Thomas Merton on mystery and the existence of grace.
Freedom House Urges Obama to Engage Indonesia on Human Rights and Democracy
President Barack Obama's trip to Southeast Asia provides a critical opportunity to reaffirm the United States' commitment to human rights and democracy in the region.
Impunity in Russia Impels Attacks on Journalists
The recent attacks on two journalists in Russia reflect the impunity that is now institutionalized into Russia's system of governance, according to Freedom House.
Blogger Illegally Detained and Beaten in Egypt
Freedom House is deeply concerned for the safety of Egyptian blogger and human rights advocate Kareem Amer,
Freedom House Dismayed by Results of Askarov Appeal in Kyrgyzstan
Freedom House is deeply concerned to learn that a Kyrgyz court has upheld the life sentence of Azimzhan Askarov, head of the civil society organization Vozdukh
Gina Elise has cameo appearance in new Bruce Willis flick
SNEAK PREVIEW!Libertarian Republican's website Poster Girl and champion for Veterans all over the Nation, Gina Elise has given us an update on her travels, a media appearance, and her soon-to-be-released 2011 calendar.
Gina is making a last minute trip to a VA Hospital in Chicago. It's her 20th VA Hospital she has visited.
Also, from Gina:
for those of you who still haven't seen the movie, RED, check out my poster in the CIA's broom closet! It's in a scene with Bruce Willis! Still in theaters!
To help Gina spread cheer among our Veterans purchase a soon-to-be-released 2011 calendar or maybe a few, for Vets, friends or yourself at http://www.pinupsforvets.com
Alberta’s Danielle Smith: Libertarians and Social Conservatives can find common ground
Canada's Wild Rose
From Eric Dondero:
Alberta Member of Parliament and leader of the Wildrose Alliance Danielle Smith speaks out on cooperation between social conservatives and libertarians in her party.
The Globe and Mail:
Today, Ms. Smith is a staunch libertarian, which puts her at odds with some of the more socially conservative elements of the party she was elected to lead a year ago.
On issues such as prostitution and online gambling, her tendency is to say “live and let live” which goes against social conservatives who believe the state should seek to outlaw or regulate “vice.”
“To me it comes down to choice. I am not interested in imposing my views on anyone any more than I'm interested in having their views imposed upon me,” she explains.
Her Twitter page has been dominated by the debate over how libertarianism and social conservatism can peacefully coexist within the same party.
Ms. Smith believes they can: “There is a tension, but I believe that part of being a libertarian leader is allowing for MLAs to be able to express themselves freely on issues,” she says.
Platform and policies - wildrosealliance.ca
Voters in Tennessee not scared off by hardline Privatization stance
From Eric Dondero:
Back in August we highlighted the candidacy of Stephen Fincher, running for Congress in central Tennessee for a Democrat-held seat. Fincher is a farmer from the town of Frog Jump. He's also President of his local Methodist congregation, and is a locally-known gospel singer. A Tea Party activist, he has never held elective office.
See "Tennessee Republican attacked by Dem opponent for wanting to "Privatize" Social Security" Libertarian Republican article Aug. 19.
Democrats attacked Fincher on his principled stance in favor of Social Security privatization. Fincher was backed heavily by the pro-Social Security privatization group Americans For Prosperity.
Fincher won overwhelmingly, 59% to 39%. He now has the distinction of being the first Republican ever to hold Tennessee's 8th Congressional seat.
Pro-Family Values/economic libertarian Fincher is already being touted as a Rising Star in the GOP.
Bikini "Scandal" apparently didn’t hurt newly-elected GOP Congressman
Proves Republicans hanging out with scantily-clad women a net-plus
From Eric Dondero:
Real Clear Politics now lists Texas CD 27 in the Republican column. One of the last remaining disputed elections has gone GOP. This despite the fact that a mysterious bag of ballots was found in Robbstown, days after the election which gave longtime incumbent Democrat Rep. Solomon Ortiz 27 more votes.
The District stretches from north of Corpus Christi to Brownsville at the Mexico border.
Texas's Spring Break Coast is just fine with Bikinis
Late in the campaign photos surfaced of Republican Blake Farenthold in a somewhat awkward position for a "conservative" Republican. Farenthold was seen with a number of scantily-clad women at a fundraiser at a local bar. He is a local radio talk show host in Corpus, and often engages in publicity stunts are pr events.
