Court tosses conviction of man who endorsed Bush's death

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2005/04/09/news/oregon/satore03.txt

SAN FRANCISCO — Mailing a letter to the White House supporting President Bush's death at the hands of terrorists is not illegal, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

The decision overturns the conviction and 18-month sentence given last year to an Oregon inmate who sent a rambling, poorly written letter to the president. It read, in part, "You will die too George W Bush real Soon they Promised That you would Long Live Bin Laden."

Corrections officials intercepted the letter from Oregon State Penitentiary prisoner Jonathan Lincoln, who later was charged under federal law with threatening the president. Lincoln, who was serving a 46-month sentence for robbery, argued on appeal that his letter, written two weeks after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, was protected under the First Amendment.

A unanimous three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, ruling Friday the letter was "Lincoln's crude and offensive method of stating a political opposition to the president, and such political hyperbole does not constitute a ‘threat."‘

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Keep in mind that this is much different than threatening that you may do something to Bush. So please don't get any silly ideas. This guy was dancing on the head of a pin here. He was lucky he didn't phrase this letter just a little bit differently or he would have been in very deep doodoo. My personal advice would be to avoid this subject completely. Even while joking around with "friends".

[Jacobin]

1. I wish Bush* a long life in retirement at the pig farm after impeachment

[aquart]

2. With his daughters.

[Jack Rabbit]

21. I wish Bush a long life in prison after his conviction

I wish Bush a long life in prison after his conviction by an international tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

[creeksneakers2]

3. I don't want to see Bush die.

I just want to see him sued for everything he owns and thrown out of office and have to leave DC in a broken down station wagon packed full of his last few possessions and with his drunken daughters along who have to make a roadside piss stop every five miles.

[Ironpost]

4. Could it be put any more eloquently

[Lori Price CLG]

5. Nope, it was well said! :) n/t

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. hear hear!

[atommom]

8. I agree, but I'd also like him to be tarred and feathered.

Would that be OK? :evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

22. Just tar and feather what needs to be...

anything more would be wasting it.

[leesa]

9. I want him behind bars for the rest of his miserable worthless life

Better yet, I want him to be sent to Iraq to fulfill his tour of duty. He owes his country a year in the National Guard...and we know where THEY are.

[BornLeft]

7. so praying to god

that he take * home is not ok?

[femme.democratique]

10. In that case, you'd be praying to Satan to take * "home"

[BornLeft]

15. Satan. God? Whoever it takes to get the job done. n/t

[Geo55]

11. Jus' make sure it's couched in terms of "The Rapture"

""

[Renew Deal]

14. Apparently it's fine.

I don't know if there are any religious issues with that, but it's legal.

[Daphne08]

12. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

is one of those targeted by Delay, et al., so I imagine we'll hear more about this case.

[Renew Deal]

13. Someone has written "Kill Bush" in the 50th st E line station.

I was pretty surprised and appalled by it. I don't like the bastard, but that's completely inappropriate and I think it's illegal.

[Mz Pip]

16. Bumper sticker

I saw: BUSH IS THE ONLY DOPE WORTH SHOOTING

Gotta admit the guy with that on his car has some balls. Then again he probably uses another car if he has to leave Berkeley.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Lori Price CLG]

17. Great sticker, kick! n/t

[LiberalFighter]

23. Our Award Winner tonite relayed a bumper sticker he saw...

If George Bush were the answer then it must had been a stupid question.

[Beguine]

18. Why martyr the little cretin?

Instead let him be remembered as one of the most incompetent United States presidents of all time, and let the school children of the future shake their heads and ask their history teachers how he could have possibly been elected a second time.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

20. he was never elected president n/t

[O.M.B.inOhio]

19. How dumb to threaten * ... at least while Cheney's VP!

Nah, Bush has to be kept around, like an historical monument at the site a cruel massacre. And to testify against Rove? They both have to live a while longer; crews in Hell are still digging.

[dbt]

24. Kick.

I am so busted when the Thought Police arrive!

:evilgrin: