The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Recent petitions at the White House site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

To have obama hang himself to death on national TV

The last thing the American people need is for some pissed off redneck to kill obama and him to be “martyrized”.

We would never hear the end of it.

It is far better for us all if he kills himself.

Published Date: Apr 22, 2015

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Government Reform, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief

Signatures needed by May 22, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,652

Total signatures on this petition 348

[emphasis added]

Well, then.

And for some people, the flag trumps the Constitution:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Prosecute any citizen who desecrates the flag of the United States of America.

In recent years the desecration of the flag of the United States of America by U.S. citizens has been increasing and there have been no repercussions for those involved. It clearly states under Title 18 of the U.S. code Chapter 33 Section 700 that “Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.” U.S. citizens who are caught desecrating the flag of the United States of America should be held accountable for their actions accordingly. This It is a federal offense and action needs to be taken.

Published Date: Apr 30, 2015

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Signatures needed by May 30, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,774

Total signatures on this petition 226

[emphasis added]

UNITED STATES v. EICHMAN, 496 U.S. 310 (1990)

496 U.S. 310

UNITED STATES v. EICHMAN ET AL.

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

No. 89-1433.

Argued May 14, 1990

Decided June 11, 1990 *

After this Court held, in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 , that a Texas statute criminalizing desecration of the United States flag in a way that the actor knew would seriously offend onlookers was unconstitutional as applied to an individual who had burned a flag during a political protest, Congress passed the Flag Protection Act of 1989. The Act criminalizes the conduct of anyone who “knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon” a United States flag, except conduct related to the disposal of a “worn or soiled” flag. Subsequently, appellees were prosecuted in the District Courts for violating the Act: some for knowingly burning several flags while protesting various aspects of the Government’s policies, and others, in a separate incident, for knowingly burning a flag while protesting the Act’s passage. In each case, appellees moved to dismiss the charges on the ground that the Act violates the First Amendment. Both District Courts, following Johnson, supra, held the Act unconstitutional as applied and dismissed the charges….

[….]

….Although the Flag Protection Act contains no explicit content-based limitation on the scope of prohibited conduct, it is nevertheless clear that the Government’s asserted interest is “related `to the suppression of free expression,'” 491 U.S., at 410 , and concerned with the content of such expression. The Government’s interest in protecting the “physical integrity” [496 U.S. 310, 316]   of a privately owned flag 5 rests upon a perceived need to preserve the flag’s status as a symbol of our Nation and certain national ideals. But the mere destruction or disfigurement of a particular physical manifestation of the symbol, without more, does not diminish or otherwise affect the symbol itself in any way. For example, the secret destruction of a flag in one’s own basement would not threaten the flag’s recognized meaning. Rather, the Government’s desire to preserve the flag as a symbol for certain national ideals is implicated “only when a person’s treatment of the flag communicates [a] message” to others that is inconsistent with those ideals. 6 Ibid. [496 U.S. 310, 317]….  

[….]

“….If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” Johnson, supra, at 414. Punishing desecration of the flag dilutes the very freedom that makes this emblem so revered, and worth revering. The judgments of the District Courts are Affirmed.

[….]

Title 18, Chapter 33, Section 300 has no legal weight whatsoever. And the government, because of the First Amendment, can’t force you to believe otherwise. But, because of the First Amendment the government can’t and won’t do anything about that either. Because of the First Amendment. Ironic, eh?

And that doesn’t mean good.

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

File charges against the 47 U.S. Senators in violation of The Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement.

On March 9th, 2015, forty-seven United States Senators committed a treasonous offense when they decided to violate the Logan Act, a 1799 law which forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.

At a time when the United States government is attempting to reach a potential nuclear agreement with the Iranian government, 47 Senators saw fit to instead issue a condescending letter to the Iranian government stating that any agreement brokered by our President would not be upheld once the president leaves office.

This is a clear violation of federal law. In attempting to undermine our own nation, these 47 senators have committed treason.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Foreign Policy, Government Reform

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 25,529

Total signatures on this petition 74,471

[emphasis added]

Update:

That’s a lot of signatures in a few hours…

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 102,756

[emphasis added]

Update II (6:56 a.m. 03/11/15):

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 136,300

[emphasis added]

Update III (8:02 p.m. 03/11/15):

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 183,600

[emphasis added]

Update IV (7:27 a.m. 03/12/15):

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 209,731

[emphasis added]

But wait, there’s more:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Senator Tom Cotton’s letter to Iran is a direct violation of the Logan Act and should be prosecuted.