What Ortiz and Texas Democrats may not have counted on, was that the coastal district including Port Aransas and the Spring Break capitol of South Padre Island might be more libertarian on such matters than they thought. The "scandal" that the Democrats banked on, appears not to have had any impact.
Farenthold's final margin of victory is about 700 votes.
Note - I live in Southeast Texas (Brazoria County) 2 hours north of Farenthold's district.
Grisanti will officially switch to Republican, giving the GOP the majority in New York Senate
Upper Chamber now 32 Republicans, to 30 Democrats
From Eric Dondero:
It's official. Mark Grisanti of Buffalo has confirmed the local media in Western New York, that he intends to formally change his party registration to Republican, and Caucus as a Republican if final election results declare him the winner. Gristanti's race is the only still-to-be-decided legislative race in New York State. However, his win now appears to be virtually assured.
From the Buffalo News "Grisanti’s loyalties lean toward Senate GOP -
Democrat could hold key to Albany power":
Grisanti confirmed late Tuesday his intention to caucus with Republicans if he is declared the winner of the contested race in the 60th District, even though a few hours earlier he was leaving the door open to siding with Senate Democrats.
“The Republican Party had faith in me from the start,” Grisanti said.
The registered Democrat also announced his intention to switch his party enrollment to Republican.
Ballot Machine problems in tight race?
The race remained undecided partly due to some malfunctions in a ballot machine.
a Grisanti victory is no guarantee, although he does lead the two-term Democratic incumbent, Antoine M. Thompson, by 597 votes.
Thompson gained a net of one vote by being credited with 208 of the 417 emergency ballots counted by the Erie County Board of Elections. Grisanti received 207, and two of the ballots were write-ins for other candidates.
Democratic Elections Commissioner Dennis E. Ward explained that emergency ballots are valid ballots that for some reason were not counted by the machine, perhaps because the machine was not working at the time or a disabled voter could not feed the machine.
Emergency ballots are one of four categories that are included in the final vote count. The others are the unofficial machine tabulation, absentee and military ballots, and affidavit ballots.
Grisante's win, and decision to stay with the GOP returns control of the Senate to Republicans. They had lost it in 2008. Previously the GOP held control of the NY Senate for 60 years.
Montana Democrat thought she had it in the bag
LR FOLLOW-UP
From Eric Dondero:
Yesterday we ran a story about newly-elected Montana State Rep. Alan Hale of Boulder-Helena. Hale is an unlikely State Legislator. He owns a bar. He is a gritty un-polished cowboy. He ran as a grass roots Tea Party-style candidate to express some issues, and had few expectations of winning.
A reader of Libertarian Republican from Montana wrote to us, with some further news on the race.
Sheila Hogan, a staunchly Pro-Teachers Union, establishment liberal from Helena, spent over $50,000 on her campaign. Hale only spent $10,000.
And this bit of rather interesting information: Hogan apparently thought she would win the election with ease. According to sources, she was seen celebrating on election night with her husband at a local capitol city restaurant, before the returns came in. She expressed great confidence in her victory.
Hale beat her with 400 votes.
Another Republican for 2012: Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico
Anti-Drug War Republican
by Roger Stone
A week before the Election, I had occasion to be on the hot Fox Business show Money Rocks, hosted by Eric Bolling. Also on the panel was former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. In the brief discussion Johnson impressed me deeply. A Libertarian Republican in the Ron Paul tradition, Johnson is an outspoken and articulate critic of our failed war on drugs and a proponent of legalizing Marijuana.
The topic on the show was gang violence and kidnapping on the Mexican Boarder but Johnson turned that deftly to a discussion of how drug legalization would end Mexican gang violence. It was a tour de force.
There is high demand, It's a huge cash crop and it's not going away. Johnson makes a strong case that it's dangerous only it is because it is illegal. People are forced to go to drug dealers and it funds gangs and terrorists. The government continues to spend $70 billion a year on the most failed policy in U.S. history.
