INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. On Saturday October 22nd, Rupert Boneham will be announcing his intentions whether or not he will seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party of Indiana for the Office of Governor. Back in August, Boneham announced the formation of an exploratory committee. During the last few months, he has been speaking to family, friends, [...]
And on the same day LSU beats Auburn 45 to 10!
From Cliff Thies:
Down in Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal was re-elected in a landslide on Saturday, pulling 66 percent of the as of yet incomplete vote.
Republicans swept all seven statewide offices and both chambers of the state legislature. And as if an omen from a higher authority for his next four years in office, on the very same day, Louisiana State beat Auburn 45 to 10.
From the AP via USAToday "La. Gov. Bobby Jindal wins re-election":
Bobby Jindal on Saturday easily coasted to a second term, winning in a landslide election... The 40-year-old Republican overwhelmed nine competitors in the open primary, where a candidate wins the race outright if he or she receives more than 50 percent of the vote. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Jindal had received about 66 percent of the total vote.
His closest competitor, Tara Hollis, a Democrat from north Louisiana, garnered nearly 18 percent of the total vote. All of the other candidates were in single digits.
A "virtual collapse" of the Democrat Party in Louisiana
Continuing from USAToday piece:
"I will use every day, every hour of these next four years to make Louisiana the very best that we can be. I don't believe in resting on our past accomplishments. I don't believe in taking time off," Jindal told a packed hotel ballroom of supporters in Baton Rouge.
His win comes amid the virtual collapse of the Democratic Party's clout in the state. In the current term, Republicans have gained control of all seven statewide elected posts and both chambers of the legislature...
his brand of conservatism and refusal to raise taxes has resonated outside the state.
Note from the Editor - We here at LR supported Jindal way back in '07 when nobody knew who he was. We couldn't resisit adding this golden oldie video from 2008 - NoBama Merci Beaucoup - to celebrate Bobby's big win. Let it be a theme song for GOP Victory 2012. Enjoy!
Rainbow flag-waving "social libertarian" Republicans for Rochester
From Rochester Democrat-Chronicle "Yes Virginia, there are still Republicans in the city" Oct. 22:
Rich Tyson says he has spent a fair amount of time trying to convince city voters that he is not Dick Cheney.
Such is the life of a Republican running for office in Rochester, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans five to one and being likened to Cheney is, put mildly, not a compliment.
Andreas Rau is the other Republican City Council candidate in a city where a Republican hasn't held office since 1988. The two have been going door-to-door in their districts trying to convince voters that 2011 is their year.
Tyson is a member of the Roc City Skate Park board and describes himself as a fiscal conservative and a social libertarian. Rau flies a rainbow flag in his yard, along with six American flags.
Rochester Republican Committee rochestergop.com
Gadhafi sodomized before he was shot
From Eric Dondero:
Even the most diehard Gadhafi haters are having a difficult time stomaching some of the extremely graphic videos of his final moments, at the hands of Libyan rebels.
Eric Odom, co-founder of the Tea Party and current editor of Liberty News expresses a sentiment held by many of us:
First, let me be clear that Gadhafi was an evil man, with evil intentions and lots of evidence stacked against him. But last night while watching graphic video of his last moments, I had to wonder whether or not we are cheering for the right outcome... it's one thing to want Gadhafi brought to justice. As was the case with Saddam Hussein, Gadhafi would have had his day. But to celebrate the fact that he was likely pushed to his knees and shot behind the ear? I'm not so sure that's the kind of people we are.
Odom made these remarks yesterday, before an even more graphic video surfaced of Ghadafi's demise. Shown here, one of the rebels who captured him, sodomizes the Libyan leader, shoving a baton up his anus. WARNING: Very difficult to watch.
Photo credit - Bossip.com
More culturally libertarian than religious conservative?
From Eric Dondero:
Rick Perry ventured inside the Beltway to meet with potential 'K' Street donors. During his remarks, he made the comment that the first few weeks of his campaign were a virtual love fest. Then the proverbial shit hit the fan.
From the Athens Report "My Campaign Took An ‘Ass Kickin’":
A reenergized Rick Perry ventured to Washington today, telling a group of about 50 K Street insiders that he is stepping up his game after taking an “ass kickin’” this fall
Editor's comment - Not exactly the type of language one would expect from someone more often than not identified as a darling of the religious right.
Photo h/t - Austin Governor blog
SUPER IMPORTANT!!
