Barack Obama Hereby Declares May 1 "Loyalty Day"

Who says House Republicans and President Obama never work together? From Whitehouse.gov: 

In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty and the sacrifices that so many have made for our Nation, the Congress, by Public Law 85-529 as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as "Loyalty Day." On this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the United States of America, our Constitution, and our founding values.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2012, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty Day, I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, whether by displaying the flag of the United States or pledging allegiance to the Republic for which it stands.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

Comments

[Matrix]

let the vomitting ensue!

[Mr Whipple]

http://www.facebook.com/groups.....p_activity

[o3]

i fly the american flag 24/7...along w a buckeye & a tribe flag. >so i am teh loyality

[Zeb]

I hope you have it illuminated at night. Otherwise you are in violation of the flag code.

[John-David]

Love seeing NEO check in. Go Buckeyes, go Cavs, go Tribe, and GO BROWNS!

[Zeb]

What the fuck? May first already is something. It's called "May Day". And May Day is about more than commies celebrating whatever it is that they are celebrating. When I was a lad it was about dancing around may poles and leaving little baskets of flowers on people's doorsteps and ringing the doorbell and running away.

[Enough About Palin]

May Day has gone from being about getting laid to being about getting screwed.

[RBS]

leaving little baskets of flowers on people's doorsteps and ringing the doorbell and running away.

You're doing it wrong.

[Zeb]

Mine is more fun in that the person receiving the basket chases you down and gives you a kiss, rather than beating the shit out of you.

[RBS]

That does sound better.

[darius404]

Well, it depends on who's doing the chasing....

[Auric Demonocles]

Are you sure this isn't an article from the Onion?

[invisible furry hand]

On this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the United States of America, our Constitution, and our founding values... I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, whether by displaying the flag of the United States or pledging allegiance to the Republic for which it stands.

So what is 4 July for then? Thinking about international socialism?

[Pro Libertate]

I'm flabbergasted. What else can we think when the guy is tying a communist holy day to "loyalty?"

Want to celebrate a holiday that really means something? How about Constitution Day? It's practically ignored, yet it's more important than even the Fourth of July.

[Pro Libertate]

I did a little digging. This isn't new. It's been Loyalty Day for many decades, apparently. So I'm a little less insulted, but I'm still not getting this. If it's a holiday that was established fifty years ago, what's he proclaiming?

[wareagle]

what's he proclaiming?

his utter and complete contempt for the intelligence of damn near everyone.

[UnrepentantCurmudgeon]

"Loyalty Day" was proclaimed on 7/18/1958. It continued what was previously known as "Americanization Day" and was specifically intended as a counter to the International Day of Labor celebrations. Obama proclaims it just as previous Presidents have done in compliance with the terms of the law.

[WWNGD?]

Why loyalty to the party? Sure.... sign me up!

[AlmightyJB]

I think I'll celebrate by printing this article and wiping my ass with it.

[Ed Zeppelin]

Ok that made me laff

[R C Dean]

So, to Barack Obama, "International Worker's Day", universally celebrated by the hard left, is the logical day to pick for "Loyalty Day"?

So revealing.

[Episiarch]

Yeah, as soon as I saw "May 1st", I went "oh for fuck's sake..."

[Just Dropping By]

Did you miss this part of the announcement?

In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty and the sacrifices that so many have made for our Nation, the Congress, by Public Law 85-529 as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as "Loyalty Day."

[Tamfang]

Does that mean it was enacted by the 85th Congress (1957?8)?

[PS]

International Worker's Day is one of the USA's greatest exports.

[OO=======D]

Hey Barack, I got your loyalty right here.

[Doctor Whom]

On this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the United States of America, our Constitution, and our founding values.

Yes, let's.

This Loyalty Day, I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, whether by displaying the flag of the United States or pledging allegiance to the Republic for which it stands.

In the first paragraph, we pretend that the Constitution and our founding values enter into it; in the second, we don't even bother to pretend.

