The American Standard Bearer

I don’t usually follow Canadian politics, but a rant by the predictable Michael Moore about today’s elections got my attention. It looks like the Conservatives are about to score a victory ushering in Stephen Harper as the new Prime Minister. Facing a united Conservative Party, it’s possible, as some polls suggest, that the Liberal Party may wake up tomorrow to find they set a new record with the smallest percentage of votes in Canada’s history.

Liberals in this country, like Moore, seem to be truly perplexed at the sudden shift Canada seems to be taking. But Canadian John Chuckman, writing in Politics Canada, has some interesting things to say about flags, and the American flag in particular, that sheds light on the problem.

Whilst trashing President Bush, Chuckman launches into a vicious attack of the American flag, “Bush usually says it in front of a set of gigantic, eagle-topped American flags, reminiscent of nothing so much as the days when Germany’s leader spoke and sputtered in front of platoons of monstrous, threatening flags.”

And in the very next sentence, Chuckman again evokes images of Hitler in order to demonstrate the evil symbolism of the American flag, “Bush also always wears a prominently-placed American flag pin on his lapel, just in case you forget where he’s from. I can never help thinking of the image of Hitler wearing his quiet Iron Cross on an otherwise plain, neatly-tailored uniform.”

Chuckman’s comments thus expose what is perhaps the Achilles Heel of Liberalism – the desire to apply egalitarian ideals to everything. People are equal and should be treated under the law as equals. Our Declaration of Independence says, “All men are created equal..” But it doesn’t say that all things are equal, or all ideas are equal because they are clearly not.

So the notion that American flags at the White House are on par, as symbols, with the Nazi flags surrounding Hitler is an idea that rings false with just about everybody, including most liberals. With space cadets like Chuckman leading the charge, the rank-and-file can’t be expected to hang in there for the long haul, thus we witness Canadian politics shifting back towards the center.

As many who read this blog know, I’m fond of harping (until it hurts) about the infamous 1989 Supreme Court decision, Texas vs. Johnson, in which a Texas law banning the desecration of the American flag was struck down as unconstitutional. Besides the fact that I’m fond of American flags and don’t like to see them burned, I think the case provides an excellent example of the havoc that ensues when courts seek to alter the original words and meaning of the Constitution.

But leaving flags aside, nothing in recent history demonstrates the corrosion of our liberties by over-reaching courts better than last year’s Kelo vs. the City of New London decision. In Kelo, the Court tampered with the “Takings Clause” of the Constitution transforming “puplic use” to “public benefit” therby opening the door to developers to seize private property (your house for example) for their own projects (a strip mall for example).

If you think my concern is overblown, consider that 6,000 mostly poor residents of Riveria Beach, Florida, are about to loose their homes to a luxury marina and condominium development. Of course, the Mayor is all for it and who knows, maybe he’ll end up as a resident of a luxury condo and have a boat docked at the marina.

Several months ago, I wrote of a California businessman named Logan Darrow Clements who took it upon himself to raise public awareness of the ruling by starting a campaign to seize the New Hampshire home of Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Clements proposes a hotel be built on the property and he has obtained the neccessary number of signatures to force a public vote in the town of Weare. The vote will take place in March and supporters of the plan are working hard to generate some momentum, but few believe that Clements can actually pull it off.

I, for one however, am all for Clement’s effort. By calling attention to exactly what’s wrong with this ruling and by doing it within the framework of our laws, he’s forcing more Americans to question the legitimacy of the Court’s actions. Neal Kurk, who is a State Representative and lives in Weare, dismisses Clement’s effort as futile “Most people here see this as an act of revenge and an improper attack on the judicial system. You don’t go after a judge personally because you disagree with his judgments.”

To me, Kurk’s comments are, to put it plainly, wrong and make him sound like a kiss-up. If the Court is intent on dismantling the Constitution, it’s encumbent upon the citizenry to take steps to right the wrong. Politicians like Kurk will defend to the death some sleazeball’s right to burn the American flag, but when citizens act within the framework of bad law to expose the problem, hacks like Kurk are the first to stand up and spout accusations of “revenge” and the like.

There’s a lot of truth to the old adage, "You learn something new everyday."

On Flag Day, the U.S. Army celebrated 230 years of service with a ceremony in Times Square. To schedule the ceremony to coincide with Flag Day makes some sense – pooling resources and all that. But the something new I learned was that Flag Day also marks the founding of the United States Army.

On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution creating "the American Continental Army." A considerable amount of secrecy surrounded the actions of the Continental Congress that day, so records of the details don’t exist.

