"Burning Bush" Turns Up Heat on President

[kskiska]

OPPONENTS of George Bush have taken a novel protest on the road as they try to ensure that the president’s re-election campaign is shot down in flames.

A 12ft effigy of Bush with his trousers burning is touring the US in the Pants-on-Fire mobile display, an attempt by a group that includes some of America’s most prominent business leaders to highlight the "lies" coming from the President ahead of November’s vote.

The ‘burning Bush’, as followers have nicknamed it, is the idea of Ben Cohen, co-founder of the Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream empire and leader of an internet-based advocacy group called True Majority, which claims to have 380,000 subscribers around the country.

"The problem with politics is that it’s too serious," said Cohen, who worked on the construction of the £19,000 model, paid for by public donations. "There is a serious message behind what we are doing with the Pants-on-Fire mobile, and presenting it in this way gets that across effectively."

(snip)

The procession will drive through several states on its way to California, then on to Washington DC for the election.

more…
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=182102004

[stevedeshazer]

1. Good.

[Bozita]

3. ROTFLMAO - Nasal Viagra

If the condition persists after four hours, contact your physician.

haha

[0007]

10. Colin Powell's nose is just a tad longer! Your photo depicts Colin

without a nose. How come? I'd like to see a real sword like nose fight.

[snippy]

18. A picture of Bush and his entire Cabinet would be nice.

[Goldom]

2. What I can't help but wonder...

What does Jerry think about this? I mean, every time the guy's name is mentioned, it's "Ben, of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream". Is Jerry a republican? :P

[snippy]

6. Good question. Maybe it is a Penn and Teller kind of thing.

[Whoa_Nelly]

22. Ben Cohen is founder of TrueMajority.org

http://www.truemajority.org/homepage.cfm

Snip from that homepage:

The TrueMajority campaign was started by Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben and Jerry's. It is endorsed by:


National Council of Churches Campaign for America's Future
Campus Greens Peace Action
Co-op America Physicians for Social Responsibility
Global Exchange Rainforest Action Network
Greenpeace Rock the Vote
Infact Service Employees International Union
The Interfaith Alliance Sojourners
National Council of La Raza United for a Fair Economy
National Head Start Association Women's Action for New Directions
National Priorities Project

TrueMajority sifts through all the stuff going on in Congress. When your voice counts to create a just and sustainable world, you get an email alert. Then just by clicking one button a fax is sent to your congressperson in your name. It takes about 2 minutes a month and it's free.

[Florida_Geek]

4. Pants on Fire will be in Tampa today as

Bush comes here. :D

[bluedog]

7. 3:30 today

Pants on Fire will be crossing Gandy Bridge.....hoping bush will see what his inspiration has made the American people do to him..He will be landing at Tampa ...it will be a seen for miles as there is nothhing but water on both sides...

[soup]

14. Howard Troxler picked it up this morning -

Dear Mr. President,

Hello and welcome to Tampa Bay! All politics aside, it is always kind of neat when a president visits. This afternoon, some local folks are going to haul a big statue of you across a bridge over the bay, depicting you with your pants on fire, but I hope you will take that as a sort of, you know, parade in your honor.

Now, they say that you don't read newspapers, but I am hoping you might accidentally see the local rag while you're in town. (If you don't mind me saying, sir, it is really a bad idea not to read newspapers for yourself. I wish at least that you'd pose with a newspaper now and then, just to set a good example for the kids, you know.)

I suppose the main point I want to make is that most Americans are reasonable folks. They do not swallow everything the Democrats tell them - but they don't swallow everything that you're selling, either. Frankly, sir, it is wearing thinner than your folks up in Washington might be telling you.
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/15/Columns/Mr_President__if_I_ma.shtml

[October]

5. Saw it!

We saw it a while ago in Bucks County, PA! We couldn't believe our eyes. This ephigy is hard to miss, especially at night, as it's lit up like a Christmas tree.

We assumed it was a local guy pulling this thing along in an open trailer behind his vehicle. I'm glad to finally know the whole story.

[bvar22]

8. Anyone have a pic?

?

[soup]

13. pics, video, info link here

http://pantsonfire.net/photos.htm

[snippy]

9. They also sell Pants on Fire dolls.

http://store.pantsonfire.net/

[bvar22]

11. No picture yet

I haven't found a picture yet, but this article describes it well.

<snip>
The float consists of a forest-green Ford Crown Victoria complete with American flags at the corners, a 15-foot trailer and a 12-foot-tall effigy of Bush. He is lit up with orange and magenta lights, has flailing white cloth stuck to his posterior and even has a smoke machine to complete the pants-on-fire effect.

Aside from the flame-like cloth, Bush wears a silver space-suit-like costume with lit neon yellow piping to give him a creepy glow at night. His bucket-shaped head bares his mug so it is visible from any angle, so no one misses his identity. He is lit up like daylight by floodlights, making him an instant star wherever he goes, even as he's followed around by news vans.

<more>
http://www.ucfnews.com/news/2004/01/12/News/pants.On.Fire.Lights.Up.Orlando-579560.shtml

This is a great way to beat bush*.

[0007]

12. Would be nice if every State in the Union had a...

a 12ft effigy of Bush with his trousers burning touring that state.

[bvar22]

15. Thanks for the link,soup.

Check out the Website:
http://pantsonfire.net/photos.htm

[bluedog]

16. picture

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. The Pants on Fire mobile will be in Tampa today!

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/15/Columns/Mr_President__if_I_ma.shtml

Hello and welcome to Tampa Bay! All politics aside, it is always kind of neat when a president visits. This afternoon, some local folks are going to haul a big statue of you across a bridge over the bay, depicting you with your pants on fire, but I hope you will take that as a sort of, you know, parade in your honor.


The rest of the article is a good read, too.

[Nlighten1]

19. Didn't some guy go to jail for talking about a "burning bush"

[nodehopper]

21. yep, here is the link

http://www.rense.com/general46/3yr.htm

[Occulus]

20. I just LOVE double standards...

Wasn't there a guy that made a barroom joke about a 'burning Bush'... only to get a couple years in jail?

[anarchy1999]

23. I'm driving in March

Signed up for a five-day shift.

Plan out on taking him out to the lake for the jogging community, down that chi-chi road of boutique shops near the religious university, past the landmark in town that connotes political malfeasance, the strip of college bars with all that great music, tho boho art section, and thru the neighborhoods of cigar-chomping, SUV- driving, golf-loving, idiot-worshipping, Republicanazis.

Where would YOU drive-by with a burning Bush?

[schultzee]

24. I donated to their campaign for the burning bush. These groups

are the only way we can dissent now. Protesters are put in free speech pens so bu$h won't have to see them. And the media won't even cover the demonstrators in the free speech pens.

[anarchy1999]

25. I agree but...

There are always more ways we can dissent.

I appreciate what kind of work goes into building a national coalition like this. I also know what it takes to create a local groundswell. Participating at all levels creates the tidal wave we can wield.

Blaming the media for lack of coverage is a waste of time. Keep working towards the goal, and the story will develop.

My heart goes out to all who dissent against these odds. My thanks go to the MoveOns and the Ben Cohens and the NotInOurNames. I will happily sit in a seat they've prepared for me. No planning required, and free marketing.

Let's get this show on the road!