The Congress has a couple of options to counter Court decision.

[kentuck]

They could re-instate the Fairness Doctrine. That would terribly piss off Rush Limbaugh and the Republicans but that is something the Congress could pass. It could prevent unlimited spending on ads because it would demand television stations, and they could re-write it to include cable television, to give equal access to both sides of political issues.

Or they could pass a new Campaign Finance Reform bill. I'm sure they could get John McCain to lead on this issue. And that could stymie the Court's effort to favor big-spending corporations from intimidating or downright bribing of elected officials. The Congress is not powerless in this situation.

[havocmom]

1. Same Congress that can be campaigned for or against by corporations?

Sorry, kentuck, I have a hunch not many will actually do anything that would incur the wrath of industries with very deep pockets

[kentuck]

2. Unfortunately, many that are now getting contributions...

from the big corporations could be shut out by the new ruling and would be vulnerable to the whims of their corporate masters and they know it. I think they could get a majority to vote for campaign finance reform, but the Fairness Doctrine might be somewhat more difficult.

[leftstreet]

4. 'shut out' how?

:popcorn:

[gkhouston]

6. They might be afraid of being replaced by younger, more attractive candidates

who don't have voting records that can be used against them, not to mention inconvenient affairs, etc.

on edit: as far as the mechanics of being shut out go, all you need is a scandal or controversy, manufactured or real, and a lot of publicity flogging the new unknown (who has a pristine track record). It would take a lot of money to promote the scandal and the replacement candidate, but money is what this is all about.

[kentuck]

7. Exactly !

They would not be loyal to the Democrats, even if they had taken their money in the past.

[NoNothing]

3. How would you include cable?

The fairness doctrine was premised on the power of Congress to regulate the use of electromagnetic spectrum, which cable does not do.

[kentuck]

5. It would have to be a new "fairness doctrine"

It would not have to be the same as the old one. The Congress can pass whatever laws its deems necessary for the good of the people, including cable television guidelines.

[NoNothing]

8. The First Amendment

Would probably get in the way. Again.

[harkadog]

9. It would be a major violation of the First Amendment

No, Congress can't "pass whatever laws its deems necessary for the good of the people". What country are you living in? Not one with our Constitution.