From Eric Dondero:

Rand Paul's civil rights comments from last week, after his election victory, and an appearance on the MSNBC Rachel Maddow show, appear not to have caused any long-term damage, at least in Kentucky.

From Survey USA (via Rightosphere):

SurveyUSA Kentucky Senatorial Survey

•Rand Paul (R) 51%
•Jack Conway (D) 45%
•Undecided 4%

LR EXCLUSIVE

From Eric Dondero:

Michael Roy Carmany, 2nd term State Chairman for the Libertarian Party of South Carolina has revealed to Libertarian Republican, that in October of 2009, the SCLP made an overture to Governor Mark Sanford that they would fully welcome him to join the Party. The offer was made during the height of the impeachment talk, in which many Republicans in the legislature participated.

The offer was made in a formal letter on SCLP stationary. Chairman Carmany made the offer at the time of his personal troubles, because he wanted the Governor to know that Libertarians have no problem with him on social issues. Carmany told Libertarian Republican, "it's a personal issue... what you do with your personal life is nobody's business."

Governor Sanford's formal reply to the SCLP was that he was "going to remain a Republican," [because he] "believes in the Republican platform."

Additionally, that he intended to remain a Republican til the remainder of his term.

Carmany also told LR that the Libertarian Party of SC continues to support his fiscal policies, and that the offer still remains on the table.

Carmany added that if Sanford were to consider running for President on the Libertarian ticket in 2012, "we would welcome it."

Traditionalist Pioneer Spirit

by Clifford F. Thies

Commentators are taking notice that Rand Paul, who recently won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate from Kentucky, not only shares his last name with his father, the libertarian Republican Congressman from Texas, but has a first name that connects with Ayn Rand, the author of the once-again best-selling book Atlas Shrugged. Unfortunately for the name-callers, Rand Paul’s name is actually Randal, and Rand is only a nickname. And, what would it matter anyway? What if his middle name were Hussein? Would that matter?

Yes, Rand Paul is from the suddenly vibrant libertarian wing of the Republican Party. But, he is not from the Ayn Rand wing of libertarianism. If I can surmise from my long association with his father, Rand Paul is from the Laura Ingalls wing of libertarianism, a home-grown, All-American version of libertarianism.

In the mid 20th century, in 1942, two books were published that provide a convenient way to differentiate between libertarians: Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead (eventually made into a pretty good movie starring Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal) and The Discovery of Freedom by Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of Laura Ingalls (photo). Most of us know Laura Ingalls through her series of children’s books, The Little House on the Prairie, continued first by her daughter and later by Roger MacBride, and by the television series co-produced by MacBride and Michael Landon.

Ayn Rand's atheistic libertarianism; Rose Wilder Lane's traditionalism

In The Fountainhead, a visionary architect resists the tendencies of the corporate world to suppress the individual, to force us all to conform, and to repress free expression. Years later, when the U.S. Postal Service honored Ayn Rand with a postage stamp, an imposing skyscraper provided the background for her image. At a time when just about every intellectual in the world was some kind of socialist, Rand boldly proclaimed the virtue of selfishness: that each of us has one life, and, for each of us, the choices of values we make gives sanctity to those values.

As it turns out, the heroes of Rand’s later works were men and women of enormous accomplishment. They were able, from sheer inner will, to triumph over the freedom-repressing establishment. This communicates a certain elitism to Rand’s version of libertarianism. But, I will point out that her earlier works were much more sweet, much more human. In her quasi-biographical novel, We the Living, her female hero is a young woman who finds herself in an impossible situation, who feels betrayed by the social institutions of her day. I am sorry if I am giving away the plot, but, in the end, this young woman chooses to reject those social institutions and to rely only on herself.

If Ayn Rand’s immortal soul was lost to atheism, whose fault was it? Hers, for choosing to be strong, or the church’s, that had accommodated itself to “semi-socialism,” and had replaced reason with ritual and mysticism. I thank God that I was inoculated against the faults of the church by my Italian grandfather. He told me, “I believe in the church, not in the priests.” I have never expected much of the church with regard to the issue of socialism versus freedom, and I have not been disappointed.

