(I intend to deliver the following to the Governor’s Office with a press conference at noon on July 4 on the east steps of the statehouse.) I believe this is the the most appropriate date (and a date upon which I’d staged yearly protests until 2008). I think it’s the most appropriate place to start [...]
Announcing a pot luck picnic hosted by the LP Steuben County! Who: LPIN friends and members and LPSC guests What: games, boat rides, good conversation, and a pitch-in supper When: Saturday, August 20, 2011 2 until 8 p.m. Where: Bisson’s lake home 395 Lane 150 Jimmerson Lk Angola, IN 46703 Why: Relaxation, fun, fellowship Details: [...]
"Western values are sin" -- Boko Harum
by Eric Dondero
In northeast Nigeria, the Islamists appear to have won a major victory over those promoting Western values. 25 Sports enthusiasts gathered at a local bar were killed last week.
From ModernGhana.com "Hunt for Nigeria beer garden attackers as 25 die" June 27:
"The attackers, believed to be Boko Haram members, threw bombs and fired indiscriminate gun shots on a packed tavern at Dala Kabompi neighbourhood, killing at least 25 people and seriously injuring around 30 others," a police superintendent said.
Emmanuel Okon, who sells charcoal-grilled beef on the fringes of the tavern, said: "I just heard a loud bang followed by sporadic shootings and plumes of black smoke filled the area with people screaming and running in all directions.
"The wounded and the dead lay on the ground and the place was littered with broken bottles and glasses and... shoes," he said.
And now this from BusinessDay:
The Federal Government has imposed earlier closing times on nightclubs, beer gardens and cinemas in Abuja and banned parking on two of the city’s major roads after a bomb attack at police headquarters two weeks ago.
Parks and gardens that admit children must close by 6 pm (1700 GMT), while cinemas, nightclubs, beer parlours and public pool areas must shut by 10 pm, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said.
“These measures are necessary to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the Federal Capital Territory as a result of the prevailing security concerns,” an e-mail from the FCTA spokesman said.
Beer gardens are the primary socialising areas in the evenings for many Nigerians, but they have become a target of bomb attacks claimed by Boko Haram, a radical Islamic sect from Maiduguri.
Further:
[The] Borno State is one of 12 that have Sharia law already in place, lax enforcement allows communal beer parlours to operate...
Witnesses and others said at least 25 people died in the beer parlor attacks...
“About 10 gunmen riding seven motorcycles surrounded and took strategic positions at the beer sheds and shops and started firing at the people with their Kalashnikov rifles, before setting ablaze the entire makeshift shacks,” he said.
While no arrests have been made over the beer parlor attacks, he said police arrested two men carrying explosives at a church in the city. He said they had pretended they wanted to convert from Islam.
Cowardice and surrender only serves to encourage the Islamists. Only firm resolve like the Israelis have shown for the past 60 years surrounded by overwhelming violent Arab opposition, will save their country from the Islamic hoarde.
Hoefully, the Nigerians will learn this lesson sooner rather than later.
Photo credit - Jaguda.com Global Post
From Eric Dondero:
There's an election for Mayor of Phoenix in August. And one candidate is making it known where she stands, despite the officially non-partisan nature of the race.
From the Arizona Republic "Party politics shows in races":
Jennifer Wright has been touting herself as the "conservative choice" for mayor, plastering the phrase on campaign signs.
She said she labeled herself a conservative to distinguish herself from Republican candidates.
Wright, who has done policy work for Libertarian organizations such as the Goldwater Institute and the Institute for Justice, said it's important to broadcast her views on limited government.
"Knowing what someone's philosophy is lets you know how they're going to govern," said Wright, backed by several tea-party groups. "But I don't believe in partisanship for the sake of partisanship and just voting along party lines. You need to make decisions based on what is best for the city."
She is an attorney, and economist. She is most well-known for having investigated a major voter fraud case in Yuma. Her campaign website.
Interestingly, a McCain-oriented website blasts Wright as "Not a Conservative," but rather a trouble-making former Hayworth for Senate staffer, and leader of the Recall Jan Brewer campaign.
