The final results appear to give the Conservatives a near majority of 307 seats in Parliament to 255 for Labour, and 49 for Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives thus fall 16 seats short of an outright majority. Gordon Brown is already talking of a majority coalition with the Lib-Dems. However, minor parties, such as the Scottish Independence Party constitute another 26 seats.

The BBC (via Memeo) describes the elections as "Tories just short of a majority."

Meanwhile, the unofficial leader of the Conservative Party's libertarian wing, London Mayor Boris Johnson was quoted in the Financial Times:

Boris Johnson, Tory mayor of London, said: `I think we’ll have a strong Conservative victory tonight. The public are in the mood for change.”

From Eric Dondero:

The pro-free market, pro-sovereignty UK Independence is arguably the most libertarian-leaning party in the United Kingdom, save of course, the tiny UK Libertarian Party.

Perusing the election results, it appears UKIP polled 3 to 5%. Here's a sampling from one district - West Sunderland (via 538 blog):

Labour 19,615 (53%)
Conservatives 8,157 (22%)
LibDems 6,382 (17%)
BNP 1,913 (3%)
UKIP 1,267 (5%)

It is difficult at this point to discern if they gained any seats in Parliament. The total Minor Party vote, which includes UKIP, rose by a full 1% over 2005 to 6.5%.

(H/t Memeo)

UK Independence Party libertarian receives best wishes from leader of the Tory libertarians

Nigel Farage, leader of the libertarian-leaning UK Independence Party, had a light plane crash last night. He is in fair condition.

From UKConservatives blog:

May 06, 2010 — Election day in the U.K has been marked by a minor plane crash involving a former political party leader. UK independence party leader Nigel Farage was on board the two seater aircraft which was carrying a banner when it had to make an emergency landing in Northamptonshire.

Daniel Hannan, hero of the UK libertarian Right was quick to react. From the UK Telegraph:

Nigel is, I suppose, my chief rival in the South East. But he has always acted as a gentleman towards political opponents, and I like to think we have become friends. Nigel is in politics for the best possible reason: patriotism. He gave up a lucrative career to stand for the European Parliament, and there are plenty of other, more rewarding, things he could be doing.

It is typical of the man that, as he came round, his first words were to ask after the pilot. I hope all of us, whatever our parties, will join in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.

Farage in photo

By Jim Lagnese of The Right Guy Show

Congressman Steve King from Iowa's 5th congressional district was a special guest last night on Libertarian Politics Live.  Congressman King entered the debate in the second segment, which was begun by Dan Gainor of The Business and Media Institute and Dee Dee Blase of Somos Republican.

The discussion was heated and emotional, and you can listen to it here en toto. Congressman King was very civilized and tried to bring rationality and clear headedness to a topic that seems to polarize many: The Arizona Bill SP1070.

The crux of the argument when congressman King entered the fray was what is reasonable suspicion? Dee Dee Blase seemed to think that there is no reasonable suspicion as she believed that anyone of color would be pulled over for that very reason, regardless of their citizenship status. Congressman King told the audience of his expertise and how it relates to his support of the law:

"Well, I have some experience with reasonable suspicion for one thing I drafted the work place drug testing  legislation in Iowa and it's been law since 1998. It's got reasonable suspicion in it and since that period of time we didn't rely on law enforcement officers to require that employees undergo a drug test, we just required that the employers set someone up that was educated in the standards that we had and for all these years now, it's 12 years it's been in place, we haven't had a single constitutional complaint or a single piece of litigation on reasonable suspicion...I am comfortable on the standards on reasonable suspicion."

Mr. King continues:

"As I read the Arizona law, it mirrors federal law, it supports federal law". "I cannot imagine a society functioning if local law enforcement just simply ignored or refused to enforce federal law of all kinds including immigration law...There's nothing about this that is draconian, but I do see that the intensity of the opposition to it is causing a problem with regard to race.  They are doing this on purpose. The left is ginning this up on purpose for political purposes. They are driving wedges between people and they are undermining America's unity and our unity should be behind the rule of law".

The argument ensued as to whether probably cause or reasonable suspicion is necessary to inquire about someone's immigration status. Dee Dee asked the congressman "What an illegal alien looks like" in regards to what reasonable suspicion or probable cause is when pulling someone over. She talked about beliefs, but not of the law, which she and the Mr. King obviously disagreed. Congressman King asserted that "this is not about race, but about the rule of law".

Dee Dee insisted it was about race, talking over the congressman. She wanted an example of how a police officer could ascertain someone's legal status without involving race. She wouldn't respond to his answer and he reiterated through continuous interruptions by ms. Blasé: "If an officer pulls someone over for speeding, a tail light out, for some activity that is clearly illegal, and that individual,  when asked for their identification, have probable cause at this point (the police. ed.), when asked for their identification, if their identification is not the identification of the typical of an american citizen, if it happens to be as I said earlier, a metricular counselor card, I say that's probable cause and goes above reasonable suspicion".  Dee Dee's response was "He  can't even articulate what an illegal immigrant looks like either".  He then asked her if she considered a matricular counselor card reasonable suspicion or probable cause or both. At this point, the air went dead and we actually thought that either she dropped dead, or was apoplectic at having to answer the question. May be it's just seminar called tactics.

Touché.

What happened then was that she feigned, in my opinion, not hearing the question and asked the congressman to reiterate it.

Basically, she eventually said that she did not agree with the officer asking me,  based on reasonable suspicion, my immigration status". She then asked what should happen if she got pulled over as an american, but left her license home and only offered a matricular counselor card (such cards are not given to American citizens, but foreign nationals) as she goes back and forth to Mexico all the time. Forgive me here, but don't you need a passport to enter Mexico and then enter back into the US?

