Guys, it doesn't matter. The President is going to sit down and have a beer with them. It will all be taken care of. :lol:

Guys, it doesn't matter. The President is going to sit down and have a beer with them. It will all be taken care of. :lol:

 

Well, it's not as if he has more important things to do, is it?

Well, it's not as if he has more important things to do, is it?

I really don't have a problem with the President having a beer with a buddy or anything like that, but IMO this is kind of absurd. It was one thing for President Obama to prematurely weigh in on the situation for no apparent or practical reason, but I think this is a microcosm of what a lot of people criticized President Obama for early on- he is just way, way too spread out- he is all over the place. Add in the fact that this is being pumped up big time in the media and I just don't understand why our President feels the need to deal with such minor issues.

 

I'm not going to get too fired up about it but it just seems like such a fringe issue.

Habib, what does it matter if he were on his porch or not? Disorderly conduct is the same if you are in the street or on your porch. Here is a little advise, just because you are on your property doesn't mean you can do what you want.

Should we expect all law enforcement officers to be experts in constitutional law? Also, tis an easy task to perform the duties of a monday morning quarterback. An interception you'll never see.

 

I am shocked that someone would even ask this question. It is their job to enforce Laws and to do so without violating personal freedoms. So yes they most certainly should be very knowledgeable about Constitutional law.

If he wouldn't have been disorderly, he wouldn't have been. The guy got what he deserved, it was his fault, not the cops.

 

Gates was not friendly but cooperated by providing the officer with his ID. The officer according to his own police report did not provide Gates with the requested information.

"I told Gates I was leaving his residence and that if he had any other questions regarding the matter, I would speak with him outside the residence." Why not answer his questions inside?? Because you can't arrest someone for being a pain in your rear inside thier own home. Obviously my opinion here.

"As I began walking to the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates again demanding my name. I again told Gates that I would speak with him outside. My reason for wanting to leave the residence was that Gates was yelling very loud and the acoustics of the kitchen and the foyer were making it difficult to transmit..." So he continued to refuse to ID himself and then inserts some illogical explaination as to leaving the residence. He was able to transmit and contact Harvard Campus PD in spite of the acoustic problem. This was just a cya because you can't really say in a police report that I wanted him to come outside so I could teach him a lesson and arrest him.

 

The police report then goes on to describe how Gates behaviour drew a crowd that was "suprised" and "alarmed"

Now we have are threshold for an arrest under the disorderly conduct law.

This in not a partisan issue to me. I think Obama should not have even commented on it and when he did he commented "stupidly". This is also not a race issue to me because I think the police officer would have behaved and responded equally poorly no matter the race of the person. The situation was over he had identified Gates as the lawful owner thus the need for him to be there was gone. He then IMO intentionally lured Gates outside where he could arrest him for Disorderly conduct for which no charges were brought. Disorderly conduct is a tool that officers use way to much to punish people who aren't the most friendly or nice with them. Being a pain in the butt or a smart mouth to a police officer is disrespectful but not a crime. Police officers should and do know the difference but to some of them it doesn't matter.

In all seriousness, let us get down to the real question here... what kind of beer will everyone be drinking this afternoon at this meeting? We heard mention of the Blue Moon for the officer. What about the President and Gates?

In all seriousness, let us get down to the real question here... what kind of beer will everyone be drinking this afternoon at this meeting? We heard mention of the Blue Moon for the officer. What about the President and Gates?

 

Bud Light and Red Stripe, respectively

Gates was not friendly but cooperated by providing the officer with his ID. The officer according to his own police report did not provide Gates with the requested information.

"I told Gates I was leaving his residence and that if he had any other questions regarding the matter, I would speak with him outside the residence." Why not answer his questions inside?? Because you can't arrest someone for being a pain in your rear inside thier own home. Obviously my opinion here.

"As I began walking to the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates again demanding my name. I again told Gates that I would speak with him outside. My reason for wanting to leave the residence was that Gates was yelling very loud and the acoustics of the kitchen and the foyer were making it difficult to transmit..." So he continued to refuse to ID himself and then inserts some illogical explaination as to leaving the residence. He was able to transmit and contact Harvard Campus PD in spite of the acoustic problem. This was just a cya because you can't really say in a police report that I wanted him to come outside so I could teach him a lesson and arrest him.

 

The police report then goes on to describe how Gates behaviour drew a crowd that was "suprised" and "alarmed"

Now we have are threshold for an arrest under the disorderly conduct law.

