Caption This: The Presidents

rocketsjudoka · Jan 8, 2009

GH Bush: Barack, I'm telling you if Bagwell had been healthy we would've been all over your White Sox.

weslinder · Jan 8, 2009

Real quote, just played on Limbaugh.

Clinton: "I love this rug."

Sometimes truth > fiction.

cson · Jan 8, 2009

B-Bob said:

not a caption, but look at GWB's left foot. What is he doing?
Click to expand...

He has a poopy.

rimrocker · Jan 8, 2009

weslinder said:

Real quote, just played on Limbaugh.

Clinton: "I love this rug."

Sometimes truth > fiction.
Click to expand...

You know why he said that, right?

arkoe · Jan 8, 2009

rimrocker said:

You know why he said that, right?
Click to expand...

I don't, please explain.

rimrocker · Jan 8, 2009

arkoe said:

I don't, please explain.
Click to expand...

Bush and the rug have become a running joke in some circles because the following article so neatly represents Bush's governing style and shows where his true interests are... in the trappings and not in the work. By bringing it up, Clinton was essentially calling him a failure (or maybe an idiot) to his face without Bush realizing it. Commence the "classy" fight, but I thought it was hilarious. Clinton's a smart-ass, but it's better than being a dumb-ass.

President loves Oval Office rug -- it says 'optimistic person'
Bush says first lady designed yellow sunburst carpet

Peter Baker, Washington Post
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/09/MNGUQHL5NS1.DTL&type=printable

(03-09) 04:00 PST Washington -- Nothing says power like the Oval Office. The paintings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The bust of Dwight Eisenhower. The desk used by both Roosevelts.

And then there's the rug. Don't forget the rug. President Bush never does.

For whatever reason, Bush seems fixated on his rug. Virtually all visitors to the Oval Office find him regaling them about how it was chosen and what it represents. Turns out, he always says, the first decision any president makes is what carpet he wants in his office. As a take-charge leader, he then explains, he of course made a command decision: He delegated the decision to Laura Bush, who chose a yellow sunbeam design.

Elizabeth Vargas, the ABC News anchor, was the latest to get the treatment. She went by last week to interview Bush before his trip to Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Sure enough, she wasn't in the room but a minute or two before he started telling her about the carpet.

"You know an interesting story about the rug?" he asked. "Laura designed the rug."

"She did?" Vargas said.

"Yeah, she did. Presidents are able to pick their own rugs or design their own rugs."

Bush went on: "The interesting thing about this rug and why I like it in here is 'cause I told Laura one thing. I said, 'Look, I can't pick the colors and all that. But make it say 'optimistic person.' ''

The oval-shaped carpet covers most of the world's most famous office, first occupied in 1909 by William Howard Taft, who found a checkerboard floor made out of mahajua wood from the Philippines.

Subsequent presidents have chosen one design or another, but the consistent theme has been the seal in the center with the American eagle holding olive branches in one claw and arrows in the other. In a fit of postwar symbolism, Harry Truman changed the seal so that the eagle would face toward the olive branches, not the arrows.

Many presidents have added their own taste to the Oval Office. "They use the office's imagery," said Fred Greenstein, a professor emeritus at Princeton University who has written on presidential leadership. He recalled John F. Kennedy's son, John, peeking out from under the desk, an image that conveyed youth and family. Lyndon Johnson, obsessed with breaking news, kept a ticker-tape machine and three television sets in his Oval Office. Ronald Reagan's aide Michael Deaver revamped the lighting to make it better for television addresses.

Bush has his own touches -- some Western-themed paintings and an on-loan bust of Winston Churchill courtesy of British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

But it is the rug that animates the president.

"He loves his rug," said Nicolle Wallace, the White House communications director. "I've heard him describe it countless times."

Sometimes Bush describes it as a metaphor for leadership. Sometimes he relates how Russian President Vladimir Putin admired the carpet.

"When you're giving a tour of the Oval Office, you're trying to point to things that emphasize what you're trying to do," Wallace said. "For him, the optimism is very symbolic of what he wants his presidency to be about."
Click to expand...

AroundTheWorld · Jan 8, 2009

George Bush senior:

Then I took her head and pushed it down like this...

(stolen from this picture...)

mc mark · Jan 9, 2009

Man! Those cats look funky!

Dairy Ashford · Jan 10, 2009

Three white southerners and yankee blueblood born before the '50s?

"We gave 'em an inch, they took a damn mile."

"My golf club isn't this inclusive."

Mr. Clutch · Jan 10, 2009

PresiDUNCES LOL

weslinder · Jan 10, 2009

rimrocker said:

Bush and the rug have become a running joke in some circles because the following article so neatly represents Bush's governing style and shows where his true interests are... in the trappings and not in the work. By bringing it up, Clinton was essentially calling him a failure (or maybe an idiot) to his face without Bush realizing it. Commence the "classy" fight, but I thought it was hilarious. Clinton's a smart-ass, but it's better than being a dumb-ass.
Click to expand...

Keith, is that you?

<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4968ff336b0c9e0e/490da10d11cdaf4f/40d63b3d/-cpid/6a200eed48f1fe19" id="W4727a250e66f97234968ff336b0c9e0e" width="384" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/4968ff336b0c9e0e/490da10d11cdaf4f/40d63b3d/-cpid/6a200eed48f1fe19" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /></object>

ryan_98 · Jan 10, 2009

this is pretty cool.

the NYT took the pic and added a few other presidents. click the link to see it.

Welcome, 44, From 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 32, 16...

Except perhaps for Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama arrives at the White House having the fewest obligations to the established political order in modern times. But administrations never really start from scratch, no matter how stark the change in policies from their predecessors. Last week, at Mr. Obama's urging and President Bush's invitation, the
former presidents gathered for the ultimate power lunch to trade stories and advice. We've broadened that gathering to list some of the ideas, traits and personnel from previous administrations that may guide President Obama. Roll your cursor over each president to learn more.
— BILL MARSH
Click to expand...

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/weekinreview/20090111_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

wnes · Jan 13, 2009

weslinder said:

"Now Barry, I've got two words of advice for you: Exit Strategy. My two sons didn't listen, and despite the goofy looks on their faces, they regret it."
Click to expand...

Bill: Jimmy, I am recalling my days in the Oval Office with lust.

Junior: Tell me about it.

Senior to O: Deez nuts.

Lynus302 · Jan 13, 2009

arkoe said:

Carter: "Those guys are tall."
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. I'm a bit surprised at how short they all are. I met Dubya when he was governor....little dude.

Edit: just read somewhere that Obama is 6'1" but I also saw W listed at 5'11" and I know that isn't true: I'm 5'11" and I was several inches taller than him.

Forums

Caption This: The Presidents

rocketsjudoka Member

weslinder Member

cson Member

rimrocker Member

arkoe (ง'̀-'́)ง

rimrocker Member

AroundTheWorld Member

mc mark Member

Dairy Ashford Member

Mr. Clutch Member

weslinder Member

ryan_98 Contributing Member
Supporting Member

wnes Contributing Member

Lynus302 Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!

Caption This: The Presidents

rocketsjudoka Member

weslinder Member

cson Member

rimrocker Member

arkoe (ง'̀-'́)ง

rimrocker Member

AroundTheWorld Member

mc mark Member

Dairy Ashford Member

Mr. Clutch Member

weslinder Member

ryan_98 Contributing Member Supporting Member

wnes Contributing Member

Lynus302 Member

Share This Page

ryan_98 Contributing Member
Supporting Member