by Clifford F. Thies

The L.A. Times - not really Ayn Rand's BFF - is out with a item on Atlas Shrugged ... John Aglialoro hurt by the bad reviews and disappointed with the box office, so he's going Galt, dropping out, not going to follow up with Parts 2 and 3, instead he's going to produce some routine drivel of a movie concerned with the Las Vegas poker scene.

Again, according to the L.A. Times, Aglialoro says that, although the movie has not yet recovered its cost (which it tabs at $20 million, up from the $10 million number that was being bandied about just one week ago), it will eventually break-even because of DVDs and the sale of ancillaries.

Not without Parts 2 and 3!

This wasn't an interview. It was a set-up. Who's going to so much as go to Part 1 once the word gets out that Parts 2 and 3 aren't going to be made in the foreseeable, no less buy the movie or a coffee mug?

Besides, the actual production cost of a movie is often very different from the numbers that are quoted. Big budget movies make enormous amounts of money for as many production services as the studio thinks it can get away with. Actual production costs are often much lower than what is quoted. In terms of hard dollars, I'd venture to say that the two sequels, if made together, might cost $5 or 6 million, which would mean that they're sure to make money given the box office figures already attained. Production of the sequels may even be bankable.

Plus, this project has enduring quality, meaning that it could be re-broadcast for decades by a cable channel looking to fill a schedule; and, people who have not yet been born will be buying the DVD or whatever is the media on which movies are made in the future.

Of course the critics panned the movie. What else did expect them to do? Have a come to Jesus moment? Their intellectual forebearers denigrated the book, and its been a best seller for now more than fifty years.

If there is any truth in this L.A. Times story, I am sorry that John Aglialoro didn't read my hard-nosed calculations based on the first week's box office. I didn't go all crazy about this movie being a blockbuster. I was conservative and yet confident that the box office would justify production of the sequels.

As for translating the first week's numbers into a successful run, this involved manipulating expectations, setting the bar low enough so that you can be sure to clear it, not getting sucked into unrealistic possibilities that make even modest successes seem like failures. In Hollywood as in politics, there's a lot of facade. Maybe even more so.

Anybody can churn out brainless movies like "Rio" that parents feel they have to bring their children to see, or teenage horror movies like Friday the 13th Part 87. Real cinema is art and - while real money is involved - what it expresses is a choice.

Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia, a Hayekian/Milton Friedman devotee and a self-described "Christian Randist."

TSA harrasses and assaults regular American citizens, but ignores the Real Enemy

Former Miss USA Susie Castillo:

As an American I'm really, really upset that I have to go through this. And I do feel violated.

She touched my vagina... 4 times...

Drug smugglers put drugs up their rectums. What happens when a terrorist puts a bomb up their rectum? Are we going to get rectal exams?

H/t Weasel Z...

Media Advisory: Libertarian Party of Indiana to Hold Annual Convention April 30, 2011 LAPORTE, IN – Indiana Libertarians will gather this Saturday for their annual nominating convention in LaPorte, IN. In lieu of a taxpayer-funded primary, Indiana’s third-largest party nominates candidates conventions. On April 30th, members of the party will select candidates for local races, [...]

Every year we recognize the hard work and passion of those involved in growing the party. Awards are presented at the Libertarian Party of Indiana convention each year. With the exception of one award all winners are granted their award by a vote of the LPIN membership at the convention. View previous winners. ?Dr. Barbara [...]

Stole her pen and threw it in the trash

From Eric Dondero:

A Republican sponsored bill to restrict late-term abortions, and require parental notification for minors, caused hysteria on the Democrat side of the aisle at the Capitol in Tallahassee. One Democrat from Orlando got into a scuffle with another Democrat, a Hatian-American, from South Florida.

The Bradenton Herald reports, "Fight breaks out as abortion measures pass" April 27:

The fireworks broke out when Rep. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami, quoted the Bible and said she planned to break ranks.

“Thou shall not kill,” Campbell, who was born in Haiti, told her colleagues before a vote on HB 1247, the parental notification bill. It passed 82 to 35.

“This is not a bill for Republicans or Democrats because it’s a Republican bill,” Campbell said during discussion of HJR 1179, which proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit public funding of abortions.

“This is Bible principles.”

The resolution passed by an 82 to 35 vote. But not before State Rep. Scott Randolph, a staunch progressive, and supporter of disgraced former Congressman Alan Grayson, threw a tizzy fit. Randolph yelled at Campbell, and then:

Randolph flung some of her papers at her and threw her pen in the trash, according to Campbell and other lawmakers who witnessed the outburst. They said Campbell threw some items back at him.

Important Note - Libertarians are divided on the issue of abortion itself, many pro-choice, others pro-life, with mostly all libertarians favoring reasonable restrictions such as parental notification. All libertarians are united in opposition to government funding of abortions.

Photo of the real live incident from the early 1800s caning by SC Sen. Sumner of Mass. Sen. Brooks on the House floor. Brooks had made critical remarks directed towards Sumner over his support for slavery.

From Eric Dondero:

Muslim Prof. Abbass Alkhafaji died in 2010. He left a will.

Via the libertarian-leaning blog Volokh:

(4) About my pension, the beneficiaries are all my biological kids and my current wife, ... after reducing all costs associated with the house.... [The] rest of the pension, if any left, should be divided according to Islamic Laws and Sharia....

(9) In case I have additional monetary benefits from my job, such as life insurance, 401K, 403B or any other retirement funds that I am not aware of, Allah as my witness, They should be divided, after costs associated with the payment of those funds according to Islamic Laws and “Sharia.”

And now the stunning ruling by the Court:

“(1) TIAA-CREF Individual and Institutional Services LLC, shall make distribution of the pension accounts of the TIAA-CREF certificates ... to the decedent’s surviving spouse, ... in accordance with decedent’s last will and testament dated July 17, 2007, and to his biological children, ... in accordance of the law of Sharia, mainly [sic], one-eighth share to the surviving spouse, ... and thereafter, the remaining balance to be divided, two shares each to the six male children, and one share each to the [two] female children.”

In other words, a Pennsylvania Court is ordering discrimination in favor of the male beneficiaries over the females.

Blogger and KETM radio talk show host Ben Barrack of Temple, Texas explains why this is inconsistent with libertarian principles, allowing discrimination by private individuals:

This is a prime example and the court's decision sets a dangerous precedent. Imagine if a man leaves a will that says 1/8 of his estate is to go to each of his sons and 1/16 of that estate is to go to each of his daughters. Assuming he was of sound mind when he wrote the will, one would think those wishes should be honored. Though they appear sexist, that's why they call it a 'will.'

Now, suppose a Muslim male simply states in his will that his estate is to be divided among his family according to Sharia Law, which calls for distribution of that estate in the same 1/8 and 1/16 manner. Does the U.S. Constitution allow for a judge to rule in such a way? The short answer is no.

From Eric Dondero:

When pressed, many Republican legislators around the Nation who sponsor Bills to outlaw foreign law used in US courts, shy away from explicitly citing Sharia Law as a prime motivator of their legislation. Even some of the most diehard opponents of Islamism in state legislatures, still insist that their legislation is not aimed at stopping any one particular form of foreign law.

In North Carolina, one legislator is being straight forward. From Raleigh News&Observer, "Bill would ban courts from using 'foreign law'":

A group of Republican legislators is backing a measure that would make it illegal for judges to consider "foreign law" when making rulings in North Carolina's courts.

Though the federal and state constitutions already guarantee the supremacy of U.S. law in domestic cases, primary sponsor Rep. George Cleveland said he is concerned that Shariah law could gain a foothold in American communities with sizable Muslim populations.

"It's to ensure that any individual in this state does not have to worry about being taken advantage of by foreign laws," said Cleveland, a retired Marine who lives in Jacksonville. "It's barring any international law. If Shariah law tries to be enforced in the state, yeah, it would do it."

Rep. Cleveland filed a Bill back in January to ban illegal aliens from attending NC colleges and universities.

Gov. skips Obama's GOP bashing fundraiser in Manhattan

From Eric Dondero:

The Post is reporting this morning that Governor Andrew Cuomo skipped a third Obama fundraiser in New York. And apparently his repeated absences at national Democrat events, is beginning to raise eyebrows.

From columnist Michael Goodwin, the NY Post "Cuomo is New York's undercover governor" May 1:

Even better if Cuomo skipped the event because he didn't want to pollute his bid to fix Albany by being at a partisan fest where Obama was sure to bash Republicans.

