. . . Civilians are alowed to be just as disrespectful to the President as they want, provided they don't threaten him . . .
Reminds me of a story about a US Citizen and a Soviet citizen who met in some neutral place - call it an airport in Switzerland - during the Reagan era.
They began talking, and the discussion turned to politics.
The American said "We're free to disagree with our President here - I can go up to President Reagan, pound on his desk, and tell him I hate the way he's running America."
The Soviet said, "It is the same in Russia, comrade."
The American, incredulously, said, "How can that be? You live in a Communist dictatorship!!"
The Soviet said, "Well, comrade, it's like this - I can go the Kremlin, enter President Gorbachev's office, pound on his desk, and tell him I hate the way Reagan is running America."