CBS News wrote:
Bus Driver Flips Off Bush, Gets Fired
SEATTLE, Nov. 2, 2006(AP)
A school bus driver fired after she reportedly made an obscene gesture at President Bush has filed a union grievance in an attempt to get her job back.
The 43-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was driving middle school children back to school after a zoo visit on June 16 when the president and Republican Rep. Dave Reichert drove slowly by in a motorcade.
From the bus, the children waved; with the windows down in their car, Bush and Reichert waved back.
That's when the driver gave the president the finger, according to Reichert and Issaquah superintendent Janet Barry.
"The congressman hadn't seen it, but the president turned to him and said, 'That one's not a fan,'" said Reichert spokeswoman Kimberly Cadena.
Reichert later called Barry to tell her about the incident, but the bus driver had already been fired. District officials learned about the incident after the driver boasted to colleagues about it, Cadena said.
District spokeswoman Sara Niegowski said the driver has filed a wrongful termination grievance through the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union did not return calls seeking comment.
Niegowski said the firing was not politically motivated.
"The bus driver was not terminated for making an obscene gesture at the president. The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students," Niegowski said. "That's not the role modeling we need for our students."
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Good thing they fired her, maybe she'll learn to have respect. Oh, I like your sig, though change it from Bush and Cheney, it's over for them.
She got what she deserved. Especially after she went bragging about it.
♥
She got canned for the right reason.CBS News wrote:
"The bus driver was not terminated for making an obscene gesture at the president. The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students," Niegowski said. "That's not the role modeling we need for our students."
Aren't gestures part of freedom of speech? I never remembered having to respect the president being a law. Sure, she got fired because she threw the gesture and shouldn't have in front of kids, but otherwise she has the right to.
But she didn't get fired for giving the president the finger. She got fired for giving the president the finger in front of the students.
It's over for the Republican party in general.Miller wrote:
Good thing they fired her, maybe she'll learn to have respect. Oh, I like your sig, though change it from Bush and Cheney, it's over for them.
Correct.Poseidon wrote:
Aren't gestures part of freedom of speech? I never remembered having to respect the president being a law. Sure, she got fired because she threw the gesture and shouldn't have in front of kids, but otherwise she has the right to.
Still, this argument against her seems a bit shaky. I'd like to know the back story. If she was fired because the kids saw it and told their parents, that's one thing. But something tells me that it was the result a few quick phone calls made from an aide's mobile from inside one of the cars in the motorcade.
Free speech being punished as always. Kids are going to see it no matter what. I don't think it matters much who they see it from.
One of two things will happen.
1. Either she will prove that similar behavior has not previously been addressed in such a harsh manner and get her job back.
2. The school district will prove that they acted in same manner as they have in the past with similar disciplinary issues, and her job is history.
1. Either she will prove that similar behavior has not previously been addressed in such a harsh manner and get her job back.
2. The school district will prove that they acted in same manner as they have in the past with similar disciplinary issues, and her job is history.
Last edited by Agent_Dung_Bomb (2006-11-02 15:46:48)
QFT!PRiMACORD wrote:
She got canned for the right reason.CBS News wrote:
"The bus driver was not terminated for making an obscene gesture at the president. The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students," Niegowski said. "That's not the role modeling we need for our students."
It wouldnt matter if it was the President or a bum on the street. Those gestures shouldnt be used in the presence of children.
In front of middle school students - oh noes!
I'm in eighth grade (US). I've seen people give the finger and worse a whole lot during my two years in middle school, and even before. Doesn't matter where it comes from anymore, because we've all seen it before.
I'm in eighth grade (US). I've seen people give the finger and worse a whole lot during my two years in middle school, and even before. Doesn't matter where it comes from anymore, because we've all seen it before.
Are you from Menomenie or something?SysTray wrote:
Packers Fan
Hope your guys are prepared for Nov 12 at the Dome.
They been getting better as of late, it'll be a good matchup. I think the Vikings are still a little inconsistent for my liking.The_Shipbuilder wrote:
Are you from Menomenie or something?SysTray wrote:
Packers Fan
Hope your guys are prepared for Nov 12 at the Dome.
I'm from Delaware, btw.
the only issue i have with it is this:
why couldnt she have waited till jan 2009 to do that. yeah oppurtunity arose and all. but the president is technically the highest representative of the American people. When I think of the president, I dont think of bush, I think of the commander in cheif.
still freedom of speech. but also civic responsibility comes to mind as well.
why couldnt she have waited till jan 2009 to do that. yeah oppurtunity arose and all. but the president is technically the highest representative of the American people. When I think of the president, I dont think of bush, I think of the commander in cheif.
still freedom of speech. but also civic responsibility comes to mind as well.
