@mlarrabee:

Funny history about the Supreme Court: originally, the Constitution gave them jack shit in terms of power. Then John Marshall said "I get to say what's Constitutional!", and everybody pretty much agreed with him. Keep in mind that this was't too long after the nation's founding, so if the Founding Fathers did have a problem with it, they'd still be able to exert an influence such that it would no longer be a problem. Probably.

@ShadowConqueror said:

Those people are all idiots. It is absolutely illegal to threaten the president, so hopefully those who did will be prosecuted accordingly.

Free speech, dude.

It's our right (given by the Constitution) to overthrow a Tyrannical Government.

I'm not saying the Government is tyrannical (yet) but when it is, we have a duty to stop it.

@Video_Game_King: Yeah...

Man, now I'm all depressed about my country... The moon's still cool, right? Tell me we haven't screwed up the moon!

@Voxel said:

@mlarrabee

The American right to overthrow the American government, violently, if necessary, is clearly stated in the constitution.

But here's an idea. You could stop posting extreme-spectrum political party rants and we could all talk about video games.

Yeah, but that would never happen because all of the uprisers would be shot.

We have guns too, and more of them than the Government. Not to mention, if the Government tries to overrule the Constitution, the Military would rebel too.

@mlarrabee:

Well, you certainly screwed your way out of getting here, what with that whole space race dick contest in the 60s.

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

@No0b0rAmA said:

Do you just go around searching for extremists on the internet and say ``This is what all republicans are like"?

This. I consider myself a republican and theres no way in hell i'm anything like this.

Actually, I have never said all Republicans are like this. I imagine an extremely tiny minority of them are. Not even closee to the majority of The Tea Party in my mind is like this. Also, not many Christians are like this (even the Fundamentalists are just peaceful people who want to live their faith in peace). Extremists are ratbags that are a blight on what would otherwise be very sane and reasonable groups. It is like saying that because a right-wing Christian shoots an abortion doctor, all Christians are bad. I can't stress this too much. I only read these after I am linked to them by a Facebook "friend". If that person didn't post them, I would be oblivious to much of it - although, Jon Stewart exposes me to some of it.

I am, and are always, only talking about he extreme ends of polictical thought. It only takes a single extremist (Unabomber Ted Kaczynski) or a small group of patriots (the Oklohoma bombing by Timothy McVeigh & co) to do significant damage. Disaffected people are drawn to extreme actions, both on the left and right. I read comments like those, add in patrotism and guns and do worry what is coming.

I believe our government was designed in a way to allow people and groups like this to exist. We were founded by a bunch of old rich rebels who didn't want to pay their taxes, and like it or not they probably sounded a lot like this. Ignoring that these people are idiots, read the constitution and the amendments and you'll see that America has always built in the power for our citizens to be able to overthrow the government if enough of us united together under the belief that we felt it was unjust. I find some of the comments about how illegal this is and hoping these people get punished a little disheartening, you should always question what feels right to YOU, and not let the government decide for you. Thats what these people are doing, and regardless of how much I disagree with them, I support them in their stupid misguided attempts. If it were illegal to be an idiot, then we would all be guilty.

@Stonyman65 said:

@ShadowConqueror said:

Those people are all idiots. It is absolutely illegal to threaten the president, so hopefully those who did will be prosecuted accordingly.

Free speech, dude.

It's our right (given by the Constitution) to overthrow a Tyrannical Government.

I'm not saying the Government is tyrannical (yet) but when it is, we have a duty to stop it.

It's amazing to me how many people, like yourself, hide behind "free speech" like it's some kind of magical shield that allows them to say whatever they want, about whatever they want, to whomever they want, but the truth is that since the creation of the United States there have always been limitations to what a person can say. Speech that presents an incitement to crime (also known as imminent lawless action) or true threats are illegal. While it is true, as was the case in Watts v. United States, that political hyperbole and true threats must be distinguished from one another for the speech to be illegal, the people quoted by the OP may very well be sincere in their threats, and law enforcement officials should be investigating these people if they are not already. It all depends on context. A famous example given by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes is that falsely shouting "fire" in a movie theater is illegal because it is dangerous and may cause undue panic and harm to any individuals in said theater. Another example of illegal speech is given by the Supreme Court in Virginia v. Black, where, in accordance with a Virginia law, three members of the Ku Klux Klan were arrested and convicted because they burned a cross. Their conviction was overturned and the law was deemed unconstitutional, but the Court nevertheless determined that "a state ... may ban cross burning carried out with the attempt to intimidate." Therefore, the act of cross burning is not illegal, but doing so to threaten another person is, just as how threats on the president (or anyone, really) may be illegal in certain contexts.

