CNN WITH ANDERSON COOPER

Ali compares the threats to the brutal death of her friend, and partner Theo van Gogh, in the Netherlands in 2004. She says, "This is clearly a threat." Cooper seems to agree calling it a "chilling affect" on free speech rights.

From Eric Dondero:

Geert Wilders, leader of the libertarian-leaning Freedom Party in the Netherlands, held a major press conference at The Hague on Friday. He issued the Party's Manifesto heading into June elections.

From Radio Netherlands:

ECONOMICS

Referring to the economic crisis affecting the Netherlands, the Freedom Party is proposing drastic cuts. Mr Wilders expects to be able to save 21,000 million euros. His main targets are what he refers to as "left-wing hobbies". Development aid [to foreign nations], for instance, should be limited to emergency aid. Drastic cuts are suggested in contributions to the EU budget, and in defence spending. Child support paid to parents whose children do not live in the Netherlands should be cut, and the number of public broadcast channels should be minimised.

FOREIGN POLICY/DEFENSE

The Freedom Party wants to make Dutch foreign policy subservient to the Netherlands' interest, to the exclusion of other considerations. Fighting Islam should be a central tenet, the Freedom Party election manifesto says. The Netherlands should be less involved in international military missions, and the savings which that yields can be transferred to the national police, to fight what the party calls "Moroccan street terrorists" in the Netherlands. The PVV also says that the Netherlands should leave the European Union if Turkey becomes a member state. Another remarkable point is the plan to refer to Jordan as Palestine, because, says the PVV, that country has been the de facto independent Palestinian state since 1946.

Radio Netherlands also reports that Wilders vowed he would not enter into a coalition government with leftwing parties under any circumstances. He did make the concession, that if PVV prevails without a clear majority, or if the Party finished 2nd or 3rd, he'd be willing to work with the Center Right Christian Democrats to form a government.

H/t LR reader Mike Zeldis

UK ELECTIONS

David Cameron and the Tories have regained the momentum. Some have credited Cameron's performance in the second live debate.

From the UK Daily Mail:

David Cameron's Conservative Party is continuing its fightback according to the latest poll, while Labour has slumped to a six-month low.

The Tories are up two points at 35 per cent, the Liberal Democrats are up one on 31 per cent while Labour is down two on 26 per cent, an ICM survey for the Sunday Telegraph shows.

Mr Cameron is beginning to open up a clear lead, but the poll appears to show they are still well short of where they need to be to win an overall majority.

From MerCo press "Tory leader Cameron gains gound in latest debate, according to polls":

a YouGov poll for The Sun showed 36% thought that the Tory leader had performed best, against 32% for the Lib Dem leader and 29% for Brown.

Cameron shrewdly lifted some of Clegg’s tactics from the first debate, lumping the Lib Dems and Labour together as the “other two parties” and, like Clegg, warning of old politics.

by Eric Dondero

This is why we need the Libertarian Party. I'm often chided by my mainline Republican friends for maintaining my longstanding membership in the LP, and even openly supporting Libertarian Party candidates on occasion.

It's precisely because of the role of agitator the Libertarian Party plays on the GOP. They have magnificently displayed this role with the current Georgia transportation budget increase.

From WSB:

After three years of wheeling and dealing to come up with a solution to help fund transportation, the Georgia General Assembly has approved a funding plan that would let residents vote whether to tax themselves to pay for needed improvements.

House lawmakers voted 141-29 for passage of the bill after the Senate voted 43-8 to let regions decide whether to increase the 4-cent sales tax by one penny to pay for roads, bridges and transit. The bill – HB277 – now moves to Gov. Sonny Perdue for his signature, which would give voters the final say in the 2012 presidential primary.

The response from the Libertarian Party of Georgia (via Peachtree Corners Weekly Online):

Libertarian Party of Georgia Chairman Daniel N. Adams says, "Republicans have given Georgians more than enough evidence in the last four months to prove that they are the pro-tax party in this state. They are only fiscally conservative when it's politically convenient, not when it matters."

