Mayor Cammarano, Corzine's buddy and Dem "rising star" resigns

LR FOLLOW-UP

Fuck with me, "I will pound you like sand"

The Boy Wonder of New Jersey politics, 32-year old Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano resigned his office today. Last week, Cammarano and 42 other Democrat officeholders throughout northern New Jersey were arrested on bribery, and extortion charges involving kick-back schemes for municipal waste, garbage disposal, and sewage treatment. Cammarano had only been in office for 3 weeks. The day after his election victory he was caught on tape by the FBI saying that for those who opposed him, he would "pound them like sand."

From the AP story:

Gov. Jon Corzine had praised Cammarano as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

Corzine, along with NJ's two US Senators Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg attended Cammarano's swearing in ceremony as Mayor.
(Note - Menendez is from Cammarano's home county of Hudson).

Selective Sex Scandals from Left Media: Still no focus on "Governor X" Eddie Rendell

Okay to be a hypocrite on Sex Freedom issues only if you're a Democrat

by Eric Dondero

One week and a day now, since Kristen Davis made her stunning over-the-top hints on the Opie & Anthony Sirius/XM radio show, that the mysterious Governor 'X' is indeed Eddie Rendell of Pennsylavania. But still no coverage in the mainstream media.

Take the Nation's Number One gossipist, Perez Hilton. Today Mssr. Hilton has a banner headline story about a sex scandal involving an obscure Tennessee State Senator. A guy named Paul Stanley (no not the same member of KISS), who by all accounts is a wonkish budget committee member, apparently had an affair with a 22-year old intern. The guy was blackmailed by the intern's boyfriend into admitting the affair. He's resigning his seat.

And lo and behold he's a "Republican."

Hilton makes the case, that makes him a hypocrite, cause he undoubtably is opposed to gay marriage. Maybe? Maybe not?

But if it's hypocrisy you're looking for look no further than Fast Eddie.

Last week, after the story broke, we revealed a statement Rendell made to the media last year, comparing legalized prostitution with "contract killings."

And on gay issues, Rendell has been even quicker to condemn.

Late last year, when Janet Napolitano was being considered as Homeland Security Secretary, fellow Governor Rendell snickered to some Democrat colleagues, that "Janet has no life. She is perfect for the job, cause she has no family..." The comments were made by Rendell on an open mic, that he presumed was shut off. CNN picked it up, and enhanced the sound.

It was obvious to commentators and others that Rendell was making a reference to Napolitano's sexuality.

See LR's original story on the matter, Dec. 8, 2008, "Dem Gov. Ed Rendell outs fellow Democrat Janet Napolitano at Governor's conference."

So, how about it Mr. Gossip columnist? Here you have a sitting Governor who is strongly alleged to have had an affair with a high-priced hooker, using the very same escort service as Elliot Spitzer. Not too mention the fact that he has been a big hypocrite on sex freedom issues, including gays. And you're talking about an obscure State Senator from Tennessee all because he's a - gasp! - Republican? Yet, not a single mention of Rendell.

Vanderbilt Law Prof. Carol Swain to Obama: Release all Documents

From ExpertClick:

Why Obama's Birth Certificate Issue Will Not Go Away

The President of the United States belongs to the people. A lot of Americans are troubled by sealed records. Some feel that if the President has nothing to hide, then why not release the original birth certificate and open other sealed records: educational, foreign travel passports, and state legislative records. A birth certificate is a tangible document issue that everybody can relate to. Most of us have one tucked away in our home. It's needed for public benefits as well as school admission and passports. Mine has the exact moment I was born, the city, hospital, and attending physician. What is posted online for President Obama is a certificate of live birth. The birth certificate issue will not disappear. It is the failure to release the long form that keeps suspicion alive.

Below is a quote from a white friend about the matter:

"I'm struggling with this one when it comes to questions of character. Obama has been deceptive in other matters so it is difficult for me to give him the benefit of the doubt here. Something isn't quite right. If there is nothing to hide then why seal it? If there is nothing revealed if unsealed then what was going on while we were waiting...and WHERE was it going on? I sense deception somewhere"

I am perplexed by sealed records in the President's background. It is a biographer's nightmare and it hampers scholars and constrains the narrative that we tell future generations. I have not heard a compelling reason for the White House's refusal to honestly address the sealed documents. One reporter said it "makes political sense for Obama to allow the discussion to continue because it distracts and weakens his opponents. It also seems that nothing would satisfy the birthers. It all adds up to, "why bother?" I strongly disagree with this reporter's position, and the well-orchestrated strategy to crucify and vilify Americans who raise the issue.

The White House strategy may be part of a well orchestrated smokescreen to divert public attention from other sealed documents. But I hardly see the strategic advantage to the President of letting the issue be debated around kitchen tables and on the Internet. I believe the President should end the speculation by being transparent about all aspects of his background.

Editor's Note - Ms. Swain is a Professor of Political Science and Law at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is described as a "moderate conservative," in her political beliefs. (H/t Booker T. Rising blog)

Williams takes on O'Reilly over Obama birth certificate: "Spin Zone" now official part of Obama spin machine

Who’s looking out for YOU... Lou Dobbs or Bill O’Reilly?

By JB Williams ©2009 USA

How did Bill O’Reilly secure the only Fox softball interview with then presidential candidate Barack Obama and why is he telling tall tales and outright lies on behalf of Obama today?

You might recall that O’Reilly also attacked the “Swiftboat Vets” who exposed John Kerry’s blatant lies during his 2004 bid for the White House. This is not O’Reilly’s first dance in the leftist spin machine.

The “no spin zone” is officially part of the Obama spin machine regarding Obama’s overt lack of Constitutional standing to be Commander-in-Chief. Continuing his barrage on those crazy “birthers” who have done the investigative homework that every US news room still refuses to do, Bill O’Reilly made an amazing statement in his July 29, 2009 broadcast.

Responding to increasing viewer anger over O’Reilly’s overt cover-up of the Obama “birther” issue, O’Reilly says his crack investigators fully investigated Obama’s birth status and concluded with certainty that Obama was indeed born in Hawaii a “natural born citizen” in full compliance with Article II – Section I of the US Constitution. WOW... That’s quite a statement of absolute knowing!

With his standard elitist O’Reilly snicker, as if he knows a secret nobody else knows, Bill O’Reilly told his viewers that he knows with absolute certainty, based upon his staffs investigation of the matter, that Obama is 100% legit and that those “birthers” are extreme right-wing crackpots that make “real” republicans look bad.

But there are more than a few minor problems with Bill O’Reilly’s claim....

• Since everyone on earth knows that Barack Obama has spent a million bucks in legal fees to keep ALL birth, college, adoption and passport records under lock and key, what files did O’Reilly’s investigators investigate? Bill admits that ALL related records remain unavailable for investigation, but still claims to know facts he can’t possibly know without access to those secret files... Why?

• The Obama camp has offered NO proof whatsoever, other than three different forged COLBs, and the name of TWO different hospitals where he claims to have been born. This is the evidence that O’Reilly and Robert Gibbs call “overwhelming” and “conclusive.”
• Obama’s half-sister Maya also has a Hawaiian COLB, (certification not certificate) despite the fact that she was born in Indonesia, the daughter of Barack’s adopted Indonesian father Lolo Soetoro, and was raised and schooled in Indonesia. This proves that one need not be a US citizen, much less a “natural born citizen” in order to purchase a Hawaiian COLB.
• Hawaii law provides for issuing COLBS to non- US citizens and has issued said COLBs to non-US citizens for many years. Therefore, the COLB proves nothing regarding the official place of birth.
• A real August 1961 COLB, from one of the two hospitals Obama claims to have been born in, has surfaced and it looks nothing at all like any of the three different COLBs Obama has offered and the entire US press including Bill O’Reilly, has accepted as proof of Obama’s legal status. (see copy below)
• No matter where Obama II was born, as the blood son of a non-US Citizen, British subject and legal citizen of Kenya, Obama II inherited the surname and citizenship of Obama I, his birth father.
• The “natural born citizen” clause requires that one be a 2nd generation US citizen, with NO dual or divided foreign loyalties. The clause was written for the sole purpose of excluding someone like Obama, whose father was a foreign national, creating the very real potential for divided loyalties in the Oval Office, which we have since witnessed in Obama’s “global” agenda entirely at odds with American interests.

