Runners World describes Gov. Sarah Palin as a “former beauty queen” … former??? You be the judge.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is featured in the August 2009 issue of Runners World. The piece includes seven gorgeous photos of her, each one a pin-up, along with a brief interview. Her effervescent, All-American personality comes through, along with her grit and determination. ”I feel so crappy if I go more than a few days without running,” she says at one point. When asked how she’d do in a long race against fellow jogger President Barack Obama, she says she’d come out ahead. Perhaps, in 2012, we’ll find out.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is the subject of an almost 10,000-word hit piece in the August 2009 issue of Vanity Fair. It’s one thing for pseudo-intellectuals of the left to dump on Palin, it’s another thing for Senator McCain’s presidential campaign aides to do so.
According to the article, while it is conceded that Sarah Palin is beautiful, it was said that her good looks lost as many votes as it may gained. Such a stupid statement reveals something about the person making the statement. The role of Vice Presidential candidates is rather limited. Typically, they are tasked with rallying the base of the party, while the Presidential candidate busies himself seeking independent and swing voters. Or, acts an the attack dog of the campaign, allowing the Presidential candidate to appear to be presidential. Or, helps with a key state or demographic. Clearly, Palin rallied the base, and helped the Republicans keep the presidential campaign close in a very bad year for Republicans.
The Republican presidential campaign did much better in 2008 than did other the Republican campaigns of that year. For example, here, in Virginia, McCain-Palin only lost by a few points, while our Senate candidate was wiped out. The Republican presidential campaign out-performed the predictions of the mathematical models given the economy and other factors. Although it may be hard to accept, McCain and Palin lost but they beat the spread.
So, why is it that certain mainstream Republicans join with the elitists to viciously attack attractive conservative women, specifically because they are beautiful? In the case of the flaming Perez Hilton, we might suspect that it is due to a personality disorder. When the smarmy David Letterman calls Palin a slut or that asshole preacher calls the former U.S. Secretary of State “Condasleeza,” we know that they are objectifying conservative women, which we know is sexist and hateful.
They go after women for the same reason the Islamofascists go after women. It is because they lust after power and do not respect the equal dignity of all persons. So, you de-personalize others, treating them not as individuals, but as members of groups, judging them by the color of their skin, national origin, gender or sexual orientation. And, when you do this, you remove a woman’s beauty from her entire personality, In contrast, when you appreciate the whole person, then you see people’s strengths and their weaknesses as part of an integral package the whole of which is lovely. Editor's Note - Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia. He is a former Libertarian National Committeeman and longtime National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus.
The Honeymoon is officially over. Obama is now at -2 in the latest poll.
Focusing on strongly approve’s and strongly disapprove’s, the Rasmussen daily tracking poll now has Obama at -2. Just wait until we have double digit unemployment AND spiraling unemployment.
In other news, Republicans have pulled ahead in generic Congressional match-ups. Also from Rasmussen:
Republican congressional candidates rebounded this week and pulled ahead again of Democrats in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot. The last time the GOP held a lead was in early May.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 41% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 39% would choose the Democratic candidate.
Monica Conyers pleaded guilty to accepting a pay-off in the Syrango trash dumping scandal. She has since resigned her position on the Detroit City Council. Her husband Congressman John Conyers is now under investigation.
But late breaking news from Right Michigan, that the invesigation is widening and could now be targetting Tom Athens husband of Democrat US Senator Debbie Stabenow.
Athens, readers of LR may remember, was busted two years ago for a fling with Detroit hooker Alycia Martin (photo). Athens was let go with a warning. But Martin ended up spending jail time for the incident. Athens is also the former CEO of Air America.
That's the reality Senator Debbie Stabenow has faced for the last six months as her husband, Tom Athens, made bank on the payroll of Democratic mega-donor and alleged lothario Jim Papas. Unfortunately, despite the unending rhetoric about transparency and ethics in the Dem controlled Congress, the Senator who once voted to establish the Senate Office of Public Integrity chose to turn a blind eye to her husband's criminal actions, putting him, partisan election interests and the family bank account above Michigan residents and campaign promises.
According to a weekend report from the Ivory Tower, Athens worked illegally as a lobbyist, putting pressure on officials in the Granholm-Cherry administration, lawmakers, business interests and members of Congress in an effort to get the go-ahead for a reboot of a toxic waste injection well in Romulus. His boss, Jim Papas, stands to make millions, most immediately from the Detroit Police and Fire Retirement System, a fund which has already lost $33 million on the wells and has now agreed to pay the man $10 million more.
Papas' name is not unfamiliar to residents in and around Detroit but he's not as well known out-state. His (barely) above-the-table resume filler includes the Motor City's Greektown Casino, which he helped "build." Granted, the man has spent almost as much time in the courtroom as he has on the gaming floor, battling requests for personal protection orders after allegedly assaulting the children of business partners, state investigations into his use of HUD money to build luxury hotels and allegations (plural) of sexual harassment. Maybe more importantly, according to Department of State and FEC records he's a six-figure-a-cycle Democratic money man.
[Sam] Riddle told the Free Press in an exclusive interview published Monday that Papas hired him -- around 2007 -- and that he did no work for the money. Riddle told the newspaper that Monica Conyers demanded $10,000 as a "finder’s fee" for getting Papas to hire him. Sometime after the hiring, Riddle said, Monica Conyers helped generate a letter from U.S. Rep. Conyers to the Environmental Protection Agency asking for favorable treatment for a waste injection well in Romulus, which a Papas company had taken over... Monica Conyers pleaded guilty last Friday to a felony for accepting bribes in a unrelated $1.2-billion sludge disposal deal. Her husband has not responded to interview requests about his letter to EPA.
RightMichigan concludes:
Not a bad collection Papas had there. A United States Senator, a United States Congressman and the top dog on the Detroit City Council, all either directly on the payroll or accepting cash through one paper-thin degree of separation.
Note - Libertarian Republican fmr. State Rep. and current Chairman of the Michigan Taxpayers Assoc. Leon Drolet serves on the editorial board of MichiganRight.
Republican pick-up for 2010 in of all States - Mass?
New poll numbers out of Mass. indicate that incumbent Democrat Gov. Deval Patrick is in serious trouble. From Rasmussen:
When matched against Christy Mihos, the Democratic governor picks up 40% of the vote and trails the potential GOP nominee by a single point.
Mihos was an Independent candidate for Governor in 2006 and received a respectable 7%.
He's been described as a "fiscal conservative with near-Libertarian social views," and scores Moderate/Libertarian/Liberal on Vote Match (OntheIssues.com)
One potential downside for Mihos: He's been plagued with health issues, including a bout with cancer.
