*cough* Lance Armstrong *cough*

[WilliamPitt]

http://www.lancearmstrongfanclub.com/uktimesonline.html

Once we settle down to talk at a long wooden table, we are swapping stories about George W. Bush, his fellow Texan. We agree that our politics are different to Bush's, but that the President is smarter, funnier and more likeable than the caricature. Even Sheryl, whose politics Armstrong describes as "way out Left", says that it's hard to meet Bush and not like him. I had assumed, because he and Bush were Texans and I'd seen pictures of them laughing and joking in the Oval Office, that Armstrong was a Republican. But he says his politics are "middle to Left". He is "against mixing up State and Church, not keen on guns, pro women's right to choose". And very anti war in Iraq.

So the "summit" has begun and here I am, thinking that I'd be getting hours of top-quality insight for my triathlon training, and, instead, it's like I am back in my old job, defending military action, defending the Bush-Blair relationship, insisting we did the right thing and saying, long term, it will make the world a safer place. But Armstrong is screwing up his face and he won't have it. "I don't like what the war has done to our country, to our economy," he says. "My kids will be paying for this war for some time to come. George Bush is a friend of mine and just as I say it to you, I'd say to him, 'Mr President, I'm not sure this war was such a good idea', and the good thing about him is he could take that."

...more...

[knowbody0]

1. what a hoot!

[DanCa]

Well than Armstrong should refuse to go biking with the president (nt)

[Elidor]

2. Sounds like Lance has never said that to him.

He should try it sometime.

[quiet.american]

3. If they're such good friends, why can't he call him , "George." n/t

[txindy]

4. "George B*sh is a friend of mine..."

Lance is kidding himself. George is not his friend. Does he honestly believe Junior's real friends (if he has any) call him, "Mr. President?" :eyes:

Interesting article, but Lance is inflating his own importance if he thinks Junior will do anything other than grimace at any war criticism, turn his back, and tell the photographers to take more pictures of them. They're using each other for publicity, nothing more.

[JuniperLea]

5. White Hats, Black Hats

What side is he on anyway? "They" should all be required to wear hats so we can keep the players straight.

I don't see how anyone who opposes this war can be in the same room with that freakish warmongering despot in charge. Who can joke and smile and laugh alongside a murderer?

[wakeme2008]

6. Armstrong is a Bush ass kisser

Nobody with those feeling would go biking with *.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. So why hasn't he told Bush that eh?

[Walt Starr]

8. Doesn't matter to me. If there is no Camp Casey visit by Armstrong

then my donations will go to other foundations and I will tacitly refuse to donate to any foundation he is a part of.

[Generic Other]

9. I can't get the picture of George trying to outbike Lance from my mind

This is obviously what he has been training for all these times when DC was under alert. He didn't want to look bad next to Lance. He's gonna race him. Mr. Alpha Male SorryAss. My guess is if he tries to show off for Lance, he'll fall or pass out. He won't have time to hear Lance's views with all the huffing and puffing he'll be doing. On the other hand, if Lance has to slow down to let him catch up, Lance might be able to get in a few words.

Either way, Bush is a making a spectacle of himself.

"What next Mr. Mid-life Crisis? You went to war, you took over the town, and you became the worst president in history. What do you do for an encore?"

[DanCa]

11. Lol Bush is going to make such a spectacle of himself

the only job he can get after the white house is at sears optical.

[Generic Other]

13. He acts like a dumb high school jock wannabee!

Oh yeah, he was a cheerleader.

[DanCa]

14. Hmmm maybe that was another voting block he was after

The bushies see themselves in "thier guy". He reminds me so much of count Eblis on the old battle star galactica tv show. He has no power over us because we dont give him any and they swoon over him because they sold their soul to metastophaleces.

[Al-CIAda]

10. Mr. Armstrong lacks the courage of his alleged convictions. nt

[Fatima]

17. this is off-topic, but I love your screen name.

I've been away for awhile, can't you tell? I will check out the link in your sig line.

[acmavm]

21. EXACTLY. You hit the nail on right square smack dab on it's head.

Armstrong is just helping give bush** another positive 'public relations' stunt. KKKarl is still working for his boy. And Lance Armstrong is too.

[geek tragedy]

12. It doesn't matter what his accomplishments and beliefs are. If he rides

a bike with the POTUS, he's a bad person. That's DU logic.

[Zhade]

15. Would YOU bike with a war criminal?

I mean, I know you're no Armstrong (no one is), but still - if b*s* invited you to some function, would you attend?

I wouldn't. I couldn't.

[geek tragedy]

24. You know, it's funny that I don't recall anyone bashing Armstrong now

criticizing George Galloway for his repeated PR appearances with Saddam.

The truth be told, I don't let politics affect every single aspect of how I judge a person.

[Zhade]

47. Since I never bashed Armstrong, your point does not apply to me.

NT!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

16. if, by riding the bike,

he gives Shrub a photo op and something for Rush et al to talk about, then he's aiding and abetting, imho. I'm waiting to see if Armstrong talked with Shrub about anything of substance, or if Armstrong goes to Camp Casey or otherwise makes his anti-war views known. Remember, he's bought and paid for by the Discovery Channel, so I'm not holding my breath.

[Mika]

25. Then, by that rationale..

--> "..gives Shrub a photo op and something for Rush et al to talk about, then he's aiding and abetting, imho.."


So, would that also apply to Cindy IF W* actually met her (and/or GSFP)?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

27. not quite

because Cindy would talk about the encounter just like she did the first one. Lance apparently hasn't said anything. That's the difference.

I don't know what the initials stand for (GSFP) so I can't respond to that.

[Mika]

33. Has Lance said what he talked to W* about yet?

BTW, GSFP = Gold Star Families for Peace.

www.gsfp.org/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

37. That's what I'm waiting to find out

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Bluebear]

28. I doubt Cindy & Bush would be frolicking through the wildflowers

on a recreational ride if they met. Just sayin'.

[BlueStatesForever]

29. Cindy vs Lance

Cindy = a business meeting
Lance = playtime

Lance is Bush's buddy. Have you known anybody who leaned in any way left (truly leaned that way) who was Bush's buddy?

Maybe Lance says he's against war, pro-stem-cell because he knows Dems are more likely to donate to his foundation, hmm?

And BTW: Lance's foundation is just another PR stunt...and even if you were an ego-driven skummy athlete, wouldn't you want to fund cancer research if you, yourself had cancer?

As I've said, Lance is a marketing campaign, the human equivalent of a box of Cherios. There's nothing but air under that yellow wrapper.

[Mika]

36. So, you know Lance?

You sure do assume a lot about the man and the Livestrong campaign.


http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.jvKZLbMRIsG/b.695491/k.DA6D/Advocacy.htm

Advocacy

Today, there are nearly ten million people living with cancer. Decades of investment in research are paying off, and more and more people are winning the battle against this disease. It's time to deal with the issues they face.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) sponsors national advocacy initiatives to help the voice of the cancer community be heard in Washington. By educating lawmakers and the public, LAF helps raise awareness about the health policy issues facing cancer survivors and their loved ones.

You can join Lance and make your voice heard by supporting the following initiatives:

* Increased funding for federal cancer survivorship programs
* Increased access to quality care
* Reduced disparities in treatment
* Increased Funding for Federal Cancer Survivorship Programs

The number of cancer survivors increases every year but federal spending on cancer survivorship programs has not kept pace. The Administration's most recent budget proposal featured flat funding for most federal cancer programs at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The LAF supports efforts to provide federal cancer survivorship programs at NCI and CDC with the necessary resources.

Nothing but air? :puke:

[Walt Starr]

18. I've never said he's a bad person

but I will refuse to donate to anything he is connected to since he won't visit Camp Casey but has time to bike ride with an evil man like Bush.

[Kali]

23. sounds about right

aiding and abbetting, isn't that what they accuse us of?

[Fatima]

19. These celebrity types mostly go whichever way the wind blows.

Of course, I'm bummed out that LA would ride with him, and ignore the protestors, but what else should we expect? He's a corporate boy!

