Freedom of the Press vs. Wingnuts ‘R’ Us

“No experiment can be more interesting than that we are now trying, and which we trust will end in establishing the fact, that man may be governed by reason and truth. Our first object should therefore be, to leave open to him all the avenues to truth. The most effectual hitherto found, is the freedom of the press. It is, therefore, the first shut up by those who fear the investigation of their actions.” –Thomas Jefferson to John Tyler, 1804

We rabid lambs of the blogosphere are really getting tired of listening to wingnuts pretend they’re the appointed ethical guardians of America.

Only they stand between us and those four flag-burning “hippies” of last year – and the three from the year before. Only they stand between us and gay people being treated like human beings. Only they stand between us and a crazed liberal media that wants to act like a free press instead of writing only what the Administration wants written. (Gregg’s stenography is tough to learn after all…)

Only they can save us from those damned photographers who would show pictures of the driveway, flag, and trees (not to mention the birdhouse security camera) of Rummy’s vacation retreat in St. Michaels, MD.

The fact that nearly every sentient being already knew Rummy had a vacation spot there doesn’t matter to them. That a great many of us have even seen photos of it before now – since it has some historical significance – doesn’t matter to them.

But, some idiot feels a need to post the private address and phone number of the photographer who took it – and encouraging his idiot packmates to “tell her what a great photographer she is” and later updates his post with directions to her home!

The underlying threat in those two acts cannot be ignored. (You can go to the General for more; I won’t link directly to the idiot involved.)

I believed it was wrong when that self-hating anchor baby, Michele Malkin published private contact information, and I believed it was wrong when AnchorBaby’s own private information was published. I also believed it was wrong that private information about Thersites and NYMary was published, as well as that of other bloggers in the last few weeks.

I believe it’s wrong that a photographer – who was (most likely) handed an assignment by her editor – should be threatened and intimidated for snapping a picture that was no doubt approved by the Secret Service before publication.

For the idiots on the right who don’t understand the difference between Donald Rumsfeld and Linda Spiller, I’ll repeat those two words for you: Secret Service.

Donald Rumsfeld is surrounded by the most well-armed, best-trained protection agency in the world.

Linda Spillers? I’m guessing she’s got three locks…maybe a doorman? I don’t know if she has a house, an apartment or what. I don’t want or need to know. By now, she’s either moved to an undisclosed location, or she’s hired a private security firm to protect her from the lunatics who will no doubt be thirsting for her blood.

What these crazed BushBots miss is that it was a travel piece! Nothing more than a fluffy, written version of “Lifestyles of the Rich and inFamous.”

Naturally, though, the wingers treat it with the same hysterical whining that accompanied the revelation that the Bush mis-Administration is spying on the bank accounts of Americans in the hopes of finding some terrorists. Purposely missing the point in order to whip up hysteria among the base.

Apparently, only the brain-dead followers of Georgie didn’t know that the mis-Administration has been tracing financial transactions since Sept. 11th. Only the koolaid-crazed sheeple want to give up every civil liberty ensured by our Constitution as long as someone – anyone – promises to protect them from the boogeyman.

Just wait till Bushie tells them that – to protect America from those terrorists – they’ll have to give up yet another freedom…and turn in their guns to the local ATF office! *snort* Let’s see who’s for doing whatever Prezzie wants whenever he wants no matter how many laws and Constitutional guarantees he breaks after that decree is issued!

Let’s get real for a minute. Would these same twits sit by complacent as little sheepies, so very accepting of the government’s position on the free press, or anything else – to the point of releasing personal information and threating a photographer -if it was a Democrat sitting in the Oval Office and issuing these same edicts?

“Rights?! We don’t need no stinkin’ rights!”

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More at Unclaimed Territory and Firedoglake.