Covering the escalating battle between Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) for Florida's Republican convention delegates, AP's Glen Johnson offered a tepid description of the defining and definitely liberal magnum opus of the former's legislative career, the McCain-Feingold bill --formally titled the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 (emphasis mine):
Romney struck first on the day before the winner-take-all Florida primary. He attacked the Arizona senator for his legislation reducing the role of money in politics, for his position on immigration and for his support of an energy bill that Romney said would have driven up consumer costs.
Funny, seems to me political campaigns are flush with cash and that campaign finance has grown, not shrunk, since 2002. What McCain's bill did do, however, was to enact a ban on so-called soft money, as well as institute bans on third-party issue ads airing 60 days prior to a general election. The issue ad ban was overturned in a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, despite McCain's wishes to the contrary:
He was not participating in the latest appeal, but the bill's co-sponsor, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, is a party to the case.
"It is regrettable that a split Supreme Court has carved out a narrow exception by which some corporate and labor expenditures can be used to target a federal candidate in the days and weeks before an election," McCain said in a statement.
(h/t NewsBusters reader Justin Bartlett)
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
McCain't
January 28, 2008 - 13:35 ET by SaltherringSenator McCain't will attract few votes from conservative Republicans. From campaign finance "reform" to tacit amnesty for illegal immigrants, his stances on critical issues don't cut it. And his grandstanding, "it's all about me" means of interaction with fellow Republicans turns me off. I refuse to vote for McCain't if he is nominated.
McCain is my last choice among Republican the candidates
January 28, 2008 - 13:48 ET by Dee BunkBut no vote if he wins would be a vote for Hillary or Obama. With either of them you won't just have campaign finance, you will have the fairness doctrine and liberal judges that will be in place permanently. Those judges will do damage indefinitely by creating more laws through judicial fiat and holding up unconstitutional ones enacted by congress.
And a McCain Feingold failure that can't be mentioned...
January 28, 2008 - 13:47 ET by sarcasmoInvolves the marketplace for speech ads and a certain blimp. No need to cover THAT, though, because it's related to the Candidate Who Must Not Be Named. Oh, but the media's not biased, because they tell us so! Yay!!
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Das Blimpenfutile?
January 28, 2008 - 15:26 ET by Chris NormanDas Blimpenfutile?
If you consider a MASSIVE return on investment (see Blimp URL)
January 28, 2008 - 15:30 ET by sarcasmoIn a climate of media blackout "futile," you'll have to explain that one to me. The whine-factor from Roger the Whiner right here alone justifies my investment, and I haven't even bombarded the FECal ones with all the fun paperwork they'll be gettin' because of it. Yep, you can wish it's futile, but it proved that about McCain's censorship bill. The Ron Paul campaign, unlike lots of others, is still alive, like it or not.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Well, if Ron Paul's only
January 28, 2008 - 15:34 ET by Chris NormanWell, if Ron Paul's only goal was to raise lots of cash, then yes, he has been very successful. If his goal was to win the GOP nomination, then, not so much.
Sorry, but once-again...
January 28, 2008 - 15:38 ET by sarcasmoYou don't know. In fact, you have no idea what's going to happen, and I'm pretty damn sure it's going to be a brokered convention. But let's get back to the blimp, because I'm right about that, too. ;)
The Blimp, despite all the whines we saw over and over here, was a real refutation of McCain Feingold, and whether or not you happen to like the refuters, one would think all free speech fans would be honest about, if not celebrate, the refutation. What's futile, as I said, is the FECal speech restriction attempt by a statist named John McCain. That's the reality here, no matter how you happen to feel about Dr. Ron Paul.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Aw, come on Sarc, I'm just
January 28, 2008 - 15:40 ET by Chris NormanAw, come on Sarc, I'm just yankin' your chain.
Well, if you support free speech
January 28, 2008 - 15:55 ET by sarcasmoAnd if Ron Paul really "has no chance," the Blimp (which isn't the campaign!) actually needs your money! They've run out, at least I have. This politics stuff is expensive, and if Florida isn't convinced by now I'm (almost) over it. But let me make my pitch for the Blimp.
IMO it's entirely intellectually-possible to dislike Ron Paul & still very much like the idea of the Ron Paul Blimp's message of free speech & market capitalism trumping some idiotic Senator's law. This "use capitalism" idea (which can be recycled, BTW -- hint hint!!) currently has good free speech lawyers in their back pocket to fight it when/if the FEC is revived. The blimp (whether or not it was a good idea politically or from a ROI vs ads POV) is a separate issue from any candidate. Its existence effectively revokes a statist speech-control law. It was my impression, at least before McCain got so-popular, that conservatives weren't really in favor of such speech control laws. This is a way for conservatives to show libertarians like me that's actually true. Give 'til it hurts!! :).
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Well, DasSarkbot, if you
January 28, 2008 - 15:58 ET by Roger the ShrubberWell, DasSarkbot, if you consider supplying many of us with a boatload of ammunition to make fun of you and your Lord and Master to be a justifiable investment, it's fine and dandy with me!
