Yes, our friends in the Federal Government have found a way, finally, to shut us up! Well, maybe not entirely, but the threat is keen enough to cause a Blogger, blogging anonymously, to be fearful of the heavy hand of the US Federal Government should he, or she, say something that might “annoy” someone else. Not only that, but those who write anonymous comments to a blog posting would also be liable under the same laws. You cannot write an anonymous “comment” which may “annoy” someone. As a friend of mine said earlier today, how in the world do you write a blog without annoying someone? Good question.
The law, signed into law by President Bush last Thursday, is HR 3402.
For more on this blatant attack on the First Amendment go here:
http://acepilots.com/mt/2006/01/10/shut-down-the-blogosphere/
This new law only hamstrings US Bloggers, as it has no effect on Bloggers of other countries.
Undoubtedly there will be a “test” court case of the law, which will, most likely, go to the Supreme Court. The thing is… none of us Bloggers wants to be THAT TRIAL CASE!
So, watch for a number of your favorite blog sites to go dark in the next few days.
Here at IoF we are still trying to assess how this new curtailment on our freedoms will affect us. It doesn’t look good.
Longstreet
6 comments:
Sad Day my friend. One thing I can't figure out, please explain to me old friend. All the name calling of democrats, The thought police, freedom oppressing, I even heard a censrvative freind of mine say the Politically Correct ploice were on my side of the isle (me being a Democrat). My question is, How can you guys on the right tolerate it? Everything you accused the Dems. of doing seems to be coming from your side of the isle. In the years since Bush was in office I've watch the government get into people's personal life, their thoughts, bedrooms, their cars (nation wide seatbelt law) and where are you critics of Big Brother? I am in "Shock and Awe". I've watch the government cut back on the EPA, blunder catastrophes but yet grow in size but not effectiveness. The only thing it seems capable of doing is spying and monitoring it's own citizens. As I told a co-worker 5 minutes ago, "If you want them listening to your phone calls fine but not on mine. I am not an enemy combatant YET!" I thought that if the government got too out of control people on the left and right would come together (IN ARMS if necessary). For we can't debate Gay marriage, Reproductive rights, Prayer in school, one nation under God, in God we trust, the right of descent, oppesition to or support of wars abroad if we can't talk open and freely. God Bless America! God Save America!
Let me see if I can anwer both of you with one comment:
I have had a lot of fun with this blog! Not everything I have tossed into the hopper for discussion has been based upon my personal beliefs. Many times I have made postings to test the waters, to create discussion, and generally enjoy the give and take among a free people willing, and allowed, to discuss issues which are not necessarily "nice" or politically correct. Basically, it was because I just enjoy good discussion. Not necesarily debate, but sometimes, yes, debate, too.
Having said that... let me try to establish my own belief platform for you.
I do not believe a government, any government, can be trusted, entirely. Ever. That is one of the reasons I believe the 2nd Amendment is so very important.
During times of war, I believe a governement under attack should be given "broader" power to protect it's people. But, those powers must have a "sunset clause". In other words they must have "end dates". They must never become permananet. When they do, they are a danger to the liberty of the governed.
I believe, no, I know, this nation is at war. I've seen too many wars, in my lifetime, not to recognise one when I see it. We are neck deep in a war, right now, that will last long after I have left this plain of existance. It is a war we cannot lose. If we do, the United States will cease to exist, and all the freedoms and all the liberties we enjoy, now, will not exist, and the people of this country will be slaves.
You and I can argue whether or not this war is justified and it will not matter one whit. We are in it and we dare not lose.
I believe this President is, honestly, trying to do everything he can to ensure the safety of our people. In doing that he has certainly gone places I , personally, would not have gone, such as a great deal of the Patriot Act. But the Act DOES have a sunset clause. That helps me swallow it. I don't like it, but I can live with it until we can safely let it die a natural death.
As I explained in the header to this blog, this is an opinion piece. I don't make news and I don't report news, I just comment upon it. You may not be aware that I have control of the comments which appear here. I see them before anyone else does. If I do not wish a comment to appear, it does not. I do not stop a comment from appearing simply because I do not agree with the writer, or the writer does not agree with me. Mine is an OPINION, yours is an OPINION. They have equal value. Comments which threathened physical violence, and such, did not appear. Nor will they.
Let me mention also: my information is... that the clause which has brought us to this point (in HR 3402) was placed there by a RINO. (Republican In Name Only.) He is among those I would like to see my party seperate itself from.
Nevertheless, it is there, and it is law.
I have looked forward to your comments each day, even when they got my dander up. They kept the old heart pumping the mind engaged and entertained.
It has been quite a ride.
We have not decided yet, exactly how we will handle this. I'd like to get more feed-back from the blogosphere. I have yet to see much on it. I'm, frankly, not sure why.
I hope this has answered some of your questions.
Longstreet
During times of war, I believe a governement under attack should be given "broader" power to protect it's people. But, those powers must have a "sunset clause". In other words they must have "end dates". They must never become permananet. When they do, they are a danger to the liberty of the governed.
But don't you see? As defined by Bush, the "war on terror" has no end. The only way that it could end, according to their definition, is when Bush (and Bush alone) decides that it's over. And how likely is that?
The mis-named "Patriot Act" is just the beginning. What do you think they're going to do if (God forbid) there is another 9/11-type terrorist attack? Martial law? Suspension of Constitutitonal government? Think about it:
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7986.shtml
"The mis-named "Patriot Act" is just the beginning. What do you think they're going to do if (God forbid) there is another 9/11-type terrorist attack? Martial law? Suspension of Constitutitonal government? Think about it:"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I HAVE thought about it and continue to think about it every day.
If we have another 9-11, or a nuclear attack, America will never be the same! There will be "martial law" (most likely) and our freedoms will be limited to whatever the Military decides to grant us.
It makes no difference what type of Adminsitration we have at the time of the attack, Republican or Democrat. That Admistration will have no choice. (If they choose to defend America.)
There is no easy answer to this war. None. We cannot withdraw and survive as a nation. The terrorists want nothing less than our destruction and they will not quit. If we do not go to them, they will come to us.
This war on terror will not be over in 10 years, 30 years, or even 50 years.
I wish I had the answers. I don't. All I know is, that as a man, I much prefer to die, if I must, on my feet, slugging it out with the enemy, than on my knees in slavery. I believe most Americans feel the same way. If not, then we are already doomed!
Longstreet
My biggest fear is Bush may have something "pulled off" so he can declare martial law and put off the elections in 2008. Sounds paranoid I know, but if he does it will the right rise up with the left to throw him out? I doubt it you guys will say it is legal and leave it at that, just like the domestic spying. During WWII they still had elections, but I do not trust this guy, and as a nation we can't afford to.
Oh yeah and another thing too, will anyone on the supreme court (especially his newbies) stand against him on anything? It's a fine kettle of fish you guys got us in.
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