President Obama, I am here to talk to you about the current economic issues which we are facing. I would like to start off by telling you about the great depression. The great depression was a time in America in the 1930's, in which many people lost their homes and jobs - so much so that the unemployment rate actually reached 25%. This is very similar to the recession we face today, because although it is not quite on as massive a scale, we are still facing the exact same issues, and the numbers are increasing by the day. Our unemployment rate is at 7.6% as of February, thus putting millions more Americans out of their jobs. The home foreclosure rate in California, which holds 12% of America's population, is at 1.82%. Another leading cause of the Great Depression was the fact that we had just come out of a war, which put great stress on our economy. This can easily be related to the war in Iraq, which half of our taxpayer dollars are going toward funding.
To deal with the unemployment issue, Franklin Delanore Roosevelt passed the New Deal (among a series of other acts), which allowed Americans to come together and do the jobs that needed to be done in order to help fix America's economy, as well as creating more jobs and getting necessary things built. He administered the National Recovery Administration, which allowed businessmen and workers to abide by certain rules, and in exchange, got many benefits (such as a higher minimum wage, child labor laws, and trade unions). About 23 million people were part of this movement.
I understand, Mr. President, that you have plans to do something very similar to this. It is called Organizing for America, and it's purpose is to get Americans involved in rebuilding our economy, among other things. It is a website which will set up different activities all over the U.S., and will allow for people to see how they can volunteer in their community. What I would suggest is not only making an online video (which you have done), but addressing the nation on live television, and making sure that they know that this exists, and getting them excited about this and willing to help. Tell them exactly what this will accomplish, and how many people would be needed to volunteer for these goals to be met. Make sure that as much of America is as cooperative as you need them to be, so that you can pull us out of this recession, before our economy sinks even lower, and turns into a full blown depression.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Barack Obama.
About The Great Depression, Modern American Poetry, http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/about.htm
Employment Situation Summary, United States Department of Labor, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
E. Scott Reckard, U.S. Home Forclosures to Hit Record Level Due in Part to California Woes, Los Angeles Times, http://articles.latimes.com/2008/sep/06/business/fi-mortgage6
Great Depression in the United States, MSN Encarta, http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761584403/great_depression_in_the_united_states.html
Cost of War, National Priorities Project, http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home
David Dinkins, FDR And The New Deal, eSSORTMENT, http://www.essortment.com/all/fdrnewdealfra_rgst.htm
Nartional Recovery Administration, Spartacus Educational, http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USARnra.htm
Chris Cillizza, Obama Announces "Organizing For America", The Washington Post, http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2009/01/obama_announces_organizing_for.html
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
If I Was President Obama's Economic Advisor...
President Obama, I am here to talk to you about the current economic issues which we are facing. I would like to start off by telling you about the great depression. The great depression was a time in America in the 1930's, in which many people lost their homes and jobs - so much so that the unemplyment rate actually reached 25%. This is very similar to the recession we face today, because although it is not quite on as massive a scale, we are still facing the exact same issues, and the numbers are increasing by the day. Our unemployment rate is at 7.6% as of February, thus putting millions more Americans out of their jobs.
To deal with this issue, Franklin Delanore Roosevelt passed the New Deal (among a series of other acts), which allowed Americans to come together and do the jobs that needed to be done in order to help fix America's economy, as well as creating more jobs and getting necessary things built. He administered the National Recovery Administration, which allowed businessmen and workers to abide by certain rules, and in exchange, got many benefits (such as a higher minimum wage, child labor laws, and trade unions). About 23 million people were part of this movement.
I understand, Mr. President, that you have plans to do something very similar to this. It is called Organizing for America, and it's purpose is to get Americans involved in rebuilding our economy, among other things. It is a website which will set up different activities all over the U.S., and will allow for people to see how they can volunteer in their community. What I would suggest is not only making an online video (which you have done), but addressing the nation on live television, and making sure that they know that this exists, and getting them excited about this and willing to help. Tell them exactly what this will accomplish, and how many people would be needed to volunteer for these goals to be met. Make sure that as much of America is as cooperative as you need them to be, so that you can pull us out of this recession, before our economy sinks even lower, and turns into a full blown depression.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Barack Obama.
Part 2:
My mentor interview took place on Thursday, February 5th, in the conference room at High Tech High Media Arts, and was recorded with the video function in Photo Booth.
