"Bridging" the gap on Treason
By John Amato Wednesday Nov 14, 2007 11:01am
Dear me. A bridge player had the audacity to hold up a sign that said "We did not vote for Bush." Instantly, she's a traitor! And I thought playing the traitor card was only a God-given right to the wingnuts in radio and blogoland. I guess not! Beware all ye merry Americans in all professions throughout the land. The 24%ers are everywhere!
In the genteel world of bridge, disputes are usually handled quietly and rarely involve issues of national policy. But in a fight reminiscent of the brouhaha over an anti-Bush statement by Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks in 2003, a team of women who represented the United States at the world bridge championships in Shanghai last month is facing sanctions, including a yearlong ban from competition, for a spur-of-the-moment protest.
At issue is a crudely lettered sign, scribbled on the back of a menu, that was held up at an awards dinner and read, “We did not vote for Bush.” By e-mail, angry bridge players have accused the women of “treason” and “sedition.”
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TBogg explains why this isnt treason. Using pictures!
Hear that, everyone? Not voting for Bush is treason!
More proof that reich-wingers have no concept of truth or reality and gladly swallow the kool-aide offered by their reich-wing masters. These twits should open a dictionary for once in their life and look at the definition of “treason” and “sedition.”
oh yeah!! traitors!! a risk to national security. uh huh... all for expressing what the vast majority of us are thinking. and saying.
WHAT!?
THE!!!?
FUCK!!!!!?
Really pathetic story. These ladies were courageous in the same way as the track runners in the Mexico City Olympics that held their fists up for solidarity.
For other bridge players to complain is laughable at best.
How many angry bridge players ?
Were there any supportive bridge players? If so, how many of those?
So much for the "land of the free and home of the brave". This country is becoming mired in stupidity. Exactly WHY are the soldiers dying in Iraq again? So we can express how we feel? I think not.
Dr. Matt (#3) is COMPLETLY correct....The 747 waiting on the tarac for the Wing-Nuts to take them to the Hague for their trials is filling up fast...!!!
So if Americans don't line up in droves, kiss bush's ass, and say he is king....we are TRAITORS.
Do tell, just what is this country coming to....Heil Bush Heil the King...he is always right. He kills thousands upon thousands of innocent people, he ruins a country, he puts us in 8 trillion dollars debt ...so far....and we should all say he is doing a wonderful job.
BULLSHIT and I would love to smear that all over him. Hally lou jah....
I have a feeling if you checked the email headers you'd find a lot of congressional staffers who are suddenly bridge players.
The regressive wing of the rethug party. They may be only 24% of the population but they own the media and the military and they thrive on fear and hate.
We 70-percenters need to take this further. We all need to wear "Impeach" buttons. No longer a sign of being a dirty hippy. We need to take impeachment mainstream.
Christ can the wingers just shut their mouths for a second and use their brains for a minute? I'd REALLY appreciate that m'kay?
god bless yah ladies ,
Does boosh no any card game harder than go fish?
He goes out on a row boat with uncle dead-eye dick.
PaulW @ 14:
M'kay Mr. Mackey.
The sad part of all this is that this President has been so awful by tearing apart the fabric of the country, that people are desperate to distinguish themselves from him. This is not just a politician no one likes...this is a guy who has made people feel that they are from a different America. It's absolutely tragic.
David Charles @ 2:
Only in a dictatorship.
Outing a CIA agent is treason, Holding up a sign protesting, or saying anything derogatory is our right, even our duty in a free society, so I would call the woman a patriot and the man she is apologizing for, a criminal, and the sooner he is gone the better for all.................Impeach the son of a bitch right f(*king now.:-( :-II
Just say know.
My email to the Bridge Federation board members:
Dear USBF Board Members,
You’ve clearly expressed your totalitarian position in your official statement about the “protest” in Shanghai where the women’s team “hijacked” your event, and I know it’s a little late, but I wanted to add one more little letter to the “I support the VCW (Venice Cup Winners)” stack.
