A “Protect Texas Kids” protest this week was attacked by counter-protesters outside of the location of a planned drag show that would reportedly involve children. The incident was caught on videotape and shows how Antifa routinely, even cavalierly, resorts to violence to silence those with opposing views. Any doubt as to their association from their signature black outfits and tactics was dispensed by this picture clearly showing the Antifa flag.
Despite the denial of its existence by figures like Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.), I have long written and spoken about the threat of Antifa to free speech on our campuses and in our communities. This includes testimony before Congress on Antifa’s central role in the anti-free speech movement nationally.
The video shows a small number of members of “Protect Texas Kids” assembling across the street when Antifa arrives in their typical black clothing, helmets and tactical vests. Some of the Antifa members were also carrying handguns and long guns.
About 12:50 p.m., a person later identified as Samuel Fowlkes, 20, approached the protesters with two other counterprotesters. After engaging them briefly, the protesters were sprayed with mace. In another signature move, Fowlkes then tries to flee after refusing to stop as other Antifa members obstruct police officers including Christopher Guillott, 33, who is seen swinging an umbrella at officers.
Meghan Grant, 37, is also shown charging past officers to join Fowlkes and Guillot before screaming at the law enforcement officials.
It is an all-too-familiar scene for those of us who have followed Antifa for years on our campuses or in political riots.
As I have written, it has long been the “Keyser Söze” of the anti-free speech movement, a loosely aligned group that employs measures to avoid easy detection or association. Yet, FBI Director Chris Wray has repeatedly pushed back on the denials of Antifa’s work or violence. In one hearing, Wray stated “And we have quite a number — and “Antifa is a real thing. It’s not a fiction.”
Some Democrats have played a dangerous game in supporting or excusing the work of Antifa. Former Democratic National Committee deputy chair Keith Ellison, now the Minnesota attorney general, once said Antifa would “strike fear in the heart” of Trump. This was after Antifa had been involved in numerous acts of violence and its website was banned in Germany. His own son, Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison, declared his allegiance to Antifa in the heat of the protests this summer. During a prior hearing, Democratic senators refused to clearly denounce Antifa and falsely suggested that the far right was the primary cause of recent violence. Likewise, Joe Biden has dismissed objections to Antifa as just “an idea.”
It is at its base a movement at war with free speech, defining the right itself as a tool of oppression. That purpose is evident in what is called the “bible” of the Antifa movement: Rutgers Professor Mark Bray’s Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.
Bray emphasizes the struggle of the movement against free speech: “At the heart of the anti-fascist outlook is a rejection of the classical liberal phrase that says, ‘I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’”
Bray admits that “most Americans in Antifa have been anarchists or antiauthoritarian communists… From that standpoint, ‘free speech’ as such is merely a bourgeois fantasy unworthy of consideration.” It is an illusion designed to promote what Antifa is resisting “white supremacy, hetero-patriarchy, ultra-nationalism, authoritarianism, and genocide.” Thus, all of these opposing figures are deemed fascistic and thus unworthy of being heard.
Bray quotes one Antifa member as summing up their approach to free speech as a “nonargument . . . you have the right to speak but you also have the right to be shut up.”
Watch this video. This is Antifa.
Turley also omits the fact that the Protect Texas Kids group is deliberately and falsely claiming that the drag shows they are protesting are catering to children when in fact they are not. The majority of those shows are advertised as adult oriented and Protect Texas Kids oftentimes implies children are present at such shows because the shows don’t expressly say they are adult oriented. They are assuming there are always children present without verifying it and harassing the event organizers and venues on the assumption that there will be children at these shows.
“Ahead of the Jan. 14 event, the anti-LGBTQ organization Protect Texas Kids began posting online about the weekly drag brunch at BuzzBrews, suggesting that, because the neighborhood restaurant did not explicitly ban children, organizers were catering to children and, thus, grooming them for sex.”
