Strollerderby : george bush

Photo - Obama Shocked by Schoolkids

Brett Singer — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:11:00 GMT

What is the President doing in this photo? Listening to Sasha and Malia's ideas for dog names? Hearing Republican ideas for his stimulus package? Hearing Sasha and Malia's ideas for the stimulus package? Nope. Read on.

The President was surprised by a question from a student during a recent school visit. (Call "shock and awwww.") I imagine that he's just playing around with the kids. At least I hope so. If not, can you imagine what the question would have been?

I know this is unfair, but our current President looks less goofy when he's playing around then George W. Bush did (and does). Then again, he also appears to be less goofy than Dubya. So there's that.

Maybe they should just have Dubya do all the school visits from now on, and let President Obama just, like, work. Bush seems to enjoy it, and he's got time now.

Source

Fun Stuff To Do When The Kids Get Older

RENT Too Risqué For Some Schools

Kid Forced To Stand In Public Square For Bad Grades

Will the Stimulus Package Help Your Family?

Latest Action Figure Brings Together Imagination, Ponzi Schemes

Playdate: Anti-Racist Parent Offers Philosophical Commraderie and Practical Advice

Obamas Pick a Breed and a Homecoming for First Dog

George W. Bush Visits Texas Elementary School

Brett Singer — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:15:00 GMT

This is the age of bipartisanship. So…well…read this.

The former President and his wife Laura dropped by John J. Pershing Elementary School in Dallas. Apparently it really was a "hi, how y'all doing?" type of visit. The former First couple was there for over an hour. It was open house day, according to Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News.

Here are some highlights:

The Bushes were scheduled to visit three classes, but they ended up popping in on any room with an audience.
Ducking in one room, Bush asked, "Hey kids, do you know who I am?"
Gasps all around, and then someone blurted, "George Washington!"
"That's right!" the visitor said. "George Washington Bush!"

Then:

A little later, at an ESL class, Bush tried introducing himself in Spanish. Only it was a little too West Texas for the Spanish speakers. He tried again. Blank looks. Even held up three fingers. You know, a 'W." Still nothing.
Finally, Pershing's innovative, energetic principal, Margie Hernandez, stepped in with a Spanish introduction.
Ohhhhhhh.
The kids laughed at the confusion. The former president laughed. The principal laughed, out of relief, mostly.

Now, these examples are goofy, which is something that the former President was known for during his eight years in office. (Among other things, of course.) Later in the article, he shows off a different side of himself. One of the kids asked him:

"Why did you come here?"
Bush told the kids he came because he saw signs that welcomed him, and it made him feel good, and he wanted to say thanks. He then made some general observations, none more poignant than the first.
"You can be president," he said. "Can you believe that?"

I mean, look. It's not Barack Obama saying, "you can be president." But I think for the kids who were there to meet him, it was probably a special thing. Right?

Then he got a little goofy again. When asked if he would participate in the Dad's Club Haunted House, he answered with a grin and said, "I'd make a good ghost."

When I was in elementary school, I always thought it would be neat to have a President come and visit. I think it's sort of cool that GWB is still doing that. I mean, I don't agree with any of his major policies, but he was still the President. Heck, I wouldn't have minded meeting Gerald Ford.

See Congress? That's how bipartisanship works. Give me a call, we'll talk.

Source/Image

Fun Stuff To Do When The Kids Get Older

RENT Too Risqué For Some Schools

Kid Forced To Stand In Public Square For Bad Grades

Bush Twins to Obama Girls: Remember Who Your Dad Really Is

KeriF — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:32:00 GMT

I'm no fan of former (yay!) President Bush, and as much as the "liberal media" might agree with me, it's important to remember that Bush is someone's daddy.

That's what this letter from Jenna and Barbara Bush to Sasha and Malia Obama reminded me. That every time someone hurls an insult at Bush or calls him names, his daughters are right there reading it in the newspaper or watching it on TV. (I'd wager that the Bush twins gave up on The Daily Show a long time ago.)

Of course, you could argue that if Bush weren't such a… well, whatever you think of him, this wouldn't be a problem. When you become president, you give up a certain amount of privacy (okay, you give up all privacy). And you give up a certain amount of your kids' privacy as well. And you open yourself up to criticism from, well, from everyone in the world.

