Wounded Warriors, Walter Reed VA Hospital

From the Editor:

We received the following letter from our friend, and a great friend to all Veterans and Active Duty, Gina Elise.

Supporters,

I wanted to let everyone know that this week I will be heading out to Washington DC to visit our Wounded Warriors at both Walter Reed Army Medical Center and will also be making my first visit to the DC VA Hospital.

I receive many requests from deployed military for calendars:

"I am a soldier currently deployed to Afghanistan and I came across your
website. Thank you very much for what you're doing for our troops.
As the war has progressed over the years,many of us feel that America has forgotten about us enduring this fight. Nice to know that not all have forgotten, and that some continue to support us diligently. I'd like to get more information on how my Battalion can get a large
number our your calendars."

If I can ask all of you to please consider donating a calendar for deployed troops so I can fulfill these requests.

Please visit http://www.pinupsforvets.com

Thank you so very much for your continued support of nonprofit 501c3 organization "Pin-Ups For Vets."

As a reminder, proceeds from your purchases are donated to support healthcare programs at Military and VA Hospitals across the US!

Much love & appreciation,
XOXO
Gina Elise

It is not often that we here at Libertarian Republican ask for a donation from our readers. Supporting our Troops is the one cause that we go out of our way to endorse. Please help Gina and her efforts to bring cheer to our men and women in uniform by purchasing a calender or two, today.

"It's outrageous... Obama willing to throw Israel under the bus to please Muslim nations" -- Mayor Koch

From Eric Dondero:

Former longtime New York City Mayor and stalwart Democrat Ed Koch had an editorial at Real Clear Politics, March 29: "Obama's Treatment of Israel is Shocking."

Excerpt:

I have not heard or read statements criticizing the president by New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand or many other supporters of Israel for his blatantly hostile attitude toward Israel and his discourtesy displayed at the White House. President Obama orchestrated the hostile statements of Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, voiced by Biden in Israel and by Clinton in a 43-minute telephone call to Bibi Netanyahu, and then invited the latter to the White House to further berate him. He then left Prime Minister Netanyahu to have dinner at the White House with his family...

President George W. Bush made it a point of protecting Israel at the United Nations and the Security Council wielding the U.S. veto against... Arab countries [that]sought to... if possible, destroy, the one Jewish nation in the world... based on the actions and statements by President Obama and members of his administration, there is grave doubt among supporters of Israel that President Obama can be counted on to do what presidents before him did - protect our ally, Israel.

So I ask again, where are our Senators, Schumer and Gillibrand?

Now regrets Obama support over McCain

This was followed up by an interview with Neal Cavuto on Fox News, April 1:

"I have been a supporter of President Obama and went to Florida for him, urged Jews all over the country to vote for him saying that he would be just as good as John McCain on the security of Israel. I don't think it's true anymore," Koch told Fox News' Neil Cavuto.

"It's outrageous in my judgment."

"I believe that the Obama administration is willing to throw Israel under the bus in order to please Muslim nations," Koch said. "We'll know when I'm right or wrong."

Koch is a decorated US Army infrantyman who participated in the Allied invasion of Western Europe during WWII, and a former 4-term US Congressman.

Note - As Koch points out in his RCP editorial, 78% of American Jews voted for Obama in 2008. Also of note, both Schumer and Gillibrand are up for reelection in 2010.

Republican Jewish Coalition rjchq.org

3rd Active Duty Military Officer joins growing Birth Certificate First movement

Lieutenant Colonel Terry Lakin, an 18-year Veteran of the United States Army is requesting that Barack Obama provide proof of his birth certificate and eligibility to be a legal United States citizen, before he will agree to be deployed for a second time to Afghanistan. From his announcement:

"All active duty military personnel deserve the truth on President Obama's eligibility to serve"

According to various reports, so far the Army is treading lightly on the affair, and has no plans yet to court martial him.

UPDATE!

