GW Bush booed at Nationals' opener

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by saden1

He's lucky all they did was boo him. Respect is earned and god knows that man hasn't earned any. Silence is betrayal, always speak your mind.

Although I have no problem with anyone booing Bush, I disagree, and this is the distinction I draw between the person and the office. For me, anyone elected to the office gets the benefit of the doubt. Of course, I may have very little faith of that person's ability to deliver, but if they do I'll give them credit.

Bush eff'd pretty much everything he got involved in, so the boos are deserved. If McCain wins, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. If he eff's it up, too, give him the boos.

[SmootSmack]

This kinds of reminds me of a similar thread we had recently. Can you attend a movie starring your favorite actor and not mind that he/she is a spokesperson for a cause you are opposed to? Can you go attend your favorite team's home opener and not mind that the President is throwing the opening pitch (as is tradition)?

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by wolfeskins

you sound like you'd be a great eagles fan.

You sound like you'd be a great a communist. OOH BURN!! Democracy, get it or get out buddy.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

Although I have no problem with anyone booing Bush, I disagree, and this is the distinction I draw between the person and the office. For me, anyone elected to the office gets the benefit of the doubt. Of course, I may have very little faith of that person's ability to deliver, but if they do I'll give them credit.

Bush eff'd pretty much everything he got involved in, so the boos are deserved. If McCain wins, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. If he eff's it up, too, give him the boos.

If you boo you are disrespecting the office? I don't buy that. The office is bigger than Bush and booing him doesn't diminish the office or the accomplishments of prior presidents. If anyone has disrespected the office it is Bush. The man is shameless and his stench can not be masked. Everyone knows he is a disgrace and he has no one to blame but himself. Also, booing him shows the rest of the world that not all Americans approve of the Bush Administration (something your really want to convey seeing how opinions about the U.S. are at an all time low).

[love them hogs]

As Americans we all have the right to boo whoever we want.However, booing the president shows a lack of respect for the position they hold.Not to mention it is childish.We voted him into office twice.Where were all the boo birds in November?Not at the polls apparently.If you wanted to boo you should have done it with a vote.Enough votes to where even the Electoral College couldnt mess things up.

Once the President is in office its time to at least show the person elected the respect that the position is entitled to.Im not saying you should follow blindly,just respectfully disagree.This reminds me of a conversation I had with a frenchman. I asked him why the french hated america and he said "we do not hate american people,we just hate American President".To wich I said,"who voted in that President"?Im still waiting for the answer.The point is that he represents us all if you like it or not.Publicly booing him will only make us look stupid to the rest of the world.

[mooby]

I'm gonna keep this one simple. I see the points both sides make, and while I don't approve of some people booing the President at a baseball game, people do have their freedom and some decide to use it however they see fit. I don't agree with the decisions he has made and I damn sure won't be complaining when he leaves office in fall, but I think it's disrespectful to boo a man who is doing something that is in no way connected with his political agenda.

I mean if he was making a political speech in your hometown and a few people who didn't like him decided to show up and boo him after he tries to talk about a bad decision he made than w/e, that is the right forum to do it at. I don't think much of booers at all, whether at a football game or anywhere else. If you don't like a person simply don't say anything at all. I'm sure if Bush had been introduced and all you heard was crickets and a few smatterings of applause that would've said more (and you would've shown yourself to be classier) than a bunch of people booing him.

I understand though there will always be people in this country that don't care and that's why I wasn't suprised by it. And for the GTripp/Matty argument, I think there is a difference between the decisions a man makes and what he really is like, especially when you are the President of one of the biggest and most powerful nations in the world. I'm not gonna say that none of his decisions were based solely on what he thought, because I'm sure some were, but he has all those advisors and people that try to influence his decisions, but contrary to popular belief running the country isn't a one man show. One man may hold most of the power, but some of his actions are probably influenced by others. And no, I'm not saying the balance of his actions influenced by himself/others is like 20/80, because judging on what he's done it definitely doesn't look like it, but it's probably somewhere along the lines of 60/40 or 65/35. I don't think there will ever be a definitive number though simply because nobody except himself could truly reveal that. Either way, what I've said has swayed from the topic at hand, so to sum it up, I agree with everyone else that thinks its' disrespectful.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by saden1

If you boo you are disrespecting the office? I don't buy that. The office is bigger than Bush and booing him doesn't diminish the office or the accomplishments of prior presidents. If anyone has disrespected the office it is Bush. The man is shameless and his stench can not be masked. Everyone knows he is a disgrace and he has no one to blame but himself. Also, booing him shows the rest of the world that not all Americans approve of the Bush Administration (something your really want to convey seeing how opinions about the U.S. are at an all time low).

That's pretty much the exact opposite of what I said.

What I said is that I think the office gets you the benefit of the doubt when you first come in - that is, I won't prejudge a new president, even if I think he/she is an idiot. If you eff it up, though, then you've taken a dump on the office, and the office doesn't entitle you to respect that you obviously don't deserve. That's what Bush did, so he earned the boos.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by love them hogs

As Americans we all have the right to boo whoever we want.However, booing the president shows a lack of respect for the position they hold.Not to mention it is childish.We voted him into office twice.Where were all the boo birds in November?Not at the polls apparently.If you wanted to boo you should have done it with a vote.Enough votes to where even the Electoral College couldnt mess things up.

Once again, only about half the people in the ballpark were actually booing him. In fact, the amount of people cheering for him vs. the amount of people booing was probably very respresentative of the amount of people that voted for him vs those that did not.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by love them hogs

As Americans we all have the right to boo whoever we want.However, booing the president shows a lack of respect for the position they hold.Not to mention it is childish.We voted him into office twice.Where were all the boo birds in November?Not at the polls apparently.If you wanted to boo you should have done it with a vote.Enough votes to where even the Electoral College couldnt mess things up.

Once the President is in office its time to at least show the person elected the respect that the position is entitled to.Im not saying you should follow blindly,just respectfully disagree.This reminds me of a conversation I had with a frenchman. I asked him why the french hated america and he said "we do not hate american people,we just hate American President".To wich I said,"who voted in that President"?Im still waiting for the answer.The point is that he represents us all if you like it or not.Publicly booing him will only make us look stupid to the rest of the world.

Make us look stupid? lol. If the sky over the U.S. was a mirror you would see clowns every time you looked up.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

That's pretty much the exact opposite of what I said.

What I said is that I think the office gets you the benefit of the doubt when you first come in - that is, I won't prejudge a new president, even if I think he/she is an idiot. If you eff it up, though, then you've taken a dump on the office, and the office doesn't entitle you to respect that you obviously don't deserve. That's what Bush did, so he earned the boos.

Roger that!

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Nice. I'd rather just not continue any sort of discussion with you since you're intent on dragging this into the mud with insults directed towards me.

I'll call the president whatever I want to, that's my right, love it or leave it.

Next.

With rights come responsibilities.

You can carry a gun, you can't shoot it at people at random.

You can get married, if you cheat, she has the "right" to leave you and empty your bank account.

You can say whatever you want, but there are consequences for your speech. Everyone else has the equal freedom of speech and RIGHT to not only disagree or condemn you if you say something wrong, stupid or in this case disrespectful, but speaking without responsibility can also get you beaten or jailed. If you say something to law enforcement, on an airplane, during a speech or in an environment where it is either inappropriate or illegal...you get consequences. Making threats against public officials (not saying you did...reminding you) can land you in jail and you'd deserve it.

Sure you can "say whatever you want" but accept the consequences.

Freedom of speech is not an anarchist right, there are laws and responsibilities and also issues of respect that should be adhered to.

"I can say what I want" shows a lot of immaturity and a lack of understanding what having a right actually means.