Johnson points out marijuana is considerably less hazardous than alcohol, and even arguably less a public health risk than sugar and processed foods given the national expensive epidemic of diabetes and heart disease. Marijuana is easily grown virtually anywhere and despite billions spent to stem its use, it is as easy to acquire today as it was before the war against it was launched. Marijuana is easier than cigarettes for children to acquire, specifically because it is peddled by drug dealers as opposed to licensed and monitored providers.
He'll conquer the Nanny-State like he conquered Mt. Everest
The war on marijuana is costly, makes criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens, and costs resources better spent on other efforts. New York wastes a whopping $390 million a year on marijuana arrests-- a simple non-violent crime . Nationally more people are arrested for marijuana than all violent crimes combined. Johnson is unapologetically in favor of all out legalization and also also sites the massive financial boon that legalization and taxation would provide.
With America in the worst financial crisis of our lifetime and the advantages of legalizing and taxing it ?Johnson says legalization would permit the government to re-assign highly trained people to go combat more serious problems. Governments at the State and federal level could realize billions in revenues.
A 2012 Presidential candidacy by Johnson would lead to a needed public dialog on the failed war on drugs. Prop 19 failed only because of the gross lies told about marijuana use by police groups, Senator Diane Feinstein and , get this, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Anyone who has seen "Pumping Iron" remembers Arnold puffing on a joint between heavy sets. Do as I say, not as I do, Ahhnold ?
This is not to say Johnson is a one dimensional candidate and their will be plenty of opposition to ending the prohibition of Marijuana in the Republican Party, but a Johnson candidacy would find a constituency in the early primary states, particularly "Live Free or Die" New Hampshire and would spark a national discussion that must be had.
Sarah Palin won't run ( you heard it here first!). The race is wide open. Run, Gary Run.
Editor's note - My friend Roger Stone has been added to our list of regular contributing writers here at Libertarian Republican. We're very happy to have him on board.
Big Libertarian Wish List item on Budget Commission’s proposed cuts
Bye Bye PBS
From Eric Dondero:
Perhaps the Budget Commission isn't that useless after all. Among the proposed budget cuts, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles call for completely aboloshing the taxpayer subsidy to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
From the Daily Caller:
Also included in the report is a recommendation to eliminate government funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, whose “primary job is to fund [National Public Radio] and its member stations … and PBS and its member stations.”
Coming on the heels of the recent uproar over NPR’s firing of Juan Williams for comments they deemed insensitive, and the threats by many Republicans to defund the station, this proposed cut is also significant. Though NPR does not depend in any way solely on CPB for funding, an elimination of CPB funding would nonetheless hurt NPR.
CPB released a statement that said they “strongly disagree” with the proposal, and that “this important investment … should be supported for the benefit, education and enrichment of all Americans.”
“The federal investment represents an average of 15 percent of funding for the more than 1,100 public radio and television stations around the country, and stations use this investment to raise funds from the communities they serve. In some cases, especially in rural and low-income areas, public broadcasting serves as a lifeline of content, information and services to the community,” the CPB statement read.
Libertarians will also cheer the Commission's proposal to drastically scale back contributions to the United Nations.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry takes a big leap to full-blown libertarianism
Get rid of FDR's New Deal, Social Security un-needed
From Eric Dondero:
Rick Perry appears to have turned into a libertarian superman overnight. He's on a book tour for his “Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington." And in interviews Perry doesn't hold back. He's calling Social Security a giant Ponzi Scheme; he says that FDR's New Deal was a huge failure; and he even hints that on some level taxation may be a form of theft.
From MySanAntonio.com "Perry calls Social Security bankrupt 'Ponzi scheme'":
Perry took on the federal government, from health care reform to Social Security. Perry pushed for a repeal of Obama's health care legislation “in its entirety.”
“You can't go through this piece by piece. You need to repeal it in its entirety,” he said. “Then let's have them start anew from the premise that the states can better handle these questions.”
Perry criticized President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and an early 20th-century “progressive era” movement that “gave the federal government access to our wallets via taxation.”
Calling the New Deal “a glut of federal programs,” Perry said the creation of the Social Security system did very little to end the Great Depression.
“Unfortunately, the New Deal has essentially become the third rail of American politics that indiscriminately kills the political careers of any leader bold enough to criticize it or any program it created,” he said.