Dobbs now the Fair & Balanced one

On what hard evidence is O’Reilly making his claim of support for Obama?

Unlike Bill O’Reilly, who seems as eager to silence “birthers” as Obama and Chris Matthews, CNN’s Lou Dobbs is taking a “fair and balanced” approach to the matter.

Dobbs has also stated that he “believes” Obama was born in Hawaii. But he is honest enough in his reporting, to state for the public record that Obama has yet to offer any legitimate proof to support that theory, and Dobbs continues to ask the most obvious question, if he can prove his constitutional status, why won’t he?

Dobbs seems to have respect for the Constitution and the people that Bill O’Reilly clearly doesn’t have. Bill doesn’t care what the facts of the case are, or whether or not Obama is able to hide from his entire past, and he is getting a laugh out of poking fun at “idiots” who still think the Constitution matters.

Maybe he’s right... Maybe the Constitution is so dead that Article II – Section I is just a laughing matter, along with everything else those silly Founders scribbled down over 200 years ago.

Maybe the Constitution is already a moot point, except to those “birthers” hooked on their Constitutional Kool-Aid...

But I’d sure like to know what files O’Reilly investigators investigated that left O’Reilly totally convinced with absolute certainty that Obama is in fact a “natural born citizen,” when ALL of Obama’s files remain sealed, and all available evidence points to the greatest fraud and cover-up ever perpetrated on the American people....

Was O’Reilly secretly granted access to Obama’s Top Secret files that nobody else on earth has been granted access to?

Who’s looking out for you now that O’Reilly is looking out for Obama?

Maybe it’s time we look out for Lou Dobbs?

Maybe Dobbs deserves O’Reilly’s audience... Leftist CNN regulars are boycotting Dobbs and calling for his head. Maybe O’Reilly viewers should boycott O’Reilly and support Dobbs?

Big Feds seek to force States to follow guidelines on Texting in Autos

It's not about "do your own thing," it's about following the Constitution

by Dan Sheill

Well, Congress continues to be drunk with power. At this point there is basically no limit to what they think they can legislate. Let me be clear, I think texting while driving is extremely reckless (although I myself admittedly talk on the cell phone behind the wheel frequently). But, if this issue should be legislated at all, it should be handled by the states, which unlike the federal government, are vested with police powers. What are police powers? The ability to regulate the “health, safety, morals, and general welfare” of the people.

We libertarians detest laws against sodomy, smoking in public places, or the requirement to wear your seat belt while driving, the Tenth Amendment clearly states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

In other words, Congress only has those powers specifically enumerated in Art I, Sec. 8 of the U.S. Constitution. Even the socialists who taught me at the University of Michigan were willing to admit that. But nonetheless Congress still appears hell bent on legislating everything, so how could this be?

There are two enumerated powers which Congress has abused beyond recognition since the 1930s: the commerce clause, and the spending clause, which is the one they are currently using to regulate “texting.” The spending clause is a good example of why all of this state sovereignty talk is full of hot air. As much as the states want to assert their independence at times, they easily succumb to the seduction of federal dollars thrown their way. In exchange for the money, they change their laws to Congress’ liking, and, like a deal made with the devil, abdicate whatever autonomy they may have had left.

But this is the truly scary thing: Congress is filled with lawyers, but few of them understand the Constitution, particularly the fact that it is a document which grants limited powers to the federal government. A good example of this I when Vice President Joe Biden was still a Senator he drafted the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. As much as he boasted about this on the campaign trial last fall, he failed to mention that part of the act were held unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court in United States v. Morrison (2000) on federalism grounds. And to think, this guy taught constitutional law!

As Judge Andrew Napolitano point out in his masterpiece “Constitution in Exile,” there is a difference between natural law, and mere positive laws, which are concocted for any apparent reason, and whose legitimacy is only based on the fact that our government said so. As exemplified by the texting legislation, the United States has moved so far into the realm of positive law that the Constitution may very well be no longer worth the paper that it was written on.

Editor's Note - Sheill is a law school graduate of the Univ. of Michigan, lecturer on Constitutional issues, and a National Committee member of the Republican Liberty Caucus. More info: www.rlc.org

It's official: SC's Jim DeMint declared a "libertarian"

One of South Carolina's most pugnacious on-line pundits "Sic Willie" (political consultant Will Folks), has declared the States' controversial US Senator Jim DeMint a Republican who has had a "libertarian conversion."

From the blog FITSNews.com, "Unfair - Unbalanced":

DeMint is wildly uncharismatic and mistake-prone, two attributes that generally aren’t helpful during elections.

Having said that, over the last two years, he’s proven to be the most aggressive and faithful defender of the taxpayers in Washington, D.C. Also, to his credit, DeMint isn’t one of these so-called Republicans who suddenly rediscovered their “fiscal conservatism” the moment the GOP was booted out of power.

DeMint correctly diagnosed a few years back that the Republican Party was hopelessly lost and that standing on principle meant opposing the RINO leadership in Washington. And so he did that – just as he is now opposing the socialist onslaught of Barack Obama.

Ever since his “libertarian conversion,” the Republican base in the Palmetto State has rallied around DeMint’s standard... DeMint is a hero to Republican voters...

Folks goes on to report, that DeMint is not likely to face any serious challengers for 2010, which would undoubtably free up GOP Senate Comm. $$ dollars for other races around the U.S.

Florida legislators introduce bill to block Obama Health Care in State

Staunch conservative has a libertarian streak

State Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustiss) has introduced legislation that would prevent Obama's mandated health care from being implemented in the State. Baker's bill essentially declares Florida's sovereignty in health matters, over the Federal Government.

The following is an excerpt of the proposed legislation House Joint Resolution 37 (Note - Section 1):

ARTICLE X 13
MISCELLANEOUS 14
SECTION 28. Health care services.-- 15

(a) To preserve the freedom of all residents of the state 16 to provide for their own health care: 17

(1) A law or rule shall not compel, directly or 18
indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to 19
participate in any health care system. 20

(2) A person or employer may pay directly for lawful 21 health care services and shall not be required to pay penalties 22 or fines for paying directly for lawful health care services. A 23 health care provider may accept direct payment for lawful health 24 care services and shall not be required to pay penalties or 25 fines for accepting direct payment from a person or employer for 26 lawful health care services.

In introducing the legislation Sen. Baker made the following statement:

“Today, we’re drawing the line in the sand. The goal of any health care reform should be giving individuals greater access to health care – not socialization of health care in America,” said Senator Baker. “Under the health care proposal being considered by Congress, the federal government will not only choose your doctor and ration your treatment, but also penalize people that want to pay for their own lawful health care services. That's just wrong."

The Senator's co-sponsor on the House side is Rep. Scott Plakon of Longwood. In a press release, Rep. Plakon had this to say:

“The federal government and its bureaucracies dictating who, when and what kind of treatment you receive is not reform at all,” said Representative Plakon. “Senator Baker and I feel it is our duty to step up and reassert the rights of Floridians, in this case protecting our citizens’ rights and freedoms to make appropriate decisions as it relates to their own health care. We believe this unprecedented power-grab by President Obama and Congress is clearly not in the best interests of the citizens of Florida”

The legislation would call for a Constitutional Amendment banning Nationalization of Health Care. It would require voter approval in the 2010 elections.

