No offense to anyone's political beliefs--this was published in the Washington Post and made me laugh out loud so I thought I would share it here. It is a poem written by Richard Thompson made out of actual quotes by George W. Bush:
MAKE THE PIE HIGHER by George W. Bush
I think we all agree, the past is over. This is still a dangerous world. It's a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mental losses.
Rarely is the question asked Is our children learning? Will the highways of the internet become more few? How many hands have I shaked?
They misunderestimate me. I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity. I know that the human being and the fish can coexist. Families is where our nation finds hope, where our wings take dream.
Put food on your family! Knock down the tollbooth! Vulcanize Society! Make the pie higher! Make the pie higher!
Posts: 7238 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
I laughed when they made fun of Clinton running in his tiny little shorts to McDonald's, and I thought this was also clever. Even Bush has been known to poke fun at his own awkwardness with the English language.
I agree with Alli about the importance of political satire.
----------- Jen
Posts: 2868 | Location: Ohio | Registered: March 11, 2004
Originally posted by cbarks: The first sentence kinda hit me between the eyes. The past may be over but, my goodness, how it continues to affect my emotions today and, therefore, my eating, and my thinking.
I.....didn't think it was funny. When someone makes fun of me like that I get upset and eat and cry.
I hope you will take this the right way. I mean it in the very most kind way.
But being able to brush stuff off like this and deal with stress effectively and move on is CRUCIAL for weight management.
Yesterday, I posted on the WW board… it went like this.
Original question: What happens if you gain 2 lbs on your 6th WI and don’t make life time? Emily: You stay on plan and weigh in on the 7th week and make LT then. Me: What Emily said. :~)
Somebody posted, “Denise isn’t very nice.”
I was… OK… whatever. I post 7000 posts… and someone thinks THAT one is mean??? LOL! The boards are a funny place!
And I went along about my day. I suppose I could have gotten very upset that somebody thought I was mean or I could have spent the day wondering if I should be nicer… even if I’m not sure what I did wrong… I could have gotten very upset and stress ate. In the past… little encounters like this in real life or on the boards used to really upset me and I would stress eat.
I’m not a republican and I did not vote for Bush… but I’m willing to bet that if/when Bush came across this… he either went.
a) “Richard Thompson” is an idiot! And he probably went for a run and went about his day.
b) Laughed at himself and possibly thought Richard Thomas was kind of clever and went for a run and went about his day.
At any way, I’m willing to bet 100% that Bush… dealt with the barb in a healthy way… and didn’t drown his feelings in cake.
For all of his faults or public speaking mishaps… Bush is a GREAT weight maint role model. I’m sure that a lifelong exercise habit helps him deal with stress and criticism both constructive and otherwise.
Realistically, we all have times when we get our feelings hurt… president of the US… or president of the PTA. Believe me, I stress ate and cried and packed on 55 lbs as board president of our congregation. It is not an effective way to deal with stress.
And some stress doesn’t even have to be dealt with… you just brush it off… and go, “Idiot!” and move on about your day. I actually think that a good lesson could be learned from it. I don’t think that Bush is exceptional and “Of course he deals with stress… he’s the president”. I think that learning to deal with this kind of piddly stress… comments from strangers, or arguments with family members, or the garage door breaking and the such… is crucial for weight control. And I found your comment… from a weight management perspective…interesting.
Not picking on you or anything…
Yes, eliminating barbs and satire and “mean” humor, as you suggest, is one way to cope.
Or reading mean things about yourself and going, “oh well” and going for your daily jog is another way to cope.
Originally posted by Tayhudson: My guess is that most politicians at that level really don't even pay attention to this kind of thing.
Dawn
I've seen interviews with Dana Carvey. He said the weirdest thing was having to do his impression of Bush for Bush. Evidently Bush #1 found it quite funny.
Originally posted by cbarks: I disagree. Poking fun at the 'Leader of the Free World' or a 'Normal Joe or Jane' is the same. They're all humans.
It's not the same. Poking fun of the leader of the free world, or any other politician for that matter, is political satire and serves a purpose for society. We need that outlet to humanize our leaders by playing up their human flaws, or we may start to idolize them in unhealthy ways. There's reason most dictators ban satire on pain of death. Satire dilutes absolute power, and that's good.
Poking fun of a regular person offers no benefit to society, and is just plain mean.
alli
Coming from a political theory/philosophy backgroud Alli, I agree with you.
Every President since I can remember paying attention to politics has been made fun of in some form or fashion.
