retrospective prophets aplenty

They can always dig up one or another Nostradamus to say I told you so.

feed and need

Happily for so long they’d lapped at the trough until one day they raised their heads as if to say it wasn’t enough.

long may it wave even aflame

The greatest compliment one could pay to our/US flag is to acknowledge that a citizen who feels aggrieved by our government or its actions has the right to burn it.

facial expression

He could play hard and not scowl.