But it sounds like the kids get a lot in return. Here's an excerpt from the Bush twins' letter to the Obama girls about their experiences in the White House, both as granddaughters of the first President Bush and as daughters of the second; the full text can be found here.

When we played house, we sat behind the East sitting room's massive curtains as the light poured in illuminating her yellow walls. Our seven-year-old imaginations soared as we played in the enormous, beautiful rooms; our dreams, our games, as romantic as her surroundings. At night, the house sang us quiet songs through the chimneys as we fell asleep. In late December, when snow blanketed the front lawn, all of our cousins overtook the White House. Thirteen children between the ages of two and 12 ran throughout her halls, energized by the crispness in the air and the spirit of the season. Every room smelled of pine; the entire house was adorned with thistle; garlands wound around every banister. We sat on her grand staircase and spied on the holiday dancing below. Hours were spent playing hide-and-go-seek. We used a stage in the grand ballroom to produce a play about Santa and his reindeer. We watched as the National Christmas Tree was lit and admired the chef as he put the final icing on the gingerbread house.

But what really choked me up was their closing paragraph:

And finally, although it's an honor and full of so many extraordinary opportunities, it isn't always easy being a member of the club you are about to join. Our dad, like yours, is a man of great integrity and love; a man who always put us first. We still see him now as we did when we were seven: as our loving daddy. Our Dad, who read to us nightly, taught us how to score tedious baseball games. He is our father, not the sketch in a paper or part of a skit on TV. Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is.

George W. Bush may not have been the best president, but to two girls, he's the best dad.

Elizabeth Hasselbeck's Son Headbutts the President

SunnyChanel — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:49:00 GMT

Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s 14-month-old son got to do something over the weekend that most can only dream about. He headbutted the president.

The Hasslebeck clan flew to D.C. and had a 15-minute visit with President Bush, which Elizabeth described as feeling “historic and comfortable”. Her daughter Grace brought dog biscuits for the Bush’s dogs and had a conversation about the canines with the lame duck.

But then son Taylor got his time, he took this opportunity to nudged noggins with the literal head of the United States of America.

"Taylor shows his affection by headbutting people, so he also engaged in that with the President" she said. "He clocked the President in the head."

Oh, to be young and to be able to head butt however your want, whenever you want.

You can check out a outtake from The Viewabout the visit on Huffington Post here.

Obama Checks Out Kid's Future Cribs

SunnyChanel — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

After having a sit down with President Bush this week and discussing what to do about the economy, the American auto industry and the state of the entire world, what did Barack Obama want to see and do? According to Bush, he wanted to check out his daughter’s potential bedrooms first hand.

Bush told CNN “One of things President-elect Obama was interested in -- after we had our policy discussions -- was his little girls. How would they like the White House? It was interesting to watch him go upstairs, and he wanted to see where his little girls were going to sleep."

Bush continued to say "Clearly, this guy is going to bring a great sense of family to the White House," Bush said. "I hope Laura and I did the same thing, but I believe he will and I know his girls are on his mind and he wants to make sure that first and foremost he is a good dad. And I think that's going to be an important part of his presidency."

As for living in the White House, Malia -in an interview the family did with Access Hollywood during the summer- said "I think my most excitement about it is that I get to redecorate my room. I enjoy decorating. So I get to get this whole new room and do whatever I want!" If the photo above of the First Lady’s Bedroom from 1962 is any indication of how the rooms look, well there will be some serious redecorating to do for sure!

Vi AP

A Taste of Sasha and Malia's White House Rules: But Can They Paint it Pink?

Bailout bill defeated because it sucks

Brett Singer — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:25:00 GMT

That's what the Rep. Paul Ryan, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee said about the bailout bill, according to ABC News. "It sucks."

Yes, it's government by 10 year olds.

They went on to report that Ryan thinks the bill "has to pass to preserve the free market system and stave off a financial collapse." Even though, you know, it sucks.

I guess we should get ready for the collapse, because the bill didn't pass. Interestingly, the bill failed largely because of Republican opposition, not Democratic, despite what right-wing rags like the New York Post have been trying to tell people. (I don't have a link but they had a political cartoon, and editorials, that tried to paint Dems as the party that blocked the bill.) I'm curious how Fox News, et al, are going to spin this one.

On another note, doesn't this mean everything is going to fall apart now? (Money under the mattress time!) Or not? I admit to feeling very dumb when it comes to matters of economics, especially this one.

