Heisenberg's Fun House
                                                                                               2004
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Focus on Washington

White House Wallpaper

March 2003

When a president makes a somber, statesman-like speech from the Oval Office desk, his usual backdrop is dignified with pictures of the First Family and patriotic props, including  one or more American flags. (A topic's importance can be measured by the number.)  

Many partisan speeches, though, are given by the chief executive or cabinet members to promote administration policy or raise reelection funds. These are staged in front of the appropriate special-interest groups or party activists to guarantee an enthusiastic reception and create the media-fed illusion of grassroots support. 

To take advantage of photo-ops, there is an increasing use of a stylized wallpaper with a tagline or two that pretty much sums up the gist of any given presidential harangue as good as any sound bite.  If only they relayed the real message behind the speech....  

Graphics by Mark Tuchman

President Bush speaks at a Christians for Moral Preemption and Prevention
fundraiser in Salute, Georgia, about his environmental policy priorities.

Attorney General John Ashcroft announces the launch of the Justice Department's
 anti-terrorist Love It or Leave It neighborhood-surveillance program.

White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer at a recent news conference taking
questions on the administration's stands on cloning, the economy, reproductive
rights and the confrontations with Iraq and North Korea.

Recently appointed Secretary of Homeland Defense Tom Ridge introduced the
alert-status system last year, demonstrating to Americans that though fear
and paranoia are color blind, national security isn't.

   Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld speaks to an American Veterans chapter in Netherville, Ohio, about the administration's strategy to win hearts and minds in Iraq if U.N. inspection attempts fail and the U.S. is forced to resort to military force.



President Bush addressing the activist group Jesus Hates Taxes during a GOP
fundraiser in El Cajones, California, last year on his proposed tax-reduction bill.

Pres. Bush's Personal Checklist

HFH Interviews Pres. George W. Bush

HFH Special Report: $300 Tax Rebate Is the Stuff of Dreams for Some

Why They Voted for Bush -- The Final Poll Numbers

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