From Eric Dondero:

Strident AntiWar Leftist Democrat Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin now looks to be in serious trouble. A new poll by Rasmussen finds him behind former Bush Administration official and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. As of yet, Thompson has not declared for the seat.

From Rasmussen:

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in Wisconsin finds Republican Tommy Thompson edging incumbent Russ Feingold 47% to 43% in a hypothetical U.S. Senate match-up. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

Any incumbent who attracts less than 50% support at this point in a campaign is considered potentially vulnerable.

Thompson was a staunch advocate of the War on Terror and supported both the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Feingold opposed both.

The communist-leaning Nation magazine has called Feingold a "progressive icon." They described his foreign policy stance:

the senator who cast a lonely vote against the Patriot Act in 2001, proposed the first timeline for bringing the troops home from Iraq and sought to censure President Bush over the warrantless wiretapping program...

Of note, Tommy Thompson is the brother of Libertarian-Republican (member of both the Libertarian Party and Republican Party) Ed Thompson, Mayor of Tomah, and current GOP candidate for WI State Senate. Ironically, if the elder Thompson declares, the brother duo of like mind, will appear on the same ballot for two different offices in some Wisconsin locations.

Clarification: Of course The Nation in their piece quoted above, left out "Warrantless wiretapping program" of suspected Islamic Terrorists.

From Denise Clark:

In a poll conducted by The Philadelphia Daily News, Pat Toomey, a former U.S. Representative from the Allentown area, has opened up a 14-point lead over Specter in the fight for the Senate seat coming up for grabs. Could Pennsylvania be the next Massachusetts? I pray so.

Among likely voters, Toomey leads Snarlin' Arlen 45-31 percent with 20 percent undecided. I will tell you folks that in Pennsylvania, that's saying something.

From Philly.com, "Poll: Toomey over Specter by 14 points
Democrats found to lack enthusiasm" Jan. 27:

Former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey has opened up a 14-point lead among likely voters in his bid to deny U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter a sixth term, according to the latest Daily News/Franklin & Marshall Poll.

Poll director G. Terry Madonna said that the results reflect a growing national Republican resurgence mixed with a lack of Democratic enthusiasm as the two parties battle over issues like health care and the economy.

"I can't deny it's all very encouraging," Toomey said. "But I'm also very aware of the fact that the election is nine months away. A lot can happen. So I'm going to run like I'm 20 points behind."

Pat Toomey lost to Specter in 2004, but it was a narrow victory for Specter, who defected to the Dems last year.

I never thought I'd live to see the day where Arlen Specter would be unseated. Here in Pennsylvania, he's become almost as entrenched in his seat as Ted Kennedy was. How this all plays out is going to be interesting to watch.

Denise's blog is The Right Stuff. She lives in Western PA.

"We don't make any excuses about that... it's the Koran"

According to Youths for Western Civilization, the Islamic Republic of Iran has executed over 4,000 homosexuals since 1980. Now a Muslim professor at a distinguished American university says he agrees with that policy.

At the YWC website, conservative youth leader David Saucier writes:

I have often been puzzled about the unholy alliance between Muslims and leftists – how could the latter, who fervently support multiculturalism, gay marriage, and gender equality, ally with the former, who support religious and cultural supremacy, traditional marriage, and the oppression of women?

Saucier recounts a recent speech he attended by Vanderbilt Univ. professor Awadh A. Binhazim. Ironically, the forum was sponsored by the Muslim Students Association (MSA). The event was titled "Common Ground: Being Muslim in the Military"

During Q&A Saucier challenged him on the Islamic view on homosexuality:

SAUCIER: Under Islamic law is it punishable by death if you are a homosexual?

PROF. BINHAZIN: Yes. It is punishable by death.

Binhazin then went on to make the following statement:

"God is very straightforward about this — not we Muslims, not subjective, the Sharia is very clear about it, the punishment for homosexuality, bestiality or anything like that is death. We don’t make any excuses about that, it’s not our law — it’s the Koran."

(H/t Youth for Western Civilization)

No Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum on Fiscal matters before Congress

by Eric Dondero

Many 3rd party partisans, including some in the Libertarian Party like to use the old mantra: "there's not a dime's worth of difference between the two major parties." Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum is their common refrain. But on an increasing amount of critical votes in Congress, the differences are blaringly stark: Health care - straight party line, not a single Republican vote for socialist proposal; Obama Stimulus earlier in the year - near straight party line vote, only one single GOP House member voted for the bill, (Rep. Anh Cao, LA) and he has since recanted.

