Gimp, if his statements about wanting to "loosen up" the libel laws don't give you pause for concern, then I don't know what to say. It's his mindset that concerns me. A mindset that he "would" do something that imperils the freedom of the press, among other things. What kind of conservative or Constitutionalist would say that?
Again, I don't call him a conservative or constitutionalist yet you keep saying that, then saying you didn't say that, when I call you on it.
Is he more conservative than ANYONE on the Democrat side, hell yes he is. Is he more conservative than Cruz? No. I never said it, I don't think he is. And I don't fucking care.
I actually think our press does get away with far too much bullshit, in particular when writing about political figures anywhere to the right of Che Gueverra, it is one of the primary complaints we on the right have had for decades.
Liberal bias has been a fact in our media since Walter fracking Conkrite, perhaps longer, but it has reached a fever pitch over the past couple decades, the pinnacle (or depths) being the treatment of George W. Bush by the entire media. And with opinion masquerading as news with no clean break it gets stickier and stickier.
Trump didn't say 'don't say or print things that aren't nice', he didn't say 'don't say or print things that aren't flattering', he didn't say 'don't say or print things he doesn't like', he said don't say or print things that are wrong, that are not true - big fucking difference and if you don't or won't see or understand that then there really is nothing else to say on this topic.
Look, just admit it - you are unwilling to give the guy a fair shake about anything. He isn't a big C Conservative, didn't work; he is too unpolished, didn't work; he has no details, didn't work; he is Hitler, or Mussolini, didn't work; he is an authoritarian, didn't work; he beats up women reporters, didn't work; ummm, he has thin skin and is against the 1st Amendment, no. Just keep throwing shit at the wall to see if anything will stick.
I think the Brits have libel and defamation far more correctly defined than we do, it clearly does not keep the UK press from criticizing their power elite but it does keep things more fact based and better researched.
Demanding responsibility from the media with respect to political reporting in general and in terms of libel in particular is a start to regaining some semblance of an even discourse in my opinion. It is along the same lines as loser-pays and tort reform, needed changes that are foundational to bringing personal responsibility back to a profession that has totally lost its compass - see Gawker verdict to Hulk Hogan.
I knew there was no purpose to reply to Jeff's post, all it begets is more of the same shit. I actually almost deleted this. You guys can't be even be remotely fair to the guy, which is fine. You're not changing any minds and clearly neither am I, so be it.
'Gimp