Some Background from the Editor - Dr. Thies was a close friend and political ally of 1976 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Roger Lea MacBride. They served together for the first 5 years on the National Committee of the Republican Liberty Caucus. MacBride was Chairman, Thies was Vice-Chairman. Upon MacBride's untimely death in 1995, Thies assumed the Chairmanship.

MacBride was the adopted grandson of Rose Wilder Lane, and heir to the Little House on the Prairie fortune. Before his death MacBride authored 4 more books in the Little House series.

From the Editor:

We are nearly on the eve of the Alabama Republican Primaries scheduled for Tuesday. For whatever reason, Alabama Republicans have been particularly rambunctious this election cycle. At least three candidates for major offices in the State have produced wild, in-your-face style YouTube videos. All three have received an enormous amount of attention and hits nationwide.

We thought it would be fun to see which one of the three comes out on top among Republicans nationwide.

After you've viewed the three following videos, go to our sidebar and cast your vote. And tell other Republicans you know to come on over to LibertarianRepublican.net to do the same.

VIDEO I

VIDEO II

VIDEO III

Alabama, show America you mean business. All three of these guys deserve to be elected, just on the basis of their videography skills alone. -- Eric - The Management

From Eric Dondero:

Meet the new National Chairman for the Libertarian Party. Mark Hinkle is from California. He's a very longtime LPC member, and has served in numerous capacities including running for statewide office on the Libertarian ticket.

Hinkle won on a third ballot beating Wayne Root 268 to 228.

In a brief interview with Libertarian Republican Hinkle said:

I think the delegates have spoken quite clearly that they want to unify the LP. They want the internal battles to cease. They want to go forward from this convention united in the cause of Liberty. I very much want to work with all liberty-minded groups, special groups that we share a common interest in.

In the last year I have gone to 5 or 6 Tea Party events, particularly in Silicon Valley. They are eschewing any political labels. They want to work with all groups who are concerned that government is too big, taxes are too high.

Root was very gracious to Hinkle with his victory, and pledged his full support.

SPECIAL GUEST EDITORIAL

by Josiah Schmidt

Those of you following Connecticut's Republican Senate race are aware that, last week, one of the two establishment candidates bowed out, leaving only the establishment-endorsed Linda McMahon and the Tea Party-endorsed Peter Schiff.

As libertarian Republicans, we ought to be aware of some of the distinctions between Schiff and McMahon:

Peter Schiff opposes all bailouts. Linda McMahon does not oppose all bailouts. Peter Schiff is against TARP. Linda McMahon "supported TARP in its original form."

Peter Schiff is against cap-and-trade. Linda McMahon claims to oppose cap-and-trade, but only "in its current form," meaning she would be open to compromising on it and supporting
it.

Peter Schiff wants Roe V Wade overturned. Linda McMahon supports Roe V Wade.

Peter Schiff will devote all his time in the US Senate to forcing an immediate end to deficit spending, by leading a filibuster of the raising of the national debt ceiling and fighting every big spending bill that comes across the Senate floor. Linda McMahon does not want to go to Washington to really make a difference. She has said she would have voted to go along with raising the national debt ceiling by $3 trillion.

Peter Schiff is a millionaire with wide and deep support, who energizes the grassroots. Linda McMahon is just a millionaire.

Peter Schiff has been endorsed by all the Tea Party organizations in CT, as well as the 9 largest CT-based conservative grassroots organizations. Linda McMahon was endorsed by the establishment. Peter Schiff is a committed Republican.

Linda McMahon has donated to many Democratic politicans (including Rahm Emanuel) and was speaking at Democratic events for quite some time before deciding to run in the Republican primary. In fact, the organization who has received the most money from McMahon is the DCCC.

