Republicans now lead Democrats in generic Congressional match-up

In a week of ups and downs for the GOP, the Party seems to be ending up on an high note. Rasmussen reports that for only the second time in over five years, Republicans top Democrats in the generic congressional ballot. Though, it's only by 3 points.

From Rasmussen:

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 41% would vote for their district’s Republican candidate while 38% would choose the Democrat. Thirty-one percent (31%) of conservative Democrats said they would vote for their district’s Republican candidate.

Overall, the GOP gained two points this week, while the Democrats lost a point in support...

First Video footage of Census Taker and GPS in neighborhood: Worker gets upset with Homeowner for Videotape

The Property Owner in the video is identified solely as "Travis." There is no indication as to the location, but it appears to be somewhere in the South.

The Census Worker is not identified by name.

A confrontation ensues at 2:48 minutes in. The Census Worker returns to confront the Home Owner for videotaping him going door-to-door.

The Home Owner then asserts his Constitutional Rights.

West Virginia newspaper confirms Census Bureau workers to GPS homes

A Census Bureau official is quoted in an article in The Morgan Messenger out of Berkely Springs, West Virginia, confirming that workers will be visiting homes in the region to obtain GPS coordinates of homes in the area. The article is dated April 22.

Excerpted from the Messenger:

First phase of 2010 Census begins in West Virginia - by Kate Evans - 4/22/2009

Area residents hired for the first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census will be canvassing door-to-door and checking home addresses from April 20 through mid-July across West Virginia.

They will be verifying physical address information with handheld global positioning system (GPS) units for mapping accuracy, said Elizabeth Guthrie, U.S. Census Bureau partnership specialist.

Census workers must ensure an accurate count of housing units in the county before the actual census takes place in April 2010, Guthrie said.

Limited census work has begun already in some sections of the state, she said. Guthrie believed that Morgan County operations would start during the next two weeks.

How long they will be at work in the county depends on the lay of the land, she said. Canvassing city blocks goes much more quickly than canvassing rural areas.

Census workers will mostly remain on the edge of properties in their vehicle or pull into driveways to use their GPS units, Guthrie said. They will not need to come inside residences. In some areas, they will give a courtesy knock to let residents know they are present.

Will have census badges

U.S. Census workers will be identifiable by census badges that they will wear and by other markings that will indicate they work for the Census Bureau, she said.

The article continues with 16 further paragraphs giving details on how one can gain a Census job, and the importance of accurate Census data in funding for states and localities

Note - Morgan County is in northeastern WV, on the Maryland border, and a 2 hour drive from Washington, DC.

UPDATE!

New Jersey newspaper confirms same

The Daily Journal serving Cumberland County, NJ published a piece hours ago, titled:

"Census Bureau now takes along GPS on canvass"

Census Bureau - GPS story shooting all over the Blogosphere

From the Editor:

Early this morning we uploaded a highly controversial and cutting edge story from our Senior Writer JB Williams of Tennessee. Canada Free Press, and a number of other top Right Websites also ran the story.

Free Republic picked up on it and posted it. So far, over 10,000 have commented on the piece at Freeper. That's an exceedingly high amount of comments for one single article. JB reports that 2/3rds of the comments are personal accounts of Census takers coming to GPS mark homes of individuals.

I must confess, I was a little worried about running the story. Admittedly, it is a bit out there. I just got off the phone with JB. He has asked me to express to you all, that he is in no way making any conclusions as to why this is all happening and the motives behind the Obama administration's program, including any connection to the Flu Pandemic. He wishes only for the reader to decide for themselves.

That said, further research on the article has since turned up some amazing facts, and news accounts which are now backing up the story. We will, of course, be publishing that information here at LR, some of it very shortly.

Stay tuned...

Obama and ACORN plan to GPS mark every Front Door in America

By JB Williams ©2009 USA

Republican Senator Judd Gregg was Obama’s first choice for the Secretary of Commerce post, and Gregg was actually considering joining the Obama team, until he found out that control of the US Census was being stripped from the Commerce Department and placed under the direct control of White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel.

Then, the same week that Americans learned that they were “domestic terrorists” -- at least according to Obama’s new DHS (Department of Homeland Security), -- if they own a bible, a pocket Constitution or guns, and still believe in Life, Liberty and Freedom, - they also learned that Obama’s Census Bureau had hired thousands of new temporary employees, equipped each with a handheld GPS computer and sent them out to mark GPS coordinates for every residential front door in America.

Oddly, it was this same period that news was breaking of an international flu pandemic, suspected of being a weaponized strain of the virus never before seen, - and that Obama’s team still sees no need to close the US-Mexican border, despite the cross continental spread of a deadly illness now claiming American lives.

Now, if any one of these events happened alone, one might not get too excited. But when a string of such events happen all at once, one begins to question the string of freedom and life threatening coincidences...

I can’t resist the urge to question the authority and purpose behind such a BIG BROTHER initiative, when the official Census itself is not due to be taken until 2010...

Big Brother's reach now extending right into our Homes

No imagination is required to think up a whole laundry list of evil that could be done with a nationwide GPS grid of coordinate’s markers painted on every private home across the country. But I was having trouble thinking up one good reason for it, even one legitimate use that would justify what must be a very expensive undertaking.

According to one of the Census workers, who spoke with me on condition of anonymity, they must GPS mark the coordinates “within 40 ft of every front door” in America and they are supposed to complete that mission nation wide, within 90 days, by the end of July 2009.

The workers were not told why they were GPS marking every front door. But a supervisor is sent out to follow them door-to-door, to make certain that no door is left unmarked. Every door will be marked by one employee, and then checked by a follow-up supervisor.

So, I had to ask, why?

Why does the Obama administration need or want the latitude and longitude coordinates for every home in America? Why the rush to GPS paint every home in the next 90 days? Why must the marker be within 40 ft of every front door? For what possible purpose does the Fed need GPS coordinates for every home, and under what authority do they have the right? Census workers, whom I asked, had the same holy-crap look on their faces that I had by then...

ACORN and the Census Bureau: Big Government parternship to invade our Privacy

ACORN signed on as a national partner with the U.S. Census Bureau in February 2009 to assist with the recruitment of the 1.4 million temporary workers needed to go door-to-door to count every person in the United States — currently believed to be more than 306 million people. But the count doesn’t take place until 2010... This is April 2009.

Obama’s interest in an ACORN controlled 2010 Census, for the purpose of redistricting to the advantage of Democrats before the 2010 mid-term elections, comes as NO shock from a regime known for their heavy handed Rules for Radicals political strategies. But what does this have to do with GPS marking every home in the country?

The 2% of Americans, who have served military duty at some point in life, are very familiar with the most common use of GPS target painting. The other 98% of Americans might want to pick up a book on the subject, such as The Precision Revolution: GPS and the Future of Aerial Warfare ...

Their Authority?

www.RightSoup.com has just about the only online report available on the matter, and they report:

"Why does the government (and ACORN) need to have the GPS coordinates of your FRONT DOOR? Your house is probably on Google Maps already. But the front door? Sounds like a jackboot convenience to me. This is a developing story, and several reports of those who have already been visited by the GPS squad can be found in this forum thread."

If you challenge Census Bureau employees about the GPS marking of your private residence, you will be handed a preprinted explanation referring you to Sec. 223, Title 13, U.S. Code, Chapter 7, Subtitle 2, which explains the penalties for refusing to provide names and statistics of occupants when asked for by a census taker. This only applies when they are taking a census, (which will not be taken until next year), and the penalty for refusing to answer questions for a census is up to a $500 fine.

