RNC Video Diary: Bringing the Bush Years to the Convention

The GOP is intent on keeping George Bush -- and his disastrous legacy -- as far away from John McCain and the convention as possible. If they could have had him beam in his speech via satellite from Mars rather than Washington, they would have.

But with McCain closely aligning himself with Bush's ruinous policies, this race really is a referendum on The Bush Years. So we decided to bring a stark reminder of those years to the Republican Convention. We took the posters award-winning ad exec Rich Silverstein, with a huge assist from the HuffPost community, created to graphically remind voters what the last seven-and-a-half-years of Republican rule have wrought and put them up in bus stop kiosks around St. Paul. And then we went to Minneapolis and rolled out a 60-foot version.

Check out the video of the unrolling:

We've created a screen saver of the final poster that you can download by clicking here (for Mac users) or here (PC users). Watch the last seven-plus years roll across your desk top. Be prepared to shudder.

And you can purchase the posters here.

Watch Other RNC Video Diary Entries:

African-American Republicans Weigh in on Obama

Mika and Joe Channel Hepburn and Tracy, Moose Stew, and More Palin Reactions

Arianna on Cindy McCain's Comments

GOP Strategist Defends Palin: At Least She's Not Playing Golf Or Having Affairs

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

Comments

[ITCANBEDIFFERENT08]

As someone who can identify with the outcomes of aging and the need for reading glasses-it’s a fortunate thing that the Rich Silverstein poster was large enough for convention goers to read.

Lets hope they did.

As I watched the convention looking for someone younger than myself it did cross my mind that maybe not unlike that of some casinos, seemingly the convention as well had bussed people in from nursing homes and retirement villages.

It’s no wonder these folks were cheering for Sarah Palin she not only is something new-she’s something younger, though eerily as if she traveled in a time machine she
speaks as if she is from an era and a time that convention goers would identify with from their own youth.

Stirring my own childhood memories of the 6th grader mean girl, Palin spoke as if the smiling executioner, providing antidotes and sharp quips that would make anyone who was behind in any race say –“yeah there you go- that was a good one –you tell em Sarah”!

The RNC is using Sarah Palin to reach its base by pandering to a demographic in emotional and nostalgic terms- providing homespun philosophies of a time gone bye and heart felt feelings as opposed to strategies –that will dig our children and grandchildren out of the effects of the current administration that Sarah Palin supports. The sad reality is that the current administration has not only abandon the country’s needs but more specifically the elderly.

[monab]

So let me get this right, the Rove Religious Right are electrified by a divorced Catholic living off the wealth generated by alcohol distribution to minors – the scourge of parents, teachers, and colleges -- and an evangelical Christian opposed to sex education with a pregnant teenager – the biggest fear of parents of daughters. The hypocrisy, especially of the holier-than-thou right wing media, is astounding.

[KarlaElisa]

What's sad is I can probably list everything on that poster from memory. And there's a lot there.
Not till their limp bodies swing from a tree, shall I believe justice has been done.
Impeach, Investigate, Indict, Imprison, Execute.

[lookinthemirror]

I have a few more words for that roll: Awesome, lets grab a beer, screw taxes, no more welfare, no more entitlement programs period, no more nato, and China+USA=monoply! Go global domination, go!

[lookinthemirror]

Sarah Palin made fun of Barack Hussein Obama's organizing days...So what? Its called politics, its been happening for thousands of years, and it will not stop...and if you think Barack is above it, he's not, he just has other people sling his mud for him...At least Sarah was man enough to do it herself. Besides, if he cant stand up to her, how can he stand up to Iran and Russia?

[Texas4Obama]

Sarah Palin Fails Focus Group

(Undecided Minnesota voters reject Sarah Palin)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnV1pS7qVD8
.

[boxiana]

Mom, Moose Hunter, Maverick...

Here are some brave moose hunters:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=LIjYdRHxaTc

[JustDanish]

famous quotation by a man who will be known in US history forever, not for the best, but for where we are today:

“They had their chance. They have not led. We will. And now they come asking for another chance, another shot.”

“Our answer?”

“Not this time.”

“Not this year.”

“This is not a time for third chances it is a time for new beginnings.”

Gov. George W. Bush Acceptance Speech at First Union Center
Philadelphia, PA, August 3, 2000

Hmm....was he thinking 2008?

[provgrays]

What about the street protests outside of both conventions?

What about journalists being arrested and brutalized for pursuing their First Amendment rights?

That is the real story.

[blust8r]

Please take a moment to view the excellent dissection of McSame's acceptance compiled by The Daily Show. KUDOS to Jon Stewart and his team for making such striking and stunning work available and accessible.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184111&title=john-mccains-big-acceptance

You simply must wait until the "change" comparisons are made between Johnny and BU**SH**. It should be Obama's campaign commercial... and it is priceless.

Fight on, America... and OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[Pendagger]

What a contrast in conventions...the Democratic convention felt like Steven Spielberg, while the Republican effort was like a Jerry Springer show.
Not only is Sarah Palin a gimmicky nomination made by a reckless man, but I believe her lack of anything resembling world leadership qualities and experience makes her truly dangerous.

[Rory07]

This week Republican Vice President Sarah Palin all but made fun of Barack Obama's service to his community. She made it clear that his hard work as a community organizer was not valuable. She made community organizers all over this country see that their labors were not appreciated by the current administration. My question is, what is America if we are not part of a large community made up of smaller communities being led by hard working community leaders who labor in the trenches for a better America? As the Republicans tout their small town American values they should remember that those small communities built this country and made it was it is today and the amazing individuals who give their time and resources for the betterment of all of us deserve far more respect than to be made into this evenings Republican sound byte.

[Dustee]

Just think, when Obama was doing community service, Sarah Palin was trying to win a beauty contest.

[TheAlchemist]

Check out this Jim Wallis post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-wallis/palin-owes-some-good-peop_b_124198.html

[IowaKid]

For those that are interested you can go to AARP.Org and on there website you can hear both speeches and question answer sessions of Barack Obama and John McCain in regards to divided we fail. About health care and social securtiy.

[trebor00]

I just read an article in the Independent a UK. newspaper where it describes Palin's enviromental
record and what she would implement if she had the power.
It seems to me that that this would be an eminently justifiable course of questioning
by the democrats . As she obviously loves her children and grandchild what kind of world
re Alaska would her legacy be if all her policies on enviroment ( icecap melting, wildlife, big oil, etc)
were implemented.

[judithod]

Ms. Huffington--I thought the purpose of a political blog was to provide a forum for informed comments and discussion. Unfortunately and in contrast to respected blogs, your blog deletes ("censors") all informed and civil comments and allows only those that agree with the writers of articles or that postulate sarcastic or cynical opinions without any bases in facts. Thus, partisanship and misrepresentation are promoted over intelligent discussion. Is the Huffington Post intentionally mimicing the behavior of our congressional representatives and encouraging its bloggers to negate compromise and other reasonable viewpoints in favor of closed minds and attitudes? If so, you're guilty of encouraging a nation of sheep instead of intelligent decisionmakers.

[SoCalNick]

UMMM NOT true! If you need a Blog that will let you post false facts and is slanted to ANYONE BUT OBAMA simply go to CNN.

No matter how well phrased a comment... if it is pure BS then it is pure BS. If they let them all in we wold STILL be seeing rants about Obama was a terrorist in 1962 when he was a one year old.

NEXT

[BGwinetteMulroney]

Gee, looks like YOU got through ok...