Ashcroft vs. Freedom

[Dillinger]

I'm sure a number of you have read the latest edition of the Literotica Newsletter by now. But for those of you haven't (and just to put an emphasis on a point for those of you who have)...

Manu discusses 2 cases before the Supreme Court that have the potential for doing great damage to our freedoms:

The U.S. Supreme Court has heard two incredibly important First Amendment cases since the last newsletter. One of the cases theoretically has the potential to both close down Literotica and every other free adult site on the web, and to result in a jail sentence for Laurel. The other one has the potential to cause massive censorship of movies and art that have always been protected by the 1st Amendment.

Manu also provides the links for writing to the appropriate people in the U.S. government:

House: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Senate: http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm

GO NOW and READ the newsletter and then write your representative. Do it for Lit's sake, your own sake, and the sake of a society that was founded on Freedom. Whether you're a liberal a conservative - anything inbetween or outside the edges - or just a complete asshole, I think this is one thing we can all agree on.

(For those of you not in the United States - uhm... well - let's see - I think you should move here, become a citizen... and then write your representative.)

 

[Todd]

I never got a newsletter

In fact the last one I got was Number 23 - 9/25/01

Was I removed from the list?

 

[registered "^^"]

I never got a newsletter

In fact the last one I got was Number 23 - 9/25/01

Was I removed from the list? [/




possibly

 

[lavender]

 

[Dillinger]

You don't get the Newsletter Lavy - and Todd too?

Uhm.. you ever look at the very first page of this site --- http://www.literotica.com - right under where it says news it says: "2/01 - Happy December! The Literotica FreeMonthly Newsletter is on its way out to subscriber's mailboxes! If you signed up but haven't received your copy by this evening, please let us know."

The link on the first page takes you to: http://www.literotica.com/stories/ - where, at the top of the page, you'll see: "Keep informed of the latest happenings at Literotica, get a bonus audio story every month, and lots more!" and a box where you type in your email address and hit a button that says "Go!"

 

[MunchinMark]

Right.

Everyone is to shut down any servers in the USA and use Servers in countries with less anal governments.

Should those governments follow suit, or bow down to the puritanical McCarthyites in Washington and instutute similar laws, we'll move the servers again.

The amount of business that will be lost will force a rethink, as money so frequently comes before morality.

Not going to do that? Then I don't see what I can do for you. The rest of the world is powerless to do anything about American policy, that has been shown so many times.

 

[WriterDom]

The title of this post should be Reno vs. Freedom since the law was passed in 1998.

 

[Nogard]

Good lord, writer dom, you sure are tiresome. Buy a paper, Shrub is president now. 1998? Good grief

 

[WriterDom]

Good lord, writer dom, you sure are tiresome. Buy a paper, Shrub is president now. 1998? Good grief

That's my point. Why blame Ashcroft for something before the USSC that passed in 1998.

 

[Phoenyx]

That bill would only affect sites in the US. It would not have any effect of sites that are based in other countries.
this is a law that would hurt Americans.

 

[Problem Child]

The title of this post should be Reno vs. Freedom since the law was passed in 1998.

Reno and Ashcroft both suck. Why can't anyone nominate a decent AG?

 

[lavender]

 

[WriterDom]

Personally, I'm glad the 600 Arabs here illegally are locked up. Was just making the point that Ashcroft wasn't around when the child online act was passed.

Thank God for the conservative court or Al Gore would have stolen Florida.

 

[XXplorher]

Dillinger

Thank God you posted that link on my thread. I was going into cardiac arrest over that guys inept comments.

So there ARE capable and aware citizens here. Phew! Ok, I'm all better now.......... I think.

People, please get a copy of the latest Lit newsletter; use those links above; and do something about this guys nonsensicle pursuits. They're paramount to criminal negligence. We can't let this guy roll.....

 

[Dillinger]

I can't believe I actually started a political thread? What the fuck is wrong with me anyway?

Hey WriterDom - forget the fucking title... pay attention to the point. I don't care if its Ashcroft or Reno or Clinton or Bush or any other fucking political asshole. The point is that this site and others are in jeopardy and I have to assume that everyone posting is here by their own free will and would like to keep it that way.

So - whatever little you can do - just go do it and stop the fucking democratic/republican/liberal/conservative - its your fault - oh no its your fault - he did it - no you did it... nyah nyah nyah - don't blame me mommy...

Geez...

 

[REDWAVE]

I can't believe it!

