Ayn Randist Pamela Geller interviewed on Ontario TV

From Eric Dondero:

Topic: Islamophobia. Geller puts on a stellar performance. She plugs her new book "Stop Islamization of America," and blasts political correctness. Geller asks why it's perfectly fine to make fun of Jesus, Orthodox Jews, but one cannot criticize Muhammed.

Host Michael Coren asks why it is Americans talk a good game about freedom, but on the other hand, don't seem to want to stand up against anti-freedom Islamism.

Next up Transexuals and Cross-Dressers in the Military

RuPaul in combat fatigues?

From Eric Dondero:

Ah yes. The slippery slope.

The Washington Times is reporting "After demise of ‘don’t ask,’ activists call for end to military ban on transgenders":

With homosexuals now able to serve openly in the military, the gay rights movement’s next battleground is to persuade the Obama administration to end the armed forces’ ban on “transgenders,” a group that includes transsexuals and cross-dressers.

“Our position is that the military should re-examine the policy, the medical regulations, so as to allow open service for transgender people,” said Vincent Paolo Villano, spokesman for the 6,000-member Center for Transgender Equality.

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), which pushed to end the military’s gay ban, is urging President Obama to sign an executive order prohibiting discrimination based on “gender identity.”

Mathew Archbold at TheMinorityReport asks the obvious:

I'm honestly not sure how you'd say no to them. If you can't say no to homosexuals what criterion would be used to keep out transsexuals? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride...

Big H/t Weasel Z...

Germans don't take too kindly to Obama's pontificating on debt crisis

by Clifford F. Thies

The Finance Minister of Germany, Wolfgang Schäuble, dismissed President Obama's and Treasury Secretary Geithner's advise concerning the European debt crisis. "It's always easier to give other people advice," he is quoted in Der Spiegel. Other Germans have expressed themselves less tactfully.

Not even considering the underlying cause of the debt crisis, the United States has national deficit similar in size to those in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, that are simply impossible for the northern Europeans to absorb. The time is now past for the nations on the periphery of the Eurozone to talk about reducing their deficits some time in the future. They have already failed to bring their deficits down, and now must be disciplined by the markets of the world.

And, what about the United States, with our national deficit, and with our unfunded public employee pensions, the insolvency of Social Security and other entitlement programs, and off-budget guarantees, altogether something like 80 trillion dollars? When will we be disciplined by the markets of the world? Or, it the President thinking that the northern Europeans will bail us out too?

No, President Obama, instead of lecturing the countries of the world that are actually bringing their budgets into balance, how about you make a proposal to actually bring the U.S. budget into balance? How about you stop talking about reducing the rate of increase in the deficit, as though delaying financial catastrophe were a responsible position, you talking about reducing the deficit? And, look, if you have to raise the tax rate on people who work to 80 percent or even 120 percent, just be out with it.

Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia. Photo h/t Greekcrisis.net

Next up Mandatory Seat Belts for EMTs and Patients in the backs of Ambulances

NANNY-STATE WATCH!!

From Eric Dondero:

Here it comes... Could Ambulance drivers, EMTs, and even patients now be required to be strapped in? A death of an 86-year old man in Teaneck, NJ in the back of an ambulance, has sparked a statewide drive for boosting the regulations. The widow is suing the ambulance company saying he was not sufficiently strapped in to his wheelchair when he was being transported to the hospital.

From NorthJersey.com:

"It's an important safety precaution that is actually quite rational," said one of the bill's sponsors, Sen. Loretta Weinberg, the Teaneck Democrat.

Editor's comment - Why stop there? Of course, helmets would also save lives. And padded sides inside vehicles. How about steel-armored side plates to protect from crashes. After all, how can you put a cost on saving lives, right?

Foxnews Poll: Cain in top tier, with Romney and Perry

"Herman-nator"

From Cliff Thies:

A Foxnews Poll confirms a variety of other indications that Herman Cain is now among the top tier candidates for the Republican nomination. In this poll, Mitt Romney comes in first among Republicans, with 23 percent; Rick Perry second, with 19; and, Cain third. with 17.

From Fox:

Cain’s support among Republican primary voters is surging as he and the other standout from last week’s FOX News/Google debate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, benefited from a weak showing by former frontrunner Rick Perry.

Cain rose from 6 percent in the August FOX poll to 17 percent in the September sample.

Perry plummeted from 29 percent to 19 percent and from a 6-point lead to a 4-point deficit with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Just as dramatic as Cain's rising is Perry's decline. Like a Michael Jackson album, Perry opened at the top of the chart, sucking the wind from the sails of Michelle Bachman, as the social conservative parry to the thrust of moderate Romney. But, what goes around comes around, and the Gospel-singing, pizza-delivering, cancer-defying, Navy ballistics specialist and Tea Party favorite from Georgia has now returned the favor.

Contest for Libertarian Republican readers: Guess the wrong State?

From Cliff Thies:

This press pass handed out by Team Obama announces the President's trip to CA, WA and CO. But somethings a bit off.

Tell us what you think it is in the comments section.

Hint: States to be visited are in white.

Just a thought... maybe the White House should have a home-schooler check their work.

From the Editors - The winners will get the choice of a handshake or a cup of coffee from Clifford or Eric.

New ABC/WaPo Poll finds vast majority of Ron Paul supporters not Republicans

Only 1/3rd of Paul supporters identify themselves as "Republicans"

From Eric Dondero:

We reported here at LR during the 2008 presidential campaign, that a number of leftwing activists infiltrated GOP caucuses to support anti-war candidate Ron Paul. The effort was most pronounced in Minnesota, Nevada and northern California. Some GOP activists accused Moveon.org of actively urging their members to spread havoc through the Paul campaign.