Meanwhile, Patrick has his lowest approvals ever. The same poll has him at 43% approval, with a stunningly large 57% disapproval rating.
Rightly decided by SCOTUS: Huge Victory for Freedom Advocates
FORBES ON-LINE
Constitutional Scholar Richard Epstein, Forbes Column, The Libertarian:
So the Court's decision looks to be correct under the current law, and yet it should also give rise to a sense of deep disquiet. Clearly, there has to be a better way to handle the question. The root of the difficulty lies, in my view, in the fact that we have a Title VII in the first place. On clear libertarian grounds, I have long argued that repeal of Title VII is the appropriate way to treat private markets. Firms that want to practice affirmative action should be able to do so, and no firm should ever be put under the disparate impact microscope, with its futile insistence on perfection with testing results.
In a friend of the court brief filed on behalf of Ricci and his fellow plaintiffs, the Cato Institute, Reason Foundation (the nonprofit that publishes this website), and the Individual Rights Foundation argue that direct evidence of racist intent should be the deciding factor. As the brief notes, that approach would allow employers to make use of valid, race-neutral tests that, "although they generate race-based statistical disparity, are good for both business and the public interest generally."
Reason Assoc. Editor Damon Root at Reason than goes to pinpointedly predict the outcome with Kennedy being the decisive vote.
Given that Kennedy's previous jurisprudence has been fairly libertarian on the subject of race-based classifications, this was a telling moment, suggesting that Kennedy is open to the plaintiffs' charges of reverse discrimination.
Which he should be. It's one thing for the government to forbid hiring practices (including those crafted to appear race-neutral) that intentionally discriminate. That's at least fully consistent with Title VII. But it's another thing to throw out perfectly valid civil service test results simply because the city doesn't like the outcome. There's nothing fair about that.
LIBERTARIAN PARTY
Obama Supreme Court nominee overruled by Supreme Court, again posted by Donny Ferguson, LP Blog on Jun 29, 2009
In a victory for individual rights, the Supreme Court Monday announced it is throwing out a decision by Second Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who ruled the city of New Haven, Conn. could deny several firefighters promotions because the racially-neutral test they passed did not produce politically correct results, and it could theoretically result in lawsuits from special interest groups.
Sotomayor, who has now been overruled by the Supreme Court a surprising seven times, was nominated by Obama to fill the seat soon to be vacated by the retiring Justice David Souter. In three of those cases, the Court ruled Sotomayor erred in her statutory interpretation.
Monday the Supreme Court, in a five to four vote, ruled in favor of the white firefighters.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey released Monday morning, as the Supreme Court handed down it's ruling, indicates that 65 percent of those questioned say the firefighters were victims of discrimination and should get promotions based on the test results, with 31 percent feeling that the city should a new test to make sure minority firefighters were not victims of discrimination.
"Not surprisingly, most Republicans think that the firefighters were victims of discrimination, but a majority of Democrats join in that view," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Fifty-seven percent of Democrats say the white firefighters were discriminated against. Two-thirds of Independents and three-quarters of Republicans agree."
Note - Photo is of Frank Ricci, main defendent in the case. Ricci will be a guest on Fox's Hannity this evening.
We command you to Click on the Start Button. Click Now.
UPDATE!
The joke's up
From the Editor - The actor in the video is none other than Philip Thies, brother of LR Senior Editor Clifford Thies. P. Thies is a former Championship Wrestler from the WWF from the middle 1990s. His alias is Damian Demento. He also had a minor role in one of the Die Hard 3 with Bruce Willis. See his bi-line here.
Folks, Monday will be a travel day for your Editor. Thus, we will not be posting any news items, videos or articles until later Monday evening. I've gone ahead and loaded up today (Sunday) on a variety of posts. So, enjoy.
As always, Right Guy is in charge while I'm gone. I trust nothing out of the ordinary will happen in my absence.
While I've got a moment, let me update you on our continued growth. Check out these numbers of unique visitors from the past few days.
That's an average of 1,200 visitors daily.Our Alexa ranking is 446,000. 146 sites are linked to us. Google lists us as having 83 regular followers. Twitter is in the neighborhood of 300 or so followers.
Avidly anti abortion, voted in office in the early 1980s. Liberal to moderate on economic issues. Has voted consistently with Democrats since the House regained Democrat control on economic issues. I see here that he won reelection in 2008 66% to his Dem opponent 39%. 27 out of ten rating at Club for Growth. Up for reelection in 2010. Put on your activist caps, stop his reelection. Has strong Union voting record, NAACP, AFL-CIO, ACLU, Teamsters, here. Apparently very liberal, why the 'R'? Smoke him out. Voting for the biggest tax increase in history, without reading the bill is not 'moderate', make this known. Make him feel the sting of unemployment like the rest of the country will from this nightmare bill. In the middle of a massive recession....
Dave Reichert, Washington
56 out of 100 at American Conservative Union here. Also affiliated with the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, ACLU, etc here. Won GOP nomination with 45% primary vote in 2004, won reelection in 2008 51% to 48%. Facing reelection in 2010. Make him go away. I'm reading that he is considered a 'moderate'. Again, voting for the biggest tax increase ever and not reading the bill is not moderate. It is Statist. Bye-bye.
Mary Bono Mack (CA)
In 2008 she was elected with 58% against her Dem rival. She assumed office in 1998 when Sonny Bono died. Married to staunch economic conservative Rep Connie Mack IV. I would hate to hear the dinner-table arguments between these two after her vote. Connie Mack voted nay. 74 rating from ACU here Ties to liberal groups too here. She was, at one point on the fence with Cap and Tax. Which one of the Chicago thugs twisted her arm for a Yea vote? Axelrod? Emmanuel? Vote her out. Let her go home and stay there in 2010.
Mike Castle, Delaware
Very liberal, had requested and received $82 million in pork in 2008 alone. I wonder where the bridge will be built in Delaware to reward his yes vote? 28 of 100 at the ACU. Bye-bye RINO. Attorney and politician. Send him back to his day job, his antics will be well received in the law community. They aren't in the GOP. He's fired in 2010.
Mark Kirk, Illinois
Running for Senate, don't let it happen. Elected in 2001. Served in the Clinton Administration. Career pol and attorney. See a trend? Defeated Dem rival in 2008 by 8% points. 48 out of 100 at ACU. Porky $67 million for 2008. This is a big one folks. Running possibly for the Senate seat 2010 in Illinois.
John McHugh, New York
Insurance Broker, government worker. Shocker. Voted for Stimulus, Bailouts, etc. Nominated for Army Secretary, if confirmed will vacate his seat. Read between the lines. Coming aboard the SS Obamanation, this must have been his last 'F' 'U' to the GOP. Moot point on harassing him since he is leaving.
