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A Further Perspective

The Plan to Silence Dissent

Not as unthinkable as it would seem.

There is no shortage of conspiracy theories that elicit a chuckle or the rolling of eyeballs. “September 11th was an inside job.” “The war on Iraq was launched to enrich Halliburton.” “AIDS was created to annihilate the black community.” But should we be alarmed when a theory appears plausible in an age when the previously unthinkable occurs on a regular basis?

“When the heavy hand of the State is imposed on the press, all of us lose,” Barack Obama told a group of Kenyan journalists during a 2006 trip to Africa. He continued, “The media does not have a formal role in the Government, but it serves a critical function in providing information to the public so that they can hold the Government accountable.”

That was then and this is now. Apparently, a present-day President Obama has a different view — a wild-eyed view — of a free press than did a Senator Obama now that some outlets hold him, his administration and his political allies accountable.

The Obama Administration declared war on the minority of media outlets that do not worship the political left’s newest false idol immediately after Obama was sworn in. Three days into his presidency Obama warned Congressional Republicans against listening to radio host Rush Limbaugh. Amazingly, the president who offered to sit down with the thug leaders of rogue nations, such as Iran’s Holocaust denier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, without any preconditions believed an immense threat was posed by a radio talk show host originally from southeastern Missouri.

Then the White House launched a jihad against Fox News Channel and its hosts by first boycotting appearances on the cable channel and then second, by engaging in name-calling and leveling baseless allegations.

More recently, the White House brazenly attempted to marginalize Fox News Channel by enlisting the support of the heretofore compliant news media. Fortunately, competing news outlets found the backbone — if only temporarily — to put the kibosh on Obama’s attempts to blacklist FNC from the White House press pool.

All of the Obama Administration bluster may have been just that. Supporters of talk radio breathed a sigh of relief earlier this year when an amendment introduced by Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) passed with an 87-11 Senate vote that seemingly ended an attempt to implement the so-called “Fairness Doctrine.” The inaptly named “Fairness Doctrine” is nothing less than government-imposed speech codes. Although the doctrine would not have likely survived Constitutional scrutiny, radio hosts and listeners alike thought a major bullet was dodged.

So, are all threats averted? Perhaps not. There may be another plan afoot to silence dissent.

Instead of having the government decide which program merited “the other side” of the argument, what if there was a plan to shut down the free component of talk radio and broadcast TV?

More than 150 bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission are in the final stages of planning how to deliver broadband Internet to the estimated 3-6 million people who do not have access. A formal plan will be unveiled in early 2010 but one proposal being discussed is deeply alarming as it threatens First Amendment freedoms.

The FCC is contemplating the notion that some or all of the electromagnetic spectrum occupied by radio and TV broadcasters is the perfect real estate to launch a national wireless broadband service. The price tag is $350 billion. That is as much as nearly $120,000 per person to be connected. Apparently, the FCC has not heard of the “$99 Triple Play.”

Evicted broadcasters would no longer offer free, over-the-air radio and TV, but would instead be confined to subscription platforms such as cable and satellite or the Internet. This aspect of the plan is indeed troubling. The public would be required to pay for their news, information and entertainment services and there would be no free option.

However, it gets worse. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced a measure this year that would allow the president to disconnect private broadband users during an undefined national cyber emergency.

One provision of S.773 would grant the president authority to “declare a cybersecurity emergency and order the limitation or shutdown of Internet traffic” including that on private systems designated as critical. Not surprisingly, the bill gives the president wide discretion in designating private systems as “critical.” Would an H1N1 pandemic qualify as such an emergency allowing the president to shut down voices opposing his socialized medicine plans?

Another provision of the bill is to federally-license certain information technology professionals making it illegal for those not holding such a license to access any IT systems. Obviously, the most efficient way to control the nation’s broadband platforms is to control those who operate them.

Connecting the dots in this fashion would not have been contemplated as recently as one year ago. But today, no one is rolling their eyes.

topics:
The Internet, Fairness Doctrine

About the Author

Mark Hyman hosts “Behind the Headlines,” a commentary program for Sinclair Broadcast Group. You can follow him on Twitter at @markhyman.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (158) |

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 6:39AM

Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent [spectat links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Turn tweets into comments for your WordPress blog. Topsy Plugin – WordPress Shortened Links Linking to the spectator.org page http://bit.ly/5E0iaq info   3 tweet retweet The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent spectator.org/archives/2009/11/30/the-plan-to-silence-dissent – view page – cached There is no shortage of conspiracy theories that elicit a chuckle or the rolling of…

Michael Dooley| 11.30.09 @ 7:18AM

It is really quite simple. Liberals have an overwhelming presence in the schools, universities, and even the seminaries. The Liberal worldview is just assumed in broadcast TV. NPR is regarded as "moderate" and "middle-of-the-road". Conservatives have their place in print and in books; but you have to know where to look.

Liberals aren't very threatened by what one or two--even a dozen--conservative big mouths have to say. What talk radio and the internet do that is really dangerous is that these sources ALLOW CONSERVATIVES TO TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER. Equally is important, the average American can listen to Conservative s speak for themselves instead of having Conservativism explained in Liberal terms.

