Freedom House condemns attempts to re-criminalize defamation of high level public figures in Panama as well as the conviction of two journalists on libel charges, and strongly urges the government to adhere to international standards by decriminalizing all forms of libel and defamation.
Freedom House Congratulates Citizens of Kyrgyzstan on Peaceful Election
Freedom House congratulates the people of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday's peaceful election, which independent observers have described as free and fair.
Nancy Pelosi says No to debate with John Dennis
The San Francisco Bay Area Congressional seat
From Eric Dondero:
No debate for Nancy Pelosi's constituents. A John Dennis backer pegs her on the subject unexpectedly at a recent local forum. She reacts:
"Time is money"
Watch the video til the end. Pelosi makes a friendly gesture to the Dennis supporter by complimenting his newborn. He politely asks her again, on the debate issue. Her negative and condescending reaction as she turns away, is priceless.
Voter machine SNAFU in Illinois gives ballot choice of "Rich Whitey" in black majority districts
Dems manipulating the Third Party vote to their advantage
From Eric Dondero:
A little last minute election shenanigans in this heavily Democrat-controlled State perhaps?
Just by pure coincidence at least 20 heavily African-American precincts on the southside of Chicago will see the name "Rich Whitey" appear on their ballots as the Green Party candidate. Richard Whitney, his real name of course, was the Green Party candidate for Governor in 2006 and polled 8% of the vote.
The Governor's race is tight, with Republican Bill Brady leading incumbent Democrat and former Rod Blagojevich crony Pat Quinn by 3 to 4 points in most polls. Dems have long feared that Whitney polling another 8% this year, could spell trouble for Quinn's reelection prospects.
Just Breaking from WFIE TV News:
The Chicago Board of Elections apologized Thursday to the Green Party and Whitney for the spelling error, which affected every voting machine already deployed.
The Board of Elections admitted Wednesday that they mistakenly printed Whitney's name as "Whitey" on electronic-voting machines in 23 wards, including about half in African-American communities.
Whitney is quoted:
"I don't want to be identified as "Whitey," Rich Whitney told the Sun-Times. "If this is happening in primarily African-American wards, that's an even bigger concern. I don't know if this is machine politics at play or why this happened."
Note - regular LR readers may recall that back in August (article - "Illinois Democrats use Libertarian Party to attack Mark Kirk"), Democrat candidate for US Senate Alexi Giannoulias sent out a mass mailing urging conservatives to vote for Libertarian Party candidate Mike Labno for the Barack Obama Senate seat, as the "real conservative," rather than Republican nominee Mark Kirk.
No News is Good News for Republicans
by Clifford F. Thies, Senior Editor
Since we last commented, there have been no major changes in GOP prospects. This is good news because the Democrats have now shifted into high gear in terms of their campaigning and have not had much effect in moving the numbers. The White House is now talking about how the Republicans in Congress will have to work with the President.
Republican chances in the House are firming up. Polling data is flooding-in showing Democrats in trouble all over the place. Money is being hoarded by the Democrats to protect their leadership in the House and to set up a “firewall” in the Senate. We stand by our forecast of a 60 to 80 seat pick-up.
As for now outlook 50/50 tie in the Senate
In the Senate, The Republicans are on line to pick-up 6 seats (AR, CO, IN, ND, PA and WI) and not lose any. They need a net pick-up of 9 for a tie and 10 for a majority in the Senate. What was impossible earlier this year is now a 50-50 proposition. As for the “4 Aces + 1 Joker” that will decide the matter:
NEVADA - In the more credible Mason-Dixon and Rasmussen polls, Angle is slightly ahead and knocking on the door of Mr. 50 Percent.
WASHINGTON - The more credible Rasmussen and SurveyUSA polls show this to be a 1 point race one way or a 3 point race the other way. This is consistent with the results of the jungle primary, a very reliable indicator. Some less credible polls show a substantial lead for Sen. Murray, but nobody should buy it.
WEST VIRGINIA – The most recent Rasmussen poll puts Raese slightly ahead. Two others, not as credible, put the race as even or give an equally slight advantage to Gov. Manchin. With each of these three races, the races are close and there are very few undecideds. The final result may come down to turnout.
