Libertarian Republican

Romney on Israel and the Middle East: Peace through Strength

2012-01-27T10:45:00.001-06:00

Best moment of last night's debate?

by Clifford F. Thies

From Haaretz.com, "Romney: Palestinians don't want two-state solution, they want to eliminate Israel":

"Israelis would be happy to have a two-state solution. It's the Palestinians who don't want a two-state solution; they want to eliminate the State of Israel,” Romney said.

Romney went on to say that “whether it's in the political discourse that is spoken either from Fatah or from Hamas, there is a belief that the Jewish people do not have the right to have a Jewish state."

"I believe the best way to have peace in the Middle East is not for us to vacillate and to appease, but is to say we stand with our friend Israel; we are committed to a Jewish state in Israel; we will not have an inch of difference between ourselves and our ally Israel," he added.

We here at Libertarian Republican think Mitt is right. If we are resolute in our support of Israel, it could help to actually help to break the decades long impasse in getting about implementing a two-state solution. In the long run, we would hope that all the people of the region would be able to live in peace and prosperity, with free trade, and where border crossings are routine. But, being realistic, we will never get there if we cannot break the impasse to a two-state solution.

Romney wins three ways, with an assist from Santorum

2012-01-27T10:09:00.016-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

Mitt Romney put in a strong performance in CNN's Florida debate, on Thursday night, and he won the debate three ways.

First, he presented his record as a businessman positively. No apologies.
Second, Newt Gingrich put in a subpar performance.

Third, Rick Santorum came on strong, which helps Romney in terms of splitting the social conservative vote.

There was a "gotcha" moment, after Gingrich attacked Romney for owning stock in Freddie and Fannie, Romney pointed out that this ownership was indirect, via mutual funds, and that Gingrich also owns stock in Freddie and Fannie via mutual funds.

Newt's brain spasm on colonizing the moon really hurt him. Romney pointed out the promises Newt has been making in state after state after state, pandering to the locals.

As for Ron Paul, he had a very good night. He was charming, witty, relaxed, grandfatherly. But, he is fast becoming a non-factor.

Graziano could face 40 to 80 years prison sentence for Synagogue bombings

2012-01-27T08:58:00.023-06:00

Jew-hating political activist faces nine counts of attempted murder, bias intimidation, and aggravated arson

From Eric Dondero:

Three days after his arrest, the story is still receiving scant media attention from the majors (with the exception of Fox News). And zero attention from so-called "libertarian" media outlets.

We learn today that suspect Anthony Graziano now faces a prison sentence of 40 to 80 years in the slammer. Also, he is being charged with not one, but for two firebombings of north Jersey synagogues. He is also the prime suspect in a string of acts of vandalism against a number of synagogues in the area, including spray-painting of the Nazi swastika on the buildings.

Other attacks across N. Jersey were planned

The local Cliffton Pilot reports:

[the possibility] at least one other attack was planned.

From jstandard.com:

lives with his mother... The prosecutor described Graziano, a 2010 graduate of Hasbrouck Heights High School, as a loner with few friends

From JTA.org:

The Bergen County prosecutor said Tuesday that Graziano hates Jews.

"We have no doubt that the arson and the attempted murder in Rutherford were directly the result of Mr. Graziano’s hatred for people of the Jewish faith,” John Molinelli said at a news conference in Paramus. “We believe that he did this because they were synagogues and specifically to intimidate and cause alarm or concern to people of the Jewish community.”

"Ron Paul's followers are whacko"

From Fox News, (via PatDollard.com):

An unemployed teenager charged Tuesday with firebombing two synagogues is an anti-Semite whose hatred of Jews guided his actions, authorities said.

Anthony Graziano, of Lodi (Facebook profile showing influence by, and allegiance to, Ron Paul), was charged with the Jan. 11 attack on a Rutherford synagogue and the Jan. 3 firebombing of a synagogue in Paramus. He was being held on $5 million bail. (Emphasis added)

The charges include nine counts of attempted murder, bias intimidation, arson and aggravated arson. The 19-year-old Graziano was scheduled to make an initial court appearance Wednesday.

Dollard comments "Team Ron Paul mbr. arrested for NJ Bombings":

A Ron Paul supporter? Who’da guessed?

Another rightist blogger, MadJewess.com writes, "Wacko R. Paul SUPPORTER Fire-Bombs N.J. Synagogue!?"

This does not surprise me one bit... What a pity, because Paul is excellent on some domestic issues. But, I am sorry….Ron Pauls followers are WACKOOOO...

Ayn Rand Atlas Society to Republican Mitt Romney: Stop apologizing for your Wealth

2012-01-27T06:32:00.011-06:00

Embrace Rand's Uber-Capitalism

From the Boston Herald, "GOP leaders call on Mitt Romney to embrace wealth" Jan. 27:

Gov. Mitt Romney should stop running from the hefty $42.5 million income he reported over the past two years and embrace his success, baffled Republicans said yesterday..

Romney released more than 500 pages of federal income tax returns... [they] showed his substantial earnings of more than $42 million over 2010 and 2011, tax payments as low as 14 percent for a total of $6.2 million, and a few foreign bank accounts and investments in known tax havens such as Switzerland and the Cayman Islands

Edward Hudgins of the Atlas Society, which promotes the ideas of late uber-capitalist Ayn Rand, said Romney should stop his sheepish efforts to explain away his wealth.

“I would like to see Romney take the moral high ground and take pride in his wealth,” he said.

AtlastSociety.org

There are congressional races in Fla. too

2012-01-27T05:19:00.004-06:00

Absolute Must See!! "Terrifying anti-Obama ad"

From Eric Dondero:

Check out this bizarre but eye-catching video ad for a South Florida Republican for Congress - 27th District.

The Palm Beach Post describes it as "confusing," and "terrifying."

The 39-second ad appears to be set on a slave ship called the "U.S.S. Obamaboat," which flies an upside-down American flag and is filled with a cast of characters that includes bailed-out bankers, health-care freeloaders, Guy Fawkes, corporate fat-cats and a blonde woman in a bathtub who says "stimulated" in a way that made us vaguely uncomfortable.

It's official! Gene is for Mitt

2012-01-27T04:43:00.012-06:00

The businessman over the college prof.

From Eric Dondero:

Fox News, is reporting - "Gene Simmons wants to see Mitt Romney as 2012 GOP nominee":

“I want a real political and economic debate. On the one hand, you've got President Obama, who I voted for, last minute. I wasn't going to vote for him because he didn't have a good resume. He only had two years of local political experience, he's never run a company, he'd never been overseas, and he didn't know any of the political leaders. I voted my conscience, based on some sort of - well, it's the right time in history,” Simmons told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column prior to Tuesday’s Ortsbo-powered Live Q&A with comic book legend Stan Lee during the Sundance Film Festival.

“But I want Mitt Romney and Barrack Obama to face off on the economic and political issues of our time. I want a real dialogue, and I, as a private citizen, want to be able to vote my conscience . More often than not, I want business men and business women in politics, not college professors."

On fellow celebrity Robert Redford criticizing capitalism and Republicans

"Redford means well, he's a great guy. But it's a bit hypocritical, since he's part of the one percent, to address the 99 percent. The truth is that Sundance represents America, period,” Simmons said. “Either we are all Americans, or you're going to fall victim. This is the reason why the old Roman Empire died, it fell from within.

Note - In 2010, Simmons identified himself with Ayn Rand, posting to his website that Ayn Rand was "one of my heros." His book in 2003, "Sex, Money, KISS," was a treastise devoted to capitalism, and rugged individualism:

"Stand there proudly, unapologetically, unabashedly, and say, I love cash. It will get me everything I want in life."

He has also been sharply critical of Obama's laid back approach to foreign policy and not standing up for Israel.

See LR article, 2010 "Gene Simmons of KISS: Obama's foreign policy "Wimpy" and "Pathetic" - Hit them overseas, before they attack us"

Two Bloggers to be executed in Iran for criticizing the government

2012-01-26T18:12:00.032-06:00

Hmmn... let's check. Nope. Nothing up at Reason

by Eric Dondero

You'd think this would be a natural for an on-line magazine that promotes "Free Minds, Free Markets." But not a word about this story at Reason.com.

Similarly, not a single self-described "libertarian" news/commentary site is covering it: Nothing up at Cato.org, nothing at LewRockwell.com, ditto DailyPaul, nothing at Humble Libertarian, or The Agitator, or AntiWar.com.

From the Washington Examiner, "Iran arrests journalists, to execute bloggers" Jan. 26:

Iranian courts have sentenced two bloggers to death for "spreading corruption," and government security forces have arrested four other journalists, in the lead-up to the nation's March elections.

"In the past two weeks, security forces have reportedly arrested four journalists," the U.S. State Department said in a statement, "including Shahram Manouchehri, Sahamedin Bourghani, Parastoo Dokouhaki, and Marzieh Rasouli, and Iranian courts confirmed death sentences for bloggers Saeed Malekpour and Vahid Asghari, both of whom were not accorded due process and now face imminent execution on charges of 'spreading corruption.'"

The State Department faulted Iran for trying "to extinguish all forms of free expression and limit its citizens’ access to information in the lead-up to March parliamentary elections."

Of course if this had been some Republicans criticizing the release of secret military documents all over the web, these same left-libertarian sites would be all up in arms. But to those on the leftside of the libertarian movement only the Big bad "U.S. Military industrial complex" presents a threat to our liberties. Islamists executing gays, women's rights advocates, cartoonists, journalists, bloggers, is just not newsworthy.

Photo h/t - libcom.org

Bawney to Marry!

2012-01-26T12:04:00.016-06:00

A definite candidate for some Sweatin' to the Oldies...

From Eric Dondero:

Urgh! Why would anyone, gay or straight, want to marry this man?

From the AP, "Rep. Barney Frank to marry longtime partner":

Retiring Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank, a gay pioneer in Congress, plans to marry his longtime partner Jim Ready of Maine.

A spokesman for Frank confirmed Thursday that the congressman's wedding will be in Massachusetts, but said no date had been set.

The Democrat announced last fall that he was retiring at the end of his 16th term.

Here's hoping lucky man Jim Ready can convince his partner to take up some Richard Simmons video excercise sessions before the big date.

Ultra-Leftist/Islamist Rep. Keith Ellison wants to restore taxpayer funding of PBS for West Bank occupants

2012-01-26T11:49:00.004-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

Muslim Representative Ellison from Minnesota uses props on the House floor to win favor for taxpayer-funded aid for public broadcasting in the the West Bank. Ellison threatens that if funding isn't restored, Palestinians will seek other alternatives on the TV dial that could lead to extremism.

Burka-clad Robbery gang terrorizes northern England town

2012-01-26T11:37:00.007-06:00

Four Muslim men commit spree of break-ins and assaults including beating of an elderly couple

From Eric Dondero:

They started their string of robberies by bursting into a home of an elderly native British couple, tying them up, and beating them until they revealed where their jewlery and other valuables were hiding. Four "Asian" men (in Britain Asian is used in place of Muslims from Pakistani, Bangladesh or Middle-Eastern origin), are now on trial for the crime spree.

From burnleycitizen.com "Gang admits robbery at Burnley jewellers" Jan. 25:

A GANG of four have admitted carrying out a £30,000 raid on a Burnley jewellers.

One of the gang was wearing burka before the other trio burst in to the shop brandishing a gun and other weapons.

At Burnley Crown Court the gang, all from Bolton, also admitted two other robberies in other towns across the North West.

Rais Atcha, 20, of Burwell Close, Faheem Kola, 19, of Willows Lane, Mohammed Khan, 26, of Mancroft Avenue and Babar Khan, 25, of Jasmine Court, all Bolton, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Photo h/t Gates of Vienna of previous burka robberies in England.

Newt's off his meds again... Wants to colonize the Moon

2012-01-26T08:49:00.010-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

Newt "Big Ideas" Gingrich has made a bold attempt to endear himself to the space-oriented community of Florida: Hey, let's colonize the moon! (Source: TheHill)

Why, this outdoes even Obama for big government.

For openers, the cost just to get 100 people to the moon, $15 billion. (Source: curiosity.discovery.com). Yet Newt wants 13,000 people. So, bump that number to $2 trillion.

That's just to get them to the moon. As to maintaining people on the moon, I'd like to see the plan. Currently, we maintain a mission on Antarctica. All food, fuel and other supplies are flown into that mission. The mission does not at all support itself in any way. Could Newt tell us how a lunar mission could sustain itself when the Antarctica mission cannot?

So, we will have to continually supply the Moon mission with fuel, food and other supplies. And, for what purpose? To say we are there?

Repeating one of Obama's lies, Newt says colonizing the Moon would be like when the national government built the transcontinental railroad. The U.S. government didn't put one stinking lousy dollar into that project.

Here's what the U.S. government did: it guaranteed certain bonds and made land grants to the railroad of alternating sections of land about the road (doubling the sales price of the alternating sections it retained). The private companies that built the road totally paid those bonds. This was even when the private companies went bankrupt, which they did during the 1890s, because the bonds had a well-secured claim on the property of the road.

I'm sorry, but many historians, including Newt, don't actually know the facts about the first transcontinental (or the subsequent transcontinentals).

What, really, is the analogy to the Moon and to Outer Space in general? It is for the U.S. to withdraw from the Outer Space Treaty and simply say that we will support the claim of any private company that actually develops part of the Moon under the flag of the United States.

The U.S. government could give consideration to assisting any company attempting to develop the Moon, with our vast aerospace infrastructure in Florida, especially considering if we get into a race with the European Space consortium, the Chinese, or others. By the way, the Moon is a big place, and there is plenty of Moon to go around to all would develop it.

But, under the Outer Space Treaty, the Moon and all of Outer Space is put off limits to privatization. So, what would be the purpose of developing any part of Outer Space? To show we had big ideas? Or to make any promise, not matter how completely insane, to get a few votes?

Noted radical libertarian (and LR reader) backs Romney

2012-01-26T08:27:00.008-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

We're not quite sure what to make of this. But we'll take it.

Nate Nelson is an active Indiana Libertarian. He has the site Daily Radical. He has been a commentator here at LR, most times on the opposite side of the spectrum from our stated pro-defense libertarian stance.

Yesterday, he posted a lengthy article at United Liberty endorsing Mitt Romney - "Mitt Romney Will Have to Work for Libertarian Support." A couple highlights:

It’s become pretty clear that Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex.) isn’t going to win the GOP presidential nomination. Following his fourth place showing in the South Carolina primary on Saturday... Even in the unlikely event that Paul sweeps the caucus states, he will receive no more than 500 delegates* — far short of the 1,144 needed to win the nomination.

This leaves libertarians with a choice. We can choose to support either former Governor Mitt Romney (R-Mass.), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), or former Governor Gary Johnson (L-N. Mex.).

At best, Johnson may play the role of spoiler in New Mexico and elsewhere in the Southwest. The message that could send to Republicans is that libertarians are more an electoral thorn in their side than a valuable part of their base.

Faced with a choice between Romney and Gingrich, it would seem that Romney is the better option for libertarians... Gingrich — far from being a limited government, Tea Party conservative — is more like the Republican version of Barack Obama. Jason Pye has noted that Gingrich supported a federal individual mandate long before RomneyCare was signed into law in Massachusetts. Romney, meanwhile, is a Washington outsider with experience as a businessman in the private sector. He has offered a more consistent and coherent limited government platform than Gingrich has offered. And as an added bonus, he was elected governor of a state that has been dominated by Democrats for decades.

If Romney wants to woo libertarians and limited government conservatives, though, he’s going to have to work for our votes.

Nelson goes on to strongly suggest that Romney pick a libertarian-leaning running mate, like: Gary Johnson (wouldn't that be a hoot?), Utah Sen. Mike Lee or KY Sen. Rand Paul, or Reps. Tom McClintock, Paul Ryan, or Jeff Flake.

Ron Paul action figures coming to a Toy Store near you!

2012-01-26T07:58:00.013-06:00

From Cliff Thies:

Just in time to give him a boost in Florida. He needs it. Two new Fla. polls out this morning showing Ron Paul not doing so hot in the Sunshine State. From CNN:

PRESIDENT – FLORIDA – GOP PRIMARY (CNN/ORC)
Mitt Romney 36%
Newt Gingrich 34%
Rick Santorum 11%
Ron Paul 9%

And the Florida Chamber of Commerce via Orlando Sentinel):

PRESIDENT – FLORIDA – GOP PRIMARY
Mitt Romney 33%
Newt Gingrich 33%
Rick Santorum 10%
Ron Paul 6%

Note - These action figures are for real. They are not photo-shopped.

Editor's comment - Better Ron Paul in a superman outfit. We cringe at the thought of Newt Gingrich in red tights.

SHOCK POLL!!! Mitt creams Newt against Obama in Fla.

