Changes to the Libertarian Party of Indiana Bylaws are brought to the floor of the annual convention each year. If there are any bylaw change proposals, please submit those to Executive Director Chris Spangle via email at lpinhq@lpin.org by March 31. The proposed change must be in the proposed language.

(Subject to change before convention.) Agenda and Convention Standing Rules 2011 *Required by Bylaws Credential and Seat Delegates of Affiliated Counties* Credential and Seat Delegates from Unaffiliated Counties* Reading and Approval of Minutes of the last Annual Business Meeting – John Schick, Secretary* Adopt Agenda and Standing Rules for Annual Business Meeting* Financial Report – [...]

As our nation struggles to close a massive budget gap, our Congress is spending time cutting small amounts of discretionary spending. Should American taxpayers give money to NPR and PBS? Not in my opinion, but isn’t that such a small drop in the bucket? It’s a good distraction for politicians to show they are “fiscally [...]

The pipes at Lucas Oil Stadium need replacing, but don’t worry. The Capital Improvement board is going to solve the $1 to $2 million dollar problem with warranties, insurance, and bonds. I’m sure it won’t cost you any more than it already has…

From Eric Dondero:

Tea Party and libertarian Republican activist Katherine Jenerette got a warm send off to Afghanistan recently, at the Airport near Washington, DC. Katherine, an active duty Reservist, was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress last year, supported heavily by this website. She lost to her friend and fellow Tea Partyer Tim Scott, and promptly endorsed him. Cong. Scott is now one of two leaders of the Freshman Class of Republicans.

Sent to us from Katherine, appearing in the Charleston Post & Courier:

[US Congressman Tim] Scott was on his way to Baltimore-Washington International Airport to see off 35 troops to Afghanistan.

Most of the men and women are from Arizona, California and Oregon, but two were from South Carolina, Capt. Katherine Jenerette of North Myrtle Beach and Sgt. 1st Class Marticia Maxie of North Charleston.

Scott's legislative correspondent, Brandon Rowland, drove the congressman to the airport in his BMW. Rowland worked to help get Scott elected and moved from Charleston to Washington in January to join his staff. Earlier in the day, he also traded the congressman his garnet-colored tie for Scott's orange one for a meeting with Harris Pastides, the University of South Carolina president.

Scott tells people all day long that his election to Congress was "a blessing," and on the road to the airport, he explained more about what that meant.

"The time I am investing in D.C. is for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to make sure that America gets stronger, starting in South Carolina and the first congressional district," Scott said. "It's a privilege, a blessing from God to serve your country.

Photo h/t Post & Courier

Home to CA's famed Joshua Trees

Libertarian elected officials keep popping up all over the U.S. The Libertarian Party does its best to keep track of them, but more often than not, they don't make list of Libertarian affiliated elected officials.

Meet Chad Mayes, City Councilman for Yucca Valley, California. The town lies in San Bernadino County not far from the big US Marine base at Twenty-Nine Palms. The population is approximately 16,000.

A Letter to the Editor of the local paper exposes Mayes as a "Libertarian."

From the Hi-Desert Star "What do parties have to do with it?" John Fretter:

Councilman Chad Mayes stated that as a Libertarian, he struggled with a council decision (Hi-Desert Star, Feb. 5).

That led me to wonder whether the Town Council members shouldn’t be elected on the basis of each candidate’s political stripes.

If candidates promised to make decisions based on their political allegiances, voters would better know what they’d be voting for.

In contrast, I voted for Chad Mayes three times based on his being a lifetime resident of this place, his youth and idealism and his family background.

I didn’t expect libertarianism might come into play.

Freter goes on to criticize libertarianism itself:

Years ago, I was interested in the subject of libertarianism. Liberty has visceral appeal. But my research was disillusioning. Though Libertarian stances on some social issues are laudable, the economic ideas of libertarianism are often at best naive, at worst cruel and would work directly against the blessings of liberty that Libertarians claim to stand for.

Plus, I looked for their record. There is no historical example ever of a successful libertarian government — at any level — anywhere.

He concludes:

Maybe it’s naïve, but I’d prefer that the issues the town of Yucca Valley faces should be dealt with objectively, logically and with no councilperson struggling with personal politics.

