With apologies to Steve Earle's "Christmas in Washington," [streaming .wma file of his song, covered by Joan Baez] we sadly announce that the noble Fartman of Minor Nether Proportions has been kicked off the air from six Clear Channel radio stations, because the FCC's fines against his show for violating their "indecent language" statutes are proving too costly:

"It is pretty shocking that governmental interference into our rights and free speech takes place in the U.S.," [Howard] Stern said. "It's hard to reconcile this with the 'land of the free' and the 'home of the brave.'"

CEO John Hughes justified Clear Channel's purging of the Stern show from 6 stations,

"The Congress and the FCC are even beginning to look at revoking station licenses. That's a risk we're just not willing to take," he said in a written statement. [from CNN]

Truly a sad moment for Americans, whether you like Stern's show or not. This makes me glad I'm a card-carrying member of the ACLU...literally, I have an ACLU membership card. It's like a St. Christopher medal for us liberals.

Speaking of the ALCU, this story is just too delicious for words: Rush Limbaugh seeks aid of the ACLU to keep his medical records sealed, as the Florida ACLU files an amicus brief wth the Fourth District Court of Appeal,

... ACLU argued that law enforcement officers violated state law by using the more intrusive search warrant process to seize Limbaugh' medical records, rather than by obtaining a subpoena through the proper procedures outlined in Florida Statute §395.3025. The statute requires law enforcement officers to notify the person whose medical records they seek to obtain and to grant that person a hearing to object before the records are seized. [from the ACLU News]

Sometimes, you just never know when you'll have to turn to the enemy for aid. ;)

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