It doesn't. You can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater, and you can't even JOKE about assassinating the president.
Like President Bush or not, he's in until January 2009. All that talking about assassinating him will do for a person is get them arrested, hopefully for TREASON.
It's okay to disagree with the president, it really is. But freedom of speech only extends so far.
2006-09-10 10:23:11 · 16 answers · asked by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Actually, the movie is only a small part of what compelled me to post this question. What REALLY did it was THIS:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApxHFSsUK9IoNl9vBxWntdLsy6IX?qid=20060910135641AA30T2D
And some of the answers. I guess some people don't realize what an awful thing that would be to put our country through.
No matter how "bad" a president is, an assassinated president is always much worse.
I don't hate President Bush, I don't love him, but I don't think ANY president should be assassinated.
2006-09-10 10:30:38 · update #1
Impeachment is protected, assassination is not. If people want to impeach President Bush, sure, if there are reasons to do so. Discuss it? Sure, that's not treason. I can respect that.
2006-09-10 10:32:27 · update #2
The link I posted here will no longer work. The question was deleted. Somehow, I received a violation notice for my answer right before that happened. I think the crybabies on here didn't like the fact that I had so many thumbs-up for my answer.
2006-09-11 03:02:06 · update #3
Exactly!
2006-09-10 10:24:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
It's true, but disageeing and calling for impeachment is an expression of your personal views. The line between acceptablity and unacceptabilty in free speech is a thin line, the government can't control what you say to your friends, however, making any kind of public threat about assasinating or harmign the president, or really anyone for that matter, is unacceptable. We are free to disagree, we are free to believe that maybe we'd be better of if president Bush was asasinated, but the idea of treason was something that our nation was founded on basically. The U.S. was built on the idea that if you are under the rule of an unjust and unfair ruler, you have to right to right wrongs and seperate yourself. Treason should not be a crime, for the idea of treason shouldn't exist in American society, however, public threats to anyone, President Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, the crazy cat lady who lives in your neighborhood, is unacceptable. Beign the president doesn't change laws, if the president commits a crime, he is trialed for it, if a crime is commited against the president, it is tried, but is not an excedingly special case because it is against our president, equality.
2006-09-10 17:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by locomonohijo 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is still a free country regardless of how hard the repuglicans are trying to change it. It is a law that you cannot threaten the president with bodily harm, but anything else is ok. For people to put that much power in one persons hands and withhold criticism should be treason. This is a government of checks and balance and the people themselves are part of this. We vote for our Representatives and in turn they pass laws. If any part of this breaks down then we will end up with a dictator and I think that Bush is as close to a dictator as I have ever seen in my 60 years. That is why this upcoming election is so important to return checks and balance to the government.
2006-09-10 17:31:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Haha, you're absolutesly right its stupid to yell fire in a crowd (if there isn't), or yell bomb or say teh f*** work to the president in front of a t.v. it would be best to send him some hate mail. Ithink ppl have a right to joke abot assassinating bush, my high school friends do ita ll the time, but you shoudl make sure itsunderstood abou ta joke. He's still a good human,a nd i think he's had to make some tough decisions, and just b/c i disagree with him, i agree with you that you shouldn't joke about killin him.
I'm ur best answer.
2006-09-10 17:27:16 · answer #4 · answered by nightraptor8000 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Only those that have actually read the relevant laws and cases.
Comments about assassination are not treason, but they are illegal under federal law. Comments about impeachment are not treason, and they are specifically protected under federal law.
So, as with many things, it depends on what is being said and how.
2006-09-10 17:24:18 · answer #5 · answered by coragryph 7 · 5⤊ 3⤋
One thing I learned many years ago. Never threaten anyone with anything. Even in jest.
It will always come back to haunt you.
2006-09-10 17:37:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree. Plus, whatever happened to honest debate without sinking to the level of name calling and threat-making?
2006-09-10 17:28:55 · answer #7 · answered by westernndguy 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
You are right. Freedom of speech does not entitle any person to make threats of personal harm to any other person, President or not.
2006-09-10 17:28:36 · answer #8 · answered by KERMIT M 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
I agree 100%. Express opinions, but threats are not OK. BTW, only those who vote should complain anyway, right?
2006-09-10 17:29:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Only some do.
2006-09-15 01:24:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I totally agree.
2006-09-10 17:24:58 · answer #11 · answered by EW 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