The Streisand thread was pretty popular, so let's give this a try!
 

PERMISSION TO SPEAK FREELY?! Not if our Congress can help it...

Now here’s a story that didn’t get anywhere near the coverage it deserved. It hit the news wires about the same time that the Democrats were ignoring state election laws by booting Torricelli from the New Jersey Senate race after the legal deadline, and Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott from Seattle was telling us from Baghdad that Saddam Hussein could be trusted, but our own president is going to lie to us.

Big huge “I told you so” coming. It’s that menacing campaign finance reform law that our 'ol Republican pal John McCain managed to put over on the American people.

The Federal Election Commission is starting to interpret the law and make rules. Last Thursday we learned that the FEC has decided that it will be OK if Jay Leno and David Letterman make jokes about political candidates in the weeks before an election.

All is not clear though. The FEC did say that a case by case decision would be made a to whether or not programs like Leno’s or Letterman’s, or talk shows, would be considered to be campaign contributions.

Now let me tell you just where this is going. I’m going to use The "Godfather" of talk radio as our example. Rush Limbaugh is a dedicated Republican and spends a good bit of his time skewering Democrats. I can absolutely guaran-damn-tee you that, sooner rather than later, Democrats are going to complain that Limbaugh’s show amounts to a "virtual contribution" to Republican political campaigns and that he should be prevented from discussing politics in the weeks before an election. You wait – I’m right on this one. If there’s one thing the Democrats hate more than talk radio, it’s Rush Limbaugh.

So, how do you like it folks? You now live in a “free” country where the Imperial Federal Government gives permission to comedians to make jokes about political candidates.

Do you need a wake up call?

Mike

www.boortz.com
www.lp.org

Yeah, that's pretty stupid, I agree.

I dislike Rush Limbaugh, but let him say what he wants. And let Letterman say whatever he pleases about a political candidate, for I find him hella entertaining. :cool:

-Sam

It's more than stupid, it's scary...Which freedom will they chip away at next?....

Mike

I think you are stretching it a bit. Nothings chipping away. That's why we vote or hold protests. If enough people were upset about something, change will occur, if not straight awway, then through the voting process. Don't forget about checks and balances guys. Apparently, not too many/enough Americans are disturbed by the issue, so it stands. The system is running like a finely tuned machine here.

Once we allowed ourselves to be brainwashed/bullied into the concept of 'Politically Correct' speech and writings (in the land of free speech), it was bound to be downhill from there.

Yes JCE but political correctness is on its way out like other liberal fads. Americans still have the right to choose whether they agree with this concept or not. Its not forced or mandatory to be politically correct.

I'm afraid I must disagree....

.....well stated:)

I agree completely...I'm just saying that we're LONG overdue for a TUNE-UP...Maybe Italian-style? ;) Probably an oil change and and valve adjustment wouldn't hurt either! :D Some people don't fine tune thier cars...and it shows. We haven't done enough fine-tuning of our government lately...and it shows!

In a recent poll, more than 50% of the people surveyed responded that they thought the Bill of Rights allows TOO MUCH freedom of speech and freedom of the press!!! THAT scares the ***** out of me! I know polls can be inaccurate and/or misleading, the results can depend largely on who is conducting the poll...but if the numbers are even remotely CLOSE to what that poll showed, people need to wake up!

Mike

LOL:D

Si!........


There! That's the entire extent of my knowledge of spanish:p


p.s. I too had a '73 Super Beetle:)

Great thread!

Here's my .02:

Take advantage of our right to get news information from as many different sources as possible-- not just the the ten second soundbites that a news editor allows you to see/hear on TV.

Take that information and think/talk about it.

Do something with your educated opinion, i.e. VOTE!!

How different do you think things would be in this country if we had a majority of people that actually voted?? IMO, if you didn't vote, you don't have the right to gripe.

PS This doesn't completely apply, but I still remember with disgust when a guy from across the street was at our house while we watched the Berlin Wall coming down live on television. He didn't wait to see it happen because he said he wanted to get back to his house to finish his dinner. Made me sick!

Mike,

Here's my opinnion on politicians.....I hope no one offended!

Personally I think in the distant distant future (several hundred years) politicians won't exist.

They are a source of corruption in our society and I would say a good percentage of them look at their jobs as a way to get ahead in life rather than a means of improving our country. For now they exist to set rules and standards, but they also bend the law in their favor any chance they get.

Of course our society as a whole will need to evolve greatly to make a politician obsolete, but I don't doubt that our species as a whole is incapable of that especially with our new means of communications and learning.

So Mike don't sound so surprised when the Democrats scream bloody murder after Rush pounds their candidate with harsh words, they're only trying to get ahead in life.