OMG! Middle School is taking on McCain!!!

[thepurpose]

Okay, the McCain-Walter Reed Middle School backdrop debacle is getting weirder by the second. Now the principal of the school is hammering McCain for using footage of the school during his convention speech without seeking the school's permission.

Here's the statement from Donna Tobin, the principal...

"It has been brought to the school's attention that a picture of the front of our school, Walter Reed Middle School, was used as a backdrop at the Republican National Convention. Permission to use the front of our school for the Republican National Convention was not given by our school nor is the use of our school's picture an endorsement of any political party or view."
One other interesting development: The California Democratic Party is actually holding a press conference in front of the school within minutes, where Dems will hit McCain for not knowing the difference between the school and Walter Reed Medical Center, which is believed to be the backdrop the McCain campaign really wanted.

Though multiple news organizations are asking for clarification, the McCain campaign is still refusing to comment on questions about whether it had hoped to use the medical center as a backdrop and accidentally used the school instead. Hard to blame them...

Late update: Shortly after posting this, we got an email from Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan who represents Walter Reed as part of her district. She had her own thoughts on McCain's use of the middle school:

"Though I am flattered that Senator McCain chose to use a school from my district as backdrop to his remarks at the Republican National Convention, I wished he had checked with me first. As a strong believer in public education, I don't think the Senator is the most appropriate person to showcase one of the premier schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is unwilling to bring fairness and equity to No Child Left Behind and ensure that schools like Reed get the resources they need from the Federal Government. From what I've heard, that's not a priority for the McCain/Palin ticket."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/school_raps_mccain_for_using_i.php

[Vinca]

1. OMG - you can't make this stuff up. nt

[Heather MC]

50. If they fuck up this much, and they aren't in the white house

My gracious if they still this one we are soo fucking screwed
this old dumb idiot and the rabid female pitbal, are going to fucking push the wrong button

[morffin]

60. Copyright issues?

Did they even have the rights to use this photo/video...knowing these criminals they just took it w/o asking or paying to use it.

Cant blame McSame for this.... he is not the convention producer...but it goes to show what poor judgement they use in hiring everyone from a VP to an event producer.

[mwb970]

85. They used Heart's song "Barracuda" without permission.

Also songs by Jackson Browne and others. This on top of ripping off Obama's logo, slogan, and talking points. Republicans are thieves!

[Quantess]

109. And they wanted to use a Van Halen song "Right Now", I believe,

but Van Halen said, no, you absolutely can not.

How many musicians would have granted permission, if they had only asked? I'm sure there are a handful of rock/pop musicians, and several country music artists who would have authorized their songs being played at the RNC. I doubt they bothered to ask anyone first.

[TexasLady]

2. I'll be damned..this shit is getting hourly

:rofl:

[skooooo]

3. Middle school-Gate!!!

Sounds to me like just about everyone is pissed off at the republicans.

[NBachers]

58. I think I just woke up the people in the apartment next door

because I was laughing so loud at "Middle school-Gate!!!"

Jeezus, why aren't I in bed? I actually have a job, and I gotta work tomorrow.

[Blaze Diem]

4. Geez..first Heart flips them the middle finger for using 'Barracuda'

and now this poke in the eye from a middle school.

They should be sued in court.

[Cha]

22. Van Halen told the repukes to cease and desist,

too! :)

[Serial Mom]

26. Jackson Browne was going to sue them!

[Cha]

29. Go Jackson! If I made music..I wouldn't want

those hatin' pukes playing it, any way, shape, or form.

[Serial Mom]

37. Some details... from a couple weeks ago

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/14/jackson-browne-sues-mccai_n_118977.html
***UPDATE*** McCain Campaign spokesman Brian Rogers responds to the lawsuit filed by Jackson Browne:

This campaign has never run any ad using any portion of Mr. Browne's song. If the complaint names the McCain campaign, Mr. Browne and his lawyers have picked the wrong target, and John McCain's name should obviously be removed from this lawsuit immediately.

Singer, songwriter, liberal activist and now John McCain scourge Jackson Browne filed a lawsuit today against the presumptive GOP nominee and the Republican Party for failing to obtain a license to use one of his songs in a television commercial.

