SOPA Internet Blackout: Congress is Listening

By Jeralyn, Section Legislation
Posted on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 01:09:33 PM EST
Tags: SOPA (all tags)

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Several Senators and Congresspersons have come out in opposition to SOPA and PIPA today including PIPA co-sponsor Marc Rubio.

I have decided to withdraw my support for the Protect IP Act. Furthermore, I encourage Senator Reid to abandon his plan to rush the bill to the floor. Instead, we should take more time to address the concerns raised by all sides, and come up with new legislation that addresses Internet piracy while protecting free and open access to the Internet.

Sen. Jeff Merkel:

Mark Zuckerberg comes out against SOPA on his personal FB page and got 75,000 likes in 10 minutes. It's now 45 minutes, and his post has 372,000 likes. Facebook's anti-SOPA/PIPA views are here. More blackout graphics below: [More...]

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo and the three co-founders Jack Dorsey, Ev Williams, and Biz Stone, have tweeted their opposition to SOPA and PIPA.

From Daily Kos:

You can sign here.

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SOPA Internet Blackout: Congress is Listening | 27 comments (27 topical)

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Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is publicly against (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Towanda on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 02:49:37 PM EST

SOPA, so that has got to be the party line at the core of the GOP. So I'd say that SOPA is dead.

It's interesting to me that this (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by CST on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:35:09 PM EST

is playing out this way.

Old media vs. new media.

Old media went the oldschool route, hired lobbyists, got senators on board, and were about to get a bill passed.

New media revolted and got the people to scream.

New media won this round, and I think it caught old media off guard. They thought they had this in the bag.

5 days ago I was talking to a friend about this and they didn't know what SOPA was. They do today.

And they didn't do it by hiring lobbyists.

but do they REALLY know what SOPA is about? (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:40:50 PM EST

Not that it really matters, I guess. Perception is reality, as they say...


: no (5.00 / 2) (#12)
by CST on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:44:03 PM EST

they don't
and no, it doesn't matter

Rep Bruce Braley (none / 0) (#15)
by desmoinesdem on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:53:10 PM EST

(D, IA-01) said in his statement today, "Over 800 Iowans have already contacted me expressing their opposition to SOPA, telling me it threatens free speech online." I have to believe that's way more constituent contacts than he has received on most other issues in the past year. This stuff can make a difference.


Chris Dodd, the former Democratic senator, (5.00 / 4) (#18)
by caseyOR on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 05:40:49 PM EST

is now the CEO and head lobbyist for the Motion Picture Industry of America. This fact alone explains, IMO, why so many Democrats in Congress support these bills.

Dodd is an old friend and colleague of people like Pat Leahy. And we know that politicians are more inclined to listen to lobbyists than to just about anyone else. When the lobbyists is an old friend, well, that inclination is even greater.

We know that members of Congress do not actually read the bills they vote on. They get their information on bills from staff and lobbyists. This is why former members of Congress are in such demand by lobbying firms. Their old buddies in Congress give them access and listen to what they say.

If Dodd had gone to work for Facebook instead of MPIA, well, I bet Leahy would be opposing SOPA.

And he is a disgusting unethical thieving bastard (none / 0) (#21)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 06:16:12 PM EST

Who buried the knife in my back and twisted upon taking his leave. Can't imagine what the Motion Picture Industry of America thought they were getting. I can't stand him, and with a history like his I wouldn't want him representing my organization because it can do nothing much but really really pi$$ off your customers.


: What MPIA saw in Dodd was a guy who had (5.00 / 3) (#22)
by caseyOR on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 06:20:30 PM EST

been in the Senate for 30 years, a guy who knew a whole lot of people in D.C. power positions, and a guy who seemed untroubled by any pesky scruples. You know, the ideal corporate lobbyist.

: What, you mean (5.00 / 2) (#23)
by Zorba on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 06:25:39 PM EST

Chris Dodd, the former Senator from Aetna? I can't imagine why you have any problems with him, Tracy. (/snark)

Just heard that on Young Turks (none / 0) (#25)
by ruffian on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 07:01:21 PM EST

I had no idea. Really disgusting, all the way around. It is a terrible bill, and they just swallowed it hook line ad sinker from their buddy and the money guys.

Really glad the pushback is working.


also (none / 0) (#2)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 01:12:54 PM EST

221,612 likes

thanks, I deleted your (none / 0) (#3)
by Jeralyn on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 01:24:29 PM EST

other two comments since you said you misread it.


: that I did (none / 0) (#7)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:20:42 PM EST

thanks for deleting it

Craigslist also has a graphic/petition up (none / 0) (#5)
by nycstray on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 03:00:26 PM EST

and for about a week they've had a blurb/link on their FP.