To deal with this issue, Franklin Delanore Roosevelt passed the New Deal (among a series of other acts), which allowed Americans to come together and do the jobs that needed to be done in order to help fix America's economy, as well as creating more jobs and getting necessary things built. He administered the National Recovery Administration, which allowed businessmen and workers to abide by certain rules, and in exchange, got many benefits (such as a higher minimum wage, child labor laws, and trade unions). About 23 million people were part of this movement.
I understand, Mr. President, that you have plans to do something very similar to this. It is called Organizing for America, and it's purpose is to get Americans involved in rebuilding our economy, among other things. It is a website which will set up different activities all over the U.S., and will allow for people to see how they can volunteer in their community. What I would suggest is not only making an online video (which you have done), but addressing the nation on live television, and making sure that they know that this exists, and getting them excited about this and willing to help. Tell them exactly what this will accomplish, and how many people would be needed to volunteer for these goals to be met. Make sure that as much of America is as cooperative as you need them to be, so that you can pull us out of this recession, before our economy sinks even lower, and turns into a full blown depression.
Thank you for your time, Mr. Barack Obama.
Part 2:
My mentor interview took place on Thursday, February 5th, in the conference room at High Tech High Media Arts, and was recorded with the video function in Photo Booth.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Honors Blog Outline 2/6/09
Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin develop the theme of large obstacles becoming very little in the name of a greater cause, through Setting, Narrative, and Persona.
-Setting (pg. 194)
Recounted the events from their point of view
-Narrative (THE WHOLE BOOK)
Specific to his point of view
-Persona (pg. 2, 163)
Specific to how he handles his point of view (lackadaisical, blase, dry, abrupt, etc.)
-Setting (pg. 194)
Recounted the events from their point of view
-Narrative (THE WHOLE BOOK)
Specific to his point of view
-Persona (pg. 2, 163)
Specific to how he handles his point of view (lackadaisical, blase, dry, abrupt, etc.)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Design Principles
Building off of Ideas: This design principle involves taking something the interviewee has said, and instead of asking a fixed question, asking them a question based off of what they just said. This allows for a more conversational and relaxed tone, and has potential to take the interview to new and interesting places.
Nixon’s Views on Presidential Power:
Excerpts from an Interview with David Frost
NIXON: Well, when the president does it that means that it is not illegal.
FROST: By definition.
NIXON: Exactly. Exactly. If the president, for example, approves something because of the national security, or in this case because of a threat to internal peace and order of significant magnitude, then the president's decision in that instance is one that enables those who carry it out, to carry it out without violating a law. Otherwise they're in an impossible position.
FROST: So, that in other words, really you were saying in that answer, really, between the burglary and murder, again, there's no subtle way to say that there was murder of a dissenter in this country because I don't know any evidence to that effect at all. But, the point is: just the dividing line, is that in fact, the dividing line is the president's judgment?
Use of Evidence: This design principle uses specific evidence. This could be a quote, or a reference to any specific person or event. This helps to establish that the question has validity, and it gets a more direct answer from the interviewee.
Transcript: Obama Talks About Transition to
Excerpts from an Interview with George Stephanopoulos
STEPHANOPOULOS: The most popular question on your own website is related to this. On change.gov it comes from Bob Fertik of
OBAMA: We're still evaluating how we're going to approach the whole issue of interrogations, detentions, and so forth. And obviously we're going to be looking at past practices and I don't believe that anybody is above the law. On the other hand I also have a belief that we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards. And part of my job is to make sure that for example at the CIA, you've got extraordinarily talented people who are working very hard to keep Americans safe. I don't want them to suddenly feel like they've got to spend all their time looking over their shoulders and lawyering (ph).
Humor: This design principle uses comedy in order to make the interviewee, as well as the interviewer more relaxed. This gets the person being interviewed to open up more, and it also makes the video much more enjoyable to watch, and easier to remember.
CNN Larry King Live
Excerpts From an Interview With Jon Stewart
KING: Speaking of that you're newest baby is Maggie Rose (ph), right?
STEWART: Newest baby, you make it sound like a line of clothing.
KING: We have -- we have a Republican and a Democrat.
STEWART: Ah, that is the sweetest.
KING: What better gift for Jon Stewart?