ILLINOIS – Four recent polls show the difference in this race to be 1 or 2 points. But, neither candidate is in the mid 40s. This race is wide open. This one could break either way or stay close though election day. My hunch is that, since this state is strongly Democrat, "undecideds" will break toward the Republican.
Carly's threat to Dem Majority no Joke
The Joker in the deck appears to be California. Why is this? If Carly Fiorina is within 3 points going into election day, she will be in a good position to win because of the news of Republicans victories from the eastern and middle states of the country depressing Democratic turnout on the west coast (which could make a difference in OR and WA, and also in HI).
As of yet, we have no indication that the Democrats are pulling the plug on PA, even though they have a non-incumbent and are close to, if not 10 point down. DE appears to be a goner. Conversely, the Republicans feel good enough about FL to shift money from there to pick-up opportunities. Several polls show O’Donnell 15 or more points down. In AK, Joe Miller is in a tough race with Lisa Murkowski, who has pre announced that she will caucus with the Republicans if re-elected. This means Joe will have to win a second GOP "primary," this one for all the marbles, with the NRSC being neutral..
Andrew Klaven on the Culture: Fall means it’s Election time
PJ Media's Guide to the Economics of Democrats and Republicans
Watch Part II
From our friend Bryan Preston contributing editor at PJ Media.
When you’ve lost NPR…
Far-Left Publicly-subsidized Network says Massive Democrat losses
From Eric Dondero:
We're not talking Fox News, or Rasmussen, or the Drudge Report here. This is socialist loving NPR, now admitting that the outlook is grim for the Democrats. Their conclusion; Republicans easily pick up the House, and most likely will significantly padden their margin.
From The Hill this morning, "GOP has the edge in most competitive districts":
Republicans maintain an edge over Democrats in some of the most highly-contested congressional districts, a new poll found Friday.
GOP candidates have a four-point edge among likely voters in the 53 most competitive congressional districts held by Democrats, and they're tied with Democrats in an additional 33 seats that make up a group of the next-most-competitive Democratic-held seats, the new NPR Battleground Survey found.
If Republicans were to win most of the seats in the "tier one" districts alone, that'd be enough to hand them the House, where they need a net gain of 39 seats to take back the majority. If they were to pick off even some of the "tier two" seats, and hold the 10 districts that the NPR poll tested, they could add to the margin of their majority in the House after the elections.
Editor's Comment - an attempt by NPR to save their skins perhaps? With the GOP in charge of the purse strings in a mere few weeks, could NPR be on the chopping block? Let's hope so.
WASHINGTON STATE: Jaime Herrara putting it away
From Eric Dondero:
Fiscal conservative/Tea Party favorite Jaime Herrara has jumped out to a substantial lead in the Democrat-controlled district in southwestern Washington State.
Open Seat in WA-03: Republican Herrera Still Atop Democratic Heck, Poised for Take-Away, Days Before Voting Begins: In an election for US House of Representatives in Washington State's 3rd Congressional District today, 10/13/10, Republican Jaime Herrera defeats Democrat Denny Heck 53% to 42%, according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KING-TV Seattle.
Jaime Herrera (R) 53%
Denny Heck (D) 42%
Herrera is up one point, Heck down one point from the previous poll.
Roger Stone sides with Kristin Davis over Paladino on Gay issues
From Eric Dondero:
An interesting photo of our friend Roger Stone appears at (Albany) Capitol Confidential. Roger gets "face-licked" by a semi-nude painted-breasts woman.
Roger expresses his distance from Carl Paladino on sexual freedom issues. 
Stone has been an adviser to Carl Paladino’s campaign efforts, and Paladino said Monday that the parade is “disgusting.”
We found this blog item about the Heritage of Pride parade this year, which featured political consultant Roger Stone marching with Kristin Davis.
Yeah I marched with KRISTIN DAVIS in the Gay Pride Parade. Proud of it,” he wrote. “I’m a libertarian Republican. I support Marriage Equality.”
Photo above is of a previous march with Kristin Davis. The woman with Roger Stone in the other photo is on Davis's right.
