# bushblackout.com and Pals: What a bunch of losers. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817 "2005-01-20T23:38:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/1 "2005-01-20T23:38:18Z")
From [www.bushblackout.com](http://www.bushblackout.com). > [@](#): > > On January 20th, 2005, Millions of People around the World will protest the Inauguration of George W. Bush in one form or another. How will you make your voice heard? [BushBlackOut.com](http://BushBlackOut.com) is suggesting that you be heard through your silence by blacking out your website or blog for the day and displaying a short message of protest. What a bunch of losers. Well, maybe it’s just one loser. I don’t know. What do they hope to accomplish? Do they think Bush, Cheney and Rove are all sitting around shaking their fists at a monitor that’s displaying a message about protesting the inauguration, instead of the lyrics to to _Deep and Wide_\* like they were expecting? In the Other Protests section (left side of the site) there are a few links. They are worth a few laughs. The first one’s not that bad: > [@](#): > > sometimes you have an inauguration > not with the president you want, > but with the president > you have. > > may the next four years bring > peace, tolerance, and justice > to all americans and all of > the people of the world - > despite the odds. > from [http://www.black-thursday.com](http://www.black-thursday.com) The second one…oy, words fail me. > [@](#): > > There is no need to go to Washington DC on inauguration day, Thursday, January 20, 2005 to protest. Show your feelings by wearing black as a sign of mourning. > > Wear a black pin, ribbon or tie. Hang a black ribbon from you car antenna. > > […] > > Let’s make the politicians think twice about Blacktie parties in January. > > From [http://home.earthlink.net/~blackthursday](http://home.earthlink.net/~blackthursday) This one is one of the most inane things I’ve read in quite some time: > [@](#): > > Do not go to work. Call in sick, take a vacation day, or find another way to avoid work on that day. If you are a union member, ask your union to call a one day strike. If you are a business owner, close your business for the day and give your employees a holiday. > > Do not spend money. If you are American or live in a country that has participated in the war in Iraq, don’t spend any money on that day. The corporate economy that has supported this war needs to get a message. If you are from a country that has not participated in the war, do not buy American or other imported goods on that day, but only those made in your own country. > > From [www.left-turn.net/jan20/january20.html](http://www.left-turn.net/jan20/january20.html) Avoid work? Call a one day strike? Don’t spend money or buy American for _one_ day? Yeah, _that’s_ going to send a message alright. If you thought that one was funny, what until you see this site: > [@](#): > > During “Not One Damn Dime Day” please don’t spend money, and don’t use your credit card. Not one damn dime for gasoline. Not one damn dime for necessities or for impulse purchases. Nor toll/cab/bus or train ride money exchanges. Not one damn dime for anything for 24 hours. > > On “Not One Damn Dime Day,” please boycott Walmart, KMart and Target. Please don’t go to the mall or the local convenience store. Please don’t buy any fast food (or any groceries at all for that matter). > For 24 hours, please do what you can to shut the retail economy down. The object is simple. Remind the people in power that the war in Iraq is immoral and illegal; that they are responsible for starting it and that it is their responsibility to stop it. > > From [www.notonedamndime.com/boycott](http://www.notonedamndime.com/boycott) Yeesh. What are these people smoking? A one day boycott really doesn’t _do_ much, if anything. Thanks for the laughs, losers. \*They were arguing over whether is was a fountain flowing deep and wide or a river. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/2 "2005-01-20T23:50:21Z")
I am no bush fan, but I am just confused on what tactical advantage these lazy schmoes think they’ll achieve by doing . . . nothing? Anybody can do nothing, but it takes energy and effort to educate and inform people about the failures of Dubya’s policies. If this is the best the Dems can come up with, maybe we deserved to lose. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/3 "2005-01-20T23:55:22Z")
Before this dissolves into a Republican vs. Democrat thing, I don’t think it’s fair to paint Democrats with such a wide brush. I just think this is the best _these_ Democrats, assuming that’s their political affiliation, can come up with. The people in the link are the saddest kind of losers: the kind that think they’re actually making a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/4 "2005-01-21T00:14:48Z")
Hey! I wanted to look at…a website…or something…and I couldn’t. That _so_ makes me not like Bush. In the olden days, you had a sit-in protest which is a much more public and effective form of lazy protest. Now kids consider a successful protest not going to wal-mart or blacking our their blog for a day. :rolleyes: I think I’m going to protest their lame attempts at protest by having some ice cream and maybe taking a nap. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/5 "2005-01-21T00:18:03Z")
Oooooh, I got it. It’s _ **inactivism** _. Think of it as protesting for the terminally lazy (or comatose). ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/6 "2005-01-21T00:22:34Z")
I put it on my blog - why not. I got lots of friends and bridges and I dreally didn’t really want to really think about today. Really. I’m more pissed that the jackass who was supposed to buy our house kept me in town (so I couldn’t go to DC and protest) and then backed the fuck out. So I was kept in down for dick and shit. People need to feel as though they are doing something. Why not. It’s safe and won’t get their vehicles vandalized (much like bearing John Kerry stickers did to mine). Then when they see it didn’t do anything, they’ll give up and you win, or they’ll do more and your rant will look as stupid as you think _they_ look. Sounds like a fair trade to me. Good thing we’ve got a shred of freedom left to transact in such a way. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/7 "2005-01-21T00:32:31Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Oooooh, I got it. It’s _ **inactivism** _. Think of it as protesting for the terminally lazy (or comatose). Slacktavism! ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/8 "2005-01-21T00:33:44Z")
