NYT: G.O.P. Plans Spectacle to Jazz Up Convention

[kskiska]

When the curtain goes up on the Republican National Convention on Aug. 30, the supporting cast will include gospel- and country-music performers, elaborate videos, and celebrities doing what they can to help market President Bush's ideas and vision for America, one of the convention's organizers said yesterday.

But the convention will present not only politicians and celebrities on each of its four days. People from around the country have been invited to offer an invocation or benediction or to make some other short statement, said Frank Breeden, the convention's director of entertainment, who called this aspect of the program "Preachers and Patriots."

The Republicans are hoping that their convention, in New York, can help give their candidate the significant bounce in the polls that eluded the Democratic challenger, Senator John Kerry, after the convention in Boston. And so the party hired Mr. Breeden, a former president of the Gospel Music Association renowned in the Christian music industry, to help produce a show that carefully weaves the party's political message with a mix of music, star power and patriotic symbolism.

(snip)

Mr. Breeden described some challenges in trying to find celebrities for the G.O.P. event. He said that on many occasions he found there were entertainers who supported the president, or Republican ideas, but who felt their careers would be hurt if they made that support public. Mr. Breeden identified the actor Ron Silver as someone who expressed that opinion to him, although Mr. Silver said that was not exactly the case.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/08/10/nyregion/10gop.html

[Nite Owl]

1. Boring. n/t

[movonne]

2. This sounds like a real ZZZZZZZ.

[Kierkegaard]

3. The real case

is who is stupid enough to be seen publicly with a dim-witted, social pariah like *. Any takers?

[King of New Orleans]

4. this is the funniest sentence ever

Mr. Breeden identified the actor Ron Silver as someone who expressed that opinion to him, although Mr. Silver said that was not exactly the case.

[madaboutharry]

5. I really hope that this convention

comes off looking like the second coming of Elmer Gantry. I hope the go so over the top that they scare the crap out of the "normal" people.

[buff2]

6. GOP

:boring:

[Sydnie]

7. Opps, did they just out Ron Silver for NOT wanting to appear

at their party? If the guy said he thought it might hurt his career if he openly supported Bush*, then wouldn't it make sense to keep that info, and the name to yourself?

Oh wait, never mind. They can't even seem to do that with CIA operatives either, can they?

[Bandit]

51. That was the point

They did this as a warning to any that want to use that excuse. They have no heart or no soul.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. I had a vision...

That in the midst of their white-bread entertainment, all of a sudden, Al Jourgenson and Trent Reznor and their combined bands appear on the stage and drill a bigassed sonic hole in all their heads. ;-)

[sandraj]

62. LOL

that was good :)

[Cha]

9. In other words they are going to Try and copy the

Spectacular Dem convention. Except there will be one Huge difference..anyone they trot up there will have greed in their hearts and rust in their brains.

[progressivebydesign]

10. "preachers and patriots"

pardon me while I :puke:

A real barn-burner they have planned. Too bad only the hickest, evangelical, fundamentalists, would find that interesting. Bummer about the intellectuals, corporate leaders, and financially elite that would have to stomach that crap. Sounds like Branson in NYC. Whoo Hoo!!!

[SOS]

20. "preachers and patriots"

They're inviting Al Sharpton and Ted Kennedy?

[Dem2theMax]

27. "preachers and patriots"

Hey, I wanted to say that! So I will. :)

"preachers and patriots?" :puke:

As for Ron Silver, I've never heard of him. Hope that doesn't hurt his career. :evilgrin:

[Carolab]

34. A two-bit actor n/t

[theblasmo]

40. Ron Silver was...

...the bad man in Timecop. Too bad he's an egotistical schmuck. It makes his turn in Heat Vision and Jack much more "method" than I first perceived.
David Murphy

[Tight_rope]

61. "Preachers and Patriots."? What about real "PEOPLE"!

Real "PEOPLE" like firemen, policemen, teachers, nurses, doctors mothers, father, soldiers (with a mind of their own)

I need to :puke: too.

[MichiganVote]

11. Just wondering how many country and western bar songs they'll sing

Maybe we should send them our favorites.

[iamjoy]

14. Maybe They Should Try To Get Chumbawumba

for a tub thumping good time!
He drinks a whiskey drink, he drinks a vodka drink
He drinks a lager drink, he drinks a cider drink

only hopefully they'll only think they're winning

interesting note - tub thumping is British (17th century) slang that means something close to bible thumping

[MichiganVote]

21. Ok, I've looked up some numbers for the repub's

The 2004 Republican Convention song selection
(Real songs people)

Lynn Cheney - Do You Love As Good As You Look?

Condi Rice - Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?

George Bush - Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through The Goalposts Of Life
George Bush - How Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life?

Karl Rove - Get Your Biscuits In The Oven And Your Buns In The Bed

Laura Bush - Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth 'Cause I'm Kissing You Goodbye
Laura Bush - You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly

Cheney - Her Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure

Tom Ridge - How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?

Paul Wolfowicz - I Been Roped And Thrown By Jesus In The Holy Ghost Corral
Paul Wolfowicz - Oh, I've Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are Slipping Down

Rumsfeld - My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love Jesus

And a few other favorites,
I Changed Her Oil, She Changed My Life
I Don't Know Whether To Kill Myself Or Go Bowling
I Fell In A Pile Of You And Got Love All Over Me
I Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart.
I Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You
I Wanna Whip Your Cow
I Would Have Wrote You A Letter, But I Couldn't Spell Yuck!
I Wouldn't Take Her To A Dawg Fight, Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win
I'd Rather Have A Bottle In Front Of Me Than A Frontal Lobotomy
I'm Just A Bug On The Windshield Of Life
I'm The Only Hell Mama Ever Raised
I've Been Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart
I've Got The Hungries For Your Love And I'm Waiting In Your Welfare Line
If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You
If Love Were Oil, I'd Be A Quart Low
If My Nose Were Full of Nickels, I'd Blow It All On You
If The Phone Don't Ring, Baby, You'll Know It's Me
If You Don't Leave Me Alone, I'll Go And Find Someone Else Who Will
If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?
Mama Get The Hammer (There's A Fly On Papa's Head)
May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
My Every Day Silver Is Plastic
My John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, While Your Dear John Was Breaking My Heart
My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend, And I Sure Do Miss Him
, But Baby I Can See Through You
Pardon Me, I've Got Someone To Kill
She Got The Gold Mine And I Got The Shaft
She Got The Ring And I Got The Finger
She Made Toothpicks Out Of The Timber Of My Heart
She's Got Freckles On Her, But She's Pretty
Thank God And Greyhound She's Gone
They May Put Me In Prison, But They Can't Stop My Face From Breakin' Out
Velcro Arms, Teflon Heart
When You Leave Walk Out Backwards, So I'll Think You're Walking In
You Can't Have Your Kate And Edith Too
You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd
You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat
You Were Only A Splinter As I Slid Down The Bannister Of Life

[DBoon]

24. You are making these song titles up, aren't you?

Don't tell me country music is really this bad, is it?

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

50. I recognize a couple of those.

A lot of wierd shit came out of the early days of that genre. Most songs of that type are pretty tongue-in-cheek, and are not meant to be taken seriously.

[MichiganVote]

66. All real songs. I looked them up on Google

[iamjoy]

58. Poisoning Pigeons In The Park

you forgot that one.
I haven't heard of most of these songs!

What About
"Welcome To Paradise" of course, that's progressive, not country!

[calimary]

30. Or, how 'bout a good old-fashioned witch burning?

With bonfires?

[stevedeshazer]

12. One hour a night network coverage

If they try to work all that in, it's look like the Lawrence Welk Show. :evilgrin:

[gratuitous]

15. Whaddya mean? Gavel-to-gavel on all four networks!

Why, this will be the most significant and spectacular national convention in our country's history, as the man who stood up to the September 11 terrorists is nominated again by his party, and acclaimed by a grateful nation as its Greatest President Ever!

And anyone that says different just hates Amurika!

[stevedeshazer]

23. I really wish coverage was gavel-to-gavel on the networks

Send in the clowns. I like freak shows. Especially when they play dress-up.

Hey, it beats "Wheel of Fortune" reruns....

[iamjoy]

13. Ron Silver Is a Whore

I saw him earlier this year on Bill Mahr, spouting all this Conservative stuff & I'm like, wait a minute, Bruno Gianelli - the man who helped a liberal like Jed Bartlett get re-elected - is a Right Winger?

I know I shouldn't confuse actors with their roles, but it just seemed odd that a Right Winger would shill for such a liberal cause

[Lugnut]

16. Oh, wow!

I'm going to have to miss it. I'll be at the beach that week. What a shame. /sarcasm

[goclark]

17. They are in New York and that is the best they can do?

All those fabulous entertainers on Broadway, why can't they be highlighted?

