# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lodoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@Jeff\_Lodoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lodoen)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/41 "2005-01-21T06:04:29Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > Let’s have that [confirmation transcript](http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7750.htm), shall we? > > _reads_ > > Right, well I’ll be voting for Boxer again next term. What’s that, you said she has a stick in her ass? I guess I must have one in mine too then. Darn. Big whoop, we all know the seat is hers for life. The Republicans nominated an opponent but he didn’t even campaign! ---
**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, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/42 "2005-01-21T06:07:44Z")
> [@Jeff Lodoen](#): > > Big whoop, we all know the seat is hers for life. > > The Republicans nominated an opponent but he didn’t even campaign! That’s because she rules. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/43 "2005-01-21T06:37:24Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > Protests? Bah, not necessary. Smart people work on getting their candidates elected. Which is something even the most amusing bongo playing cannot accomplish. Not true! My wicked bongo playing got Gray Davis elected Governor. Twice!! But then I sprained my wrist and he got recalled. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/44 "2005-01-21T06:41:06Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Not true! My wicked bongo playing got Gray Davis elected Governor. Twice!! > > But then I sprained my wrist and he got recalled. Well, obviously **milroyj** wasn’t talking about **The Lone Bongo-Player of the Apocalypse**. Sheesh! ---
**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, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/45 "2005-01-21T06:47:33Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > …But then I sprained my wrist and he got recalled. So, _you’re_ the white guy with the dreadlocks got 'em all so upset! Hey, thanks! ---
**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, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/46 "2005-01-21T07:22:31Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > . And where there are large gatherings of the grubby folk, there is sure to be bongo abuse and dancing aplently. Melpomone and Terpsichore might be of the opinion that you’re a clod without an understanding of soul. You’d probably dismiss them as dirty hippes. All would go on their way totally satisfied. Thus is balance maintained. > [@Brutus](#): > > Now, I won’t ask what these scalliwags planned to accomplish with their little gathering. Who knows, maybe they expected Dubya to turn down the job? Of course not. They planned on taking up piracy on the high seas and becoming rapscalions. This was just their scalliwag initation rite. > [@Brutus](#): > > What I will ask: Why do [large] protests invariably include that most portable of percussion instruments? I wonder, if I were trying to sell newpapers or get ratings, would I show the tame pictures, or try to find the most outrageous? Lemme think… I could ask you, just as easy, how inevitably a [large] group of old rich folk includes some guy who’s got a trophy wife and cheats on her, too. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/47 "2005-01-21T08:27:02Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Melpomone and Terpsichore might be of the opinion that you’re a clod without an understanding of soul. You’d probably dismiss them as dirty hippes… What was that? I was jamming some [BONGO FURY!](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000009SO/qid=1106296247/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5370267-5745449?v=glance&s=music) on the stereo and doing an interpretive dance of counter-terrorism in my basement. Only time will tell if mine was the correct course of action, but I have a good feeling about this… > [@](#): > > I wonder, if I were trying to sell newpapers or get ratings, would I show the tame pictures, or try to find the most outrageous? Lemme think… Come on, if silly carnival-like ‘protests’ sold ideas, there would be precisely one Republican left in America, and he would be begging for asylum in Cuba. > [@](#): > > I could ask you, just as easy, how inevitably a [large] group of old rich folk includes some guy who’s got a trophy wife and cheats on her, too. Because he wants to and he can, of course. Doesn’t make it right in that case either, though. ---
**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, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/48 "2005-01-21T09:03:31Z")
> [@sturmhauke](#): > > Let’s have that [confirmation transcript](http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article7750.htm), shall we? > > _reads_ > > Right, well I’ll be voting for Boxer again next term. What’s that, you said she has a stick in her ass? I guess I must have one in mine too then. Darn. My comment about Boxer had it’s foundation in two places. First, on the day following the election, Mr. Kerry had a choice to make. He could contest the results of the Ohio polls, or concede the race. To his credit, he did the math, and in conceding, behaved as a gentleman. I