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From NewsMax: The mood was unpleasant, a source familiar with that grand jury's proceedings tells the Associated Press. The source revealed that Earle tried to convince the grand jurors that DeLay had guilty knowledge of a money laundering conspiracy by...

Well, could it be because language like this isn't conducive to any sort of positive political discourse?Former Vice President Al Gore said Wednesday he had no intention of ever running for president again, but he said the United States would...

Judith Apter Klinghoffer:WE ARE WINNING THE WAR ON TERROR IN IRAQ That is the irrefutable message of Bernard's Haykel's op ed in today's NYT, yes, the same NYT which Ed Koch so correctly takes to task for denigrating the war...

Shield Law Sponsor: Bloggers 'Probably Not' Considered Journos

It looks like the establishment is doing what it does best, stick up for itself, and to hell with anyone or anything that rocks the boat.

The comment was made by Sen. Richard Lugar (RINO-IN):

Bloggers would "probably not" be considered journalists under the proposed federal shield law, the bill's co-sponsor, U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar (R.-Ind.), told the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) Monday afternoon.

Lugar emphasized, however, that debate is not yet closed on how to define a journalist under the proposed law. "As to who is a reporter, this will be a subject of debate as this bill goes farther along," he said in response to a question from Washington Post Deputy Managing Editor Milton Coleman. "Are bloggers journalists or some of the commercial businesses that you here would probably not consider real journalists? Probably not, but how do you determine who will be included in this bill?"

Sen. Loogie has shown that he should be in line for an unsparing application of a cluebat upside the head.

The story does go on to note the following:

A key reason some journalists oppose the popular federal shield proposal is fear that giving Congress the power to define who is and isn't a journalist could lead effectively to the licensing of journalists.

THIS is the crux of the whole matter, right out on the table finally.
Can't anybody remember that little detail about the First Amendment? Apparently not, judging from further remarks from Sen. Loogie:

Lugar acknowledged that the legislation could amount to a "privilege" for reporters over other Americans. "I think, very frankly, you can make a case that this is a special boon for reporters, and certainly for their role in freedom of the press," he said. "At the end of the day what we will come out with says there is something privileged about being a reporter, and being able to report on something without being thrown into jail."

YIKES! It is absolutely in-f'ing-credible that anyone in government, sworn to "uphold and defend" the Constitution of the United States could say something like this! Don't look now folks, but we're being set up for a legal/media aristocracy, protected in their position and place by force of self-imposed law.

Sen. Loogie went on to demonstrate that he has fully mastered the art of Orwellian "newspeak" with this mountain of hypocrisy:

The bill is necessary to help the United States regain its status as an "exemplar" of press freedom, Lugar told the IAPA. "Even as we are advocating for free press (abroad)... we'd better clean up our own act," Lugar said.

It leaves me breathless with amazement! Protect presss freedom by preventing unauthorized/unofficial people from having the same freedom that the Recognized Established Reporters have???!!!! Come again?

Commentator Claire Wolfe stated that "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to start shooting the bastards." The Chief begins to wonder if in fact, the latter part of that statement is still operative.

F.E.T.E.

There is an interesting discussion on the Rapid City Journal's Mt. Blogmore about Daschle's speech to Planned Parenthood's Politics, Sex Cocktails event, which was discussed here. Reporter Kevin Woster writes in response to a comment:Anna: Denise?s point is a good...

GF&P rebuts lion season foe

The SD Dept. of Game, Fish, & Parks recently ruled against appeals from several envirowacko groups to stop the planned mountain lion hunting season. The Chief always wonders why groups like the CALIFORNIA Mountain Lion Foundation get exercised about South Dakota's hunting season, and apparently so do some members of the GF&P Commission.

The loudest voice crying out against the state mountain lion season represents a hatred for hunting that is more suited to California than South Dakota, a state Game, Fish & Parks Department spokesman said Tuesday. George Vandel, assistant Wildlife Division director for GF&P in Pierre, said the California-based Mountain Lion Foundation, which sued unsuccessfully to stop the lion season, has attacked the season simply because the group opposes hunting. Vandel said the foundation failed in court and in its public statements to substantiate claims that the season was a threat to the overall lion population.

It's always nice to see someone call a spade a spade.

Tim Blair wasn't on Hoist the Black Flag today, which is understandable when you think about the 14-hour time difference. Ace is talking about a taped interview in the future, and that would be nice....

Former Daschle campaign manager Steve Hildebrand is on a new mission. From the Washington Post:Dems Rally on Entitlement Issues The team of Democratic Party operatives who led the fight against President Bush's Social Security overhaul plan earlier this year are...

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