From LibertarianRepublican.net, J.B. Williams Dec. 2007, "It's time for Ron Paul to leave the Republican race"

Champion of white supremacists and of anti-war activists like MoveOn.org, Code Pink, paleo-libertarian Lew Rockwell and girl friend Cindy Sheehan, Ron Paul is raising money from outside of the Republican Party and counting on one day party-jumpers to secure the Republican nomination.

A few anti-war activists are on-board the Paul campaign for obvious reasons. MoveOn.org is scheduling member “meet-ups” at Ron Paul stops and has apparently funded and produced some Paul campaign ads. Even socialist Democrat Dennis Kucinich likes a lot of what he sees in Ron Paul.

Now, new poll numbers suggest that there's fire among the smoke.

From Chris Cillizza, Washington Post Political Blog:

his views on foreign policy — including the idea that America all but incited the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 — are decidedly less popular.

We’ve often wondered just how many Paul-ites are actually Republicans. New data from the Washington Post-ABC News poll suggests that it’s not all that many.

Overall, 25 percent of the American public views the Texas Congressman favorably while 27 percent see him in an unfavorable light. Of the 25 percent of people who regard Paul favorably, roughly two-thirds don’t identify themselves as Republicans.

Editor's note - Standard disclaimer; We here at LR fully appreciate and agree with Ron Paul's views on economic issues, most certainly not his views on foreign policy. We're big supporters of his son libertarian-conservative Sen. Rand Paul on just about all the issues.

Obama like Jesus says Texas Democrat Congresswoman

From Eric Dondero:

Who knew? Obama comparable to the Savior Jesus Christ himself. The Houston area's most outspoken Congresswoman tells Tavis Smiley that Republicans and their "obstructionism" are to blame for the economic meltdown. On where else? Taxpayer-funded PBS:

Well, I will say this. First of all, you’re absolutely right. There were those who cheered when Jesus was crucified, and we have found that despicable from the beginning of history to this time.

Editor's comment - Jesus, huh? And some of us were silly enough to think Obama was more comparable to Muhammed.

Geller-ism of the Day: Muslim womens' dress "cloth coffins"

Bikini Babe or the Beach Burka?

Excerpted from Pamela Geller column "Islamizing the Curriculum in Georgia" American Thinker:

Many of us have been calling out and exposing the destructive propaganda war that is being waged in our nation's classrooms. Time and time again, we find extensive lessons on Islam in the public schools, extolling Islamic misogyny and waxing poetic on sharia and the brutal oppression of non-Muslims and apostates.

Last week, we found that schools across Georgia were Islamizing the curriculum by selling misogyny to children. They were using a lesson plan that glorifies the cloth coffin that Muslims dress women in, as well as polygamy...

Of course it put Islam in a positive light. This is not education; this is proselytizing. Bear in mind that these letters are fictitious -- propaganda created to soft sell misogyny. It is time our children were taught about the 270 million victims of over a millennium of jihadi wars, land appropriations, cultural annihilations, and enslavements. And the systematic dehumanization of women: honor killings, clitorectomies, and so much more. Where is the caning? Where is the prohibition of women leaving the house without a male family member? Where is the prohibition of women driving?

America's #1 Pro-Defense libertarian site Pamela Geller's Atlas Shrugs

Florida - Romney and Cain country

Perry in 3rd; Gingrich, Bachmann, Paul, Huntsman and Santorum way back in the pack

From Survey USA:

In the Florida Republican Primary for President, Mitt Romney at 27% edges Herman Cain at 25%, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted for WFLA-TV Tampa. Rick Perry finishes 3rd with 13%, others further back. The Primary is tentatively, and controversially, scheduled for 4 months from today, on 01/31/12,

Romney is strong among older voters, women, moderates and in Southeast Florida. Cain is strong among men, younger voters, Tea Party members, affluent voters and in Northeast Florida. Perry is strong among those who say they are "very conservative," among those who attend religious services regularly, among Evangelicals and in Northwest Florida.

Newt Gingrich at 6%, and Michelle Bachmann and Ron Paul at 5%, effectively tie for 4th place. Jon Huntsman, in 7th place, finishes ahead of Rick Santorum.

Paul/Ventura 2012: A Truther on the Ticket?

Fmr. Wrestler suggests 3rd party run with the Libertarian Party

From Eric Dondero:

Former Minnesota Independent Governor Jesse Ventura is making some news. Ventura is one of the most prominent believers in 9/11 Truth (that individuals other than Islamic radicals flew the jets into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001), and is a host of a syndicated cable show on Conspiracies.

He is now suggesting he'd like to run with Ron Paul on the Libertarian Party ticket for President/Vice-President.

He made the comments on the syndicated radio show of another 9/11 Truther Alex Jones.

From R/T, "Ron Paul's running mate: Jesse Ventura?" Sept. 28:

It would create unbelievable excitement if Ron Paul and I ran as the libertarian ticket.

Additionally:

Ron Paul needs to quit the Republican Party, get the nomination for the Libertarian Party... Ron Paul can win. It’s out there. All you got to do is activate and get the silent voters out to vote,” says Ventura. “You have to give them a reason to see their vote.

Editor's comment - Of course, it is unlikely that the even the Libertarian Party, as quarky as they can be, would risk the label of 9/11 Trutherism and accept Ventura. Ironically, back in 1990, the Libertarian Party of Minnesota rejected Ventura for Governor over his support for publicly-subsidized light rail for Minneapolis.

