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173 Comments
- bjkrautk, on 10/12/2007, -10/+62"Federal law prohibits making true threats against the president, and Julia and her parents say what she did was wrong."
Is there anyone who didn't already know this?
(That said, I seriously doubt that they're intending to prosecute a 14-year-old.) - Vary, on 10/12/2007, -5/+42Not an example to 'real terrorists', obviously. An example to vocal dissenters. As in, "yes, it really is against the law to threaten the president, and yes, we will enforce it as and when we please."
- Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -5/+38Of course she got investigated, we all know 14 year old girls on the Internet are really 38 year old fat virginal men.
- TheWorm, on 10/12/2007, -7/+40Talking about killing the president is not the right way to make a political statement because that's no better than what you're fighting against. But before you start bashing her for being 14, it's also wrong to assume that because someone is a kid they're ignorant about politics. A lot of teenagers are smarter than they're given credit for.
- theantidote, on 10/12/2007, -6/+34As much as I hate the President's policies I would never consider killing him. That's just stupid.
Besides I thought it was common sense that you aren't allowed to make death threats against the government, just like you can't try to photocopy money. - Vary, on 10/12/2007, -13/+35Yeah, it's clear they were just trying to make an example of her.
- smkelly, on 10/12/2007, -3/+25Indeed. This is what is supposed to happen. If you threaten the President, expect to be visited. It just isn't a smart thing to do, and not very cool either.
I mean, come on. Do you really want Cheney in that chair? - uncontested, on 10/12/2007, -26/+48A true threat? From a 14 year old girl posting on MySpace? Get a grip please.
And making an example out of her? Again, 14 year old girl posting on MySpace. I'm sure the terrorists and real nutjobs are shaking in their boots. - jtizzle, on 10/12/2007, -4/+25If you threaten the present, you upset the future.
- devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -8/+27Feds and the Secret Service especially make it a point to check out thoroughly EVERY SINGLE threat against the President's life that they hear about. They'll go check whether it's a teenie bopper on myspace or a hardened assassin... but with the former, they'll say "Don't do that anymore, miss" and with the latter there will be a real investigation. Nothing to see here, guys, sorry.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -8/+26The whole treason thing in the US is somewhat hypocritical.
Our nation was founded partly on the idea that we have the duty to overthrow a government that doesn't serve the people (see the Second Amendment). At the same time, treason is the highest crime.
The constitution says:
"Treason, then, is defined only as going to war against the USA, or aiding the enemies of the USA. To be convicted, the accused must confess to treason, or be accused by two direct witnesses of the treason."
To be honest, threatening to kill the President seem much like 'treason'. In fact, that people are harassing a 14-year old in his name are reasons to threaten the President, as he's no longer representing us.
His life should not be put on a pedestal because of his position, especially when the threatening. Law makers, at the state and federal level, continue to try and pass legislation that makes threatening them have worse punishments than threatening an average citizen. This is simply wrong. - tidu, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21Making death threats doesn't sound like politics, sounds like something she heard in a song or on the internets and believed it.
- mhii, on 10/12/2007, -5/+17If it had been the KGB no one would have heard from the girl or her parents ever again.
- Arramol, on 10/12/2007, -7/+20"Beneath the words "Kill Bush," Wilson posted a cartoonish photo-collage of a knife stabbing the hand of the president."
It actually is the job of the Secret Service to investigate threats against the President, even if they come from a seemingly harmless source. Even with a 14 year old girl, there's no way to tell just from a MySpace whether it's a serious threat or not. She could have some sort of mental illness that makes her willing to actually act on these threats, as improbable as it may seem. At the very least, she was foolish enough to post that image on the Internet. I'm all for freedom of speech, but you can't cry 1st Amendment when you actually call for the death of the President and get slapped on the wrist for it. - zacmccormick, on 10/12/2007, -4/+16@netroid
RTFA, it says she made a page that says "KILL BUSH" and underneath it a collage of photos of him getting stabbed with a knife. We have laws here, there are no absolute freedoms, "freedom of speech" doesn't mean you can say anything you want to whoever you want whenever you want. You have to exercise some moderation and consideration, and what she did is hardly that. Examples of restrictions of freedom of speech would be: lying in court, obscenity, defamation, slander, noise violations, the list goes on. Freedom of Speech is a wonderful thing, but like anything else in the world, it can be too much of a good thing, which is why we have such limitations. - Vary, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14Dustyb wrote: "But as a result this will most likely ruin any chance she'll have of getting a decent job, if this shows up on her record."
If you mean her criminal record, that shouldn't be a problem. First, she's a minor, and second, she was never even arrested, just questioned.
It'll certainly show up on a google search, but I can't see that hurting her too much. I've done a lot of hiring myself, and I wouldn't hold something like this against an applicant. And if she spins it right it'll make a hell of a college application essay. - elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -8/+19Missing option. The federal agents are more retarded.
- dan2, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14You're right, Bush is the best president ever!
- titlesaysitall, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1714 year old and politics, in the same sentence? No way!
- jonesyhahaha, on 10/12/2007, -7/+17"Of course, being that this is Digg and infested with young liberals who just fall into the "I hate Bush" mantra simply because it's the latest fad."
As opposed to young liberals who actually dislike Bush, because everything he does is regressive, because he is terrible for America, because he has caused the deaths of over half a million people (655,000+ Iraqis now, not counting U.S. troops, and the Afghani war), because he is ruining our future with his pro-global-warming policies, because he puts his own religious views above the humanitarian ethic founded and nurtered in this country for the last few hundred years...?