A big reason is that his centrist course opens potential pitfalls with his party's liberal base. As a candidate, most of his ads never mentioned he is a Democrat. Most of his belt-tightening proposals since taking office were more readily adopted by the GOP-controlled state Senate than by Dems running the Assembly...

Earlier this year, a diehard Republican activist stunned the conservative community in New York with praise for Cuomo.

From CapitolTonight.com, Tea Partyer, and Carl Paladino Campaign Manager, "[Michael] Caputo Crusades for Cuomo"

"Like you, I oppose the Democrat Party’s progressive agenda,” Caputo writes. “Like you, I fought like Hell to stop Andrew Cuomo’s campaign for Governor of New York State. I don’t much like him; I’m still angry about his dirty campaign against Carl.”

“But, at the risk of a localized lightning strike, I must admit the Governor’s early fiscal moves are conservative, responsible and absolutely necessary.”

“…I am a die-hard Republican who fought in the trenches for Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp and Carl Paladino. I’m as conservative as you can get, and last year I spent most of my time criticizing Andrew Cuomo.”

“It is starting to look like I may end up eating a few of my words. But I would happily sit for that meal if the Governor delivers real fiscal reform. In fact, I am writing to tell you I will work to push Cuomo’s fiscal agenda.”

Note - Republicans hold a very slight majority in the State Senate by one single vote.

Why Should Your Home Be Governments' Private ATM?

by Eric Dondero

It made it! Over 30,000 signatures were handed in. Late yesterday, North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger announced that the necessary number of valid signatures were certified. Originally, 26,500 were needed. With 5 days to go before the deadline, the Attorney General issued a ruling that 1,204 more signatures would need to be gathered. His reasoning: He chose to abide by the total voter registrant numbers for the 2010 census, rather than the previous year.

Petitioners scrambled. But dedicated crews in Jamestown, Bismark and Grand Forks, managed to collect the final 1,204 and a few additional signatures just to be safe.

The initiative will now appear on the Primary Election balloot for June 4, 2012. If passed, North Dakota will no longer have property taxes. The Amendment directs the legislature to fund programs solely through the other 32 sources of revenue available to the State such as the sales tax, fees, and the estimated $2.5 billion surplass from oil production revenues.

The organizing sponsor for the initiative was Empower The Taxpayer, Charlene Nelson out of Casstleton, Chair. State Representative Dan Ruby, a libertarian Republican from Minot, was also a sponsor of the initiative. Other groups involved in co-sponsoring the initiative and gathering signatures included: Williston Tea Party, Valley City Tea Party, Grand Forks Tea Party, and the Libertarian Party of North Dakota.

EmpowertheTaxpayer.com

From Cliff Thies:

Prince William, an officer and helicopter pilot in the Royal Air Force, donned the uniform of the Irish Guards, whose First Regiment is currently deployed to Afghanistan, for his wedding,. It was a fitting reminder that even as we go about our lives, there are men and women in the armed forces of our countries who are serving in combat in what the military refers to as "the long war." His bride, Kate Middleton, was resplendent in her beautiful white dress.

BTW In their own tribute to the military, the San Diego Padres started to occasionally wear camouflage uniforms, a practice that has since been up by a number of other sports teams.

Editor's comment - Y'all didn't think this was a Royals coverage free zone, now did ya?

FROM ONE OF OUR ADVERTISERS:

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JUST BREAKING...

From Eric Dondero:

Muslim and Leftist protesters broke through barricades in Dearborn to protest Rev. Terry Jones's Anti-IslamoFascist rally yesterday.

From the AP via WILX TV Lansing:

The pastor known for stirring up controversy made good on his promise to return to Michigan to protest.

Terry Jones held a protest yesterday, but it wasn't at Dearborn's mosque as he had planned- instead it was in front of the city hall.

A small crowd of supporters showed up to listen to the pastor while groups gathered on the other side of the street to rally against the pastor.

Riot police intervened when the crowd started throwing water bottles and shoes at the Jones supporters.

Heard faintly on the video, at precisely the 27 seconds mark, an unidentified protester shouts":

"Kill that mother-fucker now!"

H/t Weasel Z...

