The First Amendment: Is that the one where they say "You Have the Right to Remain Silent"?

New at Reason: How does advocating a change in the law equal breaking the law? Only Ernie Istook knows; Jacob Sullum tries to figure out what the Oklahoma congressman has been smoking. Me, I'm still trying to figure out whether this is for real.

Comments

[garym]

Let's not blame everything on this one guy; a majority of both houses and all of George W. had to violate their oaths to uphold the Constitution in order to put the bill through.

Yes, I know, most of them never read it.

[mudflap]

I find it ironic, that a guy who appears to be forty pounds overweight is trying to impose his health and safety agenda on me.

Mudflap

[Shannon Love]

Jean Bart,

Have you no shame, sir? Trying to steal our most idiotic politicians! Such bumbling fools are vitally important to our democracy as they flush out their equally stupid but more suave colleagues.

You would exacerbate America's already severe "No-brain drain"

[Shannon Love]

Another thought (or something very much like one):

Can you imagine the hoots of derision if during the first debates on federal funding for mass transit back in 50's or 60's some wild-eyed opponent had warned that Federal funding would lead to suppression of speech? Nobody would put the two together in any political way just like nobody would have thought that providing free school lunches for poor children would become the primary stick to force schools to comply with Federal education edicts.

[Simulated Jean Bart]

Ferme ta gueule, Shannon.

[Synthetic drunk Jean Bart]

Juis sempta ala guerre mopas!

[Irritated, almost real Jean Ba]

Tu ma fouts la gueule ou quoi?

[Shannon Love]

Parlez Am?ricain vous des grenouilles!

[Point/Counterpoint]

Shannon, you ignorant slut.

[What He Said!]

Mon Dieu!

[Baylen]

Bravo, Jacob Sullum!

[Jean Bart]

We need Istook in France; we need an idiot like this to show how moronic the criminalization people have become. Can we borrow him for five or six years please? 🙂

[pick a card, any card]

You can have him if you only promise to keep him.

[Jean Bart]

pick a card, any card,

What if we sell him to the Germans instead? 🙂

[pick a card, any card]

Or let him run loose in Brussels, if you can stand it.

[Mr Rogers]

What a dick this guy must be to his kids!

[Shultz]

As far as figuring out whether "this" was for real, the way his image is placed in the foreground, it seems a likely candidate for Photoshop treatment.

On the other hand, we could call Micah, either at home or work, to be sure.

Who will do the honours?

[Jason Ligon]

It's like Sarah Brady going after hunting rifles.

[Warren]

I'm afraid I can't find any cause for optimism in this. Either Section 177 will be overturned and things will remain dismal, or (and considering the SCOTUS decision on campaign finance reform this is a real possibility) it will be upheld and things will be even worse.

[Russ]

Isn't the real Constitutional problem here that the transit system is getting federal tax money?

Oh yeah, and the part where the Congress has outlawed the production, exchange or possession of vegetable matter.

[alex]

Forget his drug policies, does Oklahoma really want as a representative someone who thinks sitting around quoting the words of a notorious foreign homosexualist is a good night out? There outta be a law.

[dhex]

and onanist! don't forget the onanism.

[Equality 7-2521]

On the other hand, you have to admire anyone who can get elected to high public office with a combover that bad.

[Just Wondering]

WHat if it was an opinion on Crack? Or LSD? Or...? What if it was a Church saying "Repent or you'll Fry in Hell" ???

Just Wondering