When liberals run schools, there subject the children to, among other things, “tolerance and diversity.” Now, the irony of “tolerance diversity” is that it only extends to those that agree 100% with the regressive agenda. If you have an opinion that differs one iota from the regressive line? Well, then to forces of “tolerance and diversity” become rather intolerant. Just ask Jared Marcum. He is an eighth grade student, whose school did not like his NRA t-shirt, so they had him arrested and suspended when he refused to change it. WOWK has more… WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, [...]
Censorship
Massive Projection on Display: Democrat Hank Johnson Wants to Limit Free Speech
We like to say that you always know what the Democrats are up to based on what they accuse everyone else of doing. Here’s Hank Johnson, a Democratic Congress critter, on why he thinks free speech is a terrible thing… OK, let’s look at some points here… “They control the patterns of thinking,” said Johnson. “They control the media. They control the messages that you get. So, you are being taught to hate your government – don’t want government, but keep your hands off of my Medicare by the way. I mean, we are all confused people and we’re poking fingers at [...]
New York vs First Amendment: Seeks to Make it Easier for Leftist Goons to Target Critics by Banning Anonymous Speech
From the Federalist Papers, to the Internet today, anonymous political speech has been a mainstay of political discourse in the US. It is frankly needed, as there is often negative consequences to speaking out against the status quo. And, in other countries, the results can be somewhat terminal. Since it is difficult to track down, harrass, intimidate, beat, or even kill anonymous speakers, the NY State Legislature has decide to ban it. David Kravets, at Wired, has more… Did you hear the one about the New York state lawmakers who forgot about the First Amendment in the name of combating cyberbullying and “baseless [...]
Limbaugh Advertiser to Liberals: Bring it!
I’ve said, quite a few times, that while the leftists have an impressive punch, their play book is paper thin. They do the typical astroturf email and phone harassment campaigns, send in thugs by the busload, and do the typical harassment of children, employers, and business associates. However, in reality, they are very small, yet highly organized. They count on being far more noisy than their actual influence would indicate. In other words, they make a ton of noise, but it’s just that-noise. Then, if one buys into the “fact” that the protesters actually represent anything more than the Democratic party, they give in, and the [...]
While we were distracted did we lose free speech? (H.R. 347)
While we were being distracted by the Sandra Fluke-Rush Limbaugh debacle last week somehow we lost some more of our liberties; liberties that are protected by OUR constitution. This time the target is free speech. Yes you heard right we may have lost our ability to express ourselves through the act of protesting the government and it sneaked in right under our radar. Yesterday morning while I was getting ready for work I caught Judge Napolitano on Fox and Friends talking about how last week President Obama had signed into law H.R. 347. Below is the Fox and Friends clip of this interview. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-morKF3QqI&feature=player_embedded How I missed [...]
An Interesting SOPA Video
The republican Mother posted this video the other day. Give it a look, and let me know what you think. I know, the presentation is about one lithium dose from a normal pace, but the guy makes some good points. Related posts: SOPA and the Blogger: Potential for Censorship? A Must-See Video It's Video Time Tea Party in Wisconsin: It Ought to be Interesting Longshoremen Thugs Edit Video to Hide Their Own Thug Activites Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Same old ChiComs: Blogger Jailed for Criticizing Regime, Social Networks Lose Anonymity
So, it seems that it still a pretty bad idea to criticize the ChiComs via a blog… Turns out China is a tyranny where criticism of the government can result in aprison sentence: A Chinese court has handed down a 10-year jail sentence to Chen Xi, the second dissident in four days to be convicted of inciting subversion through online essays… The intermediate people’s court in Guiyang, in south-west China’s Guizhou region, tried Chen Xi, 57, on charges linked to more than 30 political essays he published online. “The judge said this was a major crime that had a malign impact,” his [...]
SOPA and the Blogger: Potential for Censorship?
There has been a great deal of debate going on about the Stop Online Piracy Act. Some think it’s a massive threat to on-line freedom, and others consider it much ado about nothing. For the side critical SOPA, here are some points from the Heritage Foundation: Lawsuits Authorized As it is currently drafted, this is how SOPA would work: First, it allows the U.S. Attorney General, as well as individual intellectual property holders, to sue allegedly infringing sites in court. The site would have to be proven to be a foreign site “directed towards” the U.S. and that it would [...]
