American Notes: CONSTITUTION

The First Amendment, untouched for 198 years, is safe again. Ever since the $ Supreme Court ruled last summer that burning the flag was a form of political protest that was protected by the free-speech amendment, lawmakers have been posturing and pontificating on the issue. No one could forget that Michael Dukakis during last year's presidential campaign was outflagged by George Bush. The patriotic grandstanding was led by the President, who traveled across the Potomac to the Iwo Jima Memorial -- cameras in hot pursuit -- to denounce the ruling and demand a constitutional amendment. But when the proposal came to the Senate floor last week, cooler heads prevailed. Two Republicans who originally supported the amendment, John Danforth of Missouri and Warren Rudman of New Hampshire, changed their mind, giving others the courage to follow. The amendment, which needed a two-thirds majority, or 67 votes, got just 51.