Man tells Cheney "Your policies in Iraq are reprehensible." SS arrests him.

It’s not just the novels-that was LUCAS’S OWN BACKSTORY FOR HIM, in “Behind the Scenes” type memos.

He reminds me of Ted the lawyer from Scrubs. “Please sir, just fire me!”

“Clinton’s Brand of Jackboot Liberalism,” eh?

My god, I had no idea Clinton was such a monster. Thank you, Cato Institute!

:dubious: yerself, young’un.

Yes, the SDMB did exist then, and it was hosted by AOL. Of the old AOL crew left, the only I can think of offhand are myself, Opal (hi, Opal!), Ed, Lynn, and The Master (Hisself Hisself!). I was new, and don’t claim to accurately remember everyone from the AOL board, but UncleBeer and tomndeb may very well have been there, too.

And yes, I do recall plenty of threads criticizing Pres. C back when.

To Whom It May Concern:

I find Vice President Cheney to be very threatening and many of my friends do also. How do we go about getting him arrested?

File a report with a police department.

Or be someone who has a U.S. Secret Service detail.

Terrorism before Tyranny!

And here’s another example of meanie-Cheney’s sphincter-jerk reaction to criticism:

This morning on Meet the Press Bob Woodword told of a phone conversation with the honorable creep Veep that ended with The Dick shrieking “Bull****!” and hanging up on our intrepid reporter. Not quite in the same league as the time he urged a congresscritter to attempt monogenesis, but indicative that the guy simply can’t stand for someone suggesting he is wrong about something.

What the phuck is a phylactery?

See here for an example. :smiley:

Okay, everybody take a deep breath and calm down.

There ain’t no Nazis. There ain’t no collapse of civilization. There ain’t no onslaught on the Constitution. Chill, people.

What you have here is a perfect example that our system is working very nicely. A Secret Service agent screwed up. The legal system showed that and the victim was released. He is now seeking redress in the courts and I’m quite sure that he will get a nice chunk of money, and that there will be a Secret Service agent in very deep kimchee.

I don’t see anything in the article indicating that he is suing for false arrest (which would be a claim under state law). He’s suing under federal law for violation of his civil rights (specifically his constitutional right to free speech). The federal statute at 42 U.S.C. § 1983 creates this cause of action:

For the record, this is the same federal statute that was used to prosecute the Rodney King cops. It’s basically an abuse of authority claim.

Actually, I take it back. It may not be a § 1983 claim, since we are talking about a federal agent, and not a state agent. Normally, § 1983 creates a cause of action against state and local agents (such as local cops) who violate civil rights. (However, if the federal agent in the case at hand was pressing a state-law assault claim, § 1983 could still apply.)

I’m sure there is an analogous remedy for claims against federal actors for violation of civil rights, but I don’t know the details off the top of my head.

Apparently there exists a right to sue federal agents for violations of civil rights, without the requirement of a specific statute creating the right to sue. Here’s an analogous Supreme Court case involving violation of 4th Amendment rights: Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).

I don’t think you can get that close to the VP, by law, unless you’re waving a campaign contribution.
:smiley:

ahem

ahem

That’s a right nasty frog in your throat you got there. May I offer you a horehound drop?

The fact that someone would be arrested at all ever for saying in a calm tone of voice “your policies in Iraq are reprehensible” is light years beyond “pretty darn bad.” The fact that you would find said actions defensible under any circumstances is even further beyond bad, blowing right past “horrifying” territory and winding up smack in the middle of Dumbassville, population you. No idea if you’re an American or not since you don’t list your location, but on the off chance you’re not, please familiarize yourself with this. And if you are an American and you think the SS’s actions are in any way reasonable or justifiable based on the story as presented, then you’re pathetic.