Roger Katz for Maine State Senate; Photo of Anti-Semitic slur on Sign
LR FOLLOW-UP
From Eric Dondero:
Yesterday, our story on the Maine Republican State Senator whose sign was vandalized with an Anti-Semitic slur went viral. We were picked up, excerpted and linked by Memeorandum, RightwingNews.com, TheOtherMcCain, Jim Hoft's Gateway Pundit, Dan Riehl, Pamela Geller's Atlas Shrugs, and even Tucker Carlson's Daily Caller. Tim Daniels, a contributor to LR, and publisher of Left Coast Rebel was inspired to do some digging.
He came up with photos of the vandalized sign. The sign reads "Jew Pig." The other side of the side reads "ZOG" a clear reference to Zionist Occupation Government. Note - Augusta where the vandalism took place and other Maine communities such as Lewiston and Portland, have significant Islamic fundamentalist communities.
Meanwhile, it's being reported by As Maine Goes... blog that the Maine Attorney General's office is now investigating the matter as a Hate Crime.
Republican Liberty Caucus endorses Christine O’Donnell, Sharron Angle, Rand Paul, Joe Miller and other libertarian-friendly GOP candidates
For Immediate Release: October 13, 2010
Republican Liberty Caucus Endorses 482 Candidates from 43 States, 65 Percent of Candidates on November Ballots
Reform is Coming to the Republican Party; Battle Just Beginning
Contact: Aaron Biterman,
RLCStateChapters@aol.com
ARLINGTON, VA — With less than three weeks until the mid-term elections, the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) has endorsed 482 candidates in 43 states, a record number of endorsements for the Caucus. Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus is intent on electing a liberty-focused slate of legislators at the local, state, and federal levels to balance budgets, stop overspending, protect the free enterprise system, and return individual liberty and personal responsibility to citizens.
“Of the 482 candidates that the Republican Liberty Caucus has endorsed, 317 of them have won their primaries and moved on to the General Election,” according to Aaron Biterman, Vice Chair of the RLC. “Sixty-five percent of our candidates will be on the ballot for voters to select on November 2. This is a remarkable success rate for a grassroots organization focused on restoring constitutional government,” he said.
The RLC’s liberty slate includes Republican U.S. Senate nominees Sen. Jim DeMint (SC), Sharron Angle (NV), Joe Miller (AK), Christine O’Donnell (DE), Dr. Rand Paul (KY), Pat Toomey (PA) and Dr. Eric Wargotz (MD) as well as U.S. House candidates from 20 states. “This slate of candidates will advance an agenda of common sense solutions that the American people can be proud of. Americans are thirsty for jobs and a revived economy and only an agenda of less spending, debt, and government regulations will produce the results they seek,” said Biterman.
Commenting on the slate of candidates, Dr. John Hospers, a retired professor of Philosophy and 1972 Presidential candidate said, “I’m honored to be on the RLC’s current Board of Advisors, along with many associates, colleagues and other esteemed defenders of liberty. I support the RLC’s 2010 endorsed candidates, and am encouraged with the prospects of returning power to the people.”
The Republican Liberty Caucus, founded in 1991, exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party.
The RLC will hold its 2011 Convention in Arlington, Virginia on February 12, 2011 and encourages media, liberty-minded citizens, and other interested parties to attend. Learn more about the organization at http://www.RLC.org/. A full list of endorsed candidates is available at http://www.rlc.org/endorsed-candidates-2010/.
Liberal media attacking CA Republican for Congress Dave Harmer for libertarian views on Education
David Harmer (photo) is the Republican nominee for US Congress, California CD 17 against two-term incumbent Democrat Jerry McNerney.
From Mother Jones, "Tea Party Frontrunner: Abolish Public Schools" Oct. 13:
It's fairly common for conservative political candidates to support eliminating the federal Department of Education. But in California, tea party darling and congressional candidate David Harmer has gone further. He's advocated eliminating public schools entirely and returning education to "the way things worked through the first century of American nationhood," when educational opportunities for poor people, African-Americans, women, the disabled, and others were, to say the least, extremely limited.
Harmer has a long history of pushing libertarian education policy. In the 1990s, he worked on education issues for the conservative Heritage Foundation, and published a book, School Choice: Why You Need It—How You Get It through the libertarian Cato Institute. He also coauthored an article in which public schooling is referred to as "socialism in education." In that piece, Harmer and coauthor Joseph Bast assure readers that they "are 100 percent committed to getting government out of the business of educating our children." They cite the "life-ruining effects of government schools" and argue for school vouchers—but only as a step toward for the eventual total elimination of the public school system.
Mother Jones goes on to quote an "expert" who says that nobody who is "serious" advocates abolishing public schools:
Harmer's is "a very extreme position," says Richard Kahlenberg, an education expert at the Century Foundation...I don't really know of serious people who advocate entirely abolishing the American public school system."
California State Assembly candidate calls herself a "libertarian Republican"
Agricultural Heartland of California
Excerpted from the Benecia Herald "Connor: County needs ‘purple’ representative" Oct. 13:
The top three issues in Michelle Connor’s bid for the 8th District California Assembly seat: Jobs, jobs and jobs.
“If you don’t have a job, you can’t put food on the table,” said Connor, a Republican who is challenging incumbent Democrat Mariko Yamada.
A former Assembly campaign manager and field director for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006 re-election, Connor links jobs, the economy and California’s struggle with its budget and said jobs need to be created “so the economy can get healthier.”
The Vacaville resident knows people in both major parties. As a political science major, she has interned with U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez... Later she switched parties and became what she calls “a libertarian Republican,” interning with U.S. Rep. Doug Ose, the Republican who represented the 3rd District...
From her campaign website:
California’s economic woes have risen largely out of economic irresponsibility on the part of the Legislature’s mismanagement of the budget due to one party rule. Sacramento’s answer to the problems that face our state is to continually pass bills and fund programs that spend money, drain the economy and do not fix California’s growing list of problems.
The budget as a whole needs to be evaluated from the top, down, and ineffectual expenditures need to be eliminated.
A budget cap would help to keep the expenditures from outweighing the state revenue for the fiscal year.
California’s government is overflowing with bureaucratic boards filled by appointments given by the governor and legislators. These non-elected appointees hold the power to create bureaucratic nightmares over the lives of California citizens. The members of these boards facilitate the social regulations that cost the state millions of taxpayer dollars a year, and push small and large businesses out of California. The boards need to be made culpable for their actions, and in many cases, they need to be consolidated. We need to see if it is feasible to consolidate duplicated jobs across state agencies and combine agencies that have similar missions.
Photos of Connor from campaign website, campaigning at Solano County Fair.
MAINE: Democrat candidate for Gov. Libby Mitchell busted Big Time!
Embarrassing Photo Surfaces
From Eric Dondero:
Everywhere you go in Maine, the topic of discussion is the major smack-down by Paul LePage, Tea Party Republican for Governor of his Democrat opponent Libby Mitchell in Sunday night's debate.
In brief: Mitchell hit LePage on recent controversial statements including the Waterville Mayor saying if Obama hurt Maine's economy he'd tell him to "go to hell."
She can be heard in the video saying: "As Governor you have to be respectful of the President... at all times."
LePage shot back saying he had seen a photo of Mitchell holding a sign saying George Bush was an "International Terrorist." In the video, Mitchell completely denies such a photo exists. The next day, a right-leaning blog As Maine goes... published the photo. Now, all of Maine's media (and New England) is abuzz over Mitchell's blunder. Mitchell issued a statement of apology late yesterday.
The very latest poll has the race virtually tied with LePage at 29% to Mitchell 28%.
Editor's Note - As Maine goes... has two libertarian contributors, fmr. state legislators Stravos Mendros and Ken Lindell of the Republican Liberty Caucus.
MAINE: Nazi symbols spray-painted on Jewish Republican candidate’s signs
Media Blackout!
From Eric Dondero:
Symbols of the National Socialist Party (NAZIs) such as the ones in the photo to the left, were recently spray-painted on signs of a Jewish Republican candidate for Maine State Senate.
Blogger Al Diamon DownEast.com "Tardy Reporting" explains:
Last week, somebody defaced some of Republican state Senate candidate Roger Katz’s campaign signs in Augusta with anti-Semitic slurs. The wording of the messages indicated the graffiti was probably not the work of kids, since it mirrored phrases favored by neo-Nazi hate groups (including the acronym “ZOG,” which stands for “Zionist Occupation Government”).
You’d think that such an incident might be news, particularly since Katz is the city’s mayor, and the vandalism was reported to police. But the Kennebec Journal didn’t seem to think the story merited coverage. Nor would it allow publication of at least two letters to the editor on the subject — one of them from a city councilor.
That embargo remained in place for nearly a week, ending on October 8, after the story showed up on WGME-TV out of Portland. Even then, the KJ gave it only a brief mention in the second section.
According to a person familiar with the editorial thinking at the KJ, the story was suppressed because the paper feared reporting on it would encourage more anti-Semitic incidents.
I assume that means no more coverage of murder, robbery, rape, and corruption, as well.
The Libby Mitchell state senate seat
Katz is a popular 4-term fiscal conservative Mayor. He's also a respected lawyer, prominent community patron, and ironically, a benefactor of the Maine Holocaust and Human Rights Center (pdf).
The Kennebec Journal describes the race "Political veterans compete":
Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, is taking on Republican Roger Katz, mayor of Augusta, in the race for state Senate District 24.
The winner will replace Senate President Libby Mitchell of Vassalboro, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee...
Crockett, who has served two terms in the House, and Katz, who has served as mayor for four years, agree jump-starting Maine's economy is the top priority facing lawmakers in the next Legislature.
Reducing the cost of energy, health insurance and income taxes are all key to making Maine's business community thrive, Katz said.
"There are some areas where I think we can cut back on state spending and then when the better times do return to Maine and we have more revenue available, instead of funding new, expanded programs, that's the opportunity to really lower the income tax rate and to keep it lower," Katz said.
Crockett supports nationalized health care and opposes energy competition.
There has been no national media attention of the Nazi grafitti story outside of Maine. Only Maine right blogs have mentioned the specific message on the grafitti. Additionally, the ME Democrat Party has remained silent on the incident.
Reporting from Maine. (Photo on top, a depiction, not actual incident. No photos have been made available by the Sheriff's Dept.)
Stossel praises WV’s John Raese for wanting to Abolish Minimum Wage
Fox News commentator John Stossel had words of praise for West Virginia businessman and candidate for US Senate John Raese.
From Fox News "One Republican Gets It" Oct. 12:
The tight West Virginia senate race seems to have an actual small-government Republican: John Raese.
"The minimum wage is something that FDR put in place a long time ago during the Great Depression," Raese told ABC News Top Line. "I don't think it worked then. It didn't solve any problems then and it hasn't solved any problems in 50 years…
One of the best things I can say… you get the government out of micromanaging the economy -- you don't want government to set price controls, you don't want government to set wage controls. It's an archaic system that frankly has not worked."
Asked if the federally mandated minimum wage should be abolished, Raese answered, "absolutely."
Amen.
The minimum wage makes some workers better off, but it leaves others – usually the youngest, least-trained workers – without jobs at all. A study by economists this summer compared the change in employment in states where the minimum wage rose (37 of them) to those where it stayed the same (13.) In the states where the minimum wage rose, unemployment rose more. The total effect? 114,000 teen jobs lost.
The latest polls show Raese 3 to 6 points ahead.
Virginia Republican administration plans State Liquor Stores Privatization
Fmr. Libertarian Party of Virginia Chairman, and longtime Republican Liberty Caucus member Ric Sincere had the opportunity recently to interview Lt. Governor Bill Boling.
One of the highlights of the interview was Boling's pledge that the Bob McDonnell administration plans to privatize the state-run liquor stores.
From The Charlottesville Libertarian Examiner:
One of the signature issues in McDonnell’s efforts to reform and reshape Virginia state government has been a proposal to privatize the state’s monopoly on the wholesale and retail sale of distilled spirits – often expressed in shorthand as “ABC privatization.”
In an exclusive interview with the Charlottesville Libertarian Examiner on Friday afternoon, Bolling gave his assessment of the plans to privatize Virginia’s ABC system.
