YAY! Us lefty wingnuts gotta stick together! Huzzah!


What's the lowdown on this? I see he's not saying the pledge (that's what they're doing right?), but was there any reason given?

I haven't quite decided on Hillary or Obama... Part of me wants to vote for Obama because he seems to disturb so many people without doing very much to cause it... Eh. I still have more reading to do before I can decide for sure though.

CIAddict - YAY!!! *hugs*

If I remember the story correctly, the national anthem was playing. I can't remember his reasoning behind it, but it was really lame, IMO.

The next president will have herculean tasks set before her or him. It's a scary, but exciting time to be alive. We're seeing history in the making, IMO.

I figured VDO was a Democrat because in one of his appearances on The View (2000?), someone asked him if he agreed with people who said Al Gore was boring, and he said "Well, just because someone is boring doesn't mean he wouldn't make a good president".

On the saluting the flag thing, this is totally 2nd (or 20th!) hand. My friend who told me about the incident said that he explained it was because some people salute the flag but don't really mean it and are hypocrites. If that was really his answer, then my question would be: So does that mean you don't salute because you don't mean it, or are you saying the other people there (like Hilary Clinton) are hypocrites? But, I should just shut up now because I didn't even see or hear it for myself!

And thanks for the hugs, Janx!

well this is the frist time ill be able to vote and really i am not sure who i want to be the next president ... i am a very liberal person ... but really i just dont see anyone that stands out to me ... maybe when the time comes ill know

Have you checked out each of the candidates websites to see where they stand on the issues? I am doing that now and it's a lot to wade through. The decisions the next president makes will affect medical insurance, social security benefits, civil liberties, etc. I always like to weigh all the facts and trust my gut instincts.

Couldn't help but jump in here.

Hand over heart is for the Pledge Of Allegiance. You're not supposed to do it during the singing of The National Anthem or God Bless America. Check out any ballpark for confirmation of this.

However, people do it out of respect, or to appear very patriotic!!

Could obama's not saluting the flag have to do with the fact that he's muslim? I think that it is the answer.

They're listening to the national anthem.



He said sometimes he does it and sometimes he doesn't.



The national anthem isn't supposed to be religious, I don't think.


spook

That can't be it, jc. Being Muslim is like being Catholic or Jewish - it's a religion & doesn't affect a person's ability to show patriotism.

No, I think that Obama knows that a hand over the heart isn't required during the National Anthem, just the saying of The Pledge.

Actually, a person's religion can very much affect their patriotism. For instance, Jehovah's Witnesses do not say the pledge of allegiance or sing the national anthem. They do not even stand for any of these activities.

I also know of a group of people who feel that they are Messanic Jewish and claim citizenship to Israel and not the US and are actually anti-anything us patriotic. (NOT ALL MESSIANIC JEWS BELIEVE THIS!!!!!)

When I was in high school there was a dust up over a muslim basketball player who would lay face down on the ground during the National anthem.

So religion can play a part in these types of decisions.

Wow, you're right, I'd never heard of anything like that.


spook

Great point Donna Jo, I love how people are looking at everything but issues, If Hillary cries, if Hillary doesn't cry, now this, those two, because they are the first African American and the first Woman are judged by more than just issues.

Wow, I didn't know that some Messianic Jews believed that way. When I first started this job, my supervisor attended a Messianic Jewish synagogue (she called herself a Messianic Gentile ). But she was fiercely patriotic (to the US, I mean). I always intended to go with her to a Friday night service to see how they celebrate the Sabbath, but I never got around to it. (My ex-husband once cut a piece of plastic in a circle, wrote TUIT on it, handed it to me and said, "Here! Now you have a round tuit!" )



Excellent point, JRyan. I'm not a Democrat, but I see how people play up all these peripheral issues. (and I thought the situation was the Pledge of Alligiance, so my intel was bad!)

It's crazy the little things that get brought to the forefront. Hillary cries, oh my word! Obama is part African (but not decended from slaves mind you) AND Muslim, oh dear! Romney is a Mormon, oh my heck! Huckabee is a Southern Baptist, closed-minded! Thompson is and actor, treason! McCain is too Liberal, curses!

Mitt Romney or Huckabee

Good news.. one extra big glass of my bestest smoothie of your choice to be delivered to your quarters any time that suits!!!!


Cloggs

I am always very intrigued by the way the whole election campaigns ad the election process itself work in the US (being in the UK). Looking at it from the outside it seems that there can be a lot of mudslinging going on, quite fierce and spiteful comercials to discredit the oponent.
The worst you seem to get over here is someone drawing a moustache on an oponent's election poster.

Still... would be interesting who gets into the White House.

Cloggs

Just for informative purposes, from http://www.americanheroes.cc/rules.html (a site on flag rules)


Treat ALL flags with respect, dignity and honor.

A salute for military personnel should be performed when a flag is raised, lowered, or included in a parade, when the Pledge of Allegiance is recited and when the National Anthem is played. Civilians should place a hand over their heart in above instances.

