With friends like this, the younger Paul needs no enemies

by Eric Dondero

I've known Justin Raimondo for over two decades. I was the Florida Chairman for his Libertarian Republican Organzing Committee for two years, before it went defunct, and I replaced it by founding the Republican Liberty Caucus. I also knew him from various Young Americans for Freedom, and national Republican Party events in the late 1980s, and 90s.

He's been a thorn in the side of Libertarians and Libertarian Republicans for decades. He's also been an extreme trouble-maker, (some suspect on someone's payroll?) whether it was his vicious attacks on Ron Paul in the late 1980s as a "John Birch Society fringe Rightwinger," his organizing Gays for Buchanan in the '90s, his joining in a coalition with Code Pink, or his strident anti-Bush rants and joining with the hard Left against the Iraq War in the early 2000s.

But now he may have completely stepped over the line.

Opines Raimondo at AntiWar.com yesterday:

Rand Paul’s Problem, and Ours: He's not half the man his father is

In the first few paragraphs he makes a half-ass attempt to refute Rachel Maddow's attack on Rand Paul. At the same time he calls the younger Paul's performance, "not very articulate."

Code Pinkos like Raimondo opposing Rand Paul no doubt helpful in Kentucky

He then goes on the attack himself against Rand Paul:

Maddow didn’t expose Rand Paul’s alleged “racism” – what she revealed is his inability to function, like his father, as a spokesman for libertarianism. After all, he isn’t his father – unfortunately, I would add. Wouldn’t it be great to have Ron in the Senate? He’s certainly more than earned it. One can only dream. Yet the advent of Paul, the son, is turning into my personal nightmare.

I have to say that I’ve held off commenting on the subject of Rand’s candidacy quite deliberately, because I wanted to give him the benefit of every doubt. I wasn’t too alarmed, at first, when he differed from his father on the subject of Guantanamo and the question of whether to give “enemy combatants” a trial before we lock them up forever – I didn’t and don’t agree, but plenty of anti-interventionists I respect, such as Pat Buchanan, would take Rand’s side in that debate...

Rand came out in favor of economic sanctions on Iran:

“I do see Iran as a threat to the stability of the Middle East… Recently, President Obama took nuclear weapons off the table in certain circumstances, and I think that’s a mistake. I think it’s reckless to take them out of the equation.”

Raimondo's response:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but that sounds to me like he’s in favor – given the right circumstances – of nuking Iran. This is something that not even the wildest-eyed neocon has seriously proposed. That an alleged “libertarian” could mouth those words is appalling...

Raimondo continues by taking personal shots at him:

It’s true that Rand got his start in the libertarian movement, as a supporter of and spokesman for his father, but good sense may not be hereditary...

He concludes:

Why doesn’t he spend a few moments backtracking from his morally reprehensible refusal to take nuking Iran “out of the equation”? Now that’s something he really ought to get down on his hands and knees and beg forgiveness for – and maybe (just maybe!) libertarians will think about supporting him. Until that apology – or “clarification” – is forthcoming, I wouldn’t give Rand Paul the time of day.

Something tells me that the good voters of Kentucky will be more appreciative of Rand Paul's pro-national security views, rather than the stidently Anti-American/antiWar views of Raimondo, Maddow, and groups like Code Pink. The fact that Raimondo & Co. are withholding support for Rand, is no doubt a huge net-positive.

The very worst thing that could happen for Rand Paul would be if Raimondo & Crew suddenly showed up campaigning for him in Paducah.

GOP needs candidates who are Big, Bold, Provocative

From Eric Dondero:

Former Florida Governor was interviewed by Fred Barnes, on "The Republican Party's future."

Bush quoted in The Weekly Standard:

His advice to Republicans for the midterm elections: Pursue a bold, policy-oriented campaign. “I completely disagree with the idea that you rope-a-dope,” he says. “If we just are trying to be against the president’s efforts to redefine who we are as a nation, eventually .??.??. you can’t score many touchdowns playing defense the whole game.”

“This is a good time to be a little less constrained in your thinking,” Bush says. “Candidates that win will be a little emboldened. They’re not going to take the traditional point of view that we can’t be too provocative because we’re going to upset the population. Think big and bold.

Bush mentioned Marco Rubio as his ideal candidate. But could he have also had a certain Kentuckian in mind?

Interestingly Bush went on to comment:

“We have all these factions inside the conservative cause, people focused on social issues, or libertarian leave-me-alone issues or paleocons or neocons or traditional conservatives,” Bush says. “It seems to me if you ask what is the one thing that we all agree on, [it’s] that we passionately agree that entrepreneurial capitalism works.”

From Eric Dondero:

It's just like a credit card. No shame at all.

From the Daily Caller:

The Agriculture Department announced Wednesday it will encourage grocery stores and other retail outlets that accept food stamps to post signs reading “We Welcome SNAP Benefits.” The move is part of an effort to decrease the stigma of using government food assistance in a tough economy.

Attempts to reduce such stigmas have been ongoing for years. SNAP is an acronym for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a recent name change designed to get away from the loaded phrase “food stamps.” Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT, is an electronic way of paying for items so it just appears that a customer is using a credit card.

“Underscoring that SNAP benefits are welcome, rather than merely accepted, signals an important change in the way both retailers and program participants view these benefits,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Of course, tax-payers not wanting to subsidize the tax-takers, have the ability and the full right to avoid shopping at establishments that accept SNAP. See a "Welcome Food Stamp Recipients" sign in the window of such an establishment. Protest to the Manager first, and then take your business elsewhere. After all, it'd be a Snap!

(H/t Boortz)

Ayn Randist Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs gives the keynote speech to the Tea Party Coaltion of Tennessee. Despite pressure from radical Islamist group CAIR to cancel her appearance.

Geller: Sharia Law is creeping into the mainstream of American life.

Standing ovation at 9 minutes in, Geller's call to oppose the Muslim Mega-Mosque at Ground Zero in NYC.

By Jim Lagnese AKA The Right Guy

With socialism, marxism, and collectivism, need always trump ability. If you do not believe me, look at the standard marxist statement: To each according to their needs, from each according to their ability. This means that what is given from the government, which acts as a proxy by force, to those that can't or won't do. It also means, that by force, this proxy for bad ideas takes what is earned by those who not only can but want to. It's not a free will gift and it is taken without respect to the people that earned it, but rather as an unwanted obligation and a demand that they should be happy to do it.

The New Jersey legislature passed a tax hike on all those who make more than a million dollars a year. This adds up to 16,000 people out of 3.9 million. Who speaks for them? Obviously to the socialist controlled New Jersey legislature, no one should.

The bill passed along party lines, 46-32 and 23-17 in the assembly and senate respectively. In a moment of honesty, a socialist in the assembly shows their true colors:

“We’ve got a lot of people who can’t afford to pay their taxes” and need the rebates that the measure may restore, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said before the vote. “Six- hundred thousand older adults would be better off.”

There are a couple problems here. If people can't afford to pay their taxes, ask why? Why are they being taxed so high? If the answer is to pilfer those that have more money, it's irresponsible and thievery. Socialism is based on coveting and stealing. It never occurs to the dems to cut expenditures because they are bribing people with their own money. The 600,000 that are complaining of cuts to senior citizen programs are a sizable voting block where 16,000 are not. How is that for taxation without representation? Oliver should read her history to understand the consequences of such aberrant thinking.

Why Chris Christie matters is that he says he will veto this bill. The demo-socialists do not have the votes to override the veto. A good thing. Time for some fiscal responsibility and honesty.

“This is a defining moment -- it seems to me to be all about taxes, taxes and taxes,” Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, a Republican from Parsippany, said during more than an hour of floor debate before the vote. Referring to Democrats, he said, “that’s all you guys do.”

And that is the truth. Socialists like to bribe people with their own money, and they do it as a bribe for votes. This is done to convert those that can to those that need. The more that need, the more votes the arbiters of socialism will get and thereby hold on to power. This is the path to becoming Farm Animals®. If you doubt me, look at another bit of honesty from a socialist that feels sacrifice is duty and who is also the high priest at the altar of sacrifice:

“I don’t have an issue with millionaires, I just have an issue with people not sharing in the sacrifice,” said Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a Democrat from West Deptford. “Those 16,000 people can help 600,000.”
What Sweeney isn't honest about is that the taxes he wants to steal from the 16,000 is to restore programs to bribe the 600,000. Sfacime.

It is a good thing to see a governor stand on proper rational principle and not emotion based straw man arguments and populism. He was elected to govern and govern from a position of responsibility, not of a tyrant that succors the hoi pelloi into a puerile stupor for the purpose of political hegemony. Its time to grow up.

This is why we need Chris Christie.

Thank you for reading this blog.

From Eric Dondero:

Warren Redlich is the Libertarian Party nominee for Governor of New York. He is also seeking the Republican nomination.

Andrew Cuomo's "plan" for New York lacks substance. Cutting spending requires more than vague ideas. It means firing people, cutting pay and reducing benefits. Any candidate should have the decency to say who will get hurt.

Warren Redlich names specific agencies to eliminate and the only one who proposes to cap pay and pensions for government jobs.
where he will cut spending. Read more:

Public Pay and Pension Caps

Eliminate Departments and Functions: Save $5 Billion

Say on Pay for Voters on Politician Raises

Fewer Taxes: New Yorkers Face Too Many Taxes

Real Tort Reform Will Reduce Insurance Costs

The Redlich plan eliminates spending on corporate welfare and unnecessary agencies so we can reopen parks, stop teacher layoffs and prevent new taxes.

Note - Redlich is an elected small town city councilman.

Media attention has been focused on District 3 in the wake of the unexpected resignation of long-time US Representative Mark Souder, a Republican, who has confessed to an extra-martial affair.
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Confused about what is actually IN the new Finance Reform Bill making its way through Congress?  Interested in the reconciliation process and what final form the bill might take?  Here is a great article comparing the two versions of the bill from both chambers.
Read the Article