I think you are morons and your reaction demonstrates exactly what is currently wrong with our country. Those women took their 2 minutes in the international spotlight (well maybe not spotlight, it was just a bridge tournament after all, how about “arena” or “stage”) to try and show the world that not everyone in our country is represented by George Bush and his devastating policies. The reaction from you? Immediate suppression of speech and meting out of punishments followed by kowtowing to the corporate gods whose feelings may have been hurt. King George must have been proud when he heard about your response.
I hope the women on that team take a page from Vice President Cheney’s etiquette book and tell you all to go fuck yourselves.
Sincerely.
XXXXXX
Their response:
Thank you for your email.
The USBF Board appreciates everyone's input. I and the other USBF Board members are not participating in discussions of the incident because it is inappropriate for us to do so. But I assure you that we are listening to everyone.
Just who is threatening sanctions and bans on these people? I would like to contact them and make MY views known on just who is the traitor here.
David Charles @ 2:
No no. That's not what the right-wingers are angry at, although it pisses them off too.
They're angry at people saying publicly that they didn't vote for Bush. This is an infringement on the freedom of speech.
Yeah, what Maddy said! Furthermore, would those flag-worshiping fools please get that butcher's apron out of my face!
raymond @ 18:
Yet more and more world leaders are warming up to him. Strange thing.
It's all so confusing. A world-wide conspiracy against the far-left wing of the American populace.
Even the Democratic Party is in on it.
Ignore my last, I somehow missed the letter from DLATL which answered my question. I will be emailing USBF also.
How about a T-shirt, "I did not vote for Bush". We could start a mass movement wearing them in public places and WalMart-type place. We can then determine who of our fellow citizens do not believe in the freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution.
I think if everyone that DID NOT vote for bush wore a button stating they didn't, it wouldn't take long for EVERYONE to fugure out that both of the last elections were stolen.....
My favorite part about this is if it has something to do with immigration the wingers feel free to say the most nasty things about Bush. One of Fox's commentators actually referred to Bush as "this tool" in referring to his guest worker program. Didn't hear a peep out of them about that.
Where these women will stay when they visit Washington DC in the near future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26knkqkgNkU
Olberman did a nice piece on these patriotic ladies last night. He mentioned that the US Bridge assn (or whomever)
better check the legality of the idiotic charges they're making to these Ladies.
The moral of the story is: "not voting for bush is Treason"
begin the executions bushie, if you think you're hard enuff!
The Dixie Tricks
Yet more and more world leaders are warming up to him. Strange thing. - Dennis
Speciifics, Mr. Troll-head? Which world leaders would those be?
raymond @ 18:
Well said.
Wake up in the morning hopeful that there will be a big headline at C&L: president what's his face is impeached and awaiting trial on war crimes along with his vice prez.
We are mad as hell, in a reality none would have thought possible prior to this mans illegal(two) presidency.
the only shithead to preside without ever being elected.
I keep thinking of MLK saying in a speech: "free at last, lord god almighty, free at last."
We will not go quietly.
Dr. Matt @ 3:
too bad the flavor is not 'Jim Jones Cherry'.
Bush is a divider, not a uniter.
Treason would have been a sign that said "did" instead of "did not".
Dennis @ 26:
Dennis @ 26:
He's a moron whose economic policies are trashing the U.S. Dollar and lowering its power in the world market, while increasing the power of the Euro and other foreign currencies. What's not to love?
well just wait, next year they can play for the canadian team...
These patriotic ladies are trying to salvage, no thanks to the moron in the White House, what little credibility this country has left around the world by reminding everyone that we are not of like mind and they're labeled unpatriotic? Traitors? WTF ??? I hope this story does not die off. I hope us 70 percenters keep it going!
goatsage @ 35:
adolph hitler , tojo , musolini , kim ill sung , mao , pot pol, the kiser, count dracula, just gobs of great leaders , siegh hilegasnufers!
