Top Left-Libertarian compares Obama to Fascist Mussolini

Liberal Libertarians continue to turn on Obama

Responding to the news yesterday, that: "The chief executive and chairman of troubled US car maker General Motors will step down at once, at the request of Barack Obama," longtime Libertarian activist Tom Palmer wrote on his blog:

Welcome to a Fascist….er, Managed Democracy?

I was so happy to see the back of George W. Bush and his administration...

[Bush's] successor has decided to follow even more carefully the examples set by Benito Mussolini and Vladimir Putin, and has sacked the head of a company. That is a decision for the shareholders of a private firm to make, not for the head of state. What next? Will private firms end up in the hands of friends of the president? Will the White House Chief of Staff serve simultaneously as head of a major state-directed company? Will journalists who criticize the president end up shot in the head in elevators?

Palmer is the former head of Students for a Libertarian Society, a former campaign staffer for Libertarian Ed Clark for President in 1980, and presently Vice President for International Programs and a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, as well as director of Cato University

Nation's Number One Republican website - RedState.com - questions Birth Certificate veracity

For the first time, the highly respected and well-visited website RedState.com, has published an article questioning Obama's birth certificate, and reasons for covering it up.

Warner Todd Huston, regarded as one of RedState's more libertarian editorialists, wrote today:

Was he born here? Barack Obama vs the Law

So, why won't he show the birth certificate, anyway?

Huston displayed the newly YouTube video on the matter. And then had this to say:

I am not personally convinced the birth certificate is an issue, but I have to say, I have no leg to stand on but my “feeling” that it isn’t relevant because we’ve not seen actual birth certificate to butress my “feeling.” So, what do I tell people that insist this is an important issue?

I have nothing logical to tell them to disabuse them of their notion because I can’t prove them wrong.

So, why won’t Obama just publish the real birth certificate?

You can watch the video here.

From the Editor: For months now Libertarian Republican blog has been pounding on this issue, bringing our readers the very latest birth certificate news, and editorializing on the matter when virtually no other Republican blogs would touch it. Now, the one website that represents the very heart of the Republican Party is picking up on the story. Needless to say, we're thankful, and feel quite vindicated.

Libertarians help to launch recall effort of Wisconsin Democrat and Obama friend Gov. Jim Doyle

Doyle's agenda: More subsidies from the Feds; More taxes for Wisconsin

A group of Wisconsin taxpayers has taken the unusual step of officially launching a statewide recall petition effort on early Obama supporter and current Democrat Governor Jim Doyle. The group held a formal press conference at the capitol in Madison yesterday.

Longtime Wisconsin Libertarian activist Rolf Lindgren is in support of the effort, and sent this information along to LR blog.

From GM Today (Greater Madison):

Wisconsinites Interests Now and the Citizens for Responsible Government filed papers for the Recall Doyle exploratory PAC in Madison today, which will allow them to start fundraising and advertising the effort.

Although they didn’t give a specific time frame, leaders of the groups said they’ll begin collecting signatures "within weeks."

"We’ve gotten extraordinary support," said Vince Schmuki, a representative of WIN. "There is obviously a lot of dissatisfaction out there."

Schmuki and others have attended state budget hearings in the metro Milwaukee area during the past week to show their dissatisfaction with Doyle and his proposed 2009-11 biennial budget. During the events, Schmuki said they’ve seen a lot of support from frustrated taxpayers.

From the Recall website:

Jim Doyle is the de facto CEO of a $30 billion dollar corporation we call the State of Wisconsin that is being rapidly run into the ground. The buck stops at the top. Here just a few reasons. There's more!

Record Deficits - 4th Largest in the USA
Massive Tax Increases Threaten Prosperity
Radical Agenda Drives Away Business, Kills Jobs

Wisconsin Recall Exploratory Portal

Corker raises prospect that Obama is seeking to help Blue State automakers over Red

"This is a remarkable move by the federal government -- I think unprecedented in the history of this country. ... What does this signal send to other corporations and financial institutions about whether the federal government will fire them as well?" -- Senator John McCain on the Wagoner firing

Rick Wagoner was the CEO who pushed the Big Trucks and SUVs model for General Motors these past few years. Despite, higher gas prices at some intervels, the two combined for one of GM's only profit making enterprises. Now, the Obama administration is pushing the Big Trucks/SUV enthusiasts out the door, in favor of those advocating smaller, some say, "golf cart" looking automobiles.

Kudlow (RCP):

In President Obama's speech on Monday about the Wagoner firing, as well as in Treasury term sheets for GM and Chrysler, there are multiple references to "the next generation of clean cars," to new CAFE-standard mileage increases, and to green power-train developments. All this is a big green climate-change priority for the new administration.

But the simple fact is, small, tinny, and expensive green cars just don't work for consumers...

So add the green revolution to the industrial-policy plans of the White House. Expect a big increase in CAFE fuel standards, even though small cars are simply not profitable. And plan on bailout nation taking a new left-turn toward the kind of central planning that has held down economic growth in Europe and Japan for so very long.

Meanwhile, NoQuarter blog is breaking the insider story of the Wagoner "beheading"

The WSJ reports that GM’s Rick Wagoner and Fritz Henderson were summoned to D.C. on Friday, to the Treasury office of Steven Rattner, selected by PBO last month to head the Department’s auto-industry task force. Mr. Rattner “broke the news to Mr. Wagoner in person at his office at Treasury,” and then met with the temporary replacement, Mr. Henderson. Bloomberg confirms the Friday meetings in “GM’s Wagoner Steps Aside After Failing Obama Scrutiny.”

Below: Who knew about the Friday beheading — that bloody coup d’état! — before the story broke Sunday night? Who didn’t know? …

Blog editor Larry Johnson then raises the prospects of David Axelrod, and Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin from the heavily Fed-subsidized, Big Union State of Michigan, involved in the behind-the-scenes coup.

Tennessee Senator Bob Corker takes it a step further, suggesting straight-out partisan politics at the heart of the firing of GM head.

Bob Corker seems to believe so. From the Chatanooga Times:

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said today that the firing of General Motors Corp. CEO Richard Wagoner doesn’t address the failure by the Obama administration to move GM toward a more sustainable future.

The Tennessee senator also raised the prospect of whether the Obama administration may use the federal loans to GM to direct the auto maker to help Democratic states over states that voted Republican, such as Tennessee.

“It’s been a long time since Washington has seen the kind of kowtowing that’s about to occur among members of Congress trying to curry favor with the administration to keep plants in their states open, and it will be interesting to see if the administration makes these decisions based on a red state and blue state strategy or based on efficiency and capable, skilled workers at each plant,” he said. “If they use the latter, our GM plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee should do very well.”

Of course, all the states with Toyota, Honda and Nissan plants just happen to also be in Right-to-Work states like Alabama, South Carolina, Texas and Tennessee.

RLC National Convention 2009 - Jax, Florida: The Faces of Republican Liberty

These are some of the first photos to be released from the Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention held in Jacksonville, Florida last weekend. In front you can see Phil Blumel (to the left), and Maryland delegate John Orlando (looking at the camera). This was taken at the Saturday night banquet.

Dave Nalle, new RLC National Chairman has an in-depth write-up on the event over at his "Republic of Dave" blog. Here's one excerpt:

Sarah Lovett, Will Pitts, Mark Cross and all the great folks at the dynamic and growing RLC chapter here have really gone above and beyond to put on a great convention for their state and to generously share so much of what they’ve done with delegates from other parts of the country and the national organization. Their efforts on behalf of the national RLC have been above and beyond the call of duty and they are an example for other states to follow in how to manage rapid growth and deal with the struggles which come with that growth in positive and productive ways. It’s very clear from the hard work and dedication I have seen here that they are going to be enormously successful in reawakening the Republican Party in Florida to the ideas of individual liberty, responsible government and fiscal responsibility.


