Carrick, the fairness is just a second step (McCain Feingold was the first) to shut up political discourse in this country.

the BCRA moved the center of power slightly away from these large organizations and back towards individuals. That sound democratizing to me.

I don’t really agree with that. Under the old way I could pick and choose my special interest groups to represent me. I certainly would give out NRA money and perhaps some other group like the NFIB or something.

Now if I want to influence the election I have to give my money to individual candidates which may or may not know WHY I’m supporting them.

McCain Feingold took my power to pick my groups away and gave that power to the candidates and to the media. Neither one of them feel like they have to listen to the average Joe.

You say that M-F took away power from the NRA. While you may not agree with what they stand for didn’t the individuals that gave money to the NRA all agree with them. Doesn’t this dilute their voice?

And I’m sure you noticed that McCain/Feingold exempted unions who were also strengthened politically even while their workforce influence is eroding. How’s that working out. Do you notice the desire to implement Card Check thug forced unionization being at the top of every Democrat’s agenda?

What I think about all this against Obama that I just have say one thing that “when people start raising finger against you then it means you are getting famous from that time” and this same thing is going to happen with Mr. Obama and he was ready for all that.

In my opinion, the main effect of McCain-Feingold (BCRA) is to reduce the influence of large PACs and unions during the last weeks before an election.

And I can see why organizations like the NRA bitch about it, because before the act they were pretty much the only voice out there… anybody else goto drowned out by their large funding base.

So quite the opposite of stifling debate, the BCRA moved the center of power slightly away from these large organizations and back towards individuals. That sound democratizing to me.

And quite the opposite to the claims of critics, the actual impact of the law is very narrowly focused. If anything, it should be extended to include individual candidates so that they can’t get around the organizational limits on soft money by shifting their apparatus to the candidate of choice (e.g., Barack Obama got as much as he did simply because the money is being funneled through him rather than the DNC; it’s a gimmick to end-around the BCRA).

(And btw the 527s that “got around” the BCRA? They were actually in violation of it, as the FEC later ruled…)

I personally don’t expect the fairness doctrine to survive a constitutional test. And in my opinion, the grounds under which the BCRA was upheld really don’t apply mutatis mutandis to the Fairness Doctrine.

Joe

The similarities are disturbing and worrisome.

Hugo Chavez kicked our U.S. Ambassadors out of his country. He has been a constant critic of the Bush Administration, and now says a new American Ambassador will not be welcome until there is an “administration that respects Latin America,” a/k/a Barack Obama. Chavez endorsed Obama’s candidacy earlier this year.

Chavez hates America almost as much as Obama does.

Magic Dog assumes, What I’m going to love is the debate over the Fairness Doctrine. I really, really want to watch the Republicans, and Fox News, rant and rave and rail against fairness.

Government control of speech is “fairness”?

Maybe in Soviet Russia, but not here in America.

Gather around the radio [or computer] with friends and family and turn the volume up so everyone can hear.

Listen to the “crazed” Michelle Obama badmouthing our country…listen to Obama’s insane pastor, mentor and spiritual advisor’s defamatory and derogatory sermons about America –listen as they extoll the virtues of AFRICA…the cradle of civilization as they defame America.

Something else: The Dallas Morning News didn’t go off the deep end like Murdoch’s New York Post and Sun Myung Moon’s Washington Times. Instead, they told the truth, which isn’t nearly as interesting as the right-wing fantasy you’ve cooked up:

“We think the Obama campaign’s decision is to some degree more a function of limited seats, and while we’re a large regional newspaper, we’re not national and we’re not in a swing state. We’ve been on the road with them at key moments, but we’ve not been along for the entire ride, like, say, The New York Times and The Associated Press.

“For what it’s worth, we’ve had the same trouble with the McCain campaign. One of our reporters dropped off earlier this week when space became an issue, and we’re only getting back on with McCain tomorrow for the final weekend because they, unlike the Obama campaign, are adding a second plane.”

I’m glad to see new commenter Olivia has a sense of humor:

The Drudge report is going down and with it Matt Drudge.

Drudge gets more online hits that the New York Times. Heh. Now, THAT’S funny.

Further, Maureen Down was booted because she’s personally insulting in what passes as her opinion column, not for any news content on which she reports.

And, if you’ll actually read the news report, they’re being kicked off to allow others to take their place, not for extra security.

I’d say “nice try” but it wasn’t. It was just another lame lefty defense of The One.

What about when McCain booted New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd from his plane?

Magic Dog,

John McCain, like Fred, simply grew weary of “the clucking of aging poultry.”

The Drudge report is going down and with it Matt Drudge. If you have to kick people off of a plane, to ad more secret service agents because of the right wing nut situation, than it makes sense to kick of the guys who didn’t endorse you. That they let FOX news stay on is the surprise.

With the Democrats in control of the House and Senate it will quite likely happen thus creating a government with way too much power, which is what the founding-fathers feared the most. That fear made them state that it is the American people’s duty and right to overthrow an unjust government. I fear that if these laws that are speculated and will most likely get passed will create such a government that needs to be overthrown. America is a Democracy the people should hold the power and they should not lose their birth given rights of life,liberty and property or the pursuit of happiness which ever one is more acceptable.

Well, Hugo took it a step further and actually shut down newspapers/radio stations with content that he didn’t like. But even so, this shouldn’t be happening in America.

Hugo is a marxist just like NOBAMA.

The Drudge report is going down and with it Matt Drudge. If you have to kick people off of a plane, to ad more secret service agents because of the right wing nut situation, than it makes sense to kick of the guys who didn’t endorse you. That they let FOX news stay on is the surprise

NOBAMA is that you?

Rob:

Hugo took it a step further and actually shut down newspapers/radio stations with content that he didn’t like.

Whistler:

Obama can’t do that, yet.

Two words:

“Fairness doctrine”.

Begone, peasants. We will accept those who will worship the messiah accordingly and without question.

Well, Hugo took it a step further and actually shut down newspapers/radio stations with content that he didn’t like. But even so, this shouldn’t be happening in America.

Didn’t McCain/Feingold exempt unions?