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/24/texas-drag-protests-children/
“Threats and harassment ensued. The bar owners were accused of pedophilia. A protest was organized. And Veronica Olivo, a friend of one of the drag performers, decided to go in solidarity with her two preteens as a form of counterprotest.
“I told them that we were going to an art performance where the guys dress up like girls, and that you might hear some dirty jokes,” she said with a laugh. “They were like, ‘Well, you do that at home anyway.’”
They were the only kids at the show.
Outside, outraged protesters called their mom and other patrons “child groomers” and “pedophiles” — with little appreciation for the irony that their protest was the only reason kids were inside.”
It’s these extremists groups, small offended groups stoking fear and paranoia about drag shows and using children being groomed as pretext to stop these shows that often don’t allow children in the first place. It’s essentially crazed evangelical christians losing their minds over their own conspiracy theories and using that hysteria to infringe on the free speech rights of others. Turley seems to be either ignorant or oblivious to that fact. So he uses ANTIFA as an excuse to deflect from the truth behind these “protests”, they are anti-free speech movements by conservatives using children as a pretext.
ANTIFA is getting involved precisely because of that BS. Not because they are merely there to cause trouble. What makes things worse for opponents of these drag shows which are not proven to be in the presence of children is the sight of ANTIFA members being openly armed…in Texas. Which may be a conflicting sight for most Texans since they are all about supporting the 2nd amendment. Armed ANTIFA members are harder to intimidate than unarmed ones and they can’t do anything about it. Which I think adds to their frustration.
A few ANTIFA members who were NOT armed losing control of their emotions and using umbrellas and shouting insults can hardly be considered violence. It’s notable that the ones who were armed were the ones who kept their cool.
If ANTIFA is doing such “noble work”, why do they show up with helmets/masks covering their faces? Oh, I know. Deep down they are just cowards.
18feathers, why not? The Proud boys do the same thing. They love their military gear. I don’t see anyone complaining about it. Mockery would be appropriate as well as for the ANTIFA members.
“Turley also omits the fact that the Protect Texas Kids group is deliberately and falsely claiming that the drag shows they are protesting are catering to children when in fact they are not.”
Turley is ignoring that for two reasons – it is irrelevant, and it is false.
TPK is perfectly free to be misguided in their protest.
But they were not.
YOU have admitted that people were bringing children to adult entertainment.
I beleive YOU cited a statistic that 25% of these events are not sexual. That means 75% are.
Your own claimed facts demonstrate that TPK’s claims were TRUE.
“The majority of those shows are advertised as adult oriented and Protect Texas Kids oftentimes implies children are present at such shows because the shows don’t expressly say they are adult oriented. ”
While you are incorrect about the facts – that is irrelevant – as TPK is free to not merely imply but outright say whatever they wish.
It is called free speech. It includes the right to be incorrect. Fro which you should be thankful or you would have been banned from speaking for life long ago.
“Threats and harassment ensued. The bar owners were accused of pedophilia. ”
What threats ? What harrassment ?
If TPK made a false accusation that someone was a pedophile – sue them for defamation.
Alleged defamation is not a basis for assault.
Do you understand the total idiocy of responding to an allegedly false claim that children were comming tot he event by bringing children to the event ?
“with little appreciation for the irony that their protest was the only reason kids were inside.”
The correct word is NOT irony – it is STUPIDITY – YOURS
Each of us is responsible for our own actions.
If you take year children to a drag show – YOU are sending a message – that you thinkt hey are appropriate for your children.
if TPK said that kids were being shot at these shows – would Olivio have shot her kids to “prove them wrong” ?
I don’t call them Antifa anymore. I think Biden voters is more apt.
Antifa is allowed to do their dirty work because the Dems think it helps their cause or causes. It was fun to see that the goons got what they had coming, actually they should have been attacked with more force by the police, because they were in TX and not Portland Oregon or Seattle this time.
As an aside, this will also be true of what happens to the leftist goons acting up for kids to be mutilated in Montana right now. They leftist and trans goons think they can act with impunity in places like Montana because they have gotten away with it elsewhere, but I am guessing people like Senator (up for re-election) Jon Tester isn’t too happy with the new hero of the trans left.
