Support for banning Bush’s fake-news segment is now bi-partisan

[whometense]

The Carpetbagger Report:

About two weeks ago, congressional negotiators agreed to a proposal from Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) to prohibit the Bush administration from issuing “video news releases” (i.e., fake-news segments) that do not clearly identify the government as the source. There was, however, a catch: the ban expires at the end of September.

To get a permanent policy restricting Bush’s fake-news segments, Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced the Truth in Broadcasting Act, which would require the administration’s “stories” to disclose the source of the material forever more. The problem, at least at first, would be finding some Republican support for the proposal. Yesterday, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) not only embraced the initiative, but suggested it would sail through his committee with broad support.

A key Senate committee chairman said yesterday that he would support a permanent requirement that federal agencies disclose to viewers the origin of prepackaged news stories they produce.

Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said there is widespread support in the Senate for ensuring that such video news releases, which are designed to resemble broadcast news stories, include a disclaimer in their scripts or audio revealing that they were prepared by a federal agency.

It’s not yet a done deal — Stevens suggested he’d like to wait until the FCC finishes gathering public comments about video news releases in July — but he agreed to help Lautenberg and Kerry make the Byrd provision permanent. That’s encouraging news.

No word yet on whether the Bush administration will lobby against the effort.

Stevens supporting Kerry???? Will wonders never cease??

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. AFTER he went apoplectic over Kerry's ANWR email?

*cue Twilight Zone music*

[ginnyinWI]

2. Stevens isn't particularly moderate, is he?

It is strange. Maybe the Bush coaltion is beginning to weaken. quack, quack!

[karynnj]

3. That's unbelievable.

I hope it's true though. Kerry has very eloquently pleaded for bipartisanship on the floor of the Senate and in the Foreign Relations Committee. I hope he is awakening some of the Republicans to the fact that the issue is not their side winning but how our government works.

In the really raucus Bolton meeting a few weeks ago, I was really struck by how after appearing so angry at the very beginning and when he was asking if they really didn't want the truth and wanted to vote blind, he used his time to talk about the importance of the Senate, the FRC,their place in history etc (how they were there for a while, then others would take thier place). It really showed his statemanship and ability to calm things down while still making his case. He actually looked more wistful than angry when talking.

[whometense]

4. I was thinking about this today.

Sometimes I wonder how he keeps it up. I was a little concerned for him because of all the comments yesterday that he looked tired/sick. But mostly I just marvel at his ability to roll with the punches and get back up again. And a lot of those punches are coming from his left the past week or so, after he was set up with that gay marriage question.

I can't imagine what it's like to have to measure every word you say, and risk potshots from any jerk who feels like taking one. I mean, he's out there trying to do something good for the children of this country, and all these idiots are parsing his words on a subject he hasn't changed on in - well, in forever.

I think he probably is tired. Maybe he caught a cold or something on his trip last week. But I think the tension in the Senate might be getting to him a bit. Maybe he is wistful - and nostalgic - for a more reasonable Senate, one where actual issues were discussed.

I commented yesterday that when Lugar spoke about Bolton he had the grace to look like saying the words was distasteful. THat's the old senate. Allen and Coleman - they lie as if they don't even realize they're lying. It must be painful to have to serve with such lowlifes.

[whometense]

5. Hmmm...maybe I should modify what I just wrote

about Lugar.

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=9664

The bigger issue, of course, is the damage the Bolton fiasco has done to the Senate. It is a rare occasion when both the chairman and the ranking minority member of a committee indicate to the president that a nominee is unacceptable. It is hardly surprising that the Bush White House, which is nothing if not shameless, spurned the advice -- hardly surprising, too, that it felt entitled to withhold crucial information from the Foreign Relations Committee. Quite apart from being a travesty, the Bolton appointment has represented a challenge to senatorial prerogative and the integrity of the nominating process; on those grounds alone, Lugar should have killed the nomination.

It is enough to make a liberal feel a twinge of nostalgia for Jesse Helms (who, as it happens, was Bolton’s mentor). Helms, of course, chaired the Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001. The North Carolina Republican was an odious figure in almost every regard, and there was something comically perverse about having a xenophobe presiding over the Foreign Relations Committee. On the other hand, there was no one who took the Senate's constitutionally mandated oversight of U.S. foreign policy more seriously than did Helms, and no one crossed him and his committee with impunity. Too bad that lesson was lost on Lugar.

[karynnj]

6. He really looked tired,

but he sounded fine. Also. it seemed like he went from the committee where he was with Lautenberg to this one. He really works very hard - which causes me to be even more angry at all those Republicans who said he never did anything.

It will be nice if Stevens does back the bill, because then it would probably pass and although it's a bill that we shouldn't need, because the practice is so wrong on the surface, last year proved we need it. It's sort of like a school having to say "it's against the rules to cheat".

[TayTay]

7. Don't be too worried about Kerry

I think this stuff is both distressing and energizing for him. It is bad to have to sit there while Rethug bastards like Coleman and Allen lecture you about elections having consequences. (What a bunch of blood thristy whores. Where do they get off lecturing John Kerry about elections having consequences? This blatant attempt at a smackdown on Kerry is too personal for me. I want these bastards to taste defeat in the worst possible way. Gawd, I loath them on a nearly cellular level.) It is good to have a cause to fight FOR. Very good indeed. Wakes up one's internal warrior. Very good indeed.

On the other hand, Sen. Kerry has great political instincts. He really does. I think he will find a way to get these bastards. (Only he will sound much classier than me when he does it.) He has been in this game a long time and has great political antenna. He will be fine.

But I do hope he gets some rest. I am going to the Con this weekend with a sinus infection/bronchitis and it's no fun. I hope he fares better and gets some real sleep. Sigh!

[whometense]

9. Thanks. :-)

I know it's dumb - I mean, it's not like I'm his wife or anything, and he has a most excellent wife who is assuredly taking very good care of him.

This happened to me at odd moments during the campaign too - most often when it looked like he was pulling ahead. My fear at times of what they might try to do to him if it looked like he would win was overwhelming. God knows, they have no morals. I wonder how hard this had to have been for Teresa, and especially Vanessa and Alexandra, to deal with.

He's got enough courage for five good men, that's for sure. Days like this, when I'm feeling depleted and kind of down about all the crap coming at him from both sides, it kind of shocks me how dependent I feel on his presence.

Ech. Sorry for the maudlin turn. I'm definitely not in your league when it comes to putting this stuff in proper perspective.

Oh - and one more thing - the attempted smackdown? I hate these midgets too. But they looked like gnats trying to take down a lion. They are small, small, small, and it's all they will ever be.

I'm sorry to hear you have bronchitis. Bronchitis sucks, but hopefully it's not so bad it will keep you from casting your normal incisive eye on the proceedings and reporting back everything.

[TayTay]

8. It's not that hard to understand

Imagine you are a Rethug for a moment (I know, I know, shower after that moment.) You are running in 2006 in the mid-term elections. You have to defend your party putting out what amounts to political propaganda over the public airwaves without identification. This sounds like a friggin fascist thing. Now imagine that you can get behind innocent legislation that outlaws this fascist sounding propaganda. As a pol, damn, you back the legislation.

The Dems have them by the short and curlies on this one and they know it. That's why they will roll over on this one. But * and his band of liars will probably ignore the new law. It's what they do.