Scores of Boy Scouts fall ill from heat (waiting for Bush to arrive)

[lady lib]

Posted on Wed, Jul. 27, 2005
Scores of Boy Scouts fall ill from heat
MICHAEL FELBERBAUM
MercuryNew.com
Associated Press


BOWLING GREEN, Va. - Scores of Boy Scouts were sickened by the heat Wednesday while waiting for President Bush to arrive at a memorial service for four Scout leaders who were killed while pitching a tent beneath a power line.

The president's visit to the Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill was postponed because of the threat of severe thunderstorms and strong winds. Instead, Bush is scheduled to visit the gathering Thursday.

But before the president's appearance was called off, many Scouts fell ill from temperatures that rose into the upper 90s, made worse by high humidity.

Soldiers carried Boy Scouts on stretchers to the base hospital, about three miles from the event arena, and some were airlifted from the Jamboree.

-snip-

Corrected LINK
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/12239181.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[skooooo]

1. rather metaphoric

[Hissyspit]

4. But not metaphoric at all, they really damage people and don't care

Real behavior, real consequences. This administration doesn't care.

[JDPriestly]

2. Oops! Delayed photo op. Poor boy scouts.

[Hissyspit]

3. A heat index of 119 in NC today!! Good God, it was awful out there today!

I even kept my cats inside in the air conditioning. Who is in charge of this country???

[jojo54]

9. Just ran out to the store here in Jersey.

Thunderstorms all evening, but aaahhhhh....... it's nice out now!

[Hissyspit]

18. That front will not get to the Southeast (including Va.) until tomorrow

The leading edge went into Boston and NYC, but the southern edge of the front is just now getting to the NC mountains. It is still awful here even after the sun went down. Very oppresively humid AND hot.
Looking forward to tomorrow.

I can only imagine what those Boy Scouts went through.

[acmavm]

5. The cold arrogance and mistaken feelings of entitlement of this one

little pompous snitty failure of a maggot masquarading as a human being are absolutely amazing. Hell, this is really a serious indication of what a sociopathic batshit crazy f***** this man truly is.

edit: one spelling error and the realization that I just can't say anything bad enough to come close to describing the how base and morally bankrupt this guy is.

[anotherdrew]

19. georgie boy has a lot of paying to do

[journalist3072]

6. And what's more....

We had some storms here in the DC area tonight, but they weren't bad enough to preclude Bush from going to the event.

We had monster storms here in DC on Friday night. But tonight, he could have made the event!

[Ian David]

7. Fuckhead Bush won't go to one military funeral, but when Canteen Boy calls

...he goes running for a photo-op.



Fucking asshole.

[Changenow]

24. Where'd that photo come from?

It looks more like a seduction than a consolation. Seriously, it gives me the willies. If there were no mention of the Chimp and it were posted in freeperville they'd call the scout leader as a child pervert also.

[Roland99]

30. That's Alec Baldwin and Adam Sandler...SNL skit: Canteen Boy

And Fuck our Asshole pResident up the ass....sideways.


Fucking prick of a bastard kisses off the widows and widowers and goes for a photo-op like this when it's convenient.

[lady lib]

34. Whew!! I am so glad that was an SNL skit

because it was creeping me out, too.

:silly:

[Ian David]

52. That's Adam Sandler and Alec Baldwin in Saturday Night Live

Canteen Boy And The Scoutmaster

Scout Master.....Alec Baldwin
Canteen Boy.....Adam Sandler
Boy scout #1.....Chris Farley
Boy scout #2.....David Spade
Boy scout #3.....Jay Mohr


Title card read by narrator in V/O: "The following sketch, "Canteen Boy and the Scout Master", is based on actual events. It tells the story of Canteen Boy, a highly intelligent though quite eccentric 27 year-old who still lives with his mother, and who, despite his age, remains active in scouting. Certain elements of Canteen Boy’s story, such as his ability to summon snakes, have been added for dramatic effect."

<snip>

Scout Master: I’m going to get us a little…. wine….

Scout Master leaves

Canteen Boy: All right a little drop will not kill me I guess…

Canteen Boy hears a howl in the forest

Canteen Boy: Ooo-Ooo to you! Hey owl! if you’re so wise why don’t you go to sleep it’s the middle of the night!

Canteen Boy is amused and proud of his remark.

Scout Master comes back, wearing a bath robe and holding two glasses of wine. Sits besides Canteen Boy

Scout Master: Ahhh… Here’s to the Great Outdoors!