[A Serious Man]

Weren't our Founding Fathers pretty disloyal to King George, who could rightly claim sovereignty over them since his government drove out the French and paid for their protection?

[Ed Zeppelin]

No- look. When we got here to discover our country, there were Indians here. Tough break for them, but what are you gonna do? Then English law came along and we Americans- we were always Americans since shortly after the big bang- just shined the Brits on until we had the guns and the muscle to make our move. The result is Doritos and the Super Bowl and Kate Upton.

[Episiarch]

Shouldn't it be called Submission Day?

[JW]

What are you submitting? Not your manuscript again, I hope. I can't take another crying jag.

[Episiarch]

It's a beautiful love story, damn it! Just because you can't fathom how a man could love a badger just shows how limited you imagination is!

[Pip]

Why does JW hate Wisconsinites?

[gaijin]

Because he can't recall?

[sloopyinca]

What's Intrade have on the over/under date federal employees start clamoring for May 1 to be a paid holiday? I'm guessing about 5:30 PM today.

[JW]

This Loyalty Day, I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this national observance, whether by displaying the flag of the United States

How about displaying and burning it? Does burning the flag count?

[R C Dean]

Only if you do it in public.

[BakedPenguin]

If this country can actually even consider voting for this authoritarian scumbag again, it's time to say: fuck the USA.

I have credentials that will allow me to emigrate to Australia. I need to start saving right now to afford it if Hopey Mussolini gets re-elected.

[Brett L]

I was, like, 6 points below the lowest score they took last year. I may need to be a bit more creative this year... Or just get a job with an Australian firm.

[invisible furry hand]

BP/Brett L, what is it about Australia that attracts you? This isn't a libertarian paradise by any means. No right to free speech, no right to vote, very restrictive gun laws, no free Amazon shipping, mysterious sports, less acceptance of libertarian ideals ... we do have a more efficient welfare system, including health care (which could be a plus or minus, depending on how you look at it), and pretty good weather, however

[Pip]

There's this (NSFW):

http://abbywinter.com

[sloopyinca]

It's also a lot less populous. I would imagine it's pretty easy to disappear into the wasteland there and forge your own way...until the abbos make a claim on your land anyway.

I've got a customer/friend of mine that grew up there on about a 250,000 acre cattle ranch. He said they saw their ranch hands and the occasional road train pass by. Otherwise, they never saw a soul until they took the 100 mile trip into town once a month, and they usually flew in their plane to get their supplies and sundry items.

Sounds pretty nice to me.

[invisible furry hand]

it's pretty easy to disappear into the wasteland there and forge your own way

even easier to disappear into the wasteland here and die 🙂

Oh, and I know you aren't trying to be offensive but "abos" here is like the N-word in the States Jes' sayin'.

[T]

I know you aren't trying to be offensive

Around here, that's never a safe bet.

[Isaac Bartram]

I actually had to point that fact out to someone at a Quaker meeting here in O-town.

[BakedPenguin]

The US is probably the freest nation on Earth - right now. However, we are spiraling. Other than the Paul campaign, I don't see anything that bodes well for freedom in the US, and a great deal that does not.

It's a personal calculus, so someone who values the 2nd Amendment would surely not want to move. However, economic freedom in Aus / NZ is actually better than in the US, as are the drug laws (if only slightly).

I would probably choose NZ over Australia, but their immigration scheme isn't as favorable to me, and I doubt I could get in.

[invisible furry hand]

economic freedom in Aus / NZ is actually better than in the US, as are the drug laws (if only slightly).

True, I'd forgotten that. All that microeconomic reform pain in the 80s paid off. And no SWAT raids for minor dope possession. In my home jurisdiction, possession of five dope plants is decriminalised. I had a friend of a friend who interpreted this to mean he could plant his whole backyard with dope. I saw photos - it was like a jungle. He said his neighbour helped guard it against thieves. His cop neighbour.

