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Confederate flag advocate Bart Siegel found dead (Giant Tampa Flag)
St. Petersburg Times ^ | August 9, 2008 | St, Petersburg Times

Posted on 08/09/2008 9:02:39 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo

TEMPLE TERRACE — Bart Siegel, an outspoken advocate for the display of the giant Confederate flag near the intersection of Interstate 4 and I-75, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot in his Temple Terrace home Thursday.

Siegel, 50, was a Republican accountant who penned long letters to newspapers and verbally sparred with columnists.

In 2000, he announced his desire to "stir things up" by running against then-Hillsborough Clerk of the Circuit Court Richard Ake, a Democrat unopposed since 1986. Siegel lost, but kept stirring things up.

In the face of a protest, Siegel professed his love for the sport of gator hunting. He defended his boating club, the Tampa Cruis-a-Cade, amid a city lawsuit, and he often spoke out at Temple Terrace city meetings. Most recently, he became one of the loudest voices defending the Confederate flag.

Siegel wasn't even Southern.

He was born in New Jersey and raised Jewish, but married Lunelle Mizell, a fifth-generation Floridian with Confederate ancestors. He became fascinated with all things Southern, and about 10 years ago, became an associate member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

He lacked the lineage, said fellow member Marion Lambert. "But he had the heart and soul of a Confederate."

Siegel steadfastly maintained that the flag wasn't a racist symbol, but one of pride.

A few years ago, Siegel converted to Messianic Judaism, and attended Fowler Avenue Baptist Church. He called Lambert the day before he died, asking if he would go to church with him. Lambert couldn't make it.

The Hillsborough County medical examiner preliminarily ruled Siegel's death a suicide.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: cbf; confederateflag; csa; dixie; scv; siegel; suicide; tampa
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Whether you think putting the flag up was a good idea or not, this is a very sad development.
1 posted on 08/09/2008 9:06:04 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
"a Republican accountant".

A non-political story and they put his party affiliation in the second paragraph. Gotta paint those Republicans as racists at EVERY opportunity........

2 posted on 08/09/2008 9:08:45 AM PDT by TexasNative2000 (Is this tagline governed by McCain-Feingold?)
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To: TexasNative2000

Good point. His party affiliation was not relevant to this unfortunate story.


3 posted on 08/09/2008 9:10:30 AM PDT by Canedawg
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
"What is your usual occupation?"

"I'm a Republican accountant."

4 posted on 08/09/2008 9:11:26 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("I'm trying to save the planet!" - Nancy Pelosi ..........ROTFLMAO! What a dumbass!)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

Damn! Now I know why it wasn’t flying when I rode by there the other day.


5 posted on 08/09/2008 9:12:22 AM PDT by usmcobra (I sing Karaoke the way it was meant to be sung, drunk, badly and in Japanese)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

I live in Tampa and have seen a lot of very hateful speech toward this group. I wonder what impact that had on his decision.

Very sad


6 posted on 08/09/2008 9:12:58 AM PDT by driftdiver (No More Obama - The corruption hasnÂ’t changed despite all our hopes.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Guess that makes me a Republican Systems Analyst.


7 posted on 08/09/2008 9:17:12 AM PDT by 6SJ7
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

Arkancide?


8 posted on 08/09/2008 9:24:20 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (It's the Vast Wright Wing Conspiracy - labeling all whites as racist.)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
The Tampa Tribune article says that Mr. Siegel's body was found outside his house.

Link to Tampa Tribune story:

"Rebel Flag Proponent Found Dead"

9 posted on 08/09/2008 9:26:15 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
If I lived in the south I'd be sure to have the Stars and Bars somewhere on my car....not because I particularly agree with the Confederacy but because it would pi$$ off commie leftists and professional victims.

Doing that around here would guarantee smashed windows,slashed tires....and worse.

Although it might be fun driving through Harvard Square or Brookline (*proud* home of Mike Dukakis) with such a flag.

10 posted on 08/09/2008 9:27:26 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Obama:"Ich bein ein beginner")
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To: WhyisaTexasgirlinPA

Obmacide?


11 posted on 08/09/2008 9:29:06 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Five Year Plans and New Deals, wrapped in golden chains...)
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To: Fresh Wind

Any bus tracks near his body?


12 posted on 08/09/2008 9:31:55 AM PDT by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA (It's the Vast Wright Wing Conspiracy - labeling all whites as racist.)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo

RIP.


13 posted on 08/09/2008 9:32:22 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
I'm proud to day that I'm a Republican, Old Glory "proponent."

Don't ya just love the boys and girls in "the media." They really have a way with words.

14 posted on 08/09/2008 9:33:00 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("I'm trying to save the planet!" - Nancy Pelosi ..........ROTFLMAO! What a dumbass!)
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To: Gay State Conservative
If I lived in the south I'd be sure to have the Stars and Bars ....Doing that around here would guarantee smashed windows,slashed tires....and worse.

It would be wrong to place Stars and Bars decals on the cars of known leftists . Funny , but so wrong .

15 posted on 08/09/2008 9:35:51 AM PDT by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it , freedom has a flavor the protected will never know)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

I’m also “proud to say..”


16 posted on 08/09/2008 9:36:06 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("I'm trying to save the planet!" - Nancy Pelosi ..........ROTFLMAO! What a dumbass!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
Don't ya just love the boys and girls in "the media." They really have a way with words.

I think Stalin called writers "engineers of human souls".

Thankfully there's still many Americans who aren't willing to be malleable metal for the "engineers" of the media.

17 posted on 08/09/2008 9:39:12 AM PDT by Colonel Kangaroo
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To: kbennkc
It would be wrong to place Stars and Bars decals on the cars of known leftists

No,I mean that if I had such a decal on *my* car I'd have my tires slashed,etc.Hell,a few years back when my Dad lived in Brookline (the *proud* home of Mike Dukakis)and I often stayed with him to help him,etc I had three Dole/Kemp bumper stickers ripped from my bumper.

18 posted on 08/09/2008 9:44:08 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Obama:"Ich bein ein beginner")
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To: FlingWingFlyer

“I’m a Republican accountant.”

Does that mean his numbers actually add up correctly ?


19 posted on 08/09/2008 9:47:56 AM PDT by PLMerite ("Unarmed, one can only flee from Evil. But Evil isn't overcome by fleeing from it." Jeff Cooper)
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To: Colonel Kangaroo
Bart Siegel, an outspoken advocate for the display of the giant Confederate flag near the intersection of Interstate 4 and I-75, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot in his Temple Terrace home Thursday.

Apparent suicide, alot people disliked this man. Who is investigating????

20 posted on 08/09/2008 9:55:17 AM PDT by onlylewis (libs want a two class system, one rich one poor)
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