Man Arrested For Exercising His First Amendment Rights

[Videokid]

On June 16, 2006 Steve Howards of Denver Colorado was walking his son to a piano practice, when he saw VP Dick Cheney in an outdoor mall area, shaking hands and posing for pictures with several people.

Howards and his son walked to Cheney and said to the vice president, "I think your policies in Iraq are reprehensible."

As he passed by the mall again, on his way back, Howards was arrested by the Secret Service.

He filed a lawsuit.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...039230,00.html

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...083602,00.html

[Mark]

Guy in story sounds like a First amendment asswipe!
The First amendment doesn't give you the right to be an obnoxious ass....
You can be one but watch your back as offending/harrasing people with your political views left or right is just plain bad manners and can be percieved as threats.
He most of all knew this could happen but he seems to welcome the attention.
He just wants his 15 minutes..

(what a bogus tale also."I just happened to be walking my kid to piano practice"..yeah right!)

Mark
Quote: Jack Handey - “If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them.”

[WA1CRZ]

Yep! I agree. A Libtard teaching his son how to be a Libtard. They should have arrested his son too.

[regression]

Wow, telling someone you disagree with them is a threat. Thanks for clarifying that.

Now, don't disagree with what I said, because that means you are harassing me!!!!

[Utah_Viper]

The more I see all you neo-con following anti-American, against OUR Constitutional rights people on this board I think I'm going to quit coming here. You all are complete idiots and have no clue whats happening in this country.

[WA1CRZ]

Im sure this Howards guy deserved being arrested. Truth be told, he probably more than "brushed" the Vice President. Im sure he grabbed Cheney in some fashion. When he came back again, the Secret Service guys were doing their job. If you feel this action taken by the agents was uncalled for, perhaps you might have an opinion about Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/2007072...eaknoillofhugo
Seeing so many Liberals feel our country is so terrible, maybe youd prefer our country to be run the way Hugo is running Venezuela?
"President Hugo Chavez announced on Sunday that foreigners who publicly criticize his government will be deported"

[regression]

Originally Posted by WA1CRZ

Im sure this Howards guy deserved being arrested. Truth be told, he probably more than "brushed" the Vice President. Im sure he grabbed Cheney in some fashion. When he came back again, the Secret Service guys were doing their job. If you feel this action taken by the agents was uncalled for, perhaps you might have an opinion about Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/2007072...eaknoillofhugo
Seeing so many Liberals feel our country is so terrible, maybe youd prefer our country to be run the way Hugo is running Venezuela?
"President Hugo Chavez announced on Sunday that foreigners who publicly criticize his government will be deported"

How are you "sure" he grabbed Cheney? Where in the article does it say that? Where in the article does it say he "brushed" Cheney?

I would like to think the Secret Service is more responsive than to wait for someone who grabs the Vice President to leave the scene, then voluntarily come back to the scene before taking action. I would hope as soon as someone would grab the Vice President, they would be right there to protect him.

[mikepdx]

Originally Posted by Utah_Viper

The more I see all you neo-con following anti-American, against OUR Constitutional rights people on this board I think I'm going to quit coming here. You all are complete idiots and have no clue whats happening in this country.

A lot of truly patriotic Americans have died in
many wars to preserve those constitutional rights.

It's regrettable that many Americans who would describe themseves
as patriots have no problem with our 'supreme court appointed' President
wiping many of these rights away with executive orders.

We are rapidly becoming like the countries our forefathers escaped from.

Sometimes I feel as if a second civil war can't come soon enough.

[Utah_Viper]

Originally Posted by mikepdx

A lot of truly patriotic Americans have died in
many wars to preserve those constitutional rights.

It's regrettable that many Americans who would describe themseves
as patriots have no problem with our 'supreme court appointed' President
wiping many of these rights away with executive orders.

We are rapidly becoming like the countries our forefathers escaped from.

Sometimes I feel as if a second civil war can't come soon enough.

I agree totally with you. my comments were NOT directed at the original poster.

[ohiodesperado]

Hmmmm, First off, IF he had some idea that he wanted to do the VP harm, it's plausible that he would have first attempted to get in close to him. This is similar to the actions the 9/11 terrorists took in getting on airplanes, then getting on planes with weapons. It's to see what level you can go before someone calls you on your actions. The secret service knows this and is aware of the tactic. It's interesting that he claimed that he was 'walking his child to piano lessons'. I have a serious issue with the truth of this statement because the VP, or any other person of interest is not allowed by there guardians to remain in a single location for an extended length of time in public. It opens them up for attack. So this guy would have specifically wanted to have multiple contacts with the VP. Either he ran from the crowd to drop off his child, or somehow was VERY quick about getting were he was going and back the to crowd. This alone is enough to raise suspension.
Also, federal agents don't arrest, they detain people. There is a major legal difference, and that difference is why if you fit the description of a criminal and you are DETAINED for questioning, you can't bring wrongful arrest charges against the officer that detained you.