[Isaac Bartram]

BP, if you do go be sure you don't burn a flag in Queensland, New South Wales or Victoria. It's apparently illegal there. Or at least that's what the link our resident 'Strylyun posted this morning said.

As to living in OZ, my recollection is that it kind of sucked. As a child growing up there I didn't know any better but when we came back to the States when I was fifteen my reaction was pretty much "you [my parents, that is] left this to go there?"

And they sound of an Australian accent just grates on me something fierce. Which kind of sucks for me since I still have traces of one after all these years.

[BakedPenguin]

Isaac - I definitely want to have plans in place. The US just seems like it's headed straight down the shitter. Bad public policy decisions one after the other, stupid economic policy, and 101 assaults on freedom daily. There are a lot of great things about this country, but it seems like most of them are under attack.

Also, I noticed the accent when we met for beers. I didn't want to say anything.

[Isaac Bartram]

I've got to admit that if I wasn't so old I'd have plans to.

If you're over forty you can pretty much forget about Australia unless you have family there.

And yeah, here almost everyone notices my accent. Over there I'm just another flymin' seppo toorist.

[Isaac Bartram]

And, yeah, you'd think after nearly fifty years the accent would have gone.

And, of course, after fifty years Australia is also better. The cultural cringe and the "tall poppy syndrome" have almost disappeared, largely, I think due to the massive immigration that occured after WWII.

[wareagle]

one big difference could be the absence of a permanent underclass, coddled and enabled by govt. That exception applies to damn near every country not named the US. And it's not a racial thing; white trash has existed for generations and, just to be inclusive, we have folks here who want to make wards of Hispanics, too. Seems nations with far more generous safety nets do not tolerate, let alone actively encourage, permanent sorriness.

[Ed Zeppelin]

A friend in Brisbane tells me cigarettes are $17.50 (in USD) a pack

[Isaac Bartram]

My brother in New South Wales makes his own beer because the "sin tax" is so high. He's not brewing to get a special product, he just wants enough beer to get pissed on.

I was astonished at how much I had to pay for a six-pack of the local lowest price pisswater in Tasmania. $A8.00 in 1994.

[ant1sthenes]

I prefer "Il Douchey", but YMMV.

[A Serious Man]

I'm pretty much already jaded today after attending a May Day rally at my college where people who are openly socialist or communist got to rail against the plutocracy whiile schmoozing students with promises to "fix"" public education and save it from "them" (yes, they used those words to describe the insidious people that want to destroy public education).

The worst speaker was the American Federation of Teachers rep who had the balls to say his group is victimized and that they fight for the students.

[wareagle]

the insidious people that want to destroy public education

would that be the unions, the educrats, or teachers themselves?

[AuH2O]

Honestly, I think it is high time we started a movement of people willing to stand up and scream, "That is a goddamn fucking lie you lying shitbag!" when people do what that AFT person was doing.

Maybe it doesn't change minds, but I feel that calling out people on their shit is invaluable.

[generic Brand]

Joe Wilson tried that once on Barack Obama... and while I like to think it was much deserved, it certainly did not endear him or his ideas to anyone.

[Zeb]

At this point the best way to be loyal to the USA is to be completely cynical and disloyal to the government. But the USA is only worth being loyal to insofar as it is a better place to be than anywhere else, which is starting to look a bit shakier.

[LTC John]

"At this point the best way to be loyal to the USA is to be completely cynical and disloyal to the government."

I can't really go with the disloyal part...Might get me UCMJ'd pretty hard. But being cynical about the G has always been the right thing to do. And always will be.

[Stormy Dragon]

This isn't Obama's idea. Loyalty Day became a holiday in 1958, and has been proclaimed by every President since then:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty_Day

I don't seem to recall Reason's snarky outrage in 2007 when W issued proclamation 8137.

[Episiarch]

OK, that's actually better. At least Obama didn't come up with this moronic "holiday".

[Zeb]

OK, then Fuck Eisenhower. Happy?

[BakedPenguin]

Exactly. Fuck all political scum who think that loyalty to a country outweighs any moral judgement of that country's policies.

[Whahappan?]

Also, keep in mind the distinction between "country" and "government."

[BakedPenguin]

Good point.

[RBS]

2006.

[RBS]

If it's already some sort of bullshit holiday, why do presidents keep making proclamations announcing it? Wait, I already know the answer to that..

[Apatheist ?_??]

Snarky outrage? I'm pretty sure Riggs just quoted whitehouse.gov

[ClubMedSux]

On one hand, I think that does put Loyalty Day into a more accurate context. On the other hand, I still don't see why Obama should get a pass for choosing to re-affirm it today (it's not like it's done every year, and wouldn't NOT passing the proclamation be the hopey-and-changey thing to do?).

And can we stop with the whole "Where was Reason when W did it?" meme? It's not like Reason ever went easy on its criticism of W.

[Tonio]

According to the article, seven Presidents issued proclamations to this effect. Adding BHO (who is not listed in the article) it's 4-4 Team Donkey vs Team Elephant.

IOW, Riggs has descended to KM-W levels of inanity and pandering.

[Tonio]

Oops, missed Eisenhower. So, five R's and four D's have issued proclamations about this.

[Zeb]

And I seem to remember a lot of "how come Reason is never this hard on Democrats" type comments from that era too. Funny how that works.

[Tonio]

According to TFA, the date was deliberately chosen to counterbalance Labor Day. Good work, Storms.

[Joe M]

Ah, ah, but, BUT, Obama is the only one to affirm it more than once! Aha!

[invisible furry hand]

I don't seem to recall Reason's snarky outrage in 2007 when W issued proclamation 8137.

Does 2006 count? Welch just tweeted this link

http://reason.com/blog/2006/05.....niature-am

[Stormy Dragon]

Drat, I should have known Wiegel would be behind this. *shakes fist*

[Pro Libertate]

I looked it up and recanted my earlier appallification. It sounded so fucked up, though. Actually, it still does.

Does each president simply re-declare the day? Is that common with these holidays?

[Brandon]

I don't recall Whitehouse.gov publishing an article on the Shrub doing it in 2007, either.

[Old Mexican]

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2012, as Loyalty Day.

I, Darius The Great, thereby proclaim This Day Today as "Darius Kicks Many A Greek Ass" Day. I call upon all the people of the Persian Empire to join in support of this imperial observance.

[Warty]

NOW, THEREFORE, we, Norton I, Dei Gratia Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, hereby decree that said Phillipmagilder Alamagoozalum Whangdoodlum Larryum Murrayum be appointed Chief of Police to ex-Emperor Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, and that he forthwith leave our realm to fill such an appointment.

[darius404]

Yes, minion, proclaim in the name of your Master!

[hk]

Lmfao

[Skip]

If George Bush had done anything remotely like this, lefties would be puking on the street. But I am guessing the Daily Kosmonauts are remarkably pleased.

[Tonio]

Apparently both Bushes did this, see Stormy's link at 4:09 above.

"Daily Kosmonauts," FTW.

[Skip]

Yeah yeah. In my defense, that is something Riggs should have really put in the story.

[Killazontherun]

It is a George Bush creation,
but DAMN.

[Tonio]

"It was made an official holiday by the U.S. Congress on July 18, 1958 (Public Law 85-529)." FTFA

[darius404]

The Bushes have been in good with the government for that long? DAMN.

[T]

Prescott Bush was a Senator from 52-63, so yes.

[mad libertarian guy]

Like conservatives before them, progressives are now wrapping themselves with the flag in a hollow attempt to lay sole claim to patriotism to our great nation.

[wef]

Additional proof, if one needs it....

The regime is illegitimate.

[Killazontherun]

Fuckin' shittin', me? TODAY is loyalty day? This is EXACTLY as bad as when Nixon's team announced the New Economic Policy.

[Joe M]

Wow. You can't parody this shit anymore.

[Tonio]

Uh...4:09 above, dude.

[Joe M]

4:26

[Pip]

President Obama has been heard of late ballyhooing what he's done to cut federal red tape. Left unsaid is what he is doing to fashion golden handcuffs for local transit agencies. Consider the work of his artisans at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that "streamlined" regulations will make it easier for local transit agencies to procure grant funding under the New Starts program. Swept aside, says Mr. LaHood, are "certain time-consuming technical requirements that are duplicative or unnecessary."

Not so fast. Let's look closer at the old New Starts rules that Mr. LaHood characterizes as "technical requirements."

Under the existing New Starts guidelines, local governments competing for grants must compare the cost of their transit projects with alternative solutions. The Obama Administration's proposed rules would do away with this comparative cost analysis. The new rules put more weight on "social equity and environmental considerations." Such as? Such as the "degree to which policies maintaining or increasing affordable housing are in place."

http://online.wsj.com/article/.....oveLEFTTop

[Pip]

Imagine if President Nixon had decided to base his 1972 re-election campaign on the boast that he landed on the moon. His predecessors tried and failed for eight years. It wasn't an easy decision--what if something went wrong? But that's why you hire a president, to make those gutsy calls. Which path would George McGovern have taken?

[Loki]

Loyalty Day? Was Submit to Your Imperial Overlord Day already taken? WTF

[Proprietist]

Is it simultaneously Loyalty to Your Government Day AND Disloyalty to Your Employer Day? Hilarious. And confusing.

[sidebottom]

hey hey! 1st of May! outdoor fuckin starts today!

[CE]

Do we at least get good military parades in exchange for our loyalty oaths?

[DWC]

"Loyalty" is there a more skin crawl producing word when coming from the mouth of a bureaucrat.

[LTC John]

Hmmm...maybe"trust"?

[The Bearded Hobbit]

It's also the traditional first day of summer.

Note that I said "traditional" rather than "current". If you set the marker days (equinoxes and solstices) at the *middle* of the season it makes much more sense.

May 1 first day of summer
Aug 1 first day of autumn
Oct 31 first day of winter
Feb 2 first day of spring (which also explains what the hell Groundhog Day means)

... Hobbit

[Tulpa the White]

Groundhog Day wouldn't mean anything if it was the first day of spring, as it's supposed to be predicting how soon spring comes.

[The Bearded Hobbit]

No, spring begins on Groundhog Day. If the rodent sees his shadow then spring is delayed.

... Hobbit

[Sam Grove]

My allegiance is to the principles of liberty.

[LarryA]

Wouldn't it be neat if the celebration included actually reading the Constitution?

[Tulpa the White]

No way President Paul would declare a Loyalty Day.

[John C. Randolph]

Barack Obama wants me to show my loyalty to the constitution? How about I do so by voting his usurping ass out of office?

-jcr

[Ed Zeppelin]

I don't think he believes a word of it.

KNOW THIS, my brothers:
every thing out of this man's mouth from now until Election Day is part of his campaign for re-election

[Bagehot99]

Yeah, that's pro-forma. Obama will, like his Soviet mentors, say anything.

[He Wei Jin]

Let us all join together to pledge loyalty to the Dear Leader. All hail Our Glorious Leader Barack Hussein Obama.

[Porkov]

What's the matter with that? A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean & reverent.

[radar]

Glad to see I'm not the only person who never heard of this ridiculousness. Loyalty Day.....seriously.

[Tommy the Cork]

Creepy.

[Robert Murphy]

To all the people having a kanipshin fit over this proclamation, "Loyalty Day" is an old holiday dating back to the 1920's, and became an official holiday in 1958. Most presidents, including Reagan and both Bushes, have made similar proclamations during their presidencies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty_Day

[hk]

You were not paying attention to the Socialist protests on May 1st.

[Terrance]

and of the Independence of the United States of America the http://www.mbtinnl.com/schoene.....-7.htmltwo hundred and thirty-sixth.

[gigarath6]

F*ck Loyalty day.