[ExTxMarine]

“If no cops had been there issuing ‘orders’...”

BUT, they WERE there as a part of the JOB to investigate a REPORTED possible burglary. Do not try to use hypothetical situations here; they are going to bite YOU, not me. We are not dealing with a hypothetical situation, we are dealing with reality. And the reality is Mr. Gates did create a disturbance and was arrested for doing so.

“...yelled (about whatever) at the same volume and for the same length of time, do you think ANYBODY could reasonably regard that as a crime?”

If it disturbed the peace and caused a crowd - YES, it could be regarded as a crime.

[Sloth]

BUT, they WERE there as a part of the JOB to investigate a REPORTED possible burglary.

No, they *had* been there doing that. They were done. Investigation over. They were now investigating a second unrelated crime, 'failure to worship a cop.'

If it disturbed the peace and caused a crowd - YES, it could be regarded as a crime.

Then I give up. When disagreeing with a gov't official -- heaven forbid in front of other people -- is a crime, then America is dead and we are all slaves to the state.