[Cleita]

20. Yawn.

:boring:
I guess now they are trying to present Bush as being likable. I don't care much about what sports'jocks think anyway. They spend too much time developing their bodies and not enough time learning to be informed human beings.

[Bluebear]

22. Indeed. nt

[Blue_Roses]

26. I like Lance Armstrong

He has dicussed in a couple of interviews his dislike for this war. As a matter of fact, he was on This Week with George Steph and this "bike ride" that he and Bush would be having was mentioned. He stated that, "I'm might get in trouble for saying this..." and then went on to say how he felt about Iraq, and many other things he disagreed with Bush on. He also made the comment that he really liked John Kerry and thought of him as a good friend also. George Steph then referred to the comment made by Clinton, "am I the only one who likes both Bush and Kerry...," and he laughed. Clinton's Library has a bike that was donated to him by Lance when he won his first tour. He really liked Clinton too.

I think the rwingers would love to have Lance in their corner, but they don't. They are going to milk this ride with Bush for what they can. In the long run it won't make a bit of difference. In fact, I think that is why he and his wife didn't make it 'cause her "core beliefs" were not something he could embrace.

[BlueStatesForever]

30. Name one

Bush is different. Name one true left-leaning person that has ever socialized with Bush.

I think Lance's profession to be left-leaning is just eye winking stuff. He knows the left tends to donate to charities more than the right does, and his charity is about his ego...and about curing cancer for his OWN self-interest.

[Spider Jerusalem]

31. So Lance Armstrong is a starfucker.

Blinded by fame and power to the point where he's happy to call George Bush his "friend". Never mind that there's apparently not much they agree upon or have in common, which doesn't seem like much basis for "friendship"...more like Bush gets to milk the relationship for whatever it's worth, PR-wise, and Armstrong gets the joys and ego boost of Proximity To Greatness.

[democracyindanger]

32. Hating Chimpy is more important than cancer research.

I wasn't sure of that before, but the general tenor of this thread has cleared it up for me. Thanks.

[Bluebear]

34. What, Lance has the only cancer research fund?

[democracyindanger]

40. Hating Chimpy trumps some cancer research funds.

You're right. That sounds a whole lot better. It's not like cancer research could use all the funding it can get.

[Bluebear]

43. Of course cancer research can use all the funding it can get,

Whether one donates $1000 to Lance's foundation or $1000 to the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Institue, what is the difference to you?

[democracyindanger]

44. Uh oh. Better hold off on your donation to the DFI.

Dana-Farber physician participates in oval office signing of Blood Cancer Act

Geraldine Ferraro; Kenneth Anderson, MD; Kathy Guisti, president and founder of the Multiple Myeloma Foundation; and President Bush following the signing.

'K, so the LAF and DFI are off the list. Damn Bush-lovers.

[Bluebear]

45. A. Geraldine Ferraro is in there

B. Let me up already.

An oval office signing (wow, he was even at work?) is a bit different from an elective ride through the snapdragons.

[Walt Starr]

38. I'll donate to different cancer research funds, thankyouverymuch

Livestrong can go to hell, not another penny from me.

[immoderate]

35. This is show business, not politics.

There is nothing here.

--IMM

[Hippo_Tron]

39. Hello! Guys, Lance wants to be Governor of Texas. It's an act

Democrats have a hard enough time to begin with getting elected anything in Texas these days, let alone liberal ones like Lance. Stunts like this will allow him to fool some of the GOP faithful in Texas where Bush is extremely popular. He will be able to say, "Yeah I'm a liberal and have liberal positions on basically everything, but hey I ride bikes with W, isn't that cool?" And they will say, "Well he rides bikes with W, he must be a good guy."

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

42. But he didn't HAVE to do this. If he was invited, and declined, shrubco

certainly wouldn't have publicized that fact, and he wouldn't have to either.

Lance is popular enough in TX that he wouldn't need shrub endorsement to get elected here.

[Hippo_Tron]

46. That's because nobody's brought up gays and abortion yet

And when they do, Lance won't be so popular.

[Rex]

41. Bush can't even go talk to one grieving mother.

Lance sucks ass and should be run out of town on a rail. I guess he would be friends with the Devil and still defend his murderous intentions.

Fuck Lance.