A Tale of Two Stories: Lowes not Advertising on “All-American Muslim,” is bad, but Boycotting Glenn Beck was Perfectly OK
In another not-at-all shocking example of a double standard, Lowes is taking some heat for choosing not to advertise on the TLC show, “All-American Muslim.” The Blaze has some coverage here… Hardware retail giant Lowe’s has pulled its commercials from all future episodes of TLC’s reality TV show “All-American Muslim,” the chain said this week. The conservative Florida Family Association has been leading a campaign to get retailers to pull their advertisements from the show. On Tuesday, it posted an email from a Lowe‘s representative who said Lowe’s will no longer be advertising during “All-American Muslim,” which chronicles the lives of several Muslim-American families living [...]
The Utility of Free Speech Redux
If you read the recent post, From The Front Lines of the Culture Wars: Student Disciplined for Thinking Homosexuality is Wrong, you would have seen an interesting exchange between Harrison, of Capitol Commentary, and myself. While we happen to disagree on that topic, I consider him to be a good blogger, who often asks us to question some core beliefs. Our exchange reminded me of the following, which was originally posted on September 29, 2009. As we all know, freedom of speech is under attack. Mark Lloyd proposes to replace privately owned media with a government approved and moderated PBS. Cass Sustein and Henry Waxman have [...]
Obama Attempts to Protect Progressive Narrative: Launches "Attack Watch" UPDATED
Well then, talk about shades of the ObamaCare “snitch line!” The Obamaites have now launched “Attack Watch,” a site for loyal useful idiots to turn in their friends, neighbors, and family members for “counter-revolutionary activities,” like believing in individual freedom, and other crazy notions. Apparently, there is far too much truth going on out there, and something must be done about it, ammitrite? At any rate, I did report myself. We’ll see if there is a sudden influx of paid trolls. That might just be fun! On a serious note, informing on your neighbors…where have we heard that before? Where did that happen, and what was [...]
Fairness Doctrine Officially Dead: Why That Means Absolutely Nothing
Yesterday, the FCC officially killed the fairness doctrine. While it hadn’t been enforced since the late 80′s, the left would occasionally state the desire to resurrect it, and the right always feared it. Here is coverage from The Blaze… The last nail was finally driven into the Fairness Doctrine’s coffin when the FCC eliminated more than 80 media industry rules, ending the obsolete post WWII-era regulation. The doctrine, that sought to ensure inclusiveness of different viewpoints broadcast on the airwaves, was officially erased by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on Monday. Conservative critics of the Fairness Doctrine believed the rule violated broadcasters’ rights to free speech and [...]
In Case You Never Really Knew What the Fairness Doctrine was all About…
Conservatives have long stated that the “fairness doctrine” was nothing more than a means to stifle debate on the airwaves. And, in fact, with the doctrine in place-no one dared state too many “unliberal” opinions without getting complaints from liberal groups, threatening to have their FCC license yanked. The result was one sided news. Once the doctrine was removed under the Reagan administration, talk radio flourished, and is a dominating force today. This has lead to the dissemination of Conservative ideas to millions of Americans. The ideas of individual freedom, free markets, personal responsibility, as well as the ability to [...]
"Tolerant" Lefties do not "Tolerate" Free Speech
Conservative bloggers, radio hosts, and TV personalities have been pointing out something for a long time now; that the “tolerant” left does not “tolerate” anyone who disagrees with them. For the latest example of that “inconvenient truth,” here is a video, via the Daley Gator. Just remember folks, that “tolerance” means that the left only tolerates people that agree with them. If you aren’t “approved,” it’s perfectly OK to violate your rights. Related posts: Free Speech for we, but not for Thee The Left Continues its War on Free Speech The Utility of Free Speech Milton Friedman: Free to Choose [...]
University Alert: Tolerance and Diversity on Display
If you are a regular reader here, you already know that the left’s spouting of the terms; “tolerance” and “diversity” are utter hypocrisy. They are only “tolerant” of those that agree with them. If you do not, you might be subjected to a number of intimidation and disruption tactics. After all, in the “tolerant” university environment, dissent cannot be tolerated. For the latest example, here is a video I saw at Campus Reform… Is this consistent with the American tradition of free speech, or is this historically similar to other movements in history? I’d invite people to look that [...]
Biden Staffer Confines Pool Reporter in Closet: How will the MSM React?
