I’ve been amused to see the blog chamber whip Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, over his suggestion that the government should also apply indecency standards to paid-and-delivered content such as cable TV. Like many, I think the suggestion rings ludicrous.

The main reason: There’s a transaction going on. I pay for cable, ergo I want to see what I paid for. If nudity on HBO offends me, and I’ve paid for it, then shame on me.

Stevens’ illogic, in lock step with supporter Sen. Joe Barton, R-Texas, completely ignores that, and would chill expression in the process.

But, cynically, I think they’re both window dressing - playing politics.

Buzzmachine points out that Clear Channel is one of Barton’s biggest contributors. Obviously, that broadcast radio outfit might profit if their paid-content buddies were taken down a notch. However, buzzmachine leaves out an important part of the story. Comcast, a cable company, contributed nearly twice that ($19,000 versus $10,000).

As for Stevens, find his biggest contributors here. I’m seeing a lot of aerospace and engineering firms.