Does anyone else find this arrogant and/or offensive?

[silvershadow]

Okay, perhaps this has been going on for awhile and I just haven't noticed, or perhaps it has been commented on and I just haven't seen it, but...I was watching a CNN clip (I can't even recall the topic now) and some government talking head was speaking at the podium recently, yesterday I think, and in the background was one of those standard blue signs with white lettering that the government displays for official stuff. You know the ones that say "White House" or "State Department" etc? Anyhow, the one I saw said, I shit you not, "Western White House Crawford, Texas". I couldn't believe it. I just stared at it for a minute to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I find this unbelievable. Only could this administration do something so incredibly arrogant and offensive. The White House belongs to the people of the United States. The so-called "ranch" is privately owned is it not? Or did we the people purchase it for him? Nevermind, truth be told we probably DID purhase it. I guess he needs validation while at the "ranch" that he IS the president. I don't even know what to say about this, except that I DO NOT approve for lots of reasons, not the least of which is that there is only ONE White House, and it belongs to all of us. It is more than just a home for the president and office for the administration, it is a national treasure, and a symbol of our democracy. To try to hijack the name, slap some letters on a sign, and throw it up in front of the cameras for a dog and pony show for the American people is disgraceful. I have no problem with them holding press conferences on the ranch during the month of August, as I understand that the president, whomever he or she is, has always and will continue to combine work and family/home time from a whole variety of places during their tenure, and that includes press conferences often from family homes, estates etc. But I don't EVER remember a president's home being renamed, let alone for the official White House. If Clinton had done something like this we NEVER would have heard the end of it. It reminds me of "Wag the Dog". This entire administration is nothing BUT a dog and pony show.

[peacebird]

1. bush's so-called "ranch" - the one he had built and moved into AFTER the first "election" so that

he could have photo ops clearing brush just like Ronnie did has been called the "Western White House" for years.... Ronald Reagan signed papers designating his Santa Barbara home as the Western White House - boosh has followed suit with his place in Crawford.

Roosevelt named a place in Hawaii where he worked during WWII the same.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_White_House

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. It is absurd, but it isn't new.

If i remember correctly, when Nixon held a press conference from his house on Key Biscayne in Miami, they called it the "Southern White House" and he had a "Western White House" in San Clemente, CA

[Jeanette in FL]

3. It has been going on for a long time

Since his first administration.

[silvershadow]

4. Well, then I stand corrected about it not having been done before

but that doesn't make it any less tacky.

[izzie]

5. I think you would find if you look back these last 6 years this

Bush has always acted like he was the ruler so to speak and it was his HIS govt. I can not give you a run down but I just know I have heard him talk at times and some how it has been different than other Presidents. Then just look at what these two guys have done in the WH to make it a private club for their wishes and friends. The tea pot dome stuff will be mild after this. The robbing of the tax payers money and the use of OUR military is just bad business. I am willing to bet that Bush thinks more like the last Czar than an elected leader. He has Gods rights. I find his ego just so un-Am. I can hardly stand it. With second rate people you get second rate govt. and men that need to build up their ego I guess. I have always loved the half uniform he gets into at times. It must kill him he can not dress up in a uniform.

[JHB]

6. The way to stop that...

...is to parody it: on the Daily Show, SNL, or other news-spoof show, have someone in front of such a backdrop (or digitally replace it in a clip) saying: "Former Pig Farm, Crawford, Texas" or "Western Whitewash" or what have you.

[Gin]

7. so.......does that designation mean the taxpayers pay for everything

having to do with the "other white houses"?

[silvershadow]

8. I was wondering that too...the wikipedia link upthread made me

wonder if these improvements we are making to the "ranch" go beyond what is really necessary. Of course when he leaves office, the improvements get left behind. I wonder if he has to pay taxes on the improvements?

[monmouth]

9. There's a lovely estate down here in Palm Beach formerly owned

by the Kennedys and it was known as the other White House when President Kennedy was in office...

[ccpup]

10. don't tell me you haven't noticed

the Presidential Seal emblazoned on almost everything Bush wears! There's an infamous "family portrait" taken right after he stole the Election in 2000 that shows bush sitting front and center, the bottom of his pants legs hiked up almost to his knees and the Presidential Seal on his f*cking COWBOY BOOTS! Hats, jackets, workout pants ... he'll slap that Presidential Seal on anything that will remind people that, yes, he IS the President and don't ever forget it.

Makes me sick, but that's what you get when you combine ill-gotten power with no class.

[Vinca]

11. This is the least of my worries about Dear Leader.

I'm more concerned that sometime, in between brush cutting and mountain biking, he tells Darth to take out Iran.

[janetblond]

12. Bush's ranch?

Bush's house is the "western whitehouse".
ROFLMAO!!
The nerve!
Dear Gawd: Someone impeach that idiot NOW!