One of the hottest Congressional races in the country will be District 8 AZ. An embattled and vulnerable Democrat is a top GOP target for 2010.

As Ilya Shapiro at Cato.org explains:

The Arizona 8th, which covers part of Tucson and the extreme southeast of the state, is currently represented by Democrat Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords won in this traditionally Republican district in 2006 when the GOP fielded a candidate too socially conservative for this libertarian area. Though she was reelected in 2008, John McCain carried the district 52-46. Giffords is considered to be vulnerable; while apparently a member of the “Blue Dog” caucus, she voted for TARP, the stimulus, Obamacare, and cap-and-trade, and has a D+ rating from the NRA. And so the 2010 election should be an opportunity for a libertarian Republican

That libertarian Republican is Jesse Kelly.

He is a United States Marine Corps combat veteran. He led a squad of Marines while deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since his discharge in 2004, he's been a Construction site Manager.

Kelly has garnered an impressive list of supporters on the Right: Reps. Michele Bachmann, Marsha Blackburn, Trent Franks, Mike Pence, and two legends in Arizona Barry Goldwater, Jr. and Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

A Tea Party Patriot, his views are solidly libertarian.

Continues Shapiro:

I actually met Kelly once and was impressed with how forthrightly he spoke not only about “limited government” generally — any politician can mouth that — but about constitutional protections for liberty, such as Article I’s enumerated powers and the Ninth and Tenth Amendments. Adam tells me that Kelly’s been known to reference Locke, Jefferson, Hayek, and Friedman at house parties and fundraisers alike.

On Defense, from his website:

We live in a time when our enemies test nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles capable of reaching American interests. Terrorists continue to plot attacks against America and her interests. We must fully fund our nation's military and ensure the men and women in uniform have the tools, training, and care they need and deserve.

Our government has a constitutional obligation to protect its citizens. Border security needs to be a top National Defense priority. I am committed to fully funding vital military systems such as missile defense and upgrading our fighter and bomber fleets.

And Kelly has a solid "movement libertarian" link. One of his campaign staffers comes from the Cato Institute.

Adam Kwasman is a former economics and law student at George Mason Univ. He's also a former Cato intern. Kwasman serves as Policy Director for the Kelly Campaign.

On the edge of 2010, with only two years to go before the first Presidential primaries and caucuses in the US. A Libertarian Republican appears to be the very first to make an explicit move towards a candidacy.

From the Nashua Telegraph, Dec. 29:

Republican Gary Johnson, who served as New Mexico’s governor from 1995 to 2003, will speak at a forum Jan. 23 organized by the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

The group’s chairman, Jim Forsythe, told the New Hampshire Union Leader that speculation that Johnson may run for president in 2012 was one of the reasons he was invited. Johnson has not said whether he is considering a run, but he is building a following among ladvocates for smaller government, and there are several Web sites dedicated to drafting him to run.

Johnson also recently set up a political action committee to promote libertarian views.

Meanwhile Johnson has been gaining attention on another front. He's been carving out a "third way" approach on foreign policy, simultaneously opposing the War in Iraq and calling for the Troops to come home from Afghanistan, while also carefully distancing himself from isolationism, and stressing his support for a strong Military and Defense against all threats to the US.

From a recent press release:

Governor Johnson has also been a strong advocate of the war on terrorism but has been critical of the war in Afghanistan. “Our efforts should be directed towards protecting U.S. citizens and our allies from terrorism. We are at war with Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. I am very concerned about the direction and focus of our continued involvement in Afghanistan,” Johnson said.

Johnson's PAC OurAmericaInitiative.com

Various media reporting 8 Freedom Fighters were killed on the streets of Tehran by Iranian Police over the weekend. And now this.

(H/t Pamela Geller)

"The System Worked..." Heck of a job Janet!

From Eric Dondero:

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano may have just had a "Brownie moment." In 2005, during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush visited Louisiana and pronounced to his own FEMA Director: "You're doing a heckuva job Brownie."

DHS Director Napolitano was interviewed on CNN by Candy Crowley on Sunday.

