I think everyone engaging in political talk should do so naked.


I'm wildirish, and I approve of this message.

Sharni,what should I wear to work today??

thanks to all...
 

we as humans are passionate some are offended some go with it some don't bother with it i really enjoy hearing what people like dislike sexually & non this site makes me want to know more about everyone like a family or a group at work. thank you for your input i'd try to answer everyones point but that would be pushing my opinion ..... i will coment on 2 of them , i have an fcc radio license it states that it may be revoked at any time because of profanity .they were just making an example of stern right or wrong howard made out ,satellite radio will be the biggest thing in the very near future and he might have started the whole thing himself seeing how far he could go before being slapped .the fcc is trying to keep up with our ever changing world don't know if it can.



the 401k & social security thing ...well i lost half of a 17 year profit sharing plan to a crook banker who took over the company i worked for he made lots of money backfor the co. changing profit sharing to 401k and investing in risky investments, i only got the other half when i was let go due to "down sizing "(and having a big mouth ) because it was my money but i had no control over it until i broke my ties with the company and it was turned over to me .it is legal and i hope they (congress) do it correctly so we all can have a fund (social security ) to draw from as our parents are when we retire . Again thanks and sorry to anyone i pissed off by starting this thread .......oh by the way did you read the fine print "all who posted owe us a erotic story and a sexy picture" ....aaaaaahhhh transition :rant: :hair: :x: love you all!!!!

I,personally,am glad that you had this thread.Most of the newer members,
don't even know me.A few of the older members,probably,expect me to respond to political threads.I have been trying to decide how to tell people
that I'm not going to respond to hardly anything controversal anymore.It's
just not worth,what it does to me,mentally. Irish

*L*...you cant dress yourself?

Clothes would be a good idea

Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us! :mad:

Glad to see a response to my post...TY hun!

Here's whats happening as ***I see it***...

Someone (who shall remain nameless, because his/her name sparks controversy and it's been pointed out IN VOLUMES that controversy isn't the reason for this site) has cornered the market on making this country a moral country because he/she thinks it is going straight to hell in a handbasket, despite all his/her past discretions (judge not lest ye be...yada yada). For some reason this issue of morality has been their SMOKE SCREEN to show that (1) Yes, the government and it's appointed officials are indeed doing some positive things to better this country in the shadow of war...and (2) Yes, the government has a mighty enough power to herd enough sheep into believing that stomping on the first ammendment will be for the good of everyone, not just those that blindly trust it now...

*That is, till that stomping affects a group or majority directly...and then, and only then, will they see through the smoke...which hasn't happened thus far...it's only been individualized...but it's coming!*

Belial? You say that you think no one has wanted to take on the role of "The Great Media Satan" and be deemed responsible for all of society's ills...correct? Not true my son! Listen and I shall tell you of "the one" who has been at the helm of that media ship for over 25 years! He didn't ask for this role...he was shoved into it!

His name is Howard Stern...a syndicated (countrywide, till he was fired from some stations owned by Clear Channel Entertainment...which he's broadcasted on for over 15 years) talk show host who some have likened to Lenny Bruce (though, Howard hates that similitude). His name is well known amoung his followers AND amoung those who hate him (but seem to listen to him everyday so they can write the FCC about the contents of his show or just bitch about him in general...which, BTW...gives him more listeners and shoots his ratings sky high...so he loves the haters too!). He is referred to as a "shock jock" and has knighted himself "King of all Media"...which he intends to prove when he leaves "the people's" airwaves and begins his show on sattelite radio in January of 2006. He has had 2 best selling books, he has had a top grossing movie, he has produced shows for cable TV ("Son of a Beach"), he has had, and still has, a number one TV show that broadcasts his radio show on "E" TV, he has had the number one morning show in most of his markets for 20+ years (despite what Imus claims...lol...another Howard wannbe), he is working on an upcoming cartoon of his life growing up, and he is now going to produce 3 radio shows for Sirius sattelite radio this coming January (his show and 2 other shows to be named). The only media medium he hasn't delved into as yet is the written media. He does not own a newspaper...and as far as I know he doesn't really want to. So maybe his self imposed claim to fame isn't complete...but the world hasn't ended yet!