When the administration promised to be the most “transparent” ever, they should have consulted Webster’s. I think the work they were looking for was “opaque.” Case in point: this from the Drudge Report… Staffers with Vice President Joe Biden confined an ORLANDO SENTINEL reporter in a closet this week to keep him from mingling with high-powered guests gathered for a Dem fundraiser. Reporter Scott Powers was the designated “pool reporter” for the vice president’s Wednesday visit to the massive Winter Park, Fla., home of developer and philanthropist Alan Ginsburg. The veep hadn’t arrived yet but most of the 150 guests [...]
The Left Keeps Grasping for a Justification to Censor: Schultz and Sharpton Propose the Latest
I’ve said many times that the “progressives” seek to eliminate dissent by regulating media. Why do I say it? Because they have done it before, via the (un)fairness doctrine. Also, because organizations like Media Matters spend millions of George Soros’s dollars to distort what Conservative personalities say in order to justify muzzling them. We’ve documented, many times, the efforts at floating regulatory schemes designed to silence anyone who disagrees with the “progressive” line. You have to excuse them, it’s like a holy grail to the left. It seems that Ed Schultz and Reverend Sharpton got together to conspire on how [...]
Arizona Shooting Update: MSM Sets Shark Jumping Record Updated and Stickied
On the people front, doctors have been quoted, as saying that there is a 100% chance that Rep. Giffords will live. That is a miracle in and of itself, and I think we should pray for the fullest possible recovery. Also, lets not forget the other victims, and their families. As for the propaganda aspect of this tragedy, I have been suggesting that the “progressives,” and their media lapdogs have been hitting this so hard and so often, that it’s going to backfire. At the time of this writing, I can, at the very least, say that they are spinning…their [...]
A Giffords Update: When Lies Become the Narrative
Apparently, the left can let nothing go unpoliticized. Even though there is massive evidence that the perpetrator of this crime, Jared Loughner, we mentally disturbed, our “progressives” insist that the blame falls at the feet of Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck. Now, for the serious side of this story, from Michelle Malkin. R.I.P. and continued prayers for all the victims and families of the crazed nut who wrought havoc on America today: The Pima County Sheriff has confirmed that five people were pronounced dead at the scene, and a 9-year-old later died at a local hospital. The deceased have been [...]
Ending Dissent: An Overview of Media Control Part 2
Back in December, I had an overview on the recent history of media control efforts. But it doesn’t end there. There are some odd things going on with the WikiLeaks situation. First off, let’s take a look at what the government has been doing. Steve Dennis, at America’s Watchtower, covered that DHS and ICE have been shutting down websites suspected of copyright infringement… The fact that government entities are usurping more power than they have been authorized should be frightening to all Americans because while shutting down websites that infringe upon an artist’s copyright may be a just and prudent cause, the [...]
Ending Dissent: An Overview of Media Control Part I
It is well known that totalitarian systems seek to control all media. To achieve, and then maintain, control of the people, the totalitarian must prevent dissent. In such a scenario, obedience to the state is first and foremost, and is difficult to achieve if people are able to share actual thoughts and ideas. Dissenters must be marginalized and/or punished, and they cannot be permitted to defend themselves in the court of public opinion. Additionally, as the regime takes more and more from the people, and, as a result, causes suffering, actual information as to the reasons for the suffering must be [...]
CNN Hosts Channel Chavez: Advocates Regulating Bloggers
And they wonder why no one is watching… So, the MSM doesn’t like the bloggers. I wonder if they got that from JournoList? Here are some of the highlights, if you can call them that. “There are so many great things that the internet does and has to offer, but at the same time, Kyra, as you know, there is this dark side,” Roberts said. “Imagine what would have happened if we hadn’t taken a look at what happened with Shirley Sherrod and plumbed the depths further and found out that what had been posted on the internet was not [...]
Apparently, Socialists Are not in Favor of Dissent: Venezuela Jails Two for Twitter Posts
Now, we all know that, according to Sean Penn and Oliver Stone, Hugo Chavez is a really swell guy, and not at all a dictator. However, reality intervenes and sheds light onto his true nature. The Washington Times recently published an account of what happens when you disagree with the kindly communist dictator in Venezuela. In Venezuela, Luis Enrique Acosta Oxford’s ordeal began June 30, when he posted a 120-character piece of financial advice on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter: “Ladies and Gentlemen, don’t say you weren’t warned… Pull out today… I’m telling you, there are just a few days [...]