What about the cast from Raisin In The Sun - LOL

I forgot, so many "liberals." LOL

[DBoon]

25. It's that loyalty oath thing

really reduces the pool of talent a bit when you gotta be a registered republican and sign an oath vowing your undying support of everything Bush stands for.

[yellowcanine]

18. If they have a preachy gospel fest they are going to drive away

swing voters in droves.

[grasswire]

19. sounds suspiciously like.....

....a cross between Hee Haw, Trinity Broadcast Network, and Up With People.

I can hardly wait. Popcorn, lots of popcorn!!

[SoCalDem]

22. Every 4 years we get the GOP Traveling Minstrel Show

yawn!!

I feel embarrassed for the performers, but I guess they are well paid, and if they want the gig..it's their business :)

[LSK]

26. this sounds fishy

They cant be THAT STUPID? Sounds like they are planning some EXTREME right wing / religious show. Do they really think that is the base of America? They cant be that stupid. Maybe they know the fix of the election is on and they DONT CARE.

[calimary]

28. Oh delightful. Gospel and country music. My two faves. NOT!!!

Man, THAT'S enough to make me wanna tune out, right there. PUKE! I'm sure glad the class acts (and the fun ones) are on OUR side.

[Enraged_Ape]

29. Wayne Newton and Ted Nugent will duet on "Daddy, Don't You...

Walk So Fast."

You laugh now, but it will bring the house down. There won't be a dry eye in the place. Bush will be a shoo-in.

[TlalocW]

31. Who the hell is Ron Silver?

Time to check IMDB.COM. Sounds like a porn name to me.

Well, he's certainly been in quite a few movies and TV shows - the only one that I've seen is "Oh, God! You Devil!"

Big time name there. Kind of reminds me of Rick Santorum getting his celebrities - Marvin Winans, Darrell Green, Dean Jones, and Pat Boone up on a podium to denounce gay marriage a month or two ago. When I saw that picture I went, "Who, who, who, and what the hell is Pat wearing - a pink shirt and an orange suit coat? Fabulous, girlfriend!"

TlalocW

[The Zanti Regent]

32. Time to trot out Pat Boone's famous shoebox pix (AGAIN)

Wonder how Prick Santorum explains this away?

http://www.bartcop.com/picidx.htm

[Malikshah]

49. Just search out Ron Silver's views on certain topics

Then you'll be able to get a better view of his political leanings.

He's a hawk. Guess when he portrayed Dershowitz in the von Bulow film, a little bit rubbed off.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

53. Dean Jones was one of Disney's stock actors back in the 60s.

He starred in The Shaggy DA, Blackbeard's Ghost, two or three of the Herbie movies, and probably several others I haven't seen. If you saw an old picture of him, you'd probably recognize him.

[Gman]

33. You guys are missing the point here

The GOP is NOT making a play for average America. They have already conceded the middle along with the undecideds to Kerry. They are playing to every nutcase right winger and evangelical they can find. This is just further proof of that. This convention will not apppeal to normal people and its not intended to. They want to reach as many crazies as they can find.

If you believe Jesus and God are working through Bush, you'll find the GOP convention entertaining.

[LSK]

35. why would they do that?

Are they planning to loose? Do they know that is a loosing strategy? Are they really that dumb?

Maybe they know they can fix the election?

[Gman]

52. They know Bush only has one chance to win

and that is to turn out to the polls every nutcase in the country. Yes, its a losing strategy but, at this point, its all they've got and they are well aware of it.

[SoDesuKa]

36. Don't Try to Train a Pig

Don't try to train a pig. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig.

[progressivebydesign]

37. Rememer "spectacle" is not always a good thing! N/T

[K8-EEE]

38. Contemporary Christian Music.=ZZZZZZZZ!!!

Seriously it has got to be the lamest of the lame!! BORRRRING!

Hey maybe they'll get nobody's favorite country singers, the Gatlin Bros, Charlie Daniels & that Achy Breaky guy.

The REAL country ARTISTS of course -- like Willie & the Dixie Chicks, anti- GWB all the way!

[wickerwoman]

39. GOP code for "We'll have some black people too...."

Of course, most of them will be catering, but it's the thought that counts.

[mumon]

41. Ron Silver?

They've really got the A-list there.

I noticed that the musicians were all being paid union scale.

That must've given 'em massive heartburn.

[Neshanic]

42. Ralph Reed and His synchronized swimming extravaganza...

Givin' it up for the Lord in the huge "Buzby Berkley Drepression Era, it ain't so bad" review. Tom Selleck in a hilarious send up of those good old days as Esther Williams in a patriotic thong. The showstopper, "It's Only a Paper Moon".