Liberals assume their are the wave of the future and feel somewhat annoyed that Conservates do not genuflect before their superior moral sense. When you're racing toward sweetness and light for all mankind, why bother with the nay-sayers much less understand their views?

hunter| 11.30.09 @ 7:42AM

The screaming heard from the liberals comes from the bright light being shone on them. Like the cockroaches in the middle dark of night, where their dirty work is being done when the light is turned on. They actually scream, and run for cover, they are the vermin of life, they live off others. This president reminds me of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. If he has his way we will be in the same shape Zimbabwe is today. His goverment owns the banks, industry, utilities, land, etc. Sound familiar? Obomba would do well to remember he ain't in Chicago no more, and that the American people won't fall for B.S. like the Zimbabweans. Hushing the american media is like stomping ducks to shut them up, all you get is more noise and a big mess.

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 8:12AM

The Plan to Silence Dissent | Republican Party of Door County links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…on private systems designated as critical. Not surprisingly, the bill gives the president wide discretion in designating private systems as "critical." Read more: http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/30/the-plan-to-silence-dissent Related posts: He Can’t Take Another Bow From journalist Elizabeth Drew, a veteran and often sympathetic chronicler... Teaching plan: America ‘an oppressive…

Nosmo King| 11.30.09 @ 8:35AM

Great work.

Louis Jenkins| 11.30.09 @ 8:53AM

There is no shortage of conspiracy theories that elicit a chuckle or the rolling of eyeballs. "September 11th was an inside job." "The war on Iraq was launched to enrich Halliburton." "AIDS was created to annihilate the black community." But should we be alarmed when a theory appears plausible in an age when the previously unthinkable occurs on a regular basis?

And the jist is that these scenarios are entirely plausible. Could these real world events be classified as "acceptable losses" to sway public opinion? During last year's national election we discovered how easily voters can be duped. Internet, blogs, news sites, and telebroadcasts can move public opinion. It can be a friend to a candidate or it can be an ankle twister depending on its content. Elimination or tethering the Conservative's voice is most desirable from the liberal view, particularly when it can be done in a "legal" fashion by Congress. Do not kid yourself, most of what Congress does is not found in the Constitution. This is inplausible to those with an acute understanding of our Republic, but an unkown to the average person on the street. Freedom of the press, association, peaceful assembly are corner stones of our Constitution, but there are those in government and in the ignorant public who believe that document to be outdated. They are at war with its concepts and will not rest until absolute control of every facet of life is achieved.

James Pawlak | 11.30.09 @ 8:59AM

Remember that the Second Amendment is the ultimate protection for the First!

Jim | 11.30.09 @ 9:13AM

Amen to that brother!!!

JT in SC| 11.30.09 @ 12:01PM

100% Right On!! They only take what we let them. Time to stand up!

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.30.09 @ 9:09AM

Yet another "canary in our coal mine" to watch carefully.
PS: People, I suggest you begin a document file containing the articles like this one by Mr. Hyman.

Another thought: Let us Patriots decide among ourselves that our "meet and discuss" sites will be our respective County Courthouse lawns...say the first and third Saturdays of each month, (with empty hands for goodness sake), If we are knocked offline. Carry a small American flag for identifying purposes.
Thoughts?

Margie| 11.30.09 @ 10:15AM

Yes. Good idea. But if they are willing to shut down the lines of communication, you can bet they'd probably not allow us to meet.

Al Adab| 11.30.09 @ 2:02PM

It will be interesting to watch them arrest people in a public setting. While even the homeless can gather, political dissenters may not. Remember when "dissent was the highest form of patriotism?"

Check out the Manhattan Declaration and sign up.

victor| 11.30.09 @ 8:42PM

We could always wear the Obama "O" to identify ourselves to one another, eh?

martha| 11.30.09 @ 9:39PM

I like it.
I was thinking of flyers on telephone polls but with a code phrase or something,, or go back to basics: How about a chain letter via snail mail?

Jim| 11.30.09 @ 9:12AM

Wow, take over the internet in an 'emergency'? What would an 'emergency' be under Herr Obama?

victor| 11.30.09 @ 8:44PM

Upset when Domino's cannot deliver 20,000 pizza's in 30 minutes?

davelnaf| 11.30.09 @ 9:19AM

If the Left’s plan to take over the airwaves is further along that a dirty gleam in the eyes of government hacks scheming to pull it off, then we are going to see something happen in this country we have never seen before. Not a liberal takeover of the media, but something close to an across the board political upheaval that will put dems out of power for a generation. Are moderate democrats paying close attention?

sandyinohio| 11.30.09 @ 12:53PM

There are too few of us moderate Dems. anymore. I cannot stand this whole admin & their people.

victor| 11.30.09 @ 8:47PM

Well, then, what are you waiting for?
All moderate dems are welcome to come on over to the conservative side.
Tell all your friends, y'hear?
Freedom and Liberty are always prefereable to Tyranny and Oppression.

Benson| 11.30.09 @ 9:25AM

If we go by the style presented so far of we don't give a damn what the majority of Americans wants or what the Constitution says, I assume the emergency would be what ever Herr Obama said it was.

