North Dakota Initiative to Abolish Property Taxes Qualifies for the Ballot

Why Should Your Home Be Governments' Private ATM?

by Eric Dondero

It made it! Over 30,000 signatures were handed in. Late yesterday, North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger announced that the necessary number of valid signatures were certified. Originally, 26,500 were needed. With 5 days to go before the deadline, the Attorney General issued a ruling that 1,204 more signatures would need to be gathered. His reasoning: He chose to abide by the total voter registrant numbers for the 2010 census, rather than the previous year.

Petitioners scrambled. But dedicated crews in Jamestown, Bismark and Grand Forks, managed to collect the final 1,204 and a few additional signatures just to be safe.

The initiative will now appear on the Primary Election balloot for June 4, 2012. If passed, North Dakota will no longer have property taxes. The Amendment directs the legislature to fund programs solely through the other 32 sources of revenue available to the State such as the sales tax, fees, and the estimated $2.5 billion surplass from oil production revenues.

The organizing sponsor for the initiative was Empower The Taxpayer, Charlene Nelson out of Casstleton, Chair. State Representative Dan Ruby, a libertarian Republican from Minot, was also a sponsor of the initiative. Other groups involved in co-sponsoring the initiative and gathering signatures included: Williston Tea Party, Valley City Tea Party, Grand Forks Tea Party, and the Libertarian Party of North Dakota.

EmpowertheTaxpayer.com

Prince William's salute to the Irish Guards

From Cliff Thies:

Prince William, an officer and helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, donned the uniform of the Irish Guards, whose First Regiment is currently deployed to Afghanistan, for his wedding,. It was a fitting reminder that even as we go about our lives, there are men and women in the armed forces of our countries who are serving in combat in what the military refers to as "the long war." His bride, Kate Middleton, was resplendent in her beautiful white dress.

BTW In their own tribute to the military, the San Diego Padres started to occasionally wear camouflage uniforms, a practice that has since been up by a number of other sports teams.

Editor's comment - Y'all didn't think this was a Royals coverage free zone, now did ya?

Emergency Seed Bank 5-day Promotion

FROM ONE OF OUR ADVERTISERS:

We are pleased to announce a special 5 day event to celebrate our new herb seed bank. Between Monday May 2nd and Friday May 6th we will be offering a free Emergency Seed Bank with purchase of an herb bank. Our herb bank offers 68,000 organic and highly potent medicinal herbal seeds, 21 varieties for one low price. Our web site is www.herbseedbank.com. The details of this promotion will be posted on this web site on May 2nd.

Heidi with customer service
Emergency Seeds, Inc.
1-877-451-7333

Anti-Terry Jones Protest - Leftist shouts "Kill that Mother F----r now!"

JUST BREAKING...

From Eric Dondero:

Muslim and Leftist protesters broke through barricades in Dearborn to protest Rev. Terry Jones's Anti-IslamoFascist rally yesterday.

From the AP via WILX TV Lansing:

The pastor known for stirring up controversy made good on his promise to return to Michigan to protest.

Terry Jones held a protest yesterday, but it wasn't at Dearborn's mosque as he had planned- instead it was in front of the city hall.

A small crowd of supporters showed up to listen to the pastor while groups gathered on the other side of the street to rally against the pastor.

Riot police intervened when the crowd started throwing water bottles and shoes at the Jones supporters.

Heard faintly on the video, at precisely the 27 seconds mark, an unidentified protester shouts":

"Kill that mother-fucker now!"

H/t Weasel Z...

Bill Maher suggests hair of Obama, African-Americans "kinky"

Echoes of "Nappy-headed Ho"?

From Mediaite video, recent episode, HBO Real Time with Bill Maher:

When you saw that picture he had a little bit of a fro. What do you think the right-wing would do if he grew that fro again?

I'm just asking. You know there's nothing in the constitution that says you can't have hair that's a little kinky.

Libertarian Party of Canada candidate for BC Parliament: Taxation is Theft

Excerpt from British Columbia Paper DeltaOptimist.com, Delta-Richmond East, "Libertarian looks to reduce taxes, gov't" April 30:

The Libertarian Party proposes to reduce both taxes and the size of government. It says it would also remove restrictions on personal and economic freedoms and seek to remove government interference from as many areas of people's lives as possible.

When it comes to welfare and health care, for example, the party's position is the "moral issue here is that Libertarians believe that it is not right to take forcefully from one person in order to provide for another's needs... Taxation is robbing people of their wealth and the ability to invest that wealth in new business, which would benefit the poor."

Libertarian Party of Canada, libertarian.ca

Birther issue started by Republican and Libertarian parties

A rightwing "fringe element"

Excerpt from Suite101 blog, "Birthers' Conspiracy Theories Reach New Accusatory Lows" by Frank Hardy, April 29:

When President Obama issued his long form birth certificate, after years of speculation about its existence by fringe elements of the Republican and Libertarian parties, he hoped the issue would be put to rest; however, that was not the case...

