White House nixes ornament backing impeachment
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 10:36 PM PST
By Matthew Daly
The Associated Press
Printable version
E-mail this articleWASHINGTON — ’Tis not the season to post calls for impeachment on the White House Christmas tree.
A spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush said Tuesday that the tree will not include an ornament by a Seattle artist that supports President Bush’s impeachment.
Artist Deborah Lawrence said she wanted to salute Democratic Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle, a longtime Bush foe who backs impeachment.
The nine-inch ball Lawrence created is covered with swirly red and white stripes and features a picture of McDermott. Tiny glued-on text hails the impeachment resolution.
Mrs. Bush had asked members of Congress to pick artists to decorate ornaments for the White House tree to showcase all 435 congressional districts.
Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for the first lady, told The Washington Post on Monday that there were no plans to pull Lawrence’s artwork. But on Tuesday, McDonough said the ornament was inappropriate.
“I think it really is a shame and, quite frankly, not very much in the holiday spirit,” she told The Associated Press.
Instructions to the artists were very clear: Decorate the ornaments in a patriotic, red, white and blue theme, McDonough said. Lawrence’s ornament was the only one of about 370 submitted for the White House tree that was rejected, she said.
McDermott’s office said the congressman had no role in the design of Lawrence’s ornament.
“When the request came in, we contacted a local arts organization which selected an artist. We had no role whatever in the theme, design, etc.,” said Mike DeCesare, McDermott’s chief of staff.
Lawrence, 55, a collage artist, told the Post she was surprised to get the invitation.
“I was at first nauseated, then realized it was an opportunity,” she said.
Lawrence frequently combines politics and satire in her work, and said she saw the ornament as a perfect way “to highlight Jim McDermott because he’s a hero of mine.”
The ornament also highlights Washington state’s 1919 labor strike, its suffrage movement and the violent anti-World Trade Organization riots of 1999.
bmoc wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:04 AM:
" Pinky - how about restoring faith among the citizens of this country that the President is not above the law. Then future Presidents might try to limit their criminal activity - hee hee! "
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:06 AM:
" It's good to see that the Bushes really are above the petty ignorance of some people. Baghdad Jim is the one who should stand trial. Oh that's right, he did and he lost. Too bad Baghdad Jim didn't respect the rights of others like the Bushes can. Hey Baghdad Jim how's your buddy Saddam doing these days? "
Pinky wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:25 AM:
" bmoc, and what laws are you saying bush has broken. Trust me, I am not defending the guy, I can't wait for his term to be over, but last time I check stupidity is not a crime "
bmoc wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:34 AM:
" He created a trumped up court to review his illegal domestic wiretaps. Only Congress can create courts. Spying on citizens without a legitimate warrant is his first charge. Would you like more? "
bmoc wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:37 AM:
" Here's a link to the 35 articles of impeachment, introduced in the House last summer:
http://www.impeachbush.tv/progress/dk_aoi_bush/ "
http://www.impeachbush.tv/progress/dk_aoi_bush/ "
pangborn wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:14 PM:
" Bush and his evil ogres have broken international law, invaded two countries and trampled on the constitution. Empeaching is where it should start. They should be tried, convicted and imprisioned. "
Phred wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:27 PM:
" Amen brudder, Bush and his cronies all deserve some major prison time. Impeachment would too easy on this crime family. "
Pinky wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:47 PM:
" so the guy is about to be out of office is less than a month, and we should waste tax dollars in our drowning economy on impeaching someone that is out of the white house in the very near future. shouldn't we then press charges against every one else in office who allowed all of this to happen? Then we can waste even more tax dollars on them too! Question for you, do you only feel this way about Bush and his co-horts or did you feel the same way about Clinton too? "
rosy wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:53 PM:
" Not counting the 35 articles of impeachment, the major crime of the Bush administration wasn't stupidity. It was just the evilness of the man. Did you all forget how he tried to unilaterally change the Geneva Convention? How he expanded presidential powers every chance he got?
