http://www.kirotv.com/news/10212158/detail.html

Approptiate, over reaction, or a violation of free speech?

A violation of free speech and way over reaction.

It's perfectly acceptable to fire him for doing it when he's on the job and around children. I wouldn't want a bus driver to say 'fuck' or gesture it around my child. It's not about freedom of speech, it's about what's appropriate for usage around children.

It's not a violation of free speech - the article and above post nailed it perfectly. Whether or not it was grounds to fire the driver depends on his past record, which we are not privy to and is only hinted at in the article. If I told some student to F-off, I'd expect disciplinary action very quickly.

Free speech applies to you and the government - not to your employer, online message board, video game world. Gotta know your rights, before you can complain they're being violated.

Swearing around children is not protected speech, especially when one is in a position of protecting those children from harm, which is a part of the bus driver's responsibility.

If you walked into a day care and heard the person you are paying to take care of your child tossing the f-bomb around, I doubt you would say "Well, it is protected speech under the Bill of Rights". I am sure you would be swiftly rethinking whether this was where you wanted your child, and looking at what your options were for the discipline of the person swearing.

There was an arrest in the last couple years of a man for swearing at a public beach around kids. I do not know the outcome, but it was being made clear at the time that it was not acceptable by the people in the area, or the legal authorities on the scene.

The fact that the driver was bragging about his behavior only shows that he was not concerned about the impression he was making on the kids in his care, but only about his own ends, which was not appropriate to the time and place. He obviously has a track record with the company that was not very favorable.

two hands on the wheel please when driving children.

I don't know of anybody who would condone foul language or improper hand gestures in front of children. I took the question to be is it a violation of free speech to make a gesture such as flipping the bird to the President and then be fired for making that gesture.

Obviously if the driver was fired for doing it in front of the kids on his bus then the firing is justified, but if he was fired because it was a gesture made to the president then I will say it is a violation of free speech.

Well, regardless of how you feel about the President, you should respect the office, if you can't respect the man.
This man showed that he has respect for neither.
If done in front of the children, it makes what he did twice as bad.

Well, regardless of how you feel about the President, you should respect the office, if you can't respect the man.Four years ago I probably would have agreed with you. Now, I'd be tempted to do the same. Metaphorically it's what the pres has been doing to anyone who disagrees with him anyhow.

I would be curious to know the full story behind the arrest at the beach, however. I suppose an argument could be made for community standards, but that sounds iffy to me.

Four years ago I probably would have agreed with you. Now, I'd be tempted to do the same. Metaphorically it's what the pres has been doing to anyone who disagrees with him anyhow.

I would be curious to know the full story behind the arrest at the beach, however. I suppose an argument could be made for community standards, but that sounds iffy to me.


As much as I detest Bush, the office is still one that should be respected.

As for the beach incident, if I am not mistaken the charges were in the area of disorderly conduct.

I've flipped GW's motorcade off before as they drove past me the other way on the interstate. I didn't get my free speech stifled, I didn't have black helicopters over my house, etc. I also didn't have anyone with me, and I was in the privacy of my own car. I wasn't on the job, and I wasn't doing it in front of other people's children. All of those are completely differant circumstances than when I voiced my freedom of speech.

Reichert was a bit of a dick for calling the school board on this guy, but everyone is correct in that no free speech was violated, and discipline is warranted.
Well, regardless of how you feel about the President, you should respect the office, if you can't respect the man.
I'd argue that Bush himself shows no respect for his office or its oath.

it's about what's appropriate for usage around children

Nail on head. In addition, even if he wasn't around children, he was on the job and representing his employer, who would have every right not to approve of that behavior while he's representing them. I would fully expect to be fired if I met Bush while "on the clock" representing my employer and I filpped him off.

Well, regardless of how you feel about the President, you should respect the office, if you can't respect the man.

BS. He's flipping off the worst president in history...not the "office". That's the same kind of thinking that gave us crap like, if your against the Iraq war you must not be a patriot...give me a break!!

two hands on the wheel please when driving children.

Funny! But I am glad he was fired even if it was a minor violation of his rights. I will miss GW when his tim eis over...:(

Bush was irrelevant in the story really, the guy acted inappropriately at his job. Though I'm reminded why my friend tells her 9 year olds ... no one likes a tattle tale.

Good point Kelraz....I would suspect he would have been fired had he just flipped off another motorist. The fact that it was Bush is irrelevant.

even if it was a minor violation of his rights.

I think we all agree it wasn't....though it's nice to know you approve of violating peoples right Os....typical of your ilk.

I will miss GW when his tim eis over...:(

Most stupid people will. j/k <not all Bush supports are stupid, some are just evil or greedy :)

ROFL -

To whomever gave me these:

images/reputation/reputation_neg.gif Another small U.S. vict... (showthread.php?p=113373#post113373) 09-07-2006 09:19 AM yersuchafckintoolimages/reputation/reputation_neg.gif Over reaction?, or faci... (showthread.php?p=115984#post115984) 11-02-2006 09:04 AM yer such a fucking tool
First off, I resemble that remark. :)

Second off, some of my best friends are Republicans, so please don't take my jokes about Republicans personally or seriously. Yes, I hate Bush...but so do a lot of professed Republicans.

Thirdly, you're a coward..sign the damn things...I ALWAYS do.

Lastly, learn english...you'll be more successful. :p

Otherwise, you'll end up stuck in Iraq.

Otherwise, you'll end up stuck in Iraq.

Or you'll end up getting us stuck in Iraq.

Or, Rumsfeld is doing a great job, you must remember he is not there on the ground...

I guess that was the way of Boehner saying our troops suck not Rumsfeld.

Otherwise, you'll end up stuck in Iraq.

ROFL, that was damn funny!! I'll give positive rep back for that ASAP Akipt. I do love oyur sense of humor...at times. ;)

If only he could use his powers for good!

Who says he isn't?

:D

He does a marvilous job...

He does a marvilous job...

The irony is delicious.