Posted on 03/20/2006 2:44:50 AM PST by RWR8189
This might be the first time Freepers and Kossacks have agreed on anything. From the conservative website Free Republic to the liberal Daily Kos, Internet users of all ideologies are uniting in opposition to federal regulation of political blogs.
As early as this afternoon, the Federal Election Commission will publish regulations that, for the first time, could put limits on what bloggers can do and say in support of political candidates.
The FEC is trying to define the line between offering political opinions and operating as part of a political campaign. The full commission is expected to vote Thursday on the regulations.
Meanwhile, Congress is considering two separate bills aimed at a similar goal: clarifying the role of bloggers in delivering political messages and using the Internet as a fundraising tool.
At issue is the growing power of the Internet, which has allowed activists to promote candidates and raise money for them without the kind of rules that long have governed similar activities by political parties, individual campaigns and traditional contributors.
The Internet has been exempt from campaign finance regulations. Last year, however, a federal court ruled that the Internet could no longer be excluded.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Surely, there are enough differences of opinion on FR to exclude it as being "part of a political campaign."
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
There are laws and there are regulations. Some laws are bad enough, but when you get bureaucrats arrogantly interpreting those laws into regulations. you have government run amuck. They make up half assed regulations and no one is held responsible.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
I triple dog dare them !!
LOL
You would think that because of McCain-Finegold that it would put John McCain pretty much out of the race for president.
Funny how silent the ACLU is when it comes to defending the freedom of speech.
If the government were stupid enough to do this, and they might, you would see anonymous emails appear as a replacement. It would be the 21st Century version of the Pamphleteers.
I find it amazing that the MSM can be immune to all this, passing judgement on blogs and forums. Why should Tim Russert get to practice freedom of the press, but not Jim Robinson?
Who gets to define who is a journalist or not, a news organization or not? Because if you ask me, 90% of the MSM are paid hacks for the DNC. Call them a vast left wing conspiracy and a political organization.
Freedom of the press for Free Republic!
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
...Free Republic outside the United States"...heck, we'll launch a satellite with servers!!!
They would make anon email illegal in the next 30 seconds.
A new agency would be created to enforce that, and new taxes would be enacted to make you pay for it.
Sure they can. Without the name registered... well, that would be just a start for them.
We need to be circumspect, here. Like it or not, due to McCain-Feingold, the limits are coming. The IRS enacted regulations at least a year ago to limit what churches could do during political campaigns and what could be said in either chirch bulletins or from the pulpit.
If you feel strongly enough about it, start letting your Congresscritter know. But, remember, that the Congresscritters ignored the public when it came to passing or voting down CFR. Bush, acknowledging that it was unConstitutional, signed it anyway. The SCOTUS failed to address the Constitutional issues surrounding CFR and refused to hear the case. Freedom, the Constitution, and the voters lost big on this issue.
Think they can't clamp down on what can be said on a blog?? Think again; we've already lost that battle and we have no friends in high places willing to overturn this dreck of law.
Word of advice - ANYTIME that Congresscritters favor a bill relating to something that is NOT on the American public's radar (such as Campaign Finance Reform; aka McCain-Feingold), be VERY wary and VERY afraid. CFR has shown them all how to shut down our Constitutional rights - they did it under our noses and we let them.
They'll do it again.
FReepers did it for free!
We should also remember all who voted for it, who signed it into law, then those who refused to consider it against the Constitution.
All three branches of government screwed America with CFR.
What's the difference between me posting "McCain sucks!" on a blog, or me handing out sheets of paper that say "McCain sucks!"?
The congress and the courts have created an unconstitutional mess that will take years to sort out.
Hint to Congress .. it could get ugly if you mess with our internet
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Another reason W can be accused of being an absentee president. McC-F should've met his veto pen.
Is this going to be in the Federal Register?
I will be happy to write a response.
"Your Papers Please."
You are quite correct.
We are watching the demise of the Republic. 'Pod.
You've gotta be kidding.
McCain? Presidential material? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
A google search of "anonymous offshore hosting" gives plenty of places to host a blog where speech is still free.
Ooo, a McCain shill already. :D
Bet we'll get a lot of them over the next two years.
Don’t forget to mention his natural humility, and aversion to the spotlight.
He shuns the spotlight every day of the week, and at least twice on Sundays.
Pease leave this site.
Look when this fool joined FR!
McCain is the worst of the worst. He is the shill of shills, the moron of morons, the phony of phonies.
The best case in point, aside from CFR, is how he tried to ban MMA and the UFC. He is a shill for boxing and tried to get mixed martial arts ban for obvious reasons. Thank god it did not work.
McCain will not get my vote, period.
Big difference. Churches are charitable organizations and derive revenue from tax deductible donations. Political organizations, bloggers, etc. are supported with after tax dollars.
The government is subsidizing churches via tax breaks and they should not be allowed to influence the makeup of that government. Bloggers, etc. are not subsidized so the government should have no control over their freedom of speech.
The problem will the McCain-Feingold bill in the first place is that it completely and totally runs afoul of the first ameendment.
We actuall had some goofball from an OKC suburb write a letter to the editor in the Oklahoman saying otherwise but he's been reading a different version of the U.S. Constitution than what it really is.
The idiot that wrote the majority opinion in favor of this law in the U.S. Supreme Court is the same one who think that foreign dictates should take the place of the U.S. Constitution.
The bill's proscriptions as it is written would essentially allow congress people to do some very malicious and harmful stuff prior to the elections since there would be no legal way for us to blow the whistle on them with this law.
Futher this bill as it's written would allow the Democrats to take both hosues of Congress and ultimately become the source of law in this country.
This would mean that instead of going after terroists aborad like President Bush is doing they would be coming after us. It case it hasn't occured to anyone the Democrats have decided that the danger to National Security isn't from Osama, Saddam or Al-Queda. It's from us, Republicans, christians and conservatives. You know, those of us blowing the whistle on the Democrats and their misdeeds.
And to say John McCain is "Presidential material" is a bit disengious. This fella holds a very hostile attitude towards Republicans, Christians and conservatives. There's an article where some 9/11 victims hd a run-in with him and they spoke out in opposition to his immigration bill and he completely and totally bawled them out.
Is this someone we want as Presdident of the United States? I wouldn't even vote for him as dog catcher. I'd just assume vote for Fido for President.
John McCain is an absolute embarrasment to the state of Arizona and anyone that would take up for him because the McCain-Feingold bill which you know and I know is going to result in the shutdown of FR really needs to have his or her head examined.
Regards....
I have nothing but contempt for McCain.
Look at what McLame tried to do to MMA cause he is a shill for boxing.
The more you look at this guy and what he does, the worse he is.
Do you realize how embarassing you are? Please, stop while you are ahead.
Do you support McCain/Keenedy immigration scamnesty?
We aren't even bloggers. FR is a message board. How do the rules of CFR apply to FR?
Don't you love how the shills for these politicans show up and get smacked down? I can't believe someone would degrade themselves to such a point.
No responses yet???????????????
And don't even try to scare me with Hillary.
.Does he have one???????
I think the Clintons stole it on the way out.
Mclame is NOT the best choice for the GOP in 08. That Maggot violated the very oath of office he took as a Senator AND as a Military Officer.
I wouldn't vote for that pig for goat catcher.
Let him and his butt buddy Feingold be retired to the dustbin of history.
There is NOTHING in the CFR that is constitutional. Never has been and never will be.
If he's the chosen for the GOP in 08, I know alot of people who will stay home. Don't even try this BS about "oh then you want to vote for Hillary". It's old and doesn't hold weight, plus I see zero difference between that Lying SOB and Her Hiney Clinton.
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