SOPA vote is now December 21 • Hacker News Board

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#41

Post by thebigshane » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 4:19 PM UTC

exDM69 wrote: post #17

r00fus wrote: post #3

So the delay is just to put it under the radar while everyone is off on Holiday break? Devious.

This is a classic dirty trick in politics. Organize an unpopular vote when a lot of the voters have left for xmas holidays. Just make sure there's a majority left when the vote is on. As an example: the federal reserve act was established in the same way on the days before xmas when a lot of the opposition had already left for holidays. Since it's holiday season, the news will be a lot quieter than usual and the publ…

It seems to me like the opponents (there are only a few anyway) in the House are just as eager to attend this vote as the proponents. So perhaps I am missing the deviousness?

Plus, since more people are at home during the holidays, wouldn't more people actually be watching the news?

(I'm not saying there isn't a well funded conspiracy to get this bill passed at any means possible, but it seems that we may be seeking out things to get angry about)

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#42

Post by mkr-hn » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 4:25 PM UTC

OstiaAntica wrote: post #19

It is ironic that the "creative" film and music industry has become a leading force in suppressing speech and innovation.

The artists being represented by these lobbying groups are probably just as ignorant of the consequences as the legislators.

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#43

Post by Stwerner » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 4:34 PM UTC

The data is freely available of the amount of money raised by different members of congress, right? I've got an idea for a little mashup to try to raise money against the backers of this bill.

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#44

Post by mckoss » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 4:44 PM UTC

steve-howard wrote: post #11

redthrowaway wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's counting on the Republicans selecting someone crazy enough to bring out his disenfranchised base, and it might just happen. Still, Newt will quickly calm down after the primaries. He is many things, few of them good, but an idiot is not one of them. He won't say anything too crazy and risk scaring up support for Obama. This election could go either way, and quite frankly I don't give a damn. I tried the Hope thi…

I sincerely hope Newt doesn't come anywhere close to being our president. He's set a new bar for hypocrisy.

too late :-(

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#45

Post by abeppu » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 5:04 PM UTC

albertsun wrote: post #38

There is exactly one bit of news in this story. "The panel later scheduled a vote for Wednesday, December 21."

Thursday and Friday morning, the sad, small opposition (Lofgren, Issa, Polis & Chaffetz) did a good job of slowing down the markup process. One frequently repeated suggestion was that since it was likely that the markup would continue past the holiday recess and need to be resumed in January anyways, that they may as well take the time to convene a hearing where actual tech experts could respond.

Does anyone know, procedurally will it be possible for Lofgren et al to prevent or delay an actual vote in the committee, or is Smith with his large support able to force the matter? I suppose, if worst comes to worst, the four opposing committee members could each agree to impugne the integrity of each of the others, obstinately refuse to revise their words in the record, take a break to consult with a parliamentarian, and then relent.

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#46

Post by skymt » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 5:13 PM UTC

teresko wrote: post #16

Someone in CBS News site's comments pointed out an interesting thing: there were already two bill like that. "Communications Decency Act" and "Child Online Protection Act", which both were tossed out by Supreme Court.

Both of those bills attempted to create new restrictions on speech. SOPA simply creates new censorship measures against forms of speech that are already illegal.

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#47

Post by acabal » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 5:42 PM UTC

ck2 wrote: post #12

There must be serious money to be made - or rather already made for the representatives plowing this through - there is simply no other explanation. Money is definitely deep in pockets. Looking at the "donation" list it's to both sides of the aisle and HUGE amounts, these aren't little $10k donations but $100k and even $1M I am starting to understand the fall of Rome a little better.

I just don't understand how with this bill being so clearly bought by the rich media companies, why there isn't a counter from the rich internet companies. I mean if the RIAA can give $1 million to Senator X, then why can't Google give $2 million to Senator X to ignore the RIAA? Sure it's dirty politics, but at this point it's just semantics as to who is dirtier.

The media companies are throwing money at Washington to get their laws passed, and the best Google or MS or Yahoo can do is send some representatives and give those uncaring congressmen a stern talking-to? Obviously these companies realize that SOPA will crush an open internet, which is directly related to their bottom lines. Start lobbying already!

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#48

Post by mynameishere » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 5:47 PM UTC

tomjen3 wrote: post #22

ck2 wrote: post #12

There must be serious money to be made - or rather already made for the representatives plowing this through - there is simply no other explanation. Money is definitely deep in pockets. Looking at the "donation" list it's to both sides of the aisle and HUGE amounts, these aren't little $10k donations but $100k and even $1M I am starting to understand the fall of Rome a little better.

We won't have a situation like the Fall of Rome before we have accepted violence as a means of political change. What killed Rome wasn't just the corruption but the fall of the Gracie brothers. You can't have Marius and Sulla without that. No Sulla, no Cesar, no fall of Rome. And while we are at it, there are no barbarian hordes that can ever invade the US -- unless you count those in the backwater areas of the flyov…

Rome fell partly because the treasures stopped coming in from conquest. And the US is being invaded faster than any other country in history, to the best of my knowledge. It's odd that so many people are unaware of this. Had 1-2 millions entered Rome every year, as with the US currently, it wouldn't have taken centuries to fall. This is just math of course--people differ in their judgements.

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#49

Post by shutej » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 5:48 PM UTC

acabal wrote: post #47

ck2 wrote: post #12

There must be serious money to be made - or rather already made for the representatives plowing this through - there is simply no other explanation. Money is definitely deep in pockets. Looking at the "donation" list it's to both sides of the aisle and HUGE amounts, these aren't little $10k donations but $100k and even $1M I am starting to understand the fall of Rome a little better.

I just don't understand how with this bill being so clearly bought by the rich media companies, why there isn't a counter from the rich internet companies. I mean if the RIAA can give $1 million to Senator X, then why can't Google give $2 million to Senator X to ignore the RIAA? Sure it's dirty politics, but at this point it's just semantics as to who is dirtier. The media companies are throwing money at Washington t…

How to say this without trolling?

This isn't the RIAA's country, it's not Google's country, it's not Microsoft's country, and it's not Yahoo's country. It's our country. Until we, the people, accept our responsibilities and stop this from happening, it will continue to happen. More corruption is not the answer.

Re: SOPA vote is now December 21

#50

Post by shutej » Sat, Dec 17, 2011, 6:17 PM UTC

ck2 wrote: post #14

orangecat wrote: post #6

Ugh. One thing I oddly haven't seen mentioned at all: if it passes, will Obama sign it? I disagree with him on many things, but he's not stupid, and given his support base there have to be some geeks close to him that can explain how awful it is. Of course, his support base also includes Hollywood...

Obama likes to be the "stern and discipline" "law & order father figure" which is what sucks in some of the independents that are more right leaning. As a progressive I could not be more disappointed in him for so many reasons. The left keeps going back to him like the abusive partner (oh he only hit me because it was my fault really). He's going to sign this regardless of the consequences.

I am particularly upset by his failed campaign promise(s) to close Guantanamo. Friends tell me that there are "political realities" that prevent this from happening, "What if the detainees do something bad once they're freed? How would that look?" When did our ideals become props that can be abandoned when the popularity contest has been decided?