You act as if the liberal party is composed of 16 year-olds who get all their news from the Daily Show. Welcome to the real world: grow up and get a ****ing clue. - Dewhead, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10No, threatening to kill someone is not covered under free speech.
- thomasprebble, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14It is people like you that help keep your country ignorant.
- griz, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11"The couple are disturbed however, that federal agents questioned a child at school without her parents present."
Agreed, were they afraid that if they approached the student at home that the parents would interfere? - schabrat14, on 10/12/2007, -6/+15@nick your comment pisses me off so bad! You should be banned from speaking ever again, for your blatant ignorance. Let me guess....when she is grown up and done playing with her finger nails and wondering about what skirt she is going to wear the next day.....she is to get married, cook meals, and tend to her family!!!!!! And her happy husband should be the one worrying about politics!!!!!!! Get a clue looser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- griz, on 10/12/2007, -13/+21@ uncontested
Yea, because 14 year olds are never a threat to anyone.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777958.html - spooky760, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8For someone who is against the liberalism on the discussion, probably not a good idea to refer to the Secret Service as SS. Tends to conjure up negative images. :-)
- neko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Yes, kill him and he will become more powerful than we could ever imagine.
- elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -12/+18Well, the only way to see what will happen is to test it.
I will kill the president. - zeebee, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Parents of minor children should be present during questioning, on any type of official basis.
But, calm down, it's just a part of Bush's New
"No 'Left' Child Left Behind Act"! - polyGone, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8@schabrat14
Dugg up for sheer number of !!!!!!! - jefffm, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11please, generalize more
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6"A lot of teenagers are smarter than they're given credit for."
...as evident by the "Kill Bush" message the girl was sending. "Hey, I kinda don't agree with this guy, let's just kill him." That's some pretty smart thinking right there. - devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7He doesn't have "special rights"... he has a dedicated security detail. One of the duties of that detail, or any good security detail, is to investigate threats against the person they are sworn to protect. They are agents of the state, protecting the chief officer of the state. Nothing wrong with that.
- Clbck, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8Yeah, let's make generalisations about ALL teenagers! If they agree with their parents, they're just following a role-model. If they disagree, they're obviously just trying to be rebellious!
/sarcasm
No. As someone who went to a Christian Private school, I can assure you that yes, many kids will just go with the flow. However, there will always be younger people who know and understand the issues. I had to form my own opinions about politics. My teachers at that school were very conservative (and so were the students). A lot of what they said concerning politics did not really make senese, so I studied issues, and determined which party was most like the one I liked. My parents did not tell me their political positions until AFTER I had started ranting about the sheep at my school.
We can assume all we want, but we don't know if she was a liberal because of her parents, her friends, or if she actually did research into the issues. - Soldan, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10I dont think being "liberal" is an in thing... there are a alot of logical reasons to oppose the current administation.
The war on terror is formost...since it is not really possible to crush ideas through force.
The public school system does give a full view of international relations so its hard for a young person to make an informed choice..
still on the surface there are so many liars and crooks in the GOP right now you cant help but hate them... heck they make Newt Gingrich look like a saint.. - SonicAD, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4In Soviet Russia, President kill YOU!
- Jaymoon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"...I didn't see any mention of killing in the article...."
Um...3rd paragraph... - bennyboy371, on 10/12/2007, -6/+10You remember when you're young and someone pisses you off, so you scream you're going to kill them? It doesn't mean literally.
- polyGone, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Lets not equate age with intelligence.
- KibibyteBrain, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Mozart
Gauss
List goes on...
Smarter than me when they were nine. - redpickle, on 10/12/2007, -10/+14Hell, it makes me proud that young people are getting involved (although in this case, a bit more drastic way than most).
- Lane, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7i feel a federal bitch slap comming around. wait till her parents file their taxes this time around.
- gwolf, on 10/12/2007, -5/+8The president’s oath of office says "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.".
I suppose that means he should kill him self and keep his oath. - rushmc, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5The President is an administrator, elected to do a job for 4 years. He's not a king. The laws that dictate what you can and cannot say about him, distinguishing him from any other American, are undemocratic and just wrong.
Would the SS have visited her if her knife collage picture had been David Hasselhoff or Paris Hilton? Her best friend? Her teacher? The tax assessor of her county? The President should have no special rights that they don't have as Americans. - there, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I'm no fan of this administration but I don't think it's appropriate to threaten the President and the secret service did act responsibly. They don't know in advance if a threat is real or not and have to investigate.
The fact she wasn't charged with anything even shows some common sense at work. - kelpee, on 10/12/2007, -9/+12The point is not what she did, even she agrees that was wrong. The point is that Federal Agents pulled her out of class and questioned her without a guardian present. That's wrong.
- devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Gwolf - Well, this article doesn't say anything about how much time is spent investigating all those "credible" threats... only that they talked to this girl. There was no stakeout, no criminal investigation, in fact these guys probably had 5 stops today investigating death threats, given this president's approval rating. If there's a good reason to really go into something, I'm sure they will. If not, it's a "Please don't do that again, miss" and they're off.
- devindotcom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4gwolf, what does ANY of that have to do with the issue at hand? We're not even talking about that *****, whether or not anybody agrees with it.
- guesty, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6@ Postophagus
Both sides are bad. I vote for peace. Screw politics. - Dewhead, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7Several kids have been questioned about things they have posted on myspace. Stuff like wanting to kill kids at school and teachers and they have been arrested for it. If she was my kid, I would want her to be scared and embarrassed for acting like a moron. Maybe this girl will get a clue. It is so sad that our society has become so disrespectful towards elected leaders.
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