Righties Still Delude Themselves About Trump, NFL and Flag Protests

It appears the education of righties is a never-ending task, and at times borders on futility because of their penchant to rely on fake news (e.g. from FOX News) and also fake sports polls and bogus, related sources. How else explain the 'forecasts" of some that - watch out! - the NFL's fortunes will nose dive on account of  not followingTrump's stupid order to fire players for not standing for the anthem. Please! Look at any serious sports site (most of these critics don't even follow football, never have) and you will see ten times as many fans as the "boycotting", bailout losers begging for the latter's season tickets.  After all, if a person is so unctuous and dumb not to use them, why let them go to waste?

And this doesn't come close to their failure to process basic facts! For example, some of these bloggers have quoted Dallas' owner Jerry Jones  about being "against the players' protests"  - and yet - if they'd had a clue they'd have SEEN Jones kneeling with his Cowboys' players on Monday night. How do they explain that? They can't!

These bloggers also highlighted a Steelers' player as the "only one" not to remain the club house as the anthem was played, but failed to note he later apologized for embarrassing his teammates and trying to one-up them.   Again, these sort of miscues demonstrate why all their predictions for the NFL's demise this year - with fake low ratings added in - are basically humbug and horse feathers.

These jokers, who clearly missed Jerry Jones kneeling with his players, also missed the memo that flag protests ARE FREE SPEECH!

As I pointed out in a post from two years ago (July 24):

"in the case Texas v. Johnson (1989) flag burning was upheld as symbolic free speech which could not be curtailed under the 1st amendment. "

And further:

 "In 1990 another conservative congress tried to pass a law to outlaw burning the flag but again it went down.  This was in the case United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990).  While the Johnson decision only affected a Texas state law this decision was broader. . In the wake of the earlier decision, the federal government  had enacted a law that also prohibited flag burning. In order to try to get around constitutional challenges, that federal law prohibited all types of flag desecration, with the exception of burning and burying a worn-out flag, regardless of whether the action upset others.

The Supreme Court held that this law did not cure the constitutional defect and the same 7-3 majority from Johnson held that the law still impermissibly discriminated upon viewpoint and struck it down."

Logic and good sense dictate that if flag burning is permitted free speech then not standing for the anthem, must likewise be. One is here not burning or destroying a flag but simply passively refusing to posture for its proclaimed principles when it's misused to advance racial discrimination, aggressive wars and economic exploitation. Hence, kneeling for the anthem was Colin Kaepernick's right, in terms of his protests against racism, and  those who complained be damned. We who are aware of the NFL's own rules also know that they do not demand a player MUST  stand for the national anthem.  And yes, that means that free speech protections apply to NFL players, contrary to some misinformed bloggers. Also, the players - as contract agents - are  granted rights and protections that (sadly) ordinary (9 to 5) American workers for corporations are not (as in the case Waters v. Churchill).

Common sense here also tells us that the SYMBOL of a nation cannot have more import or viability than the principles it is supposed to protect.  Nor have soldiers "fought and died for the flag".  You do not fight and die for a piece of fabric, you fight and die for the PRINCIPLES the flag stands for - all listed under the Bill of Rights (including free speech)! That some 'Muricans can't or won't get that through their thick skulls is beyond belief.  It does, however, show what fools they've been played for by Donald Dotard using his weekly dog whistle via tweets.

 In the end this issue should not be about Kaepernick and other NFL players being "un-American" but in fact being Americans and patriots in the fullest sense of all - by holding their nation to account and exercising their first amendment rights just as their critics so proclaim in their assorted blogs.

Sadly, even the Attorney General of this country doesn't appear to grasp the basic principles of liberty and first amendment rights pertaining to the NFL protests- though Jeff B. Sessions pilloried campus displays and protests as violating those rights. Talk about hypocrisy!
 

And now for a hum dinger of a finding related to the Russian exploitation of Facebook to drive fake news, and divide Americans further. It's now been revealed that Trump's pal Putin had recruited Russkie cyber goons to pump and hump on the side of Trump AGAINST the NFL and demanding the players "respect the flag". How's that for irony? Even more, the sunshine patriots blasting the NFL and owners are really now seen in league with the Russians. And they carp and bitch about Kaepernick wearing a "Castro" t-shirt. HAHAHAHAHA!  What's worse,  a guy wearing a Castro Tee or traitors siding with Putin and Russian to undermine this country?

