With all the hotheaded posts I read after this election, I just wanted to warn felow Kossacks of what heppened to another hotheaded dem blogger.
No, it wasn't me. I knew better. Nevertheless, it's a true story and you guys deserve to be warned.
NOTE!!!!
Anti-Bush rant gone bad brings FBI to your doorstep. Worse, it can hurt kos too. So ZIP IT
You think I'm kidding ? I kid you not
This happened BEFORE Bush II - The attack of the fundie clones:
Secret service visits Blogger - Anti-Bush rant gone bad
Never EVER make a comment online that could in any way be misconstrued as a threat against any high-ranking official (or anyone for that matter)
It always ends up in headaches, regardless wether you meant it or not
anniesj: a word to the wise [Not me but story is TRUE - law]
http://www.livejournal.com/users/anniesj/331112.html
A couple of weeks ago, following the last presidential debate, I said some rather inflammatory things about George W. Bush in a public post in my LJ, done in a satirical style...
I was wrong.
At 9:45 last night, the Secret Service showed up on my mother's front door
A couple of weeks ago, following the last presidential debate, I said some rather inflammatory things about George W. Bush in a public post in my LJ, done in a satirical style. We laughed, we ranted, we all said some things. I thought it was a fairly harmless (and rather obvious) attempt at humor in the face of annoyance, and while a couple of people were offended, as is typical behavior from me, I saw something shiny and forgot about it, thinking that the whole thing was over and done and nothing else would come of what I said.
I was wrong.
At 9:45 last night, the Secret Service showed up on my mother's front door to talk to me about what I said about the President, as what I said could apparently be misconstrued as a threat to his life.
If the Secret Service wants an Interview:
You have the Right to have an Attorney present. Use it.
This is not just a technicality. While many (most?) Agents will be acting in good faith, even they will have cultural biases which may cause them to misconstrue your words, and report what they thought they heard
In Sept. 1996 I casually mentioned, as a guest on Wisconsin Public Radio, my intention to leaflet at a Gore appearance. Somehow this was reported to the SS as a plan to stage a "protest.
Next day I got a call from a Madison Police Dept. officer informing me that the Secret Service wanted to "interview me." I agreed, but insisted that this occur in a public place, suggesting a coffee shop near the State Capitol. I tipped off a couple sympathetic reporters, who dressed out of character and sat at the next table. I brought my Attorney, and an openly displayed taperecorder.
At first the Secret Service would not proceed with my tape running. when I explained my reluctance to proceed without a record, and told them that without it the interview was off, they relented.
I explained that I planned only to leaflet, the local cop agreed that this was indeed my right, and offered what proved to be an ideal spot outside the building where the speech was to occur.
by ben masel