I think this flag burning ammendment is just another disguised attempt to

[mtnsnake]

keep the country divided and put Democrats in a bad light at the same time.

Jesus H Christ, anything to make us look unpatriotic. Not that Democrats historically are any more interested in burning flags than anyone else, but Repukes are going to do their best to make sure we're perceived as such. It's also yet another way to divert attention from Bush's miserable record by focusing negative energy toward us instead, in the form of some ammendment that will serve only to divide this country even more by getting everyone bickering about something besides the war. As if there's been a huge increase in flag-burning incidents lately or something. Gimme a fucking break.

Our leaders, if there are any, need to do some quick re-framing of this issue and turn the tables on these assholes for once. Say something like, "We don't mind people being upset or not agreeing with someone who burns the flag, but in a free society it's your god-given right to express your opinion, as inflammatory as it may be, and this ammendment is just another attempt by Bush at suppressing people's constitutional rights & freedoms."

Or if that doesn't work we could get right to the point and say something more blunt like, "This is just one more way Bush is trying to be Hitler Lite."

[Independent_Liberal]

1. You're probably right...

Just another one of the RW's political tactics.

[Mz Pip]

2. Anything to make us look unpatriotic!

Got that right.

It's not like there is some huge increase in flag burning. How often does it really happen? Not much I suspect.

Dems need to hold firm on this one. For a change. It's the principle of the thing.

Let's not go there with the Hitler thing. I wish everyone - Dem and Repub would just not go there. Bush is bad. Let's leave it at that. He isn't Hitler. He isn't Caligula. He's in a class all by himself - a stubborn, intellectually lazy corporate appeaser.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[rzemanfl]

3. It's the next gay marriage. n/t

[Enquiringkitty]

4. RePugs use ploys to bait the American public into an emotional

response. They know that Demos will stand up for the right of the individual to express themselves in an organized manner. Repugs play the logic of civil rights off of the emotional patriotic, God fearing crap they keep spitting out.

If Demos defend flag burning ... they are anti American
If Demos defend freedom of worship or no worship .. They are anti God

It is a fear tactic and one they have been using since the first day of the Bush administration ....for me/or against me ....no compromise, no fare and equal middle which is best for the country ....MY WAY OR NO WAY!

[mtnsnake]

7. Exactly, and this is as pre-conceived as the Iraq War was.

It really does put us in a vulnerable position once again, for the reasons you mentioned. We have to come up with the perfect response...one that protects our rights, and one that makes us come off as being patriotic at the same time. That's going to be a hard task when the flag is involved and when Republicans are wrapping themselves in it for protection.

edit for spelling

[Somawas]

5. These evil fuckers

have been draping their shit with the flag for years so they can claim it is all patriotic and shit and it don't even stink. Evil mofos.

[Old and In the Way]

6. Distraction, deflection, and division. It's the Republican Syndicate's

way of governing.

They're in big trouble and they know it. They are reduced to calling us traitors in hopes that we'll stop spreading the truth about their crimes and corruption.

[Tin Man]

8. Exactemundo! Pure politics, designed to cast Dems in an unpatriotic light

n/t.

[newyawker99]

26. Hi Tin Man!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[iamjoy]

9. No Hitler!

Enough with the Hitler comparisons! They get us no where.

Flag burning now, what next, sedition? I suppose it is not literally "speech" and therefore not literally protected by the First Amendment, but, then the Internet isn't really the press either, so could they pass laws that you couldn't criticize the President?

But, let us think of another analogy, not Hitler. How About:
"This is just one other way Dubya is trying to be like Attila the Hun." See, bet they haven't heard that one before!

[mtnsnake]

11. Why? Will I get arrested or something?

LOL!

I've never been one to come on here and compare Bush to Hitler in the past, and if I did, I sure wouldn't have done it in such a tongue-in-cheek way as I did. I would've been way more direct about it.

Back to the REAL point I was making, we don't need to compare Bush to anyone, really, but we need to just find a way to overcome this obvious ploy that has no other purpose but to make Democrats look unpatriotic (AGAIN) and divert attention away from the REAL crises facing our country....which is Bush himself.

[iamjoy]

19. No Hitler Because

As you say:

"we need to just find a way to overcome this obvious ploy that has no other purpose but to make Democrats look unpatriotic..."

and if we use a Hitler analogy, the focus will not be on the issue, but on our comments.

[mtnsnake]

22. You're worrying about nothing

Do you really think for a split second that I'm suggesting that our Demcratic leaders REALLY use that Hitler analogy as a solution, or that I think they would ever be so foolish as to call him that in public? I shouldn't even have to explain again that the comparison is tongue in cheek, so no need for you to continue worrying about this. As far as whether or not Bush is something like Hitler-Lite, well that's a subject for another thread.