Frank Lobiondo New Jersey
Who is this guy? "Hey, uh, yah....I' gonna breaka yuh kneecaps...." This guy is a Republican? Wasn't he on the Sopranos? Are you kidding me? Elected in 1994, former trucking executive with small business roots. What happened? Against gay marriage, abortion, affirmative action. Part of Gingrich's Contract With America. What happened? At one point he had strong economic conservative leanings. 52 of 100 from ACU. Flush him out, he's the worst kind of pol, a turncoat that at one point was a Reagan conservative but the Washington culture has it's way with people......Adios in 2010.
Leonard Lance, New Jersey
See the look on his face, he looks like a badly-aged Cabbage-Patch doll. Born into a political family. In 2008 he ran on a platform of fiscal conservatism, moderate social values, and environmentalism. Really? It's fiscally conservative to vote for the biggest tax increase ever and not read the bill? We'll see you at the poor-house with your constituents. Won his seat in 2008 51% to 41% but had a tougher fight in the primary. That's where he is vulnerable. I can't even find a cause for his support for the Cap and Tax bill, porky goodies perhaps? Well, he will have a short-lived congressional term. Out in 2010.
Note - If you'd like to call any of these Congressional offices to express your outrage over their votes, Tim has the phone numbers listed at his Blog, Left Coast Rebel.
Over 220 attended the annual Indepedence Institute banquet last Saturday evening at the Kiowa Creek Sporting Club in Denver. The event was dubbed as the "most politically incorrect event of the year." The guest speaker: Joe the Plumber.
A record crowd gathered to thumb their collective noses at the encroaching “nanny state” and listen to the words of Sam Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, Saturday at the Independence Institute’s annual Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms Party.
This year’s festivities inaugurated a full schedule of discussions — “Nanny Panels” — and a speech by conservative gadfly Andrew Breitbart on Friday at a Denver hotel (listen here to Independence Institute President Jon Caldara discuss the events with Amy Oliver). Topics included the economics of the “nanny state,” sin taxes and how to fight creeping state parentalism.
Wurzelbacher urged on the crowd to support Constitutionalist principles, than went on to make a little news. Continuing from Q&A:
Will he consider running for public office?
“Absolutely not,” Wurzelbacher said. “Grassroots is where it’s at.”
Asked who might win his support among potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, Wurzelbacher dismissed Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (”No … no”), before sounding like Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin might be his choice.
“Sarah Palin? Maybe,” he said. “She’s a nice lady and I like her. She doesn’t have that gleam of power in her eyes.”
The Independent also reports that a number of Republicans showed up:
A handful of state lawmakers and Republican candidates showed up, including state Sen. Nancy Spence, Secretary of State candidate Scott Gessler, 7th Congressional District hopeful Brian T. Campbell, and U.S. Senate candidate Ryan Frazier.
No Democrat elected officials or candidates attended.
The Jena 6 defendents, who brutally assaulted a white schoolmate two years ago, received a light sentence of 7 days probation for the offense. The crime occured at a high school in the small town of Jena in southern Louisiana.
The charges against the five — Carwin Jones, Jesse Ray Beard, Robert Bailey Jr., Bryant Purvis and Theo Shaw — had previously been reduced from attempted murder to aggravated second-degree battery after they were accused of beating and kicking schoolmate Justin Barker.
Civil rights leaders railed against the harshness of the original charge, saying it was because the defendants were black and Barker was white.
The plea deal gave the defendants seven days probation, a $500 fine and court costs.
After the plea deal was reached, the defendents read a statement acknowledging that the attacks were entirely unprovoked.
All 6 of the convicted criminals are now either in college, or preparing to attend college, despite their convictions.
Ivan Osorio is a veteran of the University of Florida College Libertarians, a longtime member of the Republican Liberty Caucus, and currently a staff writer, and speaker for the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
This weekend he has a film review of the newly released "Soraya," headlining at American Spectator.
An excerpt:
The Stoning of Soraya M. is a difficult film to watch, but worth taking the time to do so. The film, which opens today, depicts the stoning death of a young Iranian woman falsely accused of adultery...
More specifically, the film brings welcome attention to the fact that stoning still goes on in some countries... The series of circumstances and events that led to this particular injustice constitute tools of repression upon which tyrannical governments routinely rely -- intimidation of witnesses, suborning of false testimony, and dehumanization of the victim. In essence, Soraya is subjected to a show trial -- at which she is not even allowed to be present -- where she is turned into a legal non-person.
If that sounds Stalinist, it should. As in Stalinist Russia, obedience to some greater ideal becomes a tool for ruthless men to manipulate -- and even destroy -- others in the process of getting their way. The series of events that lead to Soraya’s death are set in motion by her husband Ali, who has tired of her and wants to marry a younger woman. When she refuses to grant him a divorce on his terms, he decides to get rid of her by a false charge of adultery, based on a series of lies, half-truths, and testimony from a threatened witness, which leads to sentence of death by stoning. Ali gets rid of an inconvenient spouse the same way that tyrants routinely dispatch political opponents.
That the events depicted occurred in Iran make the film unexpectedly timely, given the events there in recent days, especially because many of the marchers against the regime are women, and the murder of one young woman has become a rallying cry for Iranian reformers. From its outset, the film lays out women’s lack of rights in a fundamentalist theocracy at the core of the problem.
San Francisco lawmakers are set to vote on a measure that would snuff out new shops that sell paraphernalia often used by pot smokers in the district at the heart of the city's hippie history.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi's ordinance to be voted on Tuesday would place a three-year moratorium on new businesses in the Haight that sell the smoking equipment.
At least a dozen businesses sell rolling papers, roach clips and glass water pipes along Haight Street, a popular destination for tourists nostalgic for the Summer of Love.
Green Party joins in with Dems against the Pot Shops
The Supervisor's Board, made up of all Democrats and Greens, voted unanimously in favor of the amendment. (Not a single Republican or Libertarian serves on the SF Board of Supervisors.) Mayor Newsom is expected to sign it. From the SF Examiner:
Mayor Gavin Newsom will consider signing the bill, his spokesman said.
“When even the Green Party politicians are opposing head shops, you know it’s a legitimate issue,” Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard said.
Notably, Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested 3 months ago, that state legislators should consider some form of marijuana legalization to help lower the States' huge budget deficit.
Conservative Rep. John Boehner of Ohio may have been exhibiting some libertarian inclinations the other day when he used a vulgarity in describing Nancy Pelosi's cap and trade legislation.
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) had a few choice words about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) landmark climate-change bill after its passage Friday.
When asked why he read portions of the cap-and-trade bill on the floor Friday night, Boehner told The Hill, "Hey, people deserve to know what's in this pile of s--t."