Right Guy reports that the US Army is reacting to Lt. Col. Lakin by ordering him to have a full physical including a brain scan. Full story at Fellowshipofminds.com

MONETARY POLICY UPDATE

By Clifford F. Thies

From the Idaho Statesman:

Athol Republican Rep. Phil Hart, the bill's sponsor, wanted to encourage the use of an alternative currency he believes is more stable than the U.S. dollar. He also sought to stimulate the state's languishing silver mining industry with tax breaks to entice a company to build an ore processing plant in the state.

O.K., so the proposal didn’t even make it out of committee. Nevertheless, this year, representative Hart (photo) actually proposed that his state begin issuing silver coins – err, I mean “medallions” – that taxpayers could use to pay their taxes and other dues to the state.

America has a long and varied history with state- and privately-issued coins and paper money. This includes “trade tokens,” issued as change, when government-minted coins were in short supply, and “coal mining scrip,” issued in advance of pay in isolated coal-mining towns which could be used at the company store. Traditionally, these, shall I say “supplemental” forms of money enjoyed only limited circulation relative to government-issued money and bank deposits (and, a long time ago, bank notes). They mostly filled in gaps in the money supply. But, from time to time, they were of macroeconomic importance.

From 1857 to 1907, whenever the banks of the country were temporarily closed due to a financial panic, they, through their “clearing house associations,” issued emergency money, backed by their mutual guarantee. The emergency money kept the economy from totally succumbing to the financial panic and, so, prior to the 1930s, we never experienced anything so much as half as bad as the Great Depression. Then, when we were hit by the Stock Market Crash of 1929, the still new Federal Reserve System said, hey, we’re the ones who are supposed to control the money supply, not you private banks. And, guess what, we wound up with the most awful depression we have ever known.

Nowadays, the problems we face are not merely a moribund economy. We also have the problem of a tremendous budget deficit, humongous debt-guarantees, and ginormous unfunded entitlement obligations. Even Burger King’s Steakhouse Burger pales in comparison. So, the idea of private money is not merely to fill in a gap left by the government’s money system, but to gain some protection against the risk of inflation.

Of course, there were many practical problems with the state of Idaho issuing coins. For one thing, what famous Idahoan (that’s what they’re called) would you put on them? So, I googled famous Idahoans and came up with one: J. R. Simplot, the “French Fry King.”

Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia

Has a 32% lead for reelection

New poll numbers for Idaho, show libertarian Republican Governor Butch Otter in a healthy position for reelection.

From Rasmussen (via Hedgehog)

GOVERNOR – IDAHO (Rasmussen)
Butch Otter (R-inc) 60%
Keith Allred (D) 28%

Allred, a former University professor at Harvard, is a lobbyist in Boise with a liberal special interest group called Common Interest.

Idaho's former Democrat Governor Cecil Andrus said the following when Allred first announced last December (Idaho Statesman):

"Keith will immediately be a credible, serious candidate."

Republican candidate for US Senate Rand Paul stood up against the Nanny-State in an interview with the NY Times last Sunday.

From the Times:

But in light of your distrust of the federal government, where are you on an issue like seat belts? Federal legislation requiring people to wear seat belts could obviously save lives.

Paul: I think the federal government shouldn't be involved. I don't want to live in a nanny state where people are telling me where I can go and what I can do.

Progressives are attacking him for his "Libertarian insanity."

The blog Progressive Rambler, compared Rand Paul's opposition to seat belt laws, to fighting for one's right to "drink toxic chemicals [or] consume household cleaning products."

Donate RandPaul2010.com

Goldwaterite libertarian-republican

Robert Heinlein called the Grandfather of Science Fiction, has long been identified as one of the greatest of libertarian writers. But this may be the first time he's received the "libertarian Republican" label.

