Here's Frank Rich on the new (and, I think, inane) movement towards censorship of radio and television. Here's one key section…
The strange history of Bono and the Golden Globes is a case in point. It was 14 months ago that the front man for U2 inadvertently used a contraband seven-letter word as a modifier preceding the word brilliant in expressing his joy upon winning a best song award for the film "The Gangs of New York." The F.C.C. received only 234 complaints nationwide and ultimately ruled that Bono's word, free of carnal innuendo, was not actionable. But that was in 2003. In 2004 the Bush-chosen F.C.C. chief, Michael Powell, having failed to achieve much else in his job, has reopened the case to reverse the original verdict.
In other words: The Bono matter never really bothered anyone at the time and it's long since been forgotten. But we have to go after the guy now because we need to intimidate some people and to show the Religious Right we're fighting for their values.
Incidentally, I'm using a new means of linking to New York Times articles. It should allow you to read them without registering over there…though for the life of me, I can't understand why some folks object to doing that. It should also cause the articles not to become unavailable as quickly…but I wouldn't count on it.