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Political Hay
The Fight for the Survival of Free Speech
Most Americans are sleepwalking right now through the early reign of Obama the Magnificant. He tells them he is cutting spending, cutting taxes, and cutting the deficit, and they believe him. When they find in 2010 and 2011 that he deliberately misled them and has been doing just the opposite, and they are deep in the soup as a result, public opinion will turn decisively against him.
Meanwhile, our "mainstream media," which should be called the Party Controlled Press, are quite successfully maintaining the smokescreen in promoting the Obama propaganda line, acting as slavishly as Pravda and Izvestia did towards the Kremlin in the old Soviet Union. This is the beginning of the end of free speech in America.
Next is to target the remaining holdouts, primarily conservative talk radio and the Christian broadcasters. Then the Internet. And if Fox News doesn't stop airing independent voices, and learn to toe the party line, the Obaman Left will further browbeat them.
Now is the time for true patriots to stand up and fight for the survival of free speech in America. Grassroots activism is needed here. If the Left shuts down free speech, we will no longer have a free country.
Property Rights: The Foundation of All Other Rights
The airwaves, meaning the broadcast spectrum, are already publicly owned. That means we already have socialism in radio and TV broadcasting. This is the root of the gathering threat to free speech. Because the airwaves are publicly owned, government control and regulation of speech on those airwaves is considered justified.
This public ownership is at the root of the Fairness Doctrine. It was considered permissible for the government to regulate the "fairness" of broadcast speech because the airwaves are publicly owned. No one ever talks about regulating the fairness of print media because printing presses are all privately owned.
The main threat to broadcast free speech is coming under the rubric of "localism."
Because the airwaves are publicly owned, broadcasters operate under a regulatory requirement that they serve the needs and interests of the local community. Of course, the only way broadcasters can succeed economically is by serving the needs and interests of the local community. It's called ratings. If a radio station only broadcasts programs that nobody in its local community is interested in, obviously it is not going to last very long. If a station is broadcasting shows whose ratings are among the highest in the local community, then obviously it is serving the needs and interests of the community, broadcasting exactly what the local community is most interested in.
But the government doesn't want to measure localism in this way because then there is no role for government. The market is taking care of it. Moreover, there is no political gain in looking at it that way. What the government means by localism is serving the needs and interests of self-appointed, local, political activists, not real people as represented by the largest audiences.
That is why the FCC has already endorsed the idea of requiring radio stations to each "convene a permanent advisory board made up of officials and other leaders from the service area of its broadcast station." Though it has not yet adopted such a regulatory requirement, this is among the first things that the Obama FCC could do, once the new Obama appointed chairman, Julius Genachowski, is confirmed. But even without a regulatory requirement, in the current political environment with the Obama controlled FCC, a station that does not even have a local advisory board is going to be vulnerable during license renewal. As a result, conservative talk radio stations have already begun voluntarily setting up such local advisory boards.
And who would be on these boards? Are they going to be dominated by the left-wing grassroots activist groups ACORN and MoveOn.org? Couldn't we expect to see all the other usual suspect lefty groups, Code Pink and associated peace activists, government labor unions that want higher taxes, environmental extremists that want to repeal the industrial revolution, advocates of unilateral disarmament, assorted sexual identity groups, NARAL, NORMAL, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, anti-nuclear power activists, etc.?
These boards are an entry wedge that would enable Obama effectively to take control of the radio stations. Indeed, all the FCC has to do is pay close attention to what these boards say during license renewal proceedings. Suppose such a local board recommends that a station's license not be renewed? If that weighs heavily in the renewal decision, then that board, and all other such boards around the country, would have a powerful influence on the stations and what shows they choose to air. Suppose such local boards then start objecting to nationally syndicated radio shows such as Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity as not serving the needs and interests of the local community as well as a local talk show host would. Would they develop an effective veto at least over nationally syndicated shows?
Indeed, suppose the local community advisory board vigorously supports during the renewal process switching the license to some or all of the members of the board itself. Then the board would become the radio station. All of this can be done during license renewal proceedings without even any new regulations from the FCC.
That is why if radio stations are going to have these local advisory boards, local conservative activists must get on the board as well. Local taxpayer activists, gun owners, pro-life advocates, veterans, Christian leaders, small businessmen, pro-family activists, libertarians, those who advocate traditional values, free market advocates, call and write your local talk radio stations and demand to become a member of the station's local advisory board. You should not limit this to conservative talk radio. Call your local NPR affiliate and demand representation on its advisory board as well. If they don't have an advisory board, complain loudly to the FCC about it, and renew those complaints during their license renewals.
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Pingback| 4.29.09 @ 7:14AM
Topics about Oprah » Archive » The American Spectator : The Fight for the Survival of links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Darin| 4.29.09 @ 7:44AM
If David Mathews has such a problem with this article, I have to wonder why he bothered commenting on it. However, as I've previously said, his comments are akin to that of a 2-year-old and should be read in that context. Lots of whining and complaining, virtually no substance.
stu.b.con| 4.29.09 @ 8:02AM
Darin-I agree that l'il davey is an empty headed, whining, loser of an adolescent whose comments/opinions are not worthy of discussion only derision and contempt. I wonder though about the psyche of someone who finds it necessary to take the time to post here day in day out in order insult and demean the opinions of writers and commenters at this site. He's a troll but what is worse he exhibits all the traits of a future brown shirted fascist.
Just like any pre-adolescent who exhibits this type of behavior he should be put in his place not coddled or ignored, he is beyond education by the way.
davey, mommy called and your pb&j is ready(she cut the crusts off this time!)
JamesJ| 4.29.09 @ 8:04AM
Why argue with Paine and Mathews. They live under the delusion that one can pick up a turd by the clean end
stu.b.con| 4.29.09 @ 8:17AM
from a link at Hot Air for l'il davey:
How's this for cable news domination - Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC combined in every hour from 6amET to MidnightET in both Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo for April 2009.
FNC had the top 11 cable news programs in Total Viewers and 12 of the top 15 in the demo. FNC is the #2 network in Total Viewers on all of cable.
From 9amET on, every program grew by more than 60% in the demo. The 5pmET hour, now occupied by Glenn Beck, is up 212% in the demo and up 128% in Total Viewers. Your World with Neil Cavuto is up 102% in the demo and up 60% in Total Viewers. On the Record with Greta Van Susteren is up 75% in demo and up 55% in Total Viewers. Also in demo: FOX Report is up 75%, Special Report 70%, The O'Reilly Factor 74% and Hannity 64%.
Fox & Friends has now been #1 for 90 consecutive months, Studio B with Shepard Smith for 80 consecutive months.
P-Daddy| 4.29.09 @ 8:36AM
Darin, I have to agree with you. Looking at Mr. Mathews "response" to this article I count four name callings, very much reminds me of 4th grade, Mr. Mathews. I believe the last time I looked (http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/13/cable-news-ratings-for-monday-january-12/10776) FOX news enjoyed a comfortable lead in EVERY demographic & time slot over all of Mr. Mathews lefty favorites. Next time Mr. Mathews, kindly do yourself and your ilk a service and come prepared. I know it'll be a new and novel experience but it could actually lead to discourse and not name calling, it's all up to you.
Red at Heart| 4.29.09 @ 8:44AM
Mr. Mathews, You are an interesting study. You are adamantly vocal and outspoken toward conservatism and points of view differing from yours. You name-call and you are certain in your heart that conservatives are only old, outdated persons that will soon fall by the way of the Whigs. Why do you spend precious moments of your life that you can never get back in reading conservative columnists? Why dedicate part of your day to the what you consider to be laughable nonsense? Maybe there is a nerve struck somewhere that motivates you to believe you still must marginalize and speak out against any voice holding a differing point of view. If those points of view are so stupid and irrelevant, why bother?
dcd| 4.29.09 @ 8:51AM
The author is moving in the wrong direction with radio. Instead of locking up spectrum with property rights larger sections hsould be availble for open access with digital encoding and spread spectrum technology thousands of transmitters can occupy the same section of spectrum. There is no need to monopolize spectrum when a arket will work better.