Peter Schiff is incredibly intelligent, is an expert on the biggest issue of the day (the economy) who predicted the 2008 recession in great detail, and can make Richard Blumenthal look like a fool in the debates. Linda McMahon has little-to-no detailed knowledge of any issues and will not be able to hold her own in an indepth debate with Blumenthal.

But I'm not touting Peter Schiff only because he is more in line with our issue positions than Linda McMahon is. I'm touting Peter Schiff, because I have come to the sincere conclusion that he is the only one with the knowledge, the credibility, the persuasiveness, the forcefulness, the courage, and the convictions necessary to get our country back on the right track.

There are very few politicians who I actually believe, when they say that they want to "bring change to government," or "shake up Washington." Even Ron and Rand Paul, who I have nothing but respect for, do not seem to me to be the type of politician that wants to be a powerful force for revolutionizing the way things are done in government. Most free marketeer politicians want to "set an example," or "encourage debate" regarding lofty, esoteric, philosophical issues. Peter Schiff, on the other hand, wants to use every tool at his disposal, to actively bring the big government machine in Washington to a grinding, screeching halt. While I have no doubt that a Senator Schiff would spark some very healthy debates over public policy and leave behind a sterling voting record, Schiff really wants to do battle with the federal government. For instance, one of his main goals is to lead a filibuster of the raising of the national debt ceiling. In the past, when Republicans have threatened to do so, the Democrats cry that such a thing would cause the federal government to have to be shut down. Peter's response? "Let them shut it down, because if we don't shut the government down, the government is going to shut the country down." Peter understands that only if we cut off the funding to the beast, will the beast be forced to start living within its means and making meaningful cuts.

Why do we need a free market warrior in Congress right now, more than we need a free market philospher? Because if policies continue on their current trajectory, this country is headed for a disaster of unprecedented magnitude. Mountains of malinvestments have amassed within our economy as a result of the ongoing attempts to keep bad businesses afloat with an unending stream of ridiculously cheap credit. When these malinvestments meet the fiery reality of consumer demand, this will result in massive bankruptcies, job losses, and credit restrictions (yes, even more). The Federal Reserve is spewing new money with reckless abandon, and when the dam of Chinese/Japanese/Saudi lending bursts, demand for the dollar crashes, and the value of our money plummets, prices will skyrocket and economic pandemonium will break loose. Somebody needs to be in the US Senate, not merely to sit back and make well-intentioned speeches, warning the government not to do the wrong thing in response to this disaster, but to stand up and use every legislative tactic and tool to force the government not to do the wrong thing in response to this disaster. And not only that, but somebody needs to be in the US Senate with the relentless persuasiveness and credibility needed to convince other Congressmen and Senators to do the right thing as well.

With all due respect to Linda McMahon, who would be nowhere near as bad a Senator as Richard Blumenthal, I don't see how anyone can believe, by any stretch of the imagination, that a Senator Linda who would fight tooth and nail to stop the raising of the national debt ceiling (which she has already said she would have voted to raise), or the next wave of bailouts (when she already said she would have supported the first wave of bailouts), or the horrible government policies that threaten to make our situation so much worse (when her
website is littered with promises to make all the same mistakes that got us into this mess in the first place). Even if Linda McMahon had the loyalty to free market principles that Peter Schiff has, I simply couldn't see her going from door to door down the corridor of Senator offices, and hammering each of them with raw logic over and over until they agree do the right thing.

Perhaps some years ago, before the size and severity of the coming crisis had been made clear, I wouldn't have fought so fervently against nominating someone like Linda McMahon. But the nature of our problem is now so grave, that we must take a chance at trying to
nominate the one person who will truly fight, day and night, for us in Washington--Peter Schiff. Schiff is aware that the average Senator spends 40% of her time trying to get re-elected (and in a blue state like Connecticut, a Republican Senator would have to spend a lot more than just 40% of their time securing re-election), which is why Schiff has pledged only one term. That means all of his time will be devoted to working for us. The fact that McMahon wants a healthy twelve years in the Senate means that she won't have the time to do the fighting Peter Schiff can do, and it shows that she doesn't understand the fact that this country's economy, as we know it, likely doesn't have more than six years left.