Heartbreak for Paul team: Barry Manilow choosing Obama over the TX Congressman

LR FOLLOW-UP!

From Eric Dondero:

We reported here at LR that top elevator music artist Barry Manilow was offering great praise for domestic issues libertarian Ron Paul for President.

Manilow was quoted:

I think he’s solid. I agree with just about everything he says, what can I tell you?

Now the singer has had a slight change of heart.

The Daily Caller reports "Barry Manilow endorsing Obama over Paul":
“Although I agree with some of what Ron Paul says, I am not actually endorsing him in the 2012 presidential race, nor have I ever told anyone that I was,” Manilow told The Washington Post in a statement.

“He loves his president,” a representative for the artist also told The Washington Post. The Post also reported that Manilow plans to vote for Obama in 2012.

Hate Crime in St. Louis: Be too Pro-Jew and get a Star of David carved into your back

From Cliff Thies:

An Arab man who expressed support for Israel had a Mogen David carved into his back in St. Louis.

Glenn Becks The Blaze is reporting:

Alaa Alsaegh, a writer whose Arabic language poem, “Tears at the Heart of the Holocaust,” was featured on Nonie Darwish’s website, ArabsForIsrael.com, reported the incident to local authorities and was later taken to a hospital where his wounds were photographed. The Egyptian-born Darwish is a former Muslim who converted to Christianity and has been one of the most prominent and outspoken critics of Islam since the September 11 attacks.

According to Darwish’s article in FrontPage Magazine on Wednesday, Alsaegh‘s poem expressed the author’s affinity for Israel, the Jewish people and his mourning over the grim fate of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

Such sentiments purportedly did not sit well with certain members of St. Louis’ Islamic community, however, prompting a string of alleged threats directed at Alsaegh in which the poet was smeared an infidel and a traitor to Islam.

We stand in solidarity with this man and all our friends in the Arab world, for we are all under attack from those who let hatred and violence into their heart. On this day of Rosh Hashanah, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and we wish a happy and sweet New York to all men of good will.

Palestinian Sovereignty and the Settlements

Looking at Israel's options

by Clifford F. Thies

It is not clear what the two-state solution means. One possibility is two partially inter-mingled states, with places internal to the Isreali and Palestinian parts having populations that are of the other part, belonging to the other part, along with connecting roads, and with a Jerusalem being shared by both parts. But, with so much hatred, is such a thing possible?

Another possibility is two completely divorced states, which would require the evacuation of populations from the other part. In this two-state solution, Jerusalem would be partitioned and Gaza would be cut off from the West Bank. Could this even work in practice?

The ruling document for continued negotiation, supposedly, is the agreement reached in Oslo, Norway, in 1993, and ratified by the Israeli Knesset and Fatah. But, Hamas has never accepted this agreement.

Hamas is today in total control of Gaza and is in the process of turning that place into a theocratic state. Hamas is also the majority party in the national legislative council of Palestine, although what this means is not clear that body has not met since 2007. Adding to the confusion, the President Abbas has twice postponed elections, now slated for 2012, and Hamas considers the speaker of the legislative council, Aziz Duwaik, a member of their party, to be the acting President. The United States props up Abbas since it funnels its international aid through his office.

Final borders based on the Green Line?

The Oslo agreement provided a limited degree of home rule to the people of Palestine and envisioned that further negotiations would result in a final agreement and full sovereignty for Palestine within five years; but, that was eighteen years ago.

Among the issues to be resolved are the exact borders, the final status of Jerusalem, the settlements, and the repatriation of refugees. The so-called Green Line is effectively a start point for negotiating the exact border. This line was the armistice line ending the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

The Green Line was, at the time, somewhat arbitrary in that there were pockets of majority-Arab and majority-Jewish population on both sides of it. Furthermore, the Green Line extended control of East Jerusalem and the West Bank to Jordan, a Muslim country, when East Jerusalem and the West Bank had been at the time largely Christian-Arab. The Jordanians proceeded to ethnically and religiously cleanse East Jerusalem. The Christian-Arabs fled mostly to the United States, Chile and Australia. The Jews fled mostly to Israel.

Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, when Israel gained control of the entire region, East Jerusalem was restored to a mixed Christian, Jewish and Muslim heritage as had existed for centuries under the rule of the Ottomans. In addition, many of the Jews who had fled from the West Bank returned to their homes, to what are now called settlements. (Other Jews have since joined them in these and other, newly-established settlements.)

Limited Annexation of some continguous Settlements may be the only viable option

There is, at this time, no prospect of the negotiation of peace between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority in view of the lack of legitimacy of that authority and the hard-line position of Hamas. Accordingly, the possibility of two inter-mingled states is not realistic. Israel is therefore faced with the prospect of an indefinite continuation of the status quo, or a unilateral declaration the final solution.

Annexing the settlements would effectively declare the status quo to be the final solution. This would appear to many to be unfair. Furthermore, it would not work. No place do you find such a border between sovereign countries that recognize and live in peace with each other.

Another possibility is for Israel to "negotiate" a final solution with a credible outside authority, and then impose this solution on the other side. The border might involve annexation of some settlements, but these annexations would have to result in a contiguous border. Jews on the Palestinian side of the border would of course have to be evacuated to Israel. Arabs on the Israeli wide of the border could be given the choice. I suspect that the majority would choose to become Israeli citizens.

Then, it could like a Jewish divorce. The parties meet someplace, each accompanied by his rabbi, in the presence of a third rabbi. Then, the man throws his bill of divorcement, rolled up into a ball, at the woman, and they both spit at the other. Then it is over. To hell with them!

CLIFFORD F. THIES is the Eldon R. Lindsey Chair of Free Enterprise Professor of Economics and Finance at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia.

Re-newed crack-down on Iranian women not covering up

Those showing signs of Western Culture will be punished

From Eric Dondero:

Just released video news report on Iranian authorities cracking down on women walking in the streets of Tehran not properly covered. Many of the women shown in the video are model-gorgeous.

The crack-down may spread to men dressed in too Western a manner, as well.

Editor's comment - It's rather interesting that such blatant repression of human rights, doesn't seem to warrant coverage from other so-called "libertarian" media.

Broward Cty. GOP rejects Islamist CAIR Dir. Nezar Hamze

"I'm a very strict social conservative... traditional Islamic values..."

From Eric Dondero:

Nezar Hamze is the South Florida Director for the terrorist-linked Islamist group CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations). He gained fame last year for having confronted pro-defense libertarian Congressman Allen West on his support for Israel at a town hall meeting.

Last weekend he attempted to pull off another political stunt: running for a seat on the Broward County Republican executive committee.

Background from the South Florida Independent:

“I’m a very strict social conservative,” Hamze says. “I have strong family values — traditional Islamic values really line up with the Republican Party’s family values platform.”

That’s where my political platform is. When you look at it, it is almost mirrored with traditional Republican values, not with the new neo-con conservatives,” Hamze explains. “You have some individuals like Ron Paul, Chris Christie that are out there, who stand by their values and treat all Americans equally.”

“Here’s the problem: The neo-cons and the neo-Zionists are absolutely opposed to any Muslim participation in the political process,” Hamze says. “We are very wealthy, very well networked, but not active politically, and that is our problem as a Muslim group.”

He says that those opposed to Muslim political activity know this. “Their claim to fame — and you can use Rep. Allen West — is, ‘Let’s bash the Muslims and get the vote.’” Hamze says he wants to “bring the Muslims to the mainstream political process.”

"The problem... neo-cons and neo-Zionists..."

Hamze's membership was rejected by the Broward GOP voting body by an overwhelming vote.

From BrowardPalmBeach.com "Muslim Nezar Hamze Kept Out of Broward GOP Committee Amid "'Pit of Discrimination'":

Nezar Hamze -- a Muslim and executive director of Florida's Council on American-Islamic Relations -- is no stranger to taking heat from right-wing politicos in Broward County.

He's feuded with Rep. Allen West, U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hasner, radio host Joyce Kaufman...

Hamze said he fielded about 15 minutes' worth of questions, some of which weren't even questions, as he says people called him "terrorist" and said "You're in al-Qaida,"

the results didn't come as much of a surprise to Hamze -- he was denied by a vote of 158-11.

The ten other people who applied for membership were all admitted...

Photo h/t Gary Rumain's blog, RedBroward.com

IL Sen. Mark Kirk - Cut off aid to Pakistan now

From Eric Dondero:

Senator Mark Kirk is a member of the Senate Subcommittee on Foreign Aid. In reaction to the recent bombing of US Embassy in Kabul, by the Pakistan-based Muslim terrorist group Haqqani Network, Kirk told MSNBC (via TheHill):

"I think now we've got to cut off military assistance to Pakistan..."

In an even more controversial statement, he went on to suggest that American Troops scale down operations, and transfer more responsibility for Afghanistan security to India.

"India has a strong interest in an Afghanistan that is not a terror base," Kirk said. "I wish that a peaceful Afghanistan could be created out of Pakistan, but it appears that the Pakistani government has committed itself to terror."

California congressional seat in new District - Libertarian-Conservative emerges

by Steve Foley

Friends of Steve Foley is an exploratory committee to “test the waters” and see if we can gain enough support and raise the proper amount of funding to run for United States Representative in the newly formed California District 47 which is an open seat due to re-redistricting.

As a Trusted Conservative my focus would be stopping the liberal agenda in Washington DC and to get America working again!

Economy and Jobs: Getting our fiscal house in order by supporting a Balanced Budget Amendment, Cutting Spending, Replacing our antiquated Tax Code, Removing overburdening Restrictions & Red Tape, and becoming Energy Independent.

Repealing ObamaCare: ObamaCare will devastate our already weak economy to a point of no return and will burden future generations of Americans to pay for a bill that has little to no chance of success. The best solution would to get the federal government as far away from Health Care as possible but while we work to achieve that goal here are some immediate fixes we can accomplish in a relatively short amount of time:

•Medical Liability & Tort Reform.
•Small business buying pools.
•Allow insurance to be sold across state lines.

Border Security: The way to tackle the illegal immigration problem we’re facing is to make federal government do their job! I would advocate for:

•Securing our Borders
•Enforcing the laws that are already on the books
•Promoting a path to citizenship for those who come in the front door
•Removing the magnets that draw illegal immigrants here in the fist place

For all these reasons and many, many more… I would be truly honored to have your support in this endeavor and I’d be extremely humbled to represent my district as a United States Congressman in Washington DC!

SteveFoley2012.com.

Gary Johnson scores a Celeb endorsement from NYC

LR EXCLUSIVE!!

Kristin Davis comes out for fmr. NM Governor

From Eric Dondero:

Coming on the heels of her friend Roger Stone's endorsement of Gary Johnson for President, former New York Madam and 2010 Independent-Libertarian candidate for NY Gov. endorsed him on Monday.

Davis told LR:

I too endorse Gary Johnson.