Peace

[gratefull4u]

10. This subject makes me sick.

I cannot believe that people are dumb enough to keep falling for this crap. I guess we just have to realize that 1/2 the population will fall for it over & over. The Country is a mess, Our people are in a horrible position in Iraq, no health care, I could go on & on with the obvious. BUT at least the gays can't marry and flag burners will be prosecuted. I just honestly have a hard time believing that people can't see through this farce. God help us all. I just wonder how many people have actually seen someone burn a flag. If they did, honestly who does it hurt other than making themselves look foolish. I was at many a protest from Viet Nam till the present and have NEVER seen a flag burned. But to the idiots in charge this has to take priority over every other problem we face today.It makes me sick!

[mtnsnake]

12. You and me both, friend,

and it worries me as much as it annoys me because of the position it puts us in. The Republicans see this as being a lose/lose situation for Democrats. They know that if we defend the right to burn the flag that they'll equate that with being traitorous, and if we don't defend the right to burn the flag, then we're not looking out for our individual freedoms. Whatever position we end up taking, we're going to have to find a way to frame this in a manner that casts doubts on Republicans and their motives. Turn the tables.

[sendero]

13. I know I'll be excorciated for this..

... but I could give a fuck about this. Let them make flag-burning illegal, it is not worth the fight. It is not worth the loss of face Dems will have to eat among those who are not smart enough to get the whole picture.

Save the fight for stuff that matters. This is pure symbolic horsecrap. I have no interest in burning the flag, and even though I am a huge believer in civil liberties - having the right to burn the flag is simply not important to me.

Considering all the rights we all lost in the Patriot Act, getting high and mighty about this is simply bogus.

[mtnsnake]

14. I actually have similar feelings. That's why, more than ever, this

needs to be recognized by the entire country for just what it is: a well-choreographed SHAMEFUL attempt by Republicans to unfairly cast more negative light on Democrats by something that hasn't even been a major topic in the news. By making a mountain out of a molehill, they 're looking to kill two birds with one stone: limit our freedoms at the expense of making us look unpatriotic while they drape themselves in the flag doing it.

[iamjoy]

20. Today Flag Burning

Tomorrow, other forms of protest or criticizing our government.

[sendero]

23. Sounds kind of like the NRA..

... saying "today 'assault' weapons, tomorrow all guns" doesn't it.

You have to separate the wheat from the chaff. Is the right to burn a flag essential to my free expression? Not me. It's generally just an inflammatory indulgence. There is nothing you can't say better some other way.

I really don't think opposing this is worth the political capital. I don't think the Average American is going to get your argument. And as I have said, I don't think the right to burn the flag is anything more and a symbolic right, just as burning the flag is a symbolic act that can be interpreted too many different ways.

[Hippo_Tron]

15. The flag burning ammendment vote is like a tradition now

They do it every congress and usually it doesn't pass the senate. If it gets through the senate though, it would be interesting to see where it goes with the state legislatures. Hopefully there will be 13 state legislatures with enough common sense to vote it down, hopefully...

[Broken_Hero]

16. Yeah, and the RW wants less government...

This is horrible, crazy as it seems, i don't really approve of burning flags, but i approve of people, in a free society to show their beliefs, its called freedom of speech, and expression. But it seems that is outlawed nowadays. For a party that wants less government, they are dictating that Gays can't get married, or that flag burning should be illegal, what a joke. They are advocating more power to local governments to seize lands for economic purposes...i guess American nowadays is a RW Fanatic Wet Dream...its sad.

[ProudDad]

17. I guess showing the flag draped coffins

streaming in from Iraq is "desecration", eh?

[OneBlueSky]

18. pure manipulation . . .

they have to keep us divided against one another to keep us from uniting against them . . . been doing it since they took office, and very successfully . . . at some point, we have to recognize what they're doing and stop falling for it . . .

[ClassWarrior]

21. What do you mean, "disguised"??

Subtlety is not these people's strong suit.

NGU.

[mtnsnake]

24. Oh for sure it's disguised

Look, these people spend the better part of their days coming up with new ways to divide, new ways to make the other side look unpatriotic, and new ways to divert attention from Bush's horrific record WITHOUT making themselves look bad.

With this gem, they not only can do all of the above, but they do it while draping themselves in the flag during a time of war.

Their intentions have nothing to do with any emotional feelings they might have about people who burn the flag. That's bullshit, and they couldn't care less. Their intention is to burn Democrats.

It's disguised alright.

[C_U_L8R]

25. Yes It's Just Flame Bait

To Throw Us Off Their Tail....
which goes to prove that we are having effect and they are panicking.
Don't let yourself get distracted off the real issues (abuse of power & war crimes).

If the topic turns to the flag issue... you may notice that the Bush Regime
and it's endorsement of torture are the ultimate defacement of the flag.
A true national embarassment that dishonors all of us (especially our armed services).
This is not what America stands for and the Bush Regime must go ... NOW!

Impeachment. Resignation. Incarceration. Justice.
Nothing less.