Turley’s focus on ANTIFA is misguided. The only reason why ANTIFA was there as to protect the planned drag show. They’ve done that before without the violence and since it was a open carry state ANTIFA members openly carried weapons and stood guard against conservative protesters intent on disrupting the show. It was an ironic scene where those who usually support the 2nd amendment couldn’t do much about the fact that ANTIFA was legally carrying weapons and kept a defensive stance. Even police officers couldn’t do anything about it which was upsetting the protesters even more.
Turley forgets that drag show performances ARE also free speech. Republicans and conservatives are the ones who are anti-free speech in this and Turley is purposefully ignoring that because he does not support drag shows and what they represent. Using the pretext of “protecting children” from these shows ignores the one thing he or those who oppose such shows, the parents that ARE ok with their kids attending such shows. They are not as lewd or offensive as they make it out to be. They use that excuse to infringe on THEIR free speech rights because they don’t like it. Turley should be defending these performers instead of whining about ANTIFA which ironically is protecting the free speech of the performers against anti- free speech conservatives who use the “sexualization of children” as an excuse. Whatever happened to parental rights and all that jazz? Parents clearly are ok with letting their children attend these shows if there are children present. The “small government/keep government off our backs” crowd sure wants to impose their “big government” moral superiority ideals on everyone that does not comport to THEIR moral ideals. That is when the whole idea of “personal liberty” and “parental rights” are thrown right out the window. Because they are offended that others can exercise those ideals too. Not just the way they want it.
Svelaz, two points: 1) nice job defending Antifa, it proves who and what you are, and 2) your claiming that drag shows are “free speech” begs the question, can children go to strip clubs? If not, why not? Your equating drag shows for adults with twerking men having kids put dollar bills in their crotch is a laughable lie, but of course what is a lie to a Democrat operative?
HullBobby,
Well said.
Who in their right mind would defend the perversion of grown men, dressed as women, then performing sexual acts in front of 6 year olds?
18 and older shows? Have at it.
Six year olds? Groomer.
“ Svelaz, two points: 1) nice job defending Antifa, it proves who and what you are,”
It proves that I can provide a different perspective.
“ your claiming that drag shows are “free speech” begs the question, can children go to strip clubs? If not, why not?”
Drag shows AND stripping at strip clubs are both performances which ARE protected free speech activity. You are not required of attend either. Right?
Drag shows don’t involve nudity, but certainly in the adult only shows more revealing outfits. Strip clubs which ARE an entirely different performance as YOU should know involve deliberate sexual acts. Which a are legal still but restricted to adults for obvious reasons. Drag shows are not always as provocative as the prudes and squeamish conservatives portray them and many are actually family oriented. Burlesque shows in Branson Missouri ARE family oriented are they not?
Banning drag shows because people making false claims about what they do and show and involve children is a free speech violation. Some parents are ok with letting their children attend a drag show they KNOW is not adult oriented. But those who don’t make an effort to learn the distinction between really adult shows and those that are more mild are grouping all drag shows as indecent and banning them for no other reason than that they are uncomfortable with the idea and they have convinced themselves through their own paranoid delusions that children are being ‘sexualized” by these events.
You’re using one extreme example without any context and let your dirty mind run away with all kinds of scenarios about children being exposed to these imaginary events that occur all the time in YOUR mind. That is the problem. You keep fantasizing about that more than those who actually attend the shows. Maybe it’s you who needs to do a self diagnosis and revisit your perspective on the issue.
Drag shows AND stripping at strip clubs are both performances which ARE protected free speech activity. You are not required of attend either. Right?
But there are laws banning minors, an in some locals banning any under 21
Iowan2, There are laws banning minors for a specific reason, Nudity. Drag shows often don’t show nudity, especially those that are certainly not adult oriented.
Lying about children being present at these shows and banning them because of that lie IS a violation of free speech.