I watched Gary many times on TV and youtube.com speak about the benefits and the role the government plays in the War on Drugs. I have always been a fan since rarely do public officials (or former) speak out on such controversial subjects. Having met him at the Reason Magazine event in December, I found him honest, intelligent and was impressed by his candor on all subjects. He seems to be one of the few honest politicians left and is not scared to speak his mind or the truth. He has my vote.

GaryJohnson2012.com

Romney the GOP favorite among Jewish voters

From Eric Dondero:

Barack Obama's support among Jewish voters has slipped dramatically in recent months according to the latest AJC poll. His approvals are now lower than his disapprovals for the first time in his presidency.

The new poll has him at 48% disapprovals to 45% approval. Last year Obama's approvals were at 55%.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears to be the best choice to win over Jewish voters. Still significantly behind in a match-up with the incumbent, Romney polls a 32% to Obama's 50% (16% Neither). But Perry and Bachmann finish lower at 55% to 25% and 59% to 19% respectively.

Photo credit - India Times

Lobbyists baffled by Rand Paul's un-bending libertarian stance

Not playing by the Beltway rules

From Eric Dondero:

Kentucky Senator and libertarian Tea Partyer Rand Paul is not caving in to pressure to change his stance in favor of tougher regulations for gas pipeline safety.

From CBSNews.com "Senator blocks pipeline safety bill on principle" Sept. 27:

A senator who opposes federal regulation on philosophical grounds is single-handedly blocking legislation that would strengthen safety rules for oil and gas pipelines, a bill that even the pipeline industry and companies in his own state support.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul's opposition to the bill hasn't wavered even after a gas pipeline rupture last week shook people awake in three counties in his home state of Kentucky.

Paul, a tea party ally who shares with his father, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, a desire to shrink the role of the federal government, won't discuss his role in stymieing the bill. But industry lobbyists, safety advocates and Senate aides said he is the only senator who is refusing to agree to procedures that would permit swift passage of the measure.

Corporate lobbyists are not sure what to do with the freshman Senator.

"We thought (the bill) provided a reasonable framework and good congressional guidance for the regulators to go ahead and proceed down a path that would enhance pipeline safety over time," said Jerry Morris, president and CEO of Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline Inc. of Owensboro, Ky., who spoke to Paul about the issue during a meeting in Owensboro in June.

Socialists finish first, Center-Right second, third and fourth

From Cliff Thies:

A snap election in Latvia produced an apparent split result, with the socialist Harmony Party finishing first, but with center-right parties finishing second, third and fourth, with a combined result sufficient to organize a new ruling coalition.

The election has been described as a victory for the ethnic Russians of the country, in that most of the ethnic Russia favor more socialist economic policies. But, this ethnic interpretation of the results misses the real dividing line, which is economic.

Precipitating the election was a dissolution of the former ruling coalition, including the complete disbanding of its largest party. A new party, described as the Reform Party was organized for this election, a center-right party, which gained the second largest number of seats in the new Parliament.

A second center-right party, the Unity Party, was formed from three parties that individually might have fallen under the threshold for representation in the Parliament. This party finished third in the election. A third center-right party, the Alliance Party, also formed from other smaller parties, finished fourth. And, a fifth party qualified for representation in the Latvian Parliament, the Union of Greens and Farmers, a center party, with two distinctive parts.

While there are many possibilities, were the two largest center-right parties to agree to work together to form a ruling coalition, concerning which they are currently in negotiation, they should then be able secure a center-right majority the Alliance Party, which supported the leader of the Unity Party for President earlier this year.

Cain takes the lead in latest Zogby poll

From Cliff Thies:

John Hayward of Human Events reports:

A new Zogby poll puts Herman Cain at the top of the Republican field, as the top choice of 28% of poll respondents. (IBOPE Zogby International says the polling sample consists of “all likely voters and of likely Republican primary voters.”)

Rounding out the top three are Rick Perry at 18%, and Mitt Romney at 17%. Fourth place goes to Ron Paul at 11%.

Interestingly, this poll was conducted after the Orlando GOP debate, but before Cain won the Florida straw poll. It’s a huge surge for Cain, who was polling at 12% just two weeks previously...

WARNING! Zogby's not the most reliable pollster out there.

Not that Mitt Romney is too concerned about Herman Cain's sudden surge, but it's rumored that he has arranged a recording session of his own with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Republican Reps. Upton and Walden - Reduce Fed Regs, Absolutely No New Taxes!

From Eric Dondero:

Oregon Congressman Greg Walden is joined by Michigan Cong. Fred Upton, a member of the GOP leadership, at a Rodeo in Pendleton.

From the East Oregonian, Sept. 17:

Upton and Walden emphasized regulatory relief for small business, especially, as a path toward economic recovery.

"We've lost one in five manufacturing jobs in the last 10 years — most of those have been in Michigan," Upton said. "I don't think you'll see anyone on the Republican side looking to raise tax rates ... that would really drive folks' jobs somewhere else. We need to put people back to work."

Maine Moderate calls for immediate Fed Regulations freeze

From Eric Dondero:

The Junior Senator from Maine, Susan Collins, is calling for an immediate halt to all federal regulations that hurt business.

In a WSJ editorial on Friday ("The economy needs a time out from Federal regs"), she used a couple examples of hometown businesses having to lay off workers, due to encroacing EPA regs.

the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new rule on fossil-fuel emissions from boilers that—by the EPA's own admission—would cost the private sector billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. The owner of a small business in Maine told me the proposed rule would require him t o scrap a new, $300,000 wood waste boiler he recently installed...

That EPA rule on boilers is a good example of why we need a regulatory time-out. According to a recent study by the American Forest & Paper Association, if the rule went into effect as written it could, along with other pending regulations, cause 36 American pulp and paper mills to close. That would put more than 20,000 Americans out of work—18% of that industry's work force.

Once those mills close, the businesses that supply them also would be forced to lay off workers. Estimates are that nearly 90,000 Americans would lose their jobs, and wages would drop by $4 billion—just because of over-regulation.

She explained further:

America's overregulation problem is only getting worse. Right now, federal agencies are at work on more than 4,200 rules, 845 of which affect small businesses, the engine of job creation in our country. More than 100 are major rules, with an economic impact of more than $100 million each... our small businesses are buried under a mountain of paperwork that drives up costs, prevents the hiring of workers, and impedes economic growth.

She proposes:

America needs a "time-out" from the regulations that discourage job creation and hurt our economy. I have introduced legislation to impose a one-year moratorium on any "significant" new rules that would have an adverse impact on jobs, the economy, or America's international competitiveness.

Photo credit - NCRM.com and Maine Community Colleges

It's now official! Libertarian Party gains a State Representative

BREAKING NEWS!!! LR EXCLUSIVE!

From Eric Dondero:

We repoted here at LR last week on Rhode Island Representative Daniel Gordon. Numerous controversies have caused him to leave by his own accord, or to be "expelled" (according to other accounts), from the GOP Caucus in the RI House. Gordon, a Tea Partyer and self-described "Ron Paul supporter" and "Constitutionalist," has been under fire for 3 arrests in his past in Massachusetts. He has also battled with the GOP caucus over strategy, and controversial statements he has made.

LR was the first to report, after an exclusive interview with the Representative, that Gordon had decided to join the Libertarian Party. (He has since sent in his national membership dues).

Now according to the RhodeIslandNews.com:

The Libertarian Party of Rhode Island – which is not a state-recognized party in Rhode Island — has issued a statement on Thursday saying that Gordon, who was expelled from the House Republican caucus earlier this month, became a “dues-paying member” of the party Sept. 21.

Note - The Libertarian Party has not had a sitting State Rep. as a member since the late 1990s, when Neal Randle served briefly as a Libertarian in the Vermont Legislature. Four Libertarians also served from 1994 to 1996 in the New Hampshire House. Before that, in the 1980s, three Libertarians served in the Alaska Legislature.

UPDATE!! The Libertarian Party of Rhode Island (LPRI.us) held an open Executive Committee meeting last night at the Warwick library. Rep. Gordon came to speak. According to LPRI Chair Brian Stack, the Rep. gave a well-received presentation on his libertarian issue stances. Stack reported to LR that the ExComm voted to welcome him into the Party, and will soon be releasing a formal statement on his membership.

Photo of LPRI ExComm from last year. Chair Brian Stack far right. Also, Gary Whitney, Treasurer Tony Jones: Front Row: Sec. Beth Richardson, and Christian Chirino. Note - Jones has been helpful in recruiting Gordon. He has been a Facebook friend with the Rep. through the process.

Spain: Peoples' Party maintains double-digit lead

From Cliff Thies:

Six nationwide polls conducted in Spain during the month of September, following the call of the next election for November 20th, show the center-right Peoples Party with a double digit lead over the ruling Socialist Workers Party and within reach of an absolute majority in the Spanish Parliament. Whether or not the Peoples Party achieves a majority in the Parliament, they will likely form a ruling coalition with one or more center-right regional parties. The September polls confirm the results of the regional elections held in May in that country, in which the Socialists were removed from control in every region in which they had been in control. The country suffers massive unemployment, over 20 percent, and a budget deficit similar to ours in the United States.

New Poll - Virginia all but lost for Obama in '12

STUNNER!!!

Obama gets clobbered by generic Republican 41% to 33%, Romney over Obama 45% to 37%

From Eric Dondero:

Breaking from Roanoke Poll Roanoke.edu "RC Poll: Obama trails Republican front runners; Allen and Kaine in dead heat in Va poll":

The generic (unnamed) Republican leads Obama 41% to 33%; Mitt Romney leads 45% to 37%; and Rick Perry leads by an statistically insignificant 42% to 40%. At the same time, Obama leads potential opponents Michele Bachmann (46% to 35%), Ron Paul (43% to 33%), and Sarah Palin (50% to 31%). Looking only at registered voters, none of those margins change by more than 1 percent and several do not change at all. Within two key groups, Kaine leads among Moderates (52%-30%), but Allen leads among Independents (42%-33%). Obama also performs better among Moderates and not as well with Independents.*

The poll also found Republican George Allen ahead of Democrat Tom Kaine, 43% to 39% in the Senate match-up.

Roger Stone endorses Gary Johnson for President

LR EXCLUSIVE!!

From Eric Dondero:

Former Reagan for President, 1996 Dole for President campaign consultant, and longtime friend and contributor to Libertarian Republican Roger Stone is officially endorsing fellow libertarian Republican, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson for president.

Stone told LR yesterday:

Gov Gary Johnson --my first choice for the Republican Nomination for President

He referred readers to the most recent GQ article, "Is this the sanest man running for president?" (excerpt):

A few things you need to know up front about Gary Johnson. There is nothing he will not answer, nothing he will not share. For six straight days, we spent virtually every waking hour together, which might have had something to do with the fact that there wasn't another reporter within ten miles of the guy. Or that when you're polling in the low digits and your campaign fund is less than Mitt Romney's breakfast tab and your entourage is Brinck and Matt, you tend to be more forthcoming. But in fact, Johnson is fundamentally incapable of bullshitting, which is one of the many, many things that make him so unusual for a presidential candidate. (When a reporter asks him, after he gushes about how great New Hampshire voters are, if he says the same thing in Michigan, he replies, "No, Michigan's the worst.") He finds presidential politicking of the sort we've grown accustomed to—slick, scripted, focus-grouped, how-does-the-hair-look—to be "absolutely phony."