"As the Republican-controlled legislature continues to increase taxes and fees, the silence from Tea Party leaders is stunning," says Jason Pye, Legislative Director of the state Libertarian Party. "There has been only one protest against these hikes, and that was more than a month ago. There have been no promises to primary members, in fact, the local and state Tea Party leaders have endorsed legislators that voted for these hikes."

In fairness, the GA LP ignored Democrats entirely. Ironically the Dems are attacking the Republicans just as harshly for not allowing for even more tax increases.

Continuing from WSB:

Despite the measure's supporters, Democrats assailed the plan. They say it will be four years at least before Georgia ever sees any additional money and that the legislation failed to do enough to help MARTA, Atlanta's struggling mass transit system.

But that's no excuse. Republicans in the Legislature shouldn't have even considered such a tax hike. And if the GOP in the State suffers at the polls at the hands of Libertarian candidates in November, who pick off 2, 3, 4 or even 5% from their margin this November, they have only themselves to blame.

LR FOLLOW-UP

Warren Redlich, Upstate Attorney and Republican Town Councilman, has secured the Libertarian nomination for Governor of New York. Redlich also plans to seek the Republican nomination for Governor challenging four other candidates, including former Congressman Rick Lazio.

From a Redlich campaign press release:

Redlich was chosen over Sam Sloan of New York City by a margin of 27 to 17 in a vote at the LP state convention. Kristin Davis (the Manhattan Madam) had previously expressed interest. She did not attend the convention and her name was not placed in nomination.

The convention was held on Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Albany.

For his part, Roger Stone told Libertarian Republican:

"Redlich is the biggest asshole Ive met in 35 years and 8 Presidential campaign. A leaping, bounding screaming asshole. A self important turd. A short bald ugly little man. No wonder he can't get elected to anything. Who would vote for this swine?"

Kristin Davis issued a press release before the convention stating her strong desire to run with the endorsement of the NYLP but also expressing her intention to run for Governor under the Free Libertarian Party label if that would not be forthcoming. From the release:

My campaign manager Roger Stone is a longtime Libertarian and has written in favor of gay marriage, supply-side tax cuts, legalization of drugs, and abortion rights. He is hardly the toast of New York elitist RINOs. He knows how to win 50,000 votes for my campaign. I am the candidate. I have no other agenda other than winning 50,000 votes to send a shockwave through Albany.

Now, obscure attorney Warren Redlich, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Governor and also wants to be the NYLP nominee, has publicly called me a ‘whore.’ I ran an escort service. I never worked as a prostitute. I was a business women engaged in an illegal business. I paid a penalty for my offense but I do not need to be slandered by Mr. Redlich.

Because Mr. Redlich’s attacks on me appeared in the Albany Times Union, I have instructed my attorney to file suit against Mr. Redlich for defamation. Name calling has no place in public political discourse between candidates.

As an attorney, Mr. Redlich knows this slander is actionable. I really believe he owes me and every Libertarian an apology for his boorish and offensive behavior. I would be honored to be the NYLP candidate for Governor. I am prepared to finance the petition drive for myself and the entire NYLP ticket. I believe I can raise and spend up to $1 million to communicate our Libertarian agenda and win 50,000 votes.

I will petition an entire slate on to the ballot as the FREE LIBERTARIAN PARTY which was the name of the NYLP but was abandoned after 1972.

Note - the Sec. of State of New York, required the Libertarian Party to list itself on the ballot as the "Free Libertarian Party," for the first years of its existence, so as not to create confusion with the States' longstanding Liberal Party. Both were abbreviated as "LIB".

MOVEMENT NEWS

From Eric Dondero:

A hearty congratulations is in order. Dave Nalle, National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus has just been appointed Communications Director for the Travis County (Austin) Republican Party.

Readers of Libertarian Republican are aware that Dave is a friend and often contributor to this blog.

He will now have his hands full dealing with the difficult Austin media, including the Republican-skeptical Austin American-Statesman, while at the same time running a national political organization, and taking care of a loving wife and two daughters at the same time.

We wish our friend Dave all the best.

Sarah Palin makes a brief appearance in a new tv ad for Rand Paul for Senate. Palin expresses her support for the Constitutionalist Conservative son of Texas Cong. Ron Paul.