That people still feel the need to defend or justify bush after all his malicious and idiotic messmaking is beyond pathetic... it's sick.

Wow. These women aren't the 'traitors', Bush is the traitor...and a liar, and a coward.
And no doubt an idiot - but I won't resort to name calling.
Ha, ha.
RMLarson

"Ms. Martel said the action by the team, which had won the Venice Cup, the women's title, at the Shanghai event, could cost the federation corporate sponsors" and to that I ask why would you suggest, Ms Martel, that the loss of money for game's sake is of higher value that the value of free expression? I didn't notice any vulgarity or direct insult to members of any teams, only a sincere admission that President Bush certainly doesn't have the support of more than one person present at the table where the notice was held up to view - "we" isn't admitting to "all". In addition, if a dictate that free speech isn't allowed by members of the team, then was note of that imposition made evident to each member, distinctly mandating not one personal comment be made by any idividual? If not, then the private organization can't blame any of its members for assuming a right Americans have felt is their's without condition, or assuming the hope of the organization that none of its members would exercise their right to free speech. I suggest that any private organizations imposing certain limits on free speech, make that stipulation plain and evident to its membership beforehand.

Pious e-mailers might want to bone-up on the legal definitions of "treason" and "sedition" before shooting-off charges. Free expression of opposing political views hardly constitutes treason and sedition; that charge made the authors look totally ridiculous and baseless, blowing any credibility sympathy they might've gained with an intelligent crowd.

To Debbie Rosenberg, I suggest you suck it up and find work in another area as anyone else would when they've lost work due to reasons beyond their control - that's what the average person down the street does. If you worked in an environment that relies on front office marketing prefessionals to keep the workforce busy and work seemed to dry up because of an offense to a potential client, would u come down on and possibly sue the marketing executive for losing work u hoped to have the next day? I don't think so, and if you did sue, no responsible judge would undertake its time allowing argument of the unexpected lay-off. Debbie, dry the eyes of that pouty, sue-happy little face and deal like most of us grown-ups do!

They simply stated a fact: "We did not vote for Bush."
People are free to interpret that and react to it as they wish (within the law), just as they are free to vote for whom they please, and to tell others how they voted.
By their presence at this event, these women state that they value playing bridge. I do not value that. But I recognize their right to play bridge in public, and to vote for whom they please, and to tell others that they play bridge and vote for certain candidates.

They simply stated a fact. "We did not vote for Bush."
People are free to interpret that and react to that as they wish.
And to vote for whom they please.
By their presence, they state that they value playing bridge.
I do not. But I recognize their right to vote for whom they please, and tell others, and to play bridge in public, although I personally wish they would spend their time working for peace.

They simply stated a fact. "We did not vote for Bush."
People are free to interpret that and react to that as they wish.
And to vote for whom they please.
By their presence, they state that they value playing bridge.
I do not. But I recognize their right to vote for whom they please, and tell others, and to play bridge in public, although I personally wish they would spend their time working for peace.

They simply stated a fact. "We did not vote for Bush."
People are free to interpret that and react to that as they wish.
And to vote for whom they please.
By their presence, they state that they value playing bridge.
I do not. But I recognize their right to vote for whom they please, and tell others, and to play bridge in public, although I personally wish they would spend their time working for peace.

OMG! This is the reality we now live in...

I love the "200 hours of community service". I wonder why they did not add "tar and feathered", placed in blocks in the county square or a trial by water (placed in the dunking chair to see if they are witches).

Buck Fush and the elite conservative trash...

Wow public admission that you did not vote for Bush is now seen as a treasonable offence requiring punishment.

Sigh,....Look, it's pretty obvious that the type of "citizens" drawn to the Republican party are either very wealthy, or are working class people who not only support acts of treason, but like being controlled by the corporations,(Republican CORE)
After you drones grow enough balls and brains to nationalize energy and communications, your next step should be to outlaw the Republican party for it's repeated acts of treason.

HELLO! seems a lot of you are upset....where did you think this slippery slope which we have been going down since the response to 911 was going to take us? Say nothing of stolen elections and complete disreguard of the US Constitution by this Administration and Congress? ( I include Congress for their lack of duty)

Now, is it time to wake up? Loss of sponsors, well if this is truly imposed upon these women winners instead of withdrawn with an apology, I think we as true Patriots should boycott all of these sponsors and call for the team not to be known as the US or American team.

And while we are doing such....

IMPEACH AND PROSECUTE NOW ACCORDING TO THE US CONSTITUTION

A friend just suggested a slogan for this event:
"Free Speech Trumps Bush."

Great letters, Anney!

And sorry about my links, above, not working. TinyURL has never let me down. I've used the original links to the pages, and they work. Anney already copied the Statement Regarding Damage to the USBF. Here is the content of the other page:

Summary of Board Actions to Date

USBF Actions Relating to Shanghai Closing Ceremony Incident

This report details the USBF Board of Director's actions and decisions concerning the display of a political sign by the Venice Cup winners at the medal ceremony which concluded the World Bridge Federation's 2007 Championships in Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China.

The Facts
The medal presentation in Shanghai took place on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007. Three members of the USBF Board of Directors attended the closing ceremony. These USBF directors returned to the United States on Sunday, Oct. 14th.
The USBF Board of Directors met by conference call on Monday, Oct. 15th. All seven Board members participated in the meeting, as did the USBF Board's legal counsel, Peter Rank. After extensive discussion in Executive Session, the Board, in Open Session, resolved to send a letter expressing the Federation's regrets for the actions of the Venice Cup winners to the presidents of the World Bridge Federation and the Chinese Contract Bridge Association, the hosts for the World Bridge Championship. That letter stated:

The Board of Directors of the United States Bridge Federation sends to both of you as well as to the members of both of your organizations our regrets regarding the behavior of the members of the USA1 Venice Cup team at the prize-giving ceremony in Shanghai. Despite our pride in the bridge achievement of our team, we know that this was neither the time nor place for a political statement. Please accept our sincere apology and be assured that we are acting to prevent this or similar behavior in the future.

The Board deferred the question of what action to take with regard to the Venice Cup team members to a subsequent meeting.

