Is Huckabee warming up to Herman Cain?

From Eric Dondero:

The two have a friendly, jovial conversation about the issues of the day, and end up agreeing on virtually everything.

Obviously, an early endorsement from Huck would provide an enormous boost to Cain's campaign.

Rick Scott's Welfare innovation: Drug testing for Tax Dollars

If you choose to sponge off the Taxpayer and not work, stay off the drugs

From Eric Dondero:

You might call this the perfect combination of libertarian and conservative. Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law a bill that would require any new applicants for welfare checks must pass a drug screening test.

Said Scott (via CBS Miami):

“While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction,” Governor Scott said. “This new law will encourage personal accountability and will help to prevent the misuse of tax dollars.”

UKRAINE: Teenage girl stoned to death by Muslim Youth for participating in Beauty contest

The three men were imposing Sharia Law

From Eric Dondero:

Coming to Rotterdam, Marseilles, Frankfurt or even Dearborn, Michigan USA?

From the UK Daily Mail:

A teenage Muslim girl was stoned to death under 'Sharia law' after taking part in a beauty contest in Ukraine.

Katya Koren, 19, was found dead in a village in the Crimea region near her home.

Friends said she liked wearing fashionable clothes and had come seventh in a beauty contest. Her battered body was buried in a forest and was found a week after she disappeared.

Police have opened a murder probe and are investigating claims that three Muslim youths killed her claiming her death was justified under Islam.

Note - there has been no coverage of this story in the American media.

Socialists routed in state and local elections in Spain

Center-right People's Party hesitates to call for snap national election

From Cliff Thies:

As expected, the center-right People's Party swept Spain's state and local elections last Sunday, running 10 points ahead of the Socialist Party, taking all major municipalities and almost all states and autonomous regions. Instead of calling, immediately, for a snap election, the People's Party merely stated that the Socialists had lost the confidence of the people of the country. It is expected that, as the People's Party take over the places they gained from the Socialists, they will uncover the kind of hidden debt and corruption that was uncovered in Catalonia following last December's election in that place.

RLC on Debt Ceiling Vote in House

by Dave Nalle

The House of Representatives is voting on whether or not to raise the debt ceiling this week. Republican leaders plan to oppose this increase, but they need all the support they can get and as many votes as possible on board for fiscal responsibility.

Voters are looking towards 2012 and fiscal responsibility and keeping our national debt under control are your top priorities.

The idea that we would consider increasing our national debt beyond the current $14.3 trillion is irresponsible and downright frightening. We need to learn to control spending and we need to start now. No more blank checks for bureaucrats and pork projects. Let's draw a line in the sand and tell them we've had enough.

Right now we owe $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States. That's completely unsustainable. Let's end the War on Drugs and end the War on Terror and make some serious cuts in discretionary spending. The first step to doing that is just to stop the spending. Then Sen. Rand Paul (RLC-KY) and Sen. Pat Toomey (RLC-PA) have both offered superior plans for balancing the budget and we should move forward with their ideas.

Dave Nalle serves as National Chairman for the Republican Liberty Caucus (rlc.org)

Why not the Biker Chic for President?

by Jim Lagnese (Right Guy)

No, it's not Katey Sagal from Sons of Anarchy. In a seemingly de rigueur photo op for Mrs. Palin at the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Rally, Sarah poses for the cameras while riding bitch for a...female motorcycle rider. While the ersatz reporter Andrea Mitchell says Sarah wasn't invited, It seems the riders at the rally didn't mind at all. I surely didn't.

Palin, the Vice Presidential running mate of John McCain in the 2008 presidential election, seems poised to jump in the fray for the White House. Being a motorcyclist in addition to being a libertarian republican, I welcome her willingness to ride a bike, even if it seems forced. She looks pretty good astride the Harley Davidson Electraglide Ultra Classic, I wonder if she'd mind riding pillion on my Beemer? I wouldn't.

Next up for the Palin Tour? Is it Philadelphia or Gettyburg? Keep in touch. Ride on pretty mama grizzly, right on to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Photo credit - AP

Islamists attack bar in Nigeria, kill 15

Liberal media suggests its "economic tensions," not Western cultural values in conflict with Islam

by Eric Dondero

The AP is reporting "Nigeria blast kills 15 hours after inauguration." The focus of the reports is violence steming from the recent presidential election.

Bauchi is also a stronghold of a radical Muslim sect locally known as Boko Haram. Its members are accused of a rash of killings in the area in recent months which have targeted police officers, soldiers and political and spiritual leaders. They previously attacked churches and engineered a massive prison break.

Boko Haram, which means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language, has asked pushed for the implementation of Sharia law in northern states. Its members re-emerged recently after starting a July 2009 riot that led to a security crackdown that left 700 people dead. They recently rejected a government-sponsored amnesty offer.

Both AP and the BBC blame "economic tensions" for recent Islamic attacks on Christians in the region. The fact that it was a bar that was attacked is only mentioned in passing.

The Islamists did not attack a Regional Government Agricultural office or Economic Development Agency. Instead the target was a bastion of Westernized culture.

Photo - Le Meridien bar, Lagos, Nigeria

AntiWar.com admits they are not a "libertarian" site

"Should not be construed as libertarian..."

From a column by left-libertarian Jeff Rigenbach, "The Brillance of Randolph Bourne," May 30:

The folks who run Antiwar.com would have us believe that their site should not be construed as libertarian in its essence. As Development Director Angela Keaton put it recently, “Antiwar.com is not a libertarian site. Antiwar.com is a foreign policy site operated by libertarians which seeks a broad based coalition in educating about the dangers of Empire.”

Photo - Angela Keaton.

Real live RINO in Florida stands with government teachers over libertarians

Phony Republican and damned proud of it!

