http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=14059

“When Joel Smith, of East Stroudsburg, Pa., was warned to take down his Bush/Cheney signs or face a fine, he went to the ACLU. Officials in East Stroudsburg originally stood by their ordinance but backed down Sept. 15 when the ACLU filed a lawsuit.”

I know, I know, you conservatives would never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Facts are known to have a liberal bias.

anyone that wants to oulaw something because it “annoys” them is to me part of the problem. If you meant it as a joke, I didn’t get it. I don’t have a chip on my shoulder, I simply can not stand people that want to outlaw everything they don’t like. because people that have done that over the last 40 years have made my country less free. don’t like voilent video games lets outlaw them, don’t like people dying in car accidents lets outlaw not wearing a seatbelt, don’t like little timmy falling down on his bike lets make it a law to wear bike helmets, don’t like people enjoying smoking let’s outlaw it, don’t like signs in the yard lets outlaw it, don’t like your neighbor having a sofa on his porch let’s outlaw it. We have turned into a bunch of buzy bodies that would not know freedom if it bit us.

Unseen, I am as far from a socialist as they come–I generally view Limbaugh as a little too the left for my tastes. Take the holier-than-thou chip off your shoulder and lower your nose enough to recognize a joke.

Faith1 on February 21, 2008 at 9:31 AM

If you consider Limbaugh as “a little too the left”, then you’re a fascist. On the political spectrum, far right eventually meets far left. You’re on your way.

Faith1 on February 20, 2008 at 2:26 PM

And another socialist stands up to be counted…

unseen on February 20, 2008 at 2:28 PM”

Unseen, I am as far from a socialist as they come–I generally view Limbaugh as a little too the left for my tastes. Take the holier-than-thou chip off your shoulder and lower your nose enough to recognize a joke.

“A stopped clock is right twice a day!”

seems alittle of those past lives still linger in your subconcious. And to answer your question. You should be more concerned about my freedom than yours. we should all be more concerned about others freedoms than ours. If we make sure others freedoms are secure than ours will be too.

robblefarian on February 20, 2008 at 4:51 PM

look sparky, spanky, or crapy. I will explain things too you really slow because you don’t seem to understand. I don’t care what investors do, what rules they make. they can make any rule they want if it conflicts with the US consititution, that rule means jack You see we have a system of order in this country. It goes like this. The city out rules the person, the state outrules the city, and the federal government outrules the state. therefore if you and your investors make a rule that conflict with a basic right granted by GOD and enshrined in our consititution then that rule is null and void. And property values be damned. Freedom of speech esp political speech is one of those rights. It doesn’t say you have 30 days to have freedom of speech, it doesn’t say you have freedom of speech as long as everyone in the neighborhood agrees, it doesn’t say you have freedom of speech unless your speech drops the property vaule of your neighbors house. It says you have freedom of speech period.

DO you understand? In America Freedom comes before money. If my freedom costs you money oh well. You are not given a right by God, the USA or anyone else to make money at the expense of someonelses rights.

Sir, you’re an ass.

robblefarian on February 20, 2008 at 6:37 PM

Insults? See ya.

Eminent, not imminent. You know, like firsthand? Until you have a better grasp of the English language, maybe you should abstain from being a vocal proponent of suspensions of property rights “for the public good”.

Sir, you’re an ass.

No, I wasn’t there, but yes I have firsthand knowledge…

robblefarian on February 20, 2008 at 5:53 PM

Heh.

And we’re not talking about imminent domain–we’re discussing rules.

You call me a narcissist and then tell me to get out of YOUR country. Nice, real nice.

robblefarian on February 20, 2008 at 5:53 PM

Eminent, not imminent. You know, like firsthand? Until you have a better grasp of the English language, maybe you should abstain from being a vocal proponent of suspensions of property rights “for the public good”.

Maybe in regulated neighborhoods.

What the hell do you think we’re talking about?

robblefarian, i’m with you, pal.

DrW on February 20, 2008 at 5:40 PM

Thanks, I appreciate it!

No, you don’t.

Yes, I do. No, I wasn’t there, but yes I have firsthand knowledge of the effects of both and I am a direct product of the ravages of Communism and Fascism. A direct product via the stories and lives of my grandparents, but a direct product nonetheless.

And we’re not talking about imminent domain–we’re discussing rules.

You call me a narcissist and then tell me to get out of YOUR country. Nice, real nice.

installing a neon sign in my front yard advertising hot oil massages—–> would not be permitted.

Maybe in regulated neighborhoods. However, in most places, you can put it up. If the community raises enough complaints, action might be taken, because it’s an extreme circumstance and there may be concerns about the links to the business you’re conducting. However…

so why should yard signs for Ron Paul 24/7/365 be allowed?

Because it’s political expression, protected under the first amendment. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean you get to suppress it. If you do, that is fascism.

installing a neon sign in my front yard advertising hot oil massages—–> would not be permitted. we all understand why. so why should yard signs for Ron Paul 24/7/365 be allowed?

some of you folks need to get a grip. robblefarian, i’m with you, pal.