Radioman 777| 11.30.09 @ 9:56AM

Hitler, Stalin, Mao, et al... Obama and his minions are cut from the same cloth and in the same pattern.

Sean Parnell | 11.30.09 @ 10:01AM

Count me as still skeptical on this. This is the first I've heard of the government potentially seizing all the airwaves and forcing broadcasters onto satellite or cable. Can you provide a link to support this charge?

The Obama administration has enough extremely troubling anti-First Amendment policies in place or being pursued, including their silencing of Humana in the health care debate (see here: http://www.campaignfreedom.org.....al-dissent), their general support of so-called campaign finance "reform," and their war on lobbyists (see here: http://www.campaignfreedom.org.....-lobbyists), among others.

I'm pretty sure it's not the author's intention here to divert attention from these real and credible attacks on the First Amendment towards speculative "conspiracy theories," but I'm afraid that may be the effect.

Sean Parnell
President
Center for Competitive Politics

Finrod| 11.30.09 @ 6:39PM

Sean, the NY Post was on this back in July:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/o.....qy5j59nw8K

The really sad thing is, it's looking even worse over in the UK:

http://www.inquisitr.com/13421.....-internet/

The government wants the right to prohibit you from saying anything the government doesn't think is true. That should scare you more than a little bit.

Katie Hussein Rather | 11.30.09 @ 10:10AM

Newsflash, Oh Chosen One, Obingo: They never listened to him before, what makes you think they will now? Candidate McCain, anyone? Anyone?

Margie| 11.30.09 @ 10:26AM

Well, are we really surprised? This from a man (Obummer), who claims that our Constitution is obsolete. Is there any question that Liberalism=Socialism=Communism=Satanism? Of course a man who is run by "certain" spirit, who abhors FREEDOM and a FREE people has plans. All of the above are based on taking away the freedom of the individual. Is there any question left in anyone's mind about his intentions?
If he were a decent man he would take that $350 BILLION and use it to BUILD UP OUR MILITARY! What about that! What about our brave men and women fighting a losing war because of this man's slackness?
It is such a disgrace.
Ps. 109:8

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.30.09 @ 11:05AM

Sean,
I don't blame you for being skeptical. Heck, I'm skeptical too that the crew would really have the guts to kill a canary...
BUT!
How many car wrecks have you had that required you to utilize your car insurance?

I just think we need an alternative plan in mind to keep from being totally cut off from each other...even if only a one in a hundred possibility.
Margie:
If the government shuts down "peaceful assembly",
the blanket is torn for keeps. I am passing this on to every tea-party group I can find nation wide.
Best regards

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 11:09AM

Dead Cats: ID Chips?, 11/30/09, #109: James Brody | Dead Cats & Clippings links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Government, but it serves a critical function in providing information to the public so that they can hold the Government accountable.’ “That was then and this is now.” http://spectator.org/archives/2009/11/30/the-plan-to-silence-dissent See also Fouad Ajami, WSJ : “Arabs Have Stopped Applauding Obama.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499404574558300500152682.html PC Watch: Mark Steyn…

Marcell| 11.30.09 @ 11:34AM

Maybe the conservative news outlets should spend more time reporting the news. Instead, they are working their behinds off trying to spin the news to their advantage.

--------------------

Deutsch: Who are the GOP leaders?

Nov. 30: Donny Deutsch joins the Morning Joe discussion on the lack of leadership in the Republican party.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22.....3#34204873"

victor| 11.30.09 @ 8:53PM

Why are we letting losers define who conservatives are anyway?
The clueless interviewing the classless.

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 12:02PM

Obama’s Plan to Silence Dissent links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

of Obama's Enemies Are you on OBAMASHITLIST? Home   Obama’s Plan to Silence Dissent On 11.30.09, In FCC, Fairness Doctrine, Post Partisan President, Thin Skin, By markboabaca From The American Spectator: There is no shortage of conspiracy theories that elicit a chuckle or the rolling of eyeballs. “September 11th was an inside job.” “The war on Iraq was launched to enrich…

martin j smith| 11.30.09 @ 12:04PM

I am not a cyber geek nor , really big into blogging but--I will say this about Obama: He has to be watched. His record in dealing with opposition is not exactly stellar. To the contrary--The Democrat Left and even RHINOS woulds love to shut the opposition up. It would be wise to take any cautions seriously and to consider actions such as are legally and politically appropriate.

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 12:10PM

The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…their general support of so-called campaign finance “reform,” and their war on lobbyists (see here: http://www.campaignfreedom.org. … See the original post:  The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent Categories: Finance, Health Tags: care-debate, Finance, Health, humana, so-called-campaign, the-health Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) Leave a comment Trackback No comments yet. No…

Marell| 11.30.09 @ 12:30PM

His record in dealing with opposition is not exactly stellar.

martin j smith

------

Please explain, so I can be entertained by the typical conservative bs.

ChuckD| 11.30.09 @ 12:46PM

Spin the news to their advantage? More like unspin the "liberally filtered news" from AP and UPI.

Conservative news outlets are not responsible for the PC lingo that destroys any real jounalism. Conservative news outlets don't omit

ChuckD| 11.30.09 @ 1:03PM

(hit the submit button too soon)

conservative news outlets don't call Muslims Janjaweed to avoid reporting the genocide of Christians by Muslims in Darfur.

