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Monday, September 25, 2017

Authoritarian Donald Trump Plays to His Racist Base

Around this time last year, I posted the essay you see below concerning NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest during the national anthem. One year later, Authoritarian Donald Trump asked a mostly white crowd in Huntsville on Friday whether "people like yourselves" agree with his anger at "those people" who dare take a knee during the national anthem. He'd love to see some NFL owner say, "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now."

This is nothing less than thinly disguised racism.

He's playing to his base.

Trump is getting the opposite of what he wanted. Instead of acting like plantation overseers keeping their slaves in line, one NFL owner actually joined players who protested the anthem at a game played in London. Numerous players took a knee, and with the support of owners and coaches.

Trump also withdrew an invitation for the Golden State Warriors to visit him at the White House. "Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team," Trump tweeted. I loved LeBron James's response. "U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite," tweeted James. "Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!"

The National Anthem and Our False Patriotism



(From 8/29/16) - Break out the torches and pitchforks. It's time to lynch an American for acting like ... an American. I refer to NFL back-up QB Colin Kaepernick (he must be an Irish Muslim), who had the temerity to refuse to stand like everyone else and pretend to be a patriot during the singing of the meaningless National Anthem during an equally meaningless preseason game that his team lost. He should show respect to the Flag, they say. Move to Canada, they roar. Kaepernick was simply exercising his First Amendment rights, something a lot more important than a song penned by a bigoted slave owner while the British were burning the capital to the ground. It probably should be scrapped.

I am always leery of these forced displays of false patriotism. A true patriot does exactly what Kaepernick did. A true patriot goes to government meetings or gets involved in his community. He informs himself before voting and is willing to take unpopular stands if he thinks he is right. A false patriot condemns those who follow their conscience.

When I was growing up, I remember quite clearly how people vilified Muhammed Ali for courageously refusing to sign up for the draft. He was stripped of his title, prosecuted and condemned. Except by one loudmouthed Jewish broadcaster who himself happened to be a WWII vet - Howard Cosell. Cosell then realized and said that what really had people fired up about about Ali is that "he was black and he was boastful."

And so it goes with Kaepernick, another black man (his father is black) who does not know his place.

Oh but he disrespected the Flag, you say. How dare he! This reminds me of another time, when America was in its infancy, and Pennsylvania Revolutionaries required everyone to take a loyalty oath. Whiskey patriots would ride throughout the Lehigh Valley, looking to line their pockets with the assets of Mennonites, Moravians and Quakers. In 1778, for example, eleven wealthy Mennonite farmers were herded onto Northampton County Court and ordered to swear their allegiance. Because their religious scruples made that impossible, they refused. Their assets were declared forfeit and they were ordered to leave Pennsylvania. Of course, most of the money ended up in the pockets of a few officers.

And let's talk for a moment about the real verses in Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner. At that time, the British military was recruiting and using runaway slaves. Key, who in fairness did think slaves should be treated humanely, writes gleefully about slaves being killed by American bombs.
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
The Star-Spangled Banner became our National Anthem because Woodrow Wilson, another bigot, issued an edict making it so. Congress eventually rubber-stamped Wilson's decree.

There is nothing remotely American about that song, unless you want to emphasize the ugly American. Nor should we be required to pledge allegiance every time we fart.

The whiskey patriots say otherwise, but any real patriot would understand and respect what this quarterback did.

88 comments:

Anonymous said...

Blah blah blah. America hater O'Hare joins the ranks of privileged professional athletes in demonstrating what ungrateful bums they are. We who honor our nation and those who died for our freedom are the true patriots. The idiots who refuse to stand for our national anthem should be ashamed of themselves. They are a disgrace to this nation, and to our servicemen and women.

Anonymous said...

Why do people not understand that Freedom of speech is a constitutional right? If people have died for this country, they died for our rights. To deny those rights to anyone, is what defames their memory. Stop waving the flag and read the damn thing. If you think wearing a US uniform gives you the right to deny someone their constitutional rights, I would prefer you not serve.

Free speech has been held up by the courts for decades. It is a freedom that not only protects what you want to say and hear but even more importantly it protects speech you don't want to hear.

Hell it even protects the speech of the great Emperor Trump, regardless of his stupidity.

Anonymous said...

Kaperdick is a self admitted non voter. He is not registered to vote in any state. He is not interested in changing anything, he just hates this country, period.

