Third Party & Independents: Archives

I want to thank Congress for trying to save me from that wretched American Idol show. I fear for some people it is too late though and the only recourse is mass euthanasia. That goes double for whoever watches Fox News and doesn’t yell “that’s not true” or laughs at their television.

It probably won’t get through the senate and I certainly hope it doesn’t. Opposition to media deregulation is completely misguided and borders on paranoia…I wrote extensively about it here.

Mr. Van Winkle, I am for deregulation as long as it makes sense for the country and somehow advances the needs of the society; I do not think media deregulation is in the best interest of the American consumer, or the society in which we live. I am vehemently opposed to American corporations pursuing profit at any cost, and media deregulation is just that. And I look at the large more idealist picture; i.e. is it good for our democracy to allow two or three multi-nationals to control our nations airwaves and put their stamp on what we see and hear. I don’t think it is. But in the interest of balance, I will read what you have written on the subject.

How does a bill become a law, kiddies?

Both Houses of Congress must pass it. If the President vetoes, then both Houses must pass it again, this time by a two-thirds majority.

Many popular movements are cut-off in this manner. One House plays good cop, the other house bottles it up. In the end nothing happens.

Watch and learn. This bill will never reach the floor of the Senate.

Ms. Blankenhorn, I am sure both Mr. Van Winkle and myself are well versed in the mechanics of how a bill becomes a law, but thank you for the lesson. I respectfully disagree with your position on this issue. The Senate is in play in-so-far-as the Democrats, who would support this type of bill, have been able to make their voices heard, unlike their counterpart in the House. But time will tell whether or not this Bill makes it to the Senate floor.