ticket for flying american flag

PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) -- Donald Trump's display of patriotism is apparently too flamboyant for this chic oceanside town.
Palm Beach officials cited Trump for hoisting a large American flag atop an 80-foot pole at his lavish Mar-a-Lago estate and club.
Town officials said the real estate mogul has violated zoning codes with a flagpole taller than 42 feet and for erecting it without a building permit and permission from the landmarks board.
Trump has until November 27 to apply for approvals or face a December 21 code enforcement hearing that could result in $250-a-day fines.
"You don't need a permit to put up the American flag," Trump said Tuesday. "The day you need a permit to put up the American flag, that will be a sad day for this country."
Lee Hanley, vice chairman of the town's landmarks commission, previously said the 15-by-25-foot flag makes the town look like "we have an Okeechobee car dealer," referring to a strip of auto dealerships along Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach.
Trump responded in a letter last week saying that "anyone who objects should not, in my opinion, hold a public office of any kind -- at least not in this country."
The flag first appeared outside the estate October 3.


alright..this is just abslutely ridiculous in my opinion. you need a building permit to put up a flagpole, and then are criticized for having a flag "too big" by town council standards. our country is so going to hell..

Everything about Floridian government is effed up. They get way more incompetent than this. Believe me.

Trump should just buy the state and then erect the tallest flagpole with the largest flag known to man. High and large enough to see from Cuba.

well, it is a flag pole taller than a 4 story building and a gigantic flag. it seems like trump doesn't just want an American flag, he wants the biggest, gaudiest thing he can find. patriotism is one thing but i think he's just trying to show off. imagine if your next door neighbor put that shit up in their front yard, it'd block out the damn sun for half the day. what's wrong with a normal sized flag?

i agree with it, it would be pretty annoying and possibly dangerous considering the size of the flag. it would have to be quite a sturdy pole to withstand all the force the wind would put on it.

also, i think it's kind of stupid to have one that big and that high, it's deffinitly just to prove that he's rich and that he has the power to do it.

This happened to my grandpa in the Keys a really long time ago. He had one in front of a bike shop he owned....

big man is pissed at big brother. big man making statement with big flag. big brother feels no respect. so... who's got the bigger dick?

Everything about Floridian government is effed up. They get way more incompetent than this. Believe me.

Trump should just buy the state and then erect the tallest flagpole with the largest flag known to man. High and large enough to see from Cuba.

screw too big a flag, I totally agree with accord's idea. We NEED more patriotism. Nicole, did your grandfather put up a flag pole or just hang the flag itself?

screw too big a flag, I totally agree with accord's idea. We NEED more patriotism.



:puke:

2 thoughts on this:

1) "The Donald" isn't being patriotic, just showing off who's got the biggest gaudiest....he should have abided by the local laws as a sign of respect.

2) Of course, he's probably doesn't care since he's got enough money to just write a check for the fines for the next 10 years. ($912,500.)

he of all people should have known the laws regarding any exterior structure and to knowingly put up a flag and flagpole that is blatently disregarding the local laws is indicative of his intentions.

Can you say, Publicity Stunt?

Lol, if I'd do that here I'd be pointed out as Nazi and be lynched by the Antifa, AFA or random groups of imigrants.

Its not really as bad in hell as you think.

screw too big a flag, I totally agree with accord's idea. We NEED more patriotism.

So owning a huge flag automatically makes you a patriot?

I find giant American flags rather annoying. People don't put them up because they love America, they put them up to get attention. I have no problem with a regular sized flag, but when it gets so big that it blots out the sun we are going to have problems.

Be a patriot by going out and voting in the midterm, not by advertising using a national symbol.

The damn pole is twice the size of the legal limit. That right there says "show off". It's not like it's only 5 or 10 feet taller...

Donald, I'm sorry, but you can't do whatever you want even though you think you can. What a douche for being so arrogant and saying anyone who objects to your huge ass flag shouldn't hold a government office.

I agree with the idea that BIG flags aren't really appealing, however, there is one particular house nearby who has a friggen huge american flag. It isn't on a pole, its draped over the house itself (as it was on the Pentagon after 9/11 attacks). It's pretty noticeable (especially at night as there are garden lights directed at it), but i don't have a problem with it. I'm pretty sure the family is very commited to military service, and has seen losses through the generations.
Now, there's also a Dealership with a monstrous American flag soaring high above nearby buildings... that looks retarded. might as well have a giant neon sign pointing down saying "USED CARS!"

Okay so a big flag isn't the way to go, in your opinions. So then, how does this country get more patriotic?

if you want to do something to help the country go vote, support the local economy, get involved in your community, donate time to veterans homes or something. Patriotism isn't determined by how big your flag is or how much shit you buy that "USA" printed on it.

I think Donald is looking for attention. Though Florida is loaded with stupid laws (most states are), there is not one that says you can't fly the flag. It just sets limits on the pole its flown on.

Its a lot like the headlines about the bus driver getting fired for giving Bush the bird. The headlines make sure to mention Bush, but the fact is she (or was it a he) got fired for innapropriate behavior on the job. The fact that it was to the president shouldn't be the focal point.

screw too big a flag, I totally agree with accord's idea. We NEED more patriotism.
:lol2:

The last thing Americans need to be is more patriotic... Honestly I can't think of another nation that takes themselves so incredibly seriously.

The last thing Americans need to be is more patriotic... Honestly I can't think of another nation that takes themselves so incredibly seriously.

What about the Kazakhstanis!
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/09/26/borat3_wideweb__470x303,0.jpg

Honestly I've found that it varies from person to person in the US. In the South there is a fair amount of hardcore America lovin', but at the same time I'd say that there are more southerners that value their state over their country then any other area. There is still some of that "I am a Virginian before I am an American" mentality left over from the Civil War era. In the northwest there seems to be a fair amount of apathy between the tree huggin' hippies on the left and the gun totin' farmers on the right. For a country that is thought to be so patriotic we have pretty low voter turnout. I'd bet the average American considers themselves a patriot but couldn't name their senators and representitives.

The almighty Oprah did a piece on the education system and it showed middle school kids that couldn't name the first president, their governor, their state capital, the location of our nation's capital, what year America gained independence, etc. Sad really. :disappoin

screw too big a flag, I totally agree with accord's idea. We NEED more patriotism.

What's more patriotic? Breaking the law by hanging a flag thats legally too big, on a pole thats legally too big.

Or donating time and/or money to charities, lending a hand in a local soup kitchen or Habitat For Humanity. Maybe tutoring underprivelaged teens, or volunteering at retirement homes.

So Dyno, you are right, we do need more patriotism. But is an illegal flag on an illegal flagpole really the best way to show pride in your country?

The almighty Oprah did a piece on the education system and it showed middle school kids that couldn't name the first president, their governor, their state capital, the location of our nation's capital, what year America gained independence, etc. Sad really. :disappoin

What are those teachers doing??? We don't put enough emphasis on US History. I think I've only taken 2 classes about it in my whole life. That's really really sad.

What's more patriotic? Breaking the law by hanging a flag thats legally too big, on a pole thats legally too big.

Or donating time and/or money to charities, lending a hand in a local soup kitchen or Habitat For Humanity. Maybe tutoring underprivelaged teens, or volunteering at retirement homes.

So Dyno, you are right, we do need more patriotism. But is an illegal flag on an illegal flagpole really the best way to show pride in your country?

Or even join the army maybe. I think that is just about the best way to sow your patriotism.

Patriotism isn't determined by how big your flag is or how much shit you buy that "USA" printed on it.

Especially if all that crap was made in China anyways.:disappoin

Especially if all that crap was made in China anyways.:disappoin

*whistles and walks away*

the reason why our youngsters cant name the first pres. and etc...
is cause the teachers cant teach what they want they have to teach the "test" do to there are to many tests going on in our schools.
that phrase that says "no child left behind" well, theres more children left behind now then there was before the act was created!:disappoin
MAKES ME SICK!!!:puke: :angryfire

Waving a flag is just bandwagon patriotism..you know, member since 9/11/01?

Contribute to your country to make it better. You can start by impeaching that twit in the oval office.

I had to laugh at my old job, we received a shipment of Autometer gauges, they all had an American flag on them and the slogan Remember, Buying American Products Promotes American Jobs!. Then you look in the paper and see that American companies are outsourcing labour everything..case in point - the Hummer H3 is being built in South Africa. Ahh, neoliberalism...



What were we talking about again?

Contribute to your country to make it better. You can start by impeaching that twit in the oval office.

First he has to do something illegal. But good job with the not jumping on the bandwagon thing.:rolleyes:

There is a point where patriotism becomes taking the piss. Personally, i think a 15x25ft flag is taking the piss.

I'm glad I read through every post [so far] before i chimed in. Up here, our local Speedway gas station put up a very big flag, I think around 6x8 feet. No one protested, [but they did get the code variance so they could do it].

A place in town south of us, erected a really high pole and monster flag, this flag is HUGE, around 12x18 feet. [they also got all the needed permissions, code variances, etc., prior to putting it up].

I think the point I make is>>>> do it legal, according to local structure codes, apply for and get the variances. Donny, ya blew it, even though your heart may have been in the right place.

i think a 15x25ft flag is just employed as so to have a bigger one than everyone else.

it's one-upmanship. nothing more.

Waving a flag is just bandwagon patriotism..you know, member since 9/11/01?

Contribute to your country to make it better. You can start by impeaching that twit in the oval office.

I had to laugh at my old job, we received a shipment of Autometer gauges, they all had an American flag on them and the slogan Remember, Buying American Products Promotes American Jobs!. Then you look in the paper and see that American companies are outsourcing labour everything..case in point - the Hummer H3 is being built in South Africa. Ahh, neoliberalism...



What were we talking about again?

God, you have no idea, just how ironic that whole US-made car thing is, go to some forums and hear people with Camaros (Built in Canada), Chevy Pickups (Mexico) and so on telling people that they should buy American made errr get ert erv America YEEHAW!

Thats why I drive an Accord made in Ohio :)

My Chevy was made in Ohio :)

The last thing Americans need to be is more patriotic... Honestly I can't think of another nation that takes themselves so incredibly seriously.

You have not been to Japan, Korea or China lately have you?

You have not been to Japan, Korea or China lately have you?



Good point Sire, good point.



Let me rephrase. Western nation. :p

Good point Sire, good point.



Let me rephrase. Western nation. :p


Last time I checked, Japan was a more "western" nation.

Last time I checked, Japan was a more "western" nation.


They're Westernised and generally love a lot of things that are Western, yes, but that far from makes them a Western nation.

They're Westernised and generally love a lot of things that are Western, yes, but that far from makes them a Western nation.

I guess our definitions of western differ then.:licka:

I guess our definitions of western differ then.:licka:


Let me guess, your definition of Western comes down to how much cash is in thier coffers?