From Eric Dondero:

Meet Senator Thad Altman of Brevard County. He's an old-time Republican who is not at all happy with the influx of Tea Partyers and libertarians in the GOP.

According to Florida Today:

Inside three months, Altman has sued the Republican governor to save a high-speed train, and lost. He broke with Republican leadership in votes on property insurance, union payroll deductions and pension reform. He endured an attack by the tea party in local radio ads for supporting the train and cigarette taxes. Altman criticized big power utilities that snuffed his bill to let laid-off space workers start clean-energy companies. And at a union rally at Wickham Park, Altman vowed to defend school teachers, sheriff's deputies and other public employees who otherwise have few friends in Tallahassee these days.

In an interview, I pressed Altman about those issues. A self-described "mainstream" Republican, Altman says he better represents the people of his sprawling senate district -- which includes most of mainland Brevard -- than a recently energized libertarian faction that sides with Scott and the Tea Party.

Altman then criticizes "libertarians," who think that if you work for government you're bad.

QUESTION: You stood with public-school teachers on the issue of pensions and not cutting their pay to balance budgets. But you voted for merit pay and an end to tenure. How do you square those decisions?

ALTMAN: They are completely different issues. The retirement issue affects all public employees who respond to fires, carry guns teach our children. And we've told public employees, "You'll never become wealthy, but what you can depend on is a pretty decent retirement and benefits." To be most efficient, you need the most talented people.

There's this libertarian view right now that government is bad, and if you work for government, you're bad. And I just don't believe it.

With teacher merit pay, it rewards excellence. It allows local school districts to terminate someone for poor performance.

He even criticizes libertarian Republican Governor Rick Scott who he says flys around the state in a "Leer Jet," (actually his own, paid for out of his own pocket), while public workers get the shaft.

One Republican not afraid to call for deep cuts in Medicaid and Medicare

43% immediate cut-backs

From Eric Dondero:

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson was a guest on Hannity the other night. Hannity suggested some of his "libertarian" stances might get him in trouble. Johnson shot back that they were entirely consistent with conservative governance.

On the tough issue of entitlements, he didn't hold back.

From DigitalJournal.com:

"You got to start out by talking about Medicaid and Medicare, and I'll just throw out some suggestions here," Johnson said. "There are others, but I'll just throw out that the federal government could cut Medicaid and Medicare by 43 percent. They could block grant the states. And I'm going to say this throughout my campaign: 50 laboratories of innovation. The notion of best practices. Give it to the states to deliver health care to the poor and those over 65, and do away with the strings, do away with the regulations and the bureaucracies."

Note -To Johnson's great credit so far, no other GOP candidates, including Ron Paul, has been willing to use the term "cut Medicaid and Medicare."

Fujimori leads going into final week

Update

From Clifford Thies:

Keiko Fujimori appears to be the favorite going into the last week of the presidential run-off election in Peru. Each of the last eleven nationwide polls indicates she is ahead, with five of the last six putting her lead at 4 to 6 points.

Reflecting Fujimori's status as frontrunner, perhaps, militant supporters of her opponent, Ollanta Humala, have thrown eggs and rocks at her on the campaign trail. In addition, while she says she will respect the decision of the people in the upcoming run-off election, she says her rival has not said he would do so.

In terms of endorsements, each of the three centrist candidates who were eliminated in the first round have now stated their preferences. Former Lima Mayor Luis Castaneda has now joined former finance minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynksi in backing Fujimori, while former President Alejandro Toledo is backing Humala. Also supporting Fujimori is economist Hernando de Soto and, in so many words, outgoing President Alan Garcia Perez. Also supporting Humala is novelist Mario Vargas Llosa.

In related news, the stocks markets of Chile, Colombia and Peru have announced that they will merge. The Peruvian stock market took a hit when Humala finished first in the first round of voting, but rebounded sharply when Fujimori took the lead in run-off election according to the polls.

Center-right parties enter last week slightly ahead in Portugal

Update

From Clifford Thies:

All polls indicate that the center-right parties are entering the last week of the general election ever so slightly ahead in Portugal. The Social Democrats appear to have a lead of 2 points over the ruling Socialists; and, within reach of forming a majority government with the People's Party. The polls are so close that the final result may depend on the distribution of the popular vote across the election districts of the country.

Libertarian Republicans in New Hampshire split between Palin, Bachmann and Paul

Romney could emerge over divided libertarian field

From Boston.com "As Pain hits the trail, some wary - Tea Party support not a given":

“The social conservative wing isn’t here,’’ [Univ. of NH pollster Andrew] Smith said. But there is an active Tea Party presence in the state. Nearly half of those surveyed in the WMUR poll of likely Republican primary voters supported the Tea Party movement. A nationwide New York Times/CBS poll a year ago found that 18 percent of respondents supported the Tea Party movement.

Jerry DeLemus, chairman of the Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC, an umbrella organization for Tea Party and other political groups in New Hampshire, said he expects libertarian-leaning Republicans to focus on Palin, Bachmann, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul.

“My only concern,’’ he said, “is if we get too many good conservatives running we may end up with a moderate because it might split the vote.’’

Steve Berke for Miami Beach Mayor - New Video

Just released...

From Eric Dondero:

Brought to us from our friend NYC Republican political consultant Roger Stone. Roger serves as a consultant for Berke for Mayor.

Over 20,000 views so far.

Arab media now promoting the line France's Burqa Ban may mean lost Tourist revenue

Return of Gay and Pro-Sex Travelers to offset?

by Eric Dondero

Clever spin coming out of the Middle East press in reaction to France's recent ban on face-covering disguises worn in public.

From Al Arabiya Post-burqa ban: Will France lose out on Mideast flashy tourism?"

France’s ban on face veils, a first in Europe, went into force last month. Those wearing a “niqab” or burqa in public, tourists included, could now face a fine of €150 ($214) and/or be ordered to have French citizenship classes.