do recall him urging his supporters to abide by his decision. When the day came to record/certify the electoral votes, Mr. Kerry’s words were disregarded by not just one member of congress, but Ms. Boxer co-sponsored the challenge. It smacked of grandstanding, IMO. Fast forward to Dr. Rice’s confirmation hearing. Mr. Kerry asked some hard questions, and voted against Dr. Rice, but he did so in a manner befitting a _gentleman_. Listening to the clips from NPR, I was offended by the tone of address employed by Ms. Boxer, and one news article used the word “abrasive” in describing her candor towards Dr. Rice. I’m not condemning her questions, I’m condemning her conduct. You’ve probably been told that it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it, and that, in a nutshell is what drew my summary of the California Senator. ---
**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, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/49 "2005-01-21T09:49:06Z")
OK, well I don’t know how she sounded so I can’t really comment on that. You know where I can get audio? ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/50 "2005-01-21T09:51:12Z")
_Music and poetry is his delight; Therefore I’ll have Italian masques by night, Sweet speeches, comedies, and soft bongos; And in the day, when he shall walk abroad, Like sylvan nymphs my pages shall be clad; My men, like satyrs grazing on the lawns, Shall with their goat-feet dance an antic hay._ Yes? No? … Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/51 "2005-01-21T10:00:27Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > I find images of grubby hippies banging their bongos endlessly amusing. Sure, it’s not Shakespeare … bongo abuse and dancing aplently. Slander rebuttal aside, that Senator Boxer is a credit to your nation. ---
**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, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/52 "2005-01-21T10:25:19Z")
**Brutus** , I think you’re right and wrong. You’re certainly right that a group of well dressed, or even normally dressed people, would reach out and get the point across much more effectively than the bongo players. Certainly not more effectively than the people with the bigass puppets, but nothing tops that. The problem is that we’re never shown the normal protesters. I’m sure that there are quite a few protesters that are at least dressed like plain ole folks. They’re just not as interesting as the bongo players or the puppeteers (If only one could make a bongo playing puppet. That could bring our government to its knees). What’s my point? No clue. It’s too early for me to manage a coherent thought. Not that I’ve ever, but I know that it’s not possible right now. If only we could bring all of the various stinky groups under one umbrella, or under several showers. Maybe bring in a tailor and a barber. At least a stylist. They could treat the protest like church on Sunday; a once a week event that you clean up for. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/53 "2005-01-21T10:27:49Z")
> [@gobear](#): > > 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. It is, and you do. I’m just glad you said it because when I say it, I get piled on. Democrats have ceded practically everything they once stood for to the Republicans: individual liberty, government that secures rights, the nobility of struggle, the merit of achievement, the bravery of civil disobedience. You’ve lost your ideals, and now your party is a cacophony of special interests: tree huggers, feminazis, bigots, academicians, slackers, and bleeding hearts. You value the rights of animals more than people. You call everyone stupid who disagrees with you. You’ve adopted an agenda so eclectic that no one knows what you stand for. Unless you get back on track, your losing has only just begun. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/54 "2005-01-21T10:59:55Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > It is, and you do. I’m just glad you said it because when I say it, I get piled on. Democrats have ceded practically everything they once stood for to the Republicans: individual liberty, government that secures rights, the nobility of struggle, the merit of achievement, the bravery of civil disobedience. You’ve lost your ideals, and now your party is a cacophony of special interests: tree huggers, feminazis, bigots, academicians, slackers, and bleeding hearts. You value the rights of animals more than people. You call everyone stupid who disagrees with you. You’ve adopted an agenda so eclectic that no one knows what you stand for. Unless you get back on track, your losing has only just begun. So how’s that antenna that the CIA planted in your head working out? Not so well, perhaps? ---
