Has a 32% lead for reelection

New poll numbers for Idaho, show libertarian Republican Governor Butch Otter in a healthy position for reelection.

From Rasmussen (via Hedgehog)

GOVERNOR – IDAHO (Rasmussen)
Butch Otter (R-inc) 60%
Keith Allred (D) 28%

Allred, a former University professor at Harvard, is a lobbyist in Boise with a liberal special interest group called Common Interest.

Idaho's former Democrat Governor Cecil Andrus said the following when Allred first announced last December (Idaho Statesman):

"Keith will immediately be a credible, serious candidate."

MONETARY POLICY UPDATE

By Clifford F. Thies

From the Idaho Statesman:

Athol Republican Rep. Phil Hart, the bill's sponsor, wanted to encourage the use of an alternative currency he believes is more stable than the U.S. dollar. He also sought to stimulate the state's languishing silver mining industry with tax breaks to entice a company to build an ore processing plant in the state.

O.K., so the proposal didn’t even make it out of committee. Nevertheless, this year, representative Hart (photo) actually proposed that his state begin issuing silver coins – err, I mean “medallions” – that taxpayers could use to pay their taxes and other dues to the state.

America has a long and varied history with state- and privately-issued coins and paper money. This includes “trade tokens,” issued as change, when government-minted coins were in short supply, and “coal mining scrip,” issued in advance of pay in isolated coal-mining towns which could be used at the company store. Traditionally, these, shall I say “supplemental” forms of money enjoyed only limited circulation relative to government-issued money and bank deposits (and, a long time ago, bank notes). They mostly filled in gaps in the money supply. But, from time to time, they were of macroeconomic importance.

From 1857 to 1907, whenever the banks of the country were temporarily closed due to a financial panic, they, through their “clearing house associations,” issued emergency money, backed by their mutual guarantee. The emergency money kept the economy from totally succumbing to the financial panic and, so, prior to the 1930s, we never experienced anything so much as half as bad as the Great Depression. Then, when we were hit by the Stock Market Crash of 1929, the still new Federal Reserve System said, hey, we’re the ones who are supposed to control the money supply, not you private banks. And, guess what, we wound up with the most awful depression we have ever known.

Nowadays, the problems we face are not merely a moribund economy. We also have the problem of a tremendous budget deficit, humongous debt-guarantees, and ginormous unfunded entitlement obligations. Even Burger King’s Steakhouse Burger pales in comparison. So, the idea of private money is not merely to fill in a gap left by the government’s money system, but to gain some protection against the risk of inflation.

Of course, there were many practical problems with the state of Idaho issuing coins. For one thing, what famous Idahoan (that’s what they’re called) would you put on them? So, I googled famous Idahoans and came up with one: J. R. Simplot, the “French Fry King.”

Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia

We’re extending the Libertarian Party of Indiana Convention early bird discount just a couple more days for anyone that might have waited just a little too long! Consider this your LPIN April stimulus!
Hurry and register now at http://lpin.org/convention
After 11:59 PM (Est.) Sunday, the prices will all increase $20, including our extremely low rates for all [...]

Radical Islamic demonstrators in front of the Palestinian House in Toronto yell anti-Semitic slogans at Jewish counter-demonstrators across the street. One of them is caught on video, yelling, "We need another Holocaust." (Comment at 5 seconds in.)

Mark Steyn at National Review reports on other slurs yelled at the gathered Jews including:

"We love jihad..." We love killing dogs..." "your bitches with you".

HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE RIGHT

Ayaan Ali Hirsi spoke on the campus of North Michigan University last Wednesday. The former Dutch Parliamentarian and friend/colleague of Dutch MP Geert Wilders, addressed an audience of over 400 attendees.

The title of her speech was "Refuse to be Silenced." Hirsi is a victim of Islamic violence, and threats. First, as a young girl, she was forced to undergo female circumsicion. From her speech:

"There is female genital mutilation that happens at the age of 5, 6 or 7 that is a sewing of the genitals and the cutting off of the clitoris to ensure that you are a virgin when you reach the age of marriage,” Ali said. “It’s justified in the name of Islam..."

When she fled to the Netherlands, Islamic radicals from her homeland in Somalia and even in Western Europe, threatened her life. As a Freedom-supporting Member of the Dutch Parliament she watched as an ally Pim Forturn was murdered on the street from a Muslim-sympathizing political extremist. And then two years later her partner Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was similarly murdered.

From Booker T. Rising "Libertarian Activist gives Speech on Islam & Woman's Rights":

“It’s very important to know that Islam as a theology, the political and social dimension of Islam, and not the religious aspects, are not just dangerous but also incompatible with the American doctrine of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Ms. Hirsi Ali, a libertarian feminist who was born in Somalia, said.