> [@UrbanChic](#): > > Before this dissolves into a Republican vs. Democrat thing, I don’t think it’s fair to paint Democrats with such a wide brush. I just think this is the best _these_ Democrats, assuming that’s their political affiliation, can come up with. > > The people in the link are the saddest kind of losers: the kind that think they’re actually making a difference. I think this is exactly right. I will say that what these particular guys are (not) doing is just fine, because whenever they actually _do_ something it ends up breaking some small businessperson’s storefront window in Seattle and causing tear gas to get all over the place. Happily, **gobear** , this isn’t the best the Democrats could come up with. Democrats went to the inauguration, smiled and sucked it up, and prepared to oppose the President the good old-fashioned way – in the legislature and at the ballot box in '06. As much as I’m enjoying the historionics of the PESTs here on the board and elsewhere today I have to admit that most Democrats remain sane and two-party democracy is doing just fine, Barbara Boxer notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/9 "2005-01-21T00:39:02Z")
**manhattan** wrote > [@](#): > > Barbara Boxer notwithstanding. And here I thought I was the only one she had foaming at the mouth. I wish **she’d** do nothing for just one day. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/10 "2005-01-21T00:45:28Z")
> [@Mynn](#): > > People need to feel as though they are doing something. Why not. It’s safe and won’t get their vehicles vandalized So it’s more important to feel like you’re doing something than it is to actually do something? This is what comes of all those educational programs aimed not at educating children but at making them feel good about themselves. Making a “protest” that doesn’t do a damn thing, and that nobody notices? Go for it! Hey, it makes you feel good, why not? To actually do something one would have to get off the couch and turn off the TV. Oy Vey! ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/11 "2005-01-21T00:46:08Z")
And here I was considering calling in sick to play World of Warcraft. I should have called in sick FOR GREAT JUSTICE. And then, incidentally, played WoW, seeing as how I’ve already paid for it and all. Only to fight the power, you understand. And, uh, what’s this about Boxer? I haven’t heard. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/12 "2005-01-21T00:53:27Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > And, uh, what’s this about Boxer? I haven’t heard. She’s a twit with a stick in her ass. She supported the challenge to Ohio’s electoral votes being certified, and carried on towards Condi Rice during confirmation hearings. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/13 "2005-01-21T01:00:47Z")
Yes, how _dare_ Barbara Boxer quote Rice’s own words back at her! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/14 "2005-01-21T01:04:16Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > She’s a twit with a stick in her ass. She supported the challenge to Ohio’s electoral votes being certified, and carried on towards Condi Rice during confirmation hearings. So people who don’t believe everything the pubbies hand down are twits? It’s good to see you have an open mind. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/15 "2005-01-21T01:04:46Z")
So is this thread representative of the Republican position on wanting to unify the nation rather than divide. As for Boxer, she had some crazy idea that Rice should be accountable to the Senate during her confirmation hearings. I guess Boxer didn’t hear Bush say that his administration is accountable to no one for their mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/16 "2005-01-21T01:08:54Z")
This thread is representative of _my_ position on the observation that the people at [bushblackout.com](http://bushblackout.com) and their supporters are ineffective, comical losers. I am a Republican, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/17 "2005-01-21T01:15:01Z")
Not exactly on point, I guess, but I thought it was amusing – The “crawl” thingy on CNN earlier noted that a poll showed that **49%** of Americans thought George Bush was divisive, and **49%** of Americans thought he was not. (2% were were undecided) “George Bush is Divisive!” “Is NOT!” “Is TOO!” “Is NOT!” Tee hee. Oh, well, I guess you had to be there… ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/18 "2005-01-21T01:19:45Z")
The [bushblackout.com](http://bushblackout.com) guys are sad and deluded. Barbara Boxer rules. It’s nice to see there are still a few Democrats with spines out there, even if they do make Republicans mad. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/19 "2005-01-21T01:27:42Z")
How should a protest be effective? Short of violent revolution, we of the Loyal Opposition have only limited venues. Which is, for the most part, as it should be. The purpose of protest then becomes echoing, calling out to each other to affirm unity and solidarity. The method doesn’t matter, though I personally prefer the witty and the puckish, and we have plenty of targets. A target rich environment, yes, indeedy! The Tighty Rightys want to pretend that they have solidified some thundering mandate, even as they twitch nervously every time another poll comes out. A 50 percent approval rate is definitely short on magic. So they get pissed when we remind them of the obvious. Tough noogies. We tried to tell you, you wouldn’t listen, and it’s all yours now. You bought the lies, and the truth was right in front of your face. I see no reason at all why we should let you forget it. So this particular form of protest is kinda lame? Stick around, we got more. How long, do you think, before he hits 40% approval? How low can he go? And what can he accomplish when Repub congresscritters start to display the behavior common to rodents in nautical emergencys? So anyway, you don’t like it, you can always bitch. Music to my ears, truth be told. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/20 "2005-01-21T01:29:35Z")
I don’t undertand why they’re losers or why this is so bad. Bush will be president again, they really don’t like it, and they’re exercising their rights as Americans citizens to engage in non-violent protest. I mean, damn, they’re not even snarling traffic! Remind me exactly what the problem is with attempting to make one’s voice heard? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817.md?page=2)