My point? In all the years that Howard has been broadcasting...there is ALWAYS controversy! He has been fighting the FCC...single handedly...for umpteen years. And everyone of his "fellow" broadcasters have taken his lead and let their hair down with each controversial move Howard has broken through! Howard was one of, if not...THE, first to syndicate his radio talk show. He has been fined (his company...Infinity Broadcasting) in excess of a million dollars (really so much more)...and thus, after so many years of carrying his show, and in full knowledge of it's content over the years, Clear Channel Entertainment (owned by people strongly affiliated with the he/she I first mentioned) fired The Howard Stern Radio Talk show, withholding pay despite a concise contract, and taking his shows off numerous stations nationwide without a warning or a chance for Howard to fight or appeal the decision.

The only reason stated? The content of his show is indecent! It has ALWAYS been the same type of show...year in and year out. If you heard the name Howard Stern, you'd think one of two things (in a nutshell)..."I hate his guts...he's a pig" or "He's hilarious and I love his honesty". He's had followers from his one tiny show years ago to current day. And...he's had haters that long as well! He's always said...to those who call into the show and those who criticize in other media..."If you don't like my show...don't tune in"!!! As sighted in a line from his movie "Private Parts", poll taker talking to producer: "I asked his followers why they tune in to his show for the 4+ hours he is on air. Most common answer, I want to hear what he will say next. I asked his haters why they tune in for an hour or more. Most common answer, I want to hear what he will say next". Many other radio talk show jocks have immitated him...and fully denied it when challenged. Some have tried to one-up him to be MORE shocking...and have dug their own grave as far as a radio career. He's been able to tip-toe around the nay sayers and those who have made it their life's mission to get him off the air. He (rightfully) stands behind the first ammendment...and has been able to thwart the slings and arrows throughout the years. Till now!

His show is now under the FCC microscope with an even more intense lens. They have started with him because of his fame and intend[ed] to make an example out of him. His "fellow" talk show jocks are shaking in their socks to see what'll happen to Howard. The FCC has made it a priority to prove that they have the power to bring down the giant in the media industry. He is now threatened with "personal" half million dollar fines for EACH indiscretion per show they deem indecent...even from the ones they feel are so from his past shows when played for "Best Of" (shows that have already been aired in the past and went out "as is" and Clear Channel never said a peep) when he is on vacation. He has censored himself to the highest power lately...because he wants to finish out his contract and leave the commercial airwaves with the knowledge that he didn't crumble under the thumb of the FCC. He's offered to show up everyday and do his show as usual and the button pushers who have him on a 7 second delay can push the button to their hearts desire. But truthfully, his content has mellowed since they have threatened personal fines. It could bankrupt him in one show! He's even offered to show up to fulfill his contract of "being on air" and just play music...but it's sickened him to think it might lead to this extreme. NO other radio talk show host (or any other media personality for that matter) will come to him and say, "No matter that we are adversaries, I cannot let you go down as we watch the first ammendment crumble before our eyes". Howard is the only one who has ever spoken up against the FCC and it's deliberate false sense of hierarchy...to the point of openly challenging them to a day in court to define indecency in a clear cut, written guideline for EVERYONE to follow...not just those they feel apalled by.

To date...he will never has his day in court. The FCC has even gone so far as...recently requesting to hold their meetings in secrecy, which is against a law that the name now escapes me (help me here...jseal!). They want privacy to deal behind closed doors and decide the fate of the media spectrum. Usually, the open records of the FCC are available to any and all who request them. Michael Powell (head of the FCC) has given notice to tender his resignation. I am terrified of who will take his (backstabbing, flip-flopping) place.

The good news? Being his usual, insightful self...and before the FCC could fine him into quitting his current show...Howard Stern is moving to sattelite (non-commercial) pay radio. The FCC has NO jurisdiction over them...and Howard has, once again, pioneered a way around the ruling thumb of "Big Brother"!

Cudos Howard! That'll show the bastards! Whether you like him or not...you can't deny his right to free speech! If you don't like him...don't listen to him!

Very well thought out and presented comments Lixy ... but I would just say that in your own way you've given the very reason why most people are not able to simply not tune in to something they don't like (especially if they feel VERY strongly about it). You've documented the power of one individual who is truly committed to his cause and how he can impact an entire industry ... and in some ways, an entire nation ... that, I think is why most feel they must have their say when they feel they are at the opposite end of the spectrum ... that old saying (and I think this applies for both sides of the coin in how they think) ... All it takes for "evil" to win is for a few good men to do nothing.

