Scalia on unlimited political ads: Turn off the TV
http://www.wect.com/story/16570699/scalia-on-unlimited-political-ads-turn-off-the-tvBy JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia has a simple solution for people who don't like all the political advertisements unleashed by the court's decision two years ago that ended limits on corporate contributions in political campaigns. Scalia says: Change the channel or turn off the TV.
Scalia was asked about the decision during a presentation before the South Carolina Bar on Saturday, exactly two years after the court handed down the 5-4 decision in the case that led to the rise of Super PACs, which have no spending limits.
-snip-
Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)Go fuck yourself, asshole!
Joe Bacon
(5,165 posts)I'm at the point where I believe judges should be limited to 12 year terms on the bench. And the five conservative whores on the bench are Exhibit A for judicial term limits!
monmouth
(21,078 posts)jmowreader
(50,562 posts)Last picture I saw of Chris Christie indicated he's wider than he is tall.
Cherchez la Femme
(2,488 posts)What a Grade-A turd.
socialindependocrat
(1,372 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)So 99 percent of the people can't get their message out.
That leaves 1 percent in charge of the information environment.
How is that not fascist?
MADem
(135,425 posts)He wants his one percent pals to feel the love...and the power.
socialindependocrat
(1,372 posts)this whole thing about a job for life shouldn't hold when they
make wishy washy decisions based on their political beliefs instead of sticking to the letter of the law!
We need to have someone talk to them and tell them to do their job!
Isn't anybody in our government honest??
Yay, Bernie!!! and Yay, Elizabeth Warren!
We need anothrer Warren Commission!!
wpelb
(338 posts)The very same judges, that's who!
socialindependocrat
(1,372 posts)Laws are made to establish a legal presidence.
If one makes a decision based on their political leanings
the decision may go against the legal presidence.
That's why we have laws
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)They're on ALL major channels. (cbs, nbc, abc, etc)
It's not like I'm watching American Idol.
underpants
(182,877 posts)Oh that's right...Scalia
nice vicious circle there Anton
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)....another (something like) 250 more days of this excitement.
...And I inadvertently "watch" maybe 15 of those ads per night, the rest I mute, which is about
3750 for the next wonderful year.
SnakeEyes
(1,407 posts)we seem to perpetually be in campaign season, getting bombed with ads all the time. This even occurred before CU.
47of74
(18,470 posts)I live close to Dubuque. We're still trying to scrape the layer of Santorum that covers everything around here off.
Neoma
(10,039 posts)He's right, TV sucks enough to cut ties with it entirely. It rots your brain and body. It makes you angry at people you shouldn't give a shit about anyways, and people need to get outside more.
The only channel worth watching is probably C-span.
Pharaoh
(8,209 posts)But the morons watch them and believe all the lies, there in lies the problem.
Neoma
(10,039 posts)Because this is the only place we have a voice and a message. Someone needs to make a popular website like yahoo or facebook, that makes you smarter. Something beyond what TED and Wikipedia does. Because there needs to be an interconnection for people.
I probably need to think that idea through more. But you know what I mean. We can SO do better than yahoo and facebook.
earcandle
(3,622 posts)It takes a noodlebrain to get out of this mess!
http://www.nooodlebrain.com
The Wielding Truth
(11,415 posts)edhopper
(33,615 posts)anti-TV snobs. And that is so far besides the point of the horrendous CU decision letting in unrestricted spending.
Neoma
(10,039 posts)We've all ready lost the battle with control of television, if there ever was one.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,361 posts)This is not about the quality of TV that we get as a result of Citizens United. It's about the domination of political campaigning by unlimited corporate donations. You are enabling the weasling lies of Scalia, who is a smug partisan political hack posing as a judge, by following his misdirection of "turn it off if you don't like it".
This is not about whether TV sucks. It about his decision to allow money to buy elections. Hint: this was posted in LBN, not Entertainment.
Joe Bacon
(5,165 posts)He said this in 1976. Since then, TV has become an even bigger cesspool than it was then!
fasttense
(17,301 posts)It's on the radio, it's on the Internet, it's in newspapers and magazines, they even call you on the phone with their push polls.
The only way to avoid the destruction caused by Citizen United is to turn off your TV, radio, computer and phone, and don't read magazines or newspapers.
But then you have no way to get information on the issues of the day and are left ignorant and uninformed.
Journeyman
(15,038 posts)On Dred Scott decision: "Why, simply avoid getting caught!"
On Korematsu decision (upholding Japanese incarceration during WW2): "Try not to look Asian."
On Plessy v Ferguson (upheld separate but equal): "Smiling, keep on smiling, the whole world smiles with you. . ."
On Bush v Gore: "Get over it!"*
*Which is what he actually said, to 60 Minutes (http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2008/04/24/22268/scalia-on-bush-v-gore-get-over-it/)
gristy
(10,667 posts)+1
brooklynite
(94,727 posts)Exactly. This sort of statement needs to be repeated every single time they talk about "decency" on the airwaves.
neverforget
(9,436 posts)with his stenographer Thomas.
young but wise
(869 posts)sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)has indeed committed impeachable offenses while on the court.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts).... Scalia obviously would approve of nudity and gay or straight sex and obscenities on TV because you can just "turn it off".
