[Campion]

1. Has there EVER been a similar attempt by Conservatives to shut down speech that made fun of them?

Alien and Sedition Acts ?

Now whether you would consider John Adams to be a "conservative" ... I dunno, although I would probably consider him to be more conservative than his opponent Mr. Jefferson.

Note that, when I was a pup, the anti-free speech provisions of the Alien & Sedition Acts were held up as an example of a law that is unconstitutional under the First Amendment. (In point of fact, it was repealed before the courts got around to ruling on it.)

[BobL]

“Note that, when I was a pup, the anti-free speech provisions of the Alien & Sedition Acts were held up as an example of a law that is unconstitutional under the First Amendment.”

And that’s the difference. When THEY get control of the courts, they have NO INTENTION of letting the Constitution get in their way - they’ve been quite open about it.