Comments on: Great Moments in False Equivalency http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/ Firedoglake weblog Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:36:47 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Blub http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960078 Blub Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:23:48 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960078 <p>as I understand it, this type of behavior (sedition - inciting insurrection or making general exortations for others to do violence) is legally quite different from both directly and personally threatening the President or shouting fire in a cinema. It would definitely require new legislation to sanction, and such legislation has not fared well in Congress in the past, going all the way back to the early republic, probably because it was always the supporters of one side of Congress that was committing the sedition, motivating that side to move to block the legislation. Constitutionality would be a question, of course, but as no such law was ever tested, that issue has never yet come up to my awareness.</p> as I understand it, this type of behavior (sedition – inciting insurrection or making general exortations for others to do violence) is legally quite different from both directly and personally threatening the President or shouting fire in a cinema. It would definitely require new legislation to sanction, and such legislation has not fared well in Congress in the past, going all the way back to the early republic, probably because it was always the supporters of one side of Congress that was committing the sedition, motivating that side to move to block the legislation. Constitutionality would be a question, of course, but as no such law was ever tested, that issue has never yet come up to my awareness.

]]> By: Twain http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960076 Twain Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:23:12 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960076 <p>Don’t pick on Michelle. She’s going to be president some day if gawd wills it - that’s what she said.</p> Don’t pick on Michelle. She’s going to be president some day if gawd wills it – that’s what she said.

]]> By: cinnamonape http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960069 cinnamonape Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:20:39 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960069 <p>Michelle Bachman+Hal Turner = “Bachmann Turner Uberdrive”</p> Michelle Bachman+Hal Turner = “Bachmann Turner Uberdrive”

]]> By: cinnamonape http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960061 cinnamonape Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:17:11 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960061 <p>At what point does one regard such speech as fomenting an insurrection. Clearly a private conversation regarding actual actions that might lead to a crime is prosecutable. It constitutes conspiracy TO PERFORM an act. But what if the same conversation is held “in public” hoping to hit that one or few unbalanced individuals, or groups, to do the actions suggested.</p> <p>When is it like “shouting fire in a theater”?</p> At what point does one regard such speech as fomenting an insurrection. Clearly a private conversation regarding actual actions that might lead to a crime is prosecutable. It constitutes conspiracy TO PERFORM an act. But what if the same conversation is held “in public” hoping to hit that one or few unbalanced individuals, or groups, to do the actions suggested.

When is it like “shouting fire in a theater”?

]]> By: Blub http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960048 Blub Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:11:04 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960048 <p>yeah.. revoking her citizenship. That’ll be real constitutional, like. arsehats.</p> <p>One thing I will say, though. We might not be able to prosecute these people, but there shouldn’t be anything stopping Congress from censuring or impeaching those of their own members who’ve been publicly endorsing this type of non-sense. That much we CAN do.</p> yeah.. revoking her citizenship. That’ll be real constitutional, like. arsehats.

One thing I will say, though. We might not be able to prosecute these people, but there shouldn’t be anything stopping Congress from censuring or impeaching those of their own members who’ve been publicly endorsing this type of non-sense. That much we CAN do.

]]> By: Walrus http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960044 Walrus Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:09:19 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960044 <p>It’s also very interesting that Turner is part of the government’s counterintelligence program and functioned as an agent provocateur. <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9A5GCC80&show_article=1" rel="nofollow">Read the AP story</a></p> It’s also very interesting that Turner is part of the government’s counterintelligence program and functioned as an agent provocateur. Read the AP story

