What's at issue is fighting to protect Western liberties at its core

Libertarian-Conservative Mark Steyn is critical of Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer over some recent comments on the Fox All-Stars. Krauthammer, a NeoConservative stalwart, made disparaging statements on Dutch libertarian Geert Wilders for his anti-Islamist views.

Said Krauthammer:

What he says is extreme, radical, and wrong. He basically is arguing that Islam is the same as Islamism. Islamism is an ideology of a small minority which holds that the essence of Islam is jihad, conquest, forcing people into accepting a certain very narrow interpretation [of Islam].

The untruth of that is obvious. If you look at the United States, the overwhelming majority of Muslims in the U.S. are not Islamists. So, it's simply incorrect. Now, in Europe, there is probably a slightly larger minority but, nonetheless, the overwhelming majority are not.

Mark Steyn responded at NR 03/09:

Wilders does not need to be lectured condescendingly about distinctions within Islam, because he lives with them every day. And he has concluded, notwithstanding Dr. Krauthammer's views on the precise "minority" that identifies as "Islamist," that Islam itself is the issue — and that, therefore, regardless of the "moderation" of the "overwhelming majority" of Muslims, the more Islam the less Netherlands in any recognizable sense. Are the gangs of gay bashers on the streets of Amsterdam "Islamist" by Krauthammer's definition? Maybe, maybe not. But, either way, they make the running, and the rest of the community is either indifferent or quiescent.

As for whether Wilders is "extremist," his views on the cultural compatibility of immigrants were routine and unexceptional until the 1960s, not only in Europe, but also in the U.S. And, even in North America today, they are the stated policy of the Government of Quebec. One can certainly disagree with that, but does that make Quebec also "fascist" (Beck) or even "extreme" (Krauthammer)?

Dr. Krauthammer is also incorrect to suggest there are two issues here. When the state attempts to constrain further Europe's already too shriveled bounds of public discourse, the only issue is state power. The Continental political class does not want to debate the question of its ever more assertive Muslim populations, and so has decided to criminalize that debate. Geert Wilders lives under 24/7 security because Muslims (including the killer of Theo van Gogh) have pledged to murder him. Yet he's the one on trial for incitement? The issue is not Wilders or his views, but the Dutch state and their ever more "extreme, radical, and wrong" views on core Western liberties.

Photo of Mark Steyn with Atlas Shrugs Pamela Geller.

Kasich gets direct with Ohio voters. "We can do it ourselves," without the federal government coming in to bail the State out.

KasichforOhio.com

It may come down to the Louisiana Purchase after all

From Eric Dondero:

There's been a rather interesting development on the Health Care nationalization front. Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak is now sounding less optimistic about the Democrats coming to an agreement over abortion language.

Just breaking from The Weekly Standard...

Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak said yesterday at a townhall in his home state, "I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago" that a deal could be reached to pass a health care bill that bans public funding of abortion. Some speculated that this meant Stupak was ready to cave. "Obviously they don’t know me," Stupak said in an interview this afternoon with THE WEEKLY STANDARD. "If I didn’t" cave in November, "why would I do it now after all the crap I’ve been through?"

"Everyone’s going around saying there’s a compromise—there’s no such thing," Stupak said.

But perhaps even more telling is this other comment from the interview, where Stupak cites a budgetary matter as one of his top concerns.

Continuing:

Stupak highlighted other problems with the bill: The president's proposal has not been translated into legislative language and it still leaves some special deals in place. "If you look at the President’s proposal," Stupak said, "it says that the Cornhusker agreement is out, but the Louisiana Purchase is in."

By my estimate, having researched a multitude of sources in the last couple days, the Democrats seem to be at the very least 15 votes shy of the needed 216, but quite possibly as high as 20 to 22 votes shy. Taken the more conservative estimate of 15, 12 of those are "Stupakians"; Dems who are not voting specifically for the abortion language.

