I used to believe that most elected officials held the law in a higher regard, that they would be the ones who, when a question of law appeared, they would demonstrate the knowledge and bearing that indicated they knew better.  Silly me.  Once again, an elected official...this time, the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie...provides the populace an example of how not to act.  Governor Christie decided that the late Whitney Houston was such a force in the world that she deserved the honor of the US flag being flown at half-mast in her memory.  Give me a break.  If the good governor had looked into the guidelines set down in the US Flag Code...section 7M, to be exact...he would have discovered that there are only two legal reasons for a governor to order the flag to half-mast.  Neither one involves a troubled pop star.  What's more, this isn't the first time he's done it.  When Clarence Clemons passed away, Christie ordered flags at half-mast for the Big Man.  Is there anyone on this guy's staff that could have explained to him that it's not only wrong to do it- IT'S ILLEGAL.  Oh...I'm sorry...excuse me for expecting a high-ranking election official to know the law.