Okay, um, what are the risks, exactly? I agree with most of your posts, but this seems a bit over the top. I mean, running three miles in 100 degrees of heat really isn't that difficult. Did I miss the joke here, or what?

How could he be stupid? He reads Camus, fer chissakes!

(Remember this?)

Oops, I munged the second link.

Well, being encouraged to do crazy stuff for a tee shirt isn't new. But, well, I suppose it is not quite as bad as the stuff that slimeball Joe Francis of Girls Gone Wild does to very drunk young women... with a Tee shirt as a parting gift. (for reference, see this )

What do you think is this George Bush's solution to the problem of global warming LOL!

Y'know, for somebody who doesn't believe in evolution, it appears like he's trying to weed out the stupid and weak from his administration; key strategy for species survival.

Yes, weak humor I know. It would be funnier if phrased by Stewart or Colbert. Ah well.

Question #51 to ask any Republican: "Would you allow this man to watch your children?"

Um, he's already done it to (at last count) 135,000 other folks that work for him. You know, the people fighting that other war--not the one to draw The Rapture nearer in Lebanon, I'm talking about that other one in the cradle of civilization, where you breathe 105 degree air laden with sand and smoke while wearing full body armor (when the government can afford it or thinks of providing it).

Yeah, that war.

To be honest, millions of people have to work in 100+ degree temperatures throughout the world. But I'm sure they'd agree that it sucks - especially when your pinhead boss is playing Wicked Witch of the West on his bicycle.

How surreal - is SNL scripting the President, these days?

Do all the troops in Iraq get a t-shirt too? I imgaine they could use some clean ones to go with their sweat-soaked collection....

The presidents council on physical fitness says:

You should not exercise strenuously during extremely hot, humid weather or within two hours after eating. Heat and/or digestion both make heavy demands on the circulatory system, and in combination with exercise can be an overtaxing double load.

Okay, um, what are the risks, exactly?

Your body generates heat constantly. When you exercise it generates more heat. For you not to die, it is necessary to radiate much of that heat to the surrounding air. Your normal internal body temperature is around 98.6 degrees fahrenheit. Evaporation of water in the form of perspiration consumes some of the heat deficit of operating in hot climates, permitting you to not overheat immediately, but particularly when the external temperature is higher than your body temperature, this process consumes an amazing amount of water, and there are environmental limits. In humid climates your sweat doesn't evaporate as nearly as easily due to the saturation of water already in the air, so even regular hydration might not prevent heatstroke.

To be honest, millions of people have to work in 100+ degree temperatures throughout the world.

Millions of people throughout the world employ concepts like the siesta. You didn't think that custom arose just because it's nice to have a nap, did you? People in climates where temperatures regularly soar over 100 degrees generally have a better sense of the limits of their own bodies under those conditions.

Where natives of high-temperature regions might manage their workload, clothing, water intake and so forth to keep from dropping dead in the hottest part of the day, those without experience operating in high-temperature conditions imagine that enduring the heat is just a function of being "manly" or something instead of a hard physical limit, push themselves until they collapse and have to be rushed to hospital.

More equitable if he'd done 30 miles on that bike, the putz.

For heavens sake don't discourage him! He has done enough damage to the country.

Gelf, I live in southern New Mexico, a high-temperature region. On a number of occasions I have gone hiking with guys not accustomed to these temperatures. They always refuse to bring enough water with them no matter how much I explain to them that a lot of water, a hat, and sunblock is of vital importance. Their desire to prove their manly resistance overrides common sense. They end up feeling sick and asking me if they can have some of my water, which means that the hike has to be cut short and we have to return to camp. They don't even understand that a person has to stop and take a break beneath the shade of the occasional tree. Bottom line. Don't go hiking with macho neophytes. They're a pain in the ass.

More importantly, don't let your country be run by a macho neophyte.

Norm,

This post of yours is absurd and demonstrates a reoccurring pattern of yours to launch petty attacks on Bush. Calling him a “stupid motherfucker” makes it look like you can’t form a real argument and have to resort to name calling. The disturbing part is that I know you can and have formed reasoned arguments against Bush on topics worthy of discussion. The Iraq War, the United States’ unwavering support for Israel, domestic spying, stem cell research are just a few topics that come to mind where you made or provided reasoned arguments. I applaud you for that. But when you attack the character of our president for jocularly suggesting a race in 100 degree heat with some of his staff, you make yourself look so desperate for an opportunity to jab at Bush. Desperate enough to hurl scathing comments at the president for such a trivial and benign action. YES benign. Vigorous exercise in extreme heat is perfectly fine if you are in good physical shape and are properly hydrated. Just two weeks ago I went on a 180 mile bike ride. The heat index was 110 and 102 respectively on two of the three days I was riding. Both my companions and I were fine. Next time when you choose to criticize the president (or anybody for that matter), do so with dignity and choose a topic worthy of discussion. Using a run in the extreme heat, someone choking on a pretzel, and a hunting accident to criticize someone’s character is not legitimate.

Garrick -

While I agree with you that one can run in 102 degree heat without keeling over (I ran track during Texas summers, so nobody knows that hell like I do), you are assuming all the runners were in prime physical condition. I assume that as they hold desk jobs working for the president of the US, they probably don't have a lot of time in their schedule for the daily ritual of aerobic workout. Hence, I doubt very much it was wise for most of them to go dashing about on a 3 mile run in Texas heat and humidity. And Bush, were he not a macho idiot, would get that. I note, btw, that he did not invite them on a 3 mile bike ride, which is what he himself actually did. It kind of reminds me of my grandfather riding along in his jeep sipping lemonade with his feet up, berating those Army privates who fell on 20 mile runs through the California desert. Kind of.