Stupak inserting the Louisiana Purchase into the mix, throws this all up in the air. Who knows how many of the 12 abortion foes, also share his anti-pork views, as well. If just 2 or 3 in the House opt out over Sen. Mary Landrieu's special treatment, it's a gonner.

(Via Memeo)

MOVEMENT NEWS

From Phillip Blumel:

Every year, members and friends of the RLC of Florida travel to Tallahassee for some grassroots lobbying for lower taxes, less government and expanded individual liberty. This year our Liberty Days at the Capitol are March 22-23.

Political consultant John Hallman of the Florida Taxpayers Union is once again in charge of our legislative briefing, setting up meetings with legislators and the governors office and to show us around the capitol.

At the top of the Liberty Day agenda is the Health Care Freedom Act. Based on model legislation crafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, the act would permit Florida to opt out from any particular national health care plan and, most importantly, protect individual Floridians from individual mandates to buy health insurance a la RomneyCare/ObamaCare. Other issues include taxes, spending, the 10th amendment, insurance reform and term limits.

For the full story, see our website at http://www.rlcfl.org.

For more info and to RSVP, contact John Hallman at johnhallman@johnhallman.org.

A "conservative Libertarian"

A trailor park owner in Utah says he tired of property taxes being too high, and the county government over-regulating his business. So, he's running for county commision.

From the Deseret News March 5:

Owner of Frazier Park in Provo Canyon, Leon Frazier, a 60-year-old Provo man, said he will run on the Republican ticket and that he is a conservative Libertarian. Frazier said he is a lifelong Republican, agrees with the economics of Ron Paul and wants to see a more business-friendly Utah County.

"Business should be given a free hand," Frazier said. "It is better when the government keeps their hands off business."

Frazier will be challenging incumbent Steven Davis.

Libertarian Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher was one of the first prominent elected officials to call on the Military to drop charges against the three Navy Seals, on trial for allegedly punching an Islamic Terrorist in the stomach.

From the Chicago Tribune, March 8:

The charges against the SEALS stem from the alleged mistreatment of Ahmed Hashim Abed, the accused mastermind behind the 2004 ambush and slaughter of four American security contractors whose bodies were dragged through the streets of Fallujah. The SEALS captured Abed in September.

One of the SEALs, Matthew McCabe, is accused of striking Abed in the midsection, and all three are charged with dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard the detainee.

Rohrabacher and other GOP lawmakers have called the trio "heros" not criminals.

Now another libertarian-leaning Republican has come to the defense of the Seals.

From Sarah Palin's Facebook page:

Stand Up for SEALs Standing Up for Us

First the Obama Administration opened up the possibility of prosecuting CIA interrogators doing their jobs seeking information from terrorists. Then they tried to go after the Bush Administration lawyers who acted in good faith to protect us in the months after 9/11. Now some of the military brass are court-martialing three brave Navy SEALs for allegedly throwing a single punch at Iraqi terrorist leader Ahmed Hashim Abed. This is wrong. The Washington Times got it right: Save the SEALs.

These brave warriors belong in combat, not in the courthouse. They captured the most wanted terrorist in Iraq. We may never know how many other heroic missions they undertook on behalf of our country. The charges should be dropped, and they should be returned to their unit – with our gratitude for their service.

Stand up for the SEALs who are standing up for us!

- Sarah Palin

Americans have the impression that Democrats are the AntiWar Party

From Eric Dondero:

During the 2008 campaign, at the height of American concerns over winning the War in Iraq, and well into 2009, the two parties were completely tied on the polling question which party is better able to handle National Security. Now a brand new poll released Monday, shows the GOP has opened up a "massive gap," over the Democrats on that same question.

From the Washington Times, March 8:

On the national security front, a massive gap has emerged, with 50 percent of likely voters saying Republicans would likely do a better job than Democrats, a 14-point swing since May. Thirty-three percent favored Democrats.