However, since the actual Census is not due to be taken until 2010, nobody is asking for any information today. They are only GPS marking your front door today, and Sec. 223, Title 13, U.S. Code, Chapter 7, Subtitle 2 provides the Fed NO authority to GPS paint your front door.

Best I can tell, the Fed has NO authority whatsoever, to paint the front door of every private residence in America. Still, that is exactly what they are doing. Now, the trillion dollar question is, why?

A State of Emergency

From Wikipedia - The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 16, 1878 after the end of Reconstruction, with the intention of substantially limiting the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement. The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services from exercising nominally state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers that maintain "law and order" on non-federal property (such as states and their counties and municipal divisions) within the United States.

In short, the statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the National Guard operating under federal authority, from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States.

As members of the military are sworn to protect and defend the Constitution and the American people against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, a federal order to do the exact opposite, and take aim at American citizens, would be a clear violation of the US Constitution and the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, unless...

US Military personnel are trained to follow orders. But they are also obligated to refuse any order deemed “unlawful.” In order to make such an order appear “lawful,” the federal government would first have to declare a national “state of emergency,” such as in the case of an international pandemic, which can be demonstrated to threaten the health and well-being of American citizens.

Following a state of emergency declaration, a federal order for Martial Law would be expected, to allegedly provide law enforcement and security for citizens. This type of scenario can be followed by a presidential order to quarantine, disarm and contain American citizens in the name of national security, all of it, having the appearance of being “lawful.”

Connecting the Dots

Alone, individual events look concerning, but not conspiratorial. What about when you place the pieces of the puzzle together and take a look at the entire picture developing?

Under this “theory,” how does the GPS marking of every private residence in the nation fit into the picture?

I wish I knew... but I don’t!

What I do know is this... Coincidences of this number and magnitude don’t happen. They certainly do not happen all at the same time, within hours or days of each other, out of the wild blue tin-foil hat heaven...

I also know that people had better start asking the right people the right questions and demanding answers fast. Begin with asking the mainstream press why there has been no public notification of the federal governments GPS marking your front door?

Then, I suggest contacting your local Census Bureau office immediately, and demanding an explanation as well as advice as to what law gives them the right to GPS paint every front door in America?

I’d also recommend sending a copy of this column to your state and federal representative, demanding that they put a stop to it or explain why it’s necessary, and what law gives them the right?

Unfortunately, we live in a moment of history when real events are much stranger than nutty conspiracy theories. The people have every right to know what is happening. But unless you demand to know, nobody’s talking!

America's private data to be transferred to Obama's friends overseas?

Recall for example, Bill Clinton sold US nuclear technology to Red China for a mere $300,000 in campaign contributions. The event landed Chinese bagman Johnny Chung in prison, but put Hillary Clinton in the US Senate, and now at the helm of the US State Department.

Highly secured government servers are hacked daily. Soon, hackers will be able to grab a nation wide GPS grid map, marking the front door of every home in America.

How much is a GPS grid of every American household worth to the enemies of America, both foreign and domestic? I’d estimate, PRICELESS!

There is a foul odor resonating from the current regime in Washington DC and most Americans can smell it. Can most Americans gather the strength to do something about it?

LINKS

This article is linked at Greta Wire, Fox News, Forum Section.

From the Editor: Welcome to all Greta's readers visiting here for the first time!

UPDATE!

This story is breaking on numerous news sites, and blogs, both left and right, large and small. Daily Kos is slamming the article, calling it typical anti-Obama "wingnuttery." But then, Kos defends the Obama administration's motives: "because [it's] useful information in the event of a natural disaster..."

UPDATE!

At least one newspaper has already run a story on the Census Workers using GPS. The Morgan (City) Messenger, in West Virginia published the following, April 22:

"First phase of 2010 Census begins in West Virginia" - by Kate Evans - 4/22/2009

UPDATE!

Just Breaking... The Massachusetts State Senate passed the pandemic flu preparation bill today unanimously, 36 - 0. The bill includes a provision: "to require the owner or occupier of premises to permit entry into and investigation of the premises."

Californians rejecting Big Government Propositions according to New Poll

A Big Fat No! to Bloated Budgets of Education Bureaucrats

Just released Poll numbers out of California... From the Field Poll via the Sacramento Bee:

Voters... are rejecting special election initiatives on education funding (Proposition 1B) and on temporary shifts in voter-approved funds for early childhood development (Proposition 1D) and mental health programs (Proposition 1E) to pay for other programs instead.

The poll found a greater proportion of Republicans opposed to the measures than Democrats.

But healthy majorities of both parties – 72 percent overall – answered "yes" when pollsters asked if voting down the measures "would send a message to the governor and the state Legislature that voters are tired of more government spending and higher taxes."

Politicians using political trick to win backing of the entire government growth package

From the LA Times:

Proposition 1B is intended to restore $9.3 billion in "lost" funding that public schools and community colleges normally would have received... The money, to be paid over an estimated six years starting in 2011, could force the state to increase its funding guarantees to schools in the long-term future

But the measure's main reason for being on the ballot is that it gives the powerful California Teachers Assn. and other school unions reason to support the overall package, or at least not campaign too heavily against the spending caps in Proposition 1A.

The margins for opposition to 5 of the 6 measures were roughly 49 to 40% against. The only measure of the six passing was the one to bar legislators from receiving a pay raise when they are running a budget deficit. (Via Memo)

LR's article on Al-Shabab Muslim radicals gets picked up by Kenya Watch

2nd Major International Media picks up groundbreaking LR story

Libertarian Republican news blog is receiving some international acclaim for reporting on the growing conflict on the Somali-Kenya border and the violence spurred by Al-Shabab Muslim rebels.

Kenya Watch has picked up Libertarian Republican's article, which first ran last Sunday: "Al Qaeda in Somalia Threatens Kenyan Invasion." The well-read and respected news blog is run by Ingrid Jones of the United Kingdom.

Ms. Jones is a well-known humanitarian writer, specializing in assistance to starving and repressed populations on the continent. Her family of African news blogs were "created to monitor mainstream media reporting on humanitarian crises in Sudan, Uganda, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Niger and several other hotspots."

Since the article first ran, in addition to Kenya Watch, the article has run in full or excerpted at Atlas Shrugs, Jawa Report, RightSideNews.com, MichNews.com, InfidelsUnite, and the hugely popular Canada Free Press. Note - The LR story ran a full day before the same news was broken by the Voice of America, the first US Media outlet to report on the growing conflict.

Increase in women in politics leading to less Liberty in New Hampshire: Boston Globe celebrates the Trend

Granite State going Girlie

The Boston Globe is asserting that a vast increase in female participation in New Hampshire politics is turning the once famed individualist State into a model for Progressivism and Big Government. The editorial is titled, "Matriarcy up North."

It starts off by citing recent legislation passed by the NH House including: repeal of capitol punishment and a vote to legalize homosexual marriage. The Globe also cites the recent effort by some legislators to push for mandatory seat belt laws.

Stats show Men more libertarian, Women lean statist

From the Globe:

What could be causing this unprecedented turn in Granite State politics? Here's one idea: women.

Since January, the New Hampshire Senate has been making history as the first majority female legislative body in the country: Thirteen of its 24 members are women. Overall, the New Hampshire Legislature is 37.7 percent female, just a fraction behind Vermont (37.8 percent) and Colorado (38 percent). But New Hampshire also has women in leadership: a woman House speaker, a woman Senate president, and a woman majority whip. The congressional delegation is 50 percent female, including one of only 17 women in the US Senate. It's as if there was a bloodless coup of the state's political establishment in November, and women were the avatars of change.

Numerous studies of the gender gap have found that women tend to be more liberal - in the word's sense of "generous" - especially when it comes to funding programs for children, the environment, and healthcare. Men are more libertarian, tending to be skeptical of government solutions and protective of individual rights.

Individualism not practical says Globe Editorial

Continuing:

Women see the world as a web of relationships. They are more communitarian and less individualistic. They are less ideological and more practical. It's hard to imagine a better set of qualities for solving the intricate problems that face our world.

State Sovereignty movement spreading like wildfire in Southern GOP: Georgia Gov. candidate Jon Oxendine joins with Rick Perry

John Oxendine is currently the State Insurance Commissioner and the leading contender to replace retiring Republican Governor Sonny Perdue. Statement today from the Georgia Republican:

I join Governor Perry in his call and offer my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states' rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Like Governor Perry, I believe we need to follow the letter and original intent of the U.S. Constitution, specifically the essential 10th Amendment.

I support Texas Resolution 50 which states that the Tenth Amendment defines the total scope of federal power as being that specifically granted by the Constitution of the United States and no more. This means that the federal government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states. Over the course of time, the states have been treated as agents of the federal government; many federal laws are directly in violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

John Oxendine for Georgia Governor at JohnOxendine.com

(H/t HuffPo)

Micheal Williams for US Senate gaining momentum: Campaign endorsed by Sheriffs from the Texas Panhandle to the Gulf Coast

From Will Fullerton
Political Director
Williams for Senate

Sheriffs from across the State of Texas have endorsed Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams in his run for the United States Senate. More than one in five Republican sheriffs, from west Texas to east Texas, signed on to join the "Sheriffs for Michael Williams" coalition.

This is an especially meaningful group of endorsements for Commissioner Williams because of where he began his career: the Midland County District Attorney's office working with law enforcement officers. As Chief Prosecutor, he developed a law and order reputation for aggressive prosecution of criminal cases.

The list of endorses includes: Sheriff Milton T. Wright, Fort Bend County. Ft. Bend (West Houston suburbs and Sugarland), is one of the largest population counties in the State, and has the distinction of being the most "racially diverse," County in the entire United States.

Williams plans to emphasize the immigration issue. In the letter to their Sheriff colleagues, the 22 endorsers talked of his stance:

Michael knows that America is a nation of immigrants. We value legal immigration, control of our borders and ending illegal immigration. But he also understands that border control is a matter of national security. As Senator, he will work with us to reduce illegal immigration by securing the border first with both physical and virtual fences as well as more patrols; aggressively enforcing sanctions against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants; immediately deporting immigrant felons; requiring applicants for a temporary work visa to return home and maintain a tamper-proof identification card; and ending the cover provided by lawless sanctuary cities to illegal immigrants.

http://www.williamsfortexas.com/involved

Ryan Frazier, Colorado's emerging GOP libertarian Senate candidate

The Buzz for Colorado's Insider Political News reports that appointed US Senator Chris Bennett may be facing a tough fight for reelection.

From Face The State, April 27:

In its lead editorial today, The Denver Post outlines the tough sell Gov. Bill Ritter and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, both Democrats, will have in 2010 if they plan to convince voters to support their re-election bids.

Referencing recent poll numbers concluding that more than half of all voters disapprove of Ritter's job performance, the Post attributes the weak support of Ritter...

Bennet, meanwhile, according the Post, remains "unknown to most Coloradans and who has been silent on some issues, most notably the Employee Free Choice Act, appears to struggle" in another independent poll, which showed him losing to former Congressman Bob Beauprez, a Republican, in a general election match up. This is an amazing conclusion considering that Ritter beat Beauprez in his first gubernatorial matchup...

The article goes on to identify Bennet's likely opponent Ryan Frazier as "libertarian leaning." Continuing:

We eagerly await future polls that might give a clearer idea of how Bennet would match up against Ryan Frazier, the only GOP candidate to officially announce an exploratory committee. We appreciate Frazier's youth, passion, and libertarian leanings. For a state that has cleared out the GOP old guard over the last three election cycles, a new face at the top of the ticket may be just the medicine the GOP needs to regain electoral health.

Contribute or get involved: FrazierforColorado.com

Wayne Root to run for Libertarian Party National Chairman

2008 Libertarian VP candidate Wayne Allyn Root may be raising his media profile even more. Over the weekend Root announced that he will run for Libertarian Party National Chairman in 2010. He made the announcement at the annual Libertarian Party of California State Convention held in Visalia (Central Cal).

Root has appeared as a guest on Fox News over 20 times since January.

Root said he planned to highlight two issues for the coming year: Flat Tax and Free Market alternatives to Obama Socialist Health Care.

Other speakers at the convention included: Mountain View City Councilman John Inks, Ocean View School District member Norm Westwall, and keynote speaker Ed Coleman, City Council member Indianapolis, Indiana.

Libertarian Party of California at LPC.org

(H/t Brian Holtz at Libertarian Intelligence)

Libertarian-Conservative Fox New beats CNN and MSNBC combined for March ratings sweep

Libertarian-friendly Fox Hosts Romp over the Competition

From TV News Newser via Hot Air:

How's this for cable news domination - Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC combined in every hour from 6amET to MidnightET in both Total Viewers and the A25-54 demo for April 2009.

FNC had the top 11 cable news programs in Total Viewers and 12 of the top 15 in the demo. FNC is the #2 network in Total Viewers on all of cable.

Glenn Beck up 212%: Greta up 75%

From 9amET on, every program grew by more than 60% in the demo. The 5pmET hour, now occupied by Glenn Beck, is up 212% in the demo and up 128% in Total Viewers. Your World with Neil Cavuto is up 102% in the demo and up 60% in Total Viewers. On the Record with Greta Van Susteren is up 75% in demo and up 55% in Total Viewers. Also in demo: FOX Report is up 75%, Special Report 70%, The O'Reilly Factor 74% and Hannity 64%.

The Network's primetime line-up includes self-identified "libertarian," Glenn Beck, "libertarian-conservative" Sean Hannity, and friend of libertarian Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, Greta van Sustern. The afternoon shift includes self-described "libertarian" and Fox VP Neal Cavuto.

On Specter Switch: Olympia Snowe blasts Conservatives, then talks of how Conservative she is

A perplexing statement on the Specter defection from Maine's Centrist Republican US Senator Olympia Snowe this morning, courtesy of the Huffington Post. From HuffPo:

So far, she said, she's staying put. "I believe in the traditional tenets of the Republican Party: strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual opportunity. I haven't abandoned those principles that have been the essence of the Republican Party. I think the Republican Party has abandoned those principles.

LR Blog scoops VOA, all other American Media on Somali-Kenya War

From Eric Dondero, LR Publisher/Editor:

It's official. Libertarian Republican blog has scooped Voice of America, and the entire American media on the growing Somali-Kenya conflict, and the rise of the extremist Muslim group Al Shabab in the region. (Much of the information obtained from English and non-English African news sites.)

Early Sunday morning LR ran the well-linked and well-documented story:

"Somali Jihad threatening to cross Border into Kenya"

LR received a very nice hat tip and link for the story, from one of the most popular and highly respected of Rightwing news sites: Jawa Report.

From Jawa:

Al Qaeda in Somalia threatens Kenyan invasion

With all eyes focused on the Somali piracy problem this story serves as a reminder that a bigger threat is looming from the Horn of Africa: violent Islamism.

