Jeff Sessions to Mark Levin: Darned right we’ll filibuster the Fairness Doctrine
posted at 3:05 pm on February 11, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Short but sweet, courtesy of Levin’s producer, Richard. The words “Fairness Doctrine” are never uttered here, actually, which may be significant: As I understand it, Congress doesn’t have to do anything to bring the doctrine back. That was an FCC rule, from birth to death, and thus presumably could be reinstated by the FCC once three of the five commissioners are Democratic appointees — which might happen as early as June. As such, the trick for Sessions isn’t pulling 41 votes together to block a bill, it’s pulling 60 votes together to pass a bill stripping away any new Fairness rules imposed by the FCC. (Or 67 votes, if you think The One would veto it.) Anyone see 19 Democrats signing up?
Remember, Mike Pence tried to get a jump on this by pushing a bill through the House in 2007 denying the FCC funding for that year if it tried to bring back Fairness. It passed overwhelmingly. But when he introduced a second bill to ban Fairness permanently, not one Democrat signed on. I wonder why.
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Fillibuster?
When Snowe, Collins and Specter can be bought off with the promise of shiny trinkets and glowing media adulation?
Please.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 3:06 PM
He can’t.
Snowe, Collins and Specter will see to it.
roninacreage on February 11, 2009 at 3:06 PM
I fink you dun broke the front page.
Abby Adams on February 11, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Can we keep this when they don’t filibuster? Proof so to speak.
upinak on February 11, 2009 at 3:08 PM
So my understanding of the original FD was after WWII they wanted to make sure there wasn’t propaganda spewed by the government. So much for that.
kirkill on February 11, 2009 at 3:09 PM
yep, the front page is hosed, must be part of the Fairness Doctrine.
kirkill on February 11, 2009 at 3:10 PM
I agree, but Sessions is the type who’ll go down swinging on something like this.
AubieJon on February 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
my dad a former tv newscaster who is a moderate Dem tells me if the fairness doctrine comes back he will march on DC with us conservatives.
lavell12 on February 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Why didn’t the GOP do this in 2000 thru 2006, surely they could’ve found the time.
jp on February 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Sessions is a hero, but the Fairness Doctrine isn’t nearly as important as the “stimulus” or the Obamite gutting of the military. Domestic energy production is also more important than the Fairness Doctrine.
sad that so many don’t see it that way
funky chicken on February 11, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Too busy spending money like liberals.
Kelligan on February 11, 2009 at 3:15 PM
If Democrats think that the American people will sit still for this they’ve got another thing coming. If the First Amendment isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, neither is the Second, nor any other provision of the Constitution, which is the contract between the government and the governed. If the Dems tear up the contract then there will be a heavy price to be paid. It will be our last chance to rise up before the heavy boot comes down on our throats.
pistolero on February 11, 2009 at 3:16 PM
We can’t even hold Republicans together, much less 19 Democrats. Snowe, Collins, and Specter will sign on to the FD if it means The One will like them.
amerpundit on February 11, 2009 at 3:17 PM
If we have no “voice” we can’t fight back against the other important issues you so correctly point out. But after the Porlulous I say talk raido is next…
Mark Garnett on February 11, 2009 at 3:17 PM
How exactly can we oppose Obama and his fellow travelers on those issues, if the right to free speech is curtailed?
Make no mistake, if these people shut down talk radio, what’s next? Do these people EVER stop once they get what they want?
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 3:18 PM
funky chicken on February 11, 2009 at 3:14 PM
Sorry, dude, but I disagree. Violently disagree. All of those other things are important, don’t get me wrong. But this is a direct assault against the last of the remaining rights we have and is evidence that an elite oligarchy has executed a bloodless coup unless we rise up and shove it down their throats.
pistolero on February 11, 2009 at 3:19 PM
a lotta good talk radio has done in shaping obama’s agenda /sarc
gatorboy on February 11, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Thanks for that, that’s encouraging. But, will it happen? I honestly don’t know anymore.
We don’t have fighters anymore. We have lots of whiners and bitchers, but no fighters. No one on the front lines willing to get their hands a little dirty.
Joe Pyne on February 11, 2009 at 3:21 PM
my dad a former tv newscaster who is a moderate Dem tells me if the fairness doctrine comes back he will march on DC with us conservatives.
lavell12 on February 11, 2009
Tell your dad thanks but we don’t march on DC.
artist on February 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Re: Sessions talking about filibustering.
