BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 12:34 PM

But if she had given him the thumbs up that would have been a very much worse example - but she probably wouldn't have got into trouble for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 02:06 PM

Look, this is very simple. If she would not have been fired for making an approving gesture, then it is a free speech issue. If she would have been fired for making an approving gesture, then it is not a free speech issue.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 03:31 PM

Thanks for posting that, Bob. I wasn't aware, when I heard the story, that it was Eighth District Congressional Representative Dave Reichert who got the driver fired and has since been bragging about it.

I think that Reichert might be trying a little grandstanding and it may just backfire on him. Reichert's main claim to fame is that he was King County sheriff when Gary Ridgeway, the so-called "Green River killer," a serial murderer of several young women, was finally tracked down (through DNA evidence) and captured. As a congressman, Reichert has been lack-luster and, generally, a Bush yes-man. He was a pretty good cop (hence, undoubtedly, his quickness to pounce on the "disorderly conduct" of a school bus driver), but has been generally comatose as a congressional representative. At a recent debate sponsored by the Seattle Times newspaper, Reichert displayed a remarkable lack of knowledge of current issues, and the only ideas he seemed to have were second-hand Bushisms.

Reichert's challenger in this Tuesday's election is a very sharp young woman named Darcy Burner, who has shown a good grasp of the issues and has some fairly firm ideas. Reichert may very well be in deep doo-doo!

The Reichert-Burner contest is in the Eighth Congressional District and I won't be able to vote in that one because I live in the Seventh District. But I will be voting for incumbent Jim McDermott, who has been a royal pain in the ass to the Bush administration and intends to continue being such.

Don Firth

P. S. I'm a bit confused here. Rabbi Sol, who started this thread says that this took place in Wisconsin. But the newspaper report I just read said that the bus driver worked for the Issaquah school district.   Issaquah is east of Lake Washington, near Bellevue. Bush was in Bellevue recently (Medina and Hunt's Point, specifically, where the rich folks live), raising campaign funds for people such as Reichert.

Or did two school bus drivers flip Bush the bird? Perhaps this is a trend.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: pdq
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 04:07 PM

School Fires Driver For Giving Bush The Finger
POSTED: 1:55 pm EST November 2, 2006

ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- A finger to the commander in chief got one driver in a lot of trouble.


A 43-year-old Issaquah school bus driver was fired in September after allegedly flipping off President George W. Bush during his visit to Washington in June.

Bush was in town to campaign for Rep. Dave Reichert. The two were traveling in a limo headed for a fundraiser when they passed several school buses full of students.

The students waved to the president, and while waving back Bush turned to Reichert and said the driver of one of the buses flipped him off.

A week later when Reichert called the Issaquah School District to report the incident he learned that the district was aware of the driver's action and was investigating.

The bus driver was accused by the district of bragging about flipping off the president to other bus drivers.

The driver was fired in September. School district spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said the gesture was "not at all appropriate modeling for students on the bus."

The district officials also said this was not the first incident with the driver, and the driver would have been fired for flipping anyone off, according to Seattle TV station KIRO.

The bus driver has filed a union grievance against the district, claiming wrongful termination.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: kendall
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 04:30 PM

I'd like to send that driver a Thank You card.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 07:37 PM

"The students waved to the president" I wonder how many fingers they used?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 07:59 PM

Well, gol danged...

The more I think about this the more I think that the bus driver is lucky not to be waterborded tonight in one of Bush's secret torture chambers...

She oughtta count herself as lucky...

As fir me... A bird in the hnad is worth two in the bush but I'd be perfectly willin' to share the one in the hand with Bush... Even throw in a couple "bite me's" and half a dozen "screw you's" just to show how generous I can be...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 09:27 PM

In the original post I meant to say Washington but in my haste to make the post before the onset of the Sabbath I typed in Wisconsin instead. I apologize.
                                                 SOL

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 09:44 PM

SOL ... No appology necessary. Heck ... it's spelled the same, isn't it! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 11:24 PM

Nobody ever does this to the Canadian Prime Minister, and someone definitely should! I am sooo jealous of you Americans over this.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 11:35 PM

Are you forgetting the infamous Trudeau in incident?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 01:46 PM

I'd guess if the bus driver gave the finger to old Dylan you be yelling, "off with his head."