"The erosion since May is especially strong among women, and among independents, who now favor Republicans on this question by a 56 to 20 percent margin," the pollsters said in their findings.

A May 2009 survey by the pollsters found the public saw the Democratic and Republican parties as equally able to handle national security (41 percent trusted Democrats more, and 43 percent trusted Republicans more.) On conducting the war on terrorism, the two parties were tied at 41 percent.

The poll finds other devastating news for the Democrats.

In the wake of the Ft. Hood shooter, and the Christmas Day bomber, and growing concerns among Americans over Islamic Terrorism, the poll finds, an even wider gap.

"Keeping America safe": Democrats now trail by 13 points (34 percent to 47 percent.) The gap was just 5 points in July 2008.

Gays in the Military has become a cause celebre' among Democrats. The Obama administration has recently allowed female sailors on Navy submarines. Under Obama, "multiculturalism," and recruiting and retaining Muslim recruits is now amongst the highest of priorities of the Armed Services. And now these same poll numbers show Americans believe the Obama administration and Democrats to be less friendly to the US Military, than Republicans.

And the margin isn't even close.

"Ensuring a strong military": Democrats trail by 31 points (27 percent to 58 percent.)

Dems take classes to learn how to "Talk Tough!" on Terror

So how are the Democrats in Congress reacting to the harsh news of this new poll? They're sending some of the members in tight races to a "National Security class," to learn how to "talk tough" on terrorism and on other key national security issues. The "Third Way" class is being run by national security moderate Rep. Jane Harmen of California, along with consultants and pollsters. Ironically, Harmen had been shunned by the administration and leftwing Democrats in 2008 and 2009 for views judged "too rightwing," on foreign policy matters.

Attendees to the class learn how to use key phrases that will win swing voters concerned about Defense-related issues.

For example, Democrats learn how to say "I’m going to fight for American interests abroad." Whereas a Republicans would generally say, "I’m going to fight to defend American values."

Responds Ken Spain, communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee in Politico:

"The fact that Democrats have to train their own candidates on how to talk about defending America is an indictment not just of their candidates but of their policies, as well. Our candidates’ message is simple: Stop treating terrorists like common criminals, don’t import terrorists into our communities and listen to our military and intelligence officials instead of attacking them."

The fiscal conservative ticket of John Kasich and Mary Taylor now have a commanding lead over embattled incumbent Democrat Ted Strickland.

From Rasmussen late last night:

Republican challenger John Kasich has extended his lead over incumbent Democrat Ted Strickland to 11 points in Ohio’s gubernatorial race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Ohio voters finds Kasich leading Strickland 49% to 38%. Six percent (6%) prefer another candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

Last month, Kasich held a six-point lead - 47% to 41% - over Strickland...

Ohio is currently suffering from an 11% unemployment rate. Kasich and Taylor (current State Auditor) are promising a lean budget and a reduction, and possible elimination of the state income tax to boost economic growth.

Critics have charged Strickland with special favors for unions, cronyism in state appointments, and even covering up of Ohio voter fraud to help Obama's presidential campaign.

From Eric Dondero:

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was organized immediately after Prohibition officially ended in 1933 as a means for regulating the wine, beer and spirits industries, and collecting revenues for the State. The Board is controlled by three appointees from the Governor's office. Democrat Ed Rendell is currently serving as Pennsylvania Governor, and has served in that capacity for nearly 8 years. All three current Board Members were appointed (and re-appointed) by Gov. Rendell.

Last week Pennsylvania State Troopers conducted raids in the Philadelphia area of bars for not filing the proper paperwork and failing to pay a small fee registering the names of certain exotic beers that were for sale.

From Philly.com (Daily News), March 8:

IT WAS ELIOT NESS and the Untouchables, as played by the Keystone Kops.

