October 5, 2007

"Why do we wear pins? Because our country is under attack!"

Sean Hannity raves. And everyone's talking about the fact that Barack Obama stopped wearing his American flag lapel pin. We're hot for our symbols and we love to talk about what they mean. (It's so much easier than talking about the substantive issues. Can you compare the health care plans of the candidates?)

And speaking of symbols: This Is Your Elephant on Drugs.

82 comments:

hdhouse said...

And here is a clip of Hannity's interview with his god, Fred Thompson and his family...please note that NONE of them are wearing PINS - not even Sean - except for Fred's wife who is wearing a pin supporting her husband for president.

I guess were weren't "undere attack" that day.

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?100307/100307_hc_thompson1&Hannity_Colmes&Fred%20and%20Jeri%20Thompson%20Interview&acc&Politics&-1&News&481&&&exp

bill said...

Fashion - Turn to the left
Fashion - Turn to the right
We are the goon squad
And we're coming to town
Beep-beep - Beep-beep

Listen to me - Don't listen to me
Talk to me - Don't talk to me
Dance with me - Don't dance with me
No - Beep-beep - Beep-beep


--David Bowie

Telecomedian said...

Funny, in World War II, when the U.S. was under attack, men wore military uniforms.

Amazing how the talk show hosts who rail against the mainstream media's love of tabloid and non- issues have immediately made this an issue.

Wake me up in November `08.

Justin said...

Wearing the pin is a very small statement. It says "I care enough about patriotism to take 15 seconds out of my day and put this pin on my coat (or have my assistant do it)." Not wearing the pin is an equally small statement.

As far as Sean Hannity goes, I don't believe for a second it's about symbols. It's about attacking a Democrat. As hdhouse pointed out, he doesn't seem very upset about a Republican not wearing it.

MadisonMan said...

The real question is does Hillary laugh about wearing pins when she is showing cleavage?

The comments at the drugged-out elephant site are funny.

I'm Full of Soup said...

I am no fan of Hannity- he is too shrill. But he is criticizing Obama because Obama was dumb enough to make this an issue.

Let's face it, Obama must be tone-deaf or just plain stupid to bring this up. Did Obama really truly admit he made a conscious decision after 911 to stop wearing the lapel pin???

That is the issue not pundits like Hannity.

Simon said...

Non-issue. There are so many good reasons to think Barack Obama is a vapid idiot that it's hard to get exercised over - of all things! - whether he does or doesn't wear a flag pin.

hdhouse said...

Just on a wild hunch I went to yahoo and hit images and search sean hannity...and up pops of course dozens of images...

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=sean+hannity&fr=yfp-t-471&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

so I looked at the first dozen or so and realized that none had old Sean with a flag or pin or anything. So the ABC clip earlier wasn't just a bad hair day.

Ann Althouse said...

When you have cleavage, you can stick a little flag right in there. That's what I do.

AllenS said...

Woo hoo!

I don't have cleavage, but I do have a flag pole.

rhhardin said...

Warburton said that the elephant was the only animal he could think of that wasn't ridiculous in some way.

Cedarford said...

Althouse - When you have cleavage, you can stick a little flag right in there. That's what I do.

Mental image of Althouse doing a flag-waving walk in Brooklyn to wild applause and cheers of "patriotic" men there.

Mental image of Amanda Marcotte melting down the next day as photos of patriotic breasts on display draws her into the Vortex.

AllenS said...
Woo hoo!
I don't have cleavage, but I do have a flag pole


Mental image of San Francisco holding a "Gay Patriotic Pride Day" parade march. And, besides a plethora of Uniforms and leather and rubber military paraphenalia - what the gays would disply their flags from. I guess it would be "bottoms" display using their "flag socket" and "tops" from their "flag pole" after chowing down some Viagra for a long parade.

knox said...

Obama was dumb enough to make this an issue.

Yeah, when I read about this I thought, "What is he thinking?" The answer is: like an 18-year-old.

rcocean said...