Ms. Hirsi Ali, who is an atheist, said that the peace-loving and law-abiding majority of Muslims turn a blind eye to the injustices that occur often in their culture. “When Muslims commit violent crimes in the name of the Qur’an...the peace-loving majority goes into denial, they become defensive,” she said.

Ms. Hirsi Ali, who is a former Dutch parliamentarian, said she was attracted to the U.S. because of the freedom of expression and the freedom to dissent. Under sharia law, Ms. Hirsi Ali said women have to be especially careful to not speak...

From the North Wind (NMU):

Junior Melanie Bell, chairperson for the event, said Ali has a unique viewpoint being an apostate in the eyes of her Muslim family and friends.

“Ali has faced adversity in her life that most will never come close to knowing,” Bell said.

Bell also said that because of her outspoken nature, Ali has angered some Islamic extremists.

“Her short film ‘Submission,’ about the oppression of women under the Islamic faith, drew great attention,” she said.

Even though Ali has become a target of Islamic extremists who wish to silence her, she continues speaking because the message she conveys transcends the blind hatred of radicals.

“As more people become aware of the violence, it will become more difficult for people to ignore it,” Ali said.

Note - in 2007, Libertarian Republican blog proclaimed. Ms. Ali "Libertarian of the Year."

by Eric Dondero

The roots of the Tea Party at its core, stem from the annual Tax Day protests sponsored by the Libertarian Party going back decades. Way back in the late 1970s, Libertarians would gather on April 15, in localities across the Nation and wave signs calling for the Abolishment of the IRS, and other Anti-Tax slogans. The protests became a fixture at Post Offices each Tax Day.

Some further background:

• As far back as 2006, a renegade Libertarian Party group, broke with the LP for perceived moderation of National LP leaders and formed a rival organization called "Boston Tea Party." The name was picked up by other Libertarians. And some have credited the use of that term with the launching of the national Tea Party movement.

• Throughout 2008, Libertarian Party members were calling for nationwide "Tea Party like" protests against Bush's bailouts and TARP.

• The very first Tea Party protests organized in 2008 and early 2009 (most especially Denver and Seattle), were formed by the Libertarian Party and the Campaign For Liberty, supporters of 1988 Libertarian Presidential candidate and 2008 GOP Presidential contender Ron Paul.

• The first unofficial leader/organizer of the burgeoning Tea Party movement was Eric Odom, at the time an Executive Board member of the Libertarian Party of Illinois.

Now, surprise, surprise. A government-funded institution for learning, the University of South Florida (St. Pete), has come out with a major study that finds, the Tea Party movement does not emenate or comfortably coincide with the Republican Party, but rather it's more of a Libertarian Party movement.

Yet, in their entire report, the government-funded institution doesn't even mention the Libertarian Party by name, nor give the 37-year old third party any credit.

From The Hill "Tea Parties not beholden to GOP":

A poll released Saturday depicts the Tea Party movement as a staunchly libertarian group that is unhappy with both political parties, suggesting that the group is still not sold on voting for Republicans in the fall.

From TampaBay.com "Deficit stirs up the tea party":

A new national survey portrays the tea party movement as largely Ross Perot-style libertarians, who are almost as unhappy with Republicans as they are with Democrats.

The polling runs counter to popular perceptions of tea partiers as either a wing of the Republican Party or as people from the cultural fringes who are mad at almost everything.

The movement, all agree, is not attracting many social conservatives. "We're not seeing right-to-lifers or Christian fundamentalists," [study co-author] O'Neal said. "We're seeing a lot of libertarians."

And this further info:

People were asked if they considered themselves part of the tea party movement. Overall, 17 percent of those called said they did. Of that group, 57 percent called themselves Republicans; 28 percent said they were independents; 13 percent were Democrats.

Two-thirds claimed to be conservatives, 26 percent were moderates, and 8 percent called themselves liberal.

Okay, you would think then, that the story line which would logically follow would be that the Republican Party is in danger of losing votes on its limited government Right flank to the Libertarian Party in 2010 elections. After all, a near 1,000 candidates are planning to run for local, state and national offices on the LP ticket in 2010; 200 in Texas alone.

But no. The liberal media ignores that angle, choosing instead to focus in on the problems in general the GOP will have in winning over these voters. Continuing from The Hill:

The survey indicates that Republicans still have more work to do to woo Tea Party voters to their side in November... Tea Partyers are still wary of shacking up with the Republicans. Several third-party and insurgent Republicans are running in primary races across the country against more established GOP candidates.

There's a simple explanation: The liberal media is loathe to report on anything about the Libertarian Party. Doing so, automatically shifts the political spectrum to the limited government Right.