As to your comments about overthrowing a tyrannical government (not sure why you mentioned that in the first place in response to me, because I didn't), but you are incorrect that the United States Constitution gives us the right to do so, much less that we have the right to overthrow it through any means other than democracy. For the first part about the Constitution: you may be thinking of the following quote from the Declaration of Independence (which is not the same thing as our Constitution), which states "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." Now, nowhere in neither the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence does it say that citizens of the United States have the right to incite civil war and overthrow the United States government in any violent means. While I agree with the fact that we have a "duty" -- as you put it -- to overthrow a "tyrannical government," the fact of the matter is that to do so by any means other than democratically would be illegal, and it would have to be one hell of a tyrannical government for the majority of the people to want to overthrow it.

The rants and threats of these, as I said before, idiots are both misguided, foolish, and possibly illegal.

As someone who specializes in American History, I find the insinuation that the US was founded as a Christian republic completely hilarious. Yeah, a bunch of deists who enjoyed Enlightenment thought wanted a Christian republic...

@Stonyman65 said:

It's our right (given by the Constitution) to overthrow a Tyrannical Government.

Where exactly does it say that?

@President_Barackbar said:

As someone who specializes in American History, I find the insinuation that the US was founded as a Christian republic completely hilarious. Yeah, a bunch of deists who enjoyed Enlightenment thought wanted a Christian republic...

I am a little sheepish to add this, but honestly, I was channel surfing and stopped for a couple of minutes of Hannity (never a wise decision imo). He was talking to Lee Greenwood, who I have never heard of, who wrote a book, Does God Still Bless the USA? He quoted some of the forefathers who talk about God to affirm that indeed, the USA was born of Christian faith (not church, just Christian). My first thought was "sure, old farts from 200 years ago are totally relevant to today".

Now I know he wrote a song that was a hit in 1984, but the kind of song that will generally induce vomit from me. These people who believe this exist in large numbers. If they wish to believe that, it is not a problem, however, when anyone believes they have a God given right to something, it can generally only end badly for some. Someone who gets extremist thoughts can act out believing they are doing God's work, and they are an insult to all the good religious people that abound. The world is always in a constant battle of power and control. History has shown us that religion in power is a recipe for disaster. Democracy or death!

Threatening the President's life (much less anyone's life) is a crime, and attempts to incite a civil war could be seen as treason.

But there's really nothing to worry about here. There's always some fringe group of yahoos that's threatening secession or civil war in the U.S. without any legitimate power or authority at their command.

I need to point out that Julia Gillard (the 'Australian lady') is our worst PM ever and I would argue she and the labor Government are the worst anywhere in the developed world. Also, the Founding Fathers didn't want a Christian Republic, by all accounts they were either agnostic or fiercely secular.

@President_Barackbar said:

@Contrarian: I could write a book composed of nothing but quotes from the same exact men that make them look like atheist douchebags. That doesn't make either of us right.

Selective quoting is always a good thing right? I am sure I can quote Hitler or Stalin selectively and make them look like fine gentleman. It also discounts the fact that people can and regularly change their views throughout life. Oh well, it makes good media for some I guess.

@Inkerman said:

I need to point out that Julia Gillard (the 'Australian lady') is our worst PM ever and I would argue she and the labor Government are the worst anywhere in the developed world. Also, the Founding Fathers didn't want a Christian Republic, by all accounts they were either agnostic or fiercely secular.

Not that I want to get into a local political argument, but I disagree. Australia is the success it is because of the government. The last 5 years didn't happen by accident. I didn't vote for Labor, but I can see the good job they have done, especially considering minority government and the worst, most negative and destructive opposition I have seen here. That's just my view though - democracy and all.

@No0b0rAmA said:

Do you just go around searching for extremists on the internet and say ``This is what all republicans are like"?

He didn't say that at any point... he did say far right, but that's where these people claim to be politically.

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

@Von said:

@Contrarian said:

With all the weapons around, no-one can afford a second US Civil War. It would infect the entire world and we would all suffer. Where and when will all this end?

I beg your pardon? USA has already infected the entire world and we're all suffering from it. There's no denying that USA is a bloody bully, I'm just wondering when people will set their foot down and say "enough!" (and that goes for all people of all nations, not just the american citizens who has to suffer from their own government).

I'm sorry, but what country are you from exactly?

You know how there's a cultural victory condition in Civilization? Yeah... it's a lot like that. Most western nations are fed on a diet of US entertainment media.

While this example is certainly outside of the conservative mainstream, there is definitely a LOT of crazy in the mainstream republican party (http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/06/texas_gops_2012_platform_accidentally_opposes_teaching_of_critical_thinking_skills.php)

Mind you Texas is easily the most populous red state. If you think both parties are equally extreme please find a state democratic party platform that has that many certifiably insane things in it.

@Voxel said:

@mlarrabee

The American right to overthrow the American government, violently, if necessary, is clearly stated in the constitution.

But here's an idea. You could stop posting extreme-spectrum political party rants and we could all talk about video games.

Yeah, but that would never happen because all of the uprisers would be shot.

Oh God! Video games are DOOMED!

@Korwin said:

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

@Von said:

@Contrarian said:

With all the weapons around, no-one can afford a second US Civil War. It would infect the entire world and we would all suffer. Where and when will all this end?

I beg your pardon? USA has already infected the entire world and we're all suffering from it. There's no denying that USA is a bloody bully, I'm just wondering when people will set their foot down and say "enough!" (and that goes for all people of all nations, not just the american citizens who has to suffer from their own government).

I'm sorry, but what country are you from exactly?

You know how there's a cultural victory condition in Civilization? Yeah... it's a lot like that. Most western nations are fed on a diet of US entertainment media.

Except in this case it's a cultural loss not a victory. At least most of the extreme unhealthy food hasn't gotten out of there yet, that would just kill us all.

Whoever said they wanted Julia Gillard as their President or whatever probably doesn't know what they're talking about, she seems the exact opposite of what these crazies want.

<>

@Shirogane said:

@Korwin said:

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

@Von said:

@Contrarian said:

With all the weapons around, no-one can afford a second US Civil War. It would infect the entire world and we would all suffer. Where and when will all this end?

I beg your pardon? USA has already infected the entire world and we're all suffering from it. There's no denying that USA is a bloody bully, I'm just wondering when people will set their foot down and say "enough!" (and that goes for all people of all nations, not just the american citizens who has to suffer from their own government).

I'm sorry, but what country are you from exactly?

You know how there's a cultural victory condition in Civilization? Yeah... it's a lot like that. Most western nations are fed on a diet of US entertainment media.

Except in this case it's a cultural loss not a victory. At least most of the extreme unhealthy food hasn't gotten out of there yet, that would just kill us all.

Whoever said they wanted Julia Gillard as their President or whatever probably doesn't know what they're talking about, she seems the exact opposite of what these crazies want.

True, they'd shit their pants if someone like our red headed overlord was elected.

You know I wonder if there were many national fast food chains in Australia and England etc. prior to McDonald's rise to ultimate fast food super power 40 years ago.

@Korwin said:

@Shirogane said:

@Korwin said:

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

@Von said:

@Contrarian said:

With all the weapons around, no-one can afford a second US Civil War. It would infect the entire world and we would all suffer. Where and when will all this end?

I beg your pardon? USA has already infected the entire world and we're all suffering from it. There's no denying that USA is a bloody bully, I'm just wondering when people will set their foot down and say "enough!" (and that goes for all people of all nations, not just the american citizens who has to suffer from their own government).

I'm sorry, but what country are you from exactly?

You know how there's a cultural victory condition in Civilization? Yeah... it's a lot like that. Most western nations are fed on a diet of US entertainment media.

Except in this case it's a cultural loss not a victory. At least most of the extreme unhealthy food hasn't gotten out of there yet, that would just kill us all.

Whoever said they wanted Julia Gillard as their President or whatever probably doesn't know what they're talking about, she seems the exact opposite of what these crazies want.

True, they'd shit their pants if someone like our red headed overlord was elected.

You know I wonder if there were many national fast food chains in Australia and England etc. prior to McDonald's rise to ultimate fast food super power 40 years ago.

