I TOTALLY Endorse This

Roger Simon is a genius on the subject of possible FEC regulation of the blogosphere.  However, I dispute one small point - his challenge to the FEC commissioners is "Bring it on".  My suggested taunt to these jokers - "Send in the Clowns".

MORE:  Yes, calling for the clowns did not work well last time. Second time lucky!

UPDATE:  Finally, someone gets it!  The Medium Lobster understands that "free speech" was always intended to mean "free as long as no one is listening".  Once a person exposes the rest of us to the risk that he or she will actually be heard, the government must step in with appropriate regulation.

Comments

[Dave Schuler]

Predictably, the Medium Lobster completely supports the FEC's ideas.

[Paul Zrimsek]

While I've generally never understood what anyone sees in Fafblog, I've got to admit that they're on to something this time. Shouldn't these verbloggers be subject to reasonable regulation in return for their FREE USE of the public's audio-frequency spectrum? I mean, until the date when us economic conservatives take over and we auction it all off?

[creepy irish dude]

Simon sees a fight that could unify Instapundit and DailyKos?!

Hmmm late one night and Simon is alone is his villa, staring at the bright lights of a Taco Bell in the San Fernando valley. He turns once again to his computer to post yet more buffoonery on his DailyKos diary as he sings an ode to the site he used to despise:

"Isn't it rich, aren't we a pair
Me here at last trashing the FEC - and you in mid-swear
Bring on the FEC clowns

Your activism is bliss, I fully approve
Though you keep tearing down Bush - and make my bowels move
But bring on the clowns - Bring on the FEC clowns

Just when I stopped opening links
Finally finding one that required no think-Instapundit
The FEC makes an entrance again with an unusual scare
Sure Bush could stop it - but nobody's there

Thought you'd love an unprovoked invasion; my fault I fear
I thought that you'd fight terror like I want - sorry my dear
But where are the clowns - send in the FEC clowns
Don't bother they're here

Isn't it rich, isn't it queer
Finding common cause with DailyKos this late in my career
But bring on the clowns - Bring on the FEC clowns
I'll still trash you next election year

[TM]

The Rock Lobster is dead on - speech can only be free if no one is listening. Once the rest of us are at risk of hearing you the government must step in.

[TomK]

This whole thing has me pissed off. I'm an Arizona resident, and I'll be calling McCain's office to give him a piece of my mind. I've voted for him in two elections now, and that stops until he fixes this FEC BS. He started it, so it's his problem until he deals with it.

And another thing, how do they plan on dealing with offshore bloggers? Or anonymous bloggers with offshore servers? Finally, maybe they can regulate positive comments by setting a cash value on a link, but they can't touch negative comments, yes? I think politicians who support this will find out quickly that bloggers can get a whole lot done by only posting the negative stuff. Not that I believe that that's the best way to do things, but we'll use the tools we have to beat up on the jerks who deserve it.