Daily Archives: January 18, 2020

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk with Lincoln Chafee about his Presidential run and overall philosophy. Im not sure I have to pass much judgment on how it went, because his words really do speak for themselves.

TLR: This is Gary Doan talking to Lincoln Chafee, former Governor, US senator and Mayor, former Democrat, Republican and Independent. Currently hes a Libertarian lifetime member and the highest profile libertarian seeking the presidential nomination. Thanks for talking with me.

LC: My pleasure, Gary, how you doing?

TLR: Im doing peachy keen. Id like to start off with issues you dont seem to have said much about in previous parties but that animate some sectors of the libertarian base. What is your overall philosophy concerning monetary policy and the Federal Reserve?

LC: Well, Im anti-deficit and all my 30 years in public service have my votes and actions support that. Certainly as a mayor, required to balance a budget Governor, required to balance a budget. As Senator, yes, I voted against all those tax cuts, because I did not see the commensurate cuts in spending. And thats exactly what happened with reduction of our revenue and soaring expenditures on wars and entitlement programs. And then, of course, natural disasters such as Katrina.

TLR: Speaking of entitlements, youve supported privatization of social security in the past. The program recently started paying out more than its taking in and the so-called trust fund is widely forecasted to be depleted in the early to mid 2030s. Do you see any appetite for addressing this crisis from either major party? Or do you think theyll just continue to kick the can down the road until its too late?

LC: One thing I do want to correct. I believe you said that I have in the past supported privatization?

TLR: Yeah?

LC: No, no, thats incorrect. I never did. And I think somebody put that on my Facebook or on Wikipedia, because Ive been asked that question before. And thats, thats inaccurate. I looked at programs where we could make improvements such as raising the age of eligibility, which already is being done means testing other programs, but was never was in favor of privatization.

Okay. To answer your question, do you see any appetite from either party? There is no doubt a demographic tsunami coming with the baby boomers coming into Medicare and Social Security. So, yes, at some point. And we, back when I was in the Senate, President Bush, President George W. Bush, suggested privatization that didnt go anywhere. And at that time, both parties were raising the priority of reforming Social Security, but then it went away.

TLR: Most of the country outside of Joe Biden has come around to supporting the legalization of marijuana. However, do you think our culture is ready for a broader conversation about the legalization of other drugs? Or is that conversation likely to turn away voters?

LC: No, I think the success of the states that have legalized marijuana are going to lead to further discussions on other drugs, particularly plant medicines, and the veterans are leading the way on this. The Iraq veterans and Afghanistan veterans that are coming back, and theyre saying some of these plant medicines do work and they want them want to be legal.

TLR: Regardless of party affiliation, youve been pretty consistently pro trade. What are the problems with Trumps protectionism? And do you see any Democrats running as supportive of free trade principles?

LC: No, I dont see any Democrats running in favor of free trade. And in my brief time in the Democratic Party, it was certainly a third rail to be in favor of free trade, which I was, and I was proud of it. But in particularly in the base, the Democratic base, that is a third rail. And I just believe that in the freedom of the of commerce and the market, lets give the freedom to the markets.

TLR: Um, as governor of Rhode Island, you made certain government grants available to farmers and seafood businesses. As such, do you support the agricultural subsidies Trump is using to offset the negative effects of its trade war on American farmers?

LC: As Governor, those were mostly federal pass-through dollars, they were not state dollars. And no, Ive always been very conservative, if you will, about taxpayer dollars going to certain sectors. And theres all sorts of powerful lobbies out there the sugar lobby, the corn lobby, and and they just get a disproportionate amount of power and federal policys then dictated by that, and Im more conservative about the taxpayer dollars.

TLR: In the 2016 cycle, you were the most anti-war Democrat running. You were the only Republican Senator to vote against the Iraq war. From a libertarian perspective, you seem rock solid on issues. War and peace. Americas foreign policy, however, has been far removed from such a vision for quite some time under both parties. Do you see any hope of a genuine pullback from our oversea adventurism? And what are the most important steps the country could take to get there?

LC: Im very depressed about the mainstream medias role in the escalation of these conflicts. And in even an initiation rather than escalation. We wouldnt be in Iraq if the mainstream media hadnt been part and parcel of it. And as weve talked about my membership in other parties, I have been looking for an anti-war party. And thats why I became a Libertarian. And its going to be enough uphill battle of trying to get these points out to the American people because the mainstream media dont want to hear it. They like these wars there. They wouldnt be happening without the support of the mainstream media.