From Eric Dondero:
NC is the swingiest of swing states. It's right up there with Ohio, in importance to both 'D' and 'R' camps in Election 2010.
And now this from Civitas Institute polling (h/t Hedgehog):
PRESIDENT – NORTH CAROLINA (Civitas)
Herman Cain (R) 46%
Barack Obama (D-inc) 41%
The pollster comments:
“Just as is happening nationally, we are seeing a swell of support for Herman Cain in North Carolina,” said Civitas Institute President Francis De Luca.
by Clifford F. Thies
Suddenly the election in New Zealand is tightening. This tightening, combined with the prospect of NZ First hitting the 5 percent threshold and returning to parliament, has put National into something of a predicament.
Given current projections, National continues to expect an absolute majority of the seats in parliament, albeit a lesser majority than a month ago.
But, National's erstwhile coalition partner ACT, a market-liberal party, does not look as though it will gain representation in parliament either by reason of hitting the 5 percent threshold or finishing first in at least one constituency, without some help.
Crucially, according to one just conducted poll, ACT's candidate for the seat representing Epsom currently trails the National candidate. But, that same poll reveals there would be a dramatic shift if Prime Minister John Key were to asked National supporters to vote for the ACT candidate. In such a case, the ACT candidate would be assured of victory, which would secure at least 3 additional seats for the center-right.
Asked if he would give ACT this lifeline, Prime Minister Key said "not today".
Koch-funded Anarcho-Capitalists who support "cancer communities" [that cause] "children with brain tumors"
October 21, 2011 - 09:40pm
Published in the Topeka Capitol-Journal cjonline.com
Letter: On Kochs, Tea Party, Libertarians
Could it be that the basic tenets of the tea party, Libertarian Party and the billionaire Koch brothers are nearly the same? How might this have happened?
The fact is, the Koch brothers have a foundation that has trained thousands of tea party activists and their unlimited monies flow to the tea party candidates.
According to a Bloomberg report, when David Koch ran for vice president on the Libertarian ticket in 1980, he promised to abolish Social Security, minimum wage laws, the Federal Reserve System and the FBI and CIA, along with other federal agencies.
Does this not sound like tea party members when they talk of getting rid of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education, weakening the power of Food and Drug Administration and FEMA while cutting Social Security and reducing or eliminating all kinds of health care programs?
When you analyze and listen to Libertarian candidates closely, you will realize they are anarchists who want no rules or regulations and no effective government.
With their views on health care for young and old, you can be sure the Libertarians, Koch Brothers and many tea party members have not participated in bake sales for children with brain tumors, nor do they care if wiping out EPA might lead to “cancer communities” like the ones in China.
GERRY SCARDO, CLINTWOOD, VA.
From Eric Dondero:
The latest ad from the NRCC.
Imagine for a moment a Republican campaign for congress in Dubuque, Iowa, or Lewiston, Maine, or Bend, Oregon, and what they could do with video footage of local OWS protesters.
Photo of the Day!
Credit - Reuters, via Yahoo News. Description:
Students, who are members of the Basij militia, a part of the Iran Revolutionary Guard, attend a gathering in support of anti-Wall Street demonstrators in front of the U.S. interest section of the Swiss embassy in Tehran October 22, 2011. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)
Editor's comment - Geez, didn't quite see this sort of thing during the Tea Party protests.
A sampling of the verse:
The Peoples Party out with the old... will make us free again.
And you come to us with globalism. We remain with our land.
And into the large EU...
We, however, will protect ourselves from foreign, imperial power.
Editor's note - Election returns should begin coming in late tonight. More info at SVP website.
Preserve Swiss Culture, Protect Swiss Banking, Pro-Gold, and "staunchly Pro-Free Market"
From Eric Dondero:
Today is election day in Switzerland. The libertarian-conservative Swiss Peoples' Party looks to gain an historic victory. Polls indicate that they could cross the all-important 30% mark. The latest polls had the party polling 28% to the Socialists 19%.
From TheAustralian.com:
The SVP's strong campaign follows the party's push to outlaw the burka and expel foreign-born criminals. It echoes last year's SVP-sponsored "yes" vote in a referendum banning the building of minarets in a country counting only a handful of these visible symbols of Muslim worship.
The party has long stoked fears about currency wars and the need to "save Swiss gold".
Indeed, the extremist political group has bulldozed its way into the Swiss political mainstream by cleverly mirroring the prosperous average voter's rich person's anxieties.