Using his privilege as leader to speak for an unlimited time on the House floor, Boehner spent an hour reading from the 1200-plus page bill that was amended 20 hours before the lower chamber voted 219-212 to approve it.
(H/t Memeo)
Editor's Comment - Of course Boehner, conservative that he is, was being far too polite. We libertarians would have just called Pelosi herself a "piece of shit."
Meet Bill Johnson. He serves in Governor Bob Riley's Cabinet as Chairman of Economic and Community Affairs. He's also a former Birmingham City Councilman.
Johnson resigned his post last Friday to run in a crowded field for Governor. An attractive candidate on the surface, but he's not likely to garner much support from the GOP's libertarian wing, nor should he.
This will be Johnson’s second race for a statewide office, but his first in Alabama.
He made an unsuccessful bid as a Libertarian for the U.S. Senate in Missouri in 1994, getting only about 5 percent of the vote in a race won by Republican John Ashcroft. In that race, Johnson adopted the Libertarian platform of legalizing marijuana and prostitution. That platform repeatedly came up in Johnson’s future political ventures and was used in a Democratic ad to attack Riley in his re-election bid in 2006.
Each time it came up, Johnson said he personally opposed the legalization of marijuana and prostitution, but was running under the Libertarian banner.
Translation: He used to be in favor of Liberty, now he's for Big Government Nanny-Statism.
The Republican Liberty Caucus recently organized in Alabama. The State is also home to a number of "switchover" Libertarians to the GOP, including a number of Ron Paul supporters, and well-known Libertarian Media guy Stephen Gordon.
We here at Libertarian Republican heartily applaud former Libertarian Party members who join the GOP and bring their libertarian ideals with them. But there's nothing worse than a former Libertarian who joins the GOP only to become a social authoritarian, most especially one who apologizes for his past libertarian views.
Alabama Libertarian Republicans should support Anyone but Johnson.
"To us they're illegal immigrants. To them, they're . . . potential voters." (Anon.)
Today, someone sent me a list of the U.S. Senators who voted against extend "E-Verify," which safeguard legitimate American businesses from exmploying illegal aliens. It's worth looking at. There were 50 votes in opposition to continuing the program.
** Please Note There is Not One {R} Included in This List Of Shame.**
Those in the Senate who voted against full re-authorization of E-Verify:
None of the Democrats listed above . . . as well as none of the people in the Obama Administration have any interest in reform. Why would they? Why should they want to investigate ACORN, which is their ticket to re-election? Why should they care that we're bankrupting the next generation, most of whom aren't old enough to vote? Why should they care about supporting the Iranian freedom fighters -- after all, Iran is far away . . . and Iranians can't vote for Democrats.
Monica Conyers was found to be guilty late Thursday, on federal bribery charges in relation to the Synagro sludge contract scandal. Though, the conviction has received little national media attention.
In a few short weeks, Conyers, who was the council's president pro tem, went from one of Detroit's most politically powerful and mercurial women to an admitted felon in a pay-to-play scheme for a $1.2-billion-plus sludge treatment contract... She admitted taking at least $6,000 from Detroit businessman Rayford Jackson to change her vote in favor of a $1.2-billion sludge disposal contract in 2007.
Implicated in other Scandals with former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick
And FBI officials are promising that the investigation will go further. Continuing:
"This is not the beginning, and this is certainly not the end," said Andrew Arena, of the Detroit FBI. "This is a battle against public corruption."
People familiar with the investigation into city contracts said agents have asked questions about other officials, including felon and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick...
Rep. Conyers could face Prison Time?
A key Obama ally, Congressman Conyers is Chairman of the powerful House Health and Human Services Committee. He is best known for having threatened to hold impeachment hearings for George Bush in 2007, over the War in Iraq.
According to her plea, Monica Conyers said she took two bribes in late 2007 that the Free Press has previously reported were at least $3,000 each. In his 2008 congressional financial disclosure forms which covered that period, John Conyers reported that no one in his immediate family had received gifts worth a total of at least $305.
Failing to list a bribe as a gift in the disclosure statement was part of the government's case against former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. Lawmakers who knowingly file false financial disclosure forms can face fines or even prison, but federal prosecutors typically pursue such violations only as part of broader investigations.
Though, a spokesman for a liberal Democrat group defended Rep. Conyers. Continuing:
"As long as the conduct is really separate and doesn't have anything to do with the member, as is the case here, I don't see a problem for Chairman Conyers," said Melanie Sloan.
An additional indictment of Rep. Conyers himself, could have a major impact on health care legislation, which is set to be debated in the House in the coming weeks.
Libertarian Republican has been continuously reporting on the situation in Northeast Africa. Now events on the ground are leading to frightening possibilities. Jawa reports that Al-Shabab Muslim rebels planned to blow up a bridge in Northern Kenya. In response, Kenya has massed Troops on the border. Quoting an African news source: "security forces were working to thwart possible infiltrations and cross-border movements by Islamist fighters."
Kenya is home to hundreds of thousands of ethnic Somalis, and has become a begrudging host to thousands more Somali refugees... Islamist militias in Somalia have specifically threatened to launch terrorist attacks in Nairobi...
In the backdrop a major power struggle is developing between the ruling democratic government in Kenya and rival power sharer Prime Minister Raila Odinga (cousin of US President Barack Hussein Obama).
Cap and Trade passed the House by a thin margin of 7 votes. Ironically, that was one less than the amount of Republicans who voted for the legislation. Notably 30 Democrats voted No.
During the debate firebrand Georgian and sometimes libertarian Dr. Paul Broun, stated:
"Scientists all over this world say that the idea of human induced global climate change is one of the greatest hoaxes perpetrated out of the scientific community. It is a hoax. There is no scientific consensus."
He received a round of applause from fellow GOP House members.
We as citizens of the U.S. should not be forced to fight for the freedom of Iran or forced to fund any war of that kind- until and unless they become a direct threat to us(which is open to debate). However, we are also free as individuals to condemn the actions of the Iranian government and aid the people there in any way we can- up to and including the active armed support.
We also should expect our government to not be funding Iran in any way as we do now through the IMF and World Bank or giving them any unearned respect through agencies like the "United Nations".
Most likely, regimes like this would have collapsed years ago without this support.Remember that Iran also gets lots of technology from countries like Russia which also receive tons of aid and loans. Has any of Obama's Hamas cash gotten into Iran or aided other Iran supported terror groups?
Morris is an artist, who runs a financial-oriented blog, from a Peter Schiff perspective.
Who gives a shit when Iranians are dying on the Streets of Tehran?
From the anti-Islamo-Fascist libertarian Right site Jawa:
No, seriously. Who gives a shit who the governor of South Carolina is playing hide the salami with when Kim Jong Il might be firing a missile at Hawaii soon and Iran is in the throes of revolution.
