From Eric Dondero:

Bellville (pop. 4,000) is an exurb approximately 50 miles northwest of Houston. It is the county seat for Austin County. The town is in close proximity to the world-renowned Katy Mills Mall, Katy, TX.

A week ago Sunday, Maron Thomas, 20, allegedly murdered 5 of his family members. Details are now just emerging. He reportedly shot them to death. But officials are also confirming that he took a machete and hacked off the head of his two-year old niece. The bodies were discovered by a woman named Anita Hassan. (Source: News Blaze)

From another source, local reporter John Kays with the Student Press, reports:

A final tidbit was picked up last night on CNN Headline with Mike Galanos. I don`t have the exact transcription, so it`s from memory only. Mike interviewed Courtney Zubowski, a reporter CBS affiliate KHOU in Houston. Courtney has the latest scoop on the suspect. One thing that she said is that Maron had to be restrained when the police were taking blood samples. He really tore up the lab.

The other thing is that Maron was acting strangely in the days leading up to the shootings. He was ranting and raving about white people... Exactly what he was saying and who heard him say it, is yet to be determined.

Maron was a recent convert to Islam. There is some speculation on various blogs, though unconfirmed, that he converted while in prison. Though, notably, other sources are reporting that Thomas has no previous criminal history.

From the Houston Chronicle, Jan. 20:

Thomas' sister, Ka'Tara Price, 24, of Houston, said she believes anger and Thomas' conversion to the Muslim religion influenced his actions. She said she is not aware of him suffering from any mental illness.

“It's anger and pure evilness,” Price said Wednesday night.

“This is one of the most horrific crimes we've had in Austin County,” District Attorney Travis Koehn said.

Photo made available through the Austin County Sheriff's Dept. Hat tip to Jawa Report.

California now officially a "No Fun Zone"

by Eric Dondero

Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, getting increasingly difficult at California's famous resorts? Blame it on the Nanny State, more specifically un-elected bureaucrats and the Democrat-controlled legislature. Authorities in California are getting increasingly safety conscience to the point of outright bans on those seeking a little Winter fun.

From Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for San Gabriel Valley News Group, Whittier Daily News, "Nanny state forces us to settle for slush" Jan. 25:

Forget about taking responsibility for your actions anymore.

"Officials" and "authorities" take a strong stand against personal responsibility. At least that's what I got out of an article that appeared in Monday's newspaper.

The story, by staff writer Brian Day, had some information that makes clear just how much we've become a nanny state:

About 900 people drove up San Gabriel Canyon Sunday seeking snow.

Unspecified safety concerns caused authorities to close roads above 3,200 feet.

Families hoping to enjoy a day frolicking in fresh fallen snow instead settled for slushy remains at lower elevations.

Gabriel sums up his frustration:

Enough already.

We've allowed anonymous "authorities," "experts" and "officials" to control our lives and turn California into a virtual no-fun zone.

Events in San Gabriel Canyon this weekend and in the state Legislature this month stand as good reminders for us all. California is now a place where... snow is too dangerous.

So we settle for slush.

But it doesn't stop at higher elevation closures. Democrats in the state legislature are now seriously proposing mandatory helmets for California skiiers.

Nanny-statism should be part of California culture says Democrat lawmaker

From the Sac Bee, "Two Bills would require helmets on Ski Slopes" Jan. 25:

California children must wear a helmet to ride a bicycle, skates, skateboard or non-motorized scooter...

The measures by Sacramento Assemblyman Dave Jones and San Francisco Sen. Leland Yee, both Democrats, would make it clear that the constitutional right to pursue happiness does not include skiing bareheaded.

"Lots of Californians take advantage of some wonderful skiing and snowboarding opportunities, and we want to make sure that they are as safe as possible," said Jones, whose bill also targets other aspects of snow-sport safety.

Yee said families would abide by a mandatory ski and snowboard helmet law, realizing that the goal is to reduce the number of head injuries in a sport where one fall can cause permanent harm.

"People will understand that the culture has changed and that (wearing helmets) is the way we do it now," he said.

Republicans, a minority in both houses, have reacted swiftly to oppose the legislation. Continuing:

Opponents criticize the new legislation as "nanny government" in which lawmakers usurp parents in deciding what is best for children.

Sen. Tom Harman, R-Huntington Beach, characterized the proposal as "kind of silly."

"I think it's overregulation," he said. "I'm sensitive to sometimes the government watching out for people, but people need to learn to take care of themselves, and look out for themselves."

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R- Irvine, said life and sport inevitably pose risk of injury and overzealous government, left unchecked, someday could require thrill-seekers to wear a full crash helmet and cover themselves in bubble wrap.

"Where do we stop?" DeVore asked.

As of yet, ski enthusiast, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not indicated where he stands on the proposeld legislation.

Of course, runaway entitlement spending by the Democrat-controlled legislature has also led to state park closures, adding to the woes of winter fun seekers.

California's loss may be other states' gains. Ski Utah anyone?

Former libertarian-leaning Republican Congressman J.D. Hayworth is challenging incumbent John McCain in the GOP primary for his US Senate seat. He appeared on Chris Matthews, MSNBC last weekend. One of the main topics of discussion was the controversy of Obama's birth certificate.

From Motor City Liberal blog:

MATTHEWS: Are you as far right as the birthers? Are you one of those who believes that the President should have to prove that he’s a citizen of the United States and not an illegal immigrant? Are you that far right?

HAYWORTH: Well, gosh, we all had to bring our birth certificates to show we were who we said we were and we were the age we said we were to play football and youth sports. Shouldn’t we know exactly that anyone who wants to run for public office is a natural born citizen of the United States and is who they say they are? [...]

MATTHEWS: Should the Governor of Hawaii produce evidence that the President is one of us, an American? Do you think that’s a worthy past time for the Governor of Hawaii?

HAYWORTH: No, look…I’m just saying the President should come forward with the information, that’s all. Why should we we depend on the Governor of Hawaii?

Senator McCain has largely deflected on the issue of the Obama birth certificate, and at times, has called such views out of bounds for discussion.

From the Editor:

Roger Simon, President of Pajamas Media, posted a 7 minute video of the Right Bloggers conference last weekend in Austin. The majority of the video is going to the "Shooting range with Gov. Rick Perry." Patrick Ruffini, Andrew Breitbart, Roger Cooper, Matt Lewis, Mellisa Clouthier and other titans of the Right Blogger community make an appearance.

At precisely 4:50 minutes in Simon pans the audience for the conference portion of the event. My wife and I are visible in the middle of the audience. (I wave my hand; my wife is the one wearing the red blouse.)

You may want to check out the video at PJTV.

Republican Caucus in the Senate now at 62?

In what could be seen as yet another blow to the Democrats, following on the footsteps of two major losses for Governor in New Jersey and Virginia, a Congressional party switcher to the GOP, and a major Senate seat switch from Democrat to Republican in Massachusetts, Connecticut Independent-Democrat Senator Joe Lieberman has now declared himself completely Independent. He has previously identified himself as an "Independent-slash-Democrat."

Asked by an interviewer which affiliation would he run for re-election under in 2012, Lieberman responded:

LIEBERMAN: I must tell you at this moment in our political life, which is so partisan... I like being an Independent. So, if you asked me that would be the most likely of the choices.

EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER: Could you see yourself as a Republican? Is that possible?

LIEBERMAN: Yeah, it's possible. A good old fashioned New England moderate Republican.

Note - a full switch by Lieberman, plus a Republican pick-up in CT of the Dodd seat, would put the GOP at parity with the Democrats in New England Senate seats, 6 to 6.

See the complete video interview at RCP.

Whose Mandate for Change?

From Eric Dondero:

At CNN's Political Ticker, in a post election analysis Jan. 23, Republican Scott Brown's win over Martha Coakley was described as "narrow."

From CNN:

(CNN) - Voter anger at current conditions in the country right now and at the Democrats' agenda in Washington helped fuel the upset victory of Republican Scott Brown in Tuesday's special senate election in Massachusetts, according to a new poll

Brown narrowly defeated state attorney general Martha Coakley in the special election to fill the last three years of the term of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Brown became the first Massachusetts Republican to win a senate election since 1972.

7.5% win overwhelming; 5% razor-thin

Brown won the race with a 52% margin over Democrat Martha Coakley with 47%. Independent/Libertarian candidate Joe Kennedy ended with roughly 1%.

On Nov. 5, 2008 this is how Obama's victory over McCain was described at the same CNN Politics Blog:

Obama had an overwhelming victory over Sen. John McCain, who pledged Tuesday night to help Obama lead.

The precise ending vote total for 2008 was as follows:

Barack Obama 53.9%
John McCain 45.6%
Other .5%

(Source: Wiki)

You have to wonder, if McCain/Palin had prevailed by say, 53% to 46%, would CNN have called it a "narrow win" with no mandate for change?

Readers, I have some very exciting news to report to you this morning. It happened last week, but I've held the announcement til today.

I have been taken on as a regular contributing writer to Andrew Breitbart's BigGovernment.com. I am very pleased to join Andrew, and his group of fine libertarian-conservative writers.

The articles/commentary which I write for BigGovernment will be original, differing from those posted here. I expect maybe one or two pieces a month. Mostly focusing on foreign policy and a Pro-defense libertarian stance.

Here's my first. A bit controversial, especially for some Ron Paul supporters. Titled, "Scott Brown Victory is a Win for Bush Foreign Policy, over Ron Paul Isolationism":

BigGovernment.com

And please add BigGovernment.com to your Daily Favorites.

UPDATE!

My article was picked up and run in full (ZinOwl) or excerpted by at least 5 different other sites, including the hugely popular Lucianne.com and New Media Blog.

UPDATE!

Alas, I have just received my first negative review. From some lowly blog calling itself "The Quick and the Dead," (emphasis on the Dead):

Breitbart pisses his credibility away

The site that began with the Giles/OKeefe stings is now reduced to publishing empty anti-Ron Paul screeds by Eric Dondero.

Dondero, a self-proclaimed “libertarian Republican” has for years haunted the libertarian blogosphere with screeds mocking libertarians, arguing that the GOP darling-du-jour (Bush, Giuliani or whomever) is “really libertarian.” Even the mention of his name has become a punch line. In the latest rant, he equates Coakley’s position on the Middle East wars with Ron Paul’s (a stretch; Coakley never met a principle she could hold), and ends “But its [sic] notable that voters of one of the most dove-ish of states, [comma sic] chose to side forthrightly with the candidate of the Bush foreign policy agenda, over Obama/Paul.”

You can excuse me if I don't add a link.

William N. Gaillard is Chair of the South Bay Libertarians (near Los Angeles), and a former 3-time State Assembly candidate on the Libertarian ticket. He is also a part-time resident of Prescott, Arizona.

Gilliard had an opinion piece published by the Arizona Republic, Jan. 23, "Libertarian Cheers Mass Results" (Excerpt):

Tuesday's special election in Massachusetts was a real double whammy against the Rocky Mountain canaries by the pachyderms.

As a Libertarian, aka "Third Party" member, I can well afford the luxury of standing on the sidelines simply to lick my chops and then gloat at the cared-for results... Not only did Republicans take a Senate seat in Democratic "seat-safe" Taxachusetts, they took a Kennedy seat. This has been unheard of since 1962.

When the last surviving paterfamilias of "Camelot" died last year, so did the pervasive hegemony of this family upon American politics. I just didn't believe that it would crash and burn this quickly and with such a resounding thud.

This unassailable repudiation of political arrogance in Washington over the past year will also sound the death knell for both this "health-scare" bill and the Obama administration.

President Barack Obama will now go down in the history of this republic as America's first, first-term, lame-duck president.

"Government must be limited to prevent tyranny and oppression and to maximize individual Rights and Liberties. Our Constitution goes to great lengths to limit the power of Government. Government should be limited and should intrude as little as possible into the private sector, including the free marketplace, religious and social establishments, and the personal lives of Citizens. It should be lean, efficient, and beholden to the People and the Constitution." -- Dr. Art Coday

by Steve Beren

I've had the opportunity to meet each of the GOP candidates seeking to unseat Patty Murray. And I've interviewed them, one on one, no holds barred, for an average of two hours each. Also, I've attended the three Candidate Forums. I've done my research, and I know these candidates well.

With Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts, it is clear that a powerful change is sweeping America. The American people are standing up, speaking out, and voting in favor of protecting liberty, in favor of cutting federal spending, and in favor of protecting constitutional government. The Tea Party movement, the townhall protesters, and other grassroots pro-liberty movements have inspired and electrified the nation.

Copying the Massachusetts Miracle for Washington State

My goal is to promote "five star conservatism" right in the heart of liberal Seattle - and throughout the state of Washington. Senator Patty Murray, who is so closely tied to President Obama's failed policies, is more vulnerable than ever. I believe that I can best help promote the cause of liberty in our state put concentrating all my efforts, resources, and talents into helping replace Senator Murray this fall.

I endorse Dr. Art Coday for U.S. Senate. He is an outstanding candidate, a true conservative, a sincere defender of freedom, and a passionate patriot. Dr. Coday is a dedicated physician who knows - from the inside, from his own life and work experiences - that increased government control of healthcare will be severely harmful to the American people.