Peter Schiff can win the nomination, if we put all our efforts behind him, and he can make Dick Blumenthal look like a dunce on the biggest and most pressing issues of the day. But this election is about more than just denying a lowlife like Blumy a Senate seat. This election is our key to mitigating an enormous amount of the damage that the government will undoubtedly try to do, when the economy implodes and the Dollar collapses. It's time to get behind Peter Schiff.

Who is Ron Johnson?

George Will's latest column highlights the candidacy of Ron Johnson, leading Republican challenger to incumbent ultra-liberal Democrat Sen. Russ Feingold in Wisconsin. Tommy Thompson opted out of a run for the seat. Johnson has since emerged.

Excerpts from Will, "Running Not Shrugging" at RCP:

MILWAUKEE -- Before what he calls "the jaw-dropping" events of the last 19 months -- TARP, the stimulus, Government Motors, the mistreatment of Chrysler's creditors, Obamacare, etc. -- 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.

He is trim, gray-haired and suddenly gray-suited. For years he has worn jeans and running shoes to his office, but now, under spousal duress, he is trying to look senatorial -- "My wife upgraded me to brown shoes." He has been endorsed by the state party and will almost certainly win the September primary for the Republican nomination to run against Russ Feingold, who is seeking a fourth term in a year in which incumbency is considered a character flaw.

Later in the piece:

The theme of his campaign, the genesis of which was an invitation to address a tea party rally, is: "First of all, freedom."

"The most basic right," Johnson says, "is the right to keep your property." Remembering the golden age when, thanks to Ronald Reagan, the top income tax rate was 28 percent, Johnson says: "For a brief moment we were 72 percent free."

Finally:

What Samuel Johnson said of Milton's "Paradise Lost" -- "None ever wished it longer than it is" -- some readers have said of "Atlas Shrugged." Not Johnson, who thinks it is "too short" at 1,088 pages. Noting that Massachusetts "is requiring insurance companies to write polices at a loss," he says, "We're living it," referring to the novel's dystopian world in which society's producers are weighed down by parasitic non-producers.

From 2000 through 2008, sales of "Atlas Shrugged," which was published in 1957, averaged a remarkable 166,000 a year. Since Barack Obama took office, more than 600,000 copies have been sold. The novel's famous opening words -- "Who is John Galt?" -- refer to a creative capitalist, Rand's symbol of society's self-sufficient people who, weary of carrying on their shoulders the burden of dependent people, shrug. Ron Johnson would rather run.

The latest poll numbers from Rasmussen (via Rightosphere):

Rasmussen Wisconsin Senatorial Survey

•Russ Feingold (D) 46%
•Ron Johnson (R) 44%

Editor's note - Graph of painting depiction of John Galt not Ron Johnson. Any resemblence is purely coincidental.

Blackwell agrees with Rand Paul: I would have voted for 9 out of 10 provisions of the '64 Civil Rights Act

"Libertarian Politics Live" the official blog talk radio show for Libertarian Republican had two impressive guests on Thursday night's show.

Andre Traversa together with Co-Host "Right Guy" Jim Lagnese at the Switchboard hosted "Bob" Emmett Tyrrell, decades-long Editor & Publisher of the distinguished American Spectator magazine. Right off the bat, Tyrell made a bit of news by referring to himself as a fellow "libertarian."

"Make no mistake about it. Libertarian-Conservatism is winning..." -- Tyrrell (12:30 minutes in)

Tyrell went on to talk about his new book "After the Hangover," a 40-year history of the conservative movement. He also took David Frum to task for his NeoConservatism and recent criticisms of Rush Limbaugh.

