From Eric Dondero:

Smokers, gun owners, beer drinkers, don't have a friend in Obama. So-called sin taxes have gone up an astounding 41% since Obama was elected.

From Reuters "U.S. pockets $20.6 bln in sin taxes in FY'09" July 16:

The U.S. federal government collected $20.6 billion in taxes on alcohol, tobacco, firearms and ammunition in fiscal year 2009, up 41 percent from the previous fiscal year, according to the annual report of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Part of the U.S. Treasury Department, the TTB credited most of the $6 billion rise in revenues collected to the increased taxes on the tobacco industry as a result of the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act passed in February 2009.

(H/t Drudge)

Witnessed the Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989, and the end of Soviet domination

Jonathan Paton is now running slightly ahead of incumbent Democrat Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the race for Congress AZ CD-8. The District includes Tucson and a huge area of the border region.

Via Hedgehog:

US HOUSE – ARIZONA – CD8 (Tarrance)
Jonathan Paton (R) 45%
Gabrielle Giffords (D-inc) 44%

Paton is a libertarian-leaning conservative. His background includes small business, world travel and a stint in the Army Reserves. From his Bio:

As a student at Sabino High School, Jonathan worked at Marie Callender’s as a busboy and dishwasher, saving up the funds to go to Germany as a Rotary exchange student. His year abroad in 1989 was an important time in Germany’s history. He watched the Berlin Wall fall and took with him the images of people experiencing freedom for the first time.

After graduating from the University of Arizona summa cum laude and with honors in German and Russian, Jonathan enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and was promptly named Soldier of the Year.

Participated in the Liberation of the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein

In the State Senate Paton has been something of a crusader against coruption, particularly in state government. He went up against ex-Gov. Janet Napolitano on welfare, and transparency on child protection services. He is currently Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman.

On issues of great interest to Pro-Defense Libertarians and Rightwing Human Rights advocates:

•Jonathan wrote the nation’s first law to crack down on human smuggling -- a law that has already locked up more than 1,000 human smugglers.

•Jonathan wrote the law to divest state investments from Iran after seeing first hand in Iraq the IEDs manufactured in that country to kill American soldiers.

•Jonathan eliminated the state income tax for active duty military personnel, a $10 million tax cut for military families.

A Republican win over Giffords would be a major upset, and add greatly to the chances of GOP control of the House. The Giffords seat, although targetted, originally was not high on the list of "likely" Republican pick-ups.

PatonforCongress.com

From Eric Dondero:

Texas Governor Rick Perry unequivocally stated his support for Arizona and Governor Jan Brewer in their fight against the Feds over illegal immigration. Perry has decided to pull out of a border states conference with governors from 6 Mexican states. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have said they will attend. Indeed, Richardson will host the conference, which was originally set for Phoenix, until the 6 Mexican governors threatened a boycott.

Texas Tea Party supporters have been urging Perry to take a more definitive stance in favor of Arizona.

Appearing on Fox News, Perry was asked by Neal Cavuto if he'd be attending. He said without flinching, "I won't be there."

He further stated:

"I talked to Jan [Brewer] early on and I said, ‘Listen, we’re not going to be coming to the meeting. Regardless of what anybody else is saying … we’re going to support you."

50 to 41%

From Eric Dondero:

In a previous poll Perry had 48% to ex-Houston Mayor Bill White's 43%. Now the libertarian-leaning Governor has widened his lead to 9%.

From Rasmussen July 15:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Lone Star State shows Perry with 50% support. White, a former mayor of Houston, picks up 41% of the vote. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

In mid-June, Perry held a 48% to 40% lead over White.

Wilders and his Freedom Party are "willing to fight for libertarian social values"

From Eric Dondero:

David Warren a traditionalist Catholic columnist for the Ottawa Citizen penned an incredibly open and frank editorial about Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders. Titled, "A breach in the Islamist-leftist alliance," Warren admits those on the Left don't know what to make of Wilders.

The views of his Freedom Party are Pro-Free Enterprise on economics, Pro-civil liberties and tolerance on social matters, yet stridently Pro-Defense on National Security. These positions don't fit traditional political labels.

From the Ottawa Citizen, July 17:

Geert Wilders is a little too liberal for my taste. His Freedom Party, which made huge strides in the recent Dutch general election -- leaving Wilders only about two heartbeats short of their prime minister's office -- is the very opposite of socially conservative.

