GOP's new `values agenda' item fails

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - House Republicans failed Wednesday to advance a bill protecting the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Only a day earlier, the GOP had placed the measure on its "American Values Agenda" in hopes of bolstering the party's prospects in the fall election.

But Republicans could not muster a simple majority on the issue in a committee where they outnumber Democrats by six.

The legislation tries to strip federal courts of jurisdiction over cases challenging the pledge. It responds to a federal appeals court ruling in 2002 that the pledge is unconstitutional because it contains the words "under God." A district court judge made a similar ruling last fall, citing the appeals court precedent.

A simple majority is required to report a bill to the House floor with a favorable committee recommendation. The House Judiciary Committee split 15-15 on the pledge bill Wednesday; Rep. Bob Inglis, R-S.C., joined 14 Democrats to oppose it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060628/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/pledge

[Redstone]

1. What war? What economy? What national debt? What healthcare?

Redstome

[Supersedeas]

3. Agenda's designed to train the eye to the superficial--the Media loves it

[saigon68]

22. The media salivates over this shit

[MissWaverly]

5. Please add GITMO detainees tortured to your list

with only 10 actually "tried" in Military Tribunals since they were detained.

[Debi]

8. Redstome? A distant cousin? n/t

[ChoralScholar]

12. Reminds me of the Lewis Black special:

"We've got an educational system that's in the shitter. We've got a war going on. There is one thing after another. And what did our President think was important? Queers! That's what's important. Somehow, if we could stop the gays from getting married, everything else would turn out just fine. Everything would change. There would be solar energy!"

[Eugene]

2. This is beautiful. Bob Inglis sees the writing on the wall.

From the article:

Inglis said he is concerned that if the Republican-dominated Congress passes
"court-stripping" legislation, a future Democrat-dominated Congress might pass
its own bill denying courts jurisdiction of more issues.

:kick: and recommend.

[babylonsister]

4. How/why can Sensenbrenner 'try again'? That's ridiculous.

Does he get to do it over and over until he gets the right amount of votes?:eyes:

[Divine Discontent]

17. the wonderful world of

democracy and getting to do things over & over as long as you can get away with it... I never liked sensenbrenner like I do a small minority of moderate repubs (arlen).



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<<--- check it out!

[cornermouse]

6. Their "values" are not my values.

Never have been. Never will be.

[moobu2]

7. These bills actually passing isn’t the GOPukes point

In fact they would rather they didn’t pass so they could continue using the issues. The intention is to inflame the GOP base crazies.

[Bluzmann57]

9. Ok fundies, once and for all times, here are values

Respecting your fellow human, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other percieved flaws, helping those who are down on their luck, respecting human life as sacred, respecting freedom of choice, for women as well as men, no war except when absolutely unavavoidable, REALLY and truly accepting the ten commandents as a guidepost to a better life. Now if any fundy can truly live up to these standards, then come and talk to me. Otherwise, leave me alone.

[Divine Discontent]

14. we humans have trouble when we speak for God

and for them to use God as a way to secure votes seems slightly tacky & may be sacrilegious. I'd think He'd be unamused. Even when I in my life have spoken in smaller scopes of what I think God implies, I pray He forgives me if I'm wrong, these people are doing it for a bill to RALLY their party???? ICK!




www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<<--- check it out!

[DUBYASCREWEDUS]

20. Love them!

Can we add:

"I think, therefore I'm a Democrat"

"You voted for Bush? How embarrassing!"

"Bush-Cheney: Spending money we don't have, to protect
freedoms we've destroyed, from weapons
that don't exist"

"Annoy a Conservative; Think for yourself!"


We could do this all day!

[Divine Discontent]

28. YOU ARE SO SWEET!

that is very kind of you to say! I absolutely cracked up at "You voted for Bush? How embarrassing!" I will make new designs for ALL those tomorrow for my shop if you don't mind. thank you!

The Bush-Cheney I heard something like that before, and forgot it, it's sooooo true! ty!



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<<--- check it out!

[usregimechange]

10. Wouldn't that violate the separation of powers between the

branches of government?

[Divine Discontent]

16. sarcasm noted! :) (eom)

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<<--- check it out!

[SallyMander]

11. speaking of values...

This just in on cnn.com: "A political consultant whose company was behind a television ad accusing the Clinton-Gore administration of giving away nuclear technology was convicted of child molestation charges."

Maybe on next weeks Top 10??? :P These f-ers are ridiculous...


<http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/06/28/consultant.conviction.ap/index.html>

[orleans]

13. apparently "american values" is starting to mean something

a little different than what those freaks have in mind.

[Harry Monroe]

15. The original Pledge of Allegience...

...did not even have the words "under God" in it" Those 2 words were added in 1954 by an act of Congress.

A little History on the Pledge..

