Woman Banned From (Borders) Bookstore For Bush Joke (Boycott!)

[expatriot]

Ladies and gents... this just across the wires... let's launch an immediate boycott of ALL Borders until their corporate office works out this management problem...
----------
http://www.local6.com/news/2357475/detail.html

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Singer-songwriter Julia Rose doesn't like President George W. Bush's legs.

She's been banned from a Borders Books and Music store in Virginia for commenting on the president's physique. Rose was performing at the Fredericksburg Borders, when she told the crowd the president has, "chicken legs."



She said he needs to pump some iron. The line drew a laugh, but not from Borders' management. She's been banned from that store, but not others in the chain.

Rose says she's mystified by the reaction. She tells the Free Lance-Star newspaper she was just poking fun at the president's frame and wasn't making a political comment.

[FlashHarry]

1. Jesus. I guess Americans really do need to 'watch what they say.'

This is no longer the country I know and love.

[clarkbarr]

11. You cannot insult Der Führer!

Is this Nazi Land so good
Vould you leave it if you could
Ja, Dis Nazi Land is good
We would leave it if we could!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

48. The Forth Reich is upon us!

So Borders book stores will act as the ministry of censorship!

[sasquatch]

87. Achtung dumkauf

Zie Bushler ict die Greatest Leader of all time;-)

[sugus]

94. In Spain there is another dangerous small Führer.

In Spain there is another dangerous small Führer.

With absolut censorship by media, like in Italy with Berlusconi, the Spanish ultraconservative government legislates to obtain total impunity. They have elaborated a law to expel all the public prosecutors with greater antiquity than five years to get rid of the dangerous democrats, and in addition they want to eliminate the organization of the Public Prosecutors Anticorruption, when in the Community of Madrid two months ago, they have been buying two :puke: :puke: deputies to avoid that the greater land recalification fraud of the history of Spain is discovered and aborted.

http://www.aznar.net/

There are some links in English:
http://www.aznar.net/sumario.htm

Auch irgendein Versuch spricht auf Deutschem wie guter Lehrling von Führer:
http://www.aznar.net/Imagen%20y%20sonido/Aznarhablóenaleman.mp3

[muchacho]

20. Corporate space

Businesses are not like a park, they are not the commons where a person can get on a soapbox and orate about the weaknesses of the President, or rant about the second coming, or whatever..

Malls and stores are corporate owned spaces where expression is kept to announcing tha latest sale.

Keep that in mind when people talk about the glories of the free market.

[TahitiNut]

31. Their very existence is a creature of LAW.

Businesses operate solely by virtue of a public license to do business. Corporations exist solely by virtue of laws that permit their creation. When you read the Constitution and encounter the phrase "Congress shall make no law" you can think about such laws -- laws that provide cover for such activities. When the entities created and licnsed by such public laws act in a manner contrary to the most basic and fundamental values of a free and democratic nation, and those laws protect the punitive behavior towards those who exercise their freedoms in a manner that violates no other person's freedoms and liberties, then those laws are being perverted in an unconstitutional manner.

When a private interest operates under a public law, their public (not private) actions are sanctioned by those laws. Unless such behavior is prohibited in the public MARKET, those laws are unconstitutionally perverted. It is this very issue that served to enact prohibitions on "Whites Only" business policies. When such publcly created and licensed businesses host political speech of any kind, they must be required to do so without discrimination. Do allow otherwise is unconstitutional, IMHO.

[CaptAhab]

40. Unalienable rights...

Businesses are not like a park, they are not the commons where a person can get on a soapbox and orate about the weaknesses of the President, or rant about the second coming, or whatever..


Um, what? So you're saying that it is okay for a bus company to force black people go in the back of the bus, because the bus is "private property?" Do you understand how ridiculous your proposition is? You do not (and cannot) give up your essential rights and liberties just because you happen to be on somebody else's property. The philosophers of the 18th century Enlightenment have already covered that in great detail; perhaps you should go and read some John Locke and Thomas Paine.

[Muddleoftheroad]

42. Access

There is a big difference between public access and how you use it. This performer acted in a way contrary to the business dealings of this particular store -- according to management which went off the deep end IMHO. (If * had half a brain, he'd send the performer a note and say how silly it all is.)

That said, the store has a right to ban people not based on raced, but based on actions.

[MODemocrat]

56. His legs are ugly, that isn't saying anything about his weaknesses

How about Rush Limbozo referring to Chelsea as the White House Dog?

[bloom]

72. I wish businesses would ban Limbaugh

That would be the day.

[geomon]

81. LOL

hahahahahahahahah...good one

[Loonman]

2. Careful what you say, comrades

Secret police are watching!

