Featured Articles

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.

Birmingham Hit by 2nd Twister in Year!

This is very unusual. First of all - about 80% of the tornadoes in the world occur in North America (mostly in the US and Canada). MOST of the rest of them are in China. Euro-twisters are quite rare, and it's even wierder for the same location to have two within a short period.

Here on the Northern Plains they are not that unusual, although of course they are not exactly welcomed, although they can give a good adrenaline rush when they do show up.

That is if they are Republicans. Unlike their position on Bill Clinotn?s allege perjury charges, the Democrats are convinced Tom Delay is guilty simply based on indictments?not convictions. The South Dakota Democrat exemplifies this as they go after John Thune...

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.

Petition for the Withdrawal of the Nomination of Harriet Miers to the U.S. Supreme Court

David Frum at National Review Online has a petition up calling for the withdrawel of Harriet Miers' nomination for SCOTUS:

WE ARE REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES who supported the election of George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. Today, we respectfully urge that the nomination of Harriet Miers to the United States Supreme Court be withdrawn.

The next justice of the Supreme Court should be a person of clear, consistent, and unashamed conservative judicial philosophy.

The next justice should be a person of unquestioned personal and political independence.

The next justice should be someone who has demonstrated a deep engagement in the constitutional issues that regularly come before the Supreme Court ? and an appreciation of the originalist perspective on those issues.

The next justice should be a person of the highest standard of intellectual and legal excellence.

For all Harriet Miers? many fine qualities and genuine achievements, we the undersigned believe that she is not that person. An attempt to push her nomination through the Senate will only split the Republican party, damage the Bush presidency, and cast doubts upon the Court itself.

Sometimes Americans elect Republican presidents, sometimes we elect Democratic presidents. Whatever the differences between the parties, surely we can at least agree on this: Each party owes America its best. There is a wide range of truly outstanding legal talents who share the president?s judicial philosophy. We believe that on second thought President Bush can do better ? for conservatism, for the Supreme Court, for America.

If you are also underwhelmed by this appointment, go take a look at it and sign in to make your feelings known. It couldn't hurt to at least reinforce the message to the Pres. and his staffers.

REMEMBER THE COLE!

pic from USN

Being a beached sailorman, the Chief was particularly struck by the attack on the USS Cole (DDG-67). Having served on an earlier version of that ship type (USS Sellers, DDG-11) I found it all too easy to relate to what happened to that ship and her sailors. The pusillanimous response of the Bubba administration to the Cole attack, as well as the incompetence of their "responses" to earlier Islamofascist attacks deserves to be remembered as one of the more shameful series of events in American history.

Michelle Malkin has a very good note of remembrance via the above link - check it out and remember a bit of why we are fighting a war against Islamofascism.

Also, and H/T to her for also linking to this remembrance on the Stars and Stripes nilitary newspaper web site. The Chief HIGHLY recommends this one on this day - read it and remember.

Yesterday?s Randell Beck column was regarding letters that were critical of Representative Stephanie Herseth:Most of the recent letters in question, purporting to be written by several different people, attacked U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., as a diabolical shill for the...

Yesterday I made the argument that Laura Bush moved to the left as she used the race card to attack those conservatives who have spoken out about the lack of credentials Harriet Miers possesses to be nominated to the highest...

A Message from tdaxp

Send feedback to danhabbott@gmail.com

Browse the Archives

What's New with the Blogs

South Dakota Blogs

American Blogs

Pro-Freedom, Anti-Terror

South Dakota Blog Alliance

RadioActive Chief, Ryen McClaren, Sibby Online, South Dakota Politics, Straight Talk

tdaxp Blog Network

Jim River Report, tdaxp, Bloglines, Cobuyitaphobia, Junk Politics

Breaking News

South Dakota Mainstream Media

American Mainstream Media

British Mainstream Media

Everyone Else

Jim River Report Archives

1. today
2. this month
3. this year

How Popular is the Jim River Report?