Whispers on the Hill Predict Zombie-like Return of SOPA and PIPA
by Capitol ConfidentialCall it life imitating art. Call it a cynical election year ploy for campaign cash. Call it a desperate Hollywood remake. But don’t call it over. Sources on Capitol Hill claim that, although last week saw the timely and bloody death of two bills whose interference with individual liberty was unparalleled in the digital age – SOPA and PIPA – the fight may not be over.
Many key journalists in the tech industry have already pointed out that SOPA and PIPA were, until the industry and American consumers got a hold of the bills, a “sure thing” set to pass without much, if any opposition from members of Congress. The indefinite delay, prompted by massive outrage and widespread protests last week, prompted a total reconsideration of the bill, with Marco Rubio and Congressional Republicans leading a firestorm of criticism and a mass exodus from the bill. Its worth noting, however, that one of the bill’s key sponsors, Democratic Senator Harry Reid, was quick to note that we haven’t seen the last of the bills.
“We live in a country where people rightfully expect to be fairly compensated for a day’s work, whether that person is a miner in the high desert of Nevada, an independent band in New York City, or a union worker on the back lots of a California movie studio,” he said in a statement posted by Games Industry (requires free account sign up.)
He went on to encourage other key senators to look into the proposed amendments to the bills, rehashing SOPA to make it more likely to pass if pushed through again.
Its worth noting that the bill’s backers – the MPAA, RIAA and a host of union thugs – are known for their persistence, whether its prosecuting unwitting grandmothers for Internet music “theft” or protesting Wisconsin governors who are trying to rescue their state’s financial well-being, and Americans should not expect them to back down any time soon. And with the amount of money and the future of Democratic party rule at stake in this next election, the MPAA’s, RIAA’s and unions’ deep pockets and ability to write huge campaign checks probably won’t be put at risk for something as silly as the rights of the American people.
And, in fact, if rumors are to believed – and in DC they often are – the SOPA and PIPA comeback might come sooner rather than later. Washington whispers say that the bills will likely come up under different names – not surprising – and that the bigwigs behind the SOPA and PIPA efforts have already hired DC communications powerhouse Hillary Rosen to lead the resurrection effort.
So, like a zombie rising up from its grave to wreak havoc over the American heartland in a low-budget Hollywood Halloween money-maker, SOPA and PIPA look to be rising again to attack your freedoms. Be vigilant.
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62 Comments
The view of most Citizens is there will be no Free Civilian Internet left once the Federal Government is done doing its dirty work in Washington D.C.
Hackers worldwide, rightly or wrongly, have drawn a line in the sand on this one.
The Hackers view being that if the Government gets its way there will be no Internet left to Police once the Hackers get done.
The only saving grace is Liberals more often than not will not be able to afford to pay for Internet Services, if the Internet itself goes to a Monthly User Fee for material which merely could be viewed, even by accident. I can afford to pay for Internet, and, as soon as a real American is in the White House again, my Tax Dollars will not go to Liberal Causes such as Free Internet for the Poor.
There are millions of dollars in campaign contribution from the hollywood degenerates piled up to give to each and every American TRAITOR in CONgress that votes for SOPA/PIPA. Like salivating dogs looking at a raw steak, the members of CONgress are groping to get some of that money, and they will do whatever it takes for them to get it – and they won't let either the Constitution or the Bill of Rights stop them.
Can we pass a New Law that states that if a congress person or senator introduces 10 Bills that are not passed, that they will be impeached from office with prejudice and may no longer serve in that capacity, forfeiting any and all future compensation associated with that position??
They can't bring it in through the front door they will sneak it in the back.
We need to be vigilant.
It should be abundantly clear to everyone that they don't give one schit about the voice of the people. These Fascists will force their agenda upon us………one way or the other.
Freedom and Liberty trump Hollywoods' desire to expand our croney capitalistic government. If pirating of property occurs, file suit in court. Just like the rest of US "peons".
Dear Hitler Reid, Your SOPA / PIPA Bill cannot control those who are actually buying and selling fraudulent goods, Sir. You cannot control China and countries outside the USSA …so, STFU and SIT DOWN. Better yet, go home.
You've done enough damage to this country, the Constitution and "We the People". Schmuckwad.
The following statement was issued by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT):
“We thank and commend Senators Reid, Leahy and Kyl as well as Congressmen Smith, Conyers, Goodlatte, Watt and Berman and all the other co-sponsors of the PROTECT IP Act and the Stop Online Piracy Act, who in the face of an onslaught of mistruths and great pressure to renege on their commitment, stood steadfast in their belief that the uniquely American creativity embodied in our country’s films, TV programs and music deserves to be protected from illegal foreign profiteers. We fought for this legislation because illegal Internet businesses that locate offshore expressly to elude US laws should not escape the very same rules of law that currently apply to illegal US websites – they should not be allowed to reap in profits if they knowingly sell or distribute illicitly gained content and goods which they had no role in creating or financing to the American consumer.