This is not about Kaperdick at all, its about the Trump speech the other day in Alabama. Trumps only mistake was to condemn the kneelers. He would have been better off praising them for kneeling , because then they would have all stood tall for the anthem this weekend.

Next up, Trump should tweet his love for ANTIFA, and then they will all miraculously vanish from this earth.

He should also tweet that Obama care is a great plan, is working well, and is the greatest gift to all people. Then the Senate will vote 100-0 to repeal it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

you missed the point here completely, and just bray away. You are correct. This is not about Kaepernick, so what's the relevance of his voting record? The fact is that Trump was playing to his base. People like you, who find no wrong in a bigoted president bc that's what you are.

Anonymous said...

You're Fired!

Anonymous said...

Leftists are a dense lot, and you remind me of what I left when I came here from the United Kingdom, Mr. O'Hare. I still have family that lives in the UK (I'm an American citizen, have been since 1964) and I can't wait to email and find out what they think of this display of contempt per the overpaid over indulged tin gods of sports. And how come the name of the owner isn't published, wanna bet he has gotten tons of tax payer money in order to build his sports temple to these overpaid spoiled racist brats. As per my family on the maternal side being immigrants from Britain I do have a small British flag on one of my kitchen shelves and ABOVE it is a small Old Glory. The Brit flag I believe was my late mothers given to her from one of her sisters who had brought it home from visiting our British relatives so it mean a lot to me BUT it's still and always be below OUR national Flag.

For these morons to refuse to honor OUR flag/anthem shows just how dishonorable they are for the whole world to witness. That said I am not only angered by this childish behaviour I RESENT it totally. I am the wife of a fmr Tin Can Sailor, mother of two Navy vets with 14 years of service between them , mom in law of a WAVE married to one of my Navy vets sons, grandmother of a Navy enlistee, and grandmother of a seriously injured Navy Corpsman vet who nearly died when injured which could have resulted in my daughter becomingt another GOLD STAR mother, which today honors ALL who have lost loved ones in this long war. Also have one grandson in his states National Guard and one who just turned 18 and graduates next year with plans of enlisting in the Navy.
So this stupid temper tantrum these over paid tin gods are thowing to one and all and the world has become personal to me and mine.

Anonymous said...

"he has a black father", this does not make a man black. he is bi-racial. just like Obama. quote morgan freeman, "Obama is not our first black president, he is our first bi-racial president". thank you.

Anonymous said...

Bernie O'Hare said...

"you missed the point here completely...This is not about Kaepernick, so what's the relevance of his voting record?"


I'm not the one who made the comment, but I'm assuming the writer is responding to what you wrote in your post, where you brought up both Kaepernick and voting:

"A true patriot does exactly what Kaepernick did. A true patriot goes to government meetings or gets involved in his community. He informs himself before voting..."

Anonymous said...

The NFL owners are going along with this nonsense as they don't want a slave revolt. Then they'll have to hire replacements and ratings will tank. They really don't care about attendance, most of that money goes to concessions, parking and stadium costs. The owners make their real money from splitting television ad revenue.

Anonymous said...

A few points:

Those kneeling are within their rights to do so, and Trump has the right to comment on it. Freedom of speech is a two-way street.

Just because you have the right to do something, doesn't make it the right thing to do.

The Anthem protests, not the President, are what's divisive. While likely originally started just to get as much attention as possible, they've distracted people from the issue the protesters say they are fighting for.

Trump's comments don't make him an "Authoritarian". He didn't order stadiums closed or have those protesting arrested. That happens in other countries, and trying to paint the President in such a light minimizes the brutality of dictators in other nations.

Ironically, political opportunists on the Left - those who supposedly care about minorities the most - are the ones trying the hardest to steer this away from the protest's original purpose and instead use it for their own political gain.

Peter j.Cochran said...

Bernie, Today our American Legion will do two military funerals to deserving verterans that have passed away . This group of "protesters" don't have a clue about American History and only care about their "stuff" they can buy. I would suggest strongly that ,if they showed contempt for their employers as they do America , that is bigger than a goddamned football sport /entertainment they would be fired and I'd personally help run them out on the rails! If WWll had gone to somebody else and IT COULD HAVE, these characters complaining would be doing something else right now , and it wouldn't be driving around in a Bentley! The souls that gave it all who also wore a helmet are the real -heroes NOT the celebrity of 'entertainment'! They can screw themselfs, and they just might.

Anonymous said...

For a decade, the top 25 TV broadcasts in any year have been NFL games. That ended last year. Their ratings are in the tank. They have a half dozen stadiums that are half empty on game day. The product is terrible. Play is sloppy, penalties are called on neatly every play, idiotic players act like they're in a dance contest after recording a sack in a game they're losing. by two touchdowns. Tickets are preposterously expensive. It costs $100 to park in Los Angeles. Trump has no business in this business. But the NFL is now screwed. They'll see another big decline in viewership and attendance. Trump will take responsibility. But the league, whose rules dictate a national anthem ceremony and are very specific about how players must participate (stand, helmet in left hand, no talking), will continue to diminish on its own.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the players in the London game stood for "God Save The Queen," the anthem of the country that brought slaves to the new world.

Anonymous said...

I was always taught, that you can catch more flies with honey. People do not generally respond well to demands
* for citizenship
* for justice (as defined in someone else’s terms)
* for higher pay
* for history to be erased
* for universities to silence alternative opinions
* for open borders, etc, etc

What we’re seeing are petulant children who’ve not been taught this simple truth about human nature: when you demand things, people tune out. It’s offensive. It’s off-putting. And certainly has no power in a country where we’re free to put on headphones or change the channel.

If these self-obsessed whiners were truly committed to change, they’d appeal to our better angels with clear, concise, calm and convincing arguments. Until then, I’ll do what my mother did when I threw a tantrum: just walk away.

Anonymous said...

We all agree everyone has 1st amendment right of freedom of speech. But to protest at a paid event,while on the job, is being encouraged by the NFL. They will share in the consequences. Fans don't need to pay to see political bullshit. No one has a right to protest on the job. Only on your own time. It will in the long run be counter productive. They will not gain respect or new fans of their cause, whatever that is. I am not sure. Only their hate for America. Most people have had it with political motivations, absolutely everywhere. They have permanently diminished the NFL.

Anonymous said...

k should be shot down just like the rabid dog that he is

Anonymous said...

For a league that features more felons by percentage than any other professional sport, it's curious that it would make such a strong statement on the anthem after looking the other way at murderers, rapists, and dog torturers. These are some of the nastiest, violent, lowlife one-percenters you'll ever encounter. I support their right to take a knee or flip the bird, or burn the damn flag. I also support the rights of the millions who are turning it off. The free market is a powerful thing. The NFL is about to find out just how much.

Anonymous said...

@6:24AM makes the point - free speech is a 2-way street. If a football player has the right to "speak" by kneeling or "tweet" his sentiments about the President, then does not the President have the right to say owners should consider firing players or that others may consider the behavior of athletes unacceptable? Having the right to say something (not including speech deemed unprotected by the courts) doesn't mean, however, that it's smart or proper to do so. But doesn't it mean you can still say it? A similar case in point - free speech rights on college campuses now seems to mean a group can shout down a speaker or rally to force someone to cancel their appearance if the speaker doesn't agree with a group's views. But does not the speaker have free speech rights as well? Whatever happened to common sense and decorum - on all sides!

Anonymous said...

This is more controversial than when Monica took a knee in the Oval Office. Remember when we had class in the White House?

Anonymous said...

I am a businessman who has a business with six employees. I have a very limited code of discipline and do respect the right of Freedom of Speech. However, exert this right on your own time. Don't come to work and spew your opinions on my employees and customers! Do it after work, preferably down the street and away from my premises. Disrupt my business, you will be shown the door! Granted, my employees don't make millions of dollars, but if they want a decent job that pays health benefits, you better tow the line. These millionaire owners who leave their employees get away with this, have nobody to blame but themselves. And these illiterate thugs, who haven't served their country or community, should give 50% of their salaries to these worthless causes they purport to support.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Trump should stop sending the military flyovers and military guard presenting the flag prior to the game.

Anonymous said...

7:34 Monica was different She was on both knees That's acceptable.

Anonymous said...

These athletes seem to think it’s all about them and what they think. It’s not. As with any business, it’s about giving the customer what the customer wants at a price the customer is willing to pay. Just what I don’t care to pay to see: a bunch of multimillionaire crybabies getting paid to whine about how unfair life is.

Anonymous said...

bernie obediently responds to the dog whistle/foghorns of the left of calling everyone who isn't on the left a racist. Yawner....zzzzzzz....

Anonymous said...