One must also remember that in this day and age, you can bring suit over about anything.
I am completely in my bounds legally to bring a suit against the starter of this threat claiming mental anguish, and lost time due to needing to defend a particular political stance. IT requires me to have your full name, address and a $35 filing fee here at the county court. The case would of course be thrown out of court, but not before you hired a lawyer and made a case for that to happen. This case is also without merit, but when put in front of 12 that couldn't come up with enough of an excuse, many waiting for their chance to hit the legal lottery. One can never tell how this might end up.

But here's the short story on it. All the secret service has to prove is they perceived a threat. Having said individual attempting to access a person of interest twice in a short period of time is plenty of motive for that argument.

[shaft]

Originally Posted by WA1CRZ

Im sure this Howards guy deserved being arrested. Truth be told, he probably more than "brushed" the Vice President. Im sure he grabbed Cheney in some fashion. When he came back again, the Secret Service guys were doing their job. If you feel this action taken by the agents was uncalled for, perhaps you might have an opinion about Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/2007072...eaknoillofhugo
Seeing so many Liberals feel our country is so terrible, maybe youd prefer our country to be run the way Hugo is running Venezuela?
"President Hugo Chavez announced on Sunday that foreigners who publicly criticize his government will be deported"

I can guarantee you that if this guy actually grabbed or brushed the VP in any aggrssive manor other than just shaking hands with him, the Secret Service would have taken him down immediately and detained him. They dont fool around with their protectees and wait until a later time to arrest the guy.

[Don_Burke]

Originally Posted by Utah_Viper

I think I'm going to quit coming here. You all are complete idiots and have no clue whats happening in this country.

Bye

I miss you already.

[shaft]

Originally Posted by regression

How are you "sure" he grabbed Cheney? Where in the article does it say that? Where in the article does it say he "brushed" Cheney?

I would like to think the Secret Service is more responsive than to wait for someone who grabs the Vice President to leave the scene, then voluntarily come back to the scene before taking action. I would hope as soon as someone would grab the Vice President, they would be right there to protect him.

You are reading too much into it, he thought he touched the VP

Originally Posted by From the article

Later, he would recall that he may have lightly touched Cheney on the arm or shoulder because, "I remember thinking, 'He's wearing silk.' "

[shaft]

Originally Posted by Mark

Guy in story sounds like a First amendment asswipe!
The First amendment doesn't give you the right to be an obnoxious ass....

Actually it does

You can be one but watch your back as offending/harrasing people with your political views left or right is just plain bad manners and can be percieved as threats.

You can be offensive, but harrasing is not so good and can be criminal.

He most of all knew this could happen but he seems to welcome the attention.
He just wants his 15 minutes..

Maybe so, but it was his right as a citizen to let his elected officials know how he feels about the job he/she is doing

(what a bogus tale also."I just happened to be walking my kid to piano practice"..yeah right!)

How do you know? Where you there? Its actually quite possible this was the scenario.

[midnightcaller]

Originally Posted by Utah_Viper

The more I see all you neo-con following anti-American, against OUR Constitutional rights people on this board I think I'm going to quit coming here. You all are complete idiots and have no clue whats happening in this country.

Some gal went up to president Clinton and said " you suck" preident Clinton had her arrested

[ibagli]

I doubt the full story of what happened from either point of view has been told. One man's brush is another man's grab. It would be reprehensible if he was arrested/detained (like it really matters to the person its done to at the time) simply for airing his views.

[Thayne]

You know, this happened last October--Why is it being brought up now?

I suppose next someone will bring up Ward Churchill; at least that isn't 10 months old--
and it is about as important. I am going to go think about radios now

[Videokid]

Originally Posted by Mark

Guy in story sounds like a First amendment asswipe!

Really? What does that MEAN? He's an asswipe because he's doing exactly that which this country is supposed to stand for? I'm tired of hearing people throwing slogans left and right.

Originally Posted by Mark

The First amendment doesn't give you the right to be an obnoxious ass....

First off, define "obniouxs ass". I don't think they even teach that at the Pat Robertson school of Quasi-Psedu-Law where obnoxious assiness is illegal.

Seriously though, the first amendment protects all speech with a few exceptions like speech that incites violence or harm towards others, for example.

Originally Posted by Mark

You can be one but watch your back as offending/harassing people with your political views left or right is just plain bad manners and can be perceived as threats.

Political views? I guess anytime a citizen talks with an elected politician the exchange they have should only be described as "banter" so as not to be considered a "political view".

There is no such law that says, "offending people" with "your political views" "is "just plain bad manners and can be perceived as threats." It doesn't even qualify as harassment because it doesn't fit the legal definition of harassment.

Bad manners DON'T EQUAL Threats.

I think you just went from opinion, to making stuff up.

Instead of protecting people's rights, that were given to them by the constitution, you're defending the people who are ignoring the constitution and making up their own laws.

[Videokid]

Originally Posted by midnightcaller

Some gal went up to president Clinton and said " you suck" preident Clinton had her arrested

How about a reliable source? Can you cite one? I'm really curious to read about the incident.

[Videokid]

Originally Posted by Thayne

You know, this happened last October--Why is it being brought up now?

I suppose next someone will bring up Ward Churchill; at least that isn't 10 months old--
and it is about as important. I am going to go think about radios now

You're right. The illegal wiretapping program started sometime in 2002.....Why even bring it up it's been ...oh I don't know....60 years now. Let's forget it and move on.