From a review of influential books by Daniel McCarthy the Tory Anarchist at The American Conservative March 31 on-line:

Robert Heinlein, Red Planet (1983). Since this was the first non-picture-book I read, it should be fair to say it influenced me. The only conscious influence I can detect is that it sufficiently enjoyable that I was motivated to read more. Subconsciously, though, who knows? Heinlein was a Goldwaterite libertarian-republican, I learned what an IOU was from reading this book, and as I recall it ends with the young protagonist’s Martian friend having to leave his human society and rejoin his own people — something of a cultural particularist theme, perhaps?

Note - Heinlein was a proud Veteran of the US Navy, and unlike other libertarians of the day, took a very strong on defense view, particularly against the rise of Communism and the Soviet Union.

HeinleinSociety.org

We’re extending the Libertarian Party of Indiana Convention early bird discount just a couple more days for anyone that might have waited just a little too long! Consider this your LPIN April stimulus!
Hurry and register now at http://lpin.org/convention
After 11:59 PM (Est.) Sunday, the prices will all increase $20, including our extremely low rates for all [...]

Radical Islamic demonstrators in front of the Palestinian House in Toronto yell anti-Semitic slogans at Jewish counter-demonstrators across the street. One of them is caught on video, yelling, "We need another Holocaust." (Comment at 5 seconds in.)

Mark Steyn at National Review reports on other slurs yelled at the gathered Jews including:

"We love jihad..." We love killing dogs..." "your bitches with you".

HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE RIGHT

Ayaan Ali Hirsi spoke on the campus of North Michigan University last Wednesday. The former Dutch Parliamentarian and friend/colleague of Dutch MP Geert Wilders, addressed an audience of over 400 attendees.

The title of her speech was "Refuse to be Silenced." Hirsi is a victim of Islamic violence, and threats. First, as a young girl, she was forced to undergo female circumsicion. From her speech:

"There is female genital mutilation that happens at the age of 5, 6 or 7 that is a sewing of the genitals and the cutting off of the clitoris to ensure that you are a virgin when you reach the age of marriage,” Ali said. “It’s justified in the name of Islam..."

When she fled to the Netherlands, Islamic radicals from her homeland in Somalia and even in Western Europe, threatened her life. As a Freedom-supporting Member of the Dutch Parliament she watched as an ally Pim Forturn was murdered on the street from a Muslim-sympathizing political extremist. And then two years later her partner Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was similarly murdered.

From Booker T. Rising "Libertarian Activist gives Speech on Islam & Woman's Rights":

“It’s very important to know that Islam as a theology, the political and social dimension of Islam, and not the religious aspects, are not just dangerous but also incompatible with the American doctrine of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Ms. Hirsi Ali, a libertarian feminist who was born in Somalia, said.

Ms. Hirsi Ali, who is an atheist, said that the peace-loving and law-abiding majority of Muslims turn a blind eye to the injustices that occur often in their culture. “When Muslims commit violent crimes in the name of the Qur’an...the peace-loving majority goes into denial, they become defensive,” she said.

Ms. Hirsi Ali, who is a former Dutch parliamentarian, said she was attracted to the U.S. because of the freedom of expression and the freedom to dissent. Under sharia law, Ms. Hirsi Ali said women have to be especially careful to not speak...

From the North Wind (NMU):

Junior Melanie Bell, chairperson for the event, said Ali has a unique viewpoint being an apostate in the eyes of her Muslim family and friends.

“Ali has faced adversity in her life that most will never come close to knowing,” Bell said.

Bell also said that because of her outspoken nature, Ali has angered some Islamic extremists.

“Her short film ‘Submission,’ about the oppression of women under the Islamic faith, drew great attention,” she said.

Even though Ali has become a target of Islamic extremists who wish to silence her, she continues speaking because the message she conveys transcends the blind hatred of radicals.

“As more people become aware of the violence, it will become more difficult for people to ignore it,” Ali said.

