Comments on: Games Republicans play.

Games Republicans play.

insomnia_lj — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 03:21:38 -0800

Let's Play "Spot the Crosses!" Can you find any in this picture? Others can... and they're pissed!
"My God, where do they come up with this stuff? Does it look to you like it's a cross? I don't think so." - Karl Rove
When Cheney was speaking, our nation's Great Seal was "crucified" -- which is kind of appropriate, come to think of it...

By: twine42

twine42 — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 03:46:29 -0800

Well... there is clearly a cross on the little table, but without seeing the other sides it's impossible to say if it's design or just the way the pattern is. Why do people care about these things? Those selfish Xian bastards should have chosen a symbol that's less likely to turn up in geometric patterns....

By: sycophant

sycophant — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:14:43 -0800

It seems pretty clearly to me to be a cross. I doubt it was an accident or an oversight. And since when did people making speeches need a gavel anyway?

By: PenDevil

PenDevil — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:16:31 -0800

The beams in my old synagogue formed a cross. No one really cared or noticed...

By: Vidiot

Vidiot — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:42:02 -0800

The gavel stand is there for when the chair of the convention (House Speaker Dennis Hastert) and other officials call the convention to order each session.

By: ColdChef

ColdChef — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:42:24 -0800

Subliminable.

By: jpburns

jpburns — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:47:30 -0800

It's deliberate, like the "twin tower" monitors on either side of the stage. Welcome to the new theocracy. I often wonder if Bush is the antichrist that all those Christians have been warning about.

By: evening

evening — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:57:35 -0800

a taste of their own medicine, and they don't like it. [insert smile and giggle here]

By: amberglow

amberglow — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 04:57:58 -0800

yup--it's an altar--although bully pulpit is probably more apt.

By: Blue Stone

Blue Stone — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 05:25:38 -0800

The Jews - they know Bush is Christian? No? Sure, the cross is deliberate. But so what? Most of the time Bush opens his mouth he espouses Christian belief with references to God here, and the Almighty there, without so much of a murmur. I can't understand why the controversy with this, but not with what Bush says.

By: substrate

substrate — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 05:32:22 -0800

The smaller podium looks like a cross, but next to the larger altar it looks like the tried, and failed, to maintian the same design across the two. Also what Blue Stone said. I don't even care that he spouts out his Christian beliefs, I do care that his Christian beliefs are being used to establish a government.

By: Dick Paris

Dick Paris — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 06:42:21 -0800

I designed a school that was part of just such a cross controversy. The school was patterned with three masonry materials of two colors. At one particular point, the background was red brick in lieu of its customary beige. That change in background allowed the pattern to be "read" as a corss. People hit the roof. The issue was a local controversy for over a month -- finally the school board found they could have the high school VoTech students change the offending bricks. We, the architects, nor our contractors were going to budge. Where the background bricks were beige, nothing was changed yet the same pattern exisits. No one complained about the windows on the school, many of which are paired double-hungs. What do they form graphically? A big ole cross.

By: filchyboy

filchyboy — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 06:55:57 -0800

Remind me not to hire your firm for my next building project Dick.

By: Hypharse

Hypharse — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:06:00 -0800

Crosses or not, they're criminally ugly.

By: techgnollogic

techgnollogic — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:06:32 -0800

Democratic Jewish Group Doesn't Like Republican Convention! Film at 11!

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:22:49 -0800

Whether it's a big deal or surprising or not is up for debate. But it's clearly a symbol put there intentionally. This convention has been in detailed planning for a year - what, do you think they just grabbed the first lectern and gavel stand they could find sitting around backstage, and only noticed afterward the distinctive and unmistakable pattern created?

By: Ynoxas

Ynoxas — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:28:22 -0800

This is clearly on purpose. But I'm not sure it matters so much. The podium is quite obviously built to echo a church pulpit. And that's fine. As someone said above, it's not like people don't know where Bush stands. But Karl Rove is an idiot if he can look at that little table and say "Does it look to you like it's a cross? I don't think so." Of course it does. A more mature and less politically motivated speaker would have acknowledged the similarity and shrugged it off as a simple coincidence. His overly strong denial is proof positive it was purposeful.

