Think Progress

Bush presidency immortalized at SMU.

By Satyam Khanna on Feb 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Bush presidency immortalized at SMU.

bush382.jpgSouthern Methodist University in Dallas will be home to George W. Bush’s $200 million presidential library,” officials announced today. The decision to place the library at SMU was initially met with furious protests. “In one of its most interesting votes on the matter, [a] faculty group asked the school to request that Bush rescind his order allowing former presidents to keep White House documents secret forever,” the AP notes.



88 Responses to “Bush presidency immortalized at SMU.”

  1. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    All that money to keep “My Pet Goat” on the shelves…


  2. DieNowForPeace says:

    Are there really that many “Bob Books“? I mean, they’re only 8 pages????


  3. 99Luf Balloons says:

    SMU

    Pronounced SMOOO


  4. rantingraver says:

    John McCain is going to have to fight pretty hard to be as bad a candidate as George Bush was… Maybe if he keeps obviously lying his ass off we’ll think he’s worse than Bush… no, on second thought, it can’t get worse than Bush… can it?


  5. IgnoranceIsNotBliss says:

    It’s gonna be real difficult for anyone to accomplish any real research in the Library. He isn’t going to turn over any documents. What a waste of money.


  6. Uncle Ho says:

    Can you say Molotov cocktail?

    Burn, baby, burn.


  7. Jeremy in Denver says:

    Oh, I can’t think of a better place for Bush’s ‘legacy’. A church school. It’s sad that now SMU will be tagged as a Christian Fundy school regardless of whether it was before or not. But that’s too bad. You associate with filth, you get dirty…


  8. rantingraver says:

    Can anyone else believe that a Methodist university would immortalize a theocratic president?


  9. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    On the other hand, Botch does look soooo cool in that cowboy hat.


  10. DieNowForPeace says:

    Comment by rantingraver

    Follow the $$$$$$.


  11. Ms_Joanne says:

    [a] faculty group asked the school to request that Bush rescind his order allowing former presidents to keep White House documents secret forever,” …

    Don’t hold your breath!


  12. Mugsy says:

    There should be a plaque at the front entrance to that library that reads:

    The pricetag of this library would of paid for 1-1/2 days in Iraq.


  13. paleolib says:

    I don’t see the point of Bu$h having a library. To properly memorialize his era the architect is going to have to design a 700 mile fence around it. The only way to gain access will be with a large campaign contribution or AEI membership card and secret decoder ring — unless of course you are “rendered” to the secret prison in the basement in which case you lose your habeas rights and can never leave. Can’t wait to see if Tony Blair and John Howard end up a docents now that their ill-considered support has left them in need of new employment.


  14. DieNowForPeace says:

    I think they’re going with this plaque on the entrance:

    “Warning: Enter at Your Own Risk. This building is a known target and might self-destruct without advance notice.”


  15. rantingraver says:

    I agree with Jeremy. We have to stop these filthy non-secularists from attempting to discriminate against secular individuals. The non-secularists have been brainwashed into voting for the GOP even though that totally opposite of their personal interests.


  16. shoeless says:

    I’d like to see the books in Bush’s library. I hear he is getting very good at staying inside the lines.


  17. Mr. Evil says:

    Maybe they’ll have some Zippy the Pinhead comic books there as well.


  18. Mr. Evil says:

    Check this out. At least New Hampshire has some backbone. http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=971


  19. rocks911 says:

    Jeremy in Denver,

    SMU is as about as chruchy as Dubya, which is to say not at all. SMU is notorious in Dallas as home to a bunch of snot nosed, out of touch, caviar-eating spoiled little brats.
    Perfect.


  20. Shayne says:

    The George W. Bush Library, that’s a good one. Are they putting it in the men’s room? They’ll still have room for the GOP Ehics Center.


  21. DieNowForPeace says:

    COMPLETE WITH PRESIDENTIAL ADULT-DIAPER CHANGING STATION.

    And in honor of Senator Craig, glory holes in all the mens stalls!!!