Hey, Guess What? Elections do Have Consequences
This year so far has been a rough one for our Constitution, individual liberties, the free market system, and pretty much for the survival of our Republic. The Obama administration along with Democrats in the Congress has decided that they know what’s best for the American people. Since then the mindset of the majority party has been damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. It started with the partisan passage of the Health Care Reform Bill that penalizes people with a fine who choose not to sign up for a plan. However the Obama administration is now calling it a tax instead of a penalty even [...]
Oliver Stone Makes Propaganda for Hugo Chavez: No one goes to see it
This is apparently what happens when you take over the media, and then give people a choice. As we have discussed, communist dictator Hugo Chavez has systematically shut down, harassed, or jailed any outlet in their media that has the temerity to disagree with the Venezuelan tyrant. Now, with all other media voices silenced, all the Venezuelan people get to hear is Hugo, 24-7. Can’t get away from the propaganda if it’s on every station and in every paper. Now, in one circumstance, the people had a choice. Notorious moonbat, Oliver Stone, decided to make a gushing propaganda piece to [...]
NRA deal opens the way for DISCLOSE Act
Well it finally looks like the way is clear for the controversial DISCLOSE Act (H.R. 5175) to be brought to the House floor. On Monday, Democratic leaders cleared the bill’s way by cutting a deal with the NRA, exempting the massive gun-rights organization from the Act’s requirements. Democrats in moderate districts were wary of crossing the NRA by trying to limit its campaign ads. You can read more about the NRA deal here. Democratic leaders now believe they can ram the bill, H.R. 5175, through the House without any opposition to stop it. This bill is so loosely crafted that it’s an absolute [...]
Score One for the Good Guys!
It seems that the good guys, scored a victory. Pamela Geller has announced that PayPal has come to it’s senses and ended it’s prohibition against Atlas Shrugs and two other sites owned by Geller. Geller explained: “The decision that Atlas Shrugs, SIOA, and FDI constitute ‘hate sites’ was an example of the ongoing attempt by Leftists and Islamic supremacist groups like the Hamas-linked hate group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to rule their political opposition outside the bounds of acceptable and reasonable political discourse.” She added: “The goal behind accusations of ‘hatred’ and ‘bigotry’ leveled against groups like SIOA [...]
Censorship, Censorship, and Links!
Well folks, there are two shining examples of leftist “free speech” from this weekend. Censorship Example #1: YouTube banhammers We Con the World. If you go to all the sites that posted the video “We Con the World,” you’ll find that the video has been removed. It apparently had over 3,000,000 views. Well fret not. Folks have been re-posting it, and we won’t give up. If you are using FireFox (and you should be), install the Download Helper plugin, and you can save videos. Then, they can be easily uploaded to most any video site. Censorship Example #2: PayPal threatens [...]
The Left Continues its War on Free Speech
Doug over at the Resistance posted this yesterday, and I thought it needed the good old CH treatment. For this post, I will fire up the CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE Translation Matrix. For those of you that were around for the original incarnation of this blog (hell, only Snarky read it back then), you’ll remember that it is a device that translates liberal into reality, often with amusing results. Over thirty organizations want the Federal Communications Commission to open up a probe on “hate speech” and “misinformation” in media. “Hate has developed as a profit-model for syndicated radio and cable [...]
DISCLOSE Act: Bloggers Beware
I actually ran across this story about the DISCLOSE Act on Hot Air. Last week, a congressional hearing exposed an effort to give another agency—the Federal Election Commission—unprecedented power to regulate political speech online. At a House Administration Committee hearing last Tuesday, Patton Boggs attorney William McGinley explained that the sloppy statutory language in the “DISCLOSE Act” would extend the FEC’s control over broadcast communications to all “covered communications,” including the blogosphere. I decided to dig a little deeper and discovered it was very difficult to find information on this topic. The few stories I did find revealed some very scary stuff. [...]
Czar Wars & Trolls: Cass Sunstein Advocates “Cognitive Infiltration” of Groups
My point about groups being infiltrated by trolls has taken another turn. Apparently, Cass Sunstein, the Regulatory Czar, had suggested, in a 2008 paper, that government agents, or allied groups, infiltrate and undermine groups that spread “conspiracy theories.” In a 2008 academic paper, President Barack Obama’s appointee to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs advocated “cognitive infiltration” of groups that advocate “conspiracy theories” like the ones surrounding 9/11. Cass Sunstein, a Harvard law professor, co-wrote an academic article entitled “Conspiracy Theories: Causes and Cures,” in which he argued that the government should stealthily infiltrate groups that pose alternative [...]
