McCain-endorser Hagee Caught at Chinese Restaraunt w/Bushes, Cheney, Rice

[NOTE: this really isn't a joke, though it sounds like one]

The Bush family and GOP embrace of the religious right is at the least a pragmatic and personally profitable position, as George Bush Sr.'s recent hosting of a powerful cult leader, Sun Myung Moon, shows. But the Bush's are close to other ideologically extreme American religiious leaders, and in the summer of 2004, on June 12 after George Herbert Walker Bush celebrated his 80th birthday by parachuting into Houston's Minute Maid Park, after the day's celebratory hoopla was over, John McCain's controversial political endorser Pastor John Hagee, along with George W. Bush, George "Poppa" Bush, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, Larry King and Randy Travis made their way to an unknown, tackily decorated Asian restaurant, probably the sort of place with an ornate carved wooden door with dragons, the type of establishment that serves very strong fruity rum drinks in giant ceramic goblets sporting small tropical ceramic islands jutting out from fruity rum seas.

At the restaurant, call it an old school middlebrow Chinese restaurant with dim lighting and piped in musak, Hagee and his White House buddies probably feasted, made merry, posed for photos and discussed the evangelical GOTV effort which some credit for putting George W. Bush over the top in the 2004 presidential race against Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

In the 2008 presidential election, it's likely Senator John McCain III will be in an analogous set of photos, with Hagee, conferring on the fundamentalist GOTV effort of 2008 but those images probably will not escape into the public domain. Ever.

As the John Hagee Ministries "current events" page explained back in 2004,

'Pastor Hagee and Diana attended "An 80th Birthday Salute to our 41st President" George "Papa" Bush on June 12, 2004 held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX.

Entertainment included: Houston Symphony, Larry King, Wynonna Judd, Michael W. Smith, Bo Derek, Dennis Miller, Tommy Tune & Manhattan Rythym Kings, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Dan Quayle, Randy Travis, Ronan Tynan, Oak Ridge Boys, Crystal Gayle, Larry Gatlin & Gartlin Bros., Yolanda Adams, Lee Greenwood, Lyle Lovett and all the Bush children.'

What sort of entertainment Dan Quayle provided at the Minute Maid Park birthday celebration event is unknown, nor did the John Hagee Minstries website divulge whether Dennis Miller, Bo Derek, Amy Grant, Dan Quayle, Lyle Lovett or 'all the Bush children' were tapped for the Chinese restaurant soiree'.

The original John Hagee Ministries website page with these images has, since 2004, been taken off the Internet. An internet archive copy of the page exists but the only image which was saved with the page was that of John Hagee with Condoleeza Rice.

Unfortunately, my source for the full image set has lost the picture of Pastor John Hagee with George W. Bush but a caption in the bottom image on this page, Hagee with George Bush Sr., indicates that  a pinkish dome at the bottom of the picture is either the top of George W. Bush's, or apocalyptic megachurch preacher Pastor John Hagee's, head

[go here to view the top of GW Bush's head along with the whole full-size set of these bizarre pictures.]

•  Have a good night, y'all !

  Best, BW

  by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:59:40 PM PDT

•  I'll have an order of General Tsao's Chicken

  and a side of the apocalypse.

  by gnat on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:01:28 PM PDT

  •  That Hagee, he sure is an eater !

    Or so I've heard tell. All you can eat buffets, these the Hagee clan reportedly loves. Or did. Maybe now they're counting calories.

    by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:03:12 PM PDT

    •  He's a porker

      why are these guys so unhealthily obese?

      by anastasia p on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:06:24 PM PDT

      •  San Antonio "all you can eat" buffets...

        I've heard talk.

        by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:08:13 PM PDT

      •  Because the Have Enough Money to

        afford medical care, when the result of their lifestyle choices catch up to them.

        by Fawkes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:08:15 PM PDT

        •  Yes, that aboot sums it up !

          These are furious and hungry ids amok

          by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:13:41 PM PDT

          •  excellent phrase, instant meme

            "These are furious and hungry ids amok."

            Exactly.  I'll spread that one around.  

            by G2geek on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:18:13 PM PDT

            •  Please do !

              Actually, now that you mention it that slogan would be good on a T-shirt. But, it needs a snappy image or logo.

              Contest ?

              by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:22:22 PM PDT

              •  OK, how'bout this...

                Use Picasso's Guernica as the visual for the T-shirt.

                The power of that image, is that it is not immediately partisan but refers back to the Nazis and WW2, and the viewer can immediately grasp the comparison or at least be slightly puzzled and give it a moment's thought.

                Juxtaposing the historic image with the present-tense phrasing of "There are hungry ids amok" is the subtle hook from the past atrocities to the present ones.  (However, don't use italics or other emphasis on the word "are" or any other word in your line; it stands beautifully just as it is, inviting the viewer to wonder whose hungry ids and how they are running amok.)  You might even want to have the URL for Talk2Action under the painting though in tastefully smaller lettering so it doesn't appear to be blatant advertising.  

                And from the production angle, since Guernica was originally in black-and-white, this becomes relatively easy to do as a printing job.    

                Also the T-shirt would have plausible deniability, for example if someone was arrested, detained, or questioned (e.g. at a shopping mall, or detained at an airport, etc.) for wearing it.  "This is a statement about the decline of morality in the world today.  I'm a good Republican, let me go!"  (One never knows when one might be called upon to save oneself from a trip to the dungeon; more and worse to come if present trends continue; and dissent will have to become more complex & indirect as it was in the Soviet Union...)

                by G2geek on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:41:49 PM PDT

                •  You're good at this sort of conceptualization

                  That's a great idea. The ambiguity cuts past political lines. That's what we need right now.

                  So I'm all for it... next ?

                  by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:48:51 PM PDT

                  •  thanks; maybe we should...

                    put our heads together and come up with a bunch of this stuff, and find ways to get it into circulation, e.g. T-shirts, stickers, whatever.  

                    Where can I find your email address?    When I write to you, you'll be able to cross-check it's me by putting the domain name in as a www. address and reaching the first page of something I'm starting, and it will be obvious.

                    by G2geek on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:19:43 PM PDT

                    •  my emails's in my user profile here.

                      or at Talk To Action.

                      best, BW

                      by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:39:12 PM PDT

                      •  I'll write to you tonight; possibly shortly

                        or possibly overnight; the subject header will refer to your meme about ids so you know it's me.

                        I have a phone call; gotta' scoot for now...

                        by G2geek on Tue May 06, 2008 at 09:24:02 PM PDT

                      •  email sent. n/t

                        by G2geek on Wed May 07, 2008 at 07:36:45 AM PDT

      •  "Mine, mine, it's all MINE!!!"

        I don't know.  Do you think it relates to Republicanism, or to their desire to belie the sin of gluttony?  (If they had tusks they'd all be scarred.)

        by Yellow Canary on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:10:24 PM PDT

        •  I suspect it could be a displacement behavior

          ...tied to sex.

          by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:14:44 PM PDT

          •  That would seem to be what my friends who

            ... ply the seas call "a wide net".

            by Yellow Canary on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:17:25 PM PDT

            •  Oh yeah.

              Wide as the ocean blue. And every bit as dark and deep.

              by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:23:16 PM PDT

          •  I Like that Answer Better Than Mine

            because it's probably true & a lot more funny than my answer!

            by Fawkes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:18:02 PM PDT

        •  IIRC, that was St. Augustine

          so Hagee can pork out all he wants.  

          Besides, if they really tried, the starving of the world would all have their own televangelist empires, you know.

          by Ice Blue on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:18:05 PM PDT

        •  That sounds like Daffy Duck.

          Unfortunately, finding the right clip on YouTube is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. :-P

          by Neon Vincent on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:21:09 PM PDT

          •  I bet you're right but...

            Daffy probably ripped off somebody else's quote!

            by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:24:18 PM PDT

  •  Horsemeat, Four Ways

    Get it?

    See, in Revelations there are these horses and...

    Nevermind.

    by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:05:32 PM PDT

    •  Revelation (n/t)

      by Fawkes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:09:48 PM PDT

      •  ?

        by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:11:16 PM PDT

        •  It's just one of my nit-picky

          pet peeves.

          It's the Book of Revelation.

          Not Revelations.

          Hope you don't think I was being a dick, because I thought your horesemeat, four ways joke was funny!

          by Fawkes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:15:58 PM PDT

          •  Oh, no, that's okay

            A lot of people (including my pastor growing up) refer to it as "Revelations."  I know, it's crazy, but shit, "irregardless" made the dictionary, so go figure.

            by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:17:58 PM PDT

            •  Johnny Grammar

              My wife calls me "Johnny Grammar" and tells me to STFU (about grammar corrections) on a regular basis.

