Issaquah Bus Driver Appeals Firing For "Flipping Off" President Bush

Seattle Times ^ | 11/2/06 | Manuel Valdes

[steve-b]

An Issaquah school bus driver fired for allegedly "flipping off" President Bush during a visit to Seattle in June is appealing her termination.

According to Issaquah School District officials, the incident happened when a district school bus stopped for the president's motorcade while returning from a field trip in Seattle.

As the president waved to the school children from his limousine, the bus driver made an obscene gesture, said Sara Niegowski, a spokeswoman for the district.

Bush was in Seattle attending a fundraiser for Congressman Dave Reichert, who was riding in the same limousine.

Reichert campaign officials confirm that Bush told Reichert about the gesture and that the congressman later called Issaquah's superintendent to let her know about the incident....

[Anti-Bubba182]

Tough! She was not on her own time there.

[txroadhawg]

Showed poor judgment and lack of respect in front of school children, fire the b**ch!

[P-40]

the bus driver made an obscene gesture

This is not acceptable conduct for a school bus driver...

[Suzy Quzy]

She did an OBSCENE jesture in front of the CHILDREN!!!! THAT"S why she should be fired!!!

[wideawake]

Seems pretty clearcut.

She made an obscene gesture in front of children for whom she is supposed to be responsible.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

What does anyone expect from the government schools???

Respect for our President? No way.

[Frank_2001]

Hey, Ms. Issaquah Bus Driver: Up YOURS!

[rhombus]

Another case of Bush Derrangement Syndrome (BDS)...someone driven by so much hatred of the Bush that they lose control and act like a fool.

[Fishtalk]

So okay, first problem here, the article alleges that the incident was reported by OTHER school employees.

Then we get a comment that President Bush was the only one who saw the gesture.

Make up my mind.

Also, go with me here, I would certainly be outraged if the driver of my child's school bus did such a thing, even to Clinton-who I despise.

This is hardly the stuff we want bus drivers doing. I'd also daresay that when Bush told Reichart about the incident that he was just as shocked. Bush has had far worse than a bird flipped at him these past six plus years. I don't believe he was angry at such a small thing.

Yet the vaunted Public School Employees' Union or whatever union thug group represents these people wants to get this guy REHIRED?

Goes to show their morals.

[kingu]

It is November - why is this even an issue this many months later?

The obvious answer is that we've really screwed up public employment. There's no way around it. If a bus driver flips the bird to other drivers on the road, they shouldn't be driving a bus with children. They should have been fired, and they should have a job in the private sector by now, probably cleaning toilets.

Instead, we have someone fighting to keep their job?

Public employees should never feel secure in their job. Especially politicians, but same with the rest of them. They should serve at our sufferance, not the other way around.

[WBL 1952]

Want to hear something even more upsetting?

There is an over abundance of school teachers that post over at DU. I constantly see posts from people referencing their teaching jobs and then going on a lunatic blast of the GOP.

[Logical me]

Seattle? That's the answer.

[mkjessup]

So why is the Seattle media protecting this beeotch by concealing her name?

I would think that someone like her would be proud of making such a political statement with her middle digit.

On the other hand, maybe she didn't study hard enough at John F. Kerry High School and ended up stuck driving a school bus.

Yeah, that's it.

[gcruse]

"Goes to show their morals."

Morals and politics....morals and politics. Morals and politics?

Sorry, I just can't connect those two dots. Call me disillusioned. Notwithstanding, fire the bitch for revealing to the school kids that adults aren't necessarily mature.

[geezerwheezer]

Your theory is more than likely correct. She should study more often!

[steve-b]

There is an over abundance of school teachers that post over at DU.

I wonder if DU has picked up this story yet.

[gridlock]

She did an OBSCENE jesture in front of the CHILDREN!!!!

Are you kidding? She probably does that all the time. I'm sure the kids think it's hilarious!

Government schools are cesspools. Why should the government school bus be any different?

[sionnsar]

From a local paper:

This was part of a pattern of behavior, she said, and not "an isolated event," although the district wouldn't offer specifics. The district hired her seven years ago this month.

[scannell]

And these are the people that continue to short change our children. Our education problem and cost of education problem will never be solved in this country unless the self-serving public employees union are dealt with and tenure is eliminated on US campuses and the professors are required to work for their pay check (lets say at least 30 hours a week - not the current 6 hour average).