Turley forgets that drag show performances ARE also free speech. Republicans and conservatives are the ones who are anti-free speech in this and Turley is purposefully ignoring that because he does not support drag shows and what they represent.
So which is it. Drag show for children isFree speech or shouting down those you disagree with is free speech?
Notice its the leftists first to show up armed. Bad decision by antifa in Texas. Or any constitutional carry state
“ So which is it. Drag show for children isFree speech or shouting down those you disagree with is free speech?”
Both are. You didn’t know that? Maybe that’s why you are so confused about the issue.
Both are. You didn’t know that?
Got it.
Raw power is the coin of realm. (your not going to like that outcome)
“Turley’s focus on ANTIFA is misguided. ”
Nope.
“The only reason why ANTIFA was there as to protect the planned drag show. ”
That is what they said they were there foe – and that is laudable.
But it has NOT actually been the truth either in this instance or the past.
Antifa is the driving force behind left wing violence accross the country
I would note that the Proud boys claims their purpose is much the to protect protestors from the violence of Antifa.
Also a laudible cause.
“They’ve done that before without the violence”
Is there violence everywhere Antifa goes all the time ? No.
Is there more violence where Antifa goes than where they do not ? Absolutely.
Is there evidence of actual right wing violence that people need protected from ? No.
Is there evidence of Antifa violence in exclusively left wing enclaves where there is no right wing presence at all ? Absolutely.
“since it was a open carry state ANTIFA members openly carried weapons and stood guard against conservative protesters”
Correct.
“intent on disrupting the show.”
There is no evidence of such intent. the TPK protestors did not attack the Drag Show. Antifa did attack the TPK protestors.
Facts matter.
“It was an ironic scene where those who usually support the 2nd amendment couldn’t do much about the fact that ANTIFA was legally carrying weapons”
The issue is NOT that Antifa was “legally carrying” – it was that they assaulted TPK protestors – a crime. And then assaulted police – a crime.
There are some very very minor gun issues – a officer repeatedly had to warn an Antifa Protestor he was arresting NOT to go for his gun, and that if he did he would be shot.
Do you think the 2nd amendment allows you to use a gun to resist a lawful arrest ?
I would suggest reiveing the 2A vlogs on Youtube. Pretty sure that you will find LOTS of 2A advocates advising people to be courteous and respectful to police and to be very very careful to anounce that they have a gun to police and to NOT do anything that a police officer might in their wildest dreams think is “going for the gun” in a police encounter much less arrest.
As a rule – those on the right involved with guns are incredibly responsible in their actions with guns.
Legal gun ownership correlates with REDUCED crime.
“and kept a defensive stance. Even police officers couldn’t do anything about it which was upsetting the protesters even more.”
Where do you get this made up narrative ?
TPK did not engage Antifa – Antifa engaged TPK. There is plenty of video of this, including drone video.
You are making a big deal about Guns -and yet Guns barely featured in this.
The TPK protestors that were assaulted – were assaulted with MACE – not guns.
Aside from one Antifa Criminal who kept moving his had towards his gun while being arrested Guns did not feature in this event.
While Antifa’s overall conduct was criminal as usual. Their behavior with Guns was at worst a minor problem
There is no backlash against Antifa owning and posessing guns, nor their legal use of guns.
All would have been perfectly fine – but for Antifa violently confronting TPK protetors and then macing them, and then violently resisting arrest and asaulting police.
Antifa – the American version of the German Brownshirts or the Italian Blackshirts.
Thanks Professor, for shining the light on these people
The “Brave, Masked, Wonderful Warriors” of Antifa ™ are supposed to be good Communists.
Can some s@@tlib or Antifa apologist explain what any of this has to do with dialetical materialism or class struggle?
I don’t remember studying the promotion of cultural degeneracy or other Antifa type activities in our Marxism classes in Cuba.
In fact, whatever their faults the government pretty much left our traditional culture, sports, writers and music alone.