Scout Master intentionally spills wine over Canteen Boy’s sleeping bag

Oops! Was that your sleeping bag?

Canteen Boy’s get out of his wet sleeping bag

You’d better share mine.. It’s Extra Large!

Canteen Boy:
Naive about the invitation

Sure why not, until mine dries off, it won’t take long it’s made of Gore-Tex.

Scout Master: Canteen Boy, would you um.. rub some bug repellent on my chest?

More:
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93mcanteen.phtml

[Boomer]

8. Let me get this straight

The president of the United States is attending a memorial for Boy Scout leaders who died in an accident, yet he has not attended memorials for SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN COMBAT? Fighting HIS war?

[Changenow]

17. AMEN!!!

These people didn't die in service to their Nation, which makes it fair.

[Boomer]

29. Fair? I don't get your point

I'm not against Bush going to this memorial (or at least planning to). I just think it's a slap in the face of the military families who ALSO deserved his attention.

[lady lib]

33. Has he shown up for even one funeral? n/t

[KeepItReal]

36. NOT ONE funeral for a soldier killed in Iraq *or* Afghanistan

I don't know what the fudge he is trying to prove other than not giving a damn for the troops.

[roguevalley]

48. Personally, as someone from the state these nice guys came from,

I think he can go to everything. These guys deserved tribute but so do the soldiers. A no win here, my friends.

[Boomer]

51. Oh, I definitely agree

I'm not criticizing his presence at this memorial -- tragedies also qualify for presidential attention -- just his absence at other memorials of an even greater tragedy.

It's seeing Bush attend (or at least promise to attend...) this event that highlight his absence from military funerals.

[AwakeAtLast]

38. I suggest you make a separate post about this.

This is the most insensitive thing he could do to show his lack of respect for our military. We need to let people know. Good post!

:hi:

[greyl]

10. I doubt it was cancelled because of "storms".

More likely bush cancelled due to the ruined photo op.

[Ian David]

11. I guess God does NOT want the scouts using government property after all

Come on, he STRUCK THEM DOWN WITH LIGHTNING (or electricity of some sort, anyway).

God has not been any more clear where he stood on things than when he tried to keep Louisiana from banning gay marriage by sending A HURRICANE ON ELECTION DAY!

OK, Scouts... do you get it yet?

Church... State... Wall... God says so.

[uppityperson]

12. I hate to say I laughed from the irony

I am still sick and should not be reading this. My bushite b.s patience quota is zero.

[TahitiNut]

13. The Chimperor couldn't care less ... they're just props, after all.

Just set up security - don't let anyone get in or out - and make 'em wait. Then cancel the photo op and don't bother letting 'em know. Thousands of teen-aged boys, many without their canteens, of course. Heat stroke. Possible brain damage.

For sure, the Mendacious Moran was never a scout.
After all, a scout is TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL, HELPFUL, FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS, KIND, OBEDIENT, CHEERFUL, THRIFTY, BRAVE, CLEAN, REVERENT. (Two out of twelve ain't enough.)

[Cocoa]

14. good training for Iraq n/t

[Changenow]

15. Is he crashing a memorial

for Scout Leaders?

There is no bottom.

[Bumblebee]

16. Hope their parents are mad as hell

Imagine if it had been Clinton!

[lady lib]

20. Really! What would that headline look like?

Headline: Clinton Turns the Heat on Boy Scouts

:sarcasm:

[anotherdrew]

21. this must be the worst jamboree in history

think? was there ever worse? my god it's so damn hot out there...

[daleo]

22. We wouldn't want Bush to be in a strong wind

Or a thunderstorm. Blair's jet got hit twice by lightning around the time of the war's opening phase, so Bush doesn't want to push his luck.

[dArKeR]

23. aWol was getting a haircut aboard Air Force One and then cancelled

the scout photo OP.

[noamnety]

25. I don't understand the weather issue

It was too dangerous for Bush to be there, but it was okay for a bunch of children to be out without cover?

If he didn't want to go to Vietnam because it was too scary, okay, I can understand that. People had guns, they were shooting ... but this is an environment with a bunch of children. Too risky?

Did they forget to sign their loyalty oaths?

[Changenow]

27. Chimp doesn't do death

it's upsetting.

They had him so stoned for the Pope's funeral (a political requirement) chimp looked more the fool than usual.

