I was forced to watch the Rose Garden "speech" by bush on CNN today

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I was in the doctor's waiting room and there was a big sign taped to the bottom of the TV that read: "PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE CHANNEL!" so I didn't.

Some REALLY funny observations:

1. Anytime bush was speaking, everyone and I mean EVERYONE in the waiting room (it was packed, Mondays are busy) looked away, got on their cell phone, or talked to the person or kid with them.

Then when the announcer/talking head came back on, about half of the people in the waiting room paid attention.

Now here's the part that blew me away: when they showed Kerry speaking at a fire department in Michigan, EVERYONE turned to the TV and listened. I'm serious, you could hear a pin drop. I even saw one guy shush the woman with him (nicely) so he could hear him.

Then back to bush, back to ignoring him

This happened TWICE, guys. The first time I thought it was just a coincidence, but that shit happened twice.

Wow.

2. I don't normally ever watch or listen to Chucklenuts so it's always a little more sad and embarrassing every time I do. This time it was this (from the official transcript):

SECRETARY RIDGE: Well, 140 times our leadership was up there last year.

THE PRESIDENT: He testified 140 different times.

SECRETARY RIDGE: Leadership.

THE PRESIDENT: And --

SECRETARY RIDGE: The leadership -- under secretaries --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. I mean, it's a lot of -- he's got a lot of jurisdictions up there, and so he goes committee, subcommittee, this committee, that committee. I mean, it seems like it's one thing to testify, and there to be oversight, it's another thing to make sure that the people who are engaged in protecting America don't spend all their time testifying.

Didja follow that blinding piece of intellectual fervor?

3. The last bit of surrealism: whilst CNN was busy getting their talking heads to convince us Kerry was BEHIND in the polls against bush, there was a scrolley thing on the bottom telling us he was AHEAD of him in three different polls.

Exsqueeze me?

Not watching TV was seriously reinforced for me today. Thank you very much and Godblessamerica.

[yardwork]

1. Wonderful news! What state are you in?

I know that I read where you are from once before, but I can't remember tonight. Been a long day and a discouraging weekend since the convention. Now comes the hard long work.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Tejas baby Tejas

I saw some pretty disgusted faces and heard some VERY loud blustery sighs when bush was speaking, too. I felt like I was in a Twilight Zone episode, but a good one!

[merh]

5. Wonderful observation and experience!

Thank you for sharing it with us! :hi:

[MikeG]

3. When it ends you should say ... now watch this drive.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. Good post!

Your story about the waiting room is so revealing... there is something happening in our country and the media can't stop it.

[Booster]

12. Today I had to pickup some medicine at a local

hospital and I was wearing my John Kerry t-shirt. The guard on duty smiled and said "you can't come in here with that shirt on" and said Kerry's the man. He started to say something else and I said "please give me Bush's qualifications for being President". He got this really funny look on his face and shrugged and I said "can't come up with a thing, huh?" He smiled and gave me my visitor's pass. Man, that felt good. I'm not really sure if he was really for Bush or just playing with me, but he sure didn't have an answer.

[NMDemDist2]

6. in Texas??? too cool

thanks for watching and BTW is your health OK?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. Oh yeah

just a regular checkup type thing, thanks for asking! I was in that waiting room TWO hours!!

[NMDemDist2]

13. i refuse to let Doc's do that to me, my time is valuable too

I give them 15 minutes past the appointment time, then start making noise.

I have fired every Doc that consistently ran that far behind schedule and that is a long list....

[Frances]

7. Ever since the convention, Kerry seems to exude

confidence and authority

Maybe all of that validation he got from family, friends, and his swift boat buddies did it. I don't know.

But when Kerry spoke today in front of that fire truck, I listened because I thought I was hearing someone I could trust.

[Sugarbleus]

8. Great Post! Very encouraging....

LOL @--->Chucklenuts and Didja follow that blinding piece of intellectual fervor?

[Lin]

9. Interesting, thx. Anyone else want to bash tv when Helen Thomas was

yet AGAIN disrespected by this thug-in-chief? She was, Godblessher, spitting her question out and he actually said "not you" NOT YOU!? She was asking quest before the silver spoon was stuck in his piehole!

Oh! ..oh I get so angry.....have to stop listening to/watching * engagements (disengagements?) .....I'll take your waiting room experience to be encouraging, .....Lin

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Excellent observations on your part. Keep up the good work!