Both Baker and Plakon are identified as two of the most Hard Right of Florida legislators. Think Progress blog has even called them "Radical Rightwing." As a top Senate Republican, Baker especially has demonstrated a consistent libertarian streak. For example, most recently, he was one of the most vocal critics of the States' primary offense seat belt law, on grounds of the federal government dictating highway policy to the states. (Source: Orlando Sentinel)

(H/t Think Progress)

Texas Freedom Fighters counter-protest Obama Health Care Socialists in Austin

Acronym groups outnumbered by libertarian/conservative counter-protesters

"Don't mess with Texas, don't mess with our Health Care" -- Bryan Preston, Communications Director for the Republican Party of Texas

Editor's Note - Bryan is a co-founder of the libertarian/conservative news site HotAir.com. My wife Shandra and I had the pleasure of meeting Bryan in Austin back in early June at a private meeting with Gov. Rick Perry for libertarian and conservative bloggers in the State Capitol.

Bill Simon for California Lt. Governor?

HOT RUMOR!!

Coming out of Califonia...

Bill Simon, free market economist and son of former Sec. of the Treasury William E. Simon, may run for Lt. Governor. Simon recently endorsed Meg Whitman of E-Bay in the GOP Gubernatorial primary.

Simon is a "Giuliani Republican," serving as the Presidential candidates 2008 CA Campaign Chairman.

In his 2002 race for Governor, Simon was heavily backed by the California Republican Liberty Caucus. RLC members were active in top consulting positions for his campaign.

Not looking good for Democrat Chris Dodd's reelection

From the Libertarian Advocate:

The story below was published July 23, before news popped Monday July 27th that Dodd had in fact known that he was getting VIP Friend of Angelo terms for two loans he took out with Countryside. I believe that Feinberg's secret testimony before the Senate Ethics Committee is bound to damage Dodd even further among Connecticut's swing vote independents. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Connecticut U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd continues to lag behind a potential Republican challenger.

The poll, released Thursday, shows the Democrat incumbent trails former Republican Congressman Rob Simmons 48 percent to 39 percent. The figures are similar to the lead Simmons had in a May 27 poll. More at CQ politics.

Note - Libertarian Advocate blogger is an Attorney from Fairfield, CT. He describes himself as a "nominal Republican with libertarian leanings and an INTENSE dislike for Statist scum of all stripes, but most especially of the Democrat variety."

Author of "Looking out for Number One" endorses new Wayne Root book

"The ultimate anti-Obama book"

From Eric Dondero:

Robert Ringer was a NY Times bestselling author in the middle 1970s. His first book "Looking out for Number One," hit Number One on the Times Best Seller list. That was followed by his ultra-libertarian classic: "Restoring the American Dream" (published in 1978). The latter became an inspiration for the Libertarian Party boom in the late 1970s, and for the Ed Clark, Libertarian for President campaign in 1980.

Today Ringer is a columnist, and senior economics policy advisor. Unlike many libertarian academics and think tankers, Ringer's views are decidedly pro-defense and pro-Israel.

Now Ringer is enthusiastically endorsing another book, which could help launch yet another Libertarian Presidential campaign.

Root represents Barry Goldwater/Ronald Reagan Western Conservatism or its equivalant - Libertarianism

From a Root media release:

With his just-released book, The Conscience of a Libertarian, Wayne covers the entire spectrum of political and social issues. And in doing so, he manages to stay focused on the root of the issue: liberty. Covering everything from abortion to government bailouts to health care, what makes him stand out from reach-across-the-aisle conservatives is his consistency. It is a trait for which I enormously respect him.

The title The Conscience of a Libertarian is, of course, a play on Barry Goldwater's famous book, The Conscience of a Conservative. It's no coincidence that Goldwater is one of Root's heroes. What's interesting is that when Goldwater ran for president in 1964, many thought of him as a right-wing zealot. And, as a result, he lost in landslide to incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson.

The truth? Barry Goldwater was a libertarian-centered conservative, cut in the mold of the Founding Fathers. For example, Root points out that Goldwater called it “conservative” to not want government in your bedroom. As one of his other heroes, Ronald Reagan, said, “The very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism.” Had Goldwater written his book today, he might very well have named it The Conscience of a Libertarian.

Unite on the Right to stop the Progressive threat!

In the release Ringer goes on to comment about the libertarian movement and of our role in the American Right. Continuing:

I was happy to see Wayne define the term Libertarian as someone who “is fiscally conservative, socially tolerant, pro freedom, pro constitution, standing for more rights for the individual, and reducing the size, scope, and power of government.” He goes on to say that if you word it that way, the LP has the potential to attract a majority of U.S. voters.”

For me, he nailed it with these words. I have always believed that there are millions of conservatives who don't realize that they are very much aligned with libertarianism - in other words, the kind of conservatism that Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan believed in.

Those of us who believe that liberty is the key issue - that it must be given a higher priority than all other objectives - need to stop the infighting and academic debates and join arms. The enemy - progressivism - is relentless. Progressives love it when the other side brawls internally and surely would hate the thought of conservatives and libertarians joining forces. Wayne Root has it right - libertarian right.

Root's book is available at Amazon.com and at all major chain bookstores nationwide.

Note - Photo is of Wayne Root with "El Luchador" professional wrestler in Orange County, CA during his 2008 Vice-Presidential Libertarian run.

Libertarian Republicans are proud to back Michael Williams for US Senate

For Immediate Release...

Contact: Corbin Casteel

July 29, 2009

(512) 482-0682

STATEMENT ON THE PENDING VACANCY

IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE

AUSTIN – Corbin Casteel, Campaign Manager for the Michael Williams for U.S. Senate Committee released the following statement in response to Senator Hutchison’s announcement this morning of her imminent resignation:

“Michael Williams is ready to run and ready to win with an unequaled grassroots network of thousands of supporters, and the right message of stopping bailouts without accountability, and record spending that jeopardizes our children’s future. Our team is ready.”

From the Editors: As if there was any doubt, we wish to make it abundantly clear that Libertarian Republican blog heartily and enthusiastically endorses the candidacy of the next Senator from the Great State of Texas: Mr. Michael Williams. While not an explicit libertarian, we find Mr. Williams to be a free market conservative, great on taxes, holding the line on spending, and in supporting our Military and a strong defense. Expect to see regular coverage of his race here at LR throughout 2009/10.

Republicans moving Virginia back into the solid Red column

More Polling News...

Major news out of Virginia. SurveyUSA finds that Republican candidate for Governor Bob McDonnell now leads his Democrat opponent Creigh Deeds by a solid 15 points; 55 to 40 with 5% undecided. This is the highest margin yet for the race.

The poll also finds McDonnell's lead among Independents by a margin of 2:1 over Deeds.

McDonnell is Virginia's Attorney General. Deeds is a former State Senator.

Leftist NPR finds Republicans slightly ahead of Dems in generic Congressional match-ups

Political news sites and blogs are all talking about the poll released today by National Public Radio, which shows Obama's poll numbers taking a "decided slide." His approvals are down to 53%, lowest ever.

But buried in the numbers, is a more immediate number for 2010.

From (taxpayer-subidized) NPR:

The so-called generic ballot question was also very close. Asked whether they would support a Democrat or a Republican for Congress in 2010 if the election were held today, 42 percent said they would choose a Democrat and 43 percent a Republican, a difference well within the poll's margin of error (plus or minus 3.4 percentage points for each number in each question).

NPR puts special emphasis on, "well within the margin of error."

On Chris Matthews MSNBC: Politico's Ken Vogel calls those asking about Obama's Birth Certificate "Libertarian fringe"

Beltway Insider says nothing will satisfy libertarians

"If these documents don't satisfy those on the libertarian fringe, nothing will satisfy them..." -- Ken Vogel, Columnist, Politico.com

Comments come in at about 3 minutes in.

Note - Matthews has only Liberals as his guests, and does not include a representative from the Obama Birth Certificate skeptics community.

Obama Birth Certificate Issue EXPLODES! White House forced to respond

Leftist O-Bots Become Vicious!

By JB Williams 2009 USA

Just yesterday, I released "Obama Media Machine Rushing to Derail Treason Charges" and the column went viral within moments of its release. Take a few minutes to read my up-to-date report on the issue driving the Obama White House, congressional Marxists and their media minions insane!

