In response to the increasingly grave human rights situation in Syria, Freedom House today joined other human rights groups in sending a letter to President Barack Obama asking that he take a number of concrete actions against the Syrian government, including calling for President Bashar al-Assad's immediate ouster.
Libertarian Republican editor takes on Sarah Silverman at Breitbart’s Big Hollywood
From Eric Dondero:
Andrew Breitbart's BigHollywood.com ran my article yesterday, on Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman maybe having second thoughts about Obama. The piece was titled "Sarah Silverman: Does She Still Heart Obama?"
Here's an excerpt:
Remember the monster hit video “The Great Schlep,” from late in 2008 by Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman.
If Barack Obama doesn’t become the next president of the United States I’m gonna blame the Jews. I am.
Florida can make or break an election. I’m making this video to urge all of you to schlep over to Florida and convince your grandparents [Nana, Papa, Zadi, Boobie, et.al.] to vote Obama.
It was oh, so hip and cool in a Comedy Central/MTV sort of way. Nearly 2 million views. And as we all know, Obama did squeek by in Florida.
Read the full article at Big Hollywood. And as always thank you to Andrew and the staff at Breitbart.com.
A prominent Democrat departs from the standard PC line on Street Crime
"Don't blame white folks [who don't hire you] with your hair uncombed, your shoes untied, or your pants half down..."
From Eric Dondero:
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter joins the rational, usually 2 to 3% of Democrats in the world who really aren't half bad.
Last Sunday, he went on a rant against black hoodlums flash mobbing in downtown Philly. He told parishioners at a local black church to roars and applause:
If you want us to respect you, take those doggone hoodies down, especially in summer. Pull your pants up and buy a belt. Comb your hair. Learn some manners. Keep your butt in school, and extend your English vocabulary beyond the few curse words that you know.
If you go to look for a job, don’t go and blame it on the white folks or anyone else if you walk in to somebody’s office with your hair uncombed and your shoes untied or your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms, on your face, on your neck. And you wonder why somebody won’t hire you? They don’t hire you because you look like you’re crazy!
Photo credit - SodaHead
All in fun: GOPers in SC tell Obama to "Hit the Road Jack"
From Eric Dondero:
Well, Rep. Tim Scott and State AG Henry McMasters turn in a less-than-stellar performance. It comes out being more like a Karoake gig; not a great deal of preparation.
But GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman does a decent enough job on the keyboards.
The pick-up gig was at a recent Huntsman Q&A in South Carolina, hosted by Scott. (He has not made any endorsements and is planning to host similar events for all GOP contenders.)
Now if we can just get Huckabee on bass, Thad McCotter on lead guitar and Huntsman on the keyboards???
SPAIN ELECTIONS: Composite Tracking Poll shows remarkable comeback for People’s Party
by Clifford F. Thies
With a snap election called for November 20th, I thought I should construct a composite tracking poll for Spain. The tracking poll demonstrates a remarkable rebound for the center-right People's Party. Only three years ago, the party finished behind the Socialist Workers Party by 4 points. It now enjoys a double-digit lead over the Socialist Workers Party, and appears poised for an absolute majority in the next Congress of Deputies.
The correlation between the popular vote and the award of seats in the Congress is complicated by the large number of electoral districts, the award of a minimum of two Deputies to each of the fifty provinces, the stated threshold of 3 percent for representation in the Congress, and the number of regional parties. In practice, the two largest parties are awarded more seats than their proportion of the nationwide popular vote. Of the smaller parties, only the left-wing United Left Party of the nationwide parties seems certain to meet the threshold. As a result, the composite tracking poll compares support for the People's Party to support for the Socialist Workers Party (mano a mano, as it were) and to combined support for the Socialist Workers and United Left parties.
One of the winners in last week’s Wisconsin Recall Elections, a Pro-Marijuana Reform Republican
From Eric Dondero:
Luther Olson was one of the four winners last week in the Wisconsin recalls. Interestingly, he's a Republican for Marijuana reform.
We reported here at LR in December of 2010, "Birthplace of the Republican Party represented by a Pro-Marijuana Reform GOP State Senator":
Wisconsin State Senator Luther Olsen will be speaking to the Wisconsin chapter of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws today, at the public library in Berlin.
Senator Olsen comes from nearby Ripon, which happens to be the official birthplace of the Republican Party.
From the blog of Jay Selthhofner, Executive Dir. of Wisconsin NORML:
Senator Olsen is expected to speak sharply at 11:30am in the Kay Swan Room (upstairs of the Berlin Public Library). The Senator will be speaking about top ways activists and citizens can make a difference in the legislative process.
Senator Olsen (R-Ripon) has indicated support for hemp, cannabis and medical marijuana reform in the past
Editor's comment - Did his more libertarian stance help him win crossover appeal?