Perhaps Sessions is unaware of what has happened to the Congress since 2006.
It sure would help if Sessions and the GOP would brush up on how government works under the control of the Democratic Party. Sessions might then be able to avoid looking like a stupid jackass.
jay12 on February 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Here’s something I’ve been saving to add to the discussion when the inevitable lefty troll pops in and shouts the lib talking points:
“Oh, this is just you deranged right wing nuts trying to insight fear in everyone again. This is NEVER going to happen you losers. Get over it”.
Read it and STFU Libtards!
From a .gov web site to boot.
Not Over.
1GooDDaDDy on February 11, 2009 at 3:23 PM
a lotta good talk radio has done in shaping obama’s agenda /sarc
gatorboy on February 11, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Problem is, it’s a small voice compared to the liberal indoctrinations machine of academia, media, entertainment and pop culture. But that’s not good enough for the Stalinists. They want NO dissent. Period. We are at a dangerous precipice and this must be fought tooth and nail, hammer and tong.
pistolero on February 11, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Sure, but how are the people supposed to fight back against those things when the media is controlled by the government?
Esthier on February 11, 2009 at 3:24 PM
And just how would standing up for what he and his constituents believe in, and rallying as much support as he can, make him look like a jackass? I guess to you the folks who fought against Mexico at the Alamo look like jackasses.
AubieJon on February 11, 2009 at 3:27 PM
Just invite Specter, Snowe, and Collins on talk radio to offer the other side’s argument!
Christien on February 11, 2009 at 3:28 PM
We got Reagan without talk radio, we got Obooba with it. Jus sayin.
Akzed on February 11, 2009 at 3:29 PM
They were too busy trying to reach out to the Democrats by porking out with them.
As for the larger issue, if Obama and his minions try to bring political censorship into play, we will need a lot more then playing around in the legislature. This isn’t playing around with tax rates or enforcing the latest envirofad, as bad as those are.
Essentially, this will be a bid to begin the move from republican to authoritarian rule, and we need to treat it as such.
18-1 on February 11, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Sessions / Reagan’s Corpse – 2012
The only Republicans left we can support.
mankai on February 11, 2009 at 3:30 PM
if they silence Rush and Hannity, we’ll still have the internet and tools like Emails to get the ‘word out’, might could make it backfire big time
jp on February 11, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Exactly, and the same reason libturds want to outlaw gun ownership.
kirkill on February 11, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Reagan’s been dead for how many years, and had Alzheimer’s while he was alive, but he’d still outwit and out-lead Collins, Spector, and the rest of these RINOs.
AubieJon on February 11, 2009 at 3:34 PM
But I should also mention, everyone will have satellite radio in a couple years anyway. And that’s a whole ‘nother ball of wax.
kirkill on February 11, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Exactly and if this has a chance of passing, I’m buying Sirius/XM stock, because it will skyrocket if Rush goes to satellite.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Really? How? The Huffington Post already has a front-row seat at the president’s table. Face it, Democrats own the world now. And that includes the Internet.
jay12 on February 11, 2009 at 3:37 PM
So why don’t they filibuster the stimulus? Lock Specter in a closet somewhere.
btw, Imus was talking about how great THE GREAT ONE is today.
ctmom on February 11, 2009 at 3:38 PM
They’ve been preparing bankruptcy papers lately.
AubieJon on February 11, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Thank God for my senators Sessions and Shelby, especially Sessions.
beachgirlusa on February 11, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Thing is, it’s not just talk radio that will be hit by this–blogs such as this one, Michelle’s, Big Hollywood–practically anything expressing a dissenting voice can expect to get the plug pulled by Big Brother. Bambi personally does not tolerate dissent and neither do the Democrats in general. Someone pointed out that this is the first step in the transition from a republican to an authoritarian mode of government and they’re right. With an expanded “Fairness/Net Neutrality” law in place and the media little more than propaganda organs for the Bambi Administration and the Democratic Party, opposition voices will be effectively stifled–and don’t kid yourself that Google isn’t ready to install Chinese type firewalls here once the Bambi Administration gives them the contract. As for 2010 and 2012 elections–there’s no guarantee those will be fair elections thanks to the funds being parceled out to ACORN and other Democratic organs and then there’s a host of other bills that would essentially strengthen the unions–welcome to Bambi’s Brave New World.
I’m going back to my Vault…
Matt Helm on February 11, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Gee, thanks, Jeff. You’ll “fight” it the same way you “fought” the economy-destroying uber-pork payoff bill?