It begins... Democrats accuse Romney of being in the hip pocket of the libertarian Koch brothers

David Koch and wife Julia donated max to Romney

Excerpt from MSNBC, "Romney and the Koch brothers" April 29:

It's sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group that billionaire David Koch started. And Democrats are trying to make hay of the appearance, noting some of Romney's ties to David Koch like:

-- David and wife Julia each donated the maximum ($2,300) to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in '08

-- Politico's 2010 report that Romney had lined up fundraising commitments from David and Julia Koch

A Dem operative emails First Read, "You know it's got to be a special occasion that only the Koch brothers can afford throw to get Romney to emerge from his op-ed fortress."

Editor's note - Grammar mistake by Dem operative in his email to MSNBC above left in.

GOP Presidential candidates attend libertarian-sponsored event in New Hampshire: Bachmann, Cain impress as most libertarian

From Eric Dondero:

Americans For Prosperity, held a candidates forum in New Hampshire yesterday. IN an article by the very liberal Boston Globe - "Romney stands by Bay State health law; At N.H. forum, calls for repeal of national overhaul" - the group is described as "funded in part by billionaire David Koch, a libertarian-leaning philanthropist and industrialist."

In attendence: Romney, Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann.

From the description provided by uselectionnews.com, Cain and Bachman stand out as most libertarian-leaning.

Cain - Privatize Social Security, Abolish Gov. programs

When asked what he would do to fix major flaws in Social Security, Cain noted that the model created by the Chilean government, (ie privatization), would work here in the US with the right leadership. He referenced his book, “Common Sense Solutions” and said that is it time for Americans to read past the statement of “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and to begin using our right to “alter and abolish” government programs that have become destructive. Cain said that he would use his own developed business practices, coming from his experience bringing back failed companies, slashing 10% in cuts across the board, and cutting out government programs that are overlapping, doubled up, or ineffective.

Bachmann - Cut 25% in Spending, No Bail Outs, Auction off Freddie and Fannie

Bachmann asked the audience and those watching to dream of a land where the government would undertake the following steps. Cut 25% of federal discretionary spending and cancel the distribution and use of outstanding funds from Obama’s failed stimulus program. Then they would return the TARP funds and reinstate the Welfare Reform Act created in the mid 1990′s. A balanced budget would be proposed and passed within the year, with no increased spending beyond population growth plus inflation. The government would refuse to bail-out public pension plans... Her government would then auction FreddieMac and FannieMae for a “minimum bid of 50cents”... this new government would end mortgage subsidies, and sell the governments shares in AIG, Bank of America, and GM, all industries “bailed out” by the previous administrations. It would also legalize private student lending.

[It] would repeal Obamacare and allow anyone to purchase any health insurance policy they want, in any state, with no minimum coverage mandate, and their money used to purchase that insurance would be tax free.

Her tax program would cut business tax to 9%, making it the lowest in the world, with 0% capital gains tax and 0% death tax. She would limit the personal income tax to 20%.

A Veteran calling the Donald out on his Military Draft status?

He has yet to answer Questions on Military deployments, Overseas commitments and Compulsory Service

by Clifford F. Thies

First it's Rand Paul asking for his voter registration card. Now, it's the liberal media asking why he didn't serve in the military.

Did the Donald think the media was going to give him a pass on his personal life, like he was a Democrat?

"I actually got lucky because I had a very high draft number." -- Donald Trump

Well, it turns out that Trump's first "explanation" was one of those phoney-baloney stories that maybe you tell yourself and others enough times to where you actually start believing it. No, he wasn't a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania's business school when they pulled his number (and mine). He had graduated a year earlier. And, so what if he got a very high draft number (mine was 365). He could have volunteered (like I did.)

Trump, where do you stand on Abolishing Selective Service?

Army Captain Cliff Thies's dog tags and Military I.D., 9 years in Vietnam era Service.

But, in his case, by the time they shifted to the lottery, he was nearing the end of his eligibility for being drafted, whether by selective service or by the lottery. How is it that he had not been inducted in, say, 1966, or, 1967, or any other year prior to the shift to from the selective service system to the lottery system?

Well, like a lot of other blowhard/blowdry conservatives, he worked the system. For chickenhawks like Dick Cheney, born early during the babyboom, avoiding the draft involved staying in school, with a college deferment, until you got married and had at least one child, when you qualified for a dependent deferment.

For chickhawks like Trump and Bill Clinton, born a bit later, when the deferments tightened up, avoiding the draft involved angles such as getting disqualified as 4F (which is how Trump actually avoided service) or simply dodging the draft (a la Clinton).

For some people, the routes taken by George W. Bush (service in the Guard or Reserve) and Al Gore (getting assigned as a military reporter or REMF [as in Rear Echelon M*** F***], with his his own personal bodyguard) were less than honorable. Even the routes taken by John McCain (Naval Aviator) and John Kerry (swift boat commander) have been questioned.