I guess the Cuban authorities weren’t “real communists” but I digress and await input from my moral superiors.
antonio
OT but related
Daily Mail headline today:
“Murder rates jump another 10% in the biggest US cities since 2021: Memphis, New Orleans, Richmond, and other Dem-led cities are nation’s homicide hotspots, study shows.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html
Democrats and violence, and defense of violence, just seem to go together.
I remember when Barry Goldwater caught holy hell in the 1964 Presidential campaign for his statement that “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue”. Maybe they should pursue extremism in the pursuit of protecting Texas children ? Just a thought.
Gee Wiz, everyone wants to go on and on about Carlson….Strange, in that nobody has any facts to add to any discussion. Everyone is using this as a blank canvas to assign all sort of meanings that support their personal views.
We need to take a much broader view of what is going on.
I think the law fare being waged is a bigger deal. the DoJ and local prosecutors going after political adversaries of the Democrat Part. Aided by Judges, allowing or denying legal tactics that always benefits the left. Tuckers producer that is suing him for harrassement, never ever met the man.
The absence of facts in all of this is the bigger story.
The cancelling of free speech at all levels….IS a big story. It’s not the fun and games of palace intrigue, but vastly more important.
Who approved any facts? However, those who control the narrative, choose the “experts” and/or select the MSM stories have a lot of power.
Charlotte,
Not really.
Earlier this year I was at a family get together at a AirBNB. Turned on the TV and there was Morning Joe. After two nauseating minutes, I turned the channel.
That was the first and hopefully last time I will ever have to see it.
Your OPINION, IMO wishful thinking (as I don’t like to offend you & those who support your takes)
Facts aren’t appoved, they a proven.
It is a trademark fascist tactic to send thugs to prevent others from speaking feely. Evidently the organization opposes itself.
Why so much about Tucker Carlson and free speech? Fox is not the government, nor is it an agent of the state. That he got fired was an employment matter, not a “free speech” matter.
Tucker speaks his mind and is one of the few voices out there not beholden to the regime. He will pop up again and have a huge audience. Joe Rogan is widely known but he has his own show not on a cable news program, and Tucker will do likewise (in my opinion).
Lot of national attention for an “employment matter”. Maybe much more than “threat of Antifa to free speech on our campuses and in our communities.” Just saying
Why do Free Speech Advocates Professor Jonathan Turley & Tucker Carlson choose such a different approach to their passionate subject?
1. Professor’s last three column topics:
* Antifa Attacks “Protect the Kids” Protest Against Drag Show
* The American Cultural Revolution: Whitworth Students Bar Survivor of Maoist China from Speaking
* Michigan Students Sue After Being Forced to Remove “Let’s Go Brandon” Sweatshirts
2. Tucker Carlson’s three main takes [1] after the removal of his voice from Fox News:
* The iron-law of the universe: True things prevail (When honest people say what’s true they become powerful. At the same time the liars that have been trying to silence them, shrink, they become weaker).
* Message controller appartus is afraid given up persuasion, they are resorting to force
* GOP & DEM participating in fraud and pretending
He ended his 2:16 minute monologue: “See you soon”
https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1651376097349578753 (13.1M views at time of posting)
And if you type Antifa.com into your browser it STILL redirects you to whitehouse.gov
WARNING – Do not “type Antifa.com into your browser” Don’t do This.
It records your I.P. Address and Device Mac Address.
The intel community already has the addresses of every poster on this board.
You should know – Mr. Deep State
Oh Yeah. Four more Years – Riiiiiiiiiiight –
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Biden+gaffes
paid Democrat Terrorists
Watching that video, I am surprised the violence did not escalate greater.
At some point in the near future, someone is going to do something very stupid.
True. The first arrestee kept yelling help. He’s trying to agitate more confrontation.
The Progressive Brownshirts who do the most violent damage, but get away with it all, because they are doing the job that Progressive politicians want them to, to divide and conquer…
An advertisement for moving to Texas.
Yes, I agree. A great video showing Texas law enforcement protecting citizens from roaming bands of thugs.