Wow... what a bunch of bullshit. Australia is not very far behind in the obesity polls so get off your mo fuckin high horses and Julia Gillard isn't shit compared to what we got. Your red headed overlord is not too different from our white headed overlordS. Blaming the US for your countries "cultural problems" is also very lame. No one forces you to purchase American food, entertainment, etc.

@No0b0rAmA said:

Do you just go around searching for extremists on the internet and say ``This is what all republicans are like"?

Welcome to the Internet.

And this is why I don't vote in any politics. Fuck everyone who wants to be a politician. Also, @NlGHTCRAWLER said:

Australia is not very far behind in the obesity polls so get off your mo fuckin high horses and Julia Gillard isn't shit compared to what we got. Your red headed overlord is not too different from our white headed overlordS. Blaming the US for your countries "cultural problems" is also very lame. No one forces you to purchase American food, entertainment, etc.

I personally think you're oversimplifying here, but I also think you're correct. Australia is faring terribly in the obesity rankings, and we're much more heavily dependent on the USA, in my opinion, than we should be, for various reasons which I confess to know nothing about.. It's not that I can really complain about it, but part of the fact is I don't know anything else, so my argument isn't terribly valid.

American video games are pretty good, though...

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

@Korwin said:

@Shirogane said:

@Korwin said:

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

@Von said:

@Contrarian said:

With all the weapons around, no-one can afford a second US Civil War. It would infect the entire world and we would all suffer. Where and when will all this end?

I beg your pardon? USA has already infected the entire world and we're all suffering from it. There's no denying that USA is a bloody bully, I'm just wondering when people will set their foot down and say "enough!" (and that goes for all people of all nations, not just the american citizens who has to suffer from their own government).

I'm sorry, but what country are you from exactly?

You know how there's a cultural victory condition in Civilization? Yeah... it's a lot like that. Most western nations are fed on a diet of US entertainment media.

Except in this case it's a cultural loss not a victory. At least most of the extreme unhealthy food hasn't gotten out of there yet, that would just kill us all.

Whoever said they wanted Julia Gillard as their President or whatever probably doesn't know what they're talking about, she seems the exact opposite of what these crazies want.

True, they'd shit their pants if someone like our red headed overlord was elected.

You know I wonder if there were many national fast food chains in Australia and England etc. prior to McDonald's rise to ultimate fast food super power 40 years ago.

Wow... what a bunch of bullshit. Australia is not very far behind in the obesity polls so get off your mo fuckin high horses and Julia Gillard isn't shit compared to what we got. Your red headed overlord is not too different from our white headed overlordS. Blaming the US for your countries "cultural problems" is also very lame. No one forces you to purchase American food, entertainment, etc.

Your ability to misconstrue my post is astounding.

A: Red headed overlord was simply me adding humour/flavour. It makes for more amusing reading than just saying "our elected official". And the point about people akin to those which the OP is referencing remains valid. They would without a doubt loose their proverbial shit if an unmarried yet partnered atheist was elected to office. At least with the current president they got a guy who's married with kids and at least claims to love the Jebus.

B: From a media perspective... we are almost forced to consume american entertainment. All of the commercial networks and journalistic media in the country are owned by U.S. controlled media conglomerates (although ironically, Rupert Murdoch own's the biggest one :P), as a result 80% of the content shown comes from your neck of the woods. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, it's simply the way it is. You'll notice that I'm also trying to figure out what kind of fast food (would it be all Oporto all the time?) I would be eating if the McDonalds, KFC's and Subway's of the world never went pan global.

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

Wow... what a bunch of bullshit. Australia is not very far behind in the obesity polls so get off your mo fuckin high horses and Julia Gillard isn't shit compared to what we got. Your red headed overlord is not too different from our white headed overlordS. Blaming the US for your countries "cultural problems" is also very lame. No one forces you to purchase American food, entertainment, etc.

For a start, Julia only has to worry about 6 states (& 2 territories) and about 24mio citizens. That is a far cry from having to lead the 300mio citizens and those states of the US. It is like comparing apples with cats. Aside from Australians getting fatter, which is the making of their own, the only tangible act I see that I can blame America on is stupid white boys who think they are hip black kids - that started before Eminem. If we adopt anything American, it is because we like it or want it.

