Vox

He could be "waving" it like Bush did at the opening ceremonies at the Olympics.

Waving = tapping flag on knee

:-)

(I'm done.)

Didn't I hear or read a story where they found a bunch of American flags on the ground and in the trash after one of Obamas speaking rallies or the Dem Convention or something too? Or am I mistaken?

They did indeed, Lori. ExLg has some of the scoop
http://exurbanleague.com/2008/09/06/itd-be-better-if-they-burned-them.aspx

As far as Bush tapping it on his knee, I didn't catch that (not much interest in most of the Olympic hoopla) but I don't see the correlation between knee tapping and putting it aside on the floor, where the flag is never supposed to go.

I think your post is about showing these small flags respect. Bush was tapping a small flag on his knee like it was a pen. It was an unexpected site, especially for the president to be doing.

The follow up to the DNC flag story indicates that story is false.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/06/thrown-away-flags-story-f_n_124499.html

If I remember correctly, respect is only required for the actual American flag, which is supposed to never touch gorund (although grade school students have been unaware of it).

Flags posted on napkins, undies and other items are not required respect- this is the American flag, not the Koran.

Rahter than go through all the posts you made, how about you put up what the McCain/Palin platform is so I have one place to look at it and tear it down.

Most of the posts seem to be entirely about style and not substance arguments, complaints, etc.

Michelle,
I don't know. It sounds like it's a we said/they said situation about the flags at the convention. Either side could be lying here. Too bad snopes.com hasn't investigated it though. They are usually pretty good at getting to the bottom of what is true/false.

In all fairness though, both John McCain and George Bush autographed small flags for people in a crowd in the past and this is a no-no too because you are not allowed to put anything on the flag.

Samuel,
Actually ANY U.S. flag is required of full respect and flag etiquette. Big or small. A flag is a flag. Also, anything representing the American flag such as napkins, undies and other items is actually considered a flag and should NOT be worn or used for something to be discarded. So yes, people wearing or using these items are breaking the rules. I believe the only exceptions are flag patches on military, police, firefighter uniforms, etc. and also flag lapel pins that should be worn in a specific area. This site actually explains it all in better detail than I can. More specifically in the Q&A section. I didn't see anything about tapping the flag though.
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

Oh and people can post whatever they want on a blog since it's THEIR blog. Not all people blog for arguments or complaints as you seem to be complaining about here. I actually see plenty of substance in Vox's blog. Just because they are not to your satisfaction doesn't mean it doesn't have any. You might be more happier at Moveon.org.

Let me get this straight... there are rules... but they don't apply to anyone? Not really rules than are they? They are just technicalities that wait, ready to trip up the person who didn't bother memorizing them because they are entirely useless rules.

As for substance... "I can be stupid because I want to" isn't a justification for ANYTHING. Vox, just like me, is a voter in the US. You may not be aware, but given the fact that we have a coming presidential election, it is reasonable for me to care about her political opinions and try to change them (as well as vice versa). Arguing about things like "he didn't treat the flag right" have ZERO bearing on a person's competancy for the office of the presidency.

Yes there is a flag code. The code was put together as a way to show respect for our country's flag by all American citizens. No, they are not meant to "trip up a person." Most people don't get educated on it in school I'm guessing. I knew about it because they did teach it when I was in the Girl Scouts. Not only that but many years later as an adult I bought a flag to put outside my house and I took it upon myself to look up the flag code to make sure I was always handling the flag correctly and with respect. I took the time on my own. But that's just me. I know most Americans don't. The most common known pieces of the code are don't burn the flag unless it is damaged and time to discard properly, only fly the flag upside down in great distress and do not let a flag touch the ground which most everyone knows that one.

There is no punishment for not following code because the first amendment protects a lot of that. We are not going to chop your head off for wearing a flag shirt or hanging the flag the wrong way. But that doesn't mean the code is useless. A person can break codes, ethics and so on without breaking laws in a lot of things in life and still be considered very rude, no respect, no values, etc. The code is there so that we show respect to our country's colors.

Yes I am "aware" of the upcoming election thank you. And yes I am aware that people can have discussions, have political opinions, freedom of speech and so on. Saying things like "how about you put up what the McCain/Palin platform is so I have one place to look at it and tear it down" or "I can be stupid because I want to" (meaning the blog writer) as well as other belittling comments doesn't sound like healthy discussion to me to try and sway Vox or her readers.

You are right, not treating the flag right does have zero bearing on a person's competency for the office of the presidency. Just like having a pregnant seventeen year old daughter has zero bearing on a person's competency for the office of the vice presidency.

Michelle, I wouldn't trust the HuffPost as a source of truth, even if it wasn't about the election. However, I had heard that they claimed the flags were stolen...after the story broke.

Oddly, they never reported any flags missing until they realized how bad it looked for the flags to be discarded.

Lori already covered the flag protocol. I would only add that, though Joe Schmoe next door may have no knowledge of the flag code ( shame on him), I would expect those running for office and their staff to pay attention to things like that.

As far as what I post here, Lori is right, it's my blog and I'll be silly and superficial if I want to. I am not trying to sway anyone's vote here - I am more or less preaching to the choir (if I understand my readers correctly). I have a few regulars who disagree with me politically (Michelle would be an obvious example) and I respect that. She is unlikely to vote McCain/Palin based on anything I write - though that would be great.

I stick to things that amuse me, or tick me off. I may get more in depth in my analysis as we get closer to the election - I have done that before - but for now I will stick to what makes me, and my friends & family, chuckle. Or cringe.

If you want more info on the platform, you can find it here: http://www.gop.com/

oh- I am used to a combination of seriousness AND obnoxiousness- not a complete and total focus on the second. :(

Gee, I may not be all dour seriousness all the time, but I think you would be hard pressed to call me obnoxious. Certainly not a "complete and total focus" on obnoxiousness.

I guess Lori was right. If you find nothing here that interests you, nothing but obnoxiousness, you would probably be more comfortable elsewhere. It would certainly seem like a better use of your time.

I'm not a person who finds obnoxiousness bad.

As for interests... people who have the opposite views I do interest me immensly. Why do they not hold the same ideas I do? First there is finding out if I am wrong, then there is finding out WHY I am wrong. Of course, that hasn't been happening lately- I keep on finding other people wrong. It is good to be FINALLY past the 50/50 mark!