Iowan2,
I noted something watching that video: Only three or four of the thugs actually engaged in violence.
The rest just stood around.
Perhaps they are just cosplaying?
I guess, but when they tried walking him and he picked up his legs-I would have dropped him on his back and dragged him leg-first! But its a start.
How anyone can doubt that there is a concerted effort to overthrow our way of life, is beyond me. My husband talks about what this country will be like in 20 years. How about try 2 years? We think we are invincible here- think again. People in history have literally woken up to tanks in their streets and the locks on the bank doors- all taking place overnight. Be prepared.
Professor Turley, in all your touting of free speech, you have yet to address the issue of Tucker Carlson’s summary dismissal from Fox News – for his speech. He did not toe Murdoch’s party line, and got canned for it.
Why? Have you been warned to steer clear of commenting on this, which is a free speech issue of national interest? Or Rupert spank?
To rant on and on and on about “free speech” as Professor Turley has done for SO many years, defending the most extreme sorts of speech as a matter of basic human rights as well as BEST POLICY compared with silencing people and their honestly-believed statments and opinions, and to then remain silent on the Murdoch media firing of Tucker Carlson seems to me to be a case of Professor Turley being “hoist with his own (rhetorical) petard.”
“… Let it work,
For ’tis the sport to have the engineer
Hoist with his own petard; and ’t shall go hard …”
______________________Hamlet, Act III Scene 4
How is one to digest Professor Turley’s silence in the face of Carlson’s silencing by Murdoch media, after so many years of having to swallow the Professor’s rhetoric about free speech? Certainly Carlson wasn’t silenced for offering unpopular opinions or for failing to generate massive income for Murdoch.
Silencing Carlson for ideological reasons is what one would expect from Russian or Chinese or North Korean media. I guess Murdoch shares more ideology in common with those governments than he would like to have scrutinized by the average Fox viewer/reader.
Since Thomas Friedman trumpeted some years back that the Chinese had “got it right” on the subject of speech, the left, from the centrists to the hardcore ctrl-left (the aptest analogue to the epithet ‘alt-right’) have taken that maxim and run with it.
They all claim to sympathize with socialism, the three countries you mention all are socialist or have recent roots in socialist practices. The left longs for these – they cover it with fuzzy dreams of utopia, but they fool only themselves, if the deception is even that successful.
We have swallowed (though we really didn’t HAVE to) Professor Turley’s beating the free speech drum for years, though, and the drum’s silence in this particular instance screams volumes as to his genuine commitment to it. Or, rather, the lack.
Every remaining personality working for Murdoch media — Fox, NY Post, and WSJ — will be permanently branded as being worse than a coward for not following Carlson out the door.
Antifa would approve of this comment.
Bite me, troll.
Ellen Evans: You are ay off base. No one — not even Tucker, as he has actually said — knows the reason for his firing. If you want speculation, read any other source, because there’s plenty floating around. If you want facts, wait for some. Your caricatures of free speech only tell us that you really aren’t interested in it as much as you are in taking a dig at Turley.
Ralph de Minimis: Even Tucker hasn’t spoken out about his firing yet — so no one yet knows the actual reasons and there are about 7 “theories” floating around. Turley will speak when he has the facts, because unlike the blabbermouths, he bases his opinions on actual facts.
LOL LOL LOL — Did Turley appoint you as his spokesman, or are you an unappointed volunteer, or perhaps a paid employee?
Meanwhile, there are plenty of facts out there. — “clues” you might say. People familiar with Carlson know some of them. People familiar with some of Carlson’s associates also know some of them.
https://rumble.com/v2k86j4-system-update-show-77.html
And people ALSO know that Turley is employed by Murdoch media, which just fired Carlson, and a LOT is known about Murdoch media. I, myself, have well over 200,000 upvotes at the Fox website alone, though in the last 6 months or more Fox has regularly shadow-banned a ridiculous number of my comments and sent others, like you, to attack my comments at its dishonest website.
