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Fired Over Finger, Driver Wants Job Back
AP ^ | 11/2/6 | GENE JOHNSON

Posted on 11/02/2006 12:04:24 PM PST by SmithL

Seattle -- 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,'"

. . . 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.

. . . "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."

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: bushhaters; dumbideas; fingerlickinbad; unionthugs
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1 posted on 11/02/2006 12:04:25 PM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL

If she'd done it when there were no children around, I'd probably agree that she shouldn't have been fired, but it doesn't set a good example of behavior for the youth.


2 posted on 11/02/2006 12:06:01 PM PST by JamesP81 (Rights must be enforced; rights that you're not allowed to enforce are rights that you don't have.)
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To: JamesP81

That is the issue, not free speech. These were elementary kids.


3 posted on 11/02/2006 12:07:19 PM PST by bigfootbob
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To: SmithL
"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.

The salient point...

4 posted on 11/02/2006 12:10:19 PM PST by aligncare (Liberals? Mutants? You decide.!)
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To: SmithL

she got off easy

what happens if you flip off Kim Jong-Il?

I doubt she'd want to find out.

Have a nice life, former bus driver.


5 posted on 11/02/2006 12:11:37 PM PST by zeke15
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To: SmithL

Posted here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1730904/posts


6 posted on 11/02/2006 12:11:42 PM PST by Sopater (Creatio Ex Nihilo)
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To: SmithL

I don't have a problem with giving her the job back, as long as she agrees to having both of her middle fingers surgically removed...


7 posted on 11/02/2006 12:12:11 PM PST by Hegemony Cricket (I'm Hegemony Cricket, and I improved this message.)
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To: SmithL

Ah, for the days of Nelson Rockefeller.


8 posted on 11/02/2006 12:12:34 PM PST by AxelPaulsenJr (Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.)
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To: SmithL

If thy finger offend thee, cut it off...


9 posted on 11/02/2006 12:14:38 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: SmithL

The students showed more class then the old hag.


10 posted on 11/02/2006 12:15:12 PM PST by marmar (Although, I may look different then you....my blood still runs....RED, WHITE, @ BLUE.)
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To: SmithL
There is no free speech issue here - it is an issue of common decency, civility and respect for the President of the United States.

There was a time in my life where this act would have elicited a "good whoopin" - or at least universal condemnation. We need to return to that era - but with the moral relativists of the left in charge...fat chance.

11 posted on 11/02/2006 12:15:22 PM PST by HardStarboard (Hey illegals, march some more - its helping get the wall built!)
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To: SmithL

If this is the type of behavior she is prone to, what if she did the gesture to some guy with a gun who was prone to road rage?

Fire her Dumb Ass. Now.


12 posted on 11/02/2006 12:17:06 PM PST by rlmorel (The US Media...Where you get Million Dollar Words From people with a Ten Cent Fart for a brain.)
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To: HardStarboard

Kerry just took the podium to announce he's awarding the ex-bus driver one of his Purple Hearts


13 posted on 11/02/2006 12:17:12 PM PST by zeke15
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To: bigfootbob
That is the issue, not free speech. These were elementary kids.

It's not a matter of freedom of speech in any case, even if there were no kids. This is about an action she took while working in her position as an employee; therefore, the employer has the right to fire her for it.

If I worked for FedEx and delivered a package to Hillary, I'd probably take the opportunity to tell her a few things. I'd be justifiably fired for it, but it would be worth it.

14 posted on 11/02/2006 12:17:12 PM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: SmithL

Hmmmm, I suppose Skerry is old news now....I loathe them, I hate them!!


15 posted on 11/02/2006 12:19:55 PM PST by RoseofTexas
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To: SmithL

Just ONE more example how liberals have no class or manners.


16 posted on 11/02/2006 12:20:48 PM PST by peggybac (Tolerance is the virtue of believing in nothing)
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To: stupid
"You should've stayed in school!"

17 posted on 11/02/2006 12:21:10 PM PST by evets (Beer and wine.)
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To: SmithL

Libs are so classy.


18 posted on 11/02/2006 12:22:56 PM PST by Romney08 (Saxton For Oregon Governor)
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To: SmithL

Just give her her job back and forget about it.


19 posted on 11/02/2006 12:23:19 PM PST by Vicomte13 (The Crown is amused.)
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To: SmithL
Screw her. Not appropriate on a school bus.
20 posted on 11/02/2006 12:27:41 PM PST by thoolou (The last time I saw a smile like Nanci Pelosi's, it was on a pirate flag... Firehat)
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