By: fizgig

fizgig — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:32:41 -0800

I'm not so sure they noticed at all. Neither one looks like a "cross" in the "Jesus" sense of the word. The little one looks like a 't' while the big one looks like a 'T'. The crossbar on the smaller one really makes it distinctly un-cross like to me. But then again, I don't own a tin foil hat, so... :) Does anybody have a similar picture of the DNC podium?

By: biffa

biffa — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 07:35:55 -0800

Of course it does. A more mature and less politically motivated speaker would have acknowledged the similarity and shrugged it off as a simple coincidence. His overly strong denial is proof positive it was purposeful. Rove: Maybe it does look like a cross... ALL: It is a cross! It is a cross!

By: naxosaxur

naxosaxur — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:02:08 -0800

The study cubicles in our Rutgers library were comprised of four corrals that curiously looked like swastikas from above. Clearly, this is a commonly reported phenomenon. Did I think it was purveyed by a neo-nazi design company to keep jewish kids out of the library? Obviously not. As forthe "jesus podium", my prudence allows me to believe it's aesthetic; I'm inclined to think that people find reassurance in recognizable structures and symbols.

By: agregoli

agregoli — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:13:49 -0800

Which is why they designed them that way - to subconsiously push that religious image.

By: DrDoberman

DrDoberman — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:18:28 -0800

to subconsiously push that religious image And to intentionally piss off the Jews and Muslims?

By: Peter H

Peter H — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:19:06 -0800

I'm just glad Bush is born again. Apparently, this was the original set design, as planned by Bush's handlers about thirty years ago. The glasses are the podium, the coasters are the steps up to the stage, and the white making up the logo is actually yards of coke, for each speaker to drop down on the ground to huff from.

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:22:58 -0800

I have to say, when I first saw the podium, I thought the side table was deliberately cruciform. But I din't think anyone else would pick up on it, and what does it matter, anyway? We all know the Republicans are not the party of any non-Christians, at least not anymore.

By: acrobat

acrobat — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:29:13 -0800

Honestly now. The Jewish organizations complaint? Noooo! Aren't you bloody tired of this paranoia?

By: xmutex

xmutex — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 08:59:36 -0800

Dude I totally see a penis in that podium. No kidding. Just a massive, throbbing cock.

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:03:00 -0800

Considering they had to be, you know, built, I find it hard to believe the cross wasn't deliberate at least on the smaller podium. But I also know that a cross-shape design is very dominant on a lot of wood furniture. To reflect on naxosaxur's comment, the NYU library had similar swastika-like patterns on some parts of the original building architecture. When a symbol is just two lines, it's very easy to make them occur unintentionally. The center vertical panel, which protrudes from the larger podium, is likely an addition to cover the wires from the microphones. In case of a failure it would be much easier to access it by removing a panel instead of crouching under the inside of the podium. My guess is the design was an accidental discovery, but once they noticed it, no one really had any problem with it, if not enjoyed the coincidence altogether.

By: Dick Paris

Dick Paris — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:07:29 -0800

More on my cross controversy /obvious self-link

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:08:29 -0800

Again, it may be no big deal, but I can't believe anyone living in this world today can think it's coincidental, accidental, serendipitous or any variation thereof. These people are masters of this exact kind of mass media. It perfectly sums up their message - yeah, we'll preach inclusiveness, as long as you realize you're sitting in our church. For any of you pointing other places crosses come up completely innocently, thanks, we're all aware that the cross is a basic geometric shape. Those other places, however, are not carefully staged and broadcast into the homes of millions of Americans for the express purpose of conveying a carefully-honed political message, now are they?

By: Dick Paris

Dick Paris — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:17:41 -0800

PS: I am not a Christian (although I was raised as one and the Catholic Church likely counts my warm body as a member).

