Mockery

   Some politicians just can't take a joke. Or even a mild teasing, much less full-out mocking.

   On the other hand, the current president revels in mocking others, insulting them, alleging collusion with Democrats and with Russia and even calling for a federal investigation of TV shows that specialize in satire.

   Never mind that the show "Saturday Night Live" is not a news program, and that the federal regulation calling for equal time was dropped decades ago, as broadcast and cable news operations proliferated, or that the Constitution guarantees the right of free speech and a free press to everyone, not just those who agree with any particular politician.

   Note that the equal time rule applied only to news operations, not to entertainment shows.

   In addition, the president attacked the Fox network for suspending Judge Jeanine Pirro's program after she claimed on her program that a newly elected congresswoman who happens to be Muslim would  probably follow sharia law rather than the U.S. Constitution.

   News flash: Freedom of speech works both ways. But this president seems to want to muzzle those who criticize and mock him, but give bigger platforms to his supporters.

   So how long will this two-way mocking continue? 

   As long as the Constitution remains in effect. Once government succeeds in curtailing disagreement, punishing satire and penalizing mockery, we will no longer have the right of free speech and a free press.

   But that may just be what the current president and his cohorts want. Which means there may only be one news and entertainment source available to Americans.

   A better solution: If you don't like a particular TV program, change the channel.