[LisaL]

26. That Jamboree isn't going all that well, is it?

What are they going to come up with next?
What, 4 dead people wasn't enough, they had to make all these boys to wait for Bush in the heat?

[Hekate]

44. I feel compassion for all those kids--the Jamboree is a big deal

The Jamboree is a really big deal in the Boy Scouting universe. Imagine the shock to all of them having 4 leaders killed (tent pole to overhead wire) and others injured. Imagine if it was YOUR kid there.

Lotta Scouts and former Scouts in my extended family.

And before anyone jumps on me about the gay issue, the only boy still young enough to be in the Scouts is a Unitarian, like the rest of the family. My sister's son and husband chose to stay in the organization and oppose the new policies that (1) ensure gays stay deeply in the closet or get out, and (2) state that Unitarian Universalism is not a religion (has to do with merit badges or something). They have not been silent or acquiescent, and I haven't heard of any parents withdrawing their sons from my bro-in-law's troop. I think this is the last year he'll be a leader, though, now that my nephew has made Eagle and turned 18.

As for the POTUS addressing them, I have no idea how common that is, but it is a fact that the BSA has had a special relationship with the US Congress since its founding in the US, periodically reaffirmed.

Anyhow, this Jamboree is an experience the participants will never forget. About the best that can be said for it is that it is probably character-building. The poor kids.

Hekate

[pelagius]

65. My family is in Scouting and we, too, oppose the ban on...

...gay and/or atheist leaders. In fact, our unit and council just ignores those policies.

[MisterP]

28. y'can get yur Sasquatch Badge latur in the woods:

you can track me my mah droppin's, and ah'm not too good with pit traps, sho that wuld be a good way to ketch me.

[boddhi]

31. He can't find time to even talk about those killed at Red Lake

in the second-deadliest school shooting in US History, but he can schedule time for a visit for boy scout leaders killed while camping

lest we forget:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A64317-2005Mar24.html

no pandering to interest groups here, move along...
:sarcasm:

[lady lib]

32. So true! Quote from that Wash. Post article...

"When people's children are murdered and others are in the hospital hanging on to life, he should be the first one to offer his condolences. . . . If this was a white community, I don't think he'd have any problem doing that."

[Demonaut]

35. everything he touches turns to shit, now even when he hints at a touch

[lady lib]

40. Sort of like Midas in reverse.

That would be Sadim. He has the Sadim touch. Hmmmm.

.

[tanyev]

55. I like to call it The Fecal Touch.

[lady lib]

63. ((big grin))

And you would be quite right. :) :) :)

[osaMABUSh]

37. Sorry, but what were they thinking?

No, I don't mean making the scouts see Bush. Seriously, the freaking heat wave of the decade and they let these boys fry out there? Aren't the scouts supposed to be learning outdoor survival skills?

As a lot, though, most humans can be pretty stupid. Ever watch a dog or a cat in heat or severe weather? They know what to do - they get the hell out of there!

[texastoast]

61. That is the real issue

Very poor examples were set at this Jamboree. Hello, Scout leaders. What happened to being prepared?

In fairness, however, all of the Scout leaders who are there are volunteers, but they didn't get leader status without some training, and it is doubtful that Jamboree is their first big camp outing.

Making anyone wait in high heat, humid weather is really unforgivable, especially when they were waiting to see a chickenhawk, low-down, AWOL, coke-blowing, no-good, lying thief, who is no example for young, earnest Scouts who have a set of values that * knows little about.

[jbnow]

39. I'm puzzled

The link isn't available right now, maybe it's in the article.

I'm willing to accept bush planned to be there and that the weather might have interfered with plans to go. Whatever.

But by the time the service was scheduled to start why wouldn't they already know he wasn't coming? Did they plan to get there late and then decide not to come at all? Did they dawdle to see what the weather would do before calling off the visit?

He was the least important one in this...those affected, those grieving were the ones who mattered. He should have been there on time or called it off before the starting time. He or his handlers should have made sure no one had to wait for him to show.

[lady lib]

41. Is the link not working for you?

It just worked for me, but if you want, I can PM the article to you. It's not very long.

[Freedomfried]

42. Get those boys names, they deserve 4-F status

and now they got proof!

[Corgigal]

43. I got to say this again

Bush doesn't give one flip about kids. He does this to them over and over again. Canceling egg hunts and locking up "HIS" white house. He got annoyed at SC Justice to be Roberts little boy because he was dancing.

