Laura Bush Makes History

Of course, you heard Laura Bush "made history" this week, right?  Yes, fast on the heels of Dubya's cameo on a game show, she became the first First Lady to host the TODAY show.

With the country sliding by virtually every measure, the Bush's are now resorting to the most cynical and patronizing misdirection play at their disposal, which is to throw every bit of emphasis they can into their celebrity status.

Really though, what this screen shot documents is the logical outcome of an incest that's been going on between the Bush's and the media for years.  Whereas up to now, the White House has been overly-dependent on media actors to deliver their talking points (while ensuring the masses remain otherwise anesthetized), the process has finally come full circle.

Of course, Karl's at Newsweek now, Kristol's at The Times, and Snow is embedding at CNN.  But in making an audience out of Ann and Matt, host and infotainment personality Laura Bush actually demonstrates how the White House can cut out the middle man.

First lady Laura Bush makes television history  (Lotta video here if you can stand it - TODAY/MSNBC)
The Self-Loathing Liberal Media (Arianna Huffington)

(screen shot: TODAY. April. 22, 2008. msnbc.msn.com)

Comments

[jasperjava]

Matt Lauer looks like he's checking out the knockers.

Al Roker looks like he's rather be somewhere, anywhere else.

[Stella]

Strange bedfellows on parade.

[catfood]

Interesting that Stella referred to them as "bedfellows." I had just been thinking that this photo depicts four of the world's highest paid prostitutes.

Obviously, consideration was given to their respective wardrobes. Laura's light top contrasted with the dark suits really makes her pop. There is also a light behind her head creating a semblance of a halo.

Matt and Ann are clearly in deferential mode. Al is looking for a hole to get sick in.

[LL]

There's been a lot of comment, especially by Greenwald, to the effect that this incestuous relationship between media actors and the most extremist elements of the GOP, including Cheney and Bush, has been the result of reporters who just don't want to work very hard, and who want to be buddies with power..

I'll concede to the plausibility of that possibility...but this appearance by Laura Bush proves beyond any doubt that the REAL reason things have gotten this bad is because the people who own the media *want* it this way.

Sumner Redstone wants it this way. GE wants it this way. Disney wants it this way The big corporate owners of our mass media believe firmly in the most extremist elements of GOP ideology. So, they are going to push, and support and camouflage and excuse, no matter what, the people who represent that ideology.

This has happened because a bunch of modern-day robber-barons have decided to get the best government money can buy, and they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams I'd say.

Now then, just what in HELL can anyone do about it? these men (they're mostly men) control so much power and money, I just don't see how we'll ever change the equation..especially when the Democrats signed on a long time ago.

[Cactus]

Isn't it time we started calling it like it is?
The republican media.
Craig Ferguson's "poll" of the media at the WHCorrespondent's dinner tonite made the point.

[K]

And did anyone catch Laura and Jenna on Larry King last night, promoting the new children's book they've co-authored?

Watching that sad and sorry interview, I felt like Al Roker looks.

[PTate in MN]

Astonishing. My jaw drops. I think your analysis is right on; Thus do the entertainment industry and the political finally make their relationship clear. It is discouraging to consider the number of people who see nothing wrong with the First Lady doing this (just as there are few who see anything wrong in a former First Lady running for the WH. Perhaps the ethical principle involved would become clearer if Laura Bush used her celebrity status to run for POTUS.)

It also reminds me of "Iraq: Shock and Awe," that war drama that Bushco launched to entertain the masses. Wars sell ad revenues, too.

The only way to stop, I suppose, is for people to stop watching TV, stop getting their "news" from the mainstream press, stop falling prey to celebrity worship. At the same time, that may be part of our current dilemma. The smart people have already stopped watching and stopped reading, and, as a consequence, the media have become more and more dependent on the Bush base for ad revenues.

The camera angle in this screen shot has Laura and those three purple potted plants dead center. The plants help to center the eye on Laura. The people on each side of her are just supporting players. And the black guy could be a visitor from outer space.

[Sage]

There is a lot about shame in this posting. Laura looks robotic. The woman has no shame when it comes to permitting herself to be used and going along with whatever is in the tidy little script provided her.

Ann appears shamefully obsequious. There is a fleeting glimpse of the consciousness of shame in the posture of Matt and more so in Al's demeanor. THEY know what they are doing and yet, they do it. They have sold out and we are paying for it.

This post is an excellent example of the shameful culpability of today's print and TV media and of the Bushes' willingness to use them shamelessly.

P.S. Welcome back PTate in MN. I'm a fellow Minnesotan & I always appreciated your comments when I was a lurker for lo these many months.

[Megalomania]

Your right the media ownership "Want it this way".

Plus, consider this, would Laura Bush be able to take on real questions?

Like Laura did you talk to George about being AWOL, no, why not?

Hey Laura did ever talk about George and his drinking or drugs. No, why not?

Laura what do you talk about?

Seems Codi rice is always away over sea's do feel Codi Rice and George have had an affair? Is that why she is always gone on assignment.

Since we know all wives of Presidents have some input to the presidential decisions which ones have you had an impact on?

Laura do you understand that 70% of America think George Bush is the worst President ever. What do think about that?

Laura how come about 12,000 Iraqi troops have killed themselves in suicide, more that are killed on the battle field, do you ever look into this?

Thats just this year last year it was 6,000 so in two years our Iraqi veterans kill themselves at total of more troops killed by suicide than by the battle field, in what is called post war deppression.

Actually many Americas know that our troops are in the middle of the best dope grown on the planet so something is wrong. Do you ever think about that stuff...

Or like your mom, you don't want to clutter your pretty mind about it?