2012-01-26T07:49:00.010-06:00

17 point margin between GOP frontrunners

From Eric Dondero:

Wow! This is astounding. Just out this morning from Suffolk Univ. polling firm:

Florida

Romney 47%
Obama 42%

Obama 47%
Gingrich 40%

Here's the breakdown:

Despite Newt Gingrich’s momentum within the Republican Party, he would be a weaker contender than Mitt Romney in a general election contest against President Barack Obama, according to a Suffolk University/7NEWS (WSVN-Miami) poll of likely voters in Florida.

Romney led Obama by 47 percent to 42 percent in the Florida survey, while Obama topped Gingrich by 9 points, 49 percent to 40 percent. Among independents, Obama led Romney 44 percent to 38 percent and opened up a 56 percent to 29 percent advantage over Gingrich.

The chief pollster comments:

“Newt Gingrich is weak among Florida independents and likely Democratic voters compared to Romney,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “If Florida is one of six key states that swings the national election, independents in Florida hold that key, and this poll suggests that Newt won’t be able to secure Florida for his party.”

SOTUS: Obama's vision thing defined

2012-01-26T06:17:00.006-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

The Great Obama, quoting Lincoln, said the purpose of government is to do only what people are unable to do for themselves. Judging by his State of the Union address, we the people, as individuals and as citizens of our states, cannot be trusted with education, health care, infrastructure, international trade, housing, mortgages, credit cards, banking or insurance, energy policy, the environment, the workplace, consumer goods, the internet, or what industries or jobs are to grow. Other than those things, and anything else he might have failed to mention, we're o.k.

Instead of dealing with the fiscal crisis of the federal crisis, he's in denial. Companies and jobs are going overseas, he says, because tax rates in this country are among the highest in the world, the solution to which is to raise them. And, just like reducing reimbursements to health care providers is the way to lower the cost of health care, the way to make college affordable is for the federal government to regulate tuition.

The State of the Union is, he says, "not grave." Those who say otherwise, don't know what they're talking about.

"Not grave," how's that for a goal. Hey, the country is no longer #1, but we're not last! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

We avoided a Great Depression! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

Only 25 million people are out of work! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

The number of people under the poverty line only grown to 40 million! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

And, you can look this one up. every day that Obama has been President, the very oxygen we need to breathe has been there for us, the Sun has risen in the east, and we have avoided the cataclysmic earthquakes and volcanoes that have devastated other countries.

At which point, the audience bursts into chants of "Thank you Oh Great Obama! Thank you Oh Great Obama!" Women are overtaken by orgasms and Chris Matthews has a tingle go up his leg.

"Fairness" is his vision for the country, which means more for those on his side. Will somebody propose that Freedom is the other vision for the country?

Obama hangs out the "No Jobs Available" sign on Keystone

2012-01-26T06:05:00.011-06:00

From Cliff Thies:

Here's the pipe ready to be laid. 20,000 shovel-ready jobs. Plus, energy independence, (KLTV Texas Channel 7 has the exclusive photos of the pipes):

From Chopper 7, the shear magnitude of what's sitting in this field is clear. This patch of land is leased by TransCanada...and it is filled with 100 miles worth of pipes.

"Well, it's a storage yard. And, it's fairly common and it's prior to construction for large pipeline projects to assemble pipe in one central location and distribute it from there," Jim Prescott, a project representative with Keystone said.

And, that project is the Keystone Pipeline...which is now on hold until further notice due to President Obama's rejection of TransCanada's application.

See a full video report at KLTV link above.

Indiana just days away from joining the Pro-Freedom side on employment rights

2012-01-26T05:46:00.014-06:00

“This is a great day for Indiana’s workers and taxpayers" -- Mark Mik, President, National Right-to-Work Comm.

From Politico "Indiana right-to-work bill advances":

The state House voted 55-41 for the measure, which also looks likely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, The Associated Press reported. Daniels, who gave the Republican response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, says he’d sign the bill. It could hit his desk before Indianapolis hosts the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, the AP reported.

“This announces especially in the Rust Belt, that we are open for business here,” Republican state House Speaker Brian Bosma said, according to the AP.

The right-to-work measure would prohibit contracts requiring all workers to pay mandatory union dues.

From nrtwc.org:

“Today, the Indiana House passed the Right to Work bill by a vote of 54 to 44. Because the Senate passed an identical bill on Monday and Governor Daniels is on record in favor of the bill, it now seems certain that after the Senate approves the House bill, Indiana will become America’s 23rd Right to Work State,” continued Mix.

Mr. Mix continued, “The Right to Work Law will free nearly 200,000 Hoosiers who have been forced to pay tribute to a union boss for the privilege of getting up everyday and going to work so they can provide for their families.”

Today’s action will make Indiana the first Right to Work state in the Manufacturing Belt, and supporters say it will give Hoosiers a significant advantage over all of its neighbors and the rest of the 27 non-Right to Work states.

Standard Mitch Daniels disclaimer: We love Gov. Daniels on economic issues here at LR; on social matters he pretty much sucks. He is a typical conservative nanny-stater supporting a statewide smoking ban including bars, taverns and gentlemen's clubs.

Graziano fits the stereotype

2012-01-26T04:39:00.017-06:00

19-year old NJ Synagogue bomber lived at home with mom, was a 9/11 Truther, loved Ron Paul, and blamed the Jews for all his problems

From Eric Dondero:

They're known across the internet as "Paul-bots." They're vehement supporters of Ron Paul for President. They attack any critics of Paul on internet sites. Those who oppose the Paul-bots joke that they are unemployed, live in their mom's basement, listen to Alex Jones, are hardline conspiratorialists, and play video games all day long.

More information is now coming out about New Jersey synagogue bomber Anthony Graziano. He was arrested two days ago on suspicion of bombing a North Jersey synagogue throwing a molotov cocktail into the residence of the rabbi while he and his family were at home. He is also suspected in a number of other incidents of vandalism at other nearby synagogues.

We are now learning, via NorthJersey.com:

The past six weeks have seen a small explosion of anti-Semitism across North Jersey.

The spree began in November in Kinnelon, when police found swastikas painted at three different spots in the town.

In December, just before Hanukkah — a celebration of the resiliency of ancient Jews in the face of their enemies — police found swastikas and neo-Nazi graffiti at Hackensack's Temple Beth El and another synagogue, Temple Beth Israel, in neighboring Maywood.

The prosecutor's office said Graziano acted alone, riding his bicycle to a Walmart in Saddle Brook from his mother's home in Lodi to buy accelerants and other flammable materials for his homemade firebombs. Police say Graziano then pedaled to the synagogue in Rutherford.

And there's this:

The swastikas have been washed from the brick-and-stone walls of Temple Beth El on Summit Avenue in Hackensack. The same is true of the blame-the-Jews-for-9/11 graffiti on the synagogue's front sidewalk.

So it's likely Graziano may be responsible for the 9/11 Truther conspiracy grafiti, he is unemployed, and he had to ride his bicycle to commit his crimes.

More from CBSLocal.com:

They say Graziano used a computer search program to find synagogues close enough to his home so he could ride his bicycle to stage the attacks

“The arson and attempted murder in Rutherford are directly the result of Mr. Graziano’s hatred of people of the Jewish faith,” [Prosecutor] Molinelli said Tuesday.

We reported yesterday, that internet sleuths confirmed Graziano was a Ron Paul geek, posting on his Facebook page three times in support of "Ron Paul 2012!"

Curiously, no major media source is mentioning Graziano is a Ron Paul supporter.

Photo credit - Oinkety.com

Mitt... mentum in Florida!

2012-01-25T14:16:00.017-06:00

Romney roaring back...

From Eric Dondero:

A stunning turn-around almost overnight. Three different polls in one day, confirm a widening lead for Mitt Romney over Newt Gingrich.

Via Hedgehog:

Paladin/CFP Florida:

GOP Primary
Romney 38%
Gingrich 30%
Santorum 12%
Paul 10%
Undecided 10%

And then there's LR Senior Editor Cliff Thies's personal favorite polling firm.

PRESIDENT – FLORIDA (ARG)
Mitt Romney 41%
Newt Gingrich 34%
Rick Santorum 9%
Ron Paul 7%

And finally the much respected Quinnipiac.

PRESIDENT – FLORIDA – GOP PRIMARY (Quinnipiac)
Mitt Romney 36%
Newt Gingrich 34%
Rick Santorum 13%
Ron Paul 10%

Note - Romney has been getting some major help from surrogates in the State, like his Campaign Chair former Senator Mel Martinez and Fla. Attorney General Pam Bondi (photo). And of course, he got a major assist in the last 24 hours by Senator Marco Rubio who defended him from Gingrich attack ads.

Exit question... Can a Jeb Bush endorsement be far behind?

BREAKING... NJ Synagogue bombing suspect arrested

2012-01-25T08:07:00.007-06:00

CBS News confirms (friend) - he "hates Jews because they were going to take over the country..."

Blog reports - he was a Ron Paul supporter

by Eric Dondero

We've always brought our readers the good, bad and ugly of the libertarian movement. We've covered Libertarian elected officials arrested of drunk driving, or other even more serious crimes, when no other libertarian websites would touch it. This one qualifies as both ugly, and potentially very, very bad.

Two weeks ago here at LR, we ran the video news report up top. We wrote:

An anti-Semitic wave of violence and vandalism continues in the New York/New Jersey area. Over the weekend, a synagogue in Rutherford, NJ was the target of a firebomb. The device was thrown through the window of the residence portion of the facility. The rabbi suffered minor burns putting out the fire. Other inflammatory devices such as molotov cocktails and aerosol cans were found at the scene.

As of this writing, the story has received virtually no national media coverage outside of right blogs.

The natural assumption was that the suspect was an Islamic extremist. Turns out, he's an Italian-American guy, semi-pro photographer by trade from Lodi, NJ.

And, blogger snoops are learning this morning that he is also a supporter of Ron Paul for President.
From NorthJersey.com, "Rutherford rabbi's dad recalls firebombing":

Schuman, father of Rabbi Nosson Schuman, returned to the family’s three-story Victorian-styled home and synagogue hours after bombing suspect Anthony M. Graziano was charged with nine counts of first-degree attempted murder in the Jan. 11 attack.

With a sense of closure, he walked around the second floor of the home he had been living in as of late, remembering the vivid details of the early-morning fire bombing.

“I thought the electricity went out,” he said of his initial reaction to the attack with Molotov bombs thrown at the house. “I was already dressed for work and calmly walked down the steps [from the third floor] when I heard yelling.”

The side of the bedroom borders Fairview and Montross avenues. It’s possible that the assailant walked down Fairview and entered the property through a side gate. Had the bed been positioned next to the window during the attack, the incendiary devices would have landed on the rabbi and his wife.

Graziano's Facebook page has this:

Also, two other posts in caps - RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2012!

Libertarian organizations, including Ron Paul's campaign, would do well to immediately issue a press release condemning Graziano and this act of Anti-Jewish terrorism in New York in the strongest terms possible.

UPDATE!

And this late breaking news from CBS News NY...

He rode his bicycle to the attack?

(Suspect In Rutherford Synagogue Firebomb Attack Due In Court)

A New Jersey teenager will appear in court today on charges he allegedly tried to kill a rabbi and his family in a firebomb attack at a Bergen County synagogue.

Anthony Graziano, 19, is charged with nine counts of first degree murder as well as bias intimidation and aggravated arson.

Police released surveillance video of him last week and after several tips and a search of Graziano’s home, police arrested him.

Prosecutors say the video was the clue they needed to find and arrest the 19-year-old for the attempted murder of Rabbi Nossom Schuman and his family inside Congregation Beth El. They say he Googled synagogues close enough to his home so he could ride his bicycle to stage the attacks.

“The arson and attempted murder in Rutherford are directly the result of Mr. Graziano’s hatred of people of the Jewish faith,” said Bergen County prosecutor John Molinelli.

And a friend confirms he hated Jews:

some of Graziano’s friends... One, who did not want to be identified, told CBS 2 “for the past two months, he’s been talking about how much he hates Jews because they were going to take over the country. This kid is crazy. He’s insane.”

Ron Paul picks up some Hollywood support

2012-01-25T07:52:00.008-06:00

"Another example of Paul's strong appeal to progressives..."

From TheHill.com, "Filmmaker Oliver Stone would vote for Ron Paul over Obama":

Filmmaker Oliver Stone, known for his liberal political views, said he would vote for GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul over President Obama should Paul win the Republican nomination.

In an interview with Rock Cellar magazine, Stone was asked if an economic collapse would lead to the fall of the American “empire.”

“I think it’s a given,” Stone said. “There’s no way that we can continue this spending spree. In fact, I think in many ways the most interesting candidate — I’d even vote for him if he was running against Obama — is Ron Paul. Because he’s the only one of anybody who’s saying anything intelligent about the future of the world.”

Stone is also known for embracing some of far-left’s most notorious figures, such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

From blogger LibertarianPeacenick.blogspot.com:

Oliver Stone's admiration for Ron Paul is yet another example of Paul's strong appeal to progressives -- and to artists and youth.

This is the crowd the Libertarian Party needs to court if it is to have a future. Instead, the LP is being guided by the Clintonesque neocon (sic) Wayne Allyn Root, who insists that the LP's future lies in courting "conservatives"

he appeals to a broad spectrum of... [those] who have a serious understanding of the dangers of war and empire.

That Root supports Gary Johnson is worrisome, and would make me hesitant to support Johnson...

Photo h/t WeaselZippers

Gary Johnson, Libertarian for President - ho-hum on Romney, hates Gingrich

2012-01-25T07:48:00.004-06:00

Speaker wanted the death penalty for procuring marijuana from outside the country - "that was one of his big ideas"

CapitalNewYork.com "Johnson is confused by Romney, nervous about Gringrich, and mad at CNN":

On the two GOP fruntrunners:

"I only have one issue with Mitt Romney," said Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico and onetime Republican presidential candidate who is now seeking the Libertarian Party's nomination. "I have no idea where he stands on the issues."

As for Newt Gingrich, the former House Speaker: "One of his big ideas was the death penalty for the possession of marijuana" procured from outside the country with intend to sell.

"That was in 1996," Johnson said. "That was one of his big ideas. The death penalty. And he smoked marijuana."

Romney or Gingrich, either way good for the Libertarian Party candidate this year:

He's been in New York City for the last few days, meeting with reporters between doing television appearances on Fox News. Tonight, he'll be on John Stossel's show, reacting to the president's State of the Union speech.

Johnson said today if he had been allowed to participate in the rest of the Republican presidential debates, he'd be still in the running for the nomination. Now, as a candidate for the Libertarian Party's nomination, he said it doesn't matter if Republicans nominate Romney or Gingrich.

"Either one enhances a third-party candidate," he said.

When I asked him to explain the argument against Gingrich, Johnson pointed to the marijuana-importer bill and also to "the fact that he has an office on K-Street and he collects a lot of fees for consulting," which Johnson said was "payola" from clients for the access that a former speaker could provide.

Gary Johnson, Libertarian for President responds to President Obama's State of Union speech

2012-01-25T07:45:00.003-06:00

Release...

GOVERNOR GARY JOHNSON ON THE SOTU: ONLY IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE THAT IS WASHINGTON...

January 24, 2012, New York, NY --Former New Mexico Governor and current presidential candidate Gary Johnson released the following statement in reaction to the President's State of the Union address:

“If the idea tonight was that the President would fulfill his constitutional duty to give us ‘information of the State of the Union’, we should be able to expect some truth. I didn’t hear much truth. Truth is that the real unemployment rate is probably still above 10%. Truth is that after all the hand-wringing and deals of the past couple of years, instead of cutting spending, the President and Congress are going back to the well for another $1.2 Trillion debt limit increase. And the truth is we are seeing nothing from either the President or the Republicans that will really change any of those unacceptable realities.

“Only in the twilight zone that is Washington could a President who has bailed out and stimulated our economy to death stand in the Capitol and declare there should be ‘no bailouts, no handouts, and no cop-outs’. Can anyone spell GM or TARP or Solyndra?

“The President said we deserve a government that plays by the same rules as millions of hard-working Americans. Perhaps that should begin with the government not borrowing and printing 43 cents of every dollar it spends – something hard-working Americans can’t and don’t do.

“Until we see a real plan – not a Washington smoke and mirrors plan – that puts a stop to deficit spending and really puts America back to work, all of this rhetoric is just wasted breath.”

####

For more information, please visit www.garyjohnson2012.com.

NR: Romney more of a fiscal conservative than Paul on entitlement reform

2012-01-25T07:41:00.001-06:00

Fmr. Mass Gov. would "actually take steps to fix social security... reduce payments to welfare beneficiaries...

Excerpt from National Review, Jan. 25 "Ron Paul, Weak on Entitlements? -
Don’t expect fiery attacks on Social Security from the libertarian candidate":

Ron Paul used to be a resolute libertarian when it came to entitlements. During his 1988 presidential bid, he called them “unconstitutional” and said he wanted them gone. As recently as 2000 he signed on to a Republican Liberty Caucus statement holding that “the federal entitlement to Medicare should be abolished.”

But this campaign season, Paul has moderated his tone. Oddly enough, he’s in some respects weaker on the issue than the leading Republicans.

Take Paul’s official fiscal-reform plan, the “Plan to Restore America.” It has many merits — it eliminates five cabinet departments, slashes $1 trillion in spending, and purportedly will balance the budget in year three of his presidency with no tax increases. But its entitlement reforms merely tinker around the edges of the problem: He’d distribute funding for Medicaid and other welfare programs to the states in the form of block grants, keep the current Social Security system for retirees and near-retirees, and allow young people to opt out of Social Security if they want to.

This isn’t too different from what front-runner Mitt Romney, an establishment Republican from Massachusetts, has proposed — with the exception that Romney’s plan would actually take steps to fix Social Security (e.g., he would increase the retirement age and reduce payments to wealthier beneficiaries)

Editor's note - The economic libertarian group Club For Growth is supporting Romney over Paul. Other libertarian groups such as Americans For Prosperity and Koch enterprises are rumored to be heavily leaning Romney.

All GOP candidates in Michigan Senate race agree with the libertarian: Eliminate departments, reform entitlements

2012-01-25T07:27:00.016-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

The Tea Party of Western Michigan hosted a candidates forum for the 6 Republican candidates battling for the right to face incumbent Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow in November.

While they may differ on style and qualifications for office, as the local paper reports, there's virtually no difference on the issues.

From the HollandSentinel.com:

Limited government, balanced budget, right to work, reduced foreign aid, repealing national health care — “Yes.”

Unconditional amnesty for illegal immigrants, UN and international treaties that supersede American law, government-sponsored abortions or embryonic stem cell research, detention of American citizens — “No.”

“We all know government is the problem,” Republican candidate for Senate Pete Konetchy said during a Tuesday night Ottawa County Patriots forum.

Entitlement reform was a major topic of discussion. Later in the piece:

Several of the Republican candidates for Senate in a crowded field agree... To a man, candidates called for eliminating government waste by eliminating government departments.

Hekman called reform of welfare, Social Security and other “entitlements” the “question of this election.”

Boman, who is a libertarian, called for the elimination of the departments of housing and urban development, energy, commerce, education and the interior.

In a room full of “constitutional limited government tea party conservatives,” as Glenn put it, it was no surprise to hear references to the framing document in every round of questioning.

“The United States government is totally ignoring all aspects of the Constitution,” Konetchy said. “If you name it, they’ve ignored every single aspect of the Constitution.”

Note - Boman is a former Libertarian Party State Chair.

Exit question... No matter who wins this primary, ask yourself - Do we have a better chance of picking up this Senate seat with Romney or Gingrich at the top of the ticket??

FLORIDA: Crist vs. Rubio redux

2012-01-25T05:43:00.009-06:00

Gingrich - "Governor Crist is a very solid political figure..."

From Eric Dondero:

Check your calendar. Is it 2012, or maybe a time warp 2010?

The Newtster from the Miami Herald political blog two days ago:

"As many of you know Jose Mallea is helping us with our campaign. He was Marco Rubio's campaign manager. We discovered last night that Mitt Romney has picked up Charlie Crist's campaign people," he said to yelps and a few boos. "That sort of tells you everything you needed to know about this contest."

Now this from Senator Rubio himself via the Miami Herald:

"Mitt Romney is no Charlie Crist. Romney is a conservative. and he was one of the first national Republican leaders to endorse me. He came to Florida, campaigned hard for me, and made a real difference in my race."

The Herald also points out that at least one Rubio associate is now working for the Romney campaign. And posts a video quoting Gingrich in 2010 having a sort of DeDe Scazzofava moment:

"Governor Crist is a solid political figure. Florida is very fortunate to have him in that kind of a primary..."

Fmr. Communist Russian PM Vladimir Putin blasts immigrant freeloaders on welfare

2012-01-24T08:45:00.011-06:00

The World Turned Upside Down

Report from Russian TV, "Multi-culturalism has failed" Jan. 23 (via IVE):

Multiculturalism “elevates the (idea of the) ‘right of minorities to be different’ to the absolute and, at the same time, insufficiently balances this right with civil, behavioral, and cultural obligations in regard to the indigenous population and society as a whole,” Putin argues.

What multiculturalism is leading to in many countries, according to the Prime Minister, is the formation of “closed national and religious communities…which not only refuse to assimilate, but [do not] even adapt.” Putin expressed his astonishment that “neighborhoods and entire cities where generations of immigrants are living on welfare…do not speak the language of the host country.”

There can be just one outcome for such a social model: xenophobia on the part of the indigenous population, which understandably seeks to “protect its interests, jobs, and social benefits from the ‘foreign competitors.’”

Surprise! Obama now sees Virtue in Capitalism

2012-01-24T08:25:00.008-06:00

Libertarian Republican, Oct. 30, 2008, "At Florida speech Obama mocks McCain and Palin for Ayn Rand views: Says there's no "Virtue in Selfishness":

This morning at a campaign rally in Sarasota, Florida, Barack Hussein Obama used a quote from the title of an Ayn Rand novel to mock Republican Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin.

From TPN Election Central:
In another bit of interesting ad-libbing, Obama hit John McCain and Sarah Palin for making a "virtue out of selfishness," and embellished a bit on his "peanut butter and jelly" push-back from yesterday against McCain's efforts to paint him as a closet socialist. Speaking of Obama's desire to roll back the Bush tax cuts on the very rich, Obama said:

"John McCain and Sarah Palin, they call this socialistic. Y'know, I don't know when they decided they wanted to make a virtue out of selfishness. Y'know, the next thing I know, they're gonna find evidence of my communistic tendencies because I shared my toys in kindergarten -- cause I split my peanut butter and jelly sandwich with my friend in sixth grade."

Politico, Jan. 24, 2012, "Obama's commitment to Free Enterprise Profound":

White House press secretary Jay Carney pushed back against Mitt Romney's campaign stump accusation that President Obama wanted to put free enterprise on trial.

"This president's absolute faith and commitment to the free enterprise system is profound," Carney told reporters during his daily briefing. Carney went on to note that the president has cut business taxes for small businesses more than a dozen times, and has instituted a program to roll back regulations that are outdated or burdensome.

Editor's note - That rustling sound you hear out in the distance is the sound of Ayn Rand spinning wildly in her grave.

Gingrich does it again: Now a uniter and presidential

2012-01-24T08:04:00.004-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

Readers know this website has not been in the bag for Speaker Gingrich, yet we have been totally objective in assessing his performances, which have recently been brilliant.

Well, Monday's NBC Florida debate was no different. Gingrich pivoted 180 degrees. From the bomb-throwing, confrontational anti-Romney, to the uniter of the party. More than that - he was presidential and even a little humble. He deflected the attacks by Romney, saying he wouldn't waste debate time on them but would address them on his website, and then he turned the attacks back onto Romney, saying they were signs of desperation. As a former college debater, captain of the team during my senior year, and an assistant coach as a graduate student, I am impressed.

Newt's Al Gore moment...

2012-01-24T07:54:00.011-06:00

Gore "invented" the internet; Gingrich responsible for collapse of the Soviet Empire

From last night's debate via RCP:

"I went to a Goldwater organizing session in 1964. I met with Ronald Reagan for the first time in 1974. I worked with Jack Kemp, and Art Laffer and others to develop supply side economics in the late '70s. I helped Governor Reagan become President Reagan. I helped pass the Reagan economic program and worked with the National Security Council on issues including the collapse of the Soviet Empire," Newt Gingrich said at tonight's debate.

Editor's comment - Next, we'll learn Newt gets back rubs from female masseuses. Though, the thought of Newt chasing massage therapists around a table in a skimpy white towell is enough to send shivers up anyone's spine.

Boston Bruins Goalie Tim Thomas a Tea Party libertarian

2012-01-24T07:39:00.011-06:00

Clear expression of disdain for Obama adminstrations and his policies

From Eric Dondero:

The World Champs met with President Obama recently, but one key player was conspiscuously absent - star Goalie Tim Thomas.

From his Facebook page:

I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL.

This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT

Predictably, the Boston media is slamming him.

Sports writer Garret Quinn from Boston.com "Is Tim a libertarian?":

Adding to the libertarian intrigue is the back of his goalie mask from the Olympics, last season, and this season. On the back of his mask the libertarian themed "Don't Tread On Me" along with the Gadsden snake is prominently displayed.

Even if Thomas is a libertarian he did not help his political cause by skipping out on the Bruins meeting with the president because it makes him look like he is not a team player. His selfish move stands out even more as he is one of a handful of Americans on the Bruins' roster. If Thomas is trying to convert people to his libertarian message this is not the best.

Editor's comment - Johnson/Quinn Mountain climber/bicyclist and All-Star Hockey Pro 2012? (Photo from Tim's Facebook Page)

Haitian illegal alien murders 3 Americans including 15-year old girl in Miami

2012-01-24T07:25:00.007-06:00

HOLY SHIT!

'This guy shouldn’t have been in America,' Audrey Hansack, 37, mother of murdered Ashely, told the Miami Herald.

'I’m so upset with the whole situation. Because of immigration, my daughter is not alive.'

by Jim Lagnese & Eric Dondero

The young girl wanted to be a lawyer. The 35-year old male killed, was a high school basketball coach.

The murderer was a convicted felon released in 2010, facing deportation. But ICE lost track of him.

We have to go to the British press for the whole story. It's not headlining or even being mentioned, at Yahoo News, HuffPo, NY Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, CNN, et.al.

From the London Daily Herald, "Haitian man freed when Obama halted deportations after earthquake 'went on to murder three people'" (photo credit):

A Haitian immigrant, freed after the Obama Administration halted deportations to his native country, went on to kill three people before shooting himself, police say.

Twice convicted felon, Kesler Dufrene, of Manatee County, Florida, was due to be deported after a five-year jail term ended in October 2010.

But deportations to Haiti were temporarily halted after the country was rocked by a devastating earthquake in January that year.

Two months after his release, Dufrene, 23, went on to slaughter three people including 15-year-old Ashley Chow, in North Miami, according to police.
Ashley, a High School student who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, lived in the house in the 400 block of Northwest 134th Street, along with other victims Harlen Peralta, 25, and her boyfriend, Israel Rincon, 35.

And more:

After worried relatives called police on January 2, 2011, officers burst into the house to discover all three had been shot dead.

But before detectives could interrogate the drifter, Dufrene shot and killed himself during an unrelated burglary and shooting, 18 days after the murders.

Note - Obama's convicted drunk driver Uncle Obango is still living and working (at a liquor store), in Framingham, Massachusetts. His Aunt Zetuyni is still living in the U.S. despite an expired Visa from 10 years ago.

Romney goes into attack mode to blunt Newt's surge

2012-01-24T06:54:00.002-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

Newt Gingrich has vaulted over Mitt Romney in Florida, according to the first post-S.C. poll, conducted by Insider Advantage, and has narrowed the gap, nationwide, to just five points, according to Gallup.

Gingrich is not simply consolidating the social conservative vote. In addition, Romney's support has slipped badly.

These figures explain why Romney himself (and not just the Super PAC supporting him) has suddenly gone into attack mode, describing Gingrich as an economic populist and as a failed leader as Speaker of the House.

Unfortunately, Romney is handicapped with regard to Gingrich's most vulnerable weaknesses: the cloak of confidentiality masking his connections with the biggest special interest groups in Washington, D.C., and the dirt uncovered on him in the course of the House Ethics Committee investigation (which resulted in a plea bargain-like agreement involving a big fine and stepping down as Speaker).

Romney needs to disclose his tax returns and openly and proudly discuss his success in making money in the corporate world.

Until the votes were in, in South Carolina, Romney had been playing Mr. Nice Guy, above it all, deferential to his opponents, anticipating that he would soon be seeking to coalesce all the elements of the Republican coalition. Gingrich, on the other hand, continually questioned Romney's integrity on the tax issue, in addition to calling him a Massachusetts Moderate for flip-flopping on issues such as Climate Change and Health Insurance (the same way that he has).

For example, in the Thursday S.C. debate, on the issue of Newt's affair with a low-ranking employee of the House of Representatives while Speaker of the House, Romney wouldn't even comment on the subject, no less connect it to the violations of the House ethical rules that we already know about.

The way to comment on a matter such as that is by saying you will not comment on it: To paraphrase a line used by Richard Nixon in 1972 with respect to questions of Thomas Eagleton's mental health:

"I have instructed my staff not to bring up the matter of Newt's pattern of marital infidelity. Just because he had an affair with a low level employee of the House of Representatives, 26 years his junior, when he was Speaker of the House, will not be used by this campaign, as our focus will be on the issues. The fact that Newt's personal shortcomings hurt our attempt to impeach President Clinton for a similar tawdry affair, is history. As to what else, in addition to this, was uncovered by the House Ethics Committee in their investigation of Speaker Gingrich's violations of House ethics, which resulted in a plea-bargain type agreement, a big fine, and his resignation as Speaker, that's all protected by confidentiality, and Newt is unwilling to allow that information to be released, and I respect that. We are, after all, a nation of law. In 2008, we elected one 'don't ask, don't tell' President, whom we still don't know much about, and, if it is the will of the American people, we might this year elect another. So, the fact that Newt says he cannot reveal his relationship with Freddie Mac, because of a confidentiality agreement, or with the big health care lobbying organizations in Washington, because of confidentiality agreements, that's just the way it is. Newt is necessarily a 'pig in the poke,' an unknown quantity, and the voter has no right to know about these things. I just wish he'd stop attacking me for making my money, in the private sector, creating wealth and jobs through Bain Capital, when the way he made his money, with connections with the big lobbying organizations, is beyond scrutiny."

Rand Paul Stands Up To TSA

2012-01-23T12:18:00.001-06:00

By Jim Lagnese
Rand Paul was detained by the TSA earlier today when he refused a pat down by TSA agents. From ABC News:

The TSA version of events is that Paul triggered an alarm during routine airport screening and refused to complete the screening process (pat-down) in order to resolve the issue. Paul was escorted out of the screening area by local law enforcement.
“When an irregularity is found during the TSA screening process, it must be resolved prior to allowing a passenger to proceed to the secure area of the airport,” according to an official statement released by TSA. “Passengers who refuse to complete the screening process cannot be granted access to the secure area in order to ensure the safety of others traveling.”
Paul’s office confirmed he set off an airport security full-body scanner “on a glitch,” according to a spokesman.
The Paul staffer said TSA agents would not let Paul walk back through the body scanner and were demanding a full body pat-down.
The Paul spokesman said his office called TSA administrator John Pistole about the incident this morning.
The U.S. Constitution actually protects federal lawmakers from detention while they’re on the way to the Capital.
“The Senators and Representatives…shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same….” according to Article I, Section 6.

Senator Paul is a staunch libertarian, but unlike his father Ron Paul, has a more sensible approach to foreign policy. He is a clip of Senator Paul commenting on the TSA:

Update: White House sides with TSA.

video platform video management video solutions video player

Photo of the Day! Scary looking Muslim woman preaching the Koran to Norwegian school children

2012-01-23T07:24:00.009-06:00

Funded by a subsidy from the Government of Norway

From Eric Dondero:

Coming to a school district near you?? Minneapolis, Dearborn/Detroit, Buffalo, NY, Newark, NJ, Philadelphia? In the name of multi-culturalism.

Muslim activist Aisha Shezadi is touring Norway schools urging the young schoolchildren to adopt Islam and even wear head coverings.

And the best part? It's all funded by the hard-working taxpaying native Norwegians.

From the Norwegian news blog vg.no/nyhyeter:

The tour is sponsored by the Norwegian non-fiction Writers and Translators Association (NFF) and the organization Les! The latter receives an annual sum of NOK 2.8 million in operational support from the government through the Norwegian Council for Cultural Affairs.

H/t for translation from the anti-Jihadist blog Gates of Vienna. Note - The editors at Gates are self-described "libertarians."

NOT Ron Paul for President: He doesn't want Israel to exist

2012-01-23T07:02:00.008-06:00

by Lynne Torgerson

Ron Paul said he thinks Israel should not exist. (ynetnews.com )

His 12 year aide says that Ron Paul says this often. Apparently Ron Paul also thinks that the Israelis should leave and give the land to the Palestinians. Why would Israel give its land away? Further, isn't it true that Newt Gingrich revealed that the Palestinians are a fiction, and, Ron Paul was there when Mr. Gingrich said it?

