The Choice: Liberty vs. Serfdom

Josiah Schmidt of Rightosphere has an interview with Stephen Baily, candidate for US Congress - Colorado CD 2. He is running for the GOP nomination. If he's successful, in the fall, he'll face Democrat incumbent Rep. Jared Polis.

During the interview Baily first talked of his reasons for running, and evokes a Hayekian ideal, from "The Road to Serfdom":

At the national level, the election of Obama and strong majorities of progressive Democrats in Congress has created a direct and immediate threat to our liberties and the U.S. Constitution. I received great personal motivation from the numbers and principles of Tea Party and 9-12 participants who also value freedom and constitutionally-limited government.

At the level of our congressional district, we are represented by a progressive socialist — Jared Polis. The objectives that Mr. Polis seeks are detrimental to our country and our freedoms. The people of the 2nd Congressional District deserve a choice between Mr. Polis who will use the power of the government to initiate force against its citizens and someone who reserves governmental power for use in retaliation against those who initiate force and violate the rights of others. That is, a choice between Liberty and Serfdom.

Randian Hero fighting against the Statist Machine

Later in the interview he gives a lengthy list of free market economists and philosophers as his inspirations:

I am the only candidate in this race that understands that the proper and moral purpose of government is the protection of our individual rights as Thomas Jefferson stated in the Declaration of Independence. In support of moral government and our rights, I will work to restore constitutionally limited government, reduce government spending to functions that protect our rights, reduce taxes to the minimum necessary to support these government functions and eliminate the regulatory state...

I subsequently refined my political ideology through reading the works of Ayn Rand and free-market oriented and classic liberal academics such as Milton Friedman, von Mises, Hazlett, Ridpath, Reisman, Binswanger and Peikoff in the areas of economics, philosophy and politics. I subscribed to the Wall Street Journal while taking an economics class in my early 20’s and have been a continuous subscriber since.

Baily is a Veteran of the US Air Force and an Engineer.

Mike Wherry for Indiana Secretary of State and US Senate Candidate Rebecca Sink-Burris are going to be on Abdul-Hakim Shabazz on Newstalk 1430 WXNT tomorrow morning.  Tune in between 8-8:30 to hear them!

Finally!  Someone who actually understands statistical analysis comes to the defense of the Tea Party Movement to expose some of the more vicious myths about our fellow Americans.
Ever since the “Tea Parties” gained national attention, the debate has raged on whether they are a grass-roots protest movement in the proud tradition of American dissent, or [...]

John Samples (author of The Struggle to Limit Government) and the Cato Institute offer advice to Tea Partiers in this video clip best summarized by these five bullet points:
1. Republicans aren’t always your friends.
2. Some tea partiers like big government.
3. Democrats aren’t always your enemies.
4. Smaller government demands restraint abroad.
5. Leave social issues to the [...]

Public Employee of the Year

See Also: Federal pay ahead of private industry by USA Today

Even NeoNazis rights to Free Speech should be Defended

From Eric Dondero:

There isn't a blog in the entire blogosphere that is more passionately anti-Socialist, including anti-National Socialist than Libertarian Republican (besides perhaps Right Guy, and Pam Geller's Atlas Shrugs), .

But being a libertarian sometimes means defending some truly disgusting and revolting behavior. We libertarians believe that individuals should be free to do as they please, so long as they are not infringing upon the rights of others. This includes wearing totally offensive attire.

Three NeoNazis were attacked after a Punk Show at the legendary Khyber Club in Philadelphia over the weekend. But the club owner expressed a rather libertarian view, defending their right to dress as they wish. Khyber's Stephen Simmons is Jewish.

From Philly.com via Conservative Focus blog:

Khyber owner Stephen Simons, who was not at the show, said he had been told that the crowd inside "largely ignored and mocked" the three men.

But after they exited the club, on 2nd Street near Chestnut, they were attacked by a group of up to 50 people, he said.

[A blogger described] "Nazi-inspired symbols" and as wearing "camouflaged combat pants; woolen, WWII-era coats adorned with SS emblems and authentic Third Reich hats with Nazi insignias emblazoned atop them."

"I guess being on 2nd Street in SS uniforms on a Friday night is a way to incite a semi-riot," Simons said.

"As a Jew, I am totally offended by them wearing the uniforms," he said. "But, as an American citizen, I totally uphold their right to dress however they want to dress."