Such questions are almost inevitable when military service is compelled from some and not from others. In comparison, nobody can today question the gallantry of our men and women in uniform today, of whatever branch, or whether active duty, Guard or Reserve.

Mr. Trump, how will maintain the dignity and prestige of the US Military?

But, the little fact that we now have a voluntary military is missed by the Donald. It's all about him. Not about the country. Here is what Ronald Reagan said about the draft.

“I oppose registration for the draft . . . because I believe the security of freedom can best be achieved by security through freedom.” -- Ronald Reagan

He did not want to see the uniform of our country become a symbol of servitude. And, he dedicated himself to providing the pay and benefits and conditions of employment that would able the military to attract and retain the number and quality of personnel our nation's defense requires.

So, the real issues are these: What are you going to do, Mr. Trump, about maintaining the prestige of military service, given the fact that you personally did not serve in the military when you were a young man? And, what are you going to do about the "pace of operations," relative to the size of our military, that has for years required frequent overseas deployments by both our active duty and Guard and Reserve forces?

Editor's note - Although we generally like Donald Trump here at LR, he is not without criticism for sure.

Brave ethnically Turk German woman fights back against Islamo-Fascists

From Eric Dondero:

Sila Sahin is on this month's cover of Playboy. She was raised in a strict Muslim home in Germany. She even compared her Muslim upbringing to "slavery."

Now she's fighting back.

According to the UK Daily Sun:

Sila, raised in Germany by conservative Turkish parents, says she fears being "spat at" and "shamed".

Her parents are said to have reacted with "horror" at the 12-page coverage, and her mother has apparently cut off all contact.

She is quoted:

"What I want to say with these photos is, 'Girls, we don't have to live according to the rules imposed upon us'.

"For years I subordinated myself to various societal constraints. The Playboy photo shoot was a total act of liberation."

Video in German.

Dusseldorf - City in Germany known for offending Islam, target of major Terrorist Attack

JUST BREAKING FROM THE EURO MEDIA...

LR First in US to Report!

From Eric Dondero:

News coming out of the German media that a major attack from Muslim Terrorists has just been averted.

Sueddeutche.de is reporting (translation):

Early Friday morning Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)in Dusseldorf and Bochum arrested three young men who had allegedly planned an attack with homemade bombs. They are attributed to the terrorist organization al-Qaida.

An attack had been imminent...

Dusseldorf is in western Germany, near the Netherlands border.

Sources are indicating that a very large amount of explosives have been seized. One of the suspects was carrying a knife when he was arrested.

The three Muslim Youth are said to be ethnically Moroccan. And the prime suspect:

reportedly trained in a terrorist camp in Pakistan's Waziristan.

Another source News-DE confirms that the three:

Moroccan terror suspects appear to have no German citizenship...

From Hamburger Abendblatt:

Interior Minister Ralf Jäger (SPD) warned: "The current arrests of Islamists show that the security authorities are vigilant and take the threat of Islamic terrorism in Germany is very serious.

Though, there is no motive released yet for the attempted bombings from police officials, Dusseldorf has a large Muslim community that frequently clashes with local Germans.

The city hosts the annual Carnival of Rolling Caricatures (photos above). In recent years, the city has come under great criticism from groups on the left for allowing parade floats of what are considered offensive depictions of Muhammed. The German Board of Muslims criticized the “presentation of religious leaders Islam"(Source: Petaflop.de)

UPDATE! This Story Linked by TheOtherMcCain, PJMedia, and Jawa Report.

10-Year Sentence handed down to Somali Terrorist who crossed Texas-Mexico border

Terrorist Group supported Sharia Law

From Eric Dondero:

A Somali man was sentenced yesterday by a federal judge to 10 years in prison for lying about his terrorist affiliations. He was arrested at the Texas-Mexico border in 2008.

Via AP, from McCall.com:

Ahmed Muhammed Dhakane, 25, prompted the Department of Homeland Security to issue an alert in May 2010 asking Houston-area authorities to be on the lookout for a suspected member of al-Shabaabp, an al-Qaida ally based in Somalia. That warning came when two new charges of lying on a U.S. asylum application were filed against Dhakane, who had been arrested on immigration charges in Brownsville, across the Rio Grande from Matamoros.

Dhakane was a member of a group that favors strict Sharia Law.

Al-Ittihad al-Islami, or the Islamic Union, wants to impose Islamic law in Somalia. Both are on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of global terrorist groups with links to al-Qaida, according to the indictment against Dhakane.

Lawyer for defendent asked Judge no references to 9/11

The ConservativeTreeHouse blog (cross-posted at PJ Media) reported on March 23:

A potentially explosive admission by federal prosecutors... in a San Antonio federal courtroom

In this court filing, prosecutors admit that Dhakane, who ran a human smuggling ring based in Brazil for the Somali Al-Shabaab terrorist group, transported “violent jihadists” into the country. He stated that “he believed they would fight against the U.S. if the jihad moved from overseas locations to the U.S. mainland.”

He admits that he knowingly believed he was smuggling violent jihadists into the United States... to commit terrorist acts in the United States, these jihadists would commit violent acts in and against the United States.

At an earlier trial date, Dhakane's lawyer Alredo Villareeal stated to the judge to keep 9/11 references out of the courtroom:

“I don’t want references to 9-11 (other than passing references to the date), any images of the towers coming down or mention of any future terrorist acts,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t need to sensationalize it any more than necessary”……

Actual photo of Dhakane. H/t Spencer.

Atlas in comparison to the King's Speech?

From Cliff Thies:

Market-test of Atlas Shrugged: sold 1.9 M copies through 1964, 5 M through 1991. A bit less than 100,000 per year following that until 2009, when sales increased to 500,000 per, during which year it peaked at #4 on the best-seller list.

These are monster numbers for a book.

Now, let's consider Part 1: Opening week: $3 M. Well, how does that compare to the Academy Award-winning King's Speech? $4.5 M.

The King's Speech went on to enjoy critical acclaim, a nomination for Best Movie, and then won for Best Movie. So, a not dissimilar opening eventually turned into a huge number ($138 M).

Admittedly, without the buzz enjoyed by The King's Speech, such spectacular results could not be anticipated for Part 1. But, in terms of justifying going into production for Parts 2 and 3, the numbers for Part 1 were fine.

Just Breaking...

Sources other than the L.A. Times now indicate that there are already plans to move ahead with Parts 2 and 3.

McClintock, Flake perfect 100 scoring Economic Libertarians according to new CFG

Boehner, Cantor also log in Perfect 100s

From Eric Dondero:

The Club for Growth (pdf) is out with its new scorecard for the US House and Senate. On the Senate side, not surprisingly, Jim DeMint and Tom Coburn, once again are tops.

On the House side, two favorites of this website, California Congressman Tom McClintock and Arizona Cong. (and 2012 US Senate candidate) Jeff Flake scored perfect 100s.

The ratings were based on issues such as Repeal of Health Care reform act, Speech regulations, Home Renovation subsidies, New Food Regulations, Ending the Drilling Moratorium, Increase Debt Ceiling, Death Taxes and Global Warming.

Other prominent pefect 100 scorers included: Reps. John Boehner of Ohio, Eric Cantor of Virginia, Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, Mike Pence of Indiana, Stephen King of Iowa, Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Lamar Smith of Texas, Paul Broun of Georgia, and Joel Chafetz of Utah. Very close to 100 at 97 or 98, include: Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia, Rep. Ted Poe of Texas, and Rep. David Dreier of California.

Rohrabacher dissapoints... Ron Paul only at 90?

Couple interesting observations:

Dissapointedly, Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce, usually rock solid reliable Free Marketeers, each posted a lowly 86.

Virtually the entire Massachusetts delegation, 9 Congressmen, received perfect Zeros. The Connecticut delegation is just as bad with all 4 scoring Zero, or very close to Zero.

Two high scoring Democrats were Rep. David Boren of Oklahoma with 60 and Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho, who was defeated for reeleciton in 2010 with 56. All other Democrats scored well behlow 50.

One great dissapointment on the 'D' side: Mike Ross of southwestern Arkansas, who has the reputation as a reasonable moderate, scored a lowly 36.

Rep. Mike Castle of Delaware, scored a low 40, giving those who supported Christine O'Donnell's insurgent primary challenge a bit of a reprieve.

Stunner! Nancy Pelosi scored a Perfect Zero.

Iowa is interesting: The 2 Republicans are at 90 and 100, and the 3 Democrats are at Zero or close to Zero.

Denny Rehberg, now a candidate for US Senate in Montana, posted a respectable 86.

Peter King was virtually the only decent scorer in the entire New York delegation with 89. All NY Dems, except Rep. Acuri, posted Zero or very close to Zero.

And a Texas-sized shocker...

Congressman Pete Olson who represents Ron Paul's old 22nd district of Clear Lake/South Houston scored a 97 while Ron Paul himself, who now represents the 14th further south of Houston, scored a less-than-stellar 90.

Editor's note - I live close to the district line of Ron Paul and Pete Olson.

Obama slips in New Hampshire

From Eric Dondero:

The much respected WMUR TV in Manchester, just came out with a Granite State Poll showing Obama way down in approvals for the State.

Via RCP:

According to the poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, only 44 percent of New Hampshire adults surveyed approve of the president's job performance while 52 percent disapprove. In WMUR/UNH's last poll released in February, 46 percent approved of the president's job performance.

This survey comes on the heels of several polls in other swing states showing increasing trouble for the president as he ramps up his re-election effort. Quinnipiac and Public Policy Polling (D) surveys in Pennsylvania showed the president's approval rating at 42 percent, and Suffolk University and Mason-Dixon polls in Florida showed his approval at 41 percent and 43 percent respectively.

Editor's comment - And as New Hampshire goes, so may go NH's sister state of Maine. See my related editorial this morning at Pundit Press on "The Undeniable Truth on Romney every Republican has to admit."

Kansas State Rep. Amanda Grosserode: A True Family Values Libertarian

Tea Party Mom in America's Heartland

From Eric Dondero:

Last November, Amanda Grosserode won a stunning victory for the Kansas House in the KC-Kansas suburb of Lenexa. She soundly defeated long-time incumbent Democrat Rep. Gene Rardin. Grosserode was the local head of a Tea Party chapter.
From her website:

Beginning in February 2009, Amanda led the outcry mobilized in the tea party movement in Johnson County against big government, the escalating national debt, and the government encroaching involvement in the free market. She has advocated for fiscal responsibility in government, a return to free market principles in government relationship with the private sector, and lowering the tax burden on both individuals and corporations.

Grosserode was a school teacher for the Overland School Park District. And She taught 5th grade in the Shawnee Mission School District. Her and her husband Todd are members of the Legacy Christian Church. She is Pro-Life, Pro-2nd Amendment, and staunchly Pro-School Choice.

She is also friends with libertarian/conservative columnist/blogger Michelle Malkin.

In the Legislature, Grosserode, the Tea Partyer that she is, has let her libertarian streak shine on two key issues: Casino Gambling and Adult Entertainment.

The House recently rejected a measure directing the State Attorney General to sue a proposed casino development south of Wichita. Grosserode was one 29 Republicans to vote No on the measure. (Source: Washington Examiner)

Additionally, the House last week considered a measure greatly restricting Adult Entertainment businesses through zoning and regulations on operating hours. Grosserode was one of a handful of Republicans to voice her opposition to the Bill.

Grosserode now home schools her two boys. She told a crowd of Tea Partyers during her campaign in 2010: "I'm just a mom."

I’m here to say: “You need to get involved.”

Figure out what it is you’re passionate about. Who it is that you’re passionate about. What candidate it is. What issue it is. Become a volunteer. Donate money. Go walk door to door. Educate your neighbors. Educate your friends and family.

(Video of her remarks)

Newly-elected Libertarian City Councilman takes office in Topeka

From Eric Dondero:

Former Libertarian Party State Chairman, and 2010 LP candidate for Governor Andrew Gray won a stunning upset victory for Topeka City Council in March, beating a 3-term incumbent. Topeka is the State Capitol and Kansas's second largest city. His swearing in ceremony was on April 11.

From WIBW.com, "New 2011 Topeka Council Sworn In" April 12:

Mayor Bill Bunten followed his weekly proclamations, by giving the microphone to Jeff Preisner and Deborah Swank, who received certificiates thanking them for their years on the council. Then came the swearing-in of District 2's John Alcala with his family alongside him.

And former Libertarian Candidate for Governor, Andrew Gray raised his hand to assume the job once held by Jeff Preisner, to represent Southwest Topeka in District 8.

The new council navigated its way through a long list of votes on new appointments. Once John Alcala tallied a 6-3 vote to become the new Deputy Mayor, Gray and Everhart were selected to serve on JEDO, the Joint Economic Development Board.

The newer members had a similar theme in their comments before adjournment of the one hour, 40-minute session. Andrew Gray and Chad Manspeaker thanked their constituents for the well wishes they received after their wins on April 5th.

Gray is now the highest serving Libertarian Party member in public office in Kansas. The other two include: Frederick Campbell, Anderson County Attorney, and Larry Manes, Allen County Community College Board. (LPKS.org)

Gray joins a growing list of Libertarian City Councilman in mid-sized, and even large cities across the US. Libertarians hold office most notably: Indiannapolis, Springfield, MO, San Gabriel, CA, Mountain View, CA, Caldwell, ID, Pahrump, NV, Glendale, CO, Winter Haven, FL, Bloomington, IL, Cedar Falls, IA, Seabrook, NH and New York City (dual-party Libertarian/Republican Dan Halloran of Queens).

Libertarian Republicans defeated in Kansas House by Social Conservatives on Adult Entertainment legislation

Religious Right not acting very Fiscally Conservative as 2,500 Kansans could lose their Jobs

From Eric Dondero:

The Kansas House has been furiously debating new legislation to severely restrict gentleman's clubs in the State. A split has developed between the libertarian wing, and social conservatives.

From The Capitol Journal "Bold Strip Club Bill bumped to Senate":

A majority of House members cast aside calls for moderation Thursday by adopting for the second time a bill imposing broad regulations of the Kansas adult entertainment industry resisted by Senate leadership.

House Republicans with a libertarian streak sought to amend the bill to appease Senate critics and improve chances of sending a slice of reform to Gov. Sam Brownback. However, passionate speeches by supporters of the full regulatory package pointing to side effects of adult bookstores and topless clubs prompted rejection of the bid for middle ground.

The three leading social conservatives: Reps. Owen Donohoe, R-Shawnee (photo - right), Rep. Forrest Knox, R-Altoona and Joe Patton, R-Topeka (photo - left). The two libertarian-leaning legislators who fought for "moderation" in the legislation: Rep. Amanda Grossrode and Rep. Willie Prescott, R-Osage City.

If passed, the Bill would limit adult-oriented businesses from locating 1,000 feet near a school, church, or library.

Additionally:

Existing clubs would no longer be able to offer nude performances. Entertainers wouldn’t be permitted to touch customers because all dancers would remain 6 feet from clients and perform on an elevated stage. Each of these specialty businesses would close from midnight to 6 a.m., while normal bars could still stay open until 2 a.m.

The libertarian wing tried to moderate provisions which would make the Bill more likely for Senate passage. Some even brought up the issue of jobs.

Rep. Willie Prescott, R-Osage City, offered an amendment that would have deleted nearly all provisions of the bill touted by Knox.

It would have retained the 1,000-foot distance requirement for new adult businesses, but this more modest approach didn't have sufficient support to advance in the Republican-led House.

A proposed amendment that would have allowed strip clubs in Junction City to remain open until 2 a.m. also went down to defeat.

From LJWorld.com:

Some critics of the bill said the measure would shut down such businesses and put at least 2,500 Kansans out of work.

The clubs are particularly popular on the Kansas-side of the metro-Kansas City area.

As passed, the measure seems doomed for passage by the upper chamber.

Note - Prescott (photo), a farmer, is House Majority Whip. Grossrode, a freshman, was elected in 2010 as a Tea Party Republican.

Editor's comment - Honestly, stuff like this doesn't help relations between social conservatives and libertarian Republicans going into the 2012 election season, when the Party should be united against the Democrats.

Is this the face of a Muslim Terrorist?

TSA harrasses and assaults regular American citizens, but ignores the Real Enemy

Former Miss USA Susie Castillo:

As an American I'm really, really upset that I have to go through this. And I do feel violated.

She touched my vagina... 4 times...

Drug smugglers put drugs up their rectums. What happens when a terrorist puts a bomb up their rectum? Are we going to get rectal exams?

H/t Weasel Z...

Did Atlas blink?

by Clifford F. Thies

The L.A. Times - not really Ayn Rand's BFF - is out with a item on Atlas Shrugged ... John Aglialoro hurt by the bad reviews and disappointed with the box office, so he's going Galt, dropping out, not going to follow up with Parts 2 and 3, instead he's going to produce some routine drivel of a movie concerned with the Las Vegas poker scene.

Again, according to the L.A. Times, Aglialoro says that, although the movie has not yet recovered its cost (which it tabs at $20 million, up from the $10 million number that was being bandied about just one week ago), it will eventually break-even because of DVDs and the sale of ancillaries.

Not without Parts 2 and 3!

This wasn't an interview. It was a set-up. Who's going to so much as go to Part 1 once the word gets out that Parts 2 and 3 aren't going to be made in the foreseeable, no less buy the movie or a coffee mug?

Besides, the actual production cost of a movie is often very different from the numbers that are quoted. Big budget movies make enormous amounts of money for as many production services as the studio thinks it can get away with. Actual production costs are often much lower than what is quoted. In terms of hard dollars, I'd venture to say that the two sequels, if made together, might cost $5 or 6 million, which would mean that they're sure to make money given the box office figures already attained. Production of the sequels may even be bankable.

Plus, this project has enduring quality, meaning that it could be re-broadcast for decades by a cable channel looking to fill a schedule; and, people who have not yet been born will be buying the DVD or whatever is the media on which movies are made in the future.

Of course the critics panned the movie. What else did expect them to do? Have a come to Jesus moment? Their intellectual forebearers denigrated the book, and its been a best seller for now more than fifty years.

If there is any truth in this L.A. Times story, I am sorry that John Aglialoro didn't read my hard-nosed calculations based on the first week's box office. I didn't go all crazy about this movie being a blockbuster. I was conservative and yet confident that the box office would justify production of the sequels.

As for translating the first week's numbers into a successful run, this involved manipulating expectations, setting the bar low enough so that you can be sure to clear it, not getting sucked into unrealistic possibilities that make even modest successes seem like failures. In Hollywood as in politics, there's a lot of facade. Maybe even more so.

Anybody can churn out brainless movies like "Rio" that parents feel they have to bring their children to see, or teenage horror movies like Friday the 13th Part 87. Real cinema is art and - while real money is involved - what it expresses is a choice.

Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia, a Hayekian/Milton Friedman devotee and a self-described "Christian Randist."

Taxpayers win HUGE! Victory in Oklahoma - No more In-State Tuition for Illegal Alien College Students

Foreign Students from Muslim nations, "increasingly visible" on OK campuses

From Eric Dondero:

An Anti-Illegal Immigration Bill just passed the Oklahoma Senate by an overwhelming vote of 38 to 7. It originated in the House. Republicans control both chambers. The Bill now goes to Republican Governor Mary Fallin for her signature.