Since the new beginning of Israel in 1948, the United States has been a major supporter of the State of Israel. In fact, our own United States President Truman's vote was a significant help in establishing the State of Israel. That is something that the United States has, and always should be proud of. Further, the United States and Israel are allies and friends. Allies and friends help each other out. Israel helps the United States. The United States helps Israel. We have similar values as well. The United States should help foster such a nation in this part of the world. It is also good for the United States to have a strong friend in that part of the Middle East, where so many people hate the United States and its citizens, and burn our flag and our Presidents in effigy. Why would any US Congressman encourage the giving away of land to people who hate the people of Israel and the US? Further, the Palestinians elected for their governing body Hamas, a terrorist organization. Why would Ron Paul have any nation give away its land to a people governed by a terrorist organization?

Israel is the land of Israel, the Israelis, and the Jews. That is the it is, should be, and always will be. And, Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of Israel, which is obvious.

Where does Ron Paul get his repugnant ideas? How in the world does he get elected to Congress? Ron Paul's ideas are repugnant to good and common sense. Israel is a nation, in the land of Israel, and will always be so. Further, that is the way it should be and, the United States should support that. Further, the United States has a long history of assisting Israel both militarily and financially and that should continue as well. The United States should be part of assisting this small beacon of democracy and light in this very hostile and turbulent part of the world. Overwhelming selfishness is not the answer to our debt and budget woes. The main guiding priniciple in what the US chooses to do or not is whether something is the right thing to do or not.

Lynne Torgerson, Republican for Congress, Minnesota 5th Dist. torgersonforcongress.com

Editor's note - Lynne's views don't necessarily represent the views of all Libertarian Republican editors and associates.

Might Ann Coulter vote Libertarian Gary Johnson if Romney doesn't get the GOP nod?

2012-01-23T06:38:00.004-06:00

Republicans For Johnson (RFJ)

From Eric Dondero:

Hardline anti-Gingrich stance by Ann Coulter on Fox. She tears into the Newtster on multiple fronts, even accuses South Carolinians of being "snowed" by Gingrich's alleged conservatism.

It brings up the question, what would such a hardline Romney supporter do if he loses the nomination?

There is an alternative: Gary Johnson, Libertarian for President.

Note - Coulter seriously flirted with a congressional run on the Libertarian Party ticket in 1996 in Connecticut.

Turns out Ron Paul receives no more support from Veterans than other candidates

2012-01-23T05:52:00.005-06:00

MYTHBUSTERS!

From Eric Dondero:

Well, here it is. According to National Review, exit polls from South Carolina suggest Ron Paul gets no more support from vets and active duty military, than the other candidates.

Ron Paul won 14 percent of veterans. His supporters often emphasize how many veterans and enlisted men and women donate to his campaign; others have wondered if his stances on foreign policy and national security would come across as isolationist or dovish. Paul appears to do roughly as well as he does among veterans as among non-veterans.

Paul's supporters, and sometimes Paul himself, have boasted all over the internet and at campaign appearances, that he gets far more support from the military, than any other candidate.

Challenge to Romney's Illinois petitions completely bogus

2012-01-22T20:40:00.006-06:00

Coming from the Santorum campaign?

by Clifford F. Thies

As previously reported ("Buddy System"), all petition for the Republican presidential primary in Illinois have been challenged, except Buddy Roemer's. It turns out the challenge against Romney's was filed by an operative of Rick Santorum in the state, and concerns Romney's Massachusetts notary on the loyalty oath required of him by Illinois law (that he is not now or never has been a member of the Communist Party, etc.). The law is, with respect to federal offices, unconstitutional, as it is well established that states may not use ballot access laws to establish criteria for federal office in addition to those in the U.S. Constitution. With regard to the office of President it is unconstitutional for putting an unfair burden on non-resdents of Illinois relative to residents of that state insofar, insofar as the Constitution requires states to accept documents and contracts from other states, and insofar as there are many cases indicating that the right to vote is such that mere technical violations are not to be used to deny ballot access. But, such as the asinine provisions of many state ballot access laws, that such a challenge as this can be lodged against a petition.

As to why an operative of Rick Santorum registered this complaint, it is because somebody pointed out that Santorum only filed the requisite number of signature, 600, in four of the state's eighteen Congressional Districts. If there's one thing you can count on, it's the sanctimoniousness of a social conservative.

Bottom line: Romney still does much better against Obama

2012-01-22T20:23:00.005-06:00

The very latest...

Rasmussen 2012 Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

•Barack Obama 44%
•Mitt Romney 44%

•Barack Obama 47%
•Newt Gingrich 40%

H/t Race42012.com

Sad milestone in the political world

2012-01-22T19:49:00.007-06:00

America's Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords decides against return to Congress

From Clifford & Eric:

We're not kind to Democrats at this website. That's quite clear from our editorials and news reports. But if there is one Democrat we would have like to see re-elected it is Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

Sadly, she has told the media, that her recovery is going to take longer.

From Reuters "Giffords leaving Congress to recover from shooting":

Representative Gabrielle Giffords, shot in the head during a shooting spree in Tucson, Arizona, last year, said Sunday she will step down this week from Congress to focus on her recovery.

"I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week," Giffords said, posting the announcement on social media like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

We extend our best wishes to Ms. Giffords and her family, and hope for her speedy and full recovery.

Chris Wallace's awkward question to Mitt Romney

2012-01-22T09:24:00.004-06:00

Sunday Morning Post-SC

FOX NEWS CHRIS WALLACE: What did you say to Mrs. Romney before you went to bed last night?

Mini-Watergate unraveling in Iowa: Higher-ups in the IA Democrat Party could be implicated

2012-01-22T08:24:00.023-06:00

DEVELOPING... Investigation could snag IA's Snr. Senator Tom Harkin

From Eric Dondero:

Details are sketchy. The Des Moines Register is offering only the scantest of information on what the alleged crime entails.

But it appears that a high-level staffer for the 2008 Obama for President campaign in Iowa attempted to steal the identity of Republican Secretary of State Matt Schultz in order to "falsely implicate..." him, in "unethical behavior in office."

Zachary Edwards was arrested Friday and charged with identity theft.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a news release saying Schultz’s office discovered the scheme on June 24, 2011 and notified authorities.

IA Republican SOS Matt Schultz the target of Dem operatives

Powerline reports:

Edwards now works for LINK Strategies, a Democratic consulting firm with extraordinarily close ties to Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin. Its principal, Jeff Link, has served as Harkin’s campaign manager and chief of staff. Link, too, is a former Obama staffer. The LINK Strategies web site says that Jeff Link “served as a media consultant to the Obama for President Campaign, coordinating branding, all paid media and polling in 25 states, including seven battleground states (VA, NC, FL, CO, NM, NV, MT)….”

Oddly, they seemed to have used the Jon Huntsman campaign for President to implicate Schultz, suggesting he tried to undermine his candidacy. Schultz has publicly endorsed Rick Santorum for President.

Schultz staunch supporter of Voter I.D.

Schultz is on record in favor of the use of state-issued identification cards for voting. He is also a supporter of E-Verify, a federal program which allows employers to check the immigration status of potential employees.

From VoteMattSchultz.com (2010):

We are required to show a Photo ID when we travel on an airplane, cash a check, and when we check into a hotel room. We are required to have a driver’s license when we drive and we should be required to show a Photo ID when we vote. When I am Secretary of State I will work with the legislature to require that every voter show an Iowa Driver’s License or Free State Issued Voter ID when they vote at the polls.

The Register adds:

The criminal complaint says Edwards fraudulently used or attempted to use the identity of Schultz or Schultz's brother with the intent to obtain a benefit. No other details were given.

If convicted, Edwards could face up to two years in prison.

Blogger John Hinderacker at PL comments:

Much like Watergate, which began with a seemingly simple (if puzzling) burglary and ultimately unraveled the Nixon administration, it is impossible to say how far the trail of criminality will go if the Edwards case is pursued aggressively.

Photo credit - NOLA.com

Breaking from Overseas... British Airline pilot arrested for ties to Islamic Terrorism

2012-01-22T08:00:00.009-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

Lovely. Board a plane from New York, Boston or Washington, D.C. to London and you might just have a pilot who reads Islamic extremist literature, has flight maps from known terrorist groups and takes cabin breaks to bow down to Allah.

The British press is not naming which airline. But of course, "well-known British carrier" could be code for British Airways. (In fairness, it could be Virgin Atlantic).

From the Daily Telegraph, "Pilot with terror links deemed a security risk accuses airline of racism after losing his job - Airline pilot was arrested because of close links with alleged extremists":

The pilot, a Muslim, was judged a security risk because of his close links to two alleged extremists suspected of ‘planning to use an aircraft as part of a hostile or terrorist act’.

Because of draconian reporting restrictions imposed last week by an employment tribunal, the man cannot be identified and neither can his employer.

Despite this, a well-known British carrier said in a letter that the pilot was ‘in a position to cause considerable harm’ and added that it was in the ‘national interest’ to ensure he never flew commercial aircraft again.

Concerns about the two suspected extremists – one is a business partner of the pilot’s brother – were first raised when they paid for flying lessons and a light aircraft in cash.

During a raid on the London home of one of the pair, detectives found documents relating to the operation of aircraft, a flight map of the UK and literature from an Islamic extremist group banned in many countries.

Note - even the leaning slightly conservative Daily Telegraph couches the report in terms of the arrested pilot accusing the airline of racism, and not the real story, why would a major airline allow and Islamic extremist to fly their planes.

DISCLAIMER: The editors of Libertarian Republican would like to express that we are not sure if the airline mentioned in the article is indeed British Airways. It is pure speculation on our part. And if it turns out that it is another airline, we will offer our apologies, and a full retraction.

Libertarian candidate invited to "Republican" debate

2012-01-22T07:15:00.009-06:00

Republicans back hardline libertarian stances

From Eric Dondero:

Here's the headline from the Bismark Tribune, "North Dakota Republican U.S. House candidates debate."

It was a Republican debate; well, sort of. The lone Libertarian Party candidate was invited to participate.

The economy was at the forefront Friday night in a pre-convention debate featuring five Republicans and one Libertarian Party candidate in the crowded race for North Dakota's at-large U.S. House seat.

Candidates provided a crowd of more than 50 at the debate sponsored by the North Dakota Tea Party.

One Republican and the Libertarian agreed, foreign aid should be cut:

Brian Kalk said foreign aid was a good place to start.

"The first thing I'd cut is military aid to countries that aren't our friends," Kalk said.

Libertarian Party candidate Eric Olson agreed, also questioning the United States' policy of providing bailouts to prop up failing companies.

Another Republican, notably a local state legislator, espoused "extremist" views:

Rep. Bette Grande, R-Fargo, (photo) listed federal departments that should get the ax, including the Department of Education, Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Commerce and National Endowment for the Arts.

"Oh, did that sound extremist? I just read from the Republican platform," Grande said, drawing laughter from the audience.

This is an open seat, as incumbent Tea Party Republican Rep. Peter Berg is moving up to the Senate race. Grande is viewed in some circles as the frontrunner in the race.

Colorado Republicans moving towards support for Marijuana Legalization

2012-01-22T06:58:00.011-06:00

Republicans cherish the right of individuals to make their own decisions with a minimum of government intervention

Excerpted column by Ron Laughery, Boulder Daily Camera on-line, "Real Republicans will support legalizing marijuana" Jan. 21:

On Jan. 4, 160,000 signatures were submitted to the Colorado Secretary of State that will allow Coloradans to vote on whether we want to regulate marijuana in essentially the same way that we regulate alcohol. Coloradans will have an opportunity to show America how to introduce sanity into our drug policies. Conventional wisdom has it that conservatives will oppose legalization, but I think that's dead wrong. Real Republicans will, without a doubt, support legalization. And, lest you think this simply the fantasy of a libertarian-leaning Boulder Republican, let me point out that Republicans have already shown Coloradans what they think.

First, at the 2010 Boulder County Republican Caucuses, a resolution entitled "Legalization of Marijuana" was voted on by 73 precincts, of which 56 voted for legalization and 17 against -- over 76 percent in favor of legalization. Second, the guy who received the most Republican votes for Colorado Governor in 2010, Tom Tancredo, clearly stated his support for legalizing marijuana...

While some may find this inconsistent with the party's image, if you consider legalization in the context of core Republican values, it makes complete sense. Here's why.

First, Colorado Republicans cherish the right of individuals to make their own decisions with a minimum of government intervention. The past few decades of research on the health effects of marijuana demonstrate overwhelmingly that marijuana is as safe or safer than alcohol and tobacco. So, laws that allow alcohol and tobacco use but prohibit marijuana use have no real basis in protecting public health or safety.

Limiting government intrusion into our personal lives and overturning laws where the government makes choices for us is a Republican priority across the board. Legalizing marijuana is exactly that.

Real Republicans will stand behind the changes that are needed to bring marijuana into the sphere of legal and regulated drugs and, we will do this for no other reason than it's consistent with our core beliefs and philosophies of governance.

Initiative website regulatemarijuana.org

Gingrich scores a big win in South Carolina

2012-01-22T06:50:00.001-06:00

The Craziness continues...

by Clifford F. Thies

Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich registered an enormous victory in South Carolina today. Based on about half the votes, he bested former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by more than ten points, 40 to 27 percent. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum finished third, with 18 percent; and, U.S. Congressman Ron Paul, fourth, with 13 percent.

The network exit poll indicated that late deciders broke decisively in favor of Gingrich, reflecting the trend exhibited in the polls of the prior week. Romney entered the week with what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. But, with Newt's dazzling performance in Monday's Fox News debate, it looked as though things could change. Romney was clearly outclassed in that debate, although his second half performance was better than his first half.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Gingrich was helped with an endorsement of sorts by Sarah Palin and by Rick Perry dropping out and throwing his support to him. Also, ABC announced that it would air an interview with Newt's second ex-wife and her bombshell statement that Newt asked her for an open marriage so he could continue his affair with the woman who eventually became the third Mrs. Gingrich. This attempt to torpedo Newt's Presidential ambitions at least temporarily backfired, as the social conservatives rallied to his cause. Newt's forceful argument, in Thursday's CNN debate, that his sexual misconduct should be of no concern to anybody, because God is forgiving, was received with enthusiasm. As for Romney in that debate, he cam across flummoxed and defensive on the issues of his record as a venture capitalist and his taxes.

How this craziness will play outside the deep South is another thing. According to about a quarter of those voting in the Republican primary, voting for Newt because he shared their faith, was an important consideration. This is a step in the direction of tolerance for Southern conservatives since Newt is a Catholic which, in a prior generation, would have been anathema. But, voting for a Mormon, no, that would be too much to ask. According to recent polls in Florida and nationwide, Romney still has a significant lead over Newt. But, that lead cannot be taken for granted. Romney has to make a positive case for himself in terms of being a capitalist and he's going to have to disclose his tax returns. Then, he is going to have to do something more than play the prevent defense. He's going to have to make the case as to Newt's record of ethical shortcomings, the unsuitability of his bellicose personality for the office of President, and his cover-up of his connections with the Washington special interest groups. Romney has to play the role of the anti-Newt, just as everybody up to now has mostly if not exclusively played the role of the anti-Romney.

LR Business: We're not Politically Correct; Who Knew?

2012-01-22T06:06:00.008-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

We received an email letter to the editor the other day. It came from a woman from Vermont. She gave us her full name, and described herself as "retired." Associate Editor Jim "Right Guy" Lagnese confirmed via internet search that it appeared to be for real, and was from an ISP in the stated location. I asked her for permission to run it with her name, but she never responded.

Here it is:

What's with the image of the woman, dressed in a halter and skirt and wearing a sailor cap? Looks like something you would find on a cheap motorcycle mechanic's calendar. Makes me wonder about Libertarian issues if they are promoting them with this image. Don't you think it's time to grow up and quit selling everything, including our country's future, with an image that degrades women and pokes fun at the US Navy.

I responded to her:

We revel in female sexiness at Libertarian Republican. Being anti-PC is the very essense of libertarianism.

Jim noted appropriately:

I guess if she was wearing pants it would be ok? And don't forget comfortable shoes. The bottom line is that the model did it of her own free will and is proud of it. That is libertarian.

Note - Of course the image is from our friend Gina Elise, of PinupsforVets.com. Gina gave us permission to use it two years ago. And we return the favor by asking our readers to visit her site and order her calendars to help bring some cheer to Vets young and old.

Islamophobia: Is it real or imagined?

2012-01-21T09:21:00.004-06:00

By Jim Lagnese

Islamophobia is a term created by the both the politically correct crowd and pro-islamists in an effort to both stifle free speech and hide the truth about Islam. The question remains: Are Americans islamophobic? Pat Condell reports on this, you decide.

Posted by Right Guy

Destined to be a classic on the Pro-Liberty/Anti-Jihadist Right

2012-01-21T08:03:00.005-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

Just released from GBTV. A spoof of the popular NBC hit series, showing the absurdities of Islamism and exposing the hypocricies of the PC left. (Click to watch uptop).

You won't see something like this at NBC's SNL, for sure.

Egyptian Islamists burning down homes of Christian Copts

2012-01-20T21:29:00.049-06:00

Ethnic cleansing of Christians, clearing the way for more Mosques on Christian-owned lands

From Eric Dondero:

Like something straight out of the 1938 Nazis Kristallnacht, Stalin's communists burning down Kulak villager's homes in the Ukraine, or the genocide in Darfur.

AINA reports:

A Muslim mob attacked Copts today in the Upper Egyptian village of Rahmaniya-Kebly, Nag Hammadi, Qena province, destroying and torching their homes, straw huts and shops, while chanting Allahu Akbar. No one was reported killed or injured. According to reports, security forces were present but did not intervene and the fire brigade arrived 90 minutes late.

An eye-witness said that a straw hut belonging to a Copt was torched to clear the area for a mosque. There are more than 300 mosques in the village and one church.

According to Coptic residents, the reason behind the violence was the parliamentary elections. The Salafists wanted to prevent Copts, who number more than 50% of the inhabitants (20,000), from voting because they intended to vote for two moderate Muslims and not the Salafi candidates. "No Copt from Rahmaniya-Kebly was able to vote today, so the Salafists will win the elections," said a witness. Copts were forcefully prevented from voting.

Editor's note - Don't expect to see much if any reporting of this at left-libertarian sites like Reason, Cato.org, Daily Paul, LewRockwell.com, Antiwar.com, et.al. Helping to stop the increasing genocide of the Christian Copts in our Egyptian Western Civilization outpost would amount to "foreign intervention" in their eyes. (Photo h/t IslamizationWatch.org)

Trained dogs who screen passengers offend some Muslim travelers

2012-01-20T21:29:00.048-06:00

They're "unclean"

From Eric Dondero:

Here we go... Your friendly neighborhood sniffer dog may be in danger of losing his job. That is, if Muslim activist groups in the UK have their way.

The London Express reports, "SNIFFER DOGS OFFEND MUSLIMS" Jan. 21:

POLICE sniffer dogs trained to spot terrorists at railway stations may no longer come into contact with Muslim passengers – after complaints that it is against the suspects’ religion.

A report for the Transport Department has raised the prospect that the animals should only touch passengers’ luggage because it is considered “more acceptable”.

In the Muslim faith, dogs are deemed to be spiritually “unclean”. But banning them from touching passengers would severely restrict their ability to do their job.

The report follows trials of station security measures in the wake of the 2005 London suicide bomb attacks. In one trial, some female Muslims said the use of a body scanner was also unacceptable because it was tantamount to being forced to strip.

Photo credit - London Daily Mirror. H/t Vlad

Pro-Liberty/Anti-Jihadist Marine Le Pen surges among French Gays and Lesbians

2012-01-20T21:29:00.039-06:00

Same Sex advocates fearing increased Islamization of Europe?

From Eric Dondero:

A fully un-expected development in the race for president of France. Suddenly, far right candidate Marine Le Pen is gaining support among the Nation's powerful gay and lesbian voting bloc.

From 360 Magaizine, "15% of gays ready to vote for Le Pen" Jan. 10:

Will Marine Le Pen be successful in her operation to attract gays and lesbians? The FN candidate comes in second in a poll launched by the magazine "Stubborn" on its website. A score not to be taken lightly.

The online magazine "Tetu" seems to confirm the rise of the candidate of the National Front, which has been much of the talk in France in recent days. The operation started by Marine Le Pen, included a hand extended toward the gay electorate, would she then paid? With 15.4%, it ranks second in the presidential candidates in April and May.

Still, François Hollande leads with the gay and lesbian community with a 35% share. Nicolas Sarkozy lags behind with 11%.

But not everyone is happy. According to lexpress.fr the leader of the leftist group in France Act Up Didier Lestrade is greatly troubled by the Le Pen trend in the gay community. He ranted against the "individualism," of some French gays planning to vote "pour le droit" (for the right), saying they needed to protect the interests of the minority community.

marinelepen2012.fr

Today's Pametto State primary: A toss-up in the extreme

2012-01-20T21:28:00.010-06:00

by Clifford Thies

Five recent polls indicate that the race in South Carolina has tightened up so that tomorrow's vote is a complete toss-up between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. These polls were conducted after Monday's debate, but before Thursday's debate, bombshell revelation concerning Newt Gingrich, and withdrawal from the race of Rick Perry.

In one poll, conducted by Tarrance Group, normally a Republican polling outfit, givess the edge to Mitt Romney, esepcially when factoring-in "leaners." Without any prompting, respondents indicated a small, 2 point preference for the former Massachusetts Governor. In a later question, where "undecided" voters were quiered as to whether they were "leaning" toward any candidate, Romney enjoyed a seven point lead. In this poll, only two candidates were shown to be unacceptable to large numbers of voters: Ron Paul, regarding whom 35 percent said they would never vote for him; and, Newt Gingrich, regarding whom 13 percent said they would never vote for him.

Another poll, conducted by PPP, normally a Democratic polling firm, gives the edge to Gingrich. According to this poll, those expressing support for both Gingrich and Romney have supporters who are pretty firmly committed. However, Rick Santorum, the other social conservative in the race, has supporters who are more likely to abandon him for another candidate. Among the soft supporters of Santorum, Gingrich is the second choice of forty-five percent, while Romney is the second choice of only twenty-two percent.

Looking at the nationwide Gallup Poll for another indication of how things are changing, Romney fell from a 23 point lead over Gingrich in Gallup's January 11-15 sample, to a 10 point lead in its January 15-19 sample. A ten point lead is still a ten point lead. But, if Romney's lead over Gingrich has fallen to only 10 points nationwide, it would be tough for Romney to beat Gingrich in a deep South state.

We should now consider the possibility that the liberal media has released the interview with Newt's second ex-wife in order, siumultaneously, to help him in South Carolina and poison his chances of being elected in the fall. While the slack-jaws in the social conservative wing of the Republican get off on talk of "killing" America's enemies and defending your infidelity and violation of House ethical rules by attacking the media, this stuff will not resonate outside the the deep South.

Because of the predictable, tribal-like response of the social conservatives, when one of their own is attacked, it was actually predictable that the news would actually help, not hurt Newt in South Carolina. Thus, Sarah Palin, as a Fox News commentator, correclty said, "They, thinking that by trotting out this old Gingrich divorce interview that's old news -- and it does feature a disgruntled ex, claiming that it would destroy his campaign -- all this does, Sean, is incentivize conservatives and independents who are so sick of the politics of personal destruction, because it's played so selectively by the media, that their target, in this case Newt, he's now going to soar even more."

When Newt was serving as Speaker, he was found guilty of repeatedly violating the House's code of conduct for relying on a political consultant to develop the House Republican agenda, and was paid a substantial fine, Ninety-eight other changes were dropped, the substance of which was included in the House Ethics Committee report on the Speaker.

When Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi threathened to reveal the dirt uncovered on Newt Gingrich in the course of the House Ethics Committee, Gingrich, in his typical belligerent style, threatened her with a tort. He claimed that the proceedings of the commitee are confidential. The confidentiality part is, of course, correct. A spokesperson for Pelosi later "explained" that she was only talking about information that is already in the public record. (jonathanturley.org)

But, the claim of confidentiality is, for the purpose of supporting somebody for President of the United States, an admission that their is something that is being hidden. And, we know at least one thing that is being hidden; namely, the Speaker was having sexual relations with a low level employee of the House of Representatives.

Speaker Gingrich repeatedly invokes confidentiality: You have no right to know who were my clients from the health insurance industry. You have no right to know what services I performed for Freddie Mac. You have no right to know what information was uncovered on me by the House Ethics Committee. As a private citizen, Newt's correct. But, wanting our vote, we can demand to know.

Or, we can do with Newt what the media did with Obama, and wind up with another don't ask, don't tell President.

Photos from the South Carolian Tourism board and wegoplaces.com

Hayekian/Friedmanite sighted in Massachusetts

2012-01-20T20:54:00.003-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

Meet Jeff Semon. He is the Republican candidate challenging ultra-liberal longtime Rep. Edward Markey in Massachusetts.

And according to American Thinker, (Conservative Happy Warrior Challenges Warmist Ed Markey for House Seat), Semon's a diehard free market enthusiast:

Jeff Semon is the real deal. Semon (accent on the second syllable, like "Simone") is an unabashed free-market Ronald Reagan conservative, a 6'3" guy with a Marine haircut who looks you in the eye and quotes Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek with a sunny smile. Zero RINO-squishitis detectable.

He's from Lexington, Massachusetts ("the birthplace of American liberty," Jeff likes to say), a business consultant working full-time to support his family -- including his two-week old daughter. He comments that he "did not grow up with a silver spoon in [his] mouth": public high school and UMass Business School, not prep school and Harvard Law.

He used to write a blog called Krugmaniswrong, dismantling the columns of Paul Krugman. And miracle of miracles, he's running for the U.S. Congress to represent one of the bluest zip codes in the country -- my precinct in Cambridge. As Jeff says mischievously, he's "looking forward to being Elizabeth Warren's next congressman."

Some campaign bullet points:

allow people to keep all of their retirement savings if they choose not to receive Social Security benefits

decrease net tax revenue

the tax rate companies pay on profits should be zero

You can help Jeffin2012.com

Romney ties, but Gingrich loses badly to Obama

2012-01-20T20:47:00.005-06:00

Santorum lags, as well

From CBS/New York Times (via Hedgehog):

PRESIDENT – NATIONAL (CBS/NYT)
Mitt Romney (R) 45%
Barack Obama (D-inc) 45%

Barack Obama (D-inc) 46%
Ron Paul (R) 42%

Barack Obama (D-inc) 50%
Newt Gingrich (R) 39%

Barack Obama (D-inc) 49%
Rick Santorum (R) 38%

Editor's note - In a week where Romney took a beating on Bain capital from both the liberal media, and Gingrich negative ads, he still holds his own.

More Perry backers move to Romney

2012-01-20T20:09:00.014-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

It started with Bob McDonnell on Thursday.

The Virginia Governor and friend of Texas Governor Rick Perry announced his endorsement of Mitt Romney for President. And now a day later another top Rick Perry backer Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal endorses Mitt Romney.

But that's not all. Three Texas Republican Congressman are moving from Perry to Team Romney: Reps. Kay Granger, Pete Olson, and Mike Conaway.

And a bonus: Rep. Dan Baneshek, Herman Cain's only supporter in Congress, has just announced his endorsement of Mitt Romney.

et tu Perry?

2012-01-20T09:16:00.004-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

First, Newt knocks one out of the park in Monday's debate. Then, Sarah Palin says if she were a voter in South Carolina, she would vote for The Speaker. Now, rumors are afloat that Rick Perry will do something dramatic, such as drop out and endorse the guy.

The polls indicate that Gingrich is consolidating the social conservative vote in the Palmetto State. Newt's numbers are up, but totally at the expense of Rick Santorum. Accordingly, Romney's lead is being eroded. Given the combined support for Newt and Ricks #1 and #2, there are enough social conservatives in South Carolina for Newt to overtake Mitt. The vote, at this time, looks like it could go either way.

But, performing the same calculation in Florida (adding up Newt's votes plus the two Ricks' votes), which holds its primary on Tuesday, and Romney wins. Ditto all the other states outside the Deep South. Newt, if he were to win on Saturday, will become the Mike Huckabee of 2012, a regional candidate within the Republican Party with no hope of securing a majority at the convention.

Newt, if he somehow got the nomination, would loss badly to Obama, because, outside of the South, his bluster and saber-rattling (despite never having served in the military himself) turn people off. And, how many ex-wives will be out there campaigning against him?

And why, really, is Newt preferred by social conservatives to Mitt? Is it because Newt flip-flopped on abortion, a health care mandate and gay marriage differently from the way Mitt flip-flopped on these issues? Or, is it because Mitt is rich and is a Mormon? These are not reasons that we, Libertarian Republicans, find persuasive.

We, Libertarian Republicans do not pretend that we are a majority within the Republican coalition. But, we are crucial to the success of Republicans in the general election. In head-to-head match-ups against Obama, Mitt Romney is currently breaking even (and, were he to consolidate the Republican coalition upon becoming the nominee of the party, he would enjoy the current lead exhibited when Generic Republican is pitted against Obama).

The numbers change dramatically when Gary Johnson or, especially, Ron Paul is put into the mix as a third party candidate. With a strong Libertarian Party candidate, Mitt loses decisively to Obama. Mitt realizes this, and, so, is relatively mild in his criticism of Dr. Paul. The game plan, I am sure, is to name a solid conservative candidate as his Vice Presidential running mate to "secure the base" of the party in the South, and to soft sell the ticket to voters inclined toward libertarian thinking.

Newt, on the other hand, would be a complete disaster. First, he decisively underperforms against Obama relative to Romney. Second, there is no way he can reconcile himself with libertarian-inclined voters. It is possible that Ron Paul and Gary Johnson would join together to form the Libertarian Party ticket, presenting the American voter with the most credible third party option since former President Teddy Roosevelt ran as third party candidate in 1912. That year, when the non-Democratiic Party vote was split, the Progressive Socialist Woodrow Wilson got elected with 42 percent of the vote.

Romney loses his cool with Occupy protester in SC

2012-01-20T09:09:00.002-06:00

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell: Romney's response "Reaganesque"

From Eric Dondero:

It's somewhat hard to understand over the noise of the crowd. But the expressions on Romney's face are clear. Questioned about Bain capital by a leftist protester, Mitt Romney at a campaign stop in South Carolina lectures the young man on free enterprise versus socialism.

If you've got a better model, Cuba... China... Russia's better, North Korea's better, I'd be glad to hear about it. You know what? America's right and you're wrong.

Editor's note - Apologies for any difficulties watching this video. There is no YouTube version. I can't stand Mediaite videos! (post bumped to headliner for the day)

Rasmussen: 70% to 15% among Americans - Free Market vs. Socialism

2012-01-20T09:07:00.002-06:00

Breaking...

From Rasmussen "70% Prefer Free Market to Government-Managed Economy":

Seventy percent (70%) of American Adults think a free market economy is better than one managed by the government. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 15% believe a government-managed economy is better. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.

Ron Paul fading... NY Times polling expert - he's got "zero chance" of winning SC

2012-01-20T08:52:00.007-06:00

Views on America's military not playing well

From SC Monitor, the Vote blog:

Paul in any case is unlikely to make a run at the top spot in South Carolina. The state has a large military presence, and Paul’s non-interventionist views have not played well among Republicans there. That’s why his answers to foreign policy questions at times drew boos from the crowd during Monday’s South Carolina GOP debate. (However, Paul himself is now the only veteran in the race, as well as the only Protestant.)

Nate Silver, polling expert at the New York Times, has crunched a number of recent polls, and pronounces Paul’s chances of winning the South Carolina primary to be zero. He has Romney and Gingrich essentially tied, each with about a 34 percent chance of a victory.

For Paul, the race in South Carolina may be against Santorum... [If he could] edge out the social conservative for third, he might be able to declare some kind of victory.

But Paul's campaign has not put much emphasis on South Carolina, or the upcoming primary state of Florida, where he’s polling only in the high single digits.

Veterans Against Ron Paul Facebook

Gary Johnson gaining support of local Libertarian Party affiliates

2012-01-20T08:28:00.012-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

There's another race of interest to libertarian Republicans. There are 9 declared candidates for the Libertarian nomination for President. Virtually all of them, are 2nd and 3rd tier nobodies. The only two viable candidates are Gary Johnson, of course, and R.J. Harris a 20-year National Guardsman and 2010 LP congressional candidate from Oklahoma.

Johnson's campaign seems to be gaining steam. Within the last two weeks, both the Nebraska Libertarian Party Executive Committee and the South Carolina LP Ex-Comm formally endorsed his campaign.

He also appears to have some support in the critical New York LP. From a Johnson campaign press release:

Former New Mexico Governor and presidential candidate Gary Johnson will be in New York City Saturday, January 21, to participate in the Manhattan Libertarian Party’s annual convention. Johnson will speak to the convention as part of the event’s presidential candidates’ forum.

The convention will be held at the Ukranian East Restaurant, 140 2nd Avenue New York, NY., and the candidates’ forum is expected to begin at 12:30 p.m.

Governor Johnson will be in New York Saturday, January 21,through Tuesday, January 24, and is available for interviews with the media. To schedule, please contact: Joe Hunter, media@garyjohnson2012.com or 801.303.7926.

And Libertarian Republican has a little breaking news to report.

Gary Johnson has been invited to be the keynote speaker for the Alaska Libertarian Party State Convention to be held at the Golden Lion hotel in downtown Anchorage on the weekend of March 3. More info Alaskalibertarian.com (Mark Fish, Chairman, Harley Brown, Vice-Chair and Convention Coordinator).

Pro-family/anti-gay rights Newt wanted an "open relationship"?

2012-01-20T07:58:00.005-06:00

He's "born again" so that gives him a pass

by Clifford F. Thies

Like many other social conservatives, Newt Gingrich is a total hypocrite.