At this point it became a matter of personal opinion on the part of Dee Dee Blasé and informed opinion on the part of the congressman. Being a co-host on the show and being part of it and witness to the conversation, the a priori nature of ms. Blasé's position had become apparent: No matter what, anyone that is not white can and will be pulled over to check their immigration status. Since the hosts are white and the law doesn't affect us, obviously we can't understand. It's another version of the race card. What was is surprising to me, is that these types of arguments I heard from ms. Blasé are the typical emotional strawman arguments we hear from the left. I am surprised she calls herself republican and honestly, may be the tent is too big.

No long after this, because of being talked over by Dee Dee, congressman King left the show abruptly, as he felt Dee Dee was being rude. So did I.

Thank you for reading this blog.

From Eric Dondero:

We don't do this often. Instead, we urge our readers to support the Republican Liberty Caucus and the RLC PAC for Libertarian Republican candidates. But this is an election overseas, where there is no RLC affiliate. (Maybe there should be one?).

The PVV issued the following appeal on their website:

With four weeks to go before the general elections in the Netherlands, Geert Wilders and the Party for Freedom are now engaged in a life-and-death struggle against the forces of jihad. In the last couple of years Geert Wilders has emerged as the international symbol of the struggle against Islam.

The Party for Freedom (PVV) refuses government subsidy in order to remain independent. All other Dutch parties receive government money. Therefore, the PVV is facing a serious challenge in order to survive this election season. Dutch state television is engaged in a massive campaign to smear the PVV.

The Party for Freedom needs your help urgently. Every donation is welcome.

ING bank account of the Stichting Vrienden van de PVV in The Hague: 67.04.72.344

IBAN: NL98 INGB 0670 4723 44
BIC: INGBNL2A

Postal address:
Postbus 20018
2500 EA Den Haag

Note, the PVV does not accept Government Subsidies on principle, similar to the Libertarian Party USA. They rely solely on individual and corporate donations.

Please send a contribution, and make sure you tell them that it's coming from Libertarian Republicans USA.

There is also a Paypal application on the English-language website:

To Make Contribution: PVV Website

PERSONAL APPEAL

I am planning to fly to Paris and then travel by Eurail to the Netherlands before the Dutch elections, to assist with Geert's campaign, precinct walking, phone banking, sign waving. My Dutch is mid-level (my German much better), so I should be fine.

I figure the total cost of the trip will be around $1,500, about half of that for the flight. Would you all be willing to assist me in helping to defray the costs?

There are 800 to 1,000 visitors a day here at LR. If just a small portion of you all sent in a $20 to $50 contribution I could certainly make it. If just one of you made a substantial contribution, $250 to $500, I'd be able to do it for sure.

And a Big Thank You to the three individuals - VA, IA and CA - who have already made pledges.

Of course, I'd be blogging on scene from Amsterdam of all my campaigning. And perhaps I could even be there on election night?

Please contact me personally, if you are able to make a contribution; ericdondero@yahoo.com or call 979-583-6875.

Thank you.

Sarah Palin supporter in 2008 campaign

Actress Janine Turner was one of Sarah Palin's earliest and most vocal supporters in her race for Vice-President in 2008. Now she's taking on a new project: Preaching the Constitution.

From Washington Whispers, US News & World Report, April 27:

Northern Exposure and Friday Night Lights actress Janine Turner has played Martha Washington and Alexander Hamilton's mom. But now she's fulfilling her lifetime role: Queen of the Constitution. "I've always had this fascination with the revolution," says the quirky actress who started Constituting America, which aims to get kids interested in the Constitution. "We live it every day, we just don't know it," she says. And Turner has proof that kids care. She and her daughter studied the Federalist Papers over spring break. Says young Juliette: "It's cool."

NewsMax interviewed libertarian comedian Dennis Miller. One question in particular broke some news. Miller's former colleague from SNL days, Victoria Jackson is a prime speaker on the Tea Party circuit. Now Miller joins his old pal, coming out officially as a Tea Party supporter.

From NewsMax:

Dennis Miller is one busy guy. Ever the comedic observer of the human condition, the Saturday Night Live alum and multi-Emmy winner has hosted shows on HBO and CNBC, appeared in several films, and even did a stint on Monday Night Football. For three hours each weekday, he delivers his eclectic blend of yuks and conservative rants on his syndicated Westwood One radio show. And he still finds time to take his stand-up act to Vegas.

Miller sat down recently with Newsmax contributing editor James Hirsen to discuss comedy, politics, and how to be a Hollywood conservative and still get work.

Newsmax: Are you a tea partyer [sic]?

Miller: Yes, I would go in a second. I like the tea party people; I admire them. Yes, you can put me down for that. I like the fact that it stays small. Those big marches peter out the next day. I like the fact the tea party happens in people’s drawing rooms.

(H/t GOP 12)

From Eric Dondero:

Longtime establishment Republican Dan Coats won the GOP nomination for US Senate on Tuesday. He beat two libertarian-leaning candidates; Jon Hostetler, endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus, and Tea Party favorite Marlin Stutzman. Coats won with 54%.

A local Tea Partier in Indiana gave an amazingly frank assessment of the results. From the Pali-item, Richmond, IN:

Diane Hubbard, an active member of the Indianapolis Tea Party group, said it's hard to say whether tea party voters would support Coats, vote Libertarian or stay home in November.

"I don't think they're going to be excited about Coats, but they very well may vote for Coats," Hubbard said. "We hope people will get out and vote for the most conservative candidate."

The Indiana Libertarian Party is one of the strongest and most organized LP affiliates in the Nation. Over 20 Libertarians hold elective office in the State, including a local Judge, Mayor, Town Councilman, and most well-known Edward Coleman who is an elected Libertarian member of the Indianapolis City Council.

Part One:
This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.
Part Two:
This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video.