On his new show in the 9 AM slot, Ratigan today accused American police of having a culture based fundamentally on “intimidation.”   Discussing L’Affaire Gates, the CNBC exile made his indictment in the form of a question.

DYLAN RATIGAN:  Why is the policing culture in America fundamentally a culture of intimidation? In other words, if you look at the policing culture in America relative to the policing culture in other parts of the world –

Guest Maria-Teresa Kumar of Voto Latino was unwilling to buy into Ratigan’s premise.

MARIA-TERESA KUMAR: I disagree.  I think for the most part –

RATIGAN: You disagree with what?

KUMAR: American policing culture compared with the rest of the world –

RATIGAN:  So you think British cops — I get pulled over a lot.  I hate to say it. For traffic violations, right?  I wish it was speeding; I wish it was something horrible.

ELIOT SPITZER: Driving while Dylan.

RATIGAN:  It’s driving while Dylan.  The thing’s expired; my registration’s expired.  My plate fell off.  Who knows?  It’s a mess.  My point is, I’m not a bad guy.  And yet the cop feels obliged–and understandably because the culture–to walk up to my care and be like “hey what, dude?”

SPITZER: Aggressive.

RATIGAN: Yeah.

That’s odd.  Over my years of driving I’ve been stopped a few times, too.  Never once have I encountered a police officer with an intimidating attitude.  Guess Dylan’s just had a really bad run of luck.