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Old Guy
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 02:02 PM

Bobert:

Do you believe that there was or is a possibility that the bus driver could have been sibject to "waterborded tonight in one of Bush's secret torture chambers"?

I just want to know if you believe in the things you say.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 02:20 PM

Any mention from the USA of a school bus and of a school-bus driver, and I am sure that most people round the planet will have something like this in mind.

Maybe this story suggests it may not be too far out of synch with reality...

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Mooh
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 02:24 PM

Little Hawk...I've flipped the bird to the PM, mind you it was while potatoing on the couch watching his smug smirk on TV. Next time in Ottawa, I'll keep an eye out for him. You don't suppose he hangs out at the Folklore Centre?

Think if I got the finger from a constituent I'd think, "Hey, the system works!".

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 02:33 PM

"I'd guess if the bus driver gave the finger to old Dylan you['d] be yelling, 'off with his head.'"

No, GUEST, not me. I know a lot of people here are, but I've never really been a Bob Dylan fan. Dylan Thomas, yes, but not Bob Dylan.

However, if it were Bob Dylan versus George W. Bush for president, I would pretty definitely vote for Dylan.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: dianavan
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 02:51 PM

Vulgarity will get you in trouble in any workplace situation but especially when you are working with children. A warning would probably have been appropriate except that the president was the target of the gesture.

The bus driver is my hero but what a price to have to pay.

I wish I could be as outspoken on my job but I think I'd be in very hot water if I expressed my feelings about decisions that are being made regarding education. It takes alot of courage to become a whistle blower which is about the same as giving someone the finger.

I think when I retire I'll give the administration the finger and then write a scathing article about the school system and how everyone 'goes along with it' for job security.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Old Guy
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 03:00 PM

I saw a photo of Bob Dylan on TV today and man he looks bad.

Real bad

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 03:04 PM

Well, I think that was the look he was trying for back when he was about eighteen. All things come go he who waits.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 03:44 PM

Vulgarity will get you in trouble in any workplace situation...

Not when you are rich and important it (expletive deleted) doesn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:10 PM

Hey - it sure didn't help Tricky Dick when his cards were down.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:23 PM

The finger? Hell, I woulda given Bush the banana. The finger ain't enough, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: melodeonboy
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:42 PM

Are you not all missing the point? We need to know whether she was sacked simply for making an obscene gesture or whether she was sacked for making an obscene gesture to GWB in particular.

Would she have been sacked if she had made the gesture to someone else? If the answer to that last question is "Yes", then all well and good. If the answer is "No", then she shouldn't have been sacked. It really is that simple.

On a purely personal note, he'd automatically get a V-sign from me if he got within a hundred yards of me, whatever I was doing.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,Skipy
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:51 PM

Surley the wrong question is being asked here.
We should be asking "Why was she out of the kitchen"?
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: pdq
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 05:07 PM

Chongo Chimp's theme song?


"I Like Bananas (Because They Have No Bones)" by Chris Yacich

Standing by the fruit store on the corner
Once I heard a customer complain
You never seem to show
The fruit we all love so
That's why bus'ness hasn't been the same

I don't like your peaches,
They are full of stones
I like bananas because they have no bones!

Don't give me tomatoes,
Can't stand ice-cream cones
I like bananas because they have no bones!

No matter where I go,
With Susie, May or Anna
I want the world to know,
I must have my bananas

Cabbages and onions
Hurt my singing tones
I like bananas because they have no bones!

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 06:56 PM

Not bad, pdq! I like it.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,Adrianel
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 09:51 PM

Obscene gestures may run in the Bush family, When his father, as US President, toured Australia, he was riding around in an open car, waving to the crowds. At one point, he waved 2 fingers at them, thinking he was giving a "V for Victory" sign, but unfortunately did it with the back of his hand, not the palm, to the crowd. I heard the crowd responded enthusiastically with the same gesture. I'm not sure if anyone ever told Bush senior.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: number 6
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 10:09 PM

a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2611706">This one's for you Chongo!

