by Clifford F. Thies

Minister Louis Farrahkan of the Nation of Islam who, in 2008, proclaimed Barack H. Obama to be the Messiah, is now calling Obama our country's first Jewish President, along with defending Gaddafi. The United States, he says, is not populated by human beings, our country is filled "with beasts." Dictators aren't a bad thing, "your mothers and fathers," speaking to a black audience, were dictators. God himself rose up Gaddafi in Libya and Assad in Syria. And, dictators send tanks and planes to kill their people, just like parents discipline their children. Democracy, you see, is an invention of white people, also known as beasts. Democracy's "a trick."

We know from history that calling people "Jews" is the prelude to genocide; but, as for this Messiah versus Jew thing, according to the Christians of the world, the Messiah was a Jew.

(Source: TheBlaze)

From Eric Dondero:

Yesterday in Bismark, a coalition of taxpayer rights advocates handed in approximately 28,0000 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office to qualify a ballot measure to completely abolish property taxes.

From the AP (via The Republic) "Amendment would abolish ND property taxes, order Legislature to figure out new revenue plan":

BISMARCK, N.D. — Backers of a constitutional amendment to abolish North Dakota property taxes believe they have enough petition signatures to put the idea on the ballot, even though the number they thought they needed has risen.

The proposed amendment's supporters delivered almost 1,000 petitions, bearing what they said were more than 27,800 names, to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office Friday.

Jaeger has until April 29 to review the documents and determine whether there are enough names to qualify for the ballot. If the signature goal is met, the amendment would go to a statewide vote in June 2012.

The coalition of activists included, the Libertarian Party of ND, Taxpayer Rights groups, Tea Party groups based in Williston and Grand Forks, Christian Right conservatives, and a cadre of stridently individualist Cowboy and Bikers from Valley City.

"It's a new idea. It's something a lot of people hadn't even considered until we put it in front of them," said Charlene Nelson, of Casselton, who is chairwoman of the initiative campaign.

The Amendment if passed would force the legislators in Bismark to use other revenue sources, rather than property taxes. But the State currently has an approximate $2.6 billion budget surplus, largely as a result of oil revenues from taxes on oil production in northwestern ND.

Tuesday is the final deadline for petition signatures to be handed in. And the taxpayer coalition hopes to have over 30,000 for the final turn-in.

Release...

Friday March 25th

EX-MADAM WILL RUN FOR MAYOR IF SPITZER THROWS HIS BLACK SOCKS IN THE RING

To mark the third anniversary of her arrest Ex-Madam Kristin Davis who supplied high priced call girls for former Governor Eliot Spitzer said she will jump in the 2013 New York City Mayor's Race if the former Governor, now a CNN talk show host makes a bid.

Davis filed 18,000 signatures to get on the ballot last year, participated in the televised debate between Democrat Andrew Cuomo and Republican Carl Paladino last year and got nearly 30,000 votes in the race for Governor running on a libertarian platform.

"If Spitzer throws his black socks in the ring I may have to throw in my lacy brassiere" said Davis who once ran the most successful high end escort service in US history.

"I had pretty much decided to focus on the sex trafficking issue and not to run for public office again " said Davis " I am working to take the GOLD program, put forward by an advocacy group in Miami (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/19/2124399/a-walk-on-the-seamy-side-to-help.html) to combat sex trafficking nationwide" . Davis kicked off Hope House, a New York based non profit to fight the conscription of women into prostitution last month.

"The women who worked for me chose to be sex workers" said Davis " 80 % of the women working as escorts are doing so against their will" said Davis "Until prostitution is decriminalized we must provide an escape from this life for thousands of young women"

"Running for Governor was great fun and very educational but I decided to pursue advocacy activity and some entrepreneurial efforts in legal industries. " said the ex Hedge Fund Vice president. "The one thing that could probably get me off the bench is a Mayor candidacy by Eliot Spitzer. I'd have to look at it. The opportunity to expose the inequality in our Justice system may be too great"

From the Editor - Kristin and her longtime political consultant Roger Stone are friends of this website.