Tyrell: Canadian Prime Minister Harper a "libertarian"

Tyrrell made a bit of news of a more international flavor, at one point talking of his longstandin friendship with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He called him a solid "conservative," and then went on to say he's a "libertarian." (11 minutes in.)

The second guest for a 15-minute segment was former Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell. The Secretary was on to defend Rand Paul from his uniquely conservative African-American perspective. He said that he knew Ron Paul personally and called the younger Paul a "stand up guy."

Blackwell stated categorically that if he would have been a congressman in 1964 he would have voted for the Civil Rights Act, but would have worked to repeal the one provision impeding on the rights of business owners to decide for themselves.

"The Bus owners weren't the problem; the government was the problem"

To hear the entire show please click on Radio button above.

Central Planning out of DC - a disaster

H/t Tim Daniel, Left Coast Rebel

John Stossel on Fox Business News

Let the private sector handle the clean-up; Not! the government. BP will do it better than government.

(Brief commercial at beginning)

Readers:

We've got a little something special planned for Sunday; something a bit out of the ordinary, and out-of-format.

It will be fun. It will be up later Sunday afternoon or evening.

We request your full participation. And absolutely alert your friends and political associates. We need them to participate, as well.

Hint: a certain southern state for whatever reason, has been all over YouTube recently, of a political nature. Seems every Republican running for office is trying to outdo the other.

You'll get to decide who is the best of the lot.

Eric - The Management

From Eric Dondero:

Leftists may shreik. But Libertarians, un-ashamed capitalists to the core, will be holding their Bi-Annual National Convention in St. Louis this weekend, at the luxorious downtown Renassiance Grand Hotel. Part of the Marriot chain, the hotel is described as both "distinctive and stylish."

About 600 to 800 delegates are expected to attend. Platform planks will be decided upon. Party administration business will be taken care of.

At main issue is the race for all-important Party Chair. Among the candidates include: author of "Republican Millionaire," Sports Oddsmaker and frequent Fox News guest Wayne Allyn Root of Las Vegas, longtime California Libertarian and former candidate for statewide office Mark Hinkle, and former Libertarian Party of Massachusetts Chairman George Phillies.

Speakers confirmed include former Republican Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia, and 2004 Liberarian Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik.

For more information visit the official convention website: GatewaytoLiberty.com, hosted of course, by the Libertarian Party of Missouri.

Note - the LP of Missouri is regarded as one of the most successful Libertarian affiliates in the Nation. Over 20 Libertarian Party members currently hold public office in the State, including one small town Mayor, and two members of the Springfield (pop. 80,000) City Council.

LR FOLLOW-UP

From Eric Dondero:

Updates on two very important news stories we've been following feverishly here at Libertarian Republican:

Firstly, looks like it's all crashing down around SC political trouble-maker Will Folks. RedState has the goods. Seems he was on someone's payroll after all. This last-minute attack on libertarian-leaning Republican and frontrunner for SC Gov. Nikki Haley has failed.

From Erick Erickson, RedState:

The consultant who last year was telling people about Will Folks’ story worked or works for Andre Bauer. Bauer himself admitted this week he has known about the rumor for a year... another blogger notes this: “Bauer seems to have cut some kind of deal with blogger Bill Folks.”

Three days before the Palin endorsement, Folks is singing the Bauer campaign’s praises.

Sadly, Lt. Gov. Bauer is a libertarian-leaning Republican, and one whose candidacy had been looked upon positively by Libertarian Republican.

As if there's not enough irony in this whole sordid tale, it now appears that there's a strong likelyhood that both libertarian-leaning Republicans Nikki Haley and Andre Bauer will face each other in the run-off. From Josh Painter at Texans for Palin:

South Carolina voters don't appear to be buying claims made by blogger and political operative Will Folks that he had an affair with state Rep. Nikki Haley. A new InsiderAdvantage/Statehouse Report poll shows Haley, who has the endorsement of Sarah Palin, with a 10.6 percent lead over Andre Bauer, in the GOP primary race for governor. Just before Folks' made his allegations earlier this week, a poll showed that Haley had jumped into the lead by nearly 10 points, so, despite the negative press coverage, her lead has actually grown.