STEWART: You know what, there's nothing that a 3-week-old appreciates more than an ironic gesture.
KING: And it's cuddly.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Questions For My Mentor
Interview Questions:
1.) How did you meet Gary and Jerri Ann Jacobs?
2.) What made you interested in the issue of the Israeli Palestinian conflict?
3.) What was it like growing up in Israel?
4.) How did you find out about JITLI?
5.) How did you end up with the position that you have in JITLI?
6.) What different countries have you been to?
7.) What have you learned from the different countries you have gone to?
8.) When did you move to America?
9.) What made you decide to move to America?
10.) How has JITLI changed your world views?
11.) What was the most interesting experience you had with an Israeli Jewish JITLI participant?
12.) What was the most interesting experience you had with an Arab JITLI participant?
13.) What have you learned from JITLI?
14.) How did you come up with the format for the trip?
15.) Have you ever been near a qassam rocket that hit in Israel?
16.) Do you have any friends who have been affected by a qassam rocket in some way?
17.) What is your view on the current situation with the Gaza invasion?
18.) How do you see Hamas, and other extremist organizations? How do you interpret their world views/demands?
19.) Do you have any solutions (besides JITLI) to the current conflict in Israel?
20.) What kind of potential do you think JITLI has to help resolve this issue?
1.) How did you meet Gary and Jerri Ann Jacobs?
2.) What made you interested in the issue of the Israeli Palestinian conflict?
3.) What was it like growing up in Israel?
4.) How did you find out about JITLI?
5.) How did you end up with the position that you have in JITLI?
6.) What different countries have you been to?
7.) What have you learned from the different countries you have gone to?
8.) When did you move to America?
9.) What made you decide to move to America?
10.) How has JITLI changed your world views?
11.) What was the most interesting experience you had with an Israeli Jewish JITLI participant?
12.) What was the most interesting experience you had with an Arab JITLI participant?
13.) What have you learned from JITLI?
14.) How did you come up with the format for the trip?
15.) Have you ever been near a qassam rocket that hit in Israel?
16.) Do you have any friends who have been affected by a qassam rocket in some way?
17.) What is your view on the current situation with the Gaza invasion?
18.) How do you see Hamas, and other extremist organizations? How do you interpret their world views/demands?
19.) Do you have any solutions (besides JITLI) to the current conflict in Israel?
20.) What kind of potential do you think JITLI has to help resolve this issue?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Internship!
Today, I started my internship. My internship is with an organization called JITLI, created by Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs. They take 20 Jews and 20 Palestinians to San Diego, Spain, and Israel, and teach them to get along. My task is to edit the footage from their 2008 trip into a documentary. The day went great - exactly as I planned. I started my internship 2 weeks ago, so I was already acclimated to it. My mentor came and helped me edit and plan.
I got my internship when I was called into Dawn's office, and I met with her, Mr. Kuhl, and Margaret. They told me that the previous editor of the documentary was no longer able to take on the task, so they asked me if I would be interested. After a day of thinking it over, I said yes.
Once my mentor got to my school, we did a little work, and then went to panera for lunch. Since I had already had the school lunch, he bought himself a sandwitch, and got me a bagel and cream cheese. The bagel was chocolate chip, and the spread was hazelnut.
Since I started my internship at noon instead of 1:00, I was able to finish right when school ended. This meant that I was able to go home with my carpool, like I usually do.
Everything went fine - I feel like I got a lot done, and I was really in my element. I really like being in an internship which completely revolves around my ideas.
I got my internship when I was called into Dawn's office, and I met with her, Mr. Kuhl, and Margaret. They told me that the previous editor of the documentary was no longer able to take on the task, so they asked me if I would be interested. After a day of thinking it over, I said yes.
Once my mentor got to my school, we did a little work, and then went to panera for lunch. Since I had already had the school lunch, he bought himself a sandwitch, and got me a bagel and cream cheese. The bagel was chocolate chip, and the spread was hazelnut.
Since I started my internship at noon instead of 1:00, I was able to finish right when school ended. This meant that I was able to go home with my carpool, like I usually do.