Speaker Straus to bring it to a floor vote

From Eric Dondero:

Staunch conservatives have been rather suspicious of San Antonio-based Rep. and two-term House speaker Joe Straus. They launched an effort to oust him earlier in the session. Now Straus is moving a bill along that's been a cause celebre for hardline conservatives and right-libertarians.

The Voter I.D. Act would require state identification for voting purposes in all Texas elections.

According to TexasInsider.org, a Straus colleague and friend, Republican Rep. Jose Aliseda (Dist. 35) was one of the first to endorse the Bill.

“You need an I.D. for everything you do in today’s society … why not to vote? We have counties in this state that have more registered voters than persons eligible to vote.

“As a former prosecutor who has actually prosecuted cases of voter fraud, I believe our citizens need measures like this to inspire confidence in the election system. The opportunity for vote fraud is here. This measure (SB 14, the Voter ID Bill,) will do much to close the door on that.”

Governor Perry has prioritized the Voter I.D. issue and has put it on the "fast track" for signing as soon as it passes through the legislature.

Media ignoring influx of Illegals from Islamic terrorist-linked states

Statement from United States Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, from TexasGOPVote.com, "Senator Cornyn Addresses the Annual Border Issues Conference" March 19:

As horrific as the [drug cartel] violence is, sometimes the media misses a few of the other major stories along our southwest border. One of those stories involves illegal immigrants from countries very far from Mexico. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 59,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended in the first 9 months of 2010 who were listed as “other than mexican.” Those include 663 individuals from “special interest countries”—such as Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, as well as the four nations currently on the list of “state sponsors of terrorism,” which are Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Sudan.

See related LR story, Jan. 27, "Gay-hating Muslim Cleric from Yemen busted on Border hiding in the trunk of a BMW"

From Eric Dondero:

Meet newly-elected Republican Rep. Glen Bradley of North Carolina. A few weeks in office, and already he's attracting national media. Bradley just introduced a bill that would allow North Carolina to "issue its own legal tender backed by silver and gold."

From the Raleigh News & Observer "Legislator says the state needs its own currency" March 19:

Bradley, a self-employed computer technician and former Marine, attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest until he could no longer afford tuition, he said. While he has not taken any in-depth classes in economics, Bradley described himself as a devotee of the Austrian School, a branch of economic thought that originated in Vienna and was influential before World War I.

Back then the value of most of the world's currencies were tied to the amount of the gold amassed in their national treasuries. The United States abandoned the gold standard in 1933, after it was blamed for worsening the Great Depression.

Though the ideas of the Austrian School have been rejected by mainstream economists for much of the last century, they are in vogue with Libertarians and some supporters of the tea party movement

Rep. Bradley is a staunch gun rights advocate. He was endorsed in his campaign by the Republican Liberty Caucus. He is also a friend of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina, and recently introduced legislation on their behalf to lower ballot access requirements for third parties in the State. (Source: FreetheVoteNC.com)

Democrat Bill Richardson's private airliner grounded, being sold by brokers

Republican Governor Susana Martinez quoted at Reuters "For Sale: New Mexico governor's executive jet":

"At a time when New Mexicans are struggling to make ends meet, their governor should not be leading a life of privilege," Martinez said in January. "We will get rid of that ultimate symbol of waste and excess; we will sell the state's luxury jet."

Former Governor Bill Richardson bought the Cessna Citation Bravo in 2005 for $5.5 million and [state General Services Secretary] Burckle said he is listing it at $3.3 million.

From columnist Thomas J. Cole, Albuquerque Journal "No More High-Flying Governor for New Mexico":

Martinez, who during the campaign pledged to sell the state jet and criticized aircraft use by the previous administration, hasn't set foot on a government plane since taking office Jan. 1.

She has been traveling around the state in a government-provided Ford Expedition with a desk in the back seat.

Photo h/t Jet Times

AMAZING VIDEO!! - MUST SEE!

From Eric Dondero:

Two weeks ago, a Jewish ethnic music band played at an arena in Holland.

A socialist member of parliament organized a protest of Leftists and Palestinian groups.

NeoNazis showed up. Instead of rejecting the participation of the Nazis, the Leftists joined in unison with their chants.

At first Muslim protesters can be heard shouting in Arabic. Later, Nazis can be heard grunting anti-Jewish slogans, while Leftist protesters clang metal instruments and blow whistles.

