Whose Mandate for Change?

From Eric Dondero:

At CNN's Political Ticker, in a post election analysis Jan. 23, Republican Scott Brown's win over Martha Coakley was described as "narrow."

From CNN:

(CNN) - Voter anger at current conditions in the country right now and at the Democrats' agenda in Washington helped fuel the upset victory of Republican Scott Brown in Tuesday's special senate election in Massachusetts, according to a new poll

Brown narrowly defeated state attorney general Martha Coakley in the special election to fill the last three years of the term of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Brown became the first Massachusetts Republican to win a senate election since 1972.

7.5% win overwhelming; 5% razor-thin

Brown won the race with a 52% margin over Democrat Martha Coakley with 47%. Independent/Libertarian candidate Joe Kennedy ended with roughly 1%.

On Nov. 5, 2008 this is how Obama's victory over McCain was described at the same CNN Politics Blog:

Obama had an overwhelming victory over Sen. John McCain, who pledged Tuesday night to help Obama lead.

The precise ending vote total for 2008 was as follows:

Barack Obama 53.9%
John McCain 45.6%
Other .5%

(Source: Wiki)

You have to wonder, if McCain/Palin had prevailed by say, 53% to 46%, would CNN have called it a "narrow win" with no mandate for change?

William N. Gaillard is Chair of the South Bay Libertarians (near Los Angeles), and a former 3-time State Assembly candidate on the Libertarian ticket. He is also a part-time resident of Prescott, Arizona.

Gilliard had an opinion piece published by the Arizona Republic, Jan. 23, "Libertarian Cheers Mass Results" (Excerpt):

Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts was a real double whammy against the Rocky Mountain canaries by the pachyderms.

As a Libertarian, aka "Third Party" member, I can well afford the luxury of standing on the sidelines simply to lick my chops and then gloat at the cared-for results... Not only did Republicans take a Senate seat in Democratic "seat-safe" Taxachusetts, they took a Kennedy seat. This has been unheard of since 1962.

When the last surviving paterfamilias of "Camelot" died last year, so did the pervasive hegemony of this family upon American politics. I just didn't believe that it would crash and burn this quickly and with such a resounding thud.

This unassailable repudiation of political arrogance in Washington over the past year will also sound the death knell for both this "health-scare" bill and the Obama administration.

President Barack Obama will now go down in the history of this republic as America's first, first-term, lame-duck president.

Readers, I have some very exciting news to report to you this morning. It happened last week, but I've held the announcement til today.

I have been taken on as a regular contributing writer to Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com. I am very pleased to join Andrew, and his group of fine libertarian-conservative writers.

The articles/commentary which I write for BigGovernment will be original, differing from those posted here. I expect maybe one or two pieces a month. Mostly focusing on foreign policy and a Pro-defense libertarian stance.

Here's my first. A bit controversial, especially for some Ron Paul supporters. Titled, "Scott Brown Victory is a Win for Bush Foreign Policy, over Ron Paul Isolationism":

BigGovernment.com

And please add BigGovernment.com to your Daily Favorites.

UPDATE!

My article was picked up and run in full (ZinOwl) or excerpted by at least 5 different other sites, including the hugely popular Lucianne.com and New Media Blog.

UPDATE!

Alas, I have just received my first negative review. From some lowly blog calling itself "The Quick and the Dead," (emphasis on the Dead):

Breitbart pisses his credibility away

The site that began with the Giles/OKeefe stings is now reduced to publishing empty anti-Ron Paul screeds by Eric Dondero.

Dondero, a self-proclaimed “libertarian Republican” has for years haunted the libertarian blogosphere with screeds mocking libertarians, arguing that the GOP darling-du-jour (Bush, Giuliani or whomever) is “really libertarian.” Even the mention of his name has become a punch line. In the latest rant, he equates Coakley’s position on the Middle East wars with Ron Paul’s (a stretch; Coakley never met a principle she could hold), and ends “But its [sic] notable that voters of one of the most dove-ish of states, [comma sic] chose to side forthrightly with the candidate of the Bush foreign policy agenda, over Obama/Paul.”

You can excuse me if I don't add a link.

"Government must be limited to prevent tyranny and oppression and to maximize individual Rights and Liberties. Our Constitution goes to great lengths to limit the power of Government. Government should be limited and should intrude as little as possible into the private sector, including the free marketplace, religious and social establishments, and the personal lives of Citizens. It should be lean, efficient, and beholden to the People and the Constitution." -- Dr. Art Coday

by Steve Beren

I've had the opportunity to meet each of the GOP candidates seeking to unseat Patty Murray. And I've interviewed them, one on one, no holds barred, for an average of two hours each. Also, I've attended the three Candidate Forums. I've done my research, and I know these candidates well.

With Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts, it is clear that a powerful change is sweeping America. The American people are standing up, speaking out, and voting in favor of protecting liberty, in favor of cutting federal spending, and in favor of protecting constitutional government. The Tea Party movement, the townhall protesters, and other grassroots pro-liberty movements have inspired and electrified the nation.

Copying the Massachusetts Miracle for Washington State

My goal is to promote "five star conservatism" right in the heart of liberal Seattle - and throughout the state of Washington. Senator Patty Murray, who is so closely tied to President Obama's failed policies, is more vulnerable than ever. I believe that I can best help promote the cause of liberty in our state put concentrating all my efforts, resources, and talents into helping replace Senator Murray this fall.

I endorse Dr. Art Coday for U.S. Senate. He is an outstanding candidate, a true conservative, a sincere defender of freedom, and a passionate patriot. Dr. Coday is a dedicated physician who knows - from the inside, from his own life and work experiences - that increased government control of healthcare will be severely harmful to the American people.

As a physician, Dr. Coday is uniquely qualified to get the Senate on the right track towards true healthcare reform based on a free market approach. He is deeply devoted to the elderly, disabled, and the very poor.

Art Coday has correctly centered his message on economic growth and job creation. As he said in the Seattle Times, Congress should act to revitalize the economy "by controlling its insatiable urge to spend our hard-earned money, lowering tax rates, and paying off a national debt that is ruining our credit." This issue cuts across all demographic and ideological lines, and has a special appeal to independent voters and others who don't necessarily usually vote Republican. Dr. Coday presents unmistakably common-sense solutions to the issues troubling the American people.

Dr. Coday is the candidate who is in the best position to promote liberty and to defeat Patty Murray. He is an outstanding and effective communicator, and possesses a brilliant intellect - he graduated from the University Washington, magna cum laude, with honors, with a degree in cellular and molecular biology, and then went on to Harvard Medical School where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree.

What a contrast to Patty Murray!

Art Coday is a fiscal conservative, favoring reduced spending and lower taxes, a return to constitutional government, an audit of the Federal Reserve, and an end to corporate bailouts and phony "stimulus" programs. He is a strong proponent of border security first and a strong opponent of amnesty for illegal immigrants. He is a national security conservative, advocating a strategy of peace through strength and supporting our troops in the war against terrorism.

From his campaign website:

The preamble of the Constitution names provision for "the common defence" as one of the primary reasons for which the Constitution was ordained an established. Indeed, this is one of the primary functions of our Government, and it should fulfill this duty honorably and reliably. However, as keepers of the Constitution, providing for the common defense is also our responsibility. We should not withhold our willing service or treasure when called upon by our Country for its defense, nor should our Government take away our ability to defend ourselves and our Nation by unduly infringing upon our right to keep and bear arms.

There are Tea Party students, Tea Party veterans, Tea Party housewives, Tea Party retirees, and Tea Party business owners. Art Coday is not just a doctor - he is a Tea Party activist and patriot. He's for less spending and less government. Coday is for less taxation and more representation.

Art Coday is the candidate who is best able to raise the necessary funds, win key endorsements, and persuade voters. He is the best candidate to go toe-to-toe in a debate with Patty Murray.

Note - Steve Beren, a staunchly Pro-Defense libertarian-conservative, is a two-time Republican candidate for Congress (Jim McDermott seat), in the Seattle area.

Mitchell Langbert of the Republican Liberty Caucus recently interviewed former New Mexico Governor and prospective 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Gary Johnson. The interview was posted to the RLC Blog. On an economics question and what to do about spending and the deficit, Johnson squarely put the blame on two culprits.

From RLC blog:

these government employees produce no value for the economy... The spending train is out of control. But the Democratic legislature [in New Mexico] fought me and the courts handed down adverse rulings. The legislature was 2 to 1 Democratic. Common sense has gone out the window. First you have to stop the spending. The time is ripe for doing so in Washington, and it’s accomplishable.

We are a bankrupt nation. We’re not taking care of our own house. Unlike the generation before us, interest and principle payments are due now. The enormous budget deficits will lead to inflation and an ever weaker dollar.

Note - Dave Nalle, National Chairman of the RLC will be hosting an open hour-long conference call for Libertarian Republicans with Gary Johnson on Jan. 26. For specific information and to sign up, go to the RLC blog.