NPR reports on "warm-up acts" for Bush appearances

[ochazuke]

They feature local politicians and celebrities spewing rightist rhetoric to whip the loyal crowd into a frenzy of self-righteousness (my spin on their report). The purpose, NPR reports, is twofold:

1. Energize the base to work for the Shrub.

2. Relieve the pResident from having to say things that most Americans would find objectionable or at least questionable.

If you missed this report, it will probably repeat in the next hour or so on your local NPR affiliate.

The media should stop focusing on bushbytes and report on the hidden agenda that is not so hidden in the warm up to a public speech by his chimpyness.

[Catfight]

1. That's icky. This is how riots get started and this is how the Hitler

energized his base of hate.

[maxsolomon]

2. not a chance.

the corporate HQ has already handed down the marching orders.

[callous taoboy]

3. Let the idiots howl and scratch

their arm pits all they want. I know plenty of mild-mannered, civil folks from both parties who see through the Mepublican shit and are voting Dem this year, and I live in an extrememly conservative part of a very conservative state.

[Township75]

4. Has anyone been to a Kerry tour stop yet?

If so,I am wondering if this occurs at the Kerry stops too...I would think so.

When I saw a Clinton/Gore stop in 96, this same thing happened. I really don't understand why NPR thought this was big news or a sly Bush technique.

Can anyone comment how this relates to a Kerry tour stop?

[CornField]

6. Yeah, but I've never heard anything overtly mean-spirited

For instance, I was Edwards' first rally after being named VP. The Iowa Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson spoke before Edwards and told the following joke:

Bush being in the White House is like a turtle on a fence post.

1. It just doesn't belong.
2. You know he didn't get there by himself.
3. Someone's gonna have to help him down.

At another rally, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack spoke -- he was more brutal to the Nebraska Corn Huskers than to Bush.

[MsTryska]

5. Man they should get the whole

purlock clan to come out and rip up posters on stage. and then they can do a song and dance number....


i can see it now...the boys dressed in lederhosen, the girls with edelweiss in their hair. they can sing a cute goodbye song for all the Nazi officials and go up to their rooms, all except the cute little girl who falls asleep on the stairs....

so long...fair well...auf weidersehn, good night....



/dream sequence

[napi21]

7. I think this is pretty standard campaign tactics.

It bothers me even less when it's done for Shrub. Remember, he only lets "supporters" into his speeches anyway. If they want to rev them up, who cares!

[gbwarming]

8. I'm in favor of exposing the hateful underbellyto the public

It may be standard campaign practice but maybe hearing these ranting anti-choice haters will turn a few of the 'bush* is such a nice man' crowd. Doubt it, but what the heck.

[Frances]

9. It's the implication that Bush is encouraging

the kind of thinking and behavior of the Brown Shirts

Bush has had Zell with him and any Southerner worth his salt knows that Zell is code for racism

[LTR]

10. Sounds pretty normal to me

I went to see Bill Clinton and Al Gore in Minneapolis in 1992, and Paul Wellstone and a few others were the warmup acts.

TV talk shows usually have a comedian warm up the crowd. Rarely does the main attraction go out in front of a cold audience.

[Protected]

11. This is normal

When I saw Edwards earlier this month at the University of Maine, the Governor, Stephen King, and others were there to talk to us before Edwards arrived.