First Lady speaks urges young people to avoid gangs

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/10807830.htm

First Lady Laura Bush spoke this morning at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, urging the community to reach out to young boys to help them avoid gangs, smoking cigarettes and taking illegal drugs.

"We want to show young people the ideal of manhood," Bush said.

"We do know that positive activities and the family and community help prevent" crime, drugs and gang activity.

Bush addressed about 150 people including children at the club in the Germantown section of North Philadelphia.

She praised Boys and Girls Clubs for providing a safe place for children to gather, learn and have fun.

[flamingyouth]

1. Just say no

...to gangs! :eyes:

[alphafemale]

23. That's what I immediately thought of too.

What is with these people?

[MichiganVote]

2. Does she mean the gangs her daughters hang with?

[benny05]

4. Or her husband

They are a bunch of thugs..boy, does she have room to talk?

[MichiganVote]

Yup. The primo gang of republican thugs

[Judi Lynn]

20. I can't think of any gangs anywhere worse than her husband's gang

which includes Islam Karimov, the President of Uzbekistan, who tortures people to death, even BOILING THEM ALIVE:

US looks away as new ally tortures Islamists

Uzbekistan's president steps up repression of opponents

Nick Paton Walsh in Namangan
Monday May 26, 2003
The Guardian

Abdulkhalil was arrested in the fields of Uzbekistan's Ferghana valley in August last year. The 28-year-old farmer was sentenced to 16 years in prison for "trying to overthrow the constitutional structures".
Last week his father saw him for the first time since that day on a stretcher in a prison hospital. His head was battered and his tongue was so swollen that he could only say that he had "been kept in water for a long time".

Abdulkhalil was a victim of Uzbekistan's security service, the SNB. His detention and torture were part of a crackdown on Hizb-ut-Tahrir (Party of Liberation), an Islamist group.

Independent human rights groups estimate that there are more than 600 politically motivated arrests a year in Uzbekistan, and 6,500 political prisoners, some tortured to death. According to a forensic report commissioned by the British embassy, in August two prisoners were even boiled to death.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,963497,00.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=Islam+Karimov+%2B+boiled

[havocmom]

3. Seems gangs become more problematic during Repub administrations

Hmm, wonder why that is.

[ClintonTyree]

5. Yo, it's Laurizzie in the Hizzie................

I think Laura will do just fine in the gangsta' life. She's had a lot of help from her hubbie and his homies. They's the biggest gangstas in the hood.

[Krupskaya]

6. What's her ideal of manhood?

Used goods that drinks itself silly and has the brain of an ape?

The roving gangs of armed thugs tearing up Iraq in the name of the U.S.?

Sheesh. Pass the pills, Laura.

[benny05]

16. Apes have more brains than Smirky n/t

[wildeyed]

7. I thought Laura Bush was a heavy smoker.

Am I mistaken?

[Mend]

11. She killed her boyfriend....

but I don't know if she was lighting up when she drove through that stop sign.

[rzemanfl]

21. True, but she didn't have a gang do it. n/t

[Mend]

26. No, she just said "no" to gang murder and did it all herself n/t

[rzemanfl]

29. I thought she had a girlfriend with her. Could be wrong though. n/t

[Mend]

36. I think you are right....maybe she was lighting her friend's cig eom

[Chelsea Patriot]

33. Laura was smoking while she lay in wait.

[not fooled]

35. More LYING HYPOCRISY from Pickles (warning: BARF ALERT)

from http://smokingsides.com/asfs/B/Bush.html


    
*   "Despite claims that she quit smoking in 1992, in truth Laura would, in times of stress, bum cigarettes off friends and sometimes even from reporters so long as no photographers were around to snap a shot of her with a cigarette in her mouth. During the 2000 presidential campaign, whenever she was satisfied there were no members of the press around, Laura bummed a cigarette off the nearest smoker and appeared to savor every drag", Washington Post, Oct. 29, '02


  WARNING: 5-star BARF ALARM:       
*   "It hardly seems worth asking if George and Laura love each other. They always have, and no one could ever suggest otherwise. So, however they're celebrating - curled up in bed with matching copies of Andersen, eating tamales (Laura's favorite) or having a drag (they're both former chain smokers) - the First Couple deserve best wishes for 25 years.", Baltimore Sun, Nov. 5, '02::puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

geez, she has a lot of credibility telling young'uns not to smoke: eyes:

[NYC Liberal]

8. Pickles, maybe you need to convince your husband first:

http://www.thinkprogress.org/

President Bush said: “Tonight I propose a three-year initiative to help organizations keep young people out of gangs.”