Libertarian Republican noted two days ago the relationship between President Obama's first cousin, Kenya's new Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Mungiki Islamist movement, and al Qaeda's Somali affiliate, the al-Shabaab...

Looks like he scooped the VOA as this morning they noted that the al Shabaab are threatening to invade and annex majority-Muslim areas of Kenya

The article was also picked up and run in full by:

RightSideNews

MichNews.com

CanadaFreePress

Note - CFP is the "World Net Daily" of Canada, and gets millions of visitors daily.

Also excerpted at:

InfidelsUnite

Naturally, we extend our gratitude to these sites.

Three Cheers! Specter is gone from the GOP: A Day of Great Celebration for Libertarians and True Conservatives

By JB Williams ©2009 USA

79 year old five term Pennsylvania traitor Arlen Specter is the first casualty of the 2010 house cleaning. Never in US history, has the anti-incumbent sentiment been so broad and deep among frustrated American patriots who still believe in Life, Liberty and the Right to individually define and pursue Happiness.

Ninety-nine days of the second most unpopular administration in US history, was all the people were willing to endure. The clarion call for real patriotic “change” has come from Main Street America, and the Tax Day Tea Parties have forced the first faux Republican out of their party.

After years of voting Democrat, and facing certain defeat in his bid to retain his Republican Senate seat in 2010, Arlen Specter, often referred to by American patriots as “Arlen Sphincter,” for his stinking voting record, has finally decided to run for a sixth term under the party banner which he has consistently voted with...

Centrists Yes, but No room for Liberals in the GOP

Specter’s voting record is solidly liberal, not Republican...

* Favors Abortion on Demand
* Opposes Parental consent and limiting out of state abortions for minors
* Favors Affirmative Action
* Favors Same Sex Unions
* Opposes Three Strike sentencing laws
* Favors Socialized Health Care
* Bought hook, line and sinker into Gore’s Global Warming Swindle
* Favors Amnesty for Illegal Aliens
* Opposes Tough on Terror efforts
* Supports Obama’s multi-trillion dollar spending spree
* Supports criminal court access and US Civil Rights for Gitmo terrorists

Specter’s voting record demonstrates exactly why the Republican Party is now America’s minority party.

The nation does not need two left-wing parties. The DNC is able to do enough damage alone. For a balance of power to exist there must be more than one political point of view from one political party. Specter consistently represented the same principles and values of today’s leftist Democrats. As a result, Pennsylvania Republicans were prepared to give Specter the boot, after five consecutive terms.

Specter is likely to be only the first of many fake Republicans to find themselves headed to the unemployment line in 2010. Specter’s flying leap from the GOP to the DNC is a last ditch effort to hold on to political power he has already held for too long.

Republicans are without an ounce of political power because they are without an ounce of political spine. They have rolled over for extreme leftists over and over again. Not ONE has even had the courage to demand a copy of Obama’s Top – Top Secret birth and college records, which remain more guarded than our nation’s most sensitive national security intelligence operations.

The house cleaning is officially underway: Specter being the first casualty

Washington Republicans cannot afford to continue to join the left, instead of challenging the left, as they were elected to do.

In the short term, Specter will continue to help Obamanation run roughshod over the American people. He may even provide Democrats with a filibuster-proof Senate ready to rubber stamp Nancy Pelosi’s unbridled agenda known as Pelosi’s Road to Hell, justified with “goofy global intentions.”

At this late date, any thinking patriot knows that things will have to get much worse before they can get any better. Specter represents a cancer that has been killing America’s conservative party. For the party to survive and return to a competitive position, the cancer will have to be cut out of the GOP.

Voters have sent a very clear message... Most no longer refer to themselves as Democrats or Republicans, fed up with both. Most now call themselves Independents, in search of pro-American, freedom loving, liberty supporting leadership and unable to find it in either party today.

One of the parties had to be cleaned out and reformed. The DNC is too far gone, controlled completely by Communist members of the Democratic Socialists of America, and their legislative organization, the Congressional Progressive Caucus. That leaves only the RNC/GOP as a salvageable option.

American Patriots were forced to either live in third party obscurity, or take back their political party from the faux Republicans, labeled RINOs by the Party’s conservative base.

Forcing Specter out of the party demonstrates that a house cleaning is underway. Specter referred to it as a “purification” process, in his statement. Reuters reports, Specter defection a sharp blow to Republicans. But this is NOT a blow to Republicans, it’s a blow to Specter and all spineless closet leftists like him.

Officially the House Cleaning Party!

The GOP base is not mourning the loss of Arlen Specter... they are cheering! Finally, GOP faithful have had enough and they are taking action to reclaim their party. This is exciting and energizing news, not a “sharp blow” to the party faithful, as Obama’s MSM will undoubtedly play it in the headlines.

Barackstar has only a 35% support rate on the 100th day milestone. This makes Obama the second most unpopular president in US history at this point in his administration. Only Bill Clinton had a worse approval rating on his 100 day mark.

This, Specter is excited to hitch his wagon to? "I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate," he said in the statement. In other words, he refuses to be judged by the very people who elected him to five terms... which only proves that he really is a Democrat.

Republicans all across the country will unite behind Pat Toomey. And there will be others... John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins and Olympia Snow, just to name a few. All of these Republicans have left the GOP searching for its soul...

But it’s clear, Pennsylvania Republicans have found their soul and many will follow across the nation.

Not a moment too soon! Democrats may end up with 60 filibuster proof seats in the senate, which is a blessing to Republicans. Leftist can ram their Communist agenda down every American throat unchallenged at that point; the nation will find itself in complete turmoil even faster, and there will be NO argument over who did it.... PERFECT!

To Specter, I say, don’t let the door hit you on the way out! There is a price for being a traitor and the bill is coming due for many Republicans and Democrats in Washington DC... It couldn’t happen to a more deserving bunch of scum!

Editor's Note - JB Williams is a libertarian-leaning conservative Republican from Tennessee. His editorials regularly appear at LR, and numerous other top Right websites and blogs.

Specter defection: Statement from US Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)

Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“Senator Specter’s decision today represents the height of political self-preservation. While this presents a short-term disappointment, voters next year will have a clear choice to cast their ballots for a potentially unbridled Democrat super-majority versus the system of checks-and-balances that Americans deserve.”

From Vincent Harris,
Director of New Media
NRSC

Please contribute for Republican Victory 2010: http://www.nrsc.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=1989

Alaska may have the strongest of all cases for Secession

Editor's Note - Our Senior Editor Clifford F. Thies has an editorial this morning at the Mises Daily, published by the Ludvig von Mises Institute. It's titled "Secession is in our Future." Dr. Thies makes the argument that it is "well established" that the country is breaking down on ideological lines, Red State and Blue, and that we may have passed the point of no return. Further he argues, that citizens in Red States fully have the right to disolve that Union, if the "Blue States," keep pushing matters too far, such as forcing them to adopt Gay Marriage,or if they continue to raise taxes on low tax, more productive states. Alaska he argues, has the strongest argument for disolving its union, followed by Florida and Texas.

The following is an excerpt:

Under these conditions, it can be argued that, were either party to fall into permanent minority status, and the other party to establish hegemonic control over the so-called federal government, the people in the other party could be said to be an alienated, identifiable people in an identifiable place, and could assert a right to secede under emerging international law.

The argument for secession under emerging international law might be strongest for Alaska. Geographically, the place is disjoint from the other states of the Union, making it an identifiable place. Furthermore, under their state constitution's explicit right of privacy, possession of small amounts of marijuana is a right; yet, the so-called federal government imposes the costs of its war on drugs onto the citizens of Alaska.