This in not a partisan issue to me. I think Obama should not have even commented on it and when he did he commented "stupidly". This is also not a race issue to me because I think the police officer would have behaved and responded equally poorly no matter the race of the person. The situation was over he had identified Gates as the lawful owner thus the need for him to be there was gone. He then IMO intentionally lured Gates outside where he could arrest him for Disorderly conduct for which no charges were brought. Disorderly conduct is a tool that officers use way to much to punish people who aren't the most friendly or nice with them. Being a pain in the butt or a smart mouth to a police officer is disrespectful but not a crime. Police officers should and do know the difference but to some of them it doesn't matter.

It's funny how you leave out the part where Crowley identified himself to Gates after Gates asked. You also left out the part where Gates again asked him his name and then proceeded to interrupt Crowley while he was trying to answer him.

It's funny how you leave out the part where Crowley identified himself to Gates after Gates asked. You also left out the part where Gates again asked him his name and then proceeded to interrupt Crowley while he was trying to answer him.

 

I'm still trying to figure out how him telling him he couldn't hear the transmission, and needed to go outside to continue the conversation was an "illogical excuse"? :idunno:

It's funny how you leave out the part where Crowley identified himself to Gates after Gates asked. You also left out the part where Gates again asked him his name and then proceeded to interrupt Crowley while he was trying to answer him.

 

Funny how I didn't. Go read the police report and show me where he ever indicated that he identified himself other than through a closed door. He made an excuse for not doing so and that he was interupted. When asked again he refused because he was interupted previously. I guess I'm just suprised at how willing some are to look the other way when Police officers do things like this. To be arrested you should have to commit a crime not aggravate or hurt the feelings of a police officer. That is the only point I'm trying to make.

 

For instance I saw a guy arrested once when a cop was questioning him because the cop asked him if he had anything in his back pockets, he responded with the a word, wallet and cigarettes. He was cuffed and stuffed for that comment on disorderly conduct.......with no charges filed. Nothing like going to jail for stopping to talk to people you know after leaving a bar on Main Straus for nothing more than making a smart comment to a cop. :isurrender:

I'm still trying to figure out how him telling him he couldn't hear the transmission, and needed to go outside to continue the conversation was an "illogical excuse"? :idunno:

 

His own report indicated that Gates was yelling from the get go. It also indicates that he made multiple transmissions from inside the house, including contacting the Harvard police. If you can successfully make transmissions and communicate multiple times from inside with him yelling what changed?:idunno:

His own report indicated that Gates was yelling from the get go. It also indicates that he made multiple transmissions from inside the house, including contacting the Harvard police. If you can successfully make transmissions and communicate multiple times from inside with him yelling what changed?:idunno:

 

Once he confirmed the identity and had a better sense of the situation, should he be required to try to transmit over the bedlam or should he try to finish without competing with the rantings? I think it makes complete sense.

Funny how I didn't. Go read the police report and show me where he ever indicated that he identified himself other than through a closed door. He made an excuse for not doing so and that he was interupted. When asked again he refused because he was interupted previously. I guess I'm just suprised at how willing some are to look the other way when Police officers do things like this. To be arrested you should have to commit a crime not aggravate or hurt the feelings of a police officer. That is the only point I'm trying to make.

 

For instance I saw a guy arrested once when a cop was questioning him because the cop asked him if he had anything in his back pockets, he responded with the a word, wallet and cigarettes. He was cuffed and stuffed for that comment on disorderly conduct.......with no charges filed. Nothing like going to jail for stopping to talk to people you know after leaving a bar on Main Straus for nothing more than making a smart comment to a cop. :isurrender:

I'm sorry but you did. Read the report again. He was asked and he answered. He was asked a second time and while trying to answer a second time Gates interrupted him with more insane rants. Like I said before, it's sad some can't see past their politics.

I'm sorry but you did. Read the report again. He was asked and he answered. He was asked a second time and while trying to answer a second time Gates interrupted him with more insane rants. Like I said before, it's sad some can't see past their politics.

 

He ID'd himself through a closed door. You read the report again he ID'd himself through the front door and never again. Are rants a crime?? It is sad that some can't see past their politics because I haven't once defended Obama and his reaction. If this didn't involve Race or a comment by a President unpopular with Conservatives I think most would be in agreement. Just so I understand now Conservatives on this forum have justified and are ok with government sanctioned torture, domestic spying/wiretapping and now unlawful arrests, but health care reform is what we should all be worried about from Big Brother? Give me a break.:ohbrother: