It's Been A Very Good Week For America...UPDATED
"On Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld the First Amendment and appropriately struck down government prohibitions on many sorts of privately-funded political advertising. In doing so, Heritage Foundation legal scholar Hans von Spakovsky argues,the court "upheld some of the most important principles: the right toengage in free speech, particularly political speech, and the right tofreely associate."
The case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, originatedas a question about campaign finance laws and whether they apply to anunflattering film about then-Senator Hillary Clinton. After thegovernment argued that campaign finance laws could even lead to bans onbooks, the Court ordered a rare re-argument to address the broader constitutionality of limiting corporations' independent spending during federal election campaigns.
It was a question of "ancient First Amendment principles," the Court stated in its majority opinion.It is no coincidence that the rights to free speech and assembly areamong the first mentioned in our Bill of Rights — our Foundersrecognized that these rights are essential to the preservation of afree government.
"Speech is an essential mechanism of democracy and the means to holdofficials accountable to the people," Spakovsky argues. But the rightto free speech is not limited to individual persons, he argues.For-profit and non-profit organizations are greatly "affected, damaged,or even lost" by the laws Congress passes, so there is "no rationalreason why they should not be able to engage in independent politicalactivity."
Those who criticize the Court's 5-4 decision fail to recognize a keycomponent about this critical First Principle: free speech "is writtenin terms of 'speech,' not speakers," as Justice Scalia explained in aconcurring opinion. It is a right that applies to all. To deny it towould be an obfuscation of the written law and a violation of afundamental right."
This does not address all of the issues that McCain-Feingold proposed, but it is a start, and a very good sign. Now we need to pray that our conservative judges stay healthy.
The other thing we need to do is to stay ever vigilant. The left will now attempt to sneak "health care reform" past us by amendments to military funding bills, budget bills, Haiti relief bills, whatever bill they think the RIGHT cannot fail to pass. It is up to WE THE PEOPLE to watch our elected officials with an American Eagle's eye. As Ronaldus Maximus (Ronald Reagan to those on the left with no clue) said, "Government is not the solution. Government is the PROBLEM!"
Golly Darn, forgot to mention Air America went bankrupt. This proves capitalism works. If not one listens to your air time personalities, you cannot sell air time. On the other hand....




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