New emphasis - Ronald Reaganesque "Peace through Strength"

From Eric Dondero:

Michele Bachmann was on a recent campaign swing through South Carolina.

Of special interest to pro-defense libertarians, from WestAshley.Patch.com "Bachmann: South Carolina essential to Victory" Aug. 19:

Calling herself a "peace through strength conservative," Bachmann said she would not close the prison at Guantanamo Bay because the United States needs a place to carry out interrogations to capture people like Osama Bin Laden.

Bachmann said she is seeking to consolidate the conservative base of national defense conservatives, fiscal conservatives, social conservatives and the Tea Party movement into an unstoppable force in 2012.

And then this interesting comment from a Ron Paul supporter. Continuing:

Bachmann has anti-establishment qualities Libertarians like Franz Meier of Mount Pleasant can appreciate.

“If I had my way, I’d like to see Ron Paul win, but if he’s not a viable candidate, I’ll vote for Bachmann,” Meier said. “She is well-spoken, very knowledgeable. She sees Washington for what it is.”

Photo credit - ConservativeDailyNews.com

From Eric Dondero:

Brendan Kelly is the Libertarian Party candidate for State House in a special election set after Labor Day. The incumbent Republican resigned after a DUI conviction. The GOP nominee for the seat is viewed as too moderate for conservative voters. Thus Kelly has been winning a great deal of support on the Right.

But the RLC in the State is not making any formal commitments in the race.

From SeaCoastonline.com "Libertarian Kelly makes bid for House in District 14" Aug. 21:

"I know there has been some talk about that," said Andrew Hemingway, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. Hemingway said the RCLNH will make no endorsement in the race. The RCLNH endorsed Janvrin opponent Lou Garioulo of Hampton Falls in the primary, but Hemingway said there is not much enthusiasm among its members for Janvrin. "We're not going to support someone who doesn't represent our values," he said.

But the organization will not endorse Kelly. "While we have liberty-leaning principles, we are a Republican organization and won't support a third-party candidate," Hemingway said.

Editor's comment - Since the founding of the group, the RLC has stayed out of such races, as they should. Unless there is no Republican in the race. But for the record, as founder of the Republican Liberty Caucus, I formally endorse Brendan Kelly for State Rep.

PC WATCH!! ABSOLUTE MUST SEE!!!

From Eric Dondero:

The London Police have just released amazing footage of one attack during the recent riots, on a white store owner trying to protect his property. Watch what happens to the man as he tries to reason with the gang of black youth.

In another instance, a hilarious but sad exchange between a reporter for the BBC and a local store-owner "Big Jim" who described his attackers in an interview as "Black." Here's the transcript from the video via IHatetheMedia.

Reporter: “You’re not being stereotypical there?”

Big Jim: “No, absolutely…”

Reporter: “Are you sure that they were black? I’m sure they weren’t all black, were they?”

Big Jim: ”OK, then. Let me just say they weren’t all black. I was the white guy there.”[emphasis added]

Reporter: “Well, there were probably other white guys there as well.”

Big Jim: “I didn’t see any.”

Editor's comment - Similar "selective reporting," of black flash mob incidents here in the United States recently? Philly, Wisconsin State Fair?

SUPPORT JACK KIMBALL!!

From Eric Dondero:

As we've reported in previous days, New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Jack Kimball, a Tea Partyer with heavy libertarian leanings, recently signed a petition to allow the Libertarian Party to obtain ballot access in the State. Now, an emergency meeting of the Republican Executive Committee will be held in two weeks in Concord, to discuss the matter of asking for Kimball's resignation.

Yet, a Libertarian Party member has released some rather interesting new information regarding the matter.

From Portsmouth-Nh-Patch.com "NH GOP Chairman Under Fire":

John Babiarz, a past Libertarian Party candidate for governor and other offices, tells Patch that former [Republican] Gov. Craig Benson did the same thing.

"I think Jack did the right thing,” Babiarz tells Concord Patch Editor Tony Schinella. "Ballot access is a fundamental right. Why should anybody try to stop that? Unfortunately, we have rules that make it too difficult. I think Jack should be admired. When I was running for governor the second time, Governor Benson even signed a petition for me. That's what honorable, proper people do."

From the Editor's - Our firm position here at Libertarian Republican is that Kimball did absolutely nothing wrong, and was only showing his support for free and open elections. We strongly urge the NH GOP to keep him as Chairman.

Show your support for the Chairman chairman@nhgop.org

From Eric Dondero:

Our Senior Editor Clifford F. Thies, who happens to be a distinguished professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia, has an article up at the Ludwig von Mises Institute website - Mises.org on "Keynes and Space Aliens." Here's a couple paragraph excerpt:

According to Keynesian economists, the only thing that got us out of the Great Depression was World War II. Mind you, this admits that, in spite of FDR and the New Deal, the country remained mired in depressed conditions for 12 years, from 1929 to 1941. But, then, kicking somebody under the bus is what Keynesians have to do because of the incessant failures of their policies.

Then came the blessed war, with all its make-work projects, like producing tanks and warships and warplanes, that thankfully destroyed and were destroyed by enemy tanks and warships and warplanes. And, there were plenty of jobs for everybody, from serving in the US armed forces to working in munitions factories.

Please read the entire article at Mises.org

Editor's comment - Yes, we know. That's a Lew Rockwell site. The ole' cliche' applies - Politics makes for strange bedfellows.

RC Cola, Moonpies & Fu Manchu

From Eric Dondero:

Politico reports Fox liberal commentator Bob Beckel "horrified" his libertarian and conservative co-hosts on the 5 at 5 show this week, using some rather colorful language.

Beckel, a former campaign manager for Walter Mondale for president 1984, made the comments during a segment on NFL quarterback Michael Vick and his many legal problems.

Beckel then slipped into a Southern twang and explained his view of the type of people who watch dog fighting.

“What?” asked panelist Andrea Tantaros after Beckel described them as being consumers of “RC Cola” and “MoonPies.”

“I’m sorry. I’m talking about a bunch of rednecks down in that place where he was running those things,” Beckel responded as he tried to cue a commercial break.

“I used to be a redneck, I can talk about rednecks.”

Later on the show, Beckel apologized. “When I talk about rednecks; blacks are rednecks, whites are rednecks, I was a redneck, Chinamen are rednecks.”

Editor's comment - A bad case of "Biden-itis" perhaps? "You can't go into a convenience store in Delaware without hearing some guy speaking Indian..."

Photo credit - Wonkette

"Fantasies" of Marx, Engels, Lenin dancing through his head

Via NewsMax, "Gingrich: Obama Won't Shun 'Bureaucratic Socialism' - Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now!":

“We need a plan for jobs now — the president doesn’t have one — I would be glad to give him one,” he said. “When I was speaker, we got unemployment down to 4.2 percent with the right kind of changes — tax cuts, deregulation, welfare reform — I think that the strategy is clear. You just have a president who can’t bring himself to give up his fantasies of a bureaucratic socialism and class warfare somehow leading us to a promised land — and it is turning out that promised land is unemployment and food stamps.”

Photo credit - State-of-the-Nation.com

From Eric Dondero:

Andrew Breitbart's BigHollywood.com ran my article yesterday, on Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman maybe having second thoughts about Obama. The piece was titled "Sarah Silverman: Does She Still Heart Obama?"

Here's an excerpt:

Remember the monster hit video “The Great Schlep,” from late in 2008 by Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman.

If Barack Obama doesn’t become the next president of the United States I’m gonna blame the Jews. I am.

Florida can make or break an election. I’m making this video to urge all of you to schlep over to Florida and convince your grandparents [Nana, Papa, Zadi, Boobie, et.al.] to vote Obama.

It was oh, so hip and cool in a Comedy Central/MTV sort of way. Nearly 2 million views. And as we all know, Obama did squeek by in Florida.

Read the full article at Big Hollywood. And as always thank you to Andrew and the staff at Breitbart.com.

"Don't blame white folks [who don't hire you] with your hair uncombed, your shoes untied, or your pants half down..."

From Eric Dondero:

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter joins the rational, usually 2 to 3% of Democrats in the world who really aren't half bad.

Last Sunday, he went on a rant against black hoodlums flash mobbing in downtown Philly. He told parishioners at a local black church to roars and applause:

If you want us to respect you, take those doggone hoodies down, especially in summer. Pull your pants up and buy a belt. Comb your hair. Learn some manners. Keep your butt in school, and extend your English vocabulary beyond the few curse words that you know.

If you go to look for a job, don’t go and blame it on the white folks or anyone else if you walk in to somebody’s office with your hair uncombed and your shoes untied or your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms, on your face, on your neck. And you wonder why somebody won’t hire you? They don’t hire you because you look like you’re crazy!

Photo credit - SodaHead

From Eric Dondero:

Well, Rep. Tim Scott and State AG Henry McMasters turn in a less-than-stellar performance. It comes out being more like a Karoake gig; not a great deal of preparation.

But GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman does a decent enough job on the keyboards.

The pick-up gig was at a recent Huntsman Q&A in South Carolina, hosted by Scott. (He has not made any endorsements and is planning to host similar events for all GOP contenders.)

Now if we can just get Huckabee on bass, Thad McCotter on lead guitar and Huntsman on the keyboards???

by Clifford F. Thies

With a snap election called for November 20th, I thought I should construct a composite tracking poll for Spain. The tracking poll demonstrates a remarkable rebound for the center-right People's Party. Only three years ago, the party finished behind the Socialist Workers Party by 4 points. It now enjoys a double-digit lead over the Socialist Workers Party, and appears poised for an absolute majority in the next Congress of Deputies.

The correlation between the popular vote and the award of seats in the Congress is complicated by the large number of electoral districts, the award of a minimum of two Deputies to each of the fifty provinces, the stated threshold of 3 percent for representation in the Congress, and the number of regional parties. In practice, the two largest parties are awarded more seats than their proportion of the nationwide popular vote. Of the smaller parties, only the left-wing United Left Party of the nationwide parties seems certain to meet the threshold. As a result, the composite tracking poll compares support for the People's Party to support for the Socialist Workers Party (mano a mano, as it were) and to combined support for the Socialist Workers and United Left parties.

From Eric Dondero:

Luther Olson was one of the four winners last week in the Wisconsin recalls. Interestingly, he's a Republican for Marijuana reform.

We reported here at LR in December of 2010, "Birthplace of the Republican Party represented by a Pro-Marijuana Reform GOP State Senator":

Wisconsin State Senator Luther Olsen will be speaking to the Wisconsin chapter of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws today, at the public library in Berlin.

Senator Olsen comes from nearby Ripon, which happens to be the official birthplace of the Republican Party.

From the blog of Jay Selthhofner, Executive Dir. of Wisconsin NORML:

Senator Olsen is expected to speak sharply at 11:30am in the Kay Swan Room (upstairs of the Berlin Public Library). The Senator will be speaking about top ways activists and citizens can make a difference in the legislative process.

Senator Olsen (R-Ripon) has indicated support for hemp, cannabis and medical marijuana reform in the past

Editor's comment - Did his more libertarian stance help him win crossover appeal?

Parade to feature Straight Couples

From Eric Dondero:

Brazil's capitol city of São Paulo has taken an unusual step. The city council passed what's called "Straight Pride Day" to celebrate marriage between a man and a woman. It is set each year on the 3rd Sunday of December. The accompanying parade will take place in central São Paulo.

The measure was passed by the city council earlier this year, and according to various media, Mayor Gilberto Kassab is expected to add his signature this week.

From Globo.com (translated by LR Editor) "House approves SP Straight Pride Day":

The Municipality of São Paulo approved on Tuesday (2) the bill 294/2005, Alderman Carlos Apolinario (DEM), establishing in the town, the Straight Pride Day. The project depends only sanction of the mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab, to become law.

Some of the 39 councilors present spoke out against the project, but as there was no request for roll call vote, [it] not considered.

Not Anti-Gay, Just Pro-Male/Female Marriage says proponent

The sponsor of the bill, said it's not an anit-gay thing. Rather, it's against special rights for one community over another.

Author of the project, Councilman Carlos Apolinario said the bill is not against the gay community. "I appeal for respect for all humans including gays," he said. Apolinario said the project was only one way to speak out against "excesses and privileges" for the gay community. He said one of the privileges is the realization of LGBT Parade at Avenida Paulista while the March for Jesus was moved to the area north of the city.

Polls have consistently shown Brazilians to be overwhelmingly opposed to gay marriage and even civil unions. But liberal courts have overturned citizen-backed measures to stop gay marriage.

Ironically, Apolinario is affiliated with the Democrat Labor Party, a leftist populist party with strong ties to labor unions.

Photo - Brazilian soccer superstar Kaka and his wife Caroline are Christians and strong advocates of straight marriage. Photo credit - Padom.com.br

From Eric Dondero:

An unlikely supporter of gay rights and woman's rights indeed. Diehard social conservative former Senator Rick Santorum made an impassioned plea for human rights at last night's debate. He was responding to foreign policy statements of Cong. Ron Paul.

The Advocate, a gay publication, called Santorum's remarks, "the most surprising twist of the debate."

[I don't take the position] that we have to go around and apologize for the fact that we've exerted our influence to create freedom in the world. I don't apologize for that. I don't apologize for the fact that the Iranian people were free at one time, and now are under a Mullah-ocracy that tramples the rights of women, tramples the rights of gays, tramples the rights of people all throughout their society. And is the greatest supporter of terrorism in the Middle East and around the World.

Just last week it was reported out of Iraq, that the Iranian government is actively supporting Anti-Gay Death Squads in aligned Shi'ite controlled areas of the country.

From Digital Journal "Clerics urge crack-down" Aug. 12:

Two gay men were killed in Sadr City, a local official said Saturday. Baghdad Police found the bodies of four more, after clerics urged a crackdown on a perceived spread of homosexuality. As in Iran, the targeted killing of gays is Shiite extremist SOP.

Coupled with the Iranian leadership's exporting of their anti-gay pogrom to Iraq now in the form of Shiite extremist death squads, it appears homosexuals will have just as tortured and limited an existence in Iraq as in Iran now.

Ironically, Paul often called a "libertarian," made no mention of human rights or of repressive Islamist regions, in his remarks.

Photos of two gay men executed in Iran in 2007.

From Eric Dondero:

Yet another New York town clerk is refusing to sign marriage certificates for gay couples based upon her religious beliefs. Rose Marie Belforti has submitted a letter to her local town council expressing her ojections. She suggests they allow a deputy clerk to sign the certificates instead. Three or four clerks in other NY towns have similarly refused thus far.

Gay rights groups are demanding the clerks sign the papers, or resign. But advocates for religious liberty are suggesting that the legislature consider an exception clause, similar to conscientious objector status for military recruits opposed to war.

From AuburnPub.com "Ledyard clerk won’t sign gay marriage licenses" Aug. 12:

Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, said about a dozen clerks have reached out to him to see what their options are now that same-sex marriage is legal.

“The governor and the Legislature should include some of this language in this same-sex marriage bill,” McGuire said of the exemption. “I’m still opposed to same-sex marriage, but at the very least, they could have made this accommodation and their putting some people in some very awkward positions now including clerks like this. Most of the small towns aren’t going to have an issue with a clerk that does not want to violate her religious convictions on this and they can very simply assign a deputy clerk or some other person to act as the marriage officer.”

Belforti and her husband (Facebook page) are dairy farmers, operating a "heritage breed" cattle farm in Kings Ferry. She is a graduate of Cornell Univ.