Lixy well said. Now as we do get the letterman show here late in oz, I did watch the ones when Howard was on. Now from a stand off point of view Howard is harmless. I have watched his movie "Private Parts" and found it very funny. Now we have a similar watch dog here in oz but not as tight as the FCC.

Howard did say on letterman that the only reason why Michael Powell got the job was because of his father. Now as you so clearly stated about the first ammendmant (which here in oz we also have) freedom of speech no matter how controversial, is still free.

Howard has the right idea. It just sucks that he has to go satellite to keep his boat afloat. Here's a question to think about. If he is so controversial then why haven't the FBI been after him? It seems to me the FCC are on his back coz they got nothing better else to do.

They even chased Eminem coz of some of his lyrics. He's only a rapper and they decide to slap him with a lawsuit as well. It's bueracracy gone wrong.

I think that someone needs to give the FCC an enema. (Well Howard's been doing that for years already)

What I think is even more disconcerning is that Colin and Michael Powell are like carbon copies of each other. From what I have seen here via the news, Colin was trying to convince the UN to go to war against Hussain. Now his son is going to war against Howard Stern. WTF?????
The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is screwing up!

Just to make sure all understand, freedom of speech is not something that is guaranteed, it has it's limits ... the famous one being that you are not free to yell fire in a public place ... or much like the thought that we have freedom of action here, just so long as you don't harm someone else in your actions .... freedom of speech is only guaranteed so long as you don't harm someone else in the process, then it becomes either a matter of the "state" litigating or an individual litigating. (since we are an international site, I'm not sure that all would have that understanding when they hear the phrase). :)

To clarify further, we in Australia do not have free speech as guaranteed by the first amendment to the US Constitution.

And...why the fuck did it take an amendment for free speech to be guaranteed (such that it is) by the US constitution :confused:

Hey Lixy,

You know, when I posted my comment, Howard Stern was precisely the man I was thinking of. I caught the Letterman show when he made his announcement to move to sattelite. In terms of his artistic and professional freedom, obviously this is a great move. But is this going to maintain or increase his impact on American society or will it marginalise him? After all, it is hard to be the Great Media Satan when you are not a participant in it.

Oh yeah, and did you recognize my quote? :p

Sorry Bel you are right about us not having a first ammendmant for free speech. I was only trying to make a link as to our country that we can say what ever we want and nobody slaps us on the hand.

I know what you mean fzzy...and I guess I might have simplified my thoughts about the people who feel VERY strongly about Howard Stern's "immorality" on the airwaves. It's just that...the "fight" is soooooo different now. Howard has been on the air for many years and he's known what can and can't be aired. He gets live phone calls and can never predict what a caller will say, so he has almost always been on a delay or had a "bleep" button to make a comment "air presentable". If there was ever a problem with his show Clear Channel would have said so. They never did and, in fact, backed him on many issues they felt sure were air worthy and they wouldn't tolerate anyone trying to take away his freedom of speech. Till one day the govenment shifted and those who headed up Clear Channel found themselves in closer proximity to the powers that lead us. In an effort to sway a nation...the powers that be said, why not take on the morality issue and kick it up a notch? Who better to cast the attention to...than Howard Stern? In retaliation, his views about the last BIG election started the snowball down the hill!

Geezzzzz...you'd think I was the Howard Stern poster child...but it's much more passionate than simple. The FCC was almost a non-organization before Michael Powell came to it. Prior to his heading up the FCC, Michael Powell had made some speeches that would have totally backed Howard on the free speech issue. Once he was empowered as the leader of the FCC, and maybe because of his father's role in our government (most assuredly), and without question because Howard Stern had such an able voice in the markets he was aired in...Michael Powell changed his views on free speech and to this day hasn't made it clear what it is he thinks is indecent. Because he headed the FCC...whatever he deemed indecent at the time, was indecent...if spoken by Howard Stern. That's the gist of it...pure and simple!

The major problem now is...Howard will be gone. And those left behind, who didn't feel like it was their fight too, will find out that they should have NEVER let it get this far. The FCC won't have Howard to hold up as a sacrifice...so they'll have to focus on those who are left behind to figure out what the FCC is thinking. And those who sat on their hands all this while, will feel the snowball effect of the wrath that Howard has escaped.