The pro-family/anti-gay rights man who covets the new power of the President to order the assassination of America's enemies, including U.S. citizens, without any judicial restraint, and whose role model, we now know, is Andrew Jackson who drove American citizens of Indian heritage onto the Trail of Tears so that his fellow Democrats in the South could snatch away their lands, went to his second wife with the bright idea that she accept his mistress of six years, a paid member of his Congressional staff, in an open marriage relationship. And, just because a bunch of slack jawed evangelical ministers say, but he's "born again," we libertarians are supposed to go along with it? I don't think so.

Source: Boston Globe

BREAKING!! Romney wins a key endorsement from Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell

2012-01-20T07:07:00.008-06:00

Also picks up backing from Sen. Portman and Fla. Rep. Sandy Duncan

From Eric Dondero:

The Mitt Romney for President campaign is announcing this morning the endorsement of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.

"As I have said throughout this primary process, we need a governor to serve as our next president,” McDonnell said. “America needs leadership and that's what governors do: they lead. Governors actually have to find solutions and bring all parties together in order to get results for their citizens – they can't just sit back and cast votes."

"Mitt Romney used his leadership ability in a politically difficult environment to balance the budget every year, cut spending and taxes, and create jobs. He is a results-oriented conservative."

McDonnell was a backer of Texas Governor Rick Perry's campaign. Though, his backing was never official, he had spoken on behalf of the governor in cable TV interviews.

In related news, the Romney campaign also picked up the endorsements of Ohio Senator and former Bush administration budget official Rob Portman, and Florida congresswoman Sandy Adams in recent days.

Note - This website was an early and enthusiastic endorser of Tea Partyer Sandy Adams for Congress in 2010. Photo h/t - Human Events

Christie opens the door a tiny bit on possible VP selection

2012-01-20T06:49:00.007-06:00

Says he'd "listen" to any overtures

From Eric Dondero:

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has ended his longstanding policy of Shermaneque statements on the Vice-Presidential spot. The nation's leading fiscally conservative/socially moderate Gov. for the first time, said he'd politely consider an overture if it was made.

From NewsMax, "If Called to Be on Republican Ticket 'I'll Listen'":

“I don’t give it any thought now because in the end I have no control over it — one person, one man is going to make that decision,” Christie said. “And if I get the call, what I have said to everybody is I’ll listen. But I love this job, Sean. And I have a hard time imagining myself leaving it — that’s why I didn’t leave it to run for president. I find it hard to imagine that I would leave it to run for vice president, but I love my country enough — and I love my party enough — that if the nominee of my party picked up the phone and called, I think I owe it to myself and to my country to listen and that’s what I’ll do.”

Of course, Christie is a leading supporter of Mitt Romney for President.

Islam, Gays, and the Military Draft

2012-01-20T06:02:00.017-06:00

The Klinger strategy works well for at least one NATO ally

From Eric Dondero:

This is so wrong on so many levels. A new film, "Zenne" (trailer) about a Muslim honor killing of a young gay man by his father, is bringing to light Turkey's contradictory policies on homosexuality.

A Reuters review of the film shows a rather absurd example of how the Turks, members of NATO, handle the quesiton of gays serving the Military.

From Reuters, "Gay "honor killing" movie shakes Turkey up":

Turkey is often held as an example in the Middle East for marrying Islam and democracy, but Turkish gay activists say Ankara's human rights record is far from perfect.

One practice particularly abhorred by rights groups is the method by which gay men can be exempted from the required 16-month military service: they have to prove their homosexuality in medical tests and are compelled to provide photos of them having sex with other men.

In the movie, two characters undergoing one such examination are forced to wear make-up and dress in women's clothes, while doctors perform anal examinations.

According to Article 17 of the health regulations of the Turkish Armed Forces, homosexuality is considered a "psychosexual deviance."

So, Turkish gays have to show compromising photos of themselves to governmental authorities, prance around in women's dresses, and bend over for invasive rectal exams by military doctors to prove that they're gay enough to avoid the military draft.

Where's the outcry by the Obama administration over this NATO ally's grossly abusive policies? Where's the outcry by the homosexual rights groups and lobbyists in the U.S.?

Of course, we libertarians would say abolish the military draft altogether.

Non-interventionist conservative opposes Ron Paul's foreign policy

2012-01-19T05:55:00.012-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

Tim Dunkin is the founder and editor of the email newsletter Conservative Underground. He's a self-described "pharmaceutical chemist by day, and a freelance author by night." He is a Christian pro-lifer and very much a non-interventionist who opposed the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, he finds himself in stark disagreement with Ron Paul on foreign policy, particularly his mis-understanding of the goals of radical Islam, and the reasons for their hatred for the West.

Excerpted from syndicated column at Renew America, "Ron Paul? No thanks":

I find myself greatly at odds with the apparent underlying principles that seem to drive a lot of his foreign policy decision-making.

At this point, the automated, robotic response functionality in the Ron Paul supporter's brain just kicked in:

."..beep beep beep...Neo-Con...beep beep beep...chickenhawk"

Which is ironic because I am neither. I am not a socially-liberal formerly-Marxist Manhattanite who converted to "conservative" internationalist interventionism. Indeed, I don't even support an interventionist foreign policy in general, I was opposed to the late occupation of Iraq, I am opposed to the current occupation of Afghanistan, and have been so for quite a while since before Barack Obama became President.

Note again, I didn't say that I necessarily disagree with Ron Paul's foreign policy positions themselves, but with the underlying reasons that he seems to have for them. I would coincide with many of his conclusions, but not his reasons for reaching them.

One thing I've noticed about Ron Paul is that his basic fallback philosophy in everything foreign policy-related is that anything America does on the world scene is always and at all times unwarranted and intrusive, and that any opposition we receive is the inevitable result of "blowback" generated by our rampant "imperialism." Indeed, Ron Paul at one point even stated that America was the most aggressive, imperialistic nation the world has ever seen. Seriously? More so than Napoleon? The British Empire? Even the Mongols?

This statement, along with others like it, stems from a fundamentally wrongheaded view of American foreign policy. While I agree that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were and are wrongheaded and wasteful, and that we should generally mind our own business more the world over, this does not translate into every bad thing in the world being the result of American imperialism, nor does it mean that every attack on America is "justified" because of our "imperialism."

Are we imperialistic? No. Or at least we're extremely poor at it. I mean, shoot, we invade a country for its oil, and yet never got any of it, and then ended up "freeing" the country voluntarily, after already letting it put such idiotic restraints on our actions there as to hinder our own soldiers and make our presence there more than ludicrous. How inept is that? I trust the reader can see the sarcasm in my comment.

Ron Paul seems oblivious to the fact that there are other nations out there on the world stage who also act in their own self-interest. Sometimes their self-interest conflicts with our goals as a nation. Sometimes, these other groups can be aggressive, imperialistic, and so forth, themselves. Take Islam — Ron Paul seems to think that the radical Muslims only hate us because we support Israel and are involved in the Middle East. If we closed our bases and sold Israel down the river, then everything would be fine and dandy, and we wouldn't have to worry about terrorism ever again since we'd removed the cause of "blowback."

Ridiculous.

They hate us because we're not them. Radical Islam really does hate anyone who is not Muslim (and even many who are). That's why Islam has a fourteen-century-long track record of aggression, violence, and general unneighborliness toward pretty much everyone it's come into contact with. They attack us because they are engaging in jihad — something that they would do regardless of what foreign policy we pursued. Syed Qutb, the founder of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, and spiritual forefather of al-Qaeda, already decided he hated the United States even back before we were significantly involved in the Middle East or were supporting Israel. The guy condemned American society as materialistic and oversexed, in the 1950s, because he saw men and women fraternizing at a church dance.

Yet, Ron Paul seems to be fundamentally ignorant of Islam, its history, its theology, and the rest. That level of ignorance, even from someone whose policies I would otherwise often agree with, is a dangerous thing to have in someone wanting to fill an office that constitutionally is primarily involved with federative and foreign policy roles.

In short, I don't want a President whose first instinct when we find ourselves in a disagreement with another country or civilization is to blame America because we've "obviously" done something to generate "blowback," probably something the "chickenhawk Neo-Cons" pushed us into. I don't want a President whose instinct is to blame his own country, instead of understanding that maybe, just maybe, other countries can do bad things themselves and that they, rather than we, may be at fault. We already have a President like that — we don't need another one.

His newsletter archives can be found at Conservative Underground.

SHOCKING!! Iranian Med student and Human Rights activist shot to death in Houston

2012-01-18T22:06:00.008-06:00

Political activist against ranian regime "feared for her safety"

From Eric Dondero:

The Houston Chronicle, is reporting "Family asks for help solving woman's mysterious murder":

Gelareh Bagherzadeh was shot about 11:40 p.m. Sunday while driving in a Galleria-area condominium complex where she lived with her parents. Surveillance footage of the property does not show her entering it, or the area where she was believed to be shot, police said.

Bagherzadeh was an Iranian immigrant who was a vocal opponent for political change in her native county. She was also a molecular genetics technology student in an undergraduate program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions.

In prior interviews with the Houston Chronicle about her protest activities against the Iranian government, Bagherzadeh requested that she not use her last name because she feared for her safety.

IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! Muslim Honor Killing?

New information coming out just minutes ago... Police are following a lead of an ex-boyfriend who may have sexually assaulted the victim in 2010. And this bit of information: Ms. Bagherzadeh was a recent Christian convert from Islam.

Update!

The FBI has not taken over the investigation. Various media are reporting that robbery has been ruled out as a motive.

Photo credit - pdmi.org

Media picks up on libertarian Muslims supporting Ron Paul

2012-01-18T22:01:00.008-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

The Washington Post is running a piece (admittedly, in the "religion" section of the paper) on libertarian Muslims supporting Ron Paul. Among the individuals identified is our long-time friend Dean Ahmad of Maryland, with whom both Eric and I worked with way back in 1988, when Ron Paul was the Libertarian Party standard bearer. The obvious attraction of Dr. Paul to Muslims is his foreign policy of non-interventionism. But, this is also important, these Muslims are also attracted to Dr. Paul's positions on personal and economic liberty, his obvious sincerity, and - let's face it - his association, however tangential, with anti-Zionism.

We, at Libertarian Republican, recognize both Rose Wilder Lane and Ayn Rand as the two Founding Mothers of the modern libertarian movement. While Ayn Rand is more widely known (and, thus, is shown at the top of this website), we are happy to also acknowledge our intellectual debt to Miss Lane.

Eric and I consider ourselves fortunate to have known and worked with Miss Lane's informally adopted son, Roger MacBride, who continued Miss Lane's and her mother's "Little House on the Prairie" series of children books and who, along with Michael Landon, brought the series to a vast television audience.

As Rose Wilder Lane says in her book "The Discovery of Freedom," that at one time Islam represented a great advance in Liberty. Indeed, she identified three great advances over the centuries: Judaism, Islam and the United States. But, we will say, somewhere along the line, Islam got hijacked. Whether this was because of an incorrect reading of the Koran (which features Semitic exaggeration and allegory, just as the Bible does), or because of unenlightened primitive or tribal thinking, or because of the corrupting influence of continued martial circumstances, is not our place to say.

Correctly, these libertarian Muslims seek to revive the original, freedom-expanding version of Islam. To make this point, Dean Ahmad has a fine essay, "Islam and the Discovery of Freedom," that has been published as an introduction to a new edition of Miss Lane's book (which edition we heartily recommend).

Similarly, we can say that we libertarian Republicans seek to revive the original ideals on which this country, the United States of America, was formed. We think that, somewhere along the way, similar to what happened to the Islamic religion, our country got hijacked by the progressives and socialists, so that we find ourselves, today, with our civil liberties trampled, our economy in ruins, and entangled in foreign affairs.

All people of good will need to work together to secure peace and freedom in the world. Among the things that this means is that we all must put petty differences of tribe, nation, race, gender, life-style or superficial religiosity to the side. Those who commit aggressive war, who act as pirates, who employ terrorist tactics, who systematically violate the rights of others are our enemies. And, if they proclaim "Allah Akbar" when doing evil, they are blasphemers and worse than the infidels, and they should be treated accordingly.

Aussie LDP libertarian wants to abolish the Nanny-State

2012-01-18T21:48:00.007-06:00

Get rid of victimless crime laws... Stop regulating people's recreation

From Newsmaker, "Port Adelaide's most humble candidate Jan. 18

On February 11th, voters o f the Port Adelaide electorate have an opportunity to choose a party that supports less tax, less government interference; and in fact less government altogether.

By voting “1” for Stephen Humble, the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP’s) candidate, voters can be assured of choosing a representative who will do everything possible, to abolish “the Nanny State”.

Says Stephen: “I'm a strong believer in libertarian views with a live and let-live attitude. I believe our freedom is being gradually eroded. Overly-intrusive and often ill-thought out nanny-state laws are killing independence, killing initiative and drowning society in a welfare state mentality. With progress comes new technologies and new ways to intrude, observe and control people - and a present government far too willing to misuse their position, with no thought to civil rights and individual freedom. The Liberal Democratic Party understand that Australians deserve to win back and keep the freedom and rights which make this such a great place to live and that's what I am standing for.”

The Liberal Democratic Party plans to roll back enormous swathes of legislation, especially laws that create “victimless crimes” or that unnecessarily restrict people's livelihoods or recreational activities... and to roll back taxes and charges, including Payroll Tax and Stamp Duty. As South Australia’s true libertarian party, the LDP believes that government has a much smaller role to play than the over-inflated, self-serving leviathan it has become – and must be reined in, for the benefit of all South Australians.

(Market) Liberal Democrats ldp.org.au

Just about all swinging to Mitt in match-ups with Obama

2012-01-18T21:17:00.011-06:00

Swing States all going Team Romney

Via Hedgehog:

PRESIDENT – FLORIDA (GSSG)
Mitt Romney (R) 47%
Barack Obama (D-inc) 42%

PRESIDENT – OHIO (GSSG)
Mitt Romney (R) 47%
Barack Obama (D-inc) 40%

PRESIDENT – NEVADA (GSSG)
Mitt Romney (R) 49%
Barack Obama (D-inc) 38%

PRESIDENT – VIRGINIA (GSSG)
Mitt Romney (R) 47%
Barack Obama (D-inc) 44%

PRESIDENT – WISCONSIN (GSSG)
Mitt Romney (R) 44%
Barack Obama (D-inc) 43%

New Mexico is a tie, 45/45. Poll done Jan. 2 - 9.

All-Muslim American: Bellingham man lived up to the stereotype despite family's attempts to portray moderation

2012-01-18T20:51:00.014-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

The Bellingham News-Tribune reports "Agent for al-Qaida came from Muslim family that fought stereotype in Bellingham."

Late last year, Moeed Abdul Salam blew himself up with a hand grenade in Pakistan as Troops hunting Al Qaeda terrorists closed in. Salam grew up in Texas. But he became a hardened Muslim, and two years ago joined the Islamic Jihad and fled to Pakistan.

Ironically:

"his family [back in America]... spent years promoting interfaith harmony and combating Muslim stereotypes in their hometown, in Bellingham, and even on national television."

The Salam family are well-known financial experts nationally. They are advocates of Sharia-compliant finance.

Further:

It is not clear to what extent Salam's family knew of his radicalism, but on his Facebook page the month before he died, he posted an image of Anwar al-Awalki, the American al-Qaida leader who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen, beside a burning American flag. He had also recently linked to a document praising al-Awalki's martyrdom and to a message urging Muslims to rejoice "in this time when you see the mujahideen all over the world victorious."

Finally, the News-Tribune notes:

the circumstances threatened to overshadow the work of an American family devoted to religious understanding. And his mysterious evolution presented a reminder of the attraction Pakistan still holds for Islamic militants, especially well-educated Westerners whose Internet and language skills make them useful converts for jihad.

Photo credit - longwarjournal.com

BRAVO! ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - FIRST AMERICAN CITY TO HOST WELCOME HOME PARADE FOR IRAQ WAR VETS

2012-01-18T20:37:00.009-06:00

Will All-American cities - Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Omaha, Nashville, Charlotte, Jacksonville - be next?

KTVI CBS reports (via OzarkFirst.com) "Final Plans for Nation's First Welcome Home Parade for Iraq Veterans":

Some good news for parade organizers. Union Station has opened up its doors for an event before and after the parade, says Craig Schneider, Welcome Home Parade Organizer. "Union station has opened their doors so our dream of this veterans resource village where we can get people and groups together that are welcoming them back and kind of helping them out, Union Station has opened its doors. So it's all going to be inside at Union Station now."

The parade will start run down Market street starting at Kiener Plaza and end at Union Station.

And they've started to get calls and emails and Facebook postings from around the U.S. from the invasion in 2003 until the end of the war in late 2011 while American troops fought and died in Iraq.

So far the group is operating on Facebook. On a page titled 'Make January 28th Welcome Home the Heroes from Iraq Day.'

