My confrontation with a repub on I-95 or how I spent my Sunday

[russian33]

So, I'm driving down I-95 South from Rhode Island to NYC, and passing thru CT. Traffic is bumper to bumper, and I've been on the road for almost 2 hours. All of a sudden, I get cut-off and the car has 'Bush/Cheney 2004' bumper sticker. My hand immediately goes for the horn, I beep for a good couple of minutes, then get right on their ass, and do that for 10 more minutes. Then cut over to the right lane, and pull up next to them. It's a lovely middle-age couple, but I see the woman is trying to say something. Being the polite person that I'm, I roll down my window so I can hear what she's saying. She was going on about my driving...so I turned my head(I was parked anyways), and came up with a very intelligent reply: 'Bite me, Bush Sucks, and Cheney can go *uck hiself!' Well, her jaw kind of dropped, and her husband started screaming something...so I proceeded to blast my stereo, which was playing *gasp* French jazz...

Now I aks you, am I a bad person? Or should I also have rear-ended them?

[El Supremo]

1. Just don't get placed on any non-partisan commissions.

[malatesta1137]

2. You are a wonderful person!

Except that you should have driven them off the road. Being the Stepford husband and wife that they are, they wouldn't get a scratch.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. You are a GOOD person!

AND, you should have rear-ended them! ;) Just kidding. You did good! Nothing better than seeing jaws drop on repukes! :bounce:

[Catch22Dem]

4. They cut you off

Then bitch about your driving?

[BiggJawn]

6. That's the ReTHUG way...His fault for being where they wanted to go.

Actually, the ReTHUG 'Tood is our fault for being born...Unless we're getting them another drink.

[Catch22Dem]

15. Ah, good point. n/t

[candy]

5. Immature behaviour IMHO-----an accident waiting to happen.

[2Design]

7. not gonna win them over to progressive party...they probably

felt they met a left wing nut.....not exactly the impression I would prefer you leave....but.... I have gotten crazy on merritt once....and had the guy slow down...he cut in front of me... I turned on high beams....and he slowed to 25miles.....I got scared and when a rest stop came up .. i got off and so did he....I got really scared... either he couldn't figure out who it was or saw a women and let it go......

but I have never hassled someone on the road again....even when they are wrong.....

IMHO it does not help me.....and I become someone I don't like.

[Sugarbleus]

16. Well stated .... it isn't worth it. The roadway is not place to

act like a fool. I never ever use my horn unless there is an imminent accident about to happen. Raging about doesn't do anything good for one's heart and blood pressure either.

Too much rage in America already...don't complicate the matter...

[G_j]

34. yup, 'nuff road rage already, sorry not cool IMO -n/t

[JayS]

8. That is a good way to get shot.

They may have cut you off because they did not see you, not for political reasons. The behavior you took afterwards posed a threat not only to them and yourself but to others on the road.

[countmyvote4real]

9. You did well by restraining yourself beyond the expletives.

Still, I can’t imagine their jaws dropped in earnest. Maybe they were just bad (and selfish) drivers, but did they really expect you to roll down your window and salute them? I take it back. It happened in CT.

Too bad they could not know the jazz was French.

[GoneOffShore]

10. Rather than tell them

to Cheney themselves, you could have used my favorite line.
'Hey, some idiot put a Bush/Cheney sticker on your car."

[Bluebear]

11. I like your style offshore!

[GoneOffShore]

14. Why thank you.

I subscribe to the 'catch more flies with honey than vinegar' and the 'kill em with kindness' school.
Not always, but most of the time.

[drdtroit]

33. and don't forget

the best revenge is your own personal success!

[ilovenicepeople]

24. That's so funny

Howdy GoneoffShore:hi: Howdy All:hi:

[russian33]

43. oh, I like that...I'll have to use it sometime

[TrogL]

12. Hardly setting a good example

We're trying to cut down on road rage.

[markses]

13. The dispute was about being cut off

Not about Bush Cheney.

You are totally in the wrong.

[XanaDUer]

17. Dangerous

there is already too much rage in this country and the world.

Better and safer to let that kind of stuff go, no matter how irritating. There is nothing worth losing your life over and/or killing other people over, especially not minor traffic problems.

Not that I myself don't get a little irritated when I see the many, many Bush/Cheney bumperstickers around me...

[progressivebydesign]

18. I swear! everytime I get cut off or blown away on the road..

.. it's either an American flag sticker, a Bush sticker, or a God Bless America sticker on the offending car. Every damn time. Not ONCE have I seen a rude liberal driver..

