quote:

ORIGINAL: ScienceBoy

Newt Gingrich Calls for Reexamination of Freedom of Speech

Now, I know Newt ain't one of themen behind Bush these days (busy saving the world from poverty..), but it still disturbs me to see one of the GOP-almighty explicitly saying that freedom of speech (that is sort of enshrined in the US Constitution, no?) needs to be reexamined in the face of terrorism. "..before we actually lose a city.."

And Newt is a freakin' political genius too. (Albeit for my money on the side of absolute evil )

Excitingly, he also says that separation of church & state is a bad thing.

The constitution is one of the best things about the USA (politically speaking), even with the amazing ammendment system put in place to give the govt. the power to muffle and nullify portions of it.

Can you USAians please hold the country together for another year, so I can come visit next autumn without getting myself arrested for insulting the president?

ETA:

(You'll have to wait till next year to find out if Newt is running for president though. I haven't been so excited about an announcement since the iPhone! )

quote:

ORIGINAL: UtopianRanger

I suspect he's speaking to the anonymity of the internet, and more importantly, what many like him with their paranoid, police-police state mentality would like to see happen :  The abolishment of the internet as we now know it, and the institution of what's known as ''Internet II '' where there is no more anonymity

http://www.newswithviews.com/public_comm/public_commentary7.htm

quote:

ORIGINAL: ScienceBoy

The UK is probably fucked in that direction after the next election, whether the Conservatives win (David Cameron is scary. If I wasn't so sure he was a lying, pissant, cokefiend little shit.. And I believed what he says, I'd have to vote for him. [Ad Homnem attacks for the win]), or not. (I'm emigrating to the far east)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RiotGirl
We have rights and free speech UNTIL we break the rules.  Pretty much the same everywhere else. 

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And people don't seem to give a fuck.

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

People! You all have the wrong end of the stick! But then as revolting peasants, thats understandable.

You have total freedom of speech and assembly, and all the things you wanted.

But the Glorious Leader loves you, and does not want you to fall into error, by thinking and saying things which aren't true, or by associating with bad people. Like the good Father to the nation He is, the Glorious Leader guides His children so that you will be wise and happy.

Now who could object to that? Only those who have no love for the nation, no concern for their fellow citizens and no respect for the Glorious Leader of course. Such people are in error, and is it not then the fatherly duty of the Glorious Leader to discipline His errant children, lest they stray further into foolish and unhappy ways, or worse, spread their error and unhappiness to others of the children of the Glorious Leader?

And because the Glorious Leader has the love to care in this way for even His most errant children, who think and speak wrong things even against the Glorious Leader Himself, should not those of us who are not found to be in error also love him in return sufficiently to trust that His discipline is of the very nature of wisdom and therefore beyond question?

So let us not think wrong thoughts, speak error or associate with fools. Let us instead love the Glorious Leader with all our hearts and all our minds, and let our every word be inspired by praise for Him. For surely in this way we will be happy and share in His wisdom, and not be subject to harsh penalties under sub section IV, clause III.

E