Viewpoints: Clear Channel violates First Amendment rights Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/25/4362382/clear-channel-violates-first-amendment.html#storylink=cpy

By Sue Wilson
Special to The Bee

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/25/4362382/clear-channel-violates-first-amendment.html#storylink=cpy

The First Amendment protection of freedom of speech is a treasure. I stand up for the rights of Rush Limbaugh, Garry Trudeau, Bill Maher and everyone else to have their say, whether I agree or not (outside incitement to violence). I do not condone censorship.

But private censorship has crept into our public airwaves, and we must stand against it.

I'm not talking about newspapers that didn't print Trudeau's Doonesbury strip, a daily 30-second read. Newspapers are private enterprise: Anyone with enough capital can start a newspaper and write what they will. Nor cable programs like "Real Time with Bill Maher," which produced 35 hours of lefty snark in 2011. Cable TV is private enterprise: when people write a check to Comcast or Direct TV, they pay private contractors, via cable or satellite, to bring programs from Playboy to Disney into their homes.

I'm talking about local TV and especially local radio, where a host like Limbaugh dominates the dial with right-wing commentary for about 750 hours each year. Broadcasting is a public-private partnership: The public owns the airwaves needed for transmission; private businesses own the buildings, equipment, etc. needed to broadcast programming. When private business goes into broadcasting, it makes a deal with the public: a free license from the Federal Communication Commission if it agrees to "serve the public interest, convenience and necessity."

Broadcasting differs from newspapers and cable; the number of frequencies available in one community are few, so only a limited number of local stations are possible. Physical scarcity is the foundation of all broadcast law.

In Sacramento, Clear Channel Communications broadcasts about 190 hours per week of one-sided political talk over three giant stations, KFBK-AM, KGBY-FM and AMFM Holding's KSTE-AM. Clear Channel management disputed that at a recent meeting with Media Action Center, Sacramento Media Group and Occupy Sacramento. But general manager Jeff Holden said he's very comfortable airing only one-sided political talk on three stations – during an election year.

But Clear Channel is violating the First Amendment rights of all who equally own the public airwaves, disagree with right-wing politics, but are not allowed to be heard at all. It is a matter of access, says the Supreme Court.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/25/4362382/clear-channel-violates-first-amendment.html#storylink=cpy

Dozens arrested protesting education cuts at California

By Greg Lewis

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - Dozens of protesters angry over fee hikes and budget cuts at California's public universities were arrested on Monday night during a boisterous but peaceful demonstration inside the state Capitol building.

The arrests capped a day in which hundreds of students and others marched on the statehouse and rallied outside the Capitol before many of the activists moved the demonstration inside the building, clogging hallways in and around the rotunda.

One group chanted, "No cuts, no fees. Education must be free," as they sat crossed-legged on the black-and-white tiled floor of the statehouse. The California Highway Patrol, which provides security for the building, said the demonstrators had a permit to protest inside the Capitol until 5:30 p.m. local time, and then were ordered to leave.

Police warned the protesters seven times after the building closed at 6 p.m. that they faced arrest for trespassing if they failed to disperse, and officers moved in to begin taking the demonstrators into custody at about 7:30 p.m.

"We wanted to give them every opportunity," CHP Captain Andy Menard said, adding that the estimated 45 to 50 demonstrators arrested were all given one last chance to leave the building before they were taken into custody.

"The ones who didn't are going to jail," he said.

The demonstration drew words of support from Governor Jerry Brown, a Democrat, who issued a statement saying the protesters "are reflecting the frustration of millions of Californians who have seen their public schools and universities eroded year after year."

He urged public support for a ballot initiative in November calling for a temporary tax increase to raise additional revenues for public education in the state, which is facing a $9.2 billion budget shortfall.

Some of the demonstrators also sought to collect signatures for a petition to put a measure on the ballot that would impose an extra 1 percent tax on individuals with annual incomes of $1 million or more.

(Additional reporting by Adam Weintraub; Editing by Steve Gorman and Tim Gaynor)

Gas prices climb again, topping $3.76

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The nationwide average for gasoline prices rose for the 26th straight day Sunday, topping the $3.76-a-gallon mark, according to the motorist group AAA.

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline climbed 0.7 cent in the latest 24-hour period. The price of gas is up from $3.47 a month ago and $3.69 a week ago. Last year at this time, gas was $3.49 a gallon.

The average price is 35 cents, or about 8.5%, lower than the record high of $4.114 set on July 17, 2008.

Average prices for regular gasoline top $4 a gallon in California, Alaska and Hawaii. At $4.38 a gallon, Hawaii ranks as the nation's high. Prices are within a nickel of the $4 mark in Connecticut, New York and Oregon, according to AAA.

Wyoming became the last state to reach the $3.20 mark, but still has the nation's lowest gas prices, about 3 cents a gallon lower than Colorado.
Gas prices have been rising on the back of soaring oil prices, which have surged 10% over the past month amid fears that tensions with Iran will lead to an all-out war that causes a disruption in oil supplies.

Signs of an improving economy have also boosted oil prices, as has the stock market. All three major indexes hit multi-year highs this week, and the S&P 500 (SPX) has risen by more than 8% in 2012.

But some economists worry that high gas prices could be the tipping point that brings on a new economic downturn. "I don't think for a minute consumer confidence levels can be sustained in the face of sustained high gas prices," said Bernard Baumohl, head of the Economic Outlook Group, a Princeton, N.J., research firm.

As gas prices soar, Republican presidential candidates have tried to tie President Obama's policies to the increase.

On Thursday, Mitt Romney said Obama "should be hanging his head" over his energy policies and accused the president of slowing domestic production. Romney advocated opening federal lands to drilling and easing regulations on fracking, a controversial policy that involves pumping water into rocks to harvest gas.

Also on Thursday, Obama delivered a speech in New Hampshire that stressed that domestic oil and gas production is at its highest point since 2003. But he also emphasized the need to develop new energy sources, as domestic production alone is not enough to keep up with U.S. demand.

The president called on Congress to end the $4 billion in subsidies to the oil industry so as to better incentivize companies to seek out clean-energy technologies.

Once Inside I Declared My Candidacy For Mayor

I am embarking on a quest, sort of a self challenge to test my own will by following the faith that I have been blessed with. This is a pivotal time in Stockton, as is around the world today. Some might be going about the day as if everything is fine, we the people need to Unite and form a more perfect Statehood, and soon show signs of progress. Being in charge of a city's financial management, how can you spend money that isn't there? Who is supposed to pay for it? I wish I could declare bankruptcy being 341 Million in the hole, I am sure I would have a city thriving on freedom of choice, and a more traditional feel to life here in the Central Valley.

6,000 year old Bowl Shows Swastika

This Bowl is dated circa 4000 B.C. showing the famous swastika was a universal symbol of "good fortune"

Veterans For Ron Paul Rally

Great Quotes From Last Nights GOP Debate

RANKED TOP QUOTES

Ron Paul: "Planned Parenthood should get nothing"

Ron Paul: "The [birth control] pills can't be blamed for the immorality of our society"

Newt Gingrich: "I am inclined to believe dictators"

Mitt Romney: "You get to ask the questions you want, I get to give the answers I want"

Ron Paul: "Guns don't kill, criminals kill"

Rick Santorum: "Politics is a team sport folks!"

Rick Santorum: "America is Satan"