  22. rocks911 says:

    Obviously I meant “churchy”


  23. Leftside Annie says:

    17 – shoeless….

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

    Priceless. I salute you! ;o)

    ~A


  24. Shayne says:

    bunch of snot nosed, out of touch, caviar-eating spoiled little brats.
    Perfect.

    Comment by rocks911 — February 22, 2008 @ 4:01 pm

    Oh, you mean “Young Republicans”.


  25. Cats r Flyfishn says:

    Will this library be big enough to hold the list of all his failures?


  26. Uncle Ho says:

    Mr. Evil; thanks for the link. I have NO doubt that if JFK were alive today, that after seeing the current crop of Democrats in both chambers of Congress, he would quickly write a sequel to Profiles In Courage, with the title, Profiles In Cowardice.


  27. Leftside Annie says:

    27 – cats – NO library is big enough for *that*.


  28. MCMetal says:

    Bush presidency immortalized at SMU

    They’re going to put a huge mound of crap in the middle of building ?


  29. Bob says:

    Will it be shaped like a tower, painted ivory, with rose-colored windows or shaped like a bubble, yet completely opaque?

    You’ll be welcome to check anything out but you won’t be able to read it. Any questions will be forwarded to DHS.


  30. RUCerious says:

    Bush Presidency Immoralized At Xian U!


  31. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    And some of the “books” will no doubt have pages that fold out…


  32. Badmoodman says:

    Southern Methodist University, the ONLY college ever to receive the NCAA’s “Death Penalty” for egregious and sustained recruiting violations. How fitting.


  33. Dreary Urbanite says:

    Unfortunately this “library” is going to be used to attempt to rewrite history and portray Bush as some sort of hero and visionary – at our expense.


  34. dim wit says:

    If this libraray is truly going to reflect GWB then it will never be built and the $200 million will somehow be lost.


  35. po says:

    So did he agree to rescind that order re: sealed in perpetuity? Doubt it, but, if so, was a signing statement attached?


  36. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Comment by Dreary Urbanite — February 22, 2008 @ 4:16 pm

    Von Munchausen Syndrome?

    Or just good, old fashioned “delusional”?

    You make the call!


  37. MCMetal says:

    $200 million to purchase children’s books and coloring books ?

    More fiscal responsibility , the Chimpy way……………….


  38. shoeless says:

    And some of the “books” will no doubt have pages that fold out…

    Comment by The Republic of Stupidity

    Oh, I thought they would mostly be pop ups.


  39. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Comment by dim wit — February 22, 2008 @ 4:18 pm

    And on top of that, there’ll still be enormous cost overruns.


  40. mary says:

    “Some said the library wouldn’t provide true access for historians because not all documents would be there.”


  41. Mr. Evil says:

    #31 Bob: I’m thinking it may be conical in shape. You know, pointing upward and just above the entrance will be the awe-inspiring word D-U-N-C-E.


  42. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Different shelve, shoeless.

    The pop-ups are over w/ the talking books.


  43. flavorino says:

    200 MILLION DOLLARS!
    That’s going to be one hell of a library!
    What kind of library do you get for 200 Million dollars?

    Do you think it will be handled more efficiently than the HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS WE SPENT ON IRAQ?


  44. Badmoodman says:

    Btw, a $200 Million price tag will get left in the dust when the “cost overruns” and “building inspections” start to accrue. How fitting, yet again.


  45. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Nice to see we’re all in touch w/ our “Inner Snark” today!


  46. shoeless says:

    “Some said the library wouldn’t provide true access for historians because not all documents would be there.”

    Comment by mary,/em>

    The “Bushisms” won’t be there. They need a facility with lots more capacity. I heard they will be stored in Yucca mountain.


  47. Zimzone says:

    The Bush LIEbrary.
    -6 million super secret classified documents (No, you may not read)
    -14 Pedophiles (R)
    -87 Lobbyists (R)
    -La La
    -2 books
    …’My Pet Goat’
    …’Presidenting for Dummies’
    -W


  48. Badmoodman says:

    Re: #31 Bob – - They ought to clone the blueprints from the American Embassy in Iraq and use those.


