Seat Belts don't always Save Lives - Don't believe the Government Hype

SPECIAL GUEST EDITORIAL

by T.L Davis

My family mostly wear seat belts. I have instructed them that they are better off wearing one than not, that statistics bear this out. I have also pointed out that I DO NOT and the reason for this is in protest to stupid laws that need not be laws at all. It is the moment they passed the seat belt law that I recognized their intent was not to make me safe, or to protect my little brain from damage, but to provide another means by which the average cop could gain access to my vehicle on fishing expeditions for illegal drugs, or weapons, or candy canes for all they cared, as long as they were gaining access.

If my little brain were the issue they would require not only seat belts, but also helmets because everyone knows that despite seat belts, the largest single cause of death in an automobile is head injuries. Where are the helmets? It would make more sense for the reasons listed below that seat belts not be used and helmets required.

Also, I did not like their method. Why not just put it up for a vote? They didn't do that, they imposed it largely by federal coercion.

Seat Belts make escape from a Vehicle much more difficult

Now, here is the crux of my objection to the LAW, not the BELT. Seat belts do not always save lives, they make survival more likely, but there are side impact crashes that trap individuals between the seat belt and the vehicle, crushing the individual body between them when otherwise they would be thrown to the other side of the vehicle. If you don't think seat belts provide enough resistance to crush a body, a tow truck driver told me that he rights upended cars using the left and right front seat belts as a sling to lift the car back onto its wheels. He doesn't wear a seat belt either and he has been on plenty of crash scenes, so spare me the "I'm a cop and I've seen the results" bs. The results largely would have been the same. And, there are no statistics being kept when a seat belt has caused the loss of life.

Seat belts make escape from a vehicle much more difficult and perhaps impossible when the vehicle is on fire or submerged. Seat belts trap people in cars when they would have been better off had they been thrown clear. The random and sheer luck aspect to this event cause me to want to leave it all in God's hands anyway.

For mountain driving on windy roads (I live in Colorado) next to raging whitewater rivers, not wearing a seat belt gives me a bit more comfort because tourists tend to run us off the road quite a bit as they gawk at the beautiful scenery and there is nowhere to go but in the water, where not minutes but split seconds count.

I will reiterate: seat belts mostly reduce the possibility of death or injury, but they do not prevent it and they damn sure do not prevent it every time and therefore it should not be a law. A law should be something where the percentages are not figured, that the outcome is absolute. For example a law against stealing is just, why? Because it is ALWAYS wrong to do so, it is always a crime against someone else's property.

T.L. Davis is a Tea Party activist and editor of T.L. in Exile (LR Blog Roll)

"Libertarian Republican" Gov. Butch Otter brings Energy Research jobs to Idaho

Carter Interior Sec. and fmr. Democrat Gov. Cecil Andrus objects

From EngergyCollective.com, "Andrus blasts Idaho spent fuel R&D plan" Jan. 30:

Cecil Andrus is a big man, politically, and physically, which means that when he stands up and starts shouting a lot of people pay attention. The former Idaho governor did just that earlier this month in opposition to a plan by the Department of Energy to bring 400 kg (880 lbs) a year of spent nuclear fuel to the Idaho National Laboratory for R&D purposes...

In what looks like a ray of sunshine in the historically tense relationship between the Idaho National Laboratory and the State of Idaho, a new agreement expands the lab's ability to conduct tests on commercial spent nuclear fuel in small quantities.

The objectives of the tests on about 900 pounds a year of commercial irradiated fuel will be to assess its reliability and to discover any previously unobserved characteristics of the fuel while it was in a commercial nuclear reactor.

What’s significant about the new agreement is the strong support the lab is getting from Idaho’s current governor Butch Otter, who served at Lt. Governor under Andrus for eight years. Andrus is a liberal democrat and Otter is a libertarian republican. Otter put his own stamp on moving nuclear waste cleanup ahead in Idaho in 2008.

Photo h/t Idaho Business Review.

Sarah Palin fanatics to go Third Party?

46% of Palinites say they'd consider another option if Palin not the nominee

From Eric Dondero:

Palin supporters are showing an independent streak, according to a just released poll.

From Rasmussen:

Nearly half of the Republican Primary voters who support Sarah Palin say they are at least somewhat likely to vote for a third-party candidate if she does not win the GOP presidential nomination.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely Republican Primary Voters who favor Palin say they are at least somewhat likely to vote third-party if she isn’t nominated. That includes 22% who say it is Very Likely.

Sarah Palin received significant Libertarian Party support in her bid for Governor in 2006, and was closely aligned with the Alaska Independence Party for many years, even producing a Welcome Video for the AIP's State Convention as Governor in 2007. As is well-known, her husband Todd was a dues-paying member of the AIP for over a decade.

Libertarian launches Campaign for Miami Beach Mayor on Pro-Nightlife Platform

Keep the Nightclubs open til 5:00 am

"I can do a heluva lot better job than our current Mayor Mattie Bower. The current Mayor has it all wrong. She wants Miami Beach to go back to the way it used to be. Before it was the capitol of night life in this great country. She does not support what makes this city great. She does not support the nightlife industry."

• Decriminalizing Marijuana

• Bringing a Casino to Miami Beach

• Liquor Licenses for Miami Beach Gentleman's Clubs

SteveBerkeforMayor.com

Editor's note - Libertarian Republican and LR contributor Roger Stone is an advisor on the Berke campaign.

Pot Legalizing "Stoners" meet at Austin Beer Garden to launch Libertarian City Council race

Austin Weird

From Eric Dondero:

Kris Bailey announced his candidacy for Austin City Council Place 3 on Saturday. He was a candidate for State House in 2010 on the Libertarian Party ticket. The Austin race is officially non-partisan.

Bailey's "TeaPot Party" platform:

• Cannabis should be “legalized – period,” and it should be an issue in every candidate and every election.

• The city should "reconsider" the regulations on sound permits, because they are stifling Austin's music scene and industry

There was a tinge of irony in the location for the candidate's kick-off; a more traditional beer garden, Scholz on 6th Street, rather than a marijuana festival.

From The Austin Chronicle:

A small but lively group of libertarians, stoners, and diners greeted the brief program, led off by campaign staffer Robert Butler, formerly executive director of the Libertarian Party of Texas. Butler began by saying that Bailey's campaign is not just about “one person or one cause, but about people's freedom to decide what to do with their own bodies."

Afterward, in the beer garden, NewsDesk asked Bailey a few followup questions... Bailey said, "We need to bring the city to a policy of non-enforcement." He noted that while the city's official policy is now in accord with state law allowing officers to "cite-and-release" for simple possession, it's his understanding that "Chief [Art] Acevedo has not been doing that." He said the figures he has from 2009 reflect 4,500 people arrested and booked for marijuana possession. "Cite-and-release is better than nothing," he concluded, "but we need to move to non-enforcement."

Editor's note - Obviously, there are no Republicans in this race, nor do they ever run in Austin city council races. So, this is a safe race for a Republican to vote for the Libertarian Party... 'er... TeaPot Party candidate.

Angry Anti-libertarian Protester in Palm Springs - Same thing that's happening in Egypt, needs to happen here

"Revolution Now! Revolution Now!"

From Eric Dondero:

Roger Brazen from Chicago joins in with the Anti-Capitalist protests held in Rancho Mirage, near Palm Springs over the weekend. About two-hundred libertarians gathered over the weekend to discuss promoting free market policies (see LR article).

Shouts Brazen to the camera:

I'm happy to be here. I'll tell ya. This is what we need more of in America. This kind of street heat brought against those folks to win this country back.

Asked what he means by "Revolution":

You know what I mean by Revolution. What's happening now in Egypt. Same thing needs to happen here.

Leftists Protest libertarian event in Palm Springs area

25 Arrested

From Eric Dondero:

House Majority leader and prominent Jewish conservative Eric Cantor, and prospective GOP Presidential candidate Herman Cain, were among the guest speakers at a strategy meeting for Free Market supporting activists over the weekend. The event took place in Rancho Mirage at the Las Palmas Resort & Spa.

The annual gathering is sponsored by David and Charles Koch, oil billionaires and philanthropists from Kansas. David Koch was the 1980 Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential candidate.

From Reuters:

The brothers own Koch Industries, an energy conglomerate ranked by Forbes magazine as the second-largest privately held company in the United States, and are known to underwrite the Cato Institute and other libertarian and conservative causes.

But the event turned ugly. Continuing:

About two dozen police officers in riot gear lined up in front of the Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in the upscale desert town of Rancho Mirage to keep the protesters away from the gated entrance.

At one point, a group of demonstrators blocked the street in front of the resort for nearly an hour before Riverside County sheriff's deputies moved in and handcuffed about 25 activists who were led away and cited for trespassing.

Protesters came from a variety of leftwing groups, including the antiwar Code Pink and public sector worker unions.

Many of the boisterous activists, some chanting "Dirty Money, Dirty Money," carried signs with such slogans as "Power to the People" and "Tea Party Founded and Funded by the Kochs."

'V' for Vendetta Left-Anarchist spotted at Protest Against Mubarak in Cambridge, Mass

From Eric Dondero:

The protests in the United States and across Europe in favor of the "pro-democracy" forces in Egypt, are almost entirely made up of Islamists, Leftists, and Unionists. Protests took place across the U.S. over the weekend in cities such as Chicago, L.A. San Francisco, Dearborn, MI, D.C., New York, and even Austin, TX.

Spotted at one protest, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a 'V' for Vendetta-wearing left-anarchist (2:10 minute mark). The popular mask is often associated with 9/11 Truther and antiwar radio talk show host Alex Jones of Austin.

UPDATE! Communist/Islamist rally for "Egypt democracy" in Toronto - one protester holds sign, "Free Palestine - Mossad did 9/11" BlazingCatFur blog.

Leading Left-Libertarian Justin Raimondo rants against Israel; Calls Jewish Nation "a shitty little country"

Blasts Republican Congressman McCotter, and libertarian-conservative Israeli PM Netanyahu

From Eric Dondero:

Justin Raimondo, editor-in-chief of AntiWar.com went on an anti-Israel, anti-Republican rampage this morning in his editorial, "The Hosni Mubarak Fan Club - Neocons, nutballs, and the US government."

Raimondo blasts Republican Policy Committee Chairman Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan, for his warning:

The Egyptian demonstrations are not the equivalent of Iran’s 2009 Green Revolution. The Egyptian demonstrations are the reprise of Iran’s 1979 radical revolution.

"No evidence" Muslim Brotherhood involved in the Protests

He accuses McCotter of being a lapdog for Israel, and further asserts that there's no evidence of the Muslim Brotherhood participating in the protests:

The reality is that McCotter could care less about freedom in Egypt: long a knee-jerk supporter of Israel, he leaps when AIPAC says jump... He babbles on about the alleged “control” of the anti-Mubarak movement by the Muslim Brotherhood – the line being put out there by the Israel lobby – but has zero evidence to back up his assertions.

See this video released by Reuters just 10 hours ago, of a mass "Muslim Brotherhood anti-Government Protest," in Alexandria. Tens of thousands marched near the historic city's downtown, chanting anti-Mubarek slogans, and defacing buildings with spray-painted grafiti.

Raimondo - "ban American ships from the [Suez] Canal for all eternity"

And then the intended coup de grâce from Raimondo. First McCotter:

We also understand that this is a government that made peace with Israel in 1979 and Mubarak’s predecessor paid for that peace with his life.

Raimondo:

“We understand” – and we don’t care. All we care about is that shitty little country in the Middle East which is fast turning into a racist theocracy...

He goes on to blast Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing him of "unmitigated arrogance" for expressing support for continued stability for Egypt. He also criticizes America's interst in keeping shipping chanels open in the Suez Canal, even suggesting that such American commercial interests should be eliminated from the region:

As Mubarak’s paid murderers cut down Egyptians in the streets, the Americans are worrying about Israel and the Suez canal. If post-Mubarak Egyptians have an ounce of self-esteem, they’ll ban American ships from the canal for all eternity.

Editor's note - It is our standard policy at this website not to link to the "shittly little website," known as AntiWar.com, particularly since the site makes it a policy to not allow comments by pro-defense libertarians.

South Florida Muslim Director contacts Libertarian Republican

From the Editor:

Well, it seems that our little Anti-IslamoFascist website has attracted the attention of the American Muslim Assoc. of North America.

I received this personal email note addressed to me on Sunday. It was also posted in our comments section. It came in response to our article on Saturday, "Muslim Brotherhood in Florida - 3 Democrat elected officials in Broward County, originally scheduled to speak to affiliated Jihadist group."

It comes from Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout. He is the Director of AMANA. Their offices are in South Florida. (Photo of Zakkout below - left).

Sofian Abdelaziz Zakkout has left a new comment on your post "Muslim Brotherhood in Florida - 3 Democrat elected...":

Once again, Joe Kaufman (“JK”) is throwing his poison around South Florida! Joe Kaufman is again promoting hatred against decent, loyal, American/Muslim organizations. JK has a history of verbally attacking Muslim organizations and Muslim leaders. He brings lies and unfounded allegations in an attempt to instigate hatred and distrust between American Muslims and the Jewish communities.

JK’s latest twist is to intimidate Jewish leaders who are working peacefully alongside Muslim leaders. Anyone visiting the JK website, will realize that this person is not against hate – rather, he is promoting hatred against President Obama and all Muslim organizations in the U.S. JK both supports and works closely with other bigots like Daniel Pipes, Robert Spencer, Brigitte Gabriel, David Horowitz, William Mayer. JK took a strong stand against J. Street for their honorable stand in support of a peaceful solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Unfortunately, the Anti- Defamation League (“ADL”), never condemned Joe Kaufman or even distanced its’ organization from the relentless, defamatory remarks made by Joe Kaufman. (www.americansagainsthate.com)

Joe Kaufman is a radical, Jewish extremist. JK has been known as a supporter of a terrorist organization listed by the U.S. State Department called the “Jewish Defense League,” (“JDL”), and “Kach Supporters.” In an article written in January, 2001, in a forum of the Jewish Defense League, activist Joe Kaufman praised the Kahane movement and its’ founder, Meir Kahane. In that article Kaufman said of Kahane: “…It was perfectly understandable, if he were to have hated Arabs. Just like during the Holocaust, it was perfectly understandable for a Jew to hate Germans…If the Kahanes’ memory serves us any purpose; it’s to show that trust (and peace) is ultimately between only ourselves…”

Wikipedia - In another article he wrote entitled "Making Friends with the Enemy... The Nuclear Way" (2001, Nov. 18), JK stated, "…we're spending too much time kissing behinds and dropping food and not enough time dropping bombs. And when I say bombs, I'm not talking about the "bottle rockets" we've been launching at the Taliban…I'm talking about major (and minor) nukes! After all, there is no more Soviet Union to compete with. If the attacks are not a good enough reason to use them, then what are we holding on to them for?!!!" FloridaJewish.com www.al-amana.org

Comment - All I want to know, does this joker want to force American women like Sarah Palin, Megyn Kelly and the beautiful and gracious Pamela Geller (photo above with Joe Kauffman), to wear ugly black burqas from head-to-toe? If so, he's an enemy of freedom, and he's the real terrorist as far as I'm concerned.

