We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:23:25 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Here's more proof that the Speaker believes that the Democrat majority in Congress and a Democrat in the White House also means that majority equals a mandate for single party rule. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:31:22 -0600
And I agree that the precedent would be unthinkable.  It would be a monumental step on the path leading away from liberty, freedom, and justice.  I would be just about ready to march on Washington.

However, I don't think they'll do it.  Not that I think they're above such filthy things, but because I think they're just too occupied with even filthier things to bother.  It will suck if I'm wrong.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82570 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82570 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:32:37 -0600
Ummm...I dunno about comparing radio to TV in terms of exposure and audience growth. The television is now an important center of attention in households the way radio is not. It's "today's radio" the way the radio was in the 30s...the principle focus of attention for staying in touch with the outside world. I think the radio is now much more focused than TV is, insofar as entertainment value, content and variety is concerned. 

I guess what I'm getting at is talk radio is a relatively small target, easy to hit, and its demise would affect a segment of the population dwarfed by the national TV audience. The national pain threshold vis-a-vis censorship would not be nearly as great if, say, Fox News was forced to adhere to the same statute. I certainly hope you're right in predicting people will be willing to privately "fund" talk radio, so to speak, via Sirius (or whomever) subscriptions and that SATRAD will be tomorrow's FM.

However, comma...

The precedent this would set is appalling, don'tcha think? Maybe Congress will replace "E Pluribus Unum" on the Great Seal of the United States with Exsisto Quietis Quod Colo" (Shut Up and color!)]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82569 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82569 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:18:33 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82566 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82566 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:49:45 -0600
Now sure, the FCC COULD try to regulate satellite radio content, but cable/satellite TV has been around for decades and that's still entirely unregulated...what leads you to believe that satellite radio will be any different?

Also, alternative distribution of talk radio (internet streaming and podcasting) are becoming more important, and if terrestrial radio were killed off, I think their growth would increase VERY rapidly. These are, at least, one form of media that is entirely immune to regulation, even if they're unlikely to ever replace radio.

As for your other points...yes, I agree entirely, and have been talking about them for years. I'm not terribly worried about the radio...but I sure as hell am worried about the social and economic damage that the left-wing radicals are trying to create.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82565 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82565 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:46:50 -0600
The point here is that a committed core of left-wing politicians are focused on imposing their will on the American people through any means necessary, up to and including the restriction of speech through Orwellian "fairness" laws, confiscatory tax structures that result in a minority paying ALL taxes, "multicultural" dicta that destroys our sense of exceptionalism and teaches our young that Michael Moore and Code Pink have a better understanding of what America is all about than Ronald Reagan did or any soldier who's fought in Fallujah does. Heil Obama!]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82517 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82517 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:45:39 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82510 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82510 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:30:03 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82480 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82480 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:14:26 -0600

]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82479 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82479 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:58:10 -0600
Debates may be no more than a cynical ploy to mollify the bumpkins back home as you suggest. However, to prohibit them and deny any counter proposal outright smacks of third-world thuggery one would expect from Hugo Chavez, not Nancy Pelosi. Oh, wait...

Moreover, if you read the referenced link carefully, you'll see how much the GOP gave the minority in terms of a stake in the outcome of the legislative process. If what you describe were accurate, none of the problems the GOP had in setting their agenda would have occurred to the degree they did.

In this case, however, the scenario you paint may indeed come to pass with a vengeance, alas.
-Attila]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82476 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82476 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:40:24 -0600 Debates are for those who like to watch CSPAN. The power is not on the floor of Congress. Bills are marked up at committee level by the all powerfull; meaning the Chairmen and the majority. The Dems have some long standing members in the house and they get the choice assignments. The committees are broken down by percentage of the house. Rangle is Ways and Means, the most powerful committee. Most chairmen are old time Libs.

And then there's Harry in the Senate who is working for veto proof control; which I think they just received with Minn going to Franken. What does Ried need veto proof against a liberal sitting Dem President? Can you say agenda???

Debates are for making campaign commercials, they don't sway a single vote. The votes are worked on by the Whips and back scratching. The conclusion happens way before anything is brought to the floor.

Our only hope are the Blue Dogs.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82475 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82475 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:07:37 -0600
It is a naked attempt to return the Congress to a "winner takes all" tyranny of the 1%, as the voice of the minority is run over roughshod.

Clearly, Speaker Pelosi is tired of having any meaningful dissent get in the way of her agenda.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82466 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/01/in_a_true_spiri.html#comment-82466 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:38:08 -0600