Mr O'Hare should ask Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Alejandro Villanueva, a U.S. Army veteran of three tours in Afghanistan, about how he found the courage to stand up to his entire locker room and walk out, hand over heart, for the national anthem at Soldier Field in Chicago.

His team lost the game, but he will be remembered as the real winner of this day. Not just for his stand on the field, but for his courage off it.

Anonymous said...

Exercising my freedoms to not watch the National Football League and to not patronize any of the National Football League's sponsors, as well. High school and college football are both far more exciting than the boring NFL, anyway. And so much more affordable to the common average fan, too.

Anonymous said...

Look what happened to Tim Tebow when he exercised his constitutional rights.

Anonymous said...

Social media feuding with entertainers and celebrities is one of the few things Trump is qualified to do. He ruined CNN and the NFL (No Fans Left) is next. NFL franchises and socialized stadiums are economically damaging public policy. The decline of the NFL is a good thing, by whatever means it occurs.

Anonymous said...

8:30 Tebow was white. These athletes are black. They have grievances, Tebow has white privilege and isn't entitled to express personal views on the playing field

Anonymous said...

In all fairness, America has offered more opportunity for blacks, than any country in Africa.

I see no protests by black Americans against slavery in Africa and some Muslim countries. These protests are really rooted in BLACK racism. all we hear about is how racist whites are, but in reality the vast majority of whites just do what needs to be done to raise and provide for their families, race is seldom something they think about.

On the other hand blacks are obsessed with race, will find racism in every part of America. Why is it that we hear very little from immigrants from china, India, Cuba, Viet Nam and even Africa, who are happy to have the opportunities available in America. Just take the time to ask them.

In a biblical sense Blacks, as a way to have peace and prosperity in their lives, may consider thanking God, that their ancestors where brought here and in the process their decedents were blessed, much as the Jews who became enslaved by Egypt but in the process became a nation and a strong people.

In my life I have been mistreated and been dealt with unfairly, by employers, police and others, but by being white, I can only view it as bad luck or bad behavior of others. Obsessing on these things will only bring self destruction.

But of course that attitude would be hard to use by others politically.

Anonymous said...

9:04: "In all fairness, America has offered more opportunity for blacks, than any country in Africa".

Um, In all fairness, America has offered more opportunity for whites, that all other races combined.

Anonymous said...

I don't like that you made the font bigger on this blog thread. It's is like you are using all caps and shouting.

Anonymous said...

I WONDER WHAT THE ECHO CHAMBER BLOG IN ALLENTOWN SAYS ON THIS TOPIC?

Anonymous said...

9:04 In all fairness is discrimination in housing, employment etc Fair ??
Inane logic on your part.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if those who are offended actually watch sports on tv. Then I wonder who actually puts their beer down and stands out of respect for the national anthem being played. I've never witnessed a buddy stand for that.

Anonymous said...

@9:04, if there were a magic pill you could take that would change your skin color to black, would you take it?

Think carefully - while there might be some limited affirmative action in your favor, you'd have to deal with suspicion and danger in a lot of everyday situations.

Anonymous said...

If you're more offended by players taking a knee during the National Anthem, then you are of president trump mocking POW Senator McCain; you are not a patriot...you're an asshole.

Anonymous said...

These players should get on both knees, not just one knee, and thank God they live in the United States where they can earn millions by running, passing or kicking a ball. Many millions of people have to do actual labor and produce something other than entertainment.

Anonymous said...

ohare has no respect for anyone including himself, and was tossed from the military under dishonorable conditions. he hates everyone and america

he has more respect for cow shit on Ronnie's farm than he has for what flies from his vulgar mouth every single day.

sick

Anonymous said...

1:19 I thought he was just a disbarred lawyer. was unaware he was also DD's from the military. he really is a piece of shit, not just a liberal asshole.

Anonymous said...

Bernie O'Hare said:

"A true patriot goes to government meetings or gets involved in his community. He informs himself before voting and is willing to take unpopular stands if he thinks he is right."


That's funny, because I can do all those things - and work to change the things I'm not happy about - without disrespecting the flag.

We all can.

Anonymous said...

Everywhere you turn in the media somebody is moaning about some right being infringed. Most of these spoiled brat players are not heroes. Hats off to the unsung heroes that get up and go to work everyday, help their neighbors and never look for praise or recognition. They quietly share what they have with the less fortunate and would be embarrassed if singled out.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, do you believe it's fine to urinate on the flag before you burn it to make a political statement ?