Brigitte Gabriel on Fox - Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Al Qaeda tied to Muslim Brotherhood

Gabriel:

Let's remember that the Muslim Brotherhood... gave birth to not only Al Qaeda, but 70 other Islamic organizations around the world. Ayman Al-Zwahiri, the second man from Al Qaeda came from Egypt from the Muslim Brotherhood... the Egyptian government is afraid that Ayman Al-Zwahiri in particular is going to exploit the situation in Egypt and begin recruiting. They already have members on the ground. The intelligence community believes that the Muslim Brotherhood is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Sarah Palin has a new fan... Rent is "too damn high" in Alaska too?

Sarah's increasingly diverse coalition of admirers

From Eric Dondero:

Sarah Palin has fans in some strange places. A couple months ago we reported that 80's rock star and prominent liberal activist John Mellencamp admired her steadfastness.

From LR (via AP), Oct. 22, 2010, "Mellencamp on Palin: He doesn't like her, but he respects her":

The legendary rocker says that while he doesn't support her positions, he is impressed by the mark she's made on the country since the 2008 election.

Mellencamp says people get the wrong idea about her intellect "just because she says things and winks."

He says she "knows exactly what's she doing" and "she wouldn't be where she is today if she didn't."

Mellencamp gives Palin credit for handling the rough world of politics. He says "she's pushing the right buttons" and "you can't be stupid and do that."

Bill Clinton once expressed admiration for Palin's spunk and determination. (Canada.com Sept. 18, 2008). Actor Alec Baldwin had some kind words for her, as well (The Hill, Dec. 1, 2010).

Now this from Cubachi blog, "‘Rent is too damn high’ McMillan loves Sarah Palin":

Love her. Constitution. American citizen. Exercising the right to privacy. Free speech. Haters — those who don’t like Sarah Palin. That’s what they are. Sarah Palin: I love you because America gives you the constitutional right to do whatever you want to do as a woman. And people don’t think you can do because you’re a woman. They try to make a mockery out of you. But you stand up for your rights and stand strong for your rights. And don’t let anyone try to cut you down. Not only are they talking about Sarah Palin. They’re talking about me.

McMillan is promising an Independent run for President for 2012. He's jokingly referred to the Democrat Party as "jackasses." And he now says "I'm coming after Barack Obama's black ass."

Virginia Republican wants to block Red Light Cameras

Right to Privacy most important

From RappahonickRepublic wordpress:

NBC Washington is reporting that some Virginia lawmakers want to turn off the red light. A bill in the Virginia House of Delegates could prevent cities from installing new red-light cameras across the commonwealth, reports the Washington Examiner.

Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R-Woodbridge) introduced the bill, which would ban any new cameras from being installed after July 1.

Lingamfelter has been an opponent of red-light cameras, saying that while they encourage safety, they also invade drivers’ privacy.

Editor's Note - the bill is currently in committee. Del. Lingamfelter is looking for co-sponsors.

Del. Scott Lingamfelter website

A Tough on Crime Libertarian for City Council?

Boda for Salisbury Safe Streets

From Eric Dondero:

Libertarians are often accused of being "soft on crime," as a result no doubt, for our support of alternatives to the war on drugs. However, at least one Libertarian candidate in Maryland is working to change that perception. Muir Boda is Vice-Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Maryland. He is a declared candidate for Salisbury City Council on the Eastern Shore.

From his latest release:

When analyzing the gradual rise in crime over the past 10 years, we must not be satisfied until we can make drastic reductions. The current level of criminal activity is unacceptable and looking at SPD’s 10 year comparison will tell that.

What we must understand is that we are talking about people’s lives, not numbers. Many are living in fear from what they see, hear and experience and that lingers much longer than the drop in crime rates. Working together is the key.

Muir goes on to endorse MD Safe Streets:

Many of us are looking forward to what Mayor Ireton will put forth in the next phase of Safe Streets. If elected, I pledge to work with Mayor Ireton on his initiatives

He reiterates his support at his website:

We need to do the following:

Implement the Highpoint Initiative into the Safe Streets Program by expanding the program to work in the county as well as the city.

Build a partnership with all Law Enforcement agencies, State’s Attorneys Office, Businesses and Faith Based organizations to implement the intervention aspect of the plan.

There are some elements of the plan that could be considered questionable from a libertarian perspective such as beefed up code enforcement on property and business owners. But one of the proposals seems to have an explicitly libertarian element.