Furthermore, the people of Alaska have been long frustrated in developing their natural resources because of the opposition by majorities in the "lower 48." Indeed, as a separate nation, Alaska might be the freest place in the world, with zero taxes because of its wealth in natural resources, well-established civil liberties, and a socially tolerant, live-and-let-live attitude among its people.

Following Alaska, states such as Florida and Texas would have the next best arguments for secession under international law, since they are themselves on a seacoast and their secession would not much disrupt the road, transmission wire, pipeline or other infrastructure networks of the other states.

Read the full article at Mises Daily.

Breitbart: Gays Big Hypocrites blasting only Whites and Mormons for Gay Marriage opposition, while ignoring Blacks, Hispanics and Muslims

"Gay Friendly" is turning into Anger against Gays

Gays are ignoring atrocities by Muslims Against Homosexuals in the Middle East, and discrimination of their lifestyle by a strong majority of American Hispanics and Blacks, says libertarian columnist Andre Breitbat.

Breitbart, the Publisher of Big Hollywood and former co-Editor of the Drudge Report, has a column in the Washington Times this morning outlining growing "Gay Friendly," anger against the Gay Movement for their apparent hypocrisy.

From the Times, April 27:

On display at the Miss USA event was the activist left's pageant of selective bullying, a concerted strategy to go after low-hanging fruit like Mormons. But the left leaves off its hit list members in good standing of its normal coalition - its "rainbow" coalition. In California, one of the gayest places on the map, blacks and Hispanics - who disproportionately disapprove of same-sex marriage - get a stunning pass from outraged proponents of gay marriage.

Since 9/11, the highly organized gay left has also been deafeningly silent on Islam's anti-modern approach to homosexuality - let alone same-sex unions. The mullahs in Iran somehow get a major pass while the director of the California Musical Theatre in Sacramento is targeted for ruin. This contradiction is not subtle. Indeed, it's obvious and pathetic.

Perez Hilton's latest stunt against Ms. California could be beginning of Backlash

Breitbart goes on to warn of a growing backlash among tolerant Americans who would otherwise lean in favor of their cause. He sees the over-the-top tactics of the Gay Left, attacks against Christianity, and specific targetting of Mormons, as turning off even culturally libertarian Americans.

He concludes:

I fear the vicious and hypocritical path that the activist gay left is headed on will eventually be met with a backlash. If it already hasn't. Activism goes both ways and somehow the majority has a way of having its say. Unless the gay community polices itself better and registers its displeasure against these pitiful and selective acts of political retribution, many tolerant Americans who hold the same beliefs on marriage as Mr. Obama and the Dalai Lama are going to begin to register their displeasure at the voting booth and through consumer boycotts against those who employ or support the thuggish tactics of Perez Hilton and his ilk.

Editor's Note - Photo depicts two young men being hung for the "crime of Homosexuality," in the Republican of Iran in 2007.

New York Democrats now moving on to bans on Salt, Margarine and even Canned Tuna

NANNY STATE UPDATE!

by Eric Dondero

The San Francisco Examiner is reporting that New York City and New York State Democrat politicians are planning to expand the "War on Fat and Obesity." Their target? Salt, Shortening and Margarine.

From the Examiner, April 27:

New York City “health czar” Thomas Frieden has committed to removing forcibly almost half of the salt from New Yorkers’ diets. And Gov. David Paterson has announced that his new War on Obesity will begin with the statewide expansion of New York City’s trans-fat ban. If Paterson succeeds, margarine and shortening will become contraband everywhere food is sold in the Empire State.

According to the piece the "cooking oil cops," plan to target the following: saturated fats, trans fats, salt, food dyes, corn syrup, canned tuna...

Perhaps the Dems should worry about the waistlines of their own Caucus before they start trying to regulate the eating habits of Republicans, Independents and Libertarians?

They can start with one of their own Democrat Congressman, Rep. Jerry Nadler of Brooklyn. (Photo). Canned tuna versus beached whale puns aside.

War breaking out on Somali - Kenya border: Al Shabab rebels threatening to seize Kenyan territory

DEVELOPING!

Just Breaking from VOA - Africa Bureau...

The new Somali government has sharply condemned threats of fresh attacks on neighboring Kenya by hard-line Islamic insurgent group al-Shabab. The group, which has refused to recognize President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's government threatened Monday to annex parts of northern Kenya and implement Islamic Sharia law. Nairobi on the other hand has begun strong measures to counter such an attack by deploying extra troops to man the Kenya-Somali border and maintain the disarmament of residents in the province.

IMPORTANT!

Editor's Note - We welcome readers from Atlas Shrugs and other on-line publications coming here from links. We hope to have a full-length story on this up tonight. In the meantime, please see our prior piece with extensive background on the conflict "Somali Jihad crossing the border into Kenya" here. The article was published early Sunday, before the VOA or anyone else noticed the developing story.

Taliban executes Pakistani couple for Western style courtship

GRAPHIC VIDEO EXTREME WARNING!

This shocking video has been making the rounds on a select few Right blogs since the weekend. The Taliban have recently taken over territory from government forces west of the capitol of Islamabad. They have instituted harsh Sharia law in the region. This couple's crime was relations outside of marriage. For that they were shot execution style.

Meet the Ayn Rand Congressman: Republican Paul Ryan of Wisconsin

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has a glowing feature piece in their politics section on Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. It's titled "Ryan Shines as GOP seeks Vision," with the subtitle "Ayn Rand Economics."

It starts off:

Fifteen years ago, Paul Ryan was moonlighting as a waiter at a Mexican restaurant on Capitol Hill.

Today, he's one of his party's most touted young politicians, a GOP point man on the economy and a darling of the conservative movement.

Ryan's emergence this year can be measured in cable news appearances (20), op-eds in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times (three)...

Ryan was the keynote speaker in Washington two months ago at the nation's biggest conservative gathering, the Conservative Political Action Conference. He wrote the chief Republican alternative to the Obama budget. His ability to churn out plans and papers, his media skills and his pro-market zeal have thrust him to the vanguard of the party on the economic issues that dominate today's political debate.

But it's the part about Ryan's devotion to Ayn Rand's philosphy that's sure to fire up the GOP's libertarian wing. Continuing:

To that task, Ryan brings an admittedly geeky head for numbers and detail. He also brings a deep philosophical attachment to market capitalism and "supply-side" economics - a world view shaped by such icons of individualism and free enterprise as Ayn Rand, Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek.

"The reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand," Ryan said at a D.C. gathering four years ago honoring the author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead."

Though, Ryan later admits in the article, he's not a 100% down-the-line libertarian, and even cites some occasions where he has disagreed with libertarians on some cultural matters. But rather he's considers himself more of a diehard Randist, with a bit of a socially conservative streak. Continuing:

At the Rand celebration he spoke at in 2005, Ryan invoked the central theme of Rand's writings when he told his audience that, "Almost every fight we are involved in here on Capitol Hill  . . .  is a fight that usually comes down to one conflict - individualism versus collectivism."

In that struggle, Ryan argued that shifting Social Security (which he called a "collectivist system") toward personal investment accounts was not only good policy, but would change the political landscape, according to a recording of the event made by its host, The Atlas Society.

"If we actually accomplish this goal of personalizing Social Security, think of what we will accomplish. Every worker, every laborer in America will not only be a laborer but a capitalist. They will be an owner of society.  . . .  That's that many more people in America who are not going to listen to the likes of Dick Gephardt and Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, the collectivist, class-warfare-breathing demagogues," said Ryan.