Anonymous said...

I'm getting confused. Is standing in unity against those kneeling in unity patriotic? Or is kneeling in unity against those standing in unity patriotic. All this unity is hard to track. And now that kneeling is patriotic, what will players do to protest? Lie down and do the Curley Shuffle? These are important issues. Let's spend lots more time discussing them.

Anonymous said...

McCain is a genuine war hero. He's also a lying crook of a career politician. He's a multitasker. God bless America.

Anonymous said...

The NFL used to be a place where all Americans could go, a shared cultural experience. Now professional football is just another leftwing institution, another place where bubbled rich people tell us how to think, another Hollywood, another once-beloved institution hostile to us normal people

Anonymous said...

"Lie down and do the Curley Shuffle?"

That's what they do when they intercept the ball, pick up a fumbled ball, or score a touchdown.

Peter J.Cochran said...

O,Hare was at Moravian in 74 if I remember , before Law-school. Vietnam War was over he was not drafted. So no DD-214 ,no reason to join armed services - looks like faults news .

Bernie O'Hare said...

"ohare has no respect for anyone including himself, and was tossed from the military under dishonorable conditions. he hates everyone and america

he has more respect for cow shit on Ronnie's farm than he has for what flies from his vulgar mouth every single day.

sick"


This is a libel. I served in the US Army in active reserve for eight years in an artillery unit. I received an honorable discharge. The person making this false accusation refuses to identify herself because she knows she would be sued for libel, and lose.

I did not serve in combat anywhere, nor do I make any claim to be a combat veteran. I did volunteer to go to Persian Gulf, but was rejected.

In any event, I fail to see what my prior military service has to do with the topic at hand. It is just a typical smear by a Trump toadie.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"I'm getting confused. Is standing in unity against those kneeling in unity patriotic? Or is kneeling in unity against those standing in unity patriotic. All this unity is hard to track. And now that kneeling is patriotic, what will players do to protest? Lie down and do the Curley Shuffle? These are important issues. Let's spend lots more time discussing them. "

The person responsible for this is Divider-in-Chief Donald Trump.

LVCI said...

3:40 PM-- "Now professional football is just another leftwing institution.."

It's only two minutes before a game. May I suggest you tune in 5 minutes after the game starts so you won't be subjugated to left wing torment of "normal" people such as yourself. Better yet--find a "beloved institution" where only "normal people" can share their "cultural experience" away from "bubbled rich people". Overreacting much?

Anonymous said...

Hey Bernie, you kicked the teanderthals Trumpeters hornets nest on this one. Does anyone even know what the Constitution is all about. It is a Hell of a lot more than the second amendment.

The ghost of Dopey Duncan

Anonymous said...

Political left in 2017
- Antifa are D-Day soldiers
- Jihad just means struggle
- Kim Jong Un is right
- Protest the national anthem and be patriotic

Anonymous said...

people are confused Bernie. If they can't find a way, like Trumpdidlidump, to be racist and attack "liberals" then they have nothing to say of any worth or value, just personal attacks that are inaccurate. You are of course correct in your analysis of this particular topic. It is just frightening the ignorance displayed by the untreated sex offender's core cult following of yahoos, Nazi's, Russians, and KKK sympathizers. But this America, where people are free to choose their own facts and ignore Truth. The Vietnam War should be mandatory viewing for these collection of idiots, but I'm guessing their takeaway would be we didn't kill enough or bomb enough.

Bernie O'Hare said...

1:24, but you don't. Very few people, on the right or left, bother to attend meetings or inform themselves. Their false patriotism consists of loyalty oaths like the pledge of allegiance or a racist national anthem that should be abolished.

Ovem Lupo Commitere said...

1. First Amend: "Congress shall make no law.... abridging the freedom of speech..." and through 14th amendment incorporation, applicable to states. Point, it is the relationship between the individual and the government, not private employers and individuals. Similar to the 4th Amend protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, does not prevent a private employers requiring drug tests without any individualized suspicion as a condition of employment. "Free speech" is not an employment issue when on their dime.

2. Regardless, this issue was largely fading until the President stirred the pot, and quite honestly, now does make it a much more politicized environment that might soften the above comment, at least in the court of public opinion.