France is the second-most popular destination for tourists from the Middle East. Middle Easterners tend to shop more than other tourists and stay in more expensive hotels, studies by the Paris tourist promotion agency show.

Al Arabiya goes on to note that many burqa-clad women from Saudi Arabia come into France yearly accompanying their husbands:

top Saudi-owned Parisian hotels that are flooded with guests from the Middle East throughout the year, such as Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris. The hotel is 95 percent owned by Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal and Microsoft Corp.’s Bill Gates.

Saudis with businesses in France visit the country frequently with their families, which prominently include women who wear the burqa.

But the flip side?

How many sexual freedom-oriented tourists have fled France in recent years because of intimidation from burqa-wearing women and radical Islamist looking men?

Gay travelers? Swingers? The nudist set? Topless female sunbathers?

Tourist dollars from the homosexual community alone, estimated to be north of $50 billion a year, no doubt more than offsets any loss of revenue from Saudi women no longer flooding France over the burqa ban.

Prudish Muslim woman covered in ugly black tent-like burqas from head-to-toe, walking the streets of Paris and Nice, doesn't seem like a great enticement for fun-seeking American or other Western tourists.

"Author of the Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book - Survival Schools for Over 40 Languages" (see - Worldwide Liberty) and backpacker - Europe and Mexico.

G-8 had to "soften" Anti-Israel stance over Canada's objection

"When Israel, the only country in the world whose very existence is under attack, is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand" -- PM Stephen Harper

From Eric Dondero:

New details emerging over the recent G-8 meeting, where 7 of the 8 issued a statement backing the Obama plan to return Israel to 1967 borders.

From Jerusalem Post:

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird during a telephone conversation on Friday and thanked him and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for their pro-Israel stance at the G8 summit. Lieberman said during the conversation that "Canada is a true friend of Israel."

Group of Eight leaders had to soften a statement urging Israel and the Palestinians to return to negotiations because Canada objected to a specific mention of 1967 borders, diplomats said on Friday.

"The Canadians were really very adamant, even though Obama expressly referred to 1967 borders in his speech last week," one European diplomat said.

A spokesman for Harper would not comment on the line Canada had taken, saying only that the final communique would make positions clear.

J-Post also notes that Canada lost its seat on the UN Security Council last year because of the country''s unbending support for Israel.

Senator Brown draws only 2nd tier opponents so far

Potential heavy-hitter a Harvard prof.

From Eric Dondero:

Myweddingdress.biz blog reports that Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts appears to have an increasingly easy road to reelection for 2012 ("A Republican stays connected in Democrat Massachusetts"):

Thus far, Democrats who have entered the race — including Setti Warren, the mayor of Newton; Bob Massie, a former candidate for lieutenant governor; and Alan Khazei, a founder of a national service program — are barely known.

But with a marquee Senate race in 2012, no high-profile Democrat has yet emerged to take on Mr. Brown, the lone Republican in the state’s Congressional delegation and one of the most popular leaders in Massachusetts. Obvious heavy hitters like Gov. Deval Patrick and Mr. Kennedy’s widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, have ruled out running.

National Democrats are so worried that they have begun recruiting Elizabeth Warren for the seat; she is the Harvard professor struggling to win confirmation to the new federal consumer financial protection agency.

Another Ivy Leaguer up against a Blue Collar man of the people Republican?

Editor's comment - Bring it on!

Rock Band member leads protest against Sharia in Dearborn

From Eric Dondero:

Frank Fiorello is a member of the "old school" punk rock band Crude Legacy. The band has a number of songs against radical Islam such as "Mosque of Terror." They are also staunchly Pro-Israel. He and other anti-Islamists held a rally in Dearborn on Satuday.
From the Detroit Free Press:

Frank Fiorello, 35, of Marlette is with a band called Crude Legacy... Fiorello said today's rally is "an assembly against radical Islam and shari'a," which is Islamic law.

In the past two years, Dearborn has dealt with accusations that the city is under shari'a, a claim city officials say is ludicrous.

Crude Legacy's Myspace page

Two Big Strikes for GOP frontrunners on libertarian issues

Pawlenty No on Pot

From Eric Dondero:

New info emerging on Tim Pawlenty's recent visit to the Cato Institute. Dave Weigel at Slate reports on the Q&A after his speech:

Unfortunately, the wearer of Vikings colors worked for the Marijuana Policy Project, who asked Pawlenty how he could be taken seriously on health care since he had opposed "my group" on medical pot.

"What was it?" asked Pawlenty? "Marijuana? Yeah. Well... I stood with law enforcement issue on this issue... we just have a respectful difference on this issue."

Pawlenty vetoed a medical marijuana bill in his last year in office.

Sigh... Romney backs Ethanol subsidies in Iowa

This one is not going to win over libertarians and other free marketeers for sure. Romney's already on thin ice with this wing of the GOP.

The Hill reports "Romney backs Ethanol subsidies":

Asked about his position on federal ethanol subsidies following a talk at the Greater Des Moines Partnership's Presidential Forum Speaker Series, Romney said that ethanol is an important part of the nation's energy supply.

“I support the subsidy of ethanol,” said Romney, according to ABC News. “I believe it’s an important part of our energy solution in this country

Ironically, just last week, Pawlenty scored some points with libertarians by coming out for the repeal of subsidies on an Iowa campaign swing.

WI Republicans getting serious about Education cut-backs

From Eric Dondero:

Libertarians, particularly Libertarian Party members have been skeptical of GOP promises of cutting spending. But at least in Wisconsin, Republicans are sticking to their guns.

From Forbes "Walker's school cuts"":

Republican lawmakers on Friday largely supported Gov. Scott Walker's proposed cuts to public education...

schools still would have to shoulder a roughly $800 million cut in aid and reduce the total amount they get from aid and local property taxes by 5.5 percent.