The USBF Board again met by conference call on Thursday, Oct. 18th to discuss what action should be taken with regard to the Venice Cup team members. Once again, despite short notice, all seven Board members and the Board's counsel participated. The Board heard from one of the Venice Cup team members, Jill Levin, who answered questions about the team's decision to display the sign. After hearing from Ms. Levin, the Board went into Executive Session for a lengthy discussion, which included consulting with counsel about possible actions. The Board reviewed its Grievance, Appeals and Disciplinary Procedures, which require any complaint against a member be made within 15 days of the action complained of.
The USBF Board, in Open Session, resolved to file a disciplinary complaint against all six members of the winning Venice Cup team and its Non-playing Captain. The vote on the matter was unanimous among those participating. There were three abstentions: USBF President Jan Martel abstained because she was charged with acting on the complaint. Director Rose Meltzer abstained because, as Chair of the USBF Grievance & Appeals Committee ("GAC"), she would be charged with assembling a Hearing Panel if a Charge were filed. Director William Pollack abstained because of conflict of interest.
After the USBF Board voted to institute disciplinary action, President Martel commenced the formal disciplinary process. Director/GAC Chair Meltzer then promptly set about assembling an unbiased Hearing Panel. Director Meltzer's task was complicated by the fact that all but one of the fifteen members of the USBF Grievance & Appeals Committee had conflicts in this matter. Peter Rank volunteered to represent the Hearing Panel and withdrew from further representation of the USBF Board in the matter.

At its regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 25th, less than 2 weeks after the Closing Ceremonies in Shanghai, the USBF Board heard from GAC Chair Meltzer regarding her nominations to the Hearing Panel of persons not on the regular GAC roster. The USBF Board appointed four temporary members to the GAC, replacing members who were ineligible to serve in this matter. Meltzer was thus able to appoint a Hearing Panel of five (5) experienced and distinguished adjudicators: Rhoda Walsh, Presiding Member, Wafik Abdou, Peter Boyd, Kitty Cooper, and Nadine Wood, none of whom, to the best of Meltzer's knowledge, had conflicts in this matter. Kitty Cooper subsequently recused herself from the Panel and Meltzer appointed Rita Shugart to replace her. Peter Rank, in his capacity as counsel to the Hearing Panel, then detailed for the benefit of the USBF Board the procedures that would be followed and the role he would fill.

Mr. Rank recommended that the USBF Board retain separate, independent counsel to present the disciplinary case to the Hearing Panel on behalf of the Board. The Board approved that suggestion.

After the Oct. 25 meeting, the USBF Board retained attorney Allan Falk to represent it before the Hearing Panel. Subsequently, the USBF Board has conferred at length with Mr. Falk, by conference calls and e-mail exchanges. Mr. Falk has moved rapidly to amass evidentiary materials and recruit witnesses, to research, analyze and resolve various potential defenses to the disciplinary charge, to formulate opening and closing statements, to outline the USBF's position as to sanctions, and otherwise to prepare for the hearings and any contingencies that may arise. In his preparation, Mr. Falk reviewed the USBF and WBF Conditions of Contest and the Olympic Charter, which the WBF Conditions of Contest require participants in WBF events to abide by. The Olympic Charter provides "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues, or other areas."

The Hearing Panel has scheduled hearings to start on Thursday, Nov. 29th at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco, and to continue each of the next two mornings as necessary.

Meanwhile, the USBF Board, through Mr. Falk, offered three of the respondents—those who had submitted a prompt written apology before disciplinary proceedings were commenced—an opportunity to accept discipline and resolve the charge short of a hearing, subject to the approval of the Hearing Panel as to the sanction proposed. The Board later offered the remaining four respondents an opportunity to accept discipline and resolve this matter. No respondent has accepted the settlement offers.

Additional Actions by the USBF
The USBF has excellent Conditions of Contest and Disciplinary Procedures that have been carefully considered by USBF committees over several years. The USBF Disciplinary Procedures provide adequate support for the actions taken in this matter. Nonetheless, and consistent with its continuing obligation to improve, the USBF Board and its committees have already started to consider changes to make certain that an incident like this does not happen again. But the USBF will not rush to enact rules that might later prove inadequate or even counter-productive.

The USBF Board of Directors has committed itself, before next year's Open, Women's and Seniors Team Trials, to take the following steps:

* Draft a Code of Conduct governing all persons representing the USBF in International Competition;
* Add corresponding sections to the USBF General Conditions of Contest regarding the proper behavior of USBF representatives;
* Add a provision to the entry form for United States Bridge Championships by which participants agree to abide by USBF behavioral standards if they qualify to represent the USBF.

Additionally, on its own volition, the International Team Trial Committee's Conditions of Contest Subcommittee, many of whose members are former Internationalists, has expressed a desire to implement procedures to assure that this sort of incident will not recur, and to that end has begun discussing appropriate modifications to the USBF General Conditions of Contest.

Great women, great Americans, great human beings! I hope that the 'Fabulous Four' are reading all of these fine compliments on this article.

As you Common Dreamers already KNOW, and more and more of the 'un-informed' are finding out, the biggest threat to 'freedom and democracy' is the Republican Party and the Democrats that collaborate with them.

Sir Melvin Cheopus; Very well stated!

Too many people to thank, but you CD'ers are the vanguard of liberty.
Peace and Harmony, brothers and sisters.

That little sign undid my lifelong notion that bridge is a white middle class waste of time occupying mainly women who ought to be out doing some worthwhile volunteer activity. I assumed bridge players were mostly right-wing racists, just because I heard occasional table talk to reinforce this stereotype. The bridge association should give the ladies a few perks for creating a situation where rational people supportive of free speech can represent the U.S. internationally. The association lawyers' drafted a Stalinist "response" that would strip the ladies of their rights. It is no credit to the U.S. or to the image of bridge as a sport activity.

I read this yesterday and since so many people had already responded stating my feelings (and theirs)so much more eloquently than I could, I decided not to post. Today, however, I had to speak out in support of these ladies. I have emailed the ACBL,WBF,USBF and the Generali Group Corporate Press Office in Italy. I am an ACBL member and I do not want my membership money going to stifle free speech either directly or indirectly. Kudos to the Ladies!

At least they won't be subject to 200 lashes for being in the company of unrelat4ed men ... chek out that story if you want to be incensed ...

Good job, ladies! I don't know that I think it was "light-hearted," I think it was straight from the heart, the compassionate heart.

Cheers to these nice and smart women! ALL politically/socially aware people have many reasons to be outraged by the bastards in washington.

I just sent an email to the USBF board.

=========

NylandJim wrote:

http://usbf.org

Might I suggest …
Comments and Questions to the Entire Board of Directors
United States Bridge Federation:
mailto: board@usbf.org

If you want to contact the sponsors mentioned by Martel, you can write the Microsoft public relations firm here:

rrt@waggeneredstrom.com

And the Generali Group Public Relations unit here:

Lucia_Sciacca@Generali.com

I'll bet these sponsors haven't threatened to cut off funding because these four women held up a sign saying they didn't vote for Bush. They actually might not appreciate being brought in as partners of the USBF to deny these women their right to free speech.

At least, that's the "friendly perspective" I've used in my letters to these two sponsors.

Here's my similar letter just sent to Microsoft's public relations firm:

Dear Folks at Waggener-Edstrom,

Many Americans are alarmed that the US Bridge Federation intends to discipline four women of the Venice Cup Championship team who held up a sign back in October in Shanghai saying "We didn't vote for Bush" -- his actions about authorizing torture and invading Iraq on the basis of non-existent WMDs had been a topic of spontaneous comments and discussions by various tournament participants directed toward the American women. As you know, America's freedom of speech is being abridged by the Bush administration and most Americans are outraged, so it is very disturbing to see this American bridge federation doing the same thing to its own representatives, while claiming that Microsoft would not support what these women did.

See this recent NY Times news report for the news report if you haven't already:

Anti-Bush Sign Has Bridge World in an Uproar

In the genteel world of bridge, disputes are usually handled quietly and rarely involve issues of national policy. But ... a team of women who represented the United States at the world bridge championships in Shanghai last month is facing sanctions, including a yearlong ban from competition, for a spur-of-the-moment protest.

At issue is a crudely lettered sign, scribbled on the back of a menu, that was held up at an awards dinner and read, "We did not vote for Bush."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/arts/14brid.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Here is where on its website the US Bridge Federation uses Microsoft and others to justify bringing charges against the four women:

Certain members of VCW have complained that the USBF apology to the WBF and the Chinese Contract Bridge Association for the VCW's conduct was unwarranted. This reflects a complete disregard for the fact that the Chinese government, which does not exactly have a history of sympathetic views toward political dissent, provided the bulk of financial support for both the 2007 World Championship and the 2008 World Bridge Olympiad. Certainly, other sponsors such as Generali Group and Microsoft will not view as a positive development the hijacking of events which they supported financially as forums for political expression. Again, the VCW seem to view the interests of all other parties as entirely subordinate to their own, if they take them into account at all.

http://usbf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=368&Itemid=167

Can you determine if Microsoft is so concerned about this sign held by these women that they'd threaten withholding funds for tournaments? If they are not considering withdrawing funding for such events because these women held up the sign shown in the NY Times report, is Microsoft willing to say so and let this furor play out without Microsoft being used as a justification for it? (Somehow, I can't see Microsoft being a bad guy in this matter.) It would be appreciated by Americans concerned for the rights of these women.

Thank you.

Signed

By USBF logic, it's paradoxical... No-one anywhere has a right to express an opinion because it might harm the company's profits. Following that line of reasoning, no company anywhere can advertise or market their company, products, services because it would infringe upon the sales/profits of another company.

Freedom of speech...... unless the masters decide that your freedom of speech is infringing on their profits.

The only "costs" of freedom, according to this theory, is throwing away thousands of soldiers lives, hundreds thousands more civilians lives, 4.3 million refugees... 3.5 trillion dollars drained from the US treasury, from US taxpayers.

Those appearently are acceptable "costs" of war. But a handful of ladies holding up a sign, at an event which 99.99% of the world wouldn't have known about untill the USBF decided to politicise and esculate the situation. Paradoxically, nobody would have known about this situation if the USBF hadn't hastily lashed out with hostility and inciendiary belligerence towards these women. You have to wonder, as disturbing as it is for the USBF to supress free speech of American women, it's equally shocking the manner in which they've completely failed in the realm of public relations, and crisis management. As I mentioned above 99.99% of the public would never have known about this incident. Consider, for instance, that the USBF just let it go and didn't react with belligerence. Why did they have to react so irresponsibly to it? Who is managing their public relations?

Now watch, this is a significant outcome, and i'll tell you why. You're going to have people making the argument that "private entities" have the right to suppress free speech all they want, if it's in their best business interest. But the problem comes when you have crooks like the USBF reaching out to the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to ENFORCE PENALTIES and FINES on these people for expressing their first amendment freedoms. IN essence, the Government, as a third party, is involved in the supression of 1st amendment rights.

Phidippides
Ms. Martel is getting so many letters of encouragement, she apparently shut down all your links. These people are absolutely shameless.

It is greatly ironic that a significant minority of Americans who consider themselves patriotic and who speak about extending freedom in places like Iraq can behave in such a repressive, anti-freedom manner whenever their idol, George Bush II, is criticized.
We also have the truly bizarre spectacle of Bush, who has sponsored more anti-freedom measures than any prominent American in history, and who likes to dress up in military costume and brag about being the commander-in-chief, criticizing Musharraf of Pakistan for exactly the same behavior, and being given a complete pass by the lap-dog media, even including the once-independent NPR.
I'm not sure what country this is, but it is not the one I grew up in and have been proud of for most of my life. I mourn for the collapse of our democratic system of government, our republic, and our formerly treasured principles of liberty and free speech.

provoice wrote:

"One thing that makes America uniquely American is the idea that we have the freedom to openly say what we think about our government."

Not true at all! Please, no "shining city on the hill" bullshit.

For at least the last century, there have beem many countries where open criticism of the government is much more widely accepted than the US.

I ask you to compare the Paris Spring in 1968 to Kent State, Ohio, USA a few years later.

Here is an email I just sent to Lucia Sciacca, Head of the Generali Group Corporate Press Office in Italy

Lucia_Sciacca@Generali.com

Dear Sirs and Madams,

Many Americans are very alarmed that the US Bridge Federation intends to discipline the four women of the Venice Cup Championship team who held up a sign saying "We didn't vote for Bush" because his actions about authorizing torture and invading Iraq on the basis of non-existent WMDs had been a topic of spontaneous comments and discussions by various tournament participants directed toward the American women. As you know, America's freedom of speech is being abridged by the Bush administration and most Americans are outraged, so it is very disturbing to see this American bridge federation doing the same thing to its own representatives.

See this recent NY Times news report:

Anti-Bush Sign Has Bridge World in an Uproar

In the genteel world of bridge, disputes are usually handled quietly and rarely involve issues of national policy. But ... a team of women who represented the United States at the world bridge championships in Shanghai last month is facing sanctions, including a yearlong ban from competition, for a spur-of-the-moment protest.

At issue is a crudely lettered sign, scribbled on the back of a menu, that was held up at an awards dinner and read, "We did not vote for Bush."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/arts/14brid.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The US Bridge Federation associates the Generali Group with their defense of threatening to bring charges against the four women here:
Certain members of VCW have complained that the USBF apology to the WBF and the Chinese Contract Bridge Association for the VCW's conduct was unwarranted. This reflects a complete disregard for the fact that the Chinese government, which does not exactly have a history of sympathetic views toward political dissent, provided the bulk of financial support for both the 2007 World Championship and the 2008 World Bridge Olympiad. Certainly, other sponsors such as Generali Group and Microsoft will not view as a positive development the hijacking of events which they supported financially as forums for political expression. Again, the VCW seem to view the interests of all other parties as entirely subordinate to their own, if they take them into account at all.

http://usbf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=368&Itemid=167

Is the Generali Group concerned enough about this sign held by these women that you'd threaten withholding funds for tournaments? If you are not considering withdrawing funding for such events because these women held up a sign, are you willing to say so and let this furor play out without your participation in it? It would be appreciated by Americans concerned for the rights of these women.

Thank you.

Signed

Another bubble burst. I suspect I joined the bridge playing minority forty years ago as a subtle, silent statement of some perceived mental superiority. All this time I thought "duplicate"referred to the cards. Say it isn't so. Has anyone checked the position of MENSA on rendition,torture and aggression.

If only more activists with an audience would take a stand such as this, things might change. Thanks for your courage, ladies!!

All I have to say to the USBF is "get real". The right to free speach is protected in the constitution. The mentallity of "we can not criticize out leaders" lest we be deemed to be a traitor also leads to people using the excuse of "I was just following orders" for committing heinous acts. Stating that they did not vote for Bush is in no way a traitorous act.

To the team and everyone reading this message, keep it up. If people quit questionning the actions of the "leaders" and quit expressing their concerns over those actions, the foundation on which the US was formed will deteriorate further.

Hopefully the next president will repair some of the damage done.

The notion that George Bush is "Our Leader" is ludicrous beyond words.

Good job! That's what every American should do, at every opportunity, unless you want to be labeled as "Bush's henchman"

I just sent the following message to the Board:

"I hope the USBF take immediate action to protect the brave women who exercised their democratic rights in Shanghai. Any attempts to attack these women financially must be LOUDLY opposed by the USBF.

"If the Board cannot stand up for its champion members, then I look forward to the next visit of the US Bridge Team to Australia, where I'm sure we'll be able to organise a fitting public expression of the value of freedom of speech.

"And any USBF corporate sponsor that decides to withdraw their support can be assured of a vigorous global boycott!

"Sincerely,
"[Name & address provided]"

Also, thanks to the USBF statement for revealing at least two of their sponsors, the Generali Group and Microsoft.

These people at the US Bridge Federation are asses. Look at their thinking below. Maybe the ACLU will file a lawsuit against the USBF for violating these women's rights to free speech, who I hope will stand their ground.

Statement Regarding Damage to USBF from Venice Cup Team Demonstration

The following statement was written by one member of the USBF Board of Directors and adopted by all of them:

Victory Ceremony Actions of US Venice Cup Winners ("VCW")

It may be the case that the VCW did not intentionally act detrimentally to the USBF. But the act was in fact detrimental to The USBF.

1.) The USBF has good reason to believe that the ACBL's inclination to provide financial assistance to the USBF has substantially diminished as a result of the VCW action at the medal presentation. The ACBL has no contractual obligation to use its good offices to generate or funnel money to the USBF. Any financial assistance provided by the ACBL to the USBF is strictly voluntary and is predicated on the ACBL being satisfied that such support is in the best interest of the game of Contract Bridge and that of the ACBL membership.

2.) Certain members of the VCW have in no way acknowledged that the action has created a serious problem for the USBF. They instead have chosen to go on the offensive by extremely aggressive defensive actions, rather than simply acknowledging, "We made a mistake. What can we do to rectify the situation?" In the vast majority of situations a party whose defined role is to represent another party has a fiduciary responsibility to represent the interests of the principal ahead of their own interests. In cases where an agent or other representative acts adversely to the interests of the principal, they may in fact be subject to legal action. Certainly, the principal has no obligation to allow said agents to represent them in the future.

3.) Certain members of VCW have complained that the USBF apology to the WBF and the Chinese Contract Bridge Association for the VCW's conduct was unwarranted. This reflects a complete disregard for the fact that the Chinese government, which does not exactly have a history of sympathetic views toward political dissent, provided the bulk of financial support for both the 2007 World Championship and the 2008 World Bridge Olympiad. Certainly, other sponsors such as Generali Group and Microsoft will not view as a positive development the hijacking of events which they supported financially as forums for political expression. Again, the VCW seem to view the interests of all other parties as entirely subordinate to their own, if they take them into account at all.

4.) There have been a large number of e-mails, some pro the VCW, but more con. Again the USBF did not create the present controversy, this was done by the VCW entirely of their own volition and on their own responsibility.

5.) The USBF is the body responsible for selecting the players and captains who will represent it. This representation is a privilege granted to those who in the judgment of the USBF will best represent it. When a player or captain fails to adhere to standards of behavior acceptable to the USBF, it is not at all clear that the USBF should allow that individual to represent it in the future. It is not the agent who determines acceptable standards of behavior, it is the principal.

6.) No principal can provide an agent with a laundry list enumerating every conceivable proscribed activity; the agent is presumed to be guided by common sense. When an agent damages a principal by ill judged actions, intentionally or negligently, adverse consequences for the agent should come as no surprise.

7.) This situation is not about free speech; it is about determining whether the USBF has a responsibility to its membership to impose sanctions on those who have acted contrary to the best interests of the organization and its members.

8.) The USBF was formed to manage the process of selecting teams, players and pairs to represent the United States in World Bridge Federation and/or Olympic Games Competition. The mission was and is to select those individuals most qualified to be representatives. In order to be eligible for selection, a player must meet the eligibility requirements established by the USBF. Additionally, there is always the possibility that a governing body of an international competition might refuse to allow an individual to participate in a competition conducted under its auspices. There is a history of players not receiving the requisite approvals to participate in international competition, ranging from cheating to lack of expertise to deportment problems, among others.

9.) The USBF is quite cognizant of the fact that there are professional arrangements where a player or players are paid to play in events where the ultimate goal is to qualify to represent the United States in international competition. The fact that a player is dependent upon professional fees to earn a living is of no concern to the USBF, and any such arrangements are entirely incidental to any USBF event, outside the control, responsibility or concern of the USBF. The USBF has no obligation to coddle, foster, or protect any person's ability to earn professional fees. http://usbf.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=368&Itemid=167

BRAVO!!!

I work abroad, and the weird thing was in 2004 when everyone really, really wanted to get rid of Bush but they were afraid to talk to me about it -- like people just stopped talking to me. So I got a rainbow-colored Kerry poster and put it on my door & everything went back to normal.

I can totally see these women wanting to get back to their normal interactions with their colleagues. They had no expectation that anyone would really care about their award ceremony -- no one had before -- they were just trying to communicate to their colleagues, their friends, the people there. It isn't the team that politicised this. The sanctions are ludicrous. I hope they can afford good lawyers.

And people are right to hold us citizens responsible for the torture, extra-legal imprisonment and preemptive invasion of our government. We held the Nazis and the Iraqis responsible for their government, why shouldn't we be held responsible for our own?