[drm604]

63. From your link...

This is the second time in a week a celebrity has chastised the McCain camp for allegedly illegally using his or her material. Mike Myers, earlier this week, insisted that the Arizona Republican take down a web ad that -- mocking Obama's celebrity -- used a "we're not worthy" clip from his movie Wayne's World.

:rofl:
Don't these people have lawyers to run their ads past?

[ChiciB1]

106. Jackson Browne Is My Very Favorite Singer... Even Though I LOVE

many, many more almost as well! Jackson Browne has written some of the VERY BEST protest songs and I listen to them often! He's from "my generation" and I'm glad he's at least TRYING to make this statement. He may not win, but by DAMN, at least he's trying!!

[Kajsa]

77. Yes! I was so hoping they would do that, Zidzi!

Good to hear it.

Thanks!
:)

[blondeatlast]

95. And Frankie Valli! don't mess wid dose Joizy Boyz! nt

[Dystopian]

41. !

:rofl:
"and now this poke in the eye from a middle school"

Clearly, I'm in a perpetual state of hysteria with all of this...
I have no idea why I can't stop laughing.....
I think I need to get out of here....
I need my OMG! WTF! kitty back!


peace~

[emmadoggy]

107. BTW,

that OMG! WTF! pic is priceless.

The first time I saw it and showed it to my husband, we were both in stitches. We love Lolcats & Loldogs!


On edit: Holy Smokes! This is my 1000th post!!! I thought I had another one or two to go. Finally!!! Yay!!

[Dystopian]

111. Hey emmadoggy! : )

:hi:

So glad you like it....
And to top it off...post #1000 for Lolcat! Congratulations!
I love it that it was shared by a couple....:loveya:
Thank you!


peace~

[rzemanfl]

5. Unfucking believeable. If this election were about competence

instead of bullshit, McCain wouldn't get one electoral vote. Can you imagine the Obama campaign being this dumb? Not a chance.

Next, the black people whose images were used in the "stock photos" should start demanding payment.

[redqueen]

9. It's hard to believe, the level of incompetence...

not only that displayed by the McCain / Palin campaign... but that entire party.

The very few exceptions only serve to prove the rule.

Pathetic.

[BearSquirrel2]

91. It's even harder ...

It's even harder to believe the that the fundies are actually believing this shit. I have lost all confidence in my fellow citizens. They're fucking stupid. About 40% of America are buried in a cave so deep and immersive that they have no grasp on reality. We all live in a fucking lunatic asylum where Faux News and CBN are the only two TV channels.

[ladywnch]

20. it SHOULD be about competence!!!!

[Neecy]

6. love it....LOVE it!

[lamp_shade]

7. Somebody should get fired over this.

[tomg]

66. I would start with McCain. nt

[FlyingSquirrel]

8. They can't win on this one. It hurts them no matter what.

But you can be sure that it will be resolved by the termination of a low-level staffer.

[libnnc]

10. Are Beevus and Butthead running McCain's campaign?

I mean...my CAT could do better.

And she ain't even got any thumbs!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[TK421]

46. Huh..huh.... huhhhhhhh...... yeah...huh, huh...... ummmm.... uh, yeah!!!!

[Duke Newcombe]

11. But wait!!! That's not all...now it's the "Pee-Wee Herman" spin...

Just as they were reporting this on CNN, they broke with a message from the McCain campaign saying that they did this PURPOSELY, in order to "relect Americana" in the scenery of the convention.

When their ineptitude is displayed, they went for the Pee Wee Herman explanation: "I meant to do that"!

Duke

[FlyingSquirrel]

13. I'm gonna

:puke:

[JBoy]

19. La-la-LA! Hahhahahah!

[Frisbee]

45. Kinda like...

when my cat is rolling around on the sofa and falls off, then gets up and looks at you like, "yeah, I meant to do that". As if 8 years of incompetence hasn't been enough.

[subterranean]

49. Interesting that they chose a middle school in liberal Hollywood.

You'd think they would have used the middle school John McCain went to, or maybe his high school.

I must say, though, Walter Reed is a very nice-looking middle school.

