adios 1st ammendment

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

Welp, so much for the Dems being about Free Speech...



Update

I guess I wasn't fair to McCain in this case (ie I only clicked the link and didnt read because I had heard of the bill prior...no excuse, my bad).

Hey, guys, I clicked on that link to try to find the text of the amendment, and here's the thing-- I can't find it, but it says that the amendment struck down related to "paid efforts" at grassroots lobbying. So now I'm wondering exactly what the amendment said, and if it really would require all bloggers to register, or only those political ones that take donations. As much as I'm spitting mad at the Dems right now, I have to say, the ones who voted to keep the amendment don't seem like the ones I'd expect to vote for it, so now I'm very curious. Can anyone find the text to the amendment so I can see exactly what it was they were voting on?

Not to say the media can give the wrong impression, but they can.

[GenuineRisk]

Okay, I found the amendment (220 of S1, if anyone's interested):

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/...6qb7Pc:e38473:

Here's the thing, as best I can tell-- the amendment was requiring people who are PAID to lobby via internet and grassroots to register, and even if paid, if they reach an audience of fewer than 500, they don't register. If more than 500, they register if they are paid to lobby. Here's the intro:

(1) in paragraph (7), by adding at the end of the following: `Lobbying activities include paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying, but do not include grassroots lobbying.'; and

(2) by adding at the end of the following:

`(17) GRASSROOTS LOBBYING- The term `grassroots lobbying' means the voluntary efforts of members of the general public to communicate their own views on an issue to Federal officials or to encourage other members of the general public to do the same.


It goes on, but as best I can understand, it doesn't apply to the average blogger one whit; just to those paid to lobby people to act, at the grassroots level or otherwise.

Either way, it's been defeated. But since it involves money, now I see why all the Republicans voted against it.

[GenuineRisk]

Though while we're on the subject of eroding rights:

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/011807.html

I thought no one could be worse than Ashcroft. Until Gonzales.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Though while we're on the subject of eroding rights:

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/011807.html

I thought no one could be worse than Ashcroft. Until Gonzales.

Now that is truly frightening! Faulty logic of course as well...why declare that some right can't be taken away unless it exists in the first place??? These folks are starting to annoy me!!!!

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Though while we're on the subject of eroding rights:

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/011807.html

I thought no one could be worse than Ashcroft. Until Gonzales.

Being from Pa, I know Specter pretty well...he must have fought himself extremely hard to avoid ripping into this clown!

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Being from Pa, I know Specter pretty well...he must have fought himself extremely hard to avoid ripping into this clown!

The more I think about it, the madder I get...how dare these clowns look upon the Constitution as their toy?? Playing word games with people's rights...the article is right, apply this idiotic "logic" and you can disregard most of it...including several articles. That a high-ranking official would say such a thing in public shows two things...stupidity and arrogance...a lethal pairing!

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Being from Pa, I know Specter pretty well...he must have fought himself extremely hard to avoid ripping into this clown!

I don't know, Somer-- Specter always seems on the verge of turning into a genuinely independent thinker and then he backs down, you know? (I'm a PA native, as I think you know). The man continually sets me up and then breaks my heart. Kind of like some of my ex-boyfriends. Okay, just one. But he was a doozy!

Or maybe I'm still remembering the audience laughing when Specter's name was brought up by Costner's character in "JFK." He was the author of the magic bullet theory, right?

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I don't know, Somer-- Specter always seems on the verge of turning into a genuinely independent thinker and then he backs down, you know? (I'm a PA native, as I think you know). The man continually sets me up and then breaks my heart. Kind of like some of my ex-boyfriends. Okay, just one. But he was a doozy!

Or maybe I'm still remembering the audience laughing when Specter's name was brought up by Costner's character in "JFK." He was the author of the magic bullet theory, right?

Partly I recall. But at least he does have his moments
of clarity...and this had to startle him! I can't believe any person in this country (other than the administration loonies) can support such a statement!

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I don't know, Somer-- Specter always seems on the verge of turning into a genuinely independent thinker and then he backs down, you know? (I'm a PA native, as I think you know). The man continually sets me up and then breaks my heart. Kind of like some of my ex-boyfriends. Okay, just one. But he was a doozy!

Or maybe I'm still remembering the audience laughing when Specter's name was brought up by Costner's character in "JFK." He was the author of the magic bullet theory, right?

GR,
The "magic bullet theory" came from none other than the recently deseased,
great public sevant, and Warren Commission member...the "pardoner", Gerald R Ford.
Bang! Bang!
Another explainer, decider, and mission accomplisher.