The only reason I wasn't vocally in support of impeachment was the threat that we might have wound up with Cheney as president. That's the only thing I can imagine worse than Shrub. "
The only reason I wasn't vocally in support of impeachment was the threat that we might have wound up with Cheney as president. That's the only thing I can imagine worse than Shrub. "
DW wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:03 PM:
" Pangborn phred, the United States, and most countries for that matter don't follow your version of international law. Are you talking the United Nations?? If that's the case lets start with Libya, Iraq before the war, Iran, and North Korea. They have all broken international law and given the world the single finger salute. Except in Iraq's case someone, Bush, had the balls to take care of it and now we have liberated a nation, and are on a schedule to get our troops out. I would like anyone of you folks to site exactly what articles of the constitution this administration has broken. Please be specific, I wouldn't want you to get a bad civic's lesson out of this. But I will just say this before you start calling me names. The liberals in this country, like your selves and the likes of Mike Maloy from Air America, are so filled with hate for the Bush's and Republicans that you can't see the forest through the trees. Let us see how the Messiah, BO, will fix the world..... "
American First wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:08 PM:
" Lawrence sure has low standards, I mean a congressman is her hero? A Christmas ornament on a Christmas tree as a political platform? At 55 one would hope Lawrence would possess a bit more tact, and intelligence. Hopefully she's learning something other then art in college. I sure hope she's not teaching, although this could help explain why our country is in trouble.... "
American First wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:24 PM:
" pangborn, you feel Bush trampled the constitution? You haven't seen anything yet, the constitution and bill of rights are about to be used as a door mat... "
UgottaBkidding wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:44 PM:
" I think "I was at first nauseated" would have been ones first clue to decline the opportunity to disgrace the entire state. I wonder why the arts organization which selected Deborah for this honor remains un-named. She should pull up a chair at our state capital and hang her ornament from her ear to display it. I'm sure they can find room right next to the atheist display. "
bmoc wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:02 PM:
" I don't disagree that Clinton is a criminal also, but not just for covering up the fact that he got a B.J. It saddens me the Clintons are back in the Executive Branch, but it is far better than Bush! By the way, my disdain for Bush comes after the fact that I campaigned for him in 2000. Yes, he is a criminal and needs to be treated as one. He is leaving office with no valor, but a defeated criminal waiting to be prosecuted. The only reason he hasn't yet is because he controls the Justice Department. Congress won't call him to testify because it will make them look weak when he doesn't show - just like half the cabinet did. "
country gal wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:06 PM:
" I know I'm going to get pounded on this one. About the hateful comments toward Bush's is almost the same as hate I had when Clinton was President. I felt Clinton was the evil one. With Bush, you can see and hear what you're actually getting but with Clinton, he talked charismatically what you all wanted to hear. He was sly and secretive, that you can't see what he got up his pants, oops I mean, sleeve. "
landlord wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:39 PM:
" You all need to remember, the President has far reaching powers and authority to do what HE deems neccessary to keep our nation safe. Saddam Hussein was in violation of 17 UN resolutions when our nation became serious about it's security. It only took one broken resolution to break the cease fire. In addition to all of this, it was approved by Congress. Very few presidents have had to deal with the challenges that were brought about after 9-11. I think this is what liberals are complaining about, and in particular, this artist. There are things I deslike about Bush, but protecting this nation from another 9-11 is what history will recognize him for. Maybe this artist will remember that when Obama strips our intellegence agencies of the tools that are neccessary to keep us all safe. "
Cowlitz1 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:03 PM:
" Landlord: I assume you are talking about torture. If so, check out this article by the guy who is generally credited with ferreting out the information that led to the death of Zarqawi. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/28/AR2008112802242.html
Congress did not approve the war in Iraq, they approved a bill authorizing spending to support the troops, which would have been tough to vote against after they were there. In regard to the UN resolutions, why aren't we in Darfur, DR Congo, Somolia, Rwanda, etc., answer, no oil, no Caspian pipeline. Bush has done more to entrench radical Islam than Osama ever could by himself. You might think we would learn our lesson after the Mossadeq - Khomeini - Shah love triangle, guess not though. "
Congress did not approve the war in Iraq, they approved a bill authorizing spending to support the troops, which would have been tough to vote against after they were there. In regard to the UN resolutions, why aren't we in Darfur, DR Congo, Somolia, Rwanda, etc., answer, no oil, no Caspian pipeline. Bush has done more to entrench radical Islam than Osama ever could by himself. You might think we would learn our lesson after the Mossadeq - Khomeini - Shah love triangle, guess not though. "
Rainier Dad wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:46 PM:
" Well said LANDLORD. I totally agree.