[XanaDUer]

19. Or "Choose Life"!

Ironic?

[GoneOffShore]

26. I haven't seen rude liberal

drivers, just bad ones.
Idiot on cell phone with a Kerry sticker almost knocked me off my bicycle.
My response now is 'Hey, you drive like a Republican."

[CaTeacher]

37. Is this a joke or what?

I am as partisan as the next person on DU--but the repugs definitely do not have the monopoly on bad drivers!

Where I live, there are not a lot of Bush stickers--but there are plenty of Kerry ones--and let me tell you--about 1/5 of the drivers I see have their head up their ass and that seems to be true regardless of bumper stickers and affiliations.

[GoneOffShore]

48. Yes, it is a joke

But in a world without reasonable insults except "you a**hole" or "f**K you!" I try to be a bit more creative. And not wanting to go gender based on the insult I chose 'Hey, you drive like a Republican."
Which I think encapsulates bad driving pretty well. A disregard for others, failure to take responsibility for ones actions, inability to see alternatives and a total belief in the rightness of ones course.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

51. I disagree

I drive a motorcycle. It is my experience that the only cars you have to watch out for are:

blue cars
cars that aren't blue
cars driven by women
cars driven by men
cars driven by kids
cars driven by old people
cars with Republican bumper stickers
cars with Democrat bumper stickers
foreign cars
American cars
....

I think you see where this is going.

The only common factor in the category of "cars you have to watch out for" is....

"What is 'they all have steering wheels?'"

That's right, Ken Jennings. You now have $43,000.

I strongly urge the original poster NOT to drive a motorcycle.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[mellowinman]

21. The behavior is one thing...

and yours to decide about. Yours alone.

Posting it onto an internet message board perplexes me.

You know the lurkers think you guys make these up, right?

Or at least embellish...

OK, here's what I would've done.

I would've gotten out my .38, and capped 'em both.

That's a JOKE. (Please GOD, don't anybody follow that suggestion)

Don't do this anymore.

That's my advice.

[Selwynn]

22. Change it to where you're the (R) and they are the (D) and everyone would

...want you dead, talk about how horrible, disgusting and typical that is of "stupid freepers" to act like total jackasses.

But of course when "we" do it is prefectly fine.

You did nothing of any value whatsoever, and if anything only added to negative stereotypes in these people's minds.

[Zomby Woof]

25. huh?

Oh yeah, you don't think there is a difference. :eyes:

[Selwynn]

61. There is no difference. Asshole = Asshole.

[kiahzero]

28. You're absolutely right

Remember, being an asshole is OK, so long as you're an asshole in the right way.

:eyes:

[Selwynn]

60. Hehe remember Nick Nolte in the Thin Red Line?

"Oh one other thing. Its not ever necessary for you to tell me that you think I'm right... We'll assume it." :)

I'm only kidding, but that line went through my head and I laughed.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

23. You are not a bad person...You are my hero!

That's exactly what I wanted to do when driving behind a couple of * lovers the other day, but I didn't have the guts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

:kick:

[Toucano]

27. You're not a bad person, but you did a bad thing.

I hope you'll be more cautious in the future.

Was this really worth killing and dying for?

You have to think of everyone's safety. It was neither the right time nor the right place for political debate.

[TXlib]

29. Would you have reacted the same if there were no bumpersticker?

I just jumped here from this thread. How would you feel at receiving the same treatment.

Was your rage at being cut off, or because of the sticker? Either way, you reacted poorly. You endangered yourself, other drivers, and you poorly represented your political view.

I wouldn't want to have to share the road with you, if you're going to go ballistic every time you see a bumpersticker you disagree with.

[Curious Dave]

30. Someone with a diferent political viewpoint...

You should have just killed them. Then you'd really have something to be proud of yourself about. Its always so refreshing to watch ourselves turn into the very thing we claim to hate.

[gate of the sun]

31. it's hard to be kind when you see the bush cheney 04 bumpersticker

but let's not "be" what we don't want other's to "be". It's a free country(kindof) and we should support freedom of speech and Idea's even if they are idiots, you were wrong.

[cosmicvortex20]

32. A bit childish for my taste...

but it wouldnt totally shock me.

Ive seen bad drivers and road rage type people from all spectrums.

[CaTeacher]

35. when I get cut off--I just let it go.

The road is not the place to lose control of your emotions. I am a very careful driver (and have never received a ticket--I have driven approximately 500,000 miles so far in my lifetime).

