Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests

[G_j]

Just saw this story on my local TV news, happened not to far from my neighborhood.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770725118

Flag-defiling charge ends in fight, arrests (updated with more audio)
Sheriff’s Office denies allegation deputy assaulted couple

by Mike McWilliams, [e-mail]
updated July 26, 2007 11:26 am

ASHEVILLE — A couple who said they were protesting the state of the country by flying the U.S. flag upside down with signs pinned to it found themselves in jail following a scuffle with a deputy Wednesday morning.

Mark and Deborah Kuhn were arrested on two counts of assault on a government employee, resisting arrest and a rarely used charge, desecrating an American flag, all misdemeanors. The Kuhns were released from custody Wednesday afternoon.

“This is surreal,” Deborah Kuhn, 52, said moments after her son Mark Stidham paid $1,500 bond to get the couple out of jail.

Arrest reports show Buncombe County Sheriff’s deputy Brian Scarborough went to the Kuhns’ home on 68 Brevard Road about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday to investigate a complaint of an American flag on display after being desecrated.
..more..

[truebrit71]

1. Wow must be nice to live in a neighbourhood that has no crime...

...I mean, if the pigs respond with FIVE squad cars, everything else must have been handled....

[Buzz Clik]

2. In all probability, this is how it went:

1. The couple decides to fly the flag upsidedown to protest the war, show their anger at Bush, etc
   
2. Some neighbor takes offense and calls the cops.
   
3. As is their duty, the cops show up and discuss the complaint with the couple.
   
4. The couple acts beligerent, declaring that it's freedom of speech.
   
5. The cop says there are laws about the proper flying of the flag; by this time the cop is getting pissy.
   
6. More beligerence from the couple. Now the cop is insisting the couple remove the offending flag.
   
7. The couple now breaks into the standard stuff about oppression, rights, blah blah blah. The cop warns them to tone down, and they don't.
   
8. The couple gets arrested.

No doubt, each side has their side to this tale -- the cops claiming to be perfect angels, and the couple shocked -- shocked, I tell you! -- that an officer of the law would treat them with such disrespect.

And round and round it goes.

[Buzz Clik]

3. And let's not fool ourselves into believing that this couple are DU bretheren --

They're Ron Paul supporters. Most likely, libertarian to the core. Yes, they'll be opposed to the war, but that's where they part ways with Democrats.

The deputy is lucky that this pissed off libertarian didn't turn this into a shooting war.

[BeFree]

4. So

You think the cops have a right to stand on your porch, demand you remove a personal and political item from your porch and if you say NO, they can arrest you?

Bushco loves people who think that way, ya know?

[Buzz Clik]

7. I don't think that's what I said. In fact, I'm sure it's not what I said.

I'm simply saying that this story has at least two versions. If the cop gave the couple a copy of the ordinance prohibiting the display of the flag upside down, and they refused to cooperate with being issued a citation, then they were guilty of civil disobedience. At that point, yes, one pays the price.

It's also possible that this County Mounty is a knuckledragging redneck jackass who doesn't mind giving snotty libertarian city folks a taser to the balls.

Beligerent libertarians vs the frustrated redneck deputy. The outcome of the episode was entirely predicatable.

[BeFree]

11. Outcome

Oyyy, a rush to judegement, eh.

Guilty of civil disobedience by flying a flag upside down? On your own porch? Bushco loves that kinda talk.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BeFree]

19. asshat?

Geez, I stand up for the right to do as you please on your own porch and you call me an asshat?

Why the jerky reaction? Don't you agree that one is innocent until proven guilty?

[Buzz Clik]

21. I never said they were outside their rights.

You blew this up to make me look like a fascist, and I called you on it.

You came looking for an argument, and you found one. And now you can't believe your eyes. Wowee wowee wow!

(Sound familiar?)

[BeFree]

23. Heh

I didn't do anything to make you look like anything. I'm just sittng here on my porch hoping the cops don't invade my space too.

But if they did, could I count on you to not paint me as guilty?

[ScreamingWhisper]

24. the couple publically admitted that they slammed the door on the hand of the deputy

after refusing to comply with a directive from the deputy.
and btw, just because it's my porch does not shield me in a community of others, who can view that porch.
I couldn't strut like a duck naked with a feather duster in each hand singing "Made in USA" and not expect
a reaction. - I know...extreme illustration, but my point is those who know about the accepted boundries of flag display
would see that as a distinct call to action. This couple invited inspection to their doorstep, then crossed a serious line when they refused an official carrying out his duties.