There are MANY things that COULD be said about how all of this transpired, and waiting for ALL of the facts is something that Turley almost NEVER does. He comments on pending and even POTENTIAL litigation regularly. He comments on media and political controversies all the time. Go back and research Professor Turley’s articles from 2017 or 2018 when he was singing the praises of since-convicted multiple-felon Michael Avenatti, and then tell me about how he waits for all of the facts before publishing his opinions or analyses.
It’s not unreasonable for a person to suspect that Turley doesn’t want to bite one of the hands that feeds him, or that there might be a contractual clause that PREVENTS him from opining about Murdoch or at the very least controls such opinions.
Turley has also used hired “commenter(s)” at this website that jump to his defense and viciously attack anyone that dares to question his statements or lack of statements. Some of these hired commenters have been here a LONG time and have admitted to being hired to influence the comment section. Others have not openly admitted to it but can be reasonably inferred as being paid commenters based upon the similarity of their actions compared with known hired commenters from the past.
This is NOT news — probably not to you and certainly not to a few recognizable names in the comment section. The expression is “modus operandi.” Professor Turley can tell you what that means.
This fraudulent website isn’t posting my reply to your nonsense. Turley is BIG on free speech in his paid articles, but doesn’t think too much of it when it comes to free speech at his own website.
Ah, Tucker Carlson’s firing wasn’t about his content on his show, it was about the fact that in his text messages that were released during the Dominion case was disparaging to the Murdoch family. So, it wasn’t a free speech issue.
Here is an idea: Perhaps the whole Carlson dismissal from Fox is way above the good professor’s pay grade, and he is not privy to anymore information than the rest of us know.
Or, like me, he just does not care.
I did watch the video that Carlson released last night. I think it is the third time in my life I have watch Tucker Carlson. I do not like him, nor do I hate him.
However, with everything he said, I have to agree with.
Correction: After watching the video, I think I might like him a little bit. In the mean time, I will wait and see if he may be worth following in the future.
I have not followed Tucker Carlson closely; however, I have read enough and watched just enough to believe 1) he speaks as he thinks, and 2) he CAN think. He even calls himself out on his own mistakes, which is a refreshing contrast to most soi-disant ‘journalists.’
Perhaps Professor Turley has no ‘inside’ information; perhaps he indeed does not care. But he does profess to care about free speech, and I believe this is an intance of silencing speech. Turley often has no ‘inside’ information as to the topics of his posts, but he opines on them anyway. I will reiterate that his refusal to so much as touch upon this is telling. He must want those Murdoch $$$$ badly.
The delay — if delay is all it turns out to be — is most curious. Free speech is a topic that Turley usually seems ready to address the way a bull instantly goes after the waving of a red scarf, even in the most remote and seemingly-inconsequential locations, such as at schools that most of us have never heard of until they make the news for reasons having little to do with education.
I guess it’s a different thing to offer opinions about free speech in the remote world of spoiled and ignorant campus life compared with actively defending free speech out in the unsheltered real world.
Ellen Evans: You’re going to look as stupid as you actually come across when Turley does respond. Intelligent people don’t “shoot from the hip.” They wait until they get some facts before they open their mouths. Something you have yet to learn.
Do you have proof or evidence of him wanting money badly?
Professor Turley is also a professor at GWU.
He is invited (likely paid) for speaking engagements.
He also writes for The Hill, The New York Post and USA Today.
Again, do you have evidence?
Or are you just speculating?
Upstatefarmer, Turley is a lawyer. He doesn’t offer advise or opinions for free.
Ellen Evans: Turley waits for facts. So far, we have none. I too believe that Carlson was fired to silence him, and Kennedy, and Trump. But that’s speculation at this point. I’m sure Turley will speak when he has a more substantial base than just speculation.
Tucker had a contract. FOX bought it out. How much discussion do you require?
iowan2: I don’t think Ellen Evans or the other guy give a fig about the issue — they clearly weren’t followers of Carlson. But they do want an excuse to bash Turley, and that’s why they rant mindlessly. Creepy opportunists.