“We recognize that we are currently part of a complex and important debate about the future, not just of the Internet but also of creativity, the American economy, free expression, and a civil society. We believe that the light should be being shined on every aspect of this discussion and on all of those who have a stake in it. We believe we should discuss what an unregulated ‘free’ Internet means for the future of content, just as we should also discuss the importance of an open Internet.
“We welcome this debate. We hope a new tone can be set and it is not one that turns our advocacy for this legislation into an implication that we promote censorship. Our commitment to the First Amendment is decades old and long established – it is a matter of public record from long before the word ‘Internet’ was part of anyone’s vocabulary. If one truly embraces free expression, they do not take down the Library of Congress websites, the very symbol of our country’s belief in knowledge and learning. We would hope a new tone can be set that does not pit the creativity and innovation of our directors, actors, performers, craftspeople, and technicians against those innovators in other industries. We hope a new tone can be set that does not include website attacks, blacklists, blackouts, and lies. We believe an Internet that does not allow outright stealing has to be the Internet of the future or all the promises it holds will be unrealized.
“We are committed to open debate. We are equally as committed to protecting our members’ ability to create and to earn a living while doing so. We will work with Chairmen Leahy and Smith to make both possible.”
Awww. You stole all my points….
"the MPAA’s, RIAA’s and unions’ deep pockets and ability to write huge campaign checks probably won’t be put at risk for something as silly as the rights of the American people."
Big money donations will not save them if they pass this crap. The voters decide elections. Not dollars.
What is good for Harvey Weinstein is good for America!!!
If the 2010 election cycle was "successful" with the installation of Republicans, supposedly TEA Party natured in large measure, with others respecting the Liberty Movement sentiment,
THEN HOW IS THERE EVEN A POSSIBILITY OF THIS FOOLISHNESS?
Wake up folks.
And the only way to address it is to withhold votes from the lying cheating dishonest hacks. Anything else is simply bowing down and accepting the same old garbage.
I ain't bowing.
Well, we got a lot of zombies up there.
As long as it includes a Senate leader who refuses to take to the floor bills passed by the other body.
Obama will do it by EXECUTIVE ORDER. Can't ya see it coming? The groundwork is laid. The hollyweirdos will be happy, open their checkbooks and that will be that.
"You go through the gate. If the gate's closed, you go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we'll pole vault in. If that doesn't work, we'll parachute in. But we're going to get health care reform passed for the American people."
Sound familiar?
How will the left wing musicians feel when the government's effort to stop overseas piracy results in the death of civilians who are working at the Chinese hacker center and surroundings? Will their consciences be clear knowing that people had to die so they could continue to get paid for their ditty about a lost girlfriend. The government has limited tools to deal with tech piracy and may ultimately decide that an air attack is the only way to protect these rights. The better solution will come from technology that limits anyone's ability to steal. AMF AFTRA DGA etc would do better to funnel their lobbying money into tech companies that can protect them.
like more zombies, we'll just kill it again.
The public has been awakened. Unless, of course, a major 'crisis' erupts soon. Then a lot of 'dark of the night' stuff can get passed, like this bill which restricts free speech in order to protect a Hollywood intellectual property…
Eerily so.
BINGO!
This is far far far from the last we will be hearing of the many incarnations of these bills. In fact there are many dimensions of the internet that gave the Fed salivating like a hungry dog staring down a juicy steak. First and foremost is TAX TAX TAX, that has been on the burner almost from the time the "net" took off, just think about the billions of transactions that take place every single day, and the "fee" that the feds. would love to impose. Then we have plain control, the Feds. are all about control i.e. the "kill switch" and I will just say it censorship, and who knows just how many forms of controls sit in some paper on a D.C. desk as I type this. Also what a perfect way to monitor the population, it is already being done, google may-east and may-west. Now we have the dying MPAA and RIAA injecting huge amounts of cash to CROOKED poltiburo types,make it so that they can continue to produce garbage and attempt to survive… It is a very well established fact that people that DL a movie would likely NEVER buy it even if forced to, just look at Follywood and redbox, they know that is a person rents that movie that they will just return it the next day and say "oh well just a buck wasted" never to go to wal-mart and buy it. Same with the music industry, iTunes with the 99cent song made it so someone could get what they liked and not have to buy 10 songs of Cr@p to have one good one. While I do not begrudge anyone to making profit of their product, one has to have a good product to get that profit, with MPAA and RIAA their concept is like it or not it's all you get and pay up. What they fail to realize is, this could be a great demise to them, this is the 21st century not the 1940s the movie theater is no longer the social center anymore, and people demand more and far better content, and we will get it one way or another!
The people know that the real authority in government rests in the House.
We demonstrated that knowledge in 2010.
The GOP decided to ignore the message sent to them, just as I predicted they would.
You are right, things are upside down. The only way to right the ship is to exercise what authority we still have left.
Vote. Them. Out.
Every. Last. One. Of. Them.
I think it is best done with write ins during the general.
With literally millions and millions and millions of write in ballots, there would no way to hide it all. There would be a 50 state Iowa scenario and the fraud that is our "election" would be exposed for all to see.
Would it be drama? Would it make 2000 look like child's play?
You Betcha.
That is what it is gonna take.
I like your sentiment, and I actually agree with it. Pkacing the Senate in the hands of the GOP, even along side leaving the House in their hands and even with a (R) president isn't going to accomplish what some want it to. That solution remains on the false premise that the Democratic party is the problem.
See, the Republicans in the House could have said NO to the spending as they were directed to do. They chose NOT to do so. They will do the same if given the Senate too……just like the Democrats did when the people handed both over to them.
Folks have to come to grips with the actuality that the PARTIES are the problem. They have become an insulator between us and our government rather than a conduit to it. Their arms are locked together i order to preserve power that they share and trade between them. Meanwhile, more and more Liberty, our own and that which belongs to those not even yet born, is eroded further.
It must stop. And it must stop now.
Overheard in the oval office at 2AM:
Damn it! If I could just find that Executive Order book of forms I could knock out the SOPA and PIPA legislation by 3AM and sleep like a baby.
With our old buddy Chris Dodd leading the way.
ROFLMAO – What a bunch of BS.
Seriously doubt it. Even the Huffington Post went on strike to protest this legislation. No one likes it.
So how much of the teaparty agenda has actually become law? Not much because that's not what the American people want. They are gone next year.
Be vigilant – the government doesn't represent the little guy, it represents the (already) rich and well-connected. That's why Chris Dodd, former corrupt and disgraced Senator from Connecticut, is now the head of the MPAA. He certainly wasn't hired for his expertise in the movie industry. Watch the trail of campaign funds people.
The piracy crap is just a red herring….
We all know what this is REALLY about…
Great comment. Of course Harry is deaf, dumb and blind and the unions don't care how the people feel.
To the International Brotherhood of Teamsters: "whatcha gonna do when they come for you?"
You have approx. 11 months before you are declared 'persona non grata' you hateful, lying, scheming, theiving, corrupt a$$wipes.
I suppose Marco Rubio's being a co-sponsor of the offending bill means he's a union thug, eh? More like a Tea Party nitwit!
No matter what they do or how they do it, we all end up taking it in the back door.
As I said last week, it will come back attached to a defense bill and will be "reluctantly" passed by Republicans. Obama will sign it "with reservations." Just like the NDAA bill.
This has become the standard way to pass something everyone in Washington secretly wants but the American people quite obviously hate.
Hate to call out unity, but the left agrees with the rock dwellers who this place is making think it is "the union thugs" behind this Bill. God forbid the people uniformly reject something.
How many fail to realize this is also corporation on corporation, with this one amounting to Hollywood and the Telco's fighting against Tech. Unions? Yeah, maybe the artists who should have some kind of valid claim on property rights, but it goes deeper than that.
I wasn't a "Napster" kid, but I was shocked enough to know many people think we should be just like China, meaning we ought to just pirate everything. That is clearly the side Big Government seems to be on, here. Nice. Just Socialize other people work.
Did anyone really believe they'd seen the last of SOPA??? Once politicians decide they want to do something to you, they're not going to stop until they do it.
The only thing I see agreement on from the left and the right is that these two bills are a threat to everyone. The most liberal people I know where adamantly against these bills. We will have to remain vigilant see Big Hollywood if you have any questions why!
Most of this crappola would not exist if we had 'term limits', When they get entrenched for such a long time, their greed grows, and grows and grows, along with the knowledge of who(m) they can do business with for their own personal enrichment.
Did your mother write that for you? How sweet.
Rubio then dropped his support of this bill which, like you, is a smelly turd. (The bouquet was deposited by Harry Reid, I'm told.)
Seriously??? None of the laws the House has passed have become law, not because the people don't want them but because Harry Reid will not let them be voted on in the Senate. And we all know, well those of us who are intelectually honest, which leaves out libs, know it is because he knows it would be suicide for his fellow DemoRats to vote against any of them and he can't run the risk of letting them actually do what is in the country's best interest and approve the legislation.