From Eric Dondero:

Ken Moellman, a friend of this website, has announced his intentions to run for Kentucky Secretary of State. (The LPKY still needs to qualify for the ballot by collecting over 10,000 signatures.)

Moellman is the immediate past Chair of the Libertarian Party of Kentucky. He is head of a local Tea Party chapter in northern KY. He has also been the most vocal opponent and organizer against a proposed smoking ban for Newport and northern KY-area bars and restaurants. Finally, Moellman was a staunch supporter of Rand Paul for US Senate.

We here at Libertarian Republican wish Ken all the best of success. Although, there is a Republican in the race. (So, we cannot endorse him.) The seat is currently held by a Democrat.

See related LR story "Nanny-State loving newspaper in Kentucky attacks Libertarians, Tea Party over opposition to Smoking Ban."

From Eric Dondero:

A curious development out of the Hoosier State. It seems for some reason, internet hoaxers pulled a fast one on the Libertarian Party of Indiana, for reasons unknown. A Republican State Senator was also apparently victimized.

From WBIX.com:

The Libertarian Party of Indiana wants answers after a being a victim of a hoax email.

Executive Director Chris Spangle says they received the email on February 9, from whom they believed was Republican State Senator Connie Lawson.

Spangle says the email was about the party's opposition to the gay marriage constitutional ban and threatened if they didn't change their opinion on the issue, that "structural changes would be made."

The OhioRepublic blogspot reports:

The Indiana Libertarian and Republican Parties are co-operating in the investigation.

Marijuana Legalization still at the top of his Agenda

From Eric Dondero:

Fox News is reporting that libertarian Republican former Governor Gary Johnson will announce his candidacy for president sometime in late April. He will skip the traditional Exploratory Committee route, and go straight to New Hampshire.

Fox News has learned the former Governor of New Mexico will announce his candidacy, for President of the United States in late April. Johnson insiders say he will bypass the exploratory stage, announce his candidacy and immediately travel to New Hampshire sometime after tax day, April 15.

Strategists say his libertarian approach to GOP politics may prove very popular in the Granite State, whose motto is "Live Free or Die."

And he's not backing down on his drug war stance.

He does not see his stand on issues like marijuana legalization as detriments to a potential GOP nominee. "It's just one in a series of cost-benefits. What are we spending our money on and what are we getting for the money we're spending. Half of the money we're spending on the courts and law enforcement and prisons is drug related. And what are we getting for that? Well, we're arresting 1.8-million people a year in this country, which is just staggering when you considering the population of New Mexico is 1.8-million."

by Clifford F. Thies

Backing up his promise that "Not one American boot could touch one grain of Libyan sand", President Obama has ordered 4,000 Marines and sailors of the Bataan Amphibious Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit into the region.

That's 8,000 boots, which is definitely "not one". Let's face, you're not going to win a war sending in one cripple.

The USS Bataan is an amphibious assault ship, with a wide range of capabilities, humanitarian and military. When deployed along with super carriers, it will usually assume the status of an auxiliary carrier, launching and receiving helipcopters in conjunction with submarine patrol and search and rescure missions. It can also operate on its own, in support of projection of force missions, in which case it may launch and receive harrier warplanes as well as helicopters.

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is a multi-deminensional force consisting of a reinforced battalion of marines, a combat airlift unit. and a combat support unit.

When these units join the force being assembled in the Mediterranean, they will give the commander the capability to conduct seach and rescue missions, as in the case of a downed pilot, as well as a limited ability to secure a beachead or an inland objective.

It was written in their Qu'ran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every Muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise. He said, also, that the man who was the first to board a vessel had one slave over and above his share, and that when they sprang to the deck of an enemy's ship, every sailor held a dagger in each hand and a third in his mouth; which usually struck such terror into the foe that they cried out for quarter at once -- Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja to Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in London, 1885 (original doc. mem.loc)

by Clifford F. Thies

The parliament of Turkey approved that country's participation in NATO's blockade of arms shipments and humanitarian efforts in the war-torn country of Lybia. A total of six ships, a submarine, four frigates and an auxiliary ship, will join the international task force.

