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Clinton Staffers Remove "W"'s from Administration Keyboards

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by dc sports, Jan 23, 2001.

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  1. dc sports

    dc sports Member

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    This could have been a clever pratical joke. But, the fact that most of the keys weren't just removed and hidden, but broken or damaged, is sad. This is pretty childish.

    No matter who you voted for, you are now, as taxpayers, paying for dozens of broken keyboards, and the salaries of staffers who aren't able to do their work.

    Thoughts?

    http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/804083

    Houston Chronicle -- Jan. 23, 2001, 11:19AM
    Hey, buddy, can you spare a W?
    Reuters -- WASHINGTON -- Call it the strange case of the missing Ws.

    President George W. Bush has lost his middle initial from many computer keyboards at the Old Executive Office Building in the White House complex. In an apparent prank carried out by departing Clinton administration staffers, Bush aides discovered that dozens of computer keyboards were missing the "W" key. Bush aides said today that the W was marked out in some cases but often the key had been removed -- and sometimes taped on top of doorways -- or damaged with the spring broken.

    The new team was studying whether any of the keyboards could be salvaged, but it appeared in many cases they would simply have to be replaced. In the West Wing, the computers seemed not to have been vandalized. "I have my W," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

    Bush made a big deal out of his middle initial during campaign rallies, often holding up the middle three fingers of his hand to form a W. He is often popularly referred to as "Dubya." Bush's middle name is Walker. He would joke to crowds that if his Democratic presidential rival, Al Gore, was so smart, why did every Internet address start with a W. "And not just one W -- three Ws!" he would exult.

    Bush aides were working to repair or replace the keys.

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    #1 dc sports, Jan 23, 2001
  2. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Contributing Member

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    Pretty damn silly. And, since we know doorknobs at the Pentagon cost something line 5 grand each, it looks like the country will be spending the entire "budget Surplus" at Best Buy on new freaking keyboards.

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    "Blues is a Healer"
    --John Lee Hooker
     
    #2 RocketMan Tex, Jan 23, 2001
  3. SpaceCity

    SpaceCity Contributing Member

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    What's up with Bush throwing out gang signs?!

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    #3 SpaceCity, Jan 23, 2001
  4. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Looks like Bush supporters will still dig and dig for anything bad to say about Clinton. (I'm kidding dc sports, I'm referring to a different thread)

    This is probably a tradition, outgoing staffers do some sort of practical joke, no big deal.

    If ******* extraordinaire Ari Fleischer can joke about it, it's probably not that big a deal.

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    #4 Rocketman95, Jan 23, 2001
  5. Pole

    Pole Houston Rockets--Tilman Fertitta's latest mess.

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    Actually, this is the first thing the Clinton administration has ever done that's brought a smile to my face.

    Oh well....better late than never.

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    #5 Pole, Jan 23, 2001
  6. Jeff

    Jeff Clutch Crew

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    The expense is not good but I couldn't help laughing out-loud over the joke. As a prank, it's a good one. From an economical standpoint, not so much.

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    #6 Jeff, Jan 23, 2001
  7. jamcracker

    jamcracker Member

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    The expense?

    Shall I start a 'W' collection here at the office? How many W's do I need? (the article says 'many') I'd be happy to do my part to help the new Bush administration. Where should I send my bag of keys?

    Does anybody actually use the 'Scroll Lock' key for anything useful? Just have the Bushies pop their scoll lock keys off use those. They're the same size.

    Someone can draw a 'W' on them with a Magic Marker if necessary.

    Don't whine about the cost and lost work hours please.

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    [This message has been edited by jamcracker (edited January 23, 2001).]
     
    #7 jamcracker, Jan 23, 2001
  8. mc mark

    mc mark Contributing Member

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    "The new team was studying whether any of the keyboards could be salvaged, but it appeared in many cases they would simply have to be replaced."

    Probably take at least 6 months and a couple of million dollars.

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    'Deeds, not words, shall speak me.'
     
    #8 mc mark, Jan 23, 2001
  9. heypartner

    heypartner Contributing Member

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    lol jamcracker!!
     
    #9 heypartner, Jan 23, 2001
  10. Steve_Francis_rules

    Steve_Francis_rules Member

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    Not a bad prank, but with the way the government wastes money, its going to cost a fortune to recover from this.

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    #10 Steve_Francis_rules, Jan 23, 2001
  11. stringthing

    stringthing Member

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    [​IMG]



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    #11 stringthing, Jan 23, 2001
  12. gr8-1

    gr8-1 Contributing Member

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    how much does a keyboard cost ?