Within hours, every network news agency was in damage control mode, spinning their twisted set of false facts and missing evidence into a demonstration of unbridled outrage aimed at American citizens who simply want to know who the mystery messiah is, residing in their White House.

Are "birthers" Getting too close for Comfort?

The White House rushed out its media talking points memo. CBS Hotsheet explains the Birther movement, in O-bot terms. The state controlled alphabet propaganda networks jumped on the DNC talking points immediately, with a vengeance. The "birthers" (aka constitutionally conscious) are the target of vicious broad based attacks, usually only found on left-wing blogs like the toxic Democratic Underground or DailyKos!

Meanwhile, House members in congress quietly rushed through H.R. 593, under the guise of "Recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State" which included this phrase, "Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961;" [See H.R. 593 here - http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:2:./temp/~c111cVoXmS::]

The not-so-subtle rush to end the debate over Obama's lack of Constitutional standing to be President and Commander-in-Chief, begs the question, -- if what you say is true, wouldn't access to Obama's secret files have answered the question, without the need for an act of congress? I thought congress had "10,000 more important things to do," according to Robert Gibbs???

If Obama is a "Natural Born Citizen" Why Can't he Prove it?

Why use an act of congress, backed by NO authentic evidence whatsoever, to establish that which would be easily proven (or disproved) by the release of ALL Obama birth, adoption, college and passport records? What's in these records that Obama is afraid to release for public access?

H.R. 593 passed with 56 co-sponsors, 220 Democrat YEAs, 158 Republican YEAs and NO NEAs... What's with the unanimous congressional rush to end the debate over Obama's sealed records? What happened to the "transparent president" promise?

Even "Right-wing" Pundits are Running for Cover

So-called "right-wing" talking heads like Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly are also carrying water for Obama by downplaying the "birther" (aka constitutionally concerned citizen) demand to know who the mystery messiah really is...

What's in Obama's records, that is so dangerous to his current standing, that NOBODY wants to open those files? Whatever it is, members of the House would rather pass a resolution declaring Obama a "citizen" than ask him to open those files... Why?

Real Conspiracy or Just a Theory?

As I pointed out in yesterday column, "the real truth actually does exist and it most likely exists in Obama's official birth, adoption, college and passport records, [Not some silly symbolic House resolution] - all of which remain under lock and key, under Obama's orders."

Instead of simply opening those records and ending the debate, Obama has chosen to spend a million bucks keeping those records locked up and now, House members have decided to pass a non-binding resolution declaring Obama a "citizen" without first demanding to see the evidence necessary to prove their claim.

This is the stuff that real conspiracies are made of.... It's not a "theory" that the Natural Born Citizen clause is a Constitutional requirement for the presidency, it's a reality.

It's not a theory that Obama's records will either prove or disprove his eligibility for office, it's a fact.

And it's not a theory that when someone works this hard to hide something, there must be something worth hiding....

Robert Gibbs Lame Parsing of Words

Reacting once again to press corps softballs tossed up for Gibbs to hit out of the park, White House press secretary Gibbs parsed his words very carefully....

CBS News reports "Gibbs lashed out Monday at the so-called "birthers" who believe President Obama is not a legal U.S. citizen despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary."

Notice the absence of the term "natural born citizen." Gibbs and CBS both know that we are NOT discussing "legal US citizenship" but rather the Founder's "natural born citizen" requirement, unique to the Oval Office. They also know that these two terms have VERY different meanings and purposes. Still, Gibbs tries to deflect the debate to one over "US citizenship," and CBS quickly follows his lead.

Further, what Gibbs and the lamestream press agree is "overwhelming evidence" -- is THREE different COLBs (certificates of live birth) presented by Team Obama, and TWO different hospitals, named by Obama as his official place of birth.

No mention of the sworn affidavit signed by Obama's family in Kenya, which states that they were present at Obama's birth in Kenya, or the fact that not a single hospital in Hawaii will confirm that Obama or his mother ever entered the door of their facility.

No mention of the fact that Obama was adopted and became a legal citizen of Indonesia in his youth. No mention that no US passport record exists for Obama, until he was given a diplomatic passport as an Illinois Senator.

What is the "overwhelming evidence" that leads Gibbs, the press and now congress to conclude that Barack Hussein Obama meets the "natural born citizen" requirement to be Commander-in-Chief?

NO such evidence has been presented, as ALL Obama birth, adoption, college and passport records remain sealed as of this writing. What evidence are they talking about? The evidence that Obama is NOT a "natural born citizen" is beyond "overwhelming."

Gibbs stated in the press briefing, "If I had some DNA, it wouldn't assuage those who don't believe he was born here," he said. "But I have news for them and for all of us: The president was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 50th state of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. He's a citizen."

What does DNA have to do with it? Would DNA prove Obama was born in Hawaii?

Obama has openly admitted to being the son of a British subject. No DNA test is needed to establish the identity of Obama's father, is it? And DNA would not establish whether or not he was born in one of the two Hawaiian hospitals he has named as his place of birth. The DNA comment is nothing more than another cute effort to misdirect...

If the president was indeed "born in Honolulu," just open the records. Let's talk to his doctors and nurses and put an end to this mess. End of discussion!

He may indeed be "a citizen," which of course has nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not he is a "natural born citizen" in accordance with the purpose of the "natural born citizen" clause.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger is a "US citizen," but he is NOT a "natural born citizen" and cannot run for US President as a result. Unless he prints up a fake Hawaiian COLB, I suppose.

What is a Natural Born Citizen?

"There are 10,000 more important issues for people in this country to discuss rather than whether or not the president is a citizen, when it's been proven ad nauseum," Gibbs added.

This is what Bill Clinton said right after saying; "I did not have sex with that girl, Monica Lewinsky." And of course, like Hillary Clinton at the time, Robert Gibbs hopes to misdirect attention away from the fact that NO evidence has been presented confirming Obama's status to date, focusing attention upon "right-wing conspiracy" theories of his own imagination.

But the subject is really quite simple...

To know with certainty what the Founders meant by "natural born citizen," one need look no further than the "natural law" at the foundation of everything they did.

Natural law says, when a father has a son, the son is the "natural born" descendent of the father, assuming his sir name and his citizenship by "birth right." No man-made law is needed to establish the "birth rights" of the son.

The Founder's used the "natural born citizen" clause to avoid any obvious conflicts in the Oval Office resulting from dual, divided or questionable loyalties to any foreign government or nation.

In Obama's case, no matter whether he was born in Hawaii or Kenya, he cannot meet the Founder's constitutional standard because he was born the son of an Arab-Muslim British subject from Africa, and therefore, has obvious dual or divided loyalties, which are now easily demonstrated by his "global agenda" at odds with American interests.

No Room to Run

House Resolution 593 is NOT binding. It is only symbolic.

Still it demonstrates the lengths to which the federal government, both Democrats and Republicans, are willing to go to avoid whatever hard evidence on the matter might exists in Obama's official birth, adoption, college and passport records.

Now, as the American people have been repeatedly denied access to the truth which exists only in Obama's secret files, the people are left to their "theories" about what might be in those files and how damning it might be.

Clearly, the "birther" movement has hit full stride and investigators are getting too close for comfort. Hence the all-out media blitz of vicious attacks on "birthers" baseless accusations of "racism" and non-binding congressional measures, all aimed at derailing the citizen effort to unmask the mystery messiah.

This is the ONLY "evidence" offered by the White House as of today.... According to Gibbs, it's "overwhelming" in nature... You decide!

Libertarian Howard Stern gets big time Republican to take favorable stance on Marijuana Legalization

Law & Order Senator says "merit" to legalization arguments

Former New York Senator, Al D'Amato is coming around on marijuana legalization. D'Amato, current President and Chief Lobbyist for the Poker Players Alliance was a recent guest on Sirius/XM's Howard Stern show.

Civil liberties were discussed. Stern brought up marijuana legalization.