Everything went fine - I feel like I got a lot done, and I was really in my element. I really like being in an internship which completely revolves around my ideas.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
FDR and Obama's Unfortunate Economic Inheritance
In Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration speech, he spoke of issues that not only pertained to the issues of his day, but the issues of ours. At the time he was elected, the country faced a great economic slump, otherwise known as the great depression. Today, we face a very similar issue; the '08 recession. Our recession could easily lead to a depression, which is why our new president is coming in at a crucial time in this crisis, one which is still on it's way to disaster, but not there yet. In FDR's inauguration speech, he said, "Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously." The ideology of Franklin Roosevelt is something that applies just as much to the crisis we face today as it did to the one in the 1930's.
One of the main causes of the great depression was the major separation of classes. A select few in America (.01%) had more money than 40% of the lower class people in put together. Although money gives no official political power, it does allow for major changes in the political climate, which is precisely what happened. Since the distribution of wealth was uneven, when the stock markets crashed, there was nowhere near enough money to go around. The '08 recession is quite similar. The CEO's of a few banks had very much of the money, and the ability to do with it what they pleased. Since there was no even distribution, once the banks went under, the stocks plummeted and the money was nowhere to be found.
The consequences of the great depression involved the stock market crash (otherwise known as "Black Thursday"), which, over the course of the next 3 years, lead to the failure of 25,000 banks, as well as 12 to 15 million people becoming unemployed. The 2008 recession has many of the same characteristics as the recession, just not as amplified. The number of unemployed Americans rose to 6.5%, with 1.2 million jobs being lost over the course of 2008, and hundreds of thousands of homes being lost.
As stated before, FDR's (main) proposed solution to the depression was to "put people to work." Within the first 100 days of his presidency, he created many federally funded programs in which the people of America contributed, and helped to rebuild America. Barack Obama now has a similar plan, which is called Organizing For America. With this program, he has created a website which will allow people to find work to do in their community, which will in turn help to raise money and rebuild our economy.
As FDR said, "Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." In order to accomplish solving the problems similar to those which Franklin D. Roosevelt had to solve, President Barack Obama has and will need to continue to inspire hope in the people, and convince them that they are the solution. Then, and only then, can we pull ourselves out of this recession, in the way that FDR managed to help pull America out of the great depression.
One of the main causes of the great depression was the major separation of classes. A select few in America (.01%) had more money than 40% of the lower class people in put together. Although money gives no official political power, it does allow for major changes in the political climate, which is precisely what happened. Since the distribution of wealth was uneven, when the stock markets crashed, there was nowhere near enough money to go around. The '08 recession is quite similar. The CEO's of a few banks had very much of the money, and the ability to do with it what they pleased. Since there was no even distribution, once the banks went under, the stocks plummeted and the money was nowhere to be found.
The consequences of the great depression involved the stock market crash (otherwise known as "Black Thursday"), which, over the course of the next 3 years, lead to the failure of 25,000 banks, as well as 12 to 15 million people becoming unemployed. The 2008 recession has many of the same characteristics as the recession, just not as amplified. The number of unemployed Americans rose to 6.5%, with 1.2 million jobs being lost over the course of 2008, and hundreds of thousands of homes being lost.
As stated before, FDR's (main) proposed solution to the depression was to "put people to work." Within the first 100 days of his presidency, he created many federally funded programs in which the people of America contributed, and helped to rebuild America. Barack Obama now has a similar plan, which is called Organizing For America. With this program, he has created a website which will allow people to find work to do in their community, which will in turn help to raise money and rebuild our economy.
As FDR said, "Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." In order to accomplish solving the problems similar to those which Franklin D. Roosevelt had to solve, President Barack Obama has and will need to continue to inspire hope in the people, and convince them that they are the solution. Then, and only then, can we pull ourselves out of this recession, in the way that FDR managed to help pull America out of the great depression.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Obamaguration
"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."
Above is the section of President Barack H. Obama's inaugural address which I have chosen as the one which most resonates with me. I have chosen this because with this line, he is directly addressing a large portion of this nation, and telling them why they are wrong, without needing to use a shred of evidence. The has used the idealistic values which is he so famous for, and applied them in a way which helps us to be more idealistic ourselves, and makes us all realize that if we all shared in his enthusiam, our nation's problems would be a thing of the past.
The reason these words resonate with me is not because they relate to something in my everyday life, but rather, because they describe something which I have no memory of experiencing within my lifetime. He describes a national mindset and an amount of change which I have never seen from America in my lifetime, but lately, have been hoping to. This level of idealism, instead of sedistic realism, is something I have neither seen from the government, nor the people of this nation. For this reason, when he says that if we as a people work together, we can accomplish most anything we set our minds to, it strikes me, for this new and invigerating thought is enough to really make me ready to believe in America again.