In a post-speech news conference, Perry further attacked Social Security — as he did in his book “Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington” — and said he did so to create a “national dialogue.”
“I want people to be afraid not to talk about that Social Security is bankrupt and is a Ponzi scheme and if you've got a young 20-something-year-old, they know for a fact that they're not ever going to see that,” he said. “So let's fix it.”
In early 2009, Perry got in a bit of hot water for suggesting at a Tea Party rally that seccession was a possibile course of action for Texas, if Obama and the Democrats went too far.
Working Class Tavern Owner elected as Republican to Montana House
Wins election in Liberal Bastion of Helena
From Eric Dondero:
House District 77 has been a key battleground for Democrats and Republicans in Montana for years. The District stretches from the southern suburbs of the ultra-liberal State Capitol of Helena to the rugged conservative environs of Boulder 40 miles south.
Scott Mendenhall, a Christian libertarian, has held the seat for 4-terms. But in 2008 he barely won with 23 votes.
Now the GOP has held the seat with a wider margin.
Bar Owner Rep.-elect Wants to loosen anti-Drinking Laws
From the Helena Independent-Record:
in a tightly fought race for HD 77, Republican Alan Hale was leading Democrat Sheila Hogan , 2,553 to 2,159.
Both are political newcomers, running for the seat previously held by Scott Mendenhall.
This is the first run for office for Hale, who owns a bar in Basin with his wife. He also works road construction and is laid off from a job with Montana Tunnels mine, which has been closed for a couple of years.
“Well, I’m ecstatic,” Hale said. “When I started all this process, my main goal was to create jobs – no, to get government out of industry to create jobs. If we can get industry up and running, our economy will be great, and all our children can enjoy their lives here in Montana. I would like to add my first priority is to get the budget straightened up, the second is to look at regulations to see what we can do to get industries going in the state.”
Hale appears to have a libertarian streak on over-regulation of bars and taverns. Continuing:
Hale spoke out in an earlier IR interview, favoring reducing regulations and taxes to make Montana more appealing for mining, logging and drilling for oil and gas.
Hale also spoke out against tough DUI penalties, particularly when they involve young people, saying stiff penalties have ruined a lot of young people’s lives.
Hale is also a staunch defender of the 2nd Amendment and a believer in State Sovereignty and the 10th Amendment.
Huge Democrat Firewall out West falls to Republican onslaught
"Stunning" defeat for Montana Dems
From Eric Dondero:
For nearly a decade Republicans in Montana have focused in on one big objective; winning back the House. They've come close. But they always seemed to come up shy by one or two votes. On November 2nd the Democrats' firewall fell to the GOP.
The Missoulian : "Montana Republicans best own predictions in taking control of Legislature" Nov. 3:
Montana Republicans won control of the 2011 Legislature in stunning fashion in Tuesday's election, surprising even themselves by picking up 18 seats to craft a 68-32 majority in the Montana House.
They also increased their margin in the state Senate by at least one seat to 28-22, giving the GOP control of both houses of the Montana Legislature for the first time since 2003.
"I think Montana voters, like voters across the country, rejected the big-government, higher-taxes approach of (President Barack) Obama and (Speaker of the House Nancy) Pelosi," said Sen. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, who chaired the party's Legislative Campaign Committee. "We heard that on the doors as we campaigned, all spring, summer and fall. It led to a huge win last night."
Butte goes Republican? Believe it!
There is no more single Democrat-controlled area of the State of Montana than Butte. The legendary old mining town has been completely controlled by Unions, and Big Government interests for a century. On November 2, as part of the massive Rocky Mountain political earthquake all over the State, the Republican Party picked up a legislative seat in Butte. Continuing:
they also won in areas long held by Democrats.
They swept all three legislative seats in Havre, won three House seats in heavily Democratic Great Falls, won House District 80 in central Helena, won three seats on Indian reservations, and even won a seat in the most Democratic stronghold of all: Butte.
Republican Max Yates (photo) defeated Democrat Bob Brock in Butte's House District 74 by 40 votes, becoming only the second Republican to win a legislative seat in Butte in the last 60 years.