Unilke the United States, in Turkey, the head of government actually has to obtain authorization to use force when no imminent threat to the nation is involved.

In this country, according to people such as Joe The Constitutional Scholar Biden, Professor of Constitutional Law Barack Obama, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Hilliary Clinton, this is only illegal nowadays when a Republican is president. Iniating the use of force is tough enough for any democratic country, which is a very good thing, but is particularly sensitive when two majority Muslim country are involved.

We appreciate the concern expressed by the prime minister of Turkey, that the Turks are not willing to "point a gun" at the people of Libya. But, it is a crime for a government to order police and military forces to use lethal force against crowds of peaceful protestors, no less to bomb them using tanks and warplanes, and, at some point, we have to figure out a way to arrest those who engage in such acts.

We, at Libertarian Republican, salute our friend and allyTurkey, who first joined with us in North Africa in what we call the Second Barbary Coast War

From Eric Dondero:

Veena Malik fled to India for her acting career. Now Pakistan's Culture Police are on her tail, attempting to lure her back to Pakistan.

From IBNLive.com:

Pakistani actress Veena Malik has received a "death threat" from a purported Taliban commander for appearing on the Indian reality TV show "Big Boss", her media manager said on Saturday.

"Self-styled Taliban commander Ahmed Masood issued the death threat in a hand-written letter sent to Veena for appearing on the Indian show," Sohail Rashid, her media manager, said.

"Veena is in India but she will not seek asylum there or in any other country on security grounds," Rashid said.

The exchange on-air from YouTube (does not allow embedding):

CLERIC: I believe she was... promoting hollow ideologies, which are not appropriate for a famous and great person like her.

MALIK: I would feel a burden on my conscience if I had done anything wrong. I have not done anything wrong. I am just an entertainer. And if anyone can prove that while living in this country I've done anything against the law - whether Islamic law or stat law, you can punish me for that.

CLERIC: If she has not the pangs of consciense because of what she did, then I would tell her to awaken her conscience. No one in Pakistan can look at her pictures in the presence of their daughters.

[Look of utter disgust from the Actress]

MALIK: As far as Islam is concerned, Islam is a vast religion... Let me also tell you that you are not allowed to set eyes on me in your present condition. You should be punished... Clerics can look at a woman once, but if they look at her a second time they can be punished. You deserve to be punished.

A little un-intended Libertarianism?

From Eric Dondero:

According to HotAir.com the new video by Rebecca Black has 10.5 million YouTube hits.

The phrase “Rebecca Black” has been one of the top 10 highest trending terms on Twitter for a solid week, and an appearance on “Good Morning America” is in the works. It’s an Internet phenomenon.

But is there more to this cheezy pop video than just trite teeny boppism?

The Teens can be seen throughout the entire video blatantly violating California's tough seat belt laws.
V C Section 27315 of the DMV code for the State of California clearly states:

(e) A person 16 years of age or over shall not be a passenger in a motor vehicle on a highway unless that person is properly restrained by a safety belt.

Further:

Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 42001, a violation of subdivision (d), (e), or (f) is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than twenty dollars ($20) for a first offense, and a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50) for each subsequent offense. In lieu of the fine and any penalty assessment or court costs, the court, pursuant to Section 42005, may order that a person convicted of a first offense attend a school for traffic violators or another court-approved program in which the proper use of safety belts is demonstrated.

California has a primary offense seat belt law, meaning officers of the law may pull over anyone driving a vehicle for no other reason than a seat belt violation.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION MADNESS

From Eric Dondero:

First Gays in the Military, then "sensitivity training" for Combat soldiers, now Women in Combat and lowered standards on testing and drug use to allow for more "Minority" recruits.

Meet the new Military under the Obama administration.