Above is the section of President Barack H. Obama's inaugural address which I have chosen as the one which most resonates with me. I have chosen this because with this line, he is directly addressing a large portion of this nation, and telling them why they are wrong, without needing to use a shred of evidence. The has used the idealistic values which is he so famous for, and applied them in a way which helps us to be more idealistic ourselves, and makes us all realize that if we all shared in his enthusiam, our nation's problems would be a thing of the past.
The reason these words resonate with me is not because they relate to something in my everyday life, but rather, because they describe something which I have no memory of experiencing within my lifetime. He describes a national mindset and an amount of change which I have never seen from America in my lifetime, but lately, have been hoping to. This level of idealism, instead of sedistic realism, is something I have neither seen from the government, nor the people of this nation. For this reason, when he says that if we as a people work together, we can accomplish most anything we set our minds to, it strikes me, for this new and invigerating thought is enough to really make me ready to believe in America again.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Artist's Statement Outline: Revised
In my piece of artwork, I portray a warped scene from the Wizard of Oz, in which the tin man, or Dick Cheney, is pulling the scarecrow, or George Bush, down one of 2 roads. The road that they are taking leads to a soldier with a gun. This signifies war, which is the path Dick Cheney chose to go down to accomplish his own ends. The other road leads to a peace sign. This signifies world peace (to some degree). Also, the road with war on it is brown and desolate, and the road with peace on it is green and grassy, to represent the 2 options to be environmentally friendly and non-environmentally friendly. The key point that my artwork makes is that George Bush was too brainless to go down the right road, and that Dick Cheney was heartless enough to lead him down the wrong one.
The reason I show Dick Cheney making the decision to go down the road with war on it is because of his conflict of interest during his vice-presidency. He has connections to a company called Halliburton Co., which is involved with oil. As a result of going to war, Halliburton, and therefore Cheney have made a giant profit, by doing business with Iran.
Bush is portrayed as clueless (like the scarecrow) because he has a reputation of being one of our more unintelligent presidents. He is known for encouraging measures that have become unpopular among the American public, such as the invasion of Iraq, and he is also famous for saying some really strange things, which have come to be known as "Bushisms." One example of a Bushism is "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption." His intelligence has been questioned over the course of his presidency, mainly for these reasons.
The idea for Cheney to be pulling Bush down the road came from the events that are believed to have happened during the presidency, in which it is said Cheney had major influence over most of George Bush's decisions. Almost always, it seems Bush had gone in favor of what Cheney wanted, and sometimes, what benefited him. He has mainly been responsible for influencing Bush's decisions in oil and foreign policy.
President Bush will undoubtedly go down in history as one of our least popular presidents, but the message I try to convey here is that Cheney was more or less our president, and while it's possible that things could still have gone a similar way, this peice of artwork begs the question: What could have happened, if George W. Bush "only had a brain?" With Barack Obama as our current president (by the time this becomes my actual artist's statement that fact should actually apply) we can't help but once again think back to The Wizard Of Oz, and wonder if HE truly has the heart, brain, and nerve to go down the path that Bush never had the capacity to.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1117-22.htm
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushdumbquotes.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/06/02/BL2008060201318_3.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
The reason I show Dick Cheney making the decision to go down the road with war on it is because of his conflict of interest during his vice-presidency. He has connections to a company called Halliburton Co., which is involved with oil. As a result of going to war, Halliburton, and therefore Cheney have made a giant profit, by doing business with Iran.
Bush is portrayed as clueless (like the scarecrow) because he has a reputation of being one of our more unintelligent presidents. He is known for encouraging measures that have become unpopular among the American public, such as the invasion of Iraq, and he is also famous for saying some really strange things, which have come to be known as "Bushisms." One example of a Bushism is "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption." His intelligence has been questioned over the course of his presidency, mainly for these reasons.
The idea for Cheney to be pulling Bush down the road came from the events that are believed to have happened during the presidency, in which it is said Cheney had major influence over most of George Bush's decisions. Almost always, it seems Bush had gone in favor of what Cheney wanted, and sometimes, what benefited him. He has mainly been responsible for influencing Bush's decisions in oil and foreign policy.
