Do they really think that this shit is a good idea? The answer of course, is yes, considering that they voted for it by an overwhelming margin.
If it passes the Senate and becomes law, DOPA could mean the end of Dopers, at least on library and school computers. Not only that, but the law would, based on the broad recommended definition of a “social networking site,” also exclude things like Amazon, eBay, pBase, Flickr, etc., etc.
This level of paranoia about the internet is just getting fucking ridiculous.
So wait, what? How does that help anything? Are they trying to restrict children from message boards or adults from them? What stops the children and adults from going home and chatting from their own computers (I think the great majority of people have home computers)? I’m really not getting the point of this law.
The act in question is the first part of the equation, and as you can see from the vote, it’s pretty much a party-neutral tactic. The second part of the equation kicks in during the campaign, and that (IMNSHO) is where the Republicans kick ass.