Man's letter brings Secret Service

[shrekjr]

I'm a pretty good Republican, but it seems we must be very careful what is said publicly.

From the Dallas Morning News

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) -- An elderly man who wrote in a letter to the editor about Saddam Hussein's execution that "they hanged the wrong man" got a visit from Secret Service agents concerned he was threatening President Bush...

...It wasn't Tilli's first run-in with the federal government over his letter writing. Two FBI agents from Allentown showed up at his home last year about a letter he wrote advocating a civil war to unseat Bush, he said.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/ ... CTION=HOME

[Adam Gamradt]

Interesting. The letter writer never named President Bush, but the Secret Service treated it as an implied threat. I wonder what path this letter took to reach the Secret Service's list of people who need a personal visit.

There was a recent caller to NPR, a man who's son had been killed in Iraq.

The man and NPR actually named President Bush, and said he should be next in line. The interviewers were stunned, but they handled his pain quite well. Basically, thanks for your sons sacrifice, and thanks for calling to express your opinion. It was quite shocking.

Both of these men have a right to express their opinion.

They also both have a reasonable expectation that the Secret Service may show up at their door to gauge their intentions.

Here's a working link about the letter.

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/index.p ... id=1039032

[Tim Whitehead]

It seems odd to me that the country that is supposed to be a beacon for free speech and freedom has innocent citizens being harrassed by the government for saying things that aren't even threats. Saying that Bush should be hanged is not the same as a threat. I really think you guys should be up in arms about something like this.

[Jolly Roger]

He wasn't being prevented from speaking, he is being asked about what he said.

At what point do you intercede Tim? Thought? Discussion? Planning? Recruitment? Execution of plot? This guy sees to already be on the secret service speed dail. If he said "I want to bomb SFU", would you want someone to talk to him?

I think our current politcal environment of overall dissatisfaction may impact the timing, but when more people are unhappy, I think there's probably more rationalization of endorsement in a kook's mind.

If the populace was in a better mood, an intervention would be more likely dismissed.

[StrykerFSU]

Questioning is not the same as harrassment.

If I swerve while driving my car doesn't a police have the obligation to investigate me for possibly driving under the influence. It's not harrassment, it's investigation. If, after questioning me, he determines that I was not under the influence then no harm, no foul. That is much like what has happened in this case. The man wrote a letter that raised suspicion (swerved in his car) but was deemed not a threat (sober) after questioning.

I am not surprised that he was from Bethlejam, lots of old kooks in that town. He probably was the one that used to complain about the loud music coming from my house too!

[Steno]

Personally, I think that the fact the SS (wow, I didn't see that acronym until now - no wonder they don't use it) came knocking on this guy's door is just more evidence that our "republican" government is getting more and more interested in the private lives of our citizens, and more and more scared of what we can do. To me it is gratifying to know that there is a healthy amount of fear in the upper levels - a fear that would not exist if the government was doing its job well. 2008 can't come quickly enough.

[Sonny]

Personally, I think that the fact the SS (wow, I didn't see that acronym until now - no wonder they don't use it) came knocking on this guy's door is just more evidence that our "republican" government is getting more and more interested in the private lives of our citizens, and more and more scared of what we can do. To me it is gratifying to know that there is a healthy amount of fear in the upper levels - a fear that would not exist if the government was doing its job well. 2008 can't come quickly enough.

The SS under Clinton (or any other non GOP president) would have done the same exact thing - investigate the threat.

You guys are really grasping at straws here.

[sohotrightnow]

Seems like Australia is cracking down as well:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 359S82.DTL

[Zeuslax]

Seems like Australia is cracking down as well:

I guess if this was incremental, and I was wearing my Bush & Cheney leave no billionaire behind T-shirt, I wouldn't get the inflight snack or something.

[Tim Whitehead]

Personally, I think that the fact the SS (wow, I didn't see that acronym until now - no wonder they don't use it) came knocking on this guy's door is just more evidence that our "republican" government is getting more and more interested in the private lives of our citizens, and more and more scared of what we can do. To me it is gratifying to know that there is a healthy amount of fear in the upper levels - a fear that would not exist if the government was doing its job well. 2008 can't come quickly enough.

The SS under Clinton (or any other non GOP president) would have done the same exact thing - investigate the threat.

You guys are really grasping at straws here.

You say I'm grasping at straws, I say its sad that you live in a country where people can't say what they really feel without the fear of the government harrassing them.

[CATLAX MAN]

There is a big difference between harassment and investigation of a potential threat. Wouldn't you be criticizing our government for their inaction if this fellow actually tried to kill the president and no investigation was undertaken despite having warnings about them? Isn't that the same type of question that the 9/11 commission was asking about the administration's knowledge of what they knew before the attacks took place? You can't have it both ways....either you want potential problems addressed ahead of time or you don't.

[fsusg]

The joys of living in Bethlehem...it was actually the first thing I heard on the radio this morning.

[StrykerFSU]

No, no, no...the joy of living in Bethlehm is 40's from Campus Pizza on a snow day.

I still don't understand how the argument can be made that the Secret Service was out of line. They investigated, saw no threat, and went away.

As for the Aussie, a lot of people might have been offended by a shirt showing a slogan that baselessly slanders an international leader. While everyone has the right to free speech, we also have the right not to be exposed to offensive messages. I don't wear my F$&* Lafayette shirt in public for that very reason. I would be considered offensive and classless.

[sohotrightnow]

While everyone has the right to free speech, we also have the right not to be exposed to offensive messages.

So what if somebody had a shirt that said "George Bush is the second coming of Christ" or "George Bush is my hero?"

I would find both of those offensive.

[Tim Whitehead]

There is a big difference between harassment and investigation of a potential threat. Wouldn't you be criticizing our government for their inaction if this fellow actually tried to kill the president and no investigation was undertaken despite having warnings about them? Isn't that the same type of question that the 9/11 commission was asking about the administration's knowledge of what they knew before the attacks took place? You can't have it both ways....either you want potential problems addressed ahead of time or you don't.

That's the thing. I don't think this is a potential threat. I would hope the administration would know the difference between an old man that doesn't like Bush and someone who is actually going to do something.