# Pitting Bush for stuff that doesn't seem to rate its own thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 8, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131 "2004-07-08T16:11:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/1 "2004-07-08T16:11:31Z")
The Bush outrages and idiocies are so frequent and commonplace that it just doesn’t seem reasonable anymore that each one should have a thread of its own; we’d overwhelm the Pit, some days. Yet the fuckup-in-chief and his henchmen keep on doing stuff that just plain can’t be overlooked. So I’m proposing this thread as a place to post such stuff. I’ll lead off with my next post here. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/2 "2004-07-08T16:16:58Z")
You couldn’t actually think of anything when you were writing the OP? Looks like you have a bad case of the dumbass, son. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/3 "2004-07-08T16:20:04Z")
What’s the matter? [This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=265237) wasn’t good enough for you? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/4 "2004-07-08T16:20:14Z")
[link](http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2004070734) > [@](#): > > A worker with the Federal Emergency Management Agency who wore an anti-Bush T-shirt at the president’s July Fourth rally in Charleston has been sent home to Texas. > > Nicole Rank, who was working for FEMA in West Virginia, and her husband, Jeff, were removed from the Capitol grounds in handcuffs shortly before Bush’s speech. The pair wore T-shirts with the message “Love America, Hate Bush.” > > The Ranks were ticketed for trespassing and released. They have been given summonses to appear in court, Charleston Police Lt. C.A. Vincent said Wednesday. > > \ > > On Sunday, Charleston Police Sgt. R.E. Parsons said Nicole and Jeff Rank were in a no-trespassing area and refused to leave. > > The White House coordinated the president’s visit to the state Capitol. Organizers described it as a presidential visit, not a political rally. State and federal funds were used to pay for the presidential visit. > > Dozens of people who attended Sunday’s event wore pro-Bush T-shirts and Bush-Cheney campaign buttons, some of which were sold on the Capitol grounds outside the security screening stations. > > \ > > A two-page document given to ticket holders said they were prohibited from bringing certain items to the event, including: weapons, video-recording equipment, food, beverages, umbrellas, signs and banners. T-shirts, political buttons and lapel pins were not on the list of prohibited items. Judging from the content of the speech at [www.whitehouse.gov](http://www.whitehouse.gov), it was a legitimate Presidential visit, but that’s neither here nor there. People who oppose the President are still entitled to attend his public appearances on the same terms as anyone else. And if his partisans are allowed to wear pro-Bush t-shirts, his detractors have every reasonable expectation that they may wear anti-Bush t-shirts. BTW, I’m kinda mystified by FEMA’s involvement here. As employer of one of the arrested people, their role should be zilch, unless they’re alleging a Hatch Act violation. Government employees are free to express their political opinions on their own time, so that shouldn’t be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/5 "2004-07-08T16:27:47Z")
Ashtar - that’s exactly the sort of stuff I wanted to avoid, actually. Although I can’t help but notice the look on his face, I’d rather slam him about substance. Brutus - :wally ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/6 "2004-07-08T16:30:09Z")
How about his administration’s appointment of James Leon Holmes to the federal bench in Arkansas? > **[After Fight, Senate Agrees To Bush's Choice for Judge (Published 2004)](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/07/us/after-fight-senate-agrees-to-bush-s-choice-for-judge.html)** > > Senate, 51-46, confirms Pres Bush's appointment of J Leon Holmes, controversial conservative, to federal court in Arkansas after fierce debate; three Republican women vote against him, while Arkansas Democratic Sens Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln... > [@](#): > > Mr. Holmes has a record of saying startling things, like his statement that rape victims become pregnant as often as it snows in Miami. He also wrote in 1997 that in a marriage “the woman is to place herself under the authority of the man.” C’mon guys. It’s the 21 century. Can’t we at least have judges who have ideals from the second half of the 20th? That’s actually too much to ask? And of course, the twits in the Senate confirmed him. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/7 "2004-07-08T16:30:16Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > You couldn’t actually think of anything when you were writing the OP? Looks like you have a bad case of the dumbass, son. Yeah, it did take him a whole nine minutes to type that. God, you’re such a fucking jackass. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > Judging from the content of the speech at [www.whitehouse.gov](http://www.whitehouse.gov), it was a legitimate Presidential visit, but that’s neither here nor there. People who oppose the President are still entitled to attend his public appearances on the same terms as anyone else. And if his partisans are allowed to wear pro-Bush t-shirts, his detractors have every reasonable expectation that they may wear anti-Bush t-shirts. Anyways, **RT** , you’re forgetting something…this is America. We’re so free we have “Free Speech Zones” now. So, speak all you want, just do it in the right place. -Joe, waits for the day when “speech” becomes “fire” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/8 "2004-07-08T16:47:00Z")
[_Waaaaaaaaaah!! She wouldn’t stop following up on questions!_](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20268-2004Jul1.html) The White House’s ire with Irish reporter Carole Coleman [has already been mentioned here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=263510&highlight=Carole+Coleman), but not the fact that the Bushies went whining to the Irish Embassy about how cruelly the reporter treated him: > [@](#): > > “‘The White House rang Thursday evening,’” said Irish embassy spokeswoman Síghle Dougherty. ‘They were concerned over the number of interruptions and that they thought the president was not given an opportunity to respond to the questions.’" > > Said Dougherty: "They were mostly troubled by what they said was the way the president was ‘talked over.’ " Considering that, as in most free countries, Irish reporters are not civil servants, and don’t report to the Irish government, I’m at a loss to explain why the Bushies complained to the Irish government about her. I guess they just felt the need to complain to _somebody_ when she actually tried to do her job. (Follow my link for links to the transcript and (if it’s still up) video of the interview.) ---
**Author:** ![E72521](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@E72521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E72521)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/9 "2004-07-08T16:50:03Z")
**Brutis** , try reading the OP again, dumbass. For you I suggest popping a Viagra, jerking off, followed by a good nap. Just don’t fantasize about sucking W’s or Cheney’s cock. When you wake up with your brain perfused with blood, you’ll be a kinder, gentler robot. ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/10 "2004-07-08T16:50:38Z")
The phrase in our National Anthem is “Let freedom ring.” Yet our idiot in chief thinks it’s: [http://www.anoasis.co.uk/content/2004/06/29/Politics/let\_freedom\_reign.html](http://www.anoasis.co.uk/content/2004/06/29/Politics/let_freedom_reign.html) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/11 "2004-07-08T16:52:10Z")
Extremely stupid and inconsequential, but he wore an interesting face at the Kennedy Center awards this past winter. While some truly amazing people were honored, it was clear from Dubya’s face that he was thinking “I don’t get it. Does it have something to do with oil?” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/12 "2004-07-08T16:54:51Z")
**Revtim** , it looks like you’re being “anti-Baptist” or something. 😉 Can’t believe you’d oppose somebody because of their religion, even if it’s stuffing thier head full of ridiculous ideas that they might turn into public policy. **Merijeek** , I can see the day a-coming when we can say anything we want in those government-sanctioned “Free Speech Zone”. Which will consist of a few desolate acres of land in western North Dakota. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/13 "2004-07-08T17:02:26Z")
> [@AmericanMaid](#): > > The phrase in our National Anthem is “Let freedom ring.” Yet our idiot in chief thinks it’s: > [http://www.anoasis.co.uk/content/2004/06/29/Politics/let\_freedom\_reign.html](http://www.anoasis.co.uk/content/2004/06/29/Politics/let_freedom_reign.html) Er, first, you’re thinking of “America” (My country, 'tis of thee . . ."), not “The Star Spangled Banner.” Second, I’m no Bush fan either, but this seems needlessly nitpicky. We don’t know that Bush was claiming to be quoting any lyrics, and “Let freedom reign” stands fine on its own, especially considering that he was referring to Iraq, not the US. But fear not, there are plenty of other reasons to consider him an idiot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/14 "2004-07-08T19:00:14Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Considering that, as in most free countries, Irish reporters are not civil servants, and don’t report to the Irish government, I’m at a loss to explain why the Bushies complained to the Irish government about her. Did someone forgot to tell George that Ireland has a free press? ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/15 "2004-07-08T19:34:48Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Er, first, you’re thinking of “America” (My country, 'tis of thee . . ."), not “The Star Spangled Banner.” Second, I’m no Bush fan either, but this seems needlessly nitpicky. We don’t know that Bush was claiming to be quoting any lyrics, and “Let freedom reign” stands fine on its own, especially considering that he was referring to Iraq, not the US. > > But fear not, there are plenty of other reasons to consider him an idiot. 😃 :smack: Okay, I knew it was of those songs… But still, how exactly can freedom reign? Reign means to exercise sovereign power. The sovereignty of freedom? Unless in the Bush lexicon America = freedom. Now that would make a lot more sense! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/16 "2004-07-08T19:46:48Z")
(My God, I’m defending Bush \ . . .) > [@](#): > > Main Entry:2reign > Function:intransitive verb > Date:14th century > > 1 a : to possess or exercise sovereign power : RULE b : to hold office as chief of state although possessing little governing power _in England the sovereign reigns but does not rule_ > 2 : to exercise authority in the manner of a monarch > **3 : to be predominant or prevalent \<_chaos reigned in the classroom_\>** ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/17 "2004-07-08T20:06:34Z")
Then there’s August 2002 when the White House floated the idea of invading Iraq without even getting an OK from Congress - never mind the UN. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/18 "2004-07-08T20:27:16Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > [link](http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2004070734) > Judging from the content of the speech at [www.whitehouse.gov](http://www.whitehouse.gov), it was a legitimate Presidential visit, but that’s neither here nor there. People who oppose the President are still entitled to attend his public appearances on the same terms as anyone else. And if his partisans are allowed to wear pro-Bush t-shirts, his detractors have every reasonable expectation that they may wear anti-Bush t-shirts. > > BTW, I’m kinda mystified by FEMA’s involvement here. As employer of one of the arrested people, their role should be zilch, unless they’re alleging a Hatch Act violation. Government employees are free to express their political opinions on their own time, so that shouldn’t be an issue. The text you quoted was a perfect example of the liberal bias in the media. The article was written with such a slant as to make people think the folks in question were arrested for wearing the t-shirt. One has to dig down through the crap to find the real truth: **"On Sunday, Charleston Police Sgt. R.E. Parsons said Nicole and Jeff Rank were in a no-trespassing area and refused to leave."** One also has to be intelligent enough to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/19 "2004-07-08T20:58:29Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > The text you quoted was a perfect example of the liberal bias in the media. The article was written with such a slant as to make people think the folks in question were arrested for wearing the t-shirt. One has to dig down through the crap to find the real truth: > > **"On Sunday, Charleston Police Sgt. R.E. Parsons said Nicole and Jeff Rank were in a no-trespassing area and refused to leave."** > > One also has to be intelligent enough to do so. Right. A “no-trespassing area” on the Capitol grounds during a public event. And these two were the only ones arrested for violating it. And there’s NO way that a police sgt would come up with something like this to cover a spurious arrest. Given the very few facts in evidence to blindly accept either side’s account of things is a)blindly partisan, b)moronic, or c)both of the above. Me, I think one has to be intelligent enough to accept that we don’t know what happened and that while it’s not beyond belief that they really were trespassing and were properly escorted off the property, it’s also not beyond belief that an overzealous staffer/organizer said “Get those two the hell out of here” and the police came up with a cover story. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131/20 "2004-07-08T22:56:46Z")
Well, I don’t have a cite for this, but I heard today that Bush had _another_ “say my name, bitch” moment yesterday, wherein he made some reporter address him as Mr. President. (You may recall the incident several months ago where he chastized a reporter with “Who you talkin’ to?”) If true, all I can say is grow a sack, you weak-ass little punk. You will have to demand respect because you will never be able to command it. You don’t deserve the title. In fact, even if the report of this incident isn’t true, he is still a punk who doesn’t deserve the title. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-bush-for-stuff-that-doesnt-seem-to-rate-its-own-thread/254131.md?page=2)