And--even though I try to always be considerate on the road--I have to admit that I have cut off a person or two--either inadvertantly or because I was in a tight spot. I am grateful that those people did not act like assholes--sometimes these things just happen when you drive.

I only had one experience with road rage--I was driving on the freeway (not doing anything wrong that I am aware of) and a group of what appeared to be wild teenagers tried to run me off the road. This was one of the most frigthening experiences of my life--and I actually think that they just did it for fun (!) But--as I kept trying to avoid them--they started getting very angry with me--making obscence gestures and yelling. I think they were joy-riding and thought it would be fun to run someone off the road (while going at 70 miles per hour). (Yes--there were witnesses, and yes--I did prosecute. There ended up being other charges as well--drinking, drugs--car registration--etc.etc.)

And you never know when you will meet up with a crazy person--one who has a gun in that car, and will use it on you if you flip them off. It has happened before.

People--please stay calm on the road! The life you save may be your own--or it may be mine! Take care of yourselves! You only get one life.

[Th1onein]

36. I don't think that you are a bad person, but I think that you chose to do

something that does more to negatively impact our cause (and especially if you had any Kerry/Edwards stickers on your vehicle) than you did to positively affect it.

[fujiyama]

38. I would have been pissed too to get cut off by one of them

I get disgusted enough looking at Bush bumper stickers also...

However, I wouldn't go out of my way to cause a problem with traffic. It's possible as you were going over you cut someone else off and maybe they were undecided voters...and as they saw a Kerry sticker they will be less inclined to support him....This is unlikely but possible.

Also, the people in the other car could have been nuts and coulda shot you, or hurt you in some way. You do want to see Kerry inaugerated right? So careful. I wouldn't even bother flicking the stupid people off. I'd probably find a way to pass them and ignore them. There are some real freaks out there.

[0rganism]

39. Sorry to say it, but you did a Stupid Thing

Driving is too dangerous already. Your antics did NOTHING to help the situation. Here's something to try the next time someone cuts you off in traffic:

* only honk if you think they're going to hit you because they can't see you, not out of ego rage
* back off to allow for an adequate "space cushion" in case they have to slam on the brakes
* mentally offer them your sincere best wishes for a safe trip to wherever the hell they're headed
* RESIST THE URGE to behave like an ass, it's a fight you simply cannot win

Make the roadways just a little safer for everyone, eh?

ALWAYS LET PEOPLE MERGE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALWAYS. NO EXCEPTIONS FOR EGO.

[doodleysquat]

40. Good advice

I've found that the best way to stay safe on the road is just assume that everyone else is out to get you and never underestimate the other driver's stupidity. It's popularly known as Defensive Driving but I like to kick it up a notch and call it Paranoid Driving hehe.
Another option in that situation is, if you have a cell phone, call that state's Highway Patrol and report them as driving erratically and provide a tag # and description if possible. On interstates the number is usually displayed on roadside signs. Not as immediately satisfying as giving them the finger, but at least they may get stopped and hassled by the cops and it's infinitely safer. :)

[NightTrain]

41. A bit off-topic, but I had an odd driving experience on Sunday evening.

Also in Connecticut: Willimantic, to be exact.

The most direct route from where I live (in Coventry) to Willimantic is ten miles or so of Route 32. It's a pretty quiet stretch of road with delightfully few stoplights. Hey, they don't call this part of my state "the quiet corner" for nothing!

Anyway, some guy had been behind me for several miles, but I didn't pay any attention to him as he gave me no reason to. However, once we were in Willimantic and I got into the left turn lane, he stopped next to me with the traffic light on green. Once I made my left turn, he followed me into the shopping center's parking lot--from the right lane, which was only for going straight.

I thought that a bit odd, but figured the guy had simply missed his turn, particularly since when I went right toward the drive-in ATM, he went straight ahead toward the open Chinese restaurant. However, as I entered the ATM's drive-through lane, I noticed that same guy still in his car. He hadn't gone to eat at the Chinese place as I had assumed; rather, he had simply driven in the restaurant's general direction, turned around, and then exited the parking lot.

Perhaps I was being overly paranoid, but I had to wonder if my left-wing bumper stickers had pissed that guy off, to a point at which he followed me into the shopping center so that he could memorize my plate number, find out who I was and where I lived, and do god-knows-what to me or my car. Guess I'll find out eventually!

[Bunny]

42. What did you mean when you said "I was parked anyway"?

I don't follow...:shrug:

[LeftHander]

44. tail-gater.. you were wrong.

