(un)fairness doctrine

Liberals want the "fairness" doctrine to stifle conservative talk radio.  Funny, I thought they were the people of "free speech."

Conservatives are trying to block the fairness doctrine, but don't have majority control in Congress anymore (some, like me, would say "conservatives" never had it anyway, despite there having been more "R" members of Congress from 1994 through 2006...).  It could be an uphill battle for the Right.

Of course, if the fairness doctrine were put into place, there would immediately be a federal lawsuit on First Amendment grounds.  Any competant judge would have to issue an injunction against implementation until the end of the case, because loss of First Amendment rights is an irreparable harm, and if there is any legal question, the rights must be protected until the question is answered.  The case would go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which (hopefully) would rule the doctrine is, in fact, a prima facie violation of the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of press - possibly even also freedom of assembly and freedom of religion.  So it wouldn't matter if the doctrine were re-enacted.  It would simply be a big annoyance that would take a year or more to resolve.

What the conservatives need to do is try a new tactic: embrace the fairness doctrine, but do so by trying to make it part of the PATRIOT Act.  Say we need it to fight terror.  Then, the left will have no choice but to oppose it.  Talk radio, Drudge, etc., will be saved.

Comments

[Jim in KFalls]

I see the tactic you are posing Gully, the problem is the republicans (not conservatives) can't really afford to pick another fight with the conservative base.

Think Hariet Myers, Port-Gate, Illegal Immigration (Amnesty) bill, etc.

The biggest point of failure in your scenario would occur when the left decides not to oppose it...

[Gullyborg]

Of course you realize, I was being completely facitious.

[HMIL]

Gully, I think you were actually being "facetious"

[Gullyborg]

uh, no, it's, uh, a new word!

fah - sit - you- us

it means "bane of liberals"

yeah, that's it...

[HMIL]

No, actually, it's an archaic Latin/Jewish pidgin greeting indicating a desire for the person to take a seat. ... it's sad, but there you have it.