"The same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office. People are angry and they’re frustrated. Not just because of what’s happened in the last year or two years, but what’s happened over the last eight years." -- Barack H. Obama, interview with ABC News, Jan. 21

by Ron Hart

The most recent bright spot for the USA occurred in Massachusetts, when Republican Scott Brown won his (formerly) Democratic Senate seat in the bluest of blue states. He is being tested for steroids, but it looks like the win will stand.

The voters’ message is loud and clear, but will Obama’s hubris prevent him from hearing it? Political scientists have yet to cure arrogance.

Obama will rationalize the loss in Massachusetts like he always does. He will take a hard look at the situation and then blame it on Bush and bonuses paid to CEOs. In light of his agenda of growing government, his campaign slogan should have been “Chains we can believe in.”

I hope that the Senate election in Massachusetts will at least slow the corrupt, back room deals being cut by Democrats who buy votes (from their own party, no less) with our money.

Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. We must heed the words of Thomas Jefferson: “A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have.” Maybe folks are finally getting the message. Contrary to what the Democratic core has been conditioned to believe, nobody owes you anything.

Sidenote: It was good to see former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney campaigning for Brown. At times he even loosened his necktie, which is a big deal for Romney. He used to have a job moonlighting as a model for those pictures that come in the picture frames you buy. Not that Romney doesn’t have a wild side; I heard he experimented with domestic wines back in the 70’s.

Editor's Note - Ron Hart's column published Wed. Jan. 20, one full day before Obama remarks above. (See the video at YouTube of Obama remarks relating to Scott Brown)

A syndicated libertarian op-ed humorist, Hart’s columns appear in 40 papers nationwide. His book, No Such Thing as a Pretty Good Alligator Wrestler, is available at RonaldHart.com.

From Eric Dondero:

A much talked about new study by the Cato Institute's Dave Boaz and David Kirby looks at the bloc of independent-minded libertarian swing voters, described as "fiscally conservative/socially liberal," who are often overlooked by the two major parties. The study is titled "The Libertarian Vote in the Age of Obama."

Boaz and Kirby have found that after 2006, these soft libertarian voters sided with John McCain, and his libertarian-leaning running mate Sarah Palin over Obama/Biden. Though, notably there was a split between older libertaian-oriented voters, and younger ones.

Perhaps most importantly, the study finds some indications that the bloc increasingly open to the Republican message going into 2010 and beyond.

From Cato:

The Libertarian Vote in the Age of Obama

Libertarian — or fiscally conservative, socially liberal — voters are often torn between their aversions to the Republicans' social conservatism and the Democrats' fiscal irresponsibility. Yet libertarians rarely factor into pundits' and pollsters' analyses.

In 2004 libertarians swung away from Bush, anticipating the Democratic victories of 2006. In 2008, according to new data in this paper, libertarians voted against Barack Obama. Libertarians seem to be a lead indicator of trends in centrist, independent-minded voters. If libertarians continue to lead the independents away from Obama, Democrats will lose 2010 midterm elections they would otherwise win.

Libertarians shifted back to the Republican column in 2008, supporting John McCain over Barack Obama by 71 to 27 percent. Although many libertarian intellectuals had a real antipathy to McCain, the typical libertarian voter saw McCain as an independent, straight-talking maverick who was a strong opponent of earmarks and pork-barrel spending and never talked about social issues.

What McCain/Palin failed to do however, was to reach younger soft libertarian voters. Though, Boaz/Kirby predict that this younger contingent may now be shifting to the GOP column. Continuing:

Younger libertarians voted 59 percent for Obama versus 36 percent for McCain. But their enthusiasm for his policies may be short-lived. Younger Americans are an optimistic generation, but easily shaken when things go badly. If unemployment continues to remain weak, an economic issue that disproportionately affects young people, this generation of voters could quickly become disillusioned with Obama’s policies.