When even your fellow zealots are beginning to realize the Hinderberg-like crash of DasBlimp, you still stand tall and proud, huddled in your own Paulbotian Masada. You are hardly convincing when you link the blimp's sponsor's website as proof of how effective the blimp is. After all, those SIX electoral votes tell me DasBlimp is a HUGE SUCCESS!
Carry on, DasSarkbot. Keep on giving us opportunities to call you out for being douchey. I know it brings a smile to THIS "whiner"'s face.
P.S. Love the design of the Daily Paul website, btw. It is very visually-appealing.
Well, Whiner
January 28, 2008 - 16:03 ET by sarcasmoApparently you're not the only one who likes it. Now THAT's domination. Shakity Shack, as BD would say...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Hopefully you see this
January 28, 2008 - 18:49 ET by Roger the ShrubberHopefully you see this before you depart for the evening of stalking Hooters waitresses.
As you can plainly see, DasBlimpBlog had a brief spike in December, when the religious fervor was at its highest. Why you are crowing about DailyPaulbot daily hits when we are talking about the greatest political joke of this century is beyond me.
Hooray, DasSarkBot, you Paultards have managed to scrape up enough gold fillings to melt down to afford to fly DasBlimp for a SIX WHOLE HOURS on Saturday!
I guess, when you have nothing, you thump your flabby chest with what little you got, don't you? And I am the whiner? Hahahhahaaaa!
Yep, you're still the Whiner...
January 29, 2008 - 03:20 ET by sarcasmoAnd you've tried to do plenty of chest thumping today, it seems, but this Alexa link remains-relevant, and it remains totally dominant. It's my not-so-gentle way of hinting to NB's masthead that there just might be a click-market in busting a teeny-bit more antilibertarian media bias than NB has been, because like it or not NB traffic is flat as a board these days. The antilibertarian bias against Paul is largely busted over there, so I (and others, obviously...) spend more time at the DP than here. Spin the Blimp however you want and whine all you want. The facts won't change no matter how much you try to lie about me personally in your quest to flunk highschool debate class.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
If whining is a synonym for
January 29, 2008 - 09:48 ET by Roger the ShrubberIf whining is a synonym for laughing hysterically at you, you might be right.
I think my comparison link above is a better reflection of you than yours, DasSarkbot. Dailypuppy.com is crushing BOTH Newsbusters and DasBlimpBlog by a huge margin. So, what does that mean? Newsbusters needs more pictures of cute puppies, of course! They would be as relevent as The Daily Paul, that's for sure.
I did not realize you were no longer a Libertarian, no longer a Republican, but now a crybaby Populist? More hits by loser, out-of work Paulbots somehow equates quality? American Idol proves year after year that that theory is rather stupid. Of course, you're a Populist/Republican/Libertarian, so stupidity to the rest of the world is sheer genius to you.
While we are talkign about sheer genius, please elucidate why, on the day of the Florida primary, Dasblimp is in Georgia? Who needs writers when there is idiocy like this out there!
What a joke. Boo-hoo, poor DasSarkBot...
When you whine, you whine GOOD, Roger.
January 29, 2008 - 10:06 ET by sarcasmoBut facts are facts, and they're still funnier from this end than they could ever be from yours. Dominated. I guess you're just not that bright, which is why you resort to the tactics you try. It's certainly why I give you all the 'respect' you deserve when you're in whine-mode, and the Blimp seems to set the constant whines off in you...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Wow. You do not even know
January 29, 2008 - 10:26 ET by Roger the ShrubberWow. You do not even know when you are being made to look a fool. This is even more fun that I expected. Somebody SERIOUSLY needs their medication today. I am beginning to feel guilty, as if I am ridiculing the mentally-ill.
We get, it, DasSarkbot. Newsbusters sucks compared to the greatness that is Ron Paul, your Lord and Saviour.
Folks, this is a perfect example of the type of people Ron Paul surrounds himself with, and would surround himself with should he be elected president. Anybody have a Zoloft to give to the poor lil fella?
Whine all you want...
January 29, 2008 - 10:52 ET by sarcasmoBut the traffic doesn't lie. Alexa stats say there was a big vacuum in the bustin' antilibertarian bias department. Others filled it, and NB (like Redstate, which is equally-limp after banning all RP debate) didn't, and the results speak for themselves. Folks, Roger's whine here is a perfect example of the BS Chuck was talkin' about in the forums.
And why in the world would I want to watch you melt-down again under the influence of a prescription drug I've never even tried & don't want to try?? Unless, that is, it's your hallucination-world...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
At least you are consistent
January 29, 2008 - 11:22 ET by Roger the ShrubberAt least you are consistent with your non-answers.
Try to follow, Paulbot:
1. You tried to prove of DasBlimp's effectiveness by linking to DasBlimp's own website. Do you even understand how stupid that is? Apparently not.
2. Instead of finding an ACTUAL NEWS SOURCE of proof that DasBlimp is "effective", you thump your chest about how popular Ron Paul's forums are? All because I (rightly) commented how poorly-designed they are?
3. When confronted with the FACTS the number of hits a Ron Paul website gets does not really mean crap about quality (hence, the American Idol comparison), your response is more chest-thumping about how many more hits Ron Paul websites gets, plus the obligitory anti-Libertarisn verbal diarrhea.
