Barack Obama's new digs in Denver, his faux Greek temple, are attracting the predictable amount of scorn from the right side of the blogosphere. Meanwhile, the media has hunkered down in the bunker (probably avoiding arrest) and is trying an equivalency meme out. I generally thought a bit better of Ben Smith at The Politico, but he's trying the trial balloon toga on for size:
Barack Obama's appearance in Denver won't be the first convention speech framed by Greek columns.
Republicans who are mocking Obama's appearance haven't mentioned it, but George W. Bush accepted his own nomination in 2004 on a set with a similar neoclassical theme, with columns rising on either side of him, as the pictures above and below show.
Smith is accurate, but far from truthful here. Yes, there were columns. A total, per Smith's own photographic "proof', of six columns as part of the convention hall decor.
What it was not was a purpose-built faux-Greek temple in a stadium. Bush accepted in the convention hall, not in a football stadium. Nor did he have an entire temple assembled for himself to house his ego. The media may try to split hairs here and play the equivalency card, average voters will be more than a bit disturbed at the imagery the Obama campaign has used. But, our backroom staff here at the Crabitat has helpfully written a new anthem (or is it paean?) for the stadium toga after-party:
Obama, Hey Bama, Bama, Bama, Oh!
Bama, hey Bama, Obama
Barry, Barry, won't you smile at me?
Bama, Obama hey Superstar
Powerline has helpful dress tips for those supporters who want to meet the dress code.
Whether the media admits it or not, they are rapidly becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democratic party and Obama campaign. Maybe the openly stated plan to attack television stations that dare to air anti-Obama ads didn't get their attention. (The Obama campaign pledged to coordinate attacks on those stations, but the media largely yawned.) Maybe the arrest of one of their own for daring to attempt to film lobbyists and Democratic Senators will finally enlighten them as to what they are involved in. Perhaps they'll pay attention to the story of Asa Eslocker, an ABC News producer.
A cigar-smoking Denver police sergeant, accompanied by a team of five other officers, first put his hands on Eslocker's neck, then twisted the producers arm behind him to put on handcuffs.
A police official later told lawyers for ABC News that Eslocker is being charged with trespass, interference, and failure to follow a lawful order. He also said the arrest followed a signed complaint from the Brown Palace Hotel.
Eslocker was put in handcuffs and loaded in the back of a police van which headed for a nearby police station.
Video taken at the scene shows a man, wearing the uniform of a Boulder County sheriff, ordering Eslocker off the sidewalk in front of the hotel, to the side of the entrance.
The sheriff's officer is seen telling Eslocker the sidewalk is owned by the hotel. Later he is seen pushing Eslocker off the sidewalk into oncoming traffic, forcing him to the other side of the street.
The media better wake up. Or they will be completely owned and will have no one to blame but themselves.
For all the screeching from the left that they were being oppressed under the Bush presidency, I don't recall network personnel being herded off to jail. Thuggish tactics seem to be the forte of the "liberals".
Grand news! The Temple of Obama in Denver is made of recycled material! And they have garbage police!
Some 900 volunteers were enlisted to help delegates sort their garbage so it ends up at a recycling plant or composting facility.
Caterers and other vendors are also being instructed in waste diversion.
And the company hired to build the stage where Barack Obama will accept his party's nomination has been asked to use recycled materials and make sure they get reused when the stage is torn down.
One could point out, of course, that had the 900 volunteer dumpster divers stayed home, the carbon footprint of the convention would have been reduced by a far larger amount than all their efforts. But that would entail some math skills on the part of the true believers.
Too much to ask, I suppose.
Oh, brother:
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's big speech on Thursday night will be delivered from an elaborate columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple. (Emphasis added)
The stage, similar to structures used for rock concerts, has been set up at the 50-yard-line, the midpoint of Invesco Field, the stadium where the Denver Broncos' National Football League team plays.
Some 80,000 supporters will see Obama appear from between plywood columns painted off-white, reminiscent of Washington's Capitol building or even the White House, to accept the party's nomination for president.
Followed by a simple supper of loaves and fishes, no doubt.
Perhaps someone should remind the Obama campaign of another ancient Greek concept: Hubris.
(The title of the post would have been funnier if they played baseball in the stadium.)
Via Memeorandum. Others: Weekly Standard Blog, The Corner, Redstate, Sister Toldjah
Humor, Politics | Gaius Wednesday, 27 August , 2008 | 
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