The group says it's gotten some corporate donations, but they need more.

You can help - donate

President and his family endangered by Occupy Wall Street activists

2012-01-18T20:24:00.015-06:00

From Eric & Clifford:

The First Family was not home at the time. Still, it is a frightening prospect that the Obamas could have been endangered, and the security of our country compromised, by a group known for its violent past. Most frightening, a flammable device was used in the protest.

From Fox News, Tuesday, "'Occupy' protesters suspected of throwing smoke bomb over White House fence":

An apparent smoke bomb was thrown over the fence of the White House as hundreds of Occupy protesters massed outside the gates.

The crowds were dispersed Tuesday night and the White House was all clear. U.S. Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie says there were no arrests in the incident.

The Obamas were at dinner celebrating Michelle Obama's birthday, but they have since returned to the White House without difficulty.

We here at Libertarian Republican would like to express our exteme disdain and utter disgust for the actions of Occupy Wall Street activists towards President Obama and his family. We hope that they do indeed make arrests and soon, and that the D.C. judge gives those invovled the maximum sentence provided under the law.

Photo credit - smh.com.au

Will Rick Perry go out with a bang?

2012-01-18T20:19:00.007-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

The rumors are flying. Rick Perry could drop out and endorse before Saturday's SC primary. Or, he could bow out and deliver and endorsement Saturday night in a well-televised speech.

Erick Erickson of RedState is one of the right pundits talking up the Perry Big Bang theory:

Rick Perry’s campaign has come to an end. But he could leave on an unexpected high note — helping conservatives unite around one not-Romney in a way no one else has been able to. Rick Perry could be the catalyst and kingmaker so many have been looking for, even as other conservatives have stood by, unwilling to endorse in the face of long odds.

But who will it be? Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum?

BREAKING...

Rick Perry will hold a press conference this afternoon to formally drop out. He is endorsing Newt Gingrich.

Late Night Breaking News... Iranian student activist against regime murdered in Houston

2012-01-18T20:03:00.004-06:00

Random killing or assasination by the Government of Iran?

From Eric Dondero:

Details are sketchy. But what is known so far is the young woman was a Med Student at the Univ. of Texas. She was shot dead in her car in back of her apartment in the Galleria section of Houston. According to news sources, she had told at least one friend that she "feared for her life" because of her political views.

She was an outspoken activist against the Iranian regime, and a proponent of the Green Movement for democracy.

Developing...

Answering Roger Stone on Gary Johnson's campaign

2012-01-18T08:34:00.005-06:00

by Eric Dondero

Our friend and sometimes contributor Roger Stone is quoted extensively this morning in The Daily Caller - "Roger Stone: Gary Johnson could capitalize on Romney’s weaknesses."

Of particular note, Roger sets "5%" of the vote in November, as a likely bar for the Johnson campaign on the Libertarian ticket. The highest vote total the Libertarian Party ever received was in 1980 with Ed Clark, 922,000 votes, 1.1%. In 2008, the LP gained 525,000 votes with former Congressman Bob Barr as the party standardbearer.

Mitt Romney - a 1990s William Weld Republican

Here's an excerpt from my friend Roger's remarks:

The veteran political strategist, as controversial as he is renowned, is currently assisting Johnson in a volunteer capacity. He told The Daily Caller that Republican front-runner Mitt Romney is “likely” to win the GOP nomination. But he also said Romney is the “weakest” candidate in the Republican field “because politics is about maximizing and galvanizing the base.”

“The counter argument is he’s the most moderate and therefore can win votes in the center,” Stone said of the former Massachusetts governor. “Yes, that may be true, but anything he wins in the center I think he loses on the right. I think he is most susceptible to a challenge on the right.”

Stone said Ron Paul’s ability to attract large amounts of support in the primaries is “very significant,” and believes the Texas congressman’s backers are unlikely to fall in line behind a comparatively moderate candidate like Romney.

“I just don’t see those votes going to Romney, who’s got ‘establishment’ written all over him,” Stone said.

And later in the piece:

While he’s not ready to make predictions on how well Johnson could do as a Libertarian candidate in the general election, he concedes that victory is extremely unlikely while also noting that a candidate’s success can be measured in many different ways.

Should Johnson win just five percent of the vote next November, Stone said, the Libertarian Party would be eligible for federal matching funds in 2016. That alone, he argued, would put the struggling party on the map.

The key for Johnson, Stone said, is qualifying for the presidential debates.

What my friend Roger misses is that many mainstream libertarians see fiscally conservative/socially moderate Mitt Romney as far more libertarian-leaning, than either Gingrich or Santorum. In the 1990s, for examaple, when the libertarian wing of the GOP was fighting social conservative Newt Gingrich, the Republican Liberty Caucus enthusiastically endorsed William Weld-like Romney in his race for US Senate against Kennedy, and then for his successful race for Governor. (Recall Governor Weld was the very first major politician to describe himself as a "libertarian Republican.)

Economic libertarian groups are already backing Romney, like Club for Growth. There are indications that Beltway libertarians like Americans for Limited Government, Americans For Prosperity, and the various Charles and David Koch enterprises are also behind his candidacy. (Can Cato be far behind?)

Roger may have this completeley backwards. There is a significant number of libertarians who just cannot bring themselves to support Newt Gingrich under any circumstances. This is most especially the case post-Bain attack ads by his Super PAC. If he were to somehow wrest the nomination at the last minute, there would be a group of disenchanted voters on the Romney Right ripe for the picking.

Bottom line: Romney loses to Gingrich, Gary Johnson could be the beneficiary. And quite frankly, some of us would like to see Libertarian Johnson on the ballot in all 50 states, as insurance that we have someplace to go, if Mitt doesn't win the nomination.

GERMANY: Muslim man punches Girlfriend in stomach killing unborn baby

2012-01-18T08:15:00.014-06:00

She saw a male Gynaecologist

From web.de "Infant dead after apparently religiously motivated violence" Jan. 16:

A 21-year-old Rheinenser man is being processed as of Wednesday. He punched his very pregnant girlfriend in the stomach several times. Her unborn child died of the consequences...

Due to the heavy punch the unborn baby in the womb suffered cerebral hemorrhages. Although she was transported for an emergency C-section, the baby died two days later in the hospital of serious injury.

Further, translation by Cheradenine Zakalwe, IVE:

The starting point for the fateful event was a routine gynaecological examination of the pregnant woman. As the female doctor who was usually responsible for her was on holiday, the examination was performed by a male substitute on an exceptional basis. For the then 20-year-old boyfriend of the heavily pregnant woman, a practising Muslim, this was horrific.

When the Rheine resident learned of the examination by the doctor, a major row broke out between the couple. In this the perpetrator is said to have struck his seven-month pregnant girlfriend forcefully several times in the abdomen, so that she had to be taken to a hospital, where the embryo died after an emergency birth.

Editor's comment - And the Pro-Life Libertarians? Where are they on this? Perhaps it doesn't quite fit their template, since the crime was commited in the name of Islam. (Translation above - mine. Photo h/t - Pregnancy tips)

Rick Perry: Turkey out of NATO now

2012-01-18T08:10:00.004-06:00

Turkey "run by... Islamic Terrorists"

Saturday night GOP presidential debate South Carolina

Governor Rick Perry:

Well, obviously when you have a country that is run by what many see as Islamic terrorists, than yes. Not only is it time for us to have a conversation about whether or not they belong in NATO, but it's time for the United States when we look at their foreign aid, to go to zero with it.

RickPerry.com

Romney on Osama bin Laden killing

2012-01-18T08:04:00.006-06:00

Your Daily Mitt!

South Carolina GOP presidential debate, Saturday night.

Topic: Foreign policy discussion, question on the assasination of Muslim terrorist Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

Candidate Mitt Romney (via TheHill):

"The right thing for Osama bin Laden was the bullet in the head that he received," Romney said.

Editor's note - Mitt Romney's foreign policy advisors team includes libertarian/anti-Islamist policy analyst Walid Phares, and hawk conservative former UN Ambassador in the Bush administration John Bolton.

Ron Paul drops the 'Q' word during SC presidential debate

2012-01-18T07:55:00.004-06:00

"Quit" wars against America's enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq

From TheHill.com, "GOP debate: Crowd gets rowdy when candidates talk foreign policy"

The crowd at the GOP debate in military-heavy South Carolina got rowdy during a discussion of foreign policy, booing Ron Paul heartily and whooping and cheering when the other candidates took a hard line on foreign involvement.

"My point is, that if another country does to us what we do to others, we aren't going to like it very much. So I would say maybe we ought to consider a golden rule in foreign policy," Paul said as the crowd laughed and jeered. "We endlessly bomb these other countries and then we wonder why they get upset with us?"

"This idea that we can't debate foreign policy and that all we have to do is start another war, I mean.. it's war mongering," Paul said. "This country doesn't need another war, we need to quit the ones we're in, we need to save the money and bring our troops home."

Editor's comment - And this differs from cowardice how exactly? (Photo - Paul with far leftwing pacifist congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio)

Medical Nannies urge Canada to go totally Helmet-mandatory for Skiers, Snowboarders, Sledders

2012-01-18T07:39:00.006-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

You never thought this day would come. But Nova Scotia is already moving ahead with legislation to impose a $250 fine on anyone caught snowboarding, skiing, or sledding without a helmet on.

And now Canada's top Medical associations are urging Parliament to approve a full nationwide ban on helmet-free sporting.

From CTV.ca Calgary, "Make helmets mandatory on the slopes, doctors urge":

The Canadian Paediatric Society is calling for legislation that would make it mandatory for skiers and snowboarders of any age to wear a helmet.

In a position paper released Tuesday, the CPS cited research that shows snowboarding and skiing are the second- and third-leading causes of injuries related to outdoor winter activities, after hockey.

The agency pointed out that helmets can protect against many of these injuries, which range from sprains and fractures to head and neck trauma.

Note - In the entire 18-paragraph article the freedom argument against mandatory helmet use is not even mentioned once.

Editor's comment - Where in the hell is the Libertarian Party of Canada?? No doubt too pre-occupied with left-libertarian causes like "fighting war."

IDAHO: Republican Rep. Trail re-introduces Pro-Marijuana bill

2012-01-18T07:29:00.005-06:00

Statewide Petition for legalization also in the works

1310 KLIX Radio reports:

A medical marijuana bill has been introduced in the Idaho by Representative Tom Trail, a Republican from Moscow. Trail proposed similar legislation last year; it got an informational hearing from the House Health & Welfare Committee, but didn’t proceed. HB 370 would permit patients with debilitating medical conditions to be dispensed up to 2 ounces of marijuana every 28 days; they’d have to get it from state-authorized “alternative treatment centers.” According to the Spokesman-Review an Idaho group currently is gathering signatures for a proposed initiative to legalize medical marijuana; Trail said last year that other states’ experience has shown that legislation with strict controls is preferable to a voter initiative.

See LR article, "Another Republican champion for Marijuana Reform" 2010

Governor Christie uses a very libertarian argument against (?) Medical Marijuana

2012-01-18T07:09:00.009-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

Now this is a twist. Fiscally conservative/socially moderate New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is saying that he will not "force" local municipalities to allow medical marijuana patient facilities in their towns.

From NJ.com, "Gov. Christie: I won't force N.J. towns to allow medical marijuana facilities" Jan. 18:

If local officials don't want a medical marijuana farm or dispensary in their community, Gov. Chris Christie said he won't force them to roll out the welcome mat.

And if that means ultimately vetoing a bill — sponsored by a fellow Republican — that would prevent communities from using zoning laws to keep the medical pot business from moving in, Christie said he'll do it.

Christie today was asked about a bill Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth) said he intends to introduce that would include marijuana under the Right to Farm Act, which "protects responsible commercial farmers from public and private nuisance actions and unduly restrictive municipal regulations,'' according to the state Agriculture Department website.

Municipal officials in Maple Shade, Upper Freehold and Westampton recently rejected proposals that would have allowed medical marijuana dispensary operators to grow and sell in their communities. Because marijuana possession and distribution is a federal crime, some community officials say they worry about the safety and legal repercussions of hosting a dispensary or greenhouse.

Here's Christie's response:

"I absolutely believe this should be determined by local elected officials. If they want a dispensary or a growing facility in their town, that's up to them. If they don't, I will not as governor force them to take it,'' Christie said at an unrelated press conference in Camden.

Editor's note - This seems to copy the policy of New York Justice of the Peace officials - concientious objectors - who refuse to conduct gay marriage ceremonies.

2nd Illinois state legislator knocked off the ballot

2012-01-18T06:16:00.002-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

What's going on in this country! Everybody knows that gathering petition signatures is just a way to keep third-party and independent candidates off the ballot. Depending on the state or district, those guys are supposed to gather up to a million signatures (California), which are scrutinized with fine tooth comb, to get on the ballot. But, as for major party candidates, getting 10,000 signatures (e.g., Virginia) is so hard, the candidates think there should be a "don't ask, don't tell" standard for the validity of the pile of marked up sheets of paper that they turn in.

Now we have a second state legislator knocked off the ballot in Illinois. The first to get knocked off was state Representative Rosemary Mulligan, a Republican, and a ten term incumbent from the 55th district. link: parkridge.suntimes.com/news

Her petitions were alleged to contain the signatures of unregistered voters, names of individuals who did not actually live in the district, missing or incomplete addresses, multiple signatures by the same person, signatures that did not appear to belong to the individual whose name was recorded on the petition and petition sheets that were not notarized. She withdrew her name from the ballot rather than have the Board of Elections do so. She says she will try to get onto the general election ballot by getting 500 people to write her name in during the primary election. Otherwise, a Democrat, whose petitions were not challenged, will win the general election by default.

The second Illinois state legislator to get knocked off the ballot was state Sen. John O. Jones, another Republican, who has been in the state legislature since 2003. link: effinghamdailynews.com

The Board of Elections that more than 400 of Jones’ 1,208 nominating signatures were invalid. He's thinking of running as an independent candidate. Only trouble is: he'd need even more valid petition signatures to go that route. For candidates for state Senator, 1,000 signatures are required. But, for independent and third party candidates, 3,000 are required. link: www.elections.il.gov/downloads

Republican Rules

2012-01-18T06:12:00.003-06:00

by Clifford F. Thies

After the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, where delegates are awarded proportionately, the Republican rules generally shift to winner-takes-all, either at the Congressional District level and/or at the State level. As a result, a candidate like Mitt Romney can build up a huge lead in delegates by winning, even if with less than 50 percent of the vote if there is opposition vote is fractured.

South Carolina, this weekend, is combination winner-takes-all primary at the Congressional District and State levels. Two delegates will be awarded to the first place finisher in each of the state's seven CD's, and eleven will be awarded to the first place finisher statewide. Four recent polls (only two of which are included in the RealClear poll average) give Romney a lead of about twelve points. Such a plurality on Saturday would probably enable Romney to fetch all of the state's delegates. However, Newt Gingrich's strong performance in Fox News' S.C. debate on Monday, may enable him to better consolidate the anti-Romney vote and, thereby, challenge Romney.

Florida, which votes on Tuesday, is a winner-takes-all primary at the State level. All fifty votes will go the first place finisher statewide. In this state, the RealClear poll average gives Romney an even bigger lead of about fifteen points, with the trend showing Romney's lead strengthening. Even if Gingrich were to wrest all of the vote currently indicated as going to Rick #1 and Rick #2, he might not overtake Romney.

Because of the shift to winner-takes-all, in the Republican Party, a frontrunner, if there is one, quickly becomes, first, as the probable nominee, and, second, when enough delegates are gained to actually win the nomination, as the presumptive nominee of the party.

Lt. Col. Allen West ready to serve if called on for duty

2012-01-17T07:51:00.002-06:00

The Florida Congressman is open to a VP slot on the GOP ticket

From Eric Dondero:

Allen West said he might be willing to accept the VP slot on the GOP ticket.

From the Palm Beach Post, "U.S. Rep. Allen West won't 'turn my back on my country' if asked to run for vice president" Jan. 16:

“I’ve always said that that’s something I’d have to pray about, I’d have to talk to my family about, make sure we make the right decision,” West began. “But if someone asks you to step up and serve your country, I’m not going to turn my back on my country.”

Of course, Florida is one of the two most key states in the general election, (Ohio being the other). And though Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is often mentioned, West brings to the table backing from hardline Tea Party conservatives and libertarians.

Editor's note - This website was a very early and enthusiastic endorser of Allen West for congress.

LR Editor Eric Dondero in Canada's Globe & Mail: Would Ron Paul intervene in WWII to save the Jews?

2012-01-17T07:45:00.005-06:00

U.S. had no business fighting Hitler according to Paul

Excerpt, Globe & Mail, Neil Reynolds columnist, "The dangerous isolationism of Ron Paul":

On the one hand, Texas congressman Ron Paul, Republican candidate for the presidency, is a zealous champion of limited government, free markets and low taxes. On the other hand, he reportedly thinks the U.S. should not have gone to war against Nazi Germany. What to make of this heresy? In a word, a great deal – for it may define Mr. Paul’s isolationism.

