So, out of pure spite, Donald Trump orders the White House flag

[MineralMan]

to be flown at full staff, rather than half staff. This, despite other flags still being flown to honor John McCain's service. This petty action on Trump's part should be at the top of the news today. It is a shameful demonstration of the man's narcissism and mean-spirited personality.

I hope this is part of commentary on the part of all news media today, and that pointed questions be asked if there is a press briefing in the White House. Our boorish and vindictive President needs to be called out on this by everyone.

[SHRED]

1. They should call him out

[Angry Dragon]

2. Trump does not care

[MineralMan]

13. He cares enough to make a strong public statement

by his actions. He cares about himself, though, and himself only.

[treestar]

3. we will see how Sarah Huckasanders

will spin this.

[MineralMan]

4. Poorly, I expect.

I don't really see a way for the White House to shift this off successfully.

[MiniMe]

14. Blame it on the grounds crew I suspect

Oh, is the flag at full staff? The grounds crew takes care of that stuff.

[MoonRiver]

5. MSNBC has been talking about it. Several commentators are extremely angry.

Hope the discussion keeps up throughout the week.

[MineralMan]

7. Good. I'm in my office at work, and don't have a TV

here. I'm glad to hear it's part of the discussion.

[RKP5637]

6. What a rotten disgusting individual, rotten throughout and smells!!! n/t

[MineralMan]

8. Guilty, on all counts.

[onenote]

9. Yes, but...

Technically, the "standard" protocol following the death of a Senator is for the flag to be flown at half-staff from date of death until sunset the following day. However, in the case of distinguished, long-serving Senators, it has become the norm for the president to order the flag to be flown until sunset on the day of internment (see, e.g., death of John Glenn, death of Ted Kennedy).

Trump is a shithole president.

[MineralMan]

11. Yes. The President can order something other than standard protocol.

That has often occurred. In this case, Trump is flouting public sentiment by taking this noxious step to punish a dead man for not bowing to The Donald.

The pettiness is striking, almost beyond measure.

[Bonheur]

21. The standard protocol was followed

Why are you falling over yourself with indignation over a Republican not being honored above and beyond standard protocol? Just because he opposed Trump, it doesn't mean McCain was some kind of saint. The love-fest for McCain here recently is mildly nauseating. I guess he had his moments, but for the most part he was just as bad as the rest of them.

[MineralMan]

22. I never fall over myself. Nope.

My malheur over this entire incident is caused by Trump.

[moriah]

23. Welcome to DU!

No, like every human being, McCain had fuckups. Some less glaring/politically related (not being able to keep his first marriage together, but as Mom and I were saying regarding our own first marriages that didn't last *without* both of us suffering critical injuries and dealing with the separation from war, it's not like many people can say much except Carol), some that were (thinking ex-Democrat Lieberman *or* Sarah Palin would have been great running mates). And everything in between.

But we liberals often do have this somewhat annoying conscience thing that gets triggered when we see people treated unfairly. Even people we aren't traditionally allied with, even people we phonebanked against and door-knocked against a decade ago.

And mocking him for getting captured crossed that line for many.

Enjoy your stay!

[Bonheur]

25. Pfff!

I enjoy seeing Republicans being treated unfairly. They deserve it. I'm never gonna feel bad for them, and I'm not gonna participate in the McCain love-fest even if it's a prerequisite for "staying" here!

[moriah]

27. Wow, a touch defensive..

If you're worried about the length of your stay, you should examine the site rules, and ensure you don't break them.

Have a nice day!

[Bonheur]

37. I'm not worried, because I'm not licking Republican ass!

The site rules say "support Democrats". Not evil right-wing scum! If you wanna fawn all over McCain, it would seem to me YOU should be worried!

[moriah]

39. Please, continue attacking individual DUers for showing common decency after someone dies...

[Bonheur]

41. Haha, I suppose you will show "common decency" to Trump and Cheney also?

Not me!

[moriah]

42. Yes, by not saying shit other than "Thoughts and prayers for his family."

It's the only nice truthful thing I could say.

Aka, common decency.

For McCain, I can say a touch more -- that even if I vehemently disagree with how he thought the country should be run, I believe he actually did want it *to* run. Unlike the current occupant of the Oval Office.

Which is a truly sad state of affairs, that such low praise is considered "fawning", a "love-fest", or "canonization."

[Bonheur]

43. Wow, really?

And you think that's supposed to make you seem like a good person? Thoughts and prayers for the Trumps and Cheneys??

I will piss on their graves, and I'm sure I'm not the only one here!

Yeah, whatever - have a nice day!

