Funny: B*sh & Laura "build a house" on NBC's Today Show

[npincus]

Yes, today's photo-op was the First Couple posing with workers building a LA home (Habitat for Humanity). Unfortunately, Matt Laeur gave the Chimp a grilling on a host of plagues plaguing the WH: slow federal response to Katrina, conservative unhappiness with Miers, Iraq, the Karl Rove inverstigation... then the federal plan to address an Avian Flu pandemic. Lauer also asked whether this was a "photo-op".

As for the First Monkey, say what you will about him (and I do), he stays on message- which means you all can predict exactly how he addressed the above because you've heard it all before.

What was interesting were all the volunteer workers in the background, gazing upon him, rigid in place- one guy behind him was perched up on a ladder (a tall one- the folding type). The Chimp had a hammer or something in his back pocket.

Oh yea, the Chimp "took responisbility" again for the slow federal response, but he's "learning". Sheesh.

[Kindigger]

1. Give him a power nailer

He might hurt himself. On second thought, give it to the guy on the ladder above him, and grease the rungs.

[Skittles]

13. I should not laugh at such an idea

I............SHOULD..........NOT...........LAUGH......I'm trying, I'm really trying :o

[quaoar]

2. I run a small Habitat group in Alabama

We once had our GOP congressman come out for a work day/photo op.

He arrived with his aides and brand new work belt and hammer, told stories about how he had worked construction growing up, installed a few pieces of siding on a house, chatted with a bunch of people and left. Poof.

[meegbear]

7. And I'm sure he mucked up the process too ...

these people shouldn't have to wait an extra day because fuckhead wants a photo-op. I'm sure this is slowing down the building.

[quaoar]

12. True. But on the other hand

Habitat gets a boatload of great publicity out of stuff like that. The Habitat message, website and 800 number manage to get mentioned prominently, which is a good thing.

[meegbear]

19. That's true ...

but gimme Mr. Carter, who actually gives a fuck, as the face.

[npincus]

8. hmm.... along those lines, as the segment ended, the camera pulled way out

and up (aerial view) to show B*sh being surrounded by stage crew, presumably removing his mike, and showing the stage crew, crowd, lights, cameras, etc. circled about the scene. So, one can imagine Chimp and Laura being hustled off with their entourage, into their limos and OFF! To the next photo-op! (which is at a school re-opening in Mississippi this morning).

So full of shit.

[hippiechick]

18. that was my impression too ...

... it looked like it was all on a soundstage, not actually at a construction site.

And what was up with Laura's OUTFIT ? Yeeech. :puke:

She's no hardworkin' real woman with dirt under her nails a'la Rosalyn Carter, that's for DAYUM sure !!!

[warrior1]

3. George Bush

Your no President Carter.

[BlueJazz]

4. I believe I saw that house. I KNEW GB had something to do with it

[npincus]

10. tee hee

it's well-ventilated!

[ktowntennesseedem]

5. Great photo on the back cover of "Theology of the Hammer"

The book was written by Habitat founder Millard Fuller about 10-12 years ago, and on the back is a photo of Millard addressing a group of volunteers at a job site. Behind him are President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, and Former President Jimmy Carter. All are clearly dressed for the event, all are wearing clothing and tool belts that have seen far more than just a few minutes worth of photo-ops. And the kicker? The photo was taken by Tipper Gore.

Somehow Chimp and Pickles just don't look quite the same...

[LostinVA]

6. Please! Trying to act like he's Jimmy carter

You know, a REAL Christian President.

[Richard D]

9. The photo-op kid.

What else can you call him that has more than four letters in it. OK, well, fraud, asshole, etc. But I like the sound of photo-op kid.

[caligirl]

11. As I watched * hammering, I noticed the way he held his hammer

wasn't the way an experienced 'cowboy' would.

The faux cowboy strikes again!

[zann725]

14. I didn't notice Shrub"hammer," though I did notice at least FOUR jaw jerks

...each time Matt asked a tough question.

Wasn't it ironic how horribly UNFINISHED the "house" was when Shrub handed the keys to the lucky family? How pathetically insufficient as Shrub stood there proudly pointing to "where the bedroom WOULD be" and the "livingroom WOULD be"...some day. This "admirable" home was DEFINITELY NOT "habitable." No electricity, heating, roof, etc???This "lucky" family is going to be living through plenty of "cold" winter nights 'til the house if finally "habitable."]

How fortunate for these "lucky" victims, indeed.

[npincus]

15. Laeur Interview transcript (excerpts) here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/10/11/BL2005101100909_pf.html

[erpowers]

16. Laura Not Dressed to Work

Was it just me or was the First Lady not dressed to work on a house. I did not see her work on the house either. I may have missed her in that I was flipping back and forth and I only watched about an hour of the show. However, I did see Bush swinging a hammer a little while Laura watched from a distance. Is there anyway to find out if after the camera stopped rolling they left the scene. They are know for that kind of thing. They will make a big splash and announce that they are there and then after a short time they will leave. Just like the NASCAR race they made a big entrance and then 15 minutes after the race started they left the race. I also know all about what Bush did in Louisiana and Mississippi after the Katrina disaster.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Oh I did catch an OSHA violation

both, and I mean BOTH should have been wearing safety glasses, you can get away with not wearing them if you wear glasses.

Oh and Laura was not dressed at all for this

I have my story from Habitat, and it does not involve the chimper... it is a good story actually