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US House OKs Bill To Let Govs Lower Flags For Military Deaths
Associated Press (excerpt) ^ | May 15, 2007

Posted on 05/15/2007 3:34:32 PM PDT by HAL9000

Excerpt -

WASHINGTON (AP)--Governors could order federal facilities to lower their flags to honor fallen military troops under legislation passed by the House Tuesday.

Rep. Bart Stupak, a Democrat whose northern Michigan district has lost close to 20 people in fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he sponsored the bill after unsuccessfully trying to persuade President George W. Bush to issue an executive order on the issue.

The bill passed 408-4 and now goes to the Senate, where Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., have introduced parallel legislation.

The measure would amend federal law with regard to the flying of the national flag at half-staff to allow a governor to require that federal facilities in the state lower their flags when a member of the armed forces from that state dies while on active duty. The mayor of the District of Columbia would have the same authority with respect to military personnel from the District.

~ snip ~


(Excerpt) Read more at nasdaq.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fallen; fallenheroes; military; usflag

1 posted on 05/15/2007 3:34:36 PM PDT by HAL9000
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To: HAL9000
They are doing it not to honor the fallen heroes but to anger people about the war by only reminding them of our losses. Of course no one dare to oppose such a thing because in appearance it looks good, but the dark intentions of the liberal democrats who proposed this bill is very clear.
2 posted on 05/15/2007 3:37:55 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
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To: HAL9000

This is terrible and WRONG. I hope they won’t do it, although one can bet the Dem Governors will do it.

This is a PR victory for the terrorists and only contributes to the depressive anti-victory sentiment in this country. The Dems will gleefully point to the lowered flags as a visible indication for “Bush’s bloody failure”.

The proper way to honour our fallen heroes is flying the flag proudly!


3 posted on 05/15/2007 3:39:48 PM PDT by SolidWood (Islam is an insanity cult that makes everyone act Arab)
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To: HAL9000
Anti American.

4 posted on 05/15/2007 3:40:41 PM PDT by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: HAL9000
This is Bush-bashing; its about scoring partisan points with phony stunts than its about honoring our troops. Its a Democrat partisan measure that deserves a swift veto.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

5 posted on 05/15/2007 3:41:56 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: HAL9000

Democrats are making a political statement.
Deaths from OEF/OIF are happening everyday and our flags will be half mast...everyday.

I thought Memorial Day was to honor our fallen?


6 posted on 05/15/2007 3:42:20 PM PDT by Milligan
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To: jveritas
"it looks good"

If by good you mean bad then I agree.


7 posted on 05/15/2007 3:43:25 PM PDT by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: HAL9000

Let’s just leave all flags at half-mast forever, to honor ALL of our war dead from all wars past and present. The ‘RATS are merely trying to politicize this, to utilize US flagpoles on federal facilities nationwide in their own left-wing propaganda campaigns. It’s very similar to their demands to photograph flag-draped coffins for the MSM, etc. The ‘RATs do not care about truly honoring our war dead, they just want to score propaganda points ala Michael Moore.


8 posted on 05/15/2007 3:45:14 PM PDT by Enchante (Reid and Pelosi Defeatocrats: Surrender Now - Peace for Our Time!!)
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To: SolidWood
Exactly. It is no different than when the media keep mentioning the numbers of our fallen heroes and their names claiming that they care about them but in reality all what they want is to further demoralize the population and make them more and more against the war.
9 posted on 05/15/2007 3:46:50 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
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To: HAL9000

I agree that this is WRONG WRONG WRONG.

I DO NOT want to see our flag in wartime flying at half mast.

That is what our ENEMIES want to see.

Dammit!

The COMMONSENSE thing to do here is to FLY THE FLAG AT HALF-MAST FOR THINGS IT WAS INTENDED FOR...NOT FOR VICTIMS OF A DISASTER, PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED BY A MADMAN, CASUALTIES IN WAR OR SOME SUNDRY POLITICAL STATEMENT.

I, and most Americans HONOR and MOURN the loss of our troops in our hearts. I simply think this is wrong. It is MY opinion, and I may be off base, but I think it is WRONG WRONG WRONG!


10 posted on 05/15/2007 3:53:57 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: jveritas
“They are doing it not to honor the fallen heroes but to anger people about the war by only reminding them of our losses. Of course no one dare to oppose such a thing because in appearance it looks good, but the dark intentions of the liberal democrats who proposed this bill is very clear.”

THANK YOU!

I was seething sop much I couldn’t get my thoughts together. Their MOTIVATION is EVIL not honorable.

11 posted on 05/15/2007 3:54:14 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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To: rlmorel

You are totally right, and I think most FReepers and American patriots agree.


12 posted on 05/15/2007 3:56:02 PM PDT by SolidWood (Islam is an insanity cult that makes everyone act Arab)
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To: jveritas
the dark intentions of the liberal democrats who proposed this bill is very clear.

Wanna bet that there are earmarks on this puppy before it clears ???

13 posted on 05/15/2007 4:03:16 PM PDT by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli)
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To: HAL9000

Stupak is a left wing Marxist scum-sucker, who lives in Michigan but represents the moonbats in San Francisco.