Conservative news outlets don't avoid showing the 9/11 WTC attack.

Conservative new sources don't fabricate news, a la Dan Rather.

Conservative news journalist don't get tingles up their legs at the mere sight of Obama.

Liberal news sources are funded and supported by the entrenched big government liberals. They are no different than TASS and PRAVDA were to the soviet union.

conservative news outlets speak honestly and openly about racial issues, government spending, abortion, and homosexual activism. They provide both sides of the argument. They use reason and logical discourse to support the opinions they express.

Liberal commentators use fear and victimhood to promote their utopian, elitist fantasies on the honest hard working people of America.

Margie| 11.30.09 @ 2:47PM

Great post. Totally true. Three cheers!
~The Lib Media "writes" the news.
Conservative media REPORTS the news.

Chris_in_VA| 11.30.09 @ 12:38PM

The author's opener goes like this:

>>There is no shortage of conspiracy theories that elicit a chuckle or the rolling of eyeballs. "September 11th was an inside job." "The war on Iraq was launched to enrich Halliburton." "AIDS was created to annihilate the black community."

Chris_in_VA| 11.30.09 @ 12:50PM

The rest of the post went like this:
One could also observe that "Many hearts burn with rage at the tyrants of the twentieth century, like Stalin, Reagan, and Hitler."

My daughter's logic book has a Latin name for this type of manipulative melange, but I don't want to bother her for it. While it is "post hoc ergo propter hoc" to blame the war on Halliburton, one cannot deny that Halliburton and the host of others in the Military-Industrial complex profited in the hundreds of billions from the Iraq war. While that doesn't cause the taxpayer to roll his eyeballs, it was enough to hand the government to Obama, Pelosi, and Reid, all on a silver platter.

As to the trough-dwellers, of course they are not all Bush Republicans: they are bipartisan opportunists like Peter Galbraith, a former democrat senate staffer, Clinton Ambassador, and now winner of over $100 million for his role in an oil deal between Norway and the Iraqi Kurds (hey, weren't WE supposed to get all that oil money, Peter? W? Don?).

The author pretends to make one argument, possibly valid, on the shoulders of another thinly-veiled assertion. It is hardly persuasive, and, worse, ivnites the reader to consider what follows to be as confused as the opening paragraph. Editor, where's your red pencil?

Ray| 12.1.09 @ 12:19PM

Chris, Just about everyone" profited" from the fall of Saddam's in Iraq. The biggest "profiteers" were the Iraqi people themselves. Have you forgotten the explosion of commerce that is occurring in Iraq, commerce that was limited under Saddam? Appeent;y you have.

For example: The sales of satellite TV alone was about 300 times greater one year after the removal of Saddam's government. Did Haliburton make and sell all those satellite dishes and receivers? No, of course not.

People have a tendency to focus on just one aspect of something like the after effects of war while ignoring the whole picture. In Iraq, the whole picture is that just about everyone is better off after the "invasion" than before, especially the Iraqi people themselves. So lets stop the "war profiteering" crap ok? This isn't the Middle Ages and every day citizens can profit in a democracy, Iraq included.

Captainchaos| 11.30.09 @ 12:41PM

"There is no shortage of conspiracy theories that elicit a chuckle or the rolling of eyeballs. "September 11th was an inside job." "The war on Iraq was launched to enrich Halliburton." "AIDS was created to annihilate the black community.""

I notice you neglected to mention the contention that it was the neo-cohens who took us to war against Iraq for the benefit of Israel . No one is laughing about that one.

"Apparently, a present-day President Obama has a different view -- a wild-eyed view -- of a free press than did a Senator Obama now that some outlets hold him, his administration and his political allies accountable."

This should surprise...who exactly? What should be of more interest to us is the push by organizations like the ADL to criminalize "hate speech" as a means of suppressing the ability of White people to protest the gutting of their country, and the dispossession of their people. Just because itz good for the Jews, doesn't mean it's good for us.

"Amazingly, the president who offered to sit down with the thug leaders of rogue nations, such as Iran's Holocaust denier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, without any preconditions believed an immense threat was posed by a radio talk show host originally from southeastern Missouri."

Why not meet with ole Ahmad, after all, he has no problem meeting with the Russian-Jewish gangster and murderer Leonid Nevzlin. I know, because that wouldn't be "good for the Jews." Well, I'm holding out for a better reason. Btw, I'm wondering if you were whipped into a tizzy of comparable intensity when the ADL's Abraham Foxman lobbied for the Turkish genocide of Armenians not to be recognized as such because that would compete for market shares with the Holycaust?

"Then the White House launched a jihad against Fox News Channel and its hosts by first boycotting appearances on the cable channel and then second, by engaging in name-calling and leveling baseless allegations."

What would we do without that oh so indispensable propaganda organ for neoCONservatism. I mean, Rabbi Feinberg's approach of marginalizing any real dissent that threatens the powers that be seems to have worked pretty well so far. Of course, when the economy fully collapses, all bets are off.

victor| 11.30.09 @ 8:56PM

Oh. look, it's the Midday News Report from Radio Skinhead.