Oy! Brazil: Straight Pride bill passes São Paulo city council
Parade to feature Straight Couples
From Eric Dondero:
Brazil's capitol city of São Paulo has taken an unusual step. The city council passed what's called "Straight Pride Day" to celebrate marriage between a man and a woman. It is set each year on the 3rd Sunday of December. The accompanying parade will take place in central São Paulo.
The measure was passed by the city council earlier this year, and according to various media, Mayor Gilberto Kassab is expected to add his signature this week.
From Globo.com (translated by LR Editor) "House approves SP Straight Pride Day":
The Municipality of São Paulo approved on Tuesday (2) the bill 294/2005, Alderman Carlos Apolinario (DEM), establishing in the town, the Straight Pride Day. The project depends only sanction of the mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab, to become law.
Some of the 39 councilors present spoke out against the project, but as there was no request for roll call vote, [it] not considered.
Not Anti-Gay, Just Pro-Male/Female Marriage says proponent
The sponsor of the bill, said it's not an anit-gay thing. Rather, it's against special rights for one community over another.
Author of the project, Councilman Carlos Apolinario said the bill is not against the gay community. "I appeal for respect for all humans including gays," he said. Apolinario said the project was only one way to speak out against "excesses and privileges" for the gay community. He said one of the privileges is the realization of LGBT Parade at Avenida Paulista while the March for Jesus was moved to the area north of the city.
Polls have consistently shown Brazilians to be overwhelmingly opposed to gay marriage and even civil unions. But liberal courts have overturned citizen-backed measures to stop gay marriage.
Ironically, Apolinario is affiliated with the Democrat Labor Party, a leftist populist party with strong ties to labor unions.
Photo - Brazilian soccer superstar Kaka and his wife Caroline are Christians and strong advocates of straight marriage. Photo credit - Padom.com.br
Social Conservative Rick Santorum stands up for Gay Rights, Woman’s Rights, against Islamism in Iowa Debate
From Eric Dondero:
An unlikely supporter of gay rights and woman's rights indeed. Diehard social conservative former Senator Rick Santorum made an impassioned plea for human rights at last night's debate. He was responding to foreign policy statements of Cong. Ron Paul.
The Advocate, a gay publication, called Santorum's remarks, "the most surprising twist of the debate."
[I don't take the position] that we have to go around and apologize for the fact that we've exerted our influence to create freedom in the world. I don't apologize for that. I don't apologize for the fact that the Iranian people were free at one time, and now are under a Mullah-ocracy that tramples the rights of women, tramples the rights of gays, tramples the rights of people all throughout their society. And is the greatest supporter of terrorism in the Middle East and around the World.
Just last week it was reported out of Iraq, that the Iranian government is actively supporting Anti-Gay Death Squads in aligned Shi'ite controlled areas of the country.
From Digital Journal "Clerics urge crack-down" Aug. 12:
Two gay men were killed in Sadr City, a local official said Saturday. Baghdad Police found the bodies of four more, after clerics urged a crackdown on a perceived spread of homosexuality. As in Iran, the targeted killing of gays is Shiite extremist SOP.
Coupled with the Iranian leadership's exporting of their anti-gay pogrom to Iraq now in the form of Shiite extremist death squads, it appears homosexuals will have just as tortured and limited an existence in Iraq as in Iran now.
Ironically, Paul often called a "libertarian," made no mention of human rights or of repressive Islamist regions, in his remarks.
Photos of two gay men executed in Iran in 2007.
Flake draws an opponent
From Eric Dondero:
Libertarian Republican Representative Jeff Flake of Arizona now has a GOP primary opponent for US Senate.
His name is Wil Cardon. He is a wealthy businessman who says he plans to dump in $2 million of his own money into the race. Cardon once interned for John McCain.
His website says he's a staunch opponent of illegal immigration; "I oppose amnesty and I strongly support SB1070." Flake has taken a more centrist approach on the issue.
He is also "pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and pro-family." Flake has taken a more libertarian stance on social matters over the years.
Rand Paul on Hannity: Fix entitlement spending now or we face London-style riots in future
From Eric Dondero:
Kentucky Senator and libertarian Republican Rand Paul appearing on Hannity on Fox last night:
The way we avoid chaos, the way we avoid rioting in the streets is to start gradually fixing the problems. Entitlements are broken... You can fix those problems by gradually raising the age and changing the way we do the entitlements. But if you wait, if you wait five years or 10 years, then there is going to be an abrupt end, and that is what is happening in Europe when you have these austere measures where people don’t get their checks, that’s when there is rioting in the streets.
Did Obama actually win North Carolina in ’08?
3 registered Democrats in Raleigh face charges of voting twice
From Eric Dondero:
The Daily Caller is reporting:
Kierra Fontae Leache, Shelia Romona Hodges and Brandon Earl Mclean each admitted to casting two ballots in recent elections. Local reports indicate all three voted for President Barack Obama twice in 2008.