: Minecraft completely blacked out (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 08:32:21 PM EST

Josh finished his homework and thought he would play, but NOPE.

sought comment from the Iowa delegation (none / 0) (#6)
by desmoinesdem on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 03:42:06 PM EST

PIPA co-sponsor Senator Chuck Grassley is now hedging, says floor vote should be delayed until some problems are worked out with the bill. Senator Tom Harkin isn't taking a position either way yet. On the House side, I didn't hear back from two of the five Iowans. Bruce Braley (D, IA-01) released a strong statement today against SOPA. Dave Loebsack (D, IA-02) and Steve King (R, IA-05) are not taking a position either way yet. The offices of Leonard Boswell (D, IA-03) and Tom Latham (R, IA-04) did not respond to my requests for comment.

: King has to wait for word from his masters in (5.00 / 2) (#9)
by Farmboy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:32:17 PM EST

Mordor before he can take a position.

The GOP circus on this further convinces me that (none / 0) (#8)
by Farmboy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:29:51 PM EST

there ought to be a civics course for congress critters that they have to pass before they're allowed to be sworn in.

Switching positions on a bill because of public opposition is one thing. Good for you. Claiming that even scheduling a time for the Senate to vote whether or not to discuss the bill is "shoving the bill down our throats" is just ridiculous. I say vote to have the discussion, vote NO, then move on to real business. Don't waste extra time arguing over whether or not to waste time arguing.

This is why 90% of the citizenry is tired of this legislature.

It is not just (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by BTAL on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 05:11:30 PM EST

GOP Senators/Reps abandoning the bill(s).

Until they reconvene, they can waste all their time they want.

The bill(s) are nowhere near ready for prime time, yet Reid is refusing to take it off the floor schedule. Talk to him about wasting time.


: No, but it is the GOP crying the loudest against a (none / 0) (#28)
by Farmboy on Thu Jan 19, 2012 at 09:26:01 AM EST

vote to lay the bill on the table by Reid. This motion can't be debated, takes only minutes, and kills the bill for good. Boom, drop the mike, walk away. They're also against voting to not discuss the bill, because a simple no vote there makes the bill more difficult to bring back up this session.
Simply taking the bill off the floor schedule leaves it hanging fire - it could show back up as an amendment to a bill that has to pass for example, which would be bad.
But most importantly to the GOP, now that PIPA has so much public sentiment against it the last thing the GOP wants is for the Dems to get clear of it. When it comes to politics and game playing, the GOP knows this much about Senate rules. That's why I'm saying to stop wasting time - this behavior is why nobody likes congress right now.

I find this debate interesting (none / 0) (#13)
by Slado on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:48:59 PM EST

As someone with very libertarian leanings I find this whole episode as yet another sign that everything government touches is changed in some way.

Sometimes that change is small enough to make government involvement acceptable aand sometimes as in this example government cannot fix something without destroying it.

Makes me wonder how anyone thinks the government can possibly deliver healthcare.

Just saying.

well let me put it this way (5.00 / 7) (#14)
by CST on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 04:50:22 PM EST

we know that the health insurance companies can't deliver healthcare.


With the exception of the VA, the (5.00 / 4) (#17)
by Anne on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 05:28:00 PM EST

government doesn't deliver care; if you are referring to Medicare, the "government's" role is to processe payments. That is, actually, the definition of "single payer."

My husband, who is covered by the VA, goes to the VA complex to see VA-employed doctors and nurse practitioners and gets his medications at VA pharmacies. My mother, who is covered by Medicare and BC/BS, goes to see her private doctors; all Medicare does is process the claims and pay the providers.


Indeed (5.00 / 2) (#19)
by Zorba on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 05:51:57 PM EST

My father, a World War II and Korean War veteran, finally, several years before his death, started going to the VA. He was then on Medicare and had supplemental insurance, but that did not offer drug coverage. Before he went to the VA, his drugs cost him $600 per month. With the VA (because the VA actually bargained with the drug companies- imagine that!), his medications cost him $60 per month out of pocket. What many people in this country do not realize is that we are paying way more for drugs than Western Europe and Canada because all of them have some form of single-payer and bargain with the drug companies for less expensive drugs. In essence, we are subsidizing their drug coverage.
In addition, compare our health care results, infant mortality, longevity, and so on, with other westernized countries who have some form of single-payer health care. We're paying more, but we're not getting the care and results that they do.


: Tricare did not find agreement (5.00 / 0) (#20)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 06:12:49 PM EST

with Walgreens this year. Walgreens was my pharmacy because the on post pharmacy often doesn't carry many of the newer drugs and everything my doctor has me on for asthma is new and working.
Anyhow, fights about reimbursement and no contract with Walgreens. It's pretty shocking what the government wants to pay for scripts compared to everyone else out there. I will have to transfer my prescriptions elsewhere now, looks like Walmart for me.

: It's like (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 06:38:20 PM EST

I tell all my conservative friend--we do have the best healthcare in the world if you're Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt. That kind of blows their mind because they are programmed to hate Hollywood and actors.

My thought too (5.00 / 1) (#26)
by ruffian on Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 07:04:34 PM EST

No one is asking them to deliver healthcare . I just want them to pay for it. They manage to pay for many things just fine.