  49. MCMetal says:

    George W. Bush’s $200 million presidential library

    Great ; what next ?

    The Christian Scientist’s $1 billion dollar experimental laboratory , without any test tubes or microscopes , only Bibles ?

    The GOP Ethics building , built with stolen funds and pork-laden add-ons in bills ?

    The GOP Men’s Public Rest Room ?


  50. Buckie Boy says:

    Are they going to have a Black Op Site with authentic Republican Torture Chamber of Horrors?

    Complete with a Water Torture Table for the kids to try out?

    How about some Syrian Torture Guides for trimming those finger nails and toe nails?

    Maybe a black hooded room with electrical shock cables?

    This should be a real draw for the whole Republican Family Values types.

    Buck Fush


  51. Mr. Evil says:

    A great historical homage to President George W. Bush where your children can get a first hand insight into the inner workings of the Bush Administration. With special guest tutorials from Larry Craig, Mark Foley, Jeff Gannon, Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham.


  52. Zimzone says:

    I heard they’ll have a mirror in the foyer whose reflection will be Cheney…with that sneer looking back at you…and his eyes follow you.


  53. Mr. Evil says:

    Now that’s creepy Zim.


  54. Zimzone says:

  55. shoeless says:

    The mirror will be mounted on the door of Cheney’s man-sized safe.


  56. missmolly says:

    $200 million may seem like a steep price for a library, but remember that Bill Clinton’s was $165 million.

    FDR had the first presidential library built while he was still in office, for under $400,000 of privately donated funds. All presidential libraries have been built with private funds since then, and are maintained by the National Archives.

    The price tags have gone up since FDR. Reagan’s library was $60 million, which seemed like an astronomical figure at the time. And of course we all remember how absurd the Clinton figure of $165 million seemed.

    I wonder how much it will cost to build the library of our next president?


  57. Shayne says:

    Instead of librarians they have Blackwater mercenaries running the place. Instead of “sssshhh” they’ll yell halt, just once, and then they’ll start shooting. Well the place will be quiet except for the gunshots.


  58. tombaker says:

    …destined to become the least-visited and most vandalized presidential library ever.


  59. ucsbclassics53 says:

    don’t forget the think tank that will propagandize the Bush presidency and rewrite history…


  60. ucsbclassics53 says:

    and you remember, the heads of the trolls were exploding when the $165 million price tag came out on the Clinton library. I wonder where they’ll be right now, will they be crying about the excessive waste?


  61. Uncle Ho says:

    comment by uscbclassics 53 @ 5:05 pm

    The trolls will be denouncing $200 million as a paltry amount and should be a minimum of $600 million.


  62. RUCerious says:

    Hopefully, they’ll have the good taste to put a shitload of porta potties on premises.


  63. regular_joe says:

    Aren’t presidential libraries built to house the papers and documents generated during a president’s term in office?

    If that’s the case, then what’s the point of building a library for Bush? It’s not like he’s an avid reader. Besides, most of the documents from Bush’s terms will have to be “disappeared” because they could be used against him in a court of law.

    All that space and no documents seems like such a waste…

    Oh, I get it. Maybe that’s why they have room for an airliner in Reagan’s library.


  64. Exit Stage Left says:

    Undoubtedly it will be built by Halliburton for 10 million dollars worth of substandard materials. The rest will be profit.


  65. xtro says:

    This where they will put the guillotines after the revolution starts. Madame Barbara Bush shall be the first to christen the blades!


  66. ucsbclassics53 says:

    I agree that the people will have their say on the history, but it won’t prevent Bush’s cronies from churning out revisions of history after another.


  67. WaltTheMan says:

    Golden Books will realize a fortune when stocking this library. I bet Western Publishing is real sorry that they let this
    franchise /strong> expire. They would have saved them from bankruptcy!


  68. MCMetal says:

    Southern Methodist University in Dallas will be home to George W. Bush’s $200 million presidential library

    Because this godawful presidency that has gone on 7 years too long already , hasn’t pissed away enough money ?