[sunnystarr]

83. Yep - they said it was "random clip art" .,..lmao (nt)

[The Wielding Truth]

101. OF course, there was no thought put into it. More random stupidity!

I'm so sick of that defense. It's time to elelct a party with a working brain that can actually solve some problems that this coutry faces.

[kestrel91316]

12. This is from The Onion, right? Because I am at my limit of

ridiculousness.

[vaberella]

35. I know. I don't know whether to laugh or turn off my comp. I decided to laugh. n/t

[madmax]

14. The beauty part is this

I heard Wolf earlier say that the RNC states it wasn't a mistake using Walter Reed Middle School. They chose to use it, reason being is that it's 'Americana...'. They've now stated they intended to use the school photo.

And this is the beauty part:

"Though I am flattered that Senator McCain chose to use a school from my district as backdrop to his remarks at the Republican National Convention, I wished he had checked with me first. As a strong believer in public education, I don't think the Senator is the most appropriate person to showcase one of the premier schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is unwilling to bring fairness and equity to No Child Left Behind and ensure that schools like Reed get the resources they need from the Federal Government. From what I've heard, that's not a priority for the McCain/Palin ticket." :rofl:

[Frank Cannon]

87. Yeah, they meant to do it

Just like they meant to resurrect the green background that got him so roundly ridiculed the first time.

[Kdillard]

15. How can anyone honestly say that John McCain is ready to be

CIC when he can't even run his convention and campaign without something turning into a debacle? I loved the statement by the principal of the school :) I guess someone watched his speech :)

[Joanne98]

16. BWHAHAHAHA!

[JBoy]

17. They don't vet their VP candidate, why would they vet the graphics?

[Cha]

24. Brawawawawa

:rofl:

[Deb]

18. Putting the fun back in politics

McCain vs LA Unified School District.... :rofl: I love it.

[Cha]

21. Freakin' SNAP! SNAP!

Karma's being a female pitbull to palinmccain.

So what look was the rnc was goin' for.. Walter Reed Medical Center or Walter Reed Middle School?

[rebel with a cause]

47. His mouth said Medical center, but his eyes said Middle School

How was we to know which he meant, Judge. We didn't mean to violate anyone's rights. ;)

[pleah]

23. And, once again, another gift from the McCrazy camp.

:rofl:

[Riddler]

25. Well, the asshole didn't find it necessary to vet his VP choice,

so it only stands to reason he didn't find it necessary or worthy of his time to make sure the photos he used were the right ones. For someone as unconcerned about details as he is, how in the hell would he ever look over a budget or a bill that needed to be signed.

[annabanana]

27. "refusing to comment". . . ."permission was not given". . oh oh oh

oh oh oh oh
I'm laughing so hard it HURTS!!

[Veruca Salt]

28. OMG the funny! It hurts!

:rofl:

[K8-EEE]

30. Well, ALL RIGHT! That's my local middle school!

LOVE IT!!

[Stardust]

104. NoHo's famous!!! (my hood, too ) n/t

[FloridaJudy]

31. Their campaign needs a new slogan

[redqueen]

33. !

:rofl:

[Hubert H. Hubert]

32. poaned

I wonder who they're going to piss off next...

[vaberella]

34. Oh man. The republican party. Jeez...was it this much fun in 2004? Good God.

I've never sat through so many Gates...

[TheKentuckian]

36. McCain continues to make Bush look like Solomon and Washington

[Frank Cannon]

90. Maybe that's their master plan

Maybe they're trying to rehabilitate Shrub's image by making it look like he's NOT the biggest dumbass on Planet Earth.

[Heather MC]

51. Well technically he should have a gate for every house

:rofl:

[Phredicles]

52. HAHAHAHAhahahahahahaha *snort*

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[mwb970]

86. The most amazing thing is that they will probably win. /nt

[liberalcanuck]

94. Win what? n/t

[Barack_America]

38. Now THIS is worthy of a rec!

Does ANYBODY like John McCain?

:rofl:

[olegramps]

65. His Mother Doesn't Even Like Him

One smart lady that knows she raised a privileged brat that didn't amount to anything. His biggest accomplishment in life was having the nerve to dump his crippled wife for a rich drug addict that could buy him a seat in congress.