"Spying on citizens without a legitimate warrant is his first charge". I love this argument. I say listen to my phone calls etc... all you like if it is going to keep me safe.. I have nothing to hide. "
"Spying on citizens without a legitimate warrant is his first charge". I love this argument. I say listen to my phone calls etc... all you like if it is going to keep me safe.. I have nothing to hide. "
landlord wrote on Dec 2, 2008 3:59 PM:
" Cowlitz1: Loud music and sleep depravation are NOT torture, and ONE Jimmy Carter appointee judge defined water boarding as torture, even when it was not defined under the Geoneva Convention. I am sorry to see that you is more concerned with the well being of our enemies than your countryman. The last time I checked, Rwanda, Darfur and Somolia were not in vioaltion of the cease fire agreement from Gulf War 1. I believe you are defining the funding of the troops after Congress authorized the use of force in the very beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I know semantics are a clever trick by the left, to cofuse people that are not informed, or don't/won't pay attention. My earlier post was very simple. The president, wheather it be President Lincoln, Roosevelt, Bush or Obama's main duty is to protect this nation inside it's boarders. It appears President Elect Obama will do away with Gitmo, allow the terrorists legal councel and weaken our intelligence by not allowing legal interigation metheods, which are unpleasent for our enemies, but will more than likely gather informtion to help fight the war on terror. "
Cowlitz1 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:29 PM:
" Rainier Dad: Correction, You don't have anything to hide yet. Unabashed surveilance conducted by the state on its own citizens is the first step toward totalitarianism. Turns out I don't live in Cuba, North Korea, China or Iran because I'm not a fan of totalitarian government. If you want to turn our country into that sort of state, please move out. I'll stick with the civil liberties afforded me in the BoR. By the way, step two, deploying regular troops to act as a civil police force. If you read the real news you might notice that the military plans to deploy 20,000 troops inside the US in police capacity. Boy, I feel safer already! "
DW wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:34 PM:
" I wonder what all you Bush haters would be saying if the administration would not have acted and we would have been attacked again?? You people would hate him no matter if he would have saved the world. I'm not a big fan of Bush, but the reasons for my dislike of the administration is far different than yours. #1 We should have gone in with a heavier hand and more troops in Iraq when the uprising started. Just like the troop surg that worked in the last couple of years. There would have been less loss of life on both sides and over quicker. #2 We should have locked up the border with Mexico on 9/12/2001, and made automated answering menu's at businesses that say "press 1 for English" illegal. Bush failed to do these things. For all you folks that voted for Obama, congrates. I didn't. Lets see how you feel about your vote in 4 years. If you think the consitution was trampled by Bush, I only hope we still have a constitution when this group has their rein ended. I can hear some of you now....."This isn't what I voted for", because you will be lucky if "change" is all you have left to live on, esp. if you have a job, have a pulse, and can breath. Got bless the USAR, the United Socialist American Republic. "
DW wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:40 PM:
" Be careful landlord, people like cowblitz1 might start calling you names.....however you are absolutely right. Borders, Language, and culture define a nation. Once you have lost these virtues, a nation ceases to exist. Especially if it is not protected. "
DW wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:45 PM:
" Cowblitz1, if my memory is correct, Obama wants to create a Domestic Security Force, with all the power, authority and equipment that our military has. Is this what you voted for when you voted for BO?? Or did you vote for Ralph Nader?? I would have more respect for you if you voted for Nader. "
Diesel wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:50 PM:
" Bless you Country Gal you got it right on the money.