The more straitlaced sort of North American visitor, who almost involuntarily compares parts of Amsterdam with Sodom and/or Gomorrah, will get no sympathy from the Freedom Party.

This creates an interesting challenge for our progressive types. They would like to think of Wilders as a "fascist," or better, some kind of fundamentalist Christian crazy. They have observed that his movement is catching populist fire, and may be spreading across Europe at Tea-Party speed.

Half-naked Euro Babes in Amsterdam in stark contrast to drab, gloomy Muslim immigrants

Warren continues:

Indeed, such a visitor may find that his only allies, in calling down the wrath of the heavens upon the antinomianism of the contemporary urban Dutch, are preaching in the local Islamist mosque.

Given the contrast between the modest demeanour of many young immigrant Muslim women, with their heads covered and their strollers full of babies -- and that of so many "native" young western women, childless but provocatively half-naked under the summer sun -- I have sometimes myself wondered which side I am on.

Warren then goes on to point out that in many social respects, traditional religionism in Europe, is closer to that of the strident social conservatism of Islam instead of the libertinism of modern Euros.

The Roman Catholic religion to which I subscribe also requires modesty in female dress... It also requires chastity, and constant acknowledgement of God.

The point here is that freedom has undergone redefinition, since the so-called "Enlightenment" in the West, and has been confused with licence in our post-modern era.

The Freedom Party of Geert Wilders takes this post-modern notion of freedom more or less for granted. It is hardly a Christian political force. It is "rationalist" in the Enlightenment tradition, and it is rational insofar as it detects a conflict between libertarian social values, and the strictures of even conventional Islam (let alone radical Islamists and terrorists). It is willing to fight for the preservation of these post-modern values, even if this requires banning mass Muslim immigration.

Recent interview of Geert Wilders speaking of his effort to stop Radical Islamic invasion of the West.

Stunning Turn-around!

Just one year ago, Obama led Sarah Palin by 12 points in a similar match-up. Now, Palin has pulled into a tie.

Breaking from Public Policy Polling (PPP):

With his approval numbers hitting new lows it's no surprise that Barack Obama's numbers in our monthly look ahead to the 2012 Presidential race are their worst ever this month. He trails Mitt Romney 46-43, Mike Huckabee 47-45, Newt Gingrich 46-45, and is even tied with Sarah Palin at 46. The only person tested he leads is Jan Brewer, who doesn't have particularly high name recognition on the national level at this point.

PPP surveyed 5 GOP likely opponents for Obama. All, except Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer were tied or ahead of Obama. Romney did best 46 to 43%. Gingrich and Huckabee also polled slightly ahead.

Tonight's show features guests Gilbert Wilkerson, who is on the board of the Richmond Tea Party, and Marissa Martinez, with the Lardo Tea Party in Lardo Texas and David Webb, co-founder of Tea Party365 in NY.

The topic will be the NAACP's allegations that the Tea Party is racist. This panel of guests will discuss the allegations and defend the Tea Party. Host Andre Traversa with Co-Host Jim Lagnese. Call in at 1-646-915-9887. Listen to the show Here.

2 Democrats on 3-member Election Panel vote to kick her off

From Jeff Wartman:

It's pretty clear that the Chicago machine is terrified of the change they know will come -- people are fed up with corruption and people who stand up against corruption are going to their number one target. Because Cedra is that person standing up against corruption, we need to stand up with her in support.

From the Chicago Tribune editorial "Mom vs. Machine Illinois Senate hopeful Cedra Crenshaw":

From the start, Illinois Senate hopeful Cedra Crenshaw wasn't just running against Democratic state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, of Joliet. A darling of the tea party movement, she sometimes sounds like she's running against Barack Obama and the Democratic Congress. These days, she's running hard against the Chicago Machine, which seems quite afraid of her.

Crenshaw, of Bolingbrook, is an accountant and auditor turned stay-at-home mom. She's also African-American. Three kids and a mortgage "catapulted me into the conservative I am today," she says. Her campaign stresses fiscal responsibility and government accountability; she supports Second Amendment rights and traditional marriage and opposes abortion.