This entire thread, you have managed to NOT answer one question. All you managed to do is insult this website, a website which permits you to post at.At least we learned that, even though you SHOULD be on medication, you have never sought professional help. Must be that fear about getting that chip implanted when you are not looking.
Don't like the truth, DasSarkyBot? In your own words: deal with it.
Hey Rog, he just goes to site 1000 times a day or more
January 29, 2008 - 11:27 ET by PawpawNHey Rog, he, and the other Paulettes, just goes to site 1000 times a day or more, thus adding to tally. Now we know why he was no where to be found for days, he had to keep hitting the button/key to show website hit for Pauli girl. Any truth that J[H]erve Villachez(sic) came back from dead to spout, "Das Blimp, Das Blimp!"
Ah, cluelessness...
January 29, 2008 - 11:35 ET by sarcasmoI have 0 effect on Alexa. Deal with it, the traffic on the Ron Paul sites dominates the traffic here. It's a fact. It may be one of those facts you don't like, such as our military support, but it remains a fact.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Alexa means Jack - Now for some REAL STATISTICS
January 29, 2008 - 12:30 ET by PopularTechAll statistics from Alexa shows is how many people have Alexa installed
when visiting a site they in no way represent actual web traffic and to
try and claim they do is propaganda.
Now for some REAL statistics about web sites:
NewsBusters.org Ranked 30791
DailyPaul.com Ranked 118433
The Anti 'Man-Made' Global Warming Resource
That seems to be belied
January 29, 2008 - 12:41 ET by sarcasmoBy message-traffic alone (check the DP around 3AM EST this morning -- it'll be damn-active. Here not so much.) Anyway, I'm curious why those stats are any more "real" than various others. To me, it looks like yet-another-toolbar about like Alexa, which is exactly what you were trying to accuse Paul supporters of using for distortion above, right? Let me guess, different results yield different standards...
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Here ya go, Whinebot...
January 29, 2008 - 11:33 ET by sarcasmo1. The Blimp site links to a variety of news coverage. Said news coverage is worth money. More than supporters paid for the blimp you constantly-whine about here.
2. News sources abound, go look at the site instead of reflexively whining. Why do you whine so about an idea that attacks McCain Feingold speech restrictions? Is ANY speech about small government or Ron Paul THAT bad for your ego??
3. Not if the post AT ALL questions the "humor" of NewsBusted, apparently! Yep, we have another deleted post today, and it actually mentioned an area of media bias (the Carl Cameron Fred-VP situation) which hasn't been discussed much here, despite a plethora of Fred-fans. Oh, the temerity of that sarcasmo guy, questioning how-funny a "joke" about Fred losing his acting job to an illegal! For shame! Pointing out the obvious fact that sometimes NewsBusted sucks!
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
I go to the the DasBlimp
January 29, 2008 - 11:48 ET by Roger the ShrubberI go to the the DasBlimp website daily, Sarky-poo. Your "hard news links" are laughable. They include the John Birch Society, Wonkette (which makes fun of tards like you), and Russia Today. Yes, Sarky-poo, that is commendable. All that HUGE new coverage and poorly-invested money has earned your God SIX delegates. Like I said, you can't write this stuff! Priceless!
I am all for free speech. You are free to carry a torch for the man-crush you have on Ron Paul, and, just like you are free to wear your Paulbot heart on your sleeve, I am free to call you out to be mildly-retarded. Tough love, I know, but deal with it.
What the heck does Newsbusted have to do with anything? Newsbusted sucks. There have been MANY people here who have stated that. Over and over. If you are being "censored" take it up with the masthead and quit belly-aching about it in every friggin post, crybaby.
Suck it up, buttercup.
Lots of name-calling and whining
January 29, 2008 - 12:26 ET by sarcasmo0 answers. Publicity is worth money. We got a damn good deal in a climate of media-blackout on some publicity, and your constant whines here were just a bonus. And the NewsBusted-sucks comment has to do with the allegations in your comment, because it obviously refutes you. Deal with it.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Do you always repeat
January 29, 2008 - 13:43 ET by Roger the ShrubberDo you always repeat previous comments? I have clearly pointed out how worthless your "proof" of the "success" of DasBlimp is. You do not care to accept the sad, pathetic fact that Paul has SIX friggin delegates, thx to the wonderous power of the balloon. A success story like no other!
Boo-hooo, now you are crying (once again) about Newsbusted? For someone who accuses other people of "whining", you seem to own the franchise. Boo-hooo ! Poor, unloved crybaby! Booo-hoo! Boo-hoo! People are calling me names! Mommy! Mommy!
Shouldn't you be out voting in mutiple precincts, or picketing for your Lord and Saviour? Your Master beckons you, Paulbot! Hurry! You are one of the annointed 5-7% Florida votes!
Paultards
January 28, 2008 - 16:27 ET by SaltherringIf this were April 1912, the Paultards would still be hanging onto the hull of the Titanic when it hit the bottom, three miles down. A real optomistic lot, they be.....