The whole point of this story is lost on most or the posters here. It is about what it proper on a Christmas treee. and clearly the representive from washington was dead WRONG. "
The whole point of this story is lost on most or the posters here. It is about what it proper on a Christmas treee. and clearly the representive from washington was dead WRONG. "
Cowlitz1 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 5:21 PM:
" DeeDub: Sure am glad that you are Native American, that way all those anti-immigrant statements aren't hypocracy. Yep, I voted for Obama, decided to make my vote count. Sorry about that, participating in a democracy, what a jerk I am. The domestic security force will be trained to deal with domestic conflict, where force is utilized in an entirely different manner, so not quite the same more like SWAT on steroids. Borders do not define the US, otherwise we would not have any foreign influence, which we clearly do. There is no official state language, due to our historically high rate of immigrants. As for a mono-culture, have you ever been to a city? How about Longview, I can purchase food that is based off of the cuisine of at least a dozen different disinct ethnic groups in our little burg of 50,000, often prepared by members of that ethnic group. The United States is a cultural mosaic, get over it! "
Cheney119 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:24 PM:
" Did you see the interview with Charles Gibson and our failed leader. He took no responsibility for the worst presidency in modern history. Bush never once looked into the future and anticipated coming problems, that's his job. You can already see how much better of a president Barrack Obama will be. He is intelligent and a hard worker that does a little homework instead of kneejerk decisions, won't that be nice for a change. I don't hate Bush, I just think he's a terrible leader and complete failure. "
greenbean wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:47 PM:
" "I was at first nauseated".. that tells us all we need to know about this "artist". What a shame and disgrace for Washington state. "
cheney119 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:59 PM:
" Makes me proud I live in a state populated by more than sheep like greenbean. Why don't you get a sense of humor? President Bust was a joke, I guess that's a republican sense of humor. "
greenbean wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:09 PM:
" I didn't say anything about Bush. Like him or not, this "artist" showed all the tact of a 13 year old -- and that's an insult to 13 year olds everywhere. "
Thank God I left Longview wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:57 PM:
" "Freedom of Speech" Deborah Lawrence expressed hers in art. What a great, free, country we live in! Forget impeachment - Now, lets try Bush and his administration on war crimes. "
local wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:18 PM:
" Thank god I left Longview: If you're so happy to be out of here then why do you continue to read the local paper and post on its web site......I think you really miss Longview. LOL "
jimmy joe bob wrote on Dec 2, 2008 10:18 PM:
" You people sit and cry about what bush has done.I't really sad that you all have forgotten the people that died on 9/11 and the job Bush did to protect this country "
Old Charlie wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:01 PM:
" It is quite easy to see why the Western Washington is the armpit of the state, with all the Baghdad Jim mentality we have. It will be interesting to see what some of these pin heads have to say in 2012. "
UW Squirrels wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:07 AM:
" jimmy joe bob, Bush has done more to harm our country than the 9/11 terrorists ever could have dreamed of. Because of this little game he's playing that he calls a war, many thousands more American lives have been lost. And how convenient for the terrorists, they don't even have to come over here to kill us anymore, we go to them. We should have blown that entire region to pieces from the beginning, not play the little invasion game Bush has been for the past seven years. "
cheney119 wrote on Dec 3, 2008 10:47 AM:
" Greenbean I love it when win at any cost, steal elections, lie, cheat, destroy the economy with insider deals, start wars over nothing republicans lecture us on manners. Now that is a great big laugh! I guess you do have a good sense of humor, even if you don't realize it. "
TDN Bad Boy wrote on Dec 3, 2008 10:52 AM:
" Please on please Liberals continue on this frivolous path. If you think for a minute that the country will stomach an impeachment please go ahead. This same tactic cost the Republicans the Congress and if the Liberals will just continue on this same course, it will slap them in the face, too. "