              I can't believe irregardless made the dictionary.

              I cringe when I hear it used by someone speaking in public.

              by Fawkes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:23:58 PM PDT

              •  Well, details matter !

                Empires have been toppled by grammatical error.

                I'm not being sarcastic.

                by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:28:16 PM PDT

                •  You're not?

                  What empires have been toppled by grammatical error?

                  by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:33:52 PM PDT

                  •  Actually....

                    It's probably true but I think I'd anger my historian friends if I called them at 10:38 EST on a weekday to ferret out the details.

                    Point being - history tends to be weird almost beyond belief.

                    ;)

                    by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:41:16 PM PDT

                    •  Ain't That the Truth!

                      Clinton gets impeached over a bj.

                      Congress won't even consider impeachment of Bush despite numerous violations of The Constitution.

                      by Fawkes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:55:19 PM PDT

  •  As long as they don't overdo the apocalypse...

    ... I hate when there is too much apocalypse.

    by highacidity on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:12:26 PM PDT

•  You should consider re-posting this diary...

  ...tomorrow when it will get more hits.  Tonight, I'm afraid (no, actually I'm glad) is All Barack All The Time.  As it should be.

  by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:04:24 PM PDT

  •  Oh, sure......

    I'll repackage it !

    But, I have another agenda tomorrow - alas.

    This one's fun'n games.

    But, this juicy morsel will not go to waste, please be assured.

    Best, BW

    by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:06:28 PM PDT

    •  Looking forward to it...

      ...whenever you get around to it.

      by Neon Vincent on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:13:22 PM PDT

      •  Oh, I'll do that soon enough

        In the religion 'n politics field, this one's a relative sensationalism roller coaster.

        by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:45:07 PM PDT

    •  Gorbachev in pic w Hagee: what do you....

      make of that?

      That's very interesting to me.  Gorbachev is after all a rationalist: this-world oriented, concerned with material conditions for people on Earth rather than with triggering Armageddon to get us all over to the other side.  For that matter, Bush Senior was also a rationalist by that definition, as far as we know (or do we?).  

      What are these guys doing hanging out with a nutcase like Hagee?  And for that matter what was Bush Senior doing running around with Moon?

      Is it that these nutcases control large sources of money that translate to power for those politicians who are willing to rub noses with them?   Clearly Moon has the $$, but Hagee?  He's second-tier or third-tier compared to Moon (as far as we know, or do we?).    

      Or could it be that Bush Senior and Gorbachev are both secretly cultists of one kind or another?

      What's your analysis?

      by G2geek on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:13:58 PM PDT

      •  I'm guessing the reasons are more banal...

        Gorby probably thinks Hagee's a creep but is fond of Poppy Bush who, regardless of the critique one might throw at the man, still probably has his marbles.

        by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:17:05 PM PDT

        •  good points

          Gorby may have just been "being social" with Hagee.  And yes, Bush Senior is & was a smart guy; even a moderate by comparison with his wayward son.  

          Though, if Bush Senior is so smart, what's he doing rubbing noses with a third-tier wannabe cult leader?   Or is it just a matter of keeping a bunch of them around from first-tier such as Moon to third-tier such as Hagee?  

          Know what's really sad?  The fact that former Presidents hang out with cult leaders & wannabe cult leaders, rather than people such as theologians and physicists, athletes and engineers, artists and writers and composers.  

          I was reading Albert Hofmann's autobiography last week after he died, and thinking my God, this guy was an intellectual giant, and the people he hung out with were intellectual giants.  Forget the media hype about Hofmann and LSD, the man was a brilliant intellect from day one.  There was a time when brilliant minds were admired, but today it seems that cunning has won out over intelligence.  Sad.  Bloody friggin' sad.  

          by G2geek on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:27:44 PM PDT

          •  That's a winning meme :

            "Know what's really sad?  The fact that former Presidents hang out with cult leaders & wannabe cult leaders, rather than people such as theologians and physicists, athletes and engineers, artists and writers and composers."

            It would need to be distilled down a bit, but I feel it's a strong insight - one which cuts to the core and identifies what threatens to render the US a 2nd or 3rd rate nation.

            by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:35:45 PM PDT

            •  interesting...