From MPP July 22:

Former Senator Alfonse D’Amato (R-N.Y.) said there is merit to the idea of legalizing marijuana on Monday, a surprising statement from a law-and-order Republican who once tried to ban any dietary supplement that makes you happy... ephedrine-based herbal supplements...

D’Amato now appears to have changed his position, telling Howard Stern on Monday “there’s some merit to” the idea of legalizing marijuana.

Note - Stern, for a brief period in 1994, was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New York. Rumor at the time, was that D'Amato himself got Stern to drop out, which enabled Republican George Pataki to win the election.

California Democrats, Socialists vow to fight Schwarzenegger cut backs

At last minute the Governator sneaks in additional cuts of $500 million

In an unexpected move, one that caught the Democrat opposition off-guard, Gov. Schwarzenegger added in additional budget cuts to cherished liberal programs. The move came after Schwarzenegger and leading Democrats in the legislature had reached an agreement.

The Sac Bee July 28 reports:

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday used his executive powers to cut nearly an additional $500 million from programs ranging from child welfare to AIDS prevention to state parks to health care for the poor.

The line item vetoes, coming on top of more than $15 billion in spending cuts approved by the Legislature last week, capped weeks of agonizing negotiations over how to close a deficit that comprised almost one-third of the California's entire general fund.

California Dem leaders are steaming mad. Continuing:

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, issued an angry statement in response to the line-item vetoes, arguing that many of them appear to be illegal — a charge the governor's staff denied.

"We will fight to restore every dollar of additional cuts to health and human services," Steinberg said. "This is not the last word."

And the Hard Left is calling for a virtual insurrection in the State to stop Schwarzenegger and the Republicans.

In reaction, the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSLWeb.org) had this to say:

what is Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed "solution" to the deficit? Major cuts in education, health programs and social services!

we should join together to fight the real enemy, the ruling rich, and demand "No Cutbacks!" A united struggle of working people of all nationalities, employed and unemployed, able-bodied and disabled, young and old—can stop the cuts and win what we need.

Yet another Liberal Columnist cedes the point on Obama Birth

The Real Agenda of the Progressives: Abolish the Citizenship Requirement

by Eric Dondero:

Last week we ran a story here at LR, "Liberals in full retreat on Obama Birth Certificate: Progressives now Say US born citizenship requirement should be Abolished" (Read it here.)

We quoted Joshua Keeting of National Public Radio who made the following statement on his radio show, and in his weekly column:

Let's imagine that Barack Obama had been born in Indonesia or Kenya or anywhere else for that matter, and hadn't become a citizen until moving to Hawaii to live with his grandparents. Is there one good reason why that would make him less fit to be president?

Put another way, is there one good reason why foreign-born governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jennifer Granholm can't legally run for president but Mark Sanford and Sarah Palin can?

Naturalized citizens like Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Madeline Albright have been allowed into the highest positions in the U.S. national security establishment without anyone questioning their loyalty. Why shouldn't voters be allowed to decide whether a foreign-born candidate is American enough to be president? New York voters didn't mind the fact that Hillary Clinton had never lived in the state before running for its senate seat.

We speculated that this was the true agenda of the Progressives; not to necessarily debunk various Obama birth certificate theories, but rather to abolish the Constititonal requirement of US birth and citizenship for the Presidency altogether.

It's taken only one week for yet another major liberal publication/columnist to join in.


Popular Liberal Columnist Mark McKinnon of the Daily Beast had this to say in his column today, "So What if Obama is Foreign?":

More fundamentally, so what if he was born somewhere else? If he was, he was teleported to Hawaii in nanoseconds. There is no more an American story than Barack Obama. The rationale for Article II, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution, which bars foreigners from becoming president, was to eliminate the possibility of America’s leader from holding dual or treacherous alliances with other countries. The Founding Fathers wrote this clause into the Constitution in 1789 because of scandal in Europe involving Austrians moving to other countries.

So what would be the legitimate concern about Obama?

Indeed. For those who want to abolish the US Constitution what would be the big deal?

Young Iragi War Veteran asks Claire McCaskill to defend the Constitution, and oppose Obama's Socialist Health Care

Town Hall meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, July 28. Sen. McCaskill's staffers faced over 200 angry constituents in fierce opposition to her expected support for the health care legislation.

Editor's Note - An LR reader requested that we post this video. Though, ironically, it was already in the queue early this morning. Great minds think alike.

Obama Media Machine Rushing to Derail Treason Charges

More Military Officers Accuse Obama of Treason

By JB Williams 2009 USA

The massive effort to force Barack Hussein Obama to become "transparent" about his birth place and circumstance, his college years and his passport records is gathering steam. Despite a million dollars in legal fees aimed at keeping Obama's entire life history Top Secret, a relentless pursuit of the mystery messiah not only persists, -- its going viral on the web and main stream in the press...

After almost two years of reports and law suits regarding Obama's secret past, the pursuit of truth is finally reaching critical mass among American voters and the mainstream press is being forced to address the matter.

CNN news anchor Lou Dobbs put his career on the line by even mentioning the topic of Obama's apparent constitutional ineligibility for the office of Commander-in-Chief.

But don't get too excited just yet... The Obama media machine is spinning around the clock to derail all efforts to smoke Obama out into the open, where he may soon have to answer the questions he has spent years and millions dodging. Is he a "natural born citizen" eligible to hold the office of president, or is he the greatest political fraud ever perpetrated on the American electorate?

A Charge of "Treason"

If Obama is what so many Americans assert, an unconstitutional fraud, then the appropriate charge for his actions, and the actions of those who have "aided and abetted" the fraud, would be no less than "treason." The implications are extraordinarily serious!

On June 10, 2009, I released "Is Obama Guilty of Treason?" - in which I reported the events surrounding Retired Navy Commander Walter Fitzpatrick's criminal complaint against Barack Hussein Obama. In response to the resulting leftist character attacks on Commander Fitzpatrick that followed, I released "Why Commander Fitzpatrick Is NOT Guilty of Mutiny!" on June 14th.

Leftist attacks on Fitzpatrick continued, intended to defame and derail the Commander's claims, seem to have ignited a firestorm of reaction from other members of the US Military who share Commander Fitzpatrick's concern for the US Constitution and a nation under siege by Obama's Chicago Cabal. But Commander Fitzpatrick no longer stands alone...

Division in the Ranks

Since then, active duty and reserve unit soldiers have begun to challenge Obama's constitutional authority to issue military orders as Commander-in-Chief.

On June 25th, I released "What Difference Can One TRUE Patriot Make?" discussing the growing number of American patriots who are joining the chorus of dissenting soldiers increasingly concerned with the potential consequences of an unconstitutional Commander-in-Chief who continues to refuse to prove his legitimacy for the highest office in our land.

By July 17th, I wrote about the growing military backlash in "Do YOU Fear Obama?"

Today, I report that four more have filed "treason" charges against Obama, similar to that filed by Commander Fitzpatrick last March.

Richard M. Keefner of Illinois, retired Marine Gy Sgt. Bob Pinkstaff, retired Marine Sgt. Phillip Wolf and retired Marine Colonel Edward Schriber, have all filed formal criminal charges of "treason" against presumed president Barack Hussein Obama, aka Barry Soetoro. Copies of their charges can be viewed here:
http://www.riseupforamerica.com/newtreasoncomplaints.html

An increasing number of soldiers are refusing Obama orders for recall and deployment. Obama is indeed losing control of the US Military. Above all other Americans, the men and women who volunteer and proudly take an oath to protect and defend the US Constitution by serving in the US Military, have a right to know without any doubt, that their orders are legal and constitutional.

But the Obama administration sees no need to become the "transparent" president he promised to be during his campaign, and they remain steadfast in their efforts to keep Obama's life Top Secret.

Meanwhile, the heated divisions bubbling up within the ranks became so vicious on a Military.com discussion board last week, that the publication removed all reference to the matter from their web site before America's fighting men and women came to blows.

Flight Surgeon, Lt. Col. Dr. David Earl-Graeff felt the need to send a letter to Sec. of Defense Gates on the matter, stating the following:

"Enough is enough! You must be aware at this point of the tempest brewing among the Rank and File. I am writing you in an effort to appeal to your sense of concern for the Military; a concern we share not only for the Military as a whole but for each and every individual who wears the Uniform in the Service of our Country. I am in this regard specifically asking you for your help. I implore you to not wait until the "pot boils over and we find ourselves in total disarray."

Grand Jury Indictments

Rise up for America has convened citizen grand juries across the country, presented evidence of Obama "treason" to the jurors and issued grand jury indictments against Barack Hussein Obama in multiple jurisdictions.


Tenth and Second Amendment Legislation

The Tenth Amendment Center is leading state legislators across the country to restate their sovereign state rights and erect legislative walls of defense at state borders, to protect their citizens against a runaway Fed hell-bent upon bankrupting the nation.

Obama Digs in for Long Winter

But as Obama's approval ratings plummet and the multiple initiatives to reign in the Fed and reinstate the US Constitution grow, Obama and Co. dig in for a long cold winter.

The Obama Media Machine is working around the clock to run interference on the issue of eligibility, proclaiming the entire subject a "dead issue" without ever investigating the charges or the absent records behind them.

Obama forces are trying to shut up Lou Dobbs and get him fired for even bringing up the subject, even though Dobbs is a sucker for the parade of leftist Obama birth cert excuses. The Los Angeles Times is stating that "the Obama birther story is dead," following the lead of CNN President Jon Klein, who told staffers at the cable news network that "the supposed controversy regarding the legitimacy of President Obama's birth certificate is a dead story."

Klein then sent an e-mail to staffers of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" just as the program went to air, informing them that CNN researchers had determined that "Hawaiian officials discarded all paper documents in 2001." - "A long-form birth certificate with details about the doctor who delivered Obama no longer exists," they reported. "The shorter Certificate of Live Birth noting Obama's birth on Aug. 4, 1961, that has been made public is the official record."

[Obama has offered three different COLB's as his proof, and named two different hospitals as his place of birth, neither of which will confirm that he or his mother ever entered the doors of their facility.]

The Absolute Inescapable TRUTH

But the American press wants it all to be a dead issue.

That's because contrary to US media propaganda on the matter, the real truth actually does exist and it most likely exists in Obama's official birth, adoption, college and passport records, all of which remain under lock and key, under Obama's orders.

The truth is inescapable... Nobody works this hard to hide the simple truth kept in his personal records, unless that truth in some way threatens his current standing.

The 25-28% of American voters, including most members of the US press who desire a New Amerika run on the principles of Karl Marx instead of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, couldn't care less whether or not Obama meets Constitutional standards because they couldn't care less what the Constitution says about anything.

But the people who took an oath to protect and defend the US Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, have a very different view of the subject. Sooner or later, one way or another, the nation and the world is going to know the truth about the mystery messiah.

The longer it takes to smoke Obama and his cohorts out of their secretive moonbat cave, the more expensive the fraud and the solution.

Obama Can End the Debate Anytime He Wants

As the truth is simple and easy to prove one way or another, and Obama holds the key to his locked-up history, he alone can end all debate on the matter anytime he chooses by simply becoming the "transparent" resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. that he promised to be.

I had hoped that he would be the "transparent" president he promised to be. I still hope he will make his life "transparent" before this story spins completely out of control. But, I don't look for him to do this anytime soon, or even until he has run out of room to run, places to hide, and minions to carry his water in the press.

You see, people don't hide or run from the truth unless the truth presents a threat of some sort. Whatever it is in Obama�s files, it's clear that it presents a threat greater than all of the damage being done by the secret.

For trust to exist in any relationship, secrets cannot exist. And in this case, secrets of this magnitude with implications so far reaching, the secret itself threatens the stability of the entire federal government and its command of men and women who have taken an oath to protect and preserve the US Constitution and the free republic.

The issue of Obama eligibility is NOT going away; it is coming to a head. I sincerely hope that Obama will become the president he promised to be, before this powder keg blows...

When a news reporter from Australia News is forced to write the following sentence, (Obama eligibility and Media Mischief) the US press should be too ashamed to even respond... They should just correct the problem!

"I seriously long for the good old days, when if a reporter or CNN President said something, there was a better than 50% chance it was true. Unfortunately, regarding the birth certificate issue most reporters today are intentionally misstating the facts."

Note - JB Williams is a conservative columnist living in eastern Tennessee.

First attack on Palin, Post-Governorship

From who else? Moveon.org

Comment from Christian Heinze at GOP12.com:

Here's guessing she gets a bump in Republican approval from this.

Left sees Sarah's send-off as typical extremist GOP "laissez-faire libertarianism"

by Eric Dondero,

Predictably, the far left attacked Sarah Palin mercilessly after her farewell picnic speech in Fairbanks on Sunday, and continues to lambast her on all fronts. Which of course, only serves to strengthen the devotion of her supporters on the Right, particularly among conservatives.

But her support in libertarian circles is still soft. Some, libertarian cynics, particularly many within the Libertarian Party still insist she's "not really a libertarian."

The far left sees it differently.

The day after her last day in office, one far left blog labeled her a typical advocate of laissez faire libertarianism. From The Reaction: Liberalism Unbound:

While she's as wildly popular as ever among the GOP's extremist faithful, those in the base and the Rush-driven conservative movement, she has, incredibly, even less credibility than she had during the utter embarrassment -- to her, to her party, to her state, to the nation -- that was her time on the national stage during last year's presidential campaign. (Just think back to those Couric interviews.)

It was that campaign, once the initial infatuation and media frenzy were over, that exposed her ignorance and her unpreparedness, revealing her as an endless joke worthy of some fine SNL satire but also, given her combination of ignorance and ideological fanaticism (the typically Republican blend of evangelical theocratism and laissez-faire libertarianism), all packaged within the persona of a sanctimonious, grudge-holding thug, as a genuinely dangerous political figure, one who claimed to speak for America but who really spoke for her own sense of victimhood and entitlement.

Again, just in case those ever-so-cynical hardcores didn't quite catch it: "ideologically fanatic... typically Republican... laissez-faire libertarian."

Be interesting to hear some of the reactions from the libertarian cynic crowd to descriptions such as this one.

Witness in Dodd Investigation: He got special loans as a "friend of Angelo's"

A special Senate Investigative Panel has been meeting to determine if Connecticut Democrat Sen. Christopher Dodd received special deals for loans on properties in at least two locations, by Countrywide. The Panel is also looking into allegations against North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad, also a Democrat.

Dodd allegedly received two "sweetheart deals," one on refinancing his home near Greenwich, Connecticut, and another on a DC townhouse. Conrad, got two deals, one on a Bismark penthouse, and a beach home on the Delaware shore.

Robert Feinberg, an administrative assistant in the special "VIP Section" for Countrywide, is testifying as the star witness. Feinberg disclosed that both Dodd and Conrad were part of a special program to assist VIP clients, including politicians.

From Breitbart via AP:

[Feinberg] was questioned closely by three of the ethics committee's six senators: Chairman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; the panel's senior Republican member, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, and Republican Jim Risch of Idaho, according to Elana Goldstein, one of Feinberg's attorneys...

The ethics questioning was intense at times, and Boxer asked the bulk of the questions.

Boxer asked whether Dodd and Conrad received VIP treatment because they were senators. Feinberg said that was not the case; they received breaks as other influential people in Countrywide's "friends" of Angelo VIP program.

Note - Angelo Mozilo (photo) is a high ranking CEO for Countrywide. He has been charged by the SEC with insider trading, and also faces criminal charges for civil fraud.

The article continues:

Countrywide VIPs, Feinberg told the committees, received discounts on rates, fees and points. Dodd received a break when Countrywide counted both his Connecticut and Washington homes as primary owner-occupied residences—a fiction, according to Feinberg. Conrad received a type of commercial loan that he was told Countrywide didn't offer.

"The simple fact that Angelo Mozilo and other high-ranking executives at Countrywide were personally making sure Mr. Feinberg handled their loans right, is proof in itself that the senators knew they were getting sweetheart deals," said Feinberg's principal attorney, Anthony Salerno.

Dodd faces a tough reelection battle for 2010; his top challenger moderate-to-conservative former Republican Congressman Rob Simmons. Libertarian Republican Peter Schiff is also considering a challenge. His approval rating in his home State of Connecticut, has dropped to the low 20s.

Obama gives Cuba's Communists a Victory: Turns off Pro-Freedom Billboard at US Mission

In early 2006, President Bush had the US Mission in Havana erect an electronic billboard, that flashed pro-human rights, and pro-freedom messages 24 hours a day. This angered the Castro brothers. They had black flags mounted in front of the Mission, to partially block the view.

Now the Obama administration has turned the billboard off completely.

According to Reuters:

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters in Washington that the news ticker was turned off in June.

Kelly said the ticker was "really not effective as a means of delivering information to the Cuban people" and, together with the earlier Cuban billboards, was "not serving the interests of promoting a more productive relationship."

"It was evident that the Cuban people weren't even able to read the billboard because of some obstructions that were put in front of it," Kelly said.

Obama supporters coming over to Chris Christie

New Jersey Governor's race Round-up

From WSJ piece, July 27, "Arrests alter New Jersey race"

* Governor Corzine has made his pick for Lt. Gov. The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning, that: "Sen. Loretta Weinberg, 74 years old, who is known for losing her life savings of $1.3 million to Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff" will be on the Corzine ticket.

* Further, the WSJ reports that Corzine: "has been criticized for not passing laws that end other much-maligned practices, such as allowing state employees to serve in political party posts."

* Democrat "Boy Wonder," 32-year old recently elected Mayor of Hoboken Peter Cammarrano, turns out is a close friend of Corzine's. He was one of the 44 arrested last week on corruption charges. He was the one who famously quipped, "those who opposed us will be pounded like sand."

In Indiana, is she a Libertarian, or is she a Republican, or is she both?

A promiment Pro-Liberty activist, Liz Karlson, is being accused of being both a Libertarian, and a Republican simultaneously.

The local GOP chair David Brooks, in Marion County, removed her as Republican Ward leader, unhappy with a recent endorsement she made of a non-establishment backed primary candidate. In an email he sent out, he accused her of not really being a Republican, but rather "a Libertarian."

This led to a rather amused reaction from the Libertarian Party of Indiana. From Advance Indiana blog, July 25:

As the E.D. of the LPIN, I want to make it clear that Liz Karlson has not, and is not, a member of the Libertarian Party, it's Indiana affiliate, or of Marion County. She never offered to join, and we did not ask, because she is committed to growing the Republican Party, and the Republican Liberty Caucus. Liz has worked diligently in organizing the Republican Liberty Caucus, and has been picking at our membership to recruit for the Republican Party. We allowed this for two reasons: A. No one wanted to go back. And C. We are good friends with Liz. We are comfortable enough with ourselves to hang out with members of another party. To anyone who asks why Libertarian Party members don't work from within the two old parties for reform, here are your answers.

Indiana is one state where the Libertarian Party has had great success at electing its members to local offices. Currently, over 20 LPers serve in public office in the State. In 2007, the LP won a local Judges office. And late last year, a member of the Indiannapolis City Council switched from Republican to Libertarian.

Marijuana Reform group goes Conservative

From Eric Dondero:

This is not your Grandady's NORML. Time was when the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws, was on the crusp of the "if it feels good, do it," movement. Now, the group is moving into conservative territory and using increasingly conservative arguments in favor of decriminilization.

Knut Lindsey reports at the Examiner.com, that NORML is opening up a chapter in the reddest of red states: Utah. Moreover, the message to Utah residents, and increasingly the message the group is adopting nationwide, is that in these times of state and local budget constraints, precious resources for law enforcement, can be better used in going after real criminals.

From the Examiner:

New chapter fo NORML opens in Salt Lake City

I sat down with Chris Kooring at the July 25th "End Drug Prohibition" rally at the Utah State capitol. Chris is the President of the Salt Lake chapter of NORML and he states that after years of working in law enforcement he saw the harm that was being done by prohibition.

Many people tout appettite restoration that has helped many patients afetr chemotherapy treatments, Chris cites the growing medical research into the positive effects marijuana has had with treating some cancers and other illness.

At a time when the United States economy is in dire need of an overhaul, NORML and other libertarian groups are standing up to demand that we stop wasting billions of dollars on consenting adults. Should the use of prison space should be reserved, at least more proportionately to those who violate others, instead of those who recreate with a controlled substance? By ending this current prohibition it would open up law enforcement to focus on crimes that people commit against other people.

The group held their first rally at the State Capitol on July 25. It was well attended, and well covered by the local media.

See a slide show of the event here.

Sarah in true form, puts the Troops First

The Mother of a Soldier in Iraq had some choice words for the Liberal Media on the day of her departure:

How 'bout, in honor of the American soldier you quit making things up"

Palin also had a message for elitist Hollywood "Starlets" who've been attacking her for her Pro-Hunting views:

In small town and rural America, "We eat, therefore we hunt"

Florida Safety Nazis say when it comes to Seat Belt laws: Government First, Liberty be Damned

by Eric Dondero

Safety Nazis are hailing the implementation of Florida's new Primary Offense seat belt legislation which went into effect on June 30. The Democrat sponsored legislation was signed, much to the great dissapointment of libertarian Republicans, by Republican Governor Charlie Crist.

But the Safety Nazi contingent is not content with just the bill's implementation. They're letting Liberty Lovers across the State know, that when it comes to "Safety," the Government rules, and the personal freedom concerns of those "pesky Libertarians," don't count for jackshit.

From the Tallahassee Democrat by Democrat State Representative (Dist. 90) and bill sponsor Irv Slosberg:

The Libertarian party objected to being stopped for a seat belt ticket. My argument for this is, as a government, there is nothing more important than the public's safety. The Libertarians argue for freedom of choice, but why should the Florida taxpayer have to pay for the ignorance of the 20 percent who choose not to buckle up?

The bottom line is, as of June 30, if you are not wearing a seat belt, it will cost you approximately $100 — or possibly your life.

Buckle up. It's the law.

It may be "the Law!" but it's an absolutely unjust law, that hopefully libertarians and others who care about personal freedom across the State will work to repeal for the next legislative session with a new incoming Florida Governor.

(In the past, Anti-Seat Belt law activists have suggested ways to commit civil disobedience, including: putting the seat belt on only when a cop comes into view, wearing the belt one-armed over one's shoulder, or not wearing the seat belt at night, when a motorist is not visible to a police officer.)

Note - Of course, LR blog does not in any way condone law breaking, and advises our Florida readers and those visiting the State to abide by all laws, including those on seat belt usage.

Mr. Solberg, is right in one sense: Why should the taxpayers have to foot the bill for someone hurt or injured in a car accident.

But he seems to have confused the libertarian view with the conservative view. While conservatives, may support a "fiscally responsible" approach to health care coverage, we libertarians just want to abolish it all together.

Get hurt or injured in a car accident, pay for it your own damned self.

Unlike our conservative friends in the GOP, we libertarians are consistent all around: No government laws telling us how to lead our private lives, and no taxpayer funding to foot the bill for others. Get Government out of the equation completely.

In California, the Voters at least, are Fiscal Conservatives

By an Overwhelming Margin

A slew of new poll findings have come out of California via Rasmussen. Interestingly, Barbara Boxer's unfavorables are now up to 50%.

Her likely GOP challenger, former HP CEO and former McCain for President Campaign Spokeswoman Carly Fiorna, is now within striking distance: 45% for Boxer to 41% for Fiorina.


Perhaps of most interest to libertarians is the following.

