BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger

Subject: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:15 PM

I heard the following report on CBS News Radio today.

While Pres. Bush was campaigning last week in Wisconsin, his motorcade passed a school bus loaded with kids. He wanted to give the kids a thrill so he rolled down the window of his limo and waved to them. The female bus driver gave Bush the finger in return. Yesterday, the school board informed her that she was fired. The reason given was that because she engaged in a vulgar sexual innuendo she was unfit to drive young school children. She is asking the ACLU to go to court for her to protect her first ammendment rights.

                                                 SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Peace
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:18 PM

I hope they do represent her. All she has to do is say, "I was simply telling President Bush that he's number one in my book."

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:21 PM

She did not use the index finger.
                                        SOL

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Becca72
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:35 PM

It shouldn't matter. We have bus drivers here in Maine that endanger the lives of the children on the bus every day with their poor driving skills (speeding, running red lights, etc.) and they are able to keep their jobs. This woman should not be fired for expressing her opinion of the president. How many of those kids have seen their parents give that very same gesture to fellow motorists?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:41 PM

I suppose I'm going to get jumped all over for this, but ... if you are in the employ of a school board and working with the kids, there are some things you just don't do. You don't tell them about your sexual fantasies, you don't give them the details of your wild weekend, you don't sell them cigarettes, you don't tell them mailicious gossip about their teachers, you don't use foul language in front of them, and you don't make obscene gestures to people you don't like in front of them. If you're determined to do any of those things, you probably run the risk of being fired. Tough luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:43 PM

I disagree. If she were on her own time I'd support her all the way. But she was on the job. Adults are supposed to be able to control themselves. I would have fired her too.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:45 PM

Constitutes a verbal reprimand in many workplaces, and often worth it too, though one needs to be careful how many verbals one collects. I take it the driver wasn't unionized?

Under the circumstances, she should be rewarded, but it's not a fair world is it.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:54 PM

Firing seems a bit extreme. Also, how do we know the children could see her gesture? While I agree, adults need to set a good example, but these days the gesture itself seems to be quite prevalent, among children as well as adults. It seems to have lost some of its impact in society through overuse, imo.

When I was a kid, the bus driver who was angry and slammed on his breaks to make a point, causing me to chip a tooth when my mouth hit the railing in front of me, wasn't even reprimanded, let alone fired.

I hope she gets her job back, if she wants it, even if she has to be written up in her file.

Another part of me, says "Right on Sister! Let's go dump some tea!"

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Donuel
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:56 PM

Fired? so what in some countries she could be tortured.

well, she could be legally tortured in this country too but she wasn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Peace
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 03:59 PM

Not yet!

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

I have to agree that it's the wrong message in front of children. Maybe a reprimand would have been more appropriate, but we probably aren't in full possession of the facts...

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:11 PM

If she gave the finger to a soccer mom or a little old lady crossing the street, would you feel different if she were fired?

There is a time and place to give Bush the finger. I don't think in front of a busload of children that are in her care was the proper place.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Wolfgang
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:11 PM

Bush deserves the finger and she deserves to be fired.
It was not the correct moment for a well deserved sign.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:16 PM

well put Wolfgang!

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:25 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:26 PM

I find obscene gestures offensive whoever they are aimed at.

Yes, she deserved to be fired for doing that with kids in her care.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:32 PM

She should be given a raise ... and put in charge of driver training!

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: kendall
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:32 PM

What Wolfgang said.

In some states that gesture is considered simple assault.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:40 PM

Am I the only one who thinks that there is no right moment for obscene gestures?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:49 PM

YES!

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 04:51 PM

Presumably if she had given him the thmbs up instead she would have deserved to be fired as well? I would imagine that a lot of parents would have regarded that as grossly offensive.

If it happened over here the gesture involved would have been the V sign - which makes for a certain ambiguity.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 05:24 PM

Woman deserves a medal. Do me a favour, busloads of kids have never seen anyone given the finger?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 05:33 PM

Giving the finger doesn't teach kids anything.

