# Michael Powell resigns from the FCC. Janet Jackson bares her breast in gratitude. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 21, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946 "2005-01-21T18:21:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/1 "2005-01-21T18:21:38Z")
OK, so I’m making up that last part. But [Powell really is leaving](http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/21/news/newsmakers/powell_resigning/index.htm). This is good news for those of us in broadcasting. For the past four years, we’ve been cowering in fear of FCC-imposed fines over content. We’ve had to endure the specter of organized protests, exhorbitant fines as a result, and possible censure or loss of our license. I don’t know who Bush is going to appoint to succeed Powell, but it’ll be interesting. Robin ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/2 "2005-01-21T18:39:48Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I don’t know who Bush is going to appoint to succeed Powell, but it’ll be interesting. That’s the bad news. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/3 "2005-01-21T18:45:35Z")
I nominate Howard Stern. ---
**Author:** ![Big-Ole-Steve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Big-Ole-Steve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big-Ole-Steve)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/4 "2005-01-21T18:53:37Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I don’t know who Bush is going to appoint to succeed Powell, but it’ll be interesting. I am kinda nervous about this, because at least with the devil we knew, he’d announced that the FCC would not go after paid-for content like on HBO or satellite radio. The devil we don’t know might take up the fight against breasts and the FWord on Showtime, which would just suck. There were congresspeople requesting that the FCC look into regulating Premium television and radio, and, thankfully, Powell had said the FCC would not do that. If Tony Soprano can’t say “Fuck” there’s something wrong with the world. Steve ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/5 "2005-01-21T19:05:41Z")
The way things are going, the new FCC chief will probably be Donald Wildmon. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/6 "2005-01-21T19:13:26Z")
It’s a win-win. If Bush does appoint some extremist, it just might get the majority of Americans riled up enough to do something about it. As it is, slow censorship creeps in on cat feet. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/7 "2005-01-21T20:20:40Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > The way things are going, the new FCC chief will probably be Donald Wildmon. :eek: That’s funny. No wait, I’m confusing the meaning of words again. That’s scary and quite possible. How much did he donate to the Republicans this year? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/8 "2005-01-21T20:37:36Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It’s a win-win. If Bush does appoint some extremist, it just might get the majority of Americans riled up enough to do something about it. As it is, slow censorship creeps in on cat feet. Yeah, I’m sure people are going to jump up and “do something about it”. :rolleyes: Our fucking civil rights are being stripped away under our noses, and they don’t even give a shit. Why are they going to care about TV? Besides if they _do_ care about TV then that’s even more pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/9 "2005-01-21T20:44:03Z")
Ya gotta motivate people with what **they** care about, not with what **you** care about. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/10 "2005-01-21T20:49:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Ya gotta motivate people with what **they** care about, not with what **you** care about. Yeah, great point, no disagreement here. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/11 "2005-01-21T23:18:56Z")
Hot dog. Maybe we can put this monster of BPL to rest once and for all. Vlad/Igor KF4VCC ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/12 "2005-01-21T23:23:45Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > I don’t know who Bush is going to appoint to succeed Powell, but it’ll be interesting. As the others have suggested, you don’t honestly think he won’t be able to dredge up somebody worse from the tar pit of troglogytes who bankroll his foolishness, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/13 "2005-01-22T00:05:49Z")
Ashcroft is available… ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/14 "2005-01-22T00:18:47Z")
Y’all do realize that Mr. Powell was originally a Clinton apointee? Not to chairman but to the board at least. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/15 "2005-01-22T01:03:42Z")
I wish Bush would just take Mitt Romney for something. Anything. FCC? Why not? It’s not like I watch TV anymore anyway. C’mon, Dubya, you took one asswipe off of our hands, couldn’t you find it in your heart to poach another one? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/16 "2005-01-22T05:14:07Z")
How much of this is Bush wanting to be rid of the entire Powell clan? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/17 "2005-01-22T05:47:39Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > This is good news for those of us in broadcasting. For the past four years, we’ve been cowering in fear of FCC-imposed fines over content. We’ve had to endure the specter of organized protests, exhorbitant fines as a result, and possible censure or loss of our license. You do realize, that despite the insanely conservative things that Colin Powell Jr. has been doing over the past few _years_, he’s been acting pretty moderate for the past few _months_, don’t you? I have to wonder if he’s being nudged out so Bush can appoint a more pious warrior of Christ. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/18 "2005-01-22T06:18:27Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > You do realize, that despite the insanely conservative things that Colin Powell Jr. has been doing over the past few _years_, he’s been acting pretty moderate for the past few _months_, don’t you? I have to wonder if he’s being nudged out so Bush can appoint a more pious warrior of Christ. I hope not. My guess is that Powell is bucking for higher office. The CNN article I linked to in the OP did mention that he might run for governor of Virginia. That said, satellite radio is looking more and more appealing all the time. At least until the FCC gets its grubby mitts on that. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/19 "2005-01-22T06:43:45Z")
The FCC’s Holy Righteous Crusade against Obscenity was terrible, but I’m surprised that more people aren’t up in arms over Powell’s attempts to further deregulate media ownership. If you think radio is _fucking terrible_ now, wait until they further deregulate it! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946/20 "2005-01-22T18:59:33Z")
I feel like a rousing chorus of “Smut”, by Tom Lehrer! 😃 _“…but now they’re trying to take it all away from us. Unless we take a stand and hand in hand we fight for freedom of the press, In otherwords SMUT! I love it, Ah, the adventures of a slut! I don’t know what Compares with smut, Hip-hip-hooray! Let’s hear it for the Supreme Court! Don’t let them take it away!”_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-powell-resigns-from-the-fcc-janet-jackson-bares-her-breast-in-gratitude/285946.md?page=2)