posted
Being an evil foreigner I don't fully understand the workings of US law (or UK law for that matter) but I don't think publicly threatening the life of any specific person is protected under the right to free speech.
Of course what constitutes a public threat can be a little grey, but still, if the bloke doesn't like Obama or agree with abortion that's fine. But why dose he have to express both of those sentiments with the same slogan?
WizArtist II
"How can you have a yellow alert in Spacedock? "
Member # 1425
posted
I think it comes down to the whole definition of "Abort". If you are defining it as 'to kill' rather than ' to stop ' or ' cease ', then it can be construed as an advocacy for an assassination. However, when it is defined in its most common use today it is ' to bring forth a fetus from the uterus before the fetus is viable; miscarry' which is not like you're recruiting someone with a high powered rifle and scope. To make it more ridiculous, would you investigate all the people that had "Buck Fush" bumper stickers as potential sex criminals advocating rape?
To me it seems to be more in line with a 'Do not voice your opposition to our policies or you too may receive a friendly visit from government agents' stance towards political dissent. That is what I consider dangerous. Minor as it may appear, how many people may NOT voice their opinion of Obama as openly? After all, this did not just stop at the level of the local police, it went through the Secret Service as well. Rather than acknowledging it as an overstep of the local authorities and an infringement on this person's civil rights, they (S.S.) actually searched this individual's home which is another infringement. Yes, I realize that he consented to the 'walk through', but can you honestly say that if he had NOT done so that other repercussions might have resulted? For all we may know, this man may now on a list of 'Potential Threats' to the POTUS forever more. And all because of ONE officer who decided to take issue with a dissident bumper sticker.
-------------------- There are 10 types of people in the world...those that understand Binary and those that don't.
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
So some dumb Okie cop stops him, reports him as a possible threat and the Secret Service investigates. They're cordial and polite- just doing their jobs and following up any potential threat lead- as they are supposed to do.
It's all on one cop- not any reflection on Obama, the Secret Service or the state of freedoms in the country as a whole- dont hype it too much, Wiz.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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Teh PW
Self Impossed Exile (This Space for rent)
Member # 1203
posted
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: So some dumb Okie cop stops him, reports him as a possible threat and the Secret Service investigates. They're cordial and polite- just doing their jobs and following up any potential threat lead- as they are supposed to do.
It's all on one cop- not any reflection on Obama, the Secret Service or the state of freedoms in the country as a whole- dont hype it too much, Wiz.
two words on this shit is overkill: Chicken. Little.
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Like Jason, I suspect that the SS probably follow up anytime they get a report of a supposed threat against the president. It's like how, if you've got a building full of people, and you receive a bomb threat, you act as though it's serious, no matter how ridiculous it is, because you never want to be responsible for blowing off a real threat.
Hopefully, that cop is going to get some sort of disciplinary action. During the previous administration, did he think a "drop Bush, not bombs" sign advocated the actual ejection of the president from a airplane in flight?
Registered: Mar 1999
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WizArtist II
"How can you have a yellow alert in Spacedock? "
Member # 1425
posted
quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: It's all on one cop- not any reflection on Obama, the Secret Service or the state of freedoms in the country as a whole- dont hype it too much, Wiz.
Jason, I in no way think that Obama directed the actions of the officer. Nor do I think this was the beginning of the PC Thought Police. I just find it a little bit interesting that we didn't hear about the Secret Service investigating when Bush was burned in effigy nor all the anti-Bush bumper stickers I've seen. Yet what most reasonable people would take as a sarcastic jab is suddenly an issue of the POTUS security.
Not to mention, where is the ACLU at? Shouldn't they be in the middle of this to stand up for this person's right of free speech? Maybe its just the side of the fence I'm on, but there does seem to be a double standard.
-------------------- There are 10 types of people in the world...those that understand Binary and those that don't.
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
If the guy were actually going to be prosecuted, or if he tried to take legal action against the police, I've no doubt the ACLU would gladly help him out. But, if neither of those things happens, what do you expect the ACLU to do? I mean, we're talking about a group that has defended Oliver North and Fred Phelps. I don't know what sort o crazyland is on your side of the fence, but I've never heard of the ACLU advocating "free speech for a select few".
Registered: Mar 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Jason Abbadon: It's all on one cop- not any reflection on Obama, the Secret Service or the state of freedoms in the country as a whole- dont hype it too much, Wiz.
Jason, I in no way think that Obama directed the actions of the officer. Nor do I think this was the beginning of the PC Thought Police. I just find it a little bit interesting that we didn't hear about the Secret Service investigating when Bush was burned in effigy nor all the anti-Bush bumper stickers I've seen. Yet what most reasonable people would take as a sarcastic jab is suddenly an issue of the POTUS security.
Not to mention, where is the ACLU at? Shouldn't they be in the middle of this to stand up for this person's right of free speech? Maybe its just the side of the fence I'm on, but there does seem to be a double standard.
I dont agree at all- Bush's policies regarding protest were legendary in their heavy-handedness. Consider that protestors for major events were not allowed within miles of the events they were protesting if the President was giving a speach (the second World Trade Organization conference for example). Protestors were "relocated" to areas far from press coverage to minimize their impact and attendence- "for their own safety" after the WTO conference in Miami had police beating peaceful protestors with nightsticks, tear gas and tasers.
Dozens of idiots were arrested by Secret service in Bush's terms- as in Clintons's- the usual threats and protestors, fruit throwers etc.- just because it was not national news does not mean it never happened. A bigger double-standard is that this relativly minor incident should have any media legs at all. Many on the Right are looking for anything to say "see! Obama's as bad as Bush!"
I mentioned not hyping it too much because your initial post read like a FoxNews headline.
Re-reading the story, it seems like the guy stopped is going to milk it for whatever it's worth (settlement wise) and may have been looking for trouble- particularly in Oklahoma City, where cops have every reason to me nervous about extremists. I'm sure every cop in the city is always thinking "is this the next McVeigh?" when they stop someone with potentially threatening signage on their car.
I still think the cop over-reacted, but I can see where he'd hate to be the one that let some future-terrorist off without following up..
Registered: Aug 2002
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OnToMars
Now on to the making of films!
Member # 621
posted
Can we add a corollary to Godwin's Law about calling people Communists?
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Some- I'm seriously tweaking out a Republic Star Destroyer- it's a big bad refit that I'm giving a psydo- Imperial Star Destroyer command structure and a gaggle o' extra weapons.
Add to that a shipyard I have about 60% done and four 2500th Novas I'm writing a review on (I'm building one as the Rhode Island version) and I'm a seriously busy monkey.
Not too busy to laugh at the News though- Republicans Perdue and Jindall are talking about rejecting the stimulus money for their states' unemployment insurance. Nice- not that either one has to worry about making ends meet ever again weither they're workin or not. It's really pissing off a lot of working-class Republicans in their home districts taht have either lost or may lose their jobs due to layoffs.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
Registered: Aug 2002
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