Y'know, I wonder if Scalia has ever watched TV. Who cuts the TV off just during commercials?
I know... How about putting ALL political ads on a single station and nowhere else. Then if you don't want to watch, you can just avoid that station. If you want to watch, you can easily tune in any time.
What a fraud. What a lying fraud.
phylny
(8,386 posts)During the campaign season, I'll start my favorite shows about 20 minutes late, and fast-forward through the commercials. Although I like your idea about a single station!
Kingofalldems
(38,475 posts)baldguy
(36,649 posts)The airwaves belong to the people who pay for them. You don't have any money to pay for them, now do you?
BiggJawn
(23,051 posts)The "Free Public Airwaves" actually belong to Verizon and AT&T, the FCC just needs to get those pesky over-the-air TV stations off those channels so the FCC can "auction" them off to the telecom industry so they can lease them back to us for a profit.
All in the name of supporting the administration's "Broadband for EVERYONE!" initiative.
SnakeEyes
(1,407 posts)Yes, the old spectrum used by the over-the-air stations is being sold off but the stations are still over-the-air in a different spectrum. The free public airwaves still exist.
BiggJawn
(23,051 posts)Trust me, SnakeEyes, I feed myself off of TV.
The push is on to get OTA broadcasters to "voluntarily" surrender their channel allocation so this spectrum can be repackaged as wireless broadband. some of the ideas they've come up with at the FCC include such gems as reducing the number of stations in a market, forced "sharing" of channels (you can put 4 SD feeds in one channel, but then you can't do HD) and spreading the myth that "nobody watches TV with an antenna anymore" when antenna manufacturers post increased sales year after year.
the FCC is extremely closed-mouth about the next move if Broadcasters don't "volunteer" to go out of business.
SnakeEyes
(1,407 posts)It was the change last year that was to free up spectrum and sell to wireless. I've seen/read nothing that the plan is to take what they have just moved to and sell that too and put local broadcasters out of business.
BiggJawn
(23,051 posts)The first spoonful's on me. don't expect me to chew it for you.
I don't get what it is with people who can't do a damn Google on their own in the time it takes to type "Got a link for that?"
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)Got a wallet?
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)Problem solved!
Too bad we have to be so polite in how we change politics, when those who are elected are so impolite.
SaintPete
(533 posts)Abortions? ... Don't get one.
Pot? ... Don't smoke it.
Same sex marriages? ... Don't have one.
Religious freedom?...Live in a bubble.
Do whatever it is YOU want, as long as you don't get in my way to do whatever it is that I want.
Faygo Kid
(21,478 posts)And that's saying a lot.
Blacksheep214
(877 posts)And since I'm paying for it, get your gaddamned crap off my screen you fucktard.
Just like do not call!
But do go fuck yourself you piece of shit!
txlibdem
(6,183 posts)Who's going to start the petition site?
These 9 (5) cretins have made our country a mockery to the rest of the world. The Supreme Court was never intended to have the power to MAKE laws... as they did in the Citizens' United case and others.
I say let's recall the lot of them, get people in there with expertise, brains, and a fervent belief in economic equality and social justice. NO LAWYERS. NO JUDGES. I'm talking real people with actual experience in the USA these boneheads have created. And Pres. Obama should appoint them all during a congressional break.
That's a good start in taking back our country from the rich psychopaths and their corporations.
socialindependocrat
(1,372 posts)We've got to do something!
What has this country come to ?
We elect a government that doesn't do anything for their pay.
Then the idiots we elect help put morons on the SC who make rulings
that nullify the people's power in the rest of the political system.
AND we have middle class people who vote for the Repubs
who take our money and give it to the wealthy.
I'm with you - RECALL THE LOT OF THEM!!
(except Bernie, of course)
txlibdem
(6,183 posts)But I think I like your expansion of that as well.
CLEAN HOUSE, fresh start with new rules that make it impossible for them to receive anything of value (including trips, gifts, "insider" deals, etc.). Hell YES!
Richardo
(38,391 posts)...so that's a good start.
As for the Supreme Court, you're limited to impeachment.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Peggy Day
(860 posts)They aren't any legitimate news corporations anymore. A bunch of puppets-all of them. Even current tv is biased. The Sunday shows were the first to go.
The Daily Show and Colbert Report are about all I can stomach. They take a good spin on the news (that I get on the internet).
Mosaic
(1,451 posts)It has at most 20 years more before a whole new entertainment option takes over. Of course the rotten CU decision will be overturned and corporation personhood will be outlawed. OWS is clear about these things and will triumph.
unkachuck
(6,295 posts)....talk about a smart-ass off-handed remark regarding one of the major threats to our democracy today....and this is what passes for American intelligentsia?
Deep13
(39,154 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)Sure seems more like a Dick to me.
