Yeah, Right, Whatever

I've been tossing this around for a couple of days, and I decided to just dive in. I'm joining the McCain-Feingold Insurrection. This is what Geek with a .45 has to say about the Insurrection:

The First Amendment says this:
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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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And that's precisely what it means.

Accordingly, I believe we can all get behind these following points:

1. Freedom of speech and the press is of critical importance to the preservation of both individual freedom, and the free character of our nation.


2. It is a traditional American Liberty that we guard jealously.


3. This Freedom is directly and unambiguously protected by the Bill of Rights.


4. Our Blogs are the way we choose to directly manifest that freedom. They are our sacred 21st century soapboxes, and we view them as being completely protected.


5. The Infrastructure that enables blogs is the instrumentality of that freedom, and is therefore also protected.


6. The universal criticality of this transcends partisan consideration.


7. Therefore, We, the proud members of the McCain-Feingold Insurrection, will continue to excercise our right of free speech through our online venues as we see fit, without limitation.


8. We shall vigorously defend our right and ability to do so going to such lengths and using such means as the situation and our individual consciences dictate.

What brought that on? Well... This.

Bradley Smith says that the freewheeling days of political blogging and online punditry are over.

In just a few months, he warns, bloggers and news organizations could risk the wrath of the federal government if they improperly link to a campaign's Web site. Even forwarding a political candidate's press release to a mailing list, depending on the details, could be punished by fines.

That's where this came from. This is my little spot of free speech. This is where I get to put forth my thoughts and ideas. This is my version of a pamphlet. I'm far too opinionated to just back down when the BCRA tries to tell me to be quiet. Our Founding Fathers (who are spinning in their graves because of the BCRA) were so worried about the citizenry having the guarantee of free speech that it was the FIRST Right (not that the others aren't important, but...) guaranteed to us in the Bill of Rights. It is to honor the Spirit and Letter of the Constitution that we stand up against this.

With that, I join the Insurrection. I hope this isn't necessary, but... better safe than sorry.