Bug#660035: dynamic <marquee> fails to scroll in iceweasel

[eclectic 923]

Package: iceweasel

Version: 3.5.16-11

I'm working on developing web pages using Debian Squeeze. I was using
the <marquee> element when I discovered it didn't scroll.

I did some digging.

1) The <marquee> element needs to be dynamically created to stop it from
   scrolling. If the <marquee> element is present when the page loads
   it works just fine. So, my page has an empty <div> that I put the
   <marquee> element in using javascript (jquery). Basically, the <div>
   is a place for help information, that dynamically changes. Sometimes
   it holds a two line paragraph.

2) The javascript code that fails for iceweasel works in chromium-browser,
   epiphany, konqueror, and WinXP/IE8 just fine (all but IE8 from Debian
   Squeeze).

3) The iceweasel/firefox <marquee> can be persuaded to work by calling
   the DOM object's .init() function. (A marquee has start() and stop()
   functions, and an init() function. The start()/stop() functions are
   often tied to mouseover events so that the mouse can be used to pause
   the marquee. I assume the init() function should be called by the
   browser once the <marquee> element is part of the DOM... but apparently
   isn't in iceweasel.)

   So, using in a jquery callback function that is tripped when the
   <marquee> element is added to the DOM, proper operation is restored by:

        try {
                dom_obj = $(this)[0]; // equiv to document.getElementById('foo')
                dom_obj.init();
        }
        catch(err) {;} // do nothing

4) I took a look at the Mozilla buglist. The closest reference I could
   find is 479467 which contains a discussion on a different issue but
   does mention having problems with scrolling of <marquee> elements.

   The Mozilla bug also suggests that this issue is fixed in later versions
   of mozilla/firefox.

5) You may also want to know that I'm using xulrunner-1.9.1.16-11.