I like this one:

light a lantern outside his house (implying the house was a brothel)

Who wants to volunteer to hang the red lantern outside the Palin residence?

Sid_6.7: Who wants to volunteer to hang the red lantern outside the Palin residence?

I'll hang the Green Lantern outside my residence, if that helps ...

David Vitter is worthless.

The founding fathers agreed on nothing except that it was time to cast off the rule of the crown. They were an incredibly diverse group.

Bored Horde: The founding fathers agreed on nothing except that it was time to cast off the rule of the crown. They were an incredibly diverse group.

Most would not be happy with flag burning but many would be ok with people sending a message that way if they had no other choice.

Bored Horde: The founding fathers agreed on nothing except that it was time to cast off the rule of the crown. They were an incredibly diverse group.

THANK YOU.

I'm willing to bet, however, that most of them would be extremely uncomfortable with the idea that a guy who shows up with a wheelbarrow full of money has more of a right to speak than a guy with empty pockets.

oldebayer: a guy who shows up with a wheelbarrow full of money has more of a right to speak

No, he doesn't. He has more access to more venues. That's not the same thing at all.

oldebayer: I'm willing to bet, however, that most of them would be extremely uncomfortable with the idea that a guy who shows up with a wheelbarrow full of money has more of a right to speak than a guy with empty pockets.

people printed political handbills all the time back then. they had the money and resources to do that, and were not considered to have more rights to speak than a poor citizen who just went to the protest to express his views

This is just one of those things that people do to AW in the senate when they've got nothing else going on. It will come up from here to eternity.

I just fear a day where the people agree with it and so do the Justices, such as the Fulmer case where the phrase "here come the silver bullets" was construed as a threat, presumably to play Bob Seger at an obscenely loud level.

oldebayer: I'm willing to bet, however, that most of them would be extremely uncomfortable with the idea that a guy who shows up with a wheelbarrow full of money has more of a right to speak than a guy with empty pockets.

At the time, only landowners could vote in most places.

Some would have probably disagreed with that, of course, but it seems a majority of them had no problem with the situation you're describing.

Again, it's very difficult to affix a particular prinicple to the Founding Fathers as a whole. It's freaking amazing they were able to come up with the Constitution and get it ratified.

Cagey B: Again, it's very difficult to affix a particular prinicple to the Founding Fathers as a whole. It's freaking amazing they were able to come up with the Constitution and get it ratified.

You could argue that the constitution was only ratified by one of two words which may be interchangeable depending on your viewpoint:

Compromises/bribes

Last One Left: I'll hang the Green Lantern outside my residence, if that helps ...

That's racist!

But what about eating flags?

I think a good gift for the President would be a chocolate revolver. and since he is so busy, you'd probably have to run up to him real quick and give it to him. - Jack Handey

I think a good gift for the President would be a chocolate revolver. and since he is so busy, you'd probably have to run up to him real quick and give it to him.

-Jack Handey

Wondering why the Wall Street Journal agrees that flag burning is free speech? Because they think it bolsters the argument that money is free speech and the worst ruling we've ever had, that corporations are "persons". We are owned by the big corporations due to these two BS positions.

It's a special breed of moron that thinks burning the flag should be outlawed.

Nabb1: David Vitter is worthless.

Nah, he's worth at least 20 or 30 cents a pound at the glue works.

Um, NRO, you do realize republicans banned all flag burning (not inc the proper burning for retiring flags) during the bush administration, right?

I assume you now support it because Obama is in the white house, right?

Bored Horde: hey were an incredibly diverse group.

For a bunch of rich white guys.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Farker T

Leave it to political cartoonists to equate destroying a symbol with violating someone's rights through direct bodily harm.

Most political cartoons are black and white...and I'm not talking about the colour of inks or paper.

How did I forget to include this? (pops)

You got me wrong. I only posted it because I thought it was funny. I don't believe that flag burning should be outlawed. Doing so would be akin to making the flag a hallowed pseudo-religious icon.

People often burn flags to show dissatisfaction with their governments. This is fine, but burning the politicians who wrap themselves in their flag while destroying their constitution and country would be much more effective.

Flag burning is not only legal, but the preferred method for disposing of the American flag. It's those jerks with the flags-on-a-stick hanging out of their cars that are the a-holes. Half of those flags end up as trash on the roadside when that $1.99 plastic mount breaks off.

syrynxx: Flag burning is not only legal, but the preferred method for disposing of the American flag. It's those jerks with the flags-on-a-stick hanging out of their cars that are the a-holes. Half of those flags end up as trash on the roadside when that $1.99 plastic mount breaks off.

Or wearing it as clothing, or displaying it incorrectly, or any of the other myriad ways that "Real 'Murricans" try to show their patriotism and end up violating the Flag Code.

If flag burning isn't protected speech, I want any asshole wearing a flag bandanna tossed in the clink for a 5-to-10 stretch. Let Bubba sit next to Lib R Uhl and they can discuss respect for the flag together.

Dr Dreidel: syrynxx: Flag burning is not only legal, but the preferred method for disposing of the American flag. It's those jerks with the flags-on-a-stick hanging out of their cars that are the a-holes. Half of those flags end up as trash on the roadside when that $1.99 plastic mount breaks off.

Or wearing it as clothing, or displaying it incorrectly, or any of the other myriad ways that "Real 'Murricans" try to show their patriotism and end up violating the Flag Code.

If flag burning isn't protected speech, I want any asshole wearing a flag bandanna tossed in the clink for a 5-to-10 stretch. Let Bubba sit next to Lib R Uhl and they can discuss respect for the flag together.

Citizen Bub-BUH is convicted of treason for inappropriate color usage and sentenced to summary execution. Citizen Lib-R-UHL is convicted of inappropriate destruction of valuable Computer property and sentenced to summary execution. Have a nice day!

