JUST IN: @JebBush believes the Confederate Flag should be taken down

[brooklynite]

Source: Twitter

JUST IN: @JebBush believes the Confederate Flag should be taken down at South Carolina Capitol, his camp tells @ABC

Read more: https://twitter.com/CandaceSmith_/status/613021699378843648

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Heavens! It's getting busy over in the GOP. And everyone of these flip-floppers is going to look like a craven opportunist who completely mishandled things in the first few days.

[SpankMe]

1. First Lindsey Graham..

...then the SC legislature is discussing it, and now Jeb.

Looks like the Repubs are trying seriously to court the African American vote.

[cstanleytech]

14. No, they are not courting them they are trying just not to anger them because if

they become truly angry enough they might be willing to actually vote regardless of the the obstacles the Republicans have put into place to try and prevent them from doing so.

[HassleCat]

2. Is this gonna be like the Iraq invasion?

Where he says yes and means no? This is safe turf for the Republicans now, because several members of the SC legislature have agreed they need to consider the issue. One even said the flag used to be a symbol of southern bravery, etc. but was "appropriated" by the forces of racism and bigotry. Which is exactly right. Funny it took them over 50 years to notice.

[heaven05]

13. "southern treason"

is what it has always been a symbol of as well as Southern racist thought and action. Nothing else.

[herding cats]

3. This adds to my suspicion there's already a deal in the works to remove the flag.

I posted an article that alludes to as much earlier. This just points more toward it actually taking place. Jeb is connected and would not go out on a limb if not fully sure it will support him.

[totodeinhere]

8. It will require a two-thirds vote of the legislature.

Under South Carolina law, a two-thirds majority of both chambers is required before the flag can be removed.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/south-carolina-insiders-gov-nikki-haley-will-call-for-confederate-flag-removal-at-monday-presser/

[herding cats]

12. Yes, I read that earlier, too.

Which would make it a massive move it they do take it up and pass it's removal. No matter the outcome, it appears there's some serious behind the scenes work taking place to try and do something.

[yellowcanine]

28. No it won't. A Legislature cannot control future legislatures.

That is a fundamental principle in a democracy. The courts would strike down the stupid 2/3 rule.

Unless they have enshrined it into the State Constitution, a majority vote and the signature of the governor is all it will take.

[totodeinhere]

36. I'm just quoting the raw Story article. Perhaps it is erroneous,

but if the statute does require a two-thirds vote I suspect that it could be tied up in court for a while. However, I am not a lawyer.

[yellowcanine]

37. I think the story is correct. But I don't think the 2/3 rule would hold up in court.

Besides, there generally are numerous legislative and executive ways around these things. The governor could probably even cite security concerns and get rid of the dang flag by executive order. What are they going to do, impeach her over it? I don't think so.

[totodeinhere]

43. IMO it's more likely that she is posturing and plans to hide behind that 2/3rds requirement.

Remember she is a Tea Party Republican. I don't trust her one bit.

[samsingh]

4. the gop lightweights are starting to run scared

if it gets that abomination taken down and burned we'll take it.

[ffr]

5. Who cares what Jeb Bush believes

Or any GOPer or Fox Noise talking head for that matter. It only matters that we set our minds to moving forward, with or without them. America and the world have a tough job ahead and we can't be concerned with what 22% (the GOP loyalists) have to say about anything! F*ck 'em.

Turn the TV off. Turn the radio talking heads off and stay focused on doing what's right for you, your community, your environment and your nation.

[blm]

6. HAHAHAH…..CYA all the time with this group.

Disingenuous asshats.

[kairos12]

23. If his shape shifting positions on this issue were converted to origami it would come out still as a

rebel flag.

[blm]

27. LOLOLOLOL!!!!!

.

[heaven05]

7. they are pilng off the clown bus

and creating a clown spectacle of political theater. To hell with that Bush and the rest. All the sudden...

[oldandhappy]

9. but ... but ... States Rights!!!

He waited to see which way the wind would blow. So much for strong leadership! Go Jeb.

[rocktivity]

10. Weapon of mass media distraction

from Dylann Roof's ties to the Council of Conservative Citizens, who has donated money to Republicans:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026872573


rocktivity

[heaven05]

17. huh, interesting

the old bait and switch. Wouldn't surprise me if that's the motive because of all those legislators in that state and others that are members of that CCC. I think you're on to something there.

[LiberalArkie]

11. My hope is that the R's may be trying to move away from Nixon's southern strategy.

There are a lot of old money Republicans who disliked what the strategy entailed and what it produced.

[heaven05]

15. Even if it comes down

bet my bottom dollar it'll be back up in a very prominent and permanent spot, again, soon. And watch for the outbreak of loyal support for that flag. The anger, if it comes down, will be palpable, as will the expressed hate for POC.