Just reporting the official events doesn’t really do justice to what was going on in Jacksonville. The real action was in the hallways and the atrium and over meals and drinks, where delegates from all over gathered enthusiastically to share ideas and pick each others’ brains and find ways to work together to help make the RLC bigger, better and more effective in getting its message out. I got to meet and talk to an inspiring group of activits, from long-time RLC members like Phil Blumel, Eric Dondero-Rittberg and Jeff Palmer to enthusiastic newcomers like Will Pitts, John Orlando, Steve Wright, Bryan Haddock, Dan Halloran and too many others to name. They all had good ideas and the enthusiasm to make those ideas a reality. To get a feel for the convention check out the photo collection assembled by Michael Para on Facebook.

I came away from the convention convinced that we can really accomplish great things with the RLC if we can export the kind of energy I saw in Jacksonville nationwide in this time when the GOP is looking for renewal and inspiration, which we have in abundance.

Note - LR Editor and Publisher Eric Dondero is to the right, in the above photo seated with local Jax RLCer Jon Anderson, and a lovely local Jacksonville Republican Precinct Committeewoman.


In the photo at the bar, CEI's Ivan Osorio makes a point to other RLC beer drinkers. New York delegate, a candidate for NYC City Council, in the background.

To join the group, which has become the "conscience of the Republican Party," go to www.rlc.org.

Jews: "Liars, Thieves, Murderers" says Obama friend and ally

Louis Farrakhan blames the Jews, seeks to deny the Holocaust

Obama friend and ally, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan made the following statements at a March 1 Savior's Day gathering. The event took place in Rosemont, Illinois. Over 14,000 were in attendance.

According to newly released transcripts from the ADL, Farrakhan said the following:

Israelis are "Liars, thieves, murderers" who have "taken the position of God" and are out to "kill everybody."

"The Israeli lobby controls the government of the United States of America."

"… you can't even engage in constructive argument over the veracity of the figures of the Holocaust. We know something happened, sure, but you can't talk about [it]. In certain cities in Europe they arrest you and put you in prison for denying such."

In the new age of Obama, Farakhan appears to be emboldened to speak more freely about the Jews. A spokesman for the ADL had this to say in the release:

"Louis Farrakhan is at it again," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "After his near-silence on Jews over the last several years, we thought Minister Farrakhan had put his long history of anti-Semitism and racism behind him, or at least had held his views in check. Apparently, that was wishful thinking. Once again he is clearly comfortable with putting his bigotry on display, unfettered and unhidden for his supporters and the world to see."

Note - Obama was an attendee at the 1998 Million Man March sponsored by Farrakhan.

It's the Democrat take-over of Congress in 2006 that has led to massive deficits, not Bush

by Clifford F. Thies

Obama's plan for How to Cut the Deficit in half:

Step 1. Quadruple the deficit.

Step 2. Assume the deficit subsequently falls to only twice as much as it used to be before you quadrupled it.

Step 3. Compare the assumed future deficits to your first deficit.

The following are the actual numbers and the numbers projected by the White House and the Congressional Budget Office. Notice which way the deficit was going (A) prior to the Democrats’ takeover of Congress and (b) subsequent to the Democrats’ complete takeover of the federal government.

Bush was actually bringing the deficit numbers down before Pelosi & crew took over control of Congress. But of course, you won't hear that from the folks in the mainstream media.

Note - Dr. Thies is a professor of Economics at Shenandoah University in Virginia specializing in statistics and metrics. He is also a former National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, and National Committee member of the Libertarian Party.

New Radical Muslim tactic in US: Party Crashing or Die

4 Americans injured in Party-crashing raid

In Minnesota, over the weekend, a group of 4 Somali immigrants attempted to force their way into a dance party at an apartment complex. The 4 were uninvited, and unknown to any of the party hosts. After they were rebuffed, one of them opened fire on the American party-goers, injuring 4.

From TwinCities.com, March 29:

Four people, including two 17-year-olds, were shot at a Lakeville mobile home party early Sunday by a man who apparently became upset when he was told to leave, Lakeville police said.

The man who allegedly fired the shots from outside the mobile home at 313 Caesar Ave. fled in a car with two other males, all of whom were arrested a short time later without incident, police said.

Mohamud Ahmed Hassan, 19, and Hamad Ahmad Issak, 21, are being held in the Dakota County Jail pending charges. A 17-year-old Eden Prairie boy, who initially gave authorities a false name, is being held at the juvenile detention center, said Lakeville police Sgt. Mike Sheady. The teen also has not been charged.

Later in the article, a witness gives a detailed account of how it went down. Continuing:

It's still unclear who pulled the trigger, Sheady said.

Etta Tyson, who lives at the Ardmor Village home, said she and about 15 friends were listening to music and dancing Sunday when three people she didn't know showed up just after midnight and wanted to join the party.

"We wouldn't let them in," said Tyson, 18. "Nobody invited them."

As the group was walking away, Tyson said, she peeked through window blinds and saw one of them grab a gun from a car. She said he walked back toward the front of the home, raised the gun and started firing.

"I was so scared," Tyson said. "I jumped to the floor and heard seven shots. I started crying."

According to Minnesota Public Radio, the State leads the Nation in the number of Somali immigrants. Many are unemployed or underemployed. Those who have jobs tend to work in lower level service industry positions such as driving taxi cabs.

According to MPR:

In 2004, the total number of Somali residents of Minnesota was estimated to be 25,000, and Ronningen said it could be as high as 30,000 now - with no sign of slowing down.

In recent years, residents of southern Somalia have turned to a particularly radical and violent form of Islam. In recent months, there have been reports of that violence spreading to the United States.

A November 19, 2008 report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, suggested that Somali gangs were overtaking some parts of the American city. Seven Somali gang-related murders occured in early 2008 alone. The article stated that residents in Minneapolis-St. Paul are now: "struggling with the dramatic violent crime increase in his community."

Note - Muslim Democrat Congressman Keith Ellison (photo above) represents St. Paul, the area of Minnesota, where a significant Somali immigration, legal and illegal, resides. (Photo of Somali immigrants is not of the three suspects, but rather depicted to represent MN immigrant population.)

LR Blog is back! After weekend-long RLC Convention in Jacksonville

From Eric Dondero

As you know it was a crazy weekend. I attended the RLC National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida as you can see by the articles below. Simply put, it was the best RLC Convention in the groups' 20 year existence, (since I founded the RLC in 1990 in nearby Tallhassee.)

As an addendum, the Saturday night banquet turned out to be even better than the Saturday business meetings and forums. Imagine a long room, of 200 + gathered libertarian Republicans, most very Republican looking (not looking like a gathering of the ex-Libertarian Party members as in years past,) and sprinkled in with a healthy number of beautiful Republican women. (We hope to soon have photos of the convention to post here.)

On the latter, I must say, the RLC has attracted a number of gorgeous women in its ranks, some of whom are currently running for public office. Most were from Florida. But others came from as far away as Louisiana, Maryland and Minnesota. Additionally, many RLC men, brought their wives and girlfriends. Also, all quite beautiful. This was NOT! your typical Libertarian convention. Something about libertarians in the GOP seems to attract better-than-average looking females. Perhaps it's the fact that we're the "hip" dashing entrepreneurial Republicans?

Anyway, getting back to the program, three speakers headlined: Sirius/XM Patriot Radio personality Mike Church, former Reagan aide Dan Quiggly, and Found. for Economic Education President (formerly with Macinac) Lawrence Reed. Church wittingly took on Obama's idiocy and assaults on the US Constitution. Quiggly gave the audience an inspiring and patriotic insiders view of what it was like to work with Reagan. Reed gave an in-depth history of the Great Depression, and parrallels to today's economic situation.