Republican candidate Sharron Angle likely to challenge Reid in Nevada

After months of dissapointing recruitment efforts by the Nevada GOP, a candidate has finally emerged to take on Liberal/Statist Senator Harry Reid. And she happens to be a candidate from the "Republican wing of the Republican Party."

From the Reno Gazette-Journal:

A four-term member of the Nevada Assembly, the 59-year-old Angle lost a 2006 primary race for the 2nd Congressional District seat, which fellow Republican Dean Heller eventually won.

She ran an unsuccessful 2008 primary race against state Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

In both races Angle positioned herself as the more conservative candidate.

Angle also has tried for years to get a property tax limit into the Nevada Constitution. She has argued the cap needs constitutional protection because the Legislature could revoke its cap anytime it wished.

According to Silver State Libertarian Leanings blog, Angle hails from the “The Republican Wing of the Republican Party”. The movement was the brainchild of libertarian Republican/Anti-Tax firebrand Chuck Muth of Carson City.

According to Wiki: Angle is the author of Nevada's Property Tax Reform Initiative (Prop. 13). According to her website, among her key issues include: "limiting taxation, self defense, a military force of superior strength, and protecting property owner rights."

Visit her campaign site, www.sharronangle.com. Campaign donations needed.

(H/t LR reader Adam R.)

A parting tribute to Pontiac

The Trans Am, and the GTO

For those of us who grew up in the late '70's and early '80s. Take a moment to remember how great America was back then, and how sucky it has become under Socialism. -- EDR

It's official: GM to announce today the end of Pontiac

This Fucker Obama is destroying America!

by Eric Dondero

With the election of hardline Socialist Barack Hussein Obama as President, America lost a little of its pride. Now, 6 months later, we are losing our uniquely American cultural icons, as well, and it's all thanks to Obama.

Today, as expected, GM makes it official. The muscle brand cars of Pontiac are to be eliminated. From Fox:

Two people briefed on GM's plan confirmed that it includes the demise of Trans Am sports car brand Pontiac, 83 years after the first Pontiac car was introduced. Within three years, half a million Pontiacs were sold, and the brand quickly grew in popularity, from early models like the Chief and the Master Six Coupe, to the Bonneville convertible, to the GTO — one of America's first muscle cars and so popular it inspired Ronny and the Daytonas to immortalize it in song.

Good times, Fast Cars and Rock 'n Roll dead under Obama

For those of us who grew up with Smokey and the Bandit, with Boston and Foreigner cassettes blaring out of loud speakers in our older brother's GTO, and with hot rod chics showing off their package inside tight halter tops over the hood of a '78 Trans Am, this is a very sad day indeed.

Fuel efficiency standards, outrageously high union wages and retirment benefits, and yes, even political correctness is to blame here.

And it couldn't have happened without a Democratic administration. So, next time you run into an Obama supporter, be sure to thank them for destroying America and American values. Yeah, he's a Commie. But even worse; the guy is a supreme asshole.

UPDATE!

Ace is headlining this story this morning, as well. His comments:

From CNN, a story on the demise of the Pontiac brand. Much sadness. I saw some stats the other day about sales figures within the GM family and am pretty sure the Pontiac line was outselling the Buick line. In addition, Pontiac was pretty well identified as their “sporty” division so this doesn’t seem to make much sense.

Another great week for LR Blog: Thank you CNN, RedState & Politico.com

Wow! Two major links in one day: CNN and Politico.com. Sunday we were linked by CNN for our story on GM phasing out the masculine Pontiac line of cars, and Politico's Ben Smith linked to us in his Weekly Round-up for our story on his comments about Texas secession.

We were also linked by CNN earlier in the week for our story on Larry King's interview with ex-Bristol Palin boyfriend Levi Johnston. That brought us in 1,700 visitors in one day.

I should also point out that earlier in the week RedState featured us on their Hot Topics links. A big thank you to all three for the links!

Other Big News! We've moved up in Alexa rankings to 476,000. We had been in the 550,000 range for the longest time. Being in the top 500,000 websites in the world is a welcome position. (For comparison Drudge, CNN and Fox are in the top 1000, HotAir.com is at about 37,000, Reason.com 140,000)

Coming: News on radical Muslims taking full contol of Pakistan, continued coverage of Radical Islam's threat to Kenya and all of Northeastern Africa, and GOP primary news, plus news on emerging GOP candidates.

So, stay tuned...

Oh, and visit the blog at least twice a day, and if you haven't already done so, please add us to your Favorites. And tell a friend or two about LR. Unlike other blogs we don't beg for money here. Instead, we simply ask that you turn others onto LR. And click through to our sponsors once in a while.

READ THE JAYNA DAVIS BOOK!

Since I'm editor and publisher of this blog, I'm gonna take a moment of personal privledge here. I'm currently re-reading Janya Davis's "The Third Terrorist," about the massive Clinton Administration cover-up of the Oklahoma City Bombing.

It is simply the most riveting and powerful book I have ever read in my entire life. It is better than Atlas Shrugs. Better than Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose." Even a notch above Bruce Bawer's "While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is taking over Western Europe."

Read the book! Put everything else aside, and READ IT!! It is absolutely frightening how what happened in the middle to late 90's under Clinton is parralled to what's going on today. Especially frightening is the current DHS report that seeks to blame "rightwing extremists," for opposition to the administration, just like Clinton did with OKC, blaming a couple duped "rightwing" nutballs, while completely ignoring the real culprits: Middle Eastern terrorists, and terrorist sponsor Saddam Hussein. Janet Napolitano is Janet Reno redux.

Do me a favor. How I often do I ask favors from my readers?

Please read the Jayna Davis book. Check it out: www.jaynadavis.com

RLC Chairman Dave Nalle on Card Check

Republican Liberty Caucus Chairman Dave Nalle gives a "poolside" chat on the dangers posed by the Obama administrations push for Card Check.

Nalle explains the complex issue, and offers why the proposal is such a threat to liberty and privacy. Excerpt:

"Under card check workers would be required to sign cards agreeing to or not agreeing to whether unions would be allowed to move into the workplaces... as few as 30% of the workers would have to agree for the union to come in.

Under card check the unions would be able to hold these votes without a private ballot."

More information: www.rlc.org

Somali Jihad threatening to cross the border into Kenya

by Eric Dondero

A major foreign policy development is challenging the new US administration; ironically from a region where Obama has strong familial, political and ethnic ties. As the Washington Post and other news sources have been reporting, the radical Islamic group Al-Shabab is now tightening control over all of southern Somalia, eliminating the last remaining strongholds of government forces. But the group, is also threatening to expand its Jihad throughout Northeastern Africa, most especially into neighboring Kenya.

(Al-Shabab leader Abu Mansuur making a pronouncement of Jihad in photo).

The Al-Shabab are Muslim extremists, with strong ties to Al Qaeda. They support the imposition of strict Sharia Law throughout Somalia. According to CNN 4/18: Alshabab declared that it would continue fighting until Sharia law is imposed in Somalia... strict interpretation of Sharia forbids girls from attending school, requires veils for women and beards for men, and bans music and television.

Obama's growing predicament

From the Post, 04/11:

Obama Team mulls aims of Somali extremists: Sees potential terror threat

Senior Obama administration officials are debating how to address a potential terrorist threat to U.S. interests from a Somali extremist group, with some in the military advocating strikes against its training camps... Al-Shabab, whose fighters have battled Ethiopian occupiers and the tenuous Somali government, poses a dilemma for the administration, according to several senior national security officials who outlined the debate only on the condition of anonymity.

The organization's rapid expansion, ties between its leaders and al-Qaeda, and the presence of Americans and Europeans in its camps have raised the question of whether a preemptive strike is warranted.

An attack against al-Shabab camps in southern Somalia would mark the administration's first military strike outside the Iraq and Afghanistan-Pakistan war zones.

"There is increasing concern about what terrorists operating in Somalia might do," a U.S. counterterrorism official said. According to other senior officials, the camps have graduated hundreds of fighters.

Kenya in Crisis

This is all taking place at the same time as a Constitutional crisis is gripping the Kenyan Government. Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is making a power play to seize control of the governing board which will oversee the next elections. (Source: Kenya-Somali blog).

Odinga is first cousin to US President Barack Hussein Obama. Odinga and his supporters have been accused of being responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of non-Muslims in Northern Kenya villages prior to the 2006 elections.

Upon his ascension as Prime Minister, in 2007, PM Odinga invited "moderate" members of Mungiki to join in the new government known as the "Grand Coalition." Some African opposition blogs have alleged that Mungiki supporters now serve in high posts under Odinga. (Source - MajimboKenya.com)

The Mungiki are now leading a violent uprising in nothern and central regions of the Nation, while also fanning violence in the slums of the Capitol City in Nairobi. Mungiki rebels who support the imposition of strict Sharia Law, have brutally hacked to death hundreds of villagers in remote regions who've opposed their local rule. It is rumored that Odinga approves of the actions.

Some news reporters and bloggers out of Africa have also suggested that the Mungiki are being supported by outside Muslim extremists groups, from Somalia, Sudan, and Ethopia. The Mungiki's "Mafia style" operation is transporting weapons and funds from these sources into the hands of Mungiki fighters on the ground inside of Kenya. (More info on Mungiki weapons trade: "Mungiki infiltrate Kenyan Police" Kenyan Politics)

Al-Shabab Piracy near Kenyan waters

MajimboKenya.com (In Swahili - "Region News")is reporting:

Another Reason for the Increased Focus in Kenya is the Somalia Situation. Most of the Pirates that have been captured by International Naval Elements in the Gulf of Aden have been taken to Mombasa and handed over to Kenyan Authorities. In the Past a Somali Insurgent Group has threatened to attack Kenyan Interests for assisting the International Community in the Struggle to rein in the Acts of Piracy. Since Kenya has a Direct Border with Somalia this is a threat that cannot be taken lightly.

Adding additional strain, a Maritime Boundary dispute is raging between the two countries. Kenyan and Somali officials tried to reach an agreement on a new Martime Boundary two weeks ago. But the tentative agreement reached is now in legal dispute. It is being roundly criticized by critics both from the Somali side, and from the opposition within the Kenyan government. This, in light of the recent incursions into Kenyan territorial waters by Al-Shabab Pirates.

From Xinhua www.chinaview.cn 4/11:

"What the Kenyan government want is to take advantage of the Somalia's current situation and take part of our land but we will defend it with all we can," Sheikh Hassan Turki, a senior insurgent leader in Kismanyu told local residents Friday.

Not the first time Somalians have intervened in its neighbor's affaris

Somali insurgents have had a long history of intervention in neighboring Kenya.

The Bush administration maintained that members of the current leadership of Al-Shahaab were among those who participated in the Al-Qaeda sponsored attacks on the US African Embassies in Mombassa and Dar es Salaam in 1998.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Conditions ripe for Terrorism in Horn of Africa," 04/22:

Al-Shabab ("The Youths"), a terrorist organization in the vein of the Taliban, is the landlocked answer for the "pirates" of the Indian Ocean...

Osama bin Laden praised al-Shabab and others in an audio message released last month: "Your patience and resolve supports your brothers in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Islamic Maghreb, Pakistan, and the rest of the fields of jihad."

Fazul Abdullah Muhammad, a former al-Qaida operative in Nairobi who is wanted for the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, is now among the al-Shabab corps. So, too, are Abu Taha al-Sudani, formerly an al-Qaida leader and financier in East Africa, and Salah Ali Salah Nabhan, wanted for questioning related to a 2002 hotel bombing in Mombasa, Kenya.

Which all points to an expanding conflict which the Obama administration will soon be forced to deal with. It remains to be seen whether Obama's ties to the region will be helpful, or enflame the growing conflict.

Editor's Note - I have visited the region on two occasions. While in the Navy in the 1980s I had two Port Calls to the tiny nation of Djibouti, wedged between Ethiopa and Somalia.

LINKS

This article has been linked by UnreligiousRight blog.

Obama administration pressure to slow production of Muscle Cars, could mean end of the road for Pontiac

Obama's "Change" may be bringing about the end of yet another uniquely American cultural icon.

CNN headlines today, "Report's of Pontiac's end, sadden fans of the muscular brand." The Network reports on reaction from saddened Pontiac owners over the proposed shutting down of GM's signature line of cars. From CNN.com/living:

Debuting in 1964, the Pontiac GTO is widely regarded as the original muscle car. It was a risky model in that it featured a big-block engine in an intermediate-size frame.

Jean Lindsay of western New York fondly recalls the muscle cars in her family's driveway: Two 1967 GTOs.

"I had two brothers, and they each had one of these cars," she said. "The GTO represented the suburban culture of its time, heavily laden with root beer and plain beer... It was a chick magnet, for God's sake. Even from a girl's standpoint," Lindsay said."

The automaker has reportedly studied closing down the Pontiac brand... in the midst of pressure from the Obama administration...

I think it's crazy [to end the brand]," Max Thompson of Huntsville, Alabama, said. "I think they ought to streamline versions of Pontiac. Just take it to a few models. Make it special, but not get rid of it because it's too iconic." ireport.com: See Thompson describe his wheels

Thompson, 46, said his 1973 Firebird Formula had him sold when he saw the stylistic front end.

"The hood of it looked cool," Thompson said. "Just the front of it, it was a sexy-looking vehicle. It had a very sleek look for the time."

Meanwhile, conservative commentators see this as much more than just a tragic end of an American tradition. Some on the Right see this as a triumph of leftwing special interests, and an inevitable result of liberal environmentalist policy.

Lex Rex of the Reagan conservative Invisible Hand blog had this to say:

The USA was the MUSCLE CAR BRAND of the World. The USA contained the biggest, brightest, and fastest of you name it: houses, cars, minds, people, etc., etc. But now with the CEO Obama the USA is starting to be known as weak, green, dimwitted, and slow to respond. The nationalization of GM and the termination of the Pontiac Brand is apropos for the direction CEO Obama wants to take this country. No more Muscle Cars, but cars that are slow and green, and the name Pontiac does not fit that category.

LINKS

CNN is featuring this story in the Blogs section as the top headliner link.

GOP Primary for Oklahoma Gov. getting crowded: Conservative-Libertarian Brogdon to clash with Libertarian-Conservative J.C. Watts

Libertarian Republican State Senator Randy Brogdon has announced a run for Governor of Oklahoma. Brogdon is a member of Americans for Limited Government, a friend of the Property Rights movement, and has worked with the State's Libertarian Party and other libertarian groups on a variety of legislation over the years.

From NewsOK:

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, announced his gubernatorial bid just hours before Watts appeared at the state convention.

"It doesn’t matter to me who gets in or who gets out,” Brogdon said.

"I am committed to this race. I am compelled to run the race. I’ve cleared my path so I’m in the race until the end.”

These statements were made in reaction to Watts traveling the State to guage support for a run. While not a "movement libertarian," Watts had a very strong fiscal conservative record in Congress, and has made some libertarian noises on a number of issues over the years. (Lifetime ACU score 94).