From the LA Times:

Napolitano, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," said it was too early to speculate on the claims of Al Qaeda connections made by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian held in connection with the incident

Napolitano said that "right now we have no indication that it is part of anything larger."

The Secretary then went onto to give an inarticulate response to a question by Crowley as to how this was allowed to happen.

From Politico.com:

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday that the thwarting of the attempt to blow up an Amsterdam-Detroit airline flight Christmas Day demonstrated that "the system worked."

Asked by CNN's Candy Crowley on "State of the Union" how that could be possible when the young Nigerian who has been charged with trying to set off the bomb was able to smuggle explosive liquid onto the jet, Napolitano responded: "We're asking the same questions."

Napolitano added that there was "no suggestion that [the suspect] was improperly screened."

Libertarian-conservative Jonah Goldberg blogs at NRO in response:

I watched her on three shows and each time she was more annoying, maddening and absurd than the pevious appearance. It is her basic position that the "system worked" because the bureaucrats responded properly after the attack...

That is just about the dumbest thing she could say... the attack was "foiled" by a bad detonator and some civilian passengers... DHS had no role whatsoever in assuring that this bomb didn't go off.

If the White House wants to assure people that it takes the war on terror seriously... they could start by firing this patenly unqualified hack.

Beat back the Democrats on their "horrendous" legislation

From Eric Dondero:

The Tea Party movement has been searching for one single issue to unite all various factions heading into 2010. The movement consists of Fiscal Conservatives, Dick Armey's FreedomWorks, big city stockbrokers and businessmen inspired by Chicagoan Rick Sintelli of CNBC, Libertarian Party members, Ron Paul followers, Anti-Federal Reserve Goldbugs, Sarah Palin supporters, and small-town Moms mad at the Big Boys in Washington, who can't even balance their own checkbook.

Now, Tea Party leaders may have found an issue all Tea Party Patriots can rally behind.

The Plum Line (Who runs the Gov), a liberal-leaning publication, quotes a promiment leader in the Tea Party movement - Alex Pappas, VP of FreedomWorks, on the Health Care legislation:

"This has an unusual ability to be repealed, and the public is on that side.” he said. "The Republicans are going to have to prove that they are worthy of their votes."

Writes Greg Sargent of Plum Line:

It’s now becoming clear that this could be a major issue for Republicans in 2010: the Tea Party movement, as well as high-profile conservatives, are going to demand that candidates call for a full repeal of the Dem healthcare reform bill, presuming it passes.

Rosputin, top blogger at FreedomWorks.org puts the deeds into action:

For the next 11 months, until the 2010 elections, we will see a continuous battle of messaging between the Democrats trying to show what the bill "gives" people and Republicans (and others) trying to show what it takes from people (money, liberty, quality of health care.) It is absolutely critical that the Democrats be soundly beaten back every time they try to offer a positive message about their horrendous legislation.

For tips on activism against Health Care and how to get active in the fight for the 2010 campaign - FreedomWorks.org blog

Thus says the City Paper of Nashville On-line - "Post Politics, the new GOP is a She" Dec. 28:

Beyond a steady rightward shift and an increasingly reactionary rhetoric, conservative leadership is taking on another characteristic — it’s becoming more female. Both nationally and in Tennessee, the most beloved and vocal conservative leaders these days seem to be women.

Exhibit A is the 2008 presidential campaign and the continued popularity of Sarah Palin.

Named in the piece, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, most prominently, as a rising star and possibly even Presidential material for 2012.

Also: State Sen. Diane Black, or Lou Ann Zelenik (middle photo) both running for the 6th Congressional District recently vacated by a retiring Blue Dog Democrat Bart Gordon. And State Republican Chair Robin Smith running in the 3rd.

After Congress, mentioned as new Tennessee GOP leaders: Sen. Mae Beavers, Rep. Susan Lynn, Rep. Debra Maggart and Rep. Donna Rowland. Who are described as "all very conservative and outspoken."

Continuing:

Whether it’s state Sen. Mae Beavers on the Tennessee Firearm Freedom Act, Rep. Susan Lynn (photo below) spearheading the effort for a state sovereignty resolution or Rep. Marsha Blackburn taking on Al Gore in congressional hearings, the more confrontational political work is increasingly being left to women. These days, if you’re talking about an unapologetic, unequivocating public conservative, there’s a good chance you’re talking about a woman.

