Social Issues Top GOP Pre-Election Agenda

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Protection of marriage amendment? Check. Anti-flag burning legislation? Check. New abortion limits? Check.

Between now and the November elections, Republicans are penciling in plans to take action on social issues important to religious conservatives, the foundation of the GOP base, as they defend their congressional majority.

In a year where an unpopular war in Iraq has helped drive President Bush's approval ratings below 40 percent, core conservatives whose turnout in November is vital to the party want assurances that they are not being taken for granted.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060415/...cans_checklist

*Whistles*. *Waits*. Wait, are you talking to me? I don't care. I'm a democrat, I really don't care about this, won't affect me. Mostly since I'm a son of a bitch with no life.

Waaaah at flag burning...

It's just a piece of cloth. I'd understand if forests were being burned down and government buildings torched to the ground in protest... but come on. People need to stop getting offended over stupid shit.

Some people say "OH IT'S WHAT ALL THOSE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO DIED SINCE OUR COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED. THEY ALL DIED FOR THAT FLAG". No, they died for the ideals that exist in our country, not some mass produced synthetic dyed piece of cloth.

Yadda yadda yadda. Doubt anyone agrees -.-

Edited by Sovereign

V-------- GOD DAMN IT

I agree.

Burning a flag is illegal just as burning an eagle would be. There should be no protection for it, I'm sorry. In fact, yes, I'd love to see someone burning the American flag arrested if it was on purpose. What purpose does it serve? Oh, great symbolism dumbass. I'm all for criticizing the government, officials, and so forth ...but the flag symbolizes what people like my grandfather went to war to protect. Ungrateful bastards want to burn them.

I'm anything but Republican. I think homosexual couples should be respected the same as heterosexual couples, I don't think the government should be using fear to coerce the masses, and so forth. However, there's no protection for it. If they really want to burn something let them burn a map of the U.S. or some shit, burning the flag is like spitting on the constitution.

A flag is nothing more then a mass produced piece of cloth. Anyone who says that they fought for the flag should be fucking checked for downs syndrome. They fought for freedoms and ideals. Or because they couldn't get out of the army w/o being labled a deserter.

Getting angry for someone burning a flag because someone you know fought in a war would be NO different then getting angry if I was to light my all american 100% cotton jeans on fire in protest. "THOSE JEANS HERE SYMBOLISE AMERICAN PRIDE AND HARD WORK THAT OUR VETERANS ALSO WORKED HARD FOR. THROW THAT FUCKING COMMIE IN PRISON"

Symbolism is bullshit and it's stupid. The Govnt needs to find something better ot waste time on then preventing the defiling of some mass produced, cheaply dyed piece of polyester

I'm not going to go burning any flags because A) it's a waste of time, and b) a waste of money. But if angry extremists feel like it, I dont care.

I agree with you too.

More people probably view their country better as something rather than a flag.

If a flag meant much more to people than just a piece of cloth, then sure, bring in the Anti-flag burning laws.

But in this day and age, it's just un-necessary.

A flag is nothing more then a mass produced piece of cloth. Anyone who says that they fought for the flag should be fucking checked for downs syndrome. They fought for freedoms and ideals. Or because they couldn't get out of the army w/o being labled a deserter. Getting angry for someone burning a flag because someone you know fought in a war would be NO different then getting angry if I was to light my all american 100% cotton jeans on fire in protest. "THOSE JEANS HERE SYMBOLISE AMERICAN PRIDE AND HARD WORK THAT OUR VETERANS ALSO WORKED HARD FOR. THROW THAT FUCKING COMMIE IN PRISON" Symbolism is bullshit and it's stupid. The Govnt needs to find something better ot waste time on then preventing the defiling of some mass produced, cheaply dyed piece of polyester I'm not going to go burning any flags because A) it's a waste of time, and b) a waste of money. But if angry extremists feel like it, I dont care.

How is something produced in America and a symbol which is hundreds of years old the same? It's not the same. It may be to YOU but it's not to most people. It's not my fault you have not the gratitude to respect something that veterans hold so dear. Yea I mean, let's appease everyone except the people that die for us every day, right? Totally right.

