Republicans Burning Up Over Burning The Flag

[Bravo411]

The House of Representatives have passed a measure that would make it illegal to burn the U.S. flag, at least in this country. A 1989 Supreme Court ruling stated that burning the U.S. flag was protected under the First Amendment, freedom of speech. This isn't the first time the issue has been raised since then, but it may go through this time. It'll be a close one, that's for sure.

Supporters of the Amendment went so far as to speak for the dead, citing what people who died in the attack on the WTC would say.

"Ask the men and women who stood on top of the Trade Center," said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment."

It always amazes me when the Republican Neo-Cons use the dead to promote their agenda, as if they would take their side. And why not use them, it's not like they can contradict you ... they're dead.

I hope I never die in a terrorist attack, because then I automatically become a supporter of the Bush Administration and the rightwing Neo-Con agenda. I bet if Cunningham asked the people who died in the WTC, a lot of them would tell him to f#%k off.

Seriously, does Cunningham think that a ban on flag burning would have stopped the WTC attack. Hell, they burned a lot of flags that day and I doubt any law against it would have deterred them in any way.

In a response against the proposed amendment, I think Nadler said it best.

"If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents."

Sadly this administration and its supporters are all about symbolism and catchy phrases. It's magnetic yellow ribbons on the SUV's and slogans such as "Freedom Is On The March" which drives this group. Yet they fail to realize that those yellow ribbons do more to support the economy of China, which makes them, while freedom is marching down its own Trail of Tears.


AP: House Approves Move to Outlaw Flag Burning

[aion]

1. But you can write on it...such hypocrites

[jsw_81]

2. Symbolism and catch phrases indeed

It's all about "family," "faith," and the "flag" with this crowd. They could care less that kids are living on the street and that millions don't have any health care, but you better not touch that precious flag!

[givemebackmycountry]

4. you left out the most important "F"

FETUS.

[marmar]

5. Rearranging the deck chairs...

It's why this country is in such trouble. Like drug addicts or alcoholics, this crowd is in complete denial about a great many things. I saw an interview with this rural southern guy talking about how important it was to stop flag burning, meanwhile his porch was falling apart and his kids were running around in tattered clothes. Instead of directing his anger at Bush and Congress about jobs, health care and spending billions on fake wars to improve his lot in life, he's screaming about flag burning.

[Sandpiper]

3. Delete

[Ken065]

6. No apology needed

Think we'll hear any chorus of (Democratic) voices demanding an apology from this clown for using the victims of 9-11 (yet again) for the political purpose of promoting an amendment??

Rhetorical question...being a Republican means never having to say you're sorry.

[ailsagirl]

7. Honestly, the things they spend their time on (when they're not

dismantling the country and crushing democracy) are absurd.

Case in point: "Freedom Fries"

Fortunately, the sponsor (forget his name) has recently expressed
concern about the Iraqi war. I consider this a big step!!

[RedCappedBandit]

8. I'd be pissed

..if i was killed, and these thugs used my name to support their corrupt agendas.

[LaPera]

9. A republican do nothing Congress, planned this bullshit for the 4th July

so when they go home to the voters, they can say see...we love America and point the fingers at others.

[Bravo411]

13. Yep. n/t

[CAG]

10. Oh, come on, its not like there are any other pressing issues for

congress to take up. If you look at the economy, the budget, health care, the war on terror, the war on Iraq (yes, Virginia, these are two different things), and election methods, everything seems to be in order. What do you want these fine congress people doing, twiddling their thumbs?

[Ravy]

11. Burning ALL the flags in the WTC was not enough for the Republicans

to stick on Bin Laden's tail.

[noamnety]

12. They need to taxidermy Reagan

and mount him on a stand with castors, so they can wheel him around to emphasize their point.

"Reagan would have supported a ban on flag burning."

I'm frankly surprised that they didn't find a way to do the same to Schiavo.

[Kenneth ken]

14. please don't say burning - say desecrating

test of the proposed amendment:

'The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.'.

This covers much more than just burning. It leaves the power to decide what is "desecration" in the hands of future Congress'

It also leaves them free to determine what exactly is "the flag of the United States" Clothing that looks similar to the flag? Paper plates? Napkins?

If you discuss this "issue" with cons, be sure to focus on the fact that it isn't just burning the flag. Especially cons decked out in the red-white-and-blue flag-desecrating colors.

[ProudDad]

20. Yep, desecration

What the f*ck does that mean?

It means whatever the no-neck, f*ckin' cop says it is.

Can you say fascism, kids?

[kodi]

15. i may be poor, unemployed and without insurance, but my flag will be safe!

such are the priorities in the faith based reality worlds of mental misfits

[gulliver]

16. Are we paying these people?

"What the hell are these Republican idiots doing with my tax money? It looks like all they want to do is fight. First its the brain dead woman, now its the flag amendment again. When are they going to start looking at college tuition costs, jobs, health care costs, jobs, and ... jobs?"

That's what we should be saying. The Republicans may have stepped on their cranks again -- just like with Schiavo.

[Blue_In_AK]

17. I never really thought about burning a flag before

but if they pass this amendment, I may just have to go out and buy me a little one to torch.

[ProudDad]

21. We should do it by the hundreds

Let them keep arresting us until their silly jails are too full to pack in any more.

Idiots!!!

[IndianaGreen]

18. I am more concerned about the people we are burning with napalm in Iraq

and what has happened to our Constitution, than I am concerned about the stupid flag of this or any other country.

[ProudDad]

19. I've never felt that burning a flag

was a very useful tactic for anyone in this country but I promise that I'll be among the first in line to burn the fucker if this passes and is ratified by 2/3 of the state legislatures.


:puke:


Here's what I sent to my Senator Dianne (DINO) Feinstein:

---------------------------------------

As a left-leaning Democrat, ostensibly your "base", I promise you that I will work as hard as I can to prevent your re-election if you vote for the "flag burning amendment". For me, as a 1st Amendment absolutist, this is a major issue.

Uh, how many times has anyone in this country burned (or desecrated, whatever the HELL that means) a flag.

If you're going to eliminate rights, how about an amendment making it clear that Corporations DO NOT have the rights of a human citizen of this country? That would be a constructive and democratic use of your time rather than wasting it on this silly amendment.