So Colbert was actually serious about the "March To Keep Fear Alive"

What a novel concept for a liberal.

That's actually the first thing that crossed my mind.

I know that by getting the proper permits, film productions are often able to restrict filming/recording/photography of their "set", even if the "set" is public property.


I don't know if that's the case with this thing, but it's not out of the realm of possibilities.

What you are seeing is the culmination of generations of apathy and detachment with our government where each generation has been more apathetic and detached than the previous one. The dumbing down of America is hitting rock bottom.

By the way, to those curious about why CC has no authority to close off the "set" of their rally? They abrogated that privilege when they made the event a rally. Opening the event to the public, as is implied by administering the event as a rally, differentiates it from "on location" filming, for which more and different permits would have been required.

Company's, by definition, can't violate the First Amendment.

It's not apathy. I think these people care.

It's cynicism that's growing increasingly powerful. And if that leads to apathy, then so be it.

Yes, but they can infringe on freedom of speech...it's just not a first amendment issue in that case.

maybe not even a legal issue - but an ethical one at least.

My bet is the National Mall put a cap on press passes based on the permit size (oh a permit! another violation of the first amendment!) and with that cap came crowd restrictions (another violation! oh noes!) like no filming outside of designated areas.

Comedy Central abiding by the terms of the permit presents no issue to me.

Faceman is right, cynicism is just choking everything to death.
There's nothing wrong with cynicism and caution in small amounts, but when it's in everything, the overdose will kill everything. The cynicism, the apathy, has to be toned down. It has been, to use Stewart's word, "amplified" to the point where nothing else can be heard.

Yes. We need to be more gullible. We need to go back to swallowing the bullshit. We've stopped, and it's upsetting those who wish to manipulate us.

As always, good to get the perspective from experience.

However, in this joint conspiracy theories go so much further...

People's motivations are irrelevant?

Translation: "I've no basis for my claim but Comedy Central is innocent of any wrong doing. Oh and I'm a lawyer!"

Well, obviously Comedy Central hasn't responded to the irate newscaster's email who didn't get issues his precious press pass - so I have only my own common sense and professional (as a lawyer) experience to rely on when I suggest the National Mall has time place and manner restrictions.

What's with the press pass? It's open to the public. Just fucking go.