From the Office of Governor website:

Coordinate Local and Federal prosecution strategies so that they are focused on the most violent and repeat offenders, with an emphasis on reducing gun and drug-related violence

Note - this is a non-partisan election, so Republicans can feel comfortable with voting for this particular Libertarian Party candidate. Visit Boda4Salisbury.com

Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood now controlling Border Crossings into Israel?

From Eric Dondero:

There are very troubling reports coming out of Egypt. Firstly, armed gangs of looters are now roaming the streets of Cairo. Some reports that they are Hamas/MB affiliated. Other reports, suggesting government agents in plain clothes are purposely doing the looting.

Additionally, various media such as Fox News are now reporting that over 30 Muslim Brotherhood prison inmates were set free by protesters in Cairo. Other reports have the MB inmates already out on the streets joining in with the protests.

But perhaps most troubling of all scattered reports just now coming out that Egyptian Military have abandoned the border with Israel.

This is a Tweet from a source claiming to be from Egypt, named Kavasso. (STRONGLY CAUTION! There is no confirmation of this report):

#Jan25 #Egypt - Al Jazeera > A group of Bedouin has attacked state security headquarters in the town of Rafah near Egypt's border with Israel, killing three policemen, witnesses and a security source said.

The much respected foreign policy journal, Stratfor Global Intelligence reports, (with a strong caution that it is only from one single source):

The Egyptian police are no longer patrolling the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. Hamas armed men are entering into Egypt and are closely collaborating with the MB. The MB has fully engaged itself in the demonstrations...

Editor's note - We will be closely monitoring foreign-based websites and Twitter during the day to bring you more reports on the rapidly changing situation in Egypt, with particular emphasis on how it affects the U.S. and U.S. ally Israel.

Fmr. Israel Ambassador to Egypt sees Muslim Brotherhood behind Uprising: Other Middle East Analysts concur

From the LA Times, "Israel watches Egypt uprising with fear":

Eli Shaked, a former Israeli Ambassador to Egypt, speculated in an interview with Channel 10 TV that if Mubarak's reign is destabilized, radical Egyptian Islamists could fill the void.

"It's good that Israel is keeping quiet, but there is no doubt that what is happening in Egypt is not good for Israeli interests," Shaked said. "It will only be a matter of time before a leader of the revolution arises and he will come from the Muslim Brotherhood."

From VOANews:

Israeli analyst Yoni Ben-Menachem says an Egyptian government led by opposition groups or the Muslim Brotherhood would take a harder line on Israel.

"It might be a hostile regime to Israel that will not respect the peace treaty with Israel and will cancel it, abolish this agreement, and we will go back to a situation of hostility between Israel and Egypt," said Ben-Menachem.

Photo - previous MB demonstrations in Cairo. Graph - Muslim Brotherhood insignia.

Israeli officials break silence: Now saying Border with Egypt could be threatened

"Shockwaves" throughout Middle East, especially neighboring Israel

From AFP "Israel Fears Unrest in Egypt Could Jeopardize Peace Treaty" minutes ago:

The unrest in Egypt is sending shock waves throughout the Middle East, including in neighboring Israel.

Israel is extremely concerned about the situation in Egypt. President Mubarak has preserved the peace treaty between the two countries for 30 years.

According to the Canadian Press "dozens of Israeli officials" are now fleeing the capitol in Cairo. El Al is now arranging special flights to "whisk" officials back to Jerusalem.

From CP "Dozens of Israelis flee Egypt on emergency flight as turmoil worsens in Arab nation" minutes ago:

The flight reflects Israel's concerns over the situation in Egypt — the first Arab country to reach peace with Israel.

The Israeli prime minister ordered government spokesmen to keep silent. Officials speaking anonymously nonetheless expressed concern that the violence could threaten ties with Egypt and spread to the Palestinian Authority.

If Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood — the main opposition group — gains power in the turmoil, the balance of power between the rival Palestinian camps could change. Abbas is backed by the West, while his Islamic militant Hamas rivals draw their support from Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. Hamas is the Gaza branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Regime change could "threaten a quiet border" and cause violence to spread to Gaza, West Bank

Continuing:

Two Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered all government spokesmen not to comment on the mass riots in Egypt...

The officials said Egypt's ties with Israel could be damaged if the country's popular opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, makes gains.

"A stable Egypt with a peace treaty with Israel means a quiet border," one official told The Associated Press. "If there is a regime change Israel will have to reassess its strategy to protect its border from one of the most modern militaries in the region."

The Israeli security officials also said they were worried that violence might spread to Gaza, the West Bank, and possibly to its other ally in the Arab world, Jordan.

Radical Muslims, Palestinian Nationalists, Arab Communists across Middle East - Mass demonstrations in Solidarity with Cairo Protesters

Protesters carry Communist Flag in Jordanian Capitol

From Eric Dondero:

Waving hammer and sickle Communist insignia flags, and Yassar Arafat - PLO banners, tens of thousands of Leftists and Radical Jihadists protested in the streets of Aman, Jordan, in support of the protesters in Egypt.

From CCTV:

The rallies marked the third conservative day of protest, after Muslim prayers, inspired by unrest in Tunisia and Egypt... Jordan's president has promised meetings... with the largest Jordanian protest group, the Muslim Brotherhood.

Elsewhere, Lebanese and Egyptians protested outside the Egyptian embassy in Beirut in support of the tens of thousands out on the streets of Cairo.

And various Islamic groups demonstrated against Egyptian President Mubarek in Istanbul on Friday.

Update! The leader of Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood Hamman Saeed has now been quoted that the protests will spread throughout the Middle East, echoing American leftists, that "Arabs have grown disgruntled with U.S. domination of their oil wealth, military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan."

Republican Congressman Thaddeus McCotter issues statement on Egyptian Uprising

"America must prevent tyrannical government forming"

Excerpt from Congressman Thaddeus McCotter's website:

“The Egyptian demonstrations are not the equivalent of Iran's 2009 Green Revolution. The Egyptian demonstrations are the reprise of Iran's 1979 radical revolution."

Similar events in Iran in 1979 devolved into Islamist "radical jackbooted murderers" taking control

“If Egypt is radicalized, all of the reforms sought by the Egyptian people and supported by the United States with them - including consensual and constitutional government; free elections; open and unbridled media; and Egyptian control of their natural resources - will be lost. Nascent democratic movements in the region will be co-opted and radicalized. The world's free and open access to the Suez Canal's vital commercial shipping lanes will be choked. And the Sinai Accord between Egypt and Israel - which must be protected as the foundation for Mideast peace - will be shredded.

“Though many will be tempted to superficially interpret the Egyptian demonstrations as an uprising for populist democracy, they must recall how such similar initial views of the 1979 Iranian Revolution were belied by the mullahs' radical jackbooted murderers, who remain bent upon grasping regional hegemony and nuclear weaponry.

Obama administration failed true Pro-Liberty uprising in Iran 2009

Continuing:

“This is not a nostalgic "anti-colonial uprising" from within, of all places, the land of Nassar. Right now, freedom's radicalized enemies are subverting Egypt and other our allies.

“Inexcusably, this crisis has been hastened and exacerbated by the U.S. Administration's refusal to whole-heartedly embrace Iran's truly democratic 2009 Green Revolution. Make no mistake: strategically and cynically, freedom's radicalized enemy is exploiting a real religion to undermine liberty and true reform just as Soviet communism posed as a secular creed to obtain the same illegitimate ends.

Note - Rep. McCotter serves on the Republican Policy Committee in the House.

Muslim Brotherhood in Florida - 3 Democrat elected officials in Broward County, originally scheduled to speak to affiliated Jihadist group

From Eric Dondero:

A Tea Party affiliated rally was held in Broward County two weeks ago, to protest a conference held at the nearby Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center, a taxpayer-subsidized facility. The conference was a national gathering of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islamic Society of North America.

What is ISNA?

ISNA is a Muslim umbrella organization, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and Muslim Student Association. The organization also hosts the largest annual gathering of Muslims in Canada and the United States. ISNA has been accused of representing the radical Saudi Arabian Wahhabi sect of Islam.

In 2007, ISNA was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Dallas-based Holy Land Foundation case. In another high-profile case, Muzzammil Hassan, the Buffalo Muslim TV Network CEO who beheaded his wife after she threatened divorce two years ago, was a top honored award recipient from ISNA.

(See LR article "Muslim Beheading in Buffalo: Husband following Sharia Law, Feb. 2009)

Local Tea Party Patriots raise objections to Democrats attending Radical Muslim event

Originally scheduled to speak to the conference were three local Florida Democrat officials. From a release, Americans Against Hate, Jan. 5:

GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES DROP OUT OF FORT LAUDERDALE RADICAL MUSLIM CONFERENCE

(Fort Lauderdale, FL) On Tuesday, June 4th, Chairman of Americans Against Hate Joe Kaufman contacted the offices of Sunrise Commissioner-elect Larry Sofield and Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief to voice concern about the fact that they were both listed as speakers for this weekend's Fort Lauderdale conference of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), a group with a number of significant ties to terrorism.

ISNA was co-founded by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader and convicted terrorist Sami al-Arian, and the group was recently named by the U.S. Justice Department as a co-conspirator for a federal trial dealing with the financing of millions of dollars to Hamas.

Sofield, who personally spoke with Kaufman, told him that he was no longer considering speaking at the ISNA event, and Sharief's assistant said that Sharief was going to do the same. Since then, both of their names have been removed from ISNA's national website, where they were listed as speakers for the event.

However, while their names were removed, another name has been added, Florida State Representative Ari Abraham Porth. Kaufman left messages at Porth's government offices in Coral Springs and Tallahassee.