Flag pins are silly - like AIDS ribbons. Symbol over substance.

Interesting that newspeople stared and then stopped wearing flag pins after 911 because they were "objective newsmen". As if being an American was taking sides.

Simon said...

Ann - or you can wear flag underwear. Non-ostentatious patriotism for the candidate who loves their country but doesn't want to be all showy about it! ;)

The serious question that underlies this is patriotism. Expressing concern that a person won't wear a flag pin is ludicrous unless it's really a codeword for the concern that the person doesn't believe in the Republic for which It stands. But if that's the concern, say that. If you think Obama's healthcare plan is unamerican, criticize that - why use shadowplay and euphemism?

AmPowerBlog said...

Well, let's see a side bar pic of Althouse's flag-bearing cleavage!

Time for an update.

(An aside: I wear a flag pin on my coat lapel for lectures, taking the cue from members of the "Bush/Cheney" regime a few years back. I plan to keep wearing it after the Dems take over the White House in 2009.)

Burkean Reflections

AllenS said...

AllenS doesn't march in gay parades.

aberman said...

Obama is wrong. People complaining are right.

It's pretty straightforward: We all constantly use symbols to send messages. Don't think so?
# Try coming home to your spouse without your wedding ring and telling him or her that your love and commitment shouldn't require such an ostentatious display. While you're at it, tell your wife you're not buying her flowers anymore.
# Wear a t-shirt and jeans and don't comb your hair before an important client meeting and let them know that just because you dress sloppily it doesn't mean your work is going to be sloppy.

paul a'barge said...

People have been wearing America pins long before 9/11.

Not wearing a pin is sending a message just as wearing a pin sends a message.

Obama's message? Screw America.

Message received, Obama. Message received.

bill said...

KRAMER (to organizer at desk): Uh, Cosmo Kramer?

ORGANIZER: Uh...o.k., you're checked in. Here's your AIDS ribbon.

KRAMER: Uh, no thanks.

ORGANIZER: You don't want to wear an AIDS ribbon?

KRAMER: No.

ORGANIZER: But you have to wear an AIDS ribbon.

KRAMER: I have to?

ORGANIZER: Yes.

KRAMER: See, that's why I don't want to.

ORGANIZER: But everyone wears the ribbon. You must wear the ribbon!

KRAMER: You know what you are? You're a ribbon bully. [Walks away.]

ORGANIZER: Hey you! Come back here! Come back here and put this on!
SEINFELD Episode no. 119 "The Sponge" (Original air date 7 Dec 1995)

bill said...

WALKER #1: Hey, where's your ribbon?

KRAMER: Oh, I don't wear the ribbon.

WALKER #2: Oh, you don't wear the ribbon? Aren't you against AIDS?

KRAMER: Yeah, I'm against AIDS. I mean, I'm walking, aren't I? I just don't wear the ribbon.

WALKER #3: Who do you think you are?

WALKER #1: Put the ribbon on!

WALKER #2: Hey, Cedric! Bob! This guy won't wear a ribbon! [Cedric and Bob turn around and glare at Kramer.]

BOB: Who? Who does not want to wear the ribbon? [Kramer is frightened.]

BOB: So! What's it going to be? Are you going to wear the ribbon?

KRAMER (nervously): No! Never.

BOB: But I am wearing the ribbon. He is wearing the ribbon. We are all wearing the ribbon! So why aren't you going to wear the ribbon!?

KRAMER: This is America! I don't have to wear anything I don't want to wear!

CEDRIC: What are we gonna do with him?

BOB: I guess we are just going to have to teach him to wear the ribbon!

[Kramer tries to climb up a fire escape, but the mob grabs him and pulls him back down. Kramer screams.]
SEINFELD Episode no. 119 "The Sponge" (Original air date 7 Dec 1995)

bill said...

JERRY: Oh, I told him he'd never make it. He was up all night! Oh my god...Kramer?

[They see Kramer staggering towards them with cuts and bruises, clothes torn, one shoe off. He collapses and crawls across the finish line.]

JERRY: Look at you. I told you. Up all night playing poker. Come on. [Jerry and George are about to leave. George turn's back and looks at Kramer.]

GEORGE: Hey, where's you AIDS ribbon?

[Kramer looks at George unbelievingly.]

Paddy O said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Roger J. said...

Yet again we have pole vaulted over another mousedropping. While I think the issue is especially infantile, Obama is showing me even less--he is really an empty suit.

Anonymous said...

This on symbols from Eugene Volokh:

"Symbols: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he doesn't tell his wife he loves her any more, because “I love you” has become a substitute for “true love.” The Illinois Senator said he hopes to show his love by explaining his ideas about their relationship to her. Guess what the wife would think about that."

http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2007_09_30-2007_10_06.shtml#1191541491

Dust Bunny Queen said...

All of this sound and fury signifying nothing is becoming so tiresome and grating. Fred Thompson is playing it smart. Keep low key and fly under the radar of the chattering fluttering media until we have all become so fatigued with politics as usual.

Once we have reached the maximum boredom with these boring candidates, Fred can enter the room as the adult and tell the kiddies to break it up and take a time out. Bringing in the calm voice of reason, we will be ready for a change.

hdhouse said...

Dust...

Oh please. You could pin a flag onto his forehead and he wouldn't feel a thing.

Paddy O said...

"Guess what the wife would think about that."

(Tevye)
"Golde, I have decided to give Perchik permission to become engaged to our daughter, Hodel."

(Golde)
"What??? He's poor! He has nothing, absolutely nothing!"

(Tevye)
"He's a good man, Golde.
I like him. And what's more important, Hodel likes him. Hodel loves him.
So what can we do?
It's a new world... A new world. Love. Golde..."

Do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I what?

(Tevye)
Do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love you?
With our daughters getting married
And this trouble in the town
You're upset, you're worn out
Go inside, go lie down!
Maybe it's indigestion

(Tevye)
"Golde I'm asking you a question..."

Do you love me?

(Golde)
You're a fool

(Tevye)
"I know..."

But do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love you?
For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes
Cooked your meals, cleaned your house
Given you children, milked the cow
After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?

(Tevye)
Golde, The first time I met you
Was on our wedding day
I was scared

(Golde)
I was shy

(Tevye)
I was nervous

(Golde)
So was I

(Tevye)
But my father and my mother
Said we'd learn to love each other
And now I'm asking, Golde
Do you love me?

(Golde)
I'm your wife

(Tevye)
"I know..."
But do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love him?
For twenty-five years I've lived with him
Fought him, starved with him
Twenty-five years my bed is his
If that's not love, what is?

(Tevye)
Then you love me?

(Golde)
I suppose I do

(Tevye)
And I suppose I love you too

(Both)
It doesn't change a thing
But even so
After twenty-five years
It's nice to know

Anonymous said...

Flag pins are a way for fake patriots to cover up the fakeness of their patriotism. Real patriots show the realness of their patriotism by agreeing with Barack Obama.

titus22 said...

My fashion consultant/queen from Niemies told me pins are out. She said this season is all about hats, scarves and gloves-you heard it first here.

On a seperate note I will be reciting some of my poems for all you later tonight. They are daring, outrageous and some say brillant.

Also, I will be doing book reviews, just like Althouse.

Lastly, I will get into fashion. What it means to me and what is says about love life and death. I look forward to the performance later this evening.

There may be sex disussed also so it may not be appropriate for small chidren.

titus22 said...

What I am looking for in this blog this evening is for us to really open up.

Expose ourselves, raw nerves, emotions and desires.

We will be venturing into unchartered waters for some and the ride may get bumpy.

Fasten your seatbelts. It will be draining for some, exhilariting for others, excruciating as well as enlightening. We are going to be venturing where no human should have to venture.

