Hatrack River Forum: Hilarious Anti- Bush ads

This is topic Hilarious Anti- Bush ads in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=020682

Posted by Julian Delphiki (Member # 2015) on :

http://www.bushin30seconds.org/

A couple to watch are "What Are We Teaching Our Children" and "Desktop", but they're all pretty good.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

"Child's Play" is really the only one that's worth much, but it's very good.

Posted by Argèn†~ (Member # 4528) on :

I actually think "In My Country" would be a very effective commercial, if it ran.

Posted by Glenn Arnold (Member # 3192) on :

I think "Army of One" is probably the most effective, because it points out what Bush has done to undermine the people he expects to carry out his own agenda. Unfortunately, the commercial itself needs better production values, and a better narrator. "Bush's Garage" also targets Bush's supporters where they live, but it's too flip.

I agree "Child's Pay" is effective for undecideds.

"Bankrupt", "Human cost of War", and "Bring em on" are all giving the same message, which could backfire because the numbers will change.

But my favorite two are "What are we teaching our children?", and "Imagine," Because they really get to the root of who Bush really is. I'm just not sure they would change many opinions.

Posted by Maccabeus (Member # 3051) on :

I hate to say it, but these ads had me snickering. They're so....extreme...that they push their message to the realm of absurdity. Whether or not they could be considered true, one look at these things on tv and I'd be thinking, "Those idiotic liberal extremists are making fools of themselves again!"

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

My Reaction: Wow, they sure make good movies when they care.

I particularly like Child's Play and Desktop.

Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :

I thought "Polygraph" was the best put together, but in general political ads make me rather ill. Why did I watch these then you ask? I must be really, really bored. [Wink]

Hobbes

Posted by ssywak (Member # 807) on :

I noticed that "Polygraph" allowed the statement that Saddam Hussein supports terrorism, and only blipped when Bush said "Al Qeida." Interesting (and as a liberal, I find it...accurate)

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I found "In My Country" to be the most effective of the bunch. "Army of One" was also very powerful. Many of the others are more left-wing pep rallies than anything that will actually sway nonvoters to vote, or undecideds to decide against Bush. Sure, they were sometimes clever, but that isn't really the point, is it?

Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :

I thought "In My Country" was incredibly obvious, which sort of ruined the appeal for me. My favorite by far was "Child's Play" with "Desktop" in second place. I also really enjoyed "Hood Robbin'" and "Leave No Billionaire Behind" although I don't think they would be very effective commercials, they were still fun.

I really disliked "What Are We Teaching Our Children" it annoyed me to the point where I almost wanted to vote for Bush just to get back at it's makers; and I'm going through a rabid anti- Bush streak at the moment.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

But see, that's my point. The issue here is not really whether or not we enjoy them, but how effective they are. It was obvious to me too, but still effective.

Also, it was more obvious because we knew these were all anti-Bush ads before viewing them. It wouldn't be as obvious if you just saw it on TV for the first time.

Also, it wasn't so much anti-Bush as anti-erosion-of-civil-liberties. (Say, why are we calling it erosion all the time? Flash floods are not erosion.) I know I personally find ads more effectve with me when they are less personal. Attacks turn me off. I may well be unusual in this regard, but it's true just the same.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

Again, I seriously hope "Child's Play" wins. Of all the ads, it's the one that's most likely to speak to people who aren't already firmly in one camp or the other.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I don't know. It's OK, but it's just a particularly maudlin (and, OK, somewhat clever) deficit jab. The deficit didn't seem to get Reagan into any trouble with voters, and I don't think it will for Bush either. Especially because people who support the war will accept it as an excuse for the deficit. I find the civil liberties angle to be much more moving. And while the war is certainly the excuse for this as well, I think people are less forgiving of the curtailing of their rights, because they feel it themselves.

[ January 09, 2004, 12:08 AM: Message edited by: Icarus ]

Posted by Maethoriell (Member # 3805) on :

Child's Play is the best. In My Country, Army of One are harsh. Polygraph is just weird. What are we Teaching Children is funny. The merging in Imagine is annoying but the message is good. Human cost of war isn't good because it all depends on the opinion of a person. Wake up America, Desktop and Hood Robbin' were really creative. Bankrupt is frightening straighforward. Leave No Billionaire Behind makes you really hate him. Bush's Repair Shop and Gone in 30 Seconds were horrible.

Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :

I kinda liked "In Bush's Repair Shop". Sorta evokes the second "This Is Your Brains on Drugs" ad's style (remember that one?).

I think "In My Country" [EDIT: and] "Child's Pay" (it's Child's PAY, folks, not PLAY) are effective, but I have to side with Icarus here, I think the premise of "Child's Pay" has the possibility to be spun.

-Bok

[ January 09, 2004, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: Bokonon ]

Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :

"Looks like they can take their volvo driving, latte drinking, Macintosh compatible freakshow back to hollywood". I actually have a mac, but I'm on my PC and I'm not downloading quicktime. [Razz]