[boofus]

By your argument the 1st Amendment would only apply to quill pens and parchment, and town criers. That's all there was in the late 1700s so obviously the Freedom of Speech does not apply to E-mail, blogs, television, radio, satellite, internet, whatever.

Private citizens actually owned frigates and other warships and could be pressed into service with the US Navy in that era. Private citizens owned cannons as well.

[Triple]

"Be it known that in pursuance of an act of congress passed on the fifth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twelve, I have commissioned, and by these presents do commission, the private armed Schooner called the (Vessel's Name) Lucy of the burden of twenty-five tons, or thereabouts, owned by (Owners’ Name) John Lawton in the city of (City) Taunton state of (State) Massachusetts mounting four carriage guns, and navigated by twenty-six men, hereby authorizing (captain’s name) John Lawton Captain, and (Lieutenant’s Name) Perez Drinkwater Lieutenant of the said (Vessel’s Name) Lucy and the other officers and crew thereof to: Subdue, seize and take any armed of unarmed British vessel, public or private, which shall be found within the jurisdictional limits of the United States or elsewhere on the high seas, or within the waters of the British dominions." (Cont.) - actual letter of marque for the Lucy, circa 1812

[Triple]

"Be it known that in pursuance of an act of congress passed on the fifth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twelve, I have commissioned, and by these presents do commission, the private armed Schooner called the (Vessel's Name) Lucy of the burden of twenty-five tons, or thereabouts, owned by (Owners’ Name) John Lawton in the city of (City) Taunton state of (State) Massachusetts mounting four carriage guns, and navigated by twenty-six men, hereby authorizing (captain’s name) John Lawton Captain, and (Lieutenant’s Name) Perez Drinkwater Lieutenant of the said (Vessel’s Name) Lucy and the other officers and crew thereof to: Subdue, seize and take any armed of unarmed British vessel, public or private, which shall be found within the jurisdictional limits of the United States or elsewhere on the high seas, or within the waters of the British dominions." (Cont.) - actual letter of marque for the Lucy, circa 1812

[philetus]

By your argument the 1st Amendment would only apply to quill pens and parchment, and town criers. That's all there was in the late 1700s so obviously the Freedom of Speech does not apply to E-mail, blogs, television, radio, satellite, internet, whatever."

Sounds like something a troll would come up with.

[longtermmemmory]

Those private ships also were armed with cannons...

but seriously, the left views their worldview as the "incumbant" position. The MSM intentionally kept Democrat challengers blue instead of the historic red for challenger as in the past.

Since the left does not believe in individual rights, only collective rights of the group, then the MSM will follow.

It really is like tax dollars or money in Social Security, who owns the individual money you earn and pay? The left says then own the money paid to social security and other taxes. Normal thoughtful people say they own their own money. This includes conservatives and the mushy middle.