FEC May Regulate Online Political Activity 302
jgarzik writes "A recent federal court ruling ordered the U.S. Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to rewrite rules that currently exempt, rather than regulate, political ads and speech on the Internet. Well, it's looking more and more likely that the FEC will not be able to avoid some amount of Internet regulation. I always thought that freedom of speech originated in part because the framers wanted to protect political speech. I guess I was being naive..."
'Bout time (Score:2, Funny)
Does this mean that Politicians.... (Score:3, Funny)
Let me just say,... (Score:3, Funny)
* In order to conform to future FEC regulations on online political speech: I'm nharmon, and I approve this message.
Re:The Internet is too big (Score:1, Funny)
Story time! (Score:3, Funny)
lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a
boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you
help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour
ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied,
"You're in a hot air balloon approximately 30 feet
above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level.
You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude
and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."
She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be a
Democrat."
"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything
you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea
what to do with your information, and I'm still lost.
Frankly, you've not been much help to me."
The man smiled and responded, "You must be a
Republican."
"I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you
know?"
"Well," said the man, "you don't know where
you are or where you're going. You've risen to where
you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a
promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you
expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the
same position you were in before we met but, somehow,
now it's my fault."
Re:Slashdot does it again! (Score:1, Funny)
That's right! The First Amendment is about freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
If the founding fathers really wanted it to apply to TV and the intarnet, they would've said so!
Re:Here we go again (Score:3, Funny)
God, when I get on my high horse my spelling goes to shit. Sorry about that.
Re:Story time! (Score:5, Funny)
"You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."
And none of them thought it was peculiar that the man was in a boat in the middle of the Texas desert, thust demonstrating the complete ineptitude of both parties.
What about fringe candidates - i.e. HULK for Pres! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Internet ads should be treated like TV and prin (Score:3, Funny)
I, for one, am all for that being protected speech. I certainly hope anyone planning on killing, injuring, or otherwise harming is polite enough to give me 24 hours notice. Ideally they'll say it in a recording I can provide to police. It's the criminals who commit crimes without announcing it in advance that worry me a bit more.