The SVP is a party of millionaires and billionaires, such as former leader Christoph Blocher. Its coffers are overflowing and it has spent 7 million Swiss francs ($7.7m) on its election campaign...
In contrast to far-right political groups such as the National Front in France, with protectionist agendas, the SVP remains isolationist but staunchly pro-free market.
On cultural matters:
What concerns the SVP and voters, [SVP candidate Luke] Reimann says, is the "Islamisation of Switzerland".
The SVP does not content itself with mere anti-immigrant messages.... the SVP proposes an end to "integrative" and "multicultural" theories of education
Photos - SVP's flamboyant leader Oskar Freysinger, SVP Party headquarters, and SVP candidate Luke Reinsinger.
Using the Libertarian Party stick?
From Eric Dondero:
Former New Mexico Governor and current libertarian Republican candidate for President Gary Johnson is letting RNC Chair Reince Priebus know that he's not at all happy about the media excluding him from recent debates. He released this letter to Priebus to bloggers and other media:
It is no secret that not all of my views, particularly on some so-called ‘social issues’ are shared by certain elements of the Republican Party – elements who frankly exert inordinate influence within the Party.
Many of my supporters who are Independents are quick to suggest that the Republican “establishment” doesn’t want my voice heard. I hope that is not the case. To the contrary, as I travel the country, I find a great number of Republicans who not only share my views, but who feel disenfranchised by a vocal minority that has become the face of the Party.
My electoral success in a heavily Democrat state should serve as proof that my candidacy presents an opportunity to demonstrate that the Republican Party is big enough to allow a slightly different voice to be heard. That will be important next year when it comes time to turn our attention to the ultimate goal: Convincing a majority of Americans that they want a Republican in the White House.
With the early Republican primaries and caucuses fast approaching, I urge you to exert some leadership and reclaim the nominating process from the national news media who are today pre-ordaining the viability and success of candidates. It is Republican voters who ultimately lose when the process is skewed, and serving the interests of those voters is, in fact, your responsibility, as is the integrity of the nominating process.
And this curious note from Politico, Burns & Haberman on 2012:
There has been some talk among Libertarians about Johnson, who is taking a tea party fiscal position, running as a third party candidate.
Johnson supporter, Donald Trump confidante and Reagan for President '80, Dole for President '96 campaign consultant Roger Stone told LR:
Look out GOP--- keep locking him out of debates and watch him bolt....
Note - The Libertarian Party is on track for full 50 state ballot access for 2012.
"Go in, get the job done - period - and get out"
From Eric Dondero:
Libertarian Republican presidential candidate Gary Johnson has expressed support conceptually for U.S. interventions overseas on humanitarian grouds in the past. But he's never been so explicit and direct.
From a recent interview conducted by longtime libertarian Republican and RLC member Rick Sincere, The Examiner:
Johnson pointed out that this action had been authorized by Congress in a law that had been signed by the President (referring to the Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009).
He said that his understanding of the LRA is that it “is the worst terrorist group on the planet over the last few decades. They have been directly responsible for tens of thousands of deaths, mutilations, [and] rapes. They are incredibly bad actors who are not based in one country [but] they maraud over several countries in Africa.”
Johnson said that, as President, he would have acted immediately after the legislation had been passed. He would have sent a strike force that could have achieved its aims quickly – eliminating the Lord’s Resistance Army.
“It’s go in, get the job done – period -- and get out,” he said.
He went on to tell Sincere that if elected his cabinet would include military hawks, as well as non-interventionists:
“I’m talking to the most hawkish people that exist,” he said.
“I don’t necessarily agree [with them] that we need to increase spending but we seem to find common ground... that we could be spending our money more wisely.
Photo LRA leader Joseph Krony. credit - Afrik-news
Miriam Dictionary: UNCTUOUS b : smooth and greasy in texture or appearance 2: plastic 3: full of unction; especially : revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, and false earnestness or spirituality
by Clifford F. Thies
This vile headline and its associated article is currently running at Time magazine dot com. The idea that people who have a certain pigmentation are supposed to be multicultural socialists is racist. Everybody in this country is free to be who he or she chooses to be, provided they can cut the mustard, whether that is to be a computer scientist, a Catholic, a coin collector, a conservative, or anything else they choose.
As to the question is Herman Cain unctuous, that is, phony, is it phony for a person to turn around a major division of a large corporation, and then lead a management buyout of that division and as CEO make it a profitable independent corporation? Did people buy the product of this company because they felt like it needed a little "affirmative action" because of the legacy of racism in this country? Or, is something else going on here? Namely, envy of a person who made it on his own, against the odds, given that when he was a young man people of a certain pigmentation were denied opportunity instead of given affirmative action?
Is what's going on the fact that Herman Cain gained the respect of his fellow restaurant owners, who elected him to represent their industry in Washington, when certain people desperately want to hold on to the notion of racism so as to justify their own mediocre level of success?
Who really is being smug? Those who proclaim Barack Obama the smartest man ever to be president when the truth is we do not have his SAT score, or his LSAT score, or any objective measure of intelligence, but we're just suppose to believe it because, well, because he is black?
Get over it, people. Being elected President is a singularly great accomplishment no matter a person's color. So is being a success in the corporate world. As to whether Obama or Cain or any other successful person who shares their pigmentation should be considered to be a phony, as though there must be something phony about a black person being successful, that is racist.
Photo credit - ManhattanPrep.com
From Eric Dondero:
The State Attorney General is up for reelection. His GOP opponent is going after him for being too liberal, and for his previous attacks on libertarian Republican Senator Rand Paul who ended up beating him severely in the general election in 2010. Remember that infamous Aqua Budha ad?
From Eric Dondero:
Ron Moten, a popular, but also controversial District of Columbia politico, is switching to the GOP.
From the Washington Examiner, "Moten pulling the party switch-a-roo in Ward 7":
The founder of a gang and violence prevention nonprofit group in the District says he is switching parties to run against Democratic Councilwoman Yvette Alexander in Ward 7 next year. Ron Moten plans to register as a Republican on Friday and will announce his campaign on Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
Moten hopes to take advantage of a crowded primary field on the 'D' side, and take on a bruised opponent for the Fall election.
Moten is a former convicted drug dealer, turned crime-fighting community activist.
According to the Washington City Paper:
Moten tells the Post that he's "been a conservative the whole time" and the Republican Party is needed in local politics in order to restore balance to the force.
Photo credit - DCist.com
Fat Jokes just fine if they're made on fellow Republicans
From Eric Dondero:
It appears the Bush clan is on the verge of endorsing Mitt Romney over Texan Rick Perry. The former Florida Governor drops some hints in a recent CNN interview.
CNN Political Ticker "Jeb Bush issues Romney praise":
On backing Romney:
"I continue to be impressed with Mitt Romney's performance in these debates. He's cool, calm, collected. He's quick, he's agile," the former Florida governor told CNN's Piers Morgan Wednesday. "I think he could do well going up against President Obama in the fall if he's the nominee.
But while commenting favorably on Romney, he also commented on Gov. Christie's recent endorsement of the former Massachusetts Governor droppping what many would view as a bit of a slap: 
Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush, also acknowledged that his eventual endorsement might not hold the same importance as that of New Jersey Gov. Chris, who backed Romney Tuesday.
"I don't have as much weight behind me as Chris Christie but I'm getting up there," Bush said. "I'm going to wait. There's no urgency to this."
Now, imagine the absolute uproar if Bush had made such a wisecrack at the expense of Democrats Senators Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, or Maryland'ds Barbara Mikulski?
by Eric Dondero
About every month or two, this description comes up in some media - we libertarians are just pot smoking Republicans.
From Yahoo Answers , Oct. 15:
Resolved Question...
Why are libertarians such tools for the republican party?Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
libertarians are basically just republicans who don't go to church and smoke pot instead
More responses:
* (ZaZa) Libertarians are tools for Republicans? LOL
They could not be more different. The only thing they have in common is less government. Other than that they are completely at opposite ends of the spectrum.
* (YoYo Mame) Anyone that loves freedom cannot be for the Democrat party. That leaves the Republican party as the lesser of two evils.
* (Gunwalker) The same reason liberals are such fools for the socialist party.
* (Cashius King) Because the Libertarian Movement has been hijacked
And our personal favorite here at LR...
* (GOP Mcturtle) cause they are really gop
From Eric Dondero:
Human Events reports that self-described "libertarian supply-sider" and a pal of former Reagan-era Budget Director David Stockman, none other than Arthur Laffer himself, has endorsed Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan.
"Mr. Cain’s plan is simple, transparent, neutral with respect to capital and labor, and savings and consumption, and also greatly decreases the hidden costs of tax compliance. There is no doubt that economic growth would surge upon implementation of 9-9-9."