What a hero. Riiiiiiight.
MrScribbler on February 11, 2009 at 3:39 PM
blogs like this, mass emails to everyone you know…grassroots online type of thing.
This is a tool we have for the first time with a Democrat in the Whitehouse.
jp on February 11, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Dissent is the highest form of
patriotismterrorism./Oh, what a difference a (D) makes!
Christien on February 11, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Hey, it’s only free speech. You guys are making it sound like this is an attempt to shut up those that disagree with the dear leader. But there are no real disagreements with Him, only a failure to understand his glory. Next thing you’ll say is that the dear one’s control of the census is for personal political gain and not for the welfare of his children.
Some people just need to be reeducated.
moxie_neanderthal on February 11, 2009 at 3:42 PM
So you’ve made your sandwich board that reads “The World Has Ended” and you’re standing on the street corner waiting. Cool. But stay out of the way of folks who aren’t giving up. You’ll get your little kneecaps dirty.
AubieJon on February 11, 2009 at 3:43 PM
This is coming down the pipe, people. I hope we have a lot of lawyers on our side.
WisCon on February 11, 2009 at 3:44 PM
We sure do march on DC, when we have to.
Heard of the GOE?
HonestConservative on February 11, 2009 at 3:47 PM
If our weenie Repub caucus couldn’t rein in the 3 amigos and stand firm against the commies, what chance is there that the repubs will ever stand together again to help us. Specter, Snow, and collins have really take all the fight out of me, and I am really sad to think that we have no one to stand up for us and do anything to fight the commie takeover of our country. Sad, but true…*sigh*
clinker46 on February 11, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Sessions is a hero, Scribbler. He’s fighting like hell for you…and all you can do is piss on him for his efforts.
Sessions fought against pork and earmarks (and thus against GW Bush and most of his fellow GOP senators) for years. He fought against every amnesty proposal that came up. He fought for the military (again against GW Bush at times) …
Find a place where Sessions hasn’t fought for conservatives bbefore you crap on him next time.
funky chicken on February 11, 2009 at 3:48 PM
The Repubs need to keep this Democratic threat on the front page as much as possible. Keep talking about how it’s being discussed.
sherry on February 11, 2009 at 3:48 PM
The Gang of three can be disciplined for sure.
If the RNC wanted them reined in, they’d be reined in.
HonestConservative on February 11, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Hello Senator Sessions,
can you say “Sentator Collins from Maine?”
Can you say “Senator Snowe from Maine?”
Can you say “Senator Spector from Pennsylvania?”
Yes, you can. I knew you could.
pabarge on February 11, 2009 at 3:49 PM
We all should! This is Boston Harbor stuff. If we let this happen, they can do anything. I’ve taken the oath many times and the military doesn’t serve to defend only a few Americans rights. I’d give my life for this.
hawkdriver on February 11, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Didn’t Michael Steele just take over the reins of the RNC and kick out the dead wood?
This is the time to see if there’s going to be any “hope and change”, or whether it’s business as usual with a whole new gang of do-nothings.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 3:52 PM
They don’t own us.
Imus praised Levin? Awesome. I especially love when Levin gets a lefty caller on and starts playing “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
Jim Treacher on February 11, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I personally can’t wait for the Fairness Doctrine to be implemented. Getting two sides to every story is important in deciding how you feel about a subject. Just as you wouldn’t want a jury to only hear one side of an arguement, the general public should hear both sides of an issue too. Balance is an important part of learning.
When the Fairness Doctrine is put in place, it will of course also apply to newspapers and television networks (cable and basic), right? I mean, if it is needed to balance the radio, it would only make sense to need to balance the print and broadcast stations, too…. right?
Tucker Steele on February 11, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Don’t forget the inevitability of Sen. Franken and the Limbaugh-hating Maverick.
Valiant on February 11, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Supposedly, Fraud Franken is against the unFairness Doctrine, but I’m sure if he cheats his way into the Senate, his attitude might evolve.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Yeah, I heard this morning that Obama has appointed an internet czar, who is a contributor to the Huffington Post.
Callie C. on February 11, 2009 at 4:03 PM
They may not be able to pass legislation overturning an FCC edict, but they can filibuster other legislation until it is withdrawn. They can refuse to do any business in the Senate for as long as the “rules” are in place.
There is talk of extending it to the Internet, but not to TV because it is a liberal bastion.
PastorJon on February 11, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I welcome the Fairness Doctrine. The backlash among conservatives and independents will galvanize the conservative movement.
More than this, if liberals are given equal time, imagine how easily Rush and Levin will deconstruct and humiliate their loopy ideas right out of their mouths. Conservatives are never afraid of a fight; liberals always are. Liberalism only thrives when no one challenges it.
John the Libertarian on February 11, 2009 at 4:06 PM
The “fairness” crowd is playing with fire. Robbing tax payers is one thing but squelching the speech of those out of step with our temporary rulers is quite another. Isn’t there something about this in that pesky Constitution? Maybe the FCC is exempt.
After Porkulous, the tax holiday for Obama appointees, etc. how long will the people remain docile? We look at government upheaval in other countries and think it can’t happen here. Wrong. It did once and can again. God save the United States of America.
Mason on February 11, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.
- Napoleon Bonaparte
Four hostile conservative talk shows are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.
- Napoleon Obamaparte
We are not shooting enough professors.
- Vladimir Lenin’s telegram
We are not imprisoning enough conservative talk show hosts.
- Vladimir Obamain’s blackberrygram
MB4 on February 11, 2009 at 4:12 PM
As such, the trick for Sessions isn’t pulling 41 votes together to block a bill, it’s pulling 60 votes together to pass a bill stripping away any new Fairness rules imposed by the FCC. (Or 67 votes, if you think The One would veto it.) Anyone see 19 Democrats signing up?
Why didn’t the GOP do this in 2000 thru 2006, surely they could’ve found the time.
jp on February 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Did you even read the article?! Pence didn’t get even one Dem vote to permanently ban the Fairness Doctrine. The Pubs passed lots of good bills in the House in 2001-2006, but the Dems always filibustered them in the Senate.
mydh12 on February 11, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Hey, my husband puts people in jail everyday for internet porn, but others keep doing it. how can the FCC regulate all of us?
kelley in virginia on February 11, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Vee have our vays.
DasObamaReich on February 11, 2009 at 4:17 PM
With the public outrage over the ‘Three Traitors’ they will be more than happy to side with the
‘CommunistDemocrat Party’ and shut us up.Helloyawl on February 11, 2009 at 4:20 PM
So why don’t they filibuster the stimulus? Lock Specter in a closet
somewherewith Bawney.btw, Imus was talking about how great THE GREAT ONE is today.
ctmom on February 11, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Laura in Maryland on February 11, 2009 at 4:25 PM
One note here, do not call this “The Fairness Doctrine”. Words matter, especially since a large number of voters pay so little attention.
Call it political censorship, restrictions on free speech, or if you must The Fascist Doctrine. If we use the left’s terminology, we have already surrendered part of the debate to them as there is nothing fair in censoring your political opponents.
18-1 on February 11, 2009 at 4:33 PM
do not call this “The Fairness Doctrine”. Words matter,
How about ‘the cancelling of the Constitution’? The repeal of the First Amendment, which is the precursor to the repeal of the Second Amendment.
pistolero on February 11, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Never had a filibuster proof majority.
MarkTheGreat on February 11, 2009 at 4:47 PM
The way I see it, if they want a “Fairness Doctrine,” it should be across the board. Let us also apply this to Television, Cable, even sitcoms and the View. I want THOSE LIKE Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hanitty, Mark Levin, & Bill Orielly start co-anchoring the news on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC as well as an equal quota of Conservatives on all of the Newspapers. Give Dennis Miller a late night talk show across from Leno & Letterman. All those morning talk shows on TV must be integrated with Conservatives; no tokenism will be tolerated. Instead of movies and TV showing conservatives of practicing religious faith as being somehow flawed, there must be an end to this religionism (I just made that word up. It kind of goes in the same category as racism, if you can get the drift). There have to be an equal number of able and capable religious people as there are regular stars (You know, the ones they write about in the Enquirer). This is just to start negotiations on the new, REAL, Fairness Doctrine, and I reserve the right to add to it as I deem necessary. I will also leave this open to our Conservative friends who might want to address some areas of discrimination that I may have missed.
DL13 on February 11, 2009 at 4:59 PM
In 1973, Supreme Court justice and liberal icon William Douglas said: “The Fairness Doctrine has no place in our First Amendment regime. It puts the head of the camel inside the tent and enables administration after administration to toy with TV and radio.”
beachgirlusa on February 11, 2009 at 5:02 PM
We seriously need a new country. Ours is gone.
stenwin77 on February 11, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I think the courts would strike it down it challenged. But it takes a lot of money to take it to the Supreme Court.
