Posted on 06/26/2006 9:38:07 AM PDT by wagglebee
He has been much more effective than that spineles coward, Trent 'Bendsa' Lott, but lucky for us he is retiring.
Somehow, I don't fault the Times for burying the point -- after all, the arrow is pointed at them.
But the real issue is whether the newspapers that are not implicated -- the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, etc. -- whether they will carry it as a headline.
Because that is what free speech, and an independent, unbiased media is all about. We expect the NYT to hunker down and avoid the subject, but not the others.
Popularity polls are very important to the press. I want this story to marinate a little before someone takes a poll about the popularity of the press. Of course, newspapers take a poll everyday, it's called circulation and if it is honestly done, they are getting beat up pretty badly in that one as well.
How does the 2nd Amendment enter into this?
It is a matter of whether or not the NYT's engaged in espionage or not. If an agent of the NYTs acted with intent to recruit, solicit, or suborn a public official with access to classified information to reveal classified national security information, that would be illegal.
That level of involvement by the media would be illegal, and would qualify as espionage. That would be prosecutable for espionage.
But if a leak was unsolicited, then the paper is clear of espionage charges, but becomes an accessory to a crime, and would be prosecutable if they choose not to reveal their source.
It is important to remember that the media is only the mouth piece of choice because the current interpretation of the First Amendment allows the media to protect the source. Take away that anonymity, and the leakers will shift to other methods of disseminating their information.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't admonish the NYTs for having a clear interest in undermining the country, but prosecution should be limited to getting to their sources. Their sources are the root of the problem.
A co-point that the Times, other outlets are behind the UN's view of banning guns as well as selling out our nation all in the name of freedom of publicity. The Times is simply an agenda-driven lefty outpost with not other points of view but to undermine Bush, Pubs, Conservatives, Christians and if they can , the NRA and other freedom loving organizations.
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