Of all the stupid, un-American, anti-Liberty waste-of-time, unimportant piece-of-crap ridiculous legislation the Senate could consider, this is it.

WASHINGTON — The Senate may be within one or two votes of passing a constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the U.S. flag, clearing the way for ratification by the states, a key opponent of the measure said Tuesday.

Congress regularly has debated the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a Texas flag desecration law in 1989 and its own Flag Protection Act the next year. But until now, it has failed to muster the two-thirds vote needed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before states try to ratify the measure.

But this time may be different. Amendment supporters say last year’s election expanding the Senate Republican majority to 55 has buoyed their hopes for passage. Five freshmen senators — Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, John Thune of South Dakota and David Vitter of Louisiana — voted for the amendment as House members and plan to do so again.

They will be joined by at least five Democrats who have co-sponsored the resolution, including Dianne Feinstein of California and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Both are up for re-election next year.

“It’s important that we venerate the national symbol of our country,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the amendment’s chief sponsor. “Burning, urinating, defecating on the flag — this is not speech. This is offensive conduct.”

Hmm, apologizing for racist murder by lynching wasn’t important enough for you to co-sponsor, Orrin, but protecting a piece of cloth from desecration is. You malodorous turd. And should I be surprised that Idaho’s senators, Craig and Crapo, are both signed on as co-sponsors?

Lest anyone think I’m a big fan of flag burning, let me make this clear: it absolutely disgusts me. I love America and I served this country and saluted that flag while in uniform. However, what I love more than a symbol on a piece of cloth is the idea of liberty and the value of freedom of speech. Is it offensive conduct, as Orrin suggests? Absolutely. But if we only protect the warm fuzzy feelgood speech while criminalizing the speech we find offensive, we make a mockery out of the ideals America was founded on.

Besides, what harm is done from burning a flag? Is America so weak and filled with low self-esteem that burning her flag will hurt her feelings? Will burning a flag bring down our society? America believes so much in liberty that she should proudly allow her people to make the most offensive statements about her.

Furthermore, how much does the flag-burning amendment cover? If I print a flag on a piece of paper and burn that, am I prosecuted? It is the same exact statement. What if I make a close replica of a flag, say 49 stars and 12 stripes, and burn that? How about an exact flag replica, but with a green-white-and-purple color scheme? And what about the flags that are so tattered or soiled that they are supposed to be burned, according to US Flag Code?

Sec. 8. — Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

Subsection k. The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

What was that #1 defining characteristic of fascism again, Dr. Britt?