I seem to take a lot of heat around here for my

[cboy4]

numerous comments about how I hate hearing, "God Bless America" played during the 7th inning stretch at Major League Baseball games (as if the National Anthem isn't enough). The Pledge of Allegiance during pitching changes can't be far behind.

But Obama has helped me better articulate my position with his strong comments recently about why he doesn't wear a U.S. flag lapel pin. He explained that wearing the pin had come to seem like a "substitute for true patriotism." YES, so true.

And Bill Maher says, "...when I see the little flag right here, the first thing I think is, you voted for, and still like, George Bush..." YES, so true.

Both of those comments are the reasons why I don't like hearing "God Bless America" at a baseball game. It's as though unless you wear you patriotism on your sleeve, you're opposed to fighting terrorism or don't support the troops or don't love this country. And I don't hear God Bless America when it's played. I hear, "you're either with us or against us," and it infuriates me.

This is what bugs me about so many Democrats. They don't have the spine to say what Obama said. They're more afraid of being accused of not supporting the troops, or not supporting the war or terror (a phrase I also hate because it was manufactured by the GOP), or not being patriotic.

All of these reasons also explain why so many Democrats continue to fund the war or won't consider impeachment, etc. They're afraid the Republicans are going to call them names.

It's really time to pony up Democrats and stop being intimidated by the Republicans. You're in so many ways their puppets, and it's embarrassing and frustrating.

Let's start doing what we all worked so hard to get you into office to do last November. I'm tired of so much weakness.

And if you really feel you have to bow to peer pressure and wear an American flag pin, might I suggest a better choice. It's what I would wear: