Bush has this nice little habit of using Utahns for photo props.
During Katrina, he used our firefighters.
The Best Use of Firefighters: Props in a Photo-Op
Joshua Micah Marshall writes about firefighters as photo-op props:
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: September 04, 2005 - September 10, 2005 Archives: article from today's Salt Lake Tribune http://www.sltrib.com/... which tells the story of about a thousand firefighters from around the country who volunteered to serve in the Katrina devastation areas. But when they arrived in Atlanta to be shipped out to various disaster zones in the region, they found out that they were going to be used as FEMA community relations specialists. And they were to spend a day in Atltanta getting training on community relations, sexual harassment awareness, et al. This of course while life and death situations were still the order of the day along a whole stretch of the Gulf Coast.
It's an article you've really got a to read to appreciate the full measure of folly and surreality.
But the graf at the end of the piece really puts everything in perspective, and gives some sense what the Bush administration really has in mind when it talks about a crisis. The paper reports that one team finally was sent to the region...
As specific orders began arriving to the firefighters in Atlanta, a team of 50 Monday morning quickly was ushered onto a flight headed for Louisiana. The crew's first assignment: to stand beside President Bush as he tours devastated areas.
You can't make this stuff up.
On August 30th, he's coming to use our veterans.
(Above image from last year. Bush comes here every year to do this.)
We're tried of Bush using us like this.
We're tired of him standing next to us, hoping some of what makes us good people will rub off on him.
Some of you may have read this New York Times article.
All Polls Aside, Utah Is Keeping Faith in Bush
"When I watch him, I see a man with his heart in the right place," said Delia Randall, a 22-year-old mother from Provo, the hub of a county that gave Senator John Kerry just 11 percent of the presidential vote in 2004. "I like George Bush because he is God fearing, and that's how a lot of people in this area feel."
That's not how I see it. In fact, that's NOT how most Utahns see it. The NYT got this DEAD WRONG.
Here in Utah, the reddest state of the nation, we're ready to show the world that even here, in Bush country, we've had it.
We Utahns would love the support of the dailykos family in distributing this message at the national level. If you have a site you like to visit, just leave a little message regarding the event we have planned.
You can link people to utahvoices.org, our organizing site.
Thanks.
-grokgov
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(OUR MESSAGE)
It's time speak out. Join us.
Who We Are
We're Americans gravely concerned about the direction America is taking under the Bush administration. While we may be members of different political parties, we share a set of concerns that transcend our affiliations.
We believe the Bush administration, it's allies in congress, and the special interests they represent, are hurting America.
What We're Doing
We're sending a unified message. Regardless of our party affiliation, religious background, economic status, gender or race: we disapprove of where the current administration is taking our country.
Why You Should Join Us on August 30th
Those concerned about this administation are Americans from all walks of life, including parents, clergy, business owners, students, doctors, attorneys, teachers, nurses, retirees, and veterans, just to name a few.
We are no longer represented by a single political party, nor do we fall along the overly simplistic lines drawn by the media and politicians.
We believe you can be pro-business and pro-growth, and still care about the environment.
We believe in lowering taxes, not by giving tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% of our country, but by eliminating "pork" and having a zero-tolerance policy regarding government corruption.
We believe in a strong America, and we believe a botched execution of a misguided national security strategy has made America less safe. We see accusations of disloyalty and of 'providing comfort to the enemy' leveled against Americans exercising their first amendment rights as disingenuous and dishonest at best.
At this point in our country's history, we have an obligation as Americans to speak out against the policies and actions of this administration. This administration is hurting America. To come to the defense of our country, our democracy, and our rights transcends any notions of loyalty to a single man.
In short -- We're demonstrating and communicating the concerns of sensible, moderate Americans just like you.
What You'll Need to Attend the Event
* Have a concern for where America is heading under the current administration.
* Out of respect for ourselves and our country, we're asking attendees to dress nicely.
* Show up.