DoJ subpoena guidelines for journalists | Confidential source agreements

[Jim Choate]

On Sat, 10 Mar 2001, Aimee Farr wrote:

> But all speech is not equal.

"Congress shall make NO law ..."

Clearly Congress isn't following it's own Constitutional directive.

> In fact, there is precedent running the other direction.

Thank you for conceeding my 'unconstitutional' point.

 (Indeed, Jim, precedent runs in the other direction for most of
> your arguments. I don't mean this disrespectfully.)

> For example, media 'is (sic)' defined as "persons who gather and 
> disseminate news on an ongoing basis as
> part of the organized, traditional, mass media."

Why is it that a STOP sign is clearly understood but 'make no law' isn't?
What is the thinking that the government has the authority to break the
law but nobody else does? How can a government which doesn't recognize or
respect its own laws be a honest government? If the government isn't
honest why should it expect anyone to conform?

> First Amendment mileage in your state may vary. 

Actually not, it will be ignored at any and every opportunity. Pretty
reliable mileage in my book.

> Nontraditional media, such
> as online collaborative media, might not receive the benefit of state shield
> statutes.

Which is clearly against 'equal protection' and 'make no law ...'.

[ a bunch of prima facia evidence the US Government is acting
extra-Constitutionaly.]

Yep, clearly the best way to protect democracy is to ignore it.

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