Bush Shticks is a series of sculptures created in 2007. Each piece is a bush or tree branch, sanded, and painted white, with President Bush quotes written on it. Some quotes are altered, and some are straight. The text on each stick can be read by spinning the stick around and around. I made about 50 of these over the summer of 2007, and most of them were self distributed around downtown Roanoke, Va. as unauthorized public art, and others were given away to friends..

The following paragraphs are the source material for the text printed on the sticks …

See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda. I also believe that I said, well, It’s an important concept for people to understand. “All Drunks Are Welcome” and I choose the United States of America to be a forced to choose faith-based provider of death. I don’t know where bin Laden is. I think we’re in good shape, I really do. And, if not, we’ll own people. Or we’ll never stop thinking of new ways to harm our country and our people.. I mean bin Laden. I reject people who practice the Muslim faith. Some people call you the elite, I call you  The California White House. And by your sacrifice, you’re not making enough power to power the power of the apparatus of terror. The Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal another Dick Cheney. Of course we’re after Iraq.. eh.. Saddam Hussein.. I mean bin Laden. It’s not that important. The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. Uhh Gosh, I.. worried about Osama bin Laden ? I.. don’t think I ever said I’m , uhh, Of course we’re after Iraq.. eh.. Saddam Hussein.. I mean bin Laden.

This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by the White House. I don’t think our troops are making our country more secure. We will be changing the regime of Iraq into a massive war machine. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve got to consult my lawyer … because I have no idea and really don’t care. So I don’t worry about those, uhh, exaggerations. I’ve made up propaganda. I also made up things over and over and over again. This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack California is simply ridiculous. I reject that strongly. There’s a lot of terrorist killings. It’s not that important. I was president … obviously, prior to his death. This is an impressive crowd, Jordan and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the haves and the have 9/11 attacks. Uhh Gosh, I.. don’t think I ever said I’m able to pass a literacy test. And having said that, I drink too much and I have no idea and really don’t care. And I said, well, I remember in the debates they wanted the first war of the 21st century to be in the course of a presidential campaign. I believe that people whose skins aren’t white can’t restore honor and dignity to the White House. I’ve got to consult my lawyer. Then I won’t have to do anything. Thank you. Now watch this drive.

A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there’s no question about it. Just so long as I’m the dictator. America stands for an oligarchical regime, for the pursuit of profits and for the unalienable right for globalization. This right to American hegemony cannot be granted or denied by the creator of life because it does not come from God, it comes from a mushroom cloud. America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our plutocracy. Do I think the murder of the innocent will be an important part of being a good president? Yes, I do. Everywhere that democracy stirs, let freedom fear America. For all who love freedom and peace, a world without Dick Cheney is a better and safer place. I believe in the transformational power of preemptive war. I believe that possessing oil in Iraq is in this nation’s interests. I believe that controlling the heroin trade from Afghanistan is in this nation’s interest. I believe that God has planted poppies in Afghanistan, and with the help of the CIA, heroin will cross every border and touch every heart in every nation. I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we’re really talking about profits. I sent American troops to Iraq to make money, not to make Iraqis free.  Iraqi freedom is a diversion. It is a place where American hegemony is taking a decisive stand against freedom and democracy, we must not waver. It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil profits. More and more of our wealth comes from world domination. The momentum of our unchallengeable power in our world is unmistakable. The resolve of our greedy nation is being tested. But make no mistake, we will show the world that we will pass the test. The story of America is the story of expanding the tentacles of control: an ever-widening circle, constantly growing to reach further and include more. Our nation’s founding commitment is still our deepest commitment: In our world, and here at home, we will extend the frontiers of economic control. The wisest use of American strength is to advance elitist privilege. God bless American interest.

There are no longer torture chambers or rape rooms or mass graves in the White House. So I don’t worry about that, and the American people shouldn’t worry about that either. That’s an important concept for people to understand. I believe the most solemn duty of the American president is to distract the American people, while I build up a massive war machine. I don’t think our troops should be used for what’s called “defending America”. In the first war of the 21st century, we’re defending Wall street against enemies. We will be changing the regime of Iraq for the good of the foreign investors. It’s time to restore honor and dignity to the corporate criminals. Some people call you ruthless capitalist, I call you my elite base. We’re pursuing a strategy of American hegemony around the world, because I understand third world countries will reject globalization. Third world countries will fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the American people. Third world countries will help us achieve the profits we all want. We’ve climbed the mighty mountain of expanding markets. I see the valley below, and it’s a valley of manufactured wants and needs. There’s no bigger task than providing the homeland of our country a surplus of worthless mind-numbing products. Do not terrorize yourself with thinking about what I’m doing, relax  by watching and voting for American Idol.  I believe the most solemn duty of the American people is to watch American Idol. If America Idol keeps Americans occupied, then they will pay less attention to what my administration is doing. This administration will never be intimidated by an informed citizenry. This will not happen on my watch. But, if you must become informed, watch Fox News. For my administration to be effective, the flow of information must be controlled – and no one can now doubt the word of Fox News. Hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the terrorism of war. By bringing violence to the oppressed, and delivering bombs to the hopeless, they are making American economic interest more secure. God Bless American Idol. Thank you. Now watch this drive.

When I take action, I’m going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It’s going to be decisive. Well, I think if you say you’re going to do something and don’t do it, that’s trustworthiness. You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on. I will never relent in fooling Americans. The action we take and the decisions we make will make the world drift toward tragedy. The thing that’s wrong with my administration is that there’s a certain level of blood lust. I’m a homicidal dictator who is addicted to wealth and power. We know that dictators are quick to choose aggression, while free nations strive to resolve differences in peace. There can be no peace if our security depends on the will and whims of a ruthless and aggressive dictator. Peace will not happen on my watch. I’m a war president. You can’t win a war if you don’t believe in fighting. Trust me. Our Nation must defend the sanctity of weapons of mass destruction. My way of life is worth defending. I’m not willing to stake my privileged life style on trusting God or the principles of somebody’s moral beliefs. I believe in preserving executive powers for myself  … and for Dick Cheney, of course. I hope one day I can clone another Dick Cheney. Then I won’t have to do anything. I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together. I understand everybody in this country doesn’t agree with the decisions I’ve made, and I don’t care. I’m the all-powerful ruler of the United States of America, and I will use power to hurt weak people, and make more money for the wealthy that have suffered from unfair taxes. Any government that supports, protects or harbors weak people cannot dent the steel of American resolve. Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called “walking”, but is just arrogance to the rest of the world.  The true history of my administration will be written 50 years from now, and, thank God,  I will not be around to see it.