Weds former staffer, Biden in attendance
From Eric Dondero:
Long forgotten.
From FireAndreaMitchell.com, 2009:
Melodee Hanes was nominated by Max Baucus to be U.S. attorney in Montana. Though Hanes ended her employment with Baucus in the spring of this year, this just goes to show how one advances in politics these days...
A year before Baucus divorced his wife Wanda Baucus, Max began his affair with Melodee Hanes. Baucus spokesman Tyler Matsdorf tried to spin the affair, saying the relationship was not the cause of Baucus’ divorce and that Baucus did not arrange for her current position.
And now this from the AP:
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus has married the former state director he once recommended for Montana's top attorney job.
Spokeswoman Kate Downen says the wedding Saturday at the Sieben Ranch was casual with close friends and family, but did not release a guest list. Several Montana media outlets reported Air Force Two carrying Vice President Joe Biden landed in Helena earlier in the day.
The 69-year-old senator recommended Melodee Hanes for Montana's U.S. attorney post in 2009, a move that came under scrutiny due to their relationship. She withdrew her name from consideration and took a job with the Justice Department in Washington, D.C
Editor's comment - It's interesting that when Lefties defend Anthony Weiner, they always point to Louisiana Republican Senator David Vitter; yet Bacucus-gate which involved conflict of interest gets swepped under the rug.
by Wayne Allyn Root
If income redistribution works...if tax and spend is a model for America...why is Greece a bankrupt basket case threatening to bring down the entire European Union?
A much more important question: Why is Greece, with a 45% income tax rate, a 23% VAT tax (national sales tax) plus a host of other taxes, still hopelessly bankrupt? Greeks pay up to 70% to 80% of their income to the government. Yet Greece is insolvent. With all those heavy taxes, it took $160 billion to bail them out only one year ago. Now they need at least another $50 to 100 billion. Why would Obama want higher taxes for America, when Greece proves the model doesn't work?
All those Greek voters elected socialist politicians because they promised fat pensions, free health care, and lavish early retirement. Now they face unimaginable poverty for years to come. So the lesson is that when politicians promise chocolate cake with no calories, they should be put in prison for fraud.
Perhaps Obama should go to Greek's socialist rulers and ask for advice before we wind up with our own Big Fat Greek Bankruptcy.
Photo credit - Deutsche Welle
From Eric Dondero:
Pro-Defense libertarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali from her column in the Christian Science Monitor, "Obama’s Afghanistan withdrawal: another sign of America's decline?" June 27
Many in the US and around the world wonder if Obama’s speech – and the broad bipartisan support for it – is yet another sign of America’s decline. American power and weakness is often a matter of perception.
From the Taliban’s perspective, the withdrawal is a sign of US weakness and their impending victory. Not only the Taliban will see it this way: Iran and Syria’s regimes and the malignant units in the Pakistani military and secret service see a weak America that roars but retreats when the going gets tough. The short-term benefits of abandoning counterinsurgency may be politically appealing. The long-term costs may be greater than Obama anticipates.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Foundation for Human Rights - AHA
Gloomy forecast ahead
From Eric Dondero:
CNBC interviewed Alan Greenspan and reported "The Federal Reserve's massive stimulus program had little impact on the U.S. economy besides weakening the dollar and helping U.S. exports, Greenspan told CNBC Thursday."
The former Fed Chairman was quoted:
"There is no evidence that huge inflow of money into the system basically worked," Greenspan said in a live interview.
"It obviously had some effect on the exchange rate and the exchange rate was a critical issue in export expansion," he said. "Aside from that, I am ill-aware of anything that really worked. Not only QE2 but QE1."
Perhaps even more stunningly, Greenspan predicted that a Greek default appears to be "likely," and that it would have a major impact on the US economy.
Editor's comment - "Helping U.S. exports," and "weakening of the dollar," enough to make a Pat Buchananite have a massive heart attack.
Photo credit - TheExaminer
From Eric Dondero:
GOP libertarian media critic Andrew Breitbart appearing on Fox, defends Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann from attacks by the MSM.
Breitbart also comments about the US Constitution on July 4th weekend.
That's why I support the Tea Party... we've lost so many of our founding principles.... The pendulum is swinging back to what the Constitution actually means written on the parchment.
From Eric Dondero:
John Hempstead of LaCrosse, Wisconsin pens this featured letter to the editor, June 28. Hempstead is upset that his beloved reasonable "Eisenhower" based GOP has been taken over by rabid anti-government Libertarians.
From the LaCrosse Tribune, "Rand's policies proven to fail," June 28:
What happened to the Republican Party? Now its mission is mainly to privatize public services and cut taxes. Public education seems to be the first casualty in Wisconsin, along with deregulating environmental and consumer protections.
How has the Republican Party evolved this mindset? Libertarian principles based on Ayn Rand’s flawed philosophy are responsible. Rand’s principles are based on three unsupportable standards:
All individuals are autonomous; productive people have no need for social cooperation.
No individual should be forced to pay taxes to benefit others. Only taxes for national defense and police work are justified.
Free markets run best with no regulation. Therefore regulations to prevent another financial disaster such as the one in 2008 are unjustified. Businesses must be protected against government, but the public deserves no protection against businesses.
A society based on Rand’s fiction cannot work. A result is political ads based on fiction funded by wealthy industrialists. It’s time to take back the Republican Party from Libertarians and elect responsible members of both parties who will cooperate.
Editor's comment - Hey John, take out the libertarian wing of the GOP, and the Republican Party cannot win. Recent polls have shown that a quarter to 1/3rd of the Republican Party leans libertarian. Do you really want to run us off to the Libertarian Party?
Barry's rightful heir?
Eric Dondero:
An interesting forum in the UK Guardian on Michele Bachmann announcing for president. The hard-left Guardian asks its readers:
As Tea Party favourite Michele Bachmann formally announces her campaign for the Republican party presidential nomination for 2012, she is running Mitt Romney a close second in polls. Do you think she can win it?
The consensus seems to be that she can win the nomination, but it would spell doom for the GOP in the general election.
One respondent - Westmorlandia - gives some begrudging respect to his rightwing rivals.
I want Bachmann to win almost entirely so I can see how similar the campaign ends up to the 1964 campaign - I studied Goldwater for my degree, and the ultra-libertarian wing of the US right were a weird but fascinating phenomenon to cover. The difference now is that Reagan's fusion of the libertarian right (Reagan's roots) with the evangelical right is still strong, which seems to put the US right in a better position than it had in the 60's.
But the interesting similarity is the strength of feeling for a fairly extreme viewpoint, and the illusion (I still think) of majority caused by that strength of feeling
Photo credit - (Bachmann) USAToday
Religious Right and libertarians converge on Privacy
From Eric Dondero:
Dave Nalle, National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC.org) and a Texas resident has been pushing legislation these last few weeks, to halt intrusive searches by the TSA at Texas airports. His efforts have proved successful.
The proposed legislation, backed by mostly hardline religious conservatives, "would still make it a misdemeanor punishable with up to a year in jail to touch a person's sexual organs and other sensitive areas."
The House passed a measure, and soon after, a somewhat softer version was passed through the Senate. It now awaits Governor Perry's signature. He has already indicated he's strongly in favor of such legislation.
The AP reports on "Airport groping Bill":
Although dismissed last week as a "publicity stunt" by Republican House Speaker Joe Straus, the issue has become a top priority for the libertarian wing of the Texas GOP.
Ironically, the prime mover of the legislation in the Senate was fiery religious rightist Sen. Dan Patrick of north Houston. Adding further irony, Joe Straus (photo), long-held in great suspicion by the social conservatives, was the prime mover of the legislation on the House side.
Note - Of course, the Pro-Defense libertarian position is Anti-Groping/Pro-Profiling of airline travelers from Islamic countries and other suspicious travelers.
If California wants to Legalize Let 'em; Just don't mess with Texans' guns and death penalty
From Jay Root of the Texas Tribune at BusinessInsider.com "Rick Perry's tough talkin' Texan":
Months before liberal Congressman Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, teamed up with Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, to back an effort to de-criminalize marijuana, Perry was making essentially the same point in his book, writing that Washington has greatly overstepped its bounds by making pot use a federal crime.