[quiet.american]

39. How delicious! Schadenfreude, anyone? nt

[cui bono]

40. Wow. There's a lot of

:popcorn: happening this week.

[Dystopian]

42. KandR...lol!!

I can't take anymore!

peace~

[blogslut]

43. I saw a bit of it again just now

In the YouTube where Adam Kokesh held up the sign protesting McCain's treatment of veterans, linked here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x182732

The moment when this imagery was shown was when McSame was officially accepting the nomination. If you watch, you'll notice that this is not a still image but is instead, video footage of the school.

Creepy. Weird and doesn't make sense - unless the bonehead tech that put it up actually thought this was film footage of Walter Reed hospital.

[rebel with a cause]

48. they googled Walter Reed and then just took the footage

show on the web site. This is the only way to explain it. :shrug:

[blogslut]

53. Except, that doesn't explain it

Do a Google image, video or text search on Walter Reed. The school isn't anywhere near first page results. And video? Of a middle school? Something's not right about this.

[rebel with a cause]

54. I was just being air headed.

I don't know nothing about goggling. ;)

They probably found this video and thought that everyone would be too stupid to figure it out or too afraid to expose them. Jon Stewart showed it tonight so they were on top of it also.

[blogslut]

55. It didn't really bug me until I saw that it was video footage

Now, it's bugging the hell out of me. Video footage of a middle school. So odd and AFAIK, so wrong.

[rebel with a cause]

56. I agree, This whole bunch is odd and irritating.

I cannot believe there are people this evil and others that are so stupid as to believe in what they are saying and following them. Of couse this is why I am a misanthrope, because I don't trust much of the human kind to do the right thing.

And if anyone wants to know what causes someone to become a misanthrope like I guess I am, it is from having a lifetime of being betrayed by those who are suppose to protect and care for you. Not a way to learn to trust. And when it becomes as wide spread as your government, then that is really bad.

[blogslut]

59. I can dig it

I always find the song Boulevard by Jackson Browne to be comforting when I'm having an especially downtrodden moment. Every once in a while I have to remind myself that ultimately, I'm on my own:

Nobody rides for free
Nobody gets it like they want it to be
Nobody hands you any guarantee
Nobody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HNqkomWXpE

[Frank Cannon]

93. This implies that some schmuck was told to "get footage of Walter Reed"

And the guy did a Google search, then booked a plane flight to North Hollywood with his camera gear to take video of the middle school.

That is really, really fucked up.

[scarletwoman]

79. Not google, it's probably from istock.com which is where their "happy black people" photos came from

I've used istock.com every once in awhile for my job. It's a royalty-free image site where you can buy stock photos, graphics, video footage, etc. for commercial use for a small one-time fee.

I'm on my way out the door right now, but if someone has time, they could go to istock.com and type "Walter Reed" in their search box and see if the school comes up. :)

sw

[EvolveOrConvolve]

105. I have an iStock account, and I just searched for "Walter Reed"

There were zero results returned.

Hmmmm.

[scarletwoman]

115. Thanks for checking -- I didn't have time to do so this morning.

Oh well, I was hoping there was a logical explanation. Which is pretty silly, now that I think about it -- logic is anathema to Republicans.

sw

[sunnybrook]

113. maybe it was the protesters

since they apparently have no control over anything at their convention. but they are going to protect us from terrorism? Maybe a protestor took over the camera operation. They are too embarassed to admit to it! LOL!

[sasquatch]

44. Jesus the Republican brand is toxic

:o

[Hardrada]

57. I thought it was some kind of country club or one of his homes.

Seriously. I was surprised to learn it was a middle school!

[AnnieBW]

61. It looked like Sunnydale High to me for a moment

That would explain why the Repubs used it - it was the Hellmouth. Alas, no. Sunnydale High was another school in LA.