No wonder he has no problem sending out kids out for war. He doesn't really like them. I never seen any evidence EVER that this dip shit cared about ONE kid ever.

[lady lib]

46. I read a story

where B*** was with a senator (I think it was a senator) in the Oval office. B*** looked at a picture of Barbara and Jenna on his desk and asked the senator, "Do you like your kids?" Shocked, the senator replied, "Why yes, of course." B*** replied, "Mine are a pain in the ass."

[deadparrot]

45. Well, I'd fall ill,

but not from the heat.

[lady lib]

47. Here's CNN's spin on the story.

There's no mention of the kids getting overheated because they were waiting for B***. Imagine that.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/07/28/scouts.jamboree/

[OzarkDem]

59. Moms must be really worried

I bet they can't wait for the kids to come home. Its a shame this Jamboree has had so many problems.

[screembloodymurder]

49. No pictures of scouts in stretchers allowed.

Bush won't release photos.

[SoCalDem]

50. Wow..what a jinxed jamboree it's turning out to be

sad for the kids:(

[Catchawave]

53. Those storms had been predicted all day.......

...it shouldn't have been a last minute decision :shrug:

Also the heat wave here probably put the temps on that field well over 100+....which was predicted since LAST weekend. The skies were CLEAR when they were carrying those stretchers off the field !

The president's handlers should have put all these factors together, and postponed his visit MUCH EARLIER, before they exposed those children to severe weather...the heat and the approaching storms!!!

Otherwise, I'm guessing when those kids started passing out from the elements, it would distract from President Noodles warm, fuzzy photo-op, and they used the approaching storms as an excuse to cancel.

Does BushCo EVER think of anyone but themselves? Damn, I'm mad

:mad:

[Catchawave]

54. Washington Post story....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/28/AR2005072800329.html

Excerpt:

The more than 40,000 Scouts, volunteers, and leaders attending the event had been standing in the sun about three hours when word came that severe thunderstorms and high winds were forcing the president to postpone his appearance until Thursday.

At the last jamboree four years ago, Bush's trip was also canceled because of bad weather, in which lightning strikes caused minor injuries to two Scouts. He spoke to the group a day later by videotape.

<snip>

Many Scouts ate dinner at 2 p.m. and stood in long security lines to get a good spot in the open field to see what for most would be their first glimpse of a president in person.

Volunteers distributed water and ice by the caseload, and the Scouts were told they could remove their uniform shirts if they had another shirt underneath _ a rarity for an event as important as a presidential visit, most Scouts said.

[lady lib]

62. Your Wash Post article says,

The scouts "had been standing in the sun for 3 hours" when they found out the president was cancelling for that day.

If I were one of those parents, I would be one ANGRY momma.

[BiggJawn]

56. One could alnmost think "God" is displeased with the BSA....

Those leaders tragically killed while raising that tent, now this. I heard today that almost 300 Scouts got hit by the heat.

You think this might be because Gawd's displeased with their policies concerning Atheists and Gays?

Naw....Any 3rd-rate Evangelist will tell you it's a "Satanic Attack"...

As if their Satan controls the Weather? He does? We need rain here, maybe I should go tell the church people across the street thay're praying to the WRONG guy...

[Ian David]

57. See related thread: God's trying to tell them something.(Boy Scouts & bush

God's trying to tell them something.(Boy Scouts & bush)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4209481&mesg_id=4209481

[ClassWarrior]

58. Bush is a coward.

And now maybe they'll change that gawdawful polyester Oscar de la Renta-designed (wtf??) uniform into something practical.

NGU.

[Tippy]

60. My Grandson is attending the Jamboree

He called his mom last night and told her about all what had happened fortunately he was lucky enough he didn't get sick, he said they brought in fire trucks to spray the scouts...The first few nights they were there they were put up in airconditioned buidings, the heat has definately been a problem.

[dhinojosa]

64. They should've been prepared....

on edit: got rid of smart ass remark.

anyways... WTF?!?!

[Ignis]

66. Obviously

These poor Scouts fainted because of the Clenis, not because our Feckless Leader was afraid of a little rain.

Nothing to see here. Move along, citizen.

[UncleSepp]

67. OMG!111! It must be God's judgment

Scout leaders electrocuted? Storms? Kids struck down by the heat? Must be Gawd's judgment on the Boy Scouts!

:sarcasm: