Forest Service tells tenant 20-foot flagpole must go

AP - via www.modbee.com ^ | July 20, 2002 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Brytani]

The U.S. Forest Service told one of its tenants that his 20-foot flagpole is unauthorized and has to go.

David Knickerbocker has flown the American flag on the pole next to his summer cabin in the El Dorado National Forest for nearly two decades. He leases a quarter-acre lot.

[JennysCool]

Knickerbocker is going to win this one. Or, I'm leaving this country.

Hope he does, Fred, and certainly hope the Forest Service gets a thorough clean-up, and soon. Not only must its growing ranks of archaeologists investigate every "hole" for "significance," they're also employing historians and architects to determine the "historical value" of their various agency buildings and cabins! Is this something America can afford at the moment? Doubtlessly not.

[Semi Civil Servant]

Not a thinble full of common sense among both the Forest Service and National Park Service!

Per my Forest Service relative (hunter, snowmobiler, outdoorsman), the Forest Service is actually not overly infested with enviromaniacs. The Park Service is another story. Forest Service folk call them the "Parkies". It is not a term of endearment.

[Semi Civil Servant]

I forgot to add that both "services" have their share of gubmint idiots.

[2sheep]

Perhaps if he had flown a United Nations flag instead of an American flag, the F.S. would have come and enlarged the hole and given him a bigger flagpole.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I'd tell them I didn't dig any hole. It was already there and I just filled in the hole and while I was at it I put a flag pole in the middle of the hole.

Actually I'd tell them to go in the corner of their office, bed over real far and break the article of the UCMJ that covers sodomy with their stapler.

Remember, "Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the offense".

[cinFLA]

"If you're putting holes in the ground where Native Americans once resided, that needs an archaeological review," Forest Service spokesman Frank Mosbacher said.

Bump. I just can't think of anything to say now and will come back tomorrow!

[willyone]

Better pack your bags. The govt. is infested with commies and they have all the lawyers in the world free to make our lives miserable.

[Aim small miss small]

The Forest Service's motto? Caring for the land and serving people. Bozo Frank Mosbachers e-mail address fmosbacher@fs.fed.us

[Phil V.]

Fred, my deepest apologies. This is MY home county. (El Dorado) I am ashamed . . . truly ashamed . . . f&^%$ng nincompoops!

[brat]

"Of all the things to regulate, the flying of the flag of the United States?" he said."

Welcome to the New World Order.

[Grampa Dave]

Here is tomorrow's Washington Time Article on this insult to America by this POS Enviral playing forester.

This article is guaranteed to really PO any conservative reading what this POS tried to do:

Forest Service orders removal of poles flying American flag
Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Published 7/22/2002

