This is now inverted: Obscenity is the only absolutely protected "speech". Dissenting political speech is curtailed and hidden behind paper sleeves, blackened windows and euphemisms.

Great point. I don't think it's a coincidence either that there appears to be direct connection between the rise of liberty for obscene speech and the decline of liberty for reasoned speech about issues like politics and social matters. I think it's sort of a drug people get hooked on that appears to present you with liberty but is actually a trap. Today we can basically see what would be considered nearly hardcore pornography in the 70's on a television show meant for general consumption but we actually can't debate serious issues at all without gnashing of teeth, charges of various 'isms' and 'phobias' and potential career and social destruction.

I don't think those two phenomenon are a coincidence.