[tomder55]

Here is how they do it at a Philly rodeo (circa 1994)

The big white gate flew open. The bull came out bucking. The rider flopped

From side to side and the bullfighters held back, letting the bull make his moves until the rider dropped off. Licciardello crouched in a heavily padded barrel, a human target should the bull decide to charge. Hawkins waited near the barrel, holding his big inner tube. A dummy with a George Bush mask stood beside the clown, propped up by a broomstick.
Cowboys in their hats and long-sleeved shirts lined the arena's fences, some sitting on the top rails, some standing right on the sand.

This bull bucked well, needing no prompting from the bullfighters. And when the bull had lost his rider, he made moves toward the fences, sending cowboys scrambling up the fence rails, away from the bull's horns. Each of the first four bulls did about the same, bucking well but choosing not to charge their fallen riders, demanding few of the bullfighters' talents.

The fifth bull was behind the gate ready to go. His rider, O.J. Jones, pumped with adrenalin and, like the other riders, shaking in anticipation, was settling onto the back of Number 117 when, up in the announcer's booth, Dusty Cleveland enunciated the name that demanded respect.

"JA-LA-PE-NO!"

The big white bull with black spots and the foot-long horns came slamming out, looking big as a pickup truck, and Skimmer Walker, his feet spread, his hands out to the side, crouched to make a move.

Jalapeño dispatched his rider before the mandatory eight seconds. Now he stood tall, his head up, looking for something to charge.

T.J. Hawkins rolled out the big inner tube, and the bull lowered his head, shot forward and launched into the tube, sending it bounding down the center of the arena. The crowd cheered. Then the bull saw the George Bush dummy.

He tore into it, sending the rubber mask flying halfway across the sand as he turned toward the fence, sending cowboys scrambling up the fence rails, hooking one with his horn and tossing him off the fence.

Walker waited.

But it had been a hot day, and bulls, like men, have moods. Jalapeño, Grant Harris' "excited rascal," called it a night, found the exit gate and, like a locomotive floating on cotton balls, galloped silently over the soft sand and disappeared into the night.

Unchallenged, the brave Jimmy Lee Walker eased through the rest of another rodeo, fit to fight bulls one more night in a career that may never end.

A Rodeo Veteran Takes Bull By The Horns Jimmy Lee Walker Makes His Comeback In A Young Man's Game. - Philly.com

Seems like wearing masks of Presidents is standard operating procedures in the rodeo clown world . Until this week it was never an issue.

[tomder55]

Tom,
There are definitely examples from both sides, don't you think?

It was never an issue until the emperor became the subject. Now just saying his full name is forbidden .

[NeedKarma]

Which was never a problem since you never use his name anyhow.

[smoothy]

Um... hes a mortal man... just another crook from Chicago... not an object of worship.

[speechlesstx]

it was never an issue until the emperor became the subject. Now just saying his full name is forbidden .

Barack HUSSEIN Obama.

[NeedKarma]

That's it! Was that so hard?

[speechlesstx]

That's it! Was that so hard?

Not for me, I love free speech and hate the sensitivity police.

[tomder55]

I used his full name once on these boards and was accused of calling him a Muslim.

[speechlesstx]

I used his full name once on these boards and was accused of calling him a Muslim.

If you'd have just said, "Mmm, Mmm, Mmm" after that it would have been OK.

[Tuttyd]

SMH...





I have to say the late night comedians have taken plenty of shots at Obama lately so I applaud them for that. But banning a rodeo clown for being a clown? Really? And that's not even the most RIDICULOUS part..

NAACP calls on Justice Dept., Secret Service to investigate rodeo clown flap

Brings back memories of all the love expressed for Bush...

I draw your attention to the heading of the article:

It's all fun and Games Until Obama's Feelings Get Hurt

You would need to demonstrate two things in the article :

(a) Obama's feeling are actually hurt.

(b) Obama was actually involved in the decision because of his hurt feelings.

If you cannot, then the article is a beat up.

I cannot access the link, so I will be interested in any reference to direct involvement.