Among the provisions, according to Reuters, "Oklahoma Senate OKs bill targeting illegal immigrants":

Repeals a section of Oklahoma law that enables undocumented immigrants in the state to pay in-state tuition for college.

In neighboring Texas, as the Dallas Morning News reported, "Number of illegal immigrants getting in-state tuition for Texas colleges rises" March, 2010:

During the fall semester [2010], 12,138 students - about 1 percent of all Texas college students - benefited from the state law granting in-state tuition, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Most of the immigrants among those students are illegal, and some others are not legal permanent residents or U.S. citizens.

Texas awarded about $33.6 million in state and institutional financial aid to those students between fall 2004 and summer 2008.

As for Oklahoma, statistics are less available, however, NewsOK reported on April 11 that "about 300 undocumented students" attended Oklahoma colleges and universities, that would amount to "1 percent of the total college enrollment." Most of them are attending community colleges.

Additionally, the Edmond Sun reports:

There are now more than 35,000 Muslims in the state of Oklahoma. They are increasingly visible on the state’s college and university campuses as both students and professors.

Note - Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari (photo) had been attending a community college near Lubbock, Texas before his arrest on Terrorism charges in February.

See related LR article, Feb. 24, "Muslim Youth arrested on Terrorism charges in Texas: Targeted Bush home; 12 Dams, Nuke Plants in Colorado, California"

Whoosh! GOP Senate seat in New Jersey may have just been saved by a technicality

LR FOLLOW-UP!

From Eric Dondero:

We reported a couple weeks ago, on a sure loser for the GOP in New Jersey. Olympic champion Carl Lewis was going to run for the State Senate, against a freshman Republican. This would have been a disaster for the Republican Party, for the Senate majority and Governor Chris Christie's agenda hangs in the balance by one or two seats in the upper chamber.

Now this via NewsMax:

Olympics legend Carl Lewis has fallen at the first hurdle in his bid to become an elected politician. The nine-time gold medalist has been barred from running for a seat in the New Jersey state Senate because he hasn’t lived in the state long enough, the New York Daily News reports.

Republican Dawn Marie Addiego's chances for re-election in a swing district, may have just been saved.

Another Blue-ish State suddenly tied for Obama

From Eric Dondero:

We reported here last week that New Hampshire, which went for Obama by a comfortable margin in 2008, is now trending Republican, with Mitt Romney 4 points ahead in a poll out of Dartmouth.

Now this, breaking out of Pennsylvania, from The Hill, "Obama at record low approval in Pa.; tied with generic opponent":

Forty percent of registered voters in the key swing state would vote for Obama, while 41 percent would choose his Republican opponent, a statistical tie according to a Quinnipiac University poll. But in the same poll, 53 percent said they disapprove of Obama's job performance and 52 percent said he should not be reelected.

Mentioned by The Hill as a likely cause for Obama's decline - rising gas prices.

Exit question: Is northeasterner Romney the right "generic" Republican to win Pennsylvania?

UKIP candidate blasts Radical Islam: Joins with Geert Wilders in fighting back against Intolerance

From Eric Dondero:

Abhijit P.G. Pandya is Head of Research UK Independence Party and a Parliamentary Candidate in Leicester South. He is also Founder and Director of - ActionAgainstViolence ('A.A.V.'), which campaigns against violent crime in Britain.

At his blog on April 22, he railed against granting Turkey admittance into the European Union:

Turkey will add to the theft of benefits, or the theft of the British tax-payer...

there is a greater social problem that will be caused by those that may come over here for housing benefits if Turkey were to join the EU. Campaigning in Leicester recently, I have been shocked to discover the quanta of those from Islamic backgrounds on one form of a benefit to another. Islamic culture inherently rejects the Western way of life, more specifically the Protestant work ethic that has successfully built the economies of the West. It is also fundamentally socially intolerant, closing itself off to the rest of society and local communities and forming ghettos that are economically dysfunctional and ethically espouse intolerance that undermines both social and human capital.

Islamists rise in influence, as smoking bans implemented, closing down of pubs, and gay-bashing in local towns

Continuing:

The beauty of the English countryside made so picturesque by the steeples of churches and pleasant fields, so elegantly espoused by Blake and others, stands to be debilitated by gargantuan mosques that are spouting within their closed doors ideology that would make any rational human being, with an iota of sense, in the Enlightened West feel queasy. At present, as the pubs run dry and empty under the smoking ban and the mosques continue to fill, the debate has to move from the mere niceties of tolerance towards a fundamental political effort towards saving the national identity. This requires courage and I ask all of us that love this country and its unique heritage of freedom not to ignore, particularly as the Muslim birth rate in the UK is continuing to rise and the potential for dependency on benefits may become generational within that community due to its self-imposed social exclusion. Further there continues to be a proliferation of the intoleration that Islamic ideology has brought into our country, that incidents of gay bashing in the Tower Hamlets demonstrate.

