That's America for you .

Just had to get one last jab in?

Well, she's an artist so by nature she can act peculiar and get away with it...

I think it's pretty rude and tacky. If it were a matter of Lawrence being "courageous" and "sticking to what she believes in," she simply would have declined to make an ornament at all. This is about getting attention and being obnoxious.
That's graceful of them to still accept her ornament and allow her to attend.

I must say, I'm certainly not a fan of Bush, but even as an artistic statement it seems in bad taste. The first lady was looking for local artists to make ornaments highlighting the things that makes those areas special. Its the holidays in our nation's capital, can't there be peace and good will in just this one thing?

agreed, foxie.

Definitely tacky and rude.

I am getting on CG's bandwagon and am going to start taking note of how many days we have left of this kind of thing... what's the official count now?

Oh please, we'll be bashing Bush long after he's gone - much like many of you do Clinton 8 years later. He's left us so much to talk about!

steph - I'v heard you mention this Clinton-bashing before, but have never seen evidence of that on this board. I have seen people pointing out that Clinton knew about the Al Qaeda threat - is that what you are referring to?

And by brining up Clinton-bashing, does that mean it's open-season on Hillary now?

Finally, are you also giving me the hint that the Bush-bashing won't be over on January 20th? If that's the case, I'm going to have to look for a new silver lining...

I'll be honest and say I do my fair share of Clinton bashing, but I never wish him death. now we can argue on this board, too! JK.

I agree with you guys. This is just tacky. Not a protest or a statement. She is just making herself look like a bratty child and the Bush admin. the gracious adult who tolerates it. I don't think that was the message she was hoping for.

Look for a new silver lining - and pay more attention on Citizen, there are a couple of people who love to claim that Clinton is to blame for most of Bush's problems.

I wouldn't call putting an impeachment Christmas ornament on the White House tree courageous, but I admire the artist for speaking out in a way that would get attention. Bush is responsible for a great many bad things and should have been impeached.

It would have been courageous for her congressman to have done more to press for action defending the Constitution.

So unbelievably tacky. I'm disappointed.

What a disgusting display. I'm ashamed to say I'm from the same state as that freak. However, she's from Seattle so I'm not TOO surprised. After all, Seattle DID give us Courtney Love.

I wonder what will she say when she gets to meet Mr. President, will she be rude.

The who get bashed more, stop bashing so-and-so arguments are really irritating. This is a blog, with people posting opinions, and if the majority of posts go against one person, tough - that is the way it is, you can't control other people's opinions.

As for saying CS links/posts bias material? I don't agree, it depends on how sensitive the reader is and how they precive things. Anything can bash anything if you think it does. This for example maybe be seen as a post against the rude liberals, how graceful Laura Bush is, or how great American freedom of speech is in having criticism of the president right in front of him (unlike countries where ppl are killed for much less) - regardless of whether you agree with the criticism or not.

I took it in that manner myself, I think it is cool that we are in a country where being tacky/rude/true to one's self is allowed and I think it is cool of the White House to not censor it and let people make their own decisions.

I feel the same way Stephley. Like the way Barack Obama defended the constitution from the Patriot Act.

OK steph - I'll look for a new silver lining, but that was my rim shot. Thanks for ruining my Tuesday . I do find the 'defending the Constitution' bit interesting though. I have seen you passionately argue for gun control which many would view as being against the Constitution. It just goes to show how diverse a nation we are and how something as seemingly simple as 'defending the Constitution' is subtle and controversial.

I do think that one of the reasons the left loathes Bush is that he truly does not react to criticism. I am really impressed by that, and am more inclined to believe in him as a leader because of it.

I find it simply amazing that people can compare Bush to Hitler when people who criticized Hitler usually ended up in concentration camps.

I was wondering the same thing Bella! what will she do? Spit in his face? Step on his toes? Give him a big fat kiss and confess she's madly in love with him?

Send her to Gitmo! The heathen...

"I was wondering the same thing Bella! what will she do? Spit in his face? Step on his toes? Give him a big fat kiss and confess she's madly in love with him?"

...come on! an artist making a political statement is not the same thing as spitting in someone's face.

The event represents more than just Bush, it represents the entire country, she may feel she has a right to attend if invited and has a right to not be disingenuous and appear to be a Bush supporter by attending the event, she may even feel like she has an obligation to make her position known.

I think it's in extremely bad taste.

Hey, Mykie, don't you be bashing us Seattleites!!!

It is rather embarrassing, however. To be given a lovely opportunity to have your artwork given such attention and to waste it on a tacky political statement....Shameful! What happened to the season of peace, goodwill and caring???

whatever...

Wow... totally not a Bush fan, but that is tacky.

I wonder if she spent all day on that, or just whipped it up after school.

49 more days to bash him, and steph you can do it after the deadline i give you permission, I wont even say anything if you do!! happy early christmas or is it X-mas with you, i forget.

White House Won't Hang Christmas Impeachment Ornament

"That controversial ornament calling for President Bush's impeachment? Won't hang in the White House after all.

"Oh, dear," said Seattle-based artist Deborah Lawrence, who created the red and white ornament that salutes Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) and his support for a resolution to impeach the president. "This doesn't really surprise me. But it's disappointing that I won't get to see it on the tree." "
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2008/12/ornament_update...

"Laura Bush asked all members of Congress to pick artists from their districts to decorate ornaments, presumably highlighting local landmarks and heroes. Lawrence, 55, used the opportunity to honor McDermott, a strong critic of Bush. The collage artist glued tiny text on the nine-inch ball thinking no one would actually read her embedded "subversive" message.

But Lawrence shared her secret protest with friends, and the news quickly spread. "An artist doesn't always get this kind of attention," she told us. "It took on a life of its own, obviously. In a way, I'm speechless."

Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for the first lady, confirmed the ornament would not be displayed. "It's inappropriate and it's not being hung," she said. She said that when asked about the issue yesterday, the White House tree decorations were not complete. "We reviewed the ornament along with all the [other] ornaments, and Mrs. Bush deemed it inappropriate for the holiday tree."

Lawrence is still slated to attended a White House reception for the artists this afternoon.""
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2008/12/ornament_update...

I think the White House would have made a stronger statement by letting it hang and inviting her to attend...

Don't forget, zeze, they're not that smart.

I have no problem with "bashing" George Bush. His presidency has been disastrous. The problems his administration created will not disappear on January 20, 2009. Why should discussion of his policies?

An ornament promoting the impeachment of Bush, at this point in time, seems more than a little ridiculous. Wouldn't it be more fitting for Bush to be executed for the deaths of over 4500 military soldiers in Iraq since the U.S. invasion (over 4100 being U.S. soldiers) and dragging this country into a recession? At least imprisonment.

I don't know why she would think they would hang it. she thought they wouldn't review her "artwork" before displaying it? "oh, dear" indeed.

I am glad it wont hang in there.

Lili there is a diff between discussion and bashing.

Executed? Wow. And you think impeachment would be ridiculous?

ugh, such hatefulness. It's not possible to have a rational conversation with people who have such wrong and extremist views.

Impeachment at the end of his term? What would be the point? The damage is done. He has already being replaced.

Executed?!?

that pretty much takes the cake

If you think impeaching him wouldn't do any good because "the damage is done", then what good would executing him do?

What the heck Jazz? How is Bush solely responsible? Should everyone who voted for the war be executed? Everyone who supports it? Speaking of off with their heads...

krae, call me what you will. But Bush is responsible and thus should be held accountable.

CG there are some people who believe any critism of Bush is bashing.

Yikes.