General Discussion

onenote

(46,151 posts)

47. possibly a crime, but not "treason"

Sat Jan 31, 2015, 07:11 PM

Jan 2015

As has been pointed out countless times on this board, "treason" is, under the US Constitution, a very narrowly defined crime that would not encompass threatening the President. However, threatening the President IS a crime (18 USC 871), albeit a much less serious one than treason under the law. (Treason is punishable by a minimum of five years in prison; threatening the President is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison).

I would expect (and hope) that the author of this little bit of tripe will get a call from the Secret Service. But I'm also pretty sure that there will be no prosecution. The courts (including the Supreme Court in the 1969 case of Watts v. US) have found that a distinction must be drawn between true threats and political hyperbole. (The majority in the 5-4 decision consisted of Warren, Marshall, Black, Douglas, and Brennan).

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

56 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Alaska Legislature has lost their minds, and now they are threatening President Obama [View all] J_J_ Jan 2015 OP

sounds like a threat to me. niyad Jan 2015 #1

It sure is a threat. Control-Z Jan 2015 #2

they are at the reading level of a 1st grader so it makes sense to them J_J_ Jan 2015 #9

They may be able to read the words Control-Z Feb 2015 #55

They love 'Green Eggs & Ham' SeattleVet Jan 2015 #28

Ha! Control-Z Feb 2015 #56

But how are you going to safeinOhio Jan 2015 #3

they are drunk off their asses, granted, but they are empowering heavily armed morons to act J_J_ Jan 2015 #14

she went to prison if I remember roguevalley Jan 2015 #36

her husband did, then she divorced him and is with someone else, nice gal J_J_ Jan 2015 #42

Does this person seem qualified to write the state's marijuana legislation? J_J_ Jan 2015 #44

These are the same 'people' who brought you.... J_J_ Jan 2015 #4

Yeah, I can't believe the half million for the pregnancy tests. Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #7

I know what you mean!!! J_J_ Jan 2015 #10

I don't have facebook...could someone who does J_J_ Jan 2015 #5

The Secret Service will hear about it, no doubt. n/t whathehell Jan 2015 #12

Do you really think so? J_J_ Jan 2015 #15

Oh, sure.. whathehell Jan 2015 #19

It's been extremely amusing to watch. Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #6

I wish I could laugh J_J_ Jan 2015 #11

I love the state, too, JJ, Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #25

we get every idiot from every place else with an ax to roguevalley Jan 2015 #37

That's right. Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #38

This is the Alaska legislature in a nutshell J_J_ Jan 2015 #8

WTF??? malaise Jan 2015 #13

I can't see any other way to interpret that J_J_ Jan 2015 #16

Rachel Maddow? Who knows how to really get this to her? J_J_ Jan 2015 #17

100 Mil to the oil companys yeah that will show President Obama who's boss! ChosenUnWisely Jan 2015 #18

Don't blame Alaska for Palin demwing Jan 2015 #22

The geniuses in Alaska promoted her from small town mayor to Governor the people own it. ChosenUnWisely Jan 2015 #23

Sarah quite effectively stuck her finger in the eyes Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #26

i think u have hit the nail on the head questionseverything Jan 2015 #43

Didn't she raise taxes on the Oil Cos (a bunch), bvar22 Jan 2015 #45

Yes, she did, Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #46

That is kinda funny. bvar22 Jan 2015 #49

If you want to see more heads explode Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #52

Well (apologies to Alaskan DU'ers), they can leave and see where that gets them. haele Jan 2015 #20

I believe they have the highest per capital crime and gun murder rate in the country. kelliekat44 Jan 2015 #21

You don't need to look up the link. Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #24

Where is the secret service? onecaliberal Jan 2015 #27

Threatening the life of a sitting President is treason and someone, who can act on it, should. Cleita Jan 2015 #29

possibly a crime, but not "treason" onenote Jan 2015 #47

I believe in the case of legislators who are under oath to uphold the Constitution it is treason or Cleita Jan 2015 #48

Member of the Supreme Court bar here onenote Jan 2015 #50

"You bow to greenies", yet he neglects to mention oil companies lease land and DON'T drill on them ck4829 Jan 2015 #30

They will claim it wasn't a threat to Obama personally but a threat to the Union davidn3600 Jan 2015 #31

"Packin heat", eh? Well don't shoot yourselves in Cha Jan 2015 #32

They should have to deal with the BP oil spill Dustlawyer Jan 2015 #33

read comments here if you want to know how regular alaskans feel J_J_ Jan 2015 #34

I'm loving those comments. Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #39

this is how they plan to cover their tracks J_J_ Jan 2015 #35

Is "packing heat" a metaphor? Trillo Jan 2015 #40

I do not think the asshat bigot was inviting Obama for a spicy BBQ dinner....see "context". Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #51

Big Oil Kochsuckers, every last Republican in Alaska politics. raven mad Jan 2015 #41

Now the governor is going on with this stupid distraction J_J_ Feb 2015 #53

look at this asshat blaming obama after he pushed the new tax bill J_J_ Feb 2015 #54