The Capital Hill police need to ARREST THE TEABAGGERS!

[Joanne98]

Menacing

Josh Marshall | March 20, 2010, 2:42PM

Things seem to be getting pretty heated in the Capitol with crowds of anti-Reform/Tea Party activists going through the halls shouting slogans and epithets at Democratic members of Congress.

As our Brian Beutler reports, a few moments ago in Longworth office building, a group swarmed a very calm looking Henry Waxman, as he got on the elevator, with shouts of "Kill the bill!" "You liar! You crook!"

Not long before, Rep. Barney Frank got an uglier version of the treatment. Just after Frank rounded a corner to leave the building, an older protestor yelled "Barney, you faggot." The surrounding crowd of protestors then erupted in laughter.

At one point, Capitol police officer threatened to throw a group of protestors out of the building but that only seemed to inflame them more; and apparently none were ejected.

Note that this was in the Longworth building, not the Capitol building proper. But I'm a bit surprised that this is being allowed to occur anywhere in the Capitol complex. From Brian's description it sounds like menacing.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/03/menacing.php#more?ref=fpblg

[The Magistrate]

1. They Certainly Do, Ma'am

If these were 'Code Pink' or 'A.N.S.W.E.R.' types, they would have been in jail for hours already.

[dgibby]

9. Or Drs and nurses for single payer asking for a seat at the table

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Reminds me of the group that stopped the count in 2000.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. This is scary and unacceptable

This is chaos and near anarchy.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

4. Dontchaknow, it's OK if you are a Republican.

SIGH

[FourScore]

5. DUPE

[DainBramaged]

6. ust think if we had done this during the Boosheshit years....

[malaise]

7. Amazing

When RETHUGS were in power they had people arrested for wearing Tshirts they didn't like. The police even arrested Cynthia McKinney. Now these RW thugs can threaten and harass elected members.

[LeftyMom]

8. For yelling?

If they're not threatening anybody or trespassing than they're not doing anything illegal.

[The Magistrate]

12. Disorderly Conduct, Ma'am, Mob Action, Terroristic Threats: There Is A Variety Of Options

These people need to see the inside of a jail for twenty-four hours at least.

[LeftyMom]

16. None of those apply based on the information given.

Terroristic threats, requires well, a threat. Shouting and exceptionally salty language doesn't qualify. Disorderly conduct is generally a catch-all for public drunkenness.

Arresting people for protesting without their violating the law isn't acceptable, whether you agree with them or not. Sorry.

[The Magistrate]

18. They Apply Well Enough, Ma'am, To Haul Them Off Into The System

Give them many uncomfortable hours, require the posting of bail or retainer of lawyers, mix them with a number of people they would never normally meet, and in short, make this experience a good deal less fun than they had bargained for....

[LeftyMom]

19. So you want people arrested without cause because you don't like their opinions? Lovely.

[The Magistrate]

21. If These Were Leftists, Ma;am, They Would Be Under Razor Wire Long Since

We both know that. My preference is for unitary standards.

Nor is this merely a question of opinion. This is an attempt at intimidation; an act of violence, by people whose rhetoric makes very clear they dream of using violence to influence political life here. At this point, they are having a good deal of fun at it. Reduce the fun factor, an you will reduce the crowds by ninety percent at least, and the decibel level as well.

[MineralMan]

10. Let the morons rant. It will probably change a couple more

Democrats to a Yes vote. Just watch 'em for any violent actions, then shoot them if they do something that threatens someone with bodily harm.

[LiberalLoner]

11. I wouldn't shed any tears if I heard of any of those morans being arrested...

[emulatorloo]

13. They'd love to publicize their Martyrdom on YOUTUBE and Townhall.com

Eventually they will get tired and go lay down. They are attention whores but lacking in stamina, I think.

[Kievan Rus]

14. They won't. They're pro-rich and TPTB will let them do whatever they want....

It's only the anti-rich, pro-average person demonstrators that get roughed up by riot police!

[cali]

15. and freepfucks are busy whining that the peaceful wonderful teabaggers

aren't being allowed in the Capitol building.

[rucky]

17. Or not arrest progressives for breathing funny.

sheesh.

[Mike 03]

20. Damn right. I could not agree more. Today crossed the line.

K and R. NT