Government-run schools advocates shot back:

advocates charge that Walker and Republicans are attempting to privatize education through the deep budget cuts...

"This is a day that the state Legislature walks away from its commitment to public education," said Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar.

Walker also proposed a 30% cut in taxpayer subsidies to technical colleges.

Rubio getting hit for opposition to Illegal Immigration

He's a "Benedict Arnold" to his Race

From Eric Dondero:

Florida Senator Marco Rubio (a longtime favorite of this website), recently reiterrated his position against illegal immigration, and blanket amnesty on spanish radio. For that he has received vitriolic condemnation from leftist Hispanic leaders.


From Politico:

"To be against comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship and against the DREAM Act defines you in the Latino immigrant community as a hard-liner and an enemy of the community,” said Frank Sharry, founder and executive director of America’s Voice, a pro-immigration advocacy group.

"There’s a Benedict Arnold feeling,” said Jorge Mursuli, a Cuban immigrant and executive director of Miami-based Democracia, a Hispanic civic engagement group.

Critics also charged that Rubio was putting ambition over his allegiances to his race. Rubio is often mentioned as a possible VP candidate for the GOP in 2012.

More confirmation "Arab Spring" bringing more repression for Gays in Muslim world

EGYPT

Dan Littauer, editor of Gay Middle East out of London, from CNN, May 27, "Will gays be 'sacrificial lambs' in Arab Spring?":

"Many gay activists are very scared that the reality of their oppression could get worse.

For example, in Egypt and Tunisia there was a lot of hope initially that there would be a more tolerant civil society. Now it seems that the impetus for change will be hijacked by conservative (sic) forces who will make the situation worse for gay people and other minorities."

TUNISIA

From Fox News, May 21 "Gays in Egypt, Tunisia worry about post-revolt era":

Throughout the Arab world, however, homosexual conduct remains taboo — it is punishable by floggings, long prison terms and in some cases execution...

"Our struggle goes on — it gets more and more difficult," Tunisian gays-rights and HIV-AIDS activist Hassen Hanini wrote to The Associated Press in an email. "The Tunisian gay community is still seeking its place in society in this new political environment..."

Hanini says... gay-rights activists... now worry that political developments may work against them.

"Tunisian gays, who are finding it increasingly difficult to be accepted... the Islamist parties who are trying to play the role of judge right now, and who view homosexuality and the gay community as a product of the former regime," he said. "They call it 'rot' that must be cleaned away."

From the Editor - Apologies to any reader offended by the photo. But sometimes it's necessary to show the true grotesque reality of Islamism.

Major Free Speech Victory in Michigan

Christians can pass out pamplets on public sidewalk at Muslim Fest

From Eric Dondero:

Background from LR article June 2009 "Dearborn bans Christian group from passing out literature at Arab Festival"":

On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that the group Arabic Christian Perspective can be prohibited from passing out literature on public sidewalks at an upcomming ethnic festival.

From the Detroit News:

A federal judge sided with the city of Dearborn on Thursday in a dispute with a Christian group over the distribution of religious literature during an upcoming Arab festival.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds denied a motion from the California-based ministry, Arabic Christian Perspective, for a temporary restraining order that would have prohibited the city from restricting the group from handing out literature, according to a release from the group's attorneys.

Now this from the Detroit News "Court throws out Dearborn leaflet ban, May 27, City violated man's free-speech rights at festival, ruling says":

A federal appeals court Thursday invalidated a leafleting ban in Dearborn, ruling the city violated a man's free-speech rights when he was blocked from trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.

The 2-1 decision by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sends the case back to federal court in Detroit, where the city and Police Chief Ronald Haddad could be held liable for damages.

George Saieg, a Christian Arab-American from California, sued Dearborn for being prevented in 2009 from handing out literature at the annual Arab International Festival on Warren Avenue. The festival will be held again June 17-19.

Photo credit - The Blog Prof

Giuliani surprises, on top again

Palin in 3rd with 13%

According to Reuters a new CNN poll has Rudy Giuliani ahead of the Republican pack, just "edging out" Romney 16% to 15%.

Rudy Giuliani came out on top of a new survey of the 2012 Republican presidential primary field, even though the former New York Mayor has not so far jumped into the race.

Also polling high were former Alaska governor Sarah Palin with 13 percent, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, with 12 percent, and pizza magnate Herman Cain at 10 percent. Palin also is not a declared candidate for 2012 so far.

All other announced and potential candidates scored less than 10 percent support in a poll of 473 likely Republican voters conducted May 24-26.

"fiscal conservative/tough on crime"

Continuing:

Giuliani projects himself as a tough-on-crime fiscal conservative, and is remembered as the "mayor of 9/11" for his response to the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York city

Unemployed Worker in NC complains she can't find a Job: GOP legislator unexpectedly calls her bluff

THE ULTIMATE MOOCHER WATCH... EVAH!

From Eric Dondero:

North Carolina Republican State Rep. Stephen LaRoque had a "testy" email exchange with a constituent. Kathryn Treadway of Goldsboro lost her health industry job last year. She's been looking for work ever since. She's been recieving generous unemployment compensation. (Her salary was $22 an hour.)

The GOP-controlled Legislature recently reached an impasse with Democrat Gov. Bev Purdue over jobs legislation. This led to the halting of Treadway, and other North Carolinian's extended hand-outs.

Treadway told LaRoque she's been looking all over for work, putting in applications, but nothing has popped up. LaRoque shot back that he had a whole lot of yard work that needed to be done, and he'd hire her for $8 an hour starting immediately.

To her credit, Treadway took him up on the offer, showing up with a shovel and hoe the next day promptly at 9:00 am in front of his house. But things didn't go quite as planned.

