hiddenmuse | Oct. 28th, 2004

{Disclaimer: You all know that I'm a shiny happy moderate/borderline leftist - and I want Shrub and his band of merry men out of office as much as anyone else, so I'm not saying this as a sympathizer. I'm saying this as a voice of common sense. A reminder that we can all sit there and squall about the decimation of our First Amendment rights and civil liberties, or balk over the fact that some random person has an FBI file, thanks to Dubya and his cronies ... but it's been happening for decades. It's not a new thing. Far from it, my lovelies.}

With that, I present my two cents on the whole "I was visited by the FBI/Secret Service/DEA/Homeland Security/NSA/FDA/USDA/JAMA/Reno 911!/SWAT Team" Phenomenon that has been sweeping friends lists everywhere - and even being mentioned by Michael Moore, of all people.
Everybody must get Gobsmacked - or Hoodwinked: Annie's Story

Now, correct me if I'm wrong - but for everyone crying "1984!" or "It's so Orwellian!" or "Welcome to the Fourth Reich!" - there are a few of us chiming in with, "Hellooooo - you threaten a sitting President, you're gonna have the FBI at your doorstep, whether it's a real or perceived threat." There are even a few people suspecting scam, because the FBI *and* the Secret Service got involved - and they are regulated by two separate branches of the Government.

Anyways, there's a difference between being visited by the FBI for stating a dissenting opinion of the Presidentiary - and blogging what could be construed as a death threat, as Annie did in her entry: Annie's original entry

I'd have more sympathy for someone that has the FBI beating down their door because they'd written a vitriolic entry calling for Bush to be un-elected this coming Tuesday, delineating the major problems (in their opinion) with the President and his leadership - fault-finding is allowed. Politicians do it all the time, I believe it's called "mud-slinging". ;)

When someone writes - and publicly publishes - a screed asking for G*d (or wanting to do it themselves) to do in the President, detailing how they'd like to see the crime scene, you bet your Sweet Aunt Betty that you're gonna have Law Enforcement coming to ask questions. Lots of questions. Who's to say that someone that's "just kidding!" doesn't have the capacity to go off the deep end, psychologically.

Think about it: If someone were making threats against you, or stalking you, wouldn't you want that person to be checked out - to make sure that your life - or the lives of loved ones won't be in danger? It's the same principal, really. Just different players.

You can agree, you can dissent. It's a free country - I won't turn you into the FBI for not aligning with my viewpoint. ;) Just wanted to let you all know what you're defending and rallying to support.