Continuing:

Watts, a former Oklahoma congressman, said he has been talking with Republicans from across the state and "I think Republicans are not satisfied with the (gubernatorial) choices.”

"I’ve obviously been encouraged to take a look at it by ... a lot of my supporters and a lot of donors,” said Watts.

The Governoship is currently held by Democrat Brad Henry. The prospective Democrat nominee is likely to be State AG Drew Edmonson.

(H/t Ace)

Newsweek's Eleanor Clift attacks Republican Party as too "libertarian"

Eleanor Clift's has a new column, "Halo Holds, Obama gets B+ for First Hundred Days, while retro GOP goes after FDR." After praising Obama, she calls the Republican opposition to task in the last 3 paragraphs, accusing the Party of being beholden to libertarianism.

From Newsweek, April 24:

They're railing against big government, when the core issue is the failings of capitalism. They call for smaller government and berate Obama for moving toward socialism when people are not hungering for tax cuts. They're looking for jobs so they can pay taxes. Instead of developing alternative policies, they're back to attacking FDR.

At a time of crisis, when Americans look to Washington for help, the GOP has reverted to an outmoded form of libertarianism, calling for government to get out of the way when, if government had been more watchful, we might not be in this mess.

Likely Democrat Nominee for Texas Gov. Kinky Friedman, takes a swipe at Rick Perry over Secession remarks

The colorful wisecracker Kinky Friedman announced his intentions to seek the Democrat nomination for Governor in 2010. At this point the Democrats have few other options with the equal celebrity and recognition of Friedman, and he appears to have a good shot of winning the nomination.

He's already out the gate taking swipes at incumbent Republican Rick Perry.

From The Hill Blog Briefing Room, April 17:

[On secession] "You know, we tried that once," Friedman, a cigar wielding Democrat, told the BBR in an interview. "I would remind him that there was great visionary hero named Sam Houston who traveled all over the state warning us not to do it - that it would cost great heartache and bloodshed."

"I think Perry has gone off the tracks a little bit and maybe he needs a shopping trip to Europe," Friedman added... It's clearly political posturing,"

Missouri House Republicans move to give Stimulus $$$ back to Taxpayers

Missouri House of Representatives Budget Chairman Ron Icet has presented a unique proposal on how to spend some of the States' $4 billion in Federal Stimulus funds: Give a large portion of it back to Missouri Taxpayers.

Icet, from St. Louis County, and other Budget Committee Republican members announced the plan on Thursday. The Rebate Proposal immediately received a warm reception from Republican House Speaker Ron Richard of Joplin, who commented that at least, half of the Republican Caucus would be on board with the proposal.

From (Kansas City) PrimeBuzz, April 23:

House leaders are now working to direct $1 billion of the state’s stimulus share toward an 8-percent state income-tax cut for the next two years.

The new plan would reduce the state income tax rate from 6 percent to 5.5 percent for two years, said House Budget Chairman Allen Icet, a St. Louis County Republican. The cut would apply to earnings from 2009 and 2010.

“At the end of the day, the Missouri taxpayer will be able to put more money in their pockets and decide how it should be spent to stimulate the economy,” Icet said.

Though, immediate reaction from Democrats in the House and the office of Democrat Governor Jay Nixon has been decidedly cool to the idea.

Pistol Team gets the axe at politically correct Massachusetts College: Victim in part of Title IX affirmative action mandates

Other male-dominated Sports at MIT slated to be shut down

Gun control mania and political correctness have converged to eliminate a once highly prestigious sport at one prestigious college. MIT announced Thursday that it will be eliminating the college Pistol Team. The team has been in existence at MIT for over 120 years. In 2005 and again in 2007, the team won the Intercollegiate Championships. But their winning record is proving not to be enough to save them from the budget knife.

From NBC Sports:

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced Thursday it is eliminating eight teams because of the sputtering economy.

MIT joins the list of colleges dropping sports to counteract budget deficits... The cuts leave stunned athletes scrambling to figure out what to do with the years they expected to be filled with practices and games.

A decade later, Title IX kicking in with disastrous results for Men's Sports

Other mostly male-dominated sports targetted for the knife by MIT include: Hockey, skiing, golf and wrestling. Nationally, male college baseball programs, boxing, swimming, diving and track are being completely eliminated from college sports curriculum.

In the late 1990s, Title IX was instituted by the Clinton administration with the state goal of "gender equity" in college sports. However, in reality what it has led to, is the elimination of traditionally male sports. This trend has been exagerrated during economic downturns, whereby male sports simply get X-ed out of the budget.

According to Jamie Krebs of Minnesota U-Wire, via AleStL site:

There are 200,000 male and 125,000 female college athletes in the NCAA. As the present trend continues, proportionality will be achieved with 140,000 male athletes and 140,000 female athletes. This cuts 60,000 more male opportunities, and we might see the extinction of some Olympic male sports at the college level.

Meanwhile, as Krebs goes on to point out, "emerging sports" for women (rowing, water polo, equestrian, synchronized swimming, bowling, archery, ice hockey and precision skating), are being added.

Further, out of the total number of NCAA sports programs nationwide, currently about 7,800 sports programs are for men, and approximately 8,300 for women.

Here it comes... Obama administration plans to take over radio stations through forced racial diversity

Incoming FCC appointee hard-line partisan Democrat

Echoing Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, the Obama administration has devised a plan to fundamentally change the structure and ownership of the Nation's airwaves. And it's a plan with dire consequences for right wing radio, and anyone else critical of the administration.

Communications Specialist Brian Jennings outlines the threatening censorship efforts over at Breitbart's Big Hollywood 04/26:

Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps has set May 7th as the date for a meeting of the commission’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age. Copps has been stating loudly that he wants to increase diversity in media ownership and that it will be a priority of the FCC. National hearings on the topic were held in 2007 and the FCC commissioners turned up their criticism of large media companies like Clear Channel and others. This will get the ball rolling on diversity before new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is confirmed by the Senate and seated at the FCC. They are deadly serious.

What does this mean for conservatives? The diversity move to break up large ownership of radio has been the goal of all the leftist public interest organizations such as Free Press, the Center for American Progress, and others - most of them funded by George Soros, the Democratic Party godfather. It is their goal that by forcing more diversity ownership they will move conservative voices aside.

New policies could begin to take affect after May 7

Genachowski is a communications attorney. He has clerked for Supreme Court Justice David Souter. He was also a senior staffer for New York Senator Chuck Schumer. He is a hardline partisan activist. PipelineNews.org describes Genachowski as "a big Dem funder" having given "nearly 35k to various Dem candidates over the last 4 years."

Jennings explains that once he is seated, the Democrats will have a 3 to 2 majority on the board. He goes on to outline how they will implement the proposed free speech restrictions. Continuing:

The FCC will look for ways to force many radio operators to give up those licenses. They can levy heavy fines, taxes, and other regulatory means that can force current broadcast holders to throw in the towel - then reassign those licenses to minorities or women.

As libertarian policy analyst Peter Ferrera comments over at American Spectator:

The standard playbook for revolutionaries is to seize all the television and radio stations first, and announce the rebels are the new government. The Left has already done this in America. Except for a couple of holdouts -- conservative talk radio and Christian broadcasts.

Obama has already taken over GM, firing and replacing its CEO and Board of Directors. Now he is angling to take over the banks by transforming TARP loans into common stock. Will he find some way to take over the radio stations next, or at least the remaining talk radio and Christian broadcasting stations?