# 56 said...

"Flag pins are a way for fake patriots to cover up the fakeness of their patriotism. Real patriots show the realness of their patriotism by agreeing with Barack Obama."

What?

Laura Reynolds said...

While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A plastic flag, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
Well, I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel.


John Prine

rhhardin said...

Soiled flag pins should be burned respectfully.

Trooper York said...

Dr. Viktor Frankenstein; I think I have created a monster.
(Frankenstein)

The Mechanical Eye said...

Imagine, if you will, this conversation happening in any other country -- any country, really. Russia, France, China, Germany, etc.

If the media, or the ruling politician, or whoever, made this kind of stink over a politician or important figure not wearing a Russian, French, Chinese, German etc. flag pin lapel, I doubt you'd be reading that thinking "what an unpatriotic bastard for not wearing that pin!"

Rather, most people would smile. "How ludicrous and insecure that country's ruling class was! How caught up in cheap symbolism and petty displays of patriotism! How small-minded and vaguely bullying."

"I'm glad I don't live there!"

DU

Joe said...

The whole ribbon wearing, pin wearing thing is silly in the extreme. (I do agree with other commentators though, that Obama is showing a remarkable tin ear by making this an issue. I find it humorous that a man who is allegedly so smart, acts so stupid.)

MadisonMan said...

Try coming home to your spouse without your wedding ring and telling him or her that your love and commitment shouldn't require such an ostentatious display. While you're at it, tell your wife you're not buying her flowers anymore.

A marriage that is just wearing a ring and bringing home flowers and nothing else is not much of a marriage. Similarly, patriotism that is just wearing a pin isn't worth much.

Trooper York said...

Archie Bunker: That ain't the American Way, buddy. No, siree. Listen here, professor. You're the one who need an American History lesson. You don't know nothin' about Lady Liberty standin' there in the harbor, with her torch on high screamin' out to all the nations in the world: "Send me your poor, your deadbeats, your filthy." And all the nations send 'em in here, they come swarming in like ants. Your Spanish P.R.'s from the Caribboin, your Japs, your Chinamen, your Krauts and your Hebes and your English fags. All of 'em come in here and they're all free to live in their own separate sections where they feel safe. And they'll bust your head if you go in there. *That's* what makes America great, buddy.
[exits Stivic house]
Mike Stivic: [to Gloria] I think we just heard Archie Bunker's Bicentennial Minute.
(All in the Family 1971)

Cedarford said...

Telecomedian said it well - Funny, in World War II, when the U.S. was under attack, men wore military uniforms.

Not that every person has to serve in the military to prove their patriotism, but it sure beats Lefties howling about stupid lazy troops too dumb for college should be brought back to be safe with their mommies, and whining terrorists don't have enough US taxpayer-provided lawyers and TVs at GITMO.
Or right-wing hyper-jingoists saying that more tax cuts for the wealthy and Iraq spending with money borrowed from China allowing more shopping for Chinese goods is just the war effort we need...

And wearing a flag pin and a "we support the troops" bumper sticker somehow legitimizes both the Left and Right's war effort.

(I flew the flag in the Iraq war from invasion to the time Bahgdad fell...the nation-building, Neocon/Rummy/Bremer/Sharanskyite crap morass that followed was mostly unecessary and one by one, the flags in my neighborhood came down. I proudly wore the flag in the Gulf War, when Bush I was competent, knew what he was doing..)

Joseph said...

I think this shows terrible political instincts on Obama's part, but I absolutely agree with him philosophically. Symbols like flag pins (or a wedding ring) are necessary cover to show your commitment to certain principles in a very superficial way, but when that cover is abused by others, it undermines and cheapens the underlying commitment and makes one want to avoid the "cover" so as not to be tainted by association with those who are abusing it. It makes perfect sense to me, but I think its a little too abstract to work in the political arena.

Anonymous said...

MadisonMan, @11:17 AM, posted what is possibly the dumbest thing I've read in my life.