Echoes of "Nappy-headed Ho"?

From Mediaite video, recent episode, HBO Real Time with Bill Maher:

When you saw that picture he had a little bit of a fro. What do you think the right-wing would do if he grew that fro again?

I'm just asking. You know there's nothing in the constitution that says you can't have hair that's a little kinky.

Excerpt from British Columbia Paper DeltaOptimist.com, Delta-Richmond East, "Libertarian looks to reduce taxes, gov't" April 30:

The Libertarian Party proposes to reduce both taxes and the size of government. It says it would also remove restrictions on personal and economic freedoms and seek to remove government interference from as many areas of people's lives as possible.

When it comes to welfare and health care, for example, the party's position is the "moral issue here is that Libertarians believe that it is not right to take forcefully from one person in order to provide for another's needs... Taxation is robbing people of their wealth and the ability to invest that wealth in new business, which would benefit the poor."

Libertarian Party of Canada, libertarian.ca

A rightwing "fringe element"

Excerpt from Suite101 blog, "Birthers' Conspiracy Theories Reach New Accusatory Lows" by Frank Hardy, April 29:

When President Obama issued his long form birth certificate, after years of speculation about its existence by fringe elements of the Republican and Libertarian parties, he hoped the issue would be put to rest; however, that was not the case...

David Koch and wife Julia donated max to Romney

Excerpt from MSNBC, "Romney and the Koch brothers" April 29:

It's sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group that billionaire David Koch started. And Democrats are trying to make hay of the appearance, noting some of Romney's ties to David Koch like:

-- David and wife Julia each donated the maximum ($2,300) to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in '08

-- Politico's 2010 report that Romney had lined up fundraising commitments from David and Julia Koch

A Dem operative emails First Read, "You know it's got to be a special occasion that only the Koch brothers can afford throw to get Romney to emerge from his op-ed fortress."

Editor's note - Grammar mistake by Dem operative in his email to MSNBC above left in.

From Eric Dondero:

Americans For Prosperity, held a candidates forum in New Hampshire yesterday. IN an article by the very liberal Boston Globe - "Romney stands by Bay State health law; At N.H. forum, calls for repeal of national overhaul" - the group is described as "funded in part by billionaire David Koch, a libertarian-leaning philanthropist and industrialist."

In attendence: Romney, Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann.

From the description provided by uselectionnews.com, Cain and Bachman stand out as most libertarian-leaning.

Cain - Privatize Social Security, Abolish Gov. programs

When asked what he would do to fix major flaws in Social Security, Cain noted that the model created by the Chilean government, (ie privatization), would work here in the US with the right leadership. He referenced his book, “Common Sense Solutions” and said that is it time for Americans to read past the statement of “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and to begin using our right to “alter and abolish” government programs that have become destructive. Cain said that he would use his own developed business practices, coming from his experience bringing back failed companies, slashing 10% in cuts across the board, and cutting out government programs that are overlapping, doubled up, or ineffective.

Bachmann - Cut 25% in Spending, No Bail Outs, Auction off Freddie and Fannie

Bachmann asked the audience and those watching to dream of a land where the government would undertake the following steps. Cut 25% of federal discretionary spending and cancel the distribution and use of outstanding funds from Obama’s failed stimulus program. Then they would return the TARP funds and reinstate the Welfare Reform Act created in the mid 1990?s. A balanced budget would be proposed and passed within the year, with no increased spending beyond population growth plus inflation. The government would refuse to bail-out public pension plans... Her government would then auction FreddieMac and FannieMae for a “minimum bid of 50cents”... this new government would end mortgage subsidies, and sell the governments shares in AIG, Bank of America, and GM, all industries “bailed out” by the previous administrations. It would also legalize private student lending.

[It] would repeal Obamacare and allow anyone to purchase any health insurance policy they want, in any state, with no minimum coverage mandate, and their money used to purchase that insurance would be tax free.

Her tax program would cut business tax to 9%, making it the lowest in the world, with 0% capital gains tax and 0% death tax. She would limit the personal income tax to 20%.

He has yet to answer Questions on Military deployments, Overseas commitments and Compulsory Service

by Clifford F. Thies

First it's Rand Paul asking for his voter registration card. Now, it's the liberal media asking why he didn't serve in the military.

Did the Donald think the media was going to give him a pass on his personal life, like he was a Democrat?

"I actually got lucky because I had a very high draft number." -- Donald Trump

Well, it turns out that Trump's first "explanation" was one of those phoney-baloney stories that maybe you tell yourself and others enough times to where you actually start believing it. No, he wasn't a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania's business school when they pulled his number (and mine). He had graduated a year earlier. And, so what if he got a very high draft number (mine was 365). He could have volunteered (like I did.)

Trump, where do you stand on Abolishing Selective Service?

Army Captain Cliff Thies's dog tags and Military I.D., 9 years in Vietnam era Service.

But, in his case, by the time they shifted to the lottery, he was nearing the end of his eligibility for being drafted, whether by selective service or by the lottery. How is it that he had not been inducted in, say, 1966, or, 1967, or any other year prior to the shift to from the selective service system to the lottery system?

Well, like a lot of other blowhard/blowdry conservatives, he worked the system. For chickenhawks like Dick Cheney, born early during the babyboom, avoiding the draft involved staying in school, with a college deferment, until you got married and had at least one child, when you qualified for a dependent deferment.

For chickhawks like Trump and Bill Clinton, born a bit later, when the deferments tightened up, avoiding the draft involved angles such as getting disqualified as 4F (which is how Trump actually avoided service) or simply dodging the draft (a la Clinton).

For some people, the routes taken by George W. Bush (service in the Guard or Reserve) and Al Gore (getting assigned as a military reporter or REMF [as in Rear Echelon M*** F***], with his his own personal bodyguard) were less than honorable. Even the routes taken by John McCain (Naval Aviator) and John Kerry (swift boat commander) have been questioned.

Such questions are almost inevitable when military service is compelled from some and not from others. In comparison, nobody can today question the gallantry of our men and women in uniform today, of whatever branch, or whether active duty, Guard or Reserve.

Mr. Trump, how will maintain the dignity and prestige of the US Military?

But, the little fact that we now have a voluntary military is missed by the Donald. It's all about him. Not about the country. Here is what Ronald Reagan said about the draft.

“I oppose registration for the draft . . . because I believe the security of freedom can best be achieved by security through freedom.” -- Ronald Reagan

He did not want to see the uniform of our country become a symbol of servitude. And, he dedicated himself to providing the pay and benefits and conditions of employment that would able the military to attract and retain the number and quality of personnel our nation's defense requires.

So, the real issues are these: What are you going to do, Mr. Trump, about maintaining the prestige of military service, given the fact that you personally did not serve in the military when you were a young man? And, what are you going to do about the "pace of operations," relative to the size of our military, that has for years required frequent overseas deployments by both our active duty and Guard and Reserve forces?

Editor's note - Although we generally like Donald Trump here at LR, he is not without criticism for sure.

From Eric Dondero:

At a local candidates event in Virginia.

From The Examiner - Charlottesville, interview with Republican Senate candidate and former Governor George Allen:

Asked how he plans to earn the votes of libertarian-minded Virginians as he seeks the GOP Senate nomination, Allen called himself a “commonsense, Jeffersonian conservative” with “a good libertarian streak in me.”

“I trust free people and free enterprise,” Allen said, “and so long as someone’s not harming someone else, leave them free.”

Note - Allen was supported in his bid for Governor of Virginia in 1994, by the Republican Liberty Caucus.

From Eric Dondero:

New Hampshire is a must win State for the GOP. It's one of those Red-leaning states that went slightly for Obama in 2008. Others include, of course, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Florida. Without winning NH the GOP is likely to be shut-out in the entire Northeast for 2012.

Enter Romney. Now CNN reports:

According to the new survey conducted by Dartmouth College, Romney beats the president in a head-to-head matchup by 8 points, 47 percent to 39 percent. Obama's poor showing against Romney is also the product of his weak approval rating in the Granite State, where only 36 percent of voters there give him positive marks. That compares to a 45 percent approval rating for Obama in New Hampshire in a similar poll one year ago.

All other GOP candidates lose in NH to Obama, some like Palin and Trump, by large margins, over 20 points.

Editor's comment - for those of us Republicans concerned about making inroads into the Northeast, this is a very powerful argument for Romney's candidacy.