[BeFree]

28. Et Tu?

Jumping to conclusions?

You don't know what happened. I don't care what you think, I only care what you know. You do know that this is a nazi like occurence, right?

[G_j]

29. really? show me where it says that n/t

[ScreamingWhisper]

33. my bad.... I read face and thought "hand" in my mind's eye

“He tried to keep us from closing the door, but we managed to get it closed,” Deborah Kuhn said. “We locked the door and he broke the glass to our front door and proceeded to assault my husband, saying, ‘You’re under arrest.’”

Deborah Kuhn also struck Scarborough in the face,

“He came after me, and I fought him back,” Kuhn, 43, said. “After I got out of his hold, I ran outside.”

then I read this line and thought hand
Sorrells said Scarborough suffered some scrapes and cuts to his hand and returned to duty later Wednesday

[G_j]

34. From the WLOS story:

"They say he hurt himself when he used his fist to smash through a pane of glass, after attempting to kick their door down. A neighbor says he saw the incident and agrees with the Kuhn's version of the story."

http://www.wlos.com/newsroom/nc/topstory/topstory4.shtml

[G_j]

88. delete

[datasuspect]

31. flag desecration is protected speech under the first amendment

[ScreamingWhisper]

43. True. But send false or misleading emergency messages is not...

[datasuspect]

48. you might have a point if they were at sea

.

[ScreamingWhisper]

55. it means Distress inland as well

[proud2BlibKansan]

71. Assaulting a cop is not

[datasuspect]

73. raising your hand to protect yourself is often considered assault on a peace officer

or resisting arrest.

but good for the guy, at least he hit back. cops will knock the shit out of a person sometimes.

[Kingshakabobo]

80. "official carrying out his duties"..... Bullshit. You have egg on your face once again.

It turns out the deputy was acting outside normal dispatch procedures acting on a complaint from a fellow national guard acquaintance. An internal investigation is being done to determine WHY the deputy decided to "handle" this call on his own.

Your defense of the police intimidation in this case is pathetic. Even before the update, it was clear there was no belief of distress on the deputy's part (he showed up with the flag desecration statute in hand) but that didn't stop your pathetic knee-jerk defense and ridiculous analogies, all in defense of this pig.

It was pretty obvious from the beginning, what transpired here. Some crybaby anti-speech assholes complained to the city cops. When that didn't work, they found a pal in the county sheriff's police to "handle it."

Now a witness comes forward and corroborates the victim's story that the deputy/pig did, in fact, deliberately break the glass with his hand.


http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770726111

A Buncombe County sheriff’s deputy acting on a complaint from a fellow National Guardsman issued the charge Wednesday at the Brevard Road home of Mark and Deborah Kuhn."

snip

The Sheriff’s Office will conduct an internal review to determine whether the Deputy Brian Scarborough was right in personally taking action on the complaint, Sheriff Van Duncan said. The usual procedure is to refer the complaint to Asheville police, he said.

[me b zola]

89. "This couple invited inspection to their doorstep..."

:wtf:

Oh yeah, here's your flag-saving heroes:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1455311

[VP505]

51. If there is an

ordinance against flying the flag upside down then it would seem that they may have a court case. Flying the flag upside down is an international distress signal, however I am not sure if there are rules that limit that to say ships or boats at sea or some other restrictions as to when it can be used like that. Anybody know???

[ScreamingWhisper]

56. link

http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/flag.shtml

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. ROFL

"The couple acts beligerent, declaring that it's freedom of speech."

Those bastards.

:rofl:

[Buzz Clik]

14. There was no judgment in my comments at all.

I've witnessed it. I've done it.

If you can't see it, you're not trying.

[datasuspect]

18. the best part is that these people probably never had to encounter the police in that context before

and probably did make claims as to certain rights guaranteed them under the bill of rights - which any person in the US can claim and use. not contesting that, i wish more people felt at liberty to tell the police that they have rights. cops NEVER want to hear that. they consider it the worst challenge to their authority that a person can assert.

the rest of us, those who know better, we invisible people already know NEVER to claim your rights in an interaction with the law.

i hope this story gets traction, and i hope these people are vocal and loud and on teevee a bunch.

the average suburbanoid "citizen" would readily identify with these folks and not automatically assume they are "criminals."

