I didn't realize that flag burning was an epidemic

Recommended at My Left Wing

First of all, I'll start by saying that Vegas was fucking awesome, and the vibe and people here can't even be described. But all that being said, this is a perfect example of why the response that Senator Boxer had to my question at lunch on Friday was wholly unacceptable:

Next up, possibly: flag burning. Always a crowd-pleaser for Republicans trying to woo their conservative base, a constitutional amendment allowing Congress to outlaw desecration of the flag is high on Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's list of must-dos.

For those who weren't here in Vegas, or didn't know that it was me opening my big mouth (again), I asked Senator Boxer about the time last year when Senator Reid actually made us proud by invoking Senate Rule 21 and forcing a closed door session to discuss Phase 2 of the pre-war intelligence and why they haven't considered doing this more often since then.

She made a great speech about how inept and incompetent the Republicans were and how they need to take back Congress and do the right thing. My point was that if the Republicans weren't doing the right thing, then why not use what they have at their disposal to force a discussion of, oh say, pre-war intelligence, or illegal NSA wiretapping, or lies about Iraq or the CIA leak (which was a fucking awesome panel today) or any of the other illegal things that Chimpy and his merry band of criminals are doing.

Flag burning? FLAG BURNING??????

When was the last fucking time that any flag burning was reported? Anywhere on this continent? With what is going on in Iraq, and with the veterans who are coming back with PTSD, and cuts to veterans services, and jobs being lost, and real wages dropping and 46 million Americans without health insurance and the levees in New Orleans being built below standard and environmental standards being lowered and gas prices through the goddamn roof, THIS is what Congress is talking about?

Forget the fact that the whole "let's protect marriage" farce was absolutely disgusting. Now with all that is going on in the country and world, Congress wants to make it a top priority to ban flag burning?

Need I remind you stupid jackass Senators that the proper way to dispose of a flag is by burning it? Not to mention the fact that there is no flag burning going on in this country to begin with. Yet this is one of the top items that we are going to have to hear about every damn minute for at least a couple of weeks. More stupid blathering by the talking meatsticks, more horseshit about how flag burning is un-american and something that "must be done in order to save our country". Give me a fucking break.

And so I go back to my question to Senator Boxer - you said that the Republicans in Congress are inept. Are corrupt. Aren't looking out for We the People. And you have tools at your disposal that would allow the Democrats to force discussion of the issues that are IMPORTANT to the American people. Issues like healthcare, like illegal acts committed by many members of the Executive Branch. Issues like education, like gas prices, like making the tax code more fair to We the People and not special interests and the ultra wealthy.

And if this is that nonsense that is being shoved down our throats, then why are you keeping these tools, as you say, "in your back pocket" to use at the right time? Isn't this the right time? Is flag burning the issue that is most pressing? That the Senate should be dealing with now? After all that is going on?

And who the fuck is burning flags anyway?