/Are you happy citizen?

Baby Diego: Farker T

Leave it to political cartoonists to equate destroying a symbol with violating someone's rights through direct bodily harm.

Most political cartoons are black and white...and I'm not talking about the colour of inks or paper.

Actually, "fighting words" are considered to negate the usual liability rules for assault and battery in some states (it's an acceptable defense, in other words), so burning a flag in front of a US citizen may allow them to legally inflict minor harm on you without legal repercussions in many jurisdictions. (You'll be viewed as starting the fight, essentially.)

But no, the federal and state governments are not allowed to prevent you from provocative flag-burning (as opposed to ceremonial burning, which is actually the appropriate way to retire a worn flag according to ettiquette). It's similar to how a policeman can't arrest you for wearing gang colors on a rival gang's street, but you might not get a lot of sympathy if you sue the guy that comes out and knocks you into the gutter.

Also, political cartoons are typically about conveying a general sentiment, not really advocating a specific course of action. Well, except mallard fillmore, which just sucks in every manner possible.

syrynxx: Flag burning is not only legal, but the preferred method for disposing of the American flag. It's those jerks with the flags-on-a-stick hanging out of their cars that are the a-holes. Half of those flags end up as trash on the roadside when that $1.99 plastic mount breaks off.

A retirement burning (folded, placed in the fire with ceremony) is not what we're talking about, it's lighting a flag on a staff on fire and waving it around as part of a political statement.

Also, yeah, people that don't take proper care of their flags annoy me more than burners, who are at least putting thought into it. People that just leave it up all the time and let it get tattered will get the special hell along with those that talk in the theater, I imagine.

//There are also exceptions to how protected it is. If your county is under a burn ban, for instance, you'd get arrested.

The Founding Fathers would have been okay with flag burning as protected symbolic speech

...Oh, so now it's okay. But when a Republican is president, it's not.

Dr Dreidel: Or wearing it as clothing, or displaying it incorrectly, or any of the other myriad ways that "Real 'Murricans" try to show their patriotism and end up violating the Flag Code.

I have a theory that the douchbaggery of a person rises in direct proportion to the number of flags the person is wearing (not counting any that are required to be displayed on a uniform).

whenever flag burning come up i post this quote from west wing...

"This is a debate that is obviously going to continue in town halls, city halls, state legislatures, and the U.S. House of Representatives. There is a population in this country that seems to focus so much time and energy into this conversation, so much so that I am forced to ask this question -- is there an epidemic of flag burning going on that I'm not aware of?"

Jim_Callahan

mallard fillmore, which just sucks in every manner possible.

The first time I saw Mallard Fillmore, all I could think was, "I hope Howard the Duck shows up and kicks this quack's arse but good."

I still live in hope.

tyguy101aa: whenever flag burning come up i post this quote from west wing...

"This is a debate that is obviously going to continue in town halls, city halls, state legislatures, and the U.S. House of Representatives. There is a population in this country that seems to focus so much time and energy into this conversation, so much so that I am forced to ask this question -- is there an epidemic of flag burning going on that I'm not aware of?"

I loved West Wing so much.

/donna moss
//mmmmmm

In the time of Founding Fathers also used to challenge people to duels on occassion and shoot them on the lawn of the White House for treason. Seriousily who wouldn't love to see those guys go through the current Congress like a hot knife through butter?

/Zombie George Washington SMASH!

Jim_Callahan - Baby Diego: Farker T

Leave it to political cartoonists to equate destroying a symbol with violating someone's rights through direct bodily harm.

Most political cartoons are black and white...and I'm not talking about the colour of inks or paper.

Actually, "fighting words" are considered to negate the usual liability rules for assault and battery in some states (it's an acceptable defense, in other words), so burning a flag in front of a US citizen may allow them to legally inflict minor harm on you without legal repercussions in many jurisdictions. (You'll be viewed as starting the fight, essentially.)


Complete hooey...

In the first place "he said or did something I really really don't like" doesn't constitute "fighting words."

In the second place, even in the narrow framework of situations within which the fighting words doctrine typically crops up, the Supreme Court just as typically knocks it down.

As much you might wish it were so, you are not granted legal license to assault someone for expressing a view you don't like.

Sure, some dumbass shiat-kicker cop might give you an attaboy and an extra carton of milk with your jailhouse breakfast, but that's about all the leniency you can expect to receive.

And not only are you likely to prosecuted and convicted, if you've got anything worth taking, you can expect to be sued and lose that case too.

kronicfeld

He has more access to more venues. That's not the same thing at all.

More venues? You mean like coming into your house, by telephone, radio and tv, with professionally produced advertisements that, by their very number, cannot be ignored and at the same time drive out all alternative opinions?

OK, I get it.



albo

people printed political handbills all the time back then. they had the money and resources to do that, and were not considered to have more rights to speak than a poor citizen who just went to the protest to express his views


Going to a protest is one thing. Inserting your animated face and/or voice into the daily existence of millions of people is something considerably different. A crowd can shout down a speaker, but when one person can shout down a thousand crowds, the playing field is not quite the same.

ha-ha-guy: In the time of Founding Fathers also used to challenge people to duels on occassion and shoot them on the lawn of the White House for treason. Seriousily who wouldn't love to see those guys go through the current Congress like a hot knife through butter?

/Zombie George Washington SMASH!

Yes. Isn't it sad we'll never see men like Aaron Burr or Andrew Jackson again? They would at least put their lives on the line for honor. Heck, imagine how well Preston Brooks or even Charles Sumner would go over today in Congress...

If flag burning should become illegal, I guess wearing a green armband should be illegal too. In fact, it should be punishable by death.