With the exception of Gearald Ford's, every presidential arrival is staged. Gerry just tripped and fell down too often to be staged.   Bill clinton walking on Normandy beach and arranging nearby stones in a cross was staged. I don't care that George Jet landed on a carrier, so what. He has done more thsan enough questionable things for this little bit of showmanship to raise anyones ire.

Fact of the matter is until recently the Democrats have playe the publicity game better than the clueless Republicans. Now the Democrats(Of which I am one) couldn't organize a mudpuddle and build it under budget. And the Republicans are showing a solid political front and getting their agenda out, looking solid, while the Dems are fractured and divided. I think we'll be under the Republican thumb for several years to come and losing civilrights every step of the way. Not because they are the better choice philosophically. But because the two parties are reacting in such a polarized fashion that there is no allowable middle ground out of which a decent functional compromize can be developed.

These two groups remind me of the southern steel industry in the 60's.
The foundry owners and the unions couldn't agree on a wage and benefit plan so between the two of them the plants either were struck out of existence or the plant just decided to close rather than give anyone a break. Whole communites were dismantled and cities where depressed and jobless for years as a result.

Don