The March of Folly (Supremes trash 1st Amend.)

Wall Street Journal ^ | Dec 11, 2003 | editorial

[The Raven]

"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech."

It says a lot about the power of those 10 First Amendment words that it took the Supreme Court 298 pages of legal contortions yesterday to get around them. We'd have all been better off if the Court had simply taken a hint from the Founders and struck down campaign finance reform.

[The Raven]

Justice Antonin Scalia dryly noted, for instance, that over the past four years the Court had disapproved of speech restrictions on virtual kiddy porn, tobacco advertising, illegally intercepted communications and sexually explicit cable programming, yet couldn't summon the nerve to allow citizens to criticize their own government.

When we loose on the court level - it's 99% chance of a permanent loss.

[Sir Gawain]

We can't leave this subject without also mentioning the abdication of President Bush on this issue. Though opposed to the bill, he nonetheless signed it in the hope that the courts would save him from his obligation to honor and defend the Constitution. Now we'll all have to live with the consequences.

[David Isaac]

We must have faith. Repeat after me: Bush is a conservative, as is the GOP Congress. Bush is a conservative, as is the GOP Congress. Bush is....

[doosee]

I thought the NRA owned the Outdoor Channel on satellite. Also magazines etc. Are they not already a media entity?

[Dane]

Well since you are shouting Sir Gawian, let's also remember that 2 of the Justices who signed on to this abomination were appointed by Bill Clinton. Justices Ginsburg and Breyer.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Sad to say, but signing this piece crap could the the 'read my lips' event for Bush Jr.

[Dane]

Sad to say, but signing this piece crap could the the 'read my lips' event for Bush Jr

It is pretty sad that you are willing to elect Dean so that he can appoint Ginsburg and Breyer clones.

[raybbr]

What's that got to do with anything? Bush signed it. If he'd had any thought to do his duty as president to uphold the Constitution, he would have vetoed it.

Bush is done.

[CasearianDaoist]

Yes, I think so. He need to come out swinging against it. Then it could even be a big win for him. I do not really think that this is just a conservative issue - even the ACLU is outraged. It is chilling. We need to organize a grass roots campaign to threaten right tilting "moderates" with this. We should even toy with a "truce" with some elements of the other side in order to get this repealed.

[Paul C. Jesup]

I never said that.

[Dane]

What's that got to do with anything? Bush signed it. If he'd had any thought to do his duty as president to uphold the Constitution, he would have vetoed it.

Bush is done.

Yeah right, 95% of the people don't care about CFR. He signed it because of the politics involved. Like it or not that is the real world.

Justices Breyer and Ginsburg are Clinton's legacy, and hey if you want couple more Ginsburgs or Breyers on SCOTUS, that's your right to have. Personally I do not.

[Paul C. Jesup]

We should even toy with a "truce" with some elements of the other side in order to get this repealed.

I would suggest you start with groups that hold both conservative and liberal views, like pink pistols (pro-gun and pro-homosexual) and work your way around.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Yeah right, 95% of the people don't care about CFR. He signed it because of the politics involved. Like it or not that is the real world.

That is because it has not fully soaked into the American psyche yet. But when if does, things are going to get real ugly.

[hellinahandcart]

He still has my vote at this point, because of the war, the PBA ban, and nixing Kyoto. Only those.

But there are eleven months left until the election, so I'll wait and see how much more of my good faith he can undo between now and then.

Amnesty for illegals would undo just about all of it.

[Sir Gawain]

It would never have made it that far had Bush not violated his oath of office.

[Paul C. Jesup]

if=it

[Sir Gawain]

Don't forget the AWB. He and Congress can screw that one up too.

[Dane]

It would never have made it that far had Bush not violated his oath of office.

It would have never made it that far had Jeffords handed the Senate to Daschle and dashole making CFR his #1 priority and with the press salivating.

You can go ahead and ignore modern political reality, that's your right. It is my right to point out your modern political ignorance.

[CasearianDaoist]

I was more thinking "moderate" swing voters. Judging from your sarcasm I do not think you realize what damage CFR does to the White House, and not just among true conservatives. It could well be a "read my lips" moment. Time will tell. I do not see the down sixe for him to come out swinging against it.

[Sir Gawain]

It would have never made it that far had Jeffords handed the Senate to Daschle and dashole making CFR his #1 priority and with the press salivating.

That may be true, but it doesn't let Bush off the hook for not doing his job.