The 2006 Jefferson Muzzles

The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has announced its annual list of the worst free speech "muzzlers" of the past year. They say that "the Jefferson Muzzles are awarded as a means to draw national attention to abridgments of free speech and press and, at the same time, foster an appreciation for those tenets of the First Amendment. " Here's an Associated Press Summary of the "Winners."

For engaging in wiretapping of American citizens without paying heed to FISA requirements, George W. Bush is named the Muzzler In Chief. Other 2006 Jefferson Muzzles go to:

• The US Department of Justice
• FCC Chair Kevin Martin
• The Supreme Court of Florida
• NY Mayor Mike Bloomberg
• Ann Coulter Hecklers at the U. of Connecticut
• The Yelm (WA) City Council
• The US Dept. of Homeland Security
• The Command Authority of the US Army Base at Fort Bragg
• School Administrations in Tennessee, Florida, and California
• Orange County (FL) School Superintendent Ron Blocker
• William Paterson (NJ) University Administration
• US Representative Joe Barton

Locally, by far the most deserving Muzzle Recipient is Fond du Lac County Judge Robert Wirtz, who treated cheap-shot comments on a local Web site as if they were a national security threat and ended up shutting the site down for several days. Other candidates include UW Oshkosh administrators who send thinly veiled warnings to select faculty contemplating runs for political office, along with "reminders" of what constitutes "political activity" on campus. And of course our local closed meeting advocates deserve a muzzle too.