Believe me when I say that they do not like him, they are aghast at what he has done. If anything, they are keeping their noses in our business for one reason..Oil in all of its nefarious disguises.
Evil only triumphs when good people do nothing.
Guess I'm a traitor as well because I didn't vote for that fucker either.
I didn't vote for Kerry. I voted AGAINST Bush. I guess that makes me a double traitor.
This is nonsense. It is not treason or sedition to speak your mind. Nor is it treason or sedition to vote for whomever the fuck you want to vote for. As far as these people, I'm sure 2 out of the 5 total people who watched this event somehow got their white cotton granny panties in a bunch because they're right wing nitwits. Where the hell were they when Clinton was being publicly eviscerated over his own private business? They sure as hell weren't supporting him! Fuck 'em all. I hope all these people making a big deal of this all die in a fire. Or better yet, I hope they all die because a whale picked up by a tropical hurricane caused by global warming falls on their house and THEN they die.
goatsage @ 35:
Goatse-
You've got Google. You'd never rely on anything I'd post anyway. Sarkozy, Merkel, Howard, Denmark's Rasmussen.
You can send this fredom hating president a friendly email here:
http://usbf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=57
E in Md @ 47:
I've heard of that....
goatsage @ 50:
would not a rope tied to an old oak tree do after a short but fair trial,
Dennis @ 48:
Donald "Trump"?
I wait tables. When I wait on foreigners, I really want to tell them that I didn't vote for Bush, I never supported his policies, and I hope that your visit here can help you see that we're not all like that.
Dennis @ 48:
Wow, Mr. Troll-head, you're really reaching, aren't you? Howard hasn't "warmed up" to Bush, he's been his BTF friend from the beginning. As for Merkel, despite the unsolicited back rubs she knows she just needs to bide her time, pretend to be nice and we will all be rid of this jackass. As for Merkel, he would embrace Fred Flintsone if he were the POTUS. Now run along, I'm sure you have little children to stalk.
Even amid the just outrage and concern over 9/11, it was clear there was something fundamentally wrong with the Bush Administration when then-White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, "I would submit that it is unpatriotic to criticize the president."
Of course, he also chided the press when they stuck their noses in the 'Jenna Bush Goes Drinking' story ... yet it's apparently okay to gush about her new children's book, and all the nifty things she did working in South America. It's okay to inflict hagiographies about how cerebral Condi Rice is ('scary smart') and how she plays the piano to unwind.
If one has a wound that is scabbed over, picking off the scab is generally not recommended. However, when one has a festering, gangrenous limb, it's usually time for amputation. Reid and Pelosi are quickly becoming the equivalent of the idiots in the Comcast Digital Voice commercial.
"I told you before! Torture is against international and U.S. law!"
"Yeah, but this time I'm talking to you on my Comcast Digital Voice service ..."
Saw this a few weeks ago. More power to them! Let us speak forever against oppression, war, and propaganda!
48 Dennis--Yeah, Merkel really warmed up when he gave her that back rub. You could see it in her grimace and how she threw her hands up.
scruzman @ 52:
You'll note I said world leader, scruzman. Trump doesn't qualify, although I'd like to see him get into politcs.
Add Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to that list.
This is about control. We can't have people making political statements that deviate from the "official story". It might cause people to think. It is bad enough that the internet is full of all sorts of articles and media that cause people to think. Don't worry, soon enough that will be controlled too.
Despite all the media hype for Bush disapproval ratings, and disaffection of the social conservative agenda, Bush' support among the southern evangelical is still very strong and even more so.
To them, denouncing Bush is akin to denouncing GOD.
And all these media attacks on Bush, solidify their own perception of Bush as the new John the Baptist. John the Baptist was ridiculed when he baptizes people en masse, so is Bush, he is ridiculed by the world for his bold claim of WWIII and Crusades war. John the Baptist prepares the coming of Christ by baptism of water, so does Bush, except he baptizes the world with fire (i.e. bombs).
They will continue to support Bush.
Show me a person who admits and are proud they voted for bush and I will show you a person who can be considered stupid, a racist, a gay hating gay, a christian who's into hookers or teenage boys or a person who uses water boarding in there bedroom and considers it a turn on.
Which category does william kristol fit under.
Thats basically the spectrum of Bush supporters.
JudyLou @ 57:
You forgot to add Bill O'Reilly and falafel to your non-valid argument, Judy Loo-loo.
Put it on Ebay. It could raise a lot of money.
McDuff @ 19:
"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier (he he ha ha)...just so long as I'm the dictator."--Bush
Dennis @ 58:
Sorry, bad attempt at levity,
No, I don't think any of us rational people would rely on anything you say or post, Dumbed-Down Dennis.
Say, what does it feel like to be a part of the ever-dwindling, desperate, marginalized minority who still support this booze-addled imbecile? (Unfortunately, you poor clods do wield power disproportionate to your numbers.)
Black @ 61:
The "Dummy"?
But Boris, she insulted Fearless Leader. She must be taken out and shot!
I have a bumper sticker in my office that says the same thing (it replaces "we" with "I" but I digress)
I'm surprised there aren't more stickers and t-shirts out there that say this already. Hell, they're all over ebay!
I don't know my country and western, but wasn't there a country duo that came out against the war after the Dixie Chicks, and there was no back lash?
To me it all sounds like country rock of the early 70's, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Alabama, Eagles, Leon Russell et al.
JudyLou @ 57:
Could be worse, could've been papa boosh throwing up on a guest.
#59 - are we there yet?
I sent a supportive e-mail to the brave, courageous and clear-headed bridge players who stood up and spoke for the millions of us around the globe who are groaning under the iron yoke of this tyrannical criminal regime.
It doesn't really bother me that there may be some 'punishment' meted out. The USBF may be within thier rights that it is not appropriate to politicize a non-political event. It depends on how explicit their by-laws are. Smith and Carlos were banned from the Olympic village and asked to leave the Olympic games b/c it was deemed a violation of the spirit of the games. (someone mentioned the black power salute). So, they very well may have to bear some sort of punishment. I think it's stupid, but there it is.
What bothered me was that they wanted to know who came up with the idea, when it was devised, etc. etc. As if it wasn't enough to jsut punish them and move on, they seemed to want to make it very personal.
Also, if they are inconsistent in their application of not politicizing a non-political event (like letting people wear 'support our troops' buttons etc.) Then, I guess the punishment thing would be entirely bogus.
ysbaddaden @ 70:
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard have both recorded anti-war songs in the past few years. In fact, Merle has recorded a song for Hillary, you know that's got to drove the NASCAR nation just batshit!
1-202-225-0100 DEMAND IMPEACHMENT.
Because in America anyone who did not vote for the winner is a traitor.
Yumpin' yimminy - I have voted for either Bush AT ALL!
Does that make me eligible for the death penalty under the Patriot Act???? If so, DARN IT!!
Anrgy bridge players can suck my balls.
Even if the winner is SUCH a loser.
seele @ 33:
Be careful what you wish for.
There is a reason Blackwater--Bush and Cheney's private military--is growing like cancer throughout the United States.
We really don't have another year to spare with these people.
This story makes my skin crawl. Corporate media, and the likes of Limbaugh and Hannity, have successfully redefined treason and sedition. Can they possibly be proud of themselves?
The one thing this administration does diabolically well is take its own weaknesses, dysfunctions, and mental problems, and project them to the normal opposition.
For eight years I endured daily insults about Clinton from my conservative friends. Hell I still hear them 7 years later. Never at any time did I ever think that their comments, although many times disgusting and vile, ever rose to the level of traitorous or treasonous to my country. In fact, my general feeling, is "Hey it is a free country" , and "people are entitled to their opinion". Now I am called a traitor and treasonous regularly, when I have the audactiy to simple say, "I did not vote for him".