“Our fundamental belief in why ABC should be privatized,” Bolling said, is that “we don’t believe that a core responsibility of state government is selling Jack Daniel’s and Grey Goose to the people of Virginia.”
Rather, he said, “there are other things that we need to be focused on. We believe that the private sector can do that” – sell alcoholic beverages – “and they can do it effectively.”
Photo - Bolling in background on the right.
Now we’re talking… Whitman, Fiorina down Tequila shots at Hispanic event
Not your GrandPappy's Grand Old Party anymore
From Eric Dondero:
California's top Republican ladies display their cultural libertarian side. Meg Whitman for Governor and Carly Fiorna for Senator have a rare joint appearance at a southern California Hispanic event.
As sometimes libertarian Art Pedroza of Orange Juice blog describes it:
Republican candidates Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina got wasted in Newport Beach this past Friday, with shots of tequila...
The SFGate Blog reports the details:
In a year of crazy campaigning, this video from the weekend's Hispanic 100 Lifetime Achievement Award event ranks as a keeper -- with Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman and U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina showing off their inner Latina with some help from Jose Cuervo.
NBC News put it this way: "Republicans Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina having a little fun and downing shots a tequila Friday night, going along with tradition during a Hispanic 100 award gala in California. Fiorina was very animated at the beginning of her speech, calling for shots of tequila before every speech and then even let out a high-pitched trill of the tongue."
Note - Mimi Waters, who also participated in the Tequila salud threesome, is the Republican cadidate for State Treasurer.
Christine’s opponent Chris Coons: Marxist Elitist
Putting us on a Road to Serfdom
by Stephen R. Maloney
Christine O'Donnell's opponent, career politician Chris Coons, is a Marxist elitist, a man committed to supporting the alien philosophies of Obama, Reid, and Pelosi. Like them, Coons is dedicated to the demolition of our private economy, the suppression of our fundamental liberties, and the "fundamental transformation" of our society into a nation of serfs.
Under Obama, the number of unemployed Americans has increased by 2.5 million. The number of our people on food stamps has grown from 32.8 million to 41 million. Mortgage foreclosures are at all-time-highs. Economic growth is nearly non-existent. This is the "Obama agenda," one that produces unwanted change and hopeless. It's the same agenda Chris Coons has vowed to support.
Coons once described himself as a "bearded Marxist," although he now claims he made the remark tongue in cheek. However, an older, but not wiser, Coons has supported Obama's reckless borrowing of money from China and Saudi Arabia. He's backed the unsavory deal where China buys our excessive debt -- and in exchange we send them American jobs. Coons has supported the nationalization of half the American economy -- through government takeovers of the auto industry, the banking industry, and the health care industry. Coons also supports "cap-and-trade," the giant energy tax on all Americans that marks the beginning of the end for the private energy industry.
People who support such unwise actions are known as Marxists. In short, with Chris Coons, the beard is gone, but the Marxism remains. He sees no problem with over-spending, over-taxing, and over-regulating. He has basically given up on the concept of a self-reliant society and favors instead a dependency society.
With your help, Christine came from behind to defeat the supposedly unbeatable Mike Castle. Now, she's depending on you -- and others like you -- to beat Marxist elitist Chris Coons. Christine2010.com
Sarah Palin backs Republican sweetheart Ruth McClung for Congress – Arizona
Sarah Palin tweated an endorsment of come-from-behind physicist for Congress Ruth McClung:
Ruth McClung is the smart choice for Congress in southwestern Arizona. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that our country is on the wrong track under the leadership of Obama, Pelosi, and Reid; but Ruth actually is a rocket scientist! Ruth’s commonsense fiscal approach to job creation and reining in reckless government spending is in sharp contrast to her opponent’s liberal record. In fact, Ruth is running against a four term incumbent who is so out of touch that he actually called for a boycott of his own constituents. It’s simple: The people of Arizona’s 7th Congressional District deserve better. Please visit Ruth’s website at http://www.ruth4az.com/ and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
TucsonCitizen.com notes:
This is going to get McClung some press coverage, and no doubt some national money.
