Re: “AT&T Inc said on Thursday a company it hired to handle the cybercast of a live concert by U.S. rock band Pearl Jam erroneously omitted lyrics criticizing U.S. President George Bush that were in a song performed by the band.

“Those lyrics in no way, shape or form, are something that should have been edited,” AT&T spokesman Michael Coe said.” the article quotes.

This IS about “something much bigger than the censorship of a rock band.”  I agree.  After which AT&T has their stoolie go out and say it was a mistake, and the OTHER companies fault.  Really, how stupid do they think people are?  (“erroneously omitted lyrics”....???)

While GW was on the campaign trail he held a rally in a nearby town.  The campaign staff denied one of the attendees admittance because he had had a Kerry/Edwards sticker on his car.  The man protested that he had just purchased the car and he had the proof.  They still wouldn’t let him in. Dumbfounded, the man called the local TV station and ended up on the local news.

This administration and his repuke congress at the time were/are totally “out there” with regards to a comment or issue they don’t like.

Mitt Romney the other day got all pissy because a radio DJ questioned him about how his religion allowed him to originally support abortion.  Mitt claimed his religion had nothing to do with his candidacy.  Really Mitt, cause I gotta tell ya, even if I were still christian, it wouldn’ta sat right with me you thinking Jesus was walking around America talking to the Native Americans.  I also don’t hear any Native Americans backing you up on that claim there, Mitt.

These “crackpots” definitely have their machinations though don’t they. Whew…

Everyone seems to be forgetting… with the exception of Qwest, all other major communications companies have agreed to comply with the current administration’s policies on Data Mining and communications interceptions (yes, AT&T, too).  Since then, Qwest has run into nothing but trouble in trying to expand its customer base while AT&T has received FCC approval for mergers that benefit the company but limit the public’s choices in communication carriers.

Is there any doubt AT&T would censor an anti-Bush message and then pretend it was an accident?  They’re trying to pretend to be all about Free Speech while towing the Bush Administration line.

We can sit here and bitch and moan about it, or debate the non-relavance of Pearl Jam or you can do something… writeAT&T and let them know you see through the thin veneer they’re trying to pull over our heads.

Sorry… my mistake.

The para that read “If I don’t like something it is MY RIGHT to say so, not to participate, to demonstrate, to writeletters to the editor, stand on the corner with a placard, to switch off, to change my patronage, etc. “

should have read…

If I don’t like somthing it is MY RIGHT to say so, TO NOT PARTICIPATE, to demonstrate, ... etc.

Got my “NOT” in the wrong place… damn those split infinitive rules!

There is NO WAY any public utility company should have the right to censor. The right to censor should belong to the INDIVIDUAL and the individual ONLY.

If I don’t like something it is MY RIGHT to say so, not to participate, to demonstrate, to writeletters to the editor, stand on the corner with a placard, to switch off, to change my patronage, etc.

I do NOT have the right to compel ANYONE else to DO any of the above, NOR do I have the right to PREVENT them the opportunity to decide for themselves.

And neither should ANY individual, company, agency, government, religion or other organization have that right in a FREE COUNTRY.

However, America has slowly, steadily become a CONDITIONALLY FREE country… you’re only free to say and do what the government determines is appropriate. It’s only a hop, skip and jump now to totalitarianism, dictatorship and oppression.

It’s OK America… soon you’ll be safely and comfortably lobotomized. Most citizens will become functionaries… servants of the government, the rich, the power mad. The few who refuse to cooperate “will be taken care of quietly.”

Americans think the Taliban are the “bad guys.” The difference is only a matter of degree.

Enjoy! (For those who want to know how the story ends, just read your history books. It’s an old, old story.)

i wanted to keep 2 separate thoughts from co-mingling, hence this second posting. i make an effort to never attack others no matter how stupid i believe them to be. MANGEMEISTER used this article to attack a band he clearly doesn’t like. he clearly missed the point. this is blatant censorship. it doesn’t have jack shit to do with whether the band is hackneyed,washed up or mediocre. being 60 years old i am barely aware of this group and most likely their day has passed. irrelevant. they had something to say and at&t, like bill oreilly cut off their mike.

this week marks the end of my 2 year contract with cingular, recently acquired by at&t. my house phone has been with bellsouth forever. no more. i have dumped bellsouth. monday i will dump cingular/at&t. if everybody refused to do business with at&t and all subsidiary companies,it would help preserve the internet. my new phone service will be WORKING ASSETS. i will be proud to help support this liberal company and the great thing; the deal i have will cost me less than i have been paying cingular/ bellsouth/at&t and working assets will not turn my phone records over to george[piece of shit] bush.

Who cares!Just another boring mainstream band with really nothing to say.“George Bush Leave This World Alone”.WOW!How original.Instead why not take on “George The Puppet’s ” Zionist masters,but I doubt this band has the intellect,or the guts.