Mehdi Hasan joins The Guardian

[moniss]

6. Remember when Phil Donohue

got bounced from MSNBC for asking "too many questions" about our supposed "proof" to justify the invasion of Iraq? I sure do. Remember when we would occasionally see some of the people from Air America show up as commentators on MSNBC? I sure do. Remember how it went away? I sure do. When Ed started showing up and doing live remotes at companies that were on strike the handwriting was on the wall. Hey MSNBC you kept killing off your top rated shows. So the message was clear. You can go a certain distance but no further. I remember.

That's why it has always been a fallacy for people who argue the First Amendment and say that false speech and press can simply be countered by truthful speech and press. It was true, somewhat, when we had the Fairness Doctrine. But when the megaphones, TV's, radios and printing presses are controlled by just a few and they mostly have the same agenda then contrary speech stands fighting to be heard in a rigged game.