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FREEPERS - HEADS UP!!! > Federal Election Commission says Web Blogs might be a threat to democracy
Fox News Channel ^ | June 29, 2005

Posted on 06/29/2005 1:46:27 PM PDT by AWestCoaster

The Federal Election Commission says Web blogs just might be a threat to democracy and it's considering whether to police them.

The issue, being discussed during FEC hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday, is whether some Web sites actually provide unregulated benefits to specific political campaigns. The famously free-spirited Web community is fighting back.....

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: blog; democracy; fec; internet; weblogs
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To: Zeppelin
"unregulated benefits?!?!?"

those two words alone are despicable when describing free speech!!!

Yup, I like the unregulated benefit of free speech, except it's not a benefit, it's a right, sort of, and being eroded each election cycle. First came the impediment to free speech known as Campaign Finance Reform, next - it seems - the prohibition of free speech via blogs. Blogs are nothing more than a high-tech version of standing on a soap-box in town square. I guess that would be next to go also.

81 posted on 06/29/2005 5:47:50 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.....)
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To: AWestCoaster

This is part of the fascinating anti-free speech logic that comes from liberals. As I remember it the argument goes, "since little people are powerless, they need big people to control the media, and sometimes with a strong hand, so the little people hear the real truth."

I'm convinced that our so-called elite class (media, political, and moneyed level liberals) see themselves as the "ubermensch." They are to national socialism what the "dictatorship of the proletariat was to communism.

Private profits/public expense. The few, the proud, the favored.


82 posted on 06/29/2005 6:04:59 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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To: savedbygrace

gotta be honest with you.. I see them as EXACTLY the same monster. one gets a cold the other says atchoo...

I would also mix in the IRS and the BATF on the same bucket.
I should have said it clearer...
I mean the current executive branch of the Bush administration which is overseeing and coordinating this unprecedented move using the same tools, agencies and powers across the board... and doing so with nearly complete republican/conservative approval.

yes.
I am disgusted with all of OUR TEAM at this point in time.
And it is clearly showing, i believe it comes from the top and permeates the entire executive.

and that it will eventually be directed towards us.

the goal...
controlling free speech and putting the brakes on liberty... especially political liberty.

in my view of late, they have all turned into rats.
that may not be your view.
but it IS mine until I see some movement to the conservative side of the equation... smaller government, more freedom, less intrusion... and LOTS LESS MONEY out of my (and probably YOUR) wallet.


83 posted on 06/29/2005 6:15:31 PM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (Get your brand new 'penumbra and emanation' scopes while they are hot, two for fifty cents!!!)
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To: muawiyah

The Dems still fear FR enough to figure out some rule to cause us all problems.



uhm...
I don't think this is JUST the dems.

this is our political "caste" rebelling against our freedom to critique them publicly.

Dems AND Pubs.


84 posted on 06/29/2005 6:17:38 PM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (Get your brand new 'penumbra and emanation' scopes while they are hot, two for fifty cents!!!)
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To: AWestCoaster
"The Federal Election Commission says Web blogs just might be a threat to democracy . . . "

I certainly hope so. On the other side of the coin, blogs are a necessary means to restore and maintain our Republic.

85 posted on 06/29/2005 6:22:57 PM PDT by Eastbound (Jacked out since 3/31/05)
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To: Robert_Paulson2

Well, yes, you are quite right. It is the political caste rebelling against the people. Time to get a new caste.


86 posted on 06/29/2005 6:24:00 PM PDT by muawiyah (q)
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To: AWestCoaster

Another possible nail in the coffin of free speech.


87 posted on 06/29/2005 6:35:16 PM PDT by Mr. Nobody
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To: Plutarch

"With this issue, where have all the leftists gone?"

Free speech for me but not for thee.


88 posted on 06/29/2005 6:41:35 PM PDT by Stellar Dendrite (FAKE conservatism is more dangerous than liberalism <<<---at least you know what you're gonna get!)
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To: Robert_Paulson2

"Dems AND Pubs."