[rucognizant]

62. It really doesn't matter.............

whether this was incompetance or not.......
In any "normal" election I can remember, it wouldn't have been controversial. But the BIGGEST SINGLE IMPRESSION I took away from Mac' s acceptance speech was his promise to bring "school choice". His voice was strong & confidant there, link it with the fundie VP choice, and you have PUBLIC EDUCATION = GONE.
School Board member Galatzan, was probably one of the "many" who watched that night who are TOTALLY OFFENDED and will ( donate, actively campaign) for the Obama team!
I am not worried by their ( R) bragging about the huge # of viewers Thurs nite.............It's called keeping an eye on your enemy!
I have a friend whose Grandaughter plays middle school basket ball, she was appalled that when the girl's public school played the local christian school team, the christian kids were really rough & mean! ( caused several minor injuries)
This Republican P/VP offering is producing a reaction across the land, like a dose of syrup of ipacac. (probably, old fashioned rememdy now: used to induce vomiting)

[olegramps]

67. Vouchers are the Trojan Horse

The Republicans criticism of Public Education is solely predicated on their determination to destroy the Public School System in favor or shifting financing to support religious indoctrination mills. I strongly object to my tax dollars being used to teach kids the earth is flat and six thousand years old. I also object to my tax dollars being used to brainwash Muslim kids that they have the right to kill anyone who opposes their religion. I object to having to support Catholic Schools that teach that contraception is an evil practice while operating a hell hole that they are using to sexual abuse little kids. If parents what to subject their kids to this type of crap, they can do it own their own dime.

[blondeatlast]

96. Welcome to DU! Saving public eduacation is one of my pet issues. There's a lot of us here

that believe the same. Glad to make your acquaintance!

:toast:

[sunnystarr]

88. I figured with the stomping the Giants gave to the Redskins

fans fell asleep with the TV on lol. If not they woulda been asleep before shrunken Mac was half finished.

[drm604]

64. Can we officially declare these people to be assclowns now?

:rofl:

[Politicub]

68. ROFL! You *know* they thought it was Walter Reed hospital

Someone from the McStupid campaign did a google image search and yanked the wrong Walter Reed. Hilarious!

:rofl:

[opihimoimoi]

69. Its the crony problem again....McNasty has a bad crew..the heckofajob kind

[bulloney]

70. They probably Googled 'Walter Reed Hospital pictures' and it was the first pic they liked,

not realizing that it was the Walter Reed school.

Crash might have been getting some on-the-job training in learning how to use a computer during that time.

[catgirl]

71. I'm glad they spoke up

I hope every parent in the U.S. reads Tamar Galatzan's statement:

Late update: Shortly after posting this, we got an email from Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan who represents Walter Reed as part of her district. She had her own thoughts on McCain's use of the middle school:

"Though I am flattered that Senator McCain chose to use a school from my district as backdrop to his remarks at the Republican National Convention, I wished he had checked with me first. As a strong believer in public education, I don't think the Senator is the most appropriate person to showcase one of the premier schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is unwilling to bring fairness and equity to No Child Left Behind and ensure that schools like Reed get the resources they need from the Federal Government. From what I've heard, that's not a priority for the McCain/Palin ticket."

[kmdemqueen]

72. does he want get sued

I hope so. How f'n stupid can RNC be. They first use heart to run the little convention( and let us be honest it was little compared to ours)with out permission, and they got there little hands slaped and now a poor school. What next. Who do they think they are using America without our permision. Man they get soo stupid don't they. You know I use to GB stupidness now more. Yes no more four more years of the same. Come.

Mccain only choose woman, because barack didn't. and they thought they could away with that. STUPID!!!

[Indenturedebtor]

73. Bwahahahahahahahah it doesn't get much better than that "my friends"

I hope they dont fire that purty lady. I like to watch her bobble her head around with the sound off ;)

[Ms. Toad]

74. McCain clearly has a problem with intellectual property

Depending on where the picture came from, the person who owns the image has the right to stop McCain's use of it. If it was taken from the school's website (or publications), that is likely the school. Same issue with the songs that keep popping up in his advertisements - gotta get consent from the owners of the intellectual property (and with music, that is usually a whole bunch of people).

I'm not sure the school itself has any legal right to stop him, unless it owns the image. (People have rights of publicity/persona - and anyone whose image he used could legally stop him in most states - but I am not aware of any state where that extends to entities.)

Whether or not they are legally entitled to stop him, I sure do like that they are making a stink about it. It allowed them to bring McCain's bad vision for education to public eye, as well as McCain's philosophy that if I like it, I can take it.

[Zombie2]

75. I thought he was showing a pic of one of his homes....

....at first.