  69. kasinca says:

    How many SMU graduates does it take to change a tire? Two to mix martinis while one calls daddy. Very befitting of the fortunate son who never completed his military service, had a real job, or really got elected.


  70. clb72 says:

    We the people should seize the $200 million, send it to New Orleans, and call it reparations.


  71. williamf says:

    That’s nice they’ll have a libarry for the bugger. Where will they put the book?


  72. Saint Augustine says:

    bunch of snot nosed, out of touch, caviar-eating spoiled little brats.
    Perfect.

    Comment by rocks911 — February 22, 2008 @ 4:01 pm

    The students at Sourthern Moron University of course.


  73. McWars says:

    SMU should be proud. They’ll have free shrub removal services and unexplained turds appearing on grounds until its new patron retires from earth.


  74. Keith H. says:

    Hmmmm . . some people . . not me of course . .
    might take the opportunity to practice their controlled demolition techniques on this fine new structure !
    Wow . . that would sure suck !


  75. Doc Rock says:

    I hope, I hope, I hope Gila Monsters Meet You at the Airport is there!


  76. 7man says:

    October 11, 2007

    To: Robert A.M. Stern Architects LLP
    460 West 34th Street
    New York, NY 10001

    To the Staff :
    Recently your office has been selected to design the future George W. Bush Presidential Library. While we am certain your office is most pleased in winning this high profile commission, We hope that you will take the time to consider the ramifications of doing so. President Bush’s administration is no stranger to controversy; but while no one can predict how future historians will judge him, the strong body of public opinion is decidedly negative. The future George W. Bush Presidential Library will embody all that this administration represents.

    Your firm has a solid, well deserved reputation, built up over many decades. To be aligned with perhaps the most sinister administration in US history, would be a grave mistake in judgement, in our opinion. One has only to look at the career of Germany’s Albert Speer, whose alliance to the Third Reich determined his ultimate legacy.

    We at ae911truth.org are doing our best to attract architects and engineers related by common sense, truth, and accountability.

    Please visit our website, review the material, and join our growing list of concerned professionals questioning the 9/11 Commission’s official Report. Perhaps our work will have some influence upon your recent commission.
    http://www.ae911truth.org/


  77. GL2814 says:

    I wouldn’t be surprised if this became the first presidential library to go up in flames.


  78. DieNowForPeace says:

    This is right up there with the CREATIONIST MUSEUM! ROTFL!

    Comment by republicans hate facts

    OMG, there’s one of these on the road to Dinosaur Valley State Park. Did NOT visit, but heard there’s depictions of cavemen co-existing with dinos (riding woolly mammoths!), cause, you know, WE were here first!


  79. questioneverything says:

    The guy who gave the money to build this edifice got to have his view preserved by not having the border fence built in front of his property. Ray L. Hunt donated $35 million to the library. Wonder when Chris Matthews or CBS or NBC or ABC or FOX will report this fact. All for a bunch locked filing cabinets and My Pet Goat.


  80. BloggerRadio.com says:

    ‘Build it and they won’t come’.


  81. curmudgeon says:

    Assuming that all goes forward as planned, it would appear that this will be the first presidential library located on the grounds of a church-affiliated institution.

    Other presidential libraries that share grounds with colleges and/or universities:

    1 – John F. Kennedy — University of Massachusetts
    2 – Lyndon B. Johnson — University of Texas
    3 – Gerald R. Ford — University of Michigan
    4 – George H. W. Bush — Texas A & M University
    5 – William J. Clinton — University of Arkansas (i.e., Clinton School of Public Service)

    The proposed library at SMU would represent a break from the tradition of presidential libraries being free-standing or sharing a location with a state-supported university.

    Perhaps this is yet another indication of the intent to “tear down that wall” which has until now been maintained between church and state.

    This would represent another visible reminder of how far this country has departed from the ideals propounded by our Founding Fathers.