Straight White Males need not apply

The Washington Times reports "Diversity panel wants military to look like U.S.- Urges change to let women in male-only combat units":

The commission says it wants the military to resemble the ethnic makeup of America. It is urging the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force to “validate” the standards — such as education, test scores, criminal records and drug use — that disqualify large numbers of blacks and Hispanics.

“Racial/ethnic minorities are less likely to meet eligibility requirements than are non-Hispanic whites, and that gap is widening,” the report says

Continuing:

Hardened combat veterans say there is a big difference between a female MP exchanging gunfire with insurgents and the upper-body physical demands of an Army Ranger or Navy SEAL engaged in intense close-in violence.

Retired General Carl Mudy is quoted on females in combat:

“I believe there is a broad lack of understanding of exactly what direct ground combat is...

“Closing with and destroying the enemy by the most violent means available — and often at eyeball-to-eyeball range — is direct combat. Moreover, the units which are trained into the teams to engage and defeat the enemy directly exist on the basis of masculine cohesion.

“I believe that female service members bring tremendous skills and talents to many sectors of our armed forces, but I believe equally strongly that they are not best suited for the unique demands associated with direct combat units.”

Bring back the Draft for enforced Diversity?

San Diego-based radio talk show host Roger Hedgecock editorializes over at Human Events "Mindless Push for 'Diversity' in the Military Won't Win Wars":

There are too many white men in the U.S. military.

So says a report released this week by the Military Leadership Diversity Commission (MLDC), commissioned by Congress to examine ways to "increase diversity" in the military. The MLDC report finds that 77% of active-duty senior officers are white, 8% black, 5% Hispanic, and 16% women (of unspecified race).

What's the answer to this "problem"? Is the MLDC recommending that white males stop volunteering for military service? Do they want to start "selecting" who among them volunteers for service? Are they recommending that there be quotas for military service, as with the public university system? Or maybe the MLDC is going to recommend a mandatory draft for minorities and females until "diversity" is achieved?

Hedgecock goes on to point out the obvious: If there are "too many white males" in the military, perhaps it has to do with the fact that they're more patriotic, love their country more, and are more willing to volunteer to serve.

by Clifford Thies

Various sources report that the Libyan rebels are now in the air, with MIG 23 aircraft and helicopters described as the Free Libyan Air Force.

Two of Moronman Godaddy's warships are indicated to have been sunk, and his armored vehicles and airports attacked.

It is speculated that Egypt and perhaps also Algeria have had it up to here with Myanmar Queerdaffy's military attacks on his own people.

Also, that the volunteers of the the Free Libyan Air Force are being feed real time intelligence from NATO AWACs plane flying off the coast, in international waters.

Hey, Mallomar Cocoafree, getdahelloudahere!!

From Eric Dondero:

Donald Trump fires the first Salvo of the possible 2012 match-up questioning the legitimacy of Obama's US citizenship.

From the Honolulu Star/Advertiser "Possible presidential candidate Trump doubts Obama was born in Hawaii":

In an interview today with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the developer, reality TV star and maybe Republican presidential hopeful said he doubts Obama was born in the United States.

"Everybody that even gives a hint of being a birther … even a little bit of a hint, like, gee, you know, maybe, just maybe this much of a chance, they label them as an idiot. Let me tell you, I'm a really smart guy," Trump told GMA.

"He grew up and nobody knew him. You know? When you interview people, if ever I got the nomination, if I ever decide to run, you may go back and interview people from my kindergarten. They'll remember me,” he continued. “Nobody ever comes forward. Nobody knows who he his until later in his life. It's very strange. The whole thing is very strange."

Two other GOP presidential candidates, Michele Bachmann and Mike Huckabee, have recently joked about or questioned Obama's birth place.

From Eric Dondero:

According to the Columbus Dispatch, local Libertarian Party and Republican Party leaders agreed to pull some candidates for city council, in order to eliminate the need for a primary, and save taxpayer dollars.

