Black Panther Cab Driver

Interesting conversation that I had with my cab driver today who use to be a black panther who was in his late 50's.

I had a long 45 mins cab ride today due to going to my Dentist who is on the west side of Chicago.

Well anyway, I get in his cab and he has the news on the radio and they are talking about the war in Iraq.

I asked him what he thought about Jr and he told me that he doesn't hate anyone but he comes close to hating Bush.
I asked him if he gets on the INTERNET and he told me he didn't know how to use a computer.

He started talking about Poll numbers and how he couldn't believe that anyone liked the unelected jerk and that he didn't know one person that liked Bush and he said that no matter what race they were they all hated Jr.

He then asked me how Jr's poll numbers could be so high and I asked him if he had heard of Black Box voting and he said that he didn't know about it. I explained what it was and he said that we would never have an election again.

He then asked me about what's up with the newspapers and the News and I told him that they are owned by right wing corporations and he said that answers allot of his questions about what is going on.

Him being a black panther I had to ask him his opinion on Rice and Powell and he said that he disliked them more then Bush because they are sell outs and propaganda tools for Bush. He said that they provide a nice picture for Bush and his evil empire.

The cabbie also called Bush a dictator and said that he was so dumb that he had a cousin who didn't even finish grade school that was smarter then Bush. I told him that a Dog is smarter then Bush and the man laughed.

He was talking about everything that we talk about on DU and he was with us on all of it.

He also told me that Bin Laden didn't bring the World Trade Center down and I asked him how he knew this and he said that his friends out in NY had some pictures of black helicopters around the bldg. before it was hit. Kind of scary right?

Anyone remember the black helicopter that was by the World Trade Center that morning? I do!

The most interesting part was he said that everyone that gets in his cab talks about Jr and how much they hate him.

Now, this man can't keep getting one type of person is his cab all day long he gets a variety. He told me that people from all over the world hate him and we all know this.

The funny thing about this is every time I take a cab I start talking about Jr and they all hate him. Today I didn't start talking about Jr the cab driver did.

I also think that cab drivers have a feel on what's up with certain issues because they are talking to people all day long.

If I were driving a cab I would be a Dem, a Repug, or whatever I needed to be if I thought it may get me an extra buck or two from the fare. Your post was good though, and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for posting it.

Don

...er...ah..how much did you tip him? Tee hee. Just kidding around.

I am broke right now but my cab fare went $14.75 and I gave him a $20.00 and told him to keep the change.

I did give him a couple extra bucks because I liked the man.

was this before or after the plane(s) hit?

BTW, can't relate with the cab driver thing...I've never been in a cab. But they do get to meet all types of people, I'm sure.

Someone must have a picture still of the black helicopter that was around the WTC.

helicopters over NYC (or, *were* up to 9/11/01)

business, media, police, tourism...

NOT an issue worthy of focus. there are SO many.

...think you should necessarily read too much into what a former Black Panther cab driver had to say.

"I also think that cab drivers have a feel on what's up with certain issues because they are talking to people all day long."

Perhaps. I suspect people hear what they want to hear, and very often say what they think others wants to hear. Most people are not political junkies, and many people simply don't care to argue about current events. If this cab driver gives even the slightest impression he doesn't like Bush or Republicans, then those who are GOP voters or Bush supporters just wont discuss the subject in his cab, on the other hand Democrats and people who dislike Bush will rail against Bush with the obvious encouragement and approval of the driver.

I'm sorry, this is interesting, but these little anecdotal bits of "evidence" of how much trouble Bush is in are totally unreliable. You just don't get the big picture from these sorts of observations.

And incidentally, I generally believe what the polls indicate and do not chose to applaud the ones I like on the one hand, and then go on to say poll results I don't like are "rigged" by the corporate media. Further, I believe the notion that Bin Laden and his terrorist organization did not bring the WTC down is nothing but a ridiculous conspiracy theory. Lastly, I do not believe that Bush is 'dumber' than some kid who did not finish grade school. We may not like the guy, but fooling oneself into believing Bush is actually dumb is a bad mistake - one that allows the left to continually underestimate him.

All in all, I would not want to be picking up political pointers from this cab driver. He sounds like a tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist to me.

Imajika

as far as the US political process is concerned.