[eggplant]

16. Get the popcorn.

The clown car is going to eat itself over this one. The longest holdout gets the racist vote in the primary. And will certainly lose in the general.

[samsingh]

18. or as repugs would report this: jebbush believes in the confederate flag

[Paladin]

19. Iron-willed Jeb Bush, as manly as Lindsey Graham.

Wait, that didn't come out quite right......

[Sancho]

20. FL, MS, and AL all have a version of "bars" on their flag...Jeb didn't ask to change the state flag.

Just saying, here's his big chance for glory.

[csziggy]

38. The crossed red bars on the Florida flag are "to add color"

Florida apparently had no official flag between when the state joined the Union in 1845 - or if it did there are no representations of it. When it seceded in 1861, then it had several different flags during and after the war. In 1868 a white flag with the state seal was adopted:



In 1900 the red bars were added:



(The two flags above and their history as well as other flags of Florida can be found at: http://dos.myflorida.com/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-flag/floridas-historic-flags/state-flags/)

When I was in school I was taught that those red bars represented the British colonial period and were taken from the St. George's Cross but that is incorrect. Those red bars are on the part of the British flag that represent Ireland, Saint Patrick's Saltire (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Saltire). Which really has nothing to do with the British rule of Florida so is nonsensical.

The Wikipedia on the Flag of Florida has this:

In the late 1890s, Governor Francis P. Fleming, a nationalist, advocated that St. Andrew's Cross be added so that it would not appear to be a white flag of truce hanging still on a flagpole. Floridians approved the addition of St. Andrew's Cross by popular referendum in 1900.[5] The red saltire of the Cross of Burgundy represents the cross on which St. Andrew was crucified, and the standard can be frequently seen in Florida's historic settlements, such as St. Augustine, today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Florida#American_Civil_War

That is also incorrect since the St.Andrew's Cross of Scotland is a blue background with white cross:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Scotland#History

The Cross of Burgundy which could reference the Spanish colonial period does not have simple straight lines like the St. Patrick's Cross but has jagged edges:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_of_Burgundy

It sure seems as though all their claiming the red bars are one thing or another are just excuses to keep from claiming they are an homage to the Confederate battle flag!

I would love it if we removed those red bars and used the actual St. Andrew's Cross for the background for the state seal. The blue would be a better color for Florida as an homage to our water and the white could represent our white sand beaches.

[itcfish]

21. Whoopdie Doo!

Big freaking deal!! LOL

[packman]

22. And the bandwagon is playing loud and clear

My wish is that a light is dawning, but I , in my cynical heart, feels that there is a lot of playing to the crowd and the fleeting moment. Hope it is not so - would like to see that shit removed from all southern flags in its various forms.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/06/21/how-the-confederacy-lives-on-in-the-flags-of-seven-southern-states/

[DinahMoeHum]

24. Day late, dollar short.

n/t

[restorefreedom]

25. the non total-lunatics have finally realized

they can't court the right wing fringe on racist issues and have a prayer of winning a general. so they are trying to split the baby so to speak.

either way they are going to either piss off their extreme base or alienate a whole lot of people in the middle. they are risking the fringe base and hoping they will vote r anyway.

of course, he may actually believe the flag should come down. if so, good for him. but he should have had the balls(can i say that here?) to say it in the beginning. because it is so late, i don.t trust it.

[lib87]

26. What about his state? We all know that cross isn't St. Andrew's

It sure is a coincidence that the cross looks just like the confederate flag design and is flown in southern states known for blatant racism.

What a joke of a man.

[yellowcanine]

29. Jeb Bush gave himself a wedgie (issue).

[czarjak]

30. Too late...

Turdbrain.

[Gumboot]

31. Classy of Jeb to wait so long...

... to gauge the mood and prevailing winds of public opinon.

Even Mitt Rmoney had the guts to demand the Dixie Swastika be taken down from the SC Capitol building several days earlier.

[yurbud]

32. did sister Lindsey beat him to the punch?

[yurbud]

33. if this keeps up, GOP will lose their dog whistle on race or...

have to amp up the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti-gay shtick.

[Yavin4]

34. Give it a minute. He'll walk it back. n/t

[sadoldgirl]

35. Another 5 day wait, like with the Iraq war?!

If he says: The flag must come down, he murmurs
quietly: temporarily.
Just my impression

[world wide wally]

39. Wow. Only about 150 years too late

[dbackjon]

40. Where was this statement 48 hours ago

Fucking coward.

[marble falls]

41. The pendulum is swinging back to left for even the right!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

42. Jeb didn't have an opinion until everyone else had an opinion!