If anyone is interested| 4.29.09 @ 9:04AM
Re: Dreaded Mathews
Explains a lot:
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/In-time-of-victory-why-is-the-left-so-angry-43315892.html
Jeff| 4.29.09 @ 9:06AM
David,
I'll say it once again - you are a troubled soul! I'll also add another observation - you are either dishonest or ignorant. Perhaps you are both, which would make sense considering you are a Liberal. Keep typing the blah, blah, blah. We don't agree with any thing you write, but it is your right and its called freedom of speech. Enjoy it for now because we may not have it much longer.
jim rice| 4.29.09 @ 9:13AM
uhm... wasn't it the Conservative judges that just voted to confirm the FCC powers that the bush administration tried to push through?
Wasn't the FCC created by an act of a Republican controlled Congress?
jim rice| 4.29.09 @ 9:20AM
oops, sorry... I'm wrong. The original communications bill was a Democratic controlled Congress. The overhaul under Clinton passed through a Republican controlled Congress... and I guess the 2005 proposal under bush never went anywhere...?
It still always feels like it's Conservatives (social Conservatives... who are also typically politically Conservative) who limit my freedom of speech.
Except for Tipper Gore. That bitch.
Pingback| 4.29.09 @ 9:44AM
The 100 Day Frenzy | Worth Reading links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ed| 4.29.09 @ 11:07AM
David Matthews is a TFO (Troll For Obama).
Hey David, do you have a real job in the real world?
The whole web is waiting...
JR| 4.29.09 @ 11:22AM
"Dave Matthews"--how much do they pay you?
Todd| 4.29.09 @ 11:46AM
I think I know why Dave is here everyday posting his nonsense hateful rants because he is a paid Soros troll. Davey has never held an actual job before but he was told he won't get his trust fund unless he actually has a job and this is the only job he is qualified for because it requires no actual thought or labor. He just has to be up early every weekday and be the first one to post his garbage or he does not get paid. I take it Davey is not a morning person which explains his crabbiness to go along with his self-loathing. I am sure he will be replaced soon enough though because his posts are embarrassing even by Daily Kos standards. Good luck finding another job loser!
Rick| 4.29.09 @ 11:49AM
What would l'il davey do if absolutely no one responded or reacted to his comments? Wouldn't it be an exercise in freedom to simply ignore him or her and continue the discussion? It would seem that would be the way to deal with the nastyness and lack of content from l'il davey.
So, in that vein, I agree with Mr. Farrara and believe it would be a total lack of awareness on the part of conservatives NOT to see this liberal formula take shape under BHO's leadership. I will petition my local radio station to be included in a board.
pneil| 4.29.09 @ 12:04PM
David (and others),
You seem offended by this article. I'm glad. It's good that you still have the right to be offended. It goes along nicely with my 1st amendment right to free speech. Any society with free speech is by definition going to have a right to be offended.
I agree wholeheartedly with the authors concern over the governments (democratic governments that is) desire control the media. I understand that you don't want anyone to disagree with you. A lot of us do. That's our right.
The key to a democracy is not vomiting back whatever drivel your chosen leader spouts that particular day. It's about applying a critical eye to events and decisions (regardless of who they come from) and trying to reach an equitable compromise that serves the entire populace. It requires reasonable, rational thought.
You might try it sometime...
pneil
dave mathews| 4.29.09 @ 12:10PM
Just because you reps are not all communist, loser baby killer, gun grabber, can't get a date sissy guys like me makes you all just crazy.
dave mathews| 4.29.09 @ 12:22PM
Kaching! Every time I post I put money in Tyrell's pocket. I do it for the little thrill that runs up my leg every time I see his name.