Okay, I'll comment on Mark Sanford. Never have I seen a promising political career flame-out so fast. He was emerging as a leader of the loyal opposition to our pseudo-Marxist President, but he threw it all away for a woman.
It's a story as old as our country and it still amazes.
Bottom line, it's hard for me to get too worked up about this in light of what's going on in Iran. Sexed-up politicians really mean nothing by comparison.
Editor's Note - Readers, if you spot some other interesting comments on the Sanford affair from libertarians, please send them to us for posting.
Predictably, conservative leaders from Sean Hannity to Gary Bauer, are trumpeting the "Family Values," mantra in regards to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's hot Latin Affair. But libertarians, more tolerant on sexual matters than their conservative cousins, are taking it more in stride.
Mark Sanford, you have betrayed your family, your friends, your constituents, your supporters, and God, all for basically nothing. You have proven to be the slimiest member of a barrel that is filled with some pretty slimy characters. If you have a decent bone left in your body, resign immediately and hopefully we can soon permanently move past news cycles featuring either your face or your name. Goodbye and good riddance.
Than this from Emily Zanotta, self-described "libertarian, Catholic," of the popular social commentary and celebrity gossip site American Princess blog tweets:
Dear men, why would you cheat on your wife with a woman who...um...isn't as hot as your wife?
I don’t have an answer for you. Nor do I render any judgment on the hotness of Maria Belen Chapur. Let alone Sanford’s wife, Jenny Sanford... You can make that call on your own.
Note - Photo of Sanford's Argentinian lover Maria Belen Chapur. Sources indicate that she is a PR Rep. for an Agri-business firm, lives in an "upscale apartment" in Buenos Aires, and speaks 5 different languages including Mandarin Chinese.
UPDATE!
At TMZ, an Argentian bar owner who has seen Maria Belen Chapur and Gov. Sanford together on many occasions is quoted as describing their affair as passionate: "kissing, holding hands and drinking wine." He then adds: She has "un cuerpazo," - gorgeous body.
Another libertarian makes the comparison to Ronald Reagan's speech to Gorbachev: "Tear down this Wall." This time coming from one of the Founders of the Modern Libertarian Movement.
(Note - Rohrabacher was a Co-Founder of Reason Magazine, Chairman of the Libertarian Caucus of YAF in the late 1960s and Captain of the YAF Libertarian Flag Football team).
"It took one bullet to kill Neda. It will take only one Neda to stop Iranian tyranny." -- United States Senator John McCain
In our country, the first martyr in the American Revolution was Crispus Attucks, who died from wounds he received in the Boston Massacre. The man's father was an African American and his mother an American Indian. His mother named him Crispus Attucks, which means Running Deer in her language. And just like a Running Deer has to be free, so too did Crispus Attucks. As a young man, he ran away from slavery. As an older man, he ran to be free.
The following classified ad from the Boston Gazette of October 2, 1750, we think refers to him:
Ran away from his Master William Brown of Framingham on the 30th of Sept. last a mulatto Fellow, about 27 years of age, named Crispus, 6 Feet and 2 inches high, short curl'd Hair, his Knees near together than common; and had on a light colour'd Beaverskin Coat, plain new buckskin breeches, blue yarn stockings and a checked woolen shirt. Whoever shall take up said runaway and convey him to his aforesaid master shall have 10 pounds old tenor reward, and all necessary charges paid. And all masters of vessels and others are hereby cautioned against concealing or carrying off said servant on penalty of law.
The reason we know about Crispus Attucks is Sam Adams, a cousin of John Adams, our 2nd President. Sam Adams was a newspaper man, as well as a patriot, and he knew a good story when he saw it. It was Sam Adams who gave the Boston Massacre its name, and produced numerous pamphlets to remind the American people of the incident so it would not be forgot. Joining Sam Adams were a distinguished Boston painter, Henry Pelham, who captured the Boston Massacre in a series of paintings, and a distinguished Boston coppersmith, Paul Revere, who made a copy of the painting from which many prints were made for distribution through the colonies. In some of the renditions of the Boston Massacre, Crispus Attucks chest is shown with a gaping wound, which was a very graphic presentation in that day.
The parallels of between the story of Neda and Crispus Attucks should be obvious. A compelling personal story, to include even a name that whispers to your ear what is good and decent about life, coupled with the communication of this story to others.
Let us always remember that we are surrounded by the spirits of these and countless other martyrs in the long and continuing struggle for freedom. How precious life is when lived with the realization that you are a free person. How precious is the friendship of others who have come into this realization.
Note - Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia.
The legislature is not in session, so it's not like there were going to be bills piling up on his desk awaiting signature or veto.
Emergency? South Carolina's constitution provides for that:
In the case of the temporary disability of the Governor and in the event of the temporary absence of the Governor from the State, the Lieutenant Governor shall have full authority to act in an emergency.
The Democrats are trying to make hay, of course:
"Being a chief executive means being on call all the time, and Gov. Sanford either doesn't get that part of the job or can't handle it," Hari Sevugan, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, scolded.
I rather suspect that Sanford was, in fact, "on call" in case of emergency ... but the tabloids and the Democrats getting their panties all in a wad over his whereabouts doesn't constitute an emergency (as a matter of fact, file it under "business as usual"). Just because Mark Sanford's staff wasn't telling Hari Sevugan (or anyone else) where Sanford was, that doesn't mean Mark Sanford's staff didn't know where Sanford was.
Get a grip, folks. When you take a vacation, do you leave messages on Mark Sanford's machine so that he can know exactly where you are at all times? If you don't, why should he?
Update: So it turned out to be about who's shtupping who in the non-political sense of the word. No, I'm not surprised. Yes, I'm still all so-whatsy and who-caresy. Maybe even more so -- above and beyond the fact that all these yahoos had no "need to know" where he was anyway, "I'm going to Argentina to shack up with my forbidden lover for a week" is precisely the kind of thing I'd keep to myself too.
Editor's Note - Tom Knapp, unofficial Ombudsman for LR Blog, has an excellent Blog himself, representing a principled and non-knee jerk left libertarian view - Knappster at blogspot.
As many of you might be aware, yesterday, this political news blog, received two major links: InstaPundit and National Review. As a result we received 3,907 unique visitors for the day, well above our norm of 600 to 800.
This is what Glenn Reynolds at InstaPundit (Pajamas Media) wrote:
IRAN: Are conservatives more libertarian than the libertarians? Depends on the libertarians in question.
