Who are the 10?

Can someone tell me who the other 9 are? I don't know how to work the internet anymore.

I'm just curious. Does anyone here actually think that these Congress critters withdrawing support are actually against SOPA/PIPA now, as opposed to simply making motions to placate the public while they wait for the furor to die down so that SOPA/PIPA elements can be slipped into the next appropriations bill?

somedude210: If PIPA or SOPA passes, we should have /b/ start spam emailing Congresscritters who supported it.

I would LOVE to see Anonymous invade DC. That might give our government the kick in the ass it so desperately needs.

So quick question for all the Citizen's United haters.... You support this corporate protest (yes, companies are using company resources to fund an advertised campaign against PIPA/SOPA) but are against companies uses resources to fund other measures? This is the type of thing that could be regulated if CU was not decided as it was. Or are you of the belief that corruption only occurs on the campaign trail and not on the legislative trail?

somedude210: If PIPA or SOPA passes, we should have /b/ start spam emailing Congresscritters who supported it.

"Huh, a donation from an anonymous source for my support of PIPA/SOPA? Why that's so kind-OH DEAR GOD! WHY IS SHE EATING THAT? ARRRRGGGGHHH!!!"

Then get them investigated for receiving that on government servers and get them kicked out.

MyRandomName: So quick question for all the Citizen's United haters.... You support this corporate protest (yes, companies are using company resources to fund an advertised campaign against PIPA/SOPA) but are against companies uses resources to fund other measures? This is the type of thing that could be regulated if CU was not decided as it was. Or are you of the belief that corruption only occurs on the campaign trail and not on the legislative trail?

If it weren't for massive corporate control of the government we wouldn't be here in the first place. It's like someone attacking you with a knife, you wresting the knife away and holding them, and some idiot coming along and saying "HURR BET YOU'RE GLAD THEY HAD THAT KNIFE HUH"

They just can't find an omnibus appropriations bill to put it in

cousin-merle: Can someone tell me who the other 9 are? I don't know how to work the internet anymore.

Link (new window)

MyRandomName: So quick question for all the Citizen's United haters.... You support this corporate protest (yes, companies are using company resources to fund an advertised campaign against PIPA/SOPA) but are against companies uses resources to fund other measures? This is the type of thing that could be regulated if CU was not decided as it was. Or are you of the belief that corruption only occurs on the campaign trail and not on the legislative trail?

I'm glad that you are still out there shilling for the man. Don't ever change.

GAT_00: A Dark Evil Omen: [thelazygeek.com image 600x338]

FINALLY, something positive from SOPA.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: Whip count is now up to 24 opposed, from five this time last week.


/Go Internet!

So we need 40 to defeat it, basically, right? because nothing happens outside of a 60 vote majority?

MyRandomName: So quick question for all the Citizen's United haters.... This is the type of thing that could be regulated if CU was not decided as it was.

No it isn't. This protest is the equivalent of a store owner or business putting a policy statement up on their front window; or closing shop for the day due to an accident, death in the family, or personal holiday. If this was a newspaper it would be the equivalent of publishing a full page editorial on the front page. All those expressions of speech were already recognized as legitimate before the CU ruling.

What CU allowed was for anonymous corporate funding of political speech, or for example: All of the companies currently protesting, rather than simply blacking out their own pages for the day with info about their disagreement with the legislation, instead pooling their money together to buy TV and radio time to blast ads in protest of the bills without actually acknowledging their role in paying for the ads.

You know who else withdrew from PIPPA?

Orrin Hatch withdrew support for an idiotic piece of copyright legislation?

Now I've seen everything.

Could this mean something or is he just another crazy old man?

I know that my own Republican Senator, John Boozman, was one of the ones who withdrew his support. Here's the full text of his post on his Facebook page:

Over the past few weeks, the chorus of concerns over Congressional efforts to address online piracy has intensified. I can say, with all honesty, that the feedback I received from Arkansans has been overwhelmingly in opposition to the Senate bill (S.968, the PROTECT IP Act) in its current form. That is why I am announcing today that I intend to withdraw my support for the Protect IP Act.

I will have my name removed as a co-sponsor of the bill and plan to vote against it if Majority Leader Reid brings it to the floor in its current form.

The PROTECT IP Act seeks to address an issue that is of vital importance to the future of intellectual property rights in the modern era. However, the concerns regarding the unintended consequences of this particular bill are legitimate. Therefore, we should not rush to pass this bill, rather we should be working to find another solution so that the epidemic of online piracy is addressed in a manner that ensures innovation and free speech is protected. I have confidence that we can do this, but not as the PROTECT IP Act stands today.

Online piracy hinders creativity and steals jobs. Much of this criminal behavior comes from rogue websites operating in countries like Russia and China. Their ability to operate threatens American ingenuity by distributing copyrighted material free of charge. We must work to ensure that copyright holders are protected if we want to defend American ingenuity, ideas and artwork.

The goals of the Protect IP Act are commendable, but the potential for damaging unintended consequences is its major flaw. Moving forward, I will work with my colleagues, the stakeholders and the American people to find a workable solution that protects intellectual property rights while promoting an open and vibrant Internet.

I want to thank you for raising your concerns about this bill. Your voice has been heard.

Meh... I strongly disagree with most of what this particular Senator does and says in his capacity representing Arkansas... but he's got this one right - after a lot of angry phone calls and emails, I'd imagine. Let's just hope he stays consistent.

/probably too much to ask

I've emailed every congressional member backing. Do the same!;

http://projects.propublica.org/sopa/

I guess Google and Facebook slipped some of the Congressfolk some cash. I wonder if Orrin Hatch was passing out checks from Google on the floor today?

/cynical
//but fark SOPA and PIPA anyway

And guess who these Republicans who were so-sponsoring the bill are saying who's fault it was?

Yep, Democrats! Many of them who begged for Reid to hurry up this legislation are now blaming him for "rushing it through" and confusing them.


Man Republicans have no sense of responsibility ever.

So the kitchen got a bit hot for Senator Hatch and he folded like a biatch.

That's all I learned from his statement. My money is on him 100% supporting any similar, future legislation

Figures this douchebag was one of the sponsors. Orrin Hatch can go fark himself.

So basically another rat bails from a sinking ship?

Raspil: Could this mean something or is he just another crazy old man?

Yes.

The number of Democrats opposed to this fascism can be counted on one hand, without using your thumb, and fingers will be left over.

RandomExcess: The number of Democrats opposed to this fascism can be counted on one hand, without using your thumb, and fingers will be left over.

Just look at this troll. Look at it.

MyRandomName: So quick question for all the Citizen's United haters.... You support this corporate protest (yes, companies are using company resources to fund an advertised campaign against PIPA/SOPA) but are against companies uses resources to fund other measures? This is the type of thing that could be regulated if CU was not decided as it was. Or are you of the belief that corruption only occurs on the campaign trail and not on the legislative trail?

SOPA and PIPA were written by large companies in a system where you buy legislation. The only way to counter it is for other companies to throw their dollars against it, cancelling the effect of those who wrote the bills. Since their action is purely to cancel the first action, and they're not pushing their own bullshiat bills, they are merely undoing potential damage, not causing their own. This is obviously not an ideal solution, but given the current rules, it is the only realistic way to fight this.

If corporate money was kept out of politics in the first place, SOPA and PIPA quite simply wouldn't exist, so there'd be nothing to protest.

The long-term, ultimate goal of anyone against Citizen's United (and corporations running the government in general) is to fix the system, but until that happens (which would take at least years, and probably decades to accomplish), realistic short-term solutions that nullify damage are critical to keep the more harmful corps in check.

MyRandomName: So quick question for all the Citizen's United haters.... You support this corporate protest (yes, companies are using company resources to fund an advertised campaign against PIPA/SOPA) but are against companies uses resources to fund other measures? This is the type of thing that could be regulated if CU was not decided as it was. Or are you of the belief that corruption only occurs on the campaign trail and not on the legislative trail?

Are the corporations doing the protest anonymous?

/derp

Remember folks, Orrin Hatch is one of the worst media industry whores in Congress. He was the primary sponsor for the Copyright Term Extension Act (aka, Sonny Bono Act; 1998) and the Inducing Infringement of Copyrights Act (aka, INDUCE Act; 2004), as well as being a co-sponsor for the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (aka, COICA; 2010).

COICA would have allowed the US Attorney General to seize DNS domains of supposed copyright infringers. The INDUCE Act would have allowed confiscation of property for supposed copyright infringers, as well as reversing rights granted under the Sony Betamax suit. The Sonny Bono Act extended copyrights to life + 70 years for individuals and 120 years for corporate authors.

Orrin Hatch is a very dangerous man. He's pulling his support for this bill simply because the heat is on. However, he firmly believes that copyright should be for infinity minus one day and that copyright violators are about as bad as bank robbers. He will support a similar bill in the future.

Orrin Hatch needs to be voted out. Donate to his opponents if you can.

I'm glad both of my senator's are not (currently) supporting this bill. Cardin went "Oh...wait" earlier and Milkulski is listening but hasn't done anything concrete. Better than nothing, I suppose. I think PIPA's going to die for now.

It'll be back later, but I think we're winning for now.

violentsalvation:
I love how you make this partisan while the SOPA shiat itself crosses the aisle and does a tap dance. If they are for it, you know someone is throwing them some money, and they are bought and paid for. If they vote for it, they don't represent you, vote them out, regardless of political affiliation.

I enjoy asking Tea Party caucus members about this even though I'm Republican. They want to be for smaller government, this is a good time to show it.