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: number 6
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 10:12 PM

Here's to you Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: s&r
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 04:13 AM

Flipped the bird?

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: s&r
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 04:20 AM

"This was part of a pattern of behavior with this particular bus driver, not an isolated incident," Barry said.

Following the incident, Congressman Dave Reichert called Barry and told her that he and the President had seen the gesture. Barry said she personally knows Reichert from his days serving as King County Sheriff when they discussed school resource officers. Reichert called as a courtesy, Barry said.

"He never discussed his view or suggested what action he thought would be appropriate to take," Barry said. "He reported the incident believing -- rightly -- that I would want to know this occurred, that as a steward of children and public resources, one of my employees had acted inappropriately in her job capacity."

Barry reiterated that the decision to terminate the employee was not motivated by any political reason.

"If the bus driver had made the gesture to a driver who cut her off on a local road, we would have taken the same action," Barry said.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Old Guy
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 05:35 AM

That Ape was excavating his nose and was just observing the results.

Dayo

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 06:04 AM

"that I would want to know this occurred, that as a steward of children and public resources, one of my employees had acted inappropriately in her job capacity."

That sort of weasel management-speak is a dead giveaway. It's a stitch up, and the words are the clean flannel.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Greg F.
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 08:47 AM

When are they going to fire Dumbya & the BuShites for giving most of the world the finger?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 09:51 PM

Tomorrow night, after the elction results, will tell us whether or not Dave Reicharts role in this bus driver's termination hurt him or helped him.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 10:12 PM

Reichart sounds like a panty-waist little tattle-tale to me. I hope he loses. A smarter busdriver wouldn't have given the Finger to Bush in front of kids. But without a nervous nellie like Reichart present, it probably would have been a moment of mere embarassment with humorous overtones.
She deserves a reprimand.
Both Reichart and Bush deserve firing.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 06 Nov 06 - 10:41 PM

That'll teach her...both hands on the wheel at all times. :>)

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 05:54 PM

Does anyone know if Reichert won or lost the election ?

                                                 SOL

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 06:12 PM

Actually, no one knows yet. The race is still too close to call. If he does lose, I'll bet that his actions in getting the bus driver fired had a LOT to do with it. I'll post his election results as soon as I hear. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Amos
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 06:15 PM

Let's see: inappropriate obscene gestures while representing a larger entity, get one a well-deserved termination. Did I get that right?

OK, a-holes -- go get 'im!!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 06:24 PM

Reicharts campaign website - this should show what happened to the man in the election, when that's been determined.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 09:35 PM

They just announced new numbers. The challenger has gained about 200 votes on Reichert. 2300 votes still separate them. Only 50% of the ballots have been counted. This could go either way, and it will take several days.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 09:48 PM

In the interest of "equal time," here's Darcy Burner's web site. Clicky. Reichert's main attack against challenger Darcy Burner has been her lack of political experience (of course, completely ignoring her experience as a business executive and her work in community service).

But then, maybe Reichert has a bit too much political experience.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 09:52 PM

What's her stance on busdrivers being free to give politicians the finger?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Don Firth
Date: 08 Nov 06 - 10:03 PM

I couldn't say for sure, but I know she's very much in favor of freedom of expression,

I've heard her in several radio interviews. She's one sharp lady, and she has a good grasp of the issues. I've also heard Reichert, and he basically parrots the Bush line.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 08:29 AM

As of five in the morning, here in the Seattle area, the race is still too close to call. The distance between these two candidates is getting smaller, and there's many votes left to count. I'm guessing it will go into a re-count. Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 09:41 AM

The electorate appears to have collectively given Dubya the finger!

Let's just fire ALL of them!

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 01:03 PM

That brave lady deserves a pay rise not the sack, finger on the trigger would have been much better.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 01:45 PM

"he basically parrots the Bush line."

Is that a dead parrot?

"Oh shucks, I messed things up - but if you do what I say, I'll forgive you.."

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 03:05 PM

100!!!

I just wanna say that a chimp could do a way better job as president than a human being who merely resembles (vaguely) a chimp, specially when that human is George Bush! I woulda given him the finger too.