Where Are the Libertarians on Iran? [Jonah Goldberg]
An interesting complaint from the Libertarian Republican (via Instapundit):
What a reversal. Freedom is breaking out across Iran. We are witnessing one of the most historical events of our lifetimes, comparable no doubt to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yet, Libertarians, outside of this political news blog, Atlas Shrugs, the Libertarian Defense Caucus, and a few other libertarian Republicans, are for the most part silent.
Virtually no reportage at Reason. In the last week, just two articles on the whole Iranian Revolution at Reason, and one was more of a criticism of how CNN was covering the event, than coverage of the event itself. Cato is similarly unengaged.
The usual suspects on the Libertarian Left, LewRockwell.com, Justin Raimondo and AntiWar.com, and the Ron Paulists, are preaching the same "stay the hell out" line, they've been arguing for years. Some are even cheering on Obama for not making any statements seemingly in support of the protesters.
Incredibly, not a single press release has been sent out by the Libertarian Party on the biggest issue of the day.
So, where are all the freedoms lovers in the United States to be found?
On the Conservative Right.
He left out Will's Churchillian refusal to paint his Twitter Avatar green.
We received a third link for the editorial, mocking us, from an obscure leftwing blog - Julian Sanchez.
We are grateful to Jonah and Glenn for linking to our story, and urge our readers to add both their sites to the Daily Favorites. They're already on mine.
>More than 10.000 Bassij Milittias get position in Central Tehran, including Baharestan Sq. >Army Helycopters flying over Baharestan and Vali Asr Sq. >The streets, squares and around BAHARESTAN (Approx. South-eastern of Tehran) is swarming with military forces, civilian forces, the security motorists >The croud have moved to the south of baharestan, the situation is bad, the shooting has started >In Baharestan Sq. in the Police shooting, A girl is shot and the police is not allowing to let them help >In Baharestan we saw militia with axe choping people like meat - blood everywhere - like butcher
Senator John McCain criticized his former rival in an interview with the Far Left Huffington Post:
"I know what side I'm on," McCain cut in. "I'm on the side of the people. I'm not on Ahmadinejad's side or Mousavi. I'm on the side of the Iranian people and I'm on the right side of history. And I'm not going to walk on the other side of the street while people are being killed and beaten in the streets of Iran."
The 2008 GOP Nominee went on to criticize Obama's response:
"We can't sit by and watch a film clip on television of a young woman bleeding to death and say that we're worried about the Iranian reaction or our ability to negotiate with them. We have to stand up for those people."
On the Iraq War and Britain's involvement. From the UK Libertarian Party this morning:
It is said that liberty is a tree that must be watered with blood once in a while. All liberty is bought with blood. And by removing Saddam we watered that tree. We didn't impose democracy. We opened the door. I don't think we have imposed our culture or our systems on them. We asked them via a referendum if they supported the constitution for Iraq and they said yes. So we gave them it.
Considering how few deaths, and how short a time it has taken to pave the way for a self-governing republic of autonomous regions under a functioning constitution (compared with other wars of a similar magnitude), we have done well and have a lot to be proud of. History will be the judge and if Iraq is a thriving democracy, then it may judge us more kindly.
Note - the Party ran 3 candidates for local elections in recent elections, one of which drew over 10% for a city council seat.
The news site Peace, Freedom & Prosperity reports:
Ron Paul Taking Heat for No Vote on Iranian Resolution
The House of Representatives voted to condemn the Iranian government and the recent actions in the country with a 405-1 vote. The sole no vote came from Congressman Ron Paul, and already he is getting flack for his vote. People have claimed that since he is such a big proponent for freedom and liberty, then he should have supported this resolution.
The site goes on to link to LR's piece by Maverick Whig:
Posted on the website Libertarian Republican, the guest columnist writes: Well once again Congressman Ron Paul shows how much he just loves liberty, he just voted against a house resolution that would declare official support for the Iranian Protesters...
Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants the U.S. House to vote at the end of this week on the Waxman-Markey National Energy Tax (House Bill 2454) and we need to defeat it.
With gas prices climbing, the last thing we need is a new energy tax that will drive them even higher, nearly double the cost of electricity, and destroy millions of jobs every year for the next 25 years.
Libertarians urge “no” vote on $1.9 trillion Waxman-Markey tax hike Pelosi hopes to rush tax hike to a vote this week
For Immediate Release...
WASHINGTON – America’s third largest party urged the U.S. House Tuesday to defeat plans for a $1.9 trillion energy tax hike over eight years. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is attempting to rush H.R. 2454, the Waxman-Markey energy tax bill, to a vote this week.
“With unemployment rising above and beyond what President Obama said it would be with the multi-hundred billion dollar stimulus bill, now is not the time to dismantle our economy with a multi-hundred billion dollar energy tax hike,” said William Redpath, Libertarian National Committee Chairman.
“Libertarians urge House members to defeat this job-killing tax hike on Americans,” said Redpath. “Libertarian candidates are out there every day proposing proven solutions to create the jobs we need and restore our prosperity. This $1.9 trillion tax hike would destroy millions of jobs and impose dramatically higher prices for everything.”
At nearly 1,000 pages, H.R. 2454, sponsored by Democrat Reps. Henry Waxman and Edward Markey, imposes new taxes on any economic activity that produces carbon dioxide. Pelosi hopes to rush the bill to a vote, despite no net temperature increase globally over the last decade, significant research showing man-made carbon dioxide isn’t changing the climate and opposition from thousands of scientists.
The economic impact would be harsh. According to research from the independent, non-partisan Heritage Foundation, the bill would have devastating impacts on the average American family.
The research found that by 2035, gasoline prices would increase 58 percent, natural gas prices would increase 55 percent, prices for home heating oil would increase 56 percent, and worst of all, electricity prices would jump 90 percent.
While the average American would pay the tax once in the form of higher energy prices, they also pay it again in higher costs for goods that must be manufactured and services that must be provided using energy.
The average family of four could see $2,979 in higher prices per year, paying $4,609 more in 2035 alone. The total costs to the average family in higher prices, from 2012 to 2035, reach $71,493.
The bill would also destroy millions of jobs, even taking into account Obama administration promises of new “green” jobs. The research finds an average annual job loss of 1,145,000 jobs per year because of Waxman-Markey. In the worst years, 2,479,000 Americans will lose their jobs annually under Waxman-Markey.
The Libertarian Party is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting http://www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom
Gruesome video of Freedom Fighters being killed by Iranian Bhajis.
Very latest news: Iranian Elections Court rules in favor of the Regime; No serious fraud found.
The fighting on the streets will continue...
From the Editor - With events in Iran, comparable to the fall of Communism in 1989/90, and 9/11, it's difficult to muster the energy and enthusiasm to report on regular daily U.S. political news. We will do as much as that as we can in the coming days. But understandably, our hearts, and our attentions, will be with the Iranian Freedom Fighter movement first and foremost.