And ABC News (via Politicons.net) out of Raleigh-Durham reports that "authorities have placed the three on $10,000 bonds" facing felony voter fraud charges.
Obama won the State with a slender margin of under 2%.
Meanwhile, Republicans in NC are fighting for a voter I.D. bill to protect against such fraud future elections. But Democrats are blocking the bill.
“The reason why Republicans have fought to promote proper voter-identification laws is to prevent fraud like this from happening,” NCGOP chair Robin Hayes said in a statement. “While Republicans are fighting to protect the integrity of our democracy, Governor Perdue’s veto fights to protect criminality in our election process. I know she embraces her ‘fighter’ image, but it’s clear that the only thing she fights for is fraud.”
Photo credit - ABC Local News
Concientious Objectors clause for New York Town Clerks refusing to sign Gay Marriage certificates?
From Eric Dondero:
Yet another New York town clerk is refusing to sign marriage certificates for gay couples based upon her religious beliefs. Rose Marie Belforti has submitted a letter to her local town council expressing her ojections. She suggests they allow a deputy clerk to sign the certificates instead. Three or four clerks in other NY towns have similarly refused thus far.
Gay rights groups are demanding the clerks sign the papers, or resign. But advocates for religious liberty are suggesting that the legislature consider an exception clause, similar to conscientious objector status for military recruits opposed to war.
From AuburnPub.com "Ledyard clerk won’t sign gay marriage licenses" Aug. 12:
Rev. Jason McGuire, executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, said about a dozen clerks have reached out to him to see what their options are now that same-sex marriage is legal.
“The governor and the Legislature should include some of this language in this same-sex marriage bill,” McGuire said of the exemption. “I’m still opposed to same-sex marriage, but at the very least, they could have made this accommodation and their putting some people in some very awkward positions now including clerks like this. Most of the small towns aren’t going to have an issue with a clerk that does not want to violate her religious convictions on this and they can very simply assign a deputy clerk or some other person to act as the marriage officer.”
Belforti and her husband (Facebook page) are dairy farmers, operating a "heritage breed" cattle farm in Kings Ferry. She is a graduate of Cornell Univ.
A couple Ayn Rand fans discovered in Republican House and Senate caucuses
From Eric Dondero:
From US News & World Report, Education, "Lawmakers Name Their Favorite Summer Reading Books"
Mike Johanns: Atlas Shrugged; Siddhartha
The Republican junior senator from Nebraska since 1999 names Ayn Rand's libertarian classic, Atlas Shrugged, and Herman Hesse's Siddhartha, about a man's spiritual journey in Nepal during the time of the Buddha, among his favorites. Minnesota Republican Congressman John Kline also mentioned Atlas Shrugged.
And this interesting discovery. Ron Johnson, freshman Senator from Wisconsin, and a self-described "Ayn Randian," is a science fiction nerd, including libertarian writer Robert Heinlein. Continuing:
The Tea Party Republican loved science fiction, including the Dune series and books by Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. He also read collections of short stories by Edgar Allen Poe, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and James Michener's The Drifters. "I read whatever I found interesting," he says.
Finally, Mississippi Republican Senator Thad Whicker cited "Lord of the Flies."
He also enjoyed William Golding's Lord of the Flies which he says "examines the conflict between good and evil in the absence of the civilizing forces of morality and government."
Editor's comment - I recently read Golding's classic. Utterly fantastic! I'm not a conservative. But I'd say that it does present a wonderful case for conservatism, and I'd admit, a possible weakspot for us libertarians in a society with a complete absence of any value system.
UK Libertarian leader calls for British Army to assist Police
Law & Order Libertarianism for London
From the UKIP website, Nigel Farage, UKIP Leader:
Now, I've always been a great libertarian. I don't want the state to interfere to much in our lives. I hate the fact that we're photographed and recorded wherever we go. But frankly, to protect the innocent majority, the government needs to take radical action. And take it today.
We have got to put the Army on the streets to allow the police to be able to get on with their job and protect the people from what may occur. Whether the committee and the prime minister have the courage to do so, I don't know.
Note - The United Kingdom Libertarian Party recently folded up, and joined the UK Independence Party.
Libertarian Republican Open Thread for Iowa GOP Debate
Get on board the Herman Cain Train...
From Eric Dondero:
The new campaign video by the Herman Cain campaign.
Please feel free to use this post as an open thread to discuss the Iowa debate on Fox News.
Libertarian Republican won over to Romney? His handling of hecklers at IA campaign event shows him as the "Alpha Male"
"Extremism in the defense of Liberty... Romney might be our guy"
From Eric Dondero:
Ranald "Ran" Hay (Si Vis Pacem) is an Ohio libertarian Republican and frequent contributor and commenter for this website. Yesterday's Romney railing on two leftist hecklers at a campaign event has seemed to won him over.