Last edited by GunSlinger OIF II (2006-11-02 15:55:10)
Uh, doesn't matter when she did it, or to whom. The point is she got fired for flipping the bird, not for disrespecting the president.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
the only issue i have with it is this:
why couldnt she have waited till jan 2009 to do that. yeah oppurtunity arose and all. but the president is technically the highest representative of the American people. When I think of the president, I dont think of bush, I think of the commander in cheif.
You speak the truth, but its still inappropriate for the driver of a school bus to give. Sure children see it from siblings, television, movies etc, but they SHOULDNT see it from carers, teachers, gaurdians and parents. And IMO, school bus drivers fall under that category. It doesnt matter if they have seen it before or not.k30dxedle wrote:
In front of middle school students - oh noes!
I'm in eighth grade (US). I've seen people give the finger and worse a whole lot during my two years in middle school, and even before. Doesn't matter where it comes from anymore, because we've all seen it before.
Yah, But how would you feel if the driver turned around and gave YOU the finger and told you your an asshat? Would that be right? Is that acceptable behavior? No. She went and bragged " Hey, I gave that Asshat GW the finger on the way back from the field trip with a bus load of Excited kids, that were Totally excited to see the president of the United states! I excersized my freedom of speach and gave him an obseen gesture in front of the impressionable kids!! Yay for Me!!"k30dxedle wrote:
In front of middle school students - oh noes!
I'm in eighth grade (US). I've seen people give the finger and worse a whole lot during my two years in middle school, and even before. Doesn't matter where it comes from anymore, because we've all seen it before.
Thats why she got shit canned. Now she can get that job at burger king she always wanted.
PS, Wasnt calling you an asshat, Just useing example.
Gee guys, I think by now you would have learn't that you aren't allowed to have negative comments about our esteemed leaders!
oh damn..vikings must have lost! lol, poor shipbuilder!
On topic, that's a typical thing to expect given the poor political atmosphere in this country. Had the bus driver been fired for flipping off anyone else, then it was just. But it's obvious being fired would not have happened. Damn I am just loving anal republicans more and more as they illustrate poor understanding of our constitutional values and laws.
On topic, that's a typical thing to expect given the poor political atmosphere in this country. Had the bus driver been fired for flipping off anyone else, then it was just. But it's obvious being fired would not have happened. Damn I am just loving anal republicans more and more as they illustrate poor understanding of our constitutional values and laws.
QFT.PRiMACORD wrote:
She got canned for the right reason.CBS News wrote:
"The bus driver was not terminated for making an obscene gesture at the president. The bus driver was terminated for making an obscene gesture in view of the students," Niegowski said. "That's not the role modeling we need for our students."
I agree with the sentiment and would be tempted to do the same myself. It's very unprofessional though and a perfectly good reason for firing someone.
I think you're blowing this one out of proportion. It really doesn't reflect on republicans at all, the politics involved are those between the employer and employee. The employer wishes its employees to be professional, and if they're caught being unprofessional in a situation where one or more people are upset, or in a situation where publicity is involved, the employer is responsible to clear his or her own name by removing the employee in question.IRONCHEF wrote:
oh damn..vikings must have lost! lol, poor shipbuilder!
On topic, that's a typical thing to expect given the poor political atmosphere in this country. Had the bus driver been fired for flipping off anyone else, then it was just. But it's obvious being fired would not have happened. Damn I am just loving anal republicans more and more as they illustrate poor understanding of our constitutional values and laws.
hello all,
now i,m a bus driver in the u.k.
an as part of our routes we are sometimes required to do a school run.
Now i can tell you over here every driver hates them we are verbally(sp)? abused swore at spat at an generally treat like sh*t
so i for one don't count the trauma of what these poor defenceless children had to undertake
thanks for listening you have been a great audience an remember........
your mum loves flowers
now i,m a bus driver in the u.k.
an as part of our routes we are sometimes required to do a school run.
Now i can tell you over here every driver hates them we are verbally(sp)? abused swore at spat at an generally treat like sh*t
so i for one don't count the trauma of what these poor defenceless children had to undertake
thanks for listening you have been a great audience an remember........
your mum loves flowers
What is a school run?
nice to know that things arent too different over there either.click-hick wrote:
hello all,
now i,m a bus driver in the u.k.
an as part of our routes we are sometimes required to do a school run.
Now i can tell you over here every driver hates them we are verbally(sp)? abused swore at spat at an generally treat like sh*t
so i for one don't count the trauma of what these poor defenceless children had to undertake
thanks for listening you have been a great audience an remember........
your mum loves flowers
Elected officials are just that, elected. It's not like he's the king.GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
the only issue i have with it is this:
why couldnt she have waited till jan 2009 to do that. yeah oppurtunity arose and all. but the president is technically the highest representative of the American people. When I think of the president, I dont think of bush, I think of the commander in cheif.
still freedom of speech. but also civic responsibility comes to mind as well.
Although I understand it from your POV, UCMJ and deference to the chain of command and that such a display is technically illegal for those in military service, but for average citizens it's largely irrelevent.
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