Hummm...

*Thinking* independent-minded women?
~ Sounds all a bit too challenging and threatening to the 'Powers That Be', (and their tiny-minded minions).

Quite rightly, they ought be hauled off to the ducking stool and / or be roasted at the stake. Check out where they live -- probably have broomsticks, black cats and books of spells at home?

Why can't they just play *NICELY* -and quietly, and dress r-e-a-l pretty, and not go poking their noses into *men's stuff* and all?

haha.
As someone else here pointed out, there do seem to be an increasing amount of *women* who are making the headlines with *PEACEFUL* protests. Dang, - that must scare the monogrammed knickers off the Fools on the Hill!

As to these valiant womenfolk of the Bridge playing world, well, *thankyou lots* for offering us _your_ version of *A Bridge Over Troubled Water* ...

...even though the tiny brainwashed minds of America think that this was *A Bridge Too Far* !

;)

Yes, this is what 'democracy' has come down to: one is 'free' to speak as long as the speech pleases the masters. Or put in another way: democracy: the freedom to tell you what to do. It is a disgrace and this from the nation that wants to lead the world. Lead the world? Yup, to disaster.

Ship them to Syria for interrogation!!!

Poor Bushies! They still can't seem to accept the reality that their beloved hero is a disgrace to his country.

miftin:

Next time, make a bunch of signs. When they take one, go back and get another one. Maybe they'll tire of harassing you before you run out.

Dysphoria

Good for you.

I'm going to have to find out more about the Generali Group, but I really wonder if Microsoft would pull their funding support for these bridge tournaments because these women held up a sign saying they didn't vote for Bush. Maybe they would, but it seems like an inconsequential act in the larger scheme of things, not much to get bothered about.

What struck me even more was this part of the claim of damage to them:

Certain members of VCW have complained that the USBF apology to the WBF and the Chinese Contract Bridge Association for the VCW's conduct was unwarranted. This reflects a complete disregard for the fact that the Chinese government, which does not exactly have a history of sympathetic views toward political dissent, provided the bulk of financial support for both the 2007 World Championship and the 2008 World Bridge Olympiad.

It leaves me sputtering. In the first place, you don't change your stripes and violate your participants' CONSTUTIONAL rights of free speech to get sponsorship from a country that does not permit free speech. That's pandering to the very worst dictatorial aspects of a government. You have no integrity if you do.

Second, why would China CARE if some American women held up a sign saying they didn't vote for Bush? It's no skin off their backs.

I just think this board is made up of garden club Nancy Pelosis who think that life must be lived as a tea party having absolutely nothing to do with reality. They are passengers on the fabled "Ship of Fools" headed for Germany in the 30s, partying, speaking frivolously, being stupidly and willfully oblivious to or uncaring about the black cloud of Naziism spreading over Europe.

I know in the larger scenario of the loss of Constitutional rights under Bush, this is just one of many violations of American rights by a usually-invisible organization, but it's something people can get a handle on and protest vigorously instead of standing by and just watching it happen.

Grand Slam, Ladies. Well done. I'm sending an email to the USBF in support of you.

You can make a living playing bridge? Looks like these ladies will have to cross that bridge when they get to it!
Well, it's not like they could lie & say there were from Canada, Eh?
If they are not allowed to write a sign, how about matching T shirts- black w large white lettering, with the word TORTURE, and the internation *no* sign, the slash mark across it, to express themselves?
Some bridge saavy person can have fun using bridge terminology to write up a funny editorial. I came across these terms:
Palooka: A weak, usually clueless player. A woodpusher. Also: fish.
Squeeze: a technical play in which a player is forced to give up a trick regardless of what he discards.
Sluff: to discard a card that is not trumps. This card cannot win the trick
Albatross: 8410 shape.

Well, hell, at least the Veteran's for Peace are not alone in being denied free speech.

One thing that makes America uniquely American is the idea that we have the freedom to openly say what we think about our government.

If the United States Bridge Federation wishes to sanction it's members for offering up their personal opinions, perhaps they should change their name to the Gestapo Bridge Federation... they don't represent MY country.

...and the U.S.B.F. doesn't HAVE to use the photo.

I wrote to the board and Ms. Martel last night, and received the following response (I have abbreviated the URLs but the letter is, otherwise, complete as sent to me):

"Thank you for your email.

The USBF Board appreciates everyone's input. I and the other USBF Board members are not participating in discussions of the incident because it is inappropriate for us to do so. But I assure you that we are listening to everyone.

You can read a Summary of Board Actions at http://tinyurl.com/28vay5 and a Statement regarding the Damage to USBF at http://tinyurl.com/ywwssw. "

Among the fascinating statements on the web sites she sent is the assertion that they have received a lot of e-mails, but most have been critical of the women and supportive of USBF. I find that hard to believe. You can find the board's e-mail addresses at http://tinyurl.com/2ctue2.

Just because this is bridge players does not make it less of a free speech issue than the Dixie Chicks. It is the same issue, and for many of the same reasons. I hope this blows up in the USBF's faces.

I recently attended a conference with a "no border wall" tshirt. No one said anything. Should I be worried? Everything we do is a political statement, if we say nothing it is still political.

Bravo to the people from other countries who pointedly questioned the Americans about their evil government's behavior, contributing to the reduced warmth the women cite and making the team members feel it was incumbent upon them to say something. Since Americans these days are either too Reaganized/right-wing/fascist to admit their behavior is immoral or too cowed by conformity to acknowledge the damage the US is doing, it will take the rest of the world to make us look at ourselves. If only we'd stop killing and torturing people in the meantime.

Here's my email to them:

Dear Folks,

This statementabout the "I didn't vote for Bush" sign is outrageous:

"This isn't a free-speech issue," said Jan Martel, president of the United States Bridge Federation, the nonprofit group that selects teams for international tournaments. "There isn't any question that private organizations can control the speech of people who represent them."

It is also not true. No one in America has a right to "control" the speech of people. America is a Constitutional government in a Constitutional crisis created by the GW Bush administration, and you guys think these women should be PUNISHED for saying they didn't vote for Bush at a dinner where he was discussed a great deal?

Really, this is too much and certainly not flattering to the USBF. News travels fast. Maybe you guys should reconsider unless you and your sponsors are all Bush supporters. If that's the case, then the world should know that, too.

Signed

Baaaaaaa!

Americans who travel overseas are embarrassed to say they're American, that's the reason behind this 'spur-of-the-moment levity.'

And funny that this happened in China, truly the world's only superpower. The minute the Chinese decide to cash in the US debt, the collapse of the American empire, which started under Reagan, will be complete. Maybe that's what these ladies were trying to do: 'hey go easy on us, we didn't really vote for the creep.'