First in heavy traffic people will cut anyone off. Regardless of thier political leanings.

Tailgating them was foolish and dangerous.

If you rearended them it would of been your fault.

Because....YOU are supposed to to keep a managable buffer between you and the car ahead. Someone cuts you off you slow down to increase the space.

Frankly you sound dangerous behind the wheel.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

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[InkAddict]

46. Didn't anyone ever tell you that

if they slam on the brakes and you hit them, you will be cited and faulted for any ensuing accident, injury, collision damage, etc...the horn alert was okay - but your immaturity and risk-taking was way over the line - Vehicular homicide isn't a nice citation; besides, what's the sense of taking out 2 repugs if we lose a Dem vote in the process? BETTER USE BETTER JUDGEMENT NEXT TIME!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

47. We have enough crazy drivers in CT - we don't need more bedlam on the road

Other than that - good job :thumbsup:


Just try and chill on 95 next time, please

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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[Berserker]

50. Ok next time

I get cut off by a car on the interstate with a smirk-n-sneer sticker on it I will ask them to pull over and give them a teddy bear. Courtesy is contagious! We all know the RW is full of love and kindness.

[Orangepeel]

52. is this post some sort of psychological experiment?

to see if liberals excuse rude and dangerous behavior if it is against a republican?

[rinsd]

54. Ding ding ding...I think have a winner....(nt)

[midnight armadillo]

53. You were driving like a prick and you're complaining?

They cut you off, so you beep for a couple of minutes, then tailgate on the highway for 10 more minutes.

That's the very definition of an insufferable asshole in my book. You're driving recklessly to punish another driver, which you then blame on their personal politics, and then you insult them to boot?

Time to get some counseling for your anger problem before you cause an accident and hurt someone on the road.

Sometimes getting cut off in traffic is accidental, or perhaps you missed their turn signal, or whatever. It's not an excuse to go apeshit.

[fishnfla]

Road rage is a fools dangerous pissing contest

I dont get it, if you were in a store, you'd 'prolly hold the door for the lady. If your shopping carts crossed paths, you'd 'prolly smile and say 'excuse me'.

But the minute you get behind the wheel of a car, sitting on your brains, you somehow acquire the power to act like a boor.

You got cut off in traffic. Boring!

[fishnfla]

55. Road rage is a fools dangerous pissing contest

I dont get it, if you were in a store, you'd 'prolly hold the door for the lady. If your shopping carts crossed paths, you'd 'prolly smile and say 'excuse me'.

But the minute you get behind the wheel of a car, sitting on your brains, you somehow acquire the power to act like a boor.

You got cut off in traffic. Boring!

[fishnfla]

56. Road rage is a fools dangerous pissing contest

I dont get it, if you were in a store, you'd 'prolly hold the door for the lady. If your shopping carts crossed paths, you'd 'prolly smile and say 'excuse me'.

But the minute you get behind the wheel of a car, sitting on your brains, you somehow acquire the power to act like a boor.

You got cut off in traffic. Boring!

[JVS]

57. Stop road-raging.

[eric_schafer]

58. local story

OSU football player dies in road rage incident

Justin Williams, 19, a redshirt freshman cornerback, was a passenger in a pickup that was struck by another vehicle. "The two drivers got involved in a confrontation; you could call it 'road rage,' " said Oregon State Police Lt. Dale Rutledge. "One driver lost control and struck the second vehicle, which rolled."

http://katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=69489

[VOX]

59. Using your car as a weapon of intimidation is foolish and dangerous...

There was at least one post here on DU this past weekend by a driver in a Prius being tailgated by a Hummer on the freeway. There was 100% agreement in the thread that the driver should have called the cops on a cell phone.

There isn't much difference between the above situation and what you were doing to the "lovely middle-age couple" in their vehicle. Would they have been justified in cell-phoning the police to report you? Being cut off stinks, but it's no excuse for tailgating and intimidating the offender for ten minutes.

I'm guessing that you were able to size up the gender/relative age of the drivers first thing. Had it been an SUV with three oversized dudes in it, Bush/Cheney 2004 bumper sticker or not, you probably wouldn't have tailgated their vehicle. (If you would have, you might be suicidal.)

It's never a good idea to use your car as a weapon of intimidation. It's even riskier to engage with verbal exchanges on the road. Lives are at stake: yours, the Republican couple in front of you, and everyone else on the I-95 in this case.

Stay angry at the right wing, but find more constructive ways to channel it. For instance, are you volunteering to work for Kerry-Edwards?

Keep cool on the road -- :toast: