parody, obviously

June 30, 2004 8:48 AM

The note you didn't see: We've all seen the "Let Freedom Reign!" note between Condoleezza Rice and President Bush. But have you seen the one she slipped to Cheney?
posted by acornface (42 comments total)

Okay, I'm a fan of Cheney...but that is funny!
posted by MrAnonymous at 8:54 AM on June 30, 2004

there are fans of cheney?

a very scary thought... unless it's a joke.
posted by sunexplodes at 8:57 AM on June 30, 2004

Regarding the first note, I find it amazing how years of Republican talking points can turn "Freedom" into a code word for "Empire."
posted by the fire you left me at 9:06 AM on June 30, 2004

not authentic...here is where the note was from and then altered for the fun of it

click for note
posted by Postroad at 9:08 AM on June 30, 2004

not authentic

Well, duh.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:11 AM on June 30, 2004

I can't decide who's more unintentionally funny - acornface, for this page title, or Postroad.

The note's cute, I did laugh, but an FPP? WTF, as Cheney no doubt often says?
posted by soyjoy at 9:15 AM on June 30, 2004

not authentic

[Insert something about death of irony signalling the death of the Republic...]
posted by 327.ca at 9:15 AM on June 30, 2004

Every new post should now automatically include a statement questioning it's own validity as a FPP, just to get it out of the way early.
posted by Hackworth at 9:20 AM on June 30, 2004

When I first saw that note in a local newspaper (here in Europe) I was frightened. The phrase "Let Freedom Reign" was just so amazingly out of touch with the "reality" on the ground.

Is it a) that he really believes that everything is allright despite all the contrary evidence, or b) he is unaware of the status quo down in Iraq.

Does freedom really equal with the so-called transfer of sovereignty? *Sigh* What is this freedom-thing, anyway?

On the other hand, should I start believing more on the "good" stories from Iraq? Maybe there really is a bad bias in the media. Maybe the Iraq national soccer team will make it to World Cup in 2006.
posted by hoskala at 9:22 AM on June 30, 2004

So its assumed that Cheney penned in the "Let Freedom Reign"? I'm going to assume that its code for "Let's Make Halliburton Billions and Kill Lots of Civilians Just like in the that Lame Bird Shoot I did several months ago".

But then, I'm only mildly cynical this morning. Amazing how light traffic can ease up a bitter politico.
posted by fenriq at 9:27 AM on June 30, 2004

The whole note-passing thing was stage managed. The phrase was predecided, the intent to release the note and ensure the whole thing was capped by tv - staged.

Makes you wonder why they chose a cheesy phrase lie that tho.
posted by dash_slot- at 9:28 AM on June 30, 2004

The base likes government cheese.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 9:30 AM on June 30, 2004

not authentic...here is where the note was from and then altered for the fun of it

Thanks, postroad. By the way, what do you make of those "Bat Boy" photos?

In other news, when was June 30th designated "Shitty Post Day"?
posted by dhoyt at 9:35 AM on June 30, 2004

The whole note-passing thing was stage managed.

Amen. Big-style.
posted by kenaman at 9:42 AM on June 30, 2004

Yeah, I see that note under glass right next to the Declaration of Independence.. Yeah, I really see that.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:43 AM on June 30, 2004

This could be another "Mission accomplished" -moment that is going to come back to haunt these guys in a few months.
posted by hoskala at 9:44 AM on June 30, 2004

dhoyt, we didn't send you the memo because we wanted to surprise you ;-)
posted by madamjujujive at 9:48 AM on June 30, 2004

I'm impressed that Bush spelled "reign" correctly without any help.
posted by wsg at 9:48 AM on June 30, 2004

Makes you wonder why they chose a cheesy phrase li[k]e that tho.

For reasons I am not really able to conprehend, the president has a certain lack of self-awareness that leads him to gravitate towards the cliche, thinking that it is representative of depth. It's similar to his "smoke 'em out" and "dead or alive" statements-- he's not aware of how silly it sounds. I bet his (non-alcoholic) toasts to his wife involve the phrase, "Here's looking at you, kid!"

I, for one, am shocked, shocked to find the president resorting to pithy cliches.

Damn, now I'm doing it!
posted by deanc at 9:54 AM on June 30, 2004

Is there a reason they chose "Let Freedom Reign" instead of the classic "Let Freedom Ring"?
posted by nickmark at 9:56 AM on June 30, 2004

Because "Ring" doesn't quite imply "imperial authority" the way "Reign" does...
posted by JollyWanker at 10:01 AM on June 30, 2004

The simpler answer is that Bush thinks the song goes:

From eve-ry mountainside
Let freedom reign

Or perhaps it is a Freudian slip.
posted by linux at 10:14 AM on June 30, 2004

Any post that makes you laugh outloud is a good one imo. Good post.
It's a silly folks, laugh with it and move on.
posted by a3matrix at 10:16 AM on June 30, 2004

off topic: is anyone having occasional trouble with the Mefi home page and firefox .9 ?
There are times when I don't get the full page of fpp's.
posted by a3matrix at 10:18 AM on June 30, 2004

Actually, it says "FreeDom", which I find odd.
posted by taz at 10:23 AM on June 30, 2004

dhoyt - I just crapped my pants. Congratulations.
posted by crazy finger at 10:36 AM on June 30, 2004

taz - perhaps to avoid complications between the confusing "b" and "d" designs.
posted by crazy finger at 10:39 AM on June 30, 2004

so, whaddaya think, does the President do all of his writing with a sharpie?
posted by jmgorman at 10:39 AM on June 30, 2004

Actually, it says "FreeDom", which I find odd.

that's a reference to all the prostitutes coming into town for the Repub. convention. They get a free dominatrix session if they buy 3 or something.
posted by amberglow at 10:46 AM on June 30, 2004

Googling for "Let Freedom Reign" turns up some disturbing results.

My current favorite theory is that Bush doesn't know how the "America" song (or Dr. King's speech) goes.
posted by majcher at 10:50 AM on June 30, 2004

You guys can't read. It clearly says "Let Freesom Reign!"
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:00 AM on June 30, 2004

Let FreeQuonsar Reign?
posted by ewagoner at 11:24 AM on June 30, 2004

Every new post should now automatically include a statement questioning it's own validity as a FPP, just to get it out of the way early.

I'm wondering how this would be posted somewhere other than the front page. Is this not the only page? (Considering that MeTa and AskMe are for completely different purposes.) It was funny. I thought this was the kind of crap we were supposed to post on MeFi.
posted by MrAnonymous at 11:29 AM on June 30, 2004

There are some things that make a nice zing in the comments, if the right context presents itself. I have little doubt that there would be opportunities to IMG SRC this little gem somewhere that's not the front page.
posted by scarabic at 11:39 AM on June 30, 2004

I wonder how many copies of this thing Bush went through. "The handwriting looks bad on this one, lets try again." With an ever present Dick Cheney helping Bush out with his handwriting.

After 10 minutes of this Bush got pissed and told Cheney to Cheney himself.
posted by skallas at 12:56 PM on June 30, 2004

Let it reign, let it reign,
Let your love reign down on me.
Let it reign, let it reign,
Let it reign, reign, reign
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:20 PM on June 30, 2004

Fifty bucks says Bush is hired by Sharpie as a celeb pitchman by this time next year.
posted by Keith Talent at 1:55 PM on June 30, 2004

Let it reign, reign, reign

Or more appropriately,

It's Reigning Men, Hallelujah!
posted by Verdant at 2:04 PM on June 30, 2004

It's reigning men, Fallujah, it's reigning men!
posted by dhoyt at 2:14 PM on June 30, 2004

I think that my favorite part about the Yahoo! News photo/caption is that there are links to news and websites for: "President Bush", "National Security", "Condoleeza Rice", "NATO", and "Freedom". Why does "freedom" get its own link? That's weird.
posted by dryad at 2:39 PM on June 30, 2004

good funny link, thanks acornface
posted by matteo at 4:35 PM on June 30, 2004

I'm impressed that Bush spelled "reign" correctly without any help.

I'm guessing it wasn't what he was trying to spell...
posted by casarkos at 5:58 PM on June 30, 2004