Cable Censorship: Stay On The Couch

Watching television: It's as much a part of the American Way as apple pie and the Fourth of July. Then again, so is freedom of expression. But that's not the way right-wing fundamentalists see it. The on-again, off-again fight to increase FCC indecency fines continues, as the House in February passed legislation to increase indecency fines on broadcast TV and radio. The issue is expected to hit the Senate in the near future, and Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, plans to advance legislation to expand indecency fines to cable television.  [more]

The religious right has Stolen the presidency,

and the congress. They are now fighting to

pack_the_courts with religious zealots .

The U.S. media is so right wing religious,

it's a joke. I rarely listen tp NPR , Other than

some PBS specials, Now ,the Bush fascist regime,

has taken over PBS . ~ Hello in there

The Privatization of PBS

According to people within the Public Broadcasting Service, the supposedly politically independent PBS "is being forced to toe a more conservative line in its programming" by its oversight agency, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which is being stacked with right-wing appointees. Over the past few years, President Bush has attempted to flood the CPB board with partisan political operatives. The result, according to a senior FCC official, is that today CPB "is engaged in a systematic effort not just to sanitize the truth, but to impose a right-wing agenda on PBS. It's almost like a right-wing coup. It appears to be orchestrated."

 Stolen Election of 2004 Update:

The Stolen Election audio collection: Vote Fraud is Real- Wake Up ...

"How Blackwell and Petro Saved Bush’s Brain: And the rise of the right wing juggernaut in Ohio"

'Washington Post' Discusses Election Fraud...Again.

Bush Poll Numbers Show the Election Tragedy of 2004 Did Not ...

          DIVINE INTERVENTION 

One week ago, Cardinal Josef Ratzinger was elected Pope. read about his ties to the Bush regime 

The Oblivious Right
By PAUL KRUGMAN
President Bush and other Republican leaders honestly think that we're living in the best of times. That's because everyone they talk to says so.

Faith Leaders Oppose 'Justice Sunday' A coalition of 430 American religious leaders and supporters join together to write Senator Bill Frist to oppose 'Justice Sunday's' manipulation of faith. Also, read responses from organizations across the country. More...

Yesterday was the much anticipated "Justice Sunday," the offensive event sponsored by right-wing religious groups willing to pervert their religion for misbegotten political purposes. Though hundreds of religious leaders, even his own reverend, implored Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) to reconsider his participation in the event or "use that opportunity to repudiate the message of divisiveness and religious manipulation that is at the core of the gathering," Sen. Frist did neither. Instead, Frist joined the festivities through a videotaped statement – a "stunt that in itself [imbued] 'Justice Sunday' with a touch of all-American spectacle worthy of 'The Wizard of Oz'" – and "stepped up his threats to change Senate rules … while simultaneously calling for 'more civility in political life.'"

watch:

Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senate Majority Leader Should Skip Judge-Bashing Event, Says Americans United Monday, April 18, 2005 AU's Lynn Urges Sen. Frist To Step Away From Religious Right Extremism   CONTACT Press: Joseph Conn, Rob Boston, or Jeremy Leaming 202-466-3234 telephone 202-466-2587 fax http://www.au.org/ SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SHOULD SKIP JUDGE-BASHING EVENT, SAYS AMERICANS UNITED AU's Lynn Urges Sen. Frist To Step Away From Religious Right Extremism Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) should disassociate himself from a Religious Right-driven attack on federal judges, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State. On April 24, Frist is scheduled to join an array of Religious Right leaders in a nationally televised event that will attack federal courts as out of control and hostile to evangelical Christians. The event, dubbed "Justice Sunday," is organized by the Family Research Council (FRC), a Washington-based Religious Right group. "Sen. Frist should disassociate himself from the Religious Right's unseemly and increasingly shrill campaign to destroy the nation's independent judiciary," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. "I am appalled that Sen. Frist would lend his support to this attack on our court system." Lynn said Frist's recent efforts to distance himself from extreme congressional rhetoric about our nation's courts ring hollow in light of his role in the court-bashing rally that will be broadcast from Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. The FRC is targeting evangelical churches and individuals nationwide in an effort to stir up more animosity toward judges. "Sen. Frist can't have it both ways," Lynn continued. "Espousing moderate, even-keeled views one day and joining with rabid court-bashers the next won't cut it." The FRC's ads for the Sunday rally claim that Senate Democrats who are waging a filibuster against a handful of the Bush administration's federal court nominees are doing so out of bias toward Christians. Tony Perkins, the FRC's president, told The New York Times, that the Senate must aggressively remake the federal courts because they have worked "to rob us of our Christian heritage and our religious freedoms." Observed AU's Lynn, "Religious Right activists loathe court rulings upholding individual freedom. They want to break Senate rules and pave the way for radical judges who will uphold Religious Right interference in our personal lives." Lynn said Religious Right activists want to tear the wall of separation between church and state, interject religion into public schools, repeal reproductive rights and ban legal rights for gays. The FRC pushed Congress to pass a law to intervene in the Terri Schiavo case and then railed against the federal and state courts for repudiating the congressional interference in a family legal dispute. Lynn urged Frist to distance himself from radicals trying to overrun the federal courts. "Religious Right extremists are overreaching and most Americans are waking up to that fact," Lynn said. "So should Bill Frist. He should do the right thing and forgo this Sunday's rant on the federal courts."  Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