TLR: You brought up the medias role in some of the warfare state. But when it comes down to it, I mean, who deserves more blame for the modern warfare state modern Presidents or Congress for effectively conceding their power on that front to the Executive?

LC: Oh, theres lots of blame to go around, thats for sure. After the turn of the century here, we had what one European Prime Minister called the lasting peace for our children. Thats before September 11, there was a lasting peace stretching before us. The Soviet Union had disintegrated. We were getting along with all the countries around the world. And then after September 11, you have to, I would put most of the blame on the George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, neocon administration, and then the falling in line by the mainstream media, the falling in line by the Democratic Party and that thats why were in this endless military stranglehold on our country.

TLR: Ive noticed youve talked a lot about deficits. And in Rhode Island, you oversaw an increase in state sales tax while decreasing the state corporate tax. At the federal level, if you could lower some specific form of taxation while raising another form in a revenue neutral way, what would you increase and what would you decrease?

LC: Well, I proposed when I did run in the 2016 cycle. I proposed another high, another tier of tax for the wealthy and that and to be revenue neutral that went to the every penny that was generated from that higher tier tax went to the write-off. The middle class write-off. And it was revenue neutral dollar for dollar and shifted the money from the wealthy to the middle class.

TLR: In the New Hampshire delegates survey last weekend, you came in essentially last place. Why do you think that was? And what is your strategy for getting the support of more delegates moving forward?

LC: Well, Ive been successful in politics by going door to door and standing in front of supermarkets and meeting people. And this is no different. Ive been to the Libertarian meeting in Miami, a meeting in Denver, meeting in New Hampshire, in Nashville, and just continue to get out there and listen and share my thoughts on the direction of the country.

TLR: The winner of that survey was Vermin Supreme. What do you believe would be the effect if it happened? A Vermin Supreme presidential nomination on the Libertarian Party?

LC: Well, I think the American people I mean, in 2016, the Libertarian Party was the third party. And they back even in 2016, after Donald Trump was nominated, and Hillary Clinton was nominated, the American people were looking for an alternative. And the Libertarian Party did the best that theyd ever done in any national election. And they had two candidates that had held elective office. So I think that as Libertarians look at who they want to nominate, theyll probably be looking to the past and seeing what has given them the best success. And what happened in New Hampshire was non binding. But nonetheless, I think when the by the time the Austin convention rolls around, the delegates want to have a serious candidate with, with ideas that are going to appeal broadly appeal, to the American people.

TLR: Ive heard you supported the Patriot Act and the assault weapons ban. Do you regret doing so? And assuming you do what changed your mind on those two issues?

LC: Yes, times do change, and especially on the Second Amendment, and Ive seen it change with all the lies that our government has told us. Weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the Afghanistan papers that came out that said, theres no end in sight. The generals know it. The Pentagon knows it. Yet were still there. There is no hope of success in Afghanistan. And the lies that the government told us about trampling on our fourth amendment that Edward Snowden revealed, proved that our government is untrustworthy. And I do believe that the authors of our constitution wrote the Second Amendment, First Amendment, the Fourth Amendment for times when the people dont trust the government. And legitimately, people across the country have less trust in our government. I see it, more than when I made those votes.

TLR: So do you regret supporting the assault weapons ban?

LC: At that time, it was different. And this time now, where we are now is greater distrust of government. And thats why the authors wrote that second amendment for this distrusted government. Back then I had greater trust in our government. I didnt think theyd lied to us to the extent that they have on weapons of mass destruction, on fourth amendment warrantless wiretapping. And, so these are different times.

TLR: If I had to guess, the average Libertarian Republic reader likely favors Hornberger at this point. Why, in your view, are you a better option? And what are his strengths and weaknesses compared to yours?

LC: Well, Im a new Libertarian, so I know that theres going to be natural apprehension about someone that comes in new to the party. And many of the other candidates running have been very active in the party for a long time. And I respect that. And theres a long path to the convention at the end of May in Austin. And were all putting our ideas out there and Ill be Ive always worked hard for Ive always been out-spent in all my political campaigns but Ive never been outworked, and I dont think this will be any different. And Ill give it my best shot. And I know my strong points for Libertarians are anti-war, anti-deficit, pro-personal liberties, and that I will always tell the truth, and Ill take that to the delegates.

