Exactly, DW, and I think this proposed legislation is a disturbing variation of the old Sedition act of 1798, just given new 21st century “clothing.” In other words, these legislators want ANY criticism of government or government officials STIFLED. And what better way to do that than to remove their privacy and have them jailed. That’s how this new proposed legislation comes across to me. I could be mistaken on this point, but I doubt it.

Tim Couch should call i-SAFE (www.isafe.org). They are a Congressionally funded non-profit teaching students, parents, and seniors how to be safe on the internet. This is a MUCH BETTER solution.

But what about vigilante threats against the marine and his family? And what happens when the press basically turns into ISN from Babylon 5 (as it has, with some exceptions, since bush arrived on the scene)? Valerie Plame’s identity was exposed by several reporters who willingly allowed themselves to be used by cheney to silence a critic of the war. Those reporters should have refused to report that story without a completely open attribution of sources. And people whose lives are ruined by false reporting should have some recourse.

I don’t know how to juggle all these competing issues. I’d like to hear suggestions.