Po-o-o-o-orn Free…as free as the wind…er…um…u-h-hh, yeah.
My co-bloggers are all off doing very important top secret work for the government, so I’m opening up a thread for what ails and/or cures ya.
One possible topic: In the extremely petty, and not even remotely funny corner of why I’m embarassed to be a New Yorker (snicker) comes this tale of (sincerely now) rude behavior that I wish hadn’t happened, but…
Freemans tuesday night the 16th of nov. the bush twins along with 2 massive secret service men tried to have dinner they were told by the maitre ‘d that they were full and would be for the next 4 years upon hearing the entire restaurant cheered and did a round of shots it was amazing!!! [Ed: We’re hearing that this is actually true.]
Jenna, Laura, from this New Yorker, let me offer an apology. You are more than welcome here. Please come back. And bring your credit cards. Especially if you’re in the market for art…
I ♡ NY.
Free market at work. I believe business have the right to refuse business to anyone they wish correct? I think people want to heal and let the past fade, but I put the responsibility on Bush to make the first move. He’s the uniter. I don’t see that happening. I see us being split even more in the next four years along party lines, with the level of aggrivation increasing. The democrat politicians will be shut out of policymaking and the democratic peoples will become more aggrivated and bitter. Republicans will change rules they put in place to police democrats to suit the republicans needs now like the true hypocrites they are and basically gut the government every chance they get, and give more tax breaks to the rich and corporations. Expect more incidents like this. As a matter of fact, I encourage more incidents like this. The greater the divide and acrimony, the more likely real bi-partisan steps will be taken to heal the rift. You lead by example. Bush is the leader. What does that say to you?
As for the Bush twins being welcome in New York, it seems, clearly, they are not.
Yup, the restaurant and its patrons were picking on the innocent. Bad show.
Better to behave as John McCain — have the provenance of your child or perhaps the degree of comfort available in the cushy tiger cage questioned in the dirty low-down world of politics and then grovel to, I’m sorry, forgive the individual who benefited from the dirt.
Really, it is better.
On the other hand, perhaps we’ve reached a point where Tip O’Neill’s maxim that “all politics is local” should be changed to “all politics is personal.”
Who would want to live in a nasty world like that?
Not me.
Innocence? They lost their claim to innocence when they started campaigning for their dad.
Who would want to live in a nasty world like that?
We’re halfway there now. Another four years should make the transformation complete.
They lost their claim to innocence when they started campaigning for their dad.
I disagree. They’re innocent. Let them be. It’s not like they’re in a policy-making position or anything. Besides, even if they were, in many parts of the world the worst of all social transgressions is inhospitable treatment of visitors.
They’re what 22 years old? This makes us feel good about ourselves, embarassing 22-year-olds?
It’s petty.
Mr. Underscore, they don’t have your discerning taste.
You are right Edward. However, I think people are reaching the point where they just don’t care anymore.
On another note, did anyone notice the CDC’s report earlier in the week that the rate of live births to teens is at its lowest rate since 1946? So much for society going to hell in a handbasket, although to the extent that the rate decline is due to the availability of abortions, that won’t assuage the moralists too much. The best part: The state with the lowest teen birth rate was blue state Maine, and the highest was red state Mississippi. The latter’s rate was ten times higher than the formers.
I attribute that to the red state’s reluctance to include contraception in their sex education, Phil.
Bill:
No, I think the girls are innocent.
But you’re wrong about being half way there. I estimate 2/3s of the way there. After all, why is the word “honeymoon” now a synonym for “divorce”?
As for the “nasty world”, let me assure you that I wish I owned an Irish Bar. I would hope Tom Delay, Grover Norquist, Zell Miller, and a few others would show up for happy hour. They’ll definitely get in. But they’ll wish they had been turned away after they start with the bullying act.
And I think it’s high time Mary Matalin be made to sleep on the futon in the Lee Atwater memorial guest bedroom.
There. More pointed irony. Just to show you that I agree with you more than you agree with you.
But keep the kids out of it. Besides, they’re fairly hot.
But that belongs on the previous thread with the “twinkie” puns.
Pony. So there.
Me too, Edward. That, and the sexual equivalent of telling kids alcohol is bad, nasty and evil, and then expecting them not to try it.
no problem with restaurant owners refusing Bush, his cabinet, or most of Congress–I might even cheer myself–but leave the kids alone.
Yes, it was rude and inappropriate.
No, I don’t feel a lot of sympathy for the Bush twins over this or any of the other, more deserved, embarassments they’ve suffered.
The twins have led lives of great wealth and privilege, and this has zero to do with their own merit or accomplishments. It has solely to so with the fact that they were born into a rich and prominent family. Well, maybe if they’ve enjoyed so many undeserved benefits from being a part of that family, it’s not so terrible if they suffer a few undeserved insults and slights as well.
It is thoroughly annoying to hear expressions of dismay over the unfairness of it all.
They’re finished with school, right. Should be working instead of still suckling on the government teat. I’ll cut them the same slack the wingnuts cut Chelsea Clinton.
Most newly minted college grads in NYC are home eating mac & cheese on a Tuesday night, not out on the town. Bah!
Don’t be sad, girls! There’s this fab new place down the street called “Iraq.” Maybe there’s a table open there!
UC Berkeley statistical study concludes:
Since this is a p0rn-free open thread, I’ll restrict my discussion of the Bush twins to note that their names are Jenna and Barbara, and that Laura is their mother’s name.
And Edward, thanks for championing civility.
their names are Jenna and Barbara, and that Laura is their mother’s name.
I knew I should have checked that…
So I guess the point of the post and thread is us liberals shouldn’t be sore losers. All well and good.
But let’s say the “irregularities” cited by felixrayman were duplicated across the country and the election went into the courts and it turned out Kerry won.
Wonder what would happen to the sons and daughters of Democratic politicians across the country as they showed up to dine at Republican establishments, say, the Diebold Bar and Grill, or the Grover’s Leave us Alone Bistro?
Better yet. Say I had a 22-year old daughter. Say she was designated to knock on the front door of the White House and break the news to the folks inside. Wonder what would happen?
By the way, were the Bush twins (I still say they are innocent) wearing Vote for Bush t-shirts? Hell, if they were, why weren’t they searched, cuffed, and marched to the street by a Barney Fife type for a little heavy-handed interrogation and political bludgeoning?
Well because, if EVERYONE in the country, rather than just some thug-types, acted like that, we’d have even more fun than we’re having now.
Or maybe it’s because they stiffed the waiters with a $48 tip on a $4500 bar bill? I wouldn’t want them back for 4 years either.
Or maybe it’s because they stiffed the waiters with a $48 tip on a $4500 bar bill? I wouldn’t want them back for 4 years either.
While I agree with Edward that civility towards people who just happen to be the children of the President is important…
Still, that story says a lot about Jenna and Barbara Bush, if it’s true. If you get complimentary drinks to the value of $4500, the least you can do is tip at 25%, not 1%.
Grover’s Leave us Alone Bistro
Is that the place where there’s always someone poorer than you to pick up the tab?
Have to agree that a 1% tip in that situation, if true, is beyond boorish and, in my opinion, shows a very poor upbringing.
Edward, it may not be true. People in a position to be gossiped about will be, the children of the President among them: and the gossip won’t necessarily be true.
I did think it was wrong – and said so – to criticize Jenna and Barbara Bush for supporting their dad for President.
But they are, to a certain extent, public figures. I do believe they deserve a private life, but when they’re out in public, the least they can do is behave with normal politeness: Let them and their friends drink what they choose – they’re over 21, they’re entitled. If they get throwing-up drunk (for example) well, let them who are without sin cast the first stone – I’ve drunk more than I should when I was their age. If they get into a car and drive while drunk, their parentage should not save them from a felony charge, nor from public criticism. If they stiff waiting staff on their tips – well, an unknown face might get away with that, but a publicly-known face won’t, especially when they have enough money to tip well. No waitstaff are going to love rich kids who think 1% is as much as you need to tip.