Spring Break
A Bushless America: the new mold for American media
Are we ready to put comedy aside and take a serious looks at politics?
Jason M. Wallace
Issue date: 11/13/08 Section: Opinion
President-elect Barack Obama has been chosen to lead America into a new land of fulfilled hopes and promises. As citizens, we must help this country and each other to bring the changes that are needed to fix the problems we face today. With all the proposed changes, are we ready to leave what we've grown used to?
I think we are ready to fix the problems that will carry over from the Bush administration. However, are we ready for the changes in our popular culture? I feel that the comedic side of the media has displaced pride in our country and our views of American politics. Since Bush's inauguration, there has been some kind of comedic shadow to his every footstep in politics. Comedy Central aired "That's My Bush!" on April 4, 2001. This show, along with Will Ferrell's impersonation of Bush, set the president up as a running joke as long as the news was updated.
The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 halted the media from producing any sort of anti-Bush shows. Since 2003, when the country was gearing up for the election, and all the events that have taken place since his second term, Bush has become a comic novelty item. From little things like gift cards, posters of "Bushism" quotes, coffee mugs and Internet humor to the big network television programs including "The Daily Show" and "The Late Show with David Letterman," Bush has been a comic's gold mind. Now with only about two months left before Obama and Biden take the White House, we the people must change our views on politics and the media. I think that it is going to be hard for the media to put Obama in a bad light unless something goes terribly wrong in his administration.
I think that during Bush's administration, it was so easy for anyone to dislike the current president due to what the media portrayed him to be. It felt like America had revisited those rebellious high school days and returned with feelings of scorn and judgment for our nation's leaders. Now the leaders are going to change, for better or for worse; but will our attitudes toward America change as well?
I think we are ready to fix the problems that will carry over from the Bush administration. However, are we ready for the changes in our popular culture? I feel that the comedic side of the media has displaced pride in our country and our views of American politics. Since Bush's inauguration, there has been some kind of comedic shadow to his every footstep in politics. Comedy Central aired "That's My Bush!" on April 4, 2001. This show, along with Will Ferrell's impersonation of Bush, set the president up as a running joke as long as the news was updated.
The attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 halted the media from producing any sort of anti-Bush shows. Since 2003, when the country was gearing up for the election, and all the events that have taken place since his second term, Bush has become a comic novelty item. From little things like gift cards, posters of "Bushism" quotes, coffee mugs and Internet humor to the big network television programs including "The Daily Show" and "The Late Show with David Letterman," Bush has been a comic's gold mind. Now with only about two months left before Obama and Biden take the White House, we the people must change our views on politics and the media. I think that it is going to be hard for the media to put Obama in a bad light unless something goes terribly wrong in his administration.
I think that during Bush's administration, it was so easy for anyone to dislike the current president due to what the media portrayed him to be. It felt like America had revisited those rebellious high school days and returned with feelings of scorn and judgment for our nation's leaders. Now the leaders are going to change, for better or for worse; but will our attitudes toward America change as well?
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
Mr. Jones
posted 11/13/08 @ 6:50 AM EST
When the man representing our country has failed on absolutely every front and issue, it's kinda hard to say you're proud of what America is doing; since well, his policies shape what America is doing. (Continued…)
J
posted 11/13/08 @ 7:59 AM EST
I really love how you ultra liberal democrats find it so easy to blame all the faults and problems of our country on one person. It doesn't matter how much rhetoric you have behind your message. (Continued…)
Sinjun
posted 11/13/08 @ 11:09 PM EST
You know what the diffrence is of course. Democrats always call foul if they get called out on something but will treat other people like Crap and pretend it's their duty. (Continued…)
jimbo327
posted 11/14/08 @ 8:43 AM EST
I know how i'm going to treat the new model for America
My new mantra going forward
For now, we have a new president-elect. In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president. (Continued…)
Weird
posted 11/14/08 @ 10:41 AM EST
When people are blaming Congress for their share of the crap we are in, I always wonder why they seem to forget it was a Republican Congress all the way through the 2006 elections, inducted in 2007, with the slimmest possible Democrat majority in the Senate, making quality action nearly impossible. (Continued…)
J
posted 11/14/08 @ 12:00 PM EST
Here is some food for thought for you people that believe in all these social and welfare programs and think that the government should bail you out of everything. (Continued…)
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