Concerning censorship & Howard Stern: Something said on Today's Program...
 

I don't actually listen to Howard Stern per say, but I am exposed to him regularly, when I get a ride to work. Anyway, on today's program, Howard Stern got a bit into talking about names of people who've A: Talked out against George Bush & B: Been fired or reprimanded because of it.

If anyone can provide any links to some actual material, I'd greatly appreicate it. Later in the day, I plan to try Google for a bit, but I never have any luck with finding the information I actually want, and end up with a vaguely related story.

Sky Warrior Bob

he said the same thing when he wsa fired from NBC, you know. that there was a conspiracy that wanted him out. When he was fined by teh FCC he staged a rally and came out in a prisoner uniform saying "Is it spelled FCC or KGB?". hes a shock jock, and hes fairly good at playing the victim.

altho, his run for NY governor was good (he ran as a libertarian!) he said that he'd reinstate the death pentalty, pass a alw that says all road work woudl take place at night, between midnight and 6am (not during rush hour) and then he'd resign, leaving the rest of it up to the compitant folks.

he bailed out of the race, tho.

Zeth, maybe Howard is amping it up, maybe he isn't, but he does make a convincing case all the same. He points out that in the NBC case, you yourself brought up, he was never allowed his day in court. Basically, the FCC imposed a fine, then put pressure on stations, by holding up sales contracts & renewal of contracts until the fine was paid.

The matter never made it to court.

I'm no big fan of Howard, but what's happening is wrong, as he's being punished and pushed off the air without getting a fair hearing in court.

Sky Warrior Bob

its convincing... if youre already convinced.

and it snto a court matter. its nto a government matter. its a CCC internal policy matter. They might hav ekicked him and Bubba the Love Sponge off because they are scared of the Janet Jackson Nipple fall out (both shock jocks were nixed the day before the CCC CEO had to testify infront of congress.) but its a CCC business decision. Stern has no "right" to be on the air.

Question, did you listen to Stern today or yesterday? If, you can't legitimately make a statement concerning something you didn't listen too.

You might have very well have listened to it, but IMO it was convincing. We diagree on many political issues, and this just might be one of them.

Yes, that company has the right to internally take him off the air, however Howard's suggestion is that the FCC's pressure is the responsible party. He also has suggested that they're moving to actively take him off the air completely.

He suggests he might be on for only a month longer.

However, even if you deny that he was taken off because he was a threat to Bush before, he certainly is a threat to Bush now. He's calling for Bush's dismissal daily, and talking about some things you'd think came from Jim Hightower.

Plus, he plans to go to Sat. radio, and he'll likely be broadcasting there just prior to the next election.

Sky

how is bush connected to the FCC? isnt the FCC controlled by congress? I dont see what bush had to do with getting howard stern off the air. he was fired by his company. if a company cant fire their employees, thats called socialism.

a Glynn Reynolds article on this issue.

Here's a connection for you. Bush & his team are, for better or worse, effectively the leaders of the Republicans on capital hill. If not direct control, you can't deny that he has a fair amount of influence, especially considering the fact that the Republicans have far more control of the Congress than they do the Senate.

Also, Colin Powell's son himself is the one in charge of the FCC, thus suggesting that Bush might have had some influence in appointments.

You can't say that there isn't a connection between the FCC & Bush, because that's a far too much a reduction of the truth.

Sky Warrior Bob

oh ok, bush controls congress, got ya.

i hear the FCC chairman AND the CCC CEO are both memebrs of a secret organization, too.