AnneM| 4.29.09 @ 12:27PM
The truth is that conservative talkradio is BOOMING AGAIN. Ratings are SKYROCKING BIGTIME! Conservative talkradio is in a second golden age.
Evil NeoCon Zionist | 4.29.09 @ 12:30PM
My guess is that "David Mathews" is on the payroll for George Soros. Or he is a lonely sociopath who lives in his parent's basement.
jim rice| 4.29.09 @ 1:04PM
@pneil: *salute*
"The key to a democracy is not vomiting back whatever drivel your chosen leader spouts that particular day. It's about applying a critical eye to events and decisions (regardless of who they come from) and trying to reach an equitable compromise that serves the entire populace. It requires reasonable, rational thought."
Now if everyone on BOTH sides would remember that there are people on both sides who do this well... and people on both sides who have never even thought about this idea, perhaps we could all stop with the stupid, "liberals are all so stupid" and "Conservatives mothers' didn't love them" crap.
Doorgunner| 4.29.09 @ 1:05PM
"David Mathews" you really are quite the excellent troll. You're so on top of every post. But get this: we marginalized conservatives ,that you think you're kicking, we're your policemen, firemen, soldiers, marines, vets of all ages, the owners of about 80% or more of the arable land in this country, we are the guys who actually know how to... aw, screw it. Son, you're right. I'm just a gun-nut loser waiting for the shooting to start.
Good luck with that
Bob Smyth| 4.29.09 @ 2:02PM
Amen! Amen! Amen! Doorgunner. Why waste any time on some child (lil’davy mat) who will have no idea how to stay alive once it really comes down.
Enjoy your wonder-filled day
Al Snore| 4.29.09 @ 2:18PM
Dear Dave Matthews.. By the way, your band stinks...
see Doorgunner's post...
He pretty much sums up the "silent majority"...
your side is not behaving very well in victory...
That's not very nice, honey bunny..
Not to worry.. This too, will pass, son.
Enjoy your ride while it lasts.
The road is liable to get a tad bumpy...
E.G.Tripp| 4.29.09 @ 2:23PM
Back when the Brits totally controlled broadcast, some entrepreneurs developed what was then called pirate radio, located on ships outside the then-three mile limit.
Perhaps it will return.
Ed IV| 4.29.09 @ 3:22PM
I just want to point out that since the airwaves don't exist until they are created by a very expensive transmitter, owned by the radio station, they should not be considered to be publicly owned. They should be considered the property of the radio station.
pneil| 4.29.09 @ 4:08PM
jim rice
Thanks. It's nice to see that some people still "get" it. Neither side is flawless or is telling the "truth". They all have their own agenda. I have my biases but won't burden you with them because, well... they're mine.
It's not "us against them". We all win or we all lose together. Try to remember what's important.
pneil
pneil
Dave Mathews| 4.29.09 @ 4:18PM
Hell, I'm so stupid I can't even spell Tyrrell's name right. Look, give me a brake! Think of alowing me to post hear as affirmative action for morrons.
Pingback| 4.29.09 @ 4:34PM
Topics about Bcon » Archive » The American Spectator : The Fight for the Survival of links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Michele San Pietro| 4.29.09 @ 4:47PM
We really have to fight in order to save free speech before it is too late. These "liberals" have no respect whatsoever for other peoples' opinions.
Wicked Dickie--Virginia| 4.29.09 @ 4:52PM
David Mathews, Moron. The noive a' da' bum, insulting morons. We don't need no affirmative action for no sewer minded unter-moron. We need a "brake" from your asinine posts.
