Flagged

Some call it the “forgotten holiday” but here at PTB, we love us some Flag Day! Yesterday, while enjoying a celebratory case of beer in honor of F.D., we were perusing the RGJ and nearly skidmarked our Underoos when we saw the pic, on page 1D. What, you say, was so bad that would lead to such a knee-jerk response? Two words – Flag. Ties. Aye caramba!



Back in the ‘90’s, The Newtster and his posse rolled out the “Contract With America.” It was a misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic manifesto that propelled the far right to the halls of power. We’re still trying to recover from that fiasco. But that’s the crux of another biscuit.



One of the highlights of the tome, was a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban flag burning. Yeah, right. Like Newt Gingrich and his ilk are smarter than Jefferson, Franklin, Madison and the rest of our old-skewl motherhubbards. Not. It seemed like the republicans were more interested in protecting the U.S. flag from desecration than they were in protecting the Constitution from ill-advised amendments from BSC politicians.



But the far-right has wrapped itself in the S&S and proclaimed that anyone with different flag-related ideas was a commie-pinko, a terrorist, or worse – a Frenchman! Remember how they vilified Barry-O for not wearing a flag pin? Well…we’ve got news for the tighty-righties out there…y’all are wrong.



Section 8d of the U.S. Flag Code reads: "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel.” Yes, peoples, we do own a copy of the U.S. Flag Code. That’s how civics geeks roll. That means no flag pins for politicians, no flag patches for the PoPo and no flag ties for the unwashed (and un-educated) masses. Isn’t it ironic that the same people who swear to uphold the constitution are the same ones wanting to amend it for political gain – all while wearing the flag like it was a red white and blue corsage? Douchebags.



So, from us here at PTB...Happy belated Flag Day everyone…not that y’all needed any remindin’.



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Limit-Less

Back in the 1990’s when the lunatic fringe swept into power, Newt Gingrich and his ilk came up with a load of crap called the “Contract With America.” One of the ideas in the contract was that of term limits. When we heard the words coming out of the Newtster’s lie-hole, our collective sphincters tightened so much you coulda put a lump of coal up our asses and we’d have shat diamonds…but that’s the crux of another biscuit.



Tighty-righties from coast to coast preached to a lethargic U.S. public about term limits and Americans bought it hook, line and sinker. Next thing you know, state after state (including Nevada) passed some form of term limits. We yelled. We cursed the heavens. We pointed out that we already had term limits – don’t like the politician? Vote the rat-bastard out of office! Alas, like most of our rants, no one listened.



But now, Senator Maurice Washington, a REPUBLICAN, wants to repeal the law on term limits. Why the change of heart? Right wing nut jobs nowadays are as popular as turd sandwiches. They’re not just worried that they’re losing votes, they’re worried that they might never win another election. Ever. So here’s the point we wanna make to Senator MoMo: If term limits are bad, why’d your party support them in the first place? Two elections in a row, a majority of Nevadans voted for term limits and now you wanna circumvent that process? Tell you what…you’re gonna be workin’ at the drive-thru pretty soon anyway ‘cause of those term limits. Why don’t you STFU and get down to business on the serious issues facing Nevada. Term limits aren’t one of ‘em.




(8.-)

DANGER: Politician Crossing

Way back in the Stone Age (1994 to be exact) a tsunami of conservatism swept quite a few righties into positions of power. It’s called the Republican Revolution. Among those who rode the wave were notables such as Bill Frist, Nevada’s own John Ensign and WPE GWB. Leading up to the ’94 elections the right-wing jihadists used a very clever visual aid. After all, Americans are so stupid, without a cheat sheet most of y’all wouldn’t know which hole to pee out of. The prop we’re talkin’ ‘bout, of course, was the Contract With America.

Analogous to a sixth grader running for class president and promising less homework, longer recesses and better cafeteria food, the Contract With America included all sorts of go-nowhere ideas. Thinking they were smarter than Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson republicans wanted a Constitutional Amendment to ban flag burning. After all, at the time, flag burning hippies were ruining America.

Thinking they were smarter than John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, republicans wanted a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage. After all, why should homos get to enjoy all the perks of marriage (and divorce) when the Bible says marriage (and divorce) is only for heterosexuals?

Thinking they were smarter than George Washington and Gouverneur Morris, republicans wanted a Constitutional Amendment requiring a balanced budget. After all, everyone knows you can’t live outside your means and countries that run on deficits are fiscally irresponsible.

We knew at the time the CWA was nothing but smoke and mirrors. It was a pathetic circus trick designed to get republicans elected. It worked. Problem is, only one thing in the CWA actually got passed was term limits. Horrible. Idea.

We said it back then and we’ll say it now…America already HAD term limits…it was called the VOTE! Don’t like the guy? Vote him the hell out. We didn’t need a law that takes the vote away from the people. Alas…it passed and the right-wing jihadists were ecstatic. The operative word there is “WERE.” Now, it seems the very same politicians who were all droppin’ trow to hook up with the CWA are coming out against term limits. Seems the skeevers just wanna save their jobs. Here’s the crux of our biscuit:

Nevadan’s voted twice to enact term limit laws. So serve your time, get the hell outta Dodge and let someone else rattle around the halls of government. You wanna get rid of term limits? Let the people decide. Put it to another vote. But next time, leave your visual aids at home.

(8.-)