House Admits that It -- Not "Zealous Volunteers" -- is keeping American Citizens from Tax-Payer Funded "GOP Party Faithful Only" Bushevik Issue Rallies Across America. It's Positively UnAmerican.

Bush White House won't report on fake news
While Congress and the FCC crack down on government-funded "news releases," the administration keeps stonewalling on the issue.

Exposing Incompetent Incumbents
by Ray McGovern, TomPaine.com
     John Bolton's confirmation hearings expose the culture of political intimidation pervading the intelligence community.
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/exposing_incompetent_incumbents.php?dateid=20050414

Violence Begets Violence

The Bush administration claims we invaded Iraq because it was a central front in the so-called war on terror. Now a new report says the threat of terrorism around the world has increased because of the war in Iraq: "'Increased extremist activity' by Islamist groups and anti-Western sentiment against countries that supported the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq are the main reason for the higher risk levels..."

The House's Dirty Little Bill

Dear Media Reformer, Your efforts have paid off. The Federal Communications Commission and Congress are now taking steps to stop news fraud. Last night, the FCC instructed all newscasters to fully disclose the origin of "video news releases" (VNRs) aired on their programs. The FCC took this action as a direct response to the more than 40,000 Free Press activists who signed our petition last month. This morning, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) announced that he will call a Senate hearing next week on VNRs. Also, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) announced their intention to introduce legislation to stop the government from putting out VNRs without clearly displaying their source. The actions of Free Press activists prove -- once again -- that we can stop the spread of government- and corporate-sponsored propaganda, investigate payola pundits, block media consolidation and create a more democratic media system for generations to come. None of this would have happened without your help. If you have not added your name to the "stop news fraud" petition, please do so now and help keep this issue in the headlines: www.freepress.net/action/fakenews Free Press and the Center for Media and Democracy are now working to identify local stations that use VNRs without full disclosure. We're collaborating with local groups to establish "citizen agreements" under which local broadcasters pledge not to use pre-packaged, government- or corporate-sponsored propaganda without prominently identifying the source. To learn more about the FCC action, visit our "Stop News Fraud" pages. We'll keep you posted on the next steps happening both on the national level and in your community. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to reclaim our media. Onward, Timothy Karr Campaign Director Free Press

Congress Passes Bankruptcy Reform Bill: The Middle and Working Class Get Screwed Again by the Busheviks

House Roll Call on Robber Baron Bankruptcy Bill. Who was looking out for you?

Bush Cartel Gives "Made in GOP Extremist America" a Platorm. Planned Parenthood Clinics, Among Others, are Edgy About New Terrorist Acts. 4/15

Taking away "a critical safety valve for teens"
The pro-life agenda is gaining traction in Congress -- and underage girls may suffer the results.
Julia Scott

APRIL 15TH: YOU'RE GETTING SCREWED
Molly Ivins, AlterNet
As more and more rich people cheat on their taxes, the IRS
is increasingly unable to go after them because it is so
poorly funded. For all this, we can thank the Republican
Party.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/21760/

Due to a series of tax cuts since 2001, middle-class Americans will save an average of $742 on their federal taxes this year. They will need it. Falling wages, exploding gas prices, soaring health care and education costs, rising food and energy prices, and increased state taxes to make up for gaping budget shortfalls are just some of the things Americans will need to pay for with their new money. And that's not even mentioning the $3,791 "budget deficit per household, which, along with all prior government debt, will be dumped in the laps of our children." For a better plan, check out American Progress's progressive approach to tax reform.