Leftists, National Socialists, and Islamists have one common enemy

We reported here at LR last Sunday:

According to the Scandanavian right-libertarian blog Tundra Tabloids via an on-site reporter:

A christian group, Christians for Israel, organized three benefit concerts here in Holland with cooperation of the Israeli army band, Tzahal.

A Socialist Member of Parliament Anja Meulenbelt organized a protest of Left groups and Palestinian sympathizers against the appearance of the Israelis.

NeoNazis showed up and joined in with the Leftists and Islamists.

In a video that was shot of the protest, NeoNazis can be heard chanting anti-Jewish slogans, with the Leftists banging drums and blowing whistles in unison.

"Strange union... radical Muslims stone women, execute gays..."

Now this, conservative Benjamin Netanyahu quoted at the Washington Times, "Israeli PM bashes European ‘fusion’ of radical Islam, far left" March 17:

“There is a new boiling anti-semitism of radical Islam that sweeps Europe as a whole, and there’s a strange fusion – it’s the only word I can use to describe it — a fusion with the anti-semitism of the radical far far left,” Mr. Netanyahu said in an interview on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight.

“This is the strangest union you could possibly contemplate,” he said, “because radical Muslims: they stone women, they execute gays, they are against any human rights, against feminism, against whathaveyou. And the far left is supposed to be for these things.”

50 Mortar Shells hit southern Israeli town

Just breaking from YnetNews.com "Dozens of mortar shells hit South":

Hamas military wing claims responsibility for more than 50 mortar shells fired at western Negev communities. Two people lightly hurt; building sustains heavy damage. IDF bombs Gaza targets in response; injuries reported

Reuters - Africa is reporting:

Israeli media reports put the number of shells fired by militants at around 50, making it one of the heaviest barrages launched by militants for months.

Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, claimed responsibility for firing 10 of Saturday's mortars, an unusual move after a long period in which it had let other smaller militant groups do its bidding.

by Clifford F. Thies

The first school named after President Barack H. Obama to close is the Barack H. Obama Elementary School of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The school, formerly known as Bangs Avenue school, was re-christianed, oops, re-named after President Obama. I suppose the idea was to replace the image created by an inner city school named "Bangs Avenue," with the proper, government school image that you can have self-esteem without having accomplished anything in your entire life.

Schools have been renamed after President Obama in 13 states of the United States as well as in his native country of Kenya. The city of Obama, Japan, was not named after him. Rather, he was re-named after the city. That is, the city was named centuries ago, and nobody is revealing what name is actually on the guy's birth certificate.

Just breaking...

From Eric Dondero:

Prospective Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is now suggesting malfeasance in the non-disclosure of Obama's original birth certificate.

from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via AP):

"When you look at what happens today, you look at the misconduct, the fraud and forgeries, you really want to see proof," Trump told the AP.

A few days ago, appearing on ABC News Good Morning America, Trump said that the so-called "Birther" movement had legitimate concerns. Continuing:

"The reason I have a little doubt, just a little, is because he [Obama] grew up and nobody knew him."

From Eric Dondero:

A recent court ruling out of North Carolina, suggests that ballot access restrictions for third parties in the Tarheel State are not too restrictive. The reasoning behind the ruling? The Libertarian Party managed to meet the requirements one year, so they can't possibly be too restrictive.

From the Greensboro News-Record "Editorial: Ballot access is too strict":

Voters deserve choices at the polls, but not too many, the N.C. Supreme Court said in a disappointing ruling last week.

The 5-1 decision denied the state Libertarian Party’s challenge to North Carolina’s strict ballot-access law.

Oh, but the law isn’t really so strict, the court said. After all, the Libertarian Party has surmounted the obstacles and earned a place on the ballot, the opinion, authored by Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson, noted. Its 2008 candidate for governor, Michael Munger, won close to 3 percent of the vote. “This success indicates the party may have turned a corner in popular support, effectively graduating it from the recognition requirements of section 163-96(a)(2).”

That statute sets a 2 percent standard for political parties. If a party submits petitions signed by 2 percent of the number of people who voted in the preceding election for governor, it can earn a place on the ballot for the next election. Then, if its candidate for president or governor wins at least 2 percent of the statewide vote, the party can remain on the ballot for another four years.

Of course, the Libertarian Party is the Nation's third largest political party, and are experts on petitioning and ballot access. The ruling does not take into account, smaller parties outside of the Libertarians.