By: deanc

deanc — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:22:09 -0800

Dude I totally see a penis in that podium. No kidding. The phalluses are all over the convention.

By: clevershark

clevershark — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:23:52 -0800

Of course there are cross patterns in the podium, and they're deliberate. As if anyone is going to believe that Rove didn't see (or, frankly, design) it. A big deal? Hardly. It's as much inclusiveness as can be expected from the GOP...

By: _sirmissalot_

_sirmissalot_ — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:24:15 -0800

I actually caught a strong twin towers vibe from that podium. More of an echo than a reproduction, but I think it's unmistakable. Now that I see the crosses, it's even more bizarre.

By: clevershark

clevershark — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:25:00 -0800

Dude I totally see a penis in that podium. Surely you mean a Dick?!

By: Dean King

Dean King — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:27:31 -0800

Looks like cheap crap from This End Up.

By: freebird

freebird — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:28:01 -0800

I noticed this immediately on seeing the front page pictures, and simply assumed it was intentional. How could it not be, in an event so minutely engineered? Having said that, I don't think complaints about it make a lot of sense. It's a clear staking of ideological ground, and the only interesting debate is whether it's a good move or not. I tend to think it's not the best idea - most people who might vote based on whether a cantidate has a cross on their podium have already decided, and I imagine there's at least a few conservatives out there still who are bothered by this kind of thing. So it seems to me like poor strategy. But the people running these shows are not stupid, nor are they poorly-informed; this suggests my view of The Game is inaccurate at best.

By: Ogre Lawless

Ogre Lawless — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 09:36:21 -0800

Apparently, this was the original set design, as planned by Bush's handlers about thirty years ago. The glasses are the podium, the coasters are the steps up to the stage, and the white making up the logo is actually yards of coke, for each speaker to drop down on the ground to huff from. Peter H wins one million points.

By: straight

straight — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 10:07:30 -0800

a wooden podium that some Jewish groups find offensive because its decorative panels appear to form the shape of a Christian cross As opposed to one of those Pagan Roman crosses used to kill Jesus?

By: elwoodwiles

elwoodwiles — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 11:53:43 -0800

Attention MetaFilter, I love you, but this is garbage. Not just garbage, but ridiculious garbage. Do you think Rove is trying to hypnotize us or anyone else into christianity? Like W needs to send a signal to the people who already know he's a christian? I've never been all that vehement about "newsfilter" but this is really low. Especially when people can see crosses, but can't see representations of 9/11, all depending on what their politics dictate.

By: thomcatspike

thomcatspike — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 12:28:19 -0800

Fruity sweet wrappers spark complaint A Catholic college has complained about new Haribo sweet wrappers which it claims portray fruit in sexual positions.

By: elwoodwiles

elwoodwiles — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 12:34:38 -0800

Okay, I'm being harsh, but still.

By: graventy

graventy — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 13:39:03 -0800

Oh, c'mon thomcat, I'd say it's pretty obvious that those fruit are fucking.

By: naxosaxur

naxosaxur — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 13:46:06 -0800

elwoodwiles, i'm with you. This post reminds me of those horrid Magic Eye paintings from the 1980's: Oh my god! I can see a flamingo! Can't you see it? It's right over there. Look harder. Do you see it? How about now? Now? Now? What's wrong with you? Don't you see the flamingo?! He's right in the middle there...right next to the penguin! Try squinting your eyes a little...wow, you really suck at this!

By: PrinceValium

PrinceValium — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 14:49:15 -0800

Dance, dance, dance, teach us to be true

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 18:13:32 -0800

He's not the messiah. He's a very naughty boy.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 19:10:32 -0800

My reaction: "My God, where do they come up with this stuff? Does it look to you like it's a cross? I don't think so." Especially the podium. That ain't no cross.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 19:49:52 -0800

Try squinting your eyes a little...wow, you really suck at this! Sounds like some-body sucked at Magic Eye.