Rep. Blackburn explains the phenomenon:

“The amazing thing to me about the tea parties is, when you look out across the crowd, the crowd is predominantly female. ... It’s amazing, the number of women attending these events, and women are speaking out as never before. ... They are looking at what’s happening with the cost of health care, they are truly concerned about the strong arm of government reaching into their lives and into their pocketbooks.’’

For the 3rd District race, Ms. Zelenick is identified as the clear Tea Party choice.

From the Nashville Post, Dec. 20:

With so many candidates in the race, the Republican vote is expected to be fractured... ardent support of Tea Party activists could propel an outsider candidate to the nomination, and possibly Congress.and according to Bruce Oppenheimer of Vanderbelit Univ. "30 percent" is all it would take to win that GOP primary and to ultimately take the seat.

And the Tennesseean in regards to the Bart Gordon seat, states:

members of the so-called "Tea Party" movement — a diffuse group of conservative and libertarian activists that has defined itself in opposition to the policies of President Barack Obama — could cast the decisive votes in a bellwether election.

More info VoteLouAnn.com

He's a libertarian, and everyone knows libertarians are a wing of the GOP

The Gay/Liberal sensationalist celebrity site Gawker highlights Whole Foods Market CEO John MacKay on the top fold. The article: "Meet rightwing hippie CEO John Mackey. He is featured this month on the front cover of Reason, which was the basis of Gawker's attention.

From Gawker:

libertarian magazine Reason stuck Mackey on the cover of their January 2010 issue... is about how this rebel capitalist is playing by his own rules and ruffling a few feathers.

Ayn Rand nothing more than Free Enterprise Porn for Teenage Boys

The piece goes on to describe Mackey's transformation from liberal to money making libertarian. Continuing:

he used to be a liberal but then he started making money and he read Atlas Shrugged and suddenly it all made sense! And he is a political independent! Except, obviously, that means he is a libertarian, which is, still, a wing of the Republican party, even if they pretend it isn't, because it's still primarily about not ever paying taxes for anything while feeling very high-minded about it.

Then Gawker takes even harsher shots at Mackey and more specifically the libertarian movement. Continuing:

the Ayn Rand books that convince teenage boys that they're secretly the masters of the universe happened after he made his first million. Now he's qualified to say Keynes was "proven" wrong about everything, as the financial sector collapses under the weight of decades of Milton Friedman.

The Top 25 now up at Rightwing News

From the Editor: Our good friend and partner John Hawkins over at RightwingNews.com and his editorial board, have come up with a list of the Top 25 Videos of 2009. Above is #1. I think just about all conservatives and pro-defense libertarians will agree, this one is the clear winner.

One of my personal favorites is explicitly political - #9. Lots of crazy dogs and cats videos, of course. Though one of them, #18, has a distinctly anti-Obama message. Others, #16, #12, and #10 - non-political - are spectacularly funny. Trust me. #12 will have you rolling on the floor.

Watch them now. RightwingNews.com

by Eric Dondero:

Islamic Militarism is on the rise throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Muslim insurgents are pushing further and further southward on all fronts. Nigeria, home to Flight 253 Terrorist Bomber Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab , has become almost entirely Muslim-dominated, except for the City of Lagos, and surrounding suburbs.

The eastern part of the Continent is also suffering under an increasing Islamic onslaught. And the center for the Muslim insurgency is Somalia.

Strict Sharia Law being imposed

Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda linked Militant Islamic group out of Somalia, has now taken full control of all southern provinces from government troops. Witin the last few days they have seized 5 islands off the Kenyan coast.

In areas controlled they are quickly imposing Sharia Law in the strictest sense.

Speaking from one of the islands seized - Raskamboni Island - an Al-Shabaab spokesmansaid (via NewstimeAfrica.com):

"We arrived here to implement the Islamic law, and this is kind of extending our rule into more lands in Somalia. The Mujahideens have realized their grip on all southern regions in Somalia and in the near future we hope to govern all Somalia under the holy Quran rule."

