Text 1573, 95 rader
Skriven 2006-06-29 13:52:00 av ROSS SAUER (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av ALAN HESS
Ärende: Latest GOP ploy bombs
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ALAN HESS said to ROSS SAUER,

AH>Missing by one vote isn't bombing.  The anti-freedom of speech bunch,
AH>which includes some Democrats, is getting way too close to success.
AH>It's ironic that we went to war to remove a dictator who didn't allow
AH>freedom of speech (including burning Iraq's flag), and so many idiot
AH>representatives and senators want to amend the Constitution (which is
AH>what should be protected) to emulate how dictators treat their flags.
AH>They all should know better (as should all the citizens who support
AH>this flag burning amendment idea.)  

In the Senate it may have been only one vote, but it still lost.
That means it bombed out.

AH>RS> Of course, the do-nothing House and Senate GOP'ers will use this 
AH>RS> non- issue for cheap political points.

AH>That's the reason they keep bringing it up.  And they're doing
AH>something - trying to pass this.  What they're doing is foolish, but
AH>it is something.

It is "do-nothing," because it does nothing but pander to the "more 
patriotic than thou" troglodytes.

Meanwhile, more complex and more important *REAL* issues are being 
shunted aside.

AH>RS> Flag amendment apparently stalls in Senate By LAURIE KELLMAN, 
AH>RS> Associated Press Writer

AH>RS> Tue Jun 27, 6:08 PM ET

AH>RS> A constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration went to a vote
AH>RS> in the Senate Tuesday, apparently heading for an outcome just 
AH>RS> short of the two- thirds needed to send it on to the states for 
AH>RS> ratification.

AH>RS> Republicans scheduled the vote exactly one week before 
AH>RS> Independence Day and a little more than four months before voters
AH>RS> go to the polls to elect a new Congress.

AH>Of course - perfect timing for their emotional ploy.

AH>RS> Democrats put forth an alternate that also was getting a vote. 
AH>RS> Sponsored by their party's assistant leader in the Senate, Dick 
AH>RS> Durbin of Illinois, it included much of the proposed amendment's 
AH>RS> language and would make it against the law to damage an American 
AH>RS> flag on federal land if the intent was a breach of the peace or 
AH>RS> intimidation of other people. It also would prohibit unapproved 
AH>RS> demonstrations at military funerals.

AH>This isn't much better.  A person who desires to burn his own flag
AH>(assuming burning anything doesn't violate fire ordinances or other
AH>laws of the jurisdiction) should certainly be able to do so on
AH>federal land, which is as much his as anyone's.  It's already illegal
AH>to damage someone else's flag, just as it is to damage someone else's
AH>property.

AH>I hate those demonstrations by Phelps and his phools, but they have
AH>the right to speak their piece.  There should be a way to keep them a
AH>certain distance from the family and other mourners (if Bush can
AH>limit protesters to "free speech zones" when he speaks, the same can
AH>be done with millitary funerals without messing with the
AH>Constitution.)

There's a group of bikers who are doing this quite well with Phelps' 
goons.

AH>RS> The proposed constitutional amendment fell four votes short of 
AH>RS> the 67, or two-thirds majority needed, the last time the Senate 
AH>RS> voted on it, in 2000. Both sides expected it to get more votes 
AH>RS> Tuesday but not 67. The House approved the amendment by more than
AH>RS> a two-thirds majority, 286- 130, last June.

AH>RS> If passed by the Senate, the proposed amendment would have to be 
AH>RS> ratified by 38, or three-fourths, of the 50 states within the 
AH>RS> next seven years before it would be added to the Constitution.

AH>If it ever gets that far, hopefully the citizens of at least 13
AH>states will be smarter than the legisliars, and put this foolishness
AH>to bed for good.

AH>What's next, after flag burning?  An amendment banning wearing the
AH>flag as, or on, clothing?  Or getting a flag tattoo?  *adh*

Bush "desecrated" a flag (by the same rules the Senate wanted,) so did 
Tom Tancredo on the cover of his book.

But to the cavemen GOP'ers, "Oh that's different!"

From Archae's Roost, Sheboygan, WI

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