Afterwards, awards were handed out to various activists including Aaron Bitterman and Phil Blumel, for their excellent work on behalf of the RLC.

As a personal aside, Phil, Tom Walls, Ivan Osorio and I escaped to a Jax Punk Rock club (The Land Shark), at Atlantic Beach afterwards to watch three "Redneck Punk" bands. (Phil is a former lead singer for the 1980s punk band 'F' and Ivan was a bassist in the Gainesville band, John Birch Society). At the nightclub, we toasted the RLC's success after twenty years of hard work. It was Phil and Tom, who were with me at the original founding of the group, way back in 1990. And yes, a couple of us did get slobbering drunk.

This was perhaps the greatest gathering of libertarian Republicans ever. Yes, the crowd was heavily dominated by Floridians. And if there's any criticism to be had about the RLC National Convention, it is that it was much more one-state dominated that previous gatherings. But, that one state really shined. And those who attended from other states, got to see libertarian Republican success in action.

When you have the Duval County GOP Chairman coming to speak to your group, and pledging that he fully hopes to bring libertarians into the local fold, two US Senate campaigns coming to solicit support of libertarians for the coming primary, and when you have, just days before, the Governor of America's fourth largest state, reversing his previous decision, and backing a libertarian initiative for Taxpayer's Rights, because of the RLC, that's influence.

No doubt, those states who were represented, like Tennessee, Maryland, New York, New Hampshire, Minnesota, North Carolina, and others will soon be going back to their states to replicate the success that the original group, the Florida RLC, has had.

BTW, rumors at the convention were that Maryland would be hosting the next RLC National Convention in two years.

Note - We now return to our regularly scheduled programming. Today, we will resume our normal article postings.

Dave Nalle elected new RLC Chairman

Dave Nalle, a computer network designer from Austin, Texas, was elected National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus this afternoon, at the organization's business session. Nalle is Co-Editor of the popular Blog Critics blog.
He is also a frequent contributing writer to Libertarian Republican blog.

Nalle is generally regarded as a mainstream libertarian, with friendly relations with all libertarian Republican factions, including Pro-Defensers, Ron Paulists, Constitutionalists, and Libertarian Party members.

He has been an RLC member for approximately 5 years, and has served as RLC National Vice-Chair for the past 2 years.

Other officers elected include: Mark Cross of Florida, Vice-Chair, Aarron Bitterman from Wisconsin as Secretary, Bill Westmiller of California as Treasurer, and At-Large members - Dan Sheil of Michigan, Bryan Haddock of Tennessee, and John Orlando of Maryland.

There was a tie in one vote for Alternate, so the board decided to just expand the number of alternates from 3 to 4.

Approx. 150 delegates participated in the voting.

The National Board will hold its first official meeting tomorrow morning at the close of the convention.

Local Jacksonville GOP Chairman speaks to RLC Convention

Lenny Curry, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Duval County (Jacksonville), Florida Republican Party, welcomed the delegates to the Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention this afternoon. An overflow crowd of RLCers, and local Republican Party precinct committeemen came to the Embassy Suites Hotel on the southside of Jax, to hear his speech.

Curry, a conservative, made it clear that libertarians were fully welcomed and active participants in the local GOP. But he also suggested that libertarians needed to work with conservatives, particularly in Northeast Florida, where there is a heavy religious conservative contingent.

Some local County GOP organizations in Florida have had difficulties in the past with Ron Paul supporters and other libertarian Republicans. One County GOP in North Florida even restricted RLC members from attending Executive Committee meetings. Curry wanted to assure delegates that that would not happen in Duval County, and that he had an excellent working relationship with local libertarians.

On a lighter note, towards the end of Curry's speech, an older woman who also serves as a local GOP Precinct Committee rose to welcome the libertarians to Jacksonville, and announce to the delegates that she was an original "Goldwater Girl." The crowd broke into spontaneous applause and even a few hoots and hollering for the 1964 GOP Presidential candidate.

Florida US Senate candidates speak to RLC National Convention

Dr. Marion Thorpe, (photo), candidate for the open US Senate seat for the State of Florida (Mel Martinez retiring), addressed the Republican Liberty Caucus national convention in Jacksonville, late this afternoon. Thorpe, an African American, was the GOP candidate against Congressman Alcee Hastings in South Florida in 2008. Also speaking was a representative for FL House Speaker Marco Rubio, also a declared candidate for the seat.

Of note, Dr. Thorpe won applause from the 150 or so delegates for pronouncing that the RLC is "where the Republican Party should be." He also said that he's "almost certain," that Candra Meek will be the Democrat nominee, which would put him in the best position for the general election; presenting an African-American Republican, versus an African-American Democrat. Thorpe expressed his strong conservative values, which he said is what Floridians support.

Rubio's representative stressed his support for the Fair Tax, and his fiscally conservtive legislative accomplishments. Additionally, as a Cuban American, he has a great respect for the fundamental importance of freedom over tyranny.

Other declared candidates from around the country addressed the convention in a candidates forum session, including: Cindy Jones, St. Mary's County Commissioner, MD, Dan Haller, Republican candidate for New York City Council (Manhattan), Mike Parra for Polk County Commission, FL, and Marcus Retch for FL State Rep. - Miami. The forum was chaired by 2008 South Florida Congressional candidate, and Ron Paul for President local coordinator Dean Santoro.

Live Blogging from Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention

Eric Dondero - LR Publisher/Editor

Embassy Suites Hotel
Jacksonville, Florida
10:00 am est

CONVENTION OPENS 9:00 AM

Approximately 150 delegates are in attendance, the vast majority of them from Northeast Florida. But other States represented include: Maryland, New York, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.

Dave Nalle, current Vice-Chair of the RLC Chairs the meeting

Welcoming remarks/Call to Order

State Reports

FLORIDA GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST JUST ENDORSED TABOR!!

US Term Limits President and RLC Convention Co-Host Phil Blumel just announced to the gathered RLC delegates, that the Governor has endorsed the Taxpayer Bill of Rights sponsored by the RLC.

Blumel reported that last week, Florida RLC leaders spent a day lobbying state legislators in Tallahassee. The Governor's office was initially cool to their request of backing for TABOR. He mentioned to the RLCers that he supported the concept generally, but was unsure of the specifics in the Bill. Then, later in the day at a hearing over the proposed Tax Legislation, a Governor's represented came, and announced that though he previously had concerns, he would now back TABOR, as is.

Other News:

A representative of the New York RLC stood to announce that Republican Congressional candidate Jim Tidesco in the special election set for Tuesday near Albany, is a dues-paying Republican Liberty Caucus member.

Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and Minnesota representatives also gave updates on their State Chapters. Maryland especially had a great deal of activity. The Minnesota group promises to be very involved in upcoming GOP primaries. The Tennessee group, newly chartered, came down from Nashville, to "learn how Florida and the other successful RLCs do it."

Elections for National Board later this morning. Dave Nalle is the favorite to take over as National Chairman. Nalle is a computer softwares designer from Austin, Texas, and is also Publisher of Blog Critics.

More details to come later today...

Palin appoints Individualist, Outdoors Sportsman and Ted Nugent friend, Wayne Anthony Ross as State Attorney General

"Guns, Family and Alaska Pride"

Wayne Anthony Ross is a man's man. A big brawly outdoorsy admirer of Teddy Roosevelt, "WAR" as his friends call him, has just been picked by fellow outdoors enthusiast Sarah Palin, to be Alaska Attorney General.

Ross has had a stunning career.

Ross ran for Governor in the GOP primaries in 2002. He came in 2nd, to Frank Murkowski.

Outdoors enthusiast and classic rocker Ted Nugent (photo below), even came up to Alaska to campaign and raise money for Ross. Source: Alaska Dispatch.

The Anchorage Daily News said of him at the time:

Despite a reputation for colorful remarks and occasional flamboyance, brings to the race a conventional con-servatism. It reflects his career as a family law attorney, his years in the party, his religious faith and his love of guns and hunting. Stronger parental rights. Back-to-basics education. More mining and logging. Fewer regulations. And less government -- except for more police and prisons.

He was also state campaign chairman for Phil Gramm for President in 1996.

Ross has served in various top capacities in the State NRA for over a decade. He currently serves as NRA State Director.

In 2002, the Anchorage Daily News described his support for Gun Rights:

Wayne Anthony Ross, whose initials W.A.R. mark the license of his huge, red, four-wheel-drive Chevy Suburban, is increasingly one of the country's most outspoken defenders of the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. He's been on the NRA's national board of directors for nearly 10 years.

Ross, the advocate of Self-Reliance and the Outdoors Lifestyle

He's also a big supporter of the "alternative lifestyle" of Subsistance living. Said Ross in a 2002 interview with Backwoods Home Magazine - Political Ideas for Self-reliant living:

“Federal law and regulations contradict the constitutionally guaranteed equal right of all Alaska citizens to use our fish and game resources. That right was recognized by the federal government when our Statehood Compact was accepted. The only way to reclaim our state’s rights is to challenge the Alaska Lands Act in court or get Congress to change it without a court challenge. I am committed to doing whichever it takes.

In that same interview, he was described by Editor Masaad Ayoob as: one of the States' top defenders of the "backwoods home lifestyle" and "a prime mover in fighting for the citizens against government encroachment of their rights." Ayoob ends that if "homesteader and outdoorsman" Ross wins, "it will be a victory for individuality and individual rights."

Ross represented Libertarian Party of Alaska in 2002 case

As an attorney, Ross was the litigator for both the Libertarian Party of Alaska, and the Alaska Independence Party in a 2002 lawsuit defending the rights of political parties to control their own primary selection process. He has also represented - pro-bono - defenders of patriotic values, including a well-known case in Alaska of veterans who saved an American flag. A father of a War Veteran doused leftwing anti-War demonstrators with a fire house. From the ADN:

He has represented, without fee... military veterans who ''res-cued'' the American flag from an artist who displayed it on the ground.

Palin cites protecting Constitutional values and State Sovereignty in Ross appointment

Alaska News & Announcements reports on the appointment:

Wayne Anthony Ross will be a great defender of Alaska and the people he serves," Governor Palin said.

She added, “Now more than ever, it is essential that Alaska’s sovereignty be protected, that there is unity in Alaska, and that we all stand together to see Alaska’s potential fulfilled with energy security contributions to ourselves and the nation, while protecting the Constitution.”

Ross responded:

“Theodore Roosevelt once said ‘Aggressive fighting for the right is the noblest sport the world affords’ – I subscribe to that philosophy,” Ross said. “I sincerely appreciate the confidence placed in me by Governor Sarah Palin

British political sensation Daniel Hannan gives a "jumbo" Hat Tip to American bloggers on the Right

Says new YouTube Revolution good news for libertarians: Bad for old media and nanny-state politicians

Excerpted from the London Daily-Telegraph, "My speech to Gordon Brown goes viral":

The internet has changed politics - changed it utterly and forever. Twenty-four hours ago, I made a three-minute speech in the European Parliament, aimed at Gordon Brown. I tipped off the BBC and some of the newspaper correspondents but, unsurprisingly, they ignored me: I am, after all, simply a backbench MEP.

Overnight, the YouTube clip of my remarks had attracted over 36,000 hits. By today, it was the most watched video in Britain.

How did it happen, in the absence of any media coverage? The answer is that political reporters no longer get to decide what's news. The days when a minister gave briefings to a dozen lobby correspondents, and thereby dictated the next day's headlines, are over. Now, a thousand bloggers decide for themselves what is interesting. If enough of them are tickled then, bingo, you're news.

And jumbo thanks to all the American bloggers: you chaps are way ahead of us in this regard.

Breaking the press monopoly is one thing. But the internet has also broken the political monopoly.

It's all a bit unsettling for professional journalists and politicians. But it's good news for libertarians of every stripe. Lefties have always relied on control, as much of information as of physical resources. Such control is no longer technically feasible.

Brad and Angelina: Closet libertarians?

Heroine of Rand novel personified by Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is an outspoken supporter of Gun Owner's rights. She even praised Republican President George W. Bush for his humanitarian efforts in Africa. And her father John Voigt was a prominent Hollywood supporter of the GOP Presidential ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin in 2008. Jolie herself, bucked pressure to endorse Obama and stayed neutral.

Now, a prominent comic series writer, is speculating that Jolie and husband Brad Pitt, may actually be "closet libertarians."

From Mike Barron, Big Hollywood:

Why Atlas Shrug matters

It might have been written yesterday. Rand’s description of a socialist state taken over by “looters,” people who cannot create or produce but who seize power under the rubric of “fairness” is so spot-on accurate of today’s administration it’s scary.

These are larger-than-life characters acting out their passion on an international stage. Has there ever been a more dynamic woman literary character than Dagny [Taggart]? There’s a reason Angelina Jolie is eager to play her in the upcoming film. (This will only intensify rumblings that our Most Holy of Hollywood Couples are secret libertarians.)

Barron goes on to offer this observation of the Rand classic:

The solution Rand offers is for the men and women of industry and business to simply withdraw their skills and energies from the market rather than place them in the service of an evil socialist state. In “Atlas Shrugged” they go to a secret valley in the mountains. In real life, millions of Americans are reevaluating their efforts in light of the Obama administration’s punitive and senseless tax and spend policy. It is a viable option and one which every right-minded American must consider. And by right-minded, I mean Americans who understand the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, to whom the pursuit of happiness is holy but the guarantee of happiness is a cruel joke perpetrated by the present gang of looters in the White House and Congress who couldn’t make a buck if their lives depended on it.

Note - Barron is the co-creator of the scifi thriller series Nexus.

Patriotic Black Americans strongly condemn Mixon murdering spree, and those who support Murderer

Others in Black Community rally in support of Mixon

The People's Democratic Uhuru Movement held a rally over the weekend, in San Francisco to support of Oakland murder Lovelle Mixon. Last Saturday Mixon murdered 3 White and 1 Asian Oakland Police officers in an hours-long shooting spree across East Oakland. Approximately 20 supporters held a march and vigil in opposition to the Oakland Police and to express their outrage over perceived "policy brutality" against the murderer

CNN reports that:

According to the organization’s website, the march was designed to “Uphold the Resistance of the African Community as Represented by Brother Lovelle Mixon.”

But support for the murderer against the Police, may have sparked a backlash in the Bay Area Black community. Many are strongly condemning the Mixon supporters. Two comments from residents come in at 1:35 and 2:06, lashing out against the protesters.

Related Information

In a curious side note, it turns out that the Black Uhuru Movement are strong supporters of the Green Party. In 2008, the group enthusiastically endorsed the Party, and the Presidential ticket of Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente. The Green Party prominently placed the endorsement on their website at GreenPartyWatch.org:

The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) has endorsed the McKinney/Clemente ticket in the U.S. presidential race. The endorsement was based on the support that Green Party V.P. candidate Rosa Clemente expressed for InPDUM’s “Revolutionary National Democratic Program,” during her participation in InPDUM’s 17th Annual Convention, held September 27 – 28, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Very latest news indicates that Mixon did rape a 12-year old girl in February, and may also have been responsible for a series of rapes. He's also a suspect in a number of car jackings.

Daniel Hannan quotes Libertarian Economist Milton Friedman

What a refreshing politician! -- Libertarian Ramblings blog

British Tory MP Daniel Hannan is now a bonafide YouTube sensation; over 800,000 views so far, and currently the Number One viewed video for two straight days. He appeared on Fox's Hannity show tonight. Towards the end of the segment he quotes Libertarian icon Milton Friedman.

report

Capitalism & Friedman calls Hannan the "next Milton Friedman."