If old Harry was facing re-election in this cycle, he would more than likely suffer the same fate as the last Senate majority leader who used the same obstructionist tactics – Tom Daschle – rejected by the voters in his own state.
There is a measure of universal opposition to this stupid bill, sure. Interestingly, most everywhere you read about this unpopular piece of garbage, the reports are amazingly adept at avoiding linking this to Obama's Justice Dept or the Democrat-controlled Senate. Even if you read comments about it on the usual youth-trafficked sites on the internet (ie. gaming/movie/technology-related), the collective political amnesia is astounding, don't you think?
Sherlock Holmes they are not.
well, some do, anyway…
Steve, that won't work… what Congress passes today, they can unpass or repeal tomorrow. That's why debt limits don't work. What we have to do is get a butt-load of Tea Party folks into Congress & then get several Amendments through.
We have to repeal the 17th Amendment. – Senators should represent Sovereign States.
We have to repeal the 16th Amendment. – No more stealing a man's hard earned property.
We have pass a Balanced Budget Amendment.
We have to pass Term Limits. – 12yrs total, additional term requires ADDITIONAL 5% votes (55% to win)
2nd additional term requires ADDITIONAL 10% votes
What Congress passes today, they can unpass or repeal tomorrow. That's why debt limits don't work. What we have to do is get a butt-load of Tea Party folks into Congress & then get several Amendments through.
We have to repeal the 17th Amendment. – Senators should represent Sovereign States.
We have to repeal the 16th Amendment. – No more stealing a man's hard earned property.
We have pass a Balanced Budget Amendment.
We have to pass Term Limits. – 12yrs total, additional term requires ADDITIONAL 5% votes (55% to win)
2nd additional term requires ADDITIONAL 10% votes
We should strengthen the 10th. Amendment… A LOT! So that even a pubelick screwel "grad" can understand it!
not surprised Harry doesn't listen. Thank you Nevada for NOT electing Angle to Senate.
What won't pass in Congress Barry will pas by executive order. Thank you Anonymous.
I really like this site, its such a nice site.
ENT Instruments
Well, my friend, it begins…..
I',m on their radar, now…..
This legislation, the debate, and the recent state victimization of the megaupload owners, employees, and patrons, are natural consequences of the fact that intellectual property rights and real property rights are incompatible with each other. State enforcement of IP guarantees real property rights violations and thus guarantees conflict. It is time for Americans in general to reconsider the whole misguided notion of state IP enforcement, and for those in the media industries to reconsider their business models.
This is how democracy works. At its theoretical best, state democracy is a tyranny of the majority–the violent sacrifice of the innocent few to the rapacious many. In reality democracy is always the tyranny of various slightly shifting very small minorities. Democracy is essentially monarchy but with a short-sighted get-while-the-gettin's-good looting incentive system. It takes a serious deficiency in judgement and near complete obliviousness to power politics for someone to be an advocate of imposed democracy in any large society.
then there are tens of thousands of others.
Their only hope to control THAT is to have the societal outcome they desire. That will take time, and a series of 'crisis' to accomplish. For now, ok, so they know.
So do we. About THEM…
Not a very good student eh? That's ok, progressives never were. Its hard to think instead of having someone fill your noodle with "Viva Che, horrah for Castro, and Mao is the bomb".
Go get a book on United States Government for Dummies. I hear there is a nice box of crayons with it.
Three branches, Executive (has no power to write law, can veto proposals), Legislative (bicameral) writes law and votes to move law to the Executive, Judicial (measures law against the Constitution) can determine a laws validity according to the Supreme Law.
Lesson over. Now go get yourself a Dew and some Cheetos and stay away from the computer.
I know much more than I'm letting on….
I've had a peek behind the curtain and have seen what they're setting-up for the next act….
as have some others as well.
Can they pull it off? They aren't even sure about it. There are layers of deception upon deception with many of the minion class not being aware just HOW set up they are for a fall. But yeah, the groundwork for der fuhrer II is being laid out, sure…
Assets are being moved into place….
They're just waiting for the right conditions, before they proceed…
ah yes, the 'right conditions'.
Hmmm… let's see. War, check. Straits of Hormuz closed, check. $6 a gallon gas, check.
Refusal to accept greenbacks for oil, check. Nasty weaponized version of H5N1, check.
Race/class riots in US. Check. Constitutional crisis(es). Check.
Miss anything?…
EMP attack on the grid….
oh yeah, how could we forget this?
The sun is burping big time right now; they might get their Carrington event without having to lift a finger; how convenient…
and the earth's magnetic polarity is due for a change…..
Up is down…..down is up…….and right around the corner too……
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