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that's what we're fightin for
oh yeah -- that's what i like!

I wish all those who are speaking out now would have supported Sen. Feingold (D - Wisconsin) at that time. V. frustrating!

read the debate on the senate floor of the bill. If it had been opened to amendment, the thing would be so ugly, the Bill of Rights would be toilet paper. The dems only supported it because it had sunset provisions. Though I agree, Feingold's amendments would have fixed the thing.

We should be happy with what we got as the original act (It would have been MUCH MUCH WORSE after amending. Most Dems. were ready to give DoJ much more power), and be happy with attempts to remedy the sections of the bill that mess with civil rights. Most of the contentious sections are already used against drug trafficking and organized crime.

I'd expect to see more of this strategy. Its pretty darn effective.

Conservatives in NH are more Constitutionalists than they are in other states. Remember, Pat Buchanan beat Poppy there in the primary.

The conservatives in NH have a strong libertarian streak.

I organized a forum on the Patriot Act in July (in small town northern NH) and 150 people showed up. They weren't all liberals, either.

I'm surprised at John Sununu - he's such a rubber stamper. That he dares take this position gives you an idea of how popular the Patriot Act is in NH.

... it's a way of life.

It seems like Kerry is going after the pickup truck voters the RIGHT way, and not the inflammatory way. That's why the media won't cover this substantive action.

This is what many of us have been expecting of him all along ...

Is it too late for him to get his act together? Absolutely not ... Kerry is a long-time genuine progressive ... I see no value in questioning his current motives ... what I see is one of our best warriors finally joining the battle ... and I sincerely welcome every bush-fighter we can find ...

Like many, I hated several of Kerry's votes when we really needed an "opposition leader" ... well, guess what ... we still need one ... in fact, we need all the right-wing fighters we can get ...

Kudos to Kerry for co-sponsoring the repeal of key portions of the "Anti-Patriot" Act ... if Kerry wants to make a serious run for President, I think that will create a very healthy dialogue for Democrats ... I'm still undecided and I'm weighing his actions very carefully ...

Better late than never :toast:

when it's also politically popular.

Hell, even die-hard conservatives like Bob Barr and Dick Armey have been opposed to many of the provisions in the Patriot Act for a year or more.

I'm very glad he's doing it. Just wondering what took so long?

Eloriel

Thanks for the stirring words John....we could have used them eight months ago

Go Kerry!

Big kudos to Kerry. I hope this passes.

if they cover it. I bet they won't.

The corporate media had there smear blitz on Kerry a couple weeks ago followed by ignoring that person, that's how they seem to do things against threats to Dean.

I'll be watching NBC(local then brokaw)

someone here watch ABC and CBS

Here's part of the reason:

Speaker: Senator John Forbes Kerry (MA)
Title: Disapproving Federal Communications Commission Broadcast Media Ownership Rule
Location: Washington, DC
Date: 09/16/2003
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
PAGE S11501
Sept. 16, 2003

Disapproving Federal Communications Commission Broadcast Media Ownership Rule\

(At the request of Mr. DASCHLE, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the RECORD.)

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today the Senate will vote on a joint resolution, of which I am a proud cosponsor, to disapprove the Federal Communications Commission's June 2, 2003, rules designed to loosen restrictions on broadcast media ownership. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that media ownership rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition and localism. Unfortunately, the Commission's June 2, 2003, ruling fails to meet this standard.

The resolution before us today would reverse the FCC's decision to change the national television ownership cap from 35 percent to 45 percent, a decision that threatens local and independent voices in television. The television industry is undergoing rapid consolidation as a handful of national networks have acquired local stations across the country. I am concerned that when local stations are purchased by a national network, independent voices are lost in the media marketplace. Locally owned and operated stations are more likely to be responsive to local needs, interests and values than those stations owned and operated by national networks. Indeed many local stations are small businesses that drive innovative competition. A system of concentrated station ownership will trend toward nationalized programming aimed primarily at maximizing revenue with less concern for local interests and less room for competition.