Richard Baker| 4.29.09 @ 6:44PM
To all who are inflamed by Matthews, remember that Lenin had an expression for folks like this, something about "useful idiots". When the scales fall from their eyes, his kind will be needing compassion and consideration in dealing with their trauma. You know, sorta like Monica Lewinsky when reality about her actions strikes her one day.
Robert Pinkerton| 4.29.09 @ 7:55PM
I think I understand now why Takimag suspended commentary, only there the prime troll adopted a "white nationalist" persona and called him(?)self "Captain Chaos." One wonders whether causing cancellation of commentary is not actually the intention behind the user(s?) of the "David Mathews" (or any other orthographic variant) screen name.
Be advised, sirrah, that the unearned forebearance we show you results from our commitment to freedom of speech, and to better manners than yours simply for the sake of our respective individual self-respect. Your comments resemble the outcries of a toddler in a yard who greets every passer-by with "You're a dumb-bell!" It is funny at first, but eventually one begins to feel sinking-stomach sympathy for the poor parents.
Cathy| 4.29.09 @ 8:51PM
David needs to watch the violence that occurred at UNC Chapel Hill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7naTR5QCxo
Then tell us again, that "no one wants to take away your freedom of speech."
Amendment 1 of our Constitution gives us the right to assemble and freedom of speech,
yet this video shows how easily our rights can and will be taken from us.
ds80| 4.29.09 @ 10:55PM
Looney Tunes music ON ...
Looks like David "Copperhead" Mathews has found another windmill to tilt at.
... Looney Tunes music OFF
Axeman| 4.30.09 @ 12:02AM
I can see that that's how you guys are going to do it. Frankly, I don't care how few people agree with me about something. But if you can label it "extremist" then eventually you can argue whether the law was meant to apply to an "extreme"--especially "hateful"--view.
Nothing is as untrustworthy as the word the benefactors and purveyors of legal realism.
Pingback| 4.30.09 @ 12:29AM
The Fight for the Survival of Free Speech links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
BPT| 4.30.09 @ 4:03AM
I honestly think only half (okay, roughly half) of America was asleep during 2008. But there are many signs that people are waking up. I mean the attacks on the Liber-Tea party folks, for one. They prove that the Democrats are scared, threatened, and more insecure than ever.
dan Mace| 4.30.09 @ 12:01PM
[[To all who are inflamed by Matthews, remember that Lenin had an expression for folks like this, something about "useful idiots". When the scales fall from their eyes, his kind will be needing compassion and consideration in dealing with their trauma.]]
Well, for what it's worth, here's the opinion of someone who has been watchng Communism infiltrate and devour our public school system and governmemt since the 60's.
Much MORE than half the country is just like this guy--and the scales will NEVER fall from their eyes because scales don't just fall from the eyes of people who have been brainwashed from childhood up, unless they are deprogrammed--and that takes a lot of effort and time.
At least one, if not two, whole generations of Americans have been brainwashed from Kindergarden to College in Socialism and Marxism. These are the people who NOW run our government, the media, the schools and colleges, and every other part of American infrastructure.
On top of that, most of the millions of illegals who are about to become legal citizens love socaialism.
In addition, the blacks in this country will NEVER turn on Obama because most of them are racists to the corfe, and they will support him no matter what he does.
Conservatives have not faced reality yet. What commi-Matthews says is true--unfortunately--and he will never "wake up". He's a Marxist zombie--no longer human.
It's the Conservatives who are about to wake up and realize that while they were trying to take the high road and act righteously all these years in fithting liberalism, they were only setting the stage for their own demise.
The only way to fight liberals and facists and communists is with the same techiniques THEY use--murder, bribary, cheating, stealing, constant propoganda, accusations of extremisim and so forth.
In the realm of geo-politics, the "good guys" don't win--the evil ones do. You can only fight fire with fire in this realm. Self righteous Rebublicans lost the battle for the soul of this nation years ago and it's far too late to ever get that soul back.
You all should have listened to McCarthy, and all the other Patriots who have been warning you about the advance of Communism in this country for over 60 years.