“It ought not be the federal government’s job telling them they can’t do it,” Perry said in that November interview. “I totally and completely disagree with the concept of legalizing marijuana, but it ought to be California’s decision.”
Perry has made the same argument about same-sex marriage. He’s against gay marriage himself—reflecting the conservative state he represents—but he has argued in favor of allowing each state to decide for itself what its policy will be.
“If you don’t support the death penalty and citizens packing a pistol, don’t come to Texas,” Perry says. “If you don’t like medical marijuana and gay marriage, don’t move to California.”
Photo credit - BlewState.net
Vampires on the producers of society bleeding us dry
Excerpted from syndicated columnist Erik Rush, WND, June 23:
When I was around 11 years old, my father turned me on to Ayn Rand. Apparently, he thought it was important. You can imagine what sort of kid I was to start reading that fare willingly, then head off to the library for more at that age.
For many weeks, there's been a buzz around the release of the film adaptation of Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." While the viewer feedback (as opposed to critical reviews) was generally good, what's germane to our situation is the thesis. There are aspects of Rand's philosophy (called Objectivism) with which I roundly disagree; still, I believe that she definitely did "get it." Having escaped Russian communism, she knew that the eternal social struggle is not between the capitalist and the worker, but between those who contribute to the advancement of society (capitalists and workers) and those who don't.
Throughout history, kings, oligarchs and, now, communists have set themselves above the contributors through might or guile and simply … suck. They suck subsistence for themselves, creativity from the creative and all positive energy from the collective. In the end, nothing remains, but it's only the short-term existence of these vampires that matters.
Editor's note - Rush, who writes for World Net Daily, the Ft. Collins Coloradoan and numerous other papers, is a frequent guest on Fox News - Hannity.
Even in the "Live Free or Die State"
From Eric Dondero:
There's a primary election on Tuesday, July 4th in New Hampshire. That's right. In addition to fireworks, hot dogs, and suntans at nearby Hampton Beach, Seabrook-ians will be voting to choose a Democrat and Republican each to face off against a Libertarian in September.
Even the guy who held the seat is running.
From the Newbury Port Daily News:
state Rep. Gary Wheaton (photo) of Seabrook resigned his seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives this spring.
To begin with, Wheaton, 50, is running to regain the seat he gave up after having run-ins with the law on two separate occasions.
His second set of legal problems, which led to his resignation, is still pending in Hampton, N.H., District Court. Later this month, he will face charges brought by Hampton police related to speeding and driving after license suspension.
But wait, there's more. One of the Republican candidates is also facing charges, albeit of a less serious nature.
Continuing:
Albert "Max" Abramson of Seabrook was indicted in May by a Rockingham County Grand Jury on eight counts of felony reckless conduct based on charges brought by the Seabrook Police Department.
Seabrook police arrested Abramson on charges of firing a handgun, for which he has a permit, into the ceiling of his home during a party on Dec. 19. While Abramson 34, has not admitted to firing the handgun, he defended his actions as simply trying to stop a fight. Abramson, a member of the town Budget Committee and fellow Republican candidate, claims the case is politically motivated.
A couple other milktoast Republicans are also on the ballot, and two Democrats. The winner will face Libertarian Party member and elected Town Committeeman Brendan Kelley (photo).
Kelly is not on Tuesday's primary ballot because he faces no opposition in his party.
by Clifford F. Thies
In British Columbia, pot has been pretty much decriminalized. This means possession of a small amount is treated like a parking violation, subject only to a fine. But, dealing in the substance is still illegal. Accordingly, the forests of the province abound in marijuana. And, now, marijuana growers have come up with a seeemingly ingeneous method of guarding their plants from interlopers: guard bears.
The London Telegraph reports that, along with arresting two humans, Canadian police arrested more fourteen guard bears in conjunction with a marijuana bust. The bears, they report, were tame and even docile. But, they will have to be put down because of their familiarity with humans. Also, one raccoon.