Meanwhile, Kenya has reacted by sealing off their border completely.

From AllAfrica.com:

Nairobi — The government has stepped up security along the Kenya-Somalia border to ward off security threats posed by militias that have taken control of most of the war ravaged country.

Administration Police commandant Kinuthia Mbugua said on Wednesday that Kenya's border with Somalia was now under intense security following these threats, including specialized team operations patrolling the Indian Ocean.

"There was the initial threat posed by piracy but extremist groups in Somalia have now compounded the security problem at our border with the country and we have imposed heavy security border patrols," he said.

Kenya falling to Islam: Threats from within and without

Kenya for decades has been viewed as a model Western-style democracy. Now Kenya is under threat of Muslim domination. The Eastern Africa Nation is suffering through an increasing amount of ethnic violence, between Muslim-dominated Tribes and members of the Kikuya Tribe. Two years ago, the ruling Christian party was forced into a power-sharing arrangement by Luo Tribe leader Raila Odinga.

From the Washington Post, Dec. 23:

Odinga accused Kibaki, who is Kikuyu, of stealing the 2007 presidential election. What followed has been described by investigations as a well-planned bloodbath...

Odinga's supporters then "burned houses and farms and otherwise drove Kikuyus out of the Rift Valley with bows, arrows and machetes." In one village they surrounded a church and burned alive 600 parishioners. When the violence subsided by some accounts over 3,000 Christians and non-Muslim secular Tribesmen, had been killed.

Today the situation is threatening to flare up yet again. Compounding the problem, Al-Shabaab, rumored to be aligned with some Kenyan Muslim factions, are threatening cross-border incursions.

Continuing from WaPo:

Despite a power-sharing deal and a reform agenda intended to rescue this nation from collapse, the situation remains dangerously volatile...

With Kenya's eastern neighbor, Somalia, at war with al-Qaeda-linked rebels and its northwestern neighbor, Sudan, sliding toward civil war, U.S. officials say a stable Kenya is more crucial than ever.

But the coalition government of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader turned prime minister Raila Odinga has remained entrenched in the divisive tribal politics that led to the ethnic violence.

Director of the Kenyan group Centre for Human Righs and Democracy, Ken Wafula said:

"Unless something is done, we are waiting for an explosion that would be very disastrous."

Key - Map highlights increasing encroachment of Islam through Sub-Saharan Africa. Areas in Green are Muslim-dominated. Shaded Green areas are new areas of Muslim influence.

Just Breaking...

Actor Charlie Sheen is a backer of progressive causes, most well-known his belief that the Bush administration had prior knowledge of the attacks of 9/11.

Now he's being accused of an act of domestic violence against his own girlfriend over the Christmas break.

From Breitbart.com:

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - Authorities say actor Charlie Sheen has been accused of using a weapon in an alleged case of domestic violence in Aspen.

Sheen spent part of Christmas Day in jail after being arrested at a home in the Colorado ski resort town.

Police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro did not provide details on what kind of weapon Sheen is accused of using.

Sheen also was arrested on investigation of second-degree assault, a felony, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.

Fox reported on Sept. 9:

[Sheen] has been an adamant “9/11 Truther” for years

he charges that the Bush/Cheney “regime” was behind the attacks as a prelude to justify an invasion of Iraq. Sheen also insinuates that Usama bin Laden is working for the U.S. government.

Sheen was an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

LR FOLLOW-UP

The Max Baucus drunk on the Senate floor story is spreading furiously across the Rightosphere this morning. Drudge is headlining it as the very top story: "Drunk with Power: Dem slurs on Senate floor." Some liberal media are already doing damage control, blaming "conservatives," for misinterpreting Baucus' body language.

From the San Francisco Chronicle on-line(SFGate):

There's a video going around that claims Montana Senator Max Baucus is drunk on the floor of The Senate as he spiritedly takes on Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker in a talk about Health Care Reform.

Baucus was not "slurring" or "drunk" , or "slobbering" when he was speaking. Otherwise he could not have got off such a great blast against Wicker.