Their report:

Daniel Hannan declares to Gordon Brown, “you are the devalued Prime Minister of a devalued Government.” He said, “you have run our of our money…you can not spend your self out of recession or borrow your way out of debt…”

"Daniel Hannan is a Conservative MEP for the South East of England and author of The Plan: Twelve Months to Renew Britain. He espouses ideas of Milton Friedman regarding spending and fiscal responsibility.

Daniel Hannan was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999, and was re-elected at the top of his party’s list for the South East England constituency in 2004. In April 2008, Daniel Hannan was elected to the top position of the Conservative list for the 2009 European elections in the constituency of South East England, making it almost certain that he will be re-elected to the Parliament in 2009.

The website also has the full video of the Hannan speech.

Bachman leads coalition of libertarian and hard-line conservative Congressmen against Global Currency

Congresswoman Michelle Bachman of Minnesota has introduced legislation specifically aimed at stopping Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner from agreeing to efforts to establish a global currency. Geithner, in a speech to the Council of Foreign Relations, told his audience that he was open to the International Monetary Fund establishing the framework for such a global effort.

RightPundits.com quotes Geithner from the CFR meeting:

“We’re actually quite open to that suggestion – you should see it as rather evolutionary rather building on the current architecture rather than moving us to global monetary union,” he said.

Already Bachman has attracted a list of 29 cosponsors. According to NewsMax:

Bachmann’s proposed bill is an effort to take a global currency off the table altogether. Her proposal is couched in the form of a joint resolution offering an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It was introduced with 29 House cosponsors, including Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas; Rep John B. Shadegg, R-Ariz.; and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.

Other co-sponsors who've already signed on include, some familiar names to libertarian Republicans, including: McClintock of California, Broun of Georgia, Hensarling and Culberson of Texas, Wamp of Tenn. and Florida's Bill Posey.

For a fuller explanation and text of the Bachman legislation visit her Congressional website here.

Libertarian-leaning Republican Senators vote Against Obama's Compulsory Service bill

Late this afternoon the Senate passed Obama's compulsory youth service bill with only 19 Republicans voting no. Among the Nay voters included virturally all libertarian-leaners.

Here's the lineup:

Coburn - Oklahoma
Cornyn - Texas
DeMint - South Carolina
Ensign - Nevada
Kyl - Arizona
Risch - Idaho
Thune - South Dakota

Only one US Senator generally regarded as "libertarian-leaning" voted for the legislation: Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.

City of Seattle seeks to destroy Hispanic couple's dream home with absurd building code requirements

Nanny-State government run amok. Where? Why, Seattle, Washington, of course.

Jesus and Maria Barajas wanted to expand their dream home. But now the city of Seattle is requiring them to make absurd changes to the property, which will eat up all the money they saved for home improvements. All because of local bureaucratic excess.

Courtesy of MyNorthwest.com via Ace.

Michelle Malkin blasts Republicans who voted for Obama's Selective Slavery

"The Evil Party and the Stupid Party strike again. If this does lead to the establishment of a civilian national security force, as Obama signaled during the campaign, Republicans who vote for this Trojan Horse will have no one to blame but themselves." - Malkin, 03/26, MichelleMalkin.com

A total of 77 House Republicans voted with the Democrats in favor of the National Service bill, late last week. Though, 101 Republicans in the House voted against the measure. The Republicans voting against, included every single identified libertarian Republican, (Rohrabacher, McClintock, Royce, Shadegg, Flake, Broun, Paul), and also included hardline Conservatives, who are allied with libertarian Republicans, such as Reps Michelle Bachman of Minn., Mike Pence of Indiana and John Culberson of Texas.

Malkin also points out, that this "Selective Slavery Act," is but a mere first step to compulsory service. Continuing:

Especially troublesome to parents’ groups concerned about compulsory volunteerism requirements is a provision in the House version, directing Congress to explore “whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.”

The bill has now moved over to the Senate side.

Muslim hardliners and Middle Eastern rulers move to ban Qat

What is Qat? From Yahoo Answers:

"Khat (Catha edulis, family Celastraceae), pronounced "cot" and also known as qat, gat, tschat, and miraa, is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa. Believed to be originated in Ethiopia, it is a shrub or small tree growing to 5-8 m tall, with evergreen leaves 5-10 cm long and 1-4 cm broad. The flowers are produced on short axillary cymes 4-8 cm long, each flower small, with five white petals. The fruit is an oblong three-valved capsule containing 1-3 seeds."

"Khat has been grown for use as a drug for centuries in parts of Africa mainly Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. There, chewing khat predates the use of coffee and is used in a similar social context. Its fresh leaves and tops are chewed or, less frequently, dried and consumed as tea, in order to achieve a state of euphoria and stimulation."

For years Muslims across Europe have led a campaign to re-criminalize marijuana. Their efforts have been somewhat successful in the Netherlands. Rotterdam, which has a large minority of Muslim members on the city council, recently voted to restrict so-called Marijuana Cafe's within city limits.

Now Muslims in Somalia are trying to completely ban Qat.

Islamist al-Shabab recently won control from government forces and African peace keeping troops, of a large area of southern Somalia. And the group imposes a particularly harsh brand of Islamic Sharia. One of their first acts was to ban the substance.

This sparked a protest from the locals, as Townhall.com reports:

Hundreds of Somalis demonstrated against Islamist fighters Wednesday after they imposed a ban on a popular narcotic leaf in a southwestern town, witnesses said.

The protest is the latest setback for the group, whose leaders the U.S. State Department say have al-Qaida links.

One person was wounded during the protest in Baidoa, the country's former parliamentary seat, after the Islamist al-Shabab fighters fired in the air to disperse protesters, witness Abdirahman Abdullahi said... several protesters had been jailed... more than 50 people had been detained...

Qat marketing is the only form of sustenance for a large segment of the local population.

Even more alarming, the move to ban Qat seems to be spreading throughout North Africa and the Middle East. From AlShorfa.com, 03/19:

SANAA - As part of an endeavour to boost overall crop yields and eliminate an age-old custom, the Yemeni government has taken on the controversial task of uprooting qat, the leaves of which are chewed by Yemenis for their mild narcotic effect.

Governor of Dhamar Yahya Al-Omri issued a directive on Mar. 8 to uproot all qat plants in the Jarhan district. Orders for the directive came directly from the Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh on his instruction that there was to be no further cultivation of qat, and that food and other agricultural crops replace it.

As the article indicates the Radical Yemanese Islamists have teamed up with health enthusiasts and socialist central planners to eradicate the crop.

A Man and his Teleprompter

Obama will never give up his right to bear a teleprompter.

By libertarian Republican Cartoonist Ronald Lanham.

LR Blog Business for coming days: Special plans for the Weekend

Readers:

It now looks to be about 80% certain that I will be attending the Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention scheduled for Jacksonville, Florida this weekend. Naturally, I'm very excited. My friend and convention host Phil Blumel says, that they're expecting about 80 to 100 participants and perhaps as many as 200 for the Saturday night banquet. I won't go into details about the convention. You can get it all at www.rlc.org. If you live in the Southeast, and especially Florida, please consider going.

That said, this Blog may be out of commission for the weekend. Or, if I can work it out, I may be convention blogging. We'll see. Just don't be alarmed if I'm out of touch for two to three days. I'll try to post a shitload of articles Thursday evening before I depart.

If I am out of touch, Right Guy is in charge. So, you all be nice. That includes you Annie, and especially you Bint.

Another bit of housekeeping, Blogspot will have a shutdown for about an hour Thursday afternoon.

Site meter has our daily unique visits steady at about 700 to 800. That's great! Very solid numbers. But how I'd love to be in the 1,000+ range. Conserv/Libert Blog Guru Stacy McCain assures me that all sorts of wonderfully, magic things happen to a Blog once it surpasses the 1,000 daily visitors a day mark. So, please help to make that happen!