I totally agree that we should pick our representatives in government by the issues at hand, not by tears or color of skin, etc. The flag thing just bugged me.

spook - silly flag-waver

It's usually done during the National Anthem because there are times when the flag is being RAISED during the National Anthem and we are supposed to put our right hand over our heart out of LOVE and LOYALTY to our country. We are also supposed to salute the flag any time it passes by, such as a parade or a flag ceremony where the flags are carried in on poles. Hope this helps.

Hi Cloggs, I think some of our elected officials would look COOL with a mustache.


spook

I never heard of putting your hand over your heart when the National Anthem is played, even though I do it...this won't stop me from voting for him because I can't stand Hillary....and did any of you hear Obama's wife speak? She should be the one running for President...she was amazing and I am not into Politics that much...

Irisheyes, do you not miss me? I'm with ya on Hillary! Maybe we should sing!

I get so confused by all the "slamming" that goes on, it makes it hard to decide what the canidates actually stand for. Besides, I have voted since I was able and have never voted for the person who ended up winning...but since we own our own small business it does take a different kind of consideration when we do vote. I usually go by the major issues, when I try to decide. Where they stand on certain things...like abortion for instance. I know that is a touchy subject for many and I like kids so its not that...but I do not like people telling me what I should do with MY body...or can do. Life has a lot of turns and twists and unexpected things can happen, so I feel that some things like that need to be options. As for religion, each person has their own beliefs and people put SO much stress on what others believe...I guess its the same, I don't feel anyone else should have the right to tell me how I feel...Voting = stress. lol

I've never heard Obama's wife speak, Irish, but he is a very charismatic speaker, himself.


spook

Has anyone heard from sfeclitza lately? I find it fascinating that someone as far away as Romania is such a fan.

I saw her once or twice this week or last. She lives not too far from my little sister, (who lives in the Ukraine).


spook

I would like to Nominate VDO for president. And Kathryn Erbe as Vice President.

silly should never be used when describing a flag waver of any country.

There is a flag code: www.usflag.org and it should be followed.

I lost my mind last night and dyed my hair red (I'm naturally a dishwater blonde). I'm pretty pleased with it. My roommate did it for me. There are a few blondish spots but overall pretty cool looking.

Just FYI.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

I thought that was the case, but I wasn't totally sure.


I think I would be able to vote for that ticket! Who's the campaign manger?

I'm always silly, but ITA with the code. Thanks for the other link, cluck!





You GO, Defender! I bet you look hot!

spook

My first and only post on politics - thanks for the post sis~spook - I too am a 'silly' flag waver and I cannot justify anyone running for President who refuses to recognize or respect the flag of the country he or she wants to represent. I agree the issues at hand are the most important topic and have no problem with the color of anyone's skin - but if someone wants to be the President of the United States, they must honor the flag, jmo. (I'm done - back to rl for a while.)

This is the meaning of the American People,IMO.

lol. yeah wooootttt i love the preds!!!

awesome, DOM! You should post a pic!

Thank you spook, for this info.

So many people don't realize that a hand over the heart is protical during the singing of the Anthem. I was just at a college basketball game, hardly anyone had their hand over their heart during the song. I do, but I didn't think it was required, like during the Pledge.

I'm going to cut Obama some slack on this one, and assume, like many people, that he wasn't aware. I mean, the guy would be an idiot to deliberately not to show the proper respect while running for the Presidency, right?

I agree I am going to cut Obama some slack on this one too....I didn't mind that he didn't put his hand to his heart, but what really bothers me is when men/boys don't take off their hats for the Anthem...

KRod...I miss you too...

you don't want to go there.....trust me, it's a scary scary place.

yeah, I'm thinking its scary too!

I agree...Politics and Religion are touchy subjects that usually start fights between board members....time for me to bow out of this discussion...

Sticky situation. You know I remember what my father said years ago, how bad he will feel for his kids with the world as we get older. Guess he was right! I love you Daddy!

And now for something completely different......

Bought a new bike yesterday (the kind you have to pedal and make the vroom sounds with yourself)!!!
Ooh, and I am planning a trip to NY for June this year... yeah.

Cloggs

it can be, if people feel they are right, But when it comes to religion, I feel this country was started so that people could have the freedom of religion, so I don't argue about it. Politics I really don't get upset about it, why what the hell can I really do about it. If who I vote for wins and then sucks, well its my fault, if they don't win, and the person who wins sucks, then it wasn't my fault, then if I don't vote and the person sucks, well I don't have the right to complain. Sad to say I get more passionate about people getting personally attacked than religion and politics.

You're absolutely right!

Why does VDO get to be president!!!

Only cuz there are more NoRomos than Shippers, Valley - we'd all vote for VDO.

There was a buzz on Fox news about Fred Thompson could be a consideration for vice-prez!

Is anyone watching the Super Bowl...I usually like the commercials, but this year almost all of them really stink...and to think these sponsers paid so much for a boring/bad commercial...