# College Republican punches Kerry supporting teacher's foot with his leg **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 1, 2004, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296 "2004-11-01T10:59:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/201 "2004-11-02T14:04:04Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > From the perspective of this dyed-in-the-wool pinko, he’s behaving far more civilly, respectfully, and honorably than you are. I wish you’d stop. > > Daniel For fuck sake. Who cares about civil or respectful? _Truthful_ trumps all of that shit. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/202 "2004-11-02T14:11:26Z")
> [@](#): > > **LHoD** said: > This is assault in the same way that taking a paperclip from the office is theft. Technically, yes; in reality, c’mon. Why? Because it’s a woman who kicked a man? She kicked him, unprovoked, and you think it’s not ‘real’ assault? > [@](#): > > And what evidence do you have that there were any minors involved in this incident? The only minor I see here is the incredibly minor status of the offense. He’s not a high school student? My mistake. Somehow after the derailment, I had forgotten the ‘College’ part. I still wonder if you’d find this so ‘trivial’ had a male instructor kicked a female student while at a restaurant off campus over something so unprovoking as a t-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/203 "2004-11-02T14:12:52Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > For fuck sake. Who cares about civil or respectful? _Truthful_ trumps all of that shit. I care about it, because I can’t ever know for sure that I have the truth. So I gotta keep searching for it. And people who discuss with me in a civil and respectful way are far likelier to help me get closer to the truth than people who discuss things in a disrespectful, uncivil, disingenuous fashion. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/204 "2004-11-02T14:15:05Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > I still wonder if you’d find this so ‘trivial’ had a male instructor kicked a female student while at a restaurant off campus over something so unprovoking as a t-shirt. Yes. It’s not the gender that matters; it’s the lack of injury. Now, I may be wrong. It may be that the kickee ended up having to get stitches, or ended up bleeding from the leg, or something like that. I’ll even admit that I may have missed a line in the “news” story to that effect. But that’s not the impression I got. The impression I got was that the kickee sustained no injury at all, that he didn’t go to the hospital, that he didn’t collapse to the ground in pain. The impression I got is that he’s trying to make hay from a blade of grass. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/205 "2004-11-02T14:23:16Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > The impression I got is that he’s trying to make hay from a blade of grass. That’s a fair characterization, I think. As I said earlier, if he did sue, and I were on the jury, I’d probably find her liable, all right, but damages for him in the amount of $3.65 – a penny a day for a year. He got his apology, she is exposed as a reactionary idiot, and that’s where the matter should end. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/206 "2004-11-02T14:27:09Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > then, in my view, they are too stupid to vote. I am happy that such idiots are not voting. Would that be your view about people who couldn’t pass a literacy test? Like [this one that used to be typical](http://edusolution.com/myclassroom/classnotes/reconstruction/literacytest.htm) > [@](#): > > Literacy tests: During slavery, blacks were never taught to read and write. Yet, in order to exercise their right to vote they had to prove they could read and write by passing a literacy list. Some of these tests were extremely difficult and usually involving reading and “interpreting” sections of the Federal or state constitution. Obviously, this was just another technique to disenfranchise African Americans. How about people too stupid to be able to make enough money to pay a poll tax? Should they vote? How about explaining why anyone who hasn’t been convicted of anything should be denied the right to vote? Or do you seriously claim that having police waiting at polling places looking for things to arrest people for is simply a fucking _coincidence_? Whatever gave you the idea that those of us reading your rationalizations are stupid enough to buy them? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/207 "2004-11-02T14:56:29Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Would that be your view about people who couldn’t pass a literacy test? Like [this one that used to be typical](http://edusolution.com/myclassroom/classnotes/reconstruction/literacytest.htm) It’s funny, **Elvis1Lives** , but there have been several threads complaining about how stupid Bush voters are, and how they don’t understand basic issues. I’ve even responded in those threads, asking if there should be some sort of test before voting. Answers have varied. Truth told, I would not categorically rule out a test of some kind. Obviously, unlike the historically reviled literacy test, it would have to be administered to everyone, and I think the practical difficulties of testing some sort of basic knowledge in a non-partisan way would ultimately prove too difficult to enact. But in theory, I don’t believe that some sort of basic test is a bad idea. But the basic test of: getting yourself to the polling place on the correct day, and pressing forward with your right to vote even if there are police officers in the room, and not being deterred by rumors of debt collectors… yes, I support THAT intelligence test. You can’t pass that one, you shouldn’t vote. > [@](#): > > How about people too stupid to be able to make enough money to pay a poll tax? Should they vote? Money woes may affect people no matter their intelligence. So I don’t agree that the mere fact of being unable to pay a poll tax is indicative of stupidity. (But I would suggest that the Republic of Gondor didn’t have such a terrible idea in principle, either). > [@](#): > > How about explaining why anyone who hasn’t been convicted of anything should be denied the right to vote? Or do you seriously claim that having police waiting at polling places looking for things to arrest people for is simply a fucking _coincidence_? Whatever gave you the idea that those of us reading your rationalizations are stupid enough to buy them? Well, reading your posts for the last few months left me with the idea that you’re pretty dumb. That was a start. Again: if you are scared away from a voting place merely because law enforcement officers are there, then I don’t particularly care if you vote. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/208 "2004-11-02T15:08:54Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Again: if you are scared away from a voting place merely because law enforcement officers are there, then I don’t particularly care if you vote. But is placing law enforcement officers at the polling place to scare away a known subset of voters ethical? If you had the power to do it, would you? I would not. Even if it would make the difference between my candidate winning or losing, I could not do it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/209 "2004-11-02T15:24:21Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > But is placing law enforcement officers at the polling place to scare away a known subset of voters ethical? If you had the power to do it, would you? > > I would not. Even if it would make the difference between my candidate winning or losing, I could not do it. Using law enforcement officers for any function other than enforcing the law is questionable. Using them for partisan purposes is certainly unethical. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/210 "2004-11-02T15:38:20Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Nah–I’m satisfied with [two judges telling them that their plan was illegal](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=4&u=/ap/20041101/ap_on_el_pr/ohio_voting). Course, that’s just my pansy-ass liberal spin on things. > > Daniel And I assume you’re equally satisfied with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the two federal judges were in error, and the plan is NOT illegal. The Supreme Court refused to stay the 6th circuit decision; that call was made by one of the most liberal members of the Court: John Paul Stevens. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/211 "2004-11-02T15:40:29Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > And I assume you’re equally satisfied with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the two federal judges were in error, and the plan is NOT illegal. The Supreme Court refused to stay the 6th circuit decision; that call was made by one of the most liberal members of the Court: John Paul Stevens. No, I’m not equally satisfied with it; I think it was the wrong call. But I accept it. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/212 "2004-11-02T15:52:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Truth told, I would not categorically rule out a test of some kind. That from someone who claims elsewhere to be a strict interpreter of the Constitution? Bullcrap. Rationalization of knee-jerk partisanship is more like it. You’re fooling no one but yourself. > [@](#): > > But the basic test of: getting yourself to the polling place on the correct day, and pressing forward with your right to vote even if there are police officers in the room, and not being deterred by rumors of debt collectors… yes, I support THAT intelligence test. You can’t pass that one, you shouldn’t vote. The level of ignorance of our history and our society indicated by that response puts your own qualification to vote, by your own standards, in grave doubt, ya know. That was the point of asking you about Jim Crow voting laws - I really don’t see how you can differentiate your current views from the ones the rest of us have outgrown and repudiated long ago. But the only way you can respond is on this level: > [@](#): > > Well, reading your posts for the last few months left me with the idea that you’re pretty dumb. That was a start. You have officially placed yourself on the **Shodan** level of thoughtfulness and respectability. Congratulations. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/213 "2004-11-02T15:58:56Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You have officially placed yourself on the **Shodan** level of thoughtfulness and respectability. Congratulations. You probably should avoid using words you don’t understand. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/214 "2004-11-02T16:06:36Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You have officially placed yourself on the **Shodan** level of thoughtfulness and respectability. Congratulations. Wow. I thoughtlessly insulted you, when you had been nothing but civil and nice to me, huh? > [@Elvis1Lives to me](#): > > Whatever gave you the idea that those of us reading your rationalizations are stupid enough to buy them? Oh, wait. That’s not what happened. You remind me of my little brother when he was four. He’d hit me, I’d hit him back, and then he’d go screeching off to Mom whining that I hit him. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/215 "2004-11-02T16:44:34Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > So what was it like growing up in Croatia? I’m not sure quite when that was. Was it during the time that you guys were exterminating the Serbs, or was it when they were doing it to you guys? Musta been fun, either way. I can tell that you’re enjoying watching the Iraqi’s having it done to them, and having the same shit rearise in the US. Must bring back fond childhood memories. Gosh but your vagina must be sandy if you are so cranky! And to think, you have had so much good news recently. First, John Howard gets a resounding victory for his party over in Australia, and tonight you can celebrate the Bush victory with us. That should be enough to make even a sourpuss like you happy! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296/216 "2004-11-02T19:25:12Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > Yes, I called him an Uncle Tom. It’s not below the belt at all. His pubbie friends giggle at him behind his back. You know that. Why doesn’t he? This confirms for all what I’ve known for a long time: you’re a fucking idiot! Actually they congratulate him for not falling for your simpering line of shit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-republican-punches-kerry-supporting-teachers-foot-with-his-leg/272296.md?page=10)