Before the 2006 elections, we predicted that if the swing away from the Republicans continued, “Republicans will lose elections they would otherwise win.” Now we offer the reverse prediction: if libertarians continue to lead the independents away from Obama, Democrats will lose 2010 midterm elections they would otherwise win.

Full analysis at Cato.org, including link for download of full report (PDF).

by Eric Dondero

Well, this didn't take long. The Boston Herald, Red Mass and other Mass GOP-oriented sites are reporting on the strong likelyhood that famed libertarian Republican State Senator from the South Coast (Weymouth), might very well be preparing for a run for the US Congress.

From the Herald:

Last night was a great victory for Scott Brown, the Commonwealth and the Republican Party. Republicans are energized and believing that once again we can win at the ballot box.

At the victory party, there was one question that people kept asking over and over again. It was: Who’s next? There many people last night thinking that they should now run for office. I expect you will see at least a dozen new candidates for the Massachusetts legislature.

The biggest proclamation came from Senator Bob Hedlund. He is seriously considering running against Congressman Bill Delahunt (photo getting a hug from Hugo Chavez). If Bob can capture the momentum of the Brown campaign, we could be saying –Bye bye, Bill — next November. Hedlund has always been a maverick and voted his conscience. On the other hand, Bill Delahunt has the same condition that took down Martha Coakley.

I've known Bob for over 20 years. He flew down with a staffer in 1994, to attend our first real national Republican Liberty Caucus convention held in Gatlingurg, Tennessee. He was one of two state legislators in attendance (45 attendees in all). The other being Michigan State Rep. Greg Kaza. (Though, Leon Drolet, Kaza's then Legislative Aide was also there, who would later become a legislator himself.) Bob then attended our second RLC convention a couple years later in DC.

He's also a friend of the Massachusetts Libertarian Party. He's attended numerous LP meetings and has been a speaker at LP conventions.

He's closely affiliated with the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), and other local Hemp organizations. Bob has been honored by these groups as being the Number One Pro-Marijuana Reform Republican in the U.S. He has spoken to large Hemp rallies in the Boston area.

Bob is a diehard Rock 'n Roller. He's not only purely libertarian ideologicically. He is a cultural libertarian through and through. He "sort of" plays in a rock band at special events. He pals around with the likes of Boston-area Rock stars and enthusiasts, and never misses a big concert.

Bob and I probably don't see eye-to-eye on foreign policy. He's a solid Ron Paulist. And he's been a Ron Paul fan since the early 1990s. But foreign policy is not something he emphasizes. He served as Ron Paul's State Campaign Co-Chair in his 2008 Presidential run. He even flew down to Florida to campaign for Paul, at the spur of the moment, during the primary there. Though, he's probably more along the lines of a pragmatic Rand Paul/Peter Schiff mode, than hardline non-interventionist.

But Bob has a pragmatic side. He is friends with Mitt Romney, and worked tirelessly with the former Governor on legislation. He was also influential behind-the-scenes, in getting his buddy and State Senate colleague Scott Brown to run for US Senate originally, back in the fall.

There's little doubt that if Bob does decide to run, and a decision could come in a few weeks, maybe even a few days, this could become the most important political race for the entire libertarian Republican movement nationwide for 2010.

If elected Bob Hedlund would instantly become one of the top four hardline libertarian Republicans in Congress, joining his friend Ron Paul, of course, Tom McClintock of California and Jeff Flake of Arizona.

My hunch, based on some personal conversations I had with him two months ago, is that it's a go.

Hat tip to our alert Libertarian Republlican readers who spotted this developing news. Photo of Bob right, with lead guitarist of the Scorpions.

by Ranald Hay

Hooray! What a great win for Scott Brown in Massachusetts; and a libertarian-leaning Republican no less: fiscally conservative and socially moderate.

The paradigm is shifting... it isn't Left versus Right.

The paradigm is now Liberty versus Tyranny. And Obama is now likely to react by lurching even more towards the Tyranny side.

British-born Quin Hillyer, a libertarian-conservative from "across the Channel," offers a few sobering alerts at American Spectator:

"Wow. Brown wins. This is huge.