One final item, CNN just picked up on the "Missouri State Troopers apologize to Libertarian Party," story. It's now headlining at CNN Political Ticker. I'm not taking credit for it, but I'd like to think that our constant pounding on this issue - 5 articles in 5 days - added to our friendly working relationship with the folks at CNN, might have played a small role in them carrying the story.

Oh, I almost forgot. I do have a new home/office phone number: 979-319-5911. I'm available most evenings, between about 8 pm and 10 pm cst. Got a Hot News item? Pick up the phone and call.

Eric - The Management

Leftist demonstrators in San Francisco Bay Area, shout "Kill the Police" at Pro-Peace Rally

On Sunday, hundreds of Anti-War Protestors, including Code Pink, demonstrated in San Francisco.

This video was shot of the event. At approx. 1:20 minutes into the tape, a female protester can be heard shouting: "Kill the Police... Kill the Police."

(H/t to Moonbattery blog, which links to LR)

Mixon killed cops over discrimination, says SF columnist

Fourth officer taken off life support

Just breaking from the AP wire...

SAN FRANCISCO: An Oakland police officer shot by a man wanted on a parole violation was taken off life support after vital organs were removed for transplantation, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The officer's death brings to five, counting the gunman, the number of people killed in Saturday's confrontation.

The 41-year-old officer had been declared brain dead on Sunday but the hospital kept him on life support so his organs could be donated, in keeping with his wishes.

Four patients received the organs, she said.

Police said Hege and his partner, Sgt. Mark Dunakin, were gunned down when the two motorcycle officers pulled over parolee Lovelle Mixon on Saturday.

Rape of 12-year old girl may have led to shootings

Now, new news is coming out that Mixon might have raped a 12-year old girl back in February. Though, the AP only alludes to the rape, news blogs are headlining the story and identifying the victim as age 12. Continuing from the AP:

DNA found at the scene of a February rape was a probable match to Mixon, Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said Monday night.

Investigators got that information Friday, the day before the routine traffic stop ended in gunfire.

Better funding for programs benefitting ex-Felons might have prevented Mixon's rampage, says Liberal Columnist

In reaction to Mixon's shooting rampage, Black Nationalists in the Bay Area are seeking to lay the blame on "discrimination," and "lack of opportunities" that Mixon faced in his life, after being parolled.

From Earl Ofari Hutchinson, SF Chronicle, March 24:

It was a deadly mix of panic, rage and frustration that caused Oakland parolee Lovelle Mixon to snap... Though Mixon's killing spree is a horrible aberration, his plight as an unemployed, ex-felon isn't. There are tens of thousands like him on America's streets.

In 2007, the National Institute of Justice found that 60 percent of ex-felon offenders remain unemployed a year after their release. Other studies have shown that upward of 30 percent of released felons live in homeless shelters because they can't find housing; and those are the lucky ones... A significant number of them suffer from drug, alcohol and mental health challenges, and lack education or any marketable skill... What's needed is... ex-felon rehabilitation.

Hutchison goes on to suggest that more funding for programs benefitting ex-felons, is the cure. Continuing:

A bill called the Second Chance Act is a relatively mild measure to pump about $100 million into local and state agencies for education, job and skills training, counseling, and family unification programs to stem the high rate of recidivism among ex-felons. Obama has often spoken of the need to stop the revolving door of felon release and repeated incarceration. He backs the Second Chance legislation.

But with the economy and the financial crisis dominating the White House and congressional agendas, the likelihood that ex-felon aid will get attention is slim.

To counter employer discrimination against ex-felons, nearly a dozen states and counties and cities have enacted laws to limit what employers can ask applicants about criminal records. But that reform effort has stirred fierce resistance from employer groups.

LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF MISSOURI RECEIVES FORMAL APOLOGY FROM STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

For Immediate Release

March 23, 2009

Contact: Mike Ferguson, Missouri Libertarian Party Spokesperson at 816.695.1425 or mike@focalpointcommunications.net.

Missouri Libertarian Party Welcomes Resolution to MIAC Memo Controversy Regarding Third Parties, Commends MPS Director John Britt for Responding Positively to Concerns About Political Profiling
(Columbia, MO) – The Missouri Libertarian Party stands for, among many other positive things, the peaceful resolution to political disagreements and conflicts. That is what we have today as the controversy surrounding the Missouri Information Analysis Center’s “Strategic Memo” on militia activity comes to a close.

The memo, a training document for law enforcement officers throughout the state, stated that support for third political parties, including the Libertarian Party, and for specific Presidential candidates, including Bob Barr (Libertarian) and Ron Paul (Republican), could be an indicator that someone is involved in a violent militia group.

Today, Missouri Department of Public Safety Director John Britt sent a letter to the candidates named in the memo, acknowledging that references to specific political candidates or third party political organizations should not have been made and are unnecessary in the effort to stopping violent extremist groups.

Director Britt states in the letter: “In recognition of the mistaken inclusion of this information by the MIAC in its February 20, 2009 report on the militia movement, I have ordered that the offending report be edited so as to excise all reference to Ron Paul, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin and to any third-party political organizations. Additionally, you may rest assured that the report is not posted on any website maintained by the State of Missouri.

“The Missouri Department of Public Safety regrets any inconvenience or issues caused inadvertently by the unnecessary inclusion of certain components by MIAC in its militia report.”

Missouri Libertarian Party spokesman Mike Ferguson welcomed the news as a positive development for everyone. “This is a case where the government has responded to the public’s objection, reevaluated a controversial practice and responded by addressing the problem.”

The Missouri Libertarian Party shares the Department of Public Safety’s goal to keep our Highway Patrol Troopers safe as they perform the important and dangerous work of law enforcement. The party stands ready and willing to be part of any discussion that will help avoid conflicts like this in the future.

Libertarians were not alone in this effort. In addition to other political activist groups, including the Kansas City-based Liberty Restoration Project, State Representatives Chris Kelley (D-Columbia), Chris Molendorp (R-Belton) and Shane Schoeller (R-Springfield) were among those who led the discussion of this issue in the Legislature on behalf of the public.

The Missouri Libertarian Party extends its thanks to these legislators,and to any others we may not know about yet, for the attention to the issue at hand and for the leadership displayed in the House in protecting our right to speech free of governmental interference and profiling.

Most importantly, the Missouri Libertarian Party extends its gratitude to the Missourians who took the time and effort to speak out about this issue. Those who contacted their legislators and the Missouri Highway Patrol and expressed their concerns deserve credit for being involved in our governmental process; they helped bring about a positive development in our government today.

http://www.lpmo.org/media/releases/2009/PR-20090323-01.shtml

Zogby numbers: Obama falls below 50% mark for first time

Support among Hardcore Obama backers shows first signs of softening

After having been leaked for days, the new Zogby numbers are officially out. And Obama appears to have taken a hit. Zogby now has his favorability at 49%, the first time any major pollster has pegged Obama below the 50% mark.

From Zogby's site:

Barack Obama's ratings for job performance and favorability did not improve over earlier this month. In the most recent survey, 49% rate his job performance as excellent or good and 50% as fair or poor (less than 1% were not sure.) That is a dip of three points from the previous poll. On Obama's job performance, 87% of Democrats grade it as excellent or good, compared to 9% of Republicans.

But a more ominous sign perhaps; Zogby sees some slippage among hardcore Obama-ites. He points out that Obama's High Favorability ratings have leveled, and actually dipped a point among his hardcore base of supporters, to just 56%.

Full results here.

(Photo h/t to Doug Ross Journal via Michelle M.)

