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FCC Tries to Hush Rush
National Review ^ | June 11, 2008 | Jim Boulet Jr.

Posted on 06/11/2008 3:00:17 PM PDT by gpapa

Thanks to a little-noticed item in the Federal Register, the Federal Communications Commission may soon be handed the power to drive Rush Limbaugh off the air.

There are liberals obsessed with “balancing” Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Hugh Hewitt, Mark Levin, and the rest of conservative talk radio, even though plenty of other outlets — the Washington Post, the New York Times, USA Today, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and National Public Radio — constantly flog the liberal agenda.

The “Hush Rush” crowd’s dream has been to revive the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” which once required any radio station airing a conservative program to provide equal time for the liberal view. The doctrine’s advocates have tried using the democratic process, but to no avail whatsoever: In 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected the latest effort 309 to 115.

Yet regulations proposed on January 28 by the Federal Communications Commission would effectively reinstate the Fairness Doctrine via something called “localism.” This is legislation by stealth — most of the Fairness Doctrine’s opponents might not know about it until it’s too late. All opportunity for public comment on FCC’s proposal ceases on June 11, 2008.

(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ac; censorship; fairnessdoctrine; fcc; firstamendment; limbaugh; rush; talkradio
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To: gpapa

There is a strong possibility that information media is going to be very different.

Starting with this oppressive nonsense on radio, there is also the positive possibility that Clear Channel will be broken up, either collapsing itself, or through anti-trust action. Though much less likely, several other of the media conglomerates could face this as well.

The Internet is most likely going to be regulated, ruining most of it. The excuse will be pornography, or hacking, or terrorism, but the objective will be to suppress political speech, and protectionism of the more politically potent content owners.

Right now, for all media and the Internet, there are too many government and private forces working to ruin and control. Eventually, some of them will win, and most likely, the public will lose.

Governments do not want their citizens openly communicating with each other or citizens of other countries. They are also deeply afraid that uncontrolled money may flow around without their knowledge and restrictions.

We should enjoy it while we have it.


21 posted on 06/11/2008 3:21:16 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: TheThirdRuffian

Progressives simply can’t understand the we aren’t buying what they’re selling. That’s why they must use force.
Of course, they believe that a profit motive is evil. But who, besides them are willing to work for free?


22 posted on 06/11/2008 3:21:55 PM PDT by griswold3 (Al qaeda is guilty of hirabah (war against society) Penalty is death.)
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To: gpapa

The Fairness Doctrine claims to have over site rights because the government has over site of the airwaves. It would be willing to accept this if it also applied to state funded colleges. They must have a balance of liberal and conservative professors.


23 posted on 06/11/2008 3:22:13 PM PDT by ThomasThomas
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To: All
Google "FCC appointments"

This one is not Bush's fault

24 posted on 06/11/2008 3:22:41 PM PDT by Las Vegas Ron (Election '08, the year McCain defined the word "dilemma")
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To: gpapa
As Rush said on his show Monday, "It's time for us to say, '"STOP.'"


25 posted on 06/11/2008 3:24:13 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: gpapa
A reinstitution of the “fairness doctrine” would be tossed out just as soon as its constitutionality would be challenged in federal court.
26 posted on 06/11/2008 3:24:35 PM PDT by SeaHawkFan
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To: KoRn
I have to admit I feel the same way about my XM. The antenna actually brings in a stronger signal from my AM radio stations (like KSFO) after 8:00 p.m., when the transmitter is powered down. I'm pretty sure Talk Radio's eminence grise and its ad hoc counsel F. Lee Levin are aleady finding the flaws in the provision that will allow legal attack.
27 posted on 06/11/2008 3:25:18 PM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Abraham Lincoln would have let Berkeley leave the Union without a fight)
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To: gpapa; rmlew; Clemenza; PARodrig; firebrand; neverdem

Next on the list, human rights courts as in Canada and the internet. The elites don’t like free speech or competition. We are living in the age of Stalin minus the secret police since they don’t need it. Dissent will be stifled because economic sanctions and ostracism are more effective than prison or torture


28 posted on 06/11/2008 3:26:35 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: gpapa

OK, put the reply people on the air say - 2am?????