Source: ABC News

Image: Wikipedia (interestingly, Ryan's official house.gov web site is not responding.)

Breaking News -- House Rejects Bailout; Stocks Plunge!

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Dora the Conservative

Teaching Abstinence Doesn’t Work: Palin’s Preggo Kid.

Cole Gamble — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

This is a topic that’s not gonna get a lot of play from the Obama camp. People would call bringing a 17-year-old pregnant girl into a political debate just mean. I don’t care; I think it needs to be discussed because Bristol Palin’s situation launches a fiery hot cannonball right into the heart of Sarah Palin’s social policy: Abstinence training doesn’t work.

Sarah Palin will possibly be our vice president and her policy on teen sex is abstinence, which is no policy. Condoms, diaphragms and birth control pills are not the devil’s work. To not educate your kids to practice safe sex is to encourage them to have unsafe sex. That is not a message I want our second highest governing official passing to my kids.

This is the same ideological turd our current government took into the African aids crisis, suggesting Africans could cure their aids plague with some good old fashioned abstinence training. Not condoms or other safe sex devices, just sweet chaste abstinence. Thank goodness we finally bombed Africans with some rubbers or else we wouldn’t be seeing a drop in the numbers of newly infected.

But what about our children’s precious minds? If we talk frankly to them about sex and even provide them with protection they will become ruined people, sexual deviants of the highest order. They’ll transform into beings so brutally, nastily sexualized that their actions will make unicorns cry, right? Well listening to NPR the other day, I heard the words of a republican delegate praising the Palin’s composure during this delicate time for their daughter. The woman said, “I think the situation with her daughter just makes her one of us. She’s got problems like any mom: you tell your kids what to do, but kids will do what they do.” Um, thank you. Kids will do what they do and if you want to stick your head into the sand that is “abstinence only” training, then you won’t be able to see your kids running around having unprotected sex. Persistent ignorance is not good child rearing. I am not saying it is travesty that some 17-year-old got knocked up. What is a travesty is a 17-year-old running around having unprotected sex, in which there are far greater dangers than pregnancy looming, just because mommy and daddy believe teaching smart responsible sex is like offering your kid an apple from the tree of knowledge. It’s a slap in the face of human nature and responsible parenting. Please someone tell me just one instance, any instance, in which choosing to be ignorant saved the day.

Teaching abstinence is fine, if it’s a piece of the puzzle, not the only option. There must be some abstinence only proponents out there. Tell me I’m wrong. Please explain to me how abstinence only works, show me the numbers. Show me how being honest and open with your kids ruins them, because I need to know I am not just shouting into a void. So what do YOU think???

More by this author:

5 Reasons Breast Feeding Isn’t That Great (and 5 Reasons Why It Is)

My Daughter Wants A Penis

The Sh*t List: 10 Bizarre (or Terrific?) Potty Gadgets

Nipple Jewelry: 5 Products Moms DON’T Need

10 Naughty Things We Do to Our Kids (but keep doing anyway)

The 26 Most Disturbing Kids Movies Ever

Xtina and Max Rock the Vote

Brett Singer — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:04:00 GMT

Remember Rock the Vote? How it was supposed to be a game-changer, bringing all these young people to the polls? And then George W. Bush got elected two times in a row?

Well, that hasn't stopped celebrities from using their fame to get us to the polls. Christina Aguilera literally wraps her son Max in the American flag and sings about those Purple Mountains Majesty.

I'm a big fan of voting, and I agree with Rock The Vote's mission. I just wonder how much it really does. I mean, is someone going to say, "Well, Xtina told me I should Rock The Vote. Well, dammit, I'm going to!"?

I guess every little bit helps. Here's the video. It's way better than Puffy's "Vote or Die" campaign.

image: RockTheVote

When Cynthia called Cindy

Mrs. And Mrs. DeGeneres, and a male perspective on the name game

Christie Brinkley's Ex Paid Off His 18-year-old mistress

Denise Richards still trying to prove she's insane

Photos from Nicole Kidman's Nursery

When Celebrities Say Stupid Stuff

Christina Aguilera Rocks Vote and Baby

Dick Cheney whispering hush: Goodnight Bush

Brett Singer — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:00:00 GMT

"Goodnight Bush" is a new take on an old classic, but probably not something you'll be reading (and reading, and reading, and reading – what is it about "Goodnight Moon"?) to your kids at bedtime.

According to the New York Times, the book was an unsolicited manuscript received by Little, Brown, who noticed it in the pile because it was mailed in a clear envelope. Good move – the package stood out, and the book is now on sale; it currently holds the #1 spot on Amazon.com in the Political Humor category.

"Goodnight Constitution. And goodnight evolution."

Hee hee.

The authors actually take their parody more seriously, with one of them saying, "We wanted it to be the definitive requiem for everything they've done." Um, okay. Can I just think it's funny?

image: sfgate.com

The Human Element of War

Brett Singer — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:00:00 GMT

No matter what you think of the Iraq War (or any war for that matter) I think it's important to remember the human side of things. The soldiers aren't only fighters, they're people.

Some of them are even parents. In her terrific Personal Essay titled "Return to the Home Front", Korinthia Klein tells us what it was like when her husband Ian came home from "over there." It's all worth reading, but here are a couple of highlights:

"By the time I got my arms around Ian, all I could do was sob."

"Ian marveled at the quiet as we went to sleep, because he'd lived so long with mortar fire and the constant whine of generators and military jets. I kept forgetting that he didn't know where things belonged and that he still had to be introduced to some of the people and places the kids and I know best."

"The children adjusted remarkably well. It's hard to believe Quinn's daddy was a stranger to him only a few weeks ago."

Look – support the war, don't support the war. But no matter what, always support the troops.

Speak and Spell for the Cellphone Generation (Plus Bonus George Bush Video)

Brett Singer — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:32:00 GMT

Franklin has released the Speaking Spelling Bee, which is basically a classic Speak & Spell toy that spent too much time in the drier.

Some key differences:

Batteries:

Speak N Spell: 4 C's

Speaking Spelling Bee: 3 AAA's

Size:

Speak N Spell: 9.9 x 6.9 x 1.3 inches; 1.2 pounds

Speaking Spelling Bee: not sure but a heck of a lot smaller (see photos here)

Nostalgia factor of the old guy:

The old classic Speak N Spell has a real place in our collective pop culture hearts. ET featured it in a key scene, Depeche Mode named their first album Speak & Spell, and the toy was a character in Toy Story. (Check out Wikipedia to learn more about the Speak & Spell then you ever thought possible.) If you want to show your kids how cool your toys were without scouring eBay for a used model, check out this online simulator. That creepy voice should definitely get them to appreciate the quality synthesized vocals that they hear from their educational playthings (not to mention the quality synthesized vocals they hear in a Britney Spears song.)

For a modern take on the old classic, check out the video below of George Bush asking Speak N Spell for advice.

Should You "Party Train" Your Kids?

Kelly Mills — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:33:00 GMT

Two toddlers meet in the sandbox. One is wearing a "Bush is my man" t-shirt, while the other has on a "Mommy and me love Hilary" onesie. I think it's unlikely this will degenerate into a discussion about how we don't bite kids with different political beliefs than our own, because these kids are probably less aware they are advertising for political candidates. And it's an intertesting issue raised in this CNN article: Is there anything wrong with "party training" your kids? One therapist says, "It seems cute and benign. However, the more I think about it, the more it fails to pass my cringe test. It seems that we're bombarded enough by constant advertising, so why should children become the canvas for any ad?... Do we really want to see kids in this role?"

Parents defend the onesies and political slogan tees by saying they are passing on their values to their kids. But I'll be honest, even beyond political outfits at a certain level it makes me uncomfortable too. Something about children parroting political beliefs they don't even understand feels like mindless indoctrination to me. If you feel okay with this, imagine a young child espousing the opinions of the side you disagree with.

However, I'd hate to raise a child with no awareness of the issues of the day just because I was anxious about making her a propaganda billboard. In our house we do talk about issues we consider social justice--like gay marriage or racial discrimination--and we most certainly explain our beliefs on this to our child, that feels like passing on basic values to me. We try and avoid being dogmatic about political candidates, and most of the time we fail miserably.

Am I the only one who has even thinks this is an issue, and how do you draw lines?