Imagine for a moment that Mr. Paul, not Franklin Roosevelt, served as U.S. president and commander-in-chief in the Second World War. Imagine that the U.S. went to war against only Japan, that Germany won the war in Europe – and that Hitler was able to keep the death camps running through the Age of Aquarius.

Mr. Paul justifies his isolationism on strictly fiscal grounds. Wars cost money. End the wars, end the taxes required to wage them. For some Americans, this seems a reasonable proposition. But this is almost certainly an evasion. Mr. Paul’s isolationism extends beyond fiscal restraint – and reaches implicitly to global surrender.

In his 2011 book Liberty Defined, for example, Mr. Paul cites Israel as a racist state that threatens American freedom... former senior aide Eric Dondero... Mr. Paul “most certainly is anti-Israel, and anti-Israeli in general. … His view is that Israel is more trouble than it is worth, specifically to the America taxpayer. He sides with the Palestinians, and supports their calls for the abolition of the Jewish state, and the return of Israel, all of it, to the Arabs.”

The Weekly Standard, a conservative journal, quoted Mr. Dondero further: Mr. Paul “does not believe that the United States had any business getting involved in fighting Hitler. He expressed to me countless times, that ‘saving the Jews’ was absolutely none of our business.” A few days later, Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack asked Mr. Paul four times to respond: Was Mr. Dondero telling the truth? Four times, Mr. McCormack said, he “remained silent.”

(Emphasis added)

This apparent reluctance to wage war on Nazi Germany goes beyond Mr. Paul. In his 2008 book Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War, controversial author Pat Buchanan (who himself once ran for the Republican presidential nomination) documents this dark, enduring niche in American conservatism. Mr. Buchanan blames Churchill, not Hitler, for the Second World War

People who balk at paying four cents on the dollar for a nation’s defence (or, in Canada’s case, 1.5 cents) need to know exactly what wars they would fight and what wars they would skip. The Second World War wasn’t the first absolutely essential moral war in human history – and it won’t be the last.

H/t LR reader Dennis Corrigan, a Canadian libertarian Republican living in New Hampshire.

The Buddy System

2012-01-17T07:44:00.001-06:00

Ballot Access Update

by Clifford F. Thies

It seems somebody is challenging everybody's petition signatures in Illinois. Well, challenging almost everybody's signatures. There's one person whose signatures are not being challenged. That person is former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer.

One candidate whose petition signatures are certain to fall short are those of the Iowa Wunderkind, Rick Santorum, hereinafter Rick #1. Seems Rick #1 failed to file the 600 signatures required for his delegates to be on the ballot in ten of the state's 18 Congressional Districts. In addition, he didn't file at all in four other districts. Rick #1 is therefore what you call up zee creek vidout zee paddle. Sorry, Rick #1, do not pass GO, do not collect 200 dollars.

When asked about this signature problem, Santorum's political director for the state said there was an "unwritten rule" against challenging other candidate's signatures. Not a good reply. Ve already haf eine cry baby in ze Vhite Houze.

Another candidate only filed to put delegates on the ballot in one district, which we presume is the Southern most district in the state. That candidate is none other than Rick #2, Rick Perry. Zo, vhat do you call Rick #1 and Rick #2? Losers. Zwei losers.

The petitions of Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney were also challenged. If anyone's signatures will survive, it will probably be Ron Paul and Mitt Romney. Either that, or Buddy Roemer stands to win the state of Illinois.

Muslim pamphleteers in UK call for Death for Homosexuals

2012-01-17T07:43:00.004-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

A Muslim man is on trial in the UK for passing out pamphlets at a popular town square calling for homosexuals to be put to death. His defense: He was only doing his duty as a Muslim.

From the BBC, "Derby gay death call leaflet 'was Muslim duty'":

Kabir Ahmed, 28, is one of five Muslim men on trial for stirring up hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation at Derby Crown Court.

The leaflet, named The Death Penalty?, was one of three distributed in Derby ahead of a gay pride event.

Mr Ahmed, of Madeley Street, Derby, admitted giving the leaflet to people outside the city's Jamia Mosque as well as putting them through letterboxes.

Its cover featured a mannequin hanging from a noose and said homosexuality was punishable by death under Islam.

He said: "My intention was to do my duty as a Muslim, to inform people of God's word and to give the message on what God says about homosexuality.

Editor's note - Curiously, this BBC report is not being mentioned at any left-libertarian websites; Reason, Cato.org, Antiwar.com, LewRockwell.com, DailyPaul.

UPDATE!! The flyer originally posted with this piece caused too much confusion and has been removed.

Speaking of polls and Tim Tebow

2012-01-17T07:38:00.006-06:00

Hispanics poll highest by far for devine intervention

by Clifford F. Thies

A recent scientific poll of 1,076 registered voters shows that by a margin of 43.3 to 42.3 percent, American voters believe that at least part of Tim Tebow's success is due to divine intervention.

Republicans favored the divine intervention hypothesis by 22 points, while Democrats opposed it by 10 points. Women favored it by 9 points, while Men opposed it by 6. People under 30 favored it by 17 points, while people over 30 opposed it by 12. Blacks favored it by 22 points, while Whites opposed it by 8. And, as for Hispanics, they favored the divine intervention hypothesis by a whopping 77 points.

(Source: pollposition.com)

Fmr. Libertarian Party member now Republican for US Senate takes hardline against Illegal Immigration

2012-01-17T07:37:00.003-06:00

Race for the Debbie Stabenow seat

From Eric Dondero:

Five of the seven declared candidates for US Senate in Michigan held a debate Friday night, sponsored by various conservative organizations. All agreed that the United States should pull out of participation in the United Nations. All agreed that the Federal Reserve should be abolished, and at the very least audited. All agreed that tougher restrictions should be in place to stop illegal immigration, and enforce border security.

Scott Boman, a former longtime member of the Libertarian Party of Michigan is one of the candidates vying for the nomination. He sided with the conservatives on the panel on immigration.

From the Dearborn Press & Guide "MI U.S. Sentate GOP hopefuls blast UN, Federal Reserve, immigrants":

Boman said children of undocumented immigrants should be citizens – once they’re adults.

“If their parents are here illegally, they must go home,” he said, “and return when they are adults.”

Boman however, parts from the crowd on other key libertarian issues such as drug legalization.

Note - Rep. Peter Hoekstra is the frontrunner on the GOP side to go up against incumbent Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow. He did not attend the debate.

Newt puts in a strong performance in Fox News S.C. debate

2012-01-17T07:29:00.005-06:00

Perry a solid second... for once

by Clifford F. Thies

Newt was on fire. Rick #2 put in a fine performance. Mitt took a while to get into gear, but finished o.k. Rick #1 didn't do enough to claim to be "the" alternative to Mitt. And, Ron Paul was, well, Ron Paul.

While the three social conservatives focused on Mitt, he, as the frontrunner, seemed to go out of his way to not offend the various wings of the Republican Party. For example, he called for a strong military to avoid having to go to war, triangulating the war hawk position against the peace dove position. Rick #1 correctly described Mitt's economic positions as too timid, but Mitt's positions are basically the positions that were in the Paul Ryan budget that passed the House which, outside the GOP, are not considered too timid.

Newt Gingrich, though, was at his best. He dribble drived down the lane with zingers. He strung together sentences that hit nothing but net. And, when he talked about the importance to a poor child of having a job, it was like a Shaquille O'Neal power dunk.

Rick Perry, or Rick #2 around these parts, finally put in a good performance. Good, positive energy. Solid arguments. Focused. If Romney were to fail to win South Carolina this Saturday, Rick #2 may turn into Rick #1.

Nanny-Stater from Hell: Outlaw all freedom says Mass-hole from Wellesley

2012-01-16T19:51:00.008-06:00

NANNY-STATE WATCH!

by Eric Dondero

Folks, it doesn't get any worse than this. A letter to the editor in a Massachusetts newspaper (on-line) shows what we're up against. Not only does the writer wish for more stringent laws on seat belts, helmets and bicycles, but he want the Feds to step in even harder to stamp out states' rights.

WARNING! Grab your barf bag, before you go any further.

From the Milford Daily News, featured letter to the editor, Jan. 10:

I ask U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and U.S. Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts and all Massachusetts congress men and women to file a bill that will punish states in the pocketbook who don’t pass the motorcycle helmet law, seat belt law and bicycle helmet law for children 17 and younger. These laws must be passed to save taxpayers money under Medicaid and Medicare.

States that I know don’t have a motorcycle helmet law are New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida and Minnesota. Motorcycle riders wanted choice not to wear a helmet, but governors in these states did not check the consequences when not wearing a helmet. Who holds the governors accountable when they don’t protect their own citizens from getting a traumatic brain injury.

I support legislation in Congress to punish states who want federal money, who don’t have a motorcycle helmet law, seat belt law or bicycle helmet law, but reward states who pass these laws.

Please make the motorcycle helmet law in all states permanent.

Robert Edwards

Wellesley

Of course, Mr. Edwards would likely bristle at the term "fascist" or "Safety Nazi." He'd argue he's just a liberal who cares.

The Criminalization of Bravado

2012-01-16T10:15:00.003-06:00

Left-libertarians say no more celebrating War victories for American troops

by Eric Dondero

It fits. After all, we gave up ticker tape parades for homecoming victorious US Troops in the 1970s. Now, left-libertarians, and other anti-war activists want to take it to the next level: Criminalizing any celebrations of victory over America's enemies.

From AntiWar.com "Gov. Perry: Urinating on Dead Afghans Not a Crime
Says Obama Criticism Proves 'Disdain for Military'" (It is our continuing policy not to link to this particular vomit-inducing website here at LR):

The desecration of corpses during a war is considered a serious crime both under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Geneva Conventions. Such charges have not been common in the recent US wars, but given the videotape evidence has already gone public it seems virtually impossible to slip this particular genie back into the bottle.

One wonders if the boys, or more accurately girlie-men at AntiWar.com would have had General Patton thrown in the brig for his display of disdain for the German Nazis while crossing the River Rhine at the height of World War II?

There is no difference between the Nazis of Germany during WWII, and the NeoNazis of today; Islamo-Fascists (Taliban, Al Qaeda, Salafists, Al-Shabaab, Boko Harum, Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah, Euro-Jihadists, et.al.)

Time for real man libertarians to slap some left-libertarians in the face with a pair of Patton-like leather gloves, and scream in their faces; stop being such girlie-men, wussie, yellow-bellied cowards.

Paris rapist, immigrant from N. Africa, targets "adolescent" blonde blue-eyed girls

2012-01-16T09:25:00.016-06:00

From Eric Dondero:

The police only released the photo of the suspect after the photos were obtained by the magazine New Detective. According to the magazine the suspect asked the women what their religious affiliation was before he raped and stabbed them.

Le Parisien has since run two stories on the criminal investigation. They describe police officials as deeming the matter "very sensitive."

This man is considered very dangerous. He has shown himself to be very violent but at the same time, he has spoken to his victims a great deal, notably asking them their religious affiliation or their nationality.

"He also wounded the adolescent with several blows of the knife before trying to strangle her. He becomes very violent when the victims struggle. It seems he only attacks young European women, with light-coloured hair and blue eyes. He also apologised to them after having raped them and stabbed them. This type of behaviour is very troubling."

From Le Parisien:

Reportedly, the man was formally recognized by the three victims. His procedure intrigues investigators. "He also injured the girl stabbed her several times before attempting to strangle her," says the source. "He becomes very violent when the victims are struggling. He seems to take young European women, with light hair and eyes... This type of behavior is very disturbing. "

Editor's comment - No doubt the suspect wants to determine for sure that the blond-haired, light-eyed women who will be his victims are not Muslim. Though, the fact that they're not wearing hijabs or face veils may be a giveaway.

Switzerland: Brutal axe murder, Muslim father kills daughter cause she dated a Christian boy

2012-01-16T09:25:00.015-06:00

Struck her 19 times with the axe

From TheLocal, "Dad killed daughter in brutal axe murder" Jan. 15:

A Swiss prosecutor has described as a "veritable slaughter" the vicious axe murder of a 16-year-old girl by her 53-year-old Pakistani father, who believed his daughter had tarnished her family's honour... a heated argument broke out between father and daughter, newspaper Tages Anzeiger reports.

The girl said she wanted to leave home permanently and started to pack her things. She then went down to the basement of the building to get a pair of shoes. While she was gone, her father allegedly retrieved an axe from the balcony and hid it in the bedroom he shared with his wife.

Once she was back in the apartment, the girl went into her parents' bedroom to pick up some of her belongings. When she bent down to get some things from the wardrobe, her father hit her with the axe on the back of the head, the prosecutor says. The man struck his daughter 19 times with the axe: 12 times with the blade and seven with the blunt end.

In an interview with newspaper Blick, Swera's boyfriend explained that the girl's parents had strongly disapproved of her relationship with him, primarily because he was a Christian. The boy said she was desperate to get away from her parents and had already sought help from a local youth shelter.

H/t Jihad Watch

Third straight poll showing Romney with a double digit lead in South Carolina

2012-01-16T08:48:00.030-06:00

Mitt over Newt 32% to 21%, Paul, Santorum way back in the pack

by Clifford F. Thies

Newsmax is releasing an Insider Advantage poll that, along with two other polls covered here, show Mitt Romney to have opened up a double-digit lead in South Carolina.

The Republican Babe factor working in Mitt's favor

The two other polls, one by the American Research Group of New Hampshire and one by the international polling firm Ipsos/Reid, are not included in the RealClear poll average. RealClear sets rather stringent standards for the polls that it includes in its poll average, preferring to use older, but methodologically more sound polls to more recent, but less sound polls, at the risk of its poll average being stale. (And, as the political season progresses, so that more polls are available and the risk of staleness less, RealClear furthers tightens its standards.)

But, at this point, with three polls, the latest of which meets the RealClear standard, it is clear that Romney has pulled out to a commanding lead in South Carolina. Newt Gingrich is currently a distant third, and Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are battling it out for fourth place.

Despite a lot of funds spent on TV ads, and an agressive campaign schedule, Perry is still in the single digits.

Here's the very latest Insider Advantage:

PRESIDENT – SOUTH CAROLINA – GOP PRIMARY
Mitt Romney 32%
Newt Gingrich 21%
Ron Paul 14%
Rick Santorum 13%
Rick Perry 5%

Reverse Coattails?

As to why Romney has emerged so strongly in South Carolina, as he did in New Hampshire (where he won by a larger margin than was expected) and Iowa (where he was not expected to win), one reason is "reverse coattails." In South Carolina, he frequently appears with Governor Nikki Haley, former First Lady Jenny Sanford, and other popular Republicans. In New Hampshire, it was U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. While Romney sometimes comes across like a cardboard man, the emotional attachment we have with these other Republicans is helping him to connect with our party's primary voters.

Photos - Jenny Sanford top, Kelly Ayotte left, Nikki Haley bottom. Photo credit - TheState

End of the road for fmr. Utah Governor

2012-01-16T08:16:00.019-06:00

Time to rally behind our GOP nominee

From Clifford Thies:

The Wall Street Journal and other major media are reporting this morning that Jon Huntsman will drop out and endorse Romney:

Republican presidential candidate Jon M. Huntsman Jr. intends to drop out of the nomination contest on Monday and endorse rival Mitt Romney, the Huntsman campaign said.

"He's going to endorse Gov. Romney tomorrow and urge the party to come together," one person briefed on events said.

A Huntsman aide said Mr. Huntsman was proud of his third-place showing in New Hampshire last week but felt his campaign was standing in the way of a Romney win in Saturday's primary election in South Carolina.

USAToday quotes Huntsman, that he "decided it was time for Republicans to rally around a candidate who could beat Barack Obama and turn around the economy."

Stick a fork in it; the Nebraska Senate seat is ours!

2012-01-16T07:19:00.009-06:00

Even celeb Bob Kerrey can't save 'em

From Eric Dondero:

Latest numbers from Magellan (via Hedgehog) show both prospective GOP contenders kickin' the scheisser out of any potential Democrat candidate. Call it a switch from Democrat incumbent Ben Nelson, to Republicans, either Bruning or Stenberg.

US SENATE – NEBRASKA (Magellan)
Jon Bruning (R) 51%
Bob Kerrey (R) 40%

Jon Bruning (R) 52%
Steve Lathrop (D) 29%

Don Stenberg (R) 47%
Bob Kerrey (R) 39%

Don Stenberg (R) 52%
Steve Lathrop (D) 27%

That makes 1 Senate seat safely moved to the Red column, 2 more to go to win the Senate.

Note - Bruning was a featured speaker at a Liberty rally in August co-sponsored by the Libertarian Party of Nebraska.