Senator Tom Cotton and 46 others have written an Open Letter to the Iranian Government as an attempt to influence and interfere with our President’s current negotiations.

This is a violation of the Logan Act, a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. It was passed in 1799 and last amended in 1994. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Defense, Foreign Policy

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 92,400

Total signatures on this petition 7,600

[emphasis added]

We petition the Obama Administration to:

File charges of treason against the 47 Senators who sent letter to Iran.

Attorney General of the United States of America please file TREASON charges against the 47 Republican Senators who sent a letter to Iran. Too undermind the President’s dealing to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons program. They are risking the security of this nation by their underhandedness and should be charged accordingly. All 47 Senators including Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL). Should be formally charged and prosecuted by the laws of this land and the United States of America’s Constitution.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Defense, Foreign Policy

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 96,302

Total signatures on this petition 3,698

[emphasis added]

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Immediately file charges against the 47 Senators who have sent a “warning letter” to Iran, under the Logan Act.

A call for criminal charges to be filed for the 47 Senators who are undermining the President’s ability to conduct negotiations with Iran to PREVENT war.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Defense, Foreign Policy, Government Reform

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 97,337

Total signatures on this petition 2,663

[emphasis added]

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Address and prosecute the clear violation of the Logan Act by the Republican senators’ March 9th open letter to Iran.

The open letter to Iran’s leaders by 47 senators of March 9th, warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with the Obama administration won’t last after Obama leaves office, is a clear and direct violation of the Logan Act and is treasonous. This action must not go unaddressed. We petition the White House and the Justice Dept. to take immediate and decisive action.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Foreign Policy

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 98,439

Total signatures on this petition 1,561

We petition the Obama Administration to:

File charges against the Senators who sent a letter to Iran.

On March 9th 2015, members of the Senate of the United States sent a letter to the leaders of Iran urging them to go against the Obama administration over a nuclear deal. The letter was organized by Senator Tom Cotton and had the signatures of a total of 47 Senators. This was a clear violation of law and those Senators crossed a huge line when they tried to sabotage the negotiations of the Administration. Foreign policy should be dealt by the executive branch, not the legislative. Not only does the letter attempt to undermine negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, but it is written in a condescending tone that could do great harm to the United States’ security. That is why we urge the Administration and the Justice Department to file charges against those Senators who signed the letter.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Defense, Foreign Policy, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,372

Total signatures on this petition 628

[emphasis added]

It’s in the republican majority’s nature. Everybody else gets the grotesque overreach. They probably don’t.

Previously:

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): Next! (March 9, 2015)

Is Roy Blunt a “traitor,” “reckless and feckless,” or simply an embarrassment? (March 10, 2015)

There are several petitions on vaccinations at the White House site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Mandate childhood vaccinations for all children, with exemptions solely for legitimate medical reasons.

Medical exemptions should be the only childhood vaccination exemption allowed in the United States.

The medical profession has spoken, childhood vaccinations are safe and one of the greatest scientific innovations in human history.

Some parents fall victim to rumor and propaganda and decide to place other children’s lives at risk by refusing to vaccinate their children. These decisions are based on discredited research or biased opinions. This affects other children – not just the children of the parents making this decision. Given the recent Measles outbreak in California, a state with one of the highest % of unvaccinated children, along with outbreaks of other diseases in clusters of unvaccinated communities, the government must act now before this becomes a public health crisis.

Published Date: Jan 31, 2015

Issues: Health Care, Science and Space Policy

Signatures needed by March 02, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,532

Total signatures on this petition 468

[emphasis added]

And another:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Require all parents to vaccinate their children, or be charged with child endangerment.

Over the years, humans have been on this earth, we have developed a means to help us become immune to certain diseases, using one of our bodies most base functions of fighting off diseases our bodies have been exposed to previously. Vaccination is one of the most important things to keep us healthy and kill off deadly diseases.

Recently, however there have been many parents who are outright refusing to vaccinate their children, based on misinformation. These people have single-handedly managed to spread and bring back diseases such as whooping cough, polio, measles and mumps.

That is why we petition the Obama administration to make it illegal to not vaccinate your children. When parents refuse to vaccinate their children, they are endangering their children’s lives and the lives of others.

Published Date: Feb 03, 2015

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Disabilities, Human Rights

Signatures needed by March 05, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 98,480

Total signatures on this petition 1,520

[emphasis added]

And the anti-vaccine crowd has one, too:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

PROHIBIT ANY LAWS MANDATING THE FORCE AND REQUIREMENT OF VACCINATIONS OF ANY KIND.

No human being should be FORCED to be vaccinated against their will and/or personal/religious beliefs. I petition against making vaccinations of any kind mandatory. This includes forcing children to be vaccinated to attend public schools, activities, and daycare centers. This also includes adults working in the public or private sector.

Published Date: Feb 04, 2015

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Health Care, Human Rights

Signatures needed by March 06, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 81,437

Total signatures on this petition 18,563

[emphasis added, title capitalization in the original]

There appears to be slightly more enthusiasm for the spread of contagion.

Interestingly the last petition doesn’t provide a rationale for refusal. “Because” doesn’t cut it when it comes to public health issues. It never has.

U.S. Supreme Court cases:

JACOBSON v. COM. OF MASSACHUSETTS, 197 U.S. 11 (1905)

ZUCHT v. KING, 260 U.S. 174 (1922)

It has been long established legally and morally that public health and science trump “just because”.

Previously:

Hillary (D): get your shots (February 3, 2015)

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama administration to:

Urge Sony pictures to release the film “The Interview” and protect our 1st Amendment.

We the people of the United States of America feel that our 1st amendment is under attack by a foreign government. Our right to produce comedy motion pictures that depict anyone or anything is greatly at stake. We want our government to defend our first amendment by urging Sony to release “The Interview” and offer protection to movie goers as well as those involved in the production of the movie.

Published Date: Dec 18, 2014

Issues: Foreign Policy, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief, Technology and Telecommunications

Signatures needed by January 17, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,787

Total signatures on this petition 213

[emphasis added]

Uh, it’s a violation of the First Amendment if Congress makes a law restricting access to the film. That hasn’t happened, has it?

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Encourage Sony to Distribute “The Interview” to Those Americans Who Wish to See the Film.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson

If the people of the United States of America think seeing “The Interview” will make them happy, they should be allowed to do so from the safety of their own homes.

Sony should be protected and allowed to digitally release “The Interview” for purchase as a digital download immediately.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

We cannot allow a foreign nation to terrorize our citizens out of seeing a harmless, satirical film.

Published Date: Dec 18, 2014

Issues: Arts and Humanities, Civil Rights and Liberties, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief

Signatures needed by January 17, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,711

Total signatures on this petition 289

[emphasis added]

Right. It’s all about the principles (via Twitter):

Micah J. Murray ‏@micahjmurray

#TheInterview

Take off your shoes. Get patted down at airports. Militarize the police force. Arm school teachers. Torture people. Drone-kill children. Wiretap all the phone.

America: “Meh.”

Pull one stupid comedy movie from theaters.

America: “THIS IS WHERE WE DRAW THE LINE. WE ARE NOT A NATION RULED BY FEAR.”

7:42 AM – 19 Dec 2014

Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out how preview audiences reacted?  

Previously: White House Petition: blame Canada (January 24, 2014)

Some of the fans strike back:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Stop Justin Bieber from getting deported. He is a human being and he makes mistakes. He does not deserve this.

The whole idea of Justin Drew Bieber getting deported, is completely unfair. He doesn’t deserve this…. With your help, we can stop it. He’s human. He’s not perfect. The media sees the bad side of him. Please. He’s saved so many lives. Including mine. A lifesaver, Shouldn’t deserve this.

Created: Jan 25, 2014

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Defense, Human Rights

Signatures needed by February 24, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 99,602

Total signatures on this petition 398

Not as many as the anti-Canada crowd.

A bill will be introduced, one way or the other, in the Missouri House in three, two, one….

Drones.

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Instruct the FAA to allow commercial operation of small UAS outside of populated areas.

The FAA is hampering economic growth, job creation and scientific development by not allowing commercial entities to operate small unmanned aircraft systems. Current FAA plans will not allow commercial SUAS use until September of 2015.

We propose:

– Immediate action by the FAA to lift the blanket ban on commercial UAS systems under 10 lbs. outside of populated areas, under 400 feet and two miles away from airports.

– The creation and support of a self-regulating organization that will train and oversee SUAS operations, similar to the American Radio Relay League. This will allow the industry to quickly adapt while maintaining safety, security and privacy.

We could farm, evaluate habitat, find missing persons, respond to disasters, and monitor the environment more efficiently

Created: Dec 06, 2013

Issues: Job Creation, Regulatory Reform, Technology and Telecommunications

Signatures needed by January 05, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 99,844

Total signatures on this petition 156

Only 156 signatures. This one isn’t quite setting the world on fire.

First question. Do you have oil?

Second question. If not, does a lot of oil from other places flow through pipelines in your country?

Third question. Is someone considering building a pipeline in your country so that a lot of oil from other countries will flow through it?

A recent White House petition on Ukraine (among several):

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Enter military intervention to Ukraine.

We, people of Ukraine, because of becoming more frequent and systematic violations of democracy and freedom of speech by public and police agents, and looking on the bloody acceleration of actions of protest in support European integration, taking into account the decision role of the United States of America in a worldwide policy and reputation of the USA, as a defender of democratic rights and freedoms in the whole world, we ask you, as a commander-in-chief by the armed forces of the USA, to enter military intervention to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian people wish to live in democratic European community and appeals to your help for the construction of base principles of democracy in our country.

Created: Nov 30, 2013

Issues: Defense, Firearms, Foreign Policy

Signatures needed by December 30, 2013 to reach goal of 100,000 96,600

Total signatures on this petition 3,400

Someone wants the American public to learn more geography.

From the U.S. Energy Information Administration:

   Ukraine was the seventh-largest energy consumer in Europe and Eurasia in 2010. More than half of the country’s primary energy supply comes from its uranium and coal resources, although natural gas also plays an important role in its energy mix.

   In 2010, Ukraine generated a total of 176 billion kilowatthours (BkWh) of electricity and consumed approximately 150 BkWh. The country is heavily dependent on nuclear energy-its fifteen reactors generate roughly half of the total electric power supply. The remainder of the electric power is generated with conventional thermal sources (45 percent), hydropower (7 percent), with marginal volumes contributed by wind generation.

   Ukraine consumed approximately 2.3 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas in 2011, with domestic production accounting for approximately 30 percent of the total at 700 billion cubic feet (Bcf). The remainder of supply is made up by Russian natural gas, imported through the Bratstvo (Brotherhood) and Soyuz pipelines.

   Its geographic position and proximity to Russia explain Ukraine’s importance as a natural gas transit country, through which volumes flow to Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Turkey. In the past, disputes between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas supplies, prices, and debts have resulted in interruptions to Russia’s natural gas exports through Ukraine, with the latest one occurring in 2009.

   Recent discoveries of shale gas deposits in Ukraine provide the country with a possible means to diversify its gas supplies away from Russia. In January 2013, Shell agreed to explore an area which the government estimates holds about 4 Tcf of shale natural gas in reserves. Current plans include development of shale gas resources for domestic consumption and exports to Western Europe by 2020.

   Only a relatively small portion of the country’s total consumption is accounted for by petroleum and other liquid fuels. In 2011, Ukraine consumed 300,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of liquid fuels, but produced only 82,000 bbl/d. The remainder was imported mostly from Russia, with smaller volumes originating in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

[emphasis added]

Maybe one or two out of three?

A recent petition at the White House site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Replace President Obama with the rightful presidential successor, Daniel Willey.

Daniel Willey has proved himself time and time again as the most capable person to run the United States of America. It’s time to let him do what he was born to do.

Created: Nov 07, 2013

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Consumer Protections, Economy

Signatures needed by December 07, 2013 to reach goal of 100,000 99,763

Total signatures on this petition 237

Who?

237 individuals have signed on to the petition. Think about that for a minute.

At the White House petition site:

Due to Congress’s failure to pass legislation to fund

the government, We the People has been temporarily disabled.

As a result, you will be unable to create or sign We the People petitions. Once government funding has been restored, We the People will be reenabled. Petitions that were open as of October 1, 2013 will have their deadlines extended.

[….]

It appears the teabaggers in the House have stopped a vote.

Cue the asteroid.