Too late, ladies, you're going down.

No Trump? How can you make all the kings and queens equal to each other? Must be a communist plot.

A little handwritten sign stating a fact "we did not vote for Bush", has turned into this fiasco? 200 hours of community service? written apologies?, banned from playing?

Actually they got off fairly easy this time. Had that sign been just a little bigger they would have faced a firing squad the next morning, with no trial.

Anyone here ever own a lab or golden retriever? Or pretty much any dog that loved playing fetch?

Here's the interesting thing. Anyone that's played catch with a dog, say using a tennis ball, knows that a dog will chase after a ball even if you fake throw it; that is you pump fake, make the motion like you're throwing, but don't actually release the ball. So you pump fake, the dog goes and chases at what isn't there, only to realize that the ball is still sitting in his masters hand. But the interesting thing is if you keep doing this, pump faking two, three, four times, and so on, nearly everytime the dog will go chase what's not there- gravel back to his master... go chase, gravel back to his master. etc. And it goes on like that. Now you, as an owner/master, look at this behavior and laugh; it is pathetic- this being has inferior intellecutal capacity, limited cognative memory, and abolutely no concept of critical/comprehensive analysis. What's interesting is that it seems the more times the dog has been blatently tricked, the more obstinate he will become towards his master; he'll never question why he's been had, he will be a loyal obedient dog that continues to be fooled over and over again, while the master and everyone around him is laughing at him, and mocking him. He's lost an awareness of the situation right in front of his face.

And with that in mind. As history tends to repeat itself, and since you can't teach old dogs new tricks, 30% of our country will be fooled into another illegal, unjust war with Iran. Most of which are the same people who go around preaching to everyone else that they're traitors, unamerican and treasonous.

Get ready conservatives. Your master is about to pump fake again... get ready, wait for it... wait for it...

"Circus dogs jump when the trainer cracks a whip, but the well trained dog turns sumersaults when their is no whip."
George Orwell

The Generali Group is an Italian-based insurance company with worldwide operations. I wonder who the USBF thinks is violating Generali's ethics code -- those women who held up the sign, or the Board of USBF?

Generali's Code of Ethical Conduct

1. Correctness and honesty

The Group works in compliance with current legislation, professional ethics and internal provisions. The pursuance of the Group's interests shall never be a justification for a conduct violating the principles of correctness and honesty. For this very reason, any form of benefits or presents, both received and offered, shall be rejected if it is considered as an attempt to influence the independent judgment and conduct of the parties involved.

2. Impartiality

When holding relations with all internal and external counterparts, the Group shall avoid any kind of discrimination based on age, racial and ethnical origins, nationality, political opinions, religious beliefs, gender, sexuality or health of its interlocutors.

From the PDF file, Ethical Conduct, link in the right-hand column on this page: http://www.generali.com/generalicom/sezione.do?idItem=1111&idSezione=1110

I live near Cumberland, MD, home base for the (now) infamous 372nd MP Company of Abu Grahib torture photos of several years ago. The other night in downtown Cumberland they were holding a big cross-town high-school football pep rally (morphed with a pro-war rally complete with military honor guard, etc...) and the company NFL Films was in town to make a documentary of the event.

So I made myself a sign, complete with American flags that read: WE SUPPORT OUR TORTURERS (and of course, the discussion around here had more to do with whether Joe Darby (the soldier who turned them in) was RIGHT rather than whether what the 372nd MP Company did was wrong.

After perhaps 10 minutes of standing there holding my sign, two upstanding citizens walked up to me, got right into my face and assaulted me and grabbed the sign. When I turned to run after one of them (in an attempt to retrieve my sign) I was tackled from behind by police and handcuffed as I lay on my face on the pavement.

Of course, the real reason for the assault was simply for the police to confiscate the sign (while saying that it would be used as "evidence" in court). If my sign was in poor taste, then having a pro-war high school football pep rally preparing high school kids to go off to Iraq for the benefit of war-profiteers is in poorer taste.

This is the kind of thing that keeps our rights from being upheld! I love to play bridge, but I feel lke refusing to play any more if fellow players are going to have their rights trampled like this.

I was amazed to discover this incident happened last month; the story was buried in todays Arts section of the New York Times.

The Bridge Association is requiring the four ladies to jump through numerous hoops...or else "zee boom vill be lowered!" The Bridge Assn. apparently exists in a Fascist bubble.

Among the hoops, the four (five?) are supposed to sign a letter of apology. To whom is not clear, either to their assn. or the dummy. The women will lose their income for a year, be banned from competing in the bridge "Olympiad" etc etc if they don't sign, kow tow, perform 200 hours of community service (promoting bridge), etc.

When Keith read off the list of requirements, I was amazed at how much it all sounded like the Loyalty Oaths required during "The Red Scare" in the 50s.

Zee scheiße is hitting zee fan!

Well what do you know, more elitest, hostile, and bitter far right loony comments from hysterical, out of touch crackpots. It's easy for these neo-con imperialists to ignore the consequences of war when they're so disconnected from the reality of it, and not affected by it. Another couch potato warmongerer eh?

Maybe, since you think the ideological neo-con faction is so benevolent, we should let some of the 4.3 million displaced Iraqi Civilians find refuge in America? You seem to care so much for the Iraqis. eh?

By the twisted, fallacious Neocon standards, 70% of Americans are Anti-American... and the neo-cons belligerently lash out against these people, so when can only conclude that is actually they who hate America since they're so bitter and angry towards nearly everyone around them.

If you hate our basic freedoms so much, like freedom of speech, press, expression, questioning government etc maybe you should try living in a nation like Pakistan where they crush dissent, supress free speech, and are violent toward anyone who doesn't blindly follow everything their government tells them to do. You'll fit in well there.

Or perhaps instead of whining about everyone, you could actually do something to contribute to and support the war effort. And bumper stickers, and lapel pins don't count.

Couch potato far right wing warmongers. I love it. Completely disconnected from the reality and consequences of the war. Never met a war they didn't like, as long as they don't have to lift a finger fight in or support it.

Nice to show the Communist Chinese how some of the nuts in this country operate. Criticize your Government, even one sentance (one written sentance), and a portion of nuts in this country will belligerently cry a temper tantrum and call you un-American. Paradoxically, it is these same nuts who hate America, and American freedoms. This marginal fraction of people are the greatest threat to America and our democracy because in a split second they would not only sit idly by as a Totalitarian government ripped apart and burned the Constitution and Bill of Rights, but they would be right there to cheer and defend it while it happened.

Which is why they'd fit in better in a country like Pakistan or Saudi Arabia.

Keith Olberman made the correct call on his show tonight. He said if the USBF wants to use the words United States in their name to select people to represent our country they must also represent our value of free speech.