Note - Rep. Porth dropped out at the last minute, according to the group:

Representative Porth cancelled at the last minute only after a flood of phone calls from Tea Party groups bombarded his office Friday with information concerning ISNA's ties to terrorism and anti-Semitism. As such, Representative Porth's name has been removed from the event program on ISNA's national website.

Jamal Badawi direct links to Muslim Brotherhood

Scheduled to speak at the conference as the main featured guest, Radical Jihadist Jamal Badawi. He is a college professor in Canada, and according to the ISNA website an At-large Board Member of the organization.
According to AmericansAgainstHate.org:

[Badawi] has had alleged links to terrorist organizations including the Muslim Brotherhood Group. ISNA was co-founded by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader and convicted terrorist Sami al-Arian, and the organization was recently named by the U.S. government a co-conspirator for a federal trial dealing with the financing of millions of dollars to Hamas.

In addition to ISNA, Badawi was an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Dallas-area Holy Land Foundation trial from 2008/09. (Source: DiscovertheNetworks.org)

See also BigPeace.com "U.S. Court Exposes ISNA as ‘Apparatus’ of the Muslim Brotherhood (and Hamas): Questions Remain About the Department of Defense Continuing to Rely Upon ISNA to Endorse Chaplains" Nov. 28, 2010.

Photos - Jamal Badawi up top, Rep. Porth, and Commissioner Sharief.

America-hating Jihadists in the Muslim Brotherhood well-positioned to take over after Mubarak toppled

"Tomorrow is going to be the day of the inifada"

From the NY Times, "With Muslim Brotherhood Set to Join Egypt Protests, Religion’s Role May Grow" Jan. 27:

Heightening the tension, the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest organized opposition group in the country, announced Thursday that it would take part in the protest. The support of the Brotherhood could well change the calculus on the streets, tipping the numbers in favor of the protesters and away from the police, lending new strength to the demonstrations and further imperiling President Hosni Mubarak’s reign of nearly three decades.

“Tomorrow is going to be the day of the intifada,” said a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood here in Egypt’s second largest city, who declined to give his name because he said he would be arrested if he did. The spokesman said that the group was encouraging members of its youth organization — roughly those 15 to 30 years old — to take part in protests.

Amb. Bolton - Christian Coptic community "Coptic Christian population [should be] very worried if Muslim Brotherhood came into power"

From Fox News, "Is Democracy coming to Egypt at last" Jan. 29:

[Bolton:] I think what's clearly happened today [in Egypt] is that the Muslim Brotherhood, the radical Islamist party in Egypt has called it's supporters into the street. I don't think it was present on the first two or three days.

I think after the Friday prayers the Brotherhood brought its people out. That's why the protests are even more extensive today. That constitutes no doubt about it a direct threat to the military government, and I think the failure of the other security forces to bring the demonstrations under control also now explains the presence of the military.

The Muslim Brotherhood doesn't care about democracy, if they get into power you're not going to have free and fair elections either.

And I think there is substantial reason, for example, to worry the minority Coptic Christian population, about 10% of the population will be very worried if the Muslim Brotherhood came to power.

Muslim Brotherhood calls on street protesters to "maintain the momentum"

AlMasyralyoum.com (leading Arab News website), "Brotherhood calls for Interim Government" Jan. 29:

The Muslim Brotherhood has called for a national interim government in which the ruling party should be excluded, according to a statement posted Saturday on the group’s website.

The banned group called on protesters to maintain the momentum and protect private and public properties.

Earlier, the nation’s largest Islamist group threw its full backing behind the anti-regime protests by sending tens of thousands of its members to the streets on Friday.

Experts - Iranian Revolution 1979 Déjà vu

From Eurasia Review "Losing Egypt" Jan. 29:

Those of us around at the time of the 1979 Iranian student revolution that deposed the shah are having strong feelings of déjà vu because that uprising was swiftly co-opted by Ayatollah Khomeini who hated the Great Satan, America, as much as he hated the Little Satan, Israel.

The U.S. lost a major ally in the Middle East. The Shah may have been a bastard, but he was our bastard. The CIA had put him on the Peacock Throne.

The uprising in Egypt, if taken over by the Muslim Brotherhood, will severely endanger American interests that have largely been coasting along in the belief that Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak would engineer a smooth transition of power to his son.

That scenario just went out the window

"Most likely situation... government hostile to the United States"

Analysis from the centrist California blog Politikal "The American Dilemma in Egypt"
Jan. 29:

Unfortunately, the truth is that Mr. Mubarak’s strongest political opponents are the Muslim Brotherhood, a proudly Islamist movement with broad popular support. If the protests in Egypt succeed in toppling the dictator, the most likely situation is the formation (through free and fair elections) of an Islamist government hostile to the United States.

Therein lies America’s dilemma – betray its ideals and support an “ally,” or keep its ideals and allow an anti-American government to take power.

Photos - various of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt from the last two years.

Egyptian Protests - What's in a Name?

Muslim Brotherhood or "Brotherhood of Muslims"

From Eric Dondero:

Heard on CNN's coverage of the Egyptian protests on the 5:00 pm broadcast with Wolf Blitzer.