From InfiniStreams.com:

“It was just too much. I’m not used to doing manual labor, and the crap he wanted me to do was something two men would do,” she said after leaving. “I'm used to making $22 an hour. I’m not gonna sit there for $8 and hour and come home having a stroke.”

LaRoque was stunned and displeased with her quitting the job after only one hour. Still, he was polite. Continuing:

“I was having her doing some bending over. She said it was bothering her back,” LaRoque said. “She stayed for about an hour and left. … I gave her eight dollars and thanked her.”

The Representative still needs yard work done, and is looking for someone who is willing to take the job. He's encouraging anyone in the local area who actually does want to work to contact him at his legislative office website.

Note - Goldsboro is located in east-central NC.

Congratulations fellow Libertarians: You didn't know? We now completely control the Republican Party

"Libertarian desciples of Ayn Rand" have hijacked the GOP

The New York Post opened a Forum, "Why the GOP lost in Western NY"" May 27. The first uptop response:

The upset victory of Democrat Kathy Hochul may be a harbinger of what is to come in 2012 ("A Portentous Election," Editorial, May 26).

Americans are beginning to realize that the GOP has been hijacked by religious zealots and the libertarian disciples of Ayn Rand.

The GOP's reactionary agenda on social issues and its open hostility to public education, Medicare and Social Security, coupled with its obsession with tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, will most likely ensure its demise in next year's elections.

Americans want government to be reformed, not dismantled.

D. Middlebrooks, Brooklyn

Editor's comment - Since we now completely control things is it now time to abolish the Libertarian Party?

Local NY official stumbles onto the Truth of Smoking Bans

It is indeed Nanny-ism

On the newly-enacted total Smoking Ban at public parks in Bay Terrace, New York.

Bay Terrace City Enforcement official Phil Konigsberg from YourNabe.com:

“Some say this is an extension of the nanny state,” he said. “The definition of a nanny is a person who looks after children. This law is about protecting children and the most vulnerable among us.”

Note - Bay Terrace is located on Long Island at the northeastern tip of Queens.

New fee on your Hotel Bill next time you visit NYC?

Democrats solution to Strauss-Khan? An Anti-Rape Tax

From Eric Dondero:

We reported here at LR last week, that Democrat Assmb. Rory Lancman from Brooklyn (photo below) introduced the "Strauss-Kahn Chamber Maid Protection Act""; a bill to require that New York hotels install a (red?) Panic Button in all rooms to help ensure mostly female cleaning ladies will not be molested.

Now the Hotel & Lodging Association has chimed in. From Joseph McInerney, Assoc. CEO:

“an overreach and overreaction. When you look at the number of people who stay in hotels every night and the number of people working in rooms, these incidents are really few and far between... it’s a step too far to require hotels to spend money on incidents that don’t happen that often.”

The Washington Times editorializes - "Strauss-Kahn prompts panic" - against such legislation as ""ridiculous," and raises a scary, but knowing New York, possible result of such legislation:

It’s one thing if hotels elect to provide staff with devices or training to promote safety, as many do. If the government begins to mandate it, however, don’t be surprised when anti-rape fees pop up on New York hotel bills.

Editor's comment - And we'll all be able to thank the idiot IMF Chief from France.

Todd and Sarah to join Rolling Thunder Veterans

From Josh Painter:

Todd and Sarah may ride with the Rolling Thunder vets.

Blue Star parents Todd and Sarah Palin may be riding with tens of thousands of Rolling Thunder veterans Sunday.

From WaPo:

The former Alaska governor, who is the subject of a lot of overheated speculation about whether she will run for president in 2012, has accepted an invitation to participate in the annual Rolling Thunder memorial ride this Sunday, an official says.

“As far as I know, she is trying to rent a motorcycle, so she can ride with her husband,” said Nancy Regg, a spokeswoman for Rolling Thunder.

Gregg says the tentative plan is for Palin to join up with the ride at the Pentagon at 7 a.m. The ride kicks off at noon, and hundreds of bikers will snake through D.C. to the event’s main stage, which will be between the Reflecting Pool and the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the Mall. The program is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m.

UPDATE! She's Confirmed!

From ABC News:

For the riders of Rolling Thunder, the news that Sarah Palin will participate in their national rally on Sunday came as a surprise. A welcome surprise

I certainly welcome any positive publicity surrounding our cause, anything to bring attention to POWs and MIAs,” said Jeffrey Stewart, who leads a Rolling Thunder chapter in New Hampshire.

I’d love to see [President] Obama walk out and say, ‘Thank you,’” he said. “I’d love to see [Vice President Joe] Biden come out and say, ‘Thank you.’ Anyone who wants to be president, I'd love for them to come and acknowledge us.”

Photo credit - JanetCharletonsHollywood.com

Veena Malik recovers from Car Crash

Worldwide Libertarian Hero is back after attack

From Eric Dondero:

"Vivacious" Bollywood Actress Veena Malik is recovering from a car crash last week. The outspoken critic of Islam won worldwide praise two months ago for her dressing down of a Muslim cleric on India-wide TV. Her car was rammed she alleges, by revenge-seeking Muslims, on the highway to Lahore.

Now this latest report from the International Herald-Tribune:

Veena Malik, whose car was hit by a speeding vehicle en route from Islamabad to Lahore on May 16, has recovered from her injuries and is set to make an appearance on television in the next couple of days.

Malik, who has been discharged from the hospital and is living in her Lahore residence these days, told The Express Tribune: “I have a slight pain in my arm, but I have recovered now although doctors have advised rest. I will make my appearance through television in the next few days”.

See video at LR, March 20 "Pakistani Actress slams Muslim cleric on India TV"

Non-English speaking non-Citizen Somalis voting in US Elections

From Eric Dondero:

Kris Kobach is the newly-elected libertarian Republican Secretary of State in Kansas.

Columnist DeRoy Murdock wrote in 2010 before the election:

I have known Kris Kobach since I was a Georgetown University junior. Kobach was then and remains a terribly bright, engaging, and personable patriot... Conservatives and libertarians should cross their fingers for Kobach.

Yesterday he had an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, "The Case for Voter ID - You can't cash a check, board a plane, or even buy full-strength Sudafed over the counter without ID. Why should voting be different." Kobach in his research found one particularly egregious case from Missouri:

Voter fraud is a well-documented reality in American elections. To offer a few examples, a 2010 state representative race in Kansas City, Mo. was stolen when one candidate, J.J. Rizzo, allegedly received more than 50 votes illegally cast by citizens of Somalia. The Somalis, who didn't speak English, were coached to vote for Mr. Rizzo by an interpreter at the polling place. The margin of victory? One vote.

Kobach also reported that in his home State of Kansas, "221 incidents of voter fraud were reported between 1997 and 2010 [including] absentee-ballot fraud, impersonation of another voter, and a host of other violations.

Finally, an alarming note:

My office already has found 67 aliens illegally registered to vote in Kansas...

Editor's comment - If it's this bad in a conservative Mid-Western State like Kansas, just imagine how bad it is in well-known voter fraud states like Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, California and Washington State. Photo credit - BlogsPitch.com

Ballot Initiatitive next step for Voter I.D. in Minnesota after Dem Gov. Veto

From Eric Dondero:

Republicans have majorities in both the Minnesota House and Senate. A bill to require photo i.d. voting passed through both chambers easily. According to SurveyUSA 76% of Minnesotans support voter i.d. Yet Democrat Governor Mark Dayton just vetoed the bill.

From KSAX.com:

The bill would have required Minnesotans to show a photo ID in order to cast a vote.

The governor also cited $23 million in costs that would have been incurred by local election officials. Despite the governor's veto, it's likely that photo ID's will be required eventually. Republicans who control the House and Senate say they'll pass a bill that would put the issue on the 2012 ballot.

Dayton himself won election by a razor thin margin of 1%. Many Minnesota Republicans suspected fraud, and illegal voters in urban centers such as Minneapolis and St. Paul involved in his election.

Harper stands out on Israel at G-8

UNBELIEVABLE!

Canadian PM only leader to oppose Israel's return to '67 Borders

From Eric Dondero:

We reported on Monday, that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was increasingly being viewed as the new World leader for Freedom.

Now this from the Globe and Mail:

Alone among G8 leaders, the Canadian Prime Minister refuses to embrace the U.S. President’s plan to begin peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis on the basis of a return to Israel’s de facto borders as they existed before its 1967 war with neighbouring Arab countries – a precondition, accepted by Arabs and by many previous Israeli leaders and Canadian governments, that would be necessary to get Palestinians back to the table.

Mr. Harper made his opposition to that position clear through a spokesperson shortly after Mr. Obama’s Middle East speech last week in a pre-G8 briefing, making him the lone leader in the G8 not to back the U.S. preconditions.

Note - Although, Harper himself has not embraced the "libertarian" label, he has been called a libertarian or libertarian-leaning by some Canadian media.

Tom Pawlenty reaching out to libertarians

From Eric Dondero:

Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty was in Washington meeting with the folks at the Cato Institute on Wednesday.

From the Washington Post "Pawlenty reaches out to free-market conservatives":

Pawlenty made a direct appeal to a gathering of conservatives in downtown Washington, pledging to place a temporary freeze on public employee salaries and to cut one in two federal jobs through attrition.

The venue, the libertarian Cato Institute, was rich with the symbolism of what Pawlenty was hoping to do: fill the free-enterprise space that many Republicans had hoped Daniels or Christie would step into — and demonstrate that he was up to the task.

“We can’t have federal employees getting a better deal than the people paying the bill — and that’s the taxpayer,” Pawlenty said at the third stop of a week-long swing across the country that began Monday with the official kickoff of his presidential campaign.

It has been a week of symbolic backdrops. In Iowa, where the ethanol lobby has held an iron grip on political discourse, Pawlenty promised to end ethanol subsidies. In Florida, where politicians historically have courted an older population by promising to protect entitlement programs, he pledged to stem the runaway costs of Social Security and Medicare by tightening benefits. And in New York on Friday, he will take aim at the bailouts of big businesses and Wall Street.

Crane noted that Pawlenty received an 'A' from Cato in his last year as Governor. But hinted that the Beltway libertarian crowd is still holding out hope for Christie.

Under Mubarak Nazis had to meet in secret; Now under Muslim Brotherhood they're an organized Party

American Taxpayer subsidized National Socialism

From Eric Dondero:

Oh, the irony. Real live Nazis emerging in the "New Egypt."

From the Jerusalem Post "Egyptian activists 'to form Nazi party', newspaper reports":

'Al-Masry Al-Youm' report says Facebook pages launched to attract followers; Nazi parties operated secretly in Egypt during Mubarak regime.

A group of Egyptian political activists have announced plans to set up a local version "of the Nazi party," an Egyptian newspaper reported on Thursday.

Citing a leftist Egyptian news portal, the Al-Masry Al-Youm daily said that "the party's founding deputy is a former military official," and that the party would be aimed at bringing "together prominent figures from the Egyptian society."

Note - Egypt is the largest recipient of US foreign aid, and President Obama just approved the relief of over $1 Billion in debt to the US from the Arab World, most of which for Egypt.

Speaker Boehner and House GOP leadership address Job Growth

The House Republicans come out with a plan to boost the economy and help job growth.

According to The Hill:

[It would] reduce regulation and taxes, promote free trade and modernize the patent system.

[And]

reduce taxes on corporations and individuals to no more than 25 percent as part of a “fundamental” overhaul of the tax code

Republican Congressman on PC Madness on Airport Screenings

Bass Ackwards - Old Granny, and little Girl patted down; Muslim man goes free

From The Hill:

The Transportation Security Administration is too worried about “political correctness,” according to a Republican lawmaker.

