Ace of Spades HQ

December 08, 2009

Homeowner's Association Drops Fight With Medal of Honor Recipient over Flagpole
— Dave in Texas

Like Obama said, "they acted stupidly". Which he didn't really say, but they did.

Barfoot won the Medal of Honor for actions while his platoon was under German assault near Carano, Italy, in May 1944. He was credited with standing up to three German tanks with a bazooka and stopping their advance.
He also won the Purple Heart and other decorations, and served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring from the service in 1974.

Seriously people, what the hell were you thinking? Aesthetic guidelines? A rusted out 51 International Harvester in the front yard is an "aesthetic guideline" (I know this because I had to correct the spelling for my neighbor, who wouldn't even come to the door to show me the letter until I put on a bathrobe).

There's nothing quite so petty as picking a fight with an elderly war hero, and in the process pissing off the rest of the country plus two Senators. Good thinking!

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:31 PM | Comments (43)
Post contains 181 words, total size 1 kb.

1 It's about time! What a bunch of douches.

Posted by: logprof at December 08, 2009 05:33 PM (I3Udb)

2 Living under the socialist regime Obama's Alinsky-bots would like to create would be like having an HOA as your government.

Posted by: Flubber at December 08, 2009 05:41 PM (/kVbY)

3 "aesthetic guideline"

Yeah, right, and they showed all the newsfolks right where flying 'Old Glory' was prohibited in their published "aesthetic guideline".

Posted by: Druid at December 08, 2009 05:41 PM (Gct7d)

4 The HOA is where the people who wish they could be bossy politicians but lack the charisma to get elected go to satisfy their urge to control other people.

Posted by: Britt at December 08, 2009 05:43 PM (DcWbe)

5 the HOA is simply local "amateur" implementation of the Obama Administration. Like it?

Posted by: Frank G at December 08, 2009 05:46 PM (I+To0)

6 HOA's are pure evil. I will never live in a managed community again.

Posted by: Lone Marauder at December 08, 2009 05:49 PM (p1iaB)

7 You just know they're waiting till this gent passes away, then they'll resume their goosestepping over the remaining peasants.

Posted by: RushBabe at December 08, 2009 05:51 PM (LKkE8)

8
"Barfoot"?

That's a halfling name - he only counts for half. Ef Him!

Posted by: Druid at December 08, 2009 05:52 PM (Gct7d)

9 You know what, it's bullshit to compel a man to take down a flagpole on his own property even if he spent WWII shoveling shit in Louisiana, as Patton might have said.

Posted by: J. Wilde at December 08, 2009 05:53 PM (ZE0Hi)

10 The Sussex Square homeowners' association take the commie assholes of the year award.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2009 05:53 PM (I7cvO)

11 There is actually a federal statute which protects peoples' right to raise the American flag on their own property or rental property regardless of HOA covenants or any other private agreement. He's gonna be fine.

Posted by: Truman North at December 08, 2009 05:55 PM (XH/G8)

12 Contrary top what a lot of people seem to think, I believe people who move into condominiums or neighborhoods with HOAs should read the HOA agreement and understand that it's the set of rules they're agreeing to by buying the property.

Some of the rules are pretty picky, but no one is required to live in these communities, and if a majority of the residents want to change the rules, they can. I''m fine with the idea that people in different communities should be allowed to make rules for their own community that aren't likely the same rules someone would make elsewhere.

That said, I think a smart HOA board would make a rule that would allow any 90-year old Medal of Honor recipient to fly whatever size or shape of flag he wants, on whatever kind of poll he wants to put it on, on whatever part of his property suits him. I doubt they'll have any problems with such a rule.

Posted by: Skeptic at December 08, 2009 05:56 PM (hvmhn)

13 My favorite comment on this story:

Also, you have to question the smarts of a group of people who decided to boss around a man who took on three German Tiger tanks head-on armed with only a bazooka and a Thompson, and came out on top.

Wish I'd written that.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 08, 2009 05:57 PM (9Lm5R)

Mark Levin had this story about a week ago. I called the law firm representing the HOA and told them what a bunch of pussies and douches they were.I think during the course of the not-too-civil discussion that I actually used those words.

Posted by: beedubya at December 08, 2009 05:57 PM (AnTyA)

15 Dead people in warmup clothes.

Posted by: TexasJew at December 08, 2009 06:00 PM (mCD5S)

16 Proudly in blatant violation of several HOA rules here. They screwed up and let me move in without signing their stupid paperwork first. Kiss my ass you wannabe Eichmann gits!

