Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] A moment of silence for the First Amendment(fwd)

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Sun, 29 Sep 2002, Michael wrote:

> http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/20020905brian5.asp


Thanks, Michael.  That was a good one.  The big question for me is this:
What do we have in the law to enforce the protection of free speech?
When the secret service decides that "today will be a no-free-speech day,"
what possible punishment do they face for such a gross violation of our
rights?  Bad publicity?  Can they be sued?  (If they can be sued, and they
lose, where does the money come from -- tax dollars?)

If the President finds his "free-speach zone" approach to be an effective
way to manipulate press coverage, what will stop him from doing it
whenever he pleases, despite repeated rulings that it is unconstitutional?
Can we even infer that the order came from the President, or do we have to
deal with a massive diffusion of responsibility?  (Does "the buck" still
stop at the President's desk?)

I'm asking these questions because I really don't know the answers.  I
think what happened is deplorable and it should be *prevented* from
happening again.  It's too bad we aren't hearing more about this right now
when it could hurt the President's favored candidates for Congress.

Mike

--
To unsubscribe, go to http://mlug.missouri.edu/members/edit.php

Archives are available at http://mlug.missouri.edu/list-archives/