Nixon for, well need I say more? "I am not a criminal" and "Checkers"; Ford for being clumbsy; Carter for being a southern boy peanut farmer; Reagan for being a former B actor and then later for his memory lapses (before we all knew why); George Bush for refusing to eat broccoli and later for some of his sound bites "A million points of light" and "It's about the economy stupid"; Clinton for well, all sorts of things. (Monica)...So, you know what you're getting yourself in for when you decide to run for office.
My guess is that most politicians at that level really don't even pay attention to this kind of thing.
Dawn
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire." anonymous
Posts: 4284 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: March 15, 2004
Originally posted by cbarks: I disagree. Poking fun at the 'Leader of the Free World' or a 'Normal Joe or Jane' is the same. They're all humans.
It's not the same. Poking fun of the leader of the free world, or any other politician for that matter, is political satire and serves a purpose for society. We need that outlet to humanize our leaders by playing up their human flaws, or we may start to idolize them in unhealthy ways. There's reason most dictators ban satire on pain of death. Satire dilutes absolute power, and that's good.
Poking fun of a regular person offers no benefit to society, and is just plain mean.
alli
Fall goals: 1. Bike 40-50 miles a week 2. Prepare new garden bed for next season 3. Heal my back
Posts: 725 | Location: Jersey Shore, USA | Registered: March 11, 2004
I disagree. Poking fun at the 'Leader of the Free World' or a 'Normal Joe or Jane' is the same. They're all humans. There are a lot of 'Normal Joes and Janes' who hold themselves in high esteem. We may or may not agree with their assessments. However, neither they nor Mr. Bush deserve such unkindness. Poking fun is unkind, even if it is directed toward someone one doesn't like.
Many of us on this board have been the recipients of ridicule. We understand how much ridicule hurts. Knowing that, how can we cheer on someone like Mr. Thompson?
Originally posted by cbarks: The first sentence kinda hit me between the eyes. The past may be over but, my goodness, how it continues to affect my emotions today and, therefore, my eating, and my thinking.
I.....didn't think it was funny. When someone makes fun of me like that I get upset and eat and cry. I think Richard Thompson meant to humiliate Mr. Bush and to portray him as stupid. I empathize with Mr. Bush's 'way with words'. Too many times what came out of my mouth in the pressure of the moment was not I intended.
You don't have to think it is funny. However, I think there is a big difference between poking fun at a "Normal Joe" or "Normal Jane" than the "Leader of the Free World", particularly someone who holds himself in such high esteem.
The first sentence kinda hit me between the eyes. The past may be over but, my goodness, how it continues to affect my emotions today and, therefore, my eating, and my thinking.
I.....didn't think it was funny. When someone makes fun of me like that I get upset and eat and cry. I think Richard Thompson meant to humiliate Mr. Bush and to portray him as stupid. I empathize with Mr. Bush's 'way with words'. Too many times what came out of my mouth in the pressure of the moment was not I intended.
Okay...I snorted almost as much reading the Snopes explanation of the context of each quote as I did reading the poem itself.
Goals: 1. Exercise-Cardio: 2-3 walking or DVD cardio workouts per week. 2. Exercise-Weights/Toning: 1-2 weight plus 1 toning workout per week. 3. Food: Increase veggie servings back to where they were. 4. Behavior: Reduce sweets.
Posts: 7238 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Originally posted by D in St Pete: Snopes says that they're all real quotes, and even gives the original context of them. They aren't nearly as bad as they sound in the poem, though, so HUGE credit needs to go to the compiler.
I had heard a lot of the quotes before I read the poem, but the tollbooth one has been puzzling me ever since I read the poem, so I may need to go to Snopes to read the original context of that one. heh
Goals: 1. Exercise-Cardio: 2-3 walking or DVD cardio workouts per week. 2. Exercise-Weights/Toning: 1-2 weight plus 1 toning workout per week. 3. Food: Increase veggie servings back to where they were. 4. Behavior: Reduce sweets.
Posts: 7238 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Before I sent it on, I double-checked (because I *hate* when people send me emails about things that never happened, so I try not to do that), and Snopes says that they're all real quotes, and even gives the original context of them. They aren't nearly as bad as they sound in the poem, though, so HUGE credit needs to go to the compiler.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
oh geez...i really needed that. nice to end the day with a smile.
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
I'm not Bush's biggest fan... but man... I wouldn't want anybody writing down my every word... because the poem made from my mis-speaks would be equally as funny.
(I typed... "I'm not Bushes biggest fan... and caught myself... )