Now had she followed it up with a carefully worded lecture on how they are to act responsibly when they reach voting age and not put another idiot in the house, well then she should have got a promotion for services to the rest of the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: pdq
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 05:39 PM

She was working for a school district at the time. She was expected to do her job and behave in a respectable manor. She did not. Bye bye.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 05:56 PM

I think firing was a bit extreme. If she were on duty, which, presumably she was, a severe reprimand may have been in order.

On the other hand, it was much too good an opportunity to pass up!

Don Firth

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

With what kids see in prime time TV, givin' the finger is mild...

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 06:35 PM

Now I wonder how the school board people will go about explaining exactly what the "sexual innuendo" involved consisted of.
.................................................

Kinky Friedman running as an independent for governor in Texas maybe put his finger on it when he commented on his own campaign hopes: "This may be a middle-finger vote."

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 06:35 PM

In Britain we give them two fingers - I guess "W" only gets one per brain cell.................

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 06:55 PM

As an exhibition of a secret adult kind, ahem, I know no child could possibly have any idea what it means. And nonetheless we have a Bill Of Rights which includes 'freedom of speech'. That has no restrictions what so ever and so, I suppose, the driver could not have signed a contract to remove what cannot be removed.

The gesture legal, her firing therefore isn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: The Badger
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 08:47 PM

America - the land of the free, provided you do as you are told. Gets moe like Britain under NEW Labour every day. Yippee!

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:18 PM

What about Bush? He's given the whole world the finger on several occasions. Should he be fired? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:36 PM

She should have had both hands on the wheel--that's why she was fired.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 09:43 PM

maybe, sorefingers, but when my daughter's boss assaulted her with obscene shouting, the word "fuck" was said several times, she was told no when she applied for unemployment after walking out on him, because she had not TOLD him when he hired her that that kind of language was unacceptable. That's the law according to the powers that be in Wyoming.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,Nickhere
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 10:22 PM

Hasn't Dubya been giving the whole world the finger for quite some time? I hope he gets fired asap!

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Slag
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 11:24 PM

Maybe she was testing the wind? Responding to a pole? Or, responding to a Pole? Whatever she was doing, making that gesture is illegal in many states while driving or even as a passenger in a motor vehicle. Such laws have come about because of "Road Rage". As a political comment (free SPEECH ?), it makes about as much sense as most leftist statements I've heard and seen. Mostly emotional, irrational, no substance. Hold your slings and arrows--- there's been a lot of that from both side. Instead of button-pushing there should be intelligent debate. If Our Lady of Perpetual Busses had flipped off Al Gore or Hilary (sic) she should have received the same dismissal. When you are in uniform or engaged in the duties of a public entity you represent that entity. Imagine being a public official and getting flipped off by a postal worker, a policeman, an EMT? How long do you think that public servant with the big political opinion would last? Of course they'd be fired. It simply should not be done.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 12:38 AM

It looks like the sort of charge you used to get in military dictatorships "Lack of respect for the Motherland". Oh, you mean the US is now one such?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 04:30 AM

Plenty of things in life are technically "illegal" which are also essentially quite trivial and which happen all the time anyway and will in spite of any laws passed to control them. This incident was one of them.

Is there much likelihood that George Bush or his driver would have succumbed to "Road Rage", sprung out of their limousine, and assaulted the bus driver? ;-) I hardly think so. If they had, however, it would have made the story much more controversial and therefore newsworthy! I bet CNN would have loved that, eh? Gee, pity it didn't happen. (joke)

It's just one more farcical incident in a country that is becoming a little less sane with each passing year as it slides gradually into the grip of an Orwellian regime.

Still, I am not surprised by the arguments presented both by those who think the bus driver should have been fired, and those who think not. Each argument sounds pretty plausible from its own perspective. That's what usually happens with such things, and the only thing that's surprising is how tenaciously people will cling to only one view of a situation once they have formed an initial opinion about it. They lose all sense of accomodation and compromise.

Of course, their pride is at stake, right? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 07:00 AM

Hey, I'm willing to compromise - once the whole thing has blown over, if the driver has kept her nose clean, she should be re-hired - on condition that she not spend the rest of her career boring everyone with the tale of her moment of glory, or ranting about the injustice she suffered ...

