The Phoenix posted the tenth annual Muzzle Awards. The listing, compiled by Media Nation blogger Dan Kennedy, showcases the offenses against free speech by local individuals and organizations. An apropos way to celebrate liberty for the Fourth of July. He gets the Muzzle this year by stifling the free speech of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami by refusing to provide state-police protection to the visiting former head of state. Boston Police stepped up to provide the detail and the speech went on as planned. Kennedy supports the case for the Romney Muzzle with this bit: "In October, he announced that the MBTA would begin random searches of passengers for explosives — a dubious measure seemingly designed more to heighten the public’s fears than to provide any real measure of safety." All this and as Jon Stewart put it "He did it, the unprecedented landing of the doubling of Guantanamo," in reference to Romney's comments at a Republican debate.

Romney wasn't the only one to get the Muzzle this year. Maine Department of Corrections gets a Muzzle for silencing their prisoners, a violation of federal court order. Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri takes home the Muzzle for warrantless investigations into internet, phone, bank and credit-card records without first getting a warrant – you know, so they could see if it was worth getting a warrant. Then the awards move from the "traditional" category to the "absurd." Included there are Jerry McDermott who wanted to put up an American Flag where the Citgo Sign is in order to spite Hugo Chavez. Tufts University students take home a Muzzle for the disciplinary action taken against students for some offensive parody writing, political correctness stifling their own freedom. The list goes on, and Kennedy's reasons for each award, along with links and a summary of ten years of highlights is well worth a read as we celebrate independence from the Brits.

Does one Muzzle a sheep? If you do or don't the Romney Sheep is always appropriate