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)saras
(6,670 posts)If we ALL joined anonymous maybe we could pull of a "no ads" election, but it's going to take a lot of work by a lot of people, no matter how it's done.
caseymoz
(5,763 posts)that response is pure arrogance and testiness.
era veteran
(4,069 posts)I'd like to turn your fascist ass off.
ck4829
(35,091 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)alterfurz
(2,474 posts)from a Boston Herald story (2006):
[Peter] Smith was working as a freelance photographer for the Boston archdioceses weekly newspaper at a special Mass for lawyers Sunday when a Herald reporter asked the justice how he responds to critics who might question his impartiality as a judge given his public worship.
The judge paused for a second, then looked directly into my lens and said, "To my critics, I say, Vaffanculo*, punctuating the comment by flicking his right hand out from under his chin, Smith said.
_______
*"go take it in the ass"
earcandle
(3,622 posts)wordpix
(18,652 posts)What's more appropos: "Even though I voted for it and made the system much worse, don't hold me accountable."
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)that the populace's failure to deal summarily with the Felonious Five in Dec 2000 was the final nail in the coffin of the greatest nation on Earth. In an actual functioning democracy, those people would have been dragged from their offices and over to the guillotine, and the real result of the election enacted, regardless of how much time and effort it took. Ever since we let that slide, it has been a rapid slide into fascism.
earcandle
(3,622 posts)Paladin
(28,272 posts)Blacksheep214
(877 posts)I get it, but...........
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Remember that bill that Congress passed a few years ago making gun manufacturers immune from being sued for producing faulty weapons?
Doesn't this Citizens United decision made by Robert's court make those same corporate gun manufacturers "people"?
So, I wonder if those gun manufacturing people/corporations can now be sued if they produce faulty weapons.
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)wilt the stilt
(4,528 posts)when you stop stuffing your fat face with food.
mike_c
(36,281 posts)TV free for 20+ years!
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)mike_c
(36,281 posts)But it achieves a similar objective, and if everyone did it, a very worthwhile objective.
sub·tle·ty (stl-t)
n. pl. sub·tle·ties
1. The quality or state of being subtle.
2. Something subtle, especially a nicety of thought or a fine distinction.
truthisfreedom
(23,155 posts)It's really that simple. Do what's best for America and quit already.
AllyCat
(16,222 posts)this man is once again failing to understand this issue is much bigger than annoying ads during election season. He's a complete a$$ and completely a disgrace to the bench.
Islandlife
(212 posts)The media does have the option of self limiting commercial space.
earcandle
(3,622 posts)penndragon69
(788 posts)who killed the fairness doctrine 30 years ago.
Which of course allowed REICH wing media
to dominate the airwaves.
txlibdem
(6,183 posts)Why were there Repukes in ANY position of power in the Obama administration??? Now that's a question I'd like an answer to.
The Wielding Truth
(11,415 posts)The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both ...present controversial issues of public importance ...and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission's view, HONEST, equitable and balanced. The FCC decided to eliminate the Doctrine in 1987, and in August 2011 the FCC formally removed the language that implemented the Doctrine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine
earcandle
(3,622 posts)The Wielding Truth
(11,415 posts)The Wielding Truth
(11,415 posts)ChadwickHenryWard
(862 posts)The point is not that the ads are a nuisance. It's about the pernicious influence on money on our politics. How could he say something so dumb?
penndragon69
(788 posts)Along with Clarence Thomas.
Impeach them both and save
America!
Guy Montag
(126 posts)He should be impeached.
Marnie
(844 posts)advertiser's freedom of speech?
Scalia is an abomination to a the the concept of humanity.
Broderick
(4,578 posts)GOTV
(3,759 posts)... and not that the problem is that they distort democracy.
Veilex
(1,555 posts)Move to another town....
If you dont like all the murder and thefts happening in your state, just change states.
Don't like having your vote not count due to a hacked voter machine, Just don't vote.
Realy? Yeah cause, ya know, everyone is an island and nothing that happens to one person could ever possibly affect another...
cause that would be simply socialist.
/sarcasm off
Grrr
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)You have no control over the ads that you will be bombarded with. The only escape under Scalia's formula is to never watch TV until after the 2012 election. I will concede that these ads misinform rather than inform so you have to block them out, for the most part.
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)i change the channel on all commercials
ChairmanAgnostic
(28,017 posts)Can we turn him off on some critically important votes temporarily?
WeRQ4U
(4,212 posts)...saying "These are public airwaves. The government is entitled to insist upon a certain modicum of decency."
So, what's the difference here? Why is it that the "just turn it off" works for Big Business Political Ads and not public radio?
Pakid
(478 posts)What needs turned off in this country is conservative bull shit like his!
Bluestar
(1,400 posts)I turn off the tv whenever I see you or hear your name. That doesn't prevent me from being affected by you and your unconscionable rulings.
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)turn off your radio, don't check your email, don't drive and look at a billboard, don't attend NASCAR event (Rick 2012 car), don't attend a sporting event and see a plane pulling a banner, etc, etc. Just don't do squat.