[speechlesstx]

I draw your attention to the heading of the article:

It's all fun and Games Until Obama's Feelings Get Hurt

You would need to demonstrate two things in the article :

(a) Obama's feeling are actually hurt.

(b) Obama was actually involved in the decision because of his hurt feelings.

If you cannot, then the article is a beat up.

I cannot access the link, so I will be interested in any reference to direct involvement.

Tut, sometimes you just shouldn't take things so literally. Nevertheless the White House did comment, but you likely never hear POTUS publicly say 'it hurt my feelings.'

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says he had no reaction from Obama. But he says that personally, as a native of Missouri, "It was certainly not one of the finer moments in our state."

http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.r...catid=57598571

The point is the ridiculous sensitivity police that get outraged at the mere thought of looking fun at Obama. As has been shown there is a long tradition of skewering politicians - including the president - in this land of free speech and we aren't going to stop because it's Obama, whom his loyal following think is untouchable.

To paint this as a racist incident and call for a Secret Service investigation is pathetic. To the NAACP and others like them I say get over it. I saw no such outrage when Condoleezza Rice was clearly portrayed in racist, demeaning manners.

[Tuttyd]

Tut, sometimes you just shouldn't take things so literally. Nevertheless the White House did comment, but you likely never hear POTUS publicly say 'it hurt my feelings.'



http://m.cbsnews.com/storysynopsis.r...catid=57598571

The point is the ridiculous sensitivity police that get outraged at the mere thought of looking fun at Obama. As has been shown there is a long tradition of skewering politicians - including the president - in this land of free speech and we aren't going to stop because it's Obama, whom his loyal following think is untouchable.

To paint this as a racist incident and call for a Secret Service investigation is pathetic. To the NAACP and others like them I say get over it. I saw no such outrage when Condoleezza Rice was clearly portrayed in racist, demeaning manners.

Yes, I am a literal person. Many people are.

I would go along with what you are saying, but doesn't your link say the Lt. Gov. of the state also denounced the performance. It also says he is a Republican.

[speechlesstx]

Yes, I am a literal person. Many people are.

I would go along with what you are saying, but doesn't your link say the Lt. Gov. of the state also denounced the performance. It also says he is a Republican.

He's entitled to his opinion as well, although I wouldn't lump "disrespectful" in the same category as "racist" and calling for a DoJ and Secret Service investigation.

Disrespectful? Maybe, but entirely legal and protected speech by our constitution. There is no law against showing disrespect for Obama.

[talaniman]

Just like abortion and voting but that doesn't stop the wingers who don't like it from throwing up obstacles to make it so hard to exercise those rights.

[speechlesstx]

Just like abortion and voting but that doesn't stop the wingers who don't like it from throwing up obstacles to make it so hard to exercise those rights.

I refer you to this.

[smoothy]

Except abortion isn't an opinion... its a murder. You are Killing a human baby.

[talaniman]

Its legal to have one in the first trimester. And your opinion is YOURS. And the only ones you can bully with your opinion are the females with no doctor, or insurance, and no money.

The rest exercise their legal rights, and make their own informed choice. That makes you a bully. Forcing your ideas on someone because you can.

[speechlesstx]

Its legal to have one in the first trimester. And your opinion is YOURS. And the only ones you can't bully with your opinion are the females with no doctor, or insurance, and no money.

The rest exercise their legal rights, and make their own informed choice. That makes you a bully. Forcing your ideas on someone because you can.

Dude, drop the holier than thou bully bullsh*t.Your Alinskyite tactics aren't pretty.

[smoothy]

Its legal to have one in the first trimester. And your opinion is YOURS. And the only ones you can bully with your opinion are the females with no doctor, or insurance, and no money.

The rest exercise their legal rights, and make their own informed choice. That makes you a bully. Forcing your ideas on someone because you can.

Look at a sonogram sometime...

Its not an opinion... also if someone assualts a pregnant woman... even during the first trimester... and she dies... they get charged with a double murder.

[talaniman]

I feel as strong in my beliefs as you do in yours.

*And the only ones you can't bully with your opinion are the females with no doctor, or insurance, and no money.

edited to

And the only ones you can bully with your opinion are the females with no doctor, or insurance, and no money.