For the record, I too am Jewish. Simons is correct. The three individuals represent a reprehensible ideology. But they should be free to wear Nazi clothes without the fear of being physically attacked.

"We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act. But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created an unacceptable situation." -- Arizona Governor Jan Brewer

by Jim Lagnese, Right Guy

With all the hoopla and hand wringing going on about the immigration bill just passed in Arizona, a Rasmussen poll shows that 70% of Arizonans support the bill.

This is no surprise. While the hollywood and left wing set decry the law, they do not have to live in Arizona where the consequences of illegal immigration are mote dire than getting your landscaping done cheaply.

There are real dire consequences there, like murder, rape and robbery, and also the toll on social services like healthcare and education. We are talking about illegal aliens. A wave of Obama's magic wand with amnesty will not change the negative impact on our society. All it will do is legitimize an underclass and create a constituency for democrats. No matter what they say, that is the real reason behind amnesty.

Arizona is the first to put it's foot down, with Sheriff Joe Arpaio leading the charge. I expect other states to follow suit.

For the record, I firmly believe legal immigration is a good thing. All of us got here from immigration, including so called native americans. The culture we have had was one of excellence, freedom and responsibility coupled with opportunity. This means we welcome those that take initiative, work hard, obey the laws, and live here responsibly. The reward is that people from other countries not only live a better life here and contribute, but they also move up socio-economically. This doesn't happen so well in other countries.

Furthermore, allowing illegal immigration or granting amnesty does not send the best here. There is no standard, just that if you can walk across a desert, you can come here. What about a Korean Physicist or Indian Computer Scientist that does everything by the book and has to wait years? It's hardly just or fair to give someone a leg up just because they live next door and it suits the democrats political purposes.

The bottom line is that while we need to adjust our immigration laws to allow more people to come and live here permanently, and to get the best, we also have a responsibility to those already here to ensure public safety, and justice to those who do things by the book. American Exceptionalism demands that we do so, not lay out our flag as a door mat to those who couldn't give a shit.

From Eric Dondero:

Two days ago, upon the signing of legislation cracking down on illegal immigration by Republican Governor Jan Brewer, the leading Libertarian candidate for Governor in the State, Bruce Olsen issued the following statement (via IPR):

Well, Governor Brewer , your making it tough to run against ya. Im proud to call you Governor. This will be the first step , other states must follow suit. Now its up to the county Sheriffs to do their job. The federal government will attempt to stomp on this legislation. All legal Arizonans must stand with our Governor , the legislature, and our law enforcement agencies. Its a great day for Arizona. The message is loud and clear. If your here illegally, leave. Kuddo’s Governor Brewer!

He received immediate criticism for his statement from Party insiders, including his opponent for the LP nomination, radical Libertarian and perrennial candidate Barry Hess:

Bruce displays the thought process I see all the time in disgruntled Republicans. He makes it clear that he has no interest in forwarding the libertarian philosophy...

Olsen shot back yesterday with a post on his blog, the aptly named Arizona Sentinel:

For those of you that are of the Libertarian Party, let me direct you to a book written by your VP Nominee in 2008, Wayne Allen Root. I think we can assume that since Wayne made it to the number two slot, it stands to reason that the majority of the Libertarian party agrees with his position on illegal immigration. After reading Waynes book” The Conscience of a Libertarian” I knew I had found a political home.

Let me suggest that you buy this book and pay particular attention to Chapter 21 page 223-233. Let me also suggest that you join a minuteman group, go to the border, participate in several events. After 5-6 events, I will bet a big mac and fries that your views will be different than they are today. By the way, I like mine with cheese. I can also tell you that having traveled all over the state since September collecting signatures from registered Libertarians. The views expressed above by nay sayers are not common in rural Arizona. I've received emails from registered Libertarians from all over the state, supporting border security. And the Independants are all over making our borders secure and removing illegal aliens from our states.

Olsen and Barry Hess will face off in a primary and Olsen is expected to prevail in the primary given his support statewide by constitutionalists, right libertarians and those concerned with immigration. They will face off in the primary, but not at the Libertarian Party convention.

Note - Olsen is a Veteran of the United States Military (bio). He served in both the US Navy as a crew chief and then later did a tour in the US Air Force. Hess's website bio lists no Military Service, rather he was an English major in college.

The State Convention for the Libertarian Party of Indiana held over this past weekend was our most successful one to date!  The light of Liberty is alive and well in the Hoosier state.  Now, we need your help again.  Check out the candidates page on our site and support the Libertarian candidate in your area! [...]

Recently Gov. Daniels (R) renewed his call for state agencies to reduce their operating budgets by up to 15% in the face of Indiana’s growing budget shortfalls.  States like California are already in dire financial straights.  Libertarian-leaning Reason Magazine suggests that perhaps state programs need to start “budgeting for outcomes”.

Ever wonder why our nation’s capital is known as “Washington, District of Columbia”?  And not Washington, MD?  or even Washington, VA?  Most Libertarians are of the “history buff” persuasion so we thought you might enjoy this article on the Constitutional and state legalities behind the name of our seat of government.

From Eric Dondero:

Geert Wilders, leader of the libertarian-leaning Freedom Party in the Netherlands, held a major press conference at The Hague on Friday. He issued the Party's Manifesto heading into June elections.

From Radio Netherlands:

ECONOMICS

Referring to the economic crisis affecting the Netherlands, the Freedom Party is proposing drastic cuts. Mr Wilders expects to be able to save 21,000 million euros. His main targets are what he refers to as "left-wing hobbies". Development aid [to foreign nations], for instance, should be limited to emergency aid. Drastic cuts are suggested in contributions to the EU budget, and in defence spending. Child support paid to parents whose children do not live in the Netherlands should be cut, and the number of public broadcast channels should be minimised.

FOREIGN POLICY/DEFENSE

The Freedom Party wants to make Dutch foreign policy subservient to the Netherlands' interest, to the exclusion of other considerations. Fighting Islam should be a central tenet, the Freedom Party election manifesto says. The Netherlands should be less involved in international military missions, and the savings which that yields can be transferred to the national police, to fight what the party calls "Moroccan street terrorists" in the Netherlands. The PVV also says that the Netherlands should leave the European Union if Turkey becomes a member state. Another remarkable point is the plan to refer to Jordan as Palestine, because, says the PVV, that country has been the de facto independent Palestinian state since 1946.

Radio Netherlands also reports that Wilders vowed he would not enter into a coalition government with leftwing parties under any circumstances. He did make the concession, that if PVV prevails without a clear majority, or if the Party finished 2nd or 3rd, he'd be willing to work with the Center Right Christian Democrats to form a government.

H/t LR reader Mike Zeldis

CNN WITH ANDERSON COOPER

Ali compares the threats to the brutal death of her friend, and partner Theo van Gogh, in the Netherlands in 2004. She says, "This is clearly a threat." Cooper seems to agree calling it a "chilling affect" on free speech rights.

LR FOLLOW-UP

Warren Redlich, Upstate Attorney and Republican Town Councilman, has secured the Libertarian nomination for Governor of New York. Redlich also plans to seek the Republican nomination for Governor challenging four other candidates, including former Congressman Rick Lazio.

From a Redlich campaign press release:

Redlich was chosen over Sam Sloan of New York City by a margin of 27 to 17 in a vote at the LP state convention. Kristin Davis (the Manhattan Madam) had previously expressed interest. She did not attend the convention and her name was not placed in nomination.

The convention was held on Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Albany.

For his part, Roger Stone told Libertarian Republican:

"Redlich is the biggest asshole Ive met in 35 years and 8 Presidential campaign. A leaping, bounding screaming asshole. A self important turd. A short bald ugly little man. No wonder he can't get elected to anything. Who would vote for this swine?"

Kristin Davis issued a press release before the convention stating her strong desire to run with the endorsement of the NYLP but also expressing her intention to run for Governor under the Free Libertarian Party label if that would not be forthcoming. From the release:

My campaign manager Roger Stone is a longtime Libertarian and has written in favor of gay marriage, supply-side tax cuts, legalization of drugs, and abortion rights. He is hardly the toast of New York elitist RINOs. He knows how to win 50,000 votes for my campaign. I am the candidate. I have no other agenda other than winning 50,000 votes to send a shockwave through Albany.

Now, obscure attorney Warren Redlich, who is seeking the Republican nomination for Governor and also wants to be the NYLP nominee, has publicly called me a ‘whore.’ I ran an escort service. I never worked as a prostitute. I was a business women engaged in an illegal business. I paid a penalty for my offense but I do not need to be slandered by Mr. Redlich.

Because Mr. Redlich’s attacks on me appeared in the Albany Times Union, I have instructed my attorney to file suit against Mr. Redlich for defamation. Name calling has no place in public political discourse between candidates.

As an attorney, Mr. Redlich knows this slander is actionable. I really believe he owes me and every Libertarian an apology for his boorish and offensive behavior. I would be honored to be the NYLP candidate for Governor. I am prepared to finance the petition drive for myself and the entire NYLP ticket. I believe I can raise and spend up to $1 million to communicate our Libertarian agenda and win 50,000 votes.

I will petition an entire slate on to the ballot as the FREE LIBERTARIAN PARTY which was the name of the NYLP but was abandoned after 1972.

Note - the Sec. of State of New York, required the Libertarian Party to list itself on the ballot as the "Free Libertarian Party," for the first years of its existence, so as not to create confusion with the States' longstanding Liberal Party. Both were abbreviated as "LIB".

by Eric Dondero

This is why we need the Libertarian Party. I'm often chided by my mainline Republican friends for maintaining my longstanding membership in the LP, and even openly supporting Libertarian Party candidates on occasion.

It's precisely because of the role of agitator the Libertarian Party plays on the GOP. They have magnificently displayed this role with the current Georgia transportation budget increase.

From WSB:

After three years of wheeling and dealing to come up with a solution to help fund transportation, the Georgia General Assembly has approved a funding plan that would let residents vote whether to tax themselves to pay for needed improvements.

House lawmakers voted 141-29 for passage of the bill after the Senate voted 43-8 to let regions decide whether to increase the 4-cent sales tax by one penny to pay for roads, bridges and transit. The bill – HB277 – now moves to Gov. Sonny Perdue for his signature, which would give voters the final say in the 2012 presidential primary.

The response from the Libertarian Party of Georgia (via Peachtree Corners Weekly Online):

Libertarian Party of Georgia Chairman Daniel N. Adams says, "Republicans have given Georgians more than enough evidence in the last four months to prove that they are the pro-tax party in this state. They are only fiscally conservative when it's politically convenient, not when it matters."

"As the Republican-controlled legislature continues to increase taxes and fees, the silence from Tea Party leaders is stunning," says Jason Pye, Legislative Director of the state Libertarian Party. "There has been only one protest against these hikes, and that was more than a month ago. There have been no promises to primary members, in fact, the local and state Tea Party leaders have endorsed legislators that voted for these hikes."

In fairness, the GA LP ignored Democrats entirely. Ironically the Dems are attacking the Republicans just as harshly for not allowing for even more tax increases.

Continuing from WSB:

Despite the measure's supporters, Democrats assailed the plan. They say it will be four years at least before Georgia ever sees any additional money and that the legislation failed to do enough to help MARTA, Atlanta's struggling mass transit system.

But that's no excuse. Republicans in the Legislature shouldn't have even considered such a tax hike. And if the GOP in the State suffers at the polls at the hands of Libertarian candidates in November, who pick off 2, 3, 4 or even 5% from their margin this November, they have only themselves to blame.

UK ELECTIONS

David Cameron and the Tories have regained the momentum. Some have credited Cameron's performance in the second live debate.

From the UK Daily Mail:

David Cameron's Conservative Party is continuing its fightback according to the latest poll, while Labour has slumped to a six-month low.

The Tories are up two points at 35 per cent, the Liberal Democrats are up one on 31 per cent while Labour is down two on 26 per cent, an ICM survey for the Sunday Telegraph shows.

Mr Cameron is beginning to open up a clear lead, but the poll appears to show they are still well short of where they need to be to win an overall majority.

From MerCo press "Tory leader Cameron gains gound in latest debate, according to polls":

a YouGov poll for The Sun showed 36% thought that the Tory leader had performed best, against 32% for the Lib Dem leader and 29% for Brown.

Cameron shrewdly lifted some of Clegg’s tactics from the first debate, lumping the Lib Dems and Labour together as the “other two parties” and, like Clegg, warning of old politics.

"Mary Poppins Syndrome" gone Mad!

From Eric Dondero:

Michael Gerson is the ultimate insider establishment Republican. Some might even call him a dreaded "NeoCon." Gerson served in various capacities in the Bush administration, including a stint as the President's chief speechwriter. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is currently a columnist for the Washington Post.

But Gerson is starting to feel the "socialist creep" of big government. From his latest WaPo column, "With health care reform, it's nag, nag, nag".

I can hardly be called a libertarian. Legalizing drugs is a foolish idea because addiction robs people of liberty. Restaurant smoking bans have improved my life and my appetite. But freedom implies some leeway for personal risk and minor, pleasurable foolishness. Democrats in particular seem to be afflicted with Mary Poppins Syndrome: They will not rest until Americans are practically perfect in every way.

This tendency has added relevance because of the passage of health-care reform. When the provision of health insurance to every American becomes a direct responsibility of government, nearly every health matter becomes a public matter. Why not regulate tanning at beaches? Wouldn't mandatory, subsidized sunscreen save billions in health costs? Why not a jelly doughnuts tax? Why not make saturated fat a controlled substance? Shouldn't children on tricycles be required to wear safety helmets?

For some of us, the problem is not the tyranny but the nagging.

Of course, we libertarians would argue that the problem is both the nagging and the tyranny. Regardless, it's nice to have Mr. Gerson on board.

Two GOP Rivals Team up to Support the Troops

by Stephen Maloney
GOP First District Congressional Candidates Tim Scott and Katherine Jenerette teamed up on Wednesday to decry the federal government’s decision to siphon millions of dollars away from the Department of Defense budget to erect a monument to Ted Kennedy in Boston, Massachusetts .

“I don’t know of any Taxpayer Paid shrine or mausoleum to any politician in Massachusetts or South Carolina that can stop an RPG or IED or an AK-47 round in Iraq or Afghanistan ,” said Jenerette a veteran of the Persian Gulf War and a former U.S. Congressional Aide. “But if that $20 million can help save one single American soldier’s life downrange in Iraq or Afghanistan , it’s worth it to keep it in the U.S. Defense Department budget and not siphon it off for the Sainthood of Ted Kennedy or anyone else.”

At least $19 million has been siphoned from the U.S. Defense Department budget to pay for the Kennedy shrine, which could ultimately end up costing taxpayers as much as $80 million.

“Our magnificent military is being stretched by 2 wars right now. The Pentagon, just today, requested another $33 billion towards the efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan . Wasting tax dollars is bad enough, but weakening our military in the process is absolutely inexcusable,” Scott said. “When the people of this country told Congress that it was time to start prioritizing spending – this is just the opposite of what they had in mind.”

“On matters like this Tim Scott and I see eye-to-eye,” said Jenerette, an Army Paratrooper and Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. “We already know Washington D.C. is full of political con-artists who can pull money out of one taxpayer’s pocket and stick it into another pocket without blinking an eye; so anytime we can highlight examples of ‘Pork-Gone-Wild’ in Congress I’ll be glad to work with Tim or any other member of our legislative delegation.”

by Wes Messamore

The secret to Rand Paul’s success is not that he resonates with people like me, but that he resonates with people like my grandmother. I’m a young, enthusiastic libertarian Republican; she’s a traditional, conservative, Reagan Republican- and Rand Paul’s message speaks to her.

Originally from Oklahoma, my grandmother has lived in the Bluegrass State now for longer than I have been alive. Her father was a staunch Democrat and all four of his children, including my grandmother, became Republicans during the Reagan years, when the two parties experienced a major realignment.

She started listening to Rush Limbaugh during the Clinton years- and still does. She loves Glenn Beck, she voted for Bush both times, and she even has a crush on Dick Cheney (but you didn’t hear it from me). She thinks and feels like most Kentucky Republicans do about what’s best for her state and what’s best for the country.

Rand was right those many months ago when he implied that kids like me who supported his father are a poor barometer for his success in Kentucky’s upcoming U.S. Senate election. It is not the Internet that will sweep him to victory, but Kentucky’s registered Republicans like my grandmother- the perfect barometer for Kentucky opinion.

The Paul family message of fiscal conservatism, strict constitutionalism, and principle over party has reached beyond the Internet and college campuses, and swept into the hearts of the people who were inspired by the Reagan revolution of the 1980s, and that’s why he will win.

Rand Paul will be the next U.S. Senator representing Kentucky. Not because I support him, but because my grandma does. And when he gets there, he may just be the one of the very best Senators this country has ever had.

Editor's Note - Wes's blog is Humble Libertarian. Read the full-length article at Republican Liberty Caucus RLC.org

Sarah Palin makes a brief appearance in a new tv ad for Rand Paul for Senate. Palin expresses her support for the Constitutionalist Conservative son of Texas Cong. Ron Paul.