Leader Scolds Nation for Rampant Kiddie Boob Jobs

Madeline Holler — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:24:00 GMT

I don’t know which skeeves me out more: 15-year-olds who get breast implants, their parents who gladly pay for it, or a national leader commenting on the whole bouncy, perky, deeply cleavaged fad.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for presidents who take an active interest in how the real people of their country are living (and looking?). But for the charismatic leader of a strategically important nation to mention boob-jobs-for-teens by name? I dunno. Feels weird.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recently decried the trend among his country's large, nouveau riche population for giving breast enlargement surgeries to their daughters as a gift for the important quincenera, or 15th birthday. He blamed Barbie and Western-imposed ideals. He said parents should spend their money on more important things.

Hey, I’m with Chavez and all. That’s a bit young for elective cosmetic surgery. Are 15-year-olds even finished growing all over yet? And what does it mean when Daddy says, "Baby, see you and your new girls in post-op!" As exciting as the new boobs no doubt are, that's got to chip away the littlest bit at a girl's self-esteem and body image.

Anyway, I feel like the job of calling on parents to spend their money in less, um, demonstrable ways is more for the Minister of Elective Surgeries. Not the president. But maybe I'm not used to that kind of attention to the well-being of the citizenry from a president.

I am trying to imagine the U.S. President George W. Bush expressing a similar sentiment, since teen boob jobs are also not unheard of in this country. Childrens do learn to have small breasts, perhaps? Cringe. Education policy! Stick to underfunded education policy.

Baby Einstein Founder Flanks First Lady at State of the Union

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:16:00 GMT

Julie Aigner-Clark, the founder of the the Baby Einstein company was an invited guest of George W. Bush during last night's State of the Union address, one of the "uninspiring choice(s)" made by Dubya according to Margaret Carlson of Bloomberg.com.

For those that don't know, Aigner-Clark developed porn-quality (in terms of production values) programs showing spinning toys and freaky puppets set to jejune music. The goal of the videos is to stimulate babies and turn them into, well, "Baby Einsteins," but we all know that's bullshit.

Tekla of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog had a more, ahem, pointed criticism of the choice:

This is the woman that convinced parents that it's perfectly OK to prop up babies in front of the television because it's educational (they don't even have to be old enough to sit)! The woman that found the perfect combination of music and colors to hypnotize a baby into complete docility, to ensure that the next generation really will be passive observers, not interacting or caring much about the people around them or their environment. Or, perhaps, this is the woman that has found the way to raise the perfect Republican...

As Tekla says, "at least we know what Bush watches on TV."

Strollerderby : george bush

Photo - Obama Shocked by Schoolkids

George W. Bush Visits Texas Elementary School

Fun Stuff To Do When The Kids Get Older

RENT Too Risqué For Some Schools

Kid Forced To Stand In Public Square For Bad Grades

Will the Stimulus Package Help Your Family?

Latest Action Figure Brings Together Imagination, Ponzi Schemes

Playdate: Anti-Racist Parent Offers Philosophical Commraderie and Practical Advice

Obamas Pick a Breed and a Homecoming for First Dog

George W. Bush Visits Texas Elementary School

Photo - Obama Shocked by Schoolkids

Fun Stuff To Do When The Kids Get Older

RENT Too Risqué For Some Schools

Kid Forced To Stand In Public Square For Bad Grades

Bush Twins to Obama Girls: Remember Who Your Dad Really Is

Elizabeth Hasselbeck's Son Headbutts the President

Obama Checks Out Kid's Future Cribs

Bailout bill defeated because it sucks

They say: keep your money under your mattress

Breaking News -- House Rejects Bailout; Stocks Plunge!

Morning News: Beginning of a New Economy? End of McCain's Hopes? Palin Comes in 2nd?

Ailing Companies as Bad Children

Dora the Conservative

Teaching Abstinence Doesn’t Work: Palin’s Preggo Kid.

Xtina and Max Rock the Vote

20 mil for pics of twins

When Cynthia called Cindy

Mrs. And Mrs. DeGeneres, and a male perspective on the name game

Christie Brinkley's Ex Paid Off His 18-year-old mistress

Denise Richards still trying to prove she's insane

Photos from Nicole Kidman's Nursery

When Celebrities Say Stupid Stuff

Christina Aguilera Rocks Vote and Baby

Dick Cheney whispering hush: Goodnight Bush

The Human Element of War

Speak and Spell for the Cellphone Generation (Plus Bonus George Bush Video)

Should You "Party Train" Your Kids?

Leader Scolds Nation for Rampant Kiddie Boob Jobs

Baby Einstein Founder Flanks First Lady at State of the Union