Postscript: What should Obama’s next “photo op” be? Update: How much did photo op cost?
posted at 10:40 am on April 28, 2009 by Allahpundit
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We’ve been kicking around ideas on Twitter for the past few hours. My suggestion: A surprise overflight of Pearl Harbor by 200 or so unmarked fighter/bombers. Or, alternately, an unannounced nuclear test off the coast of New York. The Statue of Liberty silhouetted by a mushroom cloud would be one awesome photo, don’t you think?
Someone else suggested having a squadron of crop dusters buzz Central Park. Photo-tastic! Feel free to offer your own ideas below. While you mull, two more videos of this fiasco from yesterday. The first is shot from a building overlooking Ground Zero, but it’s the second one you really want to watch. No clip I’ve seen better captures how low the plane was flying and how loud the engines were. Even so, you can make out someone in the background screaming “Oh my god” in terror. “Felony stupidity” indeed.
Update: I like this idea from the comments.
Update: The One formally declared this a “mistake” at an appearance this morning, you’ll be glad to know. Meanwhile, The Hill asks a good question: How much did Scare Force One’s glamour shot cost us?
The report was prepared at the request of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) while Democrats were in the minority. (Waxman is now chairman ofthe committee). Entitled “THE COST OF PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICAL TRAVEL,” the report was clearly intended to criticize President Bush and Vice President Cheney’s extensive travel around the country to campaign for Republicans in the midterm elections.It reads in part: “This report assumes that flight operating costs are $56,518 per hour for Air Force One and $14,552 per hour for Air Force Two. These figures are based on the perhour cost figures cited by GAO for fiscal year 2000, adjusted for inflation.”
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Does anyone know what this phot op was being taken for? I heard that they have cancelled the one scheduled for a D.C. fly over. The only thing I have heard is that it was for souvenirs. What souvenirs? More gifts for visiting dignitaries?
Cindy Munford on April 28, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Perhaps JJ Abrams is the new White House Moving Picture Czar.
selias on April 28, 2009 at 11:11 AM
The entire demorat caucus, Oflyby at its head, sitting in the dock at Nuremburg while the charges are read against them.
Bishop on April 28, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Pork barbque right in front of the wailing wall followed by pulled pork cooked on the black rock in mecha.
UUUMMMMMM pork….
sonofdy on April 28, 2009 at 11:12 AM
I got one: a strangelet stroking obama’s nether….., er…..um, uhhhh, ego?
Ris4victory on April 28, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Well, he could always replicate this urban legend
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/n_tourist_guy.htm
scalleywag on April 28, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Maybe he can go through black communities and light crosses on fire to symbolize his burning faith.
joeindc44 on April 28, 2009 at 11:13 AM
I’m just stunned there hasn’t been more of an outrage in the media. No, wait, strike that. I expect the Obama a$$-kissing media to keep this as low a profile as possible. There, that’s better.
Drum on April 28, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Moobs of Steel!
TedInATL on April 28, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Some really great ideas, folks!
How about Barry “Maverick” Moobama and “Goose” Geithner spanking Joe “Ice Cream Man” Biden and his wingman in beach volleyball. Then Barry and Michelle ride off on his crotch rocket motorcycle.
Christien on April 28, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Hey there moron! Nice of you to stop by. Have you been paying attention lately? The GOP is shrinking because more and more people are calling themselves Independents, not Democrats. Nice try though. Did you actually read the cross tabs or did you simply look at the lead paragraph and start foaming at the mouth with anti-Republican fervor?
If you paid any attention to the Tea Parties, you would understand that people are fed up with Democrats AND Republicans. Prolly a little too nuanced for you – so I’ll cut you some slack. And I’ll send a little pity your way too. Cuz that’s the kind of beta male I am!
BardMan on April 28, 2009 at 11:13 AM
How about a Nativity scene where the TOTUS gives birth, sings from the sky, travels far to bring gifts and gazes adoringly, ALL AT THE SAME FRIGGIN’ TIME?
Gold, I tellya. GOLD!
wccawa on April 28, 2009 at 11:14 AM
using photoshop, of course.
scalleywag on April 28, 2009 at 11:14 AM
After thinking about this, it appears that the only real photo ops left to suggest are mostly far fetched or inappropriate (grassy knoll? Who was that dope).
The reason why is that ChimpyO has done them all for real. The bow, the grin, the North Korean missile crisis failure, and now this.
csdeven on April 28, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Hahaha!
csdeven on April 28, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Or, the President shaking hands with Chavez.
Or, the President in a turban.
Or, the President with a Black Separatist pastor.
Or, the President with terrorist Bill Ayers
faraway on April 28, 2009 at 11:16 AM
you mean like the bottle he used after shaking Bush’s hand?
Kaptain Amerika on April 28, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Best idea so far.
Loxodonta on April 28, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Oflyby could having his photo taken burning the American flag in an effort to convince the 3rd world crapholes that he was serious about the U.S. needing to be ashamed of our past.
Bishop on April 28, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Party self-identification is a pretty poor indicator of actual voter turnout.
Slublog on April 28, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Is it possible that in the grander scheme of things this was a good thing for us 48%ers? This was a great reminder of 9/11 and this country needs that in a bad way.
You have to wonder how many New Yorkers saw this jet buzzing the city and thought: Waterboarding – HELL YES!!!
The conspiracy nut in me wonders if this wasn’t intentional as a means of putting the “torture” show trials issue to bed as a result of public opinion. I suppose we will have to wait to see how much publicity the mainstreams give this. I don’t follow network news – is this getting airplay anywhere but in the blogosphere?
Mikefy on April 28, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Create mushroom clouds is population centers all across the country to warn Americans about foot fungus.
TedInATL on April 28, 2009 at 11:18 AM
B-29 over Hiroshima?
freedomplow on April 28, 2009 at 11:18 AM
You guys are waaaay more creepy than I am…I couldn’t even imagine doing what happened yesterday, let alone the rest of these great evil ideas!
Heh heh heh
Bob's Kid on April 28, 2009 at 11:19 AM
I’m not sure I like Obama’s idea to celebrate his 100th day in office with a big pyrotechnic display at Ground Zero.
Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Don’t be silly. Hotel for Dogs just came out on DVD- I’m sure that will be good enough.
VanPalin on April 28, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Anyone remember the album cover for Who’s Next by The Who?
Photoshop in Obama, Rahm, Gibbs and Napolitano (yeah, I think she p**s standing up) and a miniature version of Tower One for that concrete structure, and that, in a nutshell, perfectly conveys the Administrations contempt for those of us who actually remember and honor those who suffered on Sept 11.
CarolynM on April 28, 2009 at 11:19 AM
I was wondering if he had put his logo on AF1. That might be a reason to take new pics. I’m also pretty sure it was probably his idea. He never gets “angry” when he has to apologize for his staff.
gh on April 28, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Why should NYers be the ones to have the cr@p scared out of them? Heck buzz the pentagon and Shanksville, PA.
“Barack Obama Doesn’t Like New Yorkers” – to paraphrase Kanye West.
Branch Rickey on April 28, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I don’t know Jeff, are you trying to be amusing or just idiotic? Fill me in.
saus on April 28, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Obama plans to drive OJ’s white Bronco down the LA Freeway for a few hours.
faraway on April 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM
While I enjoy a lot of your comments, I think this article is just a cheap shot.
Some incompetent in the White House staff made a decision without thinking it through. He got reamed. I hope he has joined the ranks of the unemployed – he should.
But in this case, I can’t fault the President directly. There are enough other things going on, badly.
new2wnc on April 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM
He was being sarcastic about how we never see the 9/11 videos on television anymore. They were purposely curtailed because it was thought that we could not handle seeing them.
carbon_footprint on April 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM
I would love to have heard the candid, off-the-record comments of the fighter pilots when they heard about this idea.
kybowexar on April 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM
How about Obama standing up in a rubber dingy, ala George Washington crossing the Delaware, motoring full speed towards a US Navy Destroyer…..maybe the USS Cole.
Mikefy on April 28, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Have Air Force One do another low fly over ground zero with the POTUS coming down in a red, white and blue parachute. He would be surrounded and protected by the NYPD and secret service members in matching coordinated designer outfits. Then he could give another well-prepared speech utilizing the TOTUS at ground zero. It would be the mother of all presidential photo-ops!!!
eigafan on April 28, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Funny I thought of that also. I still think he was following through on some great idea tha Spielberg or Lucas gave him. As to the next photo up, I am not as talented as most on the site but how about something with sharks? Could we find a way to combine it with waterboarding?
Cindy Munford on April 28, 2009 at 11:26 AM
How about a nice recreation of a blue Chevy Impala, with a sniper rifle sticking out a hole in the trunk, riding around the DC Beltway?
faraway on April 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Recreation of 9/11… Check
Recreation of Che… Check
Recreation of Nuremberg in Denver… Check
Recreation of Tito greeting Amin… Check
Recreation of teh ghey Clinton meets Arafat… Check
Recreation of Linda Lovelace in “Deepthroat”… Check
Recreation of 1919 Black Sox Team Photo… Check
Recreation of Black Monday stock charts… Check
Hard to say… Barry has used a lot of historical photo ops up…
phreshone on April 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I can’t wait to see how Timothy Noah incorporates this into his brilliant “Nobody’s scared of planes flying into buildings anymore” theory.
Jim Treacher on April 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM
I know! How about a video shoot of a stadium full of rows and rows of members of the newly formed and well funded “civilian defense force” saluting and chanting “Yes we can!” There could be some parades and stirring speeches by our ‘gifted’ president.
bitsy on April 28, 2009 at 11:28 AM
misslizzi on April 28, 2009 at 11:28 AM
I was unaware, disregard my idea, he’s is set for years now.
Cindy Munford on April 28, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I don’t have TV. Did any of the networks, other than FOX, run any video of this during last night’s or this morning’s newscasts?
Or, is MSM is at it again, spiking, burying or rationalizing away anything that might detract from their idol worship?
Loxodonta on April 28, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Hmmm. We’d need a blimp too…
TedInATL on April 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I’m thinking, maybe a fake newscast, kind of like “War of the Worlds”… Maybe he can come on his next Saturday Radio Address and say “Ladies and Gentlemen, terrorists have just exploded a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles…” and then turn it over to some Pentagon spokesman to fill in all the gory details.
If there’s a flap, he can just blame the Teleprompter and the Pentagon guy…
Maybe they can tie it into a promo for next season’s 24…
gridlock2 on April 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM
That’s pretty crazy if that is the case, thanks for letting me know.
saus on April 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM
There should be a photo-op of Obama and his staff making an intelligent, responsible decision. You know, something we’ve never seen before?
Crusty on April 28, 2009 at 11:30 AM
ABC radio actually reported this story this morning without even mentioning it was Air Force One! They went through the entire story calling it a ‘low flying jet’. Finally with their last line they mention that the White House apologized for the event.
carbon_footprint on April 28, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Best photo op would be if he wore a mask at the press conference tomorrow while he opened with calming comments about the swine flu. Hell, I’d be happy to see a bottle of Purell on the podium.
Even better: send Fred Willard to the podium to announce implementation of Final Directive A113. What better way to finish the First 100 Days…
Tongueboy on April 28, 2009 at 11:32 AM
You bet.
That was my assumption when I read it and judging from Jeff’s previous posts, he is not that kind of person.
carbon_footprint on April 28, 2009 at 11:32 AM
And a new logo… something eye catching…
bitsy on April 28, 2009 at 11:33 AM
OK all you photoshop folks, let’s see you morph that Nixon shot with “the truth” shot. The arms are perfect.
Instant Classic.
dont taze me bro on April 28, 2009 at 11:33 AM
The saddest part about this is that if another attack occurs, people will hesitate thinking The One is simply shooting another photo op.
csdeven on April 28, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Winner
faraway on April 28, 2009 at 11:34 AM
They already did that… Barry’s acceptance speech in Denver… very Nuremberg vibe to it
phreshone on April 28, 2009 at 11:34 AM
Barry has already done the Gerald Ford hitting the head on Marine One photo op
phreshone on April 28, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Evil Barry Spock at the helm of a Bird of Prey buzzing the Earth.
Christien on April 28, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Photo-shop op: Obama at the top of the on ramp/stairs for Air Force One, waving to the camera, with a flag positioned just so on the side of the ramp fluttering downward so that most of it looks like the red carpet on the ramp that O is standing on, ala Bill Ayers Flag Boogie. True, it does not have the scare factor, but capturing nationalization and indebtedness in a picture is too hard.
AnotherOpinion on April 28, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Just paint an old 747 with the Air Force One paint scheme and logo, fill her up with fuel, and presto.
faraway on April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Next photo op?
I suggest The One-Won desending from Mt. Rushmore with a new set of tablets and preparing to lead the US in from the wilderness.
Yoop on April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
best photo op was just on Fox News: TOTOTUS standing on stage next to FBI head. Just hope some photog got it. The One’s head was behind the ‘prompter screen. We had a breife glimpse behind the curtain.
superstretch on April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
To be more clear…..ChimpyO, by plan or ignorance, has paved the way to help the terrorists surprise us again. Americans will wonder if something out of the ordinary is real or are they just being paranoid.
csdeven on April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
The president’s helicopter flying over a packed super bowl dropping gifts of little unicorns and trailing a cloud of ferry dust.
dont taze me bro on April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
How about a “Priceless” commercial, a la Mastercard:
http://grandrants.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/obama-admin-shoots-self-in-foot-again/
stoutcat on April 28, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Obama walking on water.
Obama in a crowd of Mexicans curing them of Swine Flu with just his touch.
Obama wearing Michelle’s dresses and looking better in them than Michelle.
albill on April 28, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Thanks. Figures.
But, if the MSM is willfully concealing the truth from Americans about just how bad Obama is, how does the MSM explain this?
Maybe they won’t report it? Just a wild guess.
Loxodonta on April 28, 2009 at 11:38 AM
Yep.
csdeven on April 28, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Another damn Obama televised speech again…at the FBI.
If this Obama guy got paid scale for each televised appearance he’d be rich as Soros.
coldwarrior on April 28, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Only photo-op Barry hasn’t taken advantage of… Throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game during his first 100 days… First president in the past 100 years to fail to support America’s Pastime
phreshone on April 28, 2009 at 11:40 AM
How about bowing to the Pope?
wildweasel on April 28, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Ever see him throw a baseball? Think Perez Hilton pitching for the Dodgers.
coldwarrior on April 28, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Obama, Biden, Geithner, Bernanke, Summers, Frank, and Dodd all standing in line at the doors of a D.C. bank, followed by about 200 loyal Obama supporters.
IU_Conservative on April 28, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Hey, how about Obama in an alleyway trampling the American flag? Oh, wait, that’s been done.
AmericanUnderground on April 28, 2009 at 11:43 AM
How about going to 9/11 memorial at WTC at just tossing flowers.
OUCH!
Branch Rickey on April 28, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Oh, the humanity!
Typical Obama….
csdeven on April 28, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Barry… The Extra-Strength Tylenol of Presidents… The cure is more dangerous than the disease
phreshone on April 28, 2009 at 11:44 AM
True, very true. I think it could use a little work though — reuse the styrofoam columns, add in some marching, ooo maybe even a military parade. It is time to drop the lovey dovey hopenchange and show a little muscle.
bitsy on April 28, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Forget photo-ops, Obama is planning a new reality TV show – The Celebrity Apprentice.
faraway on April 28, 2009 at 11:45 AM
How about a piracy wargame in the Gulf of Mexico?
CP on April 28, 2009 at 11:45 AM
The only way to get the truth of what happened here, would be to waterboard POTUS,TOTUS,Pelosi,and Reid.
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on April 28, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Are you watching Fox? Did I just hear them report that Obama didn’t know a thing about this flyover? That he was just as surprised as we are?
Am I hearing this right? Or is this another spin like the bow to the Saudi King that we really didn’t see according to the WH?
Knucklehead on April 28, 2009 at 11:47 AM
I thought that he would be standing in front of the monument so his head would look like a fifth carving.
scrubjay on April 28, 2009 at 11:48 AM
In the immortal words of Arthur ‘Big Guy’ Carlson, WKRP, “God as my witness, I thought
turkeysunicorns could fly.”coldwarrior on April 28, 2009 at 11:49 AM
hilarious (never saw that episode before)
gh on April 28, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Need some company?
Badger40 on April 28, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Well, since getalife got banned, let me try to explain:
It was NOT a photo shoot. It was satire. Don’t you rednecks understand satire? Sheesh.
/autotroll
bitsy on April 28, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Doubt it.
Fox News did report the positive network coverage Obama has received versus Bush and Clinton for the first 50 days.
Obama 58% Positive
Bush 33% Positive
Clinton 44% Positive
carbon_footprint on April 28, 2009 at 11:51 AM
shouldn’t you be posting in the GM thread ?
gh on April 28, 2009 at 11:54 AM
A walk through at a FEMA concentration camp.
the_nile on April 28, 2009 at 11:57 AM
OT: Specter switching from R to D?
faraway on April 28, 2009 at 11:58 AM
This administration gets more moronic by the day…. gosh if they are that stupid about flying planes in NYC … can it be they might be too stupid to govern the country… .. nah that couldn’t ever happen.
kthomas8268 on April 28, 2009 at 11:59 AM
haha, true.
Those greedy bond holder fat cats – they need to do their patriotic duty and accept the restructuring.
bitsy on April 28, 2009 at 12:00 PM
The set up for the turkey drop made it even better. Carlson kept this a secret because he wanted to prove that he was in charge and not his subordinates.
csdeven on April 28, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Hey! I know. Let’s film a mock version of the crucifiction with TOTUS starring as the Messiah. We could call it The Passion of the Shyster
My collie says:
/sarcasm off
CyberCipher on April 28, 2009 at 12:06 PM
O hai! Rly?
Loxodonta on April 28, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Why on earth did the Jews do this???
/
omnipotent on April 28, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I think the White House’s next photo op/PR stunt should be an initiative called “Americans Need Their Hope Reaffirmed And eXonerated.” The President should personally announce this initiative in individual, snail-mail, suitable-for-framing type letters to Congress. Won’t each member be thrilled to get a letter with the content’s acronym, ANTHRAX, clearly stampled on the outside….
apostic on April 28, 2009 at 12:10 PM
I’d like to know where the photo-op was being taken from and who was hired to take them. I’d also like to know if anyone — guests, perhaps(?) — were given seats on the extra Air Force One, which is just a plain old 747 just because the President wasn’t on it.
And since the photos and/or videos were obviously taken, I think we should see what we paid for.
Dusty on April 28, 2009 at 12:12 PM
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