Comments for It's okay to fly the flag again!

It's okay to fly the flag again!

2009-01-18T15:17:05Z

Or, at least it will be after the Inauguration on Tuesday, for at least the next four years. The flag once again is a beacon of hope and change, instead of oppression and stasis as it is any time a Rethuglican sits in the Oval Office. Sez so in the New York Times.

WASHINGTON is suddenly hip again, infused with the heady double-barreled combination of a new crowd of idealistic young political worker bees, who actually believe they can change the world, and the arrival of America's first black president. It's even cool to wave the Stars and Stripes.

It's even cool to wave the Stars and Stripes. Like these young people, who took their flag waving seriously.

Or this young person.

Of course, around Castle Argghhh! we've always flown the flag, regardless of who sat in the Oval Office, and we even note some of our friends, from time to time.

Welcome back from the Wilderness of Despair and Oppression, kids.

Me? Nope, I'm not moving out, sorry. Just because my side lost doesn't mean I'm withdrawing from the game like a spoiled child.

Of course, some of us wear our flags on our sleeves. Regardless of who sits in the chair behind the desk in the Oval Office.

An Iraqi child talks to a Soldier assigned to the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, while the platoon was on dismounted patrol through Sadr City April 1. The Gimlets provide a constant presence in the area to ensure the safety of the Iraqi people.

Comment from Ferd on 2009-01-20

2009-01-20T06:04:25Z

My US Flag doesn't come down. However, I have added a Gadsden flag to my collection to let Obama and his ilk know where the line in the sand is.

Oh, and David, you idiot - 9/11 was set in motion long before Bush took office. There were terror attacks on US soil (embassies, posts, and ships count here) EVERY year of the Clinton administration. Do you remember Somalia? How about the first attack on the WTC? Kenya? USS Cole? Oklahoma City? Any of these ring a bell?

Clinton's effort in the War on Terror? Cruise missiles in an aspirin factory and a Chinese embassy. His people caused the wall of separation between the intelligence service (thank you Jamie Gorelick!) that disallowed sharing of the terrorist whereabouts in the US prior to 9/11. KSM has also indicated this in his debriefings. He even had the chance to kill Bin Laden, and admitted he didn't take it.

So whose mess is this again?

Comment from Maureen on 2009-01-19

2009-01-20T04:30:52Z

Thank you for this post. I am sick to death of fairweather patriots and this just nails it.

Comment from ry on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T18:09:19Z

HEh. Magic Dog also fails on reading comprehension, John. One of the subtexts of the post was that nobody 'owns' the flag, or, more accurately, the trademark gleaned thru 'moral authority' that makes flying it somehow more virtuous when it's their ideology in ascendance but making one a fascist when if one were to do so if the opposing ideology was on top.

Basically, you're saying you're a proud 'Murican reagardless of whichever scumbag sits in the oval office, and whoever is the scumbag in chief has little effect on whether you are proud. You know, a self-actualized citizen

Tsk. how do they get out of the 4th grade with such poor reading skills? But, I bet you he can tell us all about Julio Ceaser Chavez-- all those multi-cultural classes they make you take from primary thru college-- and has great self-esteem.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T14:30:40Z

In addition to being unable to process simple English, he's a pottymouth, too. I dunno, mebbe it nipped too close for Magic Dog's comfort.

He does have a scat-orientation though, doesn't he? Musta hadda tough time in the potty training department or something.

Sad that's the best he had, though, and didn't offer up anything, oh, substantial in the way of adding to the conversation. He's an example of the basest form of troll, a pooflingter.

Unfunny, ineloquent, sans substance. A trifecta of truculent tripe.

Comment from fdcol63 on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T13:03:20Z

"Spare me your self-righteous horseshit. The flag doesn't belong to you, asshole."

Another fine example of Leftist tolerance, sophistication and maturity.

Comment from BillT on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T09:40:33Z

I do believe that's a dinky die troll.

Ahhhhhh -- the 'Strine pronunciation of "dinky dau!" Haven't heard that in almost forty years!

Comment from BillT on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T09:35:42Z

Also, Bush also kicked out the UN weapons inspectors, who were on the ground and DOING THEIR JOBS in his RUSH TO WAR in Iraq.