It's just another example of the weak character of the man.

A man who was not opposed to the Vietnam war, but exempted himself from service. Rides a bicycle while exhorting his lackeys to prove his manliness by running in the sun, for him. Something he exempts himself from.

To my mind, the validity of this piece is that it is yet another example of the man's utter lack of character.

Well to be fair I used the choking on a pretzel and falling off a bike as examples of events that were more likely than a terrorist attack. Vigorous exercise in extreme heat is foolhardy at any time, and while true that good physical condition and proper hydration reduce the risks, the risk is still present. There is a reason the military doesn't schedule exercise when the temperatures are high. At least that was my experience when I was in the military. Now for your objections to my disdain for George Bush. What I criticized was his judgment, not his character though his character is lacking as well. You can't tell lie after lie for five years and maintain any expectation of deserving respect. You've made this same point more than once and frankly it's getting tiresome. You don't like it too bad. I don't give a fuck.

Yeah, when I was in basic training for the Air Farce, near San Antonio, Texas, there were strict rules appied, regarding heat and exercising of troops.

At 98 degrees, the yellow flag went up, which called a halt to more extreme events, such as running. At 100 degrees, the red flag went up and all PT came to a grinding halt.

Of course those rules were made by intelligent people who understood the costs and consequences of such foolish behavior.

If the President's imaturity, vanity, dishonesty, and lack of character weren't so blazingly obvious in his actions, each of these stupid events would just be good for a spot of humour.

But the man's character comes into question so often because it shows so clearly, in most of his actions.

I guess that's kind of rough for those still clinging to belief in this stupid, mean spirited little man.

Verily, it doth inspire a certain quivering of the lower lip, I should supose.

Profanity does wonders for arguments. You did it Norm. Congratulations, you’ve bullied me into agreement. I’ll cease quarreling with you on this one because I wouldn’t want to tire you out. I sense your exhaustion over this argument arise out of fear that you might be losing it. I won’t bother you with another counterpoint to your post. I’ve gathered that you are fairly obstinate when it comes to your political beliefs and probably won’t be swayed by anything I have to say. But for other readers who are sympathetic to Norm’s words, I have something to say. Resist the temptation to follow the logic: “I disagree with Bush on just about every political issue therefore everything that Bush does I will disagree with.”

Oh Garrick, quit quivering your lip. You haven't been bullied into anything.

The equation you presented in the end of your sob is back wards.

Everything Bush does is the result of his extreme and dangerous political ideas.

These stupid stories, which the president seems to enjoy, expose the character of the man behind the politics.

This president seems particularly fond of demonstrating his immaturity, ignorance, and flawed character.

You don't like it? Write the president and tell him to quit acting the fool so often and to quit telling everyone about it.

I know it is embarrassing for the devout but what you see is what you get, and some of what you are going to get, you are incapable of seeing, yet.

It is amazing how many people when they find a blog they like try to remake it in their own image. They like it but, hey they don't like cussing so they complain about that, they are jewish, or christian or muslim, a believer, and they don't like what they rightly view as a disdain for the religion. It's not the way they want it to be. Of course they could do their own, but hey that's work and would anyone read it? It's just easier to put on their superiority cap and criticize. They would tell you that the criticism is constructive and they do it with a sincere desire to improve what they like, but not quite. Since their 'entreaties' continue unabated when it should be obvious to them that the writer of the blog doesn't write for them, but for himself. The readership is there not because he asks himself what would people like to read, but operates on the assumption that if something is interesting to him others will find it interesting. If he finds it amusing so will they. Do the naysayers add anything useful to the discussion, sometimes, but more often they are simply objecting to the fact that it is not the way they would do it. Profanity, what can I say, it's not an argument it's an ornament, and besides I may be just angling for a guest spot at rude pundit. I'm not, the point being that everyone has their own style. So I'll repeat the refrain one more time, I don't give a fuck.

Bush is not the only stupid motherfucker here. So are the people who work for him. I guess they had it coming. "I worked for a stupid motherfucker and all I got was this lousy t-shirt".

Bush is no stupider (is that a word?) than millions of other americans that try to do strenuous exercise in high heat (the hiker in New Mexico gave an example). My two cents: 1. White House staffers are predominately young....so I doubt that they would suffer heat stroke after a three mile run if they bothered to replace even half of the liquids they lost during the run (I am assuming here that the out-of-shape staffers knew better than to participate - for these people Bush needs to have a PlayStation or Ping-pong indoor contest for a T-Shirt or something - would be only fair). 2. However, each time you over exert yourself in high heat conditions reduces your ability to cope with the high heat. This is something that is very difficult to recover from. Eventually if you push yourself to the extreme of suffering heat stroke then that is it for you forever. I'm not a doctor so I don't know why that happens, but it does. 3. The article does say that the only reason Bush was not running himself was because of his bad knees so I assume he has run this challenge himself before since it is an annual thing. [I'm making alot of assumptions here aren't I :] 3. Lastly, by this post I just get the feeling that Norm has long since boiled over with dislike for this president.....well, so have I.....plus I had to live with him when he was guv'nor when I lived in Texas....those of us who knew tried to warn everyone else prior to Gore v Bush not to vote for that stupid son-of-a-bitch....as my mom calls him.

I guess that my last point should have been number "4"...

Here's point number five, which really is more of a tongue in cheek Post Script.....the temp. was recorded at 100....remember those temperatures are always in the shade....it was probably well over 120 out on that hot Crawford road. :) food for thought.

This is the same guy who branded fraternity pledges with a red-hot coat-hanger. He digs this stuff.