Note - in 2007, Libertarian Republican blog proclaimed. Ms. Ali "Libertarian of the Year."

by Eric Dondero

The roots of the Tea Party at its core, stem from the annual Tax Day protests sponsored by the Libertarian Party going back decades. Way back in the late 1970s, Libertarians would gather on April 15, in localities across the Nation and wave signs calling for the Abolishment of the IRS, and other Anti-Tax slogans. The protests became a fixture at Post Offices each Tax Day.

Some further background:

• As far back as 2006, a renegade Libertarian Party group, broke with the LP for perceived moderation of National LP leaders and formed a rival organization called "Boston Tea Party." The name was picked up by other Libertarians. And some have credited the use of that term with the launching of the national Tea Party movement.

• Throughout 2008, Libertarian Party members were calling for nationwide "Tea Party like" protests against Bush's bailouts and TARP.

• The very first Tea Party protests organized in 2008 and early 2009 (most especially Denver and Seattle), were formed by the Libertarian Party and the Campaign For Liberty, supporters of 1988 Libertarian Presidential candidate and 2008 GOP Presidential contender Ron Paul.

• The first unofficial leader/organizer of the burgeoning Tea Party movement was Eric Odom, at the time an Executive Board member of the Libertarian Party of Illinois.

Now, surprise, surprise. A government-funded institution for learning, the University of South Florida (St. Pete), has come out with a major study that finds, the Tea Party movement does not emenate or comfortably coincide with the Republican Party, but rather it's more of a Libertarian Party movement.

Yet, in their entire report, the government-funded institution doesn't even mention the Libertarian Party by name, nor give the 37-year old third party any credit.

From The Hill "Tea Parties not beholden to GOP":

A poll released Saturday depicts the Tea Party movement as a staunchly libertarian group that is unhappy with both political parties, suggesting that the group is still not sold on voting for Republicans in the fall.

From TampaBay.com "Deficit stirs up the tea party":

A new national survey portrays the tea party movement as largely Ross Perot-style libertarians, who are almost as unhappy with Republicans as they are with Democrats.

The polling runs counter to popular perceptions of tea partiers as either a wing of the Republican Party or as people from the cultural fringes who are mad at almost everything.

The movement, all agree, is not attracting many social conservatives. "We're not seeing right-to-lifers or Christian fundamentalists," [study co-author] O'Neal said. "We're seeing a lot of libertarians."

And this further info:

People were asked if they considered themselves part of the tea party movement. Overall, 17 percent of those called said they did. Of that group, 57 percent called themselves Republicans; 28 percent said they were independents; 13 percent were Democrats.

Two-thirds claimed to be conservatives, 26 percent were moderates, and 8 percent called themselves liberal.

Okay, you would think then, that the story line which would logically follow would be that the Republican Party is in danger of losing votes on its limited government Right flank to the Libertarian Party in 2010 elections. After all, a near 1,000 candidates are planning to run for local, state and national offices on the LP ticket in 2010; 200 in Texas alone.

But no. The liberal media ignores that angle, choosing instead to focus in on the problems in general the GOP will have in winning over these voters. Continuing from The Hill:

The survey indicates that Republicans still have more work to do to woo Tea Party voters to their side in November... Tea Partyers are still wary of shacking up with the Republicans. Several third-party and insurgent Republicans are running in primary races across the country against more established GOP candidates.

There's a simple explanation: The liberal media is loathe to report on anything about the Libertarian Party. Doing so, automatically shifts the political spectrum to the limited government Right.

Republicans want tax relief? Well, the Libertarian Party wants to slash taxes across the board, and abolish the IRS.

Republicans want Social Security reform? Well, the Libertarian Party wants to abolish S.S.

Republicans want Charter Schools, Educational Choice and greater Parent participation in schooling? Libertarians want to privatize public Eduction altogether and eliminate all compulsory Public School Attendance laws.

It's easy to see why it would not be advantageous for the liberal media to give any play to the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party makes Republicans look downright moderate.

