The Other Powell Takes a Powder

Nick Gillespie | January 21, 2005

Federal Communications Commission head Michael Powell, son of outgoing Secretary of State Colin, is expected to resign his post in the Bush admin today.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation loved the guy and says so here. Reason took a more balanced view. Here's our interview with him from the December '04 issue.

From the intro:

Another view argues that the chairman isn't the deregulator he's reputed to be--that in fact, he's made the government more intrusive. His FCC has pushed an industrial policy-style mandate for digital television (DTV), and last year it forced TV and computer manufacturers to include anti-copying tools in their products. In August the agency took a similar step with Internet telephones, requiring them to install surveillance-friendly wiretap equipment in the name of homeland security.

And while Powell's proposed changes to the media ownership rules were deregulatory in many ways, they would have tightened the caps on how many radio stations a company may own, while grandfathering in most of the acquisitions that predated the rule change. Worse, the chairman seems more interested in letting existing broadcasters merge than in letting new broadcasters emerge.

Whole Q&A here.

Comments

|1.21.05 @ 11:05AM|#

So long, motherfucker!

|1.21.05 @ 11:16AM|#

To be replaced by James Dobson? Brent Bozell? Safe bet that the next guy will probably be worse.

|1.21.05 @ 11:21AM|#

On his radio show this morning, Howard Stern humbly submitted his own name for consideration.

|1.21.05 @ 12:15PM|#

Nah, to be replaced by Jerry Falwell. He's got lots of broadcast experience, and he can merge the FCC in as Secretary of the newly created Department of Decency.

|1.21.05 @ 12:20PM|#

It looks like Michael got the job because of his familial connection. First Daddy was asked to resign, then the son. You'd think he'd be smart enough to see it coming.

|1.21.05 @ 2:07PM|#

NoStar at January 21, 2005 12:20 PM
"... First Daddy was asked to resign, then the son..."
is this your opiion(of course it is) or can you reference/preference that.

|1.21.05 @ 2:59PM|#

Dear PeaNutG.,
I learned years ago that Cabinet and near cabinet level appointees "serve at the request of the President" and before they assume the title, they have given the President's Chief of Staff a letter of resignation the President can use at his own descretion.

|1.21.05 @ 5:32PM|#

NoStar,

Some appointees have more job protection than that.

|1.21.05 @ 5:40PM|#

Some appointees have more job protection than that.

What about the blackmail pictures taken at the Cabinet hazing ritual? Lynndie England leads the Cabinet Secretaries around naked and on a leash while the Skull and Bones Pledge Master recites the Code of Honor. Any initiate who refuses to resign upon request will see his picture on the paper.

What, you mean you've never heard of this? Clearly you haven't joined the right secret societies then!

|1.21.05 @ 6:45PM|#

In the secret society I belong to, the only initiation ritual we have is when we all pledge to kill any member who even hints publicly that our society exists, or who reveals any of our secret rituals.

|1.21.05 @ 6:46PM|#

Oh shit!

|1.22.05 @ 6:53PM|#

Stevo, LOL

At least Michael Powell didn't allow himself to be pushed into repeating neocon lies for the Iraq war like his Dad did.