Posted on 03/28/2002 8:04:49 AM PST by sheltonmac
"A certain period of time!?" Okay, you're free to write about candidates after we've ensured that it won't make any difference.
How about we forbid Congress from passing any legislation during those same time periods?
The First Amendment's restrictions on Congress are more explicit and absolute than those applied by the Fourteenth Amendment to the states. After all, the authors of those amendments never intended to legalize libel or other such practices, but they recognized that since such things fell quite adequately within state jurisdiction and there was thus no need for Congress to legislate them.
Nonetheless, state statutes which attempted to do what this CFR abomination does at a national level have been consistently struck down by courts which held that political speech is speech, and that laws restricting it abridge the rights of free speech.
Bush would have been able to cite from an ample array of court precedents if he were to denounce this abomination as unconstitutional. Unfortunately, he failed to do so.
Eg: Any pro-life organization out there can collect $$$ from their membership and buy any number of issue ads to run right through elections supporting their stand. The ad just can't promote (or discourage) voting for a candidate by name.
The bill does not stop them from doing that, as long as they use hard money (direct donations) and identify the source.
While it is very Patriotic sounding rhetoric, like it or not Democrats an Republicans ARE the people. Not only that, but they are the VAST majority of the people.
I don't think so but give me a chance to look up the gubment definition of "hard" money and I'll get back to ya.
EBUCK
They should have to show Constitutional authority at the beginning of each bill.
Can you imagine the beginning of the CFR bill.
"Persuant to the Constitutional authority granted this congress by the 1st Ammendment to curtail political free speech.....blah, blah."
I'm sure that would fly!!!!LOL
EBUCK
This statement is demonstrably incorrect. They aren't even the majority much less the vast majority. Do the math.
[You]....when the Court shreds the bill, it will be DEAD.
Oh, good. I rejoice. And what if they don't? Who is the Rhodes scholar then? Will you freely present yourself in the public square for flogging?
Mind you, some TV punditary Court followers have already been opining that there's good reason to think CFR will be found constitutional by the Rehnquist Court, so your optimism mystifies me. Given that this Court has already found against your side once on a similar case, where is font of your enthusiasm for rejoining the issue?
Methinks you just want the issue off the table to shut the DemonRats up ..... you've given up on it, in other words, and are now toying with people you consider beneath the salt intellectually, hence all the insulting references.
Well, if I were you, I'd start putting together a collection of nice, soft, comfy flannel shirts. You're going to need them to protect what's left of your skin, after SCOTUS rolls over on you and sends you down to the public square for your chastisement.
Here is my break down. If I, as an individual, want to speak out in the media I am not allowed to do so. In their quest to make it hard for the rich to get their voice heard they have made it illegal for me to do so without contributing to a party/PAC.
EBUCK
If that's the case, why are you asking me to prove your statement true?
Okay, so why'd he sign it, when he didn't have to?
His signing it just becomes harder and harder to understand. I followed hobbes1's argument (though I think he's wrong, and the Pubbies are going to get burned bigtime), but does the President really intend to rely on the Supreme Court instead of stepping up to a piece of legislation he knows is wrong?
BTW, See post 212 on the thread you directed me to.
EBUCK
Either that, unpalatable as it may be, or face the fact that Bush does not care about the Constitution. Put yourself into a BBNs (Bush-Brown-Noser) shoes and which would you choose to advocate?
EBUCK
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