Thus, we have the absurdity of the Tampa Bay Tribune, and the respected Beltway publication The Hill, coming out with a survey finding admitting that the Tea Party is "libertarian," but not even mentioning the Libertarian Party at all.

Note - standard disclaimer on Ron Paul applies: absolutely fantastic on domestic issues, particularly free market economics; we disagree wholeheartedly with his foreign policy.

From Eric Dondero:

While swank Republican fundraisers at gentlemen's clubs and fundraising letter errors from Michael Steele and the RNC, seem to be gaining a great deal of attention from the liberal media these days, this one has oddly escaped coverage from national media outlets except the local LA Times.

Apparently the Democratic Congressional Committee (DCC) believes Libertarian Republican congressman and card-carrying he-man Dana Rohrabacher is a chic.

From the L.A. Times:

Need any proof of Washington's basic cluelessness these days? The D.C.-based Democratic committee apparently needs help figuring out exactly who or what it is really after.

Today it put out a news release headlined:

Not an April Fools’ Day Joke: Representative Dana Rohrabacher Caught Trying to Take Credit for Jobs She Voted Against

Too bad the release wasn't an April Fool's Day joke. It would have made sense then. Because Dana Rohrabacher is a guy.

In case there's still any lingering questions, Rohrabacher is a former semi-pro surfer, carried an M-16 in the mountains of Afghanistan in the 1980s fighting the Soviets, and has a daily work-out routine, including barbells, and the bench press.

Photo of Dana Rohrabacher's beach gal wife Rhonda, and their three kids in Huntington Beach, California, submitted as further proof of his male virility.

(H/t our friends at RedState.)

From Eric Dondero:

Democrats and the liberal media have been savaging libertarian-leaning Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele over the recent controversy of RNC funds used at a Topless club in Los Angeles. Now, an odd partner has joined in. The Religious Right is now attacking Steele, as well. Some religious conservatives (not all), have even advised their adherents to stop giving money to the Republican National Committee cause of Steele's "reckless" behavior.

But as gay gal Bridgette P. LaVictoire of the aptly named LezGetReal blog states, other GOPers, particularly libertarian Republicans are rather laissez faire on such matters.

From LezGetReal.com:

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has put out a missive telling those who will listen to him to not give money to the RNC or the Republican Party itself. This comes after a $2000 trip by Republican staffer Alyson Myers and several donors to a voyeuristic bondage club where women simulate lesbian sex acts.

According to Perkins “This latest incident is another indication to me the RNC is completely tone-deaf to the values and concerns of a large number of people they are seeking financial support from.” Of course, the GOP’s libertarian wing, which is growing rather stronger lately, has little interest in many of the issues that Perkins and his fellow Social Conservatives support.

As LaVictoire suggests, a loss of Religious Right donors could all be made up for, by a gain of more socially tolerant younger voters, and even gay voters who have a great deal of disposable income; both groups having been previously skeptical of the GOP.

Tells Obama supporting patients to seek health care services elsewhere

From Eric Dondero:

Leslie Campione is an attorney in Lake County, Florida. She has just declared her candidacy for Lake County Commissioner as a Republican.

Ms. Campione's husband, a Mt. Dora urologist, has recently received a great deal of local, and even national media attention. Dr. Jack Cassell has posted a sign in the window of his practice:

"If you Voted for Obama, seek Urologic Health Care elsewhere"

According to the Orlando Sentinel, while Dr. Cassell, a staunch Republican, discourages visits by Democrat Obama supporters, he does not turn them away. But he does offer them plenty of GOP literature, and anti-ObamaCare information in the waiting room of his office.

According the HuffPo a little sign on the table reads:

"This is what the morons in Washington have done to your health care. Take one, read it and vote out anyone who voted for it."

Campione told the Sentinel that the reactions from her husband's patients have been "overwhelmingly supportive."

Lake County happens to be in the heart of loudmouth Democrat Congressman Tray Grayson's district. Of course, Grayson, never a loss for words, had this to say:

"I'm disgusted. Maybe he thinks the Hippocratic Oath says, ‘Do no good.' If this is the face of the right-wing in America, it's the face of cruelty…Why don't they change the name of the Republican Party to the Sore Loser Party."

(H/t Memeo)

The Act is sponsored by the American Legislative Exchange Council,(ALEC) a coalition of conservative, moderate and libertarian state legislators who support "Limited Government, Free Markets and Federalism."

The main objectives of the legislation:

• Ensuring Access to Health Services—Without Waiting Lists. When consumers control the dollars, they make the decisions. On the other hand, a single-payer health care —which forces patients to enroll in a one-size-fits-all plan with rich benefits and weak cost-sharing—will cause spending to skyrocket and policymakers to ration care as a cost-containment measure.

• ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act ensures a person's right to pay directly for medical care. Single-payer systems, like in Canada, make it illegal for citizens to go outside the government's health care plan and contract for their own medical services. Cost overruns require most single-payer plans to restrict patient choices, and instead mandate an "evidence-based" treatment schedule that standardizes care.

• ALEC's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act would block legislation that imposes costly, bureaucratic penalties for choosing to obtain or decline health coverage. This provision strikes at the heart of an individual mandate—implemented in Massachusetts and elsewhere—that penalize individuals and businesses for failing to purchase health insurance.

Where does it stand?

According to ALEC, legislation has been filed in 35 states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. (Arizona's HCR 2014, a revised version of the ALEC model, will be put on the ballot in 2010.)

The legislation has since passed and been signed into law in Idaho, and is on the verge of becomming the law of the land in Virginia and Oklahoma.

In Texas there are calls for Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session of the legislature for HCFCA.

Livin' Lovin'... Heartbreaker??

From Cliff Thies:

Missouri state Representative Linda Fischer, a Democrat, is running for re-election this November. She is being challenged by her husband, John Fischer, who has re-registered as a Republican.

This might be funny if it weren’t so sad. The two are involved in a messy court proceeding. Their marriage was probably already over. Also, Mr. Fischer had been formerly employed for almost thirty years in Chrysler Corporation automobile assembly plants, before he took early retirement.

He was just a Regular Joe forklift drive; she a powerful state legislator

He says he is running for the workers of Missouri and, actually, this could be true. Our economy is in a shambles. A lot of people are hurting. Workers, small business, investors, people in our cities and our rural places, people reflecting the great diversity of our country.

From KMOV.com:

"I figured if I'm going to be on my own, then I'm going to have to do what suits me," he said. "I'm standing up for people who lost their job. I don't think they're being represented fairly in this state because they do not take care of the working man."

We need leaders who speak to our shared interest in reviving our economy, not people who speak about redistributing of what remains of our wealth.

In Missouri District 107 (east central MO - Bonne Terre) Vote Republican!

From Eric Dondero:

Former Manhattan Madame, and media celebrity Kristin Davis, currently seeking the Libertarian nomination for New York Governor, issued a press release Wednesday, praising California's initiative to legalize marijuana.

Said Davis:

"Californian's have figured out what New Yorker's need to figure out. Marijuana is a $10 billion a year industry in New York State. Its legalization and taxation will help New York's current financial crises."

But in an interview with NY NewsBlaze, Davis took a very unique approach to legalization, giving it a bit of a conservative twist.

From NewsBlaze:

Davis said she would strongly support an Opt-Out clause where localities could opt by local vote not to sell marijuana in that locality. "I believe in home rule and local option. Some counties may choose to allow legal pot sales, others may not."

Such a view could come as a relief to more socially conservative Upstate towns and localities. And could win her some critical Upstate voting support.

92% of Republicans on Israel's side; only 42% of Democrats

From Eric Dondero:

In 2008, 78% of all American Jews voted for Barack Hussein Obama for President. Many of the 22% of Jews who voted against him, warned of a coming catastrophe in American foreign policy against Israel, if he were to be elected. The 22% have proven to be correct:

• Obama administration pushback against Israeli warnings over the threat of an Iranian nuclear arsenal.

• Benjamin Netanyahu insulted by Obama at a recent White House visit. Obama walked out of the room in the middle of their meeting, with the excuse, I'm going to have dinner "with Michele and the kids."

• The very latest; threats by the US to vote "present" for the very first time, in the UN Security Council against Israel, in regards to calls to halt further Israeli housing in East Jerusalem.

And now this breaking news from Zogby:

The poll’s findings also highlight the deep partisan gap that continues to grow between Republicans and Democrats, with Democrats having an unfavorable rating of Israel for the first time.

•42% of Democrats had a favorable rating of Israel compared to 92% of Republicans resulting in a 50% gap between the parties.

•While the gap is higher in this poll, the finding is consistent with a recent Gallup poll that had 53% of Democrats with a favorable view compared to 80% of Republicans.

Will this help Republican candidates with the Jewish community heading into the November elections?

Despite repeated attempts, pollster John Zogby was unavailable to provide Libertarian Republican with a comment on this question.

However, Joe Sciarrino, Spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Comm. commented to LR:

"The United States has had a long-standing and strategic partnership with Israel, and over the past year we’ve seen this Administration neglect that relationship. Democrats in Congress who agree with this decision to alienate such a key ally may risk alienating voters come November.”

Photo Minn. Cong. Michele Bachmann addressing the Republican Jewish Coaltion.

NEW FROM REASON TV!

Nick Gillespie, Reason Editor, looks at the economic pie, and how the increasing size of public sector employment is causing private sector employees to lose jobs.

Noted: Public sector employees now make about $8,000 more than their private counterparts.

More than 8 million private sector jobs have been lost in the Obama recession, while the public sector saw a net gain of at least 100,000 jobs.

All Republicans vote in favor

If this is not repealed "there will be virtually no activity by a state, a citizen, or a business that the feds would not someday be able to regulate." -- Bob Barr, 2008 Libertarian Presidential candidate

From Eric Dondero:

Encouraging news out of Georgia. The State Senate has just passed the Health Care Freedom of Choice Act by an overwhelming margin of 31 to 17. All Republicans voted for the measure. They were joined by only one single Democrat.

The bill was sponsored by members of the Georgia Senate Liberty Caucus, including Sen. Judson Hill of Marietta who called it the "best way to protect Georgians from the Democrat-led Congress' attempt to socialize health care through their public option health care mandate."

From Quarterdeck blog:

Georgia Senator Judson Hill (photo) was joined by 29 other Senate Republicans last Thursday passing legislation protecting Georgians’ rights to choose their own health care. Senator Hill authored Senate Bill 317 and has been working the past year to prohibit any government, state or federal, from forcing its citizens to participate in any health care system.

Under Senate Bill 317 Georgia’s citizens would be protected from being forced by the government to purchase health care.

The Bill now goes on to the House. Republican Governor Sonny Perdue is fully expected to sign the law once it passes the House.

Fmr. Georgia Republican Congressman and 2008 Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr wrote in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution "States must challenge Health Care law":

Governor Sonny Perdue, for example, worries how the Peach State will fund what he estimates will be an additional billion dollars of Medicaid spending each year. Private companies, which will be subject to numerous mandates by virtue of the law, face daunting fiscal challenges as well.

Governor Perdue has indicated he will pursue a challenge using lawyers other than the state attorney general, [Democrat] Thurbert Baker, who has refused to lend his office and his name to the project. Perdue, unlike Baker, correctly understands the importance of such a lawsuit; for if the federal government is permitted to enforce mandates such as those in this new law, then there will be virtually no activity by a state, a citizen, or a business that the feds would not someday be able to regulate.

For a full list of GA Senate Liberty Caucus members visit GARLC.org