3. Perhaps he was just playing to the audience before him at the moment, but call me cynical-- or giving Trump too much credit for shrewdness-- but I think he does this more often than not by design to distract the masses away from other issues. He blows the "dog whistle" with a tweet, or a stump comment, and everyone focuses on their indignation, or defense, of his comments and not looking as closely to other issues. Chaos makes a great smoke screen.

drphil said...

The President, in fact, does not have the right to say what he said. It is a crime for a member of the government to wrongfully influence the private employment decisions of any entity.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/227

Anonymous said...

America is definitely an unrepentant racist nation, probably the worst on the planet. Integration has been a dismal failure. There is no hope that things will get better, but a large chance that it will get worse.

African Americans in general hate that fact that the United States was founded by white Christian folks. Hence they really hate white Christian folks and all that they stand for.

So what is the answer? Must whites agree to mimic the aspirations of blacks for everyone to get along?. Not likely to happen. The best solution would be to find a country or a large piece of land somewhere. Make it of the choosing of African Americans and tax all the white folks to chip in and buy the land and gift to African Americans, they then can form a country that is theirs, that will fit their culture, that will make them feel at home and make them happy. They can have their laws, customs, and all that goes with it. White folks should help support them for few years till they get things going. White folks can also send donations and whatever it takes to get things off the ground.

Face it, African Americans will never be happy in America, unless they are the majority, then white folks will not be happy. Just think, they can have all black presidents, mayors, senators, police. all black professors. It will then really be the promised land. No racism , no hate, no discrimination.

Anonymous said...

So many things our divider in chief has done to weaken this country. We are supposed to be a beacon of democracy...he has used his "skills" as a second rate salesman and traded them for adoration of a confused and afraid base. The shame of this is on him and no one else.

Patriot2 said...

I would love to see the fans walk out of the stadium the next time a team doesn't come out on the field to participate appropriately in the National anthem.

Stealer fans should have done so last week. The owners need to get their overpaid self centered employees off their payroll & hire players that are hungry to perform with respect for the country that gave them the opportunity to succeed.

Anonymous said...

Big Steelers fan Patriot 2? Spell it correctly and maybe you'll have a shot at credibility. Like it or not these men are using their fame to protest a real injustice....police injustice towards black men. Thats what this was originally about remember??

Anonymous said...

We have North Korea, Iran, imploding national healthcare, Puerto Rico in desperate need and all we hear from the President is about fukin athletes, who the hell cares what they do?
If you or your kids look to these "athletes" as role models or pillars of society you are nuts. From the days of the drunk and gambling Babe Ruth to today they are what they are.

Most have been spoiled in school and pampered, given grades and called "scholar athletes" given scholarships for football, not brains,etc, coddled by the every people who wonder why they act the way they do as adults.

Stop all this nonsense. What they do is not relevant. Please tell the President to do President type shit and stop this nonsense.

What the hell is wrong with people? Guess what folks? Maybe we all have it to good and that is are problem.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone explain what will satisfy blacks, what will make them happy with America.?

Bernie O'Hare said...

More racism.

Anonymous said...

Let's all agree that our protests are righteous and that those who disagree with us are racists. #unity

Anonymous said...

HELLO self annointed patriots, the Confederate flag is not the American flag. Remove your bumper stickers and stop disrespecting the American Flag. There is only 1 flag.

Anonymous said...

You defend the right to wipe my ass with the American flag, Bernie? How special! I think I should have the right to wipe my ass why your BO stained shirt. That garment is already used to being smeared in excrement.

Anonymous said...

" I served in the US Army in active reserve for eight years in an artillery unit."

Weekend warrior. Whoopie.

Anonymous said...

This is just the latest. The decline of the NFL began when the thugs and their thug behavior started taking over the league. The braids, the tats, the elaborate gang dances in the end zone, the spearing, the head-hunting, the lousy fundamentals, the wild celebrations after a routine tackle, the cheap shots, and the endless drama these low-rent get-toe punks bought with them out of the hoods that spawned them. And the league just lets them as long as it doesn't cost the owners money.

Anonymous said...

And not to be outdone, Odell Beckham pretending to pee on the football after a TD. You think they can't go any lower and they come thru with shining colors.

Anonymous said...

I served out of fear of being drafted and sent to the jungles of Vietnam as cannon fodder. I served but on my terms and my choice of service branch. I got out when i could and never looked back. The flag means nothing to me or millions of others who served and watched their friends and loved ones come home in flag draped caskets. Don't tell me about that flag. My respect is for the WW2 people as they fought for this countries survival. You have no idea mr. trump. None whatsoever. KMA!

