Dolemite wrote:
] How different, in your mind, is this from the thousands of
] bumper stickers on the back of cars that have a big W and then
] underneath, in small type, "The President"?

Nothing wrong there. This is pre-election marketing material, and it expresses someone's personal view. It also does it in a stylish way. I wish the Kerry stickers were as cool. In any event, this is democracy at work.

] Or even closer to a billboard, the big sign on West End (in
] Nashville) at the Republican Party HQ that has "W. _Still_ the
] President"?

Closer. Billboards are different because they don't reflect an individuals point of view, but rather the point of view of a large organization.

This is mostly the winning party gloating, which is ugly. Its unlikely that Dems would have put up similar Billboards, and I think its in poor taste. It demonstrates a lack of respect for the "other side," which is divisive, and undermines the right to vote in the sense that it seeks to admonish those who don't vote "correctly" for being "loosers." It reinforces the idea that an election is about being on the winning team rather then about expressing your political views.

Where the billboard in question (if it really exists) truely crosses the line is that it doesn't seem to refer to the election or even the office of the Presidency. It has a picture of the man, and it says "Our Leader." It puts the person above the job, and in that sense is an affort to our system. It reinforces Bush's power exclusively in a way that goes beyond being divisive and borders on intimitation.

Now, as offended as I am by both of these billboards, they have a right to put them up. And I also have the right to tell them they are sending the wrong message. And thats as far as this goes unless someone decides to change his mind. And thats how it ought to be.

RE: George W. Bush: Our leader