Bush Stagecraft

Or as Mr. Deaver said he learned long ago with Mr. Reagan: "They understand that what's around the head is just as important as the head." (President Bush Speaks at Goree Island in Senegal, 8 July 2003. White House photo by Paul Morse.)

Stuffed by a Plastic Turkey: Bush's gesture politics suggest a man seriously worried about his career (Guardian/UK, 06 December 2003) Why America's plutocrats gobble up $1,500 hot dogs (Guardian/UK, 05 November 2003) Keepers of Bush Image Lift Stagecraft to New Heights (New York Times, 16 May 2003)

Media strategists noted afterward that Mr. Sforza and his aides had choreographed every aspect of the event, even down to the members of the Lincoln crew arrayed in coordinated shirt colors over Mr. Bush's right shoulder and the "Mission Accomplished" banner placed to perfectly capture the president and the celebratory two words in a single shot. The speech was specifically timed for what image makers call "magic hour light," which cast a golden glow on Mr. Bush.

"If you looked at the TV picture, you saw there was flattering light on his left cheek and slight shadowing on his right," Mr. King said. "It looked great."

United Colors of Bush 2004
Counterspin interview with Mark Crispin Miller on George W. Bush (Counterspin, 16 May 2003) Some Audience Members Told Not to Wear Ties for Bush Speech (WISH TV News, 14 May 2003) Ship Carrying Bush Delayed Return: Carrier That Spent Night off San Diego Could Have Gone Straight to Home Port (Washington Post, 8 May 2003)

Pentagon officials said yesterday that an aircraft carrier waited within sight of San Diego last week while President Bush slept aboard, instead of heading straight to port after 10 months at sea.

Additional Bush items

Suddenly, it's cool to be rude about Dubya again (Observer, 10 March 2002) A perfect match for political protest (Observer, 15 June 2003) America is a harsher place (Observer, 06 July 2003) How King of New York took battle to the Great Polariser (Observer, 07 December 2003)

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Last modified: Sat Dec 13 19:40:09 CST 2003