With no candidate in the primary, Will County Republican leaders needed someone to challenge Wilhelmi in November, and Crenshaw said yes. Nominated on March 30, she had only 19 days to collect 1,000 signatures before the filing deadline.

She turned in 1,500.

And then the Democrats noticed.

The Will County Electoral Board threw her off the ballot last week after the Democrats sent in attorney Michael Kasper to keep her off the ballot. The two Democrats on the election board rejected her. The lone Republican voted to let her run. A Will County judge will consider her appeal Wednesday.

Crenshaw was bounced from the ballot, which just goes to show you how panicked the Dems are about the prospect of being held accountable in November.

CedrawCrenshaw.com

Editor's Note - Jeff Wartman is a former Libertarian Party of Illinois Exec. Board member turned Republican activist (local GOP precinct committeeman and campaign volunteer). He is a Sports fanatic, (Bears & Blackhawks, of course), who lives in Chicago.

From Eric Dondero:

In a move somewhat unusual for the notoriously hardline and purist Georgia Libertarian Party, the GA LP's US Senate candidate Chuck Donovan has praised the States' two Republican Senators who will be voting against the Supreme Court nomination of Elena Kagan.

The Peachtree Corners Weekly interviewed Donovan:

“It is astounding that someone with such restrictive views of the First Amendment would be nominated for the Supreme Court,” says Chuck Donovan. “Americans should be free to speak out against our politicians whenever and however they want. That is what our Founding Fathers intended to ensure with the First Amendment.”

“Her support of government power stands in stark opposition to civil rights and protection from government abuse.”

The article goes on to state:

Mr. Donovan is pleased to know that both of Georgia’s current Senators have pledged to vote against Elena Kagan’s nomination...

Georgia's two Republican Senators are Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. Donovan is running against Isakson who faces only nominal Democrat opposition.

New Video from Americans for Limited Government

Selective free speech rights.

From Eric Dondero:

The Headline at Johnson's website says it all:

Ron takes the lead, 47 to 46!

This is the very first poll to show ultra-liberal Democrat incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold falling behind his likely Republican opponent. Rasmussen now gives a slight edge to GOPer Ron Johnson.

Just released from Rasmussen:

Feingold and his chief Republican challenger Ron Johnson remain locked in a neck-and-neck battle for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Wisconsin finds Johnson with 47% support, while the Democrat earns 46% of the vote. Two percent (2%) like some other candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided.

A previous poll by Rasmussen had Feingold ahead 46 to 44%.

Johnson is a devotee of liberty philospher Ayn Rand. From a George Will column in May:

the idea of running for office never crossed Ron Johnson's mind. He was, however, dry tinder -- he calls Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" his "foundational book" -- and now is ablaze, in an understated, upper-Midwestern way. This 55-year-old manufacturer of plastic products from Oshkosh is what the tea party looks like.

"In short, Al Qaeda is a racist organization that treats black Africans like cannon fodder and does not value human life," - President Obama

From Cliff Thies:

In an interview with the African Broadcasting Company, and referring to the terrorist attacks in Uganda that left 74 dead, President Barack Obama actually used the words "radical" and "Islam" in the same sentence. He said that Islam is a great religion, but "a radical version" of Islam opposes "basic human rights," and that this is absolutely wrong. He says that he thinks the vast majority of of people of Islamic faith agree with him.

From Fox News Politics:

When asked about opinions attributing radical Islam's impact on the development and stability on the African continent, Obama called Islam "a great religion," but added that the radical version views as anti-Islam "any efforts to modernize, any efforts to provide basic human rights, any efforts to democratize."

"And I think that is absolutely wrong," he said. "I think the vast majority of people of the Islamic faith reject that. I think the people of Africa reject it."

Obama also accused terror groups such as Al Qaeda an Al Shabab of being racist. "What you've seen in some of the statements that have been made by these terrorist organizations is that they do not regard African life as valuable in and of itself," he said. "They see it as a potential place where you can carry out ideological battles that kill innocents without regard to long-term consequences for their short-term tactical gains."

We would like to add a few things: First, we think the radicals have hijacked Islam. But, they should not be allowed to referred to themselves as Muslims. They need to be ex-communicated by the leaders of the Muslim community and condemned for dishonoring God's holy name. When the day comes that they are ex-communicated, no should refer to terrorists as members, even as radical members, of any larger group encompassing many men and women of good will. We are happy to see the evolution of popular opinion and the teachings of the most revered scholars of the Muslim community on this matter.

