# Bush Segway Fun!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 13, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569 "2003-06-13T14:36:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jb\_007clone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@jb\_007clone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_007clone)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/1 "2003-06-13T14:36:43Z")
This is beyond weird: From [CNN.COM](http://CNN.COM) [http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/13/bush.weekend.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/13/bush.weekend.ap/index.html) > [@](#): > > The president was still clutching the racket when he boarded a Segway, a standup, motorized scooter that resembles a push lawnmower. The Segway went down on Bush’s first attempt, but he stayed on his feet with a flying leap over the machine. Undeterred, he got on again. His father climbed on a second Segway and they cruised around the driveway at the estate at Walker’s Point. What’s next, a skateboard? 🙂 Although segways are pretty geeky looking, I think it would be fun to try one. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/2 "2003-06-13T14:49:33Z")
Secret Service agents successfully wrestled the Segway to the ground… ---
**Author:** ![jb\_007clone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@jb\_007clone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_007clone)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/3 "2003-06-13T15:02:08Z")
Ha! Really though, can you imagine the president riding around on one of those things?!? It’s like Dr. Evil on his motorized cart. Pure Gold! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/4 "2003-06-13T15:06:45Z")
Please tell me there are pictures. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/5 "2003-06-13T15:08:05Z")
Nevermind. The link finally worked for me. Stupid slow connection. ---
**Author:** ![jb\_007clone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@jb\_007clone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_007clone)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/6 "2003-06-13T15:12:25Z")
I wish there was a big, clear picture of him riding. I would put it on my desktop. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/7 "2003-06-13T15:21:38Z")
Man. Heads have got to be rolling at the Segway factory today… ---
**Author:** ![jb\_007clone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@jb\_007clone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_007clone)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/8 "2003-06-13T15:36:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Man. Heads have got to be rolling at the Segway factory today… Ha! Yeah, I thought one of the good things about those was that you weren’t supposed to be able to fall! ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/9 "2003-06-13T17:08:09Z")
Vancouver’s mayor took one out earlier this week-- and smashed into a wall. He failed to fall off, however. Falling off a Segway takes _work_. ---
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/10 "2003-06-13T17:13:12Z")
There ARE pictures. Right here: [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1756&e=2&u=/030612/168/4do5k.html](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1756&e=2&u=/030612/168/4do5k.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/11 "2003-06-13T18:08:54Z")
It kind of looks to me like the Segway’s handlebars crashed to the ground before he had properly gotten on, so technically he didn’t have a chance to fall off. Maybe he didn’t get a good enough grip to begin with. And frankly, that was a good jump and his knees never touched the ground. ---
**Author:** ![jb\_007clone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@jb\_007clone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_007clone)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/12 "2003-06-13T18:42:40Z")
I think they should have an official presidential one so he can just tool around the white house on it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Brian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c89c15/32.png) [@I\_Brian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Brian)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/13 "2003-06-13T19:23:48Z")
> [@](#): > > The Segway went down on Bush’s first attempt, Clinton got Monica to do that. And Bush had to get a Segway to do it? Can’t he do anything right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/14 "2003-06-13T20:08:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jb\_007clone \* > \*\*I think they should have an official presidential one so he can just tool around the white house on it. \*\* Make Dick Cheney use a pogo stick Condi can be on roller skates All diplomats visiting the White House must jump through the Hoop of Death before entering the Oval Office 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/15 "2003-06-13T21:26:03Z")
> [@](#): > > It is perfectly balanced by gyroscopes and is practically idiot proof. –_State Rep. Toni Boucher ®_, [posted on the GOP website](http://www.housegop.state.ct.us/pressrel/Boucher/2002/press143f.htm). How long does he have to revise his opinion? (hee hee) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/16 "2003-06-13T21:29:13Z")
Um, that is, how long does _she_ have to revise _her_ opinion? (stupid subliminal-sexist-assumption-making toni-morrison-lovin’ mudd) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/17 "2003-06-13T21:49:09Z")
> [@](#): > > His father climbed on a second Segway and they cruised around the driveway at the estate at Walker’s Point. George 41 is cooler than George 43. Just wanted to share that. Definitely, they are gonna HAVE to produce a Presidential Segway. And of course, it’s only a matter of time 'til they have to cover the things in warning stickers and add an automatically-deploying “topple bar”. Dr. Rice on roller skates? …maybe in-lines. I can see that. Don Rumsfeld and Colin Powell would have to figure who gets the skateboard and who gets the BMX bike. ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/18 "2003-06-13T22:45:32Z")
Ok, so I gotta chime on this. There’s a REASON Duh-bya fell off the thing. Yes it’s ‘impossible’ to fall off of. Yes this is because of the gyroscopes in it. Are you aware, as the President apparently wasn’t, that this only works when the thing is POWERED UP. It has to be turned on and warmed up before it can hold itself (and its rider) upright. So the President tried to stand on top of an unbalanced piece of plastic, not an actual functioning Segway in working order. It was turned off. It couldn’t have fallen over like that without some SERIOUS effort on the part of Mr. Shrubbery. I think it’s funny. But it’s also scary. Our PRESIDENT, the guy in charge of the entire planet, pretty much, doesn’t bother learning how something works before trying to use it? :::shudder::: Then, on top of that, he wasn’t the only one there. SOMEONE gave him that scooter and let him use it. Why didn’t they turn it on for him? Not that I would have either, but there’s obviously much to this story that’s not being reported. Surprise surprise. Gotta go, jackbooted thugs at the door again. q;} ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/19 "2003-06-13T22:47:40Z")
er… 'It couldn’t have fallen over like that…" IF it had been powered up. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569/20 "2003-06-14T00:56:35Z")
AOL is using the photo of Dubya in mid-tumble as its welcome screen pic this evening. 😃 Oddly, the caption and news link has nothing to do with the incident. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-segway-fun/181569.md?page=2)