I'd be very happy to tell you what I found great about Moore's essay Kevin:

Forty years ago during the Vietnam war, the anti-war movement in the US allowed the American flag to become the symbol of  pro-war, nationalistic, conservative Americans: the "Silent Majority". The left was ashamed of the actions taken in America's name and abandoned the symbol to reactionary forces. (Anyone remember John Prine's "Your Flag Decal Won't Get you into Heaven Anymore"? Written in response to the conservative Reader's Digest including flag stickers in every one of its issues one month).

Moore is simply pointing out that Americans who disagree with the President, the right-wing, and their supporters should take back the symbol and fly the flag proudly. After all, America's flag is really about fairness, equality, and justice: the president has no exclusive claim on those values.

I completely agree and had an American flag in my yard next to my NO IRAQ WAR yard sign. Never thought the two were incompatible. Dissent is also a deeply held American value. That's what I was responding to in the essay.

I also think that if you carefully reread the article MM is not blaming Bush for poverty, illiteracy, and dirty drinking water. He is certainly implicitly holding him accountable for not addressing these issues while he had the opportunity. So should you.

Thanks for listening....

Ed