Republicans want tax relief? Well, the Libertarian Party wants to slash taxes across the board, and abolish the IRS.

Republicans want Social Security reform? Well, the Libertarian Party wants to abolish S.S.

Republicans want Charter Schools, Educational Choice and greater Parent participation in schooling? Libertarians want to privatize public Eduction altogether and eliminate all compulsory Public School Attendance laws.

It's easy to see why it would not be advantageous for the liberal media to give any play to the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party makes Republicans look downright moderate.

Thus, we have the absurdity of the Tampa Bay Tribune, and the respected Beltway publication The Hill, coming out with a survey finding admitting that the Tea Party is "libertarian," but not even mentioning the Libertarian Party at all.

Note - standard disclaimer on Ron Paul applies: absolutely fantastic on domestic issues, particularly free market economics; we disagree wholeheartedly with his foreign policy.

From Eric Dondero:

While swank Republican fundraisers at gentlemen's clubs and fundraising letter errors from Michael Steele and the RNC, seem to be gaining a great deal of attention from the liberal media these days, this one has oddly escaped coverage from national media outlets except the local LA Times.

Apparently the Democratic Congressional Committee (DCC) believes Libertarian Republican congressman and card-carrying he-man Dana Rohrabacher is a chic.

From the L.A. Times:

Need any proof of Washington's basic cluelessness these days? The D.C.-based Democratic committee apparently needs help figuring out exactly who or what it is really after.

Today it put out a news release headlined:

Not an April Fools’ Day Joke: Representative Dana Rohrabacher Caught Trying to Take Credit for Jobs She Voted Against

Too bad the release wasn't an April Fool's Day joke. It would have made sense then. Because Dana Rohrabacher is a guy.

In case there's still any lingering questions, Rohrabacher is a former semi-pro surfer, carried an M-16 in the mountains of Afghanistan in the 1980s fighting the Soviets, and has a daily work-out routine, including barbells, and the bench press.

Photo of Dana Rohrabacher's beach gal wife Rhonda, and their three kids in Huntington Beach, California, submitted as further proof of his male virility.

(H/t our friends at RedState.)

From Eric Dondero:

Democrats and the liberal media have been savaging libertarian-leaning Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele over the recent controversy of RNC funds used at a Topless club in Los Angeles. Now, an odd partner has joined in. The Religious Right is now attacking Steele, as well. Some religious conservatives (not all), have even advised their adherents to stop giving money to the Republican National Committee cause of Steele's "reckless" behavior.

But as gay gal Bridgette P. LaVictoire of the aptly named LezGetReal blog states, other GOPers, particularly libertarian Republicans are rather laissez faire on such matters.

From LezGetReal.com:

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has put out a missive telling those who will listen to him to not give money to the RNC or the Republican Party itself. This comes after a $2000 trip by Republican staffer Alyson Myers and several donors to a voyeuristic bondage club where women simulate lesbian sex acts.

According to Perkins “This latest incident is another indication to me the RNC is completely tone-deaf to the values and concerns of a large number of people they are seeking financial support from.” Of course, the GOP’s libertarian wing, which is growing rather stronger lately, has little interest in many of the issues that Perkins and his fellow Social Conservatives support.

As LaVictoire suggests, a loss of Religious Right donors could all be made up for, by a gain of more socially tolerant younger voters, and even gay voters who have a great deal of disposable income; both groups having been previously skeptical of the GOP.

Tells Obama supporting patients to seek health care services elsewhere

From Eric Dondero:

Leslie Campione is an attorney in Lake County, Florida. She has just declared her candidacy for Lake County Commissioner as a Republican.

Ms. Campione's husband, a Mt. Dora urologist, has recently received a great deal of local, and even national media attention. Dr. Jack Cassell has posted a sign in the window of his practice:

"If you Voted for Obama, seek Urologic Health Care elsewhere"

According to the Orlando Sentinel, while Dr. Cassell, a staunch Republican, discourages visits by Democrat Obama supporters, he does not turn them away. But he does offer them plenty of GOP literature, and anti-ObamaCare information in the waiting room of his office.

According the HuffPo a little sign on the table reads:

"This is what the morons in Washington have done to your health care. Take one, read it and vote out anyone who voted for it."

Campione told the Sentinel that the reactions from her husband's patients have been "overwhelmingly supportive."

Lake County happens to be in the heart of loudmouth Democrat Congressman Tray Grayson's district. Of course, Grayson, never a loss for words, had this to say:

"I'm disgusted. Maybe he thinks the Hippocratic Oath says, ‘Do no good.' If this is the face of the right-wing in America, it's the face of cruelty…Why don't they change the name of the Republican Party to the Sore Loser Party."

(H/t Memeo)