The resolution before us today will also reverse the FCC's decision to significantly loosen restrictions on cross-ownership of broadcast stations and newspapers within single markets. The cross-ownership rule is intended to increase or at least maintain the number of independent editorial voices in a community. This is especially important in smaller communities where citizens have fewer media operations covering local matters. While there is scant evidence that weakening this rule will result in significant economic benefit, leading academics and media experts have argued that doing so will dangerously reduce the venues for independent public discourse.

I am also concerned with the process by which the FCC conducted these proceedings. This media ownership rulemaking is among the most important the FCC has undertaken, and it has garnered unprecedented public interest. Despite this, the Commission moved forward with dramatic rule changes without first taking public comment on a specific proposal. The Commission's outreach was simply insufficient. All parties concerned would have been better served if the Commission published a specific proposal and then allowed for a period of public comment before promulgating any rule changes.

The Commission's first responsibility is to ensure diversity, competition and localism. The Commission has no responsibility to facilitate the business plans of the major networks or any other narrow economic interest. I strongly support the disapproval resolution before us today.·

That's good, but it might have been nice if Kerry had voted against the bill in the first place. Still, it's a step in the right direction.

and damned if you don't

we all know that it would have been political suicide for our senators and reps to vote against the act at the time. Feingold received major shit from the press.

What's important is that they didn't let it pass without a sunset provision and that Kerry and others are now working to take some of the stuff out even before the sunset.

who wants to be seen as standing with the hated Ashcroft?

Ok now I am so confused.

I am completely and utterly torn.

I like Dean's fighting style and grassroots bad ass appeal.

I like Clark too because he is pushing the right buttons on policy and electability.

My original choice was Kerry. I knew the man was liberal and had the history of votes to prove it despite post 9/11 waffling. However, I have not been excited by his campaign.

Now, oh my gosh, the man has my attention again.

This is sooo tough. We have three incredible candidates and each one of them could be a kick-ass president.

WTF am I going to do?

Ugh.

You're gonna do nothing but gain support with such a move. Make mistakes, but never fail to learn from them.

n/t

:kick:

:) He might still surprise a few people.

Good job, John Kerry! This is indeed great news. Now please don't try to gut only the fat....go for the meat!

This is the most worthwhile thing I've seen Kerry do in quite awhile. Good on him, and good on us.

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Don't misread this post. I still am highly critical of him for voting for that piece of shit to begin with. But I respect even someone who makes a mess, as long as they so much as try to clean it up and make things right.

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:kick:

I think the Iowa speech marked a major turning point in the campaign. There is no doubt this bad mamajama has the Eye of the Tiger going on.

Remember Talia Shire telling Rocky that he couldn't beat Clubber Lang? There are still plenty of Talia's around here, but I'm telling you that the man is hungry. He got the ole' fire in the belly back, and I do believe that all hell is a'gonna bust loose from here on out.

<>

he's be an OK guy if he then offered to wipe some of it off?

Such brillant analogy or is that scatology?

Sorry, not to break up the Kumbayah here but that raised a hilarious image in my mind. Thanks for the chuckle.

Who do you believe is the most likely choice for Kerry's VP? Just curious. Christine

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I do believe the VP choice is going to be one of the major turning points for the nod. I'd like to see Kerry with Edwards or Geppy. Being from MO my first thoughts would be Geppy, clearly the presidential nod is not in the cards for him IMO and VP would be a great position for him. Although, Edwards possesses charisma coupled with a command of respect.
In short, two things are going to be the deciding factor between Kerry and Dean, 1) VP choice with higher visibilty such as one of the other Democratic contenders which would also signify unity 2) an endorsement from Gore or Clinton.

;-)'s ....Good to see this post and links.

if he next publically regrets his Iraq war vote, I will consider voting for him.

i haven't heard anything about this until i saw this. hopefully it will get more attention .

How about repealing the entire piece of Fascist shit! Then enact what you think you need, but not before reading the bill first, and having full hearings and a debate (which they didn't do on PATRIOT!).

i hope this means more republicans are looking at this to. although sununu is arab and personally affected in a way, i do hope others follow.