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

[researcher]

and most of the folks in ohio want more bush years

go figure

[thepathforward]

No matter how great a speech, how many crafty words, how elegant the “town hall” setting, how many words, phrases, Republican talking points, etc. he will utter in order to seek to undermine the Dems, and how many MSM “hitting it out of the park” comments there may be, the stark, objective, and visible fact remains that Sen McCain (as reported) voted 90-95% in agreement with the current administration’s policies the past eight years. IMO that does not define a “Maverick”, but instead an agent of the current administration status quo. And we all know where those policies he has voted in agreement with have taken our nation the past eight years.

When all the Republican convention hoopla is over, and the divisiveness and the vicious attacks against the Dems temporarily cease for the evening, and silence comes to the Minnesota convention hall, the same Sen. McCain who voted in lock step with the current administration policies and seeks to divert attention away from having to discuss that voting record and to tangibly discuss the serious and critical domestic, financial, and international issues facing our nation will remain.

Karl Rove asserted that Sen. McCain’s VP selection (Gov. Palin) “was not a governing decision but a campaign decision”. IMO that should speak loudly about Sen. McCain’s capacity for sound executive decision making, and questions regarding putting party before nation. Sen McCains message tonight-“change is coming”. But where has it been these past eight years?

[patricklee5150]

Arianna, dahling, I love you! You always brighten my day! Great job at the conventions. Thank you!

[arbroath]

Thank God we have a candidate with class (courage). Unfortunately, as we all know, the electorate in this country tend to troll more shallow waters. Shame on us for not making our neighbors understand how serious the problems are.

[theone718]

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/20m-challenge-now-spread-the-w.php

SPREAD THE WORD. Let's ALL make a statement and raise 20 MILLION for Barack Obama before tommorow morning. Let's show that even on a so called "republican night" us democrats WILL BE HEARD.


WE CAN DO IT!

[theone718]

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/20m-challenge-now-spread-the-w.php

SPREAD THE WORD. Let's ALL make a statement and raise 20 MILLION for Barack Obama before tommorow morning. Let's show that even on a so called "republican night" us democrats WILL BE HEARD.

[maxfax]

Thanks, sent mine in.

[jylnc]

I'm a swing voter and even though I disagree with many of the decisions of the Bush administration, I do not believe John McCain is interchangeable with George Bush. This relentless tactic, implemented by Barack Obama's campaign and many of his supporters, is getting old. Every time I see someone on one of the cable news shows or visit a website that is pro Obama, they try to tie the two together. They even have admitted it is a tactic they need to use to convince swing voters not to vote for McCain. The facts on your banner may be correct about Bush's record but it's spin to try and tie John McCain to his record. It's not working with this swing voter.

[outmost1]

Perhaps a review of McSame's own words is in order. He has claimed that he will continue the policies of the Bush white house and that these policies have led the nation to a great and prosperous place.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/us/politics/17policy.html

That should be a good place to start.

[theMightyT]

wake up you fool. john mac cain voted with B ush over 90% of the time. that's not spin. that's fact.

[AZterritory]

McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time! As an Arizona Independent voter that's enough for me! Obama/Biden! MANY Arizonans are tired of him as a Senator--he rarely bothers to vote, when he does he's a Bushie.

[yathink]

McCain is more to the right of George Bush. He is Cheney's doppleganger. Palin is proof of that. If you want more wiretapping, more war, more interference in your life, vote McCain. If we have another president and vice president who I can't bear to watch or listen to, they should not be president or vice president. Do you not have any ability to see lies when they are told?

If you love this country, you might take a minute and ask who wants endless profits at taxpayer expense for multinational corporations who are not loyal to this country. That is the deal Bush made with McCain to "give" him the presidency. People like you need to connect a few more dots.

[blowhard]

May your blind eyes be opened. The 2 are inseparable: have similar policies, same advisors, same political tactics and zero intellect. Wake up.

Btw, I don't believe that you are a swing voter. U strongly belong to the fascist party.

[BobC46]

History will be very kind to George W. Bush. He will be remembered as a liberator of Iraq and Afghanistan. Statues of President Bush will be erected in Bagdad and Kabul. He prevented terrorist attacks against the homeland after 9/11. Low unemployment, steady economic growth. Greatest economic aid to Africa, record spending against AiDS. His present day critics will be looked upon as mindless fools.

[FrancescaItaliana]

And you believe in the tooth fairy. Get real. Bush will be remembered as the worst ever president.

[boogygran]

George W. Bush's history is, thank heaven, pretty much written and in the books - and I don't believe the words "very kind" can be applied to any of it. There is no amount of glossing over that can alter what Bush/Cheney and their colleagues have done to destroy what was good about our country, and it will take time and a concerted effort by future Presidents to win back the respect that we as a country used to enjoy, which Bush/Cheney systematically eroded via their arrogance and deceit.

Obama/Biden for America - 2008 and 2016!!

[strangelet]

Can I have some of what you're taking?

[yathink]

I am sure you will escape foreclosure and losing your job and major inflation and the many coming wars under president mcsame and jail (because you've done nothing wrong), but trust me--you will have no lawyer after you are pulled off the street and put in solitary. The constitution is here for a reason, and your delusions aren't going to help our republic. Good luck, you will need it.

[Cherlesq]

Only if Rove is writing the history.

[provgrays]

The rain was more than appropriate.

[leftLibertarian]

Thank you MS Huffington for reminding us that Bush and Cheney committed many crimes.

So why haven't the Democrats impeach these criminals??????

[M1]

This is so AWESOME !! I hope it makes its way to every Town where McCain gives his speeches. Very stirring history.

[MysticInd]

Arianna,
So great to see you in my neck of the woods. May you continue to prosper.
I'll order if it is now secure. It wasn't a year ago.
Blessings
Hope to see you on Maher soon???

[shelsay]

I take my american hat off and tip it to you Ariana & Rich. Good work, and good job huffpo users!

[RayMayer]

Arianna:
I some times wonder why we Californians did not listen and vote you in as governor. You did warn us about Arnold Schwarzenegger sleazy intentions and we never listen. Now the State is in a big mess, most folks remember all your comments very well.
I think you should run for governor again.

[insanityfollows]

It does make one shudder.

I have this horrible vision of all of us being gone, Western Civilization having fallen, and these posters flapping gently in the breeze.