Now its crystal clear: The Bushistas had one goal, and one goal

[happydreams]

only in this battle over confidentiality agreements between reporters and their sources. It is about forcing reporters to divulge their sources, ostensibly as a matter of national security, but really about killing a free press. If he had been successful it would have been the end of any semblance of a free press.

I was watching Frontline's "News Wars" series last night and thought they did an OK job except for the "the Press isn't what it used to be" crapola.

Take this bit of duplicity: In the first case Judith Miller and Mark Cooper's refusal to divulge their sources in Plamegate--a matter of treason--was supported by AssCroft with the "excuse" that confidentially must be maintained. Obviously Asswipes real reason was to gum up the works of the Fitzgerald investigation. This was not on the Frontline program in this segment.

But then the same ASSCroft threatened jail time for two Los Angeles reporters who refused to divulge sources in the BAY-CO steroid case. The BAY CO case was not treason by any stretch of the imagination.

In the first case Assman flip-flops to protect his Furher. In the second it was about taking down the Press via whatever means possible.

Ashcroft should have his sorry ass hauled into court on contempt for the law charges and using his office to infringe on freedom of the Press for political purposes.

This double standard is a glaring illustration of what the true intent of the Bushies was/is in trying to force journalists to break their confidentiality agreements: it was about destroying the Press in one fell swoop.

The Government has many ways of getting information: subpoena and surveillance (with a court order). In the case of Bush even without a court order. :eyes:

According to the law even spouses can refuse to testify. The Press has only one good way of getting important information and that is with confidentiality agreements; without reporter/client confidentiality all we'd have is weather and sports/entertainment.

As we speak this young man (missed his name), an "independent journalist" depicted on the Frontline piece, who videoed an "anarchist" protest where violence occurred is now in jail for refusing to release the video information to the FBI.
A serious, serious matter. The Beast is really working hard to kill the truth and muzzle those who report it!!

This young man is a hero, he went to jail to protect this vitally important principle and I hope DUers can voice some support for him.

Note: I think this young man could have been set up since I also believe that this "anarchist" shit is really a fascist ploy to create confusion regarding who is doing what at protests. My research of the history of such things is revealing alot along those lines. Most vivid in my memory is how the 1894 Pullman strike was infilrated by "thugs, thieves and ex-convicts" hired by the railroads to commit acts of violence and then blame it on the railroad employees protesting. Testimony to that fact was gotten on the witness stand from the Chicago chief of police! This shit goes on alot.

[flying_wahini]

1. I saw this, too. A great series, should be required of freepers.

and my heart went out to that young man being held at the Federal Correctional facility in
Ca. somewhere... where is the outrage????????????
... I don't understand how he can be locked up for several months for standing on principle guaranteed us in our Bill of Rights, and yet they let
these other criminals walk. Libby better go to jail, that's all I can say.
and as far as the Barry Bonds bullshit, some baseball owner wanted those reporters in jail because
it cost him money.
They are Such hypocrites. a stinkin' deal.

[happydreams]

2. The Bonds case. This has sparked my curiosity.

What I gathered is that Asscroft was feeling out the social-legal tolerance for crimpin Press freedoms. Maybe if he could get reporters to knuckle under on such an innocuous case it would make it all the more easy to do it in a case where national security, actually or ostenibly, was at stake. The fascists were just attacking wherever they could then they added the national security issue to make their case stronger.

It sure would be interesting to see the communications between the WH and Justice on this.

Just some thoughts.

[happydreams]

3. I'll give this a kick before taking off.