It's funny...but I think about those poor, misguided handful of people who made it a daily mission to pen hundreds of letters to the FCC (that the FCC took as hundreds of complaints individually), and what will they do with all their free time now? LOL! Hopefully, they'll use that spare time to actually do something productive to aide their fellow man! I say this because I still don't know the long term, detrimental effect that the words of Howard Stern have had on the children of this nation!

BTW...have you seen an afternoon soap opera lately? They'd better watch their p's and q's...or I've a feeling they'll be on the chopping block soon!

Mark...Howard's contract with commercial radio is over in December of this year. It always has been. He usually renews for 5 years. This time he wasn't. He was going to retire from broadcasting and focus on producing, and other endeavors, after he went off the air. He never intended to sign a new contract to do more radio on the commercial airwaves. With the inception of extraterrestrial radio...and given that the FCC has provoked him further than they ever have...he's thumbed his nose and flipped them the bird...and signed a 5 year, multi-million dollar contract with Sirius to produce 3 shows on 3 of their newest stations (his show and 2 more of his choice), with the understanding that he has to accumulate at least 1 million new subscribers before the contract can go into effect. Upon his announcement on his current radio show, that he was moving to sattelite, stock in Sirius hit the roof! XM radio (the competiton that tried to woo Howard as well) had been #1 in sattelite prior to this announcement. To date, as far as I know, MORE than a million new Sirius customers have signed on. This was, in part if not all, because of Howard's move. Howard isn't as "harmless" as you'd might think. He's considered politics in the past...but never wanted to divulge his income (lol!)...and so never made the move. His voice has a lot of the power of a politician without having to change his convictions in order to fit in with the political rhetoric. BTW...this isn't the "Roaring 20's" and the F.B.I. may have Howard on a list of some sort...but he's done NOTHING to warrant the organization to focus on him. Howard IS NOT anti-American or a terrorist! Despite the fact that he'd rather our current president wasn't re-elected...he doesn't wish him any harm! He just doesn't like some of his policies and he says so...which he has every right to do! I don't agree with a lot of what Howard says at times...but I'd defend his right to say them anytime! In the FCC's eyes...it's mission is done. And so Michael Powell will now resign...though I don't know the reason he has given for this manuever. But, the FCC hasn't won anything in getting Howard off the air. He wasn't going to re-up his contract anyway. Now...because of the FCC (and the money offered by Sirius...it's a lot of money after all!)...he is going to a venue where they can NEVER touch him! I hope they are proud of their efforts!

It took an ammendment for free speech to be guaranteed, Belial...because our constitution was intended to be spelled out by the people, for the people...in order for EVERYONE to be able to receive the exact kind of treatment as the next person. No one person was exempt because of race, creed, color or political affiliation. Because we were founded as a nation for all to join if they chose to...we are a melting pot of many nations...all with different policies and politics. If only the FCC would spell out it's rules as well as our constitution does. And yes, it's been tilted and twisted and tweeked through the years to ammend and update it...but freedom of speech has always meant what it was spelled out to mean!

Fzzy is right...there are exceptions...like the "fire" in a theatre rule. Things like that are just common sense, actually. But you'd be surprised how many idiots would yell that for no good reason if it weren't ruled out...lmfao! Speaking of common sense...Howard is a father of 3 daughters and has never let them listen to his show (though he knows he can't do anything about it if he isn't around to stop them). They are smart, well adjusted young women! He knows the 7 words that can't be aired...and has never aired them without it being accidental (callers squeaking them in when it wasn't expected...before the delay button inception). He cleans up fast and either hangs up on an uncontrollable caller or cleans up his/her words so the conversation can be aired. Some of the content of the show is audio sexual...but if you tune in you'll know that and if you don't like it...TUNE OUT! Sex is all around us...not just on the Howard Stern show! And we know EXACTLY what we are getting when we tune in. He's never deviated from his format in all the years he's been around!

And Belial...I think he'll make good on his claim to fame as "The King of ALL Media! He's used to pioneering his craft...and I see no reason why he won't again. Sattelite radio is in it's infancy...and quite literally...the sky is the limit!
And to my chagrin...no, I don't know the quote. Sorry...mind is drawing a blank. Please enlighten me!

*hugs to you all*