In the end, Trump's anti-NFL dog whistling was all about division, spewing phony patriotism  to jack up his clueless base.  The sooner that base wises up the sooner they ought to see they've all been played for clowns and losers.  Especially after he flat out informed them in January that he didn't care about them, he "only needed their votes".

Ten Reasons the Packers Should Clean the Cowpokes' Clocks Today

Sitting with my 'Packer-whacker' at Lambeau Field in December, 2009.

A question on every Packer fan's mind is whether the Pack can dispatch the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field today. Make no mistake, this is a historic game, the first playoff meeting at Lambeau between the two teams since the infamous 'Ice Bowl'  47 years ago.  That game I saw in New Orleans, with the Pack winning 21-17 on a game ending quarterback sneak by Bart Starr. The game is still the coldest ever to be played with wind chills approaching minus 48.

What about the current game? Can the Pack win? Let us recall the past three playoff seasons the Pack were dismissed including a "one and done" after a 15-1 regular season record several years ago. But in those previous times there were critical injuries or a key piece (in the case of the 2011 SB defense) left out. (Cullen Jenkins not resigned so the 'D' was not up to the SB standard)

Anyway, here are ten reasons I believe the Pack will take care of business today:

1) The Pack are unbeatable at Lambeau this year and the crowd will be louder than ever when Dallas is on offense, even rivaling the 12th man in Seattle. Romo - amidst the noise- will make a slew of errors and look for lots of false starts.

2) Dallas RB DeMarco Murray still suffers from a broken bone in his left hand which will be magnified in pain in Lambeau where temperatures won't rise above 14F. One hard hit and he will likely be forced to leave, or at least fumble.

3) Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB rules at Lambeau as much or more than Brady at Gillette Stadium or Peyton Manning at Denver's Sports Authority Field. Look for Rodgers to make quick passes to Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb for long yards after the catch.

4) Clay Matthews, unlike in prior years, is now healthy and as he even said 2 days ago  "there are no excuses". Also, he will have former Bear LB Julius Peppers on the other side helping out to keep Romo off balance.

5) Romo will be 'twitchy' and gun shy after his already vulnerable back took several shots in the Lions' game last week. After several knockdowns, compliments of Sam Barrington, Clay Matthews and Peppers, look for Romo to make a number of wild throws - including two for picks.

6)  Look for Packers' coach Mike McCarthy to put more run plays in for Eddie Lacy - at least enough to match his 100+ yard effort vs. Detroit. This strategy will be good to help Aaron out (still nursing a calf injury - not helped by getting stepped on by Ndamukong Suh).  and also keep Dallas RB Dez Bryant off the field so he can't make as much trouble.

7) The Pack will make at least two big plays on special teams - likely a runback for TD (compliments of Micah Hyde)  and maybe a blocked punt.  The Pack's special teams have been taking heat all year for less than stellar play and are determined now to make a statement. I believe they will!

8) There are a lot of guys who weren't on the Packers' 2010 Super  Bowl champion season team and are hungry for that special title, and the ring. They have 5 to 7 guys left from that team to encourage them to go all out - leave it all on the field. No one and done!

9) Chris Christie's "good luck" orange sweater (worn when he sits with Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones in his box)  has an expiry date on it  - and that will be today!

10) S.I. picked the Packers to win, and also beat the Patriots in the SB.

Footnote:

Wifey is still reeling from the dastardly tricks played by the Patsies yesterday in not reporting Shane Vereen as an ineligible receiver. Ravens coach Harbaugh had to go out onto the field to seek some kind of explanation and his team was penalized for it.  Steve Mariucci, on NFL Game Day this morning, did say it was "within the rules" but also said an official ought to have pointed out the ineligible to allow the defense to set coverage before the play.

This is also something the competition committee will have to address and soon. Meanwhile, any team that might have to play NE better look at that game tape closely.