Just Another wing of the Welfare-State Left

by Eric Dondero

Interesting take on things you find in the foreign press. They often twist themselves in such knots to explain "Far Right" phenomenon that they more often than not, stumble right upon the truth.

Searchlight is what you might call a Southern Poverty Law Center like publication in Europe. Graeme Atkinson is like the Mark Potok of Europe. He's the "expert" Euro-press most often go too to describe the "rise of the Right," as Potok is all over MSNBC, CNN and other far left media in the US talking of the "violent threat" posed by the Tea Parties.

But Mr. Atkinson has let the proverbial Ole' English cat out of the bag. In an interview with one of Europe's most respected on-line journals the EU Observer, Atkinson fumbles. He inadvertently links the so-called "Far Right" with Euro-Socialists. And he manages to - albeit unknowingly - de-link them with Free Enterprise advocates.

Too much Free Market Capitalism to blame for Rise of Fascists

From Eu Observer:

"The frustration I have with the sudden burst of media coverage is that for most of the time, the far-right phenomenon is not treated seriously," complains Graeme Atkinson, the European editor of the UK's anti-fascist monthly, Searchlight. "They're treated as cranks, so papers don't write about them, don't notice them. And then suddenly something like this happens and they think the sky is falling."

"I don't go for either picture. It's not that the crisis has suddenly caused this. This is a phenomenon that goes back much further than the last two years ... Of course it exacerbates the situation - it would be surprising if the crisis did not result in some increased support for the far-right. But it's a long-term phenomenon that needs monitoring and countering. It's no reason to panic and then forget about it once the next big news item happens."

Mr Atkinson actually lays the bulk of the blame on the centre-left establishment in Europe: "Social democrats everywhere have abandoned their traditional constituency. This is the vacuum the far right are filling."

As socialist and labour parties have, pace Tony Blair, embraced business, backed privatisation and instituted social spending cuts, he argues, extremist ideas provide an easy answer to the thousands that feel disoriented by the slings and arrows of the free market.

So, because of the fact that the UK Labour Party has moved Right on Capitalism, and have abandoned the much adored Dickensian Working Class, the Working Class has turned to National Socialism.

And now for the coup de grâce (Continuing):

The Perspective Institute, a Budapest polling firm, demographically backs this analyis, noting already in an analysis after last year's European elections in which the party scored 14.8 percent that left-wing voters were en masse turning toward Jobbik: "The Hungarian extreme right doesn't primarily recruit its supporters from the centre-right but instead from the leftist camp disappointed with the governmental performance of MSZP [the Socialists]. Jobbik, in certain cases, succeeded in doubling its nationwide share of the votes in cities that had been Socialist strongholds."

Euro-Fascists hate the Libertarian Right

Jobbick much like Hitler's National Socialist Workers Party in the 1930s, doesn't "recruit its supporters from the centre-right but instead from the leftist camp" who are disgruntled because the liberals in power are not sufficiently Pro-Government Welfare State.

Wouldn't it follow that the "Far Right" would then be categorized as Capitalist Free Marketeers, with all the varied Socialist interests groups lumped on the Left? The most prominent Exemplars of the Pro-Free Market Euro-Right of course, would be Boris Johnson and Daniel Hannan of the libertarian wing of the British Tories, Nigel Farage and the UK Independence Party, Geert Wilders and the Party of Freedom in the Netherlands, sometimes free marketeer Nikolas Sarkozy, and Hungary's own "Center-Rightists" Fidesz.

This is why, for example, we see the great animosity which exists between the working class-centered British Nationalist Party and Farage's pro-liberty/pro-sovereignty UK Independence. And it also explains why libertarian Wilders is written off by Euro-Fascists as a "Zionist" and "pawn of the Jews."

Why the gross mislabeling of Jobbick and other Euro-Fascist groups as "Rightwing"? They have absolutely nothing to do with Pro-Capitalist Right. And as a matter of fact, are even furious at the Left, for not being Leftist enough.

PARTY FOR FREEDOM

Libertarian Right Member of Parliament and leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), Geert Wilders has been accused by a Muslim extremist and Iranian-linked news agency of being a tool of "Zionists."

From the Ahlul-Bayt News Agency (ABNA.ir):

Scandalous Dutch politician Geert Wilders in an interview with radio station “Galya-IDF” openly declared love for Israel, calling it an outpost of the West in the face of Islam.

According to Ahlul Bayt (A) News Agency – ABNA.ir – “There is one Islam – a totalitarian, fascist – and if we do not awaken in the near future, Europe will become Evroaraviey” – quoted Wilders Sursorinfo.

Wilders said he has always been committed to Israel, where he lived for several years as a volunteer in a moshav (agricultural settlement of the special).

Broadcasting mainly in Farsi, but an additional 6 languages, Ahlul-Bayt describes itself:

ABNA has been established to defend the followers of Ahlulbayt (as) against oppressions in the arena of broadcasting news; however, it has always emphasized the main Islamic ideals and principles. Among the most important principles observed by ABNA is showing respect for followers of other schools of thought and struggling for promotion of unity among Muslims worldwide.

Wilders has had countless threats on his life by Muslim extremist groups since the release of his film Fitna in 2008. He travels with an array of body guards. His predecessors and friends Pym Fortuyn, Dutch Presidential candidate in 2003, and the film maker Theo van Gogh were both assasinated by Mulsim-linked extremists.

Spokesman for the libertarian wing of the Tories

Tory Libertarian Boris Johnson made some strong predictions for the outcome of upcoming UK elections.

From the London Telegraph, "Nick Clegg to win the General Election? Has someone put something in the water supply?" April 19:

Will this amazing and ludicrous burst of Cleggophilia keep the Tories from government? My bet remains quite safe. I am certain that the Tories will win, and that the current fantasy of a Liberal Democrat resurgence is the biggest load of media-driven nonsense since the funeral of Diana.

I can't think of anything worse for this country than some great ghastly soggy Lib-Lab coalition, dripping with piety and political correctness and unable to take the decisions we need for fear of offending the vast hordes of public sector special interest groups they collectively represent.

That is why the current madness cannot last. The Lib Dems are everywhere today, like the orange spores of an exploded puffball. Next week they will be gone with the wind.

Boris Johnson is often described as too "libertarian" for the Tories. (See UK Independent)

And he was actually Born in the USA!

by James Fryar, Australia

Gary Johnson was the governor of New Mexico for two terms and seems to be shaping up for a run at the presidency. His site Gary Johnson for America seems to indicate this as well as a number of hot rumours doing the rounds.

While the usual suspects, or at least the previous ones are lining up again this guy seems to be making a low key effort at this stage. While he is a Republican a look into his attitude on issues seems to indicate that he would also be a great candidate for the Libertarian Party were he so inclined.

He is for example a supporter of limited government with a solid track record to prove it. He states that "every law passed is a little bite out of freedom," and that removing government regulation unleashes the forces of the free market that raise our living standards. As a Governor he vetoed 750 bills and over 1,000 line items.

He also wants to reduce the entitlement system, which is unsustainable, have a strong defense force less thinly spread, backs Ron Paul’s efforts for accountability at the Federal reserve, and opposes the health care debacle that has just been passed.

From his website:

Gary opposes any government attempt to take over the health care system. He believes that the costs of health care are out of control and that free market-based reform needs to be enacted to return health care to fiscal solvency. Gary supports a system in which each individual privately manages his or her own health care, free from government control and interference; he believes that by allowing more competition in the health care industry, supply can be increased and costs lowered.

Other issues are reforming immigration, competition in education, ending the drug war, move the responsibility on abortion and marriage to the states, free trade and is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment.

Any guy who can climb Mt. Everest with a broken leg has the mental toughness for the job.

(And we thought Todd Palin was tough.)

Jim Fryar is an oil rig worker in southern Australia, an outback adventurer, strident individualist and a longtime member of the Australia Libertarian Society.

Sarah Palin single individual who is best Tea Party spokesman

The poll conducted by Politico (via Rightosphere), asked a myriad of questions to Tea Party rally attendees in Washington, DC April 15.

Of particular interest, those surveyed were asked to identify the one political party most closely aligned with the beliefs of the Tea Party. The Libertarian Party was way out ahead.
The Republican Party did moderately well. The Democrat Party did poorly.

How well do these organizations represent the views of the Tea Party movement?

The Democratic Party

•Extremely/Very Well 2%
•Not so/Not at all Well 86%

The Republican Party

•Extremely/Very Well 50%
•Not so/Not at all Well 41%

The Libertarian Party

•Extremely/Very Well 57%
•Not so/Not at all Well 30%

In another section of the poll, respondents were asked to name the single political figure who best represents Tea Party views. Sarah Palin placed 1st with 15%, Ron Paul 2nd with 12%, and Michele Bachmann 3rd with 8%. Others who score relatively high included Rep. Paul Ryan, and Sen. Jim DeMint.

Note - Cong. Paul was the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate in 1988, and is a Lifetime member of the Party. For her part, fmr. Gov. Palin was a guest speaker at a number of Libertarian Party meetings in Alaska in the 2000s, and received the endorsement of the leadership of the Libertarian Party in the State for her 2006 Governor's race. She has endorsed Cong. Paul's son, Rand Paul for US Senate in Kentucky.