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    #12 gr8-1, Jan 24, 2001
  13. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Contributing Member

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    HAHA to funny!

    Hey Bush if you're so smart how come you don't have a 'W' on your keyboard! [​IMG] [​IMG]




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    #13 RocksMillenium, Jan 25, 2001
  14. MadMax

    MadMax Contributing Member

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    This is great!!! This is easily the best thing the Clinton administration has ever done!! Very funny!!

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    #14 MadMax, Jan 25, 2001
  15. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    I'm not too familiar with this news source, but here's a report I have not been able to find on CNN.

    http://www.drudgereport.com/wh93a.htmXXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED JAN 24, 2001 18:51 ET XXXXX

    WHITE HOUSE OFFICES LEFT 'TRASHED': p*rn BOMBS, LEWD MESSAGES; LEGAL PROBE CONSIDERED

    **Exclusive Details**

    The Bush Administration has quietly launched an investigation into apparent acts of vandalism and destruction of federal property -- after incoming Bush staffers discover widespread sabotage of White House office equipment and lewd messages left behind by previous tenants!

    Harriet Miers, 55, Assistant to President Bush and staff secretary will be investigating possible legal ramifications of the White House trashing and possible theft, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

    "Miers is just beginning her investigation," a well-place source said late Wednesday from Washington. "The level of the trashing is very troubling, this is not just 'W' keys missing from keyboards."

    The damage left by departing Clintonites goes "way beyond pranks, to vandalism", said a close Bush adviser.

    White House employees aren't waiting to be interviewed by Miers. They are providing names of the worst malefactors, previous occupants of specific offices.

    Photographic and audio evidence is being collected -- as the full scope of the damage becomes clear.

    Bush's staff has been cautioned not to go public with the extent of the damage and the worst is being closely held among very top staffers for fear of leaks. But, according to sources, so far Bush officials have found:

    *Phone lines were cut, rendering them inoperable.

    *Voice mail messages were changed to obscene, scatological greetings. One Bush staffer had his grandmother call from the Midwest. She was horrified by what she heard on the other end of the line.

    *Many phone lines misdirected to other government offices.

    *Desks found turned completely upside down and trash deliberately left everywhere.

    *Computer printers that were filled with blank paper but interspersed with pornographic pictures and obscene slogans that would be revealed only as items were run off the computer.

    *'W' keys weren't just pried off more than 40 keyboards, some were glued on with Superglue; some were turned upside down and glued on.

    *Filing cabinets glued shut.

    *VP Office space in the Old Executive Office Building found in complete shambles. Mrs. Gore had to phone Mrs. Cheney to apologize, first reported by Rich Galen's Mullings.

    *Lewd MagicMarker graffiti found on one office hallway.

    Separately, the WASHINGTON TIMES reported that Air Force One was "stripped bare" during the former president's "official" farewell flight to New York on Inaugural Day.

    All the plane's porcelain china, silverware, salt and pepper shakers, blankets and pillow cases — most of it bearing the presidential seal -- were taken by Clinton staff, a military steward told the paper.

    Developing...



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    #15 JuanValdez, Jan 25, 2001
  16. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Good ole Matt Drudge. He's a source of unbiased reporting if I've ever heard of one.
     
    #16 Rocketman95, Jan 25, 2001
  17. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    RM95, knowing the person who referred me to this article, I don't doubt that he's biased. However, unless he's out-and-out lying about what's happened (is he? I don't know), that's a bit over the top.

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    Rockets Draft Obligations Summary
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    #17 JuanValdez, Jan 25, 2001
  18. Achebe

    Achebe Contributing Member

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    Wasn't Drudge the fetching idiot that claimed Alec Baldwin was going to move out of the US if W won? Baldwin had actually made that comment 8 or 9 years ago, but for Bush Sr..

    Maybe this all happened during the Bush Sr./Cinton rollover. Hmmmm... [​IMG]

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    #18 Achebe, Jan 25, 2001
  19. SamCassell

    SamCassell Contributing Member

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    JV, I'm surprised you haven't heard of Drudge. He and his website have been infamous for years for their reporting "style", which basically involves repeating anything he hears regardless of source, without checking the source first. That is, when he doesn't make the stuff up himself.

    Come to think of it, he's the bskball.com of the political arena.

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    #19 SamCassell, Jan 25, 2001
  20. Mango

    Mango Contributing Member

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    #20 Mango, Jan 25, 2001
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