[TacticalPeek]

4. Tut tut...so too defensive

probably worried that chickenlegs is too close to chickenhawk...

[MaineDem]

3. Gimme a break!

I'm writing my letter to Borders now.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. My borders must be more liberal.

They always seem helpful and pleased whenever I ask for politically liberal books.

[noonwitch]

19. My Borders wouldn't do that, either

Borders is an Ann Arbor, MI based chain. They started out with just their store in AA and one in Birmingham, MI. They've always been pretty liberal, as far as I can see. I think this case had a redneck, bush-loving manager who was offended by a Bush joke. It wasn't even an offensive joke!

[expatriot]

6. borders and amazon merged? did not know that...

but evidently they did.

[CafeToad]

7. What about Clinton's 'pasty white thighs'?

That seemed to be quite the comedy staple a few years back - all the bookstore - banning that resulted must have been 'below the radar' so to speak.

[punpirate]

10. Or Hillary's "thunder thighs," for that matter....

[MODemocrat]

58. David Letterman even made fun of Hillary's looks last night

Talk about hitting someone below the belt. With reference to Sharon Stone starring in a movie about Hillary; Dave said "if Hillary looked like Sharon Stone, there probably wouldn't have been an impeachment."
Stupid, at the least, but it got him thunderous applause from the
Clinton haters. I feel that Dave is losing it; and he must be terribly forgetful, because having Hillary Clinton on his show really boosted his sagging ratings.

[Bake]

88. Well, let's get real:

Hillary DOESN'T exactly look like Sharon Stone. You may admire her, I may admire her, but she doesn't look like Sharon Stone.

Sometimes a joke is just a joke. Cut Dave some slack.

Bake

[SoCalDem]

8. I guess we should stop calling him "Chicken George"

[displacedtexan]

9. borders contact info

Contact Us
Corporate Headquarters
For general inquiries contact us at:

Borders Group, Inc.
100 Phoenix Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
[phone]

Customer Care
For general questions or comments regarding Borders store experiences, please contact [e-mail].

Questions or comments about a visit to one of our Waldenbooks or Brentano's stores? Email [e-mail].

If you prefer to talk to us by phone, please call our customer service center at 1-888-81-BOOKS. Our hours are 7:00 AM-9:00 PM CT (Central Time) Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-7:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM-7:00 PM CT on Sunday.

[DUreader]

13. I just got off the phone, I was polite yet firm all info passed on

report will be made to management, gave them a link to the story

[corarose]

35. Let's get a large number of people to phone the store

So, we can all call the store and file complaints on the managers who banned the lady from the store.

[Wonder]

44. I speak out in passing all the time and Borders is the closest Bookstore

Bookstores are a santuary of free thought in my romantic mind. This is very disturbing news. What next will secret service personnel be planted everywhere and start picking us up and placing us in QUARANTINE.

Calls are definitely warranted.

[Capn Sunshine]

55. We should all take a moment

and dash off an outraged email.
Big Corps actually react to this.
:nuke:

[frustrated_lefty]

86. My response:

There is a report that you banned a person from your store simply for making a joke about President Bush's physique. The comment reflected nothing about political parties, it reflected that the person thought Bush has scrawny legs.

If you banned a person from your store for this reason, I will ban you and recommend that all of my educated friends ban you as well. We have enough sickeningly biased reports in the media without a bookstore banning readers. If you banned a reader because she didn't bend over and then kindly blow sunshine up W's ass, you have poorly served your country and I have no interest in having more to do with you. My business will go elsewhere

[Pallas180]

62. the perpetrator or manager who threw her out should be fired.

:thumbsdown:

let him/her get a job with the gop

[Mike_from_NoVa]

12. The necks...

are pretty red in F'burg. This doesn't surprise me at all. I have shopped there in the past. But no more.

There's no way this is a corporate Borders decision. Just a store manager with an overlarge desire to be representative of the community. I bet there are lots of complaints they get every day for selling books that represent a left-leaning point of view. If the store manager has any sympathy at all for the complainers, they're going to do whatever thry can to appaease their complaints without violating the corporate edit to continue keeping objected-to product on the shelves. Remember the rightwads are very oragnized about book-oriented complaints and don't just target libraries.

[RapidCreek]

15. Oooops! to bad for Borders, I'll be cancelling my corporate

account with them now. Perhaps we should see if we can have this manager bannded from Borders. Money speaks much much louder than the ego of a fascist, power drunk, redneck.

Damn shame I won't be able to shop there anymore....only place I can buy a decent book around here.