Photo - Johnson riding in the Alps, Flickr.com

HUGE GOP PREZ NEWS!!! Libertarian Republican Dennis Miller endorses Herman Cain

From Eric Dondero:

One of the Nation's top libertarian Republicans is now officially backing Herman Cain for President.

Overnight from Yahoo News, The Ticket, "Dennis Miller endorses Herman Cain, plans to headline a fundraiser":

On the heels of presidential candidate Herman Cain's win in the Florida straw poll last weekend, the radio host Dennis Miller announced Monday that he's endorsing Cain for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Miller, who mentioned his support for the Cain campaign on his national radio show, will headline a fundraiser for Cain in Los Angeles and has donated to the campaign, a Cain spokeswoman confirmed.

"I'd like to thank [Miller] for his support," Cain said in a statement on his campaign Twitter feed. "I look forward to working with him as we continue our journey to the White House!"

The Florida Straw Poll: Winners, Losers and Also Rans

The Andre Controversa Show Presents:

Tuesday night's show is a panel that will be discussing the straw poll that took place in Florida last weekend. Our guests include Zack Smith, a young 23-year-old law student at the University of Florida and Rick Perry supporter who was a delegate at the Florida Straw poll and Jason Freeman, who is a civil engineer in Orlando and a Ron Paul supporter, Chuck Quackenbush, deputy sheriff from Fort Meyers where he is the deputy sheriff, he is a Cain supporter and Tim Nance of Naples Florida who is a Paul supporter.

Host Andre Traversa, Co-host Jim Lagnese

Show time Tuesday September 27 at 7:00PM CST

Call in at 949-203-4821 or stream here.

Glenn Beck - Libertarian through and through

From Eric Dondero:

Glenn Beck makes a straightforward statement:

It's not because I want to legalize drugs... You know I always say I have libertarian leanings. I am a libertarian, but most libertarians would reject me. They would reject me because they believe I'm one thing or another.

No! I'll fight for your right to do whatever you want. Don't make me pay for it however.

Editor's comment - You're more than libertarian enough for us here at LR, Glenn. Thank you for all you do for our libertarian movement!

King Abdullah extends the right to vote to women

THE KINGDOM!

by Clifford F. Thies

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has decreed that this week's municipal elections (the second in the country's history) will be the last in which women are not allowed to participate. Next time, in the 2015 municipal elections, women will be able to participate both as voters and as candidates. Furthermore, the King has announced that he will appoint women to join the currently all-male council that advises the government.

From the AP (via Omaha.com) "US praises Saudi reform on women's voting rights":

The White House says Saudi Arabia is taking an important step ahead in expanding women's rights by allowing women to vote and run in local elections in 2015.

National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor (VEE'-tor) says this reform recognizes the "significant contributions" that women make in the Muslim kingdom. He says the announcement by King Abdullah will give Saudi women more ways to participate "in the decisions that affect their lives and communities."

Vietor says the U.S. is behind Saudi Arabia as it puts into place this change and other reforms.

This announcement reflects continuing change and agitation for change in the very traditional country. While customs having the force of law vary from one to another place within the Kingdom, these customs are being challenged.

Let us hope this will spread throughout the Middle East.

Teaching kids that the Burka is okay like endorsing Slavery

Background from LR, Sat. Sept. 24, "Students in Georgia public schools learning that Western women dress like Whores"

Educators in at least one Georgia school district - Marietta, have contracted with InspireEd to teach students about the Middle East, and Muslim culture. But according to local parents, the folks at InspirEd present a thoroughly one-sided view.

The material includes a letter from a woman who is explaining why she is “proud and happy” to be Muslim and a list of seven conditions for women’s dress in Islam.

“I thought this was absurd,” said [Hal] Medlin, who describes himself conservative...

Here is the course work titled “My Name is Ahlima” provided by InspiredEd:

“My name is Ahlima and I live in Saudi Arabia. … Perhaps two differences Westerners would notice are that women here do not drive cars and they wear abuyah. An abuyah is a loose-fitting black cloth that covers a woman from head to toe. I like wearing the abuyah since it is very comfortable, and I am protected from blowing sand. … I have seen pictures of women in the West and find their dress to be horribly immodest. … Women in the West do not have the protection of the Sharia as we do here. If our marriage has problems, my husband can take another wife rather than divorce me, and I would still be cared for. … I feel very fortunate that we have the Sharia.”

Right Blogger Warner Todd Huston, BigGovernment.com, "Ga. Middle School: Muslim Polygamy Is Normal, Burkas Good For Women":

the idea that burkhas should at all be acceptable to an American is a slap against our own ideals and promotes the oppressive ideas of enemies to our culture as perfectly acceptable.

The culturally strict proscriptions against freedom forced on Islamic women are a crime against humanity, yet here we have our own schools presenting to our own children the idea that the oppression of women is a perfectly acceptable cultural choice.

It would be exactly the same if they had a letter from a female slave saying that she was OK with being a slave. That it was perfectly acceptable for her to be owned by someone

SNL lampoons Michele Bachmann's libertarian call to eliminate Taxation

Moderator (Shep): In Thursday's debate you said that you believe Americans should pay no taxes at all. How would that work?

Bachmann (Character): Shep, I believe paying no taxes can help us to return to the America I love. Not the America of Ronald Reagan. Not the America of the Founding Fathers. But rather the America of thousands of years ago. Feral bands of mud people lived in caves. Never worrying that Barack Obama was going to come and take their hard-earned pelts or take away their spears.

See the Video on MRC.

Photo h/t BreitbartTV

LR - Get the story here First!

We Beat Drudge!

From Eric Dondero:

Another example of LibertarianRepublican.net being ahead of the curve. A story we featured here early Saturday, made the top headlines on Drudge but not til Sunday afternoon - Tex. teacher calls local Tea Party leader 'Nazi'...

LR's story - "Self-declared 'Government Teacher' in SA calls Panelists "Nazis" for tough Immigration enforcement stance." It also got picked up by a couple other right blogs such as Weasel Zippers, before Drudge.

Related; Our stories are regularly picked up by a wonderful site, BeforeItsNews.com. You can find us in the Libertarian news section.

Wayne Root and LNCC launch new website to help elect Libertarians

From Eric Dondero:

2008 Libertarian Vice-Presidential candidate and National Chairman of the Libertarian National Congressional Committee has announced a new website to help get Libertarian Party members elected to public office.

Sometimes, if you want a job done right, you just have to do it yourself.

Running as a Libertarian in the next election is the best way to tell voters that you refuse to be a part of the problem!

The lively and attractive site gives practical tips such as precinct walking, and going door-to-door. The site also highlights Libertarians serving in public office. Example - Doug Marks who serves as a Village Trustee in Illinois:

“Carpentersville village board members should not have the authority to establish or raise fees, increase the tax levy or create tax increment financing districts without voter approval, one village trustee says,” the suburban Chicago Daily Herald reports.

“Trustee Doug Marks [a Libertarian] has drafted an ordinance that, if approved, would repeal that aspect of home rule and give voters the ability to decide taxing matters through a ballot question. Trustees will discuss his proposal Tuesday night.”

Editor's note - This website officially endorses and supports ONLY Libertarian Party candidates running in races where no Republican is on the ballot.

Cain declines Family Leader Pledge

by Clifford F. Thies

Remember the Family Leader Pledge? The one that said black children were more likely to be raised by both of their parents during the time of slavery than today? While that embarrassing line has been expunged, the pledge remains a litmus test for social conservatives.

Only Michele Bachman and Rick Santorum have signed the pledged. Cain has joined moderates Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman and libertarian Republican Gary Johnson in rejecting it. The other candidates are, as of this time, unannounced.

Cain, was, prior to his campaign, a part-time minister of his church, Antioch Baptist Church North, affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA, the largest association of predominantly black Baptist churches. He speaks freely about his faith in God.

Early during the campaign he got into some trouble for disrespecting Muslims. Following his meeting with some leaders of the Muslim community, he expressed his apologies to Muslims and their friends for his failure to distinguish peaceful, virtuous and patriotic persons of the Muslim faith from the jihadists. He said that, having grown up as a black person in the South during the Jim Crow era, he could relate to the discrimination that mainstream Muslims sometimes feel. Cain also apologized for his failure to adhere to the Constitution which guarantees religious liberty for all.

The Family Values Pledge speaks to many issues for which we have a great deal of sympathy. For example, the economic burden on families due to the growth of government in the United States. And, protecting the rights of women in the face of pressure from certain reactionary elements in the world. Unfortunately, the pledge is totally one-sided, as well as contradictory and wrong in certain places.

Candidates who cater too much to special interest groups within the Republican Coalition early during the nomination process set themselves up for trouble later during the process, when the majority of the American people tune into the campaigns, and not just the political activists.

CLIFFORD F. THIES is the Eldon R. Lindsey Chair of Free Enterprise Professor of Economics and Finance at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia.

SHOCK VIDEO!! Italian outpost erupts in flames, as N. African and Muslim immigrants overrun tiny island

"This is Italy. What is happening to my country... Why? Why?" - It. citizen

From Eric Dondero:

And so it begins... Tens of thousands of North African immigrants from Islamic countries have flooded into Lampedusa in the last 6 to 12 months. They have come by boat from Tunis, Tripoli and other North African seacoast towns. Lampedusa is the southern most outpost of the European continent.

Now they are rioting in the streets. Roving bands of Islamic men are setting fire to the island, battling with police and assaulting local residents.

From ABC.net.au:

So far this year around 40,000 people have arrived on the island after making the perilous journey from North Africa.

On Wednesday, migrants set fire to their mattresses in temporary accommodation on the island in a protest against conditions and plans to repatriate more than 1,000 Tunisians.

The Tunisians who are slated for repatriation want instead to be sent to the Italian mainland.

The man in the video pronounces (translation - mine):

"Why, why do we have to put up with this thing. This is Italy. I cannot recognize my country. we live in Italy. Why?"

Continued from ABC.net.au:

Angry residents of the tiny island surrounded the town hall, calling on mayor Bernardino De Rubeis to take a stronger line against the migrants.

"I have to defend myself and am ready to use it," Mr de Rubeis said, showing journalists a baseball bat stashed in the desk drawer in his office.

"It's like a war zone," he added, calling on the state to "immediately send helicopters and ships to evacuate the Tunisians."

Note - There has been very little if any coverage of these riots in the American media.

Iran's Defense Week Parade

Foo foo and plenty of colorful pageantry

From Cliff Thies:

While many of the soldiers who marched in this year's Defense Week Parade in Iran were quite handsome, these two images caught our eye: the Female Impersonators Brigade and the March of the Rock 'em Sock'em Robots.

Photo credits - UPI, UK Daily Mail