President Bush will undoubtedly go down in history as one of our least popular presidents, but the message I try to convey here is that Cheney was more or less our president, and while it's possible that things could still have gone a similar way, this peice of artwork begs the question: What could have happened, if George W. Bush "only had a brain?" With Barack Obama as our current president (by the time this becomes my actual artist's statement that fact should actually apply) we can't help but once again think back to The Wizard Of Oz, and wonder if HE truly has the heart, brain, and nerve to go down the path that Bush never had the capacity to.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1117-22.htm
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushdumbquotes.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/06/02/BL2008060201318_3.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Artist's Statement Outline
In my piece of artwork, I portray a warped scene from the Wizard of Oz, in which the tin man, or Dick Cheney, is pulling the scarecrow, or George Bush, down one of 2 roads. The road that they are taking leads to money, with storm clouds and lightning behind it. This signifies greed, and problems. The other road leads to a rainbow, sunshine, and clear skies. This signifies happiness and prosperity. The key point that my artwork makes is that George Bush was too brainless to go down the right road, and that Dick Cheney was heartless enough to lead him down the wrong one.
The reason I show Cheney making the decision to go down the road with money on it is because of his conflict of interest during his vice-presidency. He has connections to a company called Halliburton Co., which is involved with energy and oil. Despite the implications of supporting this company, Dick Cheney went along with it anyways, for his own personal gain.
Bush is portrayed as clueless (like the scarecrow) because he has a reputation of being one of our more unintelligent presidents. He is known for encouraging measures that have become unpopular among the American public, such as the invasion of Iraq, and he is also famous for saying some really strange things, which have come to be known as "Bushisms." One example of a Bushim is "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption." His intelligence has been questioned over the course of his presidency, mainly for these reasons.
The idea for Cheney to be pulling Bush down the road came from the events that are believed to have happened during the presidency, in which it is said Cheney had major influence over most of George Bush's decisions. Almost always, it seems Bush had gone in favor of what Cheney wanted, and sometimes, what benefited him. He has mainly been responsible for influencing Bush's decisions in oil and foreign policy.
President Bush will undoubtedly go down in history as one of our least popular presidents, but the message I try to convey here is that Cheney was more or less our president, and while it's possible that things could still have gone a similar way, this peice of artwork begs the question: What could have happened, if George W. Bush "only had a brain?" With Barack Obama as our current president (by the time this becomes my actual artist's statement that fact should actually apply) we can't help but once again think back to The Wizard Of Oz, and wonder if HE truly has the heart, brain, and nerve to go down the path that Bush never had the capacity to.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/26/politics/main575356.shtml
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushdumbquotes.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/06/02/BL2008060201318_3.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
The reason I show Cheney making the decision to go down the road with money on it is because of his conflict of interest during his vice-presidency. He has connections to a company called Halliburton Co., which is involved with energy and oil. Despite the implications of supporting this company, Dick Cheney went along with it anyways, for his own personal gain.
Bush is portrayed as clueless (like the scarecrow) because he has a reputation of being one of our more unintelligent presidents. He is known for encouraging measures that have become unpopular among the American public, such as the invasion of Iraq, and he is also famous for saying some really strange things, which have come to be known as "Bushisms." One example of a Bushim is "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption." His intelligence has been questioned over the course of his presidency, mainly for these reasons.
The idea for Cheney to be pulling Bush down the road came from the events that are believed to have happened during the presidency, in which it is said Cheney had major influence over most of George Bush's decisions. Almost always, it seems Bush had gone in favor of what Cheney wanted, and sometimes, what benefited him. He has mainly been responsible for influencing Bush's decisions in oil and foreign policy.
President Bush will undoubtedly go down in history as one of our least popular presidents, but the message I try to convey here is that Cheney was more or less our president, and while it's possible that things could still have gone a similar way, this peice of artwork begs the question: What could have happened, if George W. Bush "only had a brain?" With Barack Obama as our current president (by the time this becomes my actual artist's statement that fact should actually apply) we can't help but once again think back to The Wizard Of Oz, and wonder if HE truly has the heart, brain, and nerve to go down the path that Bush never had the capacity to.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/26/politics/main575356.shtml
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushdumbquotes.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2008/06/02/BL2008060201318_3.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
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