The conservative ethos can easily be summed up in the following statement. "The ends ALWAYS justify the means"
this is not the position i like to find myself in.... but, i agree with dennis to a point.
of course the german and french GOVERNMENTS (not the people) have gotten closer to the bush admin, as seen thru the relationship bush has with merkel and sarkozy versus the relat he had with schroeder and chirac.
to me, this makes 100% sense. they might be embarrassed by bush's behavior and want to keep some distance, politically speaking, but they are of the same NEOLIBERAL, market fundamentalist, stripe. and when it comes down to it this discredited ideology, neoliberalism, trumps all else.
again, this gave me no pleasure.
Oops, make that HAVE NOT voted for either Bush at all - damn fast fingers!
"I Didn't Vote For The Dummy"
Where's a Sense of the Senate or something condemning the USBF Reichsmarschall's unAmerican activities? KO listed the extensive "punishment" for the ladies' free speech & it's straight out of a strong-arm dictator's playbook.
I'm sure she'll find air travel a little more cumbersome. But at least she didn't get tasered.
I regularly wear one of the "Bush Lied They Died" T-Shirts when shopping. Countless people, including many I would have thought by appearance would be Bush supporters have approached me to tell me they like the shirt and the sentiment. No one has yet criticized me. My Impeach Bush bumper sticker gets the same positive response. I live in the reddest of States, Alaska.
I don't play Bridge. Guess that must be where all the remaining supporters spend their time. Do they use those "wanted terrorist" cards that followed our Iraq occupation to play the game? Are they so engrossed in Bridge that they don't follow the news?
How much more will it take before the psychopath in chief and his vice are universally condemned and the remaining few recognize who is really committing treason. When will their house of cards finally collapse?
Dennis @ 58:
What does Tony Blair lead?
Sounds more like a simple statement of fact than a protest to me. Kind of like saying, "We did not vote for Kerry" or "I had the apple pie with my lunch, rather than the cherry pie." Would anyone object to that?
If they'd held up a sign that said "We Support Bush", the punishment would be the same. The reaction in the blogosphere would be different, I'll bet.
I think it was against the Federation rules to politicize the event. They should either double-down, or fold.
Waitaminnit!!!! I had to put up with 8+ years of driving behind squareheaded idiots in crappy cars with "Don't blame me I didn't vote for her" bumper stickers and bite my tongue but suddenly we've defined treason down tot his level. Damn, I would have loved to pull off a citizen's execution on those idiots back then. Why didn't anyone tell me?
Reminds me of driving through rural Ohio during October 2004 and seeing a huge billboard on I-80 that said...and I shit you not..."A Vote for Bush/Cheney protects your right to read your Bible. Don't let that right be taken away."
Obviously, someone read this and believed it as true - Bush won Ohio...barely.
Sedition... that's rich. Bravo to these Americans for having the guts to stand up and be counted among the free and the brave.
Of COURSE they are traitors!
Each and every one of them.
They do not support the Party. They do not support our Leader.
They are scum, and need to be wiped from the face of the Earth!
They don't deserve to live amongst us decent, hard working Party members.
If you are not for the Party, you are a terrorist!
And that is exactly what I plan on saying from now on in this, their United States of Afraidia.
THIS is news? Fuck those reichwingnuts & Il Duce Busholini to hell.
Dennis @ 26:
Provide your "proof" that " more and more world leaders are warming up to him". Simply replying with "use google" is not a rebuttal.
scruzman @ 65:
People like that don't understand "levity" or "basic math" or "bathing."
scruzman @ 90:
I she had done that we wouldn't have know you disingenuous troll.
goatsage @ 28:
Just don't wear such a t-shirt on a Southwest Airlines flight -- they'll boot you off the plane! ;)