Lou| 12.28.09 @ 4:54PM

Yep...I broke out into a rash just reading Radio Skinhead's blithering stupidity. Wow.

zflynn| 11.30.09 @ 12:56PM

The worst thing about censorship is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 1:01PM

Circle Dot Columbine African American Antique Reproduct | The African Art Store links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…African victim of Robert Persaud … Geneveive Whyte-Nedd another African victim of Guyana's govt … legal cases from Facebook usage rise Related posts on American The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent The American Spectator : Obama's Vision Through History The American Spectator : How to Make Sex Boring Related posts on Antique 1888 Funeral Pyre Buddhist Priest Burmah…

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 1:47PM

DBKP FLASH Headline News » Obama FCC Proposals: Stalin and Mao Would be Proud links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…from Multiple Sources Mark Hyman, American Spectator, lists a few of the most odious items in the coming FCC Internet Free Speech Assault. They are almost unbelieveable–almost. From The Plan to Silence Dissent: More than 150 bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission are in the final stages of planning how to deliver broadband Internet to the estimated 3-6 million people who do not have…

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 2:00PM

Obama FCC Proposals: Free Speech Regulations Stalin or Mao Would Love | DBKP - Death links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…from Multiple Sources Mark Hyman, American Spectator, lists a few of the most odious items in the coming FCC Internet Free Speech Assault. They are almost unbelieveable–almost. From The Plan to Silence Dissent: More than 150 bureaucrats at the Federal Communications Commission are in the final stages of planning how to deliver broadband Internet to the estimated 3-6 million people who do not have…

Oldefarte| 11.30.09 @ 2:04PM

I hate to 'bust yo' bubble', folks, but this CONTROLLING OF INFORMATION/MEDIA has been occurring for my entire 64 year lifetime. It's called the liberal American press [or the MSM if you you prefer]. All readers of each/every newspaper in America are daily BRAINWASHED by what they see, read, see, watch,etc from the NYT to CBS to the Yahoo Gazette! Most stories in local newspapers are simply feeds from the AP, newswires,etc that contain liberal journalists' slant/biasness. How do anyone think that our present President/congressmen were elected? The MSM has/is describing him/them as moderate good-guys, when in fact they are anything but. readers believe what they read as facts, instead of seeing same as slanted, manipulative words, phrases, ideas; intent on persuading the general public into the writer(s)' political opinions. WAKE UP, AMERICA-----the takeover of the MSM has already occurred; and if the internet/alternative media falls suit, it will only be the train's caboose!!!!!!

Captainchaos| 11.30.09 @ 2:13PM

Oldefarte is correct, any real opposition to the judaization of media probably died with Henry Ford's Deerborn Independent, that is, until the advent of the Internet.

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 2:32PM

African American Collectible Porcelain Doll Angelique | The African Art Store links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

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Al Adab| 11.30.09 @ 2:36PM

That which used to be "the highest form of patriotism" dissent has become opposition. Rather than accepting the debate, the Congress and Administration have begun to move to silence debate. It is no longer a part of our political process to discuss, we are expected simply to be quiet and obey. Our Constitution is only observed in the breech and those of us who remember a Constitutional U. S. must be prepared to pay the price of opposition. Look up The Manhattan Declaration, see what you think, and sign up.

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.30.09 @ 2:49PM

Hello Captain Skinhead
Kill any Jews to get your new tattoo this week?

Liberal Reader| 11.30.09 @ 3:03PM

This article is sheer nonsense. The notion that the federal government is seeking to "silence" dissent, or that it "declared war" on conservative news organizations, is utterly ridiculous.

The strategy here is transparent and deeply cynical.

First, you accuse the government of doing something it would and could never do (attempt to "silence" dissent; set up "reeducation camps"; etc.).

Next, you raise holy hell over the "plot" you've uncovered among the right wing fringes, who are already convinced Obama is from Kenya, a terrorist, a communist, and a Muslim.

Next, after a passage of some time, when the dark scenerio you laid out before has NOT come to pass, you CLAIM VICTORY.

Surely, had not Michelle Bachmann warned us about Obama's plan to incarcerate Republican youngsters in "reeducation camps," they would have dotting the countryside by now.

As I say, this strategy is obvious and transparent; it's stupid; it intoxicates and debases public discourse; it's cynical; and, it fools only the foolish.

John II| 11.30.09 @ 5:58PM

This response is sheer nonsense and utterly ridiculous. It's also transparent and deeply cynical. In fact, it raises holy hell over nothing and is obvious and stupid and debases public discourse. Did I already say it's cynical? Well, I can tell you, it fools only the foolish.

Confucius say, "Logophobe who present opinion without argument or wit like man who fart in crowded elevator: create dispersing cloud of disagreeable tint."

Thank you so much.

Liberal Reader| 11.30.09 @ 8:18PM

John II

Your response to my post is deeply flawed.

The burden to make an argument is most decisively NOT on me in this instance.

The article and many attendant posts claim that the federal government is seeking to silence dissent.

The burden of proof falls on those who make such claims, not on those who question their validity.

Consider this: the very existence of the claims invalidates them! If the government were stifling dissent, wouldn't the first target be those who complain about it?