Republicans Joe Healy and Alicia Healy and Libertarian Andrew S. Ullman agreed to withdraw from the race, leaving eight candidates for the four council seats open this year, said Brad Sinnott, chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party Central Committee.

The city charter requires a primary only if there are more than two candidates for each open seat.

Sinnott said that both parties agreed it was best to conserve their campaign resources for the November contest rather than fight one another for spots on that ballot.

"The Libertarians and the Republicans looked at the cost of a primary and took into account how wealthy the incumbent Democratic candidates will be because of the contributions from people who do business with the city and who want to influence policy decisions at City Hall," he said.

The Dispatch goes on to note that even though the two parties are cooperating in the election, for the November election they remain two separate party tickets.

From Eric Dondero:

Yet another Democrat in Louisiana has switched to Republican.

From TheRepublic.com:

Sen. Jody Amedee, of Gonzales, switched to the GOP on Thursday, in a move announced by the Legislature's Republican delegation.

Amedee, a trial lawyer in his second term, joins a growing list of Democratic lawmakers jumping to Republican ranks in advance of this fall's election. He's the third Democrat in the Senate to switch parties in the last five months, according to the Republican delegation.

This now gives the GOP a 21 to 18 majority in the Senate. Last year, the Democrats controlled the upper chamber by a similar majority.

Teaching Young Men to rely on Government instead of themselves

From Eric Dondero:

The North Dakota legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. Still, a House bill to stop "aggressive behavior" amongst boys, passed easily through the State Senate. Republican Governor Dalrymple - a moderate - is expected to sign the bill.

From InForum-FargoMoorhead.com:

The Senate voted 36-10 on Thursday to approve the House’s version of the bullying legislation.

House Bill 1465 defines bullying and requires school districts to have bullying policies by July 1, 2012.

Some Republicans, mostly on the hard-right, did raise objections.

Continuing:

Sen. Oley Larsen, R-Minot, a vocal critic of the legislation, said aggressive bills to try to stop aggressive behavior in schools will be ineffective.

The bill has victims relying on the school to protect them from bullying and will promote a victim mentality that will handicap kids for life, he said.

Students need to know they will be bullied and learn how to handle those situations when they occur, Larsen said.

Sen. Margaret Sitte, R-Bismarck, said people have picked on each other since the beginning of time. Bullying prevention programs will use up valuable minutes in the school day, she said.

“This is just another example of nanny state government run amok,” she said.

Note - Senator Larsen is considered one of two or three "libertarian" Republicans in the North Dakota Legislature.

Something in the Water in the Inner Harbor?

From Eric Dondero:

Flashback! Mayor Sheila Dixon accepts gift cards in exchange for city contracts.

We reported here at LR, "Baltimore Mayor Dixon Convicted on Embezzlement charges: The Fall-out begins -Bribery, Backroom backslapping and shady Business deals" Dec. 5, 2009:

On Wednesday, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, a Democrat, was convicted on one count of Embezzlement. Dixon accepted gift cards for Target and Best Buy from developers in return for favorable reviews on lucrative city contracts. The cards were intended for use by Baltimore's homeless.

Reports UPI:

Dixon was soliciting gift cards from a developer, then spending the cards instead of giving them to the needy as planned.

New Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in growing Scandal over special City Contracts for John Hopkins

And now this from the Baltimore Sun "Mayor voting on deals with husband's employer City attorney investigating" March 17:

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has voted to approve more than $900,000 in deals with Johns Hopkins since her husband began working for one of its divisions late last year — a possible violation of the city ethics code.

She has voted on at least $947,000 in deals involving Hopkins since mid-December, including a $226,200 contract last week for Hopkins employees to provide HIV counseling and testing services for patients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic run by the city health department.

Rawlings-Blake voted in December to pay Bayview Medical Center $26,000 to fund a van that provides HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing in Southeast Baltimore. She voted in January to give the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health $94,000 to prevent HIV infections among men who have sex with men.

