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Justices rule for Texas in dispute over license plate [SCOTUS:Texas can ban confederate plates]
Austin Statesman ^ | 06/18/2015 | AP

Posted on 06/18/2015 7:34:12 AM PDT by GIdget2004

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Texas' refusal to issue a license plate bearing the Confederate battle flag, rejecting a free-speech challenge.

The court said in a 5-4 ruling that Texas can limit the content of license plates because they are state property and not the equivalent of bumper stickers.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans had sought a Texas plate bearing its logo with the battle flag. A state board rejected it over concerns that the license plate would offend many Texans.

Justice Stephen Breyer said the state's decision to reject the group's plate did not violate its free speech rights. Justice Clarence Thomas and the court's other three liberal justices joined Breyer's opinion.

State officials said there are now nearly 450 messages to choose from, from "Choose Life" to the Boy Scouts and hamburger chains.

The Texas division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans sued over the state's decision not to authorize its proposed license plate with its logo bearing the battle flag, similar to plates issued by eight other states that were members of the Confederacy and by the state of Maryland.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: scotus; texas
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To: The people have spoken
That’s an odd coalition.

I thought the same thing. Thomas does not often vote with Ginsberg, Kagan, and Sotomayer unless it is a relatively "no brainer" unanimous vote.

I'm a bit too apathetic to get worked up about this decision. I really don't see this as a First Amendment issue.

Probably more to the point, I will not rail against any decision in which Clarence Thomas was the deciding vote. Out of principal, if nothing else.

21 posted on 06/18/2015 8:48:53 AM PDT by TontoKowalski (Satisfied Customer #291)
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To: SaxxonWoods
Texas was a union state during the civil war.

I think you should do a bit more research on this.

22 posted on 06/18/2015 8:52:23 AM PDT by TontoKowalski (Satisfied Customer #291)
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To: TontoKowalski
That fellow most likely has had too much yankee educating.

General John Bell Hood

23 posted on 06/18/2015 8:57:43 AM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: GIdget2004
The court's majority on the Texas license plate case: Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Clarence Thomas

Like it or not it's a 10th Amendment issue. Texas can control their license plates how they want. Alito is arguing it was a 1st Amendment issue and I'm not sure I'd agree.

24 posted on 06/18/2015 9:02:17 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: centurion316

Amen!


25 posted on 06/18/2015 9:03:38 AM PDT by Nero Germanicus
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To: SaxxonWoods
Texas was a union state during the civil war.

Wuh?

26 posted on 06/18/2015 9:04:34 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: TontoKowalski

Though it should be noted that Governor Sam Houston opposed succession, and was forced from office by the rebels.


27 posted on 06/18/2015 9:05:56 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Hi! I'm the Dread Pirate Roberts! (TM) Ask about franchise opportunities in your area.)
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To: GreenLanternCorps
Id be interested in learning more about this. I'm not a Texan, but the history of the Republic and early Statehood is worth studying.

However, even a non-Texan should know which side Texas was on. One of the Union's big priorities was to secure enough geography to effectively cut Texas out of the War.

I don't think Lincoln wanted to tangle with that bobcat.

28 posted on 06/18/2015 9:12:21 AM PDT by TontoKowalski (Satisfied Customer #291)
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To: GIdget2004

It’s becoming loud and clear that free speech only applies to the political left.


29 posted on 06/18/2015 9:19:47 AM PDT by catfish1957 (Everything I needed to know about Islam was written on 11 Sep 2001)
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To: max americana
the license plate would offend many Texans.”

not that it matters much but many "Texans" moved here during Katrina.

30 posted on 06/18/2015 9:23:18 AM PDT by showme_the_Glory ((ILLEGAL: prohibited by law. ALIEN: Owing political allegiance to another country or government))
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To: SaxxonWoods

State Date of Secession
South Carolina December 20, 1860
Mississippi January 9, 1861
Florida January 10, 1861
Alabama January 11, 1861
Georgia January 19, 1861
Louisiana January 26, 1861
Texas February 1, 1861
Virginia April 17, 1861
Arkansas May 6, 1861
North Carolina May 20, 1861
Tennessee June 8, 1861


31 posted on 06/18/2015 9:27:00 AM PDT by SolidRedState (I used to think bizarro world was a fiction.)
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To: central_va

I love my state flag.


32 posted on 06/18/2015 9:35:30 AM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: SaxxonWoods

Methinks you forgot the sarcasm tag. lol


33 posted on 06/18/2015 9:39:32 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Mississippi! My vote is going to Cruz.)
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To: OriginalChristian
This should’ve been settled by Texas. Period.

You realize that it was Texas that refused to allow the license plate? And that SCOTUS affirmed Texas's decision?

34 posted on 06/18/2015 12:31:14 PM PDT by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: BuckeyeTexan

SCOTUS.


35 posted on 06/18/2015 12:33:29 PM PDT by Lurking Libertarian (Non sub homine, sed sub Deo et lege)
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To: dware

The way I read it is the government just ruled individuals don’t have free speech on something they’re forced by law to purchase because it might offend someone. But they allow people to put filth on the plates all the time. Personally, ALL personalized license plates offend me because narcissists offend me.


36 posted on 06/18/2015 7:54:13 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (I'm very sad for my country. Personally, I've never been happier.)
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To: Covenantor

Ft. Hood must be offensive to many people. How long before they change the name? I predict within a year.


37 posted on 06/18/2015 7:57:54 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican (I'm very sad for my country. Personally, I've never been happier.)
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To: Lurking Libertarian; OriginalChristian
This should’ve been settled by Texas. Period.

You realize that it was Texas that refused to allow the license plate? And that SCOTUS affirmed Texas's decision?
Exactly. I think SCOTUS decided this one correctly.
38 posted on 06/20/2015 8:16:58 AM PDT by highball ("I never should have switched from scotch to martinis." -- the last words of Humphrey Bogart)
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To: GIdget2004; Lurking Libertarian; Perdogg; JDW11235; Clairity; Spacetrucker; Art in Idaho; GregNH; ..

FReepmail me to subscribe to or unsubscribe from the SCOTUS ping list.

39 posted on 06/22/2015 8:24:18 AM PDT by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind. ~Steve Earle)
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To: dware

Easily resolved with a bumper sticker.


40 posted on 06/22/2015 10:19:51 AM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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