Congratulations MadisonMan!

blogging cockroach said...

you might want to consider wearing this pin.

it comes from new orleans, the cockroach capital of the country.

it will help a local business, and heaven knows, new orleans could use all the help it can get.

plus, it's cockroach-positive, something i think we all can agree on.

Unknown said...

I'm glad I'm not married to Yachira.

I like MM's point. I don't think the marriage=patriotism analogy is a great one to start with, but MM's point that a marriage is not about jewelry and flowers like patriotism is not about flag pins is solid. Likewise, finding a cure for AIDS or breast cancer is not about wearing ribbons. All those things are cosmetic, and are often used by lazy, superficial, and insecure spouses/politicians/celebrities to show off to the world the depth of their commitment to their respective cause without actually doing anything substantively worthwhile.

Trooper York said...

Archie: Hey, Kiddo, do the cockroaches come over here on the big ships or do they fly nowadays?
Stephanie: I think the American ones are born here.
Archie: Don't be fresh.
(All in the Family)

AlphaLiberal said...

Give me a friggin break. We're arguing about lapel pins?

That's the state of our discourse!!

This is how we pick who leads us? Do con's have nothing of substance to talk about besides these bogus attacks?

How embarrassing for Republicans to be so shallow and stupid.

The Drill SGT said...

I'm a patriotic fellow, but don't wear it on my lapel as it were.

speaking however about WWII and folks in uniform, I'd love to bring back those blue stars in windows. For those who don't remember, folks displayed a small cloth banner in their windows showing a blue star for every member of their immediate family that was serving.

Blue Star

and a gold star for a dead serviceman. We'd only have 1 star (my wife) in our window now I guess, but I could always wear a lapel pin like this One

knox said...

Imagine, if you will, this conversation happening in any other country -- any country, really. Russia, France, China, Germany, etc.,

oh, yeah... those Europeans... not nationalistic AT ALL. And so sophisticated! And the Chinese! They don't expect you to wear a flag... just be sure to abort your female babies for the good of your country. And Russia--no pins there--and the life expectancy for a male is a whopping 52! And don't get me started on the Germans! Now THAT is an open-minded, non-xenophobic bunch! I don't know why people tried to tar them with that swastika back in the day. No ribbons there!

Anonymous said...

Joe @ 12:54 said:

I'm glad I'm not married to Yachira.

I like MM's point. I don't think the marriage=patriotism analogy is a great one to start with, but MM's point that a marriage is not about jewelry and flowers like patriotism is not about flag pins is solid. Likewise, finding a cure for AIDS or breast cancer is not about wearing ribbons. All those things are cosmetic, and are often used by lazy, superficial, and insecure spouses/politicians/celebrities to show off to the world the depth of their commitment to their respective cause without actually doing anything substantively worthwhile.
"

Oh brother....

titus22 said...

Remember to stay tuned tonight for dramatic poetry readings.

Also, NRO is having a telefon-please give.

If you love reading Kathryn Jo Lopez, as much as I do, you don't want to lose that voice not hear it.

Salamandyr said...

I'm pretty sure Yachira's point is that if it's so inconvenient for you to do the little things, then you can't really be trusted with the big things. A man who refuses to wear his wedding ring may not be telling the world that he has so little consideration for his wife that he's not willing to show a visible tie to her. That may not be what he's saying. But he's not exactly announcing his great love for her either.

Jennifer said...

Drill Sgt - A lot of people still put the blue stars in their window. I don't because I may as well put up a sign that reads "To Whom It May Concern, I'm in here all by myself". But, a lot of people do.

John said...

"speaking however about WWII and folks in uniform, I'd love to bring back those blue stars in windows. For those who don't remember, folks displayed a small cloth banner in their windows showing a blue star for every member of their immediate family that was serving."

I served in a Iraq and my mother hung one in her window the entire time I was there. They are still out there. You just don't hear about them because the people who fly them don't fit the media profile.