The Founders knew what they were doing when they set our laws and rights in place, they were very focused on the future of the nation as much as the establishment. Their principles of responsibilities accompanying freedoms still holds true, although the selfish society of today doesn't grasp the concept of maintaining freedom (fight for it) and even what to do with it while they have it. Courtesy, respect for authority and the nation have all gone away. You see it everywhere from that Nationals game to this morning when some blonde in a Toyota who was doing her hair in the rear-view mirror while driving cut me off without a turn signal because she was in a turning lane and wanted to go straight. Tearing down the position and Office of the Presidency by not showing proper respect because you don't personally like the man holding it not only looks bad to other nations, it looks bad to most people around you.

You said "Bottom　line is this: if you decide to throw out the first pitch in a liberal city with a 30 percent approval rating you get what's coming to you."

There were FAR MORE cheers then boos, so obviously even most liberals have more class than you and your ilk of vocal jerks.

In short, you can act like a jerk, but expect a verbal and sometimes a physical beating.


By the way, the Democrat-led Congress has had as low as a 10 percent approval rating, so apparently if you believe those media polls, he's doing a far better job than anyone else in Washington.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

Once again, only about half the people in the ballpark were actually booing him. In fact, the amount of people cheering for him vs. the amount of people booing was probably very respresentative of the amount of people that voted for him vs those that did not.

So half of America is a bunch of sore losers?

Yeah, I can buy that.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I skipped through most of this, but....I totally agree about "OOOOO" during the National Anthem. It's unbelievably stupid and annoying, imo.

Sorry for the length, but it's something I believe in without backing down.

I guess the "OOOOOOOOOO" just stood out to you and made you wonder what I was talking about.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by Buster

So half of America is a bunch of sore losers?

Yeah, I can buy that.

Hell, maybe they weren't booing the president, maybe they were booing the idiots that voted for him a second time.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Buster

With rights come responsibilities.

You can carry a gun, you can't shoot it at people at random.

You can get married, if you cheat, she has the "right" to leave you and empty your bank account.

You can say whatever you want, but there are consequences for your speech. Everyone else has the equal freedom of speech and RIGHT to not only disagree or condemn you if you say something wrong, stupid or in this case disrespectful, but speaking without responsibility can also get you beaten or jailed. If you say something to law enforcement, on an airplane, during a speech or in an environment where it is either inappropriate or illegal...you get consequences. Making threats against public officials (not saying you did...reminding you) can land you in jail and you'd deserve it.

Sure you can "say whatever you want" but accept the consequences.

Freedom of speech is not an anarchist right, there are laws and responsibilities and also issues of respect that should be adhered to.

"I can say what I want" shows a lot of immaturity and a lack of understanding what having a right actually means.

The Founders knew what they were doing when they set our laws and rights in place, they were very focused on the future of the nation as much as the establishment. Their principles of responsibilities accompanying freedoms still holds true, although the selfish society of today doesn't grasp the concept of maintaining freedom (fight for it) and even what to do with it while they have it. Courtesy, respect for authority and the nation have all gone away. You see it everywhere from that Nationals game to this morning when some blonde in a Toyota who was doing her hair in the rear-view mirror while driving cut me off without a turn signal because she was in a turning lane and wanted to go straight. Tearing down the position and Office of the Presidency by not showing proper respect because you don't personally like the man holding it not only looks bad to other nations, it looks bad to most people around you.

You said "Bottom　line is this: if you decide to throw out the first pitch in a liberal city with a 30 percent approval rating you get what's coming to you."

There were FAR MORE cheers then boos, so obviously even most liberals have more class than you and your ilk of vocal jerks.

In short, you can act like a jerk, but expect a verbal and sometimes a physical beating.


By the way, the Democrat-led Congress has had as low as a 10 percent approval rating, so apparently if you believe those media polls, he's doing a far better job than anyone else in Washington.

I'm not sure I would say "vocal jerks" but more importantly are you saying that Matty said "Bottom line is this..."? Because he didn't, so before you go on a rant you should get your facts straight.