They're after talk radio...This is just a warning shot

Nealz Nuz and The Neal Boortz Show ^ | 2002-11-21 | Neil Boortz

[Congressman Billybob]

Of COURSE they're after talk radio. That's OUR medium, not theirs. Fortunately, whatever attacks they make will be futile, because talk radio is market-driven. What the people want is what it will be. No more, no less.

The combined effect of talk radio and the Internet is a new force in politics. Whatever one thinks of Jesse Ventura, Governor of Michigan, he was the first person to use this combination to win major office in the United States. There will be more and more savvy candidates (on the conservative side) who realize the power of this combination, and use it to win offices.

I dedicated several sections of my newest (and shortest) book to precisely this subject. Click the second link below for "Restore Trust."

Congressman Billybob

Click for "Below the Radar -- The Other Republican Victory" (first column run on UPI)

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[Congressman Billybob]

Update on the CFR Litigation:

The consolidated case (all 11 claims were rolled into one case) is still before the special, three-judge trial court. Final pre-trial briefs have been filed. It will hear the case and decide it by about the end of February.

Then, in accord with the law's own requirements, the case goes directly to the Supreme Court. That's where I get involved. The Supreme Court will "accelerate the case on its docket" (also as required by the law) and decide the case by the end of June. I've already put myself on the line on this: If we (meaning all the lawyers opposing this law) cannot get it declared unconstitutional, I will resign my 26-year membership in the Bar of the US Supreme Court.

I feel that strongly about the issue. I also feel that strongly about our abililty to use the First Amendment as a weapon to strike down CFR.

Does that answer your questions?

Congressman Billybob

Click for "Below the Radar -- The Other Republican Victory" (first column run on UPI)

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[ThinkDifferent]

Outstanding. This seems like it should be even more of a slam-dunk free speech issue than the Communications Decency Act, and that was 9-0. Thanks for your efforts.

[sweetliberty]

Truth is the enemy to Democrats. It is very easy for them to float their lies loud enough and often enough to get people believing them when they have the enthusiastic cooperation of every major television network and cable news channel other than Fox and the vast majority of newspaper editors across the nation and around the globe. Talk radio and the internet are the medium purveyors of truth and have an arguably more intelligent, or at least more sophisticated audience. It is frightening to them that they have no control over these voices of truth and reason. Their campaigns of deception are costly and they invest themselves completely in them and it is doubtless a source of constant frustration to them that in spite of all their well-financed rhetoric and smoke and mirrors, the truth still gets out. Tiny Tommy's hissy fits are are comparable to those of a declawed and toothless alley cat.

[Let's Roll]

Somehow I got it in my mind that it was heard in August and the decision would be announced shortly after the November 5th election. Probably because it seems so open and shut to me.

Other than keeping terrorists from killing us, this is the most important issue we are facing today. Thank you SO much for your hard work on this.

[KansasGirl]

When is the US SC going to review the CFR lawsuit?

[Congressman Billybob]

As posted before, the special three-judge trial court will decide the CFR case about the end of Feburary. It then goes, by law, to the Supreme Court, which will "accelerate" the case and decide it by the end of June.

Right now, I am following the case. When the Supreme Court gets it, I will file one of the briefs against the law. I expect that we (meaning all the lawyers against the law) will succeed in getting it declared unconstitutional.

Congressman Billybob

Click for "Below the Radar -- The Other Republican Victory" (first column run on UPI)

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[Congressman Billybob]

As posted before, the special three-judge trial court will decide the CFR case about the end of Feburary. It then goes, by law, to the Supreme Court, which will "accelerate" the case and decide it by the end of June.

Right now, I am following the case. When the Supreme Court gets it, I will file one of the briefs against the law. I expect that we (meaning all the lawyers against the law) will succeed in getting it declared unconstitutional.

Congressman Billybob

Click for "Below the Radar -- The Other Republican Victory" (first column run on UPI)

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

[aristeides]

The Democrats will ask the courts to rule that these evil talk show hosts are subject to the terms of the CFRI and that the hosts should not be permitted to express their opinions or preferences for or against any particular candidates or parties in the last two months before we head to the polls.

In the next few months, the Bush administration is going to push through Congress a lot of new appointments to the federal courts of appeal. Maybe there will be some Clintonista district court judges who will rule the way the RATs want on this issue of the interpretation of the CFR law, but the federal courts of appeal will never affirm such a ruling -- by the time a case gets to one of those courts of appeal, there will be several new Bush appointments on them.

And that's ignoring the likelihood that much of the CFR law, including this part of it, is likely to be struck down as unconstitutional.

[aristeides]

Resurrecting the Fairness Doctrine is the FCC's call, isn't it? Anybody know the opinion of Michael Powell (chairman of the FCC, and Colin Powell's son) on this issue?

[aristeides]

Don't expect any politician to seriously want to reduce the size of fovernment.

Calvin Coolidge was a professional politician who believed in small government. So was William Howard Taft. So was Grover Cleveland. So were most ante-bellum Democrat presidents (e.g., Buchanan, Pierce, Van Buren).

How do you explain people like them?

[aristeides]

Sen. McConnell filed a suit on CFR in lower federal court, but I do not believe there has been any ruling yet.

[aristeides]

I agree that it's virtually certain that the SCOTUS will strike down at least parts of the CFR law. Do you think they will strike the whole law down, or only parts of it? (The law does include a severability provision, doesn't it?)

[keats5]

Welcome!

[stuartcr]

The way to get rid of talk radio, is to promote satellite radio. When the government gets rid of the broadcast bands that free radio is using, and starts pushing pay per listen satellite radio, that's when our freedoms are really gone. With the advent of cable tv, we will eventually see the end of broadcast tv as well.

[dc27]

Let's not forget about the NY Times and while were at it, how about applying the Fairness Doctrine to the universities and colleges?

[conservativemusician]

Thank you . It's good to be here!

[TeleStraightShooter]

Well, they can't tax it. ;^>

Dasshole is missing the point, if anyone is trying to promote hate & violence, it's CAIR.

[SevenDaysInMay]

This is the sound of American fascism from the leadership of the party of American fascism. Hillary with the Clintonazis lust for a return to power.

[philetus]

Their all dead.