If Obama had ever actually done anything for his country, I might be able to respect what he is saying. For example, if George McGovern or John McCain said they don't wear the lapel pin because they don't feel the need to justify their patriotism, I could respect that. But Obama? What has he ever done for this country beyond enjoy the benefits of living here that people like McCain and McGovern sacrificed so much to help create? Nothing. He needs to shut up and wear the pin.

hdhouse said...

Did you ever stop to think that when it becomes a tagline, a hollow gesture, something akin to the Sean Hannity "you're a great american sean...thanks...you are a great american caller...well you are a greater american sean...isn't it great we can live in this great country and call each other great!"...

when it is reduced to that, then the gesture is meaningless.

ron st.amant said...

I just happen to be reading Richard Reeves book Nixon, Alone and in it he mentions the beginning of the flag lapel pins phenomenon: Initially the mass marketing of American flag merchandise began in '69 when Reader's Digest sent its 18 million subscribers a flag decal. They received requests for 31 million more. Gulf Oil then followed suit and gave out another 22 million flag decals. By 1970, following Nixon's decision to secretly bomb Cambodia, some on the White House staff started to wear flag lapel pins as a sort of silent support of Nixon in his decision.

MadisonMan said...

salamandyr, it's hard to tell what his point is, other than trying to show off his obvious intelligence by taking potshots.

The counter to your (plausible) point is that there are people who can do the little things -- they're easy! How hard is it to wear a ring! -- without taking the time to do the hard things that really matter.

John said...

"The counter to your (plausible) point is that there are people who can do the little things -- they're easy! How hard is it to wear a ring! -- without taking the time to do the hard things that really matter."

True enough, but the older I get the more I realize that it ussually works the other way around. Everyone likes to pretend they get the hard things that really matter. No one ever wants to admit to failure. But, generally the surest way to tell if they are getting the hard things right is by whether they are doing the easy things right.

The Drill SGT said...

Jennifer and John.

Thank you both for your recent/current sacrifices.

Not sure Jennifer why displaying it would indicate anything other than you have a family member in the military. It wasn't "overseas", it was "serving"

I bet John that your mother or her mother remembered those streets in WWII lined with blue flags in the windows. It is a stirring thought. She clearly is proud of her son.

The Drill SGT said...

John,

I forgot to mention that MY mother (she's a flaming liberal :) protested while I was off in Vietnam, she wanted the war to stop, but she was proud of her blue star in the window as well. Her husband went off to WWII/Korea and so did her 5 brothers to either WWII, Korea, or post Korea peacetime service.

Salamandyr said...

Yes MM, there are plenty of people who can do the little things, but can't be bothered to do the big things. That doesn't mean doing the little things isn't important.

To continue the metaphor of the married man. Just because some guy cheats on his wife while wearing his ring, doesn't mean my wife (when my fiance and I tie the knot) isn't justified in feeling hurt if I ostentatiosly refuse to wear mine. Like I said, I may be expressing many things, things that may be very respectable. But love for her is not one of them.

Obama is right that wearing a pin is not enough to make you a patriot, but his refusal to wear is not a mark of his.

Unknown said...

Rather ironic, considering we currently have a pinhead as President.

Jennifer said...

Drill Sgt - Oh, I had no idea. I thought it meant deployed. The blue stars come out in force when big chunks of people are deployed. In fact, I think a lot of people these days think it means deployed. Of course, the yellow ribbons come out in force, too. But, I never realized the blue star meant something different.

Unknown said...

The Drill SGT said..."I forgot to mention that MY mother (she's a flaming liberal..."

Ahhhhh, God's punishment of those who just can't think straight.

*I wonder if Craig's mother is a liberal, too?

The Exalted said...

hannity is the best

ann, that was funny -- nice

Unknown said...

paul a'barge said..."Obama's message? Screw America."

Where do you idiots come up with this insanity?

Obama isn't wearing a pin...so he's now anti-American?

Unknown said...