Editor's Comment - Obviously, it pains us greatly to offer any praise whatsoever to Obama. In over a year and a half of his Presidency this is the first time we've ever had anything positive to say about him. But even a broken clock is right twice a day.

"Numerous changes need to be made in our bureaucratic line-up in order to bring our nation back to recognizing our highest political value -- individual liberty " -- Clint Didier

From Eric Dondero:

Just breaking from Rasmussen...

Washington's Senate race looks increasingly like a referendum on incumbent Democrat Patty Murray with two Republican candidates edging past her this month.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Washington State finds Republican hopefuls Dino Rossi and Clint Didier both earning 48% support in match-ups with Murray. She, in turn, picks up 45% of the vote against the two GOP challengers. Less than 10% of voters in both cases prefer some other candidate in the race or are undecided.

Clint Didier (R) 48%
Patty Murray (D-inc) 45%

Didier is of course, a former Washington Redskin, having played for the team for 7 years, and 3 more years for the Green Bay Packers. He was in 3 Super Bowls with the Skins.

Didier is the Tea Party-backed candidate in the race. Didier won the endorsement of Sarah Palin early on. Interestingly, on his campaign website Didier lists Palin as one of his greatest heros along with "Jesus Christ," and "Ronald Reagan."

Palin's endorsement:

“I’m proud to support Clint Didier as he willingly puts it all on the line to serve Washington State in the U.S. Senate for all the right reasons! This selfless, inspiring, commonsense constitutional conservative will help put our country on the right track. Please visit Clint’s website and follow him on Twitter. Let’s get behind #86!”

And from the other end of the libertarian movement, Didier has won Ron Paul's backing, as well. Paul's endorsement, via the Daily Paul:

“I am proud to endorse Clint Didier for United States Senate.

“The American people need more than just another vote. We need a man of principle who will always stand up for what is right. We need a citizen politician who will represent US. Clint Didier is just that kind of individual.”

Though Didier is the favorite of the hard right, Rossi is supported by a number of conservative GOPers, as well. It's been a relatively friendly GOP race between the two so far. Washington has a winner-take-all top two getter primary race with all parties participating.

ClintDidier.org

Like Father, (un)like Son

From Eric Dondero:

An incredibly succinct and apt description of Rand Paul, Republican candidate for US Senate - Kentucky - from longtime Human Rights contributing editor and Washington Times contributor Cliff Kincaid, in a recent column (via RightsideNews):

His son Rand Paul is running for the Senate in Kentucky as a libertarian Republican who believes in a strong national defense.

Ironically, the comment came in an article blasting Rand Paul's father Ron Paul for his lack of support for a strong defense, "Ron Paul Helps Obama Slash National Defense."

A Pot Legalizing Republican too

Tom Emmer, libertarian-conservative for Minnesota Governor has a full-time state representative as his statewide campaign manager. Rep. Mark Buesgens is described by his GOP primary opponent Tom Rees, a former legislator, as a highly skilled political operative, but perhaps a bit too over-extended.

But it is Buesgen's views on the proper role of state government that has Rees most concerned.

From the St. Paul HometownSource.com, July 15:

Additionally, Rees argues that Buesgens is less conservative than libertarian.

He is especially troubled, Rees explained, by Buesgens’ attitude towards state parks.

During a House floor debate last March, Buesgens, asked by a Duluth lawmaker whether he would be willing to close and sell the state parks, replied “Yes.”

Buesgens is viewed as a bit of a edgie rightwinger on other issues, as well.

From the Minn. Post June 3 "Tom Emmer's campaign manager is a non-traditional choice -- and a non-traditional Republican":

He's not so much right of center as he is an outspoken libertarian, who frequently does not attend House Republican caucus meetings because he doesn't like the idea of "group think."

As a state rep, Buesgens was pretty much a predictable "No!" vote on anything proposed by the DFL-controlled Legislature. Yet, as a libertarian, he would occasionally come up with a surprise vote.

