Posted on 10/17/2007 10:16:13 PM PDT by jdm
With all of the attacks on conservative talk show hosts and in the aftermath of an Air America smear on the Right, it's time to make sure that the Left cannot use the government to dictate political content on broadcast networks. A group of Republicans in the House have reached the same conclusion. They announced their intention to force a floor vote on a bill that will permanently bar any attempt to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine and make government the arbiter of political speech:
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) filed a discharge petition Wednesday to force a vote on legislation to ban the so-called Fairness Doctrine.
“The time has come to do away with the Fairness Doctrine once and for all,” the lawmaker said on the House floor. Pence’s legislation would require an act of Congress before the Fairness Doctrine, which would require broadcasters to give time to both sides on an issue, can be implemented.
A discharge petition allows a lawmaker to force an up-or-down vote in the House if it is signed by a majority of members.
“To my colleagues in Congress I respectfully say: If you oppose the Fairness Doctrine, sign the petition. If you cherish the dynamic national asset that is American talk radio, sign the petition. If you simply believe that broadcast freedom deserves an up-or-down vote on the floor of the people’s House, sign the petition,” Pence said.
Pence and his colleagues listed below understand what the Left's hysterical attack on Rush Limbaugh meant. They deliberately took his remarks out of context in order to create the notion that something had to be done to correct irresponsible political speech on broadcast radio, and they targeted the biggest name in the business to do it. No one in their right mind would believe that Rush didn't support the military or the right of troops to express their opinions on the war, but it certainly makes for a good dodge in order to panic people into giving up their right to free political speech.
We'll see how many signatures they can gather. The bill makes the choice straighforward. Those who sign the petition believe that Americans can make up their own minds about which political talk shows they want to hear, and will let the market decide who gets air time. Those who refuse to sign it want to leave open the option for top-down government control of broadcaster schedules and limitations on how much conservative or liberal political speech a broadcaster can publish, with an eye to eliminating political talk radio altogether by creating such a heavy regulatory burden that it disappears altogether.
That's the choice. Perhaps you can help your Representatives make it with a few calls to their offices.
Here's a link to the audio from the press conference today, which featured the following Representatives.
The speaking order is as follows:
BTTT
Thanks.
mark
That said, we have to strike while the iron is hot.
This is the best chance in decades to bury the Fairness Doctrine for once and for all.
The sweet part is that the enemy has handed us the ax.
CAll
Holler
Give these reps the noise they need for others to climb on board - I don't see a lot of big names on there yet...
Let's not let the opportunity wither on the vine and then cry in our beer because it didn't go thru.
Are WE the PEOPLE or not?
If anything, this will bring what Democrats really feel about freedom of speech out in the open.
This is good stuff. I’ll be contacting my Rep. tomorrow.
In the D.C. (Nation’s Capital) region, we have exactly one AM radio station, WMAL, which AIRS Limbaugh, Hannity, and several other conservative talk hosts. That’s in contrast to the TV stations, PBS, and all the other FM stations which are basically owned by the dems and libs. The idea of them wanting to monkey with the one AM station is infuriating. Far as I am concerned, they take any part of Rush or Hannity or Mark Levin off the air on WMAL, and the civil war is on.
For the record, “Freudenschade” is pretty much meaningless, so I am not sure what the point is. You know that the correct word is “Schadenfreude” right? (What you did was like taking “butterfly” and turn it into “flybutter”).
If you yo did know, would you perhaps explain what you are tryng to get across by switching the words? perhaps there is a better German phrase for it.
Just thought you should know -
FREUDENSCHADE was coined by an illiterate DUer to prematurely celebrate the takedown of Karl Rove via the Plame kerfuffle. It has since been taken in FR to mock those who end up with, as the phrase goes, 'egg on their faces' from premature celebration.
A more specific sense would be 'taking joy at the pain felt by others who felt joy at the expected pain of others'
DC is such a pithole. Can’t you pick up Rush from VA or Maryland?<p.When we drive around, we have had Rush on as many as 3 stations at one time.
It’s sort of an inside joke. The Dhimmi nit-wits at DU were shouting “Schadenfreude..Schadenfreude!” at the perceived impending indictment of Karl Rove. They had gotten so far ahead of themselves (the cart before the horse) that someone coined the bastardized version “Freudenschade” as a sarcastic parody of them.
Is this the first time you’ve encountered it?
Thanks for the correction. I knew it had to do with DUmmies, but couldn’t recall who actually coined the term.
Wie bitte?
Ok. Thanks. Honestly hadnt seen it before. I guess I am hanging around the wrong threads.
No problem!
If you need a laugh, check out PJ-Comix and his DUmmie FUnnies!
Actually, I think one of the DUmmies was quoted saying “Freudenschade, baby!” - illustrating both his ghoulish nature and illiteracy to boot...
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