Petey Boy, Petey Boy, wherefore art thou Petey Boy? Trying to pull one over on the press. Again. It really does seem like he’s taking lessons from Trump on how to redirect and bully people. The ego is greater than the actuality. The DoJ couldn’t get away with some messy attempts on the Revenge Tour™. Hegseth won’t be able to, either. He’s not that powerful, much as he wants us to believe that. From Raw Story:
A federal judge smacked down Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new attempt to write rules for Pentagon correspondents, concluding that the department has once again infringed on the First Amendment. The issue stems from a controversial policy issued by the Pentagon that requires reporters to commit not to publish anything leaked in violation of department policy as a condition of obtaining credentials. This rule caused every mainstream news outlet, and even most right-wing news outlets, to pull out of the press pool, leaving just a group of far-right bloggers and MAGA activists.
We remember that one. Oh yes, we do. Hegseth is trying to put up all sorts of barriers to control the information so the Pentagon (and he, of course) doesn’t look bad. His problem is that every time he opens his mouth to speak, he becomes more of an imbecile. It shows. We know it. In both the previous case and this one, judges are saying oh hail no!
Last month, U.S. Senior District Judge Paul Friedman ruled this was not allowed. However, plaintiffs challenging the policy asserted that the Pentagon’s “interim” policy effectively violated the terms of Friedman’s order — and in a lengthy, scathing ruling issued on Thursday, Friedman agreed.
“The problem for the defendants … is that the Department has not in fact taken ‘new’ action, at least with respect to the proscription on the ‘inducement of unauthorized disclosure,'” wrote Friedman. “To the contrary, as explained in detail below, that proscription contained in the Interim Policy amounts to — in the Department’s words — a ‘clarification‘ of the prohibitions contained in the original Policy that this Court held to be unconstitutional … The Department cannot simply reinstate an unlawful policy under the guise of taking ‘new‘ action and expect the Court to look the other way.”
Yes, Hegseth didn’t change a thing, even when directly ordered by the court. There have been all sorts of efforts coming fast and loose. Well, he can’t hide forever. He’s been caught, and it appears that he can’t wriggle out of this one. He’s done so much to the press, both in the Pentagon and not. Has he considered that he might be the problem? He’s the one ranting and raving. He’s the one tanking the press conferences. He’s the one who said all pictures of him must be approved. Really now?
The “interim” policy limiting what journalists can write about the Pentagon, he wrote, constitutes “the mark of an autocracy, not a democracy.” “The Court cannot conclude this Opinion without noting once again what this case is really about: the attempt by the Secretary of Defense to dictate the information received by the American people, to control the message so that the public hears and sees only what the Secretary and the Trump Administration want them to hear and see,” he wrote. “The Constitution demands better. The American public demands better, too.”
Gosh, golly, gee, ya THINK? We both demand better. Petey Boy needs to brush up on some law. Just as the First Amendment is for free speech, which lets him do his Manly Man act out in public, it includes members of the press. Taking them out of the area where they have been for decades and moving them to a completely different building is nonsensical. Not only do we have “cruelty is the point,” but we are certainly being limited in the available information. This is ungood. Hegseth has to be hiding things. So, how do we get that information?
See you soon!
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise that among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest-working. We’re a group of elderly, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