As a physician, Dr. Coday is uniquely qualified to get the Senate on the right track towards true healthcare reform based on a free market approach. He is deeply devoted to the elderly, disabled, and the very poor.

Art Coday has correctly centered his message on economic growth and job creation. As he said in the Seattle Times, Congress should act to revitalize the economy "by controlling its insatiable urge to spend our hard-earned money, lowering tax rates, and paying off a national debt that is ruining our credit." This issue cuts across all demographic and ideological lines, and has a special appeal to independent voters and others who don't necessarily usually vote Republican. Dr. Coday presents unmistakably common-sense solutions to the issues troubling the American people.

Dr. Coday is the candidate who is in the best position to promote liberty and to defeat Patty Murray. He is an outstanding and effective communicator, and possesses a brilliant intellect - he graduated from the University Washington, magna cum laude, with honors, with a degree in cellular and molecular biology, and then went on to Harvard Medical School where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree.

What a contrast to Patty Murray!

Art Coday is a fiscal conservative, favoring reduced spending and lower taxes, a return to constitutional government, an audit of the Federal Reserve, and an end to corporate bailouts and phony "stimulus" programs. He is a strong proponent of border security first and a strong opponent of amnesty for illegal immigrants. He is a national security conservative, advocating a strategy of peace through strength and supporting our troops in the war against terrorism.

From his campaign website:

The preamble of the Constitution names provision for "the common defence" as one of the primary reasons for which the Constitution was ordained an established. Indeed, this is one of the primary functions of our Government, and it should fulfill this duty honorably and reliably. However, as keepers of the Constitution, providing for the common defense is also our responsibility. We should not withhold our willing service or treasure when called upon by our Country for its defense, nor should our Government take away our ability to defend ourselves and our Nation by unduly infringing upon our right to keep and bear arms.

There are Tea Party students, Tea Party veterans, Tea Party housewives, Tea Party retirees, and Tea Party business owners. Art Coday is not just a doctor - he is a Tea Party activist and patriot. He's for less spending and less government. Coday is for less taxation and more representation.

Art Coday is the candidate who is best able to raise the necessary funds, win key endorsements, and persuade voters. He is the best candidate to go toe-to-toe in a debate with Patty Murray.

Note - Steve Beren, a staunchly Pro-Defense libertarian-conservative, is a two-time Republican candidate for Congress (Jim McDermott seat), in the Seattle area.

Mitchell Langbert of the Republican Liberty Caucus recently interviewed former New Mexico Governor and prospective 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Gary Johnson. The interview was posted to the RLC Blog. On an economics question and what to do about spending and the deficit, Johnson squarely put the blame on two culprits.

From RLC blog:

these government employees produce no value for the economy... The spending train is out of control. But the Democratic legislature [in New Mexico] fought me and the courts handed down adverse rulings. The legislature was 2 to 1 Democratic. Common sense has gone out the window. First you have to stop the spending. The time is ripe for doing so in Washington, and it’s accomplishable.

We are a bankrupt nation. We’re not taking care of our own house. Unlike the generation before us, interest and principle payments are due now. The enormous budget deficits will lead to inflation and an ever weaker dollar.

Note - Dave Nalle, National Chairman of the RLC will be hosting an open hour-long conference call for Libertarian Republicans with Gary Johnson on Jan. 26. For specific information and to sign up, go to the RLC blog.

New from Cato's Dan Mitchell

Dan asks a new Stimulus? Let's consider the massive failure of the first Stimulus first.

And might there be a purely political motive involved? Consider, if the economy is coming out recession, and the Democrats managed to push through a second Stimulus, who might stand to gain from the recovery right before Nov. 2010? -- ED

He could have just secured the GOP nomination

by Eric Dondero

In the race to succeed libertarian Republican Governor Mark Sanford, most libertarian Republicans and libertarian-conservatives have been firmly in the Nikki Halley camp. The state representative, an American of Indian descent, has been viewed as a Bobby Jindal-style budget-cutting fiscal hawk, which has won her great support from this blog and other libertarian media outlets.

But now sitting Lt. Governor Andre Bauer has expressed some stunningly hardline libertarian sentiments in a recent speech regarding welfare and treatment of the poor. His remarks have been garnering universal condemnation in the leftwing blogosphere and mainstream media. But ironically, his statements may have just gained him the nomination, given the importance of the hard right and libertarian vote, in the State's GOP. And since SC is the Reddest of Red States, in an otherwise good Republican year, the likelyhood of him being the next Governor of South Carolina, after securing the nomination, is now extremely high.