See the Charton Heston Animatronic NRA homage on stage, "My Gun, My Penis". This moving story, complete with fuzzy warm feelings, shows "Bobby Visits a gun Factory".

"The Parade of Chickenhawks" will be one of the biggest events. A fabulous parade of your favorite behind the scenes fowl, complete with a "Find my deference Scratch in the Dirt" dance number.

For the kiddies, all the Republican tots know that the lobby will have the "Iraq-a-rama". This has an age limit of 15 so get your neo-nipper signed up fast, because slots are going fast.

[JerseygirlCT]

47. I have the funniest picture in my head now... nt

[milkyway]

43. The convention sound like it'll be great! This could be huge embarrassment

for the repugs. How many undecided voters are they going to lose by trying to sell us on a Holy War? John Stewart and the gang are going to have a lot of fun with this.

[hatrack]

44. GOP Convention Schedule

9:45 AM - Invocation by Antonin Scalia - a witch will be burned and three single mothers caught in the act of adultery will be stoned to death while the Opus Dei Dancers perform

10:00 AM - Corpse of John Wayne stands at podium as tape of "Why I Am Proud To Be An American" plays in the background

10:15 AM - Rock the house with the Christian heavy-metal stylings of Stryper - don't miss the Bible toss!

10:30 AM - ZombieReagan addresses crowd ( http://www.bush-zombiereagan.com/ ) - theme - "Why you must eat Democrats' brains!"

11:00 AM - Rush Limbaugh & G. Gordon Liddy appear in blackface for uproarious minstrel show-style sendup of the illegal cocaine trade, "Blowboat"

12:00 PM - President George W. Bush disembarks from Staten Island Ferry, rides through lower Manhattan on an elephant

12:30 PM - "New Amsterdam Hoedown" featuring Toby Keith, Charlie Daniels, Lee Greenwood & Wayne Newton

1:00 PM - Burning of the Constitution

1:30 PM - 21-neutron bomb salute

2:00 PM - Potluck lunch

[Neshanic]

45. So the chimp rides in on his mom? Always a crowd pleaser.

[terrya]

46. What??? No Ricky Martin??? I'm not watching it, then!

Humph! :-)

[Neshanic]

56. Ricky's hanging with the LCR's if you catch my drift.

[0007]

48. junior riding a wild bull would grab some attention,

and I would love to see it!! A big red bull with two very long sharp horns.

[tom_paine]

54. Perhaps some night bonfires like Nuremburg. Watch for it

Of course, these Night Spectacles will be updated not only for modern Imperial sensibilities but will have been psychoengineered to AVOID connottaions with Totalitarianisms past.

However, the Busheviks have borrowed so much of the Nazi, Soviet, and Imperial Roman Playbooks, it would make perfect sense for them to borrow this on, too.

Torchlight processions, anyone?

(Naaah! That would be poor Marketing and PR)

[smirkymonkey]

55. LOSER-PALOOZA!!

Sounds like a rip-roarin', bible thumpin', tax cuttin' good old time!

[stanwyck]

57. Isn't Kid Rock

going to sing his one song? And maybe he'll wear his slashed up American flag poncho which was so fetching at the Super Bowl.

[drscm]

59. Next they'll claim Valerie Plame also wanted to appear, but

was afraid it would hurt her career.

[ItsMyParty]

60. Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies......................

..the travlin' tent show. Their playing for their red state goobers!! Even less will be watching this than the Dem Convention. Some people tuned in to see the Dem convention other than just the faithful because they didn't know anything about Kerry. Everyone has the "smoke 'em out" and "mission accompished" lines downpat and are not going to waste time trying to listen to Bush get to the end of a sentence. Not a good preacher man act to put on as the finale!!!---need to go get Benny Himm and have him heal a few people on prime time!! If they get "the bounce" mentioned in the article, then the polls are seriously bought and paid for by the corporations. People have already made up their minds on Bush.

[David Zephyr]

63. The Pro-Life, Anti-Embryonic Stem Cell Fried Egg & Bacon Prayer Breakfast.

That's the hot morning event this year.

[antonialee839]

64. Preachers and Patriots?

Why not Tarts and Vicars? What with all the media whores in attendance and that creepy Jerry Falwell lurking in the shadows it might as well be Tarts and Vicars.

[Manix]

65. ...sounds like a redneck jamboree!