But word is that the White House will try to "double down" and try to force through health care anyhow.

[Obama] will try to use executive orders, regulatory/bureaucratic edicts, and a corrupt Justice Department to force through leftist changes in all sorts of areas of daily life. In short, he will become more openly authoritarian. This means we are in for some rocky times. This man is playing for keeps, and he is not a small 'r' republican at heart. He is an Alinskyite."

This could get dangerous and rather ugly. With Scott Brown's glorious win, we have only taken a beach. We have to clear the trenches and re-establish Liberty deep into the nation's fabric.

Meanwhile, Eric Dondero and his merry crew of Libertarian Republicans are enjoying some well deserved victory brews on the beach, after their big win with their favored candidate Brown.

A hearty Cheers to ya lads!

Editor's Note - Ranald Hay's blog is Si Vis Pacem.

From Eric Dondero:

He's been in the Virginia Assembly since 1980. He's a die-in-the-wool old time Ronald Reagan Republican. His district, Gloucester, and the lower Coastal Peninsula, is small town America. But State Assemblyman Harvey Morgan believes lessening rules and restrictions on cultivation and the use of marijuana is entirely consistent with his rural Virginia roots.

From the Daily Press, Columnist Tamara Dietrich:

Harvey Morgan’s marijuana bills are a deep breath of fresh air.

This Gloucester Republican submitted two bills in Richmond that would drop the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of weed from a criminal misdemeanor and a month in jail to a $500 civil fine, and also allow broader use of medical marijuana.

I’d ask what that man has been smoking, but I’m too tickled to poke too much fun... I can say unequivocally that Del. Morgan has outstripped most of his colleagues in the state House in both courage and common sense.

it’s un-American for my fellow citizens to be imprisoned for choosing a drug that is less potent and was unfairly illegalized by a mixed-up Congress in the first place...

You’d think that here in Libertarian, leave-me-alone-dammit Virginia, Morgan’s bills would sail through. But even he knows they’re a tough sell. He’s tried before.

He’s up against “Reefer Madness” fear-mongers who believe the hopped-up stereotypes, like marijuana is a gateway drug.

Actually, folks, beer is a gateway drug. But just try taking Bubba’s Bud away, and you’ll feel the full brunt of his Libertarian wrath.

So good luck, Harvey.

Note - Ms. Dietrich urges her readers to write letters to their delegates in support of Assmb. Morgan's legislation. Delegate contact information can be found off the Virginia General Assembly homepage.

Does this look like the Face of "Rightwing Extremism?"

From Eric Dondero:

How ironic. Many on the Right side of the Libertarian movement, including myself, have long considered the guys at Cato to lean slightly to the Left. They're stridently Anti-War, no different from say Justin Raimondo, Eric Garris, and AntiWar.com. They're unabashedly Pro-Gay Marriage. They worked with the Clinton administration and offered praise for Bill Clinton's economic moderate agenda in the 1990s.

Dave Boaz, Cato VP (photo), even co-wrote a book in the 1990s, attempting to re-paint libertarianism as a subset of American liberalism, "Market Liberalism."

Now the Democrat National Congressional Committee (DNCC) is hitting a Republican congressional candidate in upstate New York for his ties to the "extremist rightwing" organization.

From Ben Smith at Politico:

in a press release attacking a Republican running for Congress in upstate New York, the DCCC lashed out at his ties to the Cato Institute, the libertarian Washington think tank.

"While making today’s announcement that he will once again run for Congress in New York’s 24th District, [Richard] Hanna also launched a new campaign website where he shamelessly touts his ties to the Cato Institute, a right-wing extremist group that has long been a vocal advocate for extremist, unfair trade policies that would allow companies to ship American jobs overseas," said the press release.