[Buzz Clik]

22. Been there, done that.

I despise authority figures of all kinds. Cops in particular. I have been hassled endlessly for not being a subordinate wimp when the flashing lights are in my rearview mirror or the cop is on my doorstep. You learn to choose your battles.

My guess is that this couple chose this battle. They were probably a bit nonplussed by this pig, but they had to know it was coming. And when you get physical with a cop, it is going to turn out badly for you every time.

Now, with any luck, these two will be vindicated and the cop will get his wrists slapped by his superiors (who hate bad press). That's as far as this little tempest goes.

[datasuspect]

26. ah, still one can hope

the truth of the matter is that police organizations have transcended their roles as a constabulary or keepers of the peace and are now full-fledged paramilitary governmental functions.

unless you live in certain zip codes, your experience with the cops in many jurisdictions will involve having to get on the ground, being cuffed, and being subjected to harsh scrutiny before even being arrested.

still, from a anti-law enforcement-as-paramilitary-organization perspective, these two could do a lot of good in putting out the message that harsh tactics aren't just for minorities and the poor anymore.

[G_j]

25. neighbor agrees, fist used to break glass after attempting to kick their door down

http://www.wlos.com/newsroom/nc/topstory/topstory4.shtml

Asheville Couple Charged In Flag Incident


A flap over an American flag leaves a Buncombe County deputy injured and two people under arrest. The deputy was investigating a complaint about a flag on display at a home on Brevard Road in West Asheville. The flag was hung upside down with a picture of President Bush on it. It also called for an end to the Iraq War. The Sheriff's Office says Mark and Deborah Kuhn struggled with Deputy Brian Scarborough and slammed a door on his hand, when he tried to give them a citation. The Kuhns are both charged with assault and resisting arrest as well as flag desecration. They are out on bond and tell News 13 Deputy Scarborough used unnecessary force in the incident. They say he hurt himself when he used his fist to smash through a pane of glass, after attempting to kick their door down. A neighbor says he saw the incident and agrees with the Kuhn's version of the story. They plan to file a lawsuit against Deputy Scarborough.

Last Updated: Wednesday, July 25 2007, 10:39 PM

[VP505]

54. Just a bit ironic

that the Deputy name was Scarborough, as in the Joe the Reich wing tool Scarborough radio and TV guy.

[Kingshakabobo]

74. Yeah well it turns out that "some neighbor" is a national guard buddy of the deputy...

And the deputy acted outside normal dispatch channels to "handle it" on his own by citing these people with a PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

Furthermore, he lied about the altercation that took place.

[Buzz Clik]

75. You clearly have information no one else has.

Can you give us a link?

[Kingshakabobo]

77. Sorry 'bout that. Meant to post a link.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770726111

A Buncombe County sheriff’s deputy acting on a complaint from a fellow National Guardsman issued the charge Wednesday at the Brevard Road home of Mark and Deborah Kuhn."

snip

The Sheriff’s Office will conduct an internal review to determine whether the Deputy Brian Scarborough was right in personally taking action on the complaint, Sheriff Van Duncan said. The usual procedure is to refer the complaint to Asheville police, he said.

snip........(Radford is the deputy's pal who complained)

Radford said he first noticed the Kuhns’ flag July 20 driving to and from the National Guard unit headquarters. Radford said he is not friends with Scarborough but knows him as a soldier and from seeing him on patrol near the unit headquarters. Radford said Scarborough is not in his unit.

“I’m all about free speech … and to have all of this stuff in his yard, that would be fine. Nobody really cares,” Radford said. “But when you take the American flag … to do that, it’s illegal, but personally, it was disrespectful. I was like, ‘Man, too many people have served under that flag.’”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
more at the link

[Buzz Clik]

79. Well, this is playing out in typical style.

We have the citizens making a controversial political stand. The local cops inject themselves into the conflict, and things get ugly.

Part of the debate here is whether or not the couple with the inverted flag should have confronted the deputy when he told them his was giving them a citation. If they would have quietly challenged the citation, they would have eventually won if they were willing to fight the sprawling bureaucacy. But, they chose to get noisy and resist the cop. Now, they a have stage on which to play out their challenge. The deputy is looking like a hot-headed redneck, and the public pressure may bring this to a rapid close. Will the couple be held blameless for their resistance against this cop? Maybe, particularly if the deputy's appearance at their house was outside his normal responsibilities. However, if he was simply following protocols concerning a complaint, they may still have some legal problems. Time will tell...

[Kingshakabobo]

81. You just can't seem to let the cop off the hook.

The people retreated to their home. There WAS no confrontation until the deputy broke the window and made illegal entry to their home.



"But, they chose to get noisy and resist the cop."

Where, in the article, does it say the victims "got noisy."

[Buzz Clik]

84. I guess you have chosen to read only the couple's perspective:

Scarborough told Mark Kuhn he was going to be issued a citation and asked for identification. Kuhn refused, slammed the door on the deputy’s hand, breaking the glass pane out of the door and cutting Scarborough’s hand, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Now, this may be a lie, but it certainly answers your question of where I read it in the article. The couple themselves stated clearly that they refused to cooperate with the cop in issuing the citation.

That's civil disobedience, my friend. They may feel justified, and the law prohibiting desecrating the flag may be unconstitutional, but they definitely were "noisy" in their resistance.

[Kingshakabobo]

85. I believe the couple AND the neighbor that witnessed the illegal entry.

""A neighbor says he saw the incident and agrees with the Kuhn's version of the story.""


THAT, and the shady circumstances surrounding the way the deputy(a.k.a. PIG) showed up on their doorstep.

[Buzz Clik]

86. And that pretty well sums up the difference between your view and mine.

I'm looking at both sides and assuming that there are elements of fact and fiction in both. You immediately took one side.

[Kingshakabobo]

87. I know you are trying to be "fair and balanced"......

......but, sometimes, you have to call a liar a liar.

Sorry. The cop is a liar.

The story was, initially, that he received a complaint while he was out on his patrol. That was a lie. I smelled THAT rat from the get-go.....how is it that he showed up to their home with this OBSCURE seldom (3 times in 90 years) used unconstitutional statute in hand on a "flag-down" call?

He CLEARLY had an axe to grind from the sound of the interview with the Nat. Guardsman (he and his buddies on-base were infuriated) who put him up to this endeavor.-listen to the interviews linked in the story. The NG Sargent informed this rookie deputy of the law.

While "technically" in his "jurisdiction, he violated procedure to carry out his vendetta.- he was on a "mission."

AND there was a witness:

The fucker lied about the altercation because he KNEW he had NO RIGHT to make entry. I hope the deputy gets fired and the NG Sargent gets busted for intimidating a civilian while the Sargent was uniform and driving a car with a federal license plate.

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20070727062407918
However, the Kuhns’ account is backed up by Jimmy Stevenson, who was working with Ace Hardwood Floors nearby and asserts that he saw Scarborough break down the door.

“I saw that one cop pull up and I saw those people come out on the porch and start talking to him,” Stevenson said. “They took their flag down, asked the officer to leave and closed the door. Then he started kicking the door, he kicked it about five or six good times, then he laid right into it. After he got done kicking it, he broke the window out – I saw him hit the window.”


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Who sounds more credible? The lying cop, acting outside procedures with an axe to grind or the impartial witness.

From the article:
"Furthermore, Wilson said that as the Kuhns were being arrested and taken off, he saw a man in fatigues drive by and shout “Go to jail, baby!”

Gee, do you think the deputy, being the professional that he is, tipped his buddies off or brought them along so they could watch the arrest????

[ScreamingWhisper]

5. When I was in the Boy Scouts, earning my Citizenship Badge

We were taught that the American flag, like any flag represents a "state of being" as well as a patriotic or celebrational symbol.
By this I mean when you fly the flag upside down, (as the woman's sign expresses) you are calling out in distress "Help Me!" Even if a neighbor did / did not call...the police should have stopped to investigate why they had a distress beacon in front of their home. Whether they want to believe it or not, there are laws in the use of the American Flag. Just as yelling FIRE in a movie theatre is punishable, so is delivering a faulty HELP message.

[IChing]

6. Read the article

[Buzz Clik]

8. I did. Did you?

ScreamingWhisper has it exactly.

[ScreamingWhisper]

17. I did, thanks

[cynatnite]

9. The police did do that and let it go...

It was some deputy wearing battle fatigues who pushed it. Grant it, I think the couple probably did't help their case by arguing with him and refusing to show ID, but this deputy comes across to me as some bush-loving RW nutjob.

[ScreamingWhisper]

12. The guy in fatigues wasn't a cop...he was a stranger.

as was someone taking pictures of the flag

"A couple of days later, Deborah Kuhn said a man dressed in fatigues came to the door to “harass my husband” about the flag. Someone also took photos of the flag, she said."