Detectives raiding the two large cannabis fields in Western Canada were surprised to discover at least 14 tame, and seemingly docile, black bears wandering around the crops.
During the raid earlier this month, police also found a “friendly pot belly pig and a little raccoon sleeping on the bed”, which tried to climb up an officer’s leg.
The drug crops, containing about 2,300 plants, were found near Christina Lake, a remote area east of Vancouver, just a few miles from the American border.
Thus, the international war on drugs claims yet another victim: guard bears.
Photo - MamaPop.com
From Eric Dondero:
We are one of the very few, if not the only libertarian website that regularly covers international politics. Back in the 1980s (and early '90s), the International Society for Individual Liberty (ISIL), which Clifford and I were both members of, gave excellent coverage of libertarian global politics. But they had a couple of deaths of leaders of the group. And in the early 2000s they pretty much went defunct.
Any way, the job has fallen to us. And we revel in covering libertarian politics worldwide, particularly aligned political parties and groups.
That's why it was particularly pleasing to get the following comment the other day in our comments section of one of our posts, "Indignados of the World Unite!":
NELCAT said...
Thank you for taking interest in "Spain". I'm from the Catalan Countries, a territory which unfortunately still belongs to the Spanish State.
Anyway, I agree with you 100% so I'm grateful because it feels good when somebody out there cares for you.
The demands of the "indignados" are mainly to become even more socialistic and more centralized. Regardless of their frantic insistence on being "non-partisan" they are most certainly hardcore leftist Statists.
“I am delighted with this ruling. It is a victory, not only for me but for all the Dutch people. Today is a victory for freedom of speech. The Dutch are still allowed to speak critically about islam, and resistance against islamisation is not a crime. I have spoken, I speak and I shall continue to speak” -- Geert Wilders
From Eric Dondero & Clifford Thies:
From Reuters via J-Post, "Dutch court acquits Geert Wilders in hate speech case" June 22:
A Dutch court on Thursday acquitted populist politician Geert Wilders of charges of inciting hatred against Muslims, in a case that tested freedom of speech in the traditionally liberal country.
The court case has attracted attention, not just because of Geert Wilders' controversial comments about Islam -- which he compared to Nazism -- but also because of the increasing influence of his political party, which supports the minority Dutch government on economic and other issues.
Jewish libertarian and close friend of Wilders, Pamela Geller wrote at Biggovernment.com via her site Atlas Shrugs:
The judges in the Court of Amsterdam delivered their verdict Thursday morning in the heresy trial of Dutch Freedom Party politician Geert Wilders. Wilders has been found not guilty of all charges of inciting hatred against Muslims. The judge, Marcel van Oosten, and the other Dutch authorities ended up doing the right thing, no matter how cowardly and compromised they may have been. They must have known how history would view them if Wilders had been found guilty: as troglodytes who ushered in the return of the Dark Ages.
When do the Islamic supremacists go on trial for inciting hatred against non-Muslims?
From the Editors - Clifford Thies and I would like to extend our hearty congratulations to Geert Wilders for his enormous victory for free speech not only for the Netherlands but worldwide, as well.
From Eric Dondero:
An impassioned defense of Jews and the Israeli state, by a Christian man at the recent Pro-Free Speech rally in Dearborn, Michigan.
[American Islamist group CAIR] has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood... If you look at the Muslim Brotherhood, the founder, colaborated with Adoplh Hitler. And why is the Nazi Party, the new Nazi Party, now trying to form in Egypt?
Christians are being slaughtered right now in Egypt. Israel is the only one that seems to care.
Note - American-themed music plays dramatically in the background as the man speaks.
From Eric Dondero:
I've been monitoring it like a hawk. While many swear by Gallup, and others by Rasmussen. Some even Zogby. I prefer the Real Clear Politics running average, which totals up all the major polls including those mentioned, plus, NBC/WSJ, ABC, Bloomberg, Marist, AP, Time, and Pew.
For the first time since the killing of Osama bin Laden, President Obama is in negative territory at RCP.
Not by much. But yesterday he dipped to 47.3% approvals, versus 47.5% disapprovals.
I have a feeling it's all downhill from here.