Ignorance isn't free--it's very costly. And people who know what fredom is--not brainwashed idiots like Matthews--are now getting the bill.
You have no choice but to pay.
Dan Mace
SRPaquet| 4.30.09 @ 1:25PM
That D. Mathews should be institutionalized, what a rube. As far as the artical, I my self watch tv news reports which are totally slanted both sides: Fox vs. cnbc, msnbc, ect., but both sides are not bringing the news but merely trying to capitalize on ratings. Their all scum as far as I am concerened and need all their licences pulled period. What some have forgot is, most people take these news personalities with a grain of salt, if they watch these idiots at all, we can tune these useless pukes out by remote control.
L Ellis| 4.30.09 @ 1:59PM
Let us not waste time on people who are simply spewing out what comes out of the last MoveOn.org article they absorbed. We need to join together in order to preserve the nation that has protected all of our freedoms up until now. Read the Constitution (yes, read it), and insist with your vote and any other means possible that our elected officials obey it. We need to hold these people accountable, but it has to be done by banding together with one common goal: to preserve our Constitution and our freedom. Our freedom is not to be taken lightly. Without freedom, we have no other "rights." They will be subject to the will of whatever tyrant is put into office.
We need to stop arguing and start acting. Show up at the rallies, write your congressmen, join the movement and do not be shy in voicing your opinions. Use your talents, use the internet, use whatever means you have while you still have to freedom to do so.
The one question that comes to my mind when the CNN reporter asked the protester what "Liberty" has to do with the tea party protests, made me realize: It has EVERYTHING to do with why people were protesting: higher taxes, the economy, government bailouts, etc., leading the way to growing the government and increasing government control over our lives and our beliefs. Without freedom, nothing else matters.
We owe our dedication to the people who have fought and died to preserve our freedom. We cannot sit idly by, allowing the line in the sand to keep moving back - there will come a day when it will be too late. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Regardless of where this quotation really originated, its truth cannot be contested.
Keep your focus simple, do not expect everyone to agree with every ideal or belief you have - just the most important, all-encompassing ideal which affects everything you do: Freedom.
Jeff Riggenbach| 5.1.09 @ 11:12AM
"Most Americans are sleepwalking right now through the early reign of Obama the Magnificant. He tells them he is cutting spending, cutting taxes, and cutting the deficit, and they believe him. When they find in 2010 and 2011 that he deliberately misled them and has been doing just the opposite, and they are deep in the soup as a result, public opinion will turn decisively against him. "
I beg to differ. Throughout the 1980s, Ronald Reagan repeatedly told the American people that he was cutting spending, cutting taxes, and cutting the deficit, and they believed him. When those of them who could read found out that he had deliberately misled them and had been doing just the opposite, did public opinion turn decisively against him? No.
People would rather believe pleasant, comforting fictions than face the truth.
JR
Sue| 5.3.09 @ 10:23AM
To David Matthews: break vs. brake; you're vs. your (one is a contraction for you are and the other is possessive) their, there, and they're (guess which one is the contraction for they are, the one possessive and the one a place? Are you a product of public schools from the 1980s and 1990s? Just wondering how your character traits were formed and by whom.
Mike Reeves| 5.3.09 @ 11:22AM
Hello Honorable Americans, don't let this David Mattews character get you down. He is what's known by Mark Levin as a "Drone". Check out Mark Levins wesite and download his Conservative talk radio show FREE. His #1 best seller book is in it's 5th week (Liberty & Tyranny) and driving the LEFT nuts. God Bless
Pingback| 5.3.09 @ 1:23PM
Steynian 351 « Free Canuckistan! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Richard Baker| 5.9.09 @ 11:40AM
To Mike Reeves:
Levin is, of course correct about Drones. But, to use the bee analogy, the drones support the active part of the hive. Or as we used to say in the Infantry, cannon fodder. Dangerous, nonetheless.
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