Would "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart be half as funny with his jokes screened by Congress? Can you imagine "South Park" without the cursing? Is "Sex and the City" sexy without any sex? Without the cursing, the sex or the violence, would "The Sopranos" be a mob hit? We may be about to find out. Learn how you can help. Washington's self-appointed arbiters of morality are targeting cable TV -– home to some of America's most popular and cutting-edge programming -- with new federal laws and FCC rules that jeopardize our most basic personal and creative freedoms. According to them, adults can't choose for ourselves what we or our children see; the government must serve as our chaperone, art critic and censor. If we are going to stop this paternalistic censorship, we must make our voices heard now, before Congress passes legislation, or the FCC issues regulations, expanding "indecency" fines and other forms of suppression to cable TV and the Internet. This week, you can help keep your favorite shows safe from the morality police, just by sitting on your couch and watching TV with a friend or two. What can you do? On Sunday, April 10, we're asking friends and members across the country to hold "Couch Parties." Use the link below to invite friends over and watch your favorite cable shows. While you're there, take a minute to print and sign a letter to Congress. Tell your representative that you don't want anyone censoring your favorite programs! Please keep reading for more information on all the ways you can get involved. Yes, I can host a "Couch Party!"   Invite friends to your Couch Party! Download a letter to Congress and other couch party materials. I can't host a party this time, but I still want to get involved!   Send the letter to your Member of Congress online right now! Get your friends involved. Tell your friends about the issue and ask them to host a Couch Party or contact their members of Congress. Download a letter to Congress and other couch party materials. Download additional materials, including a flyer with more about the looming threats to free speech on cable TV. Until now, the FCC only regulated over-the-air TV and radio, because these broadcasters use the "public airwaves." Now Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), and new FCC Chairman Kevin Martin want to extend censorship to cable TV (that you pay for) and even to satellite radio. Already, the furor over broadcast and cable "indecency" is at a fever pitch. In February, the House of Representatives passed legislation permitting fines of up to $500,000 for individual instances of "lewd" content on television or radio. Last year indecency fines rose to $8 million from only $32,000 in 2000. We all understand that many parents don't like a lot of the vulgarity on TV and don't want their children watching it. But that should be their choice, not the choice of Congress, the FCC, and the "morality police." Please join me in standing up - or in this case, sitting down! - for free speech and keeping the remote control in our hands. Invite friends to your "Couch Party" today. Sincerely, Nadine Strossen President, ACLU
We don't know if South Park, Sponge Bob or The Sopranos support the ACLU, but we support them and their right to do and say what they want without unjust restrictions from Congress and the FCC.

USA Today poll shows public way worried about religious right control over GOP, really ticked at Congress intervening in Schiavo mess 4/7

John Cornyn is Our Latest BuzzFlash GOP Hypocrite of the Week
http://www.gophypocrites.com/2005/04/hyp05015.html

All Pope TV all the the time.

God Damn let this man die and don't

bother to show the millions of superstitous

fools file by to view his decrepid corpse.

Tv  news is seriously flawed and skewed

to the rapture right.

The Pope, come on now, Do we really need

a man  in a dress , to  tell us to practice

 Abstinence and forbid Contraception?

Ignoring  Pedophilia and Priests. ~Hello In There

With his strict adherence to conservative Church doctrine, the pontiff does leave behind a mixed legacy.

What are the evil power grabbing bastards going after next?

the Filibuster: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster_(legislative_tactic)

Pass It On: Meet Phil A. Buster by Alliance for Justice       All this talk about "nuclear options" can be pretty confusing. Drawing on the Schoolhouse Rock tradition, Phil makes the issue all clear. http://www.tompaine.com/index.php#passiton

Senate Republicans are going for the ultimate power grab. They're going to give themselves absolute power, silencing Senate Democrats (and the millions of Americans they represent) by changing the rules and traditions of the Senate.

No more debate. No more dissent. No more checks and balances. Nothing stopping the Republicans from ramming the Bush agenda through.

There is no issue more urgent than this one. And we need you to take action right now.