Actor Jon Voight makes a stunning admission to Glenn Beck last night on Fox. Voigt described the moment he switched from liberal non-interventionist Anti-War activist, to Conservative Pro-Freedom Fighter.From NewsBusters:
And then I saw the end of the war. I saw us pull out, and then I saw the communists move in and slaughter 2 1/2 million people in South Vietnam and Cambodia. And I saw the left that had precipitated this turn away, just walk away from it. ... They didn't take seriously the blood that they had been directly causing. And it didn't – but I must say programming is very, very deep. And I didn't really pull out of it for quite a while afterward. But that's where the dime
dropped and things started to happen. And then I , you know, then 9/11, of course.
Voigt said at the time he was "surrounded by Marxists," and Hollywood Liberals, and couldn't fathom their utter silence on Cambodia.
What a reversal. Freedom is breaking out across Iran. We are witnessing one of the most historical events of our lifetimes, comparable no doubt to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Yet, Libertarians, outside of this political news blog, Atlas Shrugs, the Libertarian Defense Caucus, and a few other libertarian Republicans, are for the most part silent.
Virtually no reportage at Reason. In the last week, just two articles on the whole Iranian Revolution at Reason, and one was more of a criticism of how CNN was covering the event, than coverage of the event itself. Cato is similarly unengaged.
The usual suspects on the Libertarian Left, LewRockwell.com, Justin Raimondo and AntiWar.com, and the Ron Paulists, are preaching the same "stay the hell out" line, they've been arguing for years. Some are even cheering on Obama for not making any statements seemingly in support of the protesters.
Incredibly, not a single press release has been sent out by the Libertarian Party on the biggest issue of the day.
So, where are all the freedoms lovers in the United States to be found?
On the Conservative Right.
Conservative Pence more of a Libertarian than Paul?
Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana was the author of the House resolution in support of the protesters. Pence is generally regarded as a staunch Conservative.
And in an irony of all ironies, Ron Paul, often labeled a "libertarian," cast the lone vote against Pence's resolution, saying: "I have always hesitated when my colleagues rush to pronounce final judgment on events thousands of miles away about which we know very little. And we know very little beyond limited press reports about what is happening in Iran."
(Scratching head)
Just who is the libertarian again? Pence or Paul??
The Conservative Blogosphere is way ahead of everyone else in championing the Iranian Freedom Fighter cause: HotAir.com, Michelle Malkin, Gateway Pundit, Ace, RedState, Jawa, World Net Daily, TownHall, Human Events, and so many others, are providing the best, and most supportive coverage.
Even Mike Huckabee is getting into the action. This from Huck Blog:
Where's the International Libertarian effort?
The libertarian movement was far more supportive of the last major freedom revolution: the Fall of Communism across Eastern Europe and Russia. Cato even sent a delegation of Economists, and other Cato leaders to Moscow in 1991 to steer the country into developing a more market-based economy.
No such plans are in the works for the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution.
In fact, even so-called Libertarian International groups who are supposed to be actively organizing such efforts, are silent.
ISIL (Individual Society for Individual Liberty), a group that was supposed to act as a sort of Libertarian International, has only one single link on their home page about Iran. Instead, articles about the upcomming Libertarian National Committee meeting, "Liberty English Camps," and ironically, Human Rights Watch with no mention of Iran, is currently on the front page. This from an organization that boasts:
A vital part of spreading the ideas of liberty around the world is to make available literature in the local language. ISIL has sponsored the publishing and distribution of thousands of introductory libertarian books in former communist countries, including the works of Ayn Rand in her native Russia.
Funny. You'd think this would be precisely the time that the Iranians need the works of Rand, and free market economic books the most.
Something is seriously, seriously wrong, when someone like Huckabee, who has expressed utter disdain for movement libertarians in the past, is sounding more libertarian, than movement libertarians themselves.
Who knows? Maybe it will be social conservative Mike Huckabee next, doing a "Money Bomb" off his site to support the distribution of (atheist) And Rand's "Atlas Shrugs," Hayek's "Road to Serfdom," and Milton Friedman's "Free to Choose," to the brave young Iranian protesters? While Ron Paul will still be saying that the press reports out of Iran about repression of the freedom fighters shouldn't necessarily be believed.
State Assemblyman and Republican candidate for US Senate Chuck DeVore reports on a new welfare scheme that scamsters are using in California to defraud the State. In a column, DeVore first describes the current budget crisis:
A newly-invigorated Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has threatened to veto any tax increases. The California governor has also moved to block additional borrowing to paper over California’s overspending -- a first for him. Harking to the early days of his governorship when he called to “blow up the boxes,” Schwarzenegger wants government reform, especially in California’s bloated and fraud-ridden welfare programs... The one consistent thing Schwarzenegger has tried to do is to reform California welfare to reduce fraud and encourage welfare recipients to graduate to the dignity of work. And, year after year, legislative Democrats have rebuffed him.
A large bulk of the fraud occurs in the In Home Support Services (IHSS) program.
Sign the papers as a Caregiver for a Dead Person: Receive a Welfare Check
DeVore then goes on to give a couple examples of how scam artists bilk the system for millions using unique strategies that often go un-detected.
That many of “these people” are committing fraud to receive state benefits is becoming increasingly evident as Democrats have resisted most efforts to ensure only the truly needy receive help. County prosecutors say that taxpayer funds are pouring into IHSS so quickly and with such minimal oversight that welfare scam artists often get money for taking care of the dead. One variation of the scam has people who are not in need of in-home services agree to be “taken care of” by someone else in exchange for a share of the check. With wages ranging up to $14.68 an hour, the temptation to abuse the program is high and the examples many.
DeVore is currently seeking the GOP nomination to challenge incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer.
Read his entire editorial "Dems Want More Taxes in California" at Human Events.
Welfare rolls, which were slow to rise and actually fell in many states early in the recession, now are climbing across the country for the first time since President Bill Clinton signed legislation pledging "to end welfare as we know it" more than a decade ago.
Twenty-three of the 30 largest states, which account for more than 88% of the nation's total population, see welfare caseloads above year-ago levels, according to a survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The article goes on to identify Oregon, California, Illinois and Wisconsin as seeing some of the higher increases.
Lots more Butter, less Guns
And the number of welfare recipients is far-outpacing defense spending and other areas of the budget.
Since 1960, government has changed radically. Then, 52 percent of federal spending went for defense, 26 percent for "payments to individuals"—the welfare state. By 2008, 61 percent went for "payments to individuals," 21 percent for defense.