But seriously. In a case like this, the person making the claim needs to defend it.

One last thing. You've been making an attempt at humor for the last few weeks with this cheesey Chinaman routine.

It's really lame. It's so lame, in fact, if it were your horse, you'd shoot it.

victor| 11.30.09 @ 9:00PM

Liberal Reader:
"my post is deeply flawed."

Why don't you make like Michael Moore's suit and split?

Ray| 12.1.09 @ 12:25PM

Liberal, the Obama administration IS seeking to silence dissent, you just refuse to admit it. Why ese would Obama tell people to STOP LISTENING to someone (Rush Limbaugh )unless he want that person silenced? Why else would he tell everyone that Fox News is not a "legitimate" news source unless he wanted to silence them? You don't do these things in order to PROMOTE something, you do them in order to to ELIMINATE them.

John II| 12.1.09 @ 1:08PM

Few weeks? Hell, it's been at least a month! At any rate, it took me all of five weeks to wade through my Charlie Chan collection, and I'm teaching the Analects next year, so the obsession has been there too long for it to have been only a few weeks.

Perhaps, though, you're older than you sound. Do you find that time is passing by awfully fast these days?

Confucius say, "Gentleman who confuse recollection often confuse only time. Logophobe always confuse both."

The correct spelling is "cheesy."

Thank you so much.

Margie| 12.1.09 @ 2:46PM

Ha ha ha. Hey, I'd say Confucius is pretty smart.
"Reason Logophobe not like because too simple, too true." :^)
..oh, and "not intellectual enough."

Captainchaos| 11.30.09 @ 3:36PM

"Hello Captain Skinhead
Kill any Jews to get your new tattoo this week?"

Here's an intellectual heavyweight. Mindlessly regurgitate anti-White agitprop today, Tex?

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.30.09 @ 7:45PM

Hey, Skinhead,
You forgot to answer my question.
Whatsssamatter, did your mom flush you rather than have you circumcised? heh.

Hey, you can have it done yourself. Then you won't envy Jews so much. heh heh.

Margie| 11.30.09 @ 8:20PM

Tex,
He must be spitting mad about the fact that God's gonna save Israel in the end when Christ returns and stands on the Mount of Olives.

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.30.09 @ 3:36PM

Liberal Reader,
I owe you an apology.
You are obviously already in a re-education camp and your life is on the line.

Heck, man, write whatever you need to write to survive.

Northern Rebel| 11.30.09 @ 3:47PM

This is not a suprise, as "President" Anti-Christ, has used this method his whole unsavory politcal career. He took out his opposition to gain his senate seat, and the only reason he didn't do it during his White house run, is because he was smart enough to recognize that McCain was a doddering old fool, and would take himself out, without any help.

Northern Rebel| 11.30.09 @ 3:55PM

I hate typos! I meant to spell it political, but I left out an I, thus giving creedence to Mr. Liberal Reader's assertion, that I am a moron, with little or no "formal" education.

Of course he is correct, but don't tell anyone!
Camouflage, baby!

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 4:10PM

Silencing the voice of opposition links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear. ” Mark Hyman over at the Spectator had a great piece this morning on how the White House has started down that path. The Obama Administration declared war on the minority of media outlets that do not worship the…

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 4:31PM

African American Collectible Porcelain Doll | The African Art Store links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…| zimbabwemetro.com Related posts on American The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : CBO: Senate Health Care Bill … The American Spectator : Community Organizer in Chief The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent Related posts on Collectible A Sports Collectible Could Be Basketball Jersey | All Online Tips … My New Posts » Microsoft Xbox 360 Console HDMI 20 GB in Retail BOX MATCHBOX…

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 5:01PM

African American Collectible Porcelain Doll | The African Art Store links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…| zimbabwemetro.com Related posts on American The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : CBO: Senate Health Care Bill … The American Spectator : Community Organizer in Chief The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent Related posts on Collectible Are You a Collector Collecting Collectibles? A Sports Collectible Could Be Basketball Jersey | All Online Tips … My New Posts » Microsoft Xbox…

pugsley| 11.30.09 @ 5:05PM

Ken-I will give you another quote from The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean' as it relates to this issue. Scene during the card game in the saloon. Lawyer is complaining about how he has been granted the land the town sets on. He gets the law book and turns to the appropriate statute, and says now what do you think about that? Judge looks at it, rips it out of the book and says "that was a bad law, I just repealed it". Gives one pause with the current crew in DC no?

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 5:31PM

African American Collectible”musical”porcelain Doll | The African Art Store links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…| zimbabwemetro.com Related posts on American The American Spectator : AmSpecBlog : CBO: Senate Health Care Bill … The American Spectator : Community Organizer in Chief The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent Categories: African Collectibles Tags: African, African Solutions, American, American Doll, American Spectator, Amspecblog, Bad Astronomy, Busta Rhymes, Cbo, Collectible Doll,…

Tony in Central PA| 11.30.09 @ 5:53PM

I think the article misses the point. It won't be Thought Police breaking down your door. Everything I have seen from this President suggests he is a fan of the " soft " totalitarianism that is being developed in places like Britain. Government must inexorably become larger, more centralized and more powerful. Regulations of every kind must be ratcheted up, economic leverage must be established and opponents must be characterized as fools by a compliant media. Huge, society - altering bills must be passed in record time, and enormous sums of unaccounted monies will be used to grease votes to accomplish this.
Its plainly obvious that there are a great many people and things traditionally associated with making America the great place it has been that this Adminstration clearly does not like. I think of it like a snake constricting its prey.