Fox Baltimore reports that the matter is being increasingly "scrutinized" by the City Solicitor.

Sidenote; And the Mayor who preceded Rawlings-Blake and Sheila Dixon? Current Maryland Governor and Democrat "Rising Star" Martin O'Malley.

No doubt, if O'Malley ever decides to run for US Senate or even higher, his record as Baltimore Mayor will come under intense scrutiny.

MOVEMENT NEWS!

Release...

March 17, 2011 (Baltimore, Md.) – Addison Wiggin, Executive Publisher of Agora Financial today announced the acquisition of Laissez Faire Books (LFB), the country’s premier Libertarian bookseller. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Commenting on the acquisition, Wiggin said, “The Laissez Faire Books purchase represents an important strategic move for Agora Financial. Fundamentally, we believe the classical economic tradition will again provide critical insight as the Western world faces ongoing fiscal crises.” He added, “LFB will provide a solid resource for our one million readers worldwide while helping our analysts ground the financial advice we provide firmly in the intellectual tradition from which so much of it is derived.” He concluded, “We're eager to write the next chapter in Laissez Faire Books storied history.”

Founded in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1972, LFB quickly earned the reputation as a leading voice in the libertarian community, often cited as carrying more printed materials on classical economics and individual liberty than any other bookstore. Additionally, the store became a venue for political discussion, lectures, book signings, and films – entirely focused on social and political issues of the day.

In the 1980s, Laissez Faire Books grew its business and developed a publishing imprint Fox & Wilkes to publish contemporary authors and re-issue major works out-of-print.

At LFB’s peak in the mid-1990s, revenues exceeded a million dollars. The company had established a customer list of nearly 30,000, and was featured in a Wall Street Journal article by Gerald Seib. However, the rise of the Internet made profitability difficult, and LFB changed ownership and location several times.

Since the acquisition by Agora Financial in late 2010, Laissez Faire Books has developed a plan to pick up where the company left off in the mid-90s. Last month, LFB reprinted and co-published with the Mises Institute Ron Paul’s The Case for Gold: A Minority Report of the U.S. Gold Commission.

Jeffrey Tucker, Editorial Vice President of the Mises Institute said, “Laissez-Faire Books has a noble heritage of providing great books to readers in the dark times before the digital age.” He added, “They have a lengthy track record of innovation and now with the resources of Agora Financial, we are looking forward to a publishing focus that will reach or exceed LFB's best years.”

Agora Financial, LLC, is a Baltimore-based publisher of over a dozen financial and investment advisory newsletters. The editors of these publications have been recognized by major media outlets for their honest, unconventional, and unbiased independent financial research.

LFB.org

by Clifford F. Thies

While the prime minister of Japan calls for an evacuation of civilians from the vicinity of the nuclear power plant at Fukushima, fifty nuclear power plant workers continue to take their shifts, going in and out of the facility, to contain the damage. Like the nuclear power plant workers at Chernobyl and the New York City fireman on 9-11, these men risk their lives to save others, because of the pride they have in their work, and because of their camaraderie.

We, at Libertarian Republican, salute you and keep you always in our prayers.

From the CBC.ca "Esprit de Corps of Japan's nuclear power plants":

They have been called "the faceless 50," a band of brave technicians still working in the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant about 250 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, five days after a devastating earthquake and tsunami set off a series of explosions and other problems at the plant's six reactors.

By Wednesday, the number of workers had grown to 70, all wearing protective gear and being rotated in and out of the danger zone, often for only minutes at a time, so as to limit their radiation exposure. They work in the dark since power and generators at the plant have failed, using flashlights, like miners with headlamps working the depths of the world's deepest mines.

Charles Murray, a decorated author, political scientist and libertarian, will present “Taking Happiness Seriously” as a part of Earlham College’s Artist and Lecture Series on Wednesday. Murray feels that the American government regulates to a point that it takes away the people’s ability to be happy. His lectures and work have heavily discussed happiness, starting [...]