Sorry, but you can't kick somebody out of someplace you don't *own*. Disagree? Walk up behind a patron of your local gin mill and try to evict him from his barstool and see how well it goes for ya.

Sadly Obama's not likely to fix Bush's mess... it's too deep.

Which mess would that be, pray tell?

*feral grin*

Comment from Argent on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T09:19:41Z

I do believe that's a dinky die troll. Hard evidence you are popular there John.

Comment from BillT on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T09:15:52Z

Nobody here said it only belonged to us, Mystical Puppy.

However, *your* ilk has a helluva track record in squeaking that it *doesn't* belong to *you* unless someone whose ideology you prefer is in the Oval Office.

Comment from Magic Dog on 2009-01-19

2009-01-19T07:18:59Z

Spare me your self-righteous horseshit. The flag doesn't belong to you, asshole.

Comment from The Armorer on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T05:57:00Z

It's his right shoulder, Dave. Combat patch from a previous tour. Left shoulder is unit of assignment. Right shoulder is troop's choice if he or she qualifies for more than one.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T05:42:15Z

Jasper - long and convoluted, truly.

I know the history of all of 'em.

Around here, many of my Canadian readers had a nostalgic preference for the Red Ensign, as a harkening back to a different era in Canadian history - as some US folks have a penchant for the numerous flags of the revolution. I also have a Maple Leaf, I just don't happen to have a photo of it.

The Red Ensigns were more than just the "commercial shipping" colors. They technically are what all non-governmental users are supposed to fly, with the Blue Ensign being the flag of government agencies, and the White Ensign the naval battle flag.

I have both versions of the Australian flag. One of my readers threatened cyber-violence if I flew the Kiwi Red Ensign. Murray's like that.

I fly the appropriate colors on appropriate days, next to the US flag, and replacing the Kansas flag.

So, if I'm honoring a fallen Canadian soldier, for example, the Maple Leaf flies. For observances of appropriate military events, the Blue Ensigns of New Zealand or Australia would fly, such as on ANZAC Day. Oddly enough, when commemorating Vimy Ridge, for example, I fly the Red Ensign, as that was the color Canadians fought under during WWI.

Did that help?

Comment from Dave on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T05:37:29Z

The bottom picture says "4th Infantry Division," but that lightning bolt shoulder patch is most certainly a 25th Infantry Division patch.

Comment from jasperjava on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T04:25:58Z

Of course, around Castle Argghhh! we've always flown the flag, regardless of who sat in the Oval Office, and we even note some of our friends, from time to time.

I'm curious why you single out New Zealand. The links are a bit unusual too: the Australian red ensign is usually reserved for commercial shipping, while the Canadian red ensign was replaced by the Maple Leaf flag over 40 years ago. What's the reasoning behind that?

Comment from kcom on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T03:55:57Z

Is it okay to say a good slogan for a T-shirt would be:

Situational Patriots Suck

(I don't know if you made that phrase up or heard it somewhere, Raoul, but it fits the situation to a T.)

Comment from David on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T03:45:41Z

September 11 , 2001 happened while Bush was President. Considering how incredibly INEPT his administration was, I have no doubt they ignored all 9/11 warnings. Condolezza Rice ignored the memo about terrorists using airplanes as weapons of terror.

Also, Bush also kicked out the UN weapons inspectors, who were on the ground and DOING THEIR JOBS in his RUSH TO WAR in Iraq.

Proof?

Google:

"U.S advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq"

Sadly Obama's not likely to fix Bush's mess... it's too deep.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T03:17:56Z

Sorry, Ms. Pelletier, that's the anti-comment-spam filter at work. You posted your comments too close together. I've done the same thing, after I post one and suddenly have something else to share.

By now, you should be fine.

It's a balancing act, sorry you got caught in it.

Comment from May Pelletier on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T02:55:35Z

My comment has just been refused for the reason I have made too many comments in a short period. This is my second posting.