Jack Neidlinger| 11.30.09 @ 6:59PM

We all have to die sometime. Might as well go fighting for freedom and liberty against these Stalinists. Sic Semper Tyrannis.

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.30.09 @ 6:59PM

Pugsley, shame on you! I do recall the scene, but it wasn't entirely historical...heh...not entirely.

Tony PA
"Soft" Totalitarianism and constrictors: You may not be aware of it, Tony, but there are several species of small mammals that constrictors will not touch. Those little guys will simply chew the damned snake in half and spit it out.

Not to bend the analogy too far, but Sarah Palin is a case in point. That lady was content to be a responsible public servant up in Alaska until called upon by John McCain. The woman had something like an 80% approval rating up there...well earned.

...Well the "constrictor" went after her and due to her personal courage, she is on her way to being a multimillionaire, and one of the most sought out "endorsers" of conservative candidates in the country.
Alaska and Texas still have some teeth and claws, and there are men of courage like you scattered all over your county right there in PA...and all over the country, I assure you.
We won't be squeezed! We can only be killed.

Now.....we have commentors right here on this site who have been squeezed, either growing up...or heh, not having grown up at all. They are meat for the snake, and we hear them squeal here almost every day.
As Our website logo proclaims: "The Sleeping Giant Is Now Awake And Angry" (www.myteamusa.org )
We represent dozens of millions of Americans who spit at the snakes...and in the event will gnaw them in half.
Hook up with your local tea party.... A bunch of fine Americans. You can find them through teapartypatriots.org
God bless, and think Texas....or Alaska.

Margie| 11.30.09 @ 8:18PM

Encouraging post!
Especially the part about those small mammals that the snake won't touch.
Neither can the flames.

DaveS| 11.30.09 @ 7:36PM

The red-meat articles today lead only to uniform responses. C'mon AS!

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.30.09 @ 7:54PM

Hey, Dave,
You can always count on me to be "out of uniform". heh.
So...what is on your mind today?
Please see my post above. No comment?
OK
Let me see if I can perk your interest: Go to my blog at http://judgeroy.wordpress.com then come back here and we can visit.

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 8:32PM

Antique Crazy Quilt – Vintage African American – Wool | The African Art Store links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

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Osamas Pajamas| 11.30.09 @ 10:18PM

In case Mark Hyman is right about the coming dictatorship, now is the time to say this. If the Democrat party had only one fat neck and I had only one fat sword, this bullshirt game would already be over, and the rest of us could go about our business unmolested by predatory saviors and bloodsucking humanitarians.

Yi Ha ***
Minister of Information
Peoples' Capitalist Republic of Whizbangistan

*** Pronounced "YEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

Pingback| 11.30.09 @ 10:33PM

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Captainchaos| 12.1.09 @ 12:33AM

I read many words here of "communism", what amounts to Jew-worship, and "the Holocaust". The poetry of Leo Yankevich may shed some light on the truth about Judeo-Bolshevism:

With Blood on His Hands,
Commissar Y. Raichman Ponders
the Forest of the Dead at Katyn,1943

A Nazi lie and Hitler’s plot? —
The forest sighs but gives no answers.
Twelve thousand Polish officers rot,
grandsons of Sobieski’s lancers,
reactionary anti-Semites,
too dead to reach for thoughts or guns,
or, in the fragrant dark of spring nights,
to father patriotic sons.

_________________________

Neighbours, Eastern Poland,1940

I turn my shoulder to the grey and think
of Yosel, son of Saul Rabinsky, how
he slammed the doors of crowded cattle cars
bound for Siberia, although the faces
inside were those of neighbours, Catholic Poles.

How haplessly they looked back through the cracks,
their petty gentry voices cursing him
and the red star on his cone-shaped traitor’s cap,
their love of Poland beyond his comprehension,
their foolishness not worthy of his grief.

He did not know few would survive the journey
and those who did would perish in the gulags,
their tundra-bitten bodies heaped beneath
Lavrentii Beria’s orders, like forgotten
enemies of a freedom-loving state.

The son of Saul Rabinsky did not know
the Wehrmacht would attack within a year
and soon behind them come a death's head squad
to mock the bearded rabbis of the town
and herd its Jews into a killing field.

He did not know he’d be betrayed by neighbours,
who, in a cabal of silence and revenge,
would watch the gendarmes drag him through the square,
neighbours with whom he’d played and gone to school
and whose unbridled hatred matched his own.

______________________________

Naftaly Aronovich Frenkel

Architect of the Gulag System
for Robert Conquest

I.
Each day Naftaly greets a prison train.
Two days ago: spies and reactionaries,
yesterday: kulaks from Ukraine,
this morning: counter-revolutionaries.