End of discussion, now sit your ass down and play!

By e-mail, angry bridge players have accused the women of "treason" and "sedition."

I guess they haven't been paying attention to their representatives or the majority opinion in this country.

"David L. Anderson, a bridge player who supports the team, said it was common to see players at international tournaments sporting buttons bearing the date "1-20-09," when George W. Bush will hand off to a new president, as well as buttons reading "Support Our Troops."

Maybe Debbie will pin the next sign to her blouse and call it a large rectangle political button. Hand held political statements seem to make some bridge players very angry.

Alternative ending: as far as I'm concerned, he's just a Wolff in sheep's clothing.

I couldn't make up my mind. 8)

As a veteran who served to protect your right to hold up that sign, I thank you. America needs more couragous patriots like yourself if our Noble Experiment has any hope of surviving what Bush and his gang have done to it. Their Achilles Heel is being disrespected, so mock on!

Wow, a lot of comments on this one. I don't want to feel left out.

How dare these wretches act with such political incorrectness on a global stage? What would godfearingsuperdupergousapatriots have done instead? They would have proudly held up a sign that said, "God Bless the USA...the rest go to Hell!"

The draconian punishment and labels of "treason" being imposed on a few individuals exercising a truly mild form of free speech during a supposed amusement like playing cards is probably proof positive that the Bush/Cheney philosophy is in reality a nasty disease or toxic waste capable of infecting or contaminating all in sight. It also suggests that if our fearless leaders are not certifiably insane themselves, than they are surely making us mentally ill.

It is long past time for the inoculation of impeachment.

It never ceases to amaze me how people call freedom of speech and opinion "treason and sedition".

An administration that blatantly abuses the laws of the country, doing things that you and I would be arrested for....is supported by the very people who scream treason and sedition.

Let me see....the American Revolution was fought to guarantee us certain rights....

I hope more people speak up...

Thumbs up to the Bridge ladies. Thumbs down to Bridge club who suspended them.

Freedom of speech should be exercised before they ban it...and they ARE trying to.

Olbermann is covering this story tonight...

Of all the groups out there bleeting loudly in this political campaign season, and of all those who feel the need to rightly bash Bush.... who'd a thought the next right hook would come from a bridge team.

It just goes to show you the depth of his unpopularity. It's not bad enough that his approval ratings are lower than any other president, including Richard Nixon - but having bridge ladies making such a statement... that truly is telling..

It just may be the last straw that prompts Pelosi to put impeachment back on the table.

I mean, Bridge ladies... LOL...

Good for them.

Wolff said, "While I believe in the right to free speech, to me that doesn't give anyone the right to criticize one's leader at a foreign venue in a totally nonpolitical event."

Interesting...one's leader? I believe in free speech but it doesn't give anyone the right to speak about what they want to and when they want to? No...he doesn't believe in free speech...he is advocating against it. Is the contradiction not obvious? Does he not understand what free speech is? "one's leader"...what the hell does that mean? One's leader. The driveling masses went to voting booths and enough of them selected this moron and I am supposed to call him "my leader". He is not my leader. He is the president of the United States but he is not "my leader". What country is this? When did we start looking up to our politicians in this manner? Like he is a King or something. Scary.

I just sent this email to the Board of this petty organization.

To the Board of the United States Bridge Federation:

I am appalled that your organization would condemn and threaten this bridge team for exercising their free speech rights. What country were you raised in? This is beginning to sound more and more like a Fascist regime than the United States of America. Are you so threatened by some women, in this case, making a statement distancing themselves from the terrorist in the White House that you would threaten their livelihood? Who are your corporate sponsors? I would like a list so I may let them know how I feel and to withhold my business from them.

You should be ashamed of yourselves...

Peace,

st john

Well, it looks like the bridge Establishment managed to raise their profile and damage any reputation they might have had in one swell foop, as the saying goes. Their crass, anti-democratic, totalitarian reaction to what, I must agree, amounted to a rather timid sort of protest places them firmly in the Republican camp. So does their demonstration of their true credo: MONEY IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
Holy Guacomole, Batman! They might lose some corporate sponsors! Why is it that the images of Hillary and Nancy and nearly all our alleged representatives in D.C., come to mind when that bleat is considered? Gotta get re-elected!
Getting network time costs a mint! MONEY IS ALL THAT MATTERS!
As in, Sieg Heil, Mein Herrren!!!

As for the remark about not showing disrespect to our nation's LEADER on foeign turf, since when when did King George Lead anyone, anywhere, except an enraged and manipulated public and Congress, into an invasion of a sovereign land that had not attacked us, in as blatant a transgression of international law in all respects as the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia ... way back when We the People were still The Good Guys with ample reason to take pride in our nationality?
Georgie Boy doesn't rate the name of Leader.
And I know scads of folks who never even considered following his dumb ass.

Gandhi is right in being critical about the action of the players of the US Bridge team. The statement of Ms. Greenberg that "she decided to put up the sign in RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM PLAYERS OF OTHER COUNTRIES ABOUT AMERICAN INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES.... She goes on to say: "There was a lot of anti-Bush feeling, questioning of our Iraq policy, and about torture. I can't tell you, it was an overwhelming amount,but there were several specific comments, and THERE WASN'T THE SAME WARMTH YOU USUALLY FEEL AT THESE EVENTS."

The action of these players was prompted NOT by their outrage against the US imperial and genocidal policies, and actions (they have been reading about and watching the deaths of thousands of innocent people around the world in the hands of the American terrorists due to the imperial policies of their monstrous government), BUT BY THE QUESTIONS AND ATTITUDE OF THE FELLOW CONTESTANTS. Gandhi rightly pointed out this by contrasting their action with the PROTEST ACTION OF TOMMIE SMITH AND JOHN CARLOS. The latter's action was prompted by their outrage against the apartheid system of the US (they have seen and experienced), not by the questions and attitue of their fellow athletes. That was why they could risk their own lives for the just cause of bringing social equality in the US society. That was why they never regretted about their action, because their protest action was aroused by their own outrage against the government sponsored apartheid system.

evalinsky November 14th, 2007 4:27 pm
"In case anyone has forgotten, in totalitarian dictatorships, people have the right to say wonderful things about their leaders, but not criticize them. The whole point of freedom of speech is the right to criticize the government and its leaders. There are no restrictions on this." I wonder if the ladies would be under-fire if they had written "we voted for George Bush" on their sign? That also would have pissed off a group of members but I think they wouldn't have been threatened with the loss of their ability to make a living.
Also interesting is that if the Chinese team had a little sign saying "we did not vote for President Hu Jintao" who in the U.S. would have asked for them to be "punished"? Only in their own country would the Chinese be punished as our bridge players are in our Country-the U.S.= China/no civil rights.

I see the Bushstapo are out in force again....

I dont see how this can be constued as "anti-bush"...it is or it is not a statement of fact...either they voted for Bush or they didn't. They are not saying "Bush is a slimy little Nazi" or "Bush has sex with his Mother"...its like saying "I didn't have breakfast this morning" or I prefer peas over corn"

Here's the e-mail I just sent to Ms. Martel, and I'm copying it to the entire board. Their home page has a header relating to the 'Shanghai Incident'.
* * *

Dear Ms. Martel,
I do hope the USBF will reconsider their decision to sanction the ladies who held up a sign at the International championships in Shanghai. This is, indeed, a free-speech issue. Sanctioning these ladies reflects really poorly on both the United States and the USBF. If our citizens are not free to express themselves, then we are no longer the nation that our founding fathers envisioned, and which generations have fought to protect. If we are afraid to express ourselves, then instead of being the dauntless individuals that characterize the true spirit of America, we are pusillanimous apparatchiks, mindful only of toeing the party line, lest we be labeled seditious traitors. I would think that any organization, the first two words of whose name are "United States" would have more respect for true 'American values' than your organization has shown by threatening to sanction these good women. Shame on you, and shame on any who would dare undermine our nation's true strength by such actions.

* * * *

By the way, I have now decided that everybody on my list for presents is getting the same thing . . . a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution.

I think only idiots would admit voting for bu$hie and his little dick. You go girls and don't let them take away our freedom of speech.

Brava, Ladies! Fight for your right to free speech, and don't let them threaten you into silence. How often has anyone heard about "Bridge Championships" for gawd's sake? This will bring more publicity and new sponsorships to the bridge association than they'll know what to do with. Screw that "stick-up-her-butt" president!

Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History - quote attributed to Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

So - anyone who disagrees with the great leader is a traitor, the great leader speaks only to pre-selected audiences who agree with him, any inconvenient facts that point out the error of the great leader's ways are hidden - is this the USA or the old Soviet Union?

"While I believe in the right to free speech, to me that doesn't give anyone the right to criticize one's leader at a foreign venue in a totally nonpolitical event," he wrote by e-mail."

WTF,O? This guy believes in the right to free speech, then goes on to state that it doesn't give anyone the right to criticize one's leader? Pardon me? Does the man understand what free speech is?

I think it appropriate to use the same phrase used by Dick Cheney, when he uttered those immortal words to Sen. Patrick Leahy on the floor of the Senate.

(As it happens, the exchange occurred on the same day the Senate passed legislation described as the "Defense of Decency Act" by 99 to 1.)

These champions surely didn't realize they would stir up the corporate sponsors. Now they know. For those who don't want to back down it will hit them where it hurts, their livelihoods. I'm sure this is what happened to Myer in Florida who probably faced the possibility of expulsion and loss of funding for his degree. This is why most people, living paycheck to paycheck, try to be careful. This is how people are controlled. When Ashcroft was attorney general, he sent out an order to all the public libraries in the nation to destroy five government publications(book burning). Two of them were volumes of laws passed by Congress. The only thing they had in common were the instructions on how to legally recover your property when unjustly confiscated by the federal government.

In the article Robert S. Wolff, who has served as an executive and board member of several bridge organizations, is quoted as saying the following by email:

"While I believe in the right to free speech, to me that doesn't give anyone the right to criticize one's leader at a foreign venue in a totally nonpolitical event."

What???????? Is this person even American??????

Free speech is exactly the right to criticize one's leader at a foreign venue.

Of course it would be nice if we lived in a country where when we spoke of our leaders we had good things to say. But like the citizens of Germany in the 1930s and 1040s who had Adolf Hitler as a leader, we have nothing good to say about our President of the United States, George Bush. If Americans like Robert S. Wolff want US citizens to say good things about their own country's leaders when they are abroad, then they shouldn't elect dictators - yes, George Bush is a dictator - he invades innocent countries - he tortures people against the Geneva convention - he spies against his own people against the constitution - etc. If Americans really want a president that they can be proud of, then they should elect an honest, individual, like Dennis Kucinich. Sorry, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Romney, Guilani, etc are all bought and paid for dictators also. Their disguise is just a bit better than that of George Bush. But you wait until one of them is elected. You'll see another dictator. Nothing will change, except for the worst.

Like Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, Jill Levine, Jill Meyers, Debbie Rosenberg, and Irina Levitina should be awarded our nations highest award for courage and bravery. Something like the US Medal of Honor would in my opinion be appropriate. Oh and yes, I am a veteran, so I believe I have earned the right to my own opinions about why the Medal of Honor should be awarded.

If the majority of people in America disagree with me, then despite the fact that I am an American citizen living in America, I am obviously living in a very foreign country.

A wise person once told me (and coincidentally it was while I was in the military), "Before you die, everything that you believe in will turn out to be a lie." I guess he was correct. With people like Robert S. Wolff around, America as I was first made to understand it in school is a lie.

In a fascist society the great leader is not to be derided. When will people learn?

To do this in China was hilarious since, if the Chinese team had said something bad about their government in Beijing, they would probably be arrested or at least censured. The fact that these American patriots at the Bridge Federation are advocating the same sort of totalitarian restraints on their own people is mind-boggling.

Holy Goren, I hope that the membership of the United States Bridge Association quits the organization en mass. What a bunch of fools these bridge executives are. The women should be thanked for standing up for our country and showing the world what is really going on--namely, how unpopular Bush and his war policies really are. They all deserve to receive 1000 bonus master points. They can play bridge in my club anytime they want.

Goes to show how small resistance, by average folks, can have big effects.

Rosa Parks.

Leaders happen there are enough people who share values to support them, and not till then other wise its just a PR campaign.

How flippin sad is this? Well those idiots who voted for the nimrod can satnd up and be counted if they have the guts to do it. WHY then can't those of us who don't claim him as our presdident tell the world this? Why can't we tell people "we DID NOT VOTE for BUSH!!?" How and where can I send my Congratulations to these Stand Up women and Americans!

These women represent the best of us! The Federation the worst. I hope that if the Federation insists on its outrageous penalties that the bridge world would shun the Federation -- or better yet, a free and fair competetive federation would be formed. I haven't played bridge in years, and would never compete, and have limited resources, but I'd be willing to send a small donation to show my support for such an organization.

Ladies, I didn't vote for him either.

While this is a pretty brave move by these women, I don't see anything bad toward Bush in their statement. They merely state that they didn't vote for the man.

Nothing treasonous or inflammatory about it.

Maybe it's time we all put "I didn't vote for Bush" stickers on our cars.

Once again - women behaving as though they had brains!