The release goes on to hammer candidate Hanna as a card-carrying member of Cato:

"He is a sustaining member of the CATO Institute... The CATO Institute is a right wing extremist group..."

by Dan Sherrier

Massachusetts’s famous Senate race is over, and as you’ve probably heard by now, Republican Scott Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley – not by a landslide, but by a comfortable margin of 53-46.

If you’re an advocate of smaller government and reducing the federal debt, Brown was the clear choice–even just on the health care issue alone. And that’s a rather enormous issue.

Joe Kennedy: No hope

Nevertheless, the Libertarian Party (LP) was willing to risk spoiling the election in Coakley’s favor. The party applauded its senatorial candidate, Joe Kennedy (no relation to the late Ted Kennedy), for refusing to drop out of the race.

In a press release, Wes Benedict, executive director of the LP, stated: “In fact, no one is ’stealing’ anything. The votes belong to the voters, not the candidates. If voters choose Kennedy over Brown, it’s probably because they understand that Brown is a typical big-government Republican. If voters choose Kennedy over Coakley, it’s probably because they understand that Coakley is a typical big-government Democrat.”

If the Republicans are the "Big Government Party," than the Dems are the "Gigantic Government Party"

Brown might meet the LP’s definition of “big government.” But compare him to Coakley – or compare the average federal Republican to the average federal Democrat – and see that you can’t apply the exact same “big-government” label to both. If Brown is “big,” then Coakley is gigantic.

It’s possible that some Massachusetts voters might have switched from Coakley to Kennedy. But it’s unlikely for most. Government spending is an issue that concerns many American minds. The Tea Party folks are evidence of that, and they’re not everyone who cares about the situation. (I have never participated in any Tea Party, and I’m concerned about government spending. I suspect many more fall into this category.)

On this issue, and the issues that stem from it, the Libertarians and Republicans vie for the same constituency. Both parties are opposed to the Democrats’ plans for America. They don’t agree on everything, but both would like to reduce the size of government and thwart current Democratic proposals, such as the healthcare legislation, cap-and-trade, and any more massive spending bills that might arise.

Yes, the Republicans spent too much money when they were in the power. They messed up. Those who participated deserve a good scolding.

But they’ve been behaving themselves better over the past year, beginning with their near-unanimous opposition to the $787 billion stimulus bill. There’s a reason the Democrats try to smear them as “The Party of No” (as if saying “yes” to any legislation that passes through Congress is automatically a good thing).

Just because the Republicans screwed up in the past doesn’t mean they definitely will in the future. After all, many of the big-spending offenders were voted out, hence the current Democratic majorities. And we can find better Republicans to replace the incumbent Democrats. Brown is just one example of new Republican blood at the federal level.

Libertarians need to hook up with Republicans

Here’s my suggestion to the LP: Join forces with the Republican Party, at least temporarily.

Focus on the common ground. Put isolationism and drug-legalization on the back-burner for now. When the Democratic Party is sufficiently neutered, then you can break away and present your alternative to the Republican Party.

Libertarians, your official motto is “Smaller government. Lower taxes. More freedom.” What short-term compromises are you willing to make to achieve that? And aren’t the current Republicans working to bring us in that general direction, or at least to slow down the growth the Democrats want to enact?

Republicans are far from perfect, but they’re many times better than the Democrats

Peter Schiff has it right. He’s very libertarian-minded, but he’s running for Senator from Connecticut as a Republican. Look at the issues he outlines on his web site. He focuses on the common-ground topics. Schiff could actually win in 2010 and produce accomplishments that would make both libertarians and conservatives happy.

At different times over the past year or so, I’ve referred to myself as both conservative and libertarian while maintaining a distance from both the Republicans and Libertarians. Between these two parties, I qualify as a moderate. I can find items to disagree with on both party platforms, but I can at least understand from where both sides are coming.

The national Democratic Party’s plans, however, strike me as a blueprint for power-hungry politicians. Let’s scare them about global warming. Then let’s scare them about health care coverage. And let’s make sure they believe that only the government can heal a sick economy. Then we can enact more regulations and further justify our existence!

I’d much prefer to see Republicans vs. Libertarians as the two major parties rather than Republicans vs. Democrats. In order for that to happen, the Republicans and Libertarians first need to work together to thwart the Democrats, which will take time and hard work.

Or, the Libertarian Party can stand on the sidelines with its 1 percent of the vote and continue to shout, “Well at least I took my stand! I tried! ‘A’ for effort!”

Editor's Note - Dan Sherrier is a regular contributor to the North Star National which covers politics and opinion from all angles. Special thanks to Editor Dan Calabrese.

No Subsidies from American Taxpayers for Islamic Terrorists

(Comments start 1:50 in)

"And let me say this, let me say this to those people who wish to harm us. I believe, and I know you believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation."

Chant: USA! USA! USA!

"Let me make it very, very, very clear. They do not grant rights and privledges to enemies during wartime. And the message we need to send, dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars, should pay for weapons to stop them, and not lawyers to defend them."

Statement from Bryan Preston, Communications Director, Republican Party of Texas:

Brown's run has already exposed even more Democrats' contempt for the Tea Party Patriots, and it may help unite the social con-fiscal con wings of the national GOP as we get ready for the mid-terms. That Brown won in Mass. just one short year from Obama's inauguration will carry potent symbolism that no one will be able to miss.

Note - Bryan Preston is a "libertarian-conservative," co-founder of HotAir.com, and a friend of Libertarian Republican blog.

Photo - Bryan Preston, right, Ed Morrissey of HotAir.com, left.

From Eric Dondero:

Scott Brown handily won his election. But that's not stopping Massachusetts Republicans. They're planning aggressive challenges for state legislature, the governor's seat and for congress.

From Jennifer Nassour, Chair, MA GOP:

The outcome of this race gave me new confidence and pride in what we do here at the Massachusetts Republican Party, as we give stand-up candidates like Scott Brown the assistance they need to run competitive campaigns.

Scott's victory is the beginning of a movement to elect more Republicans in Massachusetts. Will you help us build on this momentum?

One highly-touted candidate is Earl Henry Sholley, who like Scott Brown, has been campaiging in opposition to the health care legislation. Sholley promises to run a high profile campaign against Barney Frank.(SholleyforCongress.com)

Charlie Baker is the Massachusetts GOP's expected candidate for Governor. In a recent poll Baker was only down by 3 against incumbent Democrat DeVal Patrick.

Get involved in the Massachusetts Republican Party. MassGOP.com

In previous years, the Libertarian Party of Indiana held a strategy meeting in every January of an election year. Chair Sam Goldstein has announced the restarting of this tradition on January 30th, 2010. All LPIN membership is encouraged to attend, and help set our goals for not only the 2010 election cycle, but the next two years. Long range planning is essential to success.

All those planning to run for office in 2010 should attend this meeting.

read more

A team of web developers met in early December to begin working on a new magazine-style design for LPIN.org. The new LPIN website will launch with a fresh new look for the online home of the Libertarian Party of Indiana with many new features to help inform those interested in libertarianism. A wide array of new resources will be available to assist grassroots libertarians in their efforts to organize their local communities. The new site will also provide the LPIN.org website visitors with new, original web video content. It will also seek to serve as the main online starting point for Hoosier citizens looking to discover other Indiana libertarian bloggers.

The LPIN is seeking contributors to the new LPIN website.

read more

(Editor's Note: By: W. E. Messamore. The Humble Libertarian is a great blog, and worth a daily read.)

Everyone in this country is agreed on the landmark importance and symbolism of today's Massachusetts special election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Ted Kennedy. There are two candidates in this race whose starkly contrasting views tell the entire story:

The Massachusetts Alternatives:

read more

Libertarian Republicans raise our glasses to the next US Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

There was Bob McDonnell. There was Chris Cristie. But this one tops them all.

The Greatest Republican Victory since Bush beat Kerry in 2004.

Enjoy!

Eric Dondero, Co-Founder
Libertarians for Bush 2004

(Special message in video at precisely 55 seconds in.)

Blog posts will be light today until the returns start to come in. Please consider this post an open thread to discuss everything and anything Scott Brown.

UPDATE!

Our unofficial Ombudsmen (crumudgeon) Left Libertarian Thomas Knapp has a contrarian view on the election up at his blog Knappster, "Election Day in Taxachussetts." Knapp pegs the final at 49% Scott Brown, 46% Martha Coakley, 5% Joe Kennedy. (My own prediction: Brown 51%, Coakley 48%, Kennedy 1%).

He sees a Brown win as a negative for the Republican Party and the Tea Party movement, as it would "galvanize" the Far Left base on Health Care.

Biggest GOP Win since '04

Chris Matthews, Mike Barnicle, and the entire MSNBC "Morning Joe" crew conceded with double digit leads for Scott Brown over Martha Coakley in bellweather polls, he'll easily win. Matthews: "The game's over..." Barnacle strikes up Brown's win to a revolt against the establishment mood in the middle-class suburbs south and west of Boston.

Memorable Quote:

"This will be the biggest Republican Victory since Bush won in 2004" -- Joe Scarborough

See the video at YouTube (10 minutes entire segment).

Says a Brown Win is a Win for Tea Party America

2008 Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential candidate, Author of "The Conscience of a Libertarian," and prospective 2012 Libertarian Presidential candidate Wayne Allyn Root predicted a big Scott Brown victory. Root makes his living as a Sports oddsmaker in Las Vegas. He likened a Brown win to a revolutionary "shot heard round the World."

Excerpt from Root Press Release, Jan. 18:

But here’s my most important prediction of all- Obama and the Democrats are about to be swept out of office in the biggest Tea Party revolt since 1776. As a matter of fact, my gut instinct tells me Massachusetts Republican U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown will pull one of the most shocking political upsets in history on Tuesday. Mark it down…whether Brown wins, or simply comes close…the Tea Party political revolution began in Massachusetts just like the first one in 1776.

I believe that a Scott Brown victory will be a huge victory for Tea Parties and be the ultimate “canary in the coal mine.” Brown’s victory will destroy the 60 vote margin needed to pass universal healthcare in the U.S. Senate.

Note - Root also acknowledged and expressed his support for the efforts of LP Senate candidate Joe Kennedy.

From the Editor:

Please enjoy what in my humble opinion, is one of the greatest rock songs of all-time, and certainly one of my personal favorties.

This morning is no time for deep analysis. That can wait. And besides, many of us are a little hungover. It's simply time for celebration.

We'll get to all the analysis tonight, starting late in the afternoon. Be prepared for a flood of posts from all corners of the Libertarian Republican movement. Our inbox is full.

See you later in the day.

We'll return to regular Libertarian Republican news tomorrow. But as for today, it's all Scott Brown, all the time.

AP just called it.

Martha Coakley has just conceded.

Libertarian-Conservative Republican Scott Brown is the next United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Republican Scott Brown Wins

On Bill O'Reilly, Fox News, Boston's top radio talk show host, libertarian-conservative Howie Carr just called the race for Scott Brown.

21% of the precincts in.

Scott Brown has a lead of 53% to 46%.

Carr says looking at where the vote results have come in so far, it's over.

UPDATE!

60% of the precincts now in. No change. Brown leads 53% to 46%.

UPDATE!

70% now in. No change. Brown leads 53% to 46%.

National Review's top political reporter Jim Geraghty just Tweeted that Scott Brown will win:

Obama Towns Are Flipping To Scott Brown. Early Night, Folks.

In 2008, Ashland, Massachusetts went for Obama over McCain, 5,039 votes to 3,181.

Tonight Brown won Ashland 54 percent to 45 percent - 3,467 for Brown while Coakley carried 2,897.

You can call it, folks.

UPDATE!

With 17% of the precincts reporting, Scott Brown leads Martha Coakley, 53% to 47%.