Results of the poll show Haley ahead with 31.3 percent, followed by Bauer in second place at 20.7 percent. Gresham Barrett had 14.1 percent, and Henry McMaster 13.8 percent.

Secondly, some poll numbers have been released since the Rand Paul civil rights law flap hit last week. Seems Paul is holding steady in the Kentucky Senate race with a 3% lead over Democrat Ken Conway.

The poll was conducted by far leftwing Daily Kos. So, a 3% lead, can be viewed as decent considering all that has gone on this past week.

Amazingly, others on the far left are trying to conjure up another "Rand Paul scandal." Seems he made some comments on a foreign television interview a while back, and said he believes children born to illegal immigrants should not be given automatic citizenship status; that they should earn it. Presumably that could mean a stint in the military, or passing a citizenship/history test, or maybe paying a small fine.

But the bombastic headline at CNN reads: TRENDING: Paul says No citizenship for Children of Illegal Immigrants.

Likely Voters familiar w/candidates - Libt. Snitker 12%, Democrat Meek 4.5%

From Eric Dondero:

Have Democrats sunk so far as to obtain "Minor Party" status in Florida?

New polling data released by Telsel, Inc. out of St. Augustine suggests that Libertarian candidate for US Senate Alex Snitker could actually come out ahead of Democrat Kendrick Meek in the four-way race. Snitker has been running a suprisingly agressive "Ron Paul style" insurgency campaign.

The polling data also suggest libertarian/Tea Party Republican Marco Rubio in a tight race with moderate Republican-turned-Independent Gov. Charlie Crist.

From Telsel, Inc. (via Snitker site):

The question asked was, “If the election were held today, which Senate candidate would you vote for?” The survey listed the candidates in the order in which they will appear on the ballot. The results were rounded to nearest half percentage point.

Candidate All Respondents, Likely Voters
Marco Rubio (R) 32.0%, 33.5%
Kendrick Meek (D) 9.0%, 9.5%
Alexander Snitker (L) 2.5%, 2.5%
Charlie Crist (NPA) 40.0%, 40.0%
Undecided 16.5%, 14.5%

Respondents were asked if they were familiar with each of the above candidates. Among respondents who said that they were familiar with Snitker, the results changed dramatically:

Candidate All Respondents, Likely Voters
Marco Rubio (R) 30.0%, 31.0%
Kendrick Meek (D) 4.0%, 4.5%
Alexander Snitker (L) 11.0%, 12.0%
Charlie Crist (NPA) 38.5%, 36.0%
Undecided 16.5%, 16.5%

(Note - Telsel interviewed 505 respondents, 447 said they are likely to vote in the November)

The liberal-leaning Miami Herald while downplaying Snitker's numbers over Democrat Meek as "hardly worth noting," calls the Crist - Rubio numbers "interesting figures."

Meanwhile, the partisan Democrat website SwingStateProject denigrates Snitker's chances of winning, but finds the polling data "extraordinary."

Meek has been plagued by continuous ethics questions. Notes the liberal-leaning alternative newspaper Creative Loafing out of Tampa:

Meek, his staff, and family have questionable ties to a Miami developer of ill repute...

A 4th place finish for the Democrat Party in Florida could prove to be an embarrassing footnote on Election night 2010. This would especially be the case if the outcome comes close to what this new polling suggests: Democrat Meek finishes behind a Libertarian/Tea Party Republican, a fiscal conservative Republican/Independent and a hardline Libertarian Party member.

Tea Partier & "conservative Republican with a very strong Libertarian bent"

In north central New Jersey lies the county of Hunterdon. Clinton Township has a population of 2,600. And one of the town's elected councilman is a self-described "libertarian."