  82. Dirty Hippie says:

    I’m told the architectural drawings of the building resemble the Matterhorn at Disneyland, if it was made from a giant steaming pile of bullshit.


  83. curmudgeon says:

    Having visited the SMU Campus almost twenty-five years ago, I recall that even then it had the reputation as a rich kid’s school. It was billed as a place where parents would send their sons and daughters, hoping that their child would meet and marry someone from a family with the “right” pedigree. The campus seemed to be overtaken by the numerous fraternity and sorority houses that ringed the campus.

    According to wikipedia, the following factoids about SMU might be of interest…

    Perhaps some of their better known alumni may have pulled a few strings, securing a location for building a monument dedicated to Texas’ favorite Yankee, blue-blood, carpetbagger son. Among their alumni:

    1 – Laura Welch Bush, allegedly still residing in the White House
    2 – Karen Hughes, part of Chimpy’s inner circle
    3 – Jeffrey Skilling, formerly with Enron, currently serving prison term
    4 – Harriet Miers, former Bush nominee to the Supreme Court
    5 – Steven Limbaugh, recent Bush nominee to Missouri Appeals Court, and cousin of Rush
    5 – Gerald R. Ford, recipient honorary Doctor of Laws degree — 1975
    6 – George H. W. Bush, recipient honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree — 1992
    7 – Richard B. Cheney, SMU Board of Trustees, mid to late 1996 to August, 2000
    8 – Colin Powell, first recipient of Medal of Freedom award conferred by John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies — 1997
    9 – Margaret Thatcher, recipient of Medal of Freedom award in 1999
    10 – John McCain, recipient of Medal of Freedom award in 2005

    Nearly 100 SMU Mustang Band members & alumni, cheerleaders, and pom squad members performed in the George W. Bush 2001 Inauguration Parade.
    In 2005, SMU was named #4 for “Happiest Students” by Princeton Review.
    In 2004, SMU’s “major fraternity and sorority scene” was ranked #4 by Princeton Review.

    If this library is ever built and you decide to visit, look for a wall near the entrance listing the major contributors to its construction. Bush’s daddy’s library in College Station, TX lists Enron Corporation, Ken Lay, and a number of Middle Eastern countries and oil sheiks, all chiseled into a stone wall. The list of donors for Reagan’s palatial museum in Simi Valley, CA includes a similarly extensive list of well-healed ctonributors near its entry site.

    Happy Travels!


  84. LoraS says:

    A friend’s perspective on the Bush Library:

    The George W Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages. You’ll want to be the first at your corporation to make a contribution to this great man’s legacy. The Library will include:

    1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.
    2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you can’t remember anything.
    3. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don’t have to even show up.
    4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don’t let you in.
    5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don’t let you out.
    6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room (which no one has been able to find).
    7. The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.
    8. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.

    Plans also include:
    9. The K-Street Project Gift Shop – where you can buy (or just steal) an election.
    10. The Airport Men’s Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican senators.
    11. Last, but not least, there will be an entire floor devoted to a 7/8 scale model of the President’s ego.

    To highlight the President’s accomplishments, the museum will have an electron microscope to help you locate them.


  85. dictatortot says:

    Imagine that…Methodist ministers opposing having the library of a warmongering planet-endangering piece of $#!+.

    http://newsprism.wordpress.com


  86. curmudgeon says:

    Clarification re: my earlier post #89 –

    #1-5 actually attended SMU
    The second #5 (error), former Presidents Ford and Bush received honorary doctorate degrees from SMU
    #7-10 either served on their board of Trustees (Deadeye Dick) or received special honors (i.e., Powell, Thatcher & McCain).


  87. Davey says:

    The only appropriate site for the George W. Bush Presidential Library is downtown Baghdad, and it should only be built after that $9,000,000,000 that Bush lost in Iraq is found.


  88. MapleStreet says:

    OOOOOHHH – Can I get a commission to paint a mural on the wall immortalizing the feats of the Bush legacy ? I picture a Dante’s Inferno type picture with the souls of americans being boiled in oil by demons.



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