29 posted on 06/11/2008 3:27:08 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("I Believe In The Law Until It Interferes With Justice")
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To: Jerry Attrick

buh-bye free speech!

YEAH, IF WE LET IT HAPPEN!


30 posted on 06/11/2008 3:28:24 PM PDT by TribalPrincess2U
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To: griswold3

“But who, besides them are willing to work for free?”

Liberals don’t think THEY should work for free; they think YOU should work for free.

THEY are IMPORTANT, doing IMPORTANT work, and thus DESERVE “just” remuneration.


31 posted on 06/11/2008 3:28:32 PM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (McCain is the best candidate of the Democrat party.)
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To: gpapa

But please, nobody say anything harsh or aggressive or anything because we wouldn’t want the Moderators on this site to shut us down too. Because of course, we have to remain completely non-confrontational and respectful to our enemies as they cut our throats. So shhhhhhhhhhh, everybody calm down and be nice.........


32 posted on 06/11/2008 3:29:38 PM PDT by raptor29
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To: Telepathic Intruder
The fairness doctrine is unconstitutional.

I hope you are right, but IIRC a post here at FR detailed a Scotus ruling the so-called Fairness Doctrine was constitutional. The only thing that would save talk radio is a mass uprising similar to the way we defeated the bipartisan shamnesty bill last year.

33 posted on 06/11/2008 3:31:17 PM PDT by Jacquerie (McCain will offer battle to Islam - Obama will offer our heads.)
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To: gpapa

How to Contact the FCC

To Contact the Commissioners via E-mail

Chairman Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov
Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate: dtaylortateweb@fcc.gov
Commissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov

To Obtain Information via E-mail or On-line Form

General information, comments & inquiries: fccinfo@fcc.gov
Complaints: File a Complaint
Freedom of Information Act requests: FOIA@fcc.gov
Comments on FCC Internet services: webmaster@fcc.gov
Elections & political candidate matters: campaignlaw@fcc.gov
Broadcast Information: Broadcast Information Specialists


34 posted on 06/11/2008 3:32:14 PM PDT by rmlew (Down with the ersatz immanentization of the eschaton known as Globalism.)
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To: gpapa

Feinstein and Durbin were yappin’ about this the same time last year.


35 posted on 06/11/2008 3:36:50 PM PDT by InsensitiveConservative
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To: Right Cal Gal
Landmark LegalFoundation
36 posted on 06/11/2008 3:41:59 PM PDT by Stentor (Obama supporters. Letting the little void do the thinking for the big void.)
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To: Cacique

thanks, bfl


37 posted on 06/11/2008 3:43:21 PM PDT by neverdem (I'm praying for a Divine Intervention.)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts
The first thing we do is hold a human rights hearing on Big Bird. Then we roast him. Then we go after the rest of the Muppet's. Then we round up up the NPR mouthpieces and deport them to Cuba.

Funny but also to the point. If this attack on the first amendment was reenacted, the heavily leftist outlets like NPR and Airhead America would also be forced to comply...but of course they would not. We conservatives could easily and honestly flood the FCC with complaints about liberals...wait for it...not doing what they are forcing others to do.

I bought a new car in January and don't have my Sirius installed in it yet...but I'm going to rectify that. AM radio and CDs don't cut it. If it wasn't for Glenn Beck and Howie Carr I would have got around to it much earlier!
38 posted on 06/11/2008 3:47:58 PM PDT by LostInBayport ("Anyone whose tax bill goes up feels like it's an increase." - Mass. Governor Deval Patrick, 2/28/07)
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To: LostInBayport

Sirius has Glenn, plus Levin and a few others.
In fact XM and Sirius BOTH have Levin.


39 posted on 06/11/2008 3:52:42 PM PDT by Right Cal Gal (Abraham Lincoln would have let Berkeley leave the Union without a fight)
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To: albie
Interesting prediction. I have one as well.

If Rush went to either satellite radio station, they would have to pay him so much money to make that move, that he could take their money, and launch a 3rd satellite radio company.

Not that he WOULD do that, mind you, but he could afford to.

40 posted on 06/11/2008 3:53:54 PM PDT by willgolfforfood
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