At a later point did a deputy arrive to issue a citation, but apparently
the couple chose rage and incarceration over showing ID to the officer. He slammed the door on the officer's hand and later the wife struck the officer's face, for pete's sake. Think they got what they deserved at that point.

[Buzz Clik]

15. Deserved -- probably. What they want -- without doubt.

People who go looking for trouble generally find it.

I'm always amused when they act stunned.

[ScreamingWhisper]

20. I think your earlier post summed it up nicely...

...entirely predictable outcome.

[BeFree]

27. It had to happen

Now that bushco rules, the rats are coming out of the woodworks.

Its just sad to see that instead of standing with the free-speechers, too many are saying they got what they deserved.

But then, that right up bushco's alley, eh?

[ScreamingWhisper]

37. Whats with * - flames?

The facts are:
They knowingly displayed a flag inappropriately to gain attention
They knowingly refused to produce ID upon request
They knowingly refused then shut the door, in the Deputy's face
after the officer entered the house in pursuit,
they knowingly struggled with the officer

Why not discuss your defense of these facts instead of lobbing insults?

[G_j]

38. inappropriately?

Now that IS fascism!
WTF?

[ScreamingWhisper]

41. Read my earlier comment above...if there is no distress

then the flag is being displayed in a way that is inappropriate. People would believe there was a "Help Me" message being sent, when there wasn't any. That's not Fascist, that being responsible.
"You keep using that word..I don't think it means what you think it means."

[G_j]

42. you must be kidding

I don't even know how to address that. There was picture of Bush and a message of, End The War.

[ScreamingWhisper]

45. attached to a flag turned upside down, to send a message

of distress when there was no immediate emergency service or attention required.
Visually, it's the same as dialing 911, but not really having an emergency. That can be fined as well
though rarely enforced. If they had shown their ID for the citation, it would have ended there on the spot that day.
They escalated it with the refusal and slamming of the door.

*typo fixed

[G_j]

49. ridiculous

there was absolutely NOBODY who misunderstood the message

[ScreamingWhisper]

60. hmmm, yet the first deputy made a specific point of

inquiring if they were in trouble?

"Deborah Kuhn said an Asheville police officer stopped by last week to make sure the couple was OK, after recognizing the upside-down flag as a distress signal."

Well, I guess somebody DID recognize that message...huh?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

62. And then he left when he talked to them.

And the second cop wasn't concerned about distress at all, and he said as much, so this whole "distress" nonsense is a red herring.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

53. The same as dialing 911?

Don't you think that's a little desperate?

[Richard Steele]

58. The same as dialing 911? Oh, please! Pull the other one- it's got bells on.

[ScreamingWhisper]

59. ummm 911 = Distress / Inverted Flag = Distress

sorry if that fact annoys you...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

64. So you're saying, SW...

That if I type:

***---***

I should expect the Coast Guard to sail up to my front door to see what the problem is?

[Richard Steele]

65. And there's only one type of "distress"? The type that requires police intervention?

Ridiculous.

Everyone involved in this understood perfectly well
what message was being sent with that flag. They LITERALLY
spelled it out with an additional sign for the slower viewers.

You're just making lame excuses for an asshole deputy who
was abusing his authority to harass someone whose free speech
he didn't like hearing.

I notice how you unquestioningly accept the deputy's version of
events about his hand, even though three witnesses say otherwise.

Overall, sounds like you have a bad case of "the police are always right" syndrome.

[High Plains]

66. People have a First Amendment right to do what they want with the flag.

"Inappropriate" has no place in a court of law.

A cop entered their property to try to give them an citation for violating a law that will be found unconstitutional if taken to the appeals courts. The cop tried to kick down their door and did break through the glass in order to pursue these dangerous criminals.

Perhaps these folks should have been more level-headed and simply accepted the citation and the police aggression. It's understandable that they weren't.

I hope this goes through the courts, the charges are all dismissed or thrown out, and they successfully sue the hell out of that cop.

I don't understand these defenders of the police action here.

[G_j]

35. glad you find it amusing

that people can have their doors forced open in America over a political statement.


Where the Hell Am I ???? :shrug: :argh: :eyes: :puke: :scared: :cry:

[Buzz Clik]

39. "Woe is me! I told a cop to 'fuck off', and he reacted predictably!"

If you want to engage in civil disobedience, be prepared for the consequences. There are plenty of examples who have done just that, and they come across as heroes. But to get in a cop's grill and expect endless patience is insanity.