More than a dozen armed State Police officers conducted simultaneous raids last week on three popular Philadelphia bars known for their wide beer selections. The cops confiscated hundreds of bottles of expensive ales and lagers, now in State Police custody at an undisclosed location.

The alleged offense: Although the bar owners had bought the beer legally from licensed Pennsylvania distributors and had paid all the necessary taxes, the police claimed that nobody had registered the precise names of the beers with the state Liquor Control Board - a process that requires the brewers or their importers to pay a $75 registration fee for each product they want to sell in Pennsylvania.

However, it turns out that the Troopers and the LCB may have made some paperwork errors of their own. Continuing:

More than half the beer removed by the State Police was properly registered - but the cops couldn't find it on their lists because of "clerical errors" or "blatant ineptitude" between the police and the Liquor Control Board, with whom the officers were conferring by telephone.

For instance, the cops grabbed Monk's Cafe Sour Flemish Red Ale.

The beer has been sold throughout the state at dozens of restaurants and distributors for the last seven years. The brand appears on the state's online list as "Monk's Café Ale." It's on tap seven days a week at the Center City bar after which it was named: Monk's Cafe, at 16th and Spruce streets.

But that wasn't enough to keep the State Police from confiscating 20 bottles and three kegs of the supposedly illegal ale at the three bars...

The raids have even Pennsylvania liberals scratching their heads. From noted blogger Joel Mathis of Cup o' Joel

And it’s in situations like these that I realize conservatives have a point when they speak of government bureaucracies having tyrannical tendencies. If you step back and think about it, it’s kinda weird that brewers would have to register each and every single variety of beer they produce — no matter how small the batch — if they want to sell it in Pennsylvania. And it’s even weirder that the state’s public safety resources are devoted in any measure to confiscating beer that might’ve been improperly registered. Good lord: Don’t we have more than enough car accidents and homicides to track and solve?

In fact, the State Police raid appears to have been the result of a clerical error — one that the police say might take months to resolve. It’s enough to turn you into a libertarian.

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania has had a platform item for decades in favor of complete privatization of the LCB. Republican legislators and even former Republican Gov. Dick Thornbergh have tried unsuccesfully in the past to privatize the Board.

Marine Veteran of the War in Iraq talks of the sacrifices of his fellow Vets for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy as Americans. Now Popaditch is making a sacrifice of another kind, challenging a longtime entrenched Democrat Congressman in a southern California district, for Congress. (District 51 - El Centro to El Cajon to suburbs of San Diego). Popaditch is a staunch Pro-Defense libertarian Republican.

PopaditchforCongress.com

(Editor's Note: Jame Goldstein, wife of State Chairman Sam Goldstein, passed away Saturday after a long battle with breast cancer. Jame was a long time Libertarian activist, candidate and loved member of our Libertarian Party family. Please support her favorite charity in an effort to ensure that other loving mothers and wives are not taken too soon: The Weekend to End Breast Cancer benefiting St. Vincent Foundation.)

Jame Stuart Goldstein was born in Oakland, CA on October 20, 1957, the second daughter of Commander Charles Harnden (U.S. N. Ret.) and Loraine Harnden. As a Navy brat she grew up in Albuquerqe, New Mexico, Corpus Christi, Texas, Sunnyvale and Alameda California, Atsugi, Japan and Memphis, Tennessee.

read more

A sexed up modern version of Ayn Rand

Libertarian and Personal Freedom Party candidate for New York Governor Kristin Davis spoke to a gathering of 25 generally libertarian supporters at a breakfast on March 1, and made the following comment:

"I advocate returning to limited government, accompanied by a minimal amount of confiscatory taxation to support only essential services along with Pay as Go budgeting; means testing for all government assistance programs; abolition of all member item pork barrel spending, balanced budgets; actual surpluses and payments to reduce long term state debt"

Davis is regarded as merely a "celebrity candidate," however, she takes economic issues and budgetary matters quite seriously.

The former Manhattan Madame spent 4 months in an upstate prison in 2008, convicted of running an illegal escort service. Her clients included former NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer. But she used that time productively. On her reading list during her stay, included economic texts by free market illuminaries Frederich Hayek, Milton Friedman, and Ludvig von Mises. She's also reportedly a big fan of the writings of capitalist philosopher and one-time New Yorker Ayn Rand.

KristinDavis2010.com

Paladino, Lazio, Redlich & Davis

From Eric Dondero:

As if the race for New York Governor couldn't get any crazier. Now word comes that a 4th candidate on the Right is read to jump in, and on yet another third-party ticket. And he, like the others, claims some allegiance to the GOP.

Meet Carl Paladino, a multi-millionaire businessman from Buffalo. He's a veteran of the Tea Party movement.

From the Daily Caller, March 2:

From the nascent Tea Party movement comes a potential champion. New York Tea Party leaders are urging Buffalo millionaire businessman Carl Paladino to enter the Republican gubernatorial primary and also petition a Tea Party Party onto the ballot. New York has a unique system where candidates can accept multiple party endorsements and win the cumulative number of votes cast for them on Election Day regardless of which party ballot position they won the votes.

Paladino, who is both a developer and lawyer, has a reputation for outspokenness and candor in the Buffalo business community... Paladino is like the character in the movie “Network,” who shouts “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Brash, articulate and opinionated, Paladino is the kind of outsider who could bring the Republican Party back in the Empire State.

What's even crazier, it appears former Republican Senator Al D'Amato, a current favorite of libertarians for his Pro-Legalization of Poker lobbying efforts, is maneuvering the State GOP into accepting Rick Lazio as its standard-bearer in order to secure his pal - Democrat - Andrew Cuomo the Governor's mansion.

Continuing from the Daily Caller:

Former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, nominally a Republican, and his sidekick, Kieran Mahoney, are squarely in the Cuomo camp and among Cuomo’s largest fundraisers. D’Amato has labored furiously to lock up the Republican gubernatorial nomination for weak candidate Rick Lazio in order to hand Andrew a weak challenge.

This is confirmed by the NY Daily News:

Interestingly, D'Amato is raising money for Gillibrand's old HUD boss, AG Andrew Cuomo. So, he clearly still thinks some Democrats are OK - especially those who might be poised to run the state in the not-too-distant future.

Recall D'Amato was at the press conference when Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand was tapped to be the US Senator from New York. Additionally, D'Amato is much credited with having been the master-mind behind the brief Howard Stern candidacy on the Libertarian Party ticket in 1994, and getting him to back out so as not to hinder the chances of then State Senator George Pataki. Of course, Pataki ended up winning that race in an upset.

Perhaps D'Amato's lobbying for various causes is overtaking his allegiance to the Republican Party?

Republican Party, Tea Party, Libertarian Party, and Conservative Party

So, on what's generally viewed as the Right in New York, libertarians and conservatives, we could possibly end up with the following:

Rick Lazio - former Congressman from Long Island, a milktoast conservative who lost a race that was generally regarded as an easy win for the GOP, to Hillary Clinton in 2000 for US Senate. Additionally, Lazio may be seeking the Conservative Party line.

Kristin Davis - (full disclosure; a heavy favorite of this website), running simultaneously on the Libertarian Party ticket and her own Personal Freedom Party line. Though, she is less certain of gaining the Libertarian endorsement.

Warren Redlich - At the same time upstate Attorney and Gunderland Town Councilman Warrend Redlich is seeking the Libertarian Party nomination, and going against Lazio for the GOP nod, as well. Redlich, who comes from the Ron Paul wing of the Libertarian Republican movement, could end up with both nominations, or depending how well Davis and Lazio do, could end up with neither.

Carl Paladino - And finally the new entrant Mr. Paladino from Buffalo, who plans to fund a petition drive to qualify the "Tea Party," on the New York State ballot. And let's not forget, Paladino is also seeking both the Conservative and Republican Party lines.

In such an environment, and given the mood of the country right now, anything could happen. If anyone believes Andrew Cuomo, who has some skeletons in his closet of his (to be revealed at a future date, quite possibly right here at LR), is a shoe-in for this race, they are sadly mistaken.

Congressman Paul Broun appeared on the Pete Domininick XM/Sirius radio show last week, and made the following comments:

INTERVIEWER: The President and the Democrats are gonna pass a bill that's gonna kill jobs, and increase premiums, and wreck health care in the country...

BROUN: Absolutely.

INTERVIEWER: Do you think President Obama is a Socialist?

BROUN: I know he is. In fact, if you look at his own writings, he said when he was in college he leaned to Marxist tendencies, and Marxist professors. He joined Marxist clubs. You look at who he's put in his administration. There are avowed Socialists.

Dominick then pressed Rep. Broun on Obama's citizenship, asking "you can't say that he's an American citizen." Broun responded, "I don't know."

Broun is a medical doctor. He is considered a libertarian-conservative, and has received consistently high ratings from the RLC Liberty Index. He was supported by Libertarian Republicans in his past elections.

He is not yet a co-sponsor of the House bill by Florida Rep. Bill Posey HR 1073 to require proof of citizenship for eligibility of future presidential contenders. The bill currently has 12 co-sponsors, all Republicans.

Here the entire 2 minute interview here.

Ahead in latest polls over incumbent Democrat Bennet

Former Lt. Governor Jane Norton is likely to be the Republican nominee for US Senate going up against incumbent (appointed Democrat) Senator Michael Bennet. And she appears well-positioned to win the GOP a pick-up. From Hedgehog:

US SENATE – COLORADO (Rasmussen)
Jane Norton (R) 48%
Michael Bennet (D) 39%

But is she someone that libertarian Republicans, and maybe even Libertarians could support?

The always skeptical hardline libertarian/Ayn Randian Ross Kaminsky (photo) of Rossputin; Life, Liberty and Happiness blog out of Colorado recently met with Norton.

From his Blog, "Getting to know Jane Norton, so far, so good" Feb. 5:

While I’m not yet ready to make an endorsement in the Republican primary race to challenge Michael “Who?” Bennet in the US Senate race in November, my first meeting with Jane Norton (on Tuesday morning over coffee for Lt. Governor Norton and hot chocolate for me) was certainly a positive – dare I say surprisingly good ?

Maybe not for outright Drug Legalization, but definitely Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Tea Party, and Pro-Gun

On the absolute lithmus test issue for Colorado libertarians:

she mentioned more than once that she is a strong supporter of TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights)

On taxpayer issues in general:

I asked Jane Norton what she thought of the Tea Party movement. She said that she thought it was perhaps the most exciting political development of her lifetime and that it is exactly what the country needs.

She seemed entirely sincere in her description of what the Tea Party movement means to her... I found her generally pro-liberty, pro-limited government, and consistent.

Norton has been accused of being a bit too moderate a conservative, for her past support of John McCain for President. Her response:

She said that she supported John McCain because she believed that our national security and the role of Commander-in-Chief was (and is) so critically important during this time of (semi-permanent) war, but that she thinks McCain was dead wrong on his immigration/amnesty position and his support of cap-and-trade.

Other matters:

when we spoke about gun rights, she knew that the Heller case was called the Heller case... I think she’s tougher and more philosophically well-grounded than her nice (possibly too-nice) persona might make one think.

On social issues... I think it’s safe to say that Jane Norton is not a libertarian like I am; she is certainly not pro-choice, likely not for drug legalization, etc. But nobody’s perfect and, to be frank, it’s hard for me to worry a lot about drug legalization while Democrats are destroying capitalism.

Editor's Comment - Coffee for the mainstream Republican, and Hot Chocolate for the Libertarian? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

LR EXCLUSIVE!

From Eric Dondero:

Libertarian Republican had a chance to interview Republican political consultant Roger Stone last night, about the current campaign he is coordinating - Kristin Davis for New York Governor. Ms Davis, of course, is the famed New York City Madame who ran an escort service for high-level Manhattan clients. One of her clients was ex-NY Governor Eliot Spitzer.

She is now running a serious, hard-hitting campaign for Spitzer's former office.

Stone informed LR that Davis's campaign will be well-funded. They already plan to spend over $400,000 on ballot status. She will be running on the Personal Freedom Party line, however, she's also hoping to win the nomination of the Libertarian Party.

According to Stone, Davis says she absolutely adores the Libertarian Party folks and is well over 80% in agreement with the Party platform. However, she's also concerned that some purists may be a little less welcoming of her candidacy. Additionally, she is a little uncomfortable with the complicatedness of the LP's nominating process and requirements for the ballot line position.

Breaking News: Stone informed LR that Davis will be attending the upcoming Libertarian Party of New York convention in two weeks.

Stone also stressed that Davis plans very much to reach out to Republicans, and although she will not be listed on the ballot "technically" as a GOPer, she feels in many ways to be a Republican at heart. In fact, in a recent interview with Philly.com she used the term "Libertarian Republican," to describe her political affilation and beliefs.

Davis said she views herself as a Libertarian/Republican, but she's old-school conservative - lower taxes, less government - not morally conservative.

Although, her top issues are Personal Freedom stances, such as Marijuana legalization, Prostitution, and Gay Rights, Fiscal Conservatism is very high on her agenda. She has a balanced budget plan in the works which promises not to raise property taxes or state income tax rates.

She is also a fan of the pro-capitalist writings of Ayn Rand, and a devotee' of economists Frederich Hayek, Ludvig von Mises and Milton Friedman.

Above all, Stone was adament that Kristin Davis is a serious candidate for Governor, and that they are fully planning to run a well-funded and agressive campaign to win.

We will be regularly covering Kristin's campaign here at LR. Early next week there might be a big announcement from her campaign that you will hear about first right here! In the meantime visit KristinDavis2010.com to learn more, volunteer or make a contribution.

Editor's Note - Kristin is a regular reader of Libertarian Republican blog, and through her spokesman she wishes to express her gratitude to fellow Libertarian Republicans across the country for their support.

The issue of Democrat Senate candidate Alex Giannoulias and his bank dealings with alleged crime figures, is not going away. If anything Giannoulias is creating more questions, by his refusal to be forthcoming on the issue with the Chicago media.

In contention is a major loan Giannoulias personally oversaw as Vice President of Broadway Bank (owned by his father). The $15 bill loan was made to well-known Chicago crime boss Michael "Jaws" Giorango. He was also a Giannoulias family friend. The funds were used in illegal criminal enterprises.

Some background from a 2006 article in the Illinois Times, "Democrat candidate's defense of mobster could derail campaign":

Michael “Jaws” Giorango was apparently a member of the old Chicago Heights mob operation. Years ago he was convicted twice on bookmaking charges. One of the bookmaking operations he worked for, according to the Chicago Tribune, used “threats of bombings, beatings and robbery to collect unpaid debts.”

Chicago Tribune political editor John Kass opined "Giannoulias fails to end bank controversy" March 3:

On this media day, Giannoulias, the Illinois state treasurer and current Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in November, had a job to do:

Put to rest nagging questions about the bank and loans he approved for some earthy types, including Michael "Jaws" Giorango, the convicted Outfit bookie and protector of a national prostitution circuit.

He did address the issues. But he didn't exactly put them to rest. He failed.

If anything, he may have made things worse by offering answers that only supporters would characterize, optimistically, as "evolving.

Meanwhile, Republican Senate nominee Mark Kirk is calling on his opponent to come clean.

From WLS Chicago, March 1:

"Ya know, it's one thing to issue a loan to someone and say in the first year the recipient repaid the loan. But in the case of Michael "Jaws" Giorango, the recipient failed to pay the loan. And it's loans like that are imperiling the Broadway bank, made under Alexi Giannoulias' signature when he was an officer of the bank."

Polls show the race very tight, Giannoulias up by two, within the margin of error.

From Eric Dondero:

Remember this video from Spring of last year? This was Pre-Tea Party, still in the bloom of the early Obama administration. Quite hilarious, (and well-produced) if entirely inaccurate.

Now, Michael Moore is echoing the same theme, but using another impoverished Nation. And this time the blame is placed on out-of-control "Republicanism," as a substitute for unbridled libertarian deregulation.

From Brent Baker at NewsBusters:

Filmmaker Michael Moore, appearing on Friday night’s Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO to plug the DVD release of his Capitalism: A Love Story screed, cited the 250,000 killed in Haiti, which he snidely described as an unregulated “Republican’s paradise.

"in Haiti, where there are no building codes, no regulations -- a Republican’s paradise -- a quarter of a million people died."

See the video at EyeBlast

Dutch MP Geert Wilders, quite possibly the Netherlands' next President, cuts to the chase on the threat of Radical Islam in front of a swarm of gathered reporters. MP Wilders was on a trip to the United Kingdom last week and spoke to the House of Lords.

"I do have a problem with Islam. It's a Fascist ideology."

Address to the British House of Lords

Dutch Member of Parliament, and leader of the right-libertarian Party of Freedom made a two-day publicity swing through the United Kingdom last week. During his stay he addressed the House of Lords.

The following is an excerpt:

Ladies and gentlemen, not far from here stands a statue of the greatest Prime Minister your country ever had. And I would like to quote him here today: “Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. No stronger retrograde force exists in the World. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step (…) the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.” These words are from none other than Winston Churchill wrote this in his book ‘The River War’ from 1899.

Churchill was right.

Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t have a problem and my party does not have a problem with Muslims as such. There are many moderate Muslims. The majority of Muslims are law-abiding citizens and want to live a peaceful life as you and I do. I know that. That is why I always make a clear distinction between the people, the Muslims, and the ideology, between Islam and Muslims. There are many moderate Muslims, but there is no such thing as a moderate Islam.

Islam strives for world domination. The Quran commands Muslims to exercise jihad. The Quran commands Muslims to establish shariah law. The Quran commands Muslims to impose Islam on the entire world.

Islam is merely not a religion, it is mainly a totalitarian ideology. Islam wants to dominate all aspects of life, from the cradle to the grave. Shariah law is a law that controls every detail of life in a Islamic society. From civic- and family law to criminal law. It determines how one should eat, dress and even use the toilet. Oppression of women is good, drinking alcohol is bad.

I believe that Islam is not compatible with our Western way of life. Islam is a threat to Western values. The equality of men and women, the equality of homosexuals and heterosexuals, the separation of church and state, freedom of speech, they are all under pressure because of islamization. Ladies and gentlemen: Islam and freedom, Islam and democracy are not compatible. They are opposite values.

No wonder that Winston Churchill called Adolf Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ “the new Quran of faith and war, turgid, verbose, shapeless, bur pregnant with its message”. As you know, Churchill made this comparison, between the Koran and Mein Kampf, in his book ‘The Second World War’, a master piece, for which, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Churchill’s comparison of the Quran and ‘Mein Kampf’ is absolutely spot on. The core of the Quran is the call to jihad. Jihad means a lot of things and is Arabic for battle. Kampf is German for battle. Jihad and kampf mean exactly the same.

Islam means submission, there cannot be any mistake about its goal. That’s a given. The question is whether we in Europe and you in Britain, with your glorious past, will submit or stand firm for your heritage.

You can read the entire text of the speech at the pro-defense libertarian blog Gates of Vienna.