I always rember the 2 panel comic strip I saw about 10 years ago - it had a white kid, clearly looking like an American hip-hop kid. He was being abused by his father (not seen) about being stupid for following a trend and not having a mind of his own. Next panel was a picture of the father, dressed like Elvis Presley.

We are all have choice and choose we do. You are completely correct in defending America on such matters. It is always easy to blame someone else for something you don't like. Don't get me wrong though, I do blame America for many of the world's problem due to its post WWII foreign intervention policies, but we shouldn't forget countries like England, France & the USSR for some of their actions either.

Soo.. TL;DR, I'm assuming it's another Christian radical going on an endtimes rant about how Obama's out to destroy 'murca?

@Hailinel: Its funny, because treason was the way this country was founded.

@Korwin said:

B: From a media perspective... we are almost forced to consume american entertainment. All of the commercial networks and journalistic media in the country are owned by U.S. controlled media conglomerates (although ironically, Rupert Murdoch own's the biggest one :P), as a result 80% of the content shown comes from your neck of the woods. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, it's simply the way it is. You'll notice that I'm also trying to figure out what kind of fast food (would it be all Oporto all the time?) I would be eating it they McDonalds, KFC's and Subway's of the world never wen't pan global.

Forced? That might be going a bit far really. If we are forced, then it is because, frankly, our locally produced television is dire and we are 'forced' to watch something better. If you wanted to, you could get a diet of about 40% local, 50% UK and 10% US - if you really wanted to. I wouldn't watch US television if it wasn't so damn good. Let's face it, with more money comes better product, generally speaking. True, Life on Mars was better watching the UK version, but the US one was still good. We have to judge product from the US from the good stuff, not the crap, even if there is a lot of it. There is an awful lot of good stuff.

@zombiebigfoot said:

Soo.. TL;DR, I'm assuming it's another Christian radical going on an endtimes rant about how Obama's out to destroy 'murca?

You sure you didn't read it? That was it in a single sentence - just omit Obama and relace it with Yobummer (clever isn't it) and there you have it.

@Feanor said:

@Hailinel: Its funny, because treason was the way this country was founded.

A country born of guns will die at the hands of guns. I much prefer how countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada got their independence - peaceful transition.

@Contrarian said:

Forced? That might be going a bit far really. If we are forced, then it is because, frankly, our locally produced television is dire and we are 'forced' to watch something better. If you wanted to, you could get a diet of about 40% local, 50% UK and 10% US - if you really wanted to. I wouldn't watch US television if it wasn't so damn good. Let's face it, with more money comes better product, generally speaking. True, Life on Mars was better watching the UK version, but the US one was still good. We have to judge product from the US from the good stuff, not the crap, even if there is a lot of it. There is an awful lot of good stuff.

I was being a little hyperbolic I'll admit, there's nobody with a gun to your head telling you to watch another episode of Two and a Half Men. However by and large if you sit down and turn on a television and you're watching a commercial network (SBS and ABC excluded, those guys do great things) you're probably going to end up with something from the US.

@Contrarian: Don't have to. When I saw "restore Christian America", I pretty much had the entire article down.

@Korwin said:

@Contrarian said:

Forced? That might be going a bit far really. If we are forced, then it is because, frankly, our locally produced television is dire and we are 'forced' to watch something better. If you wanted to, you could get a diet of about 40% local, 50% UK and 10% US - if you really wanted to. I wouldn't watch US television if it wasn't so damn good. Let's face it, with more money comes better product, generally speaking. True, Life on Mars was better watching the UK version, but the US one was still good. We have to judge product from the US from the good stuff, not the crap, even if there is a lot of it. There is an awful lot of good stuff.

I was being a little hyperbolic I'll admit, there's nobody with a gun to your head telling you to watch another episode of Two and a Half Men. However by and large if you sit down and turn on a television and you're watching a commercial network (SBS and ABC excluded, those guys do great things) your'e probably going to end up with something from the US.

My only issue with that, by which you are right I suppose, is that there are far better things to do than watch television - sex, video games, sex, playing sport, sex ..... and ummm sex. You get what I mean? It is only going to cause unnecessary anger as I see it, as it isn't the fault of the US for what we choose to watch. I watch plenty of crap US product by the way - I like 2 & 1/2 Men. I can't imagine life without US cartoons like Family Guy or The Simpsons - they are better than anything produced outside of the US (except Anime, which is awesome work from the Japanese).