---

The Forest Service has told California vacationers to remove poles flying the U.S. flag from property the service has leased to them.
The order has angered one lawmaker, who has written the government, demanding that it "rescind this silly order."
David Knickerbocker, an Army veteran and retired police officer, has been ordered to remove his flagpole, which has flown the American flag for more than two decades outside his summer cabin in the Eldorado National Forest.
"I feel it is at times like these our country needs to be showing our unity and patriotism, not promoting ill-thought decisions, which prohibit flagpoles on United States soil," Mr. Knickerbocker said in a letter to Rep. Richard W. Pombo, California Republican.
The "no-flagpole order" came from Debbie Gaynor, recreation forester, who said in a letter to Mr. Knickerbocker that "flagpoles are not authorized for recreation residences and must be removed" for him to continue leasing the land.
"My flagpole has been up for more than 23 years, and like many in our cabin tract I am a patriotic American who has a flagpole," Mr. Knickerbocker said.
The Forest Service directive "outraged" Mr. Pombo, who wants Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth to overturn the decision.
"At a time when wildfires are burning up much of the West, and Americans throughout the country face terrorist threats, it would seem to me that USDA Forest Service employees would have better things to do than to tell our citizens not to use flagpoles," Mr. Pombo said in a letter to Mr. Bosworth.
"Are flagpoles more dangerous than forest fires? I urge you to rescind this silly order to remove flagpoles that fly our American flag and urge our field offices to return to more important matters," Mr. Pombo said.
Adding a postscript, Mr. Pombo asked whether Mr. Knickerbocker would "be arrested for saying the Pledge of Allegiance on federal land," referring to the California court decision, later stayed, that declared that the words "under God" made public-school recitation of the Pledge unconstitutional.
A Forest Service spokesman said Mr. Bosworth was out of town Friday and was unable to comment.
The National Interagency Fire Center that day reported that more than 49,000 fires have scorched 3.5 million acres of land this summer. In California, more than 4,000 fires have burned 142,000 acres.
Fire restrictions were placed on the Eldorado National Forest on July 12 through the end of the fire season, meaning that no campfires or charcoal barbecues are permitted outside designated campgrounds.
The forest is located in the central Sierra Nevada, about an hour's drive from Sacramento.
The recreational use of Forest Service land began in the early 20th century, when ¼-acre to ½-acre lots were offered to the public upon which they could build small cabins. Permits are regularly issued, and cabin owners are charged an annual fee.
In addition to general cleanup and clearing fire fuels from the area, Mr. Knickerbocker was ordered to take down a clothesline tied to a tree and to paint his aluminum door a dark color to better match the cabin.
Mr. Knickerbocker also was informed that his hot tub had not been approved by the agency.
"Saunas, spas and hot tubs may be approved if incorporated into the main structure or deck, are not visible by neighbors or from public vantage points, and do not cause negative environmental impacts," according to the regional directives for recreation residences that Miss Gaynor cited in her letter.

[JennysCool]

Mr. Knickerbocker was ordered ... to paint his aluminum door a dark color to better match the cabin.

Sounds more like the Florist Service at work...

[sten]

BTW, I see noone has bothered to mention that flying a flag, however you do it, would be your expression of your nationalistic and patriotic feelings. Because of this, your ability to express those feelings, however you see fit, is constitutionally guarenteed by the first amendment.

The first amendment doesn't just protect the sickos....

[dixiechick2000]

ROTFL! You always crack me up!

[Phil V.]

Thanks for the address. I e-mailed the fellow . . .

Mr. Frank Mosbacher;
 
 
Frank, I can't believe that you are the initiator 
of this ridiculous order to remove the flag pole 
on David Knickerbocker' lot.  Please tell me that 
you are simply acting on orders from "above" . . . 
simply "doing your Job" . . . or "following orders".
 
The utter simplicity of the concept of "American 
Flag", of "pole" and of "illegal" lends itself to 
total understanding.  We, the people, are capable 
of wrapping our simple minds around the simple 
concepts of patriotism.  
 
I do not know you personally, Frank, but I believe 
that some of my kids went to school with some of 
your kids.  I infer from my kids the relative 
brightness of you children. It is likely that your 
children's intelligence descended from you.  I may 
be wrong.
 
Fix this lapse of idiocy.
 
Respectfully,
 
 
Phil (last name)

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping, Gramps!
I have to go to sleep now, but will read it first thing in the morning.

BTW, I saw this thread earlier...
this really sucks!

[Conservababe]

Okay, I have had it...it has been a long time coming...but this is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I am not going to tolerate such arrogance and stupidity...I am not. As soon as I find a phone number...fax number...supervisors...or any other pertinent information...I am going to have this nitwit fired. Come hell or high water...I am going to do it. Enough is enough.

[sten]

BTW, I see noone has bothered to mention that flying a flag, however you do it, would be your expression of your nationalistic and patriotic feelings. Because of this, your ability to express those feelings, however you see fit, is constitutionally guarenteed by the first amendment.

The first amendment doesn't just protect the sickos....

[Conservababe]

And what exactly is a "forest spokesman" anyway? Is he employed by the Forest Service or is he a PR man. I am so mad, I could spit.

[Conservababe]

Well, we need a fed law, it seems to provide protection for flying our flag, undisturbed, as such states have passed recently. Lord knows we don't really need any more laws on the books, but this one would be a worthy one, methinks.