It turns out that June 14th has a dual significance in American history. First, it marks the day that the U.S. Army was formed, and second, it marks the day that our American flag was adopted.

First pies – now salad dressing. What’s next, the soup du jour? It looks like the organizers misunderstood when  Mr. Buchanan told them, "Dinner’s on me."

Pat Buchanan Doused With Salad Dressing

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) – Commentator and former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan cut short an appearance after an opponent of his conservative views doused him with salad dressing.

“Stop the bigotry!” the demonstrator shouted as he hurled the liquid Thursday night during the program at Western Michigan University. The incident came just two days after another noted conservative, William Kristol, was struck by a pie during an appearance at a college in Indiana.

After he was hit, Buchanan cut short his question-and-answer session with the audience, saying, “Thank you all for coming, but I’m going to have to get my hair washed.”

The demonstrator, identified by authorities as a 24-year-old student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, was arrested and faces a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace. He was released on a $100 cash bond, pending his April 14 arraignment.

“He could have faced a felony assault charge, but Pat Buchanan decided to not press that charge,” university spokesman Matt Kurz said.

Could it be that the result of nationalized health care is that you can’t get any?

I think she was going about it all wrong anyway – she should have started with a government psychiatrist.

By TREVOR KAVANAGH
Sun Political Editor

TONY Blair yesterday faced a woman who pulled out SEVEN of her teeth after failing to find an NHS dentist.

Great-grandmother Valerie Halsworth, 64, removed them with her husband’s pliers.

She pulled out a seventh tooth over the weekend before meeting the PM in Coventry yesterday.

The cleaner, from Scarborough, North Yorks, has a gum disease that causes her teeth to loosen.

Mr Blair told her: “I can’t suddenly just produce more dentists. We have to train them. I can’t force them from the private sector into the NHS.”

Valerie said: “Mr Blair didn’t seem as though he had an answer.

“The ten teeth I have got left are OK. But in another month or two I’m going to need a dentist.

“It would be nice for somebody to take them out properly for me.”

She added: “The only way to get rid of the pain from my teeth was to pull out the infected ones.

“I had a few pints of lager then screwed up my face, put the pliers against the tooth and yanked. It’s lucky I like milk pudding and mashed potato.

“My husband can’t stand to watch. But he’s lucky — he had all his teeth pulled out 30 years ago and got a set of false teeth for about a fiver.”

The confrontation came on a live question and answer session with the PM on Sky TV.

Mrs Halsworth — who cannot afford private dentistry — said three foreign dentists in her home town all proved unsatisfactory.

Last March 3,000 people queued for a new NHS dentist in the town.

Report: Pope may require feeding tube

Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II may have to return to the hospital to have a feeding tube inserted, an Italian news agency reported today. It stressed that no decision had been made.

The APcom news agency, citing an unidentified source, said the 84-year-old pope might have to have the tube inserted to improve his nutrition since he is having difficulty swallowing with the breathing tube that was inserted Feb. 24.

APcom said the idea of inserting a feeding tube was a hypothesis that was being considered. The procedure involves inserting a tube into the stomach to allow for artificial feeding.

Somehow, it’s hard to imagine American fans behaving this way. Can you imagine a group of guys from, say, Chicago shouting, "Sam Houston, Sam Houston" – well maybe – but it just wouldn’t have the same impact.

Will Weissert / Associated Press (excerpts)

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico topped the United States 2-1 and the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group on Sunday, and upheld its 71-year unbeaten record at home against the Americans.

Prolific striker Jared Borgetti and Antonio Naelson scored four minutes apart in the first half, and the United States could only reply through Eddie Lewis in the 59th, the first U.S. goal in Mexico since 1984.

Mexico made up for the Americans’ superior size by outhustling the visitors on both sides of the ball, said Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe.

"We were always taking the initiative," said Lavolpe, who received a congratulatory call from President Vicente Fox. "For 90 minutes there was only one team on the field."

The crowd booed the U.S. national anthem and a spattering of fans chanted "Osama! Osama!" before play started, and shortly after Lewis’ goal.

The deafening and rabidly nationalistic celebrations in 100,000-seat Azteca Stadium, at near capacity, didn’t stop when Lavolpe was expelled for arguing in the 41st minute. He received a standing ovation from many while being escorted off the field.

About 100 people gathered for a peaceful celebration near Mexico City’s Angel of Independence monument following the game. A few tried to burn a small American flag but ended up trampling on it.