Now, another critical vote has just been taken: Raising the debt limit. From the NY Times, Jan. 27:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted narrowly on Thursday to increase the government's borrowing authority to $14.3 trillion, which would allow the Treasury Department to continue servicing the country's spiraling national debt through most of 2010.

Senate Democrats hope the 60 to 40 party-line vote will enable them to avoid another politically toxic vote on the issue before the November congressional elections.

Even moderate Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, George Voinivich of Ohio and Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, voted against the measure.

Of note, Senate-elect Scott Brown has yet to be seated. Acting Senator from Massachusetts, Democrat Paul Kirk is still casting votes.

In Congress as of late, one-party clearly represents both sides; Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dummer.

From Eric Dondero:

New polling data is showing that incumbent Democrat Senator Patty Murray is vulnerable to a Republican challenge. Last week we featured the candidacy of constitutionalist conservative Art Coday for Murray's Senate seat. But now a new name has emerged: Dino Rossi. The name of the former two-term Republican Gubernatorial candidate is being whispered in GOP circles in Washington State. He narrowly lost two races to Gov. Christine Gregoire, though notably the first race he actually won, but lost in subsequent recounts due to effective Democrat re-count ballot-stuffing in Seattle.

Next door in Oregon, longtime incumbent Democrat Senator Ron Wyden could receive a GOP challenger in the coming weeks. Libertarian Republican has learned that an individual is about to announce against him, and this individual comes from the "libertarian wing." He's youngish, entrepreneurial, and promises to run a non-traditional Republican effort, (emphasis on non-traditional), that could attract a key constituency away from the Democrat base.

We hope to be among the first to bring you the news on the prospective Oregon Republican's candidacy.

Cold Warrior Lech Walesa travels to Chicago to campaign for Adam Andrzejewski

An underdog in the race, but gaining fast, Adam Andrzjewski just won a major endorsement, and it came from an unlikely source. From the Chicago Sun-Times, Jan. 29:

Former Polish President and Solidarity founder Lech Walesa made his first-ever endorsement of an American political candidate Friday -- for longshot Republican gubernertorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski. Though Walesa started as a union activist, he was socially conservative and economically suppportive of a free market, so he supports Andrzejewski for his stands, not just his Polish heritage, Walesa told a freezing crowd of tea partyers in the federal plaza Friday. He promised to come back and campaign for Andrzejewski in the general election.

"I wish you all success, and, if you succeed, I will show up again," Walesa told the tea partyers. In longer, indoor comments earlier, Walesa and fellow Solidarity founder Mieczyslaw Gilsaid they saw themselves in Andrzewjewski, 40, when they were his age -- a young man not willing to work within the existing system and willing to try to restructure it, they said.

Meanwhile, Adam Brickly, of Draft Sarah Palin for VP fame, reported at Race42012.com:

Still more momentum for Adam Andrzejewski with an appearance on Judge Andrew Napolitano’s “Freedom Watch”. Also – waiting for final totals on a very successful moneybomb.

Andrzejewski has identified himself as a Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin style libertarian-leaning GOPer. (Original LR article)

In an interview with Brickley at Race42012, Andrzejewski said the following:

[What I like about] Glenn Beck is that [he's] libertarian, that social conservatives and libertarians – that’s the marriage that Ronald Reagan created to be the winning majority back when times were good and we brought down the Soviet Union without firing a shot.

Polls show essentially a 4-way race, with none of the top contenders edging over 20% of the vote heading into Tuesday's election. On the Democrat side, incumbent Gov. Patrick Quin is facing a number of challengers, but is expected to win the primary comfortably.

American libertarians rally to support Dutch libertarian hero

World's leading libertarian, Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders, on trial for supposed free speech violations for criticisms of Islam.

Editor's Note - We will highlight Wilders and his Party of Freedom here at Libertarian Republican this weekend.

Straight Talk from America's Heartland

Marlin Stutzman may now be the likely Republican Challenger to Senator Evan Bayh in the Hoosier State. (Cong. Mike Pence has decided not to seek the seat.)

Marlin Stutzman is a State Senator (Michiana area), and owner of the long-established Stutzman Farms, as well as Stutzman Trucking.

Among Stutzman's top issues: Spending cuts first, support for rights of home schoolers, 2nd Amendment, protecting our borders by cracking down on illegal immigration, and energy independence.

StutzmanforCongress.com

By Clifford F. Thies

In post 1-19 America, (Scott Brown Massachusetts Miracle), anything seems possible, including - in particular - a Republican winning a Senate race in Indiana. Well ... not according to CQ. CQ continues to say Bayh's Senate seat is safe. And, overall, CQ is pointing to a net GOP pick-up of only two Senate seats.

A just-released Rasmussen Poll in the Indiana Senate race puts Congressman Pence ahead of Senator Bayh by 3 points, and puts former Congressman Hostettler behind Bayh by 3 points. This looks more like a toss-up state than a safe one.

So, how does the GOP get to a net pick-up of nine? Let's start with the two seats even the braniacs at CQ concede Republicans look to pick-up, viz., Delaware and North Dakota. CQ's thinking is that the retirement of Senator Dorgan and the declining of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden (as in, the son of VP Biden) to jump into the race are the reason the Republicans are favored. Wrong! CQ is confusing the effect with the cause. Dorgan and Biden recognized they would be swimming upstream and that's why they removed themselves from these two contests.

Now, let's look at the four Democrat seats that CQ is calling "toss-up." In Arkansas, Colorado and Nevada, Senators Reid, Bennett and Blanched-Lincoln have been repeatedly shown to be behind Republican challengers by up to double-digits. Oh, I forget, the election is months away and anything can happen. Such as ... these races could become competitive. But, unless and until such a thing happens, these seats are ours, baby. As for Illinois, CQ is calling it a toss-up because of the wide-open contest within the Democratic Party. Certainly, a primary adds an element of uncertainty to a race. But, as for right now, you've got to think the Republicans with the strong candidate that they have must be looking to the general election with some anticipation.

We now look at the one Democrat seat that CQ says merely "leans" Democrat. Pennsylvania features a cross-over Democrat, Arlen Specter, who faces a potentially fratricidal primary, and a solid Republican opponent. Toss-up would seem more appropriate.

There are two Democrat seats that CQ tabs as "likely" Democrat. In California, Senator Boxer has been consistently 3 points or more ahead of Carly Fiorina and Tom Campbell. This seems more like "leans" than "likely." In Connecticut, Senator Dodd has been persuaded to quit while he was behind in the polls, and his apparent successor state Attorney General Blumenthal enjoys a Martha Coaxley-type 30-point lead.

We now look at two other Democrat seats that CQ rates as "safe." New York, it was thought, might be competitive if Rudy Giuliani challenged Senator Gillibrand. And, Rudy bested her in a number of hypothetical match-ups. But, Hizzoner said he wasn't going to run for the seat. But, wait, former Governor Pataki is now looking strong in the polls. So, maybe all is not lost. Washington state may be another state thought to be safe seat where the Republicans have a chance.

So, as I see it, in terms of pick-up opportunities, Republicans look good in five states (ND, DE, NV, AR, CO), are even-steven in three (IL, IN and PA), and have a good chance albeit are the underdogs in three (CA, NY and WA). Of course, we need to hold onto each of our seats, including, in particular, MO, OH, and NH (which I rate as toss-up, toss-up and leans Republican).

The thing is, these Senate races are not "independent events." They will tend to break one way or the other. Candidate recruitment, fundraising and other such "inside stuff" will impact certain races. More importantly, continued double-digit unemployment rates and the start of what might turn into a hyperinflation will continue to shift the numbers strongly toward the Republicans.

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party (LP) Chairman William Redpath issued the following statement today in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address:

"Tonight's speech was a reminder that, for decades, the policies of Republicans and Democrats alike have failed. Libertarians are asking people to take matters into their own hands. Instead of just complaining, we're encouraging ordinary Americans to step up and run for Congress on the Libertarian Party ballot line.

read more

LPIN Executive Director Chris Spangle speaks out against the Indiana Gay Marriage Amendment at the Indiana Equality Action press conference on Wednesday.  

By Bill Richmond, originally published in Winchester News-Gazette.

read more

Dick Morris, syndicated column, post SOTUS analysis. From NewsMax:

As to Obama being seemingly deaf to the message of the GOP victory in the Massachusetts special Senate election and relentlessly pushing healthcare reform in the State of the Union, Morris was adamant:

"His push for healthcare has completely destroyed his presidency." The healthcare debacle has been far more ruinous to his presidency than the Lewinsky affair was to President Clinton’s presidency, Morris said, and far more damaging than Iraq was to President George W. Bush.

Note - Morris has at various times, described himself as essentially a "libertarian," Republican.

The State of (I want my Socialist) Union Speech

From Tim Daniels, Left Coast Rebel:

Tonight's scolding of the Supreme Court and clear usurpation of the integrity of separation of power in this country is just one of those things too. It's bigger than the entire charade of a 'State of (I want my socialist) Union' by the Obamanation. It speaks to the highest order of malfeasance and monarchical evil.

Jim Lagnese, The Right Guy:

Obama chides the Supreme Court... The dilettante in chief continues his populist rehabilitation tour with his SOTU speech before congress. Does this guy understand anything? Can he and does he take responsibility for anything? Can he ever give a speech that isn't about him at all? He a sorry excuse for a president and leader of a country.

Steve Nielson, The Liberty Republican:

the spending freeze, tax cuts, and budget cuts are being proposed by a man eager to win back the hearts and minds of the independents ahead of the 2010 election with hopes that in two more years he can ram through socialist ideal after socialist ideal.

From Reason H&R:

The Libertarian Guy - [You Lie!]I would give a weeks' pay to hear someone yell that again.

Or "Shut the fuck up, you smooth-talking proto-socialist prick". I'd give TWO weeks' pay to hear that, verbatim.

Editor's Note - Libertarian Guy, who is also a frequent commenter at HotAir.com, made the above comment before the Alito "Not true..." moment. We know of some great libertarian campaigns (Marco Rubio, Allan West, Pat Toomey, et.al.) that he could donate his week's pay too.

Republican response to State of the Union Speech by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell speaking to an audience in Richmond. From Fox News:

"Today, the federal government is simply trying to do too much," McDonnell said. "In the past year, more than 3 million Americans have lost their jobs, yet the Democratic Congress continues deficit spending, adding to the bureaucracy, and increasing the national debt on our children and grandchildren."

"I'm hopeful the administration's new focus on the economy will lead it to say 'no' to more spending and debt, more bailouts and more government," McConnell said.

By Ron Hart

Osama bin Laden, who makes more disturbing tapes than Paris Hilton and is similarly fighting to remain relevant, reappeared recently taking credit for the Nigerian crotch bomber’s failed mission to Detroit. I predict that in his next missive, Osama will claim responsibility for moving Jay Leno to the 10 P.M. time slot on NBC.

Osama has so many tapes out there that you can now buy them all from a late night commercial, and they will throw in a special spring break video, “Jihad Girls Gone Wild,” for free! Collect the whole set!

First bin Laden sent the bumbling shoe bomber, Richard Reed, and, now this guy. You have to give Osama credit; he somehow convinced these two genius jihadists that they could start out in al Qaeda as suicide bombers and work their way up in the organization. Osama was smarter. I hear he started out in the al Qaeda mail room and worked his way up through Operations.

U.S. “intelligence” says bin Laden is still living in the Pakistan border region. However, that does not mean that he doesn’t like to slip into Afghanistan from time to time for a musical or a concert, or to enjoy an elegant dinner with his wives. Maybe he prefers living in the Pakistan suburbs for the schools and lower taxes. He was recently quoted as saying, “There is less Shiite to put up with out here.”

Osama is reportedly still the wealthiest person in the tribal area. It speaks volumes about their form of capitalism and government when the richest guy lives in a cave. Why are we so scared of these people?

Here is my idea to help our 16 government agencies catch Osama bin Laden. Based on what we know about him (he is 6’5”, has 52 brothers and sisters, and has fathered forty kids with at least five different women all by himself), and he carries guns---so they might want to make sure he is not playing in the NBA. I would suggest checking the LA Clippers, as no one else pays attention to who they have on their team and so he could hide easily.

Ron Hart is a libertarian op-ed humorist whose new book, No Such Thing as a Pretty Good Alligator Wrestler, is available at http://www.RonaldHart.com

LR FOLLOW-UP

He made pro-individualist, pro-capitalist statements cause he's a "bachelor"

From Eric Dondero:

The furor over libertarian-leaning Republican Andre Bauer's statements in favor of individual responsibility rather than rampant moocherism, continues to grow. (See our previous story for full-length "Social Darwinist Republican," for comments by Bauer at Som'sPost). Now South Carolina Democrats and NetRoots Liberals nationwide are attacking the Gubernatorial candidate for his personal lifestyle.

From the Charleston City Paper:

South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler points out that Bauer is a bachelor who has never had another mouth to feed: "His notion of punishing children by not feeding them because their parents missed a PTA meeting flies in the face of basic South Carolina values."

From Wonkette:

Andre Bauer, the allegedly gay-as-the-dickens French lieutenant governor of “America’s Bordeaux,” South Carolina, has provided CNN with his gayest-ever photo to accompany its article about how he regrets comparing poor people to poor French farm animals...

From Queerty:

Bauer is also the guy who's rumored to be gay himself... And if that CV wasn't long enough, Bauer is now also the guy who referred to poor people who rely on public assistance as "animal[s] … [that] will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that. And so what you've got to do is you've got to curtail that type of behavior." He's also the guy who won't apologize.

South Carolina GOP Primary choice for limited government Conservatives

by Stephen Maloney, Pennsylvania

Scott Brown won his monumental victory on Tuesday because of American patriots dedicated to protecting our Constitution and preserving our way of life.

I'll forever be grateful that so many people trusted me six weeks ago, when I suggested long before he was on anybody's radar screen, that electing then-little-known Lt. Col. Scott Brown was vital to America's future. (See one of my original post here at Libertarian Republican on Scott Brown's campaign.)

Now, I'm asking you to trust me again in supporting and promoting the candidacy of Katherine Jenerette, a commisioned Army officer from the legendary 82nd Airborne Division.

I deeply believe that my friend, Katherine, has the same character, devotion to country, and commitment to conservative limited government values that Americans have found in Scott Brown.

Katherine's running for Congress in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, one that stretches along the coast from Charleston all the way up to the North Carolina border. She is running, just as Scott Brown did, against the concept of family dynasties "owning" a seat and the reality of "good ole boy" politics.

She is an underdog; but I assure you, we will this contest. As Katherine says, "I don't fight like a girl; I fight like a PARATROOPER."

Please take a quick look Katherine's campaign website, and you will discover an American woman with the same character and unlimited potential we find in Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, and Liz Cheney.

A Scott Brown Republican... with a Pick-up Truck

From Katherine:

Obviously, I'm not your garden-variety politician, and that not just because I jump out of airplanes . . . and drive a pickup. I've been called "the good ole boys worst nightmare" because I don't believe in political chicanery, back-room deals, special-interest deals, or dynasties.

If you send me to Washington, DC, I won't be one that goes along . . . to get along. In my military career, I've sworn to protect my fellow Americans and our Constitution. That oath is a lifetime commitment.

Like most people in this state, I'm a conservative and, constitutionally, a strict constructionist. I believe in "the 3 Fs," faith in God, family, and fidelity to our country.

I'm pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-private enterprise, and pro-military. In my Army career, I've been willing to give my life, if necessary, for our beloved nation, and now I'm willing to devote my life to serving God, my brother and sister South Carolinians, and my fellow Americans.

Again, I'm asking you to adopt -- and embrace the candidacy of --this remarkable woman -- Katherine -- committed to winning a tough election and primary. With your strong support, victory will be a certainty. Please support this mother (of four), soldier, patriot, and leader.

Please consier at least a small contribution to Katherine's campaign, using this link: Katherine Jenerette for U.S Congress.

The Pew Research Center just released findings on public policy priorities of the American electorate. Number three - Terrorism.

From Pew:

in the wake of the failed Christmas Day terrorist attack on a Detroit-bound airliner, defending the country from future terrorist attacks also remains a top priority

Did National Security issues matter in Massachusetts?

Jamie Glazov of Frontpage interviewed Andrew McCarthy of National Review,"Brown's National Security Win" Jan. 25:

The Brown campaign’s internal polling told them something very interesting. While it’s true that healthcare is what nationalized the election and riveted everyone’s attention to it, it was the national security issues that put real distance between the two candidates in the mind of the electorate—in blue Massachusetts of all places. Sen.-elect Brown was able to speak forcefully and convincingly on issues like treating our jihadist enemies as combatants rather than mere defendants, about killing terrorists and preventing terrorism rather than contenting ourselves with prosecutions after Americans have been killed, about tough interrogation when necessary to save innocent lives. Martha Coakley, by contrast, had to try to defend the indefensible, which is Obama-style counterterrorism. It evidently made a huge difference to voters.

"He embraced tenants... of the Libertarian Party"

Scott Brown win is increasingly seen as libertarian-leaning Tea Party victory.

Mike Huckabee, Fox News:

Scott Brown's defeat of Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate campaign on Tuesday was a second Boston Tea Party as tons of Democrat hubris, elitism and paternalism were dumped into Boston Harbor.

From Fred Barnes, writing in the Washington Examiner:

conservatives and tea partiers joined moderates and independents in the Brown coalition.

He was skillful in encapsulating an anti-Obama message: "Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country."

That's a mantra conservatives, tea party people, moderates, and independents can embrace.

David Bernstein at Volokh Conspiracy:

Like others who oppose much of President Obama’s legislative agenda, I’m pleased that Scott Brown won, and even more pleased that he won relying on generally libertarian themes...

Robert Laurie at The Daily Caller:

He embraced tenants of the Tea Party movement and the Libertarian Party, fusing them into a new take on classic conservatism. At least it feels new, since we haven’t seen it in so long. Issues like personal liberty, states’ rights, upholding the 10th Amendment, stopping cap and trade, and national sovereignty were front and center in a Massachusetts election, and they won.