Bush's 2004 temple (from Politico's Democratic writer)

Politico ^ | August 27, 2008 | Ben Smith

[EveningStar]

Barack Obama's appearance in Denver won't be the first convention speech framed by Greek columns.

Republicans who are mocking Obama's appearance haven't mentioned it, but George W. Bush accepted his own nomination in 2004 on a set with a similar neoclassical theme, with columns rising on either side of him, as the pictures above and below show.

[EveningStar]

Check out the comments.

[library user]

Bush earned it. He was in the military. Was Obama in the military? He was a successful Governor. Was Obama a Governor? Besides, he was running for re-election. This is Obama’s first shot at the Presidency. Obama is about as “newbie” as they come. He hasn’t earned anything. It’s all been handed to him.

[EveningStar]

I agree with you. Check out the second 4:30 comment.

[Names Ash Housewares]

That is way way subdued compared to the Obama mess.

A few columns and American flags does not a faux temple make!

[counterpunch]

Ummm... Bush’s stage was dignified, worthy of a president.
Obama’s stage is a cheesy Hollywood set that looks like a 60’s B movie set in the mythical city of Atlantis.

[Dawn531]

in 2004 Bush was already the President, the backdrop could have been a type of replica of the White House...perfectly acceptable for a sitting President.

Obama’s mistake is the presumption of importance...he’s a nominee.

That being said, I agree with other posters who have said i’ts meant to replicate the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the day MLK gave his I Have a Dream speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

[EveningStar]

Here is one lib who is upset:

"...These Corinthian/Doric/Ionic columns are a gift the Obama campaign is giving to the Republicans, a gift that will keep on giving. We'll be seeing endless clips of Barack Amid The Columns in a multitude of Republican attack ads. How do I know? Because if McCain's campaign did something this jugheaded, we'd be making attack ads of it, too. We're already hearing the drumbeat of wisecracks, even from liberal cable news voices..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lynn-grossman/obamas-greek-columns-uh-o_b_121878.html

[Steamburg]

Relativism. Wait and watch.
BTW, Notice the real presidential seal in the 2004. Who was President in 2004?

[EveningStar]

I agree with other posters who have said i’ts meant to replicate the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the day MLK gave his I Have a Dream speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Interesting point, but I still like this:

[jimbo123]

Maybe Obama will rearrange the set before tomorrow's speech to look like this:

[EveningStar]

How do you like the seal in post #9 :)

[StatenIsland]

Not even close.

Check out the Temple of barack at Invesco:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mmId6sLrro

[Steamburg]

See #9, The arugula is a nice touch.

[LibLieSlayer]

He was PRESIDENT Bush in 2004 and he was standing well in front of several widely spread columns that look like the Whithouse a bit.

barry sobetero has built a Parthenon styled god temple to feed his Antichrist ego.

LLS

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Yeah, Ben and his buddies just don’t get it. This guy is all ego and no substance. Maybe in 4 years, if he’s president, he might warrant the neoclassical setting. Tomorrow is going to look like a Nazi propaganda event... which it pretty much is.

[edzo4]

it was also at the same venue, not at another location specifically for the canidate

[voxitar]

OK, maybe I’m stating the obvious here, but Bush’s set doesn’t look ANYTHING LIKE A TEMPLE. Had they looked like a temple, don’t you think liberals would have noticed and said something about it? When one looks at the set going up for Obama, one immediately thinks of a Greek or Roman temple....this has been observed by republicans and democrats alike.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Tomorrow is going to look like a Nazi propaganda event.

Actually, the really goofy part is he is not in power as were the Nazi's. He is a would-be "der Fuhrer" which makes the whole setting laughable.

This is the problem with an entire campaign based on symbolism and posturing.

There is no meat in the sandwich.

This is the whole problem with the Democrat Party. They nominate someone who makes them "feel" good whether or not the guy is a total joke or has no practical experience to do the job.

[gswilder]

My guess is they will make some changes before the speech. Maybe hang some “drapes” or fliers to cover up part of them.

I really can’t believe they are so stupid, after what McCain has hurt them on the last few weeks.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

I would argue that my tagline defines the Democrat leadership and their brainless followers. It’s a quote from HL Mencken and he had to have these Democrats in mind when he defined the “demagogue”.