Why would I respect something just because someone else respects it?

I respect what the soldiers did, not some piece of shit flag.

Edited by Sovereign

V----- Only cause they're black too

Oh my god! I actually agree with Sov. This is unusual.

Cocoa > Fruity

I agree with WillKillforFood. Except for the little Homosexual thing. =)

How is something produced in America and a symbol which is hundreds of years old the same? It's not the same. It may be to YOU but it's not to most people. It's not my fault you have not the gratitude to respect something that veterans hold so dear. Yea I mean, let's appease everyone except the people that die for us every day, right? Totally right.

Welcome to America, where those same guys fought for the freedom of expression.

Why would I respect something just because someone else respects it? I respect what the soldiers did, not some piece of shit flag. Edited by Sovereign   V----- Only cause they're black too

Yea, and this is what we're degrading to. Calling our flag a piece of shit, cool. Also, yes ...our veterans fought to protect our rights. However, what many people don't know is that many of our rights have limits. You cannot go into a crowded subway station and yell "BOMB!" for fun. This would cause disruption and get you an ass kicking. Don't expect everything you do in speech, expression, and so forth to be protected.

Also, yes ...veterans did fight to protect your rights. That's why you should be a little more than a mindless piece of shit and show restraint when dealing with something that symbolizes all they work they put into it. I'm certainly in favor for flag burning to be illegal but it's not really something I'm going to go to arms about; however, it just saddens me that such legislation would even HAVE been thought about. Ungrateful bastards.

Yes, such cool rebels. Fight the institution.

But the thing is, not everyone respects the flag, or even what you say it symbolizes, and the American government does grant these people the right to express their views about it. The fact that you, or even most of America disagrees with their views should not abate their rights.

The "BOMB" example you gave is irrelevant to flag-burning. Such vacuous behavior is likely to cause injury to many, even potentially death. Flag-burning, aside from potentially being a fire-hazard, does not threaten anyone. Banning flag burning would simply be a limit on your freedom of expression because the majority does not like what you are expressing. Such limits would directly attack what America has sworn to protect.

Also, symbolization is overrated. Burning the flag is not the same thing as disrespecting the work of veterans. As Sovereign said, the flag is merely a piece of cloth. One can claim anything to be a symbol of practically anything else. Furthermore, nothing forces us to respect the work veterans did, that is your own value.

Yeah man. I'm totally rebeling by not buring a flag, but saying that someone should be able to do it if someone should want to. Down with the system!

Mindless piece of shit you say? I'm going to go salute my work uniform now. Then, I'm going to get all teary eyed when I see some Office Depot or Staples employee buring an Officemax uniform because god damn it I put my heart and soul into my job and fought to make it a good place to shop for office supplies! Same shit.

Hug the fucking ground if you want to love and respect what the soldiers died for.

*shrugs* Either way, hoping this makes it through . Interesting twist though ...I guess you can only burry a flag if this is passed because burning it was an acceptable way of disposing of flags. You either burried it or burned it. Didn't think of that ...hmm, well I guess if you burn it while yelling, "SCREW AMERICA I HATE ALL YOU CAPITALIST PIGS" then the law would apply :P. Actually ...in retrospect ...it sounds too broad. You could combat the law by saying the flag had touched the dirt so you were disposing of it properly in a public fashion.

I acknowledge the flaws of America. Especially Cold War-America which was nothing less than stupid. But, the fact is, most of our troops are doing what they can to fight for this country. There are the assholes who have popped up in our ranks in numerous wars, but that happens. The fact is, they need to prosecute the higher-ups behind these assholes and show the world we don't let them just slip through the cracks.

Do what you want. Believe what you want. Just don't give me your shit.

I think we found a liberal. (cough Sov cough)

After so many explanations, I still don't get who supports whom in American politics.

Liberals?

Though I think I get that Bush is a Democrat?

Liberals, left-wing, progressive, Democrats

Conservatives, right-wing, traditional, Republicans

The more left you go, you pass by socialism and then anarchy.

The more right you go, you pass by militarism and facism.

Bush is a Republican.