I know first hand what Fascism and Communism are. I know what a refugee camp is.

robblefarian on February 20, 2008 at 5:16 PM

No, you don’t. You just made it clear that your grandparents know first hand what it is. By your statements about the suppression of others’ private property rights, you just made it clear that you have no idea what fascism and communism are.

Oh, and for the record, just before I went off to college, a gas company used eminent domain to cordon off part of my parent’s private land while they dug it up to install part of a pipeline. This was while I was still living there. So I guess I have more of a first-hand account than you. Guess what – doesn’t make a damn bit of difference, so get the hell off your pedestal.

Until you’ve had family members massacred by Communists or your land confiscated by the state, then maybe you can call me a commie bastard.

Ah…entitlement to speak now? Your thought process is progressing along neatly. First I can’t do what I want with my land if you live near me, unless you approve of it. Now I can’t make my own judgments unless I fit into a certain category.

Both candidates this year should make you VERY proud. They both see their beliefs and rights as more enforceable than others.

And by your logic I’m supposed to care about YOUR freedom more than mine?

robblefarian on February 20, 2008 at 4:56 PM

No, you’re supposed to respect my freedom as much as value your own. If you don’t understand that concept, try another country, where your money buys your level of freedom. Demanding that others, on their own private property, bend to your will because of your desires regarding your own private property, is fascism.

Until you’ve had family members massacred by Communists or your land confiscated by the state, then maybe you can call me a commie bastard. My grandfather lost THOUSANDS of acres of land and livestock to Communism in Serbia. His parents and siblings were murdered right in front of him.

My Grandmother was Italian and she lived through Mussolini. She survived on olive oil and bread.

I know first hand what Fascism and Communism are. I know what a refugee camp is. And I damn sure know what freedom is and I don’t take it for granted EVER.

So you go ahead and pull a DailyKos and bandy about those “isms”–but don’t tell me to go back to Europe, or China because I know firsthand what freedom IS NOT.

I need damn cigarette now.

I detest the ACLU, but they sometimes do take the proper side for the proper reason. They sided with Rush when the Florida leftists were taking his records from his doctors.

This IS CFR, and both this and CFR are patently unconstitutional. A reminder why I will not be voting for its incumbent-protecting champion in November.

You’re a narcissist who cares about YOUR freedom, YOUR wealth, and YOUR opinion over other Americans’. That’s called fascism. Keep it outta my country.

So you’re saying you don’t care about your own freedom? You people are equating homeowner’s associations with fascism.

And by your logic I’m supposed to care about YOUR freedom more than mine?

So which is it?

Did all you John Birchers get pissed on by a home owners association or something? Seriously?

unseen on February 20, 2008 at 4:25 PM

No, I want to live in a nice place. Period. Don’t question my patriotism, kiddo.

I’ll give it to you in kindergarten terms so maybe you can understand:

When a group of investors buys a chunk of land, they have the right to create limitations on that investment. Most subdivisions are created by investors. You see, you have the right to CHOOSE not to live in that subdivision. Upon signing your closing papers you discover that your need to let your grass grow two feet while you let your dogs run amok and crap everywhere and terrorize the neighborhood kids, while you sit out on your porch on your sofa, will somehow conflict with the homeowner’s association rules, you have the FREEDOM to walk away from the table and NOT close on your house.

We are a country of RULES. Deal with it. FREEDOM doesn’t equate to ANARCHY and doing whatever the hell you please.

Most people move to a nice sub because of the RULES. Yes, sometimes those rules can be tough, but there are plenty of home that don’t belong to an association.

And equating someone with Communism because they want to live in a nice, clean environment is simply moronic, spanky.

So to recap:

1. Rules good.
2. Anarchy bad.
3. Nice yard good.
4. Crappy yard bad.

I’d like to see a conservative, right wing ACLU established. We’re gonna need it for the next several years.

mimi1220 on February 20, 2008 at 4:37 PM

We already have one.
It’s called The Landmark Legal Foundation and it’s run by a fellow named Mark Levin.

You have the crappiest house on the block and I gotta live next to you…

robblefarian on February 20, 2008 at 4:16 PM

No, you don’t “gotta live next” to me. You can move. Freedom to do so. You’re using the same logic that Levittown used to refuse to sell to blacks at first.

You’re a narcissist who cares about YOUR freedom, YOUR wealth, and YOUR opinion over other Americans’. That’s called fascism. Keep it outta my country.

Somehow I don’t equate having a yard sign up for more than 30 days to freedom of speech.

Right, and nobody bothers to really read the newspapers or watch the news either (except idiots) so the government can take those over as well with no ill effects.

And who really listens to talk radio? A buncha cranks is who. Who cares about their rights, they can suck it, the Government can simply silence or control them too.

And people talking on the phone? Buncha magpies jabbering on about nothing, useless drivel; so having the Government limit what topics could be spoken wouldn’t hurt me a bit.

And the internet? Anonymous idiots all running their idea like they’re king of the world. Needs some Government control just to clean it up.

All the real communication is face-to-face over your neighbor’s fence. So as long as that’s ok, we’re fine. Except my neighbors are idjits, so lets do away with that too.

Not like that’ll ever touch “real” free speech. Right spanky? By which I mean, you personally. Since obviously you are the only person that really needs these “rights” and everyone else should do exactly as you say…