From Rasmussen:

Which is a bigger problem in California —that voters are unwilling to pay enough in taxes or that the politicians are unwilling to control government spending?

Voters are unwilling to pay enough in taxes 13%
Politicians are unwilling to control government spending 78%

Queen Sheila may have used Taxpayer dollars to attend Michael Jackson funeral?

Houston area constituents of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee are beginning to ask their representative: Did you use tax dollars to attend the Jackson funeral?

Note - in the photo at the funeral in L.A., the Congresswoman holds up her proposed Congressional proclamation honoring Jackson as a Lifetime Hero.

The issue has come to the fore, because of an investigative report by Channel 2 KPRC. Reporter Amy Davis, responded to numerous emails from Houstonians asking about the trip. Another reporter with KPRC asked the Congresswoman for specifics. But she was evasive. Here's the interview (See it on video at KPRC):

“Who paid for that trip for you to go to that memorial service?” reporter Joel Eisenbaum asked Jackson Lee when she appeared live on the Sunday morning newscast.

“Well, uh … that umm … those resources are resources that I have and, therefore, they are in a way that does not interfere with anything that has to do with serving the United States Congress,” answered Jackson Lee.

“Understood,” Eisenbaum replied. “So, public funds?”

“Those resources are resources that I have,” said Jackson Lee.

James Kirchik of Commentary Magazine points out:

Hard as it is to believe, this episode does not rank at the top of Jackson Lee’s absurd moments. Several years ago, she complained about the paucity of African-American names used by the National Weather Service for Hurricanes. And in 2002 the Weekly Standard revealed that Jackson Lee was using a government car to drive from her Capitol Hill apartment to her congressional office.[a distance of only .25 of a mile]

It's also commonly known throughout Houston that Jackson Lee regularly instructs her staff to find local funerals she can attend to be the guest speaker. They scan obituaries in the Houston Chronicle for funerals which will most likely bring in the largest audience.

(H/t Kirchik/Commentary)

Editor's Note - Libertarians may remember James Kirchik as the reporter for New Republic magazine exposing Houston-area Cong. Ron Paul and his connections to racially-charged remarks in his self-titled Newsletters from the early 1990s, and his alleged pork spending.

Governor Rendell and the Sex Scandal: Was it him?

MORNING UPDATE!

From Eric Dondero:

The Rightosphere continues to speculate as to the true identity of Governor 'X'. Overnight, two more blogs picked up the story: Conservatives for Change, and Dirty Democrats. (Dirty Democrats ran our story on Rendell in full.)

But a bigger news source, once again delved into the scandal. The NY Daily News, partly responsible for orginally breaking the story, published an update in its gossip section.

While many Democrat bloggers have been hoping to catch a Republican Big Fish, one very big name has just been definitively ruled out.

From the NY Daily News, July 26:

Meanwhile, people have been speculating with vengeance since we told you about the former Davis escort who contends Spitzer wasn't the only governor she romped with. On Friday, when Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's spokesman Chuck Ardo resigned, Ardo insisted his retirement had nothing to do with Gawker and other sites putting Rendell on their short list of pols who may be Governor X. Ardo told The D.C. Write Up that Rendell is not the new luv guv - "no way, no how, no place, no time."

Many seem to be aching for X to be Arnold Schwarzenneger. While we're continuing to investigate the escort's highly detailed story of her three "dates" with him, we won't identify the chief exec with the prominent wife. But we will say this: it ain't California's Governator.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/07/26/2009-07-26_jon_gosselins_new_girlfriend_kate_major_denies_claims_of_call_girl_admission.html#ixzz0MMUGNwUc

CAUTION: We here at LR could be completely wrong on this story. If it happens that Kristen Davis has mislead Opie & Anthony with her hints, and that the resignation of Rendell's press secretary on Friday has absolutely nothing to do with any sex scandal, we will humbly run a retraction, and apologize to the Governor. That said, all the evidence continually coming forth points to Pennsylvania. Notice how the Daily News cleverly puts Rendell on the "short list." -- ED

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell once compared Legalizing Prostitution with "contract killings"

An increasing number of on-line news sources are concluding that Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, is the mysterious "Governor 'X'" hinted by Escort Service CEO Kristen Davis as a client of one of her Female Escorts.

But Rendell's public views on prostitution, appear to be in conflict with his private habits.

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania legislature considered a Rendell-backed proposal to legalize slot machines. Critics, including some social conservatives mocked the Governor's proposal as opening the door to other legalized activities.

The Governor responded by strongly condemning legalized prostitution. From the Pittsburgh Trib.-Review, Feb. 8, 2009, Brad Burmsted, Capitol Hill reporter:

By his logic, they said, prostitution houses in Nevada would be lining up to expand in Pennsylvania. Some privately compared it to the logic of legalizing marijuana. They are right. It is the same economic theory.

But Rendell, a former district attorney, said there is a huge difference between legalizing prostitution and legalizing video poker machines. He seemed incredulous at the suggestion.

"We could also legalize contract killing and tax it," Rendell said sarcastically.

Pennsylvania is a mostly socially conservative state, particularly in rural PA, with a heavy Catholic population. During his two terms, the Governor has sought to appeal to this constituency.

"Governor X" Sex Scandal Update: It may be "Fast Eddie" Rendell?

From Eric Dondero:

Some respectable Right blogs and media are now zeroing in on Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell as the mysterious "John" mentioned by Madame Kristen Davis. She had asserted in a recent magazine interview that Elliot Spitzer wasn't the only client of her escort firm who was a Governor. Davis said that one of her "courtesans," had multiple visits from another prominent head of state. The escort described her client as polite, and a real gentleman. Further, she hinted that Client II was relatively quick in finishing his business, unlike the somewhat kinky, overly demanding Spitzer.

(See original story by LR 5 days ago, with photo of Kristen Davis here.)

Now, on Friday on the rambunctious Opie & Anthony Sirius radio show, Davis let out some more hints. As recounted by Right blog DeusexMacontent:

I don't normally listen to Opie & Anthony looking for breaking news, but astonishingly that's what I just got. A few minutes ago, the cast of the show on Sirius XM radio were interviewing Kristin Davis -- not the one from Sex and the City, the former Manhattan Madam who spent four months in Rikers in connection with the Eliot Spitzer hooker scandal from last year. There's been quite a bit of speculation that her operation at one time serviced another high-profile governor, besides Spitzer, and up until now she's been largely quiet about just who that governor is.

Well, during the interview, she admitted that someone she called "Governor X" employed her services at least ten times during a year-and-a-half period. She apparently wrote his name down on a piece of paper and showed it to Opie and Anthony, who then proceeded to spend the next ten minutes dropping hints that a 4-year-old could've deciphered.

"What, did he pay her in coal and steel?"

"I guess he had a little filly on the side."

"Did he used to be an Eagles scout?"

Right blogs asserting that it's indeed Rendell, now include: Riehl World View, Red State, and the highly respected American Thinker. Even Rush Limbaugh cracked a joke on-air yesterday about some Governor from a State "with a lot of Eagles," that don't fly, may be the mysterious Governor X.

Other names that had previously been kicked around, by both liberal and conservative bloggers, included: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tim Pawlenty, Charlie Crist, DeVal Patrick, and Tim Kaine. One Right site, Race42012.com was even conducting an informal sweekpstakes of sorts, to guess the identity of Governor X.

UPDATE!!!

Governor's Spokesman resigns?

There are scattered, though unconfirmed reports, from a couple of news sources in Pennsylvania, that Governor Rendell's media spokesman has just resigned.

UPDATE!!!

A political gossip site is now reporting that Chuck Ardo, spokesman for the Governor of Pennsylvania, "intends to resign in December."

From D.C. Write-up:

Friday afternoon is generally a day when politicians dump bad news, and Rendell is on the short list of individuals who may be the infamous Governor X who had sex with the same hooker that brought down former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Ardo, though, is vehemently denying that his boss's alleged fling with a Call Girl has anything to do with his resignation. “No way, no how..." he said.