From Eric Dondero:

Libertarian Republican Representative Jeff Flake of Arizona now has a GOP primary opponent for US Senate.

His name is Wil Cardon. He is a wealthy businessman who says he plans to dump in $2 million of his own money into the race. Cardon once interned for John McCain.

His website says he's a staunch opponent of illegal immigration; "I oppose amnesty and I strongly support SB1070." Flake has taken a more centrist approach on the issue.

He is also "pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and pro-family." Flake has taken a more libertarian stance on social matters over the years.

From Eric Dondero:

Kentucky Senator and libertarian Republican Rand Paul appearing on Hannity on Fox last night:

The way we avoid chaos, the way we avoid rioting in the streets is to start gradually fixing the problems. Entitlements are broken... You can fix those problems by gradually raising the age and changing the way we do the entitlements. But if you wait, if you wait five years or 10 years, then there is going to be an abrupt end, and that is what is happening in Europe when you have these austere measures where people don’t get their checks, that’s when there is rioting in the streets.

3 registered Democrats in Raleigh face charges of voting twice

From Eric Dondero:

The Daily Caller is reporting:

Kierra Fontae Leache, Shelia Romona Hodges and Brandon Earl Mclean each admitted to casting two ballots in recent elections. Local reports indicate all three voted for President Barack Obama twice in 2008.

And ABC News (via Politicons.net) out of Raleigh-Durham reports that "authorities have placed the three on $10,000 bonds" facing felony voter fraud charges.

Obama won the State with a slender margin of under 2%.

Meanwhile, Republicans in NC are fighting for a voter I.D. bill to protect against such fraud future elections. But Democrats are blocking the bill.

“The reason why Republicans have fought to promote proper voter-identification laws is to prevent fraud like this from happening,” NCGOP chair Robin Hayes said in a statement. “While Republicans are fighting to protect the integrity of our democracy, Governor Perdue’s veto fights to protect criminality in our election process. I know she embraces her ‘fighter’ image, but it’s clear that the only thing she fights for is fraud.”

Photo credit - ABC Local News

From Eric Dondero:

From US News & World Report, Education, "Lawmakers Name Their Favorite Summer Reading Books"

Mike Johanns: Atlas Shrugged; Siddhartha

The Republican junior senator from Nebraska since 1999 names Ayn Rand's libertarian classic, Atlas Shrugged, and Herman Hesse's Siddhartha, about a man's spiritual journey in Nepal during the time of the Buddha, among his favorites. Minnesota Republican Congressman John Kline also mentioned Atlas Shrugged.

And this interesting discovery. Ron Johnson, freshman Senator from Wisconsin, and a self-described "Ayn Randian," is a science fiction nerd, including libertarian writer Robert Heinlein. Continuing:

The Tea Party Republican loved science fiction, including the Dune series and books by Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. He also read collections of short stories by Edgar Allen Poe, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and James Michener's The Drifters. "I read whatever I found interesting," he says.

Finally, Mississippi Republican Senator Thad Whicker cited "Lord of the Flies."

He also enjoyed William Golding's Lord of the Flies which he says "examines the conflict between good and evil in the absence of the civilizing forces of morality and government."

Editor's comment - I recently read Golding's classic. Utterly fantastic! I'm not a conservative. But I'd say that it does present a wonderful case for conservatism, and I'd admit, a possible weakspot for us libertarians in a society with a complete absence of any value system.

Law & Order Libertarianism for London

From the UKIP website, Nigel Farage, UKIP Leader:

Now, I've always been a great libertarian. I don't want the state to interfere to much in our lives. I hate the fact that we're photographed and recorded wherever we go. But frankly, to protect the innocent majority, the government needs to take radical action. And take it today.

We have got to put the Army on the streets to allow the police to be able to get on with their job and protect the people from what may occur. Whether the committee and the prime minister have the courage to do so, I don't know.

Note - The United Kingdom Libertarian Party recently folded up, and joined the UK Independence Party.