ClimateGate: Wikipedia’s Role
Nowadays, when you go to Wikipedia, you see an appeal from Jim Wales for money. Here’s why you shouldn’t give them a dime. One of the controversial issues with the AGW crowd is the Medieval Warm Period. From approximately 1000-1400 AD (the exact years are open to debate), the Earth’s climate warmed considerably, perhaps even warmer than today. Greenland actually earned it’s name during this time, and some of the best wine was made in what is today the UK (The grapes won’t grow there, even now). Populations rose, crops were plentiful, and the life span increased. The warm period [...]
A Call to Action: ACLU Threatens to Sue
ACLU Founder, Roger Baldwin, has been reliably quoted as saying the following… I have continued directing the unpopular fight for the rights of agitation, as Director of the American Civil Liberties Union … I have been to Europe several times, mostly in connection with international radical activities, chiefly against war, fascism and imperialism; and have traveled constantly in the United States to areas of conflict over workers’ rights to strike and organize. My chief aversion is the system of greed, private greed, private profit, privilege and violence which makes up the control of the world today, and which has brought [...]
Czar Wars: Mark Lloyd Denies What He Has Said Or Written
Mark Lloyd, the FCC’s “Diversity Czar,” was caught in some substantial lies regarding what he has written or said. He was quoted at Media Access Project as saying the following statements that are clearly not true. Allow me to clear away some mud: I am not a Czar appointed by President Obama. I am not at the FCC to restore the Fairness Doctrine through the front door or the back door, or to carry out a secret plot funded by George Soros to get rid of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck or any other conservative talk show host. I am not [...]
Fascist Friday: Reporter Fired for Disagreeing with Intolerant Left
It’s been quite some time since I’ve done a Fascist Friday post. However, the left has risen (or shall we say fallen?), to the occasion. Apparently, disagreeing with the left is still wrong, characterized as hate, and very punishable. Not following me? Thinking this is right wing lunacy? Take a look at this from Newsbusters, and decide for yourself. The censorious intolerance of the gay left is on display again – a reporter was fired in Waterville, Maine. His offense? Sending an angry private e-mail to the Human Rights Campaign in Washington. The HRC wanted the reporter dismissed – and [...]
Free Speech for we, but not for Thee
6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state. (emphasis mine) Karl Marx- Communist Manifesto With so many of the President’s advisers being either avowed communists, or at least functional communists, it was only a matter of time before I ended up quoting Marx. Up for discussion today, is the “Diversity officer” of the FCC, Mark Lloyd. He seems to have some interesting ideas about media. To illustrate this, here are some quotes from CNS News: Frequently referencing one of his heroes, left-wing activist Saul Alinsky, Lloyd claims in his book that the history [...]
Re-Named "Unfairness Doctrine" Set to Begin
The messiah SPENDULUS MAXIMUS has kept one of his pledges! He did not revive the “unfairness doctrine.” That title, dear reader, has been retired. The messiah has simply decided to proceed anyway, and CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE!! This is a great set up for the messiah, he get’s to ban dissent, alienate millions of Americans that CHOOSE to listen to Conservative talk radio, and silence people that point out his lies and destructive policies. Horray for the messiah! To accomplish this peice of fascim, the messiah has created a “diversity committee” at the FCC to address the lack of minority [...]
Wait til You Read This!
When I saw this today, I almost thought it was some sort of joke. Sadly, I was wrong. Well, anyway, let’s get on with it. Recently, the messiah SPENDULUS MAXIMUS nominated Cass Sunstein for the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. He is apparently an old friend of the messiah from the Chicago Law School, and was an influence on the young messiah. If you have a strong stomach, and a powerful funny bone, read on. the CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE Translation Matrix will be running at full capacity for this one. Source here. Quotes from, or regarding [...]
Rush Limbaugh and the Space Aliens
If I were a journalist, I would like to interview a Democrat US senator. Me: Thank you for sitting down with me Senator. I’d like to ask you some questions on the (un)Fairness Doctrine. Senator: Thank you Mr. Evil Matt for having me on. I think that the Amerikan people deserve diversity on the airwaves. We, in both houses of Congress are very concerned with the influence that Rush Limbaugh has on the people. The people need to hear progressive messages. Me: Well Senator, interesting that you say that. Do you realize that between Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael [...]