TLR: Regardless of how necessary taxation may be, do you believe that taxation is theft?

LC: Its theft when it goes to an endless war that is counterproductive to American best interests. I certainly believe that. And that is whats happening. And thats the, thats the lions share of our tax dollars right now. Look at the pieces of the pie of the federal budget. Look at that Defense Department. Andty, theyre counterproductive. Theyre not in our best interest, all those dollars going into these wars that dont help our childrens future, in my view.

TLR: So similar to Tulsis answer, um

On a lighter note, do you know what they call a quarter-pounder with cheese in France?

LC: Sorry, Gary?

TLR: Just, you know, light-hearted metric humor. All right. Um, thanks for talking with me. I really appreciate it. And I wish you the best of luck.

LC: Youre very welcome. Good to talk with you.

Read this article:
Lincoln Chafee on SS Privatization, Drugs, and When Taxation is Theft - The Libertarian Republic

Kaitlin Bennett, aka the Kent State Gun Girl, is the kind of person that tends to invite a lot of chastising "Who?" and "Why are you giving her attention?" type criticisms. Perhaps because she is, indeed, so very thirsty for attention that she spends a good deal of her time posing sexily with guns shoved down her pants, dreaming of becoming spank bank material for a bunch of sad divorced MGTOWs. People have a whole thing about attention-rationing that I have never particularly understood, especially when the person who shouldn't get attention is this absurd.

Anyway, Bennett has had quite a week! First, as you may have seen, she thoroughly embarrassed herself in interviews with men she harangued to see if they would fall down and die if they saw a tampon in the men's room, and none of the men even cared. So unfair!

Bennett, of course, is a "libertarian."

And sure. There are all kind of libertarians. There are the Republicans who smoke pot. There are the Milton Friedman fans and the Ayn Rand aficionados who just want rich people to live their best lives, I guess. There are the Murray Rothbard types who want to replace abortion with a thriving baby market, who even Ayn Rand thought was batshit. Heck, there are even Libertarian Socialists like Noam Chomsky (and me) who adhere to the actual meaning of the term from before it was grossly distorted by right-wing assholes who just really hated poor people.

Bennett is, apparently, the kind of libertarian who wants to police what products are found in public restrooms. She is also the kind of libertarian who loves a monarchy. ("Liberty Hangout" is one of Bennett's Twitter feeds and also her sad website full of articles she writes about herself in the third person. Not kidding!)

Of course, that article Bennett cited refers not to monarchies where the kings and queens actually rule and make decisions, but rather "constitutional democratic monarchies," which involve, you know, democracy.

Modern "absolute monarchies" are not exactly known for checking abuses of power.

As much as Bennett might like being Queen Of All She Surveys, she might want to consider that a monarchy and peerage system would likely result in more Americans understanding that there actually is a class system in America and that wealth and privilege are, more often than not, an accident of birth.

Moving on! Bennett is also the kind of libertarian who thinks that religion and morality should be legislated:

Nothing says "liberty!" like "legislate morality!"

Yes, nothing says true "freedom" like "obey my religion, whether you like it or not." Although to be fair, that sentiment is popular in some of the absolute monarchies Bennett admires.

She is also the kind of libertarian who likes to do a lot of gatekeeping, both of the literal and figurative varieties:

She's the kind of libertarian that thinks McCarthyism is GREAT.

And the kind of patriotic, Second Amendment-loving American who actually thinks the Constitution is bad. And George Washington!

Oooh! I wanna do the thing right-wingers always do when we criticize one of the precious precious Founding Fathers for a thing they did that was objectively bad (like owning people!). How does it go? "Oh great! Now we can't have George Washington! Political correctness ruins everything! You want all of our children to learn in the third grade that George Washington was evil and bad and then they will grow up to hate America!" Something like that?

Also democracy is bad because Bennett thinks Cardi B is stupid...

And also the kind of person who will follow that right up by insisting that the United States of America isn't even a country, you plebes:

Genius!

She also complains a lot about "degeneracy." You know, as a "libertarian" who spends a ridiculous amount of time posing for cheesecake photos with guns in hopes of getting at least one incel to say "You're what all real women should be, Kaitlin!" or whatever.

And she retweets people claiming that there is some kind of conspiracy to make LGBTQ hashtags trend on Sundays, because of how Twitter loves to spite Jesus so much that they refuse to suppress them. "That'll get Jesus, a guy who spent a whole lot of time talking about how much he hated gay people!" Jack Dorsey says while doing a whole Mr. Evil laugh thing.