He wrote:
This is good. Fire in the belly. Great to see this from him.
If these clowns were Democrat plants, the stratagem backfired – royally. They gave Romney a chance to shine… and blaze away he did.
I’ve wanted to see that Mitt really means what he says about limiting government; that his evolution from statist RINO towards conservatism has some conviction.
I’ve also wanted to see that Mitt has real passion and drive – that he can adopt the alpha male role and mean it. Too, that under pressure Romney can stay on-target. Short as the confrontation was, he came off looking much more convincing than the beta “moderate” of four years ago.
America’s enemies – external and internal – want us to elect a maleable weakling. A suit.
We offered-up two flavors of the same weak brew last go ’round. Time for some strong, principled Tea, people. Extremism in the defense of Liberty is a virtue. Romney might just yet be our guy.
The video has made its way to a number of right sites since yesterday. But take a look, if you hadn't seen it yet. Well worth the 3 minute investment. It really gets cooking at the 1:50 minute mark.
Mississippi Guv scarfing up California Businesses anxious to leave the State
GOPer Barbour leaving office on an up note; Brown still faces job losses
From CBS Sacramento "Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour ‘Chasing Jobs’ In Calif." July 19:
Barbour told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday from California that he had already visited executives from KiOR, which is building refineries in Mississippi to convert timber products to a crude oil substitute.
The governor said he’s also meeting with executives from Stion, which will manufacture solar panels in Hattiesburg; Soladigm, which announced last year that it will make energy-efficient insulated glass in Olive Branch; and Chevron, which has extensive investments on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Chevron, based in San Ramon, Calif., announced in January that it would invest $1.4 billion to expand its Pascagoula, Miss., refinery to make premium-based oil.
Calif ranks "Dead last" in job growth
From the San Diego Reader, July 27:
More bad news on the state economy: The Business Journals’ On Numbers is reporting that California ranks dead last in the number of jobs created over the last five years.
The state had 14,068,600 non-farm jobs reported as of June 2011, down 1,009,400 from June 2006. There were fewer net jobs in three of the last five years.
Boomtowns Gulfport-Biloxi
From Businessweek (via the AP) "Mississippi job picture improves a bit in June" July 27:
Mississippi's employment picture improved slightly in June... All of the growth is in the private sector. Over the past 12 months, Mississippi has dropped 9,200 government jobs, while adding 7,500 in the private sector... the biggest gainers have been professional-business services with 3,500 jobs, leisure-hospitality with 3,000 jobs and trade, transportation and utilities with 2,200 jobs. The sector of private education and health services has added 1,200 jobs...
Photo credit - The Reid Report
Jewish-owned Businesses increasingly targets of London Rioters
DEVELOPING...
From JewishJournal.com, "London riots spread to Jewish community":
Rioting in London spread to the Jewish community.
Stores in the Jewish communities of Stamford Hill and Golders Green were urged to close and secure merchandise Monday night... some Jewish-owned stores have been ransacked, according to the newspaper.
Channel 7 Arutz Sheva, Israel National News, "London Riots Threaten Jews in Stamford Hill":
The third day of London rioting threatens members of the large Jewish community in Stamford Hill. They have been advised not to walk alone and to be careful when going to synagogue on Tisha B’Av Tuesday.
One London resident told Arutz Sheva Tuesday afternoon that Jewish businessmen and professionals are not able to travel to nearby offices, where many of their premises have been looted.
Editor's note - Emphasis added. Photo credit - BBC, Synagogue Stattfordshire
He may have the hottest Wife of any State Senator in the country, and he’s a libertarian Republican
Self-government over "dependence on the federal nanny-state"
From his bio at SenatorMcDaniel.com:
Chris is a life-long resident of Mississippi and Jones County. He was born in Laurel and was raised in Ellisville.
Chris is married to Jill Tullos McDaniel of the Sharon Community, Jill is a professional educator
A former Miss Mississippi USA, Jill proudly represented the State of Mississippi in the Miss USA Pageant.
After law school, Chris entered a two - year federal judicial clerkship as a law clerk for the Honorable Charles W. Pickering, Sr., United States District Court Judge, Southern District of Mississippi.
His philosophy:
The federal government is not our ultimate protector and cannot be all things to all people; liberty is the result of individuals learning to rule themselves. Since the powers of taxing and spending are the means by which the government expands, the debate over fiscal restraint is not simply one of dollars and cents; it is a debate over the role of government in our lives. Central to the debate is the question of whether we have become so obsessed with immediate gratification, comfort and ease that we would trade our hard-earned liberty for dependence on the federal nanny state. The answer to that question will control our nation’s destiny and financial security for generations
Video of the Day: The Broken Ratings Agency System
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