August 31, 2001

9:46 PM

Strategery for Kids! Just like the real white house website, except done in fingerpaint. Come learn about Ofelia, who loves great american authors almost as much as she loves daydreaming. Beware of the cat, 'cause she's got a mean line of questions waiting for you. There's also some well-developed questions and answers with W, Cheney is shown exercising, and hey! put a coaster under those things!
posted by mathowie (16 comments total)

I like Barney's White House ABC's. S is for Stem Cells...
posted by katexmcfly at 9:56 PM on August 31, 2001

Ok, just one more crack:

"Come to the one you trust with the future of our country..."
posted by mathowie at 10:01 PM on August 31, 2001

I love the dichotomy on the VP's page of this:

Favorite book for children:
Dr. Seuss books such as the The Cat in the Hat

vs. this:

Accomplishments

Vice President Cheney served a crucial role when America needed him most. As Secretary of Defense from March 1989 to January 1993, Vice President Cheney directed two of the largest military campaigns in recent history -- Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East. He was responsible for shaping the future of the U.S. Military in an age of profound and rapid change.
posted by machaus at 10:05 PM on August 31, 2001

I love the Challenge Question on Dubya's page: What is the meaning of working together in a bipartisan spirit? Gag.
posted by bcwinters at 10:53 PM on August 31, 2001

Dubya could go into web design should he be impeached. I knew he'd get something done while ranch-bound this last month. Well done site George!

But. . .

Why is he having the cow do the book recommendations? If he doesn't know by now, kids es muy inteligente estas dias y shrewd to your strategery and will see through it. Yes even though they enjoy talking cows, chickens and mice on their cartoons. Everybody knows cows. . .er excuse me. Everybody knows the president don't really read!
posted by crasspastor at 10:58 PM on August 31, 2001

I LOVE the stories about the pets written by the pets. In particular you gotta give it up for A Story about Spotty by Spotty (scroll to page bottom)

I nudged my owner, President Bush, on the ankle and he said to me, "Well, Spotty, how does it feel to be living again in the same house where you were born?"

Then it all made dog sense.

Somebody had a lot of fun putting these pages together. Somebody probably tried to show it off to their parents (who probably didn't quite get it).

That is spectacular!
posted by willnot at 11:20 PM on August 31, 2001

If Lynne Cheney has a doctorate in English lit, she certainly hasn't reviewed http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/.

"No pets, but they often borrow their grandchildren's dog, Dave, from time to time. He's a yellow lab."

How frequently do they borrow the dog? Often? Or from time to time? And a Lab, yellow or not, is a Labrador retriever; a yellow lab is a yellow laboratory.

"She issued numerous reports advocating historical literacy and recommending the teaching of core knowledge in all fields of learning, from literature to science, and mathematics."

As fields of learning, literature and science are at opposite ends of the entire range? And mathematics isn't a field of learning at all?

Perhaps these and the other problems with the site's English are linguistic nits, but they're worth picking. The Administration obviously wants to be seen as promoting literacy, and of course every Administration should promote literacy, so I hope someone there has another look at what they're encouraging kids to read.
posted by pracowity at 4:19 AM on September 1, 2001

Where is Mr Rogers now that we need him?
posted by Postroad at 6:24 AM on September 1, 2001

The client seems to be happy.
posted by machaus at 11:00 AM on September 1, 2001

i am by no means a supporter of conforming to notions of gender-appropriate colors. nevertheless - that pink tie is hideous. though not as horrifying as the kiddie propaganda at the white house for kids site. i'm a sucker for dogs but i'm disgusted that i read the entire bio of dubya's stupidly named dog, smiling all the while.
posted by surblimity at 6:45 PM on September 1, 2001

Noooooo!! The Hungry Caterpillar is my favrourite book!! Not his! He can't take this away from me!
posted by nprigoda at 6:41 AM on September 2, 2001

ouch... I guess I should be glad that no one else is watching this thread now...
posted by nprigoda at 1:53 PM on September 2, 2001

Wrong, dude...
posted by hincandenza at 7:14 PM on September 4, 2001

oh well, hincandenza... I guess I can't ask you to promise not to tell anyone?
posted by nprigoda at 5:37 AM on September 5, 2001

Your secret's safe with me... and I'll be stunned if you are actually reading this.... :)
posted by hincandenza at 2:40 AM on September 9, 2001