TheGenius wrote on Dec 3, 2008 11:30 AM:
" Note to all liberals and Democrats: You won. Bush will be gone in a matter of weeks now. Enjoy your victory but don't rub it in the face of people who don't agree with you. I speak for myself, and not some others who post on this site, when I say, had the roles been reversed, I wouldn't be acting like some of the posters that seem to get physically turned on by belittling Bush and all things Republicans. So, Libs & Dems, you stay classy. "
Kalama Dude wrote on Dec 3, 2008 12:05 PM:
" For The Genius, many liberal haters are more than happy to rub anything that could be even perceived as going wrong in the face of the Democratic fans, so making your side out to be the saints will get you nowhere PERIOD Bad Boy and his crew are very quick to put every hiccup at the feet of the now heavily ruling majority party, so I guess all those who voted wherever they maybe had it dead wrong huh? Even Alaska voted out their criminal Senator and their Governor will be next but in her case she has other things to occupy her time apparently. So yes we might gloat and throw mud, but in the case of Bush it is mud well deserved. Before you whine about our gloating, feel free to call out those that whined before and will again every darn day they think they can about what else is going so horribly wrong around here. It goes both ways very very well that much is for sure. Thanks though for speaking up. "
TheGenius wrote on Dec 3, 2008 12:46 PM:
" Believe me, I know what your saying. That's why I said I speak for myself. No saints on either side. I merely wrote the previous post as a sort of "You gotta be Effing kidding me" response to an impeachment Xmas ornament. What the hell did the artist think- Bush would be too dumb to notice? If he did notice, he would put if up because it was so original and funny? Look, you dealt with eight years of someone who you and other Dems think is somewhere between Hitler and Stalin. Congratulations for surviving, you get Obama for the next four years and a lollipop. Can we just get over the Bush-hate? "
slowburn wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:02 PM:
" Can we just get over the Bush-hate? I understand your point, Genius, and I'm with you on that to a certain extent. On the other hand, Bill Clinton and Al Gore have been out of the White House for close to a decade and there's no shortage of poison coming from the right for those two. Talk about not getting over it! "
TheGenius wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:11 PM:
" Fair point, but one thing about Clinton and Gore- it's not as if they faded into the sunset and disappeared from public view, is it? If they were off living on a ranch in Arkansas or something, that would be one thing. Instead, one guy got a Nobel Prize for making a college guest lecture into an Oscar-winning documentary film, and the other fellow helped get his wife elected as a Senator twice in a state they had no ties to prior to 1998. Not exactly avoiding the spotlight. "
slowburn wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:24 PM:
" Well, if being the current president of the United States isn't in the "spotlight" I don't know what is. "
LongviewFam wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:38 PM:
" Back to the ornament...it's just bad form for her to send it. Why not just pass on the offer and tell them she cannot in good conscience do it or say it's on the principle of the matter that she declines? She was one of very few Americans that was offered a chance to have her work on a White House tree. It should have been an honor to be nominated. Now she just looks silly to send that mod podge junk. The guy's got a few weeks left in his term, why stir the pot now? "
TheGenius wrote on Dec 3, 2008 2:07 PM:
" How much you wanna bet when Bush leaves office he just goes back to Crawford and keeps a low profile? No Senate runs for Laura. No documentary films. Actually, he's been pretty low-profile since the election. So, in a way, all the Bush-haters will get their wish: He'll most likely disappear from the spotlight, never to be heard from again. "
cheney119 wrote on Dec 3, 2008 7:00 PM:
" Why stir the pot now? Gee because he's the worst president in our history. You could send a pretty orniment or a pretty orniment that says impeach the son of a bitch. God bless her for saying what needs to be said, the orniment is cool and it said what should be said. President is a criminal! If you don't agree tough. That's not rude it's just true. President Bust retirement will be just like all republican presidents; spent on a golf course, wasting everybodies time, sort of like their time in office. Please note that no publisher even wants to print Bust's memoirs, who cares, he's too dishonest to worry about his opinion. "
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