here's a question: why does this photo exist? who took it? how did they get it as bush was being told?

I dont know but i can only imagine that Bush is thinking "O Rly?"

i've just always been like 'is this thing staged?'

it's like the iwo jima picture.

Bush was at a photo op at a an elementary school in Florida when he was informed of the 9/11 attacks. There were a dozen photgraphers in teh room.

i guess they let AP photographers into those things. i thought usually there's just white house press photos at such a small event -- like in a classroom.

anyway, most of the news channels are replaying their coverage on monday. really, really odd.

*fixed

The ratings should be awesome!

Yup, the whole plot has begun. What is being whispered in the President's ear is - "Mr. President, Operation Attack Ourselves has commenced. Look bewildered and sad."

iwo jima wasn't staged. i was implying this photo was perfect like that one.

i've always just wondered how they got such a perfect shot.

The Marines did actually do that at Iwo Jima, but then the photographer had them undo it and do it again so that he could get a shot.

On Feb. 19, 1945, 30,000 Marines landed on the southeast coast. Mount Suribachi, at 546 feet the highest point on the island, took four days for the troops to scale. In all, more than 6,800 U.S. servicemen died in the five-week battle for the island, and the 21,000-man Japanese defense force was virtually wiped out.

Ten years after the flag-raising, Rosenthal wrote that he almost didn't go up to the summit when he learned a flag had already been raised. He decided to up anyway, and found servicemen preparing to put up the second, larger flag.

"Out of the corner of my eye, I had seen the men start the flag up. I swung my camera and shot the scene. That is how the picture was taken, and when you take a picture like that, you don't come away saying you got a great shot. You don't know."

And 7 full minutes of presidental leadership and influential action ensued.

I don't believe him.

a buddy of mine told me the other night that cnn was replaying their coverage from 9/11 all day tomorrow. it blows my mind that anyone would think this is a good idea.

they all are starting at 8:30 am ET.

cbs is playing a fucking harrowing special on 9/11. jesus man. footage from inside the building. some guy seeing people on fire and turning his camera away.

I'm not watching it. I just really don't feel it is necessary.

people have already told me they're going to watch it on an emotional basis; i say fuck that.