RC

[Robb]

22. Mrs. Robb buys a ton of books

like several hundred every season, for work ("Which one of you bastards moved my cheese" kind of stuff, only actually useful). Little email attached explaining why no longer from Borders'll do the trick.

Boycott, schmoycott... If you're a progressive, funky company you don't do business with ones that still drag their knuckles in the dirt (or allow their managers to, frankly).

[Klapaucius]

95. Ya oughta see...

if you can get some sort of corporate account at Powell's... One of the many reasons I love living in the Northwest. Powell's 'City of Books' is the nickname. Size of a city block, 3-4 stories, used to be a car dealership. You can spend the whole day in there ( and there's a coffee shop, too!) If they can't find it, they'll look for it. Well over a million books in just the main store alone. Branches in several outlying cities, and specializing in different things (technical, travel, another large branch just a mile down the road from where I live), and they've got a website, http://www.powells.com .

I much prefer Powell's over Borders, any day of the week. If I won the lotto, I'd go to Powell's, first thing, then out to get some bookcases!

[Catherine Vincent]

41. That's what I'm thinking too...

This was just some store manager that is so in love with Bush that anything he/she hears that makes fun of Bush, he/she is the one that gets offended. They should suspend the store manager for stupidness!

[DUreader]

14. Julia Rose reviews page

http://users.erols.com/julia.rose/whispers.htm



"A Rose Without Thorns"
During a recent performance at DC's Blues Alley,
singer-
songwriter Julia Rose mesmerized the audience with her
remarkably rich, full-bodied voice. Wearing,
appropriately
enough, a rose dress, she belted out dozens of songs
that
she has written in recent years and charmed her
audiences during two sets.

A guitarist who writes and sings romantic ballads,
Rose-
who grew up in Baltimore-has also gained air time on
radio
stations from WHFS and WRNR in Annapolis to WASU in
Arizona.

Deejay Matt Davis of 98 Rock in Baltimore was the
first
to play her CD.

"I called him late at night and harassed him until he
played my music," Rose said laughing.

Moreover, she has performed at dozens of venues up and
down the East Coast-from the Ram's Head Tavern in
Baltimore to the Bitter End and CBGB's Gallery in New
York, to clubs in Philadelphia and around the DC area,
which includes a benefit at the Birchmere.

[DUreader]

17. Julia Rose Homepage She's appeared on Drudge Radio

http://users.erols.com/julia.rose/


Julia Rose on nat'l TV and radio:
*In October, 2002, Julia sang her song, "Senseless",
live on the air, with talk show host MATT DRUDGE
of "THE DRUDGE REPORT" which aired nationwide
on ABC radio stations.


Also on WBAI


"Maher's Planet"
airs on one of NYC's
most highly regarded
radio stations!!!!!
Thank you WBAI!!!
Thanks to Matthew Finch, a VERY cool
peep, Julia's song "Maher's Planet"
just aired on WBAI-FM, 99.5!!!!!!!!!!
Matthew even plugged Bill Maher's final
Saturday performance in NYC.
"This is so cool," Julia says, "I'm totally
overwhelmed!!!!" WBAI-FM happens
to be a Pacifica station....which means
it's a BIG station, BAYBEE!!!!
Thanks also to the amazingly cool
Fred!!!!! XXXXXOOOO!!

[DemBones DemBones]

16. A dumb move by Borders but not as scary as the FBI questioning a

guy in Atlanta who was reported to them for reading a print-out of a political article while in a coffee shop. The guy goes to this coffee shop every day on his way to work. (Or he used to! I think I'd change my habits after this, wouldn't you?) The agents showed up at the guy's house to question his mother and then appeared at the independent bookstore where he works to question him. They also searched his car looking for the article after he said it might be there.

It seems to me that the FBI OUGHT to have better things to do than follow up every crank call about dangerous reading material. The article was titled something like "Weapons of Mass Stupidity" (and could have been about the person who turned him in to the Feds.)

I don't have a link but the story was in "Creative Loafing" if you want to Google it. If I remember correctly, the article said that the coffee shop is on Powers Ferry Road and the guy is going to go to U-GA to study journalism.

[izzie]

18. Please do not give out my address but I think he is bow legged

n/t

[SideshowScott]

21. Oh but a right winger can accuse Clinton of stealing the linburgh Baby...

And nothing happens..Im getting kinda sick of the nazi mentality of the GOPers..And they wonder why the world hates us Geesh!!

[skypilot]

24. Borders

We should probably be boycotting Borders anyway. It is one big scumbag of a company these days. Don't believe me? Go to the Bordersunion.org website. I worked at Borders a few years ago. I'd worked there for three years making peanuts but stuck it out because I loved working with books. I had to budget like a fiend but after THREE years my pay was finally at the point where I could breath just a little easier--and I do mean just a little. Then they "restructured" and took back all the pay gains I'd made. It was the first time I'd ever taken a pay cut. I worked at a Borders store in downtown Philadelphia. It was very busy and stressful. I busted my butt for that company doing my work and the work of others. After the restructuring, my doing the work of others became par for the course as Borders put a hiring freeze on our store (and probably others). I was doing four times the work and making about as much money as I'd made when I first started three years earlier. I check in on the Bordersunion.org website every now and then to see how things are going with the company and I can assure you that things have gotten ten times worst since I left. Borders and Barnes and Nobles are the Wal-Mart of bookstores. We still have a few smaller independent bookstores here and I will be giving them my business while they are still around. Screw Borders!!!

[ColumbusGirl]

71. Barnes & Nobles

Say what you want about Borders (and I understand that Barnes & Nobles runs more than it's fair share of local businesses out) but I will always give my money to Barnes & Nobles and I'll tell you why.

Several years ago I worked for the mall chain Software Etc. that had merged with Babbages, a chief competitor. Restucture. Change. IPO. The whole thing. The upper management never was able to really merge and after running out the old (and beloved by me) SE management....

As is often the case in these scenarios, the company soon was filing for Chapter 11.

Every fall we had a Manager's conference in Dallas to learn new products and do the whole pre holiday pow wow thing. This year was no exception, although things like meals had been reduced to bitter greens and meatless pasta & sauce (no kidding).

On the first day, they filed us into a conference room for a talking to of "the truth".

The man who took over...Alan something...told us that things were looking up and there would be changes and we just had to believe in the company.

Meanwhile, software vendors were giving us free copies of Resume Software and half the vendors didn't even show up for demonstrations, etc.

Finally one day at dinner, the doors opened and the former president along with Len Riggio walked in and said that no matter what we've been told, we was going to make personally sure that we weren't left without jobs just before the holidays. (Of course on sight, they got a rousing standing ovation and whistling because we all hated this Alan guy --wish I could remember his last name).

He stepped in and spent his <U>own</u> money to be sure nobody was forced to be fired.

Meanwhile, the people who were giving us heart to heart honest talks were planning the total consoldation of all stores. Total Chapter 13. That's why the vendors didn't show up.

Len Riggio was at the time (now replaced by his son) the chairman of the board of B&N. He's a stand up guy and I'm happy to give him my reading money freely. He stands for things I believe in...and you don't see that a lot in large or small businesses.

[Stuckinthebush]

23. What really is at issue here in the minds of Bush supporters?

I think it has to do with a psychological defense mechanism. People who support Bush are increasingly bombarded with images of him as not just a fool, but a dangerous fool who has wrecked our nation and the world.

Think about it for a second...if you had poured time, money, and energy into getting Mr. Bush elected, then you might dig in your heels when he is criticized because it exposes a serious problem in your reasoning.

Your retort to people who criticize Bush for even the smallest thing might be, "How dare you criticize the President of the US especially during a time of war!?" You may or may not realize inconsistencies with your statement due to your bashing of Clinton over 8 years - some during times of UN sponsored police actions. The problem, however, isn't in criticizing Bush, but in doing so, you are being criticized as well.

So, when a particularly right-wing management type of, say, a Border's Book Store hears someone say, "Bush has chicken legs", then that is one more slight towards the manager (in her/his eyes). At this point, the only power the manager has to protect him/herself is to throw the person out of their store without hesitation.

Actually, these stories show how utterly mixed-up the right wing is today.

Just a thought.

[TankLV]

84. I like to reply with "You mean the "war" HE started?!

That one?!

The one HE had an extreme HARDON for for almost over yeaR?
The one HE constantly whined about and LIED about every fucking time he opened his trap?

That "war"?!

It's like a child who murders his parents, then wants compassion because he's an orphan.

Let's all remember this "small" fact:

BUSH* & BUSH* ALONE STARTED THIS WAR. He get's absolutely NO COVER for the "but he's a "wartime" pResident" bullshit.

[Stuckinthebush]

25. I have a proposal for willing DUers

To all DUers in the Fredericksburg area:

I will purchase a t-shirt for all of you that says

"Bush Has Chickenlegs!" on the front

and

"Bush Is A Chickenhawk!" on the back

Then, all of you go to the Fredericksburg Borders at the same time of day to browse and read books. Don't talk to each other, and spread out through the store.

We will call local news and CNN to cover it.