Posted by: John Galt at December 08, 2009 06:02 PM (Ylv1H)

17 reminds me of a family member's HOA which blocked people from having flags after 9/11. I learned of it in 4/02, so it hadn't been that long afterwards.

Posted by: A.G. at December 08, 2009 06:07 PM (jBPzC)

18 Worst of all was that this took place in Ol' Virginny! Probably carpetbaggers, the lot of these douchebaggers!

Posted by: logprof at December 08, 2009 06:08 PM (I3Udb)

We Win!

Posted by: Truman North at December 08, 2009 06:09 PM (XH/G8)

20
12 Contrary ...

Posted by: Skeptic

Jurisdiction I am in does not require that a property under a HOA disclose anything until closing.

That follows that the Seller need not under its Agreement/Offer of Sale.

Needless to say, though a 'right to work' State, they are as in the bag as New York State, Cali, or Michigan.

Posted by: Druid at December 08, 2009 06:14 PM (Gct7d)

21 THIS is exactly why I told my Wife I refused to live in a condo. Bunch of fuckin jack offs that have nothing better to do than to make sure everyone obeys the "white curtain rule"

Fuck that

Posted by: Melodic Metal at December 08, 2009 06:19 PM (9QC0z)

22 HOAs are evil. I have a friend who lives in one and they have someone come along to check that her grass is the right *color of green*. I mean... really, people? And no, she didn't know what the HOA rules were when she bought the house. Apparently, the seller just left two three-ring binders full of the HOAs rules for her to find after closing. I'd kill someone, I swear.

Posted by: AngelEm at December 08, 2009 06:20 PM (HCxZ0)

23 Re: 5 the HOA is simply local "amateur" implementation of the Obama Administration. Like it?
The HOA is the PROFESSIONAL IMPLEMENTATION of the amateur Obama Administration. Better?

Posted by: codekeyguy at December 08, 2009 06:27 PM (ss9Ij)

24 12:
The issue is that it was not explicitly against the rules per the HOA. All that was stated that any displays must be aesthetically pleasing. There were *no* direct bans against flag poles. Thus, the argument of knowing the rules when you moved is isn't valid. Also remember that many HOAs change their rules quickly and with only the consent of those in the meeting. If you say, have children to take care of, and can't make it to the meeting, you may find yourself hosed.

Posted by: GeoSTI at December 08, 2009 06:31 PM (chyhr)

25 wow in a country circling the drain, a war hero is given a reprieve. thank God for common sense. good for the colonel. good for all the cowards who convinced themselves that the hanging of the American flag by an MOH recipient was aesthetically unpleasant. may God forgive you, because i assuredly will not.

Posted by: befuddled at December 08, 2009 06:31 PM (BByz2)

26 I think there is a connection between this country and Britain falling back into a love affair with fascism and the passing away of the WWII generation.

They and the cold warriors basically fought for nothing since we are now implementing everything they fought against at a breakneck pace.

I would consider it a massive fraud for someone to sell me a property without telling me that I won't actually own it. Some board of neighborhood busybodies will own it and I will merely be the caretaker. How stupid would anyone have to be to go for that sort of deal?

Posted by: Voluble at December 08, 2009 06:44 PM (nZNTl)

27 With the stories about the Pearl Harbor vets in Monday's paper, I could not help but wonder what those great old men thought when they saw their president bowing to the Japanese emperor.
I am ashamed of Chairman Zero. He is a disgrace, an embarrassment to this country, and an insult to every veteran, live or dead.

Posted by: the real joe at December 08, 2009 06:52 PM (SUYSs)

28 Here's my flagpole flying the colors. You may salute it, you may leave flowers on the appropriate holidays. What you may not do is try to remove it. You WILL have a serious problem if you try.

Posted by: Unclefacts, Summoner of Bacons, and the Odd Meteor at December 08, 2009 06:56 PM (erIg9)

"Some of the rules are pretty picky, but no one is required to live in these communities, and if a majority of the residents want to change the rules, they can"

Just throwing this out here, but no one is required to live in the United States, and if a majority of residents want to eliminate Jews/Poles/Blacks/Etc, etc... OH WAIT.

We live in a republic, not in a democracy. HOAs have to live by the rules too.

I''m fine with the idea that people in different communities should be allowed to make rules for their own community that aren't likely the same rules someone would make elsewhere.

Yeah, as long as they don't violate the basic protections laid out the inital framework of the law...

How would you feel if they banned political speech on your private property through simple tyranny of the majority? The HOA is not a part of the State, so how can they possibly have the power to compel people in a geographic location to conform to their standards? What's their statutory authority? I mean, the things exist so they must have some basis in precedence if not actual law.

