I have always said the only thing I like about George Bush are his dogs. Scottie dogs are the cutest pups on the planet – and the only ones allowed to wear sweaters (another thing I’ve always said). No other dog should ever be dressed in clothing. And it’s preferable that a Scottie have some kind of Scottish pattern on his sweater. A plaid or a nice argyle are the best options.
However Bush’s main Scottie, Barney, has seriously disappointed me – and not just because he bit a reporter last week. The Bush family – dogs included – star in the most uncomfortably awkward Christmas video I’ve seen in a long, long time. This video is why acting is best left to the professionals. And apparently the same goes for reading. Though you could argue that Laura Bush, a former librarian, and Jenna Hager, a supposed author, would pass that test. But they are all so visibly stiff reading their simple lines that you sort of want to smash a snow globe over your own head instead of watching it.
Given this week’s events, I did not think it was possible to find a video more excruciating to watch or more embarrassing to the United States than the footage of an Iraqi journalist shot putting his shoes at George W. Bush. Oh…wait…I found one: The 2008 Barney Christmas Video from the White House.
My question: How much of this White House Christmas video mit Hund can you watch before your fight-or-flight reflex kicks in and have to stand up and run–not walk, but run? I made it through about 30 seconds.
Summing up: In the same week that a reporter calls George W. Bush a dog ( ! ) the aforementioned head of state issues a holiday greeting in which he and his family converse openly with (ehem…) a dog. When the going gets tough, the tough talk to the dog.
While America descends into the morass of fear and uncertainty caused by our current President, the White House invites us to steal away with a few warm and fuzzy dog-cam shots taken from the eye-level of America’s Presidential pup–a canine, who, while not fantasizing about winning golf tournaments and Olympic medals, proposes and carries out a jingoistic holiday interior decorating scheme as a final tribute to the George W. Bush era of government. The blend of shock, incredulity, and stomach cramps I felt when I watched the first 30 seconds of the Barney Christmas video I will not soon forget.
[From the Huffington Post]
Barney’s dream sequence was pretty damn terrible. And it left me with a lot of questions. What do a dog’s dreams have to do with Christmastime? Why would a dog want to succeed at various sporting events – both land and aquatic? Who is the White House’s graphic designer? Why does he suck so badly? And Michael Phelps? What the…? It’s like they just pulled a bunch of random crap together and thought, “Shit, what do we do with this? I know, we’ll call it ‘Celebrate America’ because everything fits under that!”
I guess it’s not fair to expect the White House to issue a dismal, morose Christmas video in keeping with the national mindset right now. But if they were going to go for the super-happy-nothing’s-wrong route, couldn’t they have least made it… you know… good?
Enjoy the awkwardness.
Things that made me squirm:
1. The depression apparent in everyone’s voice when talking about “the last christmas in the white house” under the thin veneer of cheer.
2. The apparent separated-at-birth twin of Spencer Pratt that Jenna decided to marry.
3. Michael Phelps. I have never been fond of the guy and this didn’t help.
4. The desperate old-school patriotism that serves as more of a reminder than a disguise of the terrible mess the country is in right now.
5. Laura referring to her own husband as “President Bush”. That put a hatchet through whatever homey spirit they were trying to muster.
It may be because i’m not american, but i found it kinda cute 🙂
Whatever, I liked it. The Olympics part was cute. Just because it’s Bush doesn’t mean everything connected to him has to suck; I’m not a Bush fan and even I’m getting tired of the Bush-hating on this blog.
These days, between cell phone cameras and YouTube, everyone’s a filmmaker. Why shouldn’t the White House have a little fun with it too? It’s better than much of the crap on YouTube.
I don’t think it was that bad at all!
Yeah a little cheesy but cute none the less.
Cheesy no, a bit corny, yes, but I think it is geared more towards children.
Ling, what is Laura supposed to call the President in public? Maybe lover, sweetie pie, or honey?
I sometimes watch the White House Christmas Decorating specials to get ideas on how to do my tree that year.
It is amazing how many people donate their time putting it all together, their efforts are awesome.
I enjoy seeing how the WH chef makes the gingerbread house, it’s fabulous.
I watch this every year because the dogs are cute, I like Laura Bush and I’m interested in the twins. But I have to say–Jenna is horrible with these, last year she was just as over exaggerated than her–even the President is better at this than she is. Luckily her new hubby is decent at it…also luckily he only has to do it once… I wonder if he feels the same way I do when my mother-in-law makes me talk to her guinea pig.
I like this video better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua05RTaDE8o
I thought it was kind of cute. Barney and all his dreams of winning. The decorations are really amazing.
I know the Bush is an ass but really don’t take it out on this little video. I am sure the Great One will make a “kick ass” video next year and everyone will fall over themselves to praise it.
Let go of the hate, he is thankfully leaving in a few weeks. Really, let it go.
daisy424: “My Husband” generally works well in these types of situations.
yeah that’s a lot of hatred toward a cute little video… i liked it… the article is just reading wayyy too much into it…
i hate this man and all the sleeze bags that are behind him for what they have kick started what they represent and what they have done to the whole world
I hope after Jan 20 that they and their cute selves move off to Dallas and are never, ever, ever, heard from again.
The dog is cute.
Cutesy-poo PR vs 5000 dead soldiers. Sorry the dead men still outweigh this video. I wish the rest of you weren’t so easily blinded.
MY SHOES HAVE WINGS AND THEY FLY!
How about this title for a Bush video, “How to Destroy the World in Eight Short Years”? Oh, yeah, we already saw that one. Ever notice how the really good presidents age terribly in office–all the hard work,long hours,tough decisions, etc.? Bush hasn’t aged a day since his Supreme Court appointment. That alone speaks volumes on his caliber.
It was a cute video and all in good fun. They do these videos and I think that it is sweet…..geez lighten up!!!!!!!!!!
You suck at “cutest dog.” Nothing about George W Bush is cute. His dogs are spawned from pure evil.
I almost feel bad for President Bush. He knows he has done wrong, he isnt oblivious to what is said about him. Our country put him in office, we have to deal with our decision, for a few more weeks.
I’m not blinded at all, vdantev. I despise this man to the depths of my soul. I hated him even before he became president and have not found one thing to like about him in 8 years, as I’ve watched thousands die in two wars he pre-emptively started, watched people lose their homes, their jobs, their patriotism and their hope.
I was just trying to be positive for once, and all I could think of was “cute dog”.
@Ling, The proper way for Laura to address ‘her husband’ in public would be Mr. President, The President or President Bush.
@Dante,I’m blinded because I watch how to decorate a frigging tree? That’s rich.
I’m curious if you would you have the same criticism for Jackie Kennedy when she did the tour of the WH while we were in Vietnam? The Vietnam War cost the United States 58,000 lives and 350,000 casualties.
i hate laura bush ever since she told a reporter (asking her about the war in iraq and the high death toll of americans) that “nobody suffers the loss of our soldiers more than the president and i do.” really? more than their mothers, or spouses or children? shut up, eyebrows mcgee.
dante you’re incredibly self righteous… and the censorship here is ridiculous…
It’s “Christmas With The Idiots”.
Christina you’re incredibly dim and the moderation here is befuddled due to a change in the site coding. If you were smarter- you’d know that.
Coming back to it 2 days later is a sign of being entitled to judge smart then?
After the administrators have been putting out word for 48 hours now … Please don’t use that ‘if you were smarter’ line unless you can provide photos of yourself in an actual Delorian…