If you are not causing problems, and you are simply shopping in the store, then the manager will have a hard time throwing you out.

Can we get about 50 volunteers?

[qb]

27. I'm not from the area, but have a suggestion:

How about billing it as a "Flash Mob" event? I don't know what the politics of the Flash Mob crowd are, but maybe you could get them involved. You could also just do it on your own. I bet the local media would eat it up. The Twin Cities media sure did for a Flash Mob event at the Mall of America, when all they did was gather at the Sears court and pose like statues.

[Stuckinthebush]

29. I don't know much about Flash Mob

but it is worth a try.

[qb]

34. I found a link

to a blog site that covers lots of flash mobs around the world:
http://www.cheesebikini.com/blog/archives/cat_flash_mobs.html

[Pallas180]

63. Gawsh. You have a quick wit. What a good idea. Wish I was there

:evilgrin:

[bloom]

73. i wish i lived near there

:(

sounds like fun

[Buns_of_Fire]

26. "Chicken" is to Bunnypants as "Creep" is to DeLay

Maybe that's why it waves such a red flag when any variant of it is used in front of neanderthals -- they KNOW that's what many people think of Their Glorious Leader. Chicken George, chickenlegs, chickenhawk, chickenshit...

[lpbk2713]

45. I think weasel legs would be more appropriate.....

....to match the rest of his worthless body. Borders has seen me for the last time.

[sandnsea]

28. The Patriot Police

Ala the Ragin' Cajun. That's what we should call these kooks every time this happens. This country sinks lower and lower every day.

[midnitemoleman]

30. Bush Suck's end period dot dot

Quote: "To be brutally honest, I think you have a morbid desire
to burn in hell."

- Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross in "Along Came a Spider".

[MiddleRiverRefugee]

32. I've met Julia Rose - played a couple shows with her

She is nuts, but in a highly positive way.

You haven't been truly depressed until you've sung "Lament" with her...

[1monster]

33. The poll on the page

Is banning this woman from the Borders book store for making a joke about the president's legs a violation of her free speech?

Choice Votes Percentage of 2529 Votes

Yes. She can say what she wants. 1642 65%

No. It was wrong to ban her, but the store had the right. 719 28%

No. It was right for them to ban her for talking bad about Bush's legs. 168 7%

[dbt]

36. The question bears repeating:

Why was it (why is it still) acceptable to make fun of Clinton and not acceptable to make fun of bu$h? (For instance, I notice that no member of Congress has yet called bu$h a scumbag.)

Beyond the issues of Naziism, censorship, Big Brother, etc, nobody seems able to answer this one.

Cheers,
:freak:
dbt

[stevebreeze]

91. scumbag? that was nothing when it came to bashing Clinton!

He wasn't in office more then a couple months when he had his life threatened. If I recall he was told not to come to some southern state's military base or his life would be in danger. The kicker was it was a congressman (?). Hell I don't remember but it was that outrageous.
:kick:

[peacetalksforall]

37. Whoa...

There is a difference between an employee who (over) reacts and a coporate position. Wait and see what the headquarters people do.

[peacetalksforall]

38. With every boycott

the little people pay and the headquarters and board rarelly suffer.

[skypilot]

43. little people

The "little people" will just keep getting littler as long as these companies continue to grow and do business the way they do. The people working in smaller, independent bookstores and other small businesses are little people too. Give them the business.

[stevebreeze]

92. this was a Corp level act

In fact she finished her performance and went home. Was told subsequently not to come back.
:kick:

[dArKeR]

39. I'm all for boycotts!

[Lucy]

46. Unbelievable!

This story is pretty appalling. I just called headquarters and let them know that I will no longer purchase any books, music OR cafe latte at Borders.

I am spreading the word.

[John_H]

47. Book displays at my local (VA) Borders

Invariably, the wingnut books (Why Liberals Hate America) etc, are displayed face out on upper shelves, prominently displayed on tabletops, or even on their own displays. "Librul" books are put in sideways, on lower shelves of the tabletop displays, etc. I have the manager hell one day, and she basically told me she'll display her books any damn way she wants.

For Northern Virginia Duers: We ought to stop stopping by the Bailey's Crossroads Borders.

[Pallas180]

64. JOHN at VA - call upp Borders HQ and let them know. Personally

I'm sick of seeing bibles all over the place
(Florida) even in$1 stores...

[bvar22]

49. CHICKEN LEGS!!!!!!

How appropriate....bush* ran like a chicken from 911 (the first American President to RUN from an emergency "getting out of harms way!")

Chicken Legs to go with his coward's heart, simian brain, reptile's conscience.

A sad clown with socks in his underwear.