Truly Survival of the Fittest

From the Greenville Times:

GREENVILLE - Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer has compared giving people government assistance to "feeding stray animals."

Bauer, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor, made his remarks during a town hall meeting in Fountain Inn that included state lawmakers and about 115 residents.

"My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed. You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They 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. They don't know any better," Bauer said. "You see, for the first time in the history of this country, we've got more people voting for a living than we do working for a living."

Later in his speech, Bauer said, "I can show you a bar graph where free and reduced lunch has the worst test scores in the state of South Carolina," adding, "You show me the school that has the highest free and reduced lunch, and I'll show you the worst test scores, folks. It's there, period.

"So how do you fix it? Well you say, 'Look, if you receive goods or services from the government, then you owe something back.'"

Bauer said there are no "repercussions" from accepting government assistance.

Bauer's past troubles with the Right

The Lt. Governor has not previously been high on the libertarian radar screen. If anything he was held in a bit of contempt by libertarians for having ruffled libertarian darling Mark Sanford's feathers during his Argentine mistress troubles. Bauer let it be known that he would be happy to replace his boss if he decided to step down, which won him great condemnation even from Sanford critics.

Not too mention, Bauer has been held under suspicion by social conservatives for suspected support for agenda items of the gay rights movement.

But with such hardcore anti-moocher sentiments, seemingly straight out of an Ayn Rand novel, Bauer may instantly become the same sort of hero as Sanford has been, at least to libertarians on the hard right. One has to wonder, even if they weren't pals, if at some point Bauer was influenced by his boss's hardline libertarian beliefs.

Will Ms. Halley now have to on-up her opponent to gain back critical libertarian support?

Andrew Breitbart, former assistant to Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report, co-developer of the Huffington Post, and now CEO of Breitbart.com, BigHollywood.com, BigGovernment.com and now BigJournalism.com, spoke to a gathering of Right bloggers yesteday in Austin, Texas at the invite of Governor Rick Perry. At the beginning of his remarks, Breitbart introduced himself to Gov. Perry and the assembled audience of about 90:

"I'm very rightwing with a bit of a libertarian thing going on... a Barry Goldwater Western conservative..."

by Eric Dondero

I attended the Right Bloggers conference yesterday in Austin at the UT campus AT&T Center. There were about 90 in attendance from all over the state. The list of speakers and panelists was impressive: On-line Media guru Patrick Ruffini, Roger L. Simon, President of Pajamas Media, champion Tweeterer Dr. Melissa Clouthier, frequent Cable News commentator Matt Lewis and of course Andrew Breitbart.

The message heard over and over from just about all the panelists, was that the Right could beat the Left on-line and that our side clearly had the momentum. There was a genuine Tea Party atmosphere. There was euphoria over Scott Brown's recent win. Money bombs for Right candidates for office were also mentioned frequently. There was a definite emphasis on unity on the Right, and steering clear from divisive issues. The importance of keeping "libertarians," as part of the team, was brought up a couple times by panelists and questioners.

As for technology, Simon in particular emphasized the importance of citizen journalists, and the use of the video camera. He mentioned specifically the recent Global Warming summit in Copenhagen as a way to trip up Leftist frauds, and getting them on record with their own words.

Simon made some news, as well, by admitting that PJ Media had yet to have a profitable year. He said straight out that PJ had made some crucial mistakes early on, mostly by paying writers too much. But then he added that nobody in the blogosphere was making any money. In fact, Breitbart added that Huffington Post was the biggest of all losers. Both agreed that we'd soon see old media dying, or morphing into an entirely different animal, most especially the NY Times, and other similar liberal newspapers.

Simon added that the new direction for PJ, and he believes for the Right blogosphere in general should be more video-based. Also, Twitter was a big topic of discussion. All panelists were positive on the new media, most especially the host Governor Perry himself.

It was revealed by Governor Perry's introducer, before his luncheon speech, that "Yes, that really is the Governor himself who Tweats," not any of his staffers. And he joked out loud that the Gov's Tweat were not at all vetted by his staff.

The Governor was animated as usual. Public policy was not his major topic, rather building the conservative movement to challenge the Left using new media, was the priority at hand. He seemed most excited about the upcoming appearance on his behalf of fellow new media politico and champion Facebooker Sarah Palin. The pair will appear at a big event in Houston on Feb. 7. (Tickets are going fast. I plan to attend.)

Then for the finale the Governor introduced his pal Andrew Breitbart. The two had gone shooting at a shooting range the day before, and afterwards had a couple brews at J. Black's on Austin's famed 6th Street along with some Right bloggers. (See Rob Cooper's Urban Grounds, blog on the event, "A Day at the Gun Range with Gov. Rick Perry.")

I must say, there was genuine warmth between Rick and Andrew. They sat and chatted for 30 minutes in some row chairs, about all things technical. During his speech, at one point the Governor hoisted his leg up onto the table, lifted up his pant leg to reveal his specially made leather boots with a cannon and insignia "Come and Take It!." He pointed to Andrew and said this is what the spirit of Texas is all about. (Reference to Texanos drive for Independence in 1836.)

Andrew gave his personal history and his journey from Liberal to "Western-style Conservative." It was the Clarence Thomas hearings for US Supreme Court Justice, that began to turn him. He was amazed at Ted Kennedy's hypocrisy on the matter. Here was the ultimate womanizer questioning a man whose worst crime in 6 years was to crack a joke in front of Anita Hill about a pubic hair on a Coke can. Andrew also wondered why it was that supposed Liberals, who were supposed to be Pro-Free Speech, were subpeoning records of Thomas's movie video rentals.

For Andrew, the clincher from his turn from the Left, came with the Clinton/Monica Lewinsky affair. He mentioned the pilloring of witness Linda Tripp, the utter hypocrisy of Hillary Clinton on the matter, and the sheer hypocrisy of all his Hollywood Liberal friends who defended Clinton's daillances, but at the same time would have crucified a similar incident by a Republican.

Andrew also talked at length about ACORN, and gave a detailed accounting of their exposure by James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles.

He talked of how difficult it was to be a Rightist in Hollywood. And recounted a story in 2006, when he was surrounded by 40 Hollywood socialites at a party in his own fourier badgering him for his support for President Bush and the War in Iraq.

Towards the end he gave a hint of good things to come, regarding an attendee to the conference who sat in the back row: Brandon Darby of Austin. The young man had been deep in the heart of the Leftist "Machine." But he became disillusioned over their hypocrisy during Hurrican Katrina. Working in New Orleans, ACORN's hometown, he saw first hand their scurrilous fundraising tactics, and lack of real commitment to help the poor and disadvantaged, using the crisis more for their own means. After being threated by ACORN to be "run out of town," cause he wasn't a Malcom 'X' radical Leftists, he turned into a whistleblower on their operation. (Read his full story at BigGovernment.com Sept. 9)

Andrew ended with a prediction: "If they (the Left) didn't like what happened in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts, we're going to use all our resources to expose them" in the coming year... He promised that more shoes would drop which would make the ACORN scandal look like child's play.

It was great for me to see old friends. Cindy Mallete of Americans for Prosperity was there, as well as Bryan Preston, Communications Director for the Republican Party of Texas. And I also met new friends who I had known solely on-line like Rob Cooper with Austin's hardhitting Right blog - Urban Grounds. I managed to briefly say Hi to the Governor, and to chat for a couple minutes with Andrew.

Afterwards, I took the wife to see the Texas Museum of History (photo), literally right across the street from the AT&T Center. Spectacular museum. See it if you get the chance.

By the time we got home, I had a Tweet. From the Governor, thanking us for attending the event.

Sign up for Gov. Perry's Tweets at Twitter.com/governorperry

By The Right Guy

In a previous article, What Worries Me part 2, I described the flipside to Obama succeeding in a Fabian socialist agenda, which is Obama losing in 2012 as opposed to winning and succeeding in his agenda.

I was concerned about the possibility of the right driving over a cliff and we election another candidate that relies on the cult of personality? Below a definition of cult of personality from Wikipedia:

A cult of personality arises when a country's leader uses mass media to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are often found in dictatorships and Stalinist governments.
A cult of personality is similar to general hero worship, except that it is created specifically for political leaders. However, the term may be applied by analogy to refer to adulation of religious or non-political leaders.

I would say that this definition fits nicely with Obama, at least initially. Obama tries to be a modern day FDR, except even more Fabian in nature. This is evidenced not only but the absolute incredulous and irrational adulation of his supporters but the control he has so far been successful with over the mainstream media. He has done so not with fear, but of agreement in principle. This had helped create an image of Obama that got him elected. What he and his magical handlers did count on and what FDR did not have to deal with, is the nature of media today. It’s available to more people today and much, much more quickly. The opposition media in the country has served as a balance to what I like to call the “government run media”. In reality they are the government-controlled media through manipulation through likeness in alleged beliefs. The end result of this is that Obama, as of this date, has an approval rating of 44%, which is a record in terms of the speed of decline for a new president.

So what's next? Obama is in decline faster than a speeding Ellie Light can try to prop him up. With Scott Brown winning the senate seat previously held by Ted "The Swimmer" Kennedy, gives us some hope that the tide is turning against Obama and socialism in this country. At this point, the spell is breaking and people are starting to see Obama for who and what he is: A Fabian socialist with the gift of public speaking abilities, but who has no ability to actually do anything concretely positive for this country, to move us forward economically, in foreign or domestic policy, or even as a proper representative of the American people in being our president. If you were transported to today from 20, 10, or even 5 years ago, you'd have to come to the conclusion that we have a leader who never lived in this country, let alone having been born here. He had no profit/loss experience...heck, no business experience or acumen at all, he didn't even finish his first term as a senator, which was his first political position on a national scale and some Americans are sitting around wondering why he's so incompetent? He is a creation of the mass media, a talking head, a cardboard cutout.

So, whats' next? With Scott Brown's victory, we may be well on our way to correcting this voyage into socialism that started more than 14 months ago. The question I have is, will the GOP do the right thing? Will they take to heart the policies, platform and agenda of the Tea Party and the 912ers, or will they just nod in agreement until after the contract is signed? This is truly a defining moment for the republican party. In my own home state, I can tell you from interviews I have heard with Steve Deace and Craig Robinson of the Iowa republican blog, that the people in charge of the party in this state are afraid of the Tea Party people and want nothing to do with Them. In fact, in a recent interview, Robinson said that it is the responsibility of republicans to get behind whoever the party nominated or selects. Better the lesser of two evils. It should be the other way around: Whoever the party selects or nominates must be in accord with the party platform and positions. May be part of the problem is that being a republican means too many different things, and is applied to a too broad political spectrum. At some point it stands for nothing. I think the Tea Party has a chance to steer the GOP ship, but will Michael Steele & Co. get out of the way?

On another level, the GOP needs to learn from the Democrat's mistakes. Don't put forth these candidates that are smooth talking with empty heads or lacking in any real experience. While I think it's great that Scott Brown won, let him prove himself. With Sarah Palin, she needs to really polish herself and take an interest in history, world affairs, and in general, the world outside of Wasila. I like the woman, but she isn't ready. Some will say "look at Ronnie, he was an dilettante" etc...But what most people don't realize is that Reagan was governor of one of the largest states, certainly the largest economically in the country. He also studied very hard every day to keep well informed, which he was and much better than people realize. Being president isn't a 9-5, Monday through Friday Job. It's a 24/7/365 job for four years, with the responsibility to over 300 million people. It's going to be an interesting ride until November. What do you think will come of this? Will the republicans take the house and/or senate, or will the democrats hang on to a slim but shrinking majority? No matter what, Obama will try to pass as much of his agenda and policies through the congress before November. This is like a bucket list for Barry, and the clock is ticking very quickly, the end is near.

Final Note; I want to thank Eric for letting me fill in for the day. I just got a call from Eric and he had a lot of great things to say about some of the big bloggers out there as well as Governor Rick Perry, who sounds like an outstanding person. Thanks again Eric and to all of the readers of Eric's Republican Libertarian Blog, I hope you go to my blog, The Right Guy Show every day to read my take on local, nation and international politics, as well as some humor from time to time.

Thank you for reading this blog.

By The Right Guy

1. Get Elected
2. Hire Clueless Socialist Lackeys, I mean Yes Men
3. Have a Democrat controlled congress
4. Follow their lead by signing every Keynesian bill into law

Props to Obama for getting elected. Not only did he make it to the top, but he was a mulatto man making it to the top. The problem is, having is a lot different than wanting. Thomas Jefferson said it best: "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. " Obama has Marxist principles, and you could argue that he is standing like a rock with them, but I would say he isn't. he's practicing an incrementalism towards socialism and he's gauging how far and how quickly he can progress, but I digress. For all his imputed intelligence, for all his hope and change, for all his marxist ideology, he really is in over his head. I would say he is more over his head than kennedy was in 1962. The problem is that he has beliefs that are not proven in praxis. Government controlled economies do not work well, particularly on large scales. He also underestimates the average american's desire to be free. Free from government intrusion, and from taxes. He over estimates the chicken little factor that got him in office. He probably truly believes that he is the answer to our problems.

Here is the scary part. There are two methods used in the business world to accomplish things: Make the right decision, or make the decision and then make it right. You could say this applies to many things in life. So, is Obama a true believer, or a gangster? If he is a crusader, he will continue to push his agenda, no matter what the reality is, and shove it down our throats. If he is a gangster, he will fall in love with power (he already has to a great degree), and it won't really matter. He will do whatever is necessary to remain in power to serve his ego. FDR is a prime example of this. Still, gangsters can still make bad decisions, it's just that the decisions suit their success more than their beliefs. Either way, if they make the wrong decision, they will likely try to make it right. I don't believe Obama has the humility to admit he is wrong. He has politicians disease.

Thank you for reading this blog.

H/T to Stacy McCain

By The Right Guy

As a continuation of why some of us suck, I want to explain my frequent use of the term "Farm Animals".

Farm animals are used for one thing: To Produce. In the case of the picture to the left, the cows here are used to produce milk. Notice the clean, austere, functional, efficient and productive environment. As long as the cows produce, they will be well taken care of.

They get antibiotics, hormones, visits from the vet, kept clean and are well cared for. As long as they produce, they are ok and if and when they are not, they are sent to McDonald's or the rendering house. It's just the way it is. Cows don't have any notion of freedom, and they can't make the rational choice whether or not to be where they are. Still, some would argue that they are better off being milk cows for the dairy.

Humans on the other hand have the power of reason, or so we are led to believe, and because of this, we are supposed to be able to make informed and rational decisions. Yet, despite this, like the fool that keeps playing three card monte, we make choices that make no sense, at least not good sense. With the rise of MaObama, it seems many people are sold on the idea of a socialist/marxist America, where as in Europe, they want the government to take care of them cradle to grave.

What makes such European countries successful is that in order for the system to work, there must exist enough people that produce for the system. You say, "what is the difference between that and capitalism? In capitalism, the workers produce for the "corporations' and companies The differences are that one, that people in a capitalist democracy, and I mean truly both, they have the right and free will to participate to the extent that they wish and whatever they earn (in a perfect world) belongs to them. Hopefully they make rational choices for their lives and can do so without fear. With the former, without producers that give to the system, the system cannot sustain itself. The more the people want from the government, the more will be taken from them by the government.

So, just as the cows are taken care of for the purpose of producing milk, so are citizens of a socialist country for the purpose of supporting the government and its dependents. Their care depends on their contribution. This is observed in every socialist democracy, like Canada, the UK and Australia to name but a few.

The argument can be made that they make these decisions out of free will. This is true under some circumstances, but like most governments, it is harder to take it back after it happens. Another observation is that people become enculturated or you could say that they are domesticated into this lifestyle. Still, the truth is inescapable: Citizens of these countries are like farm animals, producing for a system without rational thought as to why, the consequences, and what other possibilities might be. I would also liken this to the puerile nature of infants. Feed a baby, change it's diapers and give it attention and it will be happy. At what point do people want to be treated as adult human beings, responsible for their own destiny, and make their own way?

Our country was founded by people who were such people who made their own way. It seems to me that we are taking a huge step backwards. I could write volumes on this, but for now, this is it. So, the question is, do want to be free, adult, and responsible, or do you want to be treated as a farm animal, like a puerile child, an infant? What road should America take? Will we suck? 🙂

Thank you for reading this blog.

Eric is on assignment in Austin Texas at a Right blogger convention featuring Rick Perry, Governor of Texas. Eric sends his best and says that he will have hard hitting pieces later on today, but in the meantime, Eric has turned the reins over to me for the day and I hope you enjoy my posts. My name is Jim Lagnese and my blog is The Right Guy Show and I am also known to some as The Right Guy.

Thank you for reading his blog.

From the Editor:

I'm off to Austin this weekend for a Right Bloggers conference. It will be a special event, with a very special guest. The top Right Bloggers from around the country will be in attendance. I hope to provide you all with photos and maybe even some coverage Saturday or Sunday.

Our inbox is full with articles from our contributing writers and hot libertarian Republican news to report. They'll be posted sporadically over the weekend. But we hope to catch up by Sunday night.

As always thanks for your regular patronage and readership of this blog. We've been solid 900 to 1,000 unique visitors a day since early January. That's very encouraging.