              Know what's really difficult sometimes?   Taking a compact meme and expanding it, and taking a longer one and compressing it.  I'm having this issue with another article I'm writing at present: bridging the distance between the two-word title & the spoken presentation of it, to the lengthy written presentation of it.  Hmm...

              Anyway...

              The difficult part is to do this one without being susceptible to accusations of elitism.  Because in fact what we are promoting is a kind of elitism, an elitism of intellect and excellence rather than of worldly wealth and power.  And yet it must necessarily be open to all: even those with less horsepower in their heads or education under their belts.  

              Perhaps the way to do it (or perhaps I'm taking the easy way out) is to expand it rather than distill it:  Use it as an ongoing theme in fiction and other media.  For example, insert references in fictional stories (novels, screenplays, TV) that show ordinary people engaged with these themes.  Factory workers talking about classic literature at the pub after work, that kind of thing.  People using scientific methods to solve everyday problems at home and on the job.  

              Reinforce it with slogans on T-shirts and so on, saying for example "Anyone can read the classics," and "Anyone can do science" and "Psst!, I have a secret: you can understand math!"  and "It's more fun to think for yourself!" or just "It's more fun to think!" and let people wonder what's implied.  

              Or use catchy rhymes: "Forget the fate you're fearing / and take up engineering!", "Pray for a miracle?  / Just get empirical!"  

              This is our Secret Weapon against the mongers of fear and ignorance, and it is entirely nonpartisan.  Encourage people to use their heads.  It's not even about knowing specific facts, but about curiosity and method.  Curiosity is one of the most subversive forces on Earth.  

              by G2geek on Tue May 06, 2008 at 08:13:03 PM PDT

    •  You rule

      by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:16:05 PM PDT

      •  Been watching South Park lately ?

        Just wondering...

        by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:25:10 PM PDT

        •  Nope!

          You just rule.

          by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:27:18 PM PDT

          •  Yes, he does

            Another winner, Bruce.  :-)

            by moiv on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:30:18 PM PDT

            •  Not my doing really !

              But the real hero chooses to remain, for now, unsung.

              Bruce.

              by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:32:07 PM PDT

            •  Spot of tea, then

              by The Termite on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:32:43 PM PDT

              •  Well, that's fine by me.

                Indeed, I should drink more tea...

                ...and less coffee.

                by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:37:00 PM PDT

•  Larry King was there, too?

  On second thought, I'm not surprised.

  by Ice Blue on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:06:17 PM PDT

  •  I'm glad it wasn't Bono.

    That, I might have found a bit disconcerting. Call naive...

    by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:07:30 PM PDT

  •  That caught my eye too...

    The others are all reliable republican party hacks. Should we start asking that question about the supposedly neutral larry king too? I mean he's always been a softball pitcher but I didn't think he was a republican party hack.

    Interesting...

    by dougymi on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:15:10 PM PDT

  •  Fullsize image...

    At your disposal, you two.

    You're the ones w/the keen eye re King.

    by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:18:55 PM PDT

•  Cheney looks like he's daring us to

  make an issue of it.

  by Ice Blue on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:08:50 PM PDT

  •  Cheney is ALWAYS Daring Us to Make

    an issue about something.

    And the sad thing is, the Democrats always roll over & whimper.

    They wouldn't even make an issue on torture.

    How pathetic.

    by Fawkes on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:12:42 PM PDT

    •  But, doesn't he look mellow ?

      I'm thinking : double sized Mai-Tai mellow.

      A Cheney splurge. Usually, he watches his heart pretty closely. And, he minds his booze around firearms. This night I suspect he was letting it hang out.

      by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:30:47 PM PDT

•  Interesting "entertainment lineup"

  What did Dan Quayle do? Demonstrate golf swings? I'm also surprised to see gospel diva Yolanda Adams on there. I saw her here in Cleveland the week before the 2004 election and she told the crowd to be sure to vote, saying "Don't go playing in the bushes, if you know what I mean. I'm from Texas and I know what I'm talking about!" She's a smart gal and no rightwing nut.

  by anastasia p on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:08:52 PM PDT

  •  Well, many entertainers there are just that....

    Yolanda King's presence doesn't have to mean she buys into the reigning ideology.

    Randy Travis on the other hand...

    He's hardcore.

    by Troutfishing on Tue May 06, 2008 at 07:20:39 PM PDT