Fight Back! as Geert Wilders exhorts

The courageous Geert Wilder’s in Holland has understood the link between Islamification of his country and the increase in intoleration in his homeland. A theological system that fundamentally encourages discrimination between those who believe it and those who don’t, treating the latter as second-class citizens, is backward. A system that treats women as slaves without chains is morally flawed and degenerate in its treatment of women. Cultural practices in many parts of the world which include child marriages and the death penalty for practising homosexuality are reminders that man is capable of going back to the dark ages very quickly. As the classic Channel 4 documentary ‘Undercover mosque’ showed, these cultural habits are espoused passionately in mosques in this country. Cameron and others do nothing to swat this fly on its head. Why should Britain, the country that fathered the modern world, put up with this, as Wilder’s put it, ‘retarded ideology’... we need to put such ideas to the sword through the vehicle of rational debate and exercise our legislative competence in Parliament to curb them.

Note - This website is a staunch supporter of Europe's pro-sovereignty libertarian right, including UKIP, Germany's Free Democrats, Geert Wilder's Party For Freedom (PVV) in the Netherlands, and True Finns.

Ayn Rand a "soulless, amoral, capitalist, hedonist" according to California leftist lawyer

From Eric Dondero:

Jim Duenow, an attorny in San Luis Obispo opines at the New Times against Ayn Rand and everything she stands for - "Beware of the soulless corporations - For-profit corporations are by nature amoral, not patriotic, not compassionate, and held to no standard other than whether their actions improve earnings," April 27:

He advocates a strict requirement on "corporations to keep their offices in the United States, to keep their production jobs in the United States, by regulating them through taxes and penalties."

Then he slams Rand, the Libertarian Party, the Tea Party, Republicans and US Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky:

the Tea Party, the Libertarians, and some right-wing Republicans want us all to adopt the values of the modern corporation. How else could one explain the renewed popularity of Ayn Rand’s writing, which is treated with renewed Biblical fervor by some politicians? Rand exposed a philosophy of selfishness, small government, and elimination of humanitarian programs. Only selfishness can make the world better, in her view.

The libertarian Republican Rand Paul reportedly was named for the author. He, as was she, is a staunch advocate of capitalism, self-interest, and small government. That Ayn Rand was also a vehement atheist and advocate of abortion and sexual hedonism is carefully overlooked by her modern devotees. The Tea Party’s promotion of Rand has sparked such a resurgence of interest in her writings her books have again hit the best-seller lists after languishing for years.

It is frightening to consider our society might embrace a philosophy that would make us the mirror image of the soulless corporation, yet that is what will surely happen if we are seduced by the tempting allure of selfishness as a way of life. But that really couldn’t happen—could it?

Editor's note - there's a bit of an error in his piece. Rand Paul actually named himself after Ayn Rand. He was not "named for the author." Photo - Definitivetouch.com

BC Conservatives need to purge the "whackjob" libertarians in their ranks

These nutballs want to end helmet laws, seat belt restrictions, smoking bans, and - Gasp! - allow unregulated gun ownership

From Eric Dondero:

A scathing editorial out of British Columbia BC local news, takes on the libertarian wing of Canada's Conservatives, "‘Whack-job’ libertarianism underlies Conservative Party."

His main beef is with those who advocate the repeal of Canada's long-gun registry. But he advocates a whole host of other nanny-state laws, as well.

We are embarked on an election wherein the governing party seeks, among other things, to try to drag us down the road to the nightmare across the border.

Anti-long-gun registry sentiment is not monolithic and not much different from the kind of counter-movements that arise from most efforts to regulate dangerous practices and products. Smoking restrictions, seat belts and helmet requirements.

It is disingenuous, however to paint this opposition as duck hunters and hardy rural folk who need to protect themselves from marauding bears and such and who don’t need a bunch of revenuers making them register their shotguns. If you scratch the surface in this country you can see the outline of an argument that is mainstream in the discourse of our southern neighbour...

Libertarians are a bunch of Capitalist Cultists who have little in common with the values of mainstream Canadians

He concludes by blasting libertarians as ideologues who have little in common with mainstream rural voters:

It is really high time that rank-and-file small-c conservatives wake up to what a bunch of whack jobs these people who style themselves as libertarians really are. I am quite certain that many who would support a Conservative candidate in the rural ridings of B.C. have little idea of the vast social experiment many of these ideologues would like to perform if they get the chance. They have an utterly romantic and unrealistic notion of what capitalism is, a well developed plan to ruthlessly dismantle everything they see as an impediment to the libertarian utopia they advocate and they are prone to various millenarian religions whose myth and propaganda provides a rationale that is as little based on fact and reason as their libertarian ideals are grounded in the reality-based world the rest of us live in.

The British Conservative Party will be holding their annual convention May 28 in Vancouver. bcconservative.ca. Show up to stop the purgers!