Wittle dust bunny thinks Thompson will eventually surface...and save the world: "Once we have reached the maximum boredom with these boring candidates, Fred can enter the room as the adult and tell the kiddies to break it up and take a time out. Bringing in the calm voice of reason, we will be ready for a change."

Then again...

"Not only has he misspoken or said he didn’t know about Terri Schiavo, or the controversy about oil drilling in the Everglades, or that he was unaware that a federal judge had ruled that lethal injection procedures in his home state of Tennessee were unconstitutional, last night in Iowa he said that the Dems controlled congress when John Roberts went through his confirmation hearings for Chief Justice. (I-don't-think-so...)

and...

"In an interview with Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa today, in talking about Iran, he referred to the “Soviet Union and China.”

The Soviet Union? And China? And Iran??

Beth said...

Drill Sgt., your family sounds similar to mine. My father and mother both came to oppose the Vietnam War, but were proud of my brother that served there, even while they had a last-resort plan to send their youngest son to stay with friends in Canada should his number come up. My dad was a 20 year, WWII vet, and on both sides of the family, military service goes back to the Revolutionary War, and back further to their countries of origin, and continues today.

The Drill SGT said...

Jennifer: Here is a link to a good explanation of the Blue Stars

http://www.usflag.org/history/serviceflag.html


Beth: yeah, My mother was in Northern CA, likely that area turned against the war earlier than LA. My brother was in the same year groups as your younger brother (e.g. post lottery)

I think that our families had the same ethos:

They call, you go

vote the sucker out, but go

The Exalted said...

hannity's juvenile attacks are yet another example of the stalinoconformist tendencies of The Left that pogo, sloan, etc endeavour so mightily to bring to our attention.

oh, hannity is on the right? never mind

Unknown said...

The Exalted,
Are you on some kind of medication?

I can't understand the point of any of your comments.

Beth said...

Drill Sgt., that's the ethos--I like how you put it, and will steal that in the future, if you don't mind.

Just one note, we're weren't in LA then. My brother enlisted when we were in Missouri, at Whitman AFB. After my dad retired, he became a Red Cross field director, a position that's held on base, as sort of a social worker/counselor/advocate, so we continued to be transfered every couple of years to military bases. Later he represented service members at hearings with the VA to challenge their discharge status, or make sure they were getting their proper disability benefits. I'm proud of him.

Beth said...

sorry, typo: That's Whiteman AFB.

Jennifer said...

Thanks, Drill Sgt. So, it denotes service during a time of hostilities. Maybe that's where the (my) confusion is coming in.

Revenant said...

I really don't care if Obama wears the pin or not, but it is politically tone-deaf not to.

Anonymous said...

I didn't see a flag lapel on the shirt of the guy who cut down that Mexican flag flying over the bar the other day. I'd dare say he's as patriotic as any of us. Non-issue.

Trumpit said...

"Why do we wear pins? Because our country is under attack!"

I'll have to get myself an Obama in '08 pin, if it really will help ward off another 9/11. Homeland security should make them available to every non-terroristic American. There is ample evidence out there that Obama pin wearing prevents terror attacks - we haven't been hit again, now have we?

blake said...

LOS,

You don't understand The Exalted 'cause you're looking the wrong direction. Turn your head to the left....

hdhouse said...

Ohhhh let's keep this alive for yet anther day....I'm going to write on here every day that this is part of the FAUX NOISE news cycle...heck it got 12 minutes in a "debate" yesterday....

so impressive.

hdhouse said...

ohhh and by the way i put i giant republican elephant pin in my backyard last night...put it right next to my favorite tree...its big man, like 3 inches across...got it in a distress sales of all the stuff in an orphanage that was sold...anyway, i got up this morning and there were NO ELEPHANTS in my back yard. Not one.

Damn these things really do work!

Unknown said...

"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/11/radar-aims-high_n_68054.html">radar-aims-high

Unknown said...

"http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/10/11/radar-aims-high_n_68054.html"

Unknown said...

radar-aims-high