Among various kooky left wing beliefs, Stupak previously introduced legislation that would forbid citizens from wearing bulletproof vests.


14 posted on 05/15/2007 4:28:19 PM PDT by sergeantdave (Give Hillary a 50¢ coupon for Betty Crocker's devils food mix & tell her to go home and bake a cake)
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To: jveritas
Comrade Granholm has been ordering State of Michigan owned flags at half staff for quite some time. She is doing it for strictly political back stabbing.

The USPS Manager of the Greater Michigan District, being from out of State himself fell for her act, and ordered US Post Office flags within his district to be flown at half staff anytime Comrade Granholm declares.

Someone who doesn't work for him, please tell Mr. Hart he's being duped.

15 posted on 05/15/2007 4:38:42 PM PDT by ASA Vet (Iran should have ceased to exist Nov. 5, 1979.)
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To: ASA Vet

Our flag stays up. I figure it’s an honor just to fly the flag of this great country and our guys know it!


16 posted on 05/15/2007 5:09:42 PM PDT by ODC-GIRL (Proudly serving our Nation's Homeland Defense)
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To: ASA Vet

The dirty political opportunism of these people knows no boundaries.


17 posted on 05/15/2007 5:55:17 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
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To: Don Corleone

Nothing surprise me anymore with these traitors, nothing. They are doing everything to surrender us in the war on terror, and stabbing the troops everyday in the back, and now they are playing this filthy political game about the flag flown at half staff under the guise of respect to fallen heroes when in reality it is just to make the war depressing and to demoralize the populace.


18 posted on 05/15/2007 5:57:56 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
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To: nmh

No doubt.


19 posted on 05/15/2007 5:58:45 PM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
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To: HAL9000

Like, they can’t find more important things to do?


20 posted on 05/15/2007 6:38:41 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: gcruse
"...Like, they can’t find more important things to do?..."

Of COURSE they do more important things like this: Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act

Whaaat? You think they sit on their butts all day and do nothing?

21 posted on 05/15/2007 8:53:52 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: gcruse

Nothing against the good people of Guam, mind you...


22 posted on 05/15/2007 8:55:09 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: rlmorel

As i understand it, they want us to recompense for what Japan did in WWII. I may be wrong. I was blinded by disgust shortly after reading of it.


23 posted on 05/15/2007 8:56:41 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: goldstategop; All

Very well said.

Many people might be tempted to look at this and say “Aaaahh...why are you people getting so worked up about this?”

But I think the insidious negative statement of having our flags at half-staff for every political expediency is damaging, and the effect that would have on our national character is very, very corrosive.


24 posted on 05/15/2007 8:58:31 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: gcruse

Aggh. Sorry...it does have that effect. Not like there is not enough material out there to counteract my blood pressure meds on a minute by minute basis...


25 posted on 05/15/2007 9:00:00 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: rlmorel

“But I think the insidious negative statement of having our flags at half-staff for every political expediency is damaging, and the effect that would have on our national character is very, very corrosive.’

It is of a piece with hanging yellow ribbons, a symbol popularized in a song about welcoming a convict back home. Rather than fly the flag, igniting patriotism, we find ourselves posting the trappings of yearning, mourning the absence of loved ones, aching for them to come home.

We won’t mourn our way to victory. Now they would lump new reasons to induce national mourning using that flag they won’t fly.

I say, fly the flag at full mast, and flush the yellow.


26 posted on 05/15/2007 9:04:45 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: gcruse

I have never been a huge fan of the yellow ribbon thing, either.

What you said was spot on.


27 posted on 05/15/2007 9:07:48 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: rlmorel

Let’s start a movement.

Fly the flag, flush the yellow.


28 posted on 05/15/2007 9:13:41 PM PDT by gcruse
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To: gcruse

I am already on board. No disrespect to the Virginia Tech victims, but when my wife suggested I put the flag at half-mast, well...I listened, but had no intention of doing it. I think she understands my viewpoint, and she does listen to The Oprah.


29 posted on 05/15/2007 9:17:36 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: jveritas
Of the soldiers ambushed last Saturday, two are from Michigan. PFC Daniel Coruney, 19, from Nashville, MI was KIA. PVT Byron Fouty, 19, from Waterford, MI is MIA.

Comrade Granholm will get to order the flags lowered again as part of the commiecRATs campaign to destroy any remaining support for the troops.

Disgusting behavior, but not unexpected.

30 posted on 05/16/2007 9:25:50 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Iran should have ceased to exist Nov. 5, 1979.)
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To: jveritas

“They are doing it not to honor the fallen heroes but to anger people about the war by only reminding them of our losses. Of course no one dare to oppose such a thing because in appearance it looks good, but the dark intentions of the liberal democrats who proposed this bill is very clear.”

Agree.

During ww2, WHEN 400,000 MEN WERE LOST, or about 300 on average per day, did we permanently keep the flags at half-mast? of course not. We are at war, not at mourning.


31 posted on 05/17/2007 4:14:31 AM PDT by WOSG (The 4-fold path to save America - Think right, act right, speak right, vote right!)
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To: WOSG

Agree 100%.


32 posted on 05/17/2007 6:08:42 AM PDT by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
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