From the Hunterdon Review, May 27:

Spencer Peck, a 38-year resident of the township is completing a one-year unexpired term on council. He is now a candidate for election to a full three-year term. He, and his wife of 46years, Elizabeth, have six children, all of whom attended township schools.

He said he is “a conservative Republican with a very strong Libertarian bent.”

Peck was the Hunterdon County representative on the 1999 New Jersey Commemorative Quarter Commission, and he “proposed the design and motto for our state quarter.”

This year he organized the Hunterdon County Tea Party Express bus to Washington, D.C.

Among his accomplishments while in office according to Peck:

* supported our local school budget while simultaneously returning $250,000 for direct tax payer relief.”

* “protecting the autonomy of the sewer authority and their accumulated $1.5 million in cash reserves

* modification of the sign ordinance to provide a 30-day exemption for churches and other community based non profits

* voter approval of all bonded debt

The top two vote-getters will win seats on the council.

6 months in office and already a stunning success

by Eric Dondero

Americans have expressed time and time again that they want a politician who actually does what he says, and means what he says. That's Chris Christie.
WCBS TV via Drudge:

"We're very confident we've been able to close the additional budget gap in (fiscal year) 2010 and in (fiscal year) 2011 we're going to be able to solve that problem without any new taxes at all and without any real significant cuts," Christie said.

"We're not raising taxes, Marcia. That's it. It's not happening," Christie said.

Reporter Marcia Kramer gives some background:

Skipping the "fiscalese," what happened was the budget freeze imposed by Gov. Christie when he took office generated more savings than expected, enough to cover much of the lost tax money.

Kramer declares in the intro: "Remember Christie's budget freeze... looks like it worked."

So, what's keeping other governors from copying the Christie model? We already know Democrats like David Paterson of NY, Pat Quinn of Illinois, Ted Stickland of Ohio, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, et.al. are wedded to big government policies and tied to the hip of the Teachers Unions and SEIU which prevents any meaninful reforms. But what's the excuse of Republicans like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and even Georgia's Sonny Purdue?

Future Republican governors take note: Chris Christie is now the model for excellence in governing. He has set the standard. Follow it!

Palin-backed Susana Martinez now well-ahead

by Eric Dondero

Doug Turner, a young entrepreneur from Albuquerque has been the Libertarian Republican favorite in the race for New Mexico Governor. He has the endorsement of the Republican Liberty Caucus. He was featured on Libertarian Republican early on.

However, two new polls show him significantly behind the pack. Way out ahead of the 5-(wo)man pack is Susana Martinez.

From Dialing Services LLC (via Hedgehog):

GOVERNOR – NEW MEXICO – GOP PRIMARY (Dialing Services LLC)
Susana Martinez 41%
Allen Weh 30%
Doug Turner 9%
Pete Domenici Jr. 8%
Janice Arnold-Jones 4%

From SurveyUSA (via Hedgehog):

GOVERNOR – NEW MEXICO – GOP PRIMARY (Survey USA)
Susana Martinez 43%
Allen Weh 33%
Doug Turner 8%
Pete Domenici Jr. 8%
Janice Arnold-Jones 3%

Martinez best positioned to defeat Dems

Perhaps most important, Martinez is the one Republican who finishes ahead of expected Democrat nominee Diane Denish, a well-known and popular Dem elected official in the State.

From JoeMonahsNewMexico blogspot:

With two independent polls--including ours--now showing that Susana Martinez is threatening to rout Allen Weh in next Tuesday's GOP Guv primary, attention is turning fast to the main event--the face-off between Dem Diane Denish and probable nominee Martinez. And thanks to SurveyUSA we're already being titillated. A hypothetical match-up between the two women has Susana trumping Di 49% to 43%.

Martinez, Ana County Prosecutor, is described as a "stalwart conservative." She's running on Border Security First.

Two weeks ago, she picked up the endorsement of Sarah Palin.

