I am absolutely shocked. It appears that legislation attempting to suppress free speech violates the 1st amendment. Who woulda thunk it:
A federal court Friday struck down most of a ban on the use of large corporate and union political contributions by political parties, casting into doubt the future of the campaign finance law that was supposed to govern next year’s high-stakes presidential election.
The court also ruled unconstitutional new restrictions on election-time political ads by special interest groups and others. It barred the federal government from enforcing them and all other parts of the law it struck down.
Just a big fat in your face and I told you so to every moron who was in favor of this hideous legislation. I am still pissed at Bush for cynically signing it.
CPT. Charles
I too was unhappy when the bill was signed, but I understood the dynamics of the situation and forgave Bush.
Remember, it was early in his term and the bill was clearly an ‘in your face’ attempt to start a political shitfight. So he signed it, WITHOUT a photo op (a MAJOR insult inside the Beltway) and let it go into the courts (where it would die a permanent death).
I NEVER had any doubt the court would strike it down. In my mind, a nulification from the bench would be a far more stinging rebuke to the authors of this foul legislation than any veto by Bush.
Besides, the donks found themselves in a far worse situation as a result of their efforts. Sometimes it’s more satisfying seeing your foe fling themselves into a briar patch as opposed to doing it yourself.
Patience sometimes rewards you with a heartier laugh, as opposed to a quick chuckle.
Robin Roberts
Still there are parts of the legislation that are still unconstitutional restrictions of free speech, such as the ban on issue ads by political parties with soft money, that this panel upheld. I suspect that the Supreme Court will strike down even more parts of the bill next year.