# Booing the President **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 31, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393 "2008-03-31T16:23:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/1 "2008-03-31T16:23:12Z")
President Bush was booed loudly at the Washington Nationals game last night when he threw out the first pitch. Should people boo the president at these types of events? He is actually in his role of Chief of State. While Bush as president is certainly worthy of jeers, the United States probably isn’t worth of such treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/2 "2008-03-31T16:26:39Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] President Bush was booed loudly at the Washington Nationals game last night when he threw out the first pitch. Should people boo the president at these types of events? He is actually in his role of Chief of State. While Bush as president is certainly worthy of jeers, the United States probably isn’t worth of such treatment. [/QUOTE] I’m sure even Dubya himself would tell you its a free country and people can boo him if they like, that’s what makes America great, etc. I’m kind of surprised he would have the chutzpah to go out there given the current clime- surely he know even in DC he’d get booed? I don’t get the part about the US not being worthy of such treatment- they were booing Dubya, period. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/3 "2008-03-31T16:33:13Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I’m sure even Dubya himself would tell you its a free country and people can boo him if they like, that’s what makes America great, etc. [/quote] I doubt it; he’s gone out of his way to keep anyone who won’t cheer him far out of his hearing. [QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I’m kind of surprised he would have the chutzpah to go out there given the current clime- surely he know even in DC he’d get booed? [/quote] I doubt he has a clue about how people feel about him. He doesn’t talk to normal people who haven’t been vetted as Bush supporters, he surrounds himself with yes-men, he doesn’t read newspapers or watch the news. He’s the Bubble President. As far as the OP goes, yes he should be booed if that’s how people feel about him. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/4 "2008-03-31T16:34:54Z")
I don’t get why the U.S. itself is being dragged into this. Didn’t the whole “L’État, c’est moi” thing go out of fashion some time ago? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/5 "2008-03-31T16:35:25Z")
The president is not the country. “Boo” away. We often idoloze our chief executive far more than we should, and far more than is really healthy for a democracy. Luckily, there’s no chance for that with Dubya. ---
**Author:** ![Anomalous\_Reading](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Anomalous\_Reading](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomalous_Reading)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/6 "2008-03-31T17:42:29Z")
At times, the most patriotic response, imo, IS to boo someone in government. Blind respect due to the “office” of the person… bothers me. And makes gods of mortals. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/7 "2008-03-31T17:48:55Z")
They weren’t booing him. They were saying Boo-ush! Boo-ush! At least that is what his handlers will tell him. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/8 "2008-03-31T17:55:29Z")
[QUOTE=RedSwinglineOne] They weren’t booing him. They were saying Boo-ush! Boo-ush! At least that is what his handlers will tell him. [/QUOTE] 😃 Yup. Born on third base and he thinks he hit a triple. What finer venue than a baseball game to give him the old raspberry? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/9 "2008-03-31T18:03:20Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I don’t get why the U.S. itself is being dragged into this. Didn’t the whole “L’État, c’est moi” thing go out of fashion some time ago? [/QUOTE] Nevertheless, the head of state is considered the embodiment of the state. Could you boo Elizabeth II without booing her various kingdoms? (Arguably you could, but the question would not be irrelevant.) ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/10 "2008-03-31T18:11:33Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] President Bush was booed loudly at the Washington Nationals game last night when he threw out the first pitch. Should people boo the president at these types of events? He is actually in his role of Chief of State. While Bush as president is certainly worthy of jeers, the United States probably isn’t worth of such treatment. [/QUOTE] Hey, if the day ever comes when we can’t boo the President, it’s not America any more. I recall reading that the thunderous, seemingly never-ending applause that Stalin got at the end of his speeches was due to the fact that the first person to stop applauding was likely to be arrested and sent to the gulags. So, no, I don’t like seeing the President booed. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/11 "2008-03-31T18:17:31Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Nevertheless, the head of state is considered the embodiment of the state. Could you boo Elizabeth II without booing her various kingdoms? (Arguably you could, but the question would not be irrelevant.) [/QUOTE] As the Q of E is merely a figurehead without real political power, I don’t think the same principle applies. In that case, you’d be showing disrespect to the nation itself, not simply to a powerful figure who’s screwed up just about everything he’s touched and doesn’t seem to have learned anything from any of his mistakes. Wouldn’t you agree that booing the PM under the same circumstances would be appropriate? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/12 "2008-03-31T18:26:07Z")
[QUOTE=LonesomePolecat] Wouldn’t you agree that booing the PM under the same circumstances would be appropriate? [/QUOTE] I still think booing **Bush** under **these** circumstances was appropriate, I was merely acknowledging the other side of the argument. The concern would not apply to a PM, who is a head of government, not a head of state with all the symbolic baggage that carries; but the POTUS is both at once. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/13 "2008-03-31T18:33:58Z")