Rep. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said TSA is too politically correct when it chooses which passengers to search at airport security checkpoints.

During a recent trip, Broun said he saw TSA pat down an elderly person and a child, but not a man he himself deemed suspicious.

“I walked through … right behind me there was a grandmother — little old lady, and she was was patted down,” Broun said on C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.”

“Right behind her was a little kid who was patted down. And then right behind him was a guy in Arabian dress who just walked right through. Why are we patting down grandma and kids?”

H/t Weasel Z...

Bollywood Acress Veena Malik attacked in Pakistan

From Eric Dondero:

Initial reports last week said that famed Pakistani-turned-India actress Veena Malik was involved in a simple car crash on the highway between Islamabad and Lahore. Now the full story is coming out.

From the Middle East Media Research Institute "Outspoken Pakistani Actress Veena Malik Injured In Attack on Her Car" May 23:

Noted Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who confronted an Islamic cleric in a live debate on Pakistani television early this year, was injured when the car she was riding in was attacked while travelling from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad to Lahore on the night of May 16, 2011.

Malik is a renowned Pakistani actress, model, social worker, and television anchor. She has played lead roles in a number of box-office hits produced in Urdu and Punjabi languages over the past decade in Lollywood, Pakistan's film industry. In recent years, she has hosted television shows on Pakistani and Indian television channels, becoming a household name across Pakistan and India...

While initial Pakistani media reports said that Veena Malik was injured in a car crash, her publicist said that it was a deliberate attack. Her publicist Sohail Rashid said: "A speeding vehicle overtook Veena Malik's car, hit its side door and raced off. The car went off-balance and collided."[1] "It seemed as if they deliberately hit our car. We couldn't see their faces. They hit us, and saw our car colliding. They would have stopped had they hit us by mistake," Rashid said, adding that Malik is now out of danger and her condition is stable.

Media note - CNN, typically very quick to cover any international story with a high-ratings producing Bollywood angle, has yet to cover this story? Photo credit - BollywoodChaska.com

Craig Huey "libertarian Republican" for Congress - California Special Election

From Eric Dondero:

Craig Huey shocked the California political establishment last week, by winning a run-off spot for the open Jane Harmen seat in Congress. The district is heavily Democrat, and the incument Dem Secretary of State was expected to place 2nd. Huey beat her by 7,000 votes.

From his website:

THE RESULTS ARE IN! Craig Huey shocks media and career politicians with second place win in race for California’s 36th Congressional District.

Now we are gearing up for a surprise victory in the run-off election Tuesday, July 12, 2011. If you live in Del Aire, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Lennox, Lomita, Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, Marina del Rey, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, Torrance, Venice, West Carson or Wilmington, you may be able to vote in this election.

From Jessica Levin, columnist KCET Public Radio - Los Angeles Commentary - How Did a Conservative Finish as One of Top-Two Vote-Getters in the Liberal 36th Congressional District?:

As I and many other hapless souls who engage in predictions confidently stated, the runoff election would be between Hahn and Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

File this under, "I was wrong." In a true political upset, conservative Republican Craig Huey and Democratic Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn bested 14 other candidates in the special election to fill former Rep. Jane Harman's congressional seat.

We ran one of the very few stories in the Nation on his unexpected 1st-round win last week. Craig contacted Libertarian Republican yesterday. He wanted to make sure that our readers saw this interview with him from April 25, with The Daily Bell "Craig Huey on Running for Office as a Libertarian Republican and Salvaging the American Dream".

You're running for Congress in the 36th District in California, and apparently you're doing fairly well, despite the force arrayed against you. Tell us a bit about your background. You consider yourself to be libertarian more than a Republican don't you?

Craig Huey: I'm not a career politician. I'm a small business owner running for a special congressional office on May 17th, just a few weeks away. But I've had an interest in freedom and the free market for a long time. In high school I was introduced to Frederic Bastiat and his classic The Law, the writings of Ludwig Von Mises, Frederic Hayek, Milton Friedman and other great libertarian thinkers and economists.

Read the full interview here.

AND PLEASE HELP CRAIG WITH A DONATION TO HIS CAMPAIGN NOW!

CraigHuey.com

Could McCotter take the Ted Nugent wing of the GOP?

He's Strong on Defense, Anti-Islamist and stridently Free Markets

From the WSJ:

The hand-wringing over the Republican presidential field has not abated much since Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels announced he would not be seeking the GOP nomination, but a new name might soon be entering the fray, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, the guitar-playing, soul-searching libertarian from Michigan.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R., Mich) (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg) Mr. McCotter has told Politico he’s seriously considering a run and will make his decision in the next two weeks.

And this intriguing note from the Manchester Union-Leader. He's headed to New Hampshire, hosted by libertarian Republicans.

The Granite Status has learned that McCotter, who told Politico on Monday that he's strongly considering a run for President, has accepted an invitation to attend one of the biggest GOP late spring events, the Belknap County Republican Committee's annual “Lincoln Day” cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington.

McCotter's attendance was confirmed by Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire Chairman Andrew Hemingway, who has had Capitol Hill connections with McCotter.

More hints on left-libertarian/Paleo trickery in NY CD-26

THIS WEBSITE CONDEMNS IN THE STRONGEST TERMS POSSIBLE EFFORTS BY SOME LIBERTARIANS, MAINLY ON THE LEFTSIDE OF OUR MOVEMENT, TO TRY TO HELP DEMOCRATS DEFEAT GOP CANDIDATES

From Eric Dondero:

We have maintained here at Libertarian Republican, that left-libertarians and paleo/anti-war infiltrators in the GOP recruited 3rd party candidate Jack Davis as a spoiler in New York CD-26.

