President Bush Dead?

Tinkerbelle · 19-10-2006, 21:19

Ok so it's only fictional, but it's still an uncomfortable programme to watch.

Death of a President is being aired on Channel 4 at the moment. I'm watching it even though I can't understand what a programme like this expects to achieve. The fictional documentary has been banned over in the U.S.A apparently, and imo rightly so.

When such an event such as the assassination of J. F. Kennedy had such a profound effect on people I can understand a programme being made, as the lead up to his death was investigated and facts unknown at the time come to light, yes by all mens make a documentary but Bush isn't dead!

Another thing that worries me is that there is some real wacko's in this world I hope it doesn't give any psychologically damaged person any ideas.

Neil · 19-10-2006, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkerbelle

Another thing that worries me is that there is some real wacko's in this world I hope it doesn't give any psychologically damaged person any ideas.

Chav has just come back from holiday so I don't think he is planning one to America just yet

chav1 · 20-10-2006, 14:03

if somone watched this program and decided to gun down tony blair in cold blood i seriously cant see myself shedding a tear for him , infact if these programs lead to polotitions been murdered then i say show more of them.It sure would beat big brother etc because you could watch the program then see the aftermath in the news the next day, genuine reality and audience participation

chav1 · 20-10-2006, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Chav has just come back from holiday so I don't think he is planning one to America just yet

i may be there this christmas , failing that next summer

semihere · 20-10-2006, 17:23

What a bunch of propagandist nonsense this mockumentary was.

Any true documentary style film talks to participants on both side of an issue - this film portayed interviewing establishment figures repeatedly, letting them tell their tales of the security threat created by people practising their democratic right to free speech and demonstration. All the way through up to Bush actually getting shot we hear of how certain 'ringleaders' have information about the President's movements and how anti-war demonstrators were putting people at risk. Only when one of the demonstrators becomes a suspect and is arrested do we hear anything from the other point of view, and even then it's only that the suspect wasn't the man they were after.

It was very subtle, but the message was clear - protest and dissent puts lives at risk, so don't protest. This backs up the general establishment trend towards isolating and removing voices of protest from public discourse both in the US (with fenced-off 'protest zones' miles from the event they're turning up to protest at) and in the UK (with the 1 mile exclusion zone around Parliament).

In the film there's also the repeated suggestion that there's a new breed of protestor out there. What they fail to mention is that the new breed of protestor isn't your average 'crusty' type, but members of the general public from every age group and social demographic. They also repeatedly reinforce the idea that the police show huge restraint, which is a damn lie, especially in the US where we've seen repeated cases of protestors being shot in the head by riot squads using baton rounds, beanbags and tear gas (see The Miami Model from IndyMedia for a good example of US police reaction to protest).

So remember kids - if you protest, a world leader may get harmed. Weyhey... get your banners out, let's cause mayhem!!!

bullseyebarb · 20-10-2006, 20:50

Haven't seen it. It wasn't banned here, but I don't think the film can find a distributor. Apparently, the movie has been deemed distasteful. After all, it's the first such film to be made about the assassination of a sitting U.S. president. Wishful thinking on the part of some folks, I guess.

We have peaceful demonstrations here all the time. But if you are going to behave like some British soccer fans on a weekend trip to Barcelona, then I think a little crowd control is definitely in order.

Tinkerbelle · 20-10-2006, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

Apparently, the movie has been deemed distasteful. After all, it's the first such film to be made about the assassination of a sitting U.S. president. Wishful thinking on the part of some folks, I guess.

I'll be honest I'm no great fan of the pillock myself but I think it was more than distastful, I think it was disgusting.

shillelagh · 20-10-2006, 22:48

Didnt see it - i was in the local downing j20's and forgot to tape it.

Tinkerbelle · 20-10-2006, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

Didnt see it - i was in the local downing j20's and forgot to tape it.

You didn't miss owt, not a programme I'd recommend to anyone

semihere · 21-10-2006, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinkerbelle

You didn't miss owt, not a programme I'd recommend to anyone

I'll second that... unless you're an everyday sheep who swallows the average government propaganda at face value.

As for...

Quote:

But if you are going to behave like some British soccer fans on a weekend trip to Barcelona, then I think a little crowd control is definitely in order.

...if you watch the Indymedia film 'Miami Model' you'll know what I mean about how brutally the police are willing to act to stop demonstration. It's a documentary following the mass protests against the WTO at a meeting in Miami. Protestors included what you'd think of as very respectable people (dressed in business suits) holding placards - and this the police took as a major threat, opening fire on one woman in particular who suffered some nasty head injuries from the 'non-lethal' rounds the police fired straight at her. At one point she's hiding crouched on the floor behind her placard, but rubber bullets tend to just blow holes straight through cardboard signs. Totally uncalled for given that she was just stood bravely in front of a line of gun-toting nazis in body armour and helmets (aka the Miami police).

Someone I know was recently stopped at US immigration for daring to try and enter the country on holiday. He was questioned for 6 hours, strip searched, put in a holding cell overnight then deported without a reason being given... the rest of his family had to carry on to Disneyland without him. Now THAT'S what I call disgusting, not a propaganda piece disguised as mock documentary. heh

bullseyebarb · 22-10-2006, 17:58

If you pay close attention to anti-WTO demonstrations.....regardless of where in the world they take place, you will notice that the same groups keep showing up over and over again.....with the same signs. The evening news doesn't show you what these people get up to during their little marchfests. They'll destroy two or three city blocks if allowed to. Behave appropriately and the cops aren't going to whack you with anything - whether it's in Miami or elsewhere.

Tealeaf · 25-10-2006, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

Haven't seen it. After all, it's the first such film to be made about the assassination of a sitting U.S. president. Wishful thinking on the part of some folks, I guess.

.

The Manchurian Candiate, a film starring 'Ole Blue Eyes and Lawrence Harvey, involved the assassination of the US President by a brainwashed ex-serviceman using a sniper's rifle; shortly after it's release in 1963, JFK was being driven through Dallas on a formal visit.....

The film was immeadiatly withdrawn in the US and UK, and was not shown on British TV for about another 20 years.

Mancie · 26-10-2006, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullseyebarb

We have peaceful demonstrations here all the time. But if you are going to behave like some British soccer fans on a weekend trip to Barcelona, then I think a little crowd control is definitely in order.

soccer?? do you mean football? a game in which the ball is played using the feet rather than standing around with it in your hands and throwing it!

behaving like british soccer fans? irish,english,welsh and scotish fans?.. I'm pretty sure Barcelona would rather have visiting british football fans than the USA bombing the sh** out of them