FACT: President Bush has proposed a 40 percent cut in federal juvenile crime prevention funds, which would effectively “pull the plug” on good local programs that reduce gang and youth violence.

FACT: President Bush has sponsored a 44 percent overall reduction in delinquency-fighting and anti-gang funds since 2002.

President Bush said: “Now we need to focus on giving young people, especially young men in our cities, better options than apathy, or gangs, or jail.”

FACT: In the 2004 budget he presented in 2003, President Bush proposed eliminating all funding for Youth Opportunity Grants, a program that gives job training to young people. In 2002 that program was funded at $225 million, in 2003 he proposed funding only $45 million ($43.5 million was actually funded) and in the 2004 budget, he proposed its elimination. Congress accepted his recommendation and funding has been eliminated.

FACT: Two federal banking agencies headed by Bush appointees are trying to change laws that would cripple the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination by banks against low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

[Malva Zebrina]

17. great post

thanks for that information

[physioex]

9. And the most dangerous being PNAC.....

Let's start there first "Pickles".

[OldLeftieLawyer]

10. Smacks of

"Just Say No."

Do we all remember how fucking effective Nancy Reagan's pitch was?

Ah, yes, the infinite wisdom and smashing credibility of the bitch who was dumb enough to marry Fuckface.

Having seen how well her daughters turned out, yes, well, I'd certainly take advice from her if I were a poor, disenfranchised kid with absolutely no future in this country thanks to Husband Of Pickles.

She's better off giving driving lessons.

[ClintonTyree]

19. Just say, NO.................

I remember that one phrase became the laughing stock of everyone, drug users or not. Just say no, while her hubby was directly responsible for the influx of crack into our urban areas to finance his illegal dealings in Nicaragua. Yeah, I remember "Just Say, No". It was a bigger farce than St. Ronnie himself.

[durablend]

12. "We want to show young people the ideal of manhood"

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :silly:

Her husband...dry drunk and an idiot--now THERE'S a role model for ya!

[atommom]

14. Damn, you beat me to it!

;)

[pnutchuck]

13. Sexed or Beat in? n/t

[MikeG]

15. Yes, Sister Mary Pickles.

[MissB]

18. I think Jon Stewart will have fun with this one. (nt)

[Malva Zebrina]

22. the idea of manhood

does she even have a clue what she is talking about?

Her two priviledged daughters that had the good fortune to be born into wealth,that have all the money in world to spend on their fancies, hang out in the most post of taverns in DC, have developed a reputation for being the best party girls around, get drunk, break the law and not something much to be proud of in spite of their education, and she has the nerve to try to counsel male teens about their "manhood"

What? Did she consult Jenna as to what "manhood" consists of?

[benny05]

24. Jenna and Babs

I don't care if her girls get drunk with others; I just don't think Pickles (BTW, I don't quite understand where she got that nickname, except it sounds funny) should spend her time on thugs when she should be promoting school librarianship.

[rzemanfl]

30. All these years, she has been able to convice * that vinegar and

water douche tastes like pickles...go figure. I was just talking about it with my wife, Summer's Eve, the other day.

[Riding this Donkey]

25. Maybe when she stops hanging with them others might listen. n/t

[Princess Turandot]

27. I wonder when she's going to barnstorm South Central LA.. NT

[NYC]

43. Yes, I think she missed her intended audience.

Madison Boys & Girls Club in NYC has quite small children last I saw them.

Shouldn't she be "rehabilitating" actual gang members? Or does the Boys & Girls Club now qualify as a gang?

[Fridays Child]

28. So, uh, is she reversing her position on the issue, or what?

What a newsmaker, that Laura.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

31. "don't take illegal drugs children

stick to the legal ones and double the dosage. you can always doctor-shop if you bring a little extra cash."

[flobee1kenobi]

32. hypocrite assholes!

"We do know that positive activities and the family and community help prevent crime, drugs and gang activity."
But my husband actively tries to kill these activities

[saracat]

34. What an absurd spokesperson for such a cause!

How many rich whitebread women do you think even know anyone in a gang let alone could persuade someone against joining one? And the idea that these kids would be impressed with the Boys and Girls Clubs? These people are insane.

[against all enemies]

37. Does "Skull and Bones" count?

[Greybnk48]

38. Just say No! hiccup!!

Do these people ever do anything original?

[Rainscents]

39. Yea right... like young gangs are going to listen to Laura.

Laura need to stop smoking first before she can preach to other young people. I have nothing against people smoke, but Laura, she is first Lady and she suppose to set an example.

