Republicans Cry Foul Over Pelosi Blog

   Those idiot Republicans are at it again! Crying foul, that is.

   House Speaker Pelosi started a blog called The Gavel which has a load of Youtube videos on it covering the chambers proceedings and such so now the neo-nuts are bitching about copywrite infringement and a whole lot of other crap. The vid clips were from C-SPAN so I think that clips of the proceedings should be able to pass as fair use.

   This must be part of the GOP plan to change the subject from Iraq/Iran, to anything else.

   Here's a letter the Repugnicans shot out awhile ago.

Daily Kos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Brad Dayspring (202) 225-3484

February 15, 2007

Speaker Pelosi's New Blog Violates C-SPAN Copyright/Trademark of House Proceedings
Will the Speaker bring the gavel down on "the Gavel Blog?"

As you may have heard, Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched a new blog entitled "The Gavel." Though we applaud the Speaker's effort to adapt to new technology, the blog violated copyright and trademark law on the very first day.

Not once, not twice, but 16 times?

As of noon today, the Speaker had posted at least 16 videos that are copyrighted
C-SPAN material from the House floor. The RSC spoke with C-SPAN today, who confirmed that these videos violate C-SPAN copyright/trademark of the House proceedings.

Using C-Span for partisan purposes?

In addition to using pirated material, Speaker Pelosi also has used the pirated C-SPAN footage for partisan purposes. The collection of C-SPAN footage used in her "first official blog" is an example and the other pirated C-SPAN trademarked material shows Democrat after Democrat offering their views of the non-binding Democrat resolution on the reinforcement and realignment of American troops in Iraq.

So, what does Speaker Pelosi believe the role of C-SPAN is?

"One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's first decisions was to deny a request by C-SPAN to be permitted to cover the House floor proceedings with its own cameras. Last month, Pelosi sent a letter to C-SPAN Chairman and CEO Brian Lamb saying she believed "the dignity and decorum" of the House "are best preserved by maintaining the current system of televised proceedings."

(CQ Weekly, January 15, 2007, Page 169)

Is the dignity and decorum of the House preserved by pirating copyrighted C-SPAN material for political purposes?

If not, will the Speaker bring the gavel down on "the Gavel Blog?"

###

Brad Dayspring
Communications Director
Republican Study Committee
(202) 225-3484
AIM: BDDACE2
www.house.gov/hensarling/rsc

Update:The morons at the RSC have retracted their press release. It was too frackin stupid even for them.

Also, Stoller has more. Turns out that floor proceedings are public domain, but committee hearings are not. Thus, C-SPAN claims ownership of the Alito hearings for the next 100 years. That's unconscionable and must end.

 

Technorati tags: C-SPAN, Pelosi, Coptwrite, Congress

 

Senate Vote on House Iraq Resolution May Force Debate

    From Daily Kos we get this good news!

Senate Vote on House Iraq Resolution May Force Debate
by SusanG
Thu Feb 15, 2007

Nice move, Senator Reid:

Reid Schedules Saturday Vote on House's Iraq Resolution

Senate Democratic leaders abruptly switched course in the Iraq war debate today, shelving a complicated non-binding resolution that has run into procedural hurdles, in favor of a House version that simply states Congress's objections to President Bush's troop escalation plan.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) this afternoon announced that the Senate would take a rare Saturday vote on whether to consider the House resolution, which is expected to pass that chamber Friday, with some Republican support.

If the Saturday vote succeeds, Reid said he may cancel the upcoming week-long recess, scrambling campaign plans for at least six presidential candidates.

Just look at how that week will be spent if the Saturday vote succeeds:

"We are determined to give our troops and the American people the debate they deserve," Reid said.

In particular, Democrats are calling the bluff of a group of Republican senators who oppose the escalation, but who joined with their GOP leadership to block the earlier Democratic-led resolution from coming to a vote, in an effort to force Democrats to allow a pro-administration measure to be offered.

The Republicans must be scrambling around in a panic at this news. Remember, just two short days ago they were circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter among themselves that clearly stated:

If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose.

Is this where we say, "Bring it on?"

 

Technorati tags: Iraq, Resolution, Senate, Harry Reid