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The current poll at ESPN's main page asks who's to "blame" for the White Sox scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth in last night's "phantom strikeout" game. The poll choices are: Doug Eddings (umpire), Kelvim Escobar...

My new favorite television show is HBO's Rome. Really, I'm just a fan of all things Rome and this series is no exception. This thing was budgeted at something like $75 million plus, has been in various stages of production...

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...

What a beautiful day to not have to get up and go to work. It's still in the low to mid-40s, and it's still drizzling. In fact, I set my alarm clock for 6:30 this morning just so I could...

More on Doug Eddings, the favorite umpire of the city of Anaheim. Or Los Angeles. What-the-hell-ever. Doug was always far from perfect on the field, even in the minor leagues. Witnessing major protestation over one of his calls is nothing...

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.

I'd like to see Reader's Digest start doing a regular feature on this....

The kids over at Daily Kos are wondering about Harriet Miers' sexual orientation:She sure seems like a big ol' Texas lesbian to me. And he did pick a gay guy for Chief Justice....

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