Maxx on February 11, 2009 at 5:34 PM
For now. But once they re-institute the Fairness Doctrine, an expanded Net Neutrality debate will be next up on deck, and unlike in recent years, they will have the votes they need to pass it. Then the Internet will be regulated for content as well. Whether either of these abridgments of free speech can pass the scrutiny of SCOTUS is anyone’s guess; it’s hard to know sometimes which way this court will go, but if decisions like Kelo are any indication of where we’re going in terms of personal liberty rights, then I’m not encouraged. In constitutional law parlance, this is what is known as the slippery slope. It’s imperative that we fight them on this issue b/c if they can get by with FD, everything else will just fall like a house of cards right behind it.
Having said all of that, I find it curious why they’d even WANT to enforce “equal time” on public airwaves, considering that on balance, most of the information and entertainment coming from TV and radio is already skewed heavily in their favor. Talk radio is really the only place they can have any sort of impact. So they want Rush to share his three hours with some hysterical, overly emotional libtard? I doubt they’ll be happy with the outcome. Rush and Co. will only make the other side look even more foolish than they already do.
NoLeftTurn on February 11, 2009 at 5:42 PM
We all (I) need a t-shirt with this slogan
Welcome the the USSA!
Its a Great Place to be OPRESSED!
We all need one of these, and maybe ball caps also..
jtpcamp on February 11, 2009 at 5:43 PM
If the “Fairness” Doctrine is reimplemented, the radio stations will go broke. And guess what entity will be there to pick up the slack?
baldilocks on February 11, 2009 at 7:12 PM
You’re getting caught up in the name “Fairness.” They know that EVERY major liberal attempt at a radio program has failed. They know stations will go off the air before they will attempt to market Alan Colmes and Rachel Maddow, who have failed in the free market.
The number one way they are pushing this is “localism,” which means that radio stations will have to serve the “local” interest by being balanced and focusing on issues of their market, not national issues. If they continue to do political talking heads, they’ll only be debating whether to fund ugly garbage can replacements downtown, not the wasting of our money.
The libs are betting, and they are probably right, that the talk radio stations, knowing they can’t make money with liberal talk show hosts, will change formats. There will be a lot of new country stations, and many fewer stations in total.
PastorJon on February 11, 2009 at 7:20 PM
There is a way around this local radio thing. Rush/Mark/Sean still do a national broadcast on the net, then in each local radio station a conservative has his own show where lengthy excerpts of the national broadcasts are aired. But I suspect Rush will go to XM if push comes to shove and XM doesn’t hit the crapper first.
pistolero on February 11, 2009 at 7:28 PM
I am sorry but the republicans dont have the balls to even just say NO to the porkulus bill..
How can i believe anything they say..
Nope the republican pary is DEAD..
jcila on February 11, 2009 at 9:46 PM
Jeff Sessions, didn’t you just vote for Eric Holder for A.G.? Have you lost your freakin’ mind? Have you finally turned RINO also? To think, I believed you were a true CONSERVATIVE, apparently that species is extinct.
nelsonknows on February 12, 2009 at 12:31 AM
This country is chocked full of gutless, whining, wannabe conservatives who spend their time bitching and moaning yet do NOTHING to change anything. Stop your whining until you have the guts to pick up a gun and overthrow this National Socialist Government before the jackboots and brownshirts start marching on YOUR homes.
nelsonknows on February 12, 2009 at 12:35 AM
I’ll believe it when I see it.
-Dave
Dave R. on February 12, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Does anyone actually believe that the Repubs will fillibuster the fairness doctrine? My bet is that the BO Repubs will just bend over like they did with the stimulus package.
Erockk on February 12, 2009 at 4:39 AM
The natural inclination of entrenched politicians is to stifle opposition action and muzzle opposition speech. Let’s not forget that Republican politicians are only marginally better than Democrats and equally as likely to support actions which enhance their reelection chances. Rush Limbaugh only supported John McCain as a lesser of two evils. You think McCain wouldn’t quietly chuckle at the demise of talk radio? Think again.
Screw the Republican Party. We need Conservatives…real ones…with big, pumpkin sized balls. They might walk funny but they won’t take Ogabe’s crap.
SKYFOX on February 12, 2009 at 8:10 AM
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