Bill introduced by Congress proposing up to a year in jail for flag-burners

[MADem]

4. Let's not be stupid about that bill. That bill was GENIUS.

And let's not use "right wing framing" to try to make that bill more than what it was, or the OPPOSITE of what it was designed to do.


In 2005, the GOP wanted a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT that made flag burning a crime. They were ready to go to town on it.

That bill was like throwing a bone to a rabid dog so you could get the baby in the stroller safely into the house.

If you look at the bill, it's only applicable to FEDERAL PROPERTY, where setting fires is ILLEGAL anyway. This is why we don't see campfires at the Million Man March, for example.

It's basically a bill that says "You can't burn this particular item on federal land, never mind that you can't burn anything save a cigarette on federal land, anyway."

It gave the GOP mouth breathers something they could vote on.

It made absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in any actual practice. Further, it did not PASS, so no harm, no foul, but wingnuts could point to their "vote" like it mattered.

A bill that doesn't change anything (Look at the shiny object over HERE!!!) is infinitely preferable to a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, to my mind.

YMMV.

FWIW, the fact that the bill was introduced by, among others, Hillary Clinton, was purposeful. Some people don't like triangulation. If it's all that can be done to get a wingnut off your ass, I am all for it.

But I did see what you did there (or tried to do), and it didn't impress me one bit.

Do tell me I'm mistaken as to your motives.