A staggering loss of popularity for NY Gov. Paterson: New poll suggests Giuliani would crush him

The Siena poll out of New York, has some eye opening numbers for State Democrats. Governor David Paterson has seen his popularity shrink dramatically in the last few months:

David Paterson is now viewed unfavorably by twice as many New York voters as those who view him favorably...

Paterson is viewed favorably by 29 percent of voters and unfavorably by 58 percent, down from last month‟s 40-47 percent rating. His job performance rating is 19 percent positive, 78 percent negative down from 28-69 percent last month. Only 14 percent of voters are prepared to elect Paterson as Governor in 2010, compared to 67 percent who prefer “someone else.” That‟s down from 19-57 percent last month.

Siena goes on to report that:

If a Democratic primary for Governor were held today, Paterson would lose to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo by nearly four-to-one, and Paterson would be easily beaten in a general election by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Side note - The polling data also showed that if Republican George Pataki were to run against Democrat Kristen Gilibrand for US Senate, it would be a dead heat, 42 to 42.

Wayne Root: In Missouri it may soon be illegal to "Drive while Libertarian or Conservative"

From Wayne Root, 2008 Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential candidate on the recent MIAC report:

Missouri government officials are already backtracking and running for cover on this idiotic, ignorant and dangerous warning to law enforcement. Ironically, it is more proof that we have given far too much power to government. You mean we've actually gotten to the point where if any political party challenges the powerful 2-party system, government bureaucrats to protect their power, jobs, patronage, and bloated pensions, are now willing to label that group as criminals or terrorists. This is truly proof of Big Brother and the Nanny State gone wild. What's next? Government run re-education camps?”

Root, the author of the soon-to-be-released new book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian” points out that in many national political polls as much as 20% of Americans identify themselves as libertarian, while over 40% of voters agree that they are fiscally conservative and socially tolerant, otherwise known as libertarian. “Does government now consider those millions of voters all criminals or terrorists?” asks Root. “Is any form of dissent or disagreement with government policy now labeled as 'terrorist activity.' Is this America or the Soviet gulag? Are police now going to pull over drivers in America for the crime of 'driving while Libertarian or Conservative?' I think that all good Americans will agree that our government and law enforcement has gone too far with this warning.

UPDATE!

Wayne Root will be a guest on the Fox News Morning Show this Friday.

The real face of Domestic Terrorism: Radical Muslim Training Camps throughout the US

From LR Reader and sometimes Contributor Mike Griffin, of Aberdeen, Maryland:

Currently 35 terrorist training camps spread across the USA and run by Sheikh Gilani from Pakistan
They are called “Soldiers of Allah” or “Jamaat ul-Fuqra” and are training in your own backyard

Some of their most active camps are:

-Trout Creek Pass, Colorado (over 100 acres)
- Red House Virginia (over 120 Acres)
- Mecca Circle, Wayne County, GA
- Islamber, NY (considered their headquarters)
- Holy Islamville, SC (another huge compound and extremely active)
- Baladullah, CA (Huge and also extremely active)
- A new one PA (Wayne County)
- Fairfax, VA
- York, SC
- Hancock, NY
- Deposit, NY
- Springfield, MA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Hyattsville, MD
- Bethany, WV
- Meherrin, VA
- Dover, TN
- Commerce, GA
- Jessup, GA
- Marion, AL
- Talhina, OK
- Houston, TX
- Coldwater, MI
- Buena Vista, CO
- Oak Hill, CA
- Onalska, WA

Sheikh Gilani was the one who Daniel Pearl was going to meet. It is allegeded that he sent his operatives to capture him instead. Now this Sheikh, who is a known international terrorist, funds and runs these camps across the US.

Is this the face of a Domestic Terrorist?

by Eric Dondero

Apparently, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and some other top Democrats and Law Enforcement bureaucrats in the State seem to think so.

Meet Joel Stoner (photo). Joel is a 31-year old Mayor of a tiny town in south central Missouri. The town's name is Mack's Creek. Population - 267. According to Wiki, the town has a Cafe, Bank, Art Gallery, Post Office, Garage, Public Library, a Distinguished School, Two churches (one in the photo below), Recording studio, Senior Housing, and a Cemetery.

What makes the town especially unique? The Mayor is the only elected Libertarian Party member serving in that office in the entire State. Though, nationwide, some 30 to 40 other LP members serve as Mayors. And statewide in Missouri, over 20 Libertarians hold elective and appointed office.

Recently, the State of Missouri officially designated Libertarian Party members as "potential militia" and even "possible terrorists." The Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) report instructed State Troopers that individuals such as Mayor Stoner, who might have a Bob Barr or Ron Paul bumper sticker on their car, could be affiliated with such groups, and that "extreme caution" needs to be taken when stopping such an individual on an MO Highway.

Ironically, instead of targetting real domestic terrorists, such as Islamic extremists, Democrats in power have decided to go after their rightwing opponents.

Fox News covered the controversy yesterday:

If you're an anti-abortion activist, or if you display political paraphernalia supporting a third-party candidate or a certain Republican member of Congress, if you possess subversive literature, you very well might be a member of a domestic paramilitary group.

Read the full article here.

But Joel is just a regular down-home "Joe." Donny Ferguson at Libertarian Party blog reports this morning:

Just a few days ago I had a nice exchange with Mack’s Creek, Misouri’s Libertarian Mayor Joel Stoner. Like other elected Libertarians, Mayor Stoner is hard at work improving city parks, establishing a broadband community center and fixing the local roads, all with either private donations or reductions elsewhere in the budget, allowing him to avoid tax increases.

And Joel is not alone. Doug Burlison is a sitting City Council member in nearby Springfield, Missouri, population 81,000. In April Burlison will be joined on the Council by a second elected Libertarian Party member, who ran unopposed in a recent election. Mike Ferguson, spokesman for the LPMO sits on a local city council himself. Other elected town councilmen sit on councils in Douglas, and St. Joseph.

The very latest is that Democrat Governor Nixon refuses to meet with the Libertarians, despite Ferguson's repeated calls for a meeting to hash out their differences.

Perhaps Nixon is afraid that Stoner, Burlison, and other elected Libertarians in the State, may show up in camoflauge with AK-47s in their pick-ups? Or, more likely, he's probably just too ashamed to have to give the Libertarian Party of Missouri a formal apology.

Abercrombie: You're qualified for President, based on the fact that you're running for President

Hawaii's three decades long, and somewhat eccentric Democrat Congressman, Neal Abercrombie, insisted that the fact alone, that Obama ran for President, is reason enough to believe he is eligible. Responding to reporters inquiries over legislation introduced by Cong. Bill Posey of Florida, making it mandatory that a future presidential candidate be American-born, Abercrombie had this to say to the St. Pete Times (via WND):

"It's one thing to try to be responsive to your constituents, no matter how marginal," Abercrombie told the St. Petersburg Times. "I understand that. But to take it to the point of putting it into a bill -- you open yourself up, then, to having your judgment questioned."

"The citizenship of someone who has reached the point of running for president of the United States is not really an issue."

Florida Congressman responds to critics on Birth Certificate issue

Two weeks ago, Florida freshman Rep. Bill Posey, introuduced legislation in response to constituent requests, establishing in law, the requirement that future Presidents present their birth certificates to the voters. By all accounts, the Congressman was not overly enthusiastic about his own legislation. He has since received strenuous criticism from some Democrats, and in response, he has dramatically changed his tune.

Excerpted from Congressman Bill Posey's blog (via WND):

"Why'd I do this? Well, for a number of reasons and the more and more I get called names by leftwing activists, partisan hacks and political operatives for doing it, the more and more I think I did the right thing."

He said, "I've been called some pretty nasty things. That's fine. But none of these tolerant people actually want to discuss the issue at hand … whether or not a presidential candidate should have to file these documents with the government.