Now, I know that a couple of you think that makes me part of "Bushco", but that's bullshit. Knowing how to push the system is more than flying off in a blind rage. These people weren't victims of a 3 am raid by a SWAT team. It was some adrenaline-fired North Carolina deputy who -- suprise surprise surprise -- doesn't take kindly to people slamming doors in his face.

If you're too big a pussy to accept the consequences of your actions, then change your behavior. It's that simple.

[High Plains]

67. This wasn't civil disobedience. They have a right to do what they

want to the flag. The Supreme Court says so. The deputy was way out of bounds.

What the fuck is your point?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

40. People who go looking for trouble?

[Buzz Clik]

46. Yes. You read and interpreted that perfectly.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

47. You're talking about the cop, right?

[Buzz Clik]

50. Well, no. But it could apply to him, too.

It would apply, in this order, to:

1. The couple.
2. The dude in the fatigues
3. The idiot with the camera
4. The cop

The cop, initially, was just doing his job. He is obligated to respond to complaint when possible infractions have occurred. So, he didn't come looking for trouble, but he may have sparked it by insisting on writing a citation.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

52. If there's one thing that pisses me off...

it's all these thugs going around looking for trouble in the privacy of their own home.

[Buzz Clik]

57. Well, it isn't that simple, is it?

You cannot stand in front of the picture window in your living room (the privacy of your own home) and expose yourself to your neighbors walking by. You cannot manufacture illegal drugs, dismember your wife, or harbor criminals in the privacy of your own home.

So, this couple was hanging a flag upside down for all to see; and the cop seems to think it's illegal because he has a copy of the ordinance saying it's illegal. We might disagree with that law, and that law may be unconstitutional, but that cop has a copy of the law in his hand, and neighbors are complaining.

This might take just a little thinking. Simplification just won't cut it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

61. Actually, yeah, it is that simple.

Because everybody, the couple, the guy in the fatigues, the cop, you, and everybody who passed 6th grade social studies knows perfectly well that flying the flag upset down is perfectly legal.

[Buzz Clik]

70. We find a point of agreement, but still disagree on the major issue.

You're driving along at exactly 30 mph in a 30 mph zone, and you see flashing lights in your rear-view mirror. The cop gets out and tells you he clocked you at 45 mph.

What's next? Do you scream, "Bullshit!" and drive off? Or, do you contest the citation?

That is exactly what has happened here (with a bit more pageantry). The cop attempts to give this couple a citation for desecration of the flag, and they tell him to put it where the sun don't shine. Everybody goes home happy? Not this time.

[cynatnite]

16. Thanks for the clarification...

my mistake.

I do think the couple didn't help their case by their own actions, but I also believe the cop was being overzealous, too.

[Pastiche423]

63. Anal retentive much?

[proud2BlibKansan]

72. There were several flags here in my red republican area hanging upside down

on the 4th of July. I don't think there were any arrests.

I even took pictures.

[hfojvt]

90. what's faulty about it though?

It's their opinion that the country is in distress. That's not a sign of disrespect to the country, only to the jacka$$holes occupying the executive branch, which disrespect is perfectly legal and justified IMO.

[IChing]

30. This is a Republican stronghold area

http://www.mountainx.com/news/2002/0904senate48.php

http://www.dccc.org/stakeholder/archives/005183.html


You can bet these citizens haven't been intimated and harassed
and the media in the area would have course be fair and balanced.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be Republican.

[progressoid]

32. Ron Paul supporters? That's great!

Next time some RW douche starts blathering on about liberals, the ACLU and the flag, we can just point to these ubber-conservatives.

[Ganja Ninja]

36. Looks like Ron Paul supporters too. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

44. These must be the freedoms, Bush said the terrorists hate us for.

Thanks for the thread G_j.

Kicked and recommended.

[High Plains]

68. Are people intentionally being assholes in this thread?

Are you kidding about this "distress symbol" bogus reason for hassling them?

Are you seriously saying "tough luck" to these people who were harassed for making a political statement?

I don't get it.

[Richard Steele]

69. I think you "get it" just fine, High Plains. Just fine. nm

[HuffleClaw]

76. as usual some folks just HAVE to defend the gestapo

no matter what the facts are. disgusting.

[Buzz Clik]

78. snark -- yet another Nazi reference. You lose.

[Kingshakabobo]

82. Why does he/she lose? She's right. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

83. Gestapo, Gracie?