You’re a fraud and a liar, and no decent webstie would permit you to post that libelous trash.
Fox News, can do whatever it wants with it’s employees. Apparently Tucker was bad mouthing management and kept a hostile work environment on his show. Murdoch had plenty of reason to fire him. With the ongoing defamation suits and the possibility of another massive settlement Tucker is expendable. It’s not a free speech issue, it’s a financial one. They are cutting loose their liabilities and Tucker is one of the bigger ones.
As you say Fox can do what it please.
But all the evidence is that this was a very bad Choice for Fox.
If the Data I have seen is correct – Fox ratings – accross the board have dropped by Nearly HALF.
Fox Market Cap Dropped 3 times as much from the anouncement of Carlson’s departure as from the DVS Settlement.
Carlson not only had the highest ratings in Cable News, but his show brought viewers to other Fox Shows.
Fox is still clobbering the rest of the MSM combined – but not in the completely dominant fashion it did before.
There are already indications that the financial costs of losing Carlson will dwarf the DVS settlement.
Newsmax is already courting Carlson – purportedly offering him control of the entire channel.
Further Newsmax, and OAN and Epoch Times are seeing their viewers double.
YOU do not seem to grasp that ultimately the free markets – that is ordinary people voting their values everyday by the choices such as what the watch and what they buy are the ultimate and most consequential regulator and measure of choices.
Ordinary people – the free market – will get what they want – constrained only by what it is possible to provide them – absent the use of FORCE by government to control.
Fox has had a very bad week and those of you on the left are celebrating – under the misguided beleif that you have effectuated some meaningful change.
You have not. People CHOSE to watch Fox, to watch Carlson – no one forced them to. Destroying Fox – from within or without will not alter the FACT that Fox viewers wanted what they were given – and will merely go elsewhere to find it.
All this accomplishes is pushing people further to independent journalism.
Following the same theme. Disney is purportedly closing some 700+ disney stores in malls throughout the country – they are losing money.
Walmart is closing stores in violent cities accross the country.
Target is installing more and more locked cabinets to reduce shoplifting.
Starbucks is closing large numbers of stores in areas of risking crime.
Two things are occuring concurrently.
Storefront retail is taking a big hit,
And stores are leaving the minority areas with high crime and riots.
J6 did not disrupt the US economy, It did not decrease the options for poor and minority americans.
Bad Covid public policies have and continues to. Bad policy changes regarding policing and law enforcement are negatively impacting the poorest communities in this country. Rioting and looting are negatively impacting those same places.
AHB Sales are down 17% Coors and Miller are up by similar amounts.
In Jan 2021 Inflation was 1.4% and growth was 6%. Today Growth is below 1% and inflation is 6%.
The average american family has lost 7500 in real income since Biden took office.
And the prospects are bleak. Inflation is stubbornly resisting Fed efforts to bring it down further.
Average growth since Biden took office is back down to Obama levels – the Biden adming 2+ year average is now 1.6% – the same is Obama, and just above HALF growth under Trump
No one is predicting increased growth anytime soon. Most “experts” are predicting a global recession.
We are also in the midst of a global political and economic realignment that will diminish the importance of the US.
The only good news is that Russia and China are likely losers too.
All this on top of a long littany of other Woes that result from the stupid excercises of power by the left over the past 2 years.
I have no idea what will happen to Carlson or Fox. But there is a clear market for what Fox is runnign away from – and one way or the other that market will get what it wants.
Conversely – whether Fox or Carlson thrive int eh Future – the rest of the MSM is not getting a boon from this.
It is self evident the market for Carlson and what Fox WAS providing is enormous. While the market for left wing nut pablum is diminishing.
Tucker Carlson was fired because he was bad mouthing management and calling female co-workers c*%ts. I’d say that is a good reason to fire someone. He’s just another lawsuit waiting to happen and Fox News seems to have developed an aversion to spending hundreds of millions on settlements. One $787 million settlement is enough to become more risk averse to peddling lies it seems.