Comment from May Pelletier on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T02:53:51Z

I fear our new president does not have a fundamental knowledge of history-- not just the spin of his politics, but a classical education. That this will be a hindrance to his making great choices for Americans is incontrovertible. This should give all of us, pause.
But MORE problematic is, who IS Barack Hussein Obama? Uncommited to deep values, he mouths platitudes, stages who he would like us to believe he is, ie Greek Columns, Lincoln Bible, Lincoln Monument, etc. From my viewpoint, he is shallow, vacuous. He knows how to play people (organize) and put them in the little boxes that support his facade. How do I know? One example will do. The protection of (some) American lives are above his pay grade. (a job he has sworn to do when he takes the presidential oath) A person with a soul, with strength of character, and a fierce defense of the defenseless would NEVER allow such a grotesque, barbariic destruction of humans, on his watch. And explains he comes to this conclusion to insure" his daughters would not be punished for becoming pregnant! " Hmmmm, I wonder if Michelle Obama were to get pregnant whehter he would consider the products of the pregnancy as dear as his precious little girls? Hmmmm. Or is 'his' more dear than 'others' Nothing he does will disuade me from my evaluation. No matter how great he does his job, his approval of abortion and especially, partial birth abortion, shame will be his legacy. He has neither the character or the ability.

Comment from AFSister on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T02:43:35Z

I just want to see him go down before he takes the rest of the country with him.

Comment from Valerie on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T01:49:05Z

I wanna see him deliver. I want to see him say that he has read the text of the Hamas Covenant, and tell us whether it has anything to do with his early upbringing among Muslims.

Comment from Raoul Ortega on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T01:34:23Z

Situational Patriots.

It all depends on the context.

Comment from Big Boy on 2009-01-18

2009-01-19T01:18:57Z

Change is not a destination; just as hope is not a strategy.

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-01-18

2009-01-18T19:00:00Z

As I look forward, I don't focus on the man, so much, as the journey itself, on the hiking trail. We all get our maps out, get our bearings and find our location relative to the map. We take the time to recon the local area. We want to know all of the problems, issues and challenges. This is not the time to soft soap things, we must be crystal clear. We can look up and see our objective and it's not too far. The question becomes, is the shortest path the best path? Many times the answer is no. We find our landmarks and figure a way to the objective.

As we begin to move out, did you notice the focus? Why on the journey itself? Where is all of the time relevant stuff, like past, present and future? This Great Nation is on a 230+ year journey, we are also the product of that same history and the same history of traditions. Today is yesterday's future and tomorrow's history. We can learn from our past, if we are wise. But, we will never outrun our history, no matter where we are focused. History is our teacher and we will be graded. It does not matter what I say or write, but it does matter what she says. Pardon the pun, but, she is an "old school" teacher. If you had one in your life, you know exactly what I'm saying. I had one, tough as nails, started teaching in 1900. No, she did not mark on a "curve."

Grumpy

Comment from CJ on 2009-01-18

2009-01-18T18:28:43Z

Unless those jokes are aimed at Obama, then it's racist. He's beginning a campaign to control the media and legislative agenda through his $75million "Organizing For America" organization (taxpayer funded PAC?), calling for a new Declaration of Independence, and openly capitulating to this country's enemies. Let's just hope we can survive to the next election cycle!

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-01-18

2009-01-18T17:46:40Z

I agree completely, Argent. We've festishized the Presidency, this one, because Mr. Obama is not white, even more so.

Heh. Kinda like Carlos Mencia sez - let's give Obama four years, follow him with an Asian woman who happens to be jewish, and then a latino. I say follow up that with an atheist.

We can then start making jokes about everybody again.

Comment from Argent on 2009-01-18

2009-01-18T16:45:19Z

The beginning of the end? HE promises change and the thirst is there. Not all change is wise. It will be interesting to see what happens. Interesting as in bright light coming down the tunnel interesting, or interesting in a wow he did something clever way , we shall see.

Well the preconditions to me are; He's educated and quite clever. He's got public support and a 'mandate' for change. Public support is fickle. His opponents at many levels are weak.

It suggests he might overextend his power.

But the US has over these last few years made a mistake about Presidency. Presidents are very important but they have been treated too much as beyond people. They are not gods with perfect behaviour, great wisdom and the perfect answer to every problem. They are humans with all the usual human strengths and weaknesses.

Forgetting that worries me. Australia really needs a strong US. Please recall the real power, the real heart and the real hope is with the citizens of the US not your Presidents. They can lead but it's up to you where the country goes.