HuffPost's "The Bush Years" Posters: A Powerful Tool for '08

Three weeks ago, we launched HuffPost's Posterizing the Modern GOP project to graphically capturing the lunacy of the Bush years. And we asked for your help adding to the names, events, and slogans depicted.

The response was overwhelming, with over 1,000 people offering suggestions (even those with a different POV of the GOP were inspired to jump into the fray).

Rich Silverstein, who created the posters, and his design team culled through the submissions and -- with an assist from our editor, Roy Sekoff -- have created updated versions of the posters. The result is amazing -- and even more damning than expected. To check them out in their full-sized glory, click on the thumbnail images below.

Events

Slogans

People

While putting these together, Rich, an award-winning ad exec, had another brainstorm: give the HuffPost community a chance to buy the original posters -- and use the proceeds to put giant versions of the three posters on the sides of a trio of buildings, one in New York, one in Los Angeles, and one in Washington, DC. It would look something like this:

So that's what we're doing. The 24" x 36" Lithograph posters come in three versions: Villains of the GOP, Worst Events of the Bush Years, and Slogans of the Bush Years. We're selling them for $20 each -- or all three for $50 (plus shipping and handling).

We are also doing a run of Limited Edition Silkscreens of each of the three, which I will sign. These beautiful high-quality prints are $50 each (plus s/h).

Since there is a time crunch, if you want them for a Christmas gift, please order right away. But they'll be great throughout 2008.

And remember, all proceeds (minus printing and processing costs) will go toward putting these powerful reminders of the Bush years on buildings in New York, Los Angeles and Washington.

Click here to order your posters (I've just ordered mine).

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[maddog2112]

Someone with a little more musical talent than myself should come up with a version of Billy Joel's We Didn't start the fire" with they lyrics replaced by the lines in these posters. There is so much to work with.

[Kyuzo]

I'm pretty liberal/progressive on most issues, and I really like the design of these posters. But honestly, what kind of miserable person would enjoy getting these as a "stocking stuffer"?

[thebeerdoctor]

I remember one morning a few weeks ago when an exasperated C-SPAN caller asked: "If the government is not for the people, what good is it?"
Alas, I think that the graphics, while noble, are like fine journalism, largely ignored. How else can you explain the duplicitous, bipartisan thievery being committed everyday, with a business-as-usual attitude?
Perhaps it is naive to believe that one of the purposes of life is help end suffering, not compound it. War is a form of human insanity. The President says he is a war president.­Ergo...

[ImSwiss]

While these events are from the past a complete absence of accooutability for their crimes will live with our country for generations and effect future events.

[LizDexic]

Why not Chicago as well?

[chughes1614]

I would purchase the long (updated) ones in a second.

The old short ones are kind of a letdown after seeing the family size posters.

I'm thinking about trying to get the unabridged "Events" poster printed by a friend that works at a local specialty printer, then donating $25 to the project.

I wonder if that would be alright.

[ROADRUNNER DEM]

All school children should study these posters, it will be an easy way to know all about the Bush/Cheney error.

[Waitaminute]

I think this is great. I'd like to participate. How about adding THE PAID OFF AND SOLD OUT MSM. or simply say No free press.

[FrictionSoul]

They're cool posters alright, but it's still talk. I don't expect the Dems to walk the talk, not with off the table Pelosi in charge.

[tcp]

These lists seem to me like a missed opportunity. Political advertising ought to focus on future opportunities. Why not a list of what's possible in '08 and beyond? It'd still serve as an indictment of the current administration.

[barrycourage]

The posters are excellent statements about the regime of President Cheney and The Oval Office Floor Vase.

I'll go ya one better, though.

Silverstein should work with Cristo and the National Park Service to wrap them around the Washington Monument. If there isn't enough to cover, create one with nicknames for The Vase and his malapropisms.

The monument is the perfect site: Large and phallic to represent what has been done to the nation.

[Yoopster]

T-shirts. We need T-shirts. Make sure you make up a wide range of sizes, including xxxl. I suggest putting the graphic on the back for full impact. The sooner the better. These images need to be shown as widely as possible, and t-shirts will help to get the message out to the hinterlands, like where I live.

[Steverino]

There's something kind of sanctimonious about this. Also, incorporating Bush into one's art of poster or whatever is generally bad news. I hate to say it, but it's true. There's been some horrible anti-Bush art in Chelsea over the past few years (meaning I agree with the sentiment but thought it was bad art).

I think this kind of art just points to the artist's cleverness. It won't change any minds.

[starrianna]

**********­**********­********
WAIT FOR IT.....

I will bet all of you $100 each that they will pull a Nixon next Christmas!

(1) Some Drama will happen (scary but likely)
(2) Bush will pardon Cheney
(3) Bush will pardon Libby
(4) Bush will give his tiara to Cheney
(5) Cheney will pardon Bush
(6) Jeff Gannon will decorate the tree
(7) They will all make out and congratulate each other.

Girl, you know it's true.
And it will include DRAMA because they are
all big giant Drama Queens.

[gloriasolideo]

Oh, no! You forgot Bush's most revealing phrase: "We're gonna get that guy some new legs."

Nothing comes close in showing how insensitive the guy is, how the import of others' suffering and pain completely eludes him.