[0007]

50. I went in BlockBuster and ask if I could get Michael Moore's

"Bowling at Columbine" I was told in an extremely rude manner that they didn't carry anything by Michael Moore. I ask what they had by Al Franken and was told to leave.

Of course this was in Midland Texas.

[grasswire]

52. how many comments are made about Clinton's pasty thighs....

.....even to this day??

I'll wager that at public events such as rodeos and destruction derbies they're still talking trash about Bill and Hillary.

A quick google for the words Bill Clinton thighs turns up 5860 hits.

[study_war_no_more]

53. I know with the trash they put out

its just amazing of course they have declared bankruptcy twice and lost my business when they suggested i switch to dvd's when i asked why Freida wasn't available on VHS. As for Borders i support small independant bookstores such as Louise Erdichs Birchbark books which in turn supports a free space for Native American and indie writers. Your dollar has power choose your targets.

[Pallas180]

65. 0007- Hope you called up Blockbuster HQ & told them

:bounce:

[nomorehate]

51. need more information

I guess I'd like to get some more information before I start contacting corporate HQ. The article is frustratingly light on actual details, with no comment from anyone at the store during the performance, or from management. I don't even know what the source is. If in fact, the woman was banned from the store for the comments she made, then I agree that's ridiculous. But would they really stop her at the door if she wanted to come in and make a purchase? That's what banned means to me. If she just isn't invited back as a performer, then there may be other reasons. Here's where the source of the claim becomes suspect. I knew some people who played at Borders, and that was a paying gig. If there had been some comment from management, they might have said they just didn't care for her music, and chose not to allow her to play there anymore. I don't know, and that's the point. We really don't have enough information to justify boycotting a whole chain of bookstores.

[Rex]

54. Whoops, silly her. She didn't know about the 2000 coup.

You know, the one where Democracy is tied to a spit and slow roasted. Guess she knows now.

[Capn Sunshine]

57. As a stockholder in BGP

I sent a letter to investor relations also. :evilgrin:

[Pallas180]

59. Falwell country.

:thumbsdown:

[yorgatron]

61. maybe the dixie chicks will hear of this

and put her on the bill opening up for them.

[Pallas180]

60. She probably has a good lawsuit on "freedom of speech"

dipshit loves freedom and they hate us for our
freedoms.

yep. right.

[Lisa]

66. bizarre! Y'know, I was wondering why his legs look so spindly ...

Every long-distance runner I know (especially the ones who've been at it since the 1970s, as Bush claims) has decent thigh and calf muscle development. I was a bit surprised, when I saw a pic of him in those jogging tights, and figured that maybe he just hasn't been running marathons much in the past decade or so.

Ironically, chicken legs are referred to as "Bush legs" in Russia (but they're named after his dad, because of a poultry deal years back).

But seriously, this is a strange story. Why would people get so worked up over a casual observation, not malicious (commenting on his intelligence, morals, or general competence) and certainly not threatening. Do the GOP have ultra-fragile egos or something?

The owner/manager of a local independent bookstore in my town has made a big deal of displaying the Frum and Woodward Bush biographies (and the Hatfield, Miller, and Moore books on him) in with all the war and terrorism releases, NOT with the "important people" section.

[Spirochete]

67. I can see where a remark like that...

might get a person banned from KFC, but not a bookstore. I liked it better when we had free speech. At least more so, anyway.

[renegade000]

68. don't boycott borders...

its a great store and its not their fault that certain stores have conservative management.

i live in northern virginia (fairly liberal area) and i couldn't imagine this happening at my local borders.

[John_H]

85. check out post 47

nt

[Atlant]

89. If it's not upper management's fault, then...

> don't boycott borders; its a great store and its not their fault
> that certain stores have conservative management.

Doesn't upper management hire lower management? If it's not upper
management's fault that they've hired a conservative who doesn't
implement coprorate policy, then who's fault is it?

Atlant

[Pompitous_Of_Love]

69. Actual reply

Let's see if Borders actually replies to specific individual e-mail complaints on this issue or simply drafted a standard reply e-mail and is sending that instead. Here's the reply that I got:

Thank you for contacting Borders Group.

We understand that you are concerned about our decision not to invite Julia Rose for future performances in our Fredericksburg, Virginia store. Let me assure you that Borders stores around the world represent an environment where ideas across a wide spectrum of political, social and academic viewpoints are expressed. Our stores have hosted everyone from Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Al Franken and Michael Moore to Newt Gingrich, Dr. Laura and Bob Dole. All have been given the opportunity to talk about their books and their viewpoints. As a retailer, we simply make a wide variety of materials and ideas available. We do not seek to take any political, social or academic stance and certainly would not presume to take a stance on the issue of the President's legs. In short, we let our customers choose what to read, watch, listen to and buy.

We host live music events in our stores to provide entertainment and to make the shopping experience enjoyable for our customers. Again, if political and/or social commentary is mixed in with the entertainment, we do not seek to judge the viewpoints expressed. However, the bottom line is enjoyable entertainment for our customers. In the case of Julia Rose, the quality of entertainment provided was not what the customers of that store found to be enjoyable. In fact, the staff noticed that customers were vacating the cafe area where Ms. Rose was performing and several customers complained, mostly about her particular style, which that evening included much more audience banter about a variety of topics than it did singing. Some did complain about her commentary regarding the President, but that was not paramount in our decision not to ask her back...it was our customers' negative reaction to her at that particular store that framed our decision and caused the staff to ask that she not be invited back to Fredericksburg.

Ms. Rose remains scheduled to perform at our Manassas store this evening (7/25), and has future events scheduled in our Woodbridge and Fairfax stores.

Overall, I hope that you can understand our objective to create an enjoyable shopping experience for our customers and perhaps now you have a greater understanding of how this particular decision was made. We appreciate the loyalty of all of our customers and take very seriously complaints such as yours. Your voice has been heard and we hope that you will keep an open mind about our viewpoint as well.

Thank you.

Anyone else heard back from them?

[Mixxster]

74. Anyone else heard back from them?

Yep. Got the exact same e-mail.

[deutsey]

90. I got a variation of this email myself

I wrote back and thanked them for the response and said that it's reassuring to hear that Rose is performing in other Virginia Borders stores. But I also said I thought it was still wrong for the corporate office to sanction this "banning" of her by the managers of this store, especially over something as innocuous as saying Bush has chicken legs.

I know this is a radical idea, but couldn't the store managers just choose not to invite her back as a performer? Why did they have to make this grand declaration that she's banned from the store? I don't think that's splitting hairs on my part. It's one thing to allow someone to do their schtick in your store, see that she's not going over well, pay her and decide not to invite her back. It's quite another when you publicly state that she is banned from the store...it just sounds to me like they're pandering in a very petty way to the climate of fear and intimidation wrought by Bush Inc.

In my original post, BTW, I said they might as well ban me, too, since I not only believe that Bush has chicken legs, but that he's a chickenhawk as well.

[Forkboy]

70. Fuck 'em...that's why I go to libraries

I save money and don't have to deal with damn idjits like that.

[ElementaryPenguin]

75. Just ripped a new one with my e-mail!!!

Fuck them!!!

[Saintgermane]

76. Text of my e-mail....

to the Fredricksburg store, CC'd to Amazon.com. Feel free to copy and use liberally.

To whom it may concern -

I read, with astonishment, of the banning of singer-songwriter Julia Rose from Border's books and music for making a joke about the President's legs. I consider this a gross overreaction, and a tremendous irony. For a bookstore, of all places, where free speech and the freedom of the press is central to the premise of the organization and the livlihood of its employees to ban any person for making a simple comment is beyond the pale. You may assume I am boycotting your store and products, along with Amazon.com, whom you are partnered with, and whom I will CC this letter to, until such time as a formal, public apology is made and the manager who exhibited such poor judgement fired. The freedoms of this country are predicated upon the first amendment, and in this country, unlike Iraq, citizens are free to criticize public officials. The actions of your organization are reminiscent of some of the worst regimes in history. I am appalled.

[scottxyz]

77. Here's the bookstore's number

Borders Books, Fredericksburg VA
[phone]

I called this bookstore in Fredericksburg, Virginia to tell them that this sounded like McCarthyism and censorship, and to tell them that many people think it's vitally important to criticize Bush in order to stop him from destroying our country. I think a simple phone call like this can be effective in reminding people how little real support Bush has.

A polite young man answered the phone and explained to me that the singer, who had been hired by the bookstore to sing for 2 hours, spent "about 75%" of this time talking, rather than singing. He claimed that this, rather than the specific comment, was the reason that they asked the woman not to come back.

He also claimed that she wasn't "banned" per se from the bookstore, only that they weren't going to hire her to sing anymore.

So I am a bit puzzled. I think it's a good idea to call Borders and let them know we are concerned about this. On the other hand, if this was a singer who was hired to sing and then didn't sing enough as specified by her contract, then there may have been some justification for not hiring her or citing some kind of breach of contract.

Anyways, it doesn't hurt to call Borders to let them know people are alert to the possibility of censorship, particularly after Ari Fleischer's comment last year for people to "watch what they say," after the Administration's illegal attempt to "out" Wilson's wife as a CIA operative, their slandering of Durbin, etc, etc.

I would still encourage people to call and ask for a clarification.

[shance]

80. Thanks Scott - just gave Virginia a jingle***

Had a good chat. She said they have been receiving a slew of calls from all over the country. Nice job everyone.

Borders will probably start playing Dixie Chicks throughout the store at this rate. ***

as well they should *** :)

[silverweb]

78. Borders sent me an interesting reply...

I'd sent this email to their corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor yesterday:

You've just lost another customer. When Borders begins respecting Americans' freedom of speech and starts banning idiotic behavior like ostracizing others for exercising their freedoms, I MIGHT consider shopping at your store again.

I'm referencing the incident in Fredericksburg, Virginia, of course, outlined in this Yahoo article:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030725/ap_on_fe_st/bush_chicken_legs

I've got a lot more critical things to say about ol' GW than that he has "chicken legs," so you probably don't want my business anyway.

Today I got the following reply:

Thank you for contacting Borders Customer Care. Please accept our apologies regarding any misunderstanding about the decision not to invite Julia Rose for future performances in our Fredericksburg, Virginia store. We appreciate the opportunity to clear up this matter.

Borders Books and Music stores around the world represent an environment where ideas across a wide spectrum of political, social and academic viewpoints are expressed. Our stores have hosted everyone from Hilary Rodham Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Al Franken, and Michael Moore to Ted Nugent, Newt Gingrich, Dr. Laura and Bob Dole. All have been given the opportunity to talk openly about their books and their viewpoints. As a retailer, we simply make a wide variety of materials and ideas available. We do not seek to take any political, social or academic stance and certainly do not presume to take a stance on the issue of the President's legs. We let our customers choose what to read, watch, listen to and buy.

We host live music events in our stores to provide entertainment and to make the shopping experience enjoyable for our customers. Again, if political and/or social commentary is mixed in with the entertainment, we do not judge the viewpoints expressed. The bottom line is we seek enjoyable entertainment for all of our customers.

Julia Rose was not "banned" from the Fredericksburg store or from any of our 400 plus stores in the United States. She is more than welcome to shop at our stores. However, the quality of entertainment she provided that night was not what most Fredericksburg customers thought to be enjoyable. First of all, the store's staff noticed customers were vacating the cafT area where Ms. Rose was performing. Second, several customers complained, mostly about her particular style, which that evening included much more stream of consciousness banter with the audience about a variety of topics rather than actual singing. Although a few customers did complain about her comments regarding the President, it was not paramount in the decision to not ask her back. The decision was strictly based on the Fredericksburg customers' negative reaction to the overall quality of her performance. It caused the staff to ask that she not be invited back to the Fredericksburg store.

Ms. Rose was scheduled to perform at the Manassas store on the 25th and has future events scheduled in our Woodbridge and Fairfax stores. With this in mind, we hope you understand our objective to create an enjoyable shopping experience for all of our customers and perhaps now you have a greater understanding of how this decision was made. Your comments have been noted and logged in our records for corporate executive review. We appreciate the loyalty of all of our customers and everyone's comments are taken very seriously. We hope that you will keep in an open mind about our viewpoint as well.

Sincerely,

Dan
Borders Customer Care
100 Phoenix Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
[e-mail]

I find the response interesting. At least, it sounds like they're taking public reaction seriously.

[Pompitous_Of_Love]

79. No, they're not!!!

Take a look upthread where I posted the e-mail I received in response to my complaint about their treatment of Julia Rose. It's the same freaking response! This pisses me off even further. They obviously don't give a damn what their customers think.

[obietiger]

97. just received exact same answer

except mine was signed by
Malcolm
Borders Customer Care

[MattNC]

82. wish i had known

gave Borders about $100 worth of my business today.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

83. just got back from borders myself

glad I didn't buy anything !
I did sign a petition out front regarding privacy of electronic information.

[stevebreeze]

93. Julia Rose on NPR link

This Sat "Whatda'ya know?" a comady quiz show had Julia Rose on. She was the first guest on the second hour of the show. The show is not yet up on the web for listening, but since last weeks was I assume it won't take long and you can hear for yourself.

http://www.notmuch.com/
:kick:

[Pompitous_Of_Love]

96. *Kick*

The heat needs to be kept on Borders.

[Robin Hood]

98. So, It's allright to make fun of Clinton being overweight.

Or the fact that Clinton likes regular sized women. But god forbid that you say one god damned thing about a fucking lunatic Republican who is so far to the right that he makes Attila the Hun look like a liberal.