Pixies Place Forums - View Single Post - politics...do we dare???

I know what you mean fzzy...and I guess I might have simplified my thoughts about the people who feel VERY strongly about Howard Stern's "immorality" on the airwaves. It's just that...the "fight" is soooooo different now. Howard has been on the air for many years and he's known what can and can't be aired. He gets live phone calls and can never predict what a caller will say, so he has almost always been on a delay or had a "bleep" button to make a comment "air presentable". If there was ever a problem with his show Clear Channel would have said so. They never did and, in fact, backed him on many issues they felt sure were air worthy and they wouldn't tolerate anyone trying to take away his freedom of speech. Till one day the govenment shifted and those who headed up Clear Channel found themselves in closer proximity to the powers that lead us. In an effort to sway a nation...the powers that be said, why not take on the morality issue and kick it up a notch? Who better to cast the attention to...than Howard Stern? In retaliation, his views about the last BIG election started the snowball down the hill!

Geezzzzz...you'd think I was the Howard Stern poster child...but it's much more passionate than simple. The FCC was almost a non-organization before Michael Powell came to it. Prior to his heading up the FCC, Michael Powell had made some speeches that would have totally backed Howard on the free speech issue. Once he was empowered as the leader of the FCC, and maybe because of his father's role in our government (most assuredly), and without question because Howard Stern had such an able voice in the markets he was aired in...Michael Powell changed his views on free speech and to this day hasn't made it clear what it is he thinks is indecent. Because he headed the FCC...whatever he deemed indecent at the time, was indecent...if spoken by Howard Stern. That's the gist of it...pure and simple!

The major problem now is...Howard will be gone. And those left behind, who didn't feel like it was their fight too, will find out that they should have NEVER let it get this far. The FCC won't have Howard to hold up as a sacrifice...so they'll have to focus on those who are left behind to figure out what the FCC is thinking. And those who sat on their hands all this while, will feel the snowball effect of the wrath that Howard has escaped.

It's funny...but I think about those poor, misguided handful of people who made it a daily mission to pen hundreds of letters to the FCC (that the FCC took as hundreds of complaints individually), and what will they do with all their free time now? LOL! Hopefully, they'll use that spare time to actually do something productive to aide their fellow man! I say this because I still don't know the long term, detrimental effect that the words of Howard Stern have had on the children of this nation!

BTW...have you seen an afternoon soap opera lately? They'd better watch their p's and q's...or I've a feeling they'll be on the chopping block soon!

Mark...Howard's contract with commercial radio is over in December of this year. It always has been. He usually renews for 5 years. This time he wasn't. He was going to retire from broadcasting and focus on producing, and other endeavors, after he went off the air. He never intended to sign a new contract to do more radio on the commercial airwaves. With the inception of extraterrestrial radio...and given that the FCC has provoked him further than they ever have...he's thumbed his nose and flipped them the bird...and signed a 5 year, multi-million dollar contract with Sirius to produce 3 shows on 3 of their newest stations (his show and 2 more of his choice), with the understanding that he has to accumulate at least 1 million new subscribers before the contract can go into effect. Upon his announcement on his current radio show, that he was moving to sattelite, stock in Sirius hit the roof! XM radio (the competiton that tried to woo Howard as well) had been #1 in sattelite prior to this announcement. To date, as far as I know, MORE than a million new Sirius customers have signed on. This was, in part if not all, because of Howard's move. Howard isn't as "harmless" as you'd might think. He's considered politics in the past...but never wanted to divulge his income (lol!)...and so never made the move. His voice has a lot of the power of a politician without having to change his convictions in order to fit in with the political rhetoric. BTW...this isn't the "Roaring 20's" and the F.B.I. may have Howard on a list of some sort...but he's done NOTHING to warrant the organization to focus on him. Howard IS NOT anti-American or a terrorist! Despite the fact that he'd rather our current president wasn't re-elected...he doesn't wish him any harm! He just doesn't like some of his policies and he says so...which he has every right to do! I don't agree with a lot of what Howard says at times...but I'd defend his right to say them anytime! In the FCC's eyes...it's mission is done. And so Michael Powell will now resign...though I don't know the reason he has given for this manuever. But, the FCC hasn't won anything in getting Howard off the air. He wasn't going to re-up his contract anyway. Now...because of the FCC (and the money offered by Sirius...it's a lot of money after all!)...he is going to a venue where they can NEVER touch him! I hope they are proud of their efforts!

It took an ammendment for free speech to be guaranteed, Belial...because our constitution was intended to be spelled out by the people, for the people...in order for EVERYONE to be able to receive the exact kind of treatment as the next person. No one person was exempt because of race, creed, color or political affiliation. Because we were founded as a nation for all to join if they chose to...we are a melting pot of many nations...all with different policies and politics. If only the FCC would spell out it's rules as well as our constitution does. And yes, it's been tilted and twisted and tweeked through the years to ammend and update it...but freedom of speech has always meant what it was spelled out to mean!

Fzzy is right...there are exceptions...like the "fire" in a theatre rule. Things like that are just common sense, actually. But you'd be surprised how many idiots would yell that for no good reason if it weren't ruled out...lmfao! Speaking of common sense...Howard is a father of 3 daughters and has never let them listen to his show (though he knows he can't do anything about it if he isn't around to stop them). They are smart, well adjusted young women! He knows the 7 words that can't be aired...and has never aired them without it being accidental (callers squeaking them in when it wasn't expected...before the delay button inception). He cleans up fast and either hangs up on an uncontrollable caller or cleans up his/her words so the conversation can be aired. Some of the content of the show is audio sexual...but if you tune in you'll know that and if you don't like it...TUNE OUT! Sex is all around us...not just on the Howard Stern show! And we know EXACTLY what we are getting when we tune in. He's never deviated from his format in all the years he's been around!

And Belial...I think he'll make good on his claim to fame as "The King of ALL Media! He's used to pioneering his craft...and I see no reason why he won't again. Sattelite radio is in it's infancy...and quite literally...the sky is the limit!
And to my chagrin...no, I don't know the quote. Sorry...mind is drawing a blank. Please enlighten me!

*hugs to you all*