"I could easily fill up a page listing all the activities an American needs to show their ID for … everything from playing youth soccer to getting a drivers license, buying cigarettes and alcohol, to opening bank accounts and even playing little league. So I was pretty surprised to find out that to run for president, despite the constitutional requirement and the media scrubbing that goes on, it's not required for a candidate to file these documents when they submit their statement of candidacy with the FEC."

Two new Polls: Obama's overall approvals slips to 50%, below 50% on the Economy

Obama losing Independents

Two new polls from major polling firms out this morning.

According to the Boston Herald, Zogby finds Obama's overall approval numbers "about 50%." (Hard numbers to be released later this morning.)

From the Herald's Joe Dwinnel:

Obama’s job approval stumbles to about 50 percent over the lack of improvement with the crippled economy.

Some polls show Obama coasting with a 65 percent job approval, but not in Zogby’s tally.

“The numbers are going down,” Zogby told the Herald. “It’s not because of the gaffes, but a combination of high expectations and that things aren’t moving fast enough with the economy.”

And a new ARG poll finds Obama's numbers on dealing with the Economy even worse.

ARG:

When it comes to the way Obama is handling the economy, 47% of registered voters approve of the way Obama is handling the economy and 46% disapprove. Among independent voters, 32% approve of the way Obama is handling the economy and 57% disapprove. In February, 43% of independent voters approved of the way Obama was handling the economy and 43% disapproved.

In a turnaround from February, 40% of Americans say the national economy is getting worse. This down from 63%.

Meghan McCain on CNN: Comes out for the War, Fiscal Conservatism

The media, as of late, has been seeking to portray Meghan McCain as a renegade Republican, out of step with her Dad on the issues of the day. Last night, in and interview with Larry King, the 23-year old squelched such speculation, saying firmly that she was both Pro-War, and Pro-Fiscal Conservative.

From CNNPolitics.com:

King: We have an e-mail question from Veronica, Huntington Park, California: "Do you share most of your father's political views?"

McCain: When it comes to war and the economy, and many fiscal conservative values, I agree with him. I mean I fell in love with the Republican Party because of my father.

McCain later went on to explain how she differs from older Republicans on social matters, taking a more tolerant stance, but understanding their concerns.

"I think that the party is at a place where social issues shouldn't be the issues that define the party. And I have taken heat, but in fairness to me, I am a different generation than the people that are giving me heat. I'm 24 years old. I'm not in my 40s, I'm not in my 50s and older."

Her favorite current politician besiders her Father? Bobby Jindal.

McCain: I interviewed [Supyira] Jindal, the first lady of Louisiana. And she's a fascinating woman. She totally impressed me because she was very warm and friendly.

King: Do you like him [Gov. Bobby Jindal]?

McCain: I do. You know, we do veer off on some things politically, but any leader that I'm going to have I'm going to veer off politically.

LINKS!

This story was linked by CNN. This article is the Top blog article out of 7 featured by CNN. See it here (What the Blogs are Saying).

IMPORTANT! Editor's Note - Thank you CNN! We don't always agree with you. But we deeply appreciate your continued links to this Blog. And we most certainly will return the favor, with continued links to your site, particularly the wonderful Political News Blog, which is a personal favorite of mine.

Michelle Bachman turns Radical Jeffersonian

Last week, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was quoting Jefferson against the Obama stimulus. Now, Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Bachman has caught the Jeffersonian bug. From Politico.com:

"I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax [cap and trade] because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us ‘having a revolution every now and then is a good thing,’ and the people – we the people – are going to have to fight back hard if we’re not going to lose our country. And I think this has the potential of changing the dynamic of freedom forever in the United States.”

Watch out for Democrat Legislators: Now they're stabbing us!!

From Cliff Thies:

New York state Senator Hiram Monserrate, a Democrat, has been indicted for stabbing his girlfriend in the face with a broken drinking glass, leaving a gash that required twenty stitches to close. Monserrate says he didn’t stab the woman, but only fell while bringing her a glass of water. The guy is retired from the New York City Police Department on a psychological disability.

>>Monserrate apparently won his seat in the New York state Senate by diverting $400,000 in taxpayer money to political associates back when he was a councilman, as a result of which the Democratic Party did not endorse the incumbent in the primary.

New York Democrat Assemblyman slams Libertarians as "Darwinian"

The Albany Times-Union admits today that the State of New York, is indeed a "Nanny-State."

In "Yes we are living in a Nanny State," the editors highlight the recent ranking of New York as the Least Free in both economics and personal freedom terms, of all the 50 states. The study, which has received nationwide publicity, was conducted by two Libertarian Free Staters Jason Sorens of the University at Buffalo and William Ruger of Texas State University.

But some apparently, are quite proud of that designation. From the Times-Union:

Not everyone agrees with the study's assertion that New Yorkers lack freedom.
Some point out that New York is more diverse and is home to lots more poor people than, say, New Hampshire. And the state's elected politicians have made conscious decisions to offer more help to the poor and disadvantaged

"The less you embrace the social contract, the more the healthy and strong do well,'' remarked Albany Democratic Assemblyman Jack McEneny, who before being elected to the Legislature, ran the city's public employment program. Simply abandoning social welfare to market forces is "Darwinian,'' he added.

Moochers urge Palin to "take the money"

by Eric Dondero

About 30 people showed up yesterday at the main Anchorage library, to protest against Governor Sarah Palin's decision to reject about 40% of the Obama stimulus funds. The Gimmee Gimmee crowd of government hand-out Moochers and Socialist Sleuths, made their voices heard by the local media and on blogs.

From the Anchorage Daily News:

Dozens of protesters held signs Saturday criticizing Gov. Sarah Palin for turning away federal economic stimulus money they said is vital for education and other services for Alaskans.

Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau also spoke in favor of the state accepting federal stimulus dollars for education.

"I can assure you, we know what to do with short-term money," she told the lawmakers.

Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, said Palin "got some really bad advice" on the stimulus money.

"She's seeing strings attached that really don't exist," he said.

And this from the Mudflats (Anchorage) blog, which has served as Ground Central for protest organizing:

It’s been a while since a bunch of hopping mad Alaskans gathered with signs to protest the actions of our governor. But today, at 9:30 in the morning in the bitter cold, hundreds showed up to wave signs, mingle with legislators, pack the Assembly chambers, give public testimony and send a message loud and clear that Alaska wants our fair share of the federal stimulus money

This whole “we don’t need the money” meme is brand new. Apparently there are Alaskans who are so madly in love with Palin that they don’t mind the fact that she as the advocate for the state of Alaska, suddenly feels more of a sense of duty to save the country money than to represent the interests of her constituents.

We'll let the Palin more interested in "saving the country," comment stand on its own.

But apparently, the Mudflatters don't believe Libertarians exist. And this from a State where 3 Alaskans have been elected to the State Legislature, dozens of others have served in local elected public office over the years, and the Party has had Major Party status for over two decades.

While Libertarians applaud Governor Palin's rejection of 40% of the Stimulus, it's not nearly enough.

Why not reject it all? Why not tell the Feds to stick it up their asses, and just have Alaska go it alone?

Education? Privatize it. There's no need for Government, particularly the Federal Government to be involved in the Education business.

Other services, outside of transportation and roads? Sell them off to private industry in the quickest manner possible.

Sorry Mudflatters, but Libertarians are Alaskans too. Libertarians want extremely limited government. And our numbers are just as strong, if not stronger than your little pipsqueek protest at the publicly-funded Library.

And thankfully, Sarah Palin has her ear tuned to Libertarians. I recall waving signs for her three days out of the election in 2006, with the State Chairman of the Libertarian Party Jason Dowell right by her side on a busy Anchorage street corner. The attendance wasn't 30. But rather 80 to 100 of her supporters were out there in the 12 degree weather waving signs.

Perhaps it's time Libertarians, Conservatives and Others held a Tea Party rally in Anchorage in support of Palin?