Personally I do not hold inanimate objects in high regard. I do however hold the ideas which the flag represents in extremely high regard.

Bush is the 'patriot', he should know better. What's the difference between marring the flag with ink or marring it with poop?

As aunty points out, the symbolism in the photograph is that 'America is in distress', which it very much was during the period that book was written and therefore extremely appropriate. Notice its not touching the ground? Its not marred with indelible ink OR poop. Its not raining.

Bush's message when signing that flag was, was, was.......your president is a hypocritical dumbya**.