You are quite right to dismiss anyone who questions the bush regime as a "tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist" since this shows that you are not a Republican, who would dismiss him as a "terrorist."

propaganda only happened in 1930's Germany. Jeez, get with the program this is Amerika and the corporate media has no reason whatsoever to slant the news they are oh so honorable.
I'm one of those low income people so you can ignore me, if you want. {sarcasm};)

I let him talk more then I talked to him because my mouth is sore.

He is the common man and he said plenty and I listened more then I talked to him.

Not that HBO 'confessions' thing, but a political type show. Get the pulse of the public...

How are you doing, corarose??? Hope all is well, we're thinking of you all the time... Good karma your way!!!

Rick

DU Mod

I look horrible and I am sore. Thanks for caring!

I talk to cab drivers, waitresses and anyone that wants to talk. They hate Jr and you can hear it in their voices and see it in their faces.
They don't like Jr and it's not for the tip part either.

A reality show would be interesting.

and thanks for taking the time to post it. I hear things like this too I just don't post it my bad, but there is a growing anger out there and I'm in, NC.

People know young and old they aren't buying the lies being fed them.

As some DU'er (wish I could remember who) wrote here have another 'shit sandwich' they where talking about all the crap Americans are willing to take me thinks the people are tired of eating those 'shit sandwichs'


Hope that mouth gets to feeling better real soon!! You know what I bet you don't look as bad as you think you do, it's just that your in pain. :) here I'll smile for you so you don't have too!

He kept saying that they were going to hell when they die because they instilled Bush into the Presidency and he didn't win the election. He kept saying it over and over again.

Thanks smile for me please my mouth is sore.

What do you hear in the Carolinas about Jr?

pretty much the same as you about Bush being selected there was and still is a lot of anger about that. The guy that cut my trees earlier this week mentioned that.

Lady at the post office in line said we shouldn't of went to war in Iraq, knows about the soldiers not getting enough water to drink and she wants them home. She doesn't think the economy is doing good either. Things won't ever be the same again for our country after the way we went about War on Iraq she said that. She didn't agree with it in the first place.


One guy I know that listened to Rush has turned that crap off after I turned him onto PNAC. I think that put fear into him his eyes got all big looking. That's someone I do know through a friend so not a stranger but the rest are pretty much first time meetings.

There's more from cashiers and pretty much how they can't stand Bush* a lot of the stuff we say around here.

I told a story a while back about a waitress that just out of the blue started talking about how a recruiter was trying to get her to join the service. I begged her not to and told her all I could it's as if she wanted to talk to me and she wanted me to tell her not to do it. I do have a daughter that was about her age so maybe that's why? I think I convinced her not too. That's a little off topic but I did give her places to go on line and learn about what's going with the BFEE and told her she didn't need to become cannon fodder.

What I don't hear anymore is the raaa raaa raaa *Bush is good those people have stopped being vocal matter of fact they look kinda' down hearted. I've also noticed less flag flying.

Finally, someone has commented on something I have been telling my friends for several years. Due to my professional path I travel constantly and am fortunate enough to spend my life in 4-5 star hotels and surrounding elements. Even in those spots one would normally label conservative, the talk is the same. The only real * voices you hear out there are those too hopeless to even enter into conversation.
As far as the "Black Panther", it's not that simple. I don't drive, but travel in cabs, sedans, and limos. Regardless of background, the drivers (or at least the GREAT majority) will invariably bring up the * thing as soon as they figure out I am from Texas.
I was so relieved to see this entry that I finally got off my butt. This is my first post- but surely not my last.

Looking forward to reading many of your future posts.

Don

:hi:and keep up the posting.

He told me he use to be an activist back in the 60's with the Panthers and he was an interesting person.

Living in the downtown section of Chicago I meet people from lots of countries and sometimes I will go to a cocktail lounge or some of the big restaurants have happy hour and I have a diet coke and they have a buffet for free. I talk to people and I learn so much from them. I am not cheap but I am a student again and I am broke.

You learn alot from traveling right? I use to travel and you can get a feel of whats going on in this country.

Welcome to DU and I hope you stay around.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Recently, used cabs twice in Vegas. Both cabbies went on long rants about how much they hated Bush. They started the conversations so they had no idea of what our political leanings were. They hate Bush so much they are willing to forego possible tips if their fares turn out to be Repukes.