**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, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/55 "2005-01-21T11:27:52Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > So how’s that antenna that the CIA planted in your head working out? Not so well, perhaps? Instead of a throwaway insult, how about answering the points he alleged with a reasoned argument? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/56 "2005-01-21T11:50:40Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Instead of a throwaway insult, how about answering the points he alleged with a reasoned argument? Uh, because **Liberal** actually _is_ crazy? And so there’s no point? And BTW I never saw you return and to give a reasoned rebuttal (or anything else) to the trashing you got in this thread: [Pentagon planned to develop a gay sex bomb](http://boards./sdmb/showthread.php?p=5717974#post5717974). So I can understand that you might have some sympathy for the crazy, but well… ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/57 "2005-01-21T12:08:58Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > [Pentagon planned to develop a gay sex bomb](http://boards./sdmb/showthread.php?p=5717974#post5717974) Fixed link: [Pentagon planned to develop a gay sex bomb](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5717974#post5717974) ---
**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, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/58 "2005-01-21T13:41:56Z")
OK, so the site to which the link in the OP points is, thank heavens, back to business as usual. Oh, boy, what site it is! This tidbit nearly had me orally baptizing my monitor with my morning coffee: [Giant Squid Commit Suicide To Protest Inauguration Of Bush](http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/01/20/jumbo.squid.ap/index.html) There’s also a link to a priceless VW-commercial spoof wherein a suicide bomber detonates himself inside a VW Polo. Oh, yeah. Hilarity does _indeed_ ensue. I think I’ll bookmark this site. It should provide a nice counterbalance to the Drudge Report. Even if it doesn’t, the Daily Show and SNL links will make a weekly visit or two worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/59 "2005-01-21T13:53:53Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > **Brutus** , I think you’re right and wrong. > > You’re certainly right that a group of well dressed, or even normally dressed people, would reach out and get the point across much more effectively than the bongo players. Certainly not more effectively than the people with the bigass puppets, but nothing tops that. > > The problem is that we’re never shown the normal protesters. I’m sure that there are quite a few protesters that are at least dressed like plain ole folks. They’re just not as interesting as the bongo players or the puppeteers (If only one could make a bongo playing puppet. That could bring our government to its knees). > > What’s my point? No clue. It’s too early for me to manage a coherent thought. Not that I’ve ever, but I know that it’s not possible right now. > > If only we could bring all of the various stinky groups under one umbrella, or under several showers. Maybe bring in a tailor and a barber. At least a stylist. They could treat the protest like church on Sunday; a once a week event that you clean up for. 😛 What you need is _leadership_. Just look how Dr. Martin Luther King ran his marches down south - everybody in jackets an ties, centrally-issued signs, civilized protest behaviour. You need someone to instil discipline to your demonstrations, or you won’t get anywhere. You also have to be ready to make sacrifices ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817/60 "2005-01-21T14:13:57Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > The problem is that we’re never shown the normal protesters. I’m sure that there are quite a few protesters that are at least dressed like plain ole folks. They’re just not as interesting as the bongo players or the puppeteers (If only one could make a bongo playing puppet. That could bring our government to its knees). Speaking as someone who was actually at the Inauguration and witnessed some of the protests, the problem is that the normal-dressed protesters were outnumbered by the haven’t-bathed-since-I-dropped-out-of-college-and-followed-Phish-till-they-broke-up-so-now-I-rally-for-Mumia types. > [@](#): > > If only we could bring all of the various stinky groups under one umbrella, or under several showers. Maybe bring in a tailor and a barber. At least a stylist. They could treat the protest like church on Sunday; a once a week event that you clean up for. 😛 Absolutely. When one is dressed in a manner that intends to convey the message, “I reject the mainstream and all that it stands for,” one should not be surprised when the mainstream has no interest in what one says. Interestingly, the anti-Bush protests I saw drew little more than condescencion or counter-chanting from Inauguration goers. The only protest where I saw an Inauguration goer start a fist fight with a protestor was with the Fred Phelps demonstration. (Though whether that was due to being outraged at Phelps’ anti-homosexual diatribes, or over the fact that the protestor was carrying a sign that said “Thank God for 9-11”, I have no idea. I will say that when I explained to fellow Inauguration goers what Phelps’ ideology and opinions were, they were universally repulsed.) Also, I’d like to make light of the people cited in the OP by stating that I definitely wore a black suit, did not go to work, and did not go shopping that day. But somehow, I don’t think anyone would mistake me as protesting Bush’s inauguration. Maybe it was the red tie with little elephants on it. Not quite sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bushblackout-com-and-pals-what-a-bunch-of-losers/285817.md?page=4)