Frankly I find the things to be contrary to the spirit, if not the letter, of the republican system.

Posted by: flashoverride at December 08, 2009 07:00 PM (EwE2i)

30 Just read through a quick history of HOAs and their legal precedents. Good lord. It's like voluntary servitude. Why in the hell would you do it?

Posted by: flashoverride at December 08, 2009 07:06 PM (EwE2i)

31 Jug Earred Light Worker Claims credit in 3....2...1....Hopefully the MSM will interview the old fellow and get a reaction.....

Gibbs you Fat Ignorant Cocksucker....

Posted by: BigWyo at December 08, 2009 07:38 PM (SafY+)

32 Architecture,
Landscape Architecture,
and Engineering

are licensed professions under every State's laws.
Not unlike Law and Medicine.
Relatively speaking, the later two are cheap.

FEW HOAs have those hired guns to give qualified professional opinions under the law. MOST HOAs and their "architectural committees" are nobodies.

Upon moving into my newest home I notified the HOA El Presidente that these are licensed professions, and under the State's regs, those that violate the law may be administartively found in contempt of court - i.e.: YOU may go to jail if you deny my request to put up a flagpole because YOU are not a State sanctioned professional qualified to judge the aesthetics of my landscaping and/or architecture. (I was more diplomatic than that - It is the 'Architural Board', but he is ultimately responsible...)

About two months later he told me that they 'just want to know' what is going on, and will automagically approve unless it is explicitly prohibited.

I have been on 'the other side' as well ... but another story..

Posted by: Druid at December 08, 2009 07:40 PM (Gct7d)

33 Look what can happen once the public gets news of this you can make the socialists scum back down

Posted by: Spurwing Plover at December 08, 2009 07:44 PM (BRsUk)

34 His only fault was not putting up the ol' hammer and sickle. Seriously, legal action over a flag pole? Just how boring and rich would you have to be to do that?

Posted by: Saint at December 08, 2009 07:55 PM (8fIcf)

35
33 Look what can happen once the public gets news of this you can make the socialists scum back down
Posted by: Spurwing Plover

Busy-Body House-Husbands will fricken back down when you show that that they will be contempt of the administartion court governing Licensed Architects (General, Landscape, Engineers, & such) for practicing without a license, after refusing to pay a $5K fine, and go to the big-house administratively - goes over as well as pretending to be a chestcutter, or a congresscritter.. errr, I meant attorney.

Not many HOA members will pay a few hundred more a month for busybodies legal fees either.

If you have a gate, you'll pay a few hundred more a month to keep out dirtbags like T. Woods and his 'guests', but that's your choice.

Posted by: Druid at December 08, 2009 07:59 PM (Gct7d)

36 i would like to also give a "shoutout" (obama's term--not mine) to mark levin for bringing this to our attention. good for you mr. levin, you said the calvary was coming and they did and you got to lead the charge.

Posted by: befuddled at December 08, 2009 08:49 PM (BByz2)

"Some of the rules are pretty picky, but no one is required to live in these communities, "

Actually, you pretty much are. Local governments find this a cost effective way of transferring responsibility for code enforcement.

If you want to evade the dreaded HOA nazis, you basically have the same choice of accomodations as a registered sex offender.

Anyway, glad to see that Mr. Barfoot's prior experience standing up to nazi tanks with a bazooka prepared him for his later life experiences.

Posted by: Matt at December 08, 2009 10:53 PM (CKG2u)

38 These HOAs seem to be drunk w/power. I can't imagine calling an American flag some kind of eyesore. WTF is wrong with these people???

Posted by: JEA at December 09, 2009 03:56 AM (H7yeS)

39 I guess the HOA finally realized that putting on a public display of being aesthetic Nazis might actually have the effect of lowering their property values. The subjective becomes political.

Posted by: reginaldL at December 09, 2009 04:26 AM (k6Tcc)

40 What I like about this story is not just that the old boy gets to his pole up, but also that there is a Viagra ad in the margins of the linked article. Symmetry, or something.

Posted by: Nate at December 09, 2009 04:44 AM (h/im3)

41 Skeptic@12: War heroes fly their flags on poles. It's only douchebag politicians who fly flags (or wear lapel flagt pins) on polls.

Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at December 09, 2009 05:30 AM (xqhoO)

42 I keep wondering exactly whose "aesthetic" the flag offends. But I know the answer. And so do you, dontcha?

Posted by: Tantor at December 09, 2009 01:16 PM (SWvPS)

43 For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans.

Posted by: virdy at April 18, 2010 03:58 AM (T6XIp)

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