Snug in his fur behind militia guards
who hold thick water hoses in the snow,
he looks at blue-lipped prisoners in cars,
exposed to frost of twenty-five below.

He tells the 'fascist cattle' to undress
because they're going 'to take nice warm baths.'
'Enjoy this hot Siberian steam, ' he says,
then slams the door. Behind it, no one laughs.

Not the young mother and her infant son,
not the old teacher leaning on his cane,
not the wry poet and the tender nun
whose final prayers and tears are frozen rain.

II.
Only the strong make it to Magadan
to labour for a crumb or crust of bread,
a spoon of fish-bone soup. Tonight each man
is one of many pillars that must tread

through ice and snow from toil in the mines.
Now they rest in the barracks. Half are gone,
completely at odds with their freezing minds,
and half won’t live to see the light of dawn.

Together they stand, leaning up along
the walls to shore the gaping holes and cracks.
The weakest are supported by the strong,
those who wear rags and old potato sacks.

And every now and then one hears a cry,
not of agony, — but of despair,
as time and justice pass the pillars by
and barracks dim with each forsaken prayer.

III.
And when I look down at the crimson map
I see the countless trains in permafrost,
and I see Frenkel, the star on his cap
above the twenty million who were lost.

I hear the broken Russian in each command;
The pillars and barracks rise up from the page
of the great Atlas, and I understand
the architecture of that place and age.

SoCon| 12.3.09 @ 12:41AM

Captain, are you Liberal Reader? Azzwipe troll--go home to your step-mom's basement and commence your goose-stepping! Moron.

Captainchaos| 12.1.09 @ 1:31AM

The words of Comrade Trotsky (real name Lev Bronstein):

"The movement of the colored races against their imperialist oppressors is one of the most important and powerful movements against the existing order and therefore calls for the complete unconditional, and unlimited support on the part of the proletariat of the white race.”

The words of Adolf Hitler:

"With the help of the Bolshevik revolution the Russian upper classes and also the Russian national intelligentsia were murdered and completely extirpated amid inhuman agonies and atrocities. For the Russian people the total number of victims of this Jewish struggle for hegemony in Russia amounted to 28-30 million people in number of dead. This is fifteen times more than the World War cost Germany. After the successful revolution he completely tore down [further] the bonds of order, of morality, of custom, etc., abolished marriage as a lofty institution and instead proclaimed a general copulation with the aim of breeding a general inferior human mish-mash, by way of a chaotic bastardization, which by itself would be incapable of leadership and which ultimately would no longer be able to do without the Jews as its only intellectual element."

"His ultimate goal is the denationalization, the promiscuous bastardization of other peoples, the lowering of the racial level of the highest peoples as well as the domination of this racial mish-mash through the extirpation of the folkish intelligentsia and its replacement by the members of his own people.

The end of the Jewish world struggle therefore will always be a bloody Bolshevization. In truth this means the destruction of all the intellectual upper classes linked to their peoples so that he can rise to become the master of a mankind become leaderless."

Pingback| 12.1.09 @ 4:16AM

The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent Attorney by about links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…to Silence Dissent They actually scream, and run for cover, they are the vermin of life , they l ive off others. This president reminds me of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. View p ost: The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent By admin | category: american express insurance life | tags: actually-scream, axp, even-if-only, express, from-each, live-off-others, only-one, policies-owned, president, rights,…

Pingback| 12.1.09 @ 7:32AM

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Yosemeti Sam| 12.1.09 @ 11:29AM

The Democrat party apparatchiks at work?

Nay, the Xerxes party apparatchiks at work!

Rally the 300 - million Americans!

Ray| 12.1.09 @ 12:32PM

Captainchaos, if you have a problem with the Jews, I suggest you talk to God. After all, He's the one who helped them escape slavery over 3,00 year ago. He's the one who gave them the ability to survive 3,000years of attacks by idiots like yourself. He's the one who gave them the abilities to turn a dessert into a garden. And he's the one who will help the Jews prosper LONG after your dead and buried. So, take you're complaints about the Jews to God, for he is the one who made them the Chosen People.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.1.09 @ 1:26PM

Ray...
You took the words right out of my mouth!
Thank you.

Pingback| 12.2.09 @ 2:43AM

The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent | Wordpress AutoBlogger links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Another thought: Let us Patriots decide among ourselves that our “meet and discuss” sites will be our respective County Courthouse … View original post here: The American Spectator : The Plan to Silence Dissent Filed under Articles, Free Content, News · Tagged with containing-the, document-file, its-content-, most-desirable, News, patriots, sites-will, suggest-you, tethering-the…

Zarathustra| 12.2.09 @ 11:50AM

"He's the one who gave them the abilities to turn a dessert into a garden." LOL

What kind of dessert was it? Ice Cream?

Captainchaos,

Thanks for sharing those poems. They shed light on the forbidden truth.

A. Magnus| 12.4.09 @ 3:15PM

'Liberal' and 'Conservative' are nothing more than marketing brands for Wall Street propagandizing. Bush did everything Obama is doing now, only you fake, fair weather patriots bent over and took it up the backside for the team back in the day. Until you people wake up and realize the real division here is between the inbred bluebloods of Wall Street and the productive rest of America, you will continue to get screwed.

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