Quote:Bush Robot Debuts at Disney Theme Park in Floria
Mon Feb 18, 4:21 PM ET
By Broward Liston

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) was given a place in a pantheon of sorts on Monday as the Walt Disney World theme park dedicated a robotic replica of the U.S. president.

The Bush robot, whose inspiration is now on an Asian tour, took its place at Disney's Hall of Presidents attraction among a robotic roster of 42 chief executives dating back to George Washington. The unveiling came on the Presidents Day U.S. holiday.

The robotic pols -- which Disney describe as Animatronic -- move and turn, occasionally rising to their feet and sometimes speaking, to audiences in a patriotic tableau conceived by the late Walt Disney.

Richard Nixon was president when Disney World in central Florida opened, and each new president since has been added to the exhibit.

But only newer presidents Bill Clinton and Bush have been allowed to speak, though the Clinton robot has been silenced by the attraction's organizers.

"It took awhile for the technology to get good enough," said Patrick Brennan, Disney World's director for show design.

"After all, nobody today really knows what Lincoln sounded like or how he moved. But our current presidents we see on television every day, so it's harder to make them believable."

The hardest part is not the eyes or mouth, but getting the body movements aligned with the voice, Brennan said.

AUDIENCES KNOW RIGHT AWAY

People may not think a great deal about how Bush or Clinton move their hands or tilt their heads while speaking, but audiences know right away when it isn't right, according to Brennan.

For the robotic Bush's head, Disney lured one of its master artisans out of retirement, 81-year-old George Blaine, just as they have for every president since Ronald Reagan (news - web sites). Blaine worked with Walt Disney on the original exhibit.

The attraction captures each at the time of his first inauguration, when public trust has not been disturbed by scandal or disappointment.

So Robo-Clinton never had to explain Monica Lewinsky and Robo-Bush does not have to explain why his definition of an axis of nations differs from the dictionary definition.

In fact, Robo-Bush was perfect in his delivery on Monday.

The real President Bush has not always been so lucky. Earlier Monday, on an Asian tour, he briefly rattled the Japanese yen on foreign exchange markets when he confused the words "devaluation" and "deflation." (Just like the real guy!! )

The speech delivered by the Disney Bush was recorded by the real president in the Oval Office last year. The flag pin he wears is a replica of the one Bush wore in his post-Sept. 11 speech when he urged the nation to return to it normal ways with the words "Go to Disney World." (that is wrong but not surprising)

Disney officials said that no former president has ever seen his piston-and-pulley alter ego, though many of the First Ladies have. Rosalyn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, did not like the suit her robot husband wore, so she sent a new one. Walt Disney

Keyser Soze Wrote:The talent in this place is astounding.