Social Security and Medicare—programs for the elderly—represented the lion's share: $1 trillion in 2008
Reference - Photo is of Peggy Joseph of Tampa, who famously said during the '08 Campaign that she couldn't wait for Obama to be elected, so that she could get her "car paid for, her rent..."
New numbers out from Rasmussen. For the first time Obama has slipped to more Strongly Dissaproves than Strongly Approves. His overall Approval is 53%, while Disapproval is at 46%.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 32% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-four percent (34%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -2. That’s the President’s lowest rating to date and the first time the Presidential Approval Index has fallen below zero for Obama (see trends).
Sixty percent (60%) of Democrats Strongly Approve of the President’s performance but only 8% of Republicans share that view. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Republicans Strongly Disapprove.
My theory, and it's pretty standard fare: Gas prices creeping up, combined with near 10% unemployment, and increasing concerns by mostly moderates over the deficit.
And there isn't anything on the horizon for improvement on any one of those issues.
Ron Paul and Obama sit by while Iranian Youth are murdered on the streets
by Maverick W.
Well once again Congressman Ron Paul shows how much he just loves liberty, he just voted against a house resolution that would declare official support for anti-government protests in Iran!
*takes in air* Ahhhh yes, LIBERTY! Don’t you just love it? Now, to be more serious, how come every non-interventionist paleolibertarian like Paul is always willing to say and write things for freedom (well except this time of course), but they are so resistant to doing something for freedom?
How come, once again, Paul and his supporters just have to make this whole issue about how bad the American “empire” is, how much he loves the constitution (Paul’s version of Obama’s CHANGE!!), and most importantly the NEOCONS!!! Though he doesn’t have a god complex like Obama does, he does have a persecution complex. Everything is …the neocons… (dramatic music) or ...the globalists… (echo). He also believes that if say we adopted a non-interventionist foreign policy that would be to his liking, basically fell off the face of the planet, and got rid of the CIA, all our problems would magically go away and no one would ever, ever so dare to bother us (bullshit). But what about freedom in the rest of the world? Well, who cares right? It’s not like they’re Americans (and this is a liberty loving philosophy according to Paul).
Anyways, I know that house resolution isn’t much at all, but for Christ’s sake, it’s better than Obama’s or Paul’s solutions. Oh, and another thing, and this is to the Iranian government (if they read Eric’s blog), can you please stop calling yourselves an Islamic “Republic”? I mean, you aren’t very republican in the ideal of George Washington or John Locke, so why call yourselves a republic at all if you are not one? Why call your constitution a constitution if it does not value the individual of your nation? Just a thought.
(waits for angry and stubborn non-interventionist and progressive backlash comments)
Editor's Note - Maverick W. serves in an occupation related to National Security, thus he asks we do not print his full name.
Because of the unprecedented level of Internet access and web literacy globally and in Iran, the world has had a truly historic level of awareness and involvement in Iran's "Green Revolution" -so-called because it is the color of Mousavi, Islam, and the grassroots network that propelled Mousavi's campaign.
Who is Mousavi?
A former Prime Minister of Iran and 2009's Reform candidate. He is the candidate of free speech, civil liberties, anti-corruption, privatization, Pro-Western/Pro-American foreign policy, a free and private media, gender equality, and the disbandment of Iran's "moral police" and radical nuclear program. A true revolutionary.
That the events in Iran have caused a schism on the right is well established. There are neocons freaking out that they may not have Ahmadinejad as a convenient prop to inspire fear and justify warlike policies. In recent days, they’ve succeeded in marginalizing themselves in the same ways that some sectors of the left unwittingly accomplished for so many years, causing an infrequent alliance between what might be called the Reagan right and the libertarian right, which shares the world’s – including the majority on the left’s - shock and horror at the violent response of the Iranian regime to peaceful protest and speech, and our pleasure at seeing People Power rise up against it.
Check out these newly released figures from our friend Moe Lane over at Red State:
Group Raised CoH Debt
RNC 5.82 21.55 0.00 DNC 8.37 12.14 5.60
These are fundraising numbers for the two major parties for last month. While the Republican National Committee did less well, than the Democrats at raising new funds, the last column shows the DNC holding exceedingly more debt than the RNC.
Michael Steele, fiscally conservative as Maryland's Lt. Governor, and apparently just as fiscally conservative as National Chairman of the Republican Party.
Perry signed a $182 billion, two-year state budget, while at the same time erasing $289 million in spending approved by the Legislature.
But it was another veto that may excite libertarians and hard-line conservatives even more.
Texas Libertarians and Conservatives organized a giant email blast campaign to urge the Governor to veto a dangerous child protection services expansion bill.
He also vetoed a child-abuse bill that critics said would have violated families' rights.
Supporters of Senate Bill 1440 say it would have helped abuse investigations by clarifying the criteria state officials must meet to get a court order to enter a family's house, transport a child or review children's medical records.
"SB 1440 would have improved our ability to protect Texas' most vulnerable citizens and enabled us to fulfill our moral obligation to help those who cannot help themselves," said Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, the author of the bill.
But opponents — including a coalition of conservative, libertarian and family-rights groups that organized a veto campaign in the past two weeks — say it would have given Child Protective Services too much power, allowing state investigators to enter homes without evidence of abuse.
Perry wrote in his veto statement that the bill "overreaches and may not give due consideration to the Fourth Amendment rights of a parent or guardian." He directed state officials to study the issue.
Side note - The bill to ban smoking statewide in restaurants and bars, stalled in committee. Though, Perry had earlier expressed his opposition to that legislation, as well.
Forget the GOP Primary: The General Election has already begun
Likely Democrat nominee for Texas Governor Kinky Friedman took some potshots at Republican incumbent Rick Perry yesterday. Friedman sent Perry a gag gift of bicycle training wheels, in reference to Perry's recent mountain bike accident. Perry broke his collar bone.
But Friedman also attacked Perry for being a johnny-come-lately to libertarian ideals.
"Rick Perry is a guy who is great at jumping in front of parades. You know we've never heard a whimper from him about states rights, or about libertarianism or anything... He jumped in front of the tea bag parade. He's better friends with the German government, with the European government, with the Mexican government, than he is with the people of Texas. He likes being governor, and that's the end of the story," he said of the governor in a recent appearance on the Alex Jones Show.
Friedman is a "Jesse Ventura-style" Independent who recently switched to Democrat. Polls showed he would have a better chance of winning as a major party candidate.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is featured in the August 2009 issue of Runners World. The piece includes seven gorgeous photos of her, each one a pin-up, along with a brief interview. Her effervescent, All-American personality comes through, along with her grit and determination. ”I feel so crappy if I go more than a few days without running,” she says at one point. When asked how she’d do in a long race against fellow jogger President Barack Obama, she says she’d come out ahead. Perhaps, in 2012, we’ll find out.