Anonymous said...

When did the national anthem become a thing to do at s[ports events? It was not all that long ago it was not part of the games. Also it is just more conditioning by the war merchants to make this country more militant and endorse endless wars that make them big profits.

People need to screw their heads on right and realize they are being played.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"You think they can't go any lower and they come thru with shining colors."

Racism.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"This is just the latest. The decline of the NFL began when the thugs and their thug behavior started taking over the league. The braids, the tats, the elaborate gang dances in the end zone, the spearing, the head-hunting, the lousy fundamentals, the wild celebrations after a routine tackle, the cheap shots, and the endless drama these low-rent get-toe punks bought with them out of the hoods that spawned them. And the league just lets them as long as it doesn't cost the owners money."

Racism.

Anonymous said...

the NFL owners will not slap around the players.
the players get paid to play not necessarily to win.
so the owners slap a player and all of a sudden "oops i dropped the ball coach"
happens.

as to donnie "two scoops" he had to show the folks in Alabama that he could outdo steve bannon and bannon's favorite candidate.

donnie has to have his favorite win the election or bannon will be the man to fear if you are in the republican party.
making donnie useless.

trump would have no leverage over any republican running for office if bannon is the man with the power.
so out trots donnie and his dog whistle.

donnie does not really care about someone taking a knee.
he cares about keeping bannon from controlling his base.

Anonymous said...

6.59 you are referring to Obama right.

Bernie O'Hare said...

This is clearly on Trump. he took what he knows is a wedge issue and used it to play to his racist supporters, people like you, while the country goes to hell in a handbag.

Anonymous said...

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Ramon Foster says, "For the fans that criticize us, bring it back to football. Take your political views somewhere else."

Mr. Foster is apparently oblivious to the fact that the fans are telling the players that it is they who should take their political views somewhere else.

What Mr. Foster probably should be extremely concerned about is the possibility that hypocritical statements like his own could very well cause the fans to take their economic patronage somewhere else.

Bernie O'Hare said...

You are oblivious to the reality that the only reason we had any protests over the weekend is because the Divider-in-Chief instigatedcthem while playing to his racist base.

Anonymous said...

The now unemployed Colin Kaepernick started all these "protests" last season while he was riding the bench as a direct result of his own poor performance on the football field. There were protests in pre-season and the first two weeks of this new 2017 regular season, as well. But you say "only reason we had any reason we had any protests over (this past) weekend is because" blah, blah, blah. Okay, sure. Whatever.

NFL = No Fans League


Bernie O'Hare said...

That's exactly right. There is no way that the entire NFL would have been so fired up but for Donald Trump's divisive rant on Friday night when he was sucking up to his racist cheerleaders. He is a disgrace to the office.

Anonymous said...

Trump just voiced what a great number of Americans were thinking. Of course he should have just shut up, and allowed the inmates to run the asylum. You can understand why NFL players hate the police. Many are already felons and have had many run ins with the police.

Patriot2 said...

Clearly I had a typo in my Steelers comment so don't discredit my point over a typo. Teams need to replace these overpaid employees just like any other business would do with a disgruntled problem child.

Anonymous said...

a comment seen on another site from Shayar Ajnabi

He insulted Mexicans
Some of you said ‘excellent!’
A lot of you made him President.

He mocked a person with a disability,
Some of you said ‘it’s not what you see’
A lot of you said ‘let him be’.

He degraded women,
Some of you said ‘just talk’ ‘locker room fun’
A lot of you said ‘He’s just a human’.

So he insulted men of valor,
Some of you turned deaf ear,
To a lot of you, it didn’t matter.

So now, Kaepernick’s knee is keeping you awake,
Offending you, making your moral ground shake?
Now tell me again, who’s the snowflake?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Love this. Where did you get it?

Anonymous said...

5.00
first in comment section

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mikehayes/we-found-154-incidents-of-college-hate-speech-and-violence?utm_term=.lnX8XKd9J#.ctjJXEzeo

Anonymous said...

off topic but a good story against the haters.

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/muslim-dolls-1.4303248

"Hasan says she has no idea who gave her the dolls, but they know who she is. The box came with a card that said, "I noticed that dolls wearing hijabs seem hard to find. Not being part of the Muslim community myself, I'm not sure who to give them to, but I thought you might."

Bernie O'Hare said...

Thanks for that. I was really touched by that story.