From Josh Painter at Texas Broadside qouting New Mexico Politics blog:

Susana Martinez, who was endorsed by Sarah Palin May 15, has skyrocketed to a double-digit lead in the New Mexico Republican primary race for governor...

Clearly, this race has broken open since the ABQ Journal poll released May 16 showed Weh leading Martinez 31 to 30. Looking back, the same day that poll so favorable to Martinez was released, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin flew to ABQ to endorse the DA. The next day the Martinez camp came with an ad accusing Weh of being soft on amnesty for illegal immigrants. This was a one-two punch, plus one, that sent the wealthy businessman reeling, and this poll shows he is still staggering around the ring.

New Mexico Independent described Palin's endorsement as a "lightning strike" for her campaign.

Martinez's stance on economics is fully in line with libertarian principles. From her campaign website:

Higher taxes and excessive regulations force jobs out of New Mexico.

My primary goal will be to make certain businesses in New Mexico continue to operate in the state, while attracting others to set up shop here.

I believe we need to create new jobs in New Mexico by lowering taxes and making our state more competitive... This means I will reform the tax and regulatory system by cutting red tape and making it easier to create jobs in New Mexico than it is in neighboring states...

While working in my family’s small business, I learned a key lesson: the private citizen – not the government – assumes risk and creates opportunity.

She may not be the first choice for New Mexico Governor of the GOP's libertarian wing. But Susana Martinez appears to be a candidate that libertarians could rally behind if she secures the nomination.

By: Terry Michael
To my left-liberal Democrat friends:
As you engage in intellectual dishonesty using Rand Paul’s silly comments on the 1964 Civil Rights Act to misrepresent libertarianism, perhaps you might want to consider a little history of the political philosophy of the founder of our party, Thomas Jefferson, the original libertarian. Let me help you escape [...]

Former Star with the NBA

From Eric Dondero:

What is it about former athletes turned Republican politicians that they tend towards the Reaganesque supply-sider side of the free market economics spectrum?

Meet Chris Dudley. Talk about a political race that has been completely under the radar of the national news media. He's a former NBA star, which you would think would warrant him some major attention. And he just won the Republican nomination for Governor. But outside of Oregon, there's been little attention given to this race. Perhaps his party affiliation as an 'R' has caused the media to shy away?

Dudley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at an early age. Despite his handicap he went on to star for Yale, and later played 16 seasons in the NBA, 6 for the Portland Trailblazers. He and his wife Chris (her actual name), and their three children live in Lake Oswego.

The very latest poll has him ahead of his Democrat opponent John Kizhaber by a hair. From Rasmussen via Hedgehog:

OREGON – GOVERNOR (Rasmussen)
Chris Dudley (R) 45%
John Kitzhaber (D) 44%

Taking after another famous Sports Legend & Supply Sider

The Dudley campaign is running on Jobs First! with a special emphasis on private sector employment.

From his campaign website:

As Governor, Chris Dudley will make Oregon’s tax system more attractive for existing businesses, new businesses, entrepreneurs and people with investment income; will reduce the highest-in-the-nation state capital gains tax rate; will increase tax deductions for businesses making new capital investments (bonus depreciation); and will work to reduce Oregon’s highest-in-the-nation taxes that unfairly tax too many small, unprofitable and start-up businesses.

Now the Dudley campaign has released further details on his job creation plan. And it hails from a decidedly Jack Kemp-ian direction.

From the Statesman-Journal:

The massive shortfall in revenue is the direct result of a lack of leadership and common sense in Salem. Neglecting private-sector job growth of course will result in a decline in personal incomes and tax revenue.

The solution, however, for long-term budget shortfalls is within our grasp. We need to lower the cost of government. I have proposed doing this by ending automatic budget increases, reducing state employee health-care premiums and curbing PERS costs. And on the revenue side we can increase tax collections not by raising taxes, but by creating new taxpayers.

Reviving our economy is the only long-term way to balance our state budget without raising taxes.

Expanding the taxpayer base instead of raising taxes. What a concept?