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: jeffp
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 07:18 AM

The first amendment does not apply to conditions of employment. When you are driving a vehicle which has your employer's name on it, you are representing that employer, not yourself. You have a duty to represent your employer in a good light. She failed to do that. The first amendment does not apply.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Donuel
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 07:55 AM

A finger in front of her body is unseen by the kids.

Now if she had mooned...

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Bee
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 09:02 AM

IMO, not appropriate, but not a firing offense. I know when I worked with kids, an obscene gesture would have gotten me into some trouble, regardless of how many of the kids were familiar with it. Also, I wouldn't inflict my personal politics on a bunch of other people's children.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 09:19 AM

I'd have fired her.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 09:55 AM

Yeah Guest, we know already.

Firing is the ultimate punishment in the workplace, and unless there was a documented history of such behavior with suitable notice, procedure, and standards attached, one offence shouldn't result in termination. Sure, maybe it was a stupid thing to do, but one slip where no one gets hurt shouldn't mean the end to gainful employment. There are degrees of discipline and jumping to the employment equivalent of capital punishment is neither fair or well reasoned.

Feel free to disagree, but I hope you don't have a moment of witnessed indiscretion in the workplace where someone gets all hysterical and demands your head.

Fwiw, I suspect there are many neighbourhoods where Shrub would get worse than the finger, and deservedly so.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Cruiser
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 10:02 AM

As a registered Republican who despises Mr. Bush, what the bus driver did was inexcusable. She should have at least been put on leave without pay while her previous record was checked to see if she had other infractions. Firing does not seem too extreme in this case.

The world is getting too rude and adults do not need to reinforce this trend in the presence of children. What people say or do in the privacy of their homes or other places where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, as long as acknowledged laws are not broken, should be their business. What people do in public is open to the scrutiny of decency and the law.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 10:03 AM

This story ain't going away folks! It appears that Rep. David Reichert was riding with the President when the incident happened. The Rep. called the school officials the next day and complained. This morning on TV, a tape recording was played where Rep. Reichert is heard bragging about the firing of the bus driver! He is in a very tight race in his district. This incident, and his actions, may well cost him the election. It's going to be interesting to see what happens next Tuesday.

People out here on the West Coast are very mindfull of "fairness."

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 10:10 AM

Cruiser - I couldn't agree more. Chldren are the adults of the future, and whilst some people make the excuse that they see worse every day on TV, it doesn't mean we should reinforce such behaviour.

Children need to see positive examples of correct behaviour, as they are natural mimics...

Politeness doesn't cost anything, other than a bit of effort.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Old Guy
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 10:23 AM

Supposin' W gave the school bus driver the finger.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 10:52 AM

Yup, I've got it now: fire the bus driver for using a gesture [ entirely appropriate to the situation & to Dumbya's actions ] that every kid on the bus knows and probably uses on a daily basis, but keep George W. Bush et. al. in office despite their criminal acts.

Ya gotta wonder what some people have for brains, and the issues they choose to express righteous indignation over.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 11:07 AM

I'm wishing he did, Old Guy! (grin) As I said earlier, it would make for an even better story that way and this would allow the media to raise more shit about it, but I guess they're already getting pretty good mileage out of it anyway, right?

I don't think I ever knew a kid in grade school who didn't know that gesture quite well, and most of them used it now and then too...even some of the girls.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 11:47 AM

As much as I hate Bush and agree with the bus driver's sentiments, she is an adult and she has to control herself better than that in front of kids. She can give Bush the bird all she wants from her car but not on work hours where she has to serve as some kind of example to the kids she drives around. That wasn't a very good example. Sorry, but she deserved to get axed.

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.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 03:15 PM

Yup! That parrot is pretty dead.

"And now for something completely different. . . ."

Don Firth

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

Tomorrow's news.

School which fired Driver for saluting monkey with a banana finger loses
funding from new Democratic administration, driver given funds for monkey control experiments.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 09:39 PM

New vote numbers have just been released. Reichert's lead has increased a little. So ... it's a roller coaster! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: fumblefingers
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 01:07 AM

The Superindendent said she was a poor role model in front of children and she embarrassed the school. I'd agree even if she mooned Bill Clinton. Civilized people generally hold their tongues and fingers in public.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 02:42 AM

Time to give her her job back now?

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 08:23 AM

The latest vote tally indicate that this case is still too close to call. Burner, the challenger, is filing for a re-count. They are predicting that it will be sometime MONDAY before all the votes are counted. Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: pdq
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:20 PM

As of 13 NOV 2006:

                         "Washington, 8th District: GOP Rep. Dave                   Reichert led Democrat Darcy Burner by about 3,500 votes, but many ballots in this heavily vote-by-mail state remained to be counted."

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:31 PM

Speedy bunch, these vote counters, aren't they... Still, I suppose they've got till January before it matters.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:37 PM

Actually, the votes need to be certified sometime in early December so them folks better start countin' faster...

As for givin' Bush the finger, who cares???

I'd give him the finger if I saw him... Most of the kids on the bus probably would have too if only they knew he was approachin'...

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Peace
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:52 PM

This kid's in trouble . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Amos
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:05 PM

LOL!! Is there a statute governing legal age for prosecuting an infant?   :D

A

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:37 PM

See what I mean???

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Old Guy
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 06:47 PM

Bobert:

I don't see what you mean or what you beleive either because you avoid answering questions.

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: 14 Nov 06 - 06:59 PM

This might help, perhaps. It is a site that lists various "figures of speech". One of these being "hyperbole" - exaggerated or extravagant statement used to make a strong impression, but not intended to be taken literally.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Bobert
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 07:52 PM

Exactly what are you referring to now, Old Guy??? Do you do drugs??? There has to be some logical expaination of your condition that allows you to invent stuff that others habve said that haven't really been said by others???

Personally, I think it falls into the category of "personality disorder" but you may actaully be suffering from soemthing mush worse... Have you talked with a psychiatrist??? Maybe you should...

BTW, do you hear voices??? No, not the ones athat are voices but the one's that ain't...

And I'm not tryin' to be smug or samrt here... I just don't get how you can take something that someone says and distort is so badly into something you wished they'd said??? Know what I mean???

No, you prolly don't have a clue...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Genie
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 08:01 PM

Better to be fired for giving Dubya the finger than to be fingered for setting fire to him.

I think the latter will land you in Gitmo, without a trace.

G

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 08:40 PM

D'Arcy Burner conceded defeat today. I've been out of town and just now got the news. Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Old Guy
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 09:21 PM

Bobert:

You said "the bus driver is lucky not to be waterborded tonight in one of Bush's secret torture chambers"

And I asked you:

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

To which you did not answer.

I am trying to discern if you are sincere with your allusions or are you being facetious and disingenuous.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Amos
Date: 15 Nov 06 - 09:36 AM

It is not beyond possibility, but I think Bober was exagerrating for humorous effect, a rhetorical technique which most adults have learned to recognize by the time they get out of highschool.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Greg F.
Date: 15 Nov 06 - 09:44 AM

Most can recognize it by the time they get out of GRADE school.

What intrigues me is why otherwise intelligent folks can't seem to recognize that interacting with this moron is the equivalent of pounding salt down a rat hole.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Amos
Date: 15 Nov 06 - 09:52 AM

It is? What happens when you pound salt down a rat hole?

A

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Old Guy
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 11:04 PM

What it tells me is that Crybaby Liberals will post something that they know to be untrue in order to support their position.

This is facetiousness and it points out their disengenuity. When you confront them with it they try to laugh it off as being funny and proceed with personal putdowns.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 09:20 AM

What kind of "freedom of expression" gives anyone the right to be so rude to another person. It is not GWB who is diminished by this boorish behavior it is the person who directed it toward him. Can we not be civil in our disagreements or is it now acceptable to be boorish because "we got rights". How sad that attitude is.

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: Amos
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 10:09 AM

One cannot knowingly make a joke about something and at the same time be disingeuous, I think -- joking requires knowing participation.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Driver Fired For Giving 'W' The Finger
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Nov 06 - 11:14 AM

I'm a bit puzzled by this "crybaby" tag. Who's doing the crying? Who's sorry now? in fact.