And Conservatives know it.

Rather, Baucus was just plain tired and really angry. The product of long hours of debate against Republicans who just don't play fair at all.

Still, Fox, CNN and other majors have yet to pick the story up. The blogosphere is clearly driving things. There are nearly 200,000 views of the video on YouTube alone.

Says Attack at Detroit Airport linked to other recent Jihadist attacks

From Eric Dondero:

The Yemen-based branch of Al-Qaeda may be responsible for the latest attack on the United States. According to various source, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was on a terror list linked to the Yemeni-branch, and is said to have had numerous contacts with Yemeni Terrorist leader Anwar al-Awlaki.

The leading Republican on the House Intelligence Committee is asserting that the Obama administration is not acting agressively enough to investigate. One day after the latest attack he's criticizing the administration for their slowness to react, and ineptitude in connecting the dots.

From Rep. Peter Hoekstra, Twitter account:

Administration says attempted terrorist attack. No. It was a terrorist attack! Just not as successful as they (AQ) planned.

From the Detroit Free Press:

“It’s not surprising,” U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, a Holland Republican, said of the alleged terrorist attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight in Detroit. A Nigerian who authorities said had told them he was ordered by al-Qaida to detonate an explosive was in custody. Reports linked the explosives to Yemen.

“People have got to start connecting the dots here and maybe this is the thing that will connect the dots for the Obama administration,” said Hoekstra.

A Connection to the Ft. Hood shooting?

The attack at the Detroit Airport amounts to what is the 3rd Muslim terrorist attack on US targets. In May a homegrown Islamic-convert terrorist shot up a Military Recruiting facility in N. Little Rock, AR killing 1 soldier and seriously injuring another. In November, Major Malik Nidal Hasan killed 13 soldiers at the Army Base in Ft. Hood, and injured 42 others.

Now Rep. Hoekstra, the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee is suggesting a possible connection. Radical Yemeni Cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki was the spiritual leader of Ft. Hood Terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan. He's also identified as the spritual leader for Flight 253 suspect Abdulmutallab. Continuing from Freep:

Noting that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan – the Army officer who is accused of killing more than a dozen people at Fort Hood, Texas, last month – was allegedly linked to a radical cleric now in Yemen, Hoekstra said this latest incident could be “one more indication” that the al-Qaida branch there is planning attacks.

According to the NY Post:

Abdulmutallab reportedly had links with US-born Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, according to Sky News sources.

Al-Awlaki, who is thought to have died in a Yemeni airstrike on an al Qaeda meeting December 24, also had links with the shooter who killed 13 people and injured 30 others at a US army base in Texas on Nov. 5.

The latest news suggests that Al-Awlaki actually survived the drone attack, but that two of his closest associates were killed.

Note - Rep. Hoekstra, a fiscally conservative/strong on defense Republican, is a candidate for Governor of Michigan. He is leading all potential challengers, Republican and Democrat, in the latest polling.

Dutch libertarian Member of Parliament Geert Wilders called Jasper Schuringa a National Hero for saving a Delta flight from Amsterdam, from a Muslim Terrorist attack.

From Deep Faith news, Amsterdam, 3 hours ago:

Shortly before landing passengers smelled smoke, they saw a glow and they heard something that sounded like firecrackers went off. "First there was a sort of bang and then there was smoke," said Dutchman Peter Smith.

Schuringa told CNN that he heard a bang. "Somebody started yelling fire, fire!" Then he saw smoke and he noted that the Nigerian did not move. Then he began to suspect that something was not right. He jumped over the passenger next to him and hurried to the Nigerian.

They appeared to have his pants open and a burning object between his legs to keep. "I took that thing off him, tried to extinguish fire with my hands and threw it away." Schuringa the Nigerian pulled from his place, and dragged him to the front of the plane. The Nigerian seemed stunned. "He stared into nothing."

According to the American media Jasper Schuringa, is now called a hero...

PVV leader Geert Wilders called Jasper Schuringa Saturday in a comment a hero. "He deserves a royal honor." Wilders says it will ask the Dutch government to award such grant.

Wilders is the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party. The PVV is pro-free market, and pro-civil liberties, yet stridently opposed to Islamization of Europe. Wilders is currently well ahead in polling to be next President of the Netherlands.

Partij voor de Vrijheid PVV (Party for Freedom)

Flight 253 Terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was the son of a prominent banker in Nigeria. The Mutallabs come from Northern Nigeria, a region of growing radical Muslim violence.

The elder Mutallab served on the Board of Directors of the First Bank of Nigeria out of Lagos.

From MyLive.com (via AP):

In Nigeria, a prominent banker said Saturday that he was meeting with security officials there because he feared his son was the suspect. Alhaji Umaru Mutallab told The Associated Press said his son was a one-time university student in London who had left Britain to travel abroad. He said his son hadn't lived in London "for some time" but he wasn't sure exactly where he went to.

"I believe he might have been to Yemen, but we are investigating to determine that," the elder Mutallab said. He said he would provide more details later Saturday as he learned more from authorities.

Meanwhile, Mutallab says he feared his son had recently become a radical Islamist. From the Voice of America:

He said his son had been studying in London and then left there to travel. The Nigerian newspaper This Day reports the father had expressed concern about his son's extreme religious views.

More according to AllAfrica.com:

Mutallab has been uncomfortable with the boy's extreme religious views and had six months ago reported his activities to United States' Embassy, Abuja and Nigerian security agencies.

The older Mutallab was said to be devastated on hearing the news of Abdul Farouk's attempted bombing arrest

Photo - Map of Nigeria, including Muslim dominated north in green.

Editor's Note - More news on Mutallab including details on explosive device PETN used in bombing at our sister site Worldwide Liberty.

From Dan Sheill:

There's a special election in Georgia on January 5. The Libertarian Party has a candidate in the race. And there's no Republican even running.

Libertarian Taylor Bryant, an auto technician, is running in the election for a Augusta area seat.

He is up against three Democrats. He is the only free market-oriented candidate in the race. If no candidate wins a majority in the first round, a runoff election will be held on February 2.

From the Augusta Chronicle:

he's hoping the low turnout will give him a boost if the Democratic vote gets split three ways, and he can garner about 90 percent of the Republican vote and support from the small-government-minded Tea Party contingency.

Back in November, a similar situation occured in North Carolina for a Mayor's seat. No Republican was on the ballot, only 4 Democrats and 1 Libertarian in Durham. The Libertarian ended up in the second round. In the final voting against the well-known Democrat he received 27.

Learn more at his website.

Just Breaking from the Dutch Pres...

Dutch Citizen Overpowers Terrorist on Flight to Detroit

Elsevier, Dec. 26:

Schuringa, an entrepreneur from Amsterdam, saw Abdulmutallab rise from his airplane and something lit. He dove right on top of the terrorist and held in a headlock Abdulmutallab until after landing, he told the CNN.

By his heroic action Schuringa was burned and lost his shoes.

After landing, he was treated like a hero, says Lydia Faber, partner at the media company of the Amsterdam redlayed to the Telegraph.

The parents of Schuringa indicated they were "very proud" of him.

A friend of Schuringa, Kasem Challiou, says that the terrorist had packed explosives.

"It definitely was not fireworks, but very serious," says the friend of Schuringa, who spoke after the failed attack.

Other media identify Schuringa as a "film director" who was traveling to the US to visit friends.

LINKS

The Right Guy who has dubbed Jasper an "honorary libertarian Republican."

Slurring, Stumbling, and clearly Snockered

From the Editor: This video is making the rounds of the Rightosphere, ironically brought to us from TPM at the Leftosphere. We here at Libertarian Republican have given a great deal of coverage to the Max Baucus Sex Scandal, involving the appointment of his Mistress to a top position at Eric Holder's Attorney General's office. In fact, you could say we've been leading the media/blogosphere on the story.

With that background in mind, we believe it prudent to bring to you this Video. Perhaps all the pressure has gotten to the good Senator from Montana? Or maybe, he just forgot to sleep it off on his Senate office couch after the Dem Caucus Christmas Party?

Note: At exactly 3:25 Baucus gets especially beligerant, and sluring.

by Eric Dondero

We Libertarians are the most tolerant people around, particularly when it comes to Sexual Freedom issues, and more specifically Homosexual Rights.

Consider:

* We Libertarians fiercely oppose any and all Anti-Sodomy Laws.

* We Libertarians are about the only ones out there who favor complete Legalization of (adult) Prostitution; Escort services, Brothels, even Streetwalkers.

* We Libertarians are viciously opposed to zoning regulations, liquor licensing laws, and other attempts by local municipalities to outlaw or severely restrict Gay Clubs, Bars, and Discos. Consider, it was the Libertarian Party of Georgia earlier this year who came to the defense of a downtown Gay Bar that was raided by the Atlanta Police Chief on orders from Democrat Mayor Sheila Franklin.

* We Libertarians are totally cool with every variety of (adult) Gay Pornography, and fiercely oppose any attempts at censorship.

* We Libertarians stand up for Human Rights around the World, particularly Gays who are persecuted and killed in Muslim nations like Iran, Uganda, Nigeria, and Somalia.

But the whole Gay Marriage issue, has left us Libertarians scratching our heads. Why is the Gay Rights movement clammoring for the State to give sanction to their Love Life? What's stopping Gays from going to some public park somewhere's hiring an attorney or two to work up a contract, invite all their friends, and have a priest or rabbi conduct a ceremony?

And since when did the Gay Rights movement become so Traditionally-oriented, when in the 1970s and '80s they were precisely the people railing against the institution of Marriage?

Now we have the answer...

From Fox News:

This year's legislation, sponsored by Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., an openly gay lawmaker, and with 138 cosponsors, would allow for homosexual partners of federal employees to receive the same benefits as married spouses, which include health insurance, survivor annuities, compensation for work-related injuries and travel and relocation benefits.

President Obama has indicated his support for the measure, which is still awaiting a vote in both the House and Senate. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted Dec. 16 to forward the legislation on to the full Senate. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved it in November.

You see, it's all about the Cash $$$. And after they force the Feds to cough up the cash, they'll no doubt go after private corporations and then small businesses, as well. It's only fair, right?

Then the shocking price tag to the American taxpayer is revealed. Fox continues:

Extending federal benefits to same-sex couples will cost taxpayers $898 million over the next nine years, according to an analysis of "domestic partnership" legislation released last by the Congressional Budget Office.

The CBO said in its Dec. 17 report that the House version of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act -- H.R. 2517 -- would cost $596 million in direct spending and $302 million in discretionary spending through 2019.

The independent nonpartisan agency found that "providing additional health insurance benefits through the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program" -- for active and retired gay federal workers with spouses -- "causes the largest increase in both mandatory and discretionary spending -- $590 million and $266 million, respectively."

Ouch! In other words, your Gay buddy, or that Gay chic who works with you at the office, wants to stick you - the American taxpayer - with this enormous bill for his/her partner's living expenses, health care, survival benefits, and even burial expenses.

No doubt, conservative Republicans in Congress will be staunchly opposed to the legislation. And many of them, social conservatives that they are, may approach the issue from a traditionalist point of view.

They may soon be joined by fiscal conservatives and libertarian Republicans in fierce opposition to this proposed legislation. Not because we're uncomfortable with homosexuality.

You're Gay and you want to get married? You want to have a Big Fat Gay Wedding? Invite all the friends. Get drunk. Sing Judy Garland songs on Karaoke. Dance the night away. Well then, Mazaltaf! I raise my glass to you and your partner and wish you eternal happiness.

Just don't ask me - the American taxpayer - to pay for it.

"an intelligence and security failure of staggering proportions" -- London Telegraph, editorial, Dec. 27

by Tim Daniels, Left Coast Rebel

I read several sources that showed that the Department of Homeland Security laxed their alerts for Christmas travel. Both the FBI and Homeland Security issued intelligence in November of this year that pointed to a decreased threat level for the holiday season. And only now, a day after the attack is DHS raising the threat level (NY Times).

Could it be that DHS and the FBI have been too busy profiling, harassing and/or investigating law-abiding citizens speaking out against the malfeasance of our 'leadership'?

Big Government too worried about Rightwing Political Opponents, rather than Islamic extremists

I wrote back on Aug. 19:

AP story today that highlights the fact that the DHS pushed through the recent 'Right-Wing Extremist' report regardless of known civil liberty concerns. Nothing shocking here. I'll make this one simple, the DHS knew full well that singling out illegal-immigrant opponents, right-to-lifers, gun-owners, vets and others as possible security threats is a clear infringement on their rights.

If the following is true, it is nothing new.

Just look at this from NYDailyNews.com:

The terror suspect who tried to blow up a Detroit-bound plane is the son of a Nigerian banker who alerted U.S. authorities to his "extreme religious views" months ago, it was reported Saturday.

The father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab,(photo here), a former minister and chairman of First Bank in Nigeria, is shocked that his son was even was allowed to fly to the U.S., family members told the Nigerian newspaper This Day.

The dad was meeting with security officials to discuss his son, identified as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, 23. The younger Mutallab was not on any no-fly list when he flew from Nigeria to Detroit through Amsterdam, Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.) told the Daily News.

A Failure of Big Government on Steroids

Meanwhile Bungalow Bill reports/comments:

The Department of Homeland Security relaxed their alerts for the holiday season according to My Way. Both the FBI and Homeland Security issued an intelligence release on November 20, 2009, about the threat picture for the holiday season. They had no reason to believe Al Qaeda or other terrorists was going to attempt anything for the holiday season according to the report.

I guess they were too busy profiling Americans who go to church, believe in life, and have Don't Treat on Me flags and stickers on their property.

Can you imagine this? The failure of big-government on steroids, (DHS), to even accomplish the most simple task of keeping us safe is mind-boggling. If this story doesn't speak to the inept nature of our Federal government in the most extreme scenario possible then nothing does. We should be jettisoning the powers that these bureaucrats and pols hold, not adding to them.

And bumbling Napolitano? Give her a one-way ticket back to Bullhead City, AZ.

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Says Insurance Industry should push for even tougher Penalties

From Eric Dondero:

Virginia-based health care consultant and former insurance executive and president Robert Laszewski believes penalties in the new health care legislation are not stringent enough to disuade Americans from avoiding mandatory coverage.

Laszewski (photo), a regular commentator on cable news business shows, would like to see fines beefed up before the final legislation comes out of Senate/House mark-up.
From NewsMax:

proposed fines are too weak and the subsidies too meager to truly motivate people to buy insurance, Laszewski said. This means the people most motivated to buy coverage through these exchanges will be those who already have health problems — who are money losers for insurers.

"There aren't a lot of families with an extra $6,500 in their checking account," Laszewski said. "The problem with this bill is the subsidies are really quite modest, and there really aren't any penalties."

The NewsMax piece goes on to explain:

Insurers need a mix of healthy people enrolled in their coverage to help balance out claims they pay for patients who use more insurance.

The Senate bill calls for fines for people who do not purchase coverage and are not exempt from a mandate to buy it. They start at $95 in 2014 and rise to $750 by 2016.

Others are preparing to Fight Back against all Mandated Coverage

Many libertarians an others on the Right, have threatened to avoid taking mandated coverage based on principle, even if it means jail time. Others are threatenening lawsuits against what has been deemed as an Unconstitutional requirement to purchase a product.

At least one organization is already threatening to challenge the requirement as far up as the US Supreme Court. The Liberty Counsel, run by President Mathew Staver, issued a statement vowing that the group:

"is prepared to challenge the constitutionality of the bill since Congress has no authority to require every person to obtain insurance coverage and has no authority to fine employers who do not provide the coverage standards that are required in the bill."

Staver further stated, quoted from WND (via GiveUsLiberty blog):

He told WND that if the plan gets to the point of being signed into law by Obama, “We will sue.”

He said Liberty University will be a plaintiff along with other groups or individuals.

“The thrust is that Congress lacks the power to force health care coverage on individuals,” he said. “It lacks the power to fine employers that do not have or provide health care coverage according to the mandates of the bill.”

For more information, or to get involved - LC.org

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