Of course.....


What border problem??!!!??


89 posted on 06/29/2005 6:54:24 PM PDT by Stellar Dendrite (FAKE conservatism is more dangerous than liberalism <<<---at least you know what you're gonna get!)
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To: umgud

SCOTUS. LOL


90 posted on 06/29/2005 7:15:35 PM PDT by floriduh voter (www.terrisfight.org & www.conservative-spirit.org... The Schindlers "Never again.")
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To: Red Badger
I think I've got it. The FEC says that weblogs are a threat because the FEC are control freaks and they cannot control the internet because it's too huge.

Loss of control threatens them, not the democracy.

91 posted on 06/29/2005 7:17:21 PM PDT by floriduh voter (www.terrisfight.org & www.conservative-spirit.org... The Schindlers "Never again.")
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To: AWestCoaster
Without web blogs a void is left only to be filled by a certain amendment.
92 posted on 06/29/2005 7:34:35 PM PDT by Archon of the East ("universal executive power of the law of nature")
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To: mewzilla
Remember Fat George.

My thoughts exactly.

93 posted on 06/29/2005 7:39:45 PM PDT by P-Marlowe
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To: mewzilla
Remember Fat George.

Free speech going, property rights to the highest bidder, search and seizure based on charges and not evidence, unfair and excessive taxation, there's not much left from the founding fathers. Seems like they are picking up the pace out east. I wonder what's up that we don't know about? I try not to be a kook, but... I am reminded of the Second Amendment.
94 posted on 06/29/2005 7:41:02 PM PDT by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: Abram; Alexander Rubin; AlexandriaDuke; Annie03; Baby Bear; bassmaner; Bernard; BJClinton; ...
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
95 posted on 06/29/2005 7:46:07 PM PDT by freepatriot32 (www.lp.org)
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To: AWestCoaster

Democracy is a tyrannical system that deprives the individual of liberty and property. In that respect, I agree that freedom of speech and thought are direct threats to democracy. This should not concern Americans, as we are Republic.


96 posted on 06/29/2005 8:20:06 PM PDT by Thane_Banquo ("Armed with what? Spitballs?")
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To: AWestCoaster
Blogs represent our inalienable right to free political speech, and in some rare cases, free religious speech. The FEC cannot do anything about free political speech or free religious expression in the U.S. Not yet, anyway.

If Congress moves in that direction next month, everybody here on FR will be motivated into direct political action.

My blog was started just before the U.S. invaded Iraq. Last year, January, 2004, I learned that my web site had:

[B]ecome a favorite of many readers who work for the United States and Canadian governments. Each day we get more and more visitors from government workers, and from the U.S. military. One week in January, over 2,700 visitors from the White House, NIPR Military, Naval Intel, CIA and the FBI and read reports on [my site]. Visitors from these government sites often spend in excess of 15 to 35 minutes reading news reports that are posted here.

Am I supposed to be shaking in my boots over a random comment by the FEC?

To quote Danny DeVito's character Sid Hudgens in the great film L.A. Confidential: "Think again, dear readers."

I'm not giving up. On the contrary, I'm just getting started.

97 posted on 06/29/2005 8:32:39 PM PDT by ex-Texan (Mathew 7:1 through 6)
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To: freedumb2003

Like Hillary and Newt? Ewwwwwwww


98 posted on 06/29/2005 8:37:51 PM PDT by neodad (I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way)
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To: AWestCoaster
FREEPERS - HEADS UP!!! > Federal Election Commission says Web Blogs might be a threat to democracy.

Yeah right. Wed blogs are a threat to democracy. I can't imagine what they think McCain-Feingold is.

99 posted on 06/29/2005 8:41:50 PM PDT by SiliconValleyGuy
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To: BallyBill; All
What is the definition of irony...

Irony? As in the guy that wants to use eminent domain to take Judge Souter's house...one of the black-robed chowder skulls to give a thumbs up?

100 posted on 06/29/2005 10:28:03 PM PDT by AWestCoaster
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