A slew of big-name credible candidates are already emerging to take on incumbent Democrat Senator Jon Tester for 2012. And former Montana Republican Congressman Rick Hill announced his candidacy for Governor 5 days after the election, challenging the pro-big government Brian Schweitzer administration.
From KFBB TV Channel 5:
"So make no mistake, what this administration will be about is this; taking down the barriers to good-paying jobs, two, schools that work, three, a government we can afford and four, protecting Montana from an overreaching Federal Government,” says Hill as he describes the pillars of his campaign.
Michelle Malkin: Obama has a "cloudy brain" on the threat from Islamic Jihad
Malkin on Hannity
Responding to Obama's answer in Indonesia from a reporter, what his opinion was on Islamic Jihad.
Malkin mocks Obama:
"When you're struggling to deny the truth, it clouds not only your brain, but it messes up your tongue..."
(H/t Jim Hoft)
Tea Party Republican beats Libertarian Party candidate as a write-in for Wyoming Gov.
A sign of decline for the LP?
From Eric Dondero:
Even with write-in controversies all over the headlines this election year, this particular item has missed the headlines of the mainstream media.
Taylor Haynes, a somewhat eccentric political activist in the Cowboy State actually placed third, over a Libertarian Party candidate for Governor.
From the Billings Gazette: 
Write-in Republican candidate Taylor Haynes received nearly 14,000 votes to come in third in the Nov. 2 general election for governor, the secretary of state's office announced Wednesday.
Haynes, a Laramie County rancher, retired physician and tea party member, received 7 percent of the total votes for governor.
He outpolled Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Mike Wheeler of Casper, who received 5,362 votes.
No doubt, Matt Mead's assured election as Governor, gave Wyoming Republicans confidence to have a little fun by voting for Haynes. Mead won with 65% of the vote.
Meanwhile, Haynes stood by his fiscally conservative principles in the election aftermath. He paid for the counting of his write-in votes out of his own pocket - a total of $200 for county clerks to tally his total vote.
Editor's comment - Normally I'm a fan of the Libertarian Party. But it's pretty darn embarrassing for a Libertarian Party candidate to get beat by a write-in.
Could the Red State of Wyoming get any Redder?
From Eric Dondero:
Republicans failed to give deeply Blue States a shade of Red on election day; States like Massachusetts, California, Hawaii, Maryland and Delaware. However, the Party may have succeeded at turning already Red States even Redder.
Democrats in the State of Wyoming literally had a Buffalo cowpie smeared all over their faces on election day.
From the Billings Gazette:
Wyoming Republicans swept all five elected state offices and tightened their grip on the Legislature.
They will control the Wyoming House 50-10 and the Senate 26-4.
This morning The State gleefully opined that Wyoming now has the distinction of being the reddest state in the Nation.
Wyoming defeats Idaho in race to be the most conservative state... Wyoming Republicans reclaimed the governorship, won all statewide races and picked up 12 seats in the Legislature.
Jim DeMint’s puzzling comment?
You gotta be a social con, to be a true eco con?
by Eric Dondero
South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint has been a hero of sorts to libertarians for his staunch economic conservatism. But a recent statement from DeMint many leave some wondering.
“You can’t be a fiscal conservative and not be a social conservative,” said DeMint in a recent TV interview.
Comments libertarian/conservative Rob Port of North Dakota's Say Anything Blog:
DeMint’s comments have some serious political repercussions. Right now Republicans are riding high on support from a tea party movement made up largely libertarian-minded independent voters. They’re also benefiting from social liberals who are fed up with Obama and the Democrats’ handling of fiscal matters (among other things). Case in point, Republicans got 31% of the gay vote on election day which may be the GOP’s largest slice of that demographic to date.
AllahPundit at HotAir.com comments:
Let me gently suggest that this bumper-sticker version is doing him no favors, since it can’t help but alienate every last libertarian who sees it.
Libertarian Doug Mataconis over at Liberty Papers takes an even stronger stance:
Jim DeMint just gave libertarians the middle finger...
Everybody gets one mistaken statement in politics. And one chance to correct it. We're not giving up on DeMint yet. But those of us in the "fiscally conservative, socially tolerant" wing of the GOP would like an explanation.
Time for Andre to book Senator DeMint on "Libertarian Politics Live"?