[David Zephyr]

40. Of course she dealt with gangs in Midland & that's why she's an expert.

A middle class white girl from Midland, Texas who marries the son of the Director of the CIA who was the son of a U.S. Senator...

and she speaking to inner city minority kids about gangs.

Wow! This is a real faith based initiate.

She'd do better using her librarian skills to teach her husband to read.

[Bariztr]

41. What you claim?

So how exactly would a conversation go?
I see the Laura approaching a group of street toughs smoking behind a convenience store while she is surrounded by a security detail.

LB: Can i speak to you about gangs?
ST: 'Sup hoe cake!
LB: What are you doing here?
ST: Marinatin', trying to smoke some sticky gooey. You know...
LB: I could use a smoke right now, listen are you in a gang
ST: Southside Crips out the frame, we rolling 13
LB: Well you know gangs are bad.
ST: Stop with this Captain save a ho' bullshit, you fake ass buster.
LB: Damn this is harder than i thought, can i have one of your cigarettes, wow its pungent, i have a sudden urge for an Ultimate Cheeseburger. Well goodbye gang people, remember just say no!

[tanyev]

42. What's next? American Jugend?

They can harness all that gang energy for the benefit of the party.

[Chomskyite]

44. Laura Bush says avoid gangs?

This is like Carmela Soprano saying the same thing.

[pacifictiger]

45. and I expect that potential gang types

always listen to every word she utters! Except of course the fundie gangs.
Shows how in touch with street reality that she is!

[imax2268]

46. What is she going to do...

Tell them not to listen to Rappers because "they hate freedom"...?

[no_hypocrisy]

47. "Real men" go to church . . .

I can only imagine what Laura's PR team is going to dream up for this campaign . . .

[todwest]

48. "Avoid poverty," urges First Lady Marie Antoinette.

Christ on a crutch . . . .

[BeHereNow]

49. The Bushler Youth Brigade...

"Here kids, sign here and you can join
the Junior Civilian Reserves.
We'll give you spiffy things just for joining!
CDs, game boys and this little outfit to wear.
Oh and don't forget to wear this arm band
with the pretty cross on it, well it sort of looks like a cross..."

We are doomed for at least the next hundred years.
BHN

[INDIA]

50. This is so friggin stupid...

Wow, the first lady wants young people not to join gangs. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,that's so terrible. What a friggin jerk she is. She wants young black men to be successful and avoid drugs and violence. There are plenty of other things to criticize, stick to those.

[BeHereNow]

51. Gee... Welcome to DU!

Care to tell me what you think the options for
young black men are in this country?
What ever do you suppose she has in mind in the
way of an alternative?
Free education? High paying jobs?
Health insurance?
Ever lived in poverty?
NOBODY thinks it is a good idea for young
people to turn to gangs, drugs or violence.
Our country has created those conditions for
the MAJORITY of young people in our society.
We are the ONLY country on the planet that does
not take care of our children or old people.
And now LAURA is going to turn all that
around?
PLEASE do tell me how when the government
is cutting what little programs we have left to
provide a safety net for a few lucky enough to
land in it- tattered and torn as it is?
WHAT exactly IS the plan?
BHN

[INDIA]

52. OOPS SORRY

We are "the only country on the planet that does not take care of our children or old people?" Please visit Latin America like I did and then proceed to tell me different.

What I'm saying is, although her talking points probably aren't going to solve any widespread problems, let's remember, SHE DOESN'T HOLD ANY OFFICE. Trying to spread a positive message, as ineffective as it is, is still okay with me.

OH and gee, sorry I don't have a million posts.

[BeHereNow]

53. Who said anything about your post count?

I welcomed you.
That is all-
I certainly did not apprecitate you
implying that my post was ridiculous, however.
We have been having a rather lengthy discussion
about the militarization of our youth for some time now.
I happen to think Laura's little do gooder faith based
crappola program will be used to further that agenda.
You don't need to agree-
But you don't need to completely invalidate
a view that you may not really have much background on.
You are rather new after all-
so welcome, but perhaps you might want to
get a feel and some background for what's being discussed before you
stomp on it?
BHN

[INDIA]

54. Okay...

I'm sure that Laura's little speech will lead to an extra 1000 Army enlistments. Nobody outside this thread will notice it at all.;
And I will stand by my position that your post WAS ridiculous concerning how we are the ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY country on earth that doesn't take care of our children and elderly.

By the way, India3 means India Company Third Platoon, USMC officer candidate school, but I guess I don't have "much background"

[BeHereNow]

56. Well good on you-

Now tell me, have you ever examined
the global distribution of wealth comparison
charts for each country on the planet?
The charts illustrate the wealth of a country and
how that wealth is distributed among it's citizens.
We are DISGRACEFULLY low on the chart as far
as funds availbable and how they are distributed
among our citizens.
WHEN you do your research, we can have a conversation-
Until we are working from the same facts there is no
point in having the discussion.
I too have been to MANY countries the world over-
The point is- HOW do those countries distribute
the wealth, great or small, that they have among
their people-
Fact- MANY countries with FAR less funding
have FAR more educated people- now why is that?
Fact- MANY countries with FAR less funding provide
medical care for EVERYONE.

As far as Laura's Bushler Youth Brigade goes- ask yourself this:
What IS the plan for all of our uneducated, unemployed,
uninsured youth? Prison? Military service?
What are the choices in a society where all the wealth is
concentrated into the smallest percent of the population?
At the price of education, health care and human equity
for its citizenry?
BHN

[INDIA]

58. Last Post

After this I'm going to go party. After all it's Thursday night.

I'm not living in a cave, I know where this county's wealth is distributed. The ratio is better than some, worse than others, no argument that it could improve. We certainly are not the worst.

Last time I saw, college enrollments were at all time highs, more and more students are finishing high school etc. I think that kids in this country can do whatever they want to do, and by the way, comparing prison and the military is absolutely ridiculous. If they are one in the same, maybe I should just go rob a bank instead of joining the Corps.

In closing, criticizing this speech is a serious reach.

Get Drunk, have fun, Life is short.

[sweetheart]

63. The first lady is an accomplice to high crimes and should be on death row

She has no place talking to children than any other accomplice in
multiple murders. Her message is irrelevant. She is a thuggish lout,
married to a thuggish lout amongst a mass of filth in the GOP.

She endorses a drugs war which overwhelmingly criminalizes and imprisons
black men, destroying their lives more than the drugs do. She and her
clan are hipocrates of the highest degree, themselves were they
busted would be ex-cons unable to vote, and certainly not holding
high office.... but as they weren't busted, they've no problem coming
down on people who they now judge.

She and her ilk must be opposed at every instant, as much as i would
oppose charles manson giving speeches on morality to children that they
avoid prison.

So what india3 company. You're going for a state welfare job as a marine
welfare queen... As you're talking to the people who work for a living
and pay the taxes so you'll be able to sponge in your "service" career,
some humility would be becoming.

[Mr_Spock]

55. Avoid gangs - hahahahahaha!!! You mean like the one terrorizing Iraq?

What a moron...

[Javaman]

57. Trying to inject her donna reed mentality into the Barrio will...

be interesting to say the least.

Mrs. Moron* "come on children play nice, you don't need gangs or those nasty cigarettes to be cool".

Gang member, "who the fuck is the whitie think she is? I'll be right back I have to clean my glock and my 47..."

Hey dimwit! Mrs. Moron*, how about giving some work or education incentives?

It's not about drugs, cigs or gangs, jackass, it's about having no identity, no opportunity, and no real education!!!

When you can't find a job, make enough money or get ahead, the gangs pull you in because they make you think that they are the only opportunity for survival.

Good God, she makes moron* sound like Einstein

[BeHereNow]

59. Right on Javaman.

But here is my theory:
No education- no job- no future?
Laura will encourage them to join the
Civilian Reserves! Build parks, paint rocks at military bases,
and wash dishes at the gazillion military bases we have
on the planet...see the world kids, working for Halliburton
is your chance to break the cycle of poverty we have
carefully orchestrated for you!
Since we have amassed ALL the wealth in the country-
you have no choice!
OR go to prison and build stuff for home depot.
The pay is slightly less there.
"Serfdom Training for the Empire" is a better name for Laura's
little program.
BHN

[Orangepeel]

60. you know, I was going to join a gang...

but, now, I think I'll join a church youth group instead! Thanks, Mrs. Bush!

[AlCzervik]

61. Yo Pickles is down y'all, she ain't fronting, she's gang related

Whats next, Rove as poet lauriet?

[muse]

62. I'm sure she reeealllly means it.

Surely, she said the word "really" 10 times, if not 20, in the speech.

[AuntiBush]

64. Was the Rat Patrol Covering

her almight royal-ass? Probably had the gang members in fear with their Bushivitz army! Shew, how much did this one cost American taxpayers... everytime one of them leaves the protection of the Hill Compound $$$$$ is sure to follow.

:mad: