Jane E. Vennard's story about personal transformation following wordless intercessory prayer for Osama bin Laden.
Map: 10th Anniversary of 9/11
An art meditation, spiritual practices, reflections, poems, and stories for the anniversary of 9/11 contributed by Living Spiritual Teachers profiled at SpiritualityandPractice.com
Map: Spiritual Practices for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11
Map: Reflections, Poems, and Stories for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11
Spiritual Practice: Three Poems and an Exercise
Three poems, a snippet from a novel, and an imaginative exercise all seek to open our hearts and minds to the reality of death.
Spiritual Practice: Dwelling in the Heart
A breathing into the heart practice to open us to greater awareness of the suffering and pain of others.
Spiritual Practice: The Practice of Mirroring
The practice of mirroring involving listening intently to someone whose views are different from your own.
Spiritual Practice: Taking the World into Our Heart
A practice for a prayer of the heart that includes the earth and the whole of creation in our prayers.
Pro-Defense libertarianism justified by Lockean principles
Nation States have the right to band together to Protect Life and Property from Aggressors
From Eric Dondero:
There is a new website in the pro-defense libertarian community. It is called, "Natural Rights Libertarian."
An excerpt from his piece "Natural Rights Libertarianism and Foreign Policy" Mark Friedman, Sept. 10:
the international sphere closely resembles Locke’s state of nature because there is no single power that can claim a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Rather, there are a large number of states, all acting in what they perceive to be their self-interest, with varying degrees of ruthlessness and willingness to resort to unprovoked violence. Locke held that in a state of nature any peaceful party may justly punish an aggressor, even though the aggressor has not specifically acted against him/her, because an unpunished aggressor represents a clear and present danger to the entire community. See Second Treatise, Chap. III, sec. 16-8. I think Locke’s reasoning is sound.
An unconstrained aggressor imposes two serious costs on those who wish to abide by what Locke called the law of nature, i.e. showing due regard for the equal rights of other persons. First, a party willing to take the life or property of one innocent victim is not likely to stop there. Accordingly, criminals cause fear in even those not directly harmed by their aggression.
Second, the persistence of criminality imposes significant material costs on peaceful parties. Because of the anxiety referenced above, blameless persons will be required to beef up security for themselves and their loved ones. Individuals wishing to conduct mutually-beneficial trade may be prevented from doing so because the goods or the payment will be stolen. Farmers may not plant crops because thieves will seize the harvest, and so on.
Given these considerations, if a peace-loving person in a state of nature is entitled to punish a criminal who has not attacked him directly, then it also seems clear that they may band together in defensive alliances to deter, resist or punish aggressors in a coordinated way. On this same logic, this principle should also apply today to peaceful states, and this conclusion also seems to potentially justify foreign bases, alliances, etc.
Friedman is a retired attorney with a law degree cum ladae from Georgetown Univ.
Photo of the Day – Tea Party Hell No!
From Cliff Thies:
Tea Party response to Obama's speech.
Washington, D.C.
Could it be? Shocking Poll results out of New York
Brooklyn Bombshell!!
From Eric Dondero:
There is hope for New York and the Nation.
From Politico.com:
Republicans are poised for a dramatic upset in next week’s special election for a New York City congressional seat, according to a new poll out Friday.
The survey, conducted by the Siena Research Institute, found Republican Bob Turner holding a 50 percent to 44 percent lead over Democrat David Weprin.
The poll comes as national Democrats grow increasingly nervous about Weprin’s prospects in the race for a Brooklyn and Queens-area seat that has long favored the party.
Note - The District's registration is 5 to 1 Democrat over Republican.
Jerry Brown shows a tiny libertarian streak in Veto of Ski Helmet law
"Side[s] with GOP..."
From Eric Dondero:
Surprise kudos to California Democrat Governor Jerry Brown for his veto of a bill that would have required mandatory helmets for under-18s on ski slopes in California.
From SFGate.com "Gov. Brown vetoes ski helmet, phone fine bills":
In his veto message accompanying the helmet bill, SB105 introduced by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, Brown appeared to side with GOP critics who had characterized the measure as "nanny government."
Brown, a Democrat, wrote, "While I appreciate the value of wearing a ski helmet, I am concerned about the continuing and seemingly inexorable transfer of authority from parents to the state. Not every human problem deserves a law."
Editor's comment - First NY Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo sides with GOP against new taxes in his state, then a week ago the Democrat-controlled state of Illinois relaxed seat belt law enforcement, and now this. Are they finally getting the Tea Party message against the Nanny-State perhaps?
Photo credit - AZZTraining.com
Arizona Republicans sponsor nationwide petition to deport Uncle Omar
From Eric Dondero:
The Arizona Republican Party is sponsoring a nationwide petition to deport Obama's "Uncle Omar," Onyango “Omar” Obama.
Onyango “Omar” Obama, an Illegal Alien from Kenya, was arrested last week on Wednesday after he allegedly nearly rammed his SUV into a police car in Framingham, Massachusetts.
According to the Kerry Picket at the Washington Times – Omar Obama charged with DUI among other violations. When Onyango Obama was asked at booking if he wanted to make a telephone call to arrange for bail, the Kenyan illegal alien replied: "I think I will call the White House."
Dann Crain, a San Diego libertarian Republican and local Tea Party activist contacted LR to urge other libertarians around the Nation to "sign the petition!":
Dammit! First Auntie Zetuni, now Uncle Omar. What was Barack Hussein Obama? Kenya's anchor baby?
Arizona Republicans are asking all GOPers - moderates, conservatives and libertarians - to sign their petition:
Perry scores a big one on liberal media icon in debate
by Eric Dondero
No matter where you stand with regards to the GOP presidential field, Tea Partyer for Bachmann, deep thinking libertarian Gingrich supporter, Herman Cain-o-nator, Mitt Romney mainstream libertarian-leaner, Ron Paulist, or even a libertarian for Huntsman, you gotta admit this was a priceless moment for Wednesday night's debate.
Texas Governor Rick Perry corrects NBC's ultra-liberal news anchor Brian Wilson on an inaccurate statement regarding Texas's job numbers.
It's 95% of new jobs above the minimum wage, not burger flippers, housmaids and car washers Brian.
H/t Jim Hoft, Gateway
Mass Sen. Scott Brown tells Howie Carr – deport Obama’s Uncle Onyango
From Eric Dondero:
Republican Senator Scott Brown was on the libertarian-conservative Howie Carr show out of Boston on Tuesday.
Carr asked Brown about Obama's uncle Onyango Obama who was recently busted in Boston for drunk driving, and subsequently found to have been in the country illegally since 1992.
Brown (via The Hill):
"Well, yeah. He's here illegally. He's obviously broken the law. I don't know enough about the details of the case, but, God, he's been running around for how long now?" Brown said in an interview on the Howie Carr Show. "Let him go through the process and see what happens."
Onyango is an employee at a Framingham liquor store.
As The Hill reports, White House spokesman Jay Carney asked about Onyango, said that the President was unaware of his Uncle Onyango being in the country illegally.
Pamela Geller at Atlas hat tips Libertarian Republican
A Ronald Reagan - Lech Walesa defense against Violent Islam
From Eric Dondero:
Our friend Ayn Randist Pamela Geller at highly-rated Atlas Shrugs blog featured a story we ran here at few days ago, on Geert Wilder's speech in Germany.
From Atlas "Geet Wilders Speech in Germany":
In case you missed Geert Wilders' remarks in Germany -- he is, as always, brilliant:
Wilders speech in Germany: Netherlands moving forward with De-funding Islamism hat tip Eric Dondero
Dutch Parliamentarian, and leader of the Party for Freedom, addressed a crowd of 600 supporters in Berlin, Sept. 3.
Included in his speech were a number of libertarian proposals for defunding Islamism and anti-Dutch activities of Radical Islamists living in the Netherlands.
The reason why we reject Islam is exactly Islam’s violent nature. We believe in democracy. We fight with the force of our conviction, but we never use violence. Our commitment to truth, human dignity and a just and honourable defence of the West does not allow us to use violence nor to give in to cynicism and despair. We cherish the tradition of Aleksander Solzhenitsyn, Jelena Bonner, Lech Walesa and Ronald Reagan. These heroes defeated a totalitarian ideology by the power of their conviction and without firing a single shot.
Thank you Pamela!
Ron Paul – TSA Agents like Sexual Predators
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT?
From Eric Dondero:
In Wednesday night's GOP presidential debate held in California, Texas Congressman Ron Paul let it rip on TSA abuses of airline passengers (via TheHill):
"If the perpetrators were a gang of criminals, their headquarters would be raided by SWAT teams and armed federal agents," he continued. "Unfortunately in this case, the perpetrators are armed federal agents."
Fox News Nation gives further context:
After saying airlines should be responsible for the securities of passengers - not government bureaucrats - Paul added: "And look at the monstrosity we have at the airports."
"These TSA agents are abusive," he said. "Sometimes they're accused of all kinds of sexual activities on the way they maul people at the airport."
Editor's comment - This is the Ron Paul we like here at LR. If he could just stick to his domestic policy and stay away from his mostly anti-liberty foreign policy.
Coulter’s Red Meat libertarianism – Public School Teachers Mooching off the Taxpayers
Whatever happened to Real Men with Real Jobs?
From Eric Dondero:
Author and social commentatorAnn Coulter on Fox News Morning (via Daily Caller):
“What I really think needs to be talked about is that no one is mentioning this is Jimmy Hoffa, the president of the Teamsters. They used to be truck drivers and pipefitters. Now he’s representing public school teachers? Kindergarten teachers? Cafeteria workers? Fighting for every last bit of their government pension? What a pathetic downfall!” (RELATED: Coulter: Palin has become ‘the Obama of the tea party’)
Coulter went on: “And how about a little of this tough talk back when the Teamsters supported drilling [for oil] in ANWR? You know: ‘Real jobs for real men’ — as opposed to kindergarten teachers. And how about fighting for nuclear power plants being installed? … He’s not even representing men who have actual jobs. He’s representing a bunch of useless public sector workers.”
Coulter went on to strongly back private schooling versus government schools.
They are government workers. Let’s turn it over to private [schools], to vouchers, to charter schools. No, they fight for every last dime. They get summers off. They’re off at two [o'clock] and they make more money than most of those pipefitters who no longer have jobs.”
Note - In the mid-1990s Coulter flirted with a congressional run in Connecticut on the Libertarian Party ticket, even going so far as to meet with the LPCT Exec. Comm. to discuss the idea.
Score One for Libertarian Math Geeks over CA Assembly Dems
From Eric Dondero:
One brave Democrat Assemblyman voted against the recently-enacted spend-happy California budget. His name is Rep. Anthony Portantino, and he has the reputation for being rather frugal: Not changing the carpet in his office to save bucks on his allowance, turning down the car allowances and for cell phones reimbursement.
But for his Nay vote, the Democratic leadership decided to punish him. They released numbers showing his office spent more for staff and expenses than any other in the Assembly. Problem was, the numbers were cooked.
Enter the Libertarian Math Geeks. Portantino asked a group of Stanford students to go through the office allotment budgets of all Assemblymen. Surprise! When all the hidden costs were factored in he ended up right in the middle at 37th.
From the San Jose Mercury News "How a Stanford group shook a sacred cow in Sacramento":
As a matter of course, Stanford students pay scant heed to the strange events unfolding in Sacramento. Unlike their cousins at UC Berkeley, they don't depend on the state budget.
That happy neglect ended this summer when a group of mathematically talented students from a libertarian-leaning group got involved with an assemblyman from Pasadena.
Portantino's chief of staff, Trent Hager, called a group of Stanford students who had volunteered to help under the rubric of California Common Sense (www.cacs.org).
By 4:30 p.m. that Friday, the politically minded Stanford group had picked up the accusatory numbers -- originally on paper, though later put on the Web -- and began comparing them with payroll data.
Their analysis revealed that Portantino was only the 18th-highest spender on personal staff. Because many salaries are hidden under nondescript categories like committees or overhead, the Stanford group judged his real total of expenses was 37th, about in the middle of the 80-member Assembly.
The Stanford students had exposed mathematically the Assembly's dirty little secret: Legislators spend far more than the $263,000 allocated to each office for staff. And leaders spend more than rank-and-file legislators like Portantino.
Later in the piece, the Geeks are quoted:
Nothing we do is particularly complicated,'' says Dakin Sloss, a Stanford math major who is president of California Common Sense. "We're using basic common-sense technologies to get this information out there.''
Sacramento Democrats argue that the kids from Stanford are aligned with a group with its own agenda. The founder of California Common Sense is Joe Lonsdale, a member of the often libertarian-leaning Paypal Mafia. (In fact, http://www.cacs.org is a sophisticated site that takes a critical view of government.)
To support California Math Geeks California Common Sense.
Perry campaign zings Ron Paul over 1988 GOP resignation letter
Release...
AUSTIN – Rep. Ron Paul’s newly released attack ad refers to the congressman as, “the one who stood with Reagan.” But his 1987 letter announcing his resignation from the Republican Party indicates Reagan drove him from the party.
“Ronald Reagan was one of the most significant presidents of our generation, and a proven fiscal conservative,” Perry spokesman Mark Miner said. “Like President Reagan, Gov. Perry has cut taxes and freed employers from government regulations that kill jobs.”
“Rep. Paul’s letter is a broadside attack on every element of President Reagan’s record and philosophy. Paul thought President Reagan was so bad, he left the GOP,” said Miner. “It will be interesting to hear Rep. Paul explain why Reagan drove him from the party at tomorrow’s debate on the grounds of the Reagan Library.”
In one part of the letter, Paul wrote, “There is no credibility left for the Republican Party as a force to reduce the size of government. That is the message of the Reagan years.”
Paul continued, “Thanks to the President and Republican Party, we have lost the chance to reduce the deficit and the spending in a non-crisis fashion. Even worse, big government has been legitimized in a way the Democrats never could have accomplished.”
Paul even went so far as to call Reaganomics, “warmed-over Keynesianism.”
Paul summarizes his reason for leaving the Republican Party with the following tirade: “I want to totally disassociate myself from the policies that have given us unprecedented deficits, massive monetary inflation, indiscriminate military spending, an irrational and unconstitutional foreign policy, zooming foreign aid, the exaltation of international banking, and the attack on our personal liberties and privacy.”
Full text of Paul's letter at RickPerry.org