History of the Pledge of Allegiance:

The Pledge was originally written in 1892-AUG by Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931). He was an American, a Baptist minister, and an active Socialist. He included some of the concepts of his first cousin, Edward Bellamy, who wrote a number of socialist utopian novels, such as Looking Backward (1888) and Equality (1897). In its original form, it read:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

It was first published in a children's magazine Youth's Companion, in 1892 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas. 4 The word "to" was added before "the Republic" in 1892-OCT. He considered including the word "equality" in the pledge, but decided against it because he knew that many Americans at the time were opposed to equality for women and African-Americans. Opposition to equality continues today; a sizeable minority of American adults remain opposed to equal rights for women, gays and lesbians.

By 1924, the "National Flag Conference, under the leadership of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution, changed the Pledge's words, 'my Flag,' to 'the Flag of the United States of America.' Francis Bellamy disliked this change, but his protest was ignored." 3

Most Jehovah's Witness children refuse to acknowledge the flag. In 1940, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school boards could compel them to recite the Pledge. The court reversed itself three years later. 4

In 1953, the Roman Catholic men's group, the Knights of Columbus mounted a campaign to add the words "under God" to the Pledge. The nation was suffering through the height of the cold war, and the McCarthy communist witch hunt. Partly in reaction to these factors, a reported 15 resolutions were initiated in Congress to change the pledge. They got nowhere until Rev. George Docherty (1911 - ) preached a sermon that was attended by President Eisenhower and the national press corps on 1954-FEB-7. His sermon said in part: "Apart from the mention of the phrase 'the United States of America,' it could be the pledge of any republic. In fact, I could hear little Muscovites repeat a similar pledge to their hammer-and-sickle flag in Moscow." After the service, President Eisenhower said that he agreed with the sermon. In the following weeks, the news spread, and public opinion grew. Three days later, Senator Homer Ferguson, (R-MI), sponsored a bill to add God to the Pledge. It was approved as a joint resolution 1954-JUN-8. It was signed into law on Flag Day, JUN-14. President Eisenhower said at the time: "From this day forward, the millions of our schoolchildren will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty." 4 With the addition of "under God" to the Pledge, it became both "a patriotic oath and a public prayer...Bellamy's granddaughter said he also would have resented this second change." 3

The change was partly motivated by a desire to differentiate between communism, which promotes Atheism, and Western capitalistic democracies, which were at least nominally Christian. The phrase "Atheistic Communists" has been repeated so many times that the public has linked Atheism with communism; the two are often considered synonymous. Many consider Atheism as unpatriotic and "un-American" as is communism.

Most communists, worldwide, are Atheists. But, in North America, the reverse is not true; most Atheists are non-communists. Although there are many Atheistic and Humanistic legislators at the federal and state levels, few if any are willing to reveal their beliefs, because of the intense prejudice against these belief systems.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review this change to the Pledge. The Court has commented in passing on the motto saying that: "ur previous opinions have considered in dicta the motto and the pledge , characterizing them as consistent with the proposition that government may not communicate an endorsement of religious belief."


http://www.religioustolerance.org/nat_pled1.htm

[corporatemedia]

18. Porky Pig knew how to recite it in the Warner Bros. cartoon....

"Old Glory"

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”



From Wikpedia:

Old Glory is a Merrie Melodies animated cartoon directed by Chuck Jones, produced by Leon Schlesinger Productions, and released to theatres by Warner Bros. Pictures and The Vitaphone Corporation. It premiered at the famed Carthay Circle Theater at Los Angeles on July 1, 1939.

[PegDAC]

27. I think it's high time

we stopped pledging allegiance to the symbol and started pledging our allegiance to the nation and the principles upon which it was founded.

Here's one I found on the Progressive Daily Beacon:

"I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the Republic on which it stands, one Nation under the guiding principles of the Founding Fathers, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

[radfringe]

19. American Values Agenda

sounds more like a menu category at a McGOPer's...

"I'll have the number 4. Does that come with a super-sized side of flag burning? and extra commandments please...."

there's a toon in this... :evilgrin:

[ColonelTom]

21. Let's start calling it the "Values Menu"

It's the same fast-food crap the Republican voters have been lapping up for years. Perhaps they can "Biggie-size" it and take away the entire Bill of Rights at once. :mad:

[MissMillie]

23. The pledge itself is not unconstitutional

It's when people are forced to say the pledge that issues of constitutionality come into play.

Frankly, even if it didn't say "under God" I don't think anyone should be forced to say or even be in the presence of the pledge. "Liberty.... for all" means they shouldn't have to.

[tinfoil tiaras]

24. ...Cause we all know it's more dangerous to see two guys get married

...than it is to go to war...

:sarcasm:

[BigDDem]

25. How dare they waste their time on this

when they could be fighting gay marriage.

[Supersedeas]

26. the politics of personal identity is NOT enough, TRY AGAIN ROVE

[truthisfreedom]

29. and they fail because if they don't, they can't revisit this wedge issue

next time around. but i get the feeling that kkkarl is running out of ideas that actually distract people. i personally think that people are quietly rising above his sophmore college tricks.