva job, Brownie!" Bush congratulates the figurehead of his gov't.'s singularly grotesque incompetent response to Katrina. America deserts him, his poll numbers fall, never to recover.

Instead of being greeted wih flowers and candies, Bush has to duck a shoe wheeled at his head during his final visit to Iraq.

Leaving office as the most hated President in US history, Bush is booed by the crowd at his successor's inauguration. When his successor announces that Bush's authorization of torture will be repealed, and that the centrepiece of Bush's presidency, the occupation of Iraq, will be ended, resounding cheers are heard.

Yes, as all the world now knows - aside from the 22% dead-enders who drool over photo essays on far-right-wing websites, Bush is a man of "determination and resolve"...as much as any sheltered aristocratic blueblood who sends young working class kids to die for his cockamamie ill-considered 'hobby war' can be.

What Fritz said! (excellent contributions here, Fritz)

And batb, lookout, and ET, and yes, ET should definitely send that post about the invisible accomplishments and the user-nasty government website, and even a link to this very thread. In fact, I remember being quite surprised by ET's accomplishment list posted on earlier threads to rebut trolls and even disenchanted conservatives.

WOW,the left-liberal TIME Magazine had 2 maybe as many as 3 pictures of Pres. Bush smiling!

How'd they get those pictures past the BDS addled commisars?

Gosh, I guess 80% of the American public must have BDS, huh Mr. g?

I have nothing but respect for Bush. I hope history treats him well.

And, my God bless him.

Sandy, of Crux-of-the-Matter, has an ongoing list of the Harper government accomplishments.

Harper Accomplishments

My own document, focused around both national and Ontario, is 39 pages long, with the title: Conservative Government: We Get It Done. The sections are below. I've no idea how to post a Word document to a blog.

Sections:
A: The Working Family
A-1-1 General Taxation
A-1-2 Personal Taxation
A-1-3 Business Taxation
A-3 Health Care
A-4 Women

B: The Economy: Based around Small and Medium Size Businesses
B-1 Taxation with reference to business
B-2 Infrastructure Development for small-medium businesses
B-3 Immigration and Skills for Small-medium businesses

C: Family Safety and Crime Prevention

D: Transportation
D-1 Developing public transportation
D-2 The Environment and Transportation

E: The Environment
E-a International
E-b National
E-c Ontario: includes Great Lakes CleanUp
E-1 Biofuel Development
E-2 Water CleanUp
E-3 Contaminants
E-4 Better Energy Production

F: Municipalities and Development
F-1 Funding Municipal Development
F-2 Research on Municipal Development

As for conveying this to the government, I've written emails asking them to PLEASE, modernize their information system, and to please, communicate their actions to the public rather than silence and relying on the misinformation of the MSM. But I very much doubt that my letters are read.

Again, my suggestions are simple. Two things:

First, modernize the electronic communication system. If they must, keep the old web sites which are sheer torture to use. But set up a web site that gives brief accounts of what the government is doing. Above all, LOCATE the govt activity in time and LOCAL space. So,

Location: Town, city, etc
Activity: eg, water treatment plant upgrades
Amount of funding: 2 million

That's all. But it informs the public that the federal govt is active in their area.

Second: Have a monthly column in LOCAL newspapers, including the free newspapers in large cities that provide a list for that local area.

The key is to INFORM the public and the second vital factor is that this information must NOT be general, as in...'the govt has provided millions in assistance to water treatment across Canada'. That's USELESS. People can't visualize this; it's too general, it's too vague.

What is needed are specific, locally defined actions...such as the one I outlined above. People must be able to visualize the project.

Here's another:

Location: Toronto
Action: To enable the TTC to extend the Spadina subway
Amount: 697 million

Location: Mississauga
Action: development of rapid bus transit
Amount: 83 million

Location: Trent-Severn Waterway
Action: capital improvements to the waterway to provide clean electric power
Amount: 63 million

Location: Lake Simcoe
Action: clean up lake
Amount: 30 million over five years

Location: Canada
Action: lowering corporate income tax
Amount: lowered from 22.12% to 15% by 2012

Now - NONE of this has been reported. My point is that it should all be reported, in local presses and a government website divided into provinces.

I don't know if any of you have the capacity to ask the Harper government to DO SOMETHING but I've tried and haven't had any response.

As one who dabbles in photography I am glad to see the images that the photographers themselves thought worthy. Those two captured the true essence of the subject much like the Life, Look and Time magazines of old. Unfortunately, the current stream of editors at Time/CNN only use the photographs that "real" eludes to. (see Hack Journalism 101)

I could go on to refute all the bad press Former President Bush received but it would be pointless as leftoids like real already have their BDS and will not shake it. Talking to a post is more productive. Mr Bush has sincerity and substance, not like some recent "American Idol Does Washington" winner.

btw, is it just me or has anyone else noticed real's english and grammar has improved dramatically in the last while.

Here about 2 years ago I said Conservatives will never completely win over the public until they control the media. Before the last election I had a chance to personally have a go at Gary Lunn on this issue, his response was one of resignation and it doesn't appear that that has changed much since then.

Glad to see this issue getting some play here and can hopefully become an issue with those that should care.

I've written the PMO and referred whoever's there--Knock! Knock!--to this thread.

Honestly, if the CPC can't rouse itself to get the good news out, no one else who's on their side has the necessary resources to do it.

With all due respect, I think it's time they smartened up.

E.g., These pictures of GWB show the humanity of this fine man. The CPC needs to do the same re our fine PMSH and his fine policies, which, unlike the Liberals' "Canadians' money is our money for us", are in place to improve the lives of all Canadians. (What a novel idea!)

"btw, is it just me or has anyone else noticed real's english and grammar has improved dramatically in the last while."

Come to think of it, you're right. I hadn't really noticed since I try to make a point of ignoring gibberish.

Upon further reflection, I think the Time photoblog thingee has a whiff of the obligatory about it.

interesting to hear the Time photographer refer to G.W.B.'s "cult of personality"
I can't imagine how he'll refer to the Obamanation in a few years time.

I'm very tired of "he's a great guy, but was a lousy leader".

He kept the balls in the air, while so many around him were trying to snatch the best of them an toss them in the garbage.

In a country teeming with spoiled brats, that is no small achievement.

ET and Lookout, as I have mentioned before i have tried emails, letters, web contact and voicemails and have never, never heard back in any format a peep from the Conservative Party of which I am a paid member.

Surely as now the best conservative blog in North America the CPC must have someone who reads this blog. Kate must have some method of contacting the CPC with our concerns as she is in the big leagues now.

Dave, I get pro forma answers, "We appreciate. . . will consider . . . etc. your comments". That's all.

I'm CPC for sure--no choice--but I'm losing patience with all the lost opportunities. No, the MSM won't help, so, IMO, it's up to the party to ante up. E.g., It would be very nice to be able to send along reliable, commendable data to the unbelievers I know.

I hope the CPC insiders pay attention to what we're saying here. Generally, we're true allies.

Wow . What a presentation. Even had me in the blues. Great photography