[moriah]

44. It's not like thoughts and prayers mean shit anyway.

I think it's actually the perfect final tribute in that sense. Appears nice, but meaningless.

[MineralMan]

29. There is no McCain "love-fest" going on here.

Perhaps you're not reading carefully enough.

[Achilleaze]

24. That a republican 5X Draft Dodger would insult a US POW

will never be forgotten by the men and women who have served America honorably. I don't give a damn what party, the insult will ring down through the ages as part of the disgraceful behavior of Dirty Donny (R).

[moriah]

26. See, that conscience thing I mentioned, clearly at work! :)

I never served, our nearest link was my mom's first husband being deployed stateside during Vietnam to maintain the Titan silos.

But even I see something horribly wrong with ANYONE mocking someone for getting captured. FFS, even we didn't go that low in 2008. There were plenty of other policy-related issues that we vehemently opposed to talk about instead of his role in the war.

[world wide wally]

10. All those Trumpian Senators and Congress creeps need to be asked about it too.

We deserve to know where every elected "public" servant stands

[MineralMan]

12. Yes. It should be a question asked of everyone in power.

Let's go, news media. Let's take the measure of our elected leaders, so everyone can see.

[mitch96]

15. I was curious and looked it up

I don't like it but it seems the white house is following protocol for a change... Half staff
"On the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-mast#United_States

m

[onenote]

17. Yes, but it has become the norm to order it lowered for a longer period

when it is a long-serving, distinguished Senator. Recent examples include Inouye, Kennedy, and Glenn -- in each case the flag remained at half staff until after the burial.

McCain warrants the same honor.

[mitch96]

20. "in each case the flag remained at half staff until after the burial. "

I agree and I don't like what the white house did.... And consider the order to raise the flag prolly came from the royal shit stain himself...

m

[njhoneybadger]

16. I believe it's more than spite

It’s like the “Big Lie” He does things so over the top that weak minded people guestion their own normal thoughts. Nobody would tell a lie that big, nobody wouldn’t have the flag at half staff unless McCain was a bad man. Der Leader can never be wrong

[MineralMan]

19. Where you go all, I go not at all.

No Qanon here, thanks.

You wrote:

But likely 100% FALSE. It appears that McCain delivered uranium to Syria during his secret trip to Syria. He was also very much a part of the phony dossier: conspiring with the Ruskies. He may have faced a military tribunal recently. Or checked out, knowing what was to come for him. Trump doesn't honor TRAITORS!!!!!

Are you CIA? Your so-called identity as a 70-something doesn't seem to add up to your constant disinfo.

Hmph!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

28. At midnight. Not a moment to lose in spite-signaling. . . . nt

[underpants]

30. Commonwealth of Virginia flag is at half staff

Today's Flag Status
AUGUST 27TH, 2018

National Flag: Staff
State Flag: Half Staff

Governor's Flag Order for U.S. Senator John Sidney McCain III

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/flag-information/

[MineralMan]

33. Excellent. Good job, Governor!

He can't control the national flag, but certainly can the state flag.

[mnhtnbb]

31. The flags on the Capitol Building of Raleigh, NC are at half staff.

I can see them from my apartment. Stepped out on the balcony and took this photo. But, of course, we have a Democratic Governor. And he is well aware of how many military bases are located in North Carolina.

[MineralMan]

32. Thanks for letting us know.

Good job, Governor!

Nice view, too, from your apartment balcony!

[Bradshaw3]

34. CNN showed him being asked many times and he ignored them every time

FUCK HIM, FUCK HIM, FUCK HIM!!!

I just had to rant after watching this piece of shit. CNN and their pundits are calling it despicable, which is the nicest thing you can say about this scumbag in chief.

[MineralMan]

35. There's a delicious irony in watching him defeat

himself through his pettiness.

[Bradshaw3]

36. Yes, there is sir

And he hasn't changed since he got sent to military school. The same vindictive, infantile pettiness and jealousy that infuses his relationship to Obama and his relationship to McCain has been his raison d'etre since an early age. He never was popular or respected and hates those who are. I believe he knows, deep down, that he will never ever get the kind of tributes McCain will this week and it is killing him. And we get to enjoy that.

[DonCoquixote]

38. I am surprised

He did not order fireworks flown in celebration.

[MineralMan]

40. I have long since not been surprised by anything Trump does.

He's a "low class" President, to use one of his favorite expressions.

[Hekate]

45. Res ipsa loquitor: the thing speaks for itself

Red Don is a small mean petty man, and at this point there is nothing he can do to diminish Senator McCain, only himself.

[MineralMan]

46. I just read that the White House flag is now at half staff.

Criticism by two veterans groups is probably why he caved. What a sniveling, petty coward he is!