Longtime Political Reporter Candy Crowley described the coaltion forming against Mubarek, using the more fraternal sounding and less threatening, "Brotherhood of Muslims."

The correct name of the radical Islamist group is actually the Muslim Brotherhood.

CNN trying to soften the Islamism of the revolution perhaps?

MUBARAK NOW SAYS GOVERNMENT WILL "STEP DOWN"! - Dramatic footage out of Cairo

Demonstrators battle with Police on the Streets of the Capitol

Police vehicle overturned by protesters.

Police vehicle stoned at :30 second mark.

Two men dragged off the streets by demonstrators at 1:30 mark.

Police open fire with teargas canisters at 1:50 mark.

Troubling signs emerge:

Protesters can now be heard shouting "Allahu-Ahkbar."

The hardline Islamist and terrorist-aligned group Muslim Brotherhood has announced they will be joining the protests.

UPDATE!! The BBC is now reporting that Mubarek has asked his government "to step down." He will appoint a new government tomorrow.

UPDATE!! Graphic Video - Teen Shot in the street during protests.

See Raw Footage of Bridge Battle between Police and Protesters at our sister site Worldwide Liberty.

UGANDA: Leader of Gay Rights movement Brutally Murdered in his Home

From Eric Dondero:

CNN, and various overseas media are now reporting on the death of Uganada gay civil rights leader David Kato. Some reports suggest he was beaten to death with a hammer.

From CNN "Ugandan gay rights activist bludgeoned to death" Jan. 28:

A Ugandan gay rights activist whose name was published on a list of the nation's "top homosexuals" was bludgeoned to death in his home near the capital, his lawyer said Thursday.

A neighbor found David Kato dead and notified authorities, according to the lawyer, John Onyango.

A popular Uganda magazine, ironically titled, "Rolling Stone," recently published a list of prominent homosexuals in the country editorializing with a sub-header "Hang them!"

Ugandan Muslims have been pushing the fragile government to take a harsher stance towards gays.

From GOProud press release Dec. 2009 (via LR):

Ugandan political leaders are considering a bill that criminalizes gays and lesbians...

"President Obama's lack of leadership on international human rights issues is appalling," continued [GOProud Chair Jimmy] LaSalvia. "From his refusal to confront the radically anti-gay regime in Iran to his refusal to speak out against this proposed Ugandan law - this President's silence speaks volumes about his priorities."

See additional LR article:

"Republican Christian Conservatives strongly condemn Uganda's repressive policies against Gays"

Final note - A check of other libertarian news websites shows not a single one of them covering this story: cultural libertarian Reason.com, Cato.org, The Agitator, Daily Libertarian, LP.org, the Ron Paul sites, ect... Nor, to our knowledge have they covered the issue at all of recent Muslim on Gay violence in Africa, or the movements in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and across Sub-Saharan Africa to make homosexuality a crime, even punishable by death.

Taliban stones woman to death, shoots man in ditch accused of Adultery

Non-interventionists and Isolationists claim that Muslims hate us for our Troops in their lands, not our Western culture

by Eric Dondero

Watch this absolutely shocking video, just released to ABC News. This is the edited version; the most graphic parts of the actualy killing of the couple have been taken out. Still, its absolutely not safe viewing for under-18s and for the work environment.

The UK Guardian has been on the story. Various right blogs have also posted the video. But nobody has really focused in on the anti-Western statement by the Taliban spokesman.

Zabiulla Mujahid - West wants to "bring foreign thinking to this country"

From the Guardian:

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid defended the stoning.

He told the BBC: 'Anyone who knows about Islam knows that stoning is in the Koran, and that it is Islamic law.

'There are people who call it inhuman - but in doing so they insult the Prophet. They want to bring foreign thinking to this country.'

Scenes like the one in the video, and the photos are happening all across the lands of Muhammed from Nigeria in Western Africa, through Somalia and northern Kenya in Eastern Africa, to Iran and Afghanistan, and even as far East as southern Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Again, the Taliban spokesman says, "they want to bring foreign thinking to this country."

We Westerners want to bring openess and tolerance to Afghanistan (and other South Asian and Middle Eastern nations.) We want human rights. We want women to be equal citizens under the law. We don't want women executed in front of cheering crowds in soccer stadiums for the crime of walking outside their homes without a male family-member escort. We don't want gays to be hung in town squares. We don't want men and women brutally totured before they get a bullet through their heads for the crime of loving one another.

The leftist libertarian would say that the Muslims hate us because we've got American troops on their soil. But they would hate us regardless, for our values; for our television, radio, music, movies, ect... which would find their way into Afghanistan and other lands, regardless of our troops.

Churchill - "No stronger retrograde force exists in the world"

Winston Churchill on Muhammedinism (what we call today Islamo-Fascism):

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.

The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.

A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.

No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.

Ironic that today, as true and accurate as it may be, this quote from Churchill would be judged entirely politically incorrect.