Now this from Politico, Monday, the day before the race:

Jack Davis, the independent candidate who could play the spoiler in Tuesday’s special House election, comes across as a populist mix of libertarian Ron Paul and protectionist Ross Perot.

I like Ron Paul,” Davis said of the Texas Republican, who also opposes the negotiated free trade agreements like NAFTA. “He’s my kind of guy.”

Note - Upstate lawyer, former Democrat and self-proclaimed anarchist, left-libertarian James Ostrowski, is on the editorial board of LewRockwell.com. Rockwell, of course, is the former Chief of Staff to Cong. Paul, and his longtime personal confidante. Ostrowski has also been a guest on AntiWar.com radio by Eric Garris and Justin Raimondo. Garris is webmaster for Rockwell's site.

Clarification: While we like Ron Paul on domestic matters, it's a great shame that some of his supporters would work to help defeat a good conservative Republican for congress, perhaps over foreign policy differences. It should be noted Jane Corwin has the 3rd most conservative voting record in the NY Assembly.

See our previous article from May 18 on Jack Davis "Paleo-Democrat"

Photo credit - Newscopy.org

One Republican Congressman leaves no doubt where he stands on Israel

Freshman Congressman Joe Walsh of Illinois produces his own YouTube video expressing his unbridled support for the Jewish State.

Conservative Netanyahu criticizes Muslim executions of Gays in speech to Congress

Israel the only Country in the Middle East for Human Rights including Homosexuals and Rights for Women

"In a region where women are stoned, gays are hanged, Christians are persecuted, Israel stands out. It is different.

"As the great English writer George Eliot predicted over a century ago, that once established, the Jewish state will 'shine like a bright star of freedom amid the despotisms of the East.'

H/t Calgary Herald for the text.

UK Columnist Melanie Phillips: Canada's Stephen Harper now the leader of Western Civilization

Step aside Mr. Obama

Excerpt, "And now, those who are on the side of civilisation" Melanie Phillips, The Spectator UK, May 23:

In these terrible times when western elites are dominated by the fellow-travellers of Islamo-fascism and genocidal Judeophobia, it is very important to realise that there are also some outstandingly decent, courageous and rational individuals who are putting their heads above the parapet and speaking up for Israel, truth and justice.

One such is Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. Within a few hours of Obama’s call for Israel to return to the ‘Auschwitz borders’ with land swaps (as if the Arabs really do own all the territory beyond the Green Line, which legally, historically and morally they most emphatically do not) Harper was saying ‘not in our name’:

The Harper government is refusing to join the United States in calling for a return to 1967 borders as a starting point for Mideast peace, a position that has drawn sharp criticism from Canada’s staunch ally Israel.

Editor's note - Phillips is the author of the bestseller "Londonistan" 2007. She is also a friend and coleague and friend of British libertarian humorist and writer Marc Steyn.

Major 'F' up by the New York Republican Party

Corwin loses GOP seat to Democrat upstate: 47% to 42% to 9%

Report from Frank Saybrook, Suffolk Liberty Report:

Democrats won an unexpected special election victory in the western New York special election to replace Rep. Chris Lee in Congress.

Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, despite a GOP enrollment advantage, edged out Assemblywoman Jane Corwin 48-42, with industrialist Jack Davis drew 9 percent of the vote.

Democrats are casting the win as a referendum on the GOP plan to replace the current system of Medicare with one based on vouchers for private insurance. Republicans point to Davis, and his use of the “Tea Party” name for a ballot line that drew votes. There’s also a lot of Republican blame-mongering going on about how the campaign was run.

From Erick Erickson, Red State:

The truth of the matter is that the Republican Party of New York sucks and has sucked for a while. It is especially terrible at special elections where the out of touch party leaders pick state legislators who everyone hates and runs them.

Jane Corwin is a sitting member of the NY State Legislature, just like Jim Tedisco, just like Dede Scozzafava, and she was handpicked by the party elders. Notice a trend?

From Stacy McCain, TheOtherMcCain:

In the middle of a recession, why would you nominate an heiress for Congress? Not to play class-warfare here, but do you really think that it helps the GOP win over hard-pressed blue-collar voters when you run a candidate who inherited part of a $4o0 million fortune? You think folks can relate to that?

And why, Republican Party of New York, if you were going to insist on nominating Jane Corwin for this special election, couldn’t you have at least done something to keep David Bellavia on the GOP team? Bellavia’s endorsement of Jack Davis hurt you guys pretty bad, but your campaign was so generally mismanaged that maybe you didn’t notice.

Editor's comment - Frank Saybrook complained loudly to me last week about Bellavia bolting to Davis's campaign because of a snub by the NY GOP leadership. He predicted that would be the cause of Corwin's loss.

But I say Stacy, Erick and even Frank, completely miss the bigger factor: A deliberate effort on the part of left-libertarians and anarchists affiliated with Lew Rockwell such as left-anarchist upstate NY lawyer James Ostrowski, to sabotage the Republican Party through the Jack Davis campaign.

If you've ever had any doubt the American press hated Republicans

From Eric Dondero:

We in the libertarian wing of the GOP are not huge fans of former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. He seems a bit too plain vanilla for our tastes. Nice guy. But nothing to inspire yet libertarians to flock to his candidacy.

That said, does he deserve this?

From The Hill "Minnesota paper puts Pawlenty presidential bid on obits page":

The Monday edition of St. Paul Pioneer Press offers a small dispatch of Pawlenty's speech on the same page and directly next to the local obituaries.

Another local Minnesota paper, City Pages, began an item on the St. Paul Pioneer Press's placement of the Pawlenty story by saying, "Tim Pawlenty's presidential campaign is Dead on Arrival."

Editor's comment - My biggest beef with Pawlenty, is that he allowed communist Al Franken to steal the 2008 senate election without raising any furor. That doesn't bode well for someone who wants to be our party's standardbearer.