[A-List] Market forces at work, heartland speaks

["Anne Williamson" <annewilliamson@xxxxxxx>]

Americans turn their backs on unknown ally
The Times (U.K.) | 04/17/2002



An American toy company that makes action figures has failed to sell a
single Tony Blair doll, while its Osama bin Laden and George W. Bush lines
are selling fast.
The "fully poseable" figure of the Prime Minister is wearing an
unmistakeable grin and is dressed in a khaki combat jacket, boots and
outsized shorts, held up by a military belt.

The doll is called "The Ally" and is intended either for patriotic
collectors or as a toy for children.

The President Bush doll looks slightly bewildered in a navy jumpsuit, while
the bin Laden figure is dressed in full camouflage uniform. There is also a
doll of Rudolph Giuliani, former Mayor of New York, called "The Rock".

While it seems that boys are happy to have President Bush and the world's
most wanted terrorist in their toybox, they appear to have no desire to
allow Mr Blair join in. The Blair doll has been on the market for six weeks.

Trying to shift the large stock of unwanted Blair dolls is not the only
problem for the company.

The White House is investigating whether the image of the President, which
can also be dressed in a tutu, offends strict guidelines on how the American
head of state is portrayed.





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1 posted on 4/16/02 5:50 PM Pacific by Pokey78
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Screwed up the pic.




2 posted on 4/16/02 5:53 PM Pacific by Pokey78
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To: Pokey78

That doesn't look like Tony Blair, it looks like Regis!


3 posted on 4/16/02 5:54 PM Pacific by ContentiousObjector
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To: Pokey78

I want a Fisk doll. Complete with bandages.


4 posted on 4/16/02 5:56 PM Pacific by aculeus
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To: Pokey78

Not to downplay the Special Relationship, but I seriously doubt that more
than one American child in a thousand has ever heard of Tony Blair.


5 posted on 4/16/02 5:57 PM Pacific by Cicero
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To: Pokey78

What "strict guidelines" about how the American head of state can be
potrayed? Apparently these folks don't know about the First Amendment,
haven't listened to irreverent talk radio, or seen Saturday Night Live. They
have too much starch in the collar. Sheesh.


6 posted on 4/16/02 6:06 PM Pacific by Draco
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To: Pokey78

I would advise Tony Blair to buy up the entire inventory of these ridiculous
"action figures" so children can't be frightened by them. My God, why are
his hands shaped like that?


7 posted on 4/16/02 6:13 PM Pacific by wimpycat
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To: aculeus




8 posted on 4/16/02 6:13 PM Pacific by Pokey78
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To: wimpycat

I want to know why he is wearing kneesocks.

a.cricket


9 posted on 4/16/02 6:40 PM Pacific by another cricket
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To: Pokey78

 offends strict guidelines on how the
American head of state is portrayed.

What piffle.  Clinton's portrayal
of the office took 'offensive'
into a full-nelson and bounced it
off the turn-buckle.  And he didn't
even get a traffic ticket.


10 posted on 4/16/02 7:06 PM Pacific by gcruse
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