AIr America to be Investigated by Secret Service

[Pekka]

There goes your freedom of speech ... wasn't so strong now was it!

Anyway, again, this article only said they'll look into it and that's it. I hardly think making jokes about the president is illegal.

Shi, and why not? Who are you to judge what other people want to talk about, or JOKE about? Should we make a law what is humour and what is not, and who makes those limitations? Come on. Just because YOU don't want to do that, doesn't mean no one else wants to, adn just because you think it's not vital for freedom of speech, others might think exactly that.

There is a big difference making a joke and with plotting. Oh yes.. but the secret radio listeners are decoding the messages, waiting to make the hit... oddly enough, the message is... making a joke about it. Uhh.. no? Why not ham and toaster, jello and hamsters?

[Shi Huangdi]

When it comes to matters, this serious, we don't acknowledge the "only joking" defense. If you don't believe me, go to an airport and start joking about bombs and such, and see what happens to you.

[Pekka]

Right, because it's the same as joking in radio etc? It's not the same and you know it. YOu just don't have any sense of humour and you are dry and prolly have dry skin also. Bah!!

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

On radio it is considered inciting violence against the Pres, joking or otherwise. Everyone in the US with half a brain realizes naaay knows its illegal. My guess is this was done to provoke exactly the reaction they got and if Randy Rhodes pays some type of legal price up to and including incarceration, they can scream bloody murder and oppression.


[monty python Holy grail]

See the violence inherent in the system

[/grail)

[Agathon]

You Americans treat your Presidents with too much respect.

Yeah, the US is hilarious. A country founded on the rejection of hereditary kingship merely replaces a hereditary king you must grovel before with a consumer friendly version that you can replace to provide another groveling object.

Of course, advanced countries just did the sensible thing and got rid of rule by monarchy.

[Shi Huangdi]

According to Agathon, not talking about killing someone seems to be the equivalent of groveling. That would explain a lot about his demeanor.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I still contend you need at least half a brain to not talk about killing someone.

[Agathon]

According to Agathon, not talking about killing someone seems to be the equivalent of groveling. That would explain a lot about his demeanor.

According to Shi et al. the correct attitude to take towards the world is one of ignorant fascism.

[Ned]

Ogie, you beat me to it.

First we have dems throwing pies at opponents.

Next we have Dean frothing about Republicans being "evil" and "brain dead."

Now we have Air America assassinating the president in a skit run broadcast to America.

The Dems leadership and spokesmen either have gone completely insane, or they have been taken over by radicals, ala, the Weathermen. Never in the entire history of America has a political party acted in such a violent and aggressive manner.

[Shi Huangdi]

"Never in the entire history of America has a political party acted in such a violent and aggressive manner."

Now, Ned, that's not true. The Democrats acted far worse during Reconstruction, when Democrats formed the KKK, harassed the reconstruction effort, and used violence against blacks that wanted to exercise their political rights. The Democrats have a come long way since then, give them some more time and they may one day act in a cilvilized manner.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

I'm more of a fan of the 40-50's southern Demonrats myself topping the modern Dem for shrill and intolerant behavior.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Lancer
Every threat against the pres, any pres, is investigated and considered a crime. Any of us, left or right, that threatens the life of the pres will be prosicuted. I know, I saw it on TV.

Show me the threat. You and I both know there was none. This is a blatant political attack.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by JohnT
Anyway, they didn't "make political jokes a crime" (as happened during WW1), they're investigating a potential (regardless how slight) threat to the President. As is their job.

You should learn to read the original post.

"Even joking about shooting the president is a crime, let alone doing it on national radio... we are taking this very seriously," a government source explained.

The quote makes it very clear.

[JohnT]

No it's not. It's the Secret Service doing their jobs.

It's like the police and crime tips. 99% of them will be shiite, the police know that 99% will be shiite, they can identify which ones are going to be shiite prior to the fact, but they still check it out, just in case.

Of course the "joke" wasn't a viable threat. But law enforcement officials have to treat is as such, or else they would not be doing their jobs properly.

[Ned]

I'd just like to see the brave editors at Air America try to pass this off as the aberant act of a very low level producer.