Rep. Mark BuesgensFor example, in the 2009 session, Buesgens voted for a bill that would have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana. That bill passed in both the House and Senate but eventually was vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"The fight for freedom and (against) Islamization as I see it is a worldwide phenomenon and problem to be solved"

From Eric Dondero:

The United States, Canada, Britain, France and Germany; those are the Nations Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders hopes to rally to take a stronger stance against immigration to the West from Muslim nations. Wilders argues Islam's intolerant views clash with Western values of women's rights, alternative lifestyles, free speech, and protection of Jews.

The AP headlines:

Wilders to launch international anti-Islam group

His plan:

Wilders, who calls Islam a "fascist" religion and wants an end to immigration from Muslim nations to the West, has seen his support in the Netherlands soar in recent years.

His Freedom Party won the biggest gains in a national election last month, coming third with 24 seats, up from the nine his party held in the last parliament.

Wilders is due to stand trial in October on hate speech charges.

Interestingly, later in the piece Wilders is quoted as distancing himself from the highly controversial British Nationalist Party (BNP), suggesting more of an alliance with elements of the Conservative Party or even Nigel Farage's British Independence Party.

For the U.S. Wilders has given no indication as to which political alliances he may sake.

According to AP, he's naming the group - International Freedom Alliance. Towards the end of the year he promises an ambitious speaking agenda in all 5 countries to build support.

Ayn Rand would be Proud

Atlas Shrugs website publisher and self-described "Ayn Randian" Pamela Geller has appeared on numerous major media shows in the last week on the issue of the proposed New York City Ground Zero Mosque. The list of her appearances include:

MSNBC News

CNN's America Morning

NBC's Nightly News

CNN Newsroom

Fox & Friends

Fox News Huckabee Show

On MSNBC Geller said:

We know in Islamic history that they build triumphal mosques on the cherished sites of sacred lands of conquered lands. So how is building a mosque, looking down at the cemetery of ground zero where they're still finding remains outreach?

9/11 Truther Alex Jones upset with Schiff's Goldwater Republican views

Jewish Republican and libertarian candidate for the GOP nomination for US Senate in Connecticut Peter Schiff, re-stated his tough stance on Iran on the Alex Jones show recently. Jones, a strident Ron Paulist and Anti-War activist was taken aback by Schiff's stridency.

Examiner columnist Martin Hill describes the exchange:

Jones asked Schiff about some comments he had made late last year regarding Iran's possible developlent of nuclear weapons. Explaining that he does not want to invade and occupy Iran, Schiff nevertheless stated once again that if Iran developed a nuclear weapon, the U.S. should use its' military might to bomb the facility and "blow the place up'".

Here are Schiff's responses:

"I've got to win a Republican primary, I can't appear as if I don't want any national defense. I don't think a nuclear Iran is something we should allow. The terrorists are not rational. They're willing to die for a cause. If we know for sure, for sure, if theyre developing a nuclear weapon..."

And later on:

".. we want to wait until Iran actually drops a nuclear weapon , smuggles it into a major american city , murders millions of people, and then we'll respond. That is not the credible policy for a senate candidate, I don't think."

Jones reacted with ingidnation, suggesting that Schiff had Pro-Bush views.

For Jones, Human Rights be damned

Eric Dondero:

AntiWar activist and left-libertarian conspiratorialist Alex Jones, said on his nationally-syndicated radio show recently, that friendship with Iran would be the best course. Jones was interviewing libertarian Republican Senate candidate Peter Schiff. The GOPer was taking a more Pro-Defense stance, which angered Jones.

Finally, at one point in the interview, Jones proclaimed himself to be a Ron Paul supporter, and then added this:

"if we try to be friends with Iran that this wouldnt be an issue..."

The audio podcast can he heard here.

Jones by advocating friendship with Iran, ignored the massive Human Rights violations of the Iranian government. Not once during the broadcast did he bring up the subject of the deaths of thousands of Iranian protesters in the Streets of Tehran during the pro-democracy demonstrations in the summer of 2009.

Ahmadinejad and his Radical Islamic government are also deniers of the Holocaust. Ironically, Jones himself is a 9/11 Truther who believes Islamists did not attack the United States, and has even raised the possibility that Jews in New York, knew of the attacks ahead of time.

(H/t for transcript, The Examiner)

Photo of the death of Neda, Pro-Freedom activist in Iran killed by Revolutionary Guards during the election aftermath, June of 2009.