[TomGuy]

Without the imposition of Alien and Sedition Acts, it ain't gonna happen.

FEDS should be going after the governmental leakers, however. That is something they can do --- but so far seem reluctant to do.

Heck, they let Sandy Bergler slide. That set a dangerous precedent.

This is the press's trump card, because no current law (Alien and Sedition Act) has been imposed.

Amendment I - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


The John Adams Administration: Alien and Sedition Acts

• The Sedition Act, which provided for fines or imprisonment for individuals who criticized the government, Congress or president in speech or print.

The Alien Acts were never enforced, but the Sedition Act was. A number of Republican newspaper publishers were convicted under the terms of this law. The Jeffersonians argued quite rightly that the Sedition Act violated the terms of the First Amendment and offered a remedy in the Virginia and Kentucky

[pepperdog]

"FEDS should be going after the governmental leakers, however. That is something they can do --- but so far seem reluctant to do."

That is something I can't understand. I have no doubt that id of the leakers would lead to some interesting political intrigue. The poly's need to quit protecting their own and offer traitors up for the good of the country. If a few shining examples were made I've no doubt it would go a long way to seal the leaks. After all these are not courageous or principled people, they are cowards who promote their own agendas surreptitiously.

[bert]

......Without the imposition of Alien and Sedition Acts, it ain't gonna happen......

We learned this year that there is a course of action. A grand jury subpoenas the reporter's notes to learn the name of the leaker. The reporter refuses and goes to jail for contempt.

The question is when will the grand jury be empaneled to act?

The question is why was this not done over the NSA matter?

The question is does the Bush Admin have the guts to call the bluff of old gray whore?

[Kim]

But wait – don’t we live under a “living”, “evolving” Constitution? No doubt the editors of the NYT have endorsed that proposition countless times in the past.

After all:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”. Yet encroachments upon the free exercise of religion are too numerous to mention, all eagerly endorsed by the NYT.

“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…”. Yet campaign finance reform does exactly that, and was eagerly endorsed by the NYT.

“…the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” Yet the NYT is in the forefront of advocating every sort of infringement possible.

“…nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Yet the NYT, without doubt, enthusiastically endorsed the Kelo decision.

So why should freedom of the press be the only portion of the Bill of Rights that the NYT demands remain sacrosanct? We all know the answer to that, of course.