I can't believe I'm actually agreeing 100% with Problem Child about something. Reno and Ashcroft do both bite the big one. In my opinion, we haven't had an Attorney General worthy of the title even since Bobby Kennedy-- and I'm not saying he was perfect by any means either!

Writer Dom, dude, you're a fine poet, but when it comes to politics, I think you got a screw loose. Can't you see that the important thing now is defending our freedoms, and that partisan bickering between left and right should be put on the back burner for now? After all, if they take away our freedom, they'll take away everybody's freedom, right, left, or center.

 

[Guest]

Re: I can't believe it!

Writer Dom, dude, you're a fine poet, but when it comes to politics, I think you got a screw loose. Can't you see that the important thing now is defending our freedoms, and that partisan bickering between left and right should be put on the back burner for now? After all, if they take away our freedom, they'll take away everybody's freedom, right, left, or center.

Give the supreme court a little credit. After all, they did elect W. Bush. The decision wont come down for 6 months or so. You might be surprised at the results.

 

[Manu]

Supreme Court Stuff

Give the supreme court a little credit. After all, they did elect W. Bush. The decision wont come down for 6 months or so. You might be surprised at the results.

Hi Everyone!

I agree that it is possible the Supreme Court will make the right decision. Let's hope they do.

I want to be clear on why this thread is probably called what it is called, and also to make it clear why I mention Ashcroft in the newsletter. Ashcroft is the one who decides how the case is argued before the court and, in fact he is the only one (Bush too) who currently decides what cases get pushed to the court and which ones get dropped. Reno had that same power under Clinton, but those two are gone and they are no longer a threat. The legal name of the cases are "Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition" and "Ashcroft v. ACLU". They are not called Reno v. Anything because Reno is no longer part of the action. When she was in office, we sent our letters, donated our money to the groups that fight the censorship fanatics, and all that the same as we do now.

There is plenty of blame to go around and I should have made that clear in the newsletter. The laws were written and passed while a Republican Senate and Congress were in power. Clinton, a Democrat (do I really need to say that? ) signed the bill and the Reno Justice Department made an appeal when it was overturned. When Ashcroft and Bush took over, they made it very clear to the religious extremists groups that they would make attacking porn a priority. Ashcroft has had several private meetings with the right wing religious anti-porn groups since taking office, but he has so far refused to meet even once with anyone from the adult industry. Aschcroft has said proudly, before he was appointed, that he does not believe that the 1st Amendment covers porn.

Though I obviously have my political views, I honestly don't care what political party someone trying to take away my freedom is. Would you really stop and ask a guy robbing your house what party he is before deciding if stealing is wrong? In my book, and yours may vary, taking away freedom from consenting adults is wrong no matter who's in charge. Right now, that's Bush and Ashcroft and those are the people my anger will be directed towards!

Vive la Liberte!

 

[tigerjen]

I say we Lit members start a petition!

hear Hear!! I say we Lit members start a petition
in regards to this matter! I'm a strong believer
in the 1st Amendment...free speech...free expression....
free press........well, Literotica embodies those
3 qualities!

Where's Larry Flynt when we need him, mmmmmm?

Tigerjen

 

[MunchinMark]

3 Posts Manu!!

In less than 24 hours. Wow.

I can't do anything more than give platitudes here being, as far as your concerned, a foreigner. We all have to protect our rights. We in the UK have lost a degree of freedom lately, with our politicians telling us that it was a great development for our nation (it was if you're a power hungry politician).

But I don't expect such developments reagrding free speech in this country. The US has a more powerful religious element to its politics. Unfortunately one of the fundamental points of religion is that everyone else's opinion can be disregarded.

What I am saying is that these people trying to extend their version of morality over everyone else are not going to listen to anyone else. After all, if you oppose them you are going to hell, right?

 

[XXplorher]

Manu,


Since, even though you’re attempting to distance yourself, you’re obviously a devout democrat – I think I should point out:

Wasn’t it the Democrats that made the ‘Hollywood inappropriate’ thing a priority? Am I wrong there? THEY made it an issue. Not the Republicans. Blame the PMRC husband, and your little weasel vice pres nominee, for the Republicans need to pursue the matter. They want your vote.

I don’t understand how someone who introduce ‘Laurel’ to Ayn Rand. And therefore introduced ME (which I’m beyond grateful for) – is a staunch democrat. I don’t get it, man.

What part did you not understand?

(I don’t mean this to appear judgmental, or confronting. I’m just baffled).