This Wednesday, the Democratic Party and allied organizations will present more than 1 million petition signatures to Senate Democrats as a sign of support and public opposition to the Republican power grab. You must sign our petition today if you want your name presented to our leaders in the Senate:

http://www.democrats.org/freespeech

This is what we risk. By silencing Democrats on the Senate floor, Republicans will easily approve all of President Bush's extreme right-wing judicial nominees, giving them lifetime appointments to the federal bench -- no matter what their records look like. This puts all of our values we hold dear -- civil liberties, voting rights, a woman's right to choose, education, environmental protections -- at grave risk.

The whole Republican agenda will become the law of the land because the GOP will have silenced all effective opposition.

You must take action today. Join the fight and tell our Senate leaders you stand with them in their fight to protect free speech and the checks and balances that make our democracy strong.

http://www.democrats.org/freespeech

Act Now: National Call-In Days To Protect Filibuster
by Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
      With votes on at least three judicial nominees coming up this week, it's time to save the filibuster and protect democracy in the Senate.
http://www.tompaine.com/action/?dateid=20050405#004350

Today's Top Five Headlines on BuzzFlash.com:

Clerics Fighting a Gay Festival for Jerusalem

Look at this bunch, it looks like a masquerade ball.

This was seen on : HBO: Real Time with Bill Maher

On Bush demagogueing for the Rapture Right ~
" Does Bush remember putting his hand on the bible and swearing to uphold the constitution? and not the other way around." ~Bill Maher

 tapping the dead 3 times with a silver hammer....?

When a pope dies, there is a series of traditions by which his retinue is said to confirm the death. The traditional method was to tap the forehead three times with a small silver hammer, call out his baptismal name three times, and place a cloth over his face to see if he was breathing

His passing: A final gesture to the faithful

Pope's Body Lies in State at Vatican 4/3

Bush Faces Decline in Approval Ratings

Schiavo Circus Hurt the GOP

Getting Religion, Republican Style

Bush's Social Security Crisis Rhetoric Falling Flat

Today's Top Five Headlines on BuzzFlash.com:

April 1 , This day of fools,

To the fools that voted for Bush,

The 48%, yes this is the amount

of  foolish people in the US that voted,

The winning percent is how we got

"fooled again" . read: Kerry Won

Fooled by all the foolish religious

zealots , that don't know the truth.

The Truth About George W. Bush

 Superstition :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstition

 THE END OF REASON
David Morris, AlterNet
Organized religion elevates superstition to an entirely new
level, so let's call its institutions by their proper name:
superstition-based institutions.
http://www.alternet.org/story/21641/

INTELLIGENCE – U.S. 'DEAD WRONG': A presidential commission on weapons of mass destruction said Thursday that "America's spy agencies were 'dead wrong' in most of their judgments about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction before the war and that the United States knows 'disturbingly little' about the weapons programs and threats posed by many of the nation's most dangerous adversaries." The report confirms U.S. weapons inspector David Kay's January assessment that "we were almost all wrong" on WMD, and warns, "On a matter of this importance, we simply cannot afford failures of this magnitude." The commission recommends dramatic changes in the structure of U.S. intelligence, including broader powers for new National Intelligence Director John Negroponte – which President Bush has fought – and a combination of the FBI's counterterrorism and counterintelligence resources into a new office.

SCHIAVO – CONGRESSIONAL INTERVENTION UNCONSTITUTIONAL: Terri Schiavo is finally at rest today. And yesterday, another piece of the controversy surrounding the end of her life was put to rest as well, when a federal appellate judge ruled that the Congressional intervention in the Terri Schiavo case was unconstitutional. Judge Stanley F. Birch Jr., a conservative Republican appointed by George H. W. Bush, wrote: "A popular epithet directed by some members of society, including some members of Congress, toward the judiciary involves the denunciation of 'activist judges.' Generally, the definition of an 'activist judge' is one who decides the outcome of a controversy before him according to personal conviction, even one sincerely held, as opposed to the dictates of the law as constrained by legal precedent and, ultimately, our Constitution. In resolving the Schiavo controversy it is my judgment that, despite sincere and altruistic motivation, the legislative and executive branches of our government have acted in a manner demonstrably at odds with our Founding Fathers' blueprint for the governance of a free people – our Constitution." (Share your views on Judge Birch's ruling at ThinkProgress.org.)

 Schiavo Tragedy Revealed True Agenda, Frightening Power Of Religious Right, Says Americans United