]]> By: cinnamonape http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960037 cinnamonape Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:05:28 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960037 <p>I recall that a l3 year old Carmichael (Calif) girl was somehow hunted down by the secret service for having the words “Kill Bush” on her MySpace page and showing a cartoon image of of a knife being placed into a hand. It seems one of her frenemies spotted this, reported it to her conservaparents, who then contacted the FBI. Someone else mentioned it to the girls folks, who had a discussion about it, then had her take it down. Several months later two Secret Service agents show up, first at the parents, met with mom, and agreed to return to the home later to speak with the girls. Instead the go to her school, have the Principal call the girl out of class, and then, without anyone else present. give the girl the Third Degree and made threats about her going to jail for a decade.</p> <p>The local letters to the Editors were jam-packed by the “send the girl to jail” right-wingers. “He’s our President…she should be expelled from school or have her citizenship revoked, etc. .” </p> <p>If the SS under Bush can do this to a 3 year old who had already realized her mistake…then why can’t they haul in adults who really should know better - and really find out if they are tangible treats?</p> I recall that a l3 year old Carmichael (Calif) girl was somehow hunted down by the secret service for having the words “Kill Bush” on her MySpace page and showing a cartoon image of of a knife being placed into a hand. It seems one of her frenemies spotted this, reported it to her conservaparents, who then contacted the FBI. Someone else mentioned it to the girls folks, who had a discussion about it, then had her take it down. Several months later two Secret Service agents show up, first at the parents, met with mom, and agreed to return to the home later to speak with the girls. Instead the go to her school, have the Principal call the girl out of class, and then, without anyone else present. give the girl the Third Degree and made threats about her going to jail for a decade.

The local letters to the Editors were jam-packed by the “send the girl to jail” right-wingers. “He’s our President…she should be expelled from school or have her citizenship revoked, etc. .”

If the SS under Bush can do this to a 3 year old who had already realized her mistake…then why can’t they haul in adults who really should know better – and really find out if they are tangible treats?

]]> By: Blub http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960036 Blub Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:00:10 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960036 <p>I suppose congress could try to pass a law imposing severe fines on media organizations that air incitements to violence against the government or government officials, but this’ll mean imposing the same type of regulation free-to-air stuff gets from the FCC onto cable and talk radio. Still.. its something to think about. Fundamentally, I don’t see why the nets should be subjected to multimillion dollar fines for the wardrobe malfunctions of pop stars, and then get away with it when their employees call for violence against judges or, for that matter, the Speaker of the House.</p> <p>Historically, such proposals for laws against sedition have not fared well in Congress. Can you imagine the blowback from rethugs if a Dem were to introduce such legislation? These are the same people who blew a gasket when DHS tried to release a report on right-wing terrorists.</p> <p>And I’m still incredulous that we are at the point where we even need to be having this conversation.<br /> .</p> I suppose congress could try to pass a law imposing severe fines on media organizations that air incitements to violence against the government or government officials, but this’ll mean imposing the same type of regulation free-to-air stuff gets from the FCC onto cable and talk radio. Still.. its something to think about. Fundamentally, I don’t see why the nets should be subjected to multimillion dollar fines for the wardrobe malfunctions of pop stars, and then get away with it when their employees call for violence against judges or, for that matter, the Speaker of the House.

Historically, such proposals for laws against sedition have not fared well in Congress. Can you imagine the blowback from rethugs if a Dem were to introduce such legislation? These are the same people who blew a gasket when DHS tried to release a report on right-wing terrorists.

And I’m still incredulous that we are at the point where we even need to be having this conversation.
.

]]> By: EvilDrPuma http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960035 EvilDrPuma Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:50:02 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960035 <p>Could be a lot. Their feelings bruise a lot more easily than they think ours do.</p> Could be a lot. Their feelings bruise a lot more easily than they think ours do.

]]> By: katymine http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960034 katymine Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:49:56 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/19/great-moments-in-false-equivalency/#comment-1960034 <p>OMG…. its Ernie on KO….. until he said his last name ……. Ernie used to come to all progressive events. NEVER armed…….shocked just shocked….</p> OMG…. its Ernie on KO….. until he said his last name ……. Ernie used to come to all progressive events. NEVER armed…….shocked just shocked….

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