Honesly, When I saw that it made me feel uncomfortable. I think Bush deserves a lot of things in this world, but I just don’t feel that this was appropriate. I don’t like the guy’s policies one bit, nor do I like anything about his Presidency, but the guy is going out there as a baseball fan. On the other hand, I don’t feel that Bush ought to be going out and doing these things as an unpopular President. He made his choices and America has their opinion of them. We ought to be well-aware of our feelings for each other. Think about it. Who was booing? I doubt it would be people who simply “disapprove” of Bush’s policies. This was a sizable percentage of people. I believe that Bush is simply a lame duck these days. His approval ratings are so low that he can’t get much done. We won’t impeach him because we don’t feel like it would be of any benefit to the country as a whole. The democrats can block him in the Legislature. Ever notice that anytime Bush says anything these days people simply don’t believe it? It’s a symptom of that. Really Bush ought to be waiting out his term and trying to do some good with what power he has left. Really, time heals all wounds. If he spends his post-presidential life in a generally positive role, then he won’t go down in history so badly. And by the way, he is going to be around for a LONG time. He’s 61, and his dad and mom are both still alive. But I felt bad for the guy…He is human after all. ---
**Author:** ![Anomalous\_Reading](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Anomalous\_Reading](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomalous_Reading)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/14 "2008-03-31T18:40:48Z")
[QUOTE=Merkwurdigliebe] Honesly, When I saw that it made me feel uncomfortable. I think Bush deserves a lot of things in this world, but I just don’t feel that this was appropriate. I don’t like the guy’s policies one bit, nor do I like anything about his Presidency, but the guy is going out there as a baseball fan. On the other hand, I don’t feel that Bush ought to be going out and doing these things as an unpopular President. He made his choices and America has their opinion of them. We ought to be well-aware of our feelings for each other. Think about it. Who was booing? I doubt it would be people who simply “disapprove” of Bush’s policies. This was a sizable percentage of people. I believe that Bush is simply a lame duck these days. His approval ratings are so low that he can’t get much done. We won’t impeach him because we don’t feel like it would be of any benefit to the country as a whole. The democrats can block him in the Legislature. Ever notice that anytime Bush says anything these days people simply don’t believe it? It’s a symptom of that. Really Bush ought to be waiting out his term and trying to do some good with what power he has left. Really, time heals all wounds. If he spends his post-presidential life in a generally positive role, then he won’t go down in history so badly. And by the way, he is going to be around for a LONG time. He’s 61, and his dad and mom are both still alive. But I felt bad for the guy…He is human after all. [/QUOTE] When his VP goes out and says “So?” when asked about the fact that America (as a general rule) does not support the Iraq war… When he continuously flaunts the will of the people on his way to help his buddies… (If only I had no moral qualms with buying some Haliburton and Exxon stock upon hearing Cheney would be his VP)… When he decides how we as a nation… don’t matter… then how he feels - becomes, to my thinking, abundantly irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/15 "2008-03-31T18:43:17Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] I doubt it; he’s gone out of his way to keep anyone who won’t cheer him far out of his hearing. [/QUOTE] Exactly! Given that he’s gone to such great lengths insulating himself from any voices of real public dissension, opposition, and dissatisfaction, this was one of the few true opportunities that the American public–in all its varied splendor–could provide him with some very vocal feedback. Of course, I don’t think his feelings were hurt because he long ago stopped caring what anybody thought of him that didn’t agree with him 100%. Fucker. I would’ve booed too. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/16 "2008-03-31T18:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] surely he know even in DC he’d get booed? [/QUOTE] **Even** in DC? Dude, DC is like 80% Democrat. 😛 And he deserved to be booed, if not as President, as the former owner of the Rangers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anomalous\_Reading](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Anomalous\_Reading](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anomalous_Reading)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/17 "2008-03-31T18:54:01Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] And he deserved to be booed, if not as President, as the former owner of the Rangers. 😃 [/QUOTE] Agreed. But he did what he was supposed to do… he got them a [gov’t sponsored new stadium.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangers_Ballpark_in_Arlington) Very nice stadium - even if the team will never be a huge draw. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/18 "2008-03-31T18:55:25Z")
He is so well shielded from the truth that opportunities are rare . I would have booed him . ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/19 "2008-03-31T18:57:07Z")
[QUOTE=Anomalous Reading] When his VP goes out and says “So?” when asked about the fact that America (as a general rule) does not support the Iraq war… When he continuously flaunts the will of the people on his way to help his buddies… (If only I had no moral qualms with buying some Haliburton and Exxon stock upon hearing Cheney would be his VP)… When he decides how we as a nation… don’t matter… then how he feels - becomes, to my thinking, abundantly irrelevant. [/QUOTE] Yes I realize that. Look, I don’t like any of them either. It’s just that one of the few moments that he’s not being a dick, he gets booed. I’d prefer it if he got booed when he was pulling the horseshit he normally does, but i guess it’s the only chance people had to boo him ever so thats the way it goes. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393/20 "2008-03-31T18:59:55Z")
[QUOTE=Anomalous Reading] When he continuously flaunts the will of the people on his way to help his buddies… [/QUOTE] Nitpick: He’s flouting the will of the people, not flaunting it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booing-the-president/443393.md?page=2)