I’ve read posts by one or two people (most recently, Noam Scheiber) asserting that Bush’s vocal support for a constitutional amendment banning flag burning will alienate moderates. What’s the evidence for this? The amendment is popular well beyond the conservative base of the Republican party. That’s why it often gets close to the required two-thirds of Congress to support it. Maybe the amendment should alienate people–I can see a respectable argument for that view–but I don’t think it does. Has anyone ever lost a race because he endorsed the amendment? This seems like a pretty safe (though low-reward) political play for the president.