Why do some people use * instead of typing Bush?

[Tweed]

I understand not wanting to say his name, but isn't it the same as the Jewish going out of their way to say or write God by using G-d? If Bush is any type of non-human being, he's the Devil. Let's smear him by saying his name as often as we can.

[Sabriel]

1. I, for one, don't want my posts searchable

I try to avoid using the entire name. Plus, it nauseates me to type in the name of the #1 Enemy of Democracy.

[SaintAnne]

2. I don't call him bush or *

I call him bushie boy, cuz he makes funny names for people, so I gave him a funny name. I think it suits him quite well!

[whalerider55]

3. bush term 1

the asterisk presidency

we need to come up with a sign for Bush term 2- how about a prison, or barred window?

whalerider55

[Rumba]

16. Bush 2 asciicon

|||

[whalerider55]

31. damn you're good

whalerider55

[Neoma]

4. Yeah i hate that '*' thing instead of typing Bush

when (if) you read Harry Potter did you learn nothing?!

If you say 'You know who' instead of his real name it makes his name even more scary.

[juliagoolia]

8. How about...........

"whats his face"

[Neoma]

10. yea or 'That guy'

[Neoma]

11. dupe

[arwalden]

22. Durweed, Darwin, Dum-dum, or Dumbo

[tuvor]

12. That's why I dishonour him by typing his name out all in lowercase.

Sometimes I'll even ignore the period!
:o

george w bush

Looks good, no?

[Sabriel]

21. Great idea!

I'm going to start referring to him as Voldemort.

[Clinton Crusader]

5. Because he's an asterisk in the history books

he never really won an election, so after his name should be an *.

I always refer to asshat as *. Always.

[JimmyJazz]

6. It originated from the idea that he would always have an

asterisk next to his name because of the way he was selected. Sorta like Barry Bonds and his home run record.

[democracyindanger]

7. closest punctuation mark to a sphincter. nt

[tuvor]

13. Also fitting: The ampersand key looks like a pretzel! n/t

[tuvor]

9. My understanding is that in history books

(keeping in mind this was in use well before the last election) DUers anticipate that bush will have to have an asterisk beside his name because he wasn't actually elected. Someone else may be able to clarify further.

Also, in Doonesbury strips, that's how he's referred to. Probably for the same reason.

[mcscajun]

14. If it's good enough for Doonesbury...

...plus...there's a certain sentiment expressed of "He's a cipher...a blank...a non-entity" when you use *

I don't do it exclusively, but as the mood strikes me. Shrub, BushCo, Chimp also work very well.

[pk_du]

15. This is toooooo funny!!!!

As you van tell I'm a relatively new DUer. I just assumed that the
infamous * was , well you know , a graphical representative of the word "asshole" ( think about it for a second )

Now I realize I was wrong and it was "the asterisk preident" all along!

I'll still be using * for my own reasons but its nice to know what everyone else means too. :O)

[Lancer]

18. I always think of it like

Roger Maris 61*

(Although Roger did not deserve the asterisk.)

And yeah, come to think of it. An * does look like an *.

[Krs216]

17. I can't

It reminds me too much of Whoopie Goldbergs reference to her private parts. For some god awful reason, every time I think of *, I get a horrible image in my mind.

[Truman01]

19. From a newbie

And what does N/T mean? I know I'm going to feel stupid when someone tells me.

[ogradda]

24. n/t =

no text

[Mick Knox]

25. Don't feel bad! I didnt know either and

I use it. I put nt in my subject if there is no text but never considered what it meant!

DOH!!!!

[Truman01]

29. Thanks u2

As you said, DOH!!

Peace out

[trogdor]

20. Because he's fucking illegitimate, that's why.

I don't care if he did get 3 million more votes this time, there wouldn't BE a this time if it weren't for last time, and he won last time like Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. Thus, the asterisk.

[Zomby Woof]

23. I did it BEFORE Doonesbury

Check here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/06/29_asterisk.html

[frictionlessO]

27. you know thats kinda cool zomby.... being able to point to

evidence showing you started an urban legend... or at least possiby influenced a politicl satire comic strip of international repute.

cool...
oh and
:hug:
never gave you a hug in the newbie thread.!!

[Zomby Woof]

28. Hugs back at ya

And welcome! :hug:

I won't go so far as to say I invented it... I think I got the idea from the fact that he was the only candidate since Rutherford B. Hayes to lose the popular vote and finagle the electoral, and that Hayes was once tagged with the asterisk. But I do know I used it before Doonesbury, although I doubt if Trudeau has ever read my tripe (I've written better).

Thanks for the kind words though!

[chiffon]

26. Because * is not worth a mention, except as a abstract entity.

[fortyfeetunder]

30. Considering the likes of Barbara Bush

I can legitimately call * a SOB.