Their entire convention was McLame. What a joke!

[uponit7771]

76. If they can't fuckin get a medical hospital right! They scare the crap outtah me

[mcollier]

78. WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUES

Does this really matter to you? Or would you rather we put an end to big oils strangle hold on us? Or ending the war in Iraq? Or getting health care costs down? Or strenghting our alliances around the world? ...

McCain offers no change from the same old failed policies of the bush administration... Obama lays out clearly understood plans to resolve the challenges we face. That's what we need to talk about, proactively.

[Vickers]

80. "I'm John McCain, and I'm still learning about search engines..."

:P

[TrogL]

81. They want to lose

Nobody could be THAT incompetent. See link below.

[meowomon]

82. How do Republicans walk and chew gum at the same time?

They are the party of incompetence.

[gulliver]

84. This is completely hilarious! Unbelievable! n/t

[BearSquirrel2]

89. Republican Human Resources ...

They also managed to put a picture of a cemetery behind Lindsy Graham when he was talking about winning the war. The geniuses put a blue screen behind John McCain so that we could all easily put him down anywhere we would like.

No doubt the geniuses in charge of this graduated from some University where their prayer was more highly valued then their knowledge of contemporary context and stagecraft. It's emblematic in general about how they fuck up government.

[BearSquirrel2]

92. It cemented my belief that the Nielsens are biased ...

Apparently John McCain got higher ratings than Barack Obama's speech. That's like saying that an IU football game attended by 15,000 has higher ratings than a sold out Michigan-Notre Dame game. If they paid people $50 each, they couldn't fill a stadium of 80,000 to listen to John McCain. Though, he might be a good feature at an insomnia convention.

[blondeatlast]

97. VERY hard to believe, especially against an NFL game (even if pre-season).

No way in hell it beat out Obama's speech (of course, a LOT of people like me watched on C-Span, so ratings didn't figure in, I suppose).

[BearSquirrel2]

98. Oh yeah ...

Oh yeah, cause we know that C-Span really gets a big viewership ...especially with reality TV viewers ;-)

[Plucketeer]

99. Another example of this duo's executive savvy,

This is the "Edsel" of presidential campaigns! :rofl:

[Nikki Stone1]

100. GREAT!

Go for it LA Unified!

[ooglymoogly]

102. Better than the most outrageous fiction. The pugs are simple minded phonies to their rotten core

Obama should be laughing all the way to his inauguration.

[Schema Thing]

103. I would so love for the kids at that school to do a "tie your leg behind you..."

and wear a hospital gown to school" day.

[liberal N proud]

108. Here is the bigger issue: refusing to comment

If they are refusing to comment on this and not letting Palin take questions, what would it be like if they are in the White House?

MORE OF THE SAME!
:banghead:

[Postman]

110. A republican propaganda flunkee screwed up...

Their war-like, gung-ho military rhetoric and image making didn't jive with them flashing a picture of Walter Reed Middle School.....

Someone screwed up. They meant to put up a picture of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.....

Idiots.

And they want to run the gov't......

[sunnybrook]

112. This is their karma

Coming back to haunt them. They spent the whole two weeks ridiculing Obama's "arrogant" stadium speech, with the obscene Greek columns. But the Democrats were not only of course off the charts with substance but their production value was far higher and professional as you would expect from someone running for president. They end up with these green screens and what looks like one of his mansions in the background, that made no sense at all to any viewer.

They ridiculed Obama as an empty celebrity, a Paris Hilton wannabe. His wife is the most obvious 50 plus Paris Hilton wannabe I have ever seen in a potential first lady, and his new running mate is more popular than the Beatles with their narrow demographic "base." Talk about an empty no substance celebrity. All of their lyin', hatemongering ways are coming back on them. The way they have tried to "define" Obama, as lacking experience, then choosing Palin, who makes Obama look far preferable to many undecided voters. This crap will blow up in their faces. This is totally hilarious. They can't tell who put the middle school up there. Are the Three Stooges in charge of running things here?

[VoodooGuru]

114. Speaking of, Repeal No Child Left Behind

It's on my wish list. Very cool of the school board member to use the opportunity to take them to task on their blind support of Bush's bad law.