Note - Judge Timmons-Goodson is one of the longest serving judges in the NC courts. She was an appointee of former Democrat Gov. Mike Easley.

From Eric Dondero:

Judge Richard Nielsen of the 13th Judicial Circuit for Hillsborough County, has ruled that a dispute over funds from property between two competing Muslim interests, should be decided according to Sharia Law.

From the GrendelReport, "Judge orders Muslims to follow Sharia Law":

In Tampa, Florida, a dispute arose over who controls the funds a mosque received in 2008 from an eminent domain proceeding.

Former trustees of the mosque are claiming in court they have the right to the funds. Current mosque leaders are disputing that claim.

The former trustees of the mosque want the case decided according to sharia law.

The judge recently ruled “This case will proceed under Ecclesiastical Islamic law,” (sharia law), “pursuant to the Qur’an.”

(Complete trial ruling - pdf)

As the GrendelReport further points out the case is similar to a...

2009 New Jersey case, where a Muslim woman sought a restraining order, in civil court, against her Muslim husband, who was raping her several times a day. The judge denied the restraining order because, in his opinion, the husband did not commit a crime because he was following his Islamic beliefs.

Judge Nielsen has been serving on the bench since 2000. He is a former trial lawyer. He was appointed by Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Says Youth from "urban centers" share too much of the burden

From Eric Dondero:

New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, censored on ethics charges, has just re-introduced a new version of his Universal National Services Act. The Bill would require all 18 year-olds to serve two years in mandatory military service or some altnernative community or national service.

From the text of his Dear Colleague letter:

Requires all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 25 if called upon by the President during a declaration of war, a national emergency or a military contingency operation to perform national service for a minimum of two years with few exceptions.

According to TheState.com, one of Rangel's primary motivations is affirmative action.

[Rangel]has introduced similar legislation in the past that addresses not only the need for a more equitable military draft, but also establishes a universal requirement for National Service.

He is quoted:

"The largest segment of our fighting force comes from large urban centers with high unemployment, and from economically depressed small towns,” said Rangel. “This small portion of the population forces many soldiers to take multiple tours of duty, sometimes as many as six deployments.”

In contrast, libertarian Republican Reps. Dana Rohrabacher and Ron Paul have introduced legislation repeatedly over the years to abolish Selective Service.

In 2003, Congressman Paul compared Conscription to Slavery:

some politicians simply love the thought of mandatory service to the state. To them, the American government is America. Patriotism means working for the benefit of the state... Conscription is wrongly associated with patriotism, when it really represents Slavery and involuntary servitude.

From Eric Dondero:

In the 2010 election cycle, Lisa Murkowski who lost the Alaska GOP primary for Senate to Tea Partyer Joe Miller, seriously flirted with a run on the Libertarian Party ticket. The LP considered her bid. But after consultations, and input from the party's membership, the LPA executive committee unanimously voted not to allow her on their ticket.

Now, 2010 Alaska may be re-played in Indiana. Longtime incumbent Senator Dick Lugar, insulted the Tea Party last year, calling them irrelevent, and has now drawn a number of serious challengers for his seat.

The National Journal gives an analysis of Senator Dick Lugar's current predicament," Could Lugar Run As An Independent?":

An independent bid would cost Lugar much more time and effort. If he opts for that path, state law requires he collect nominating petitions from a number of voters equal to two percent of the votes cast in the most recent election for Secretary of State. That means Lugar would need 34,195 signatures just to reach the ballot as an independent.

Lugar also has the option of pursuing the nomination from the Libertarian Party, if he abandons his GOP campaign before Feb. 27. Although the idea seems far-fetched considering Lugar's political views -- Indiana Libertarian Party executive director Chris Spangle doesn't "see a world" where the scenario is possible -- he wouldn't need to go through a petition process. Lugar would have to win in a convention slated for a date in April 2012. Spangle isn't counting on that. "I don't see anything happening," he said.

In the unlikely result that Lugar got the Libertarian nomination, he would still be placed in the "Minor Parties" category since the Libertarian Party didn't break ten percent in the 2010 Secretary of State race.

Interestingly, Libertarian Party National Vice-Chairman Mark Rutherford is from Indiana. He's known as a leader in the pragmatic wing of the LP.

Lugar himself has yet to give any indication that he might consider such a route.

H/t Ballot Access News