Way to love liberty, Kaitlin Bennett!

[Twitter]

Wonkette is ad-free and funded ENTIRELY by YOU. Thank you, we love you, a lot!

Read more:
Does Gun Girl Kaitlin Bennett Hate America And Also The Constitution? - Wonkette

FreedomWorks, the influential libertarian/conservative advocacy group that gave Rep. Justin Amash (IMich.) FreedomFighter Awards each of his first eight years in Congress, is reportedly not intending to help the incumbent hold onto his seat as an independent.

"We don't have any plans to get involved in MI-03 at this time, seeing as we're focused on some other key races to help regain the GOP's House majority," FreedomWorks spokesman Peter Vicenzi told Declan Garvey of The Dispatch, which published a long profile of Amash today. "We're going to support some incumbents as well, mainly [House Freedom Caucus] members."

Amash, who co-founded the Freedom Caucus and was widely considered to be the brains of the group from 2015 to 2018, left the 30-member bloc last June, then three weeks later bolted from the Republican Party as a whole. It's that last apostasy, coupled with his outspoken support for impeaching President Donald Trump, that has coincided with an epidemic of cold shoulders from the very organizations that before last summer routinely celebrated Amash's intellectual independence and fiscal/constitutional conservatism.

Amash's single biggest campaign contributor throughout his career, The Club for Growth, with whom he has a lifetime rating of 99 percent and from whom he received Defender of Economic Freedom Awards for each of his first eight years in the House of Representatives, gave what Garvey described as "an indignant 'no'" when asked if the fiscally conservative group would again back the most fiscally conservative member of Congress.

Americans for Prosperity, which joined the Club in helping Amash beat back an establishment-GOP primary challenge in 2014, told The Dispatch that they "have nothing to announce at this time."

The influential DeVos family from Amash's own district, which has been his second-biggest donor over the years and with whom his family has various longstanding relationships, announced last year that its days of officially supporting the hometown libertarian were over, too.

Amash's three-way race in the swingish district of greater Grand Rapids is expected to be among the most competitive in the country. The Cook Political Report last month moved its projection for the November 2020 election from "toss-up" to "lean Republican," citing the loneliness of the pro-impeachment right. Democrats and Republicans are holding contested primaries for the nomination on August 4. Increasing the incumbent's degree of difficulty is the fact that Michigan is one of a handful of states to allow for straight-ticket voting, meaning an entire party's slate can be supported by checking just one box.

Amash likes to counter that he routinely exceeds expectations of pollsters and forecasters, that his district has some truly only-in-MI-3 characteristics (therefore rendering comparative models ineffective), and that, well, he has a pretty good track record of winning elections. His race hasn't really been polled, and we're still waiting to hear on fourth quarter fundraising numbers.

But the abandonment of Amash by limited government advocacy groups illustrates how party-dependent their commitment to principle is. As long as you fly the GOP flag, you'll be eligible to receive a "Top Ten Reasons to Support Justin Amash for U.S. Congress in MI-3." Support the impeachment of a Republican president, or leave your party and caucus behind, well, won't you please sign our thank-you card to Rep. Jim Jordan for fighting "shifty Adam Schiff"?

It's hard out there for an independent in this highly polarized political environment. Almost all of the incentivesfor politicians, advocacy groups, even journalistsencourage actors to pick one team and work within it, regardless of what bizarre ideological and comportmental turns the institution takes.

After the government-growing, economy-tanking, Middle East-wrecking, disaster-mismanaging record of the George W. Bush administration, many conservative individuals and organizations took stock, expressed regret at having looked the other way, and then helped build a new movement rededicated to hardcore fiscal conservatism, foreign policy skepticism, personal freedom over the surveillance state, and constitutionalist trimming of executive power. It's hard to imagineand certainly difficult to find a better conservative-group score fora member of Congress who typifies those values more than Justin Amash.

By making the understandable, pragmatic choice to turn their backs on Amash in a time of need, the very organizations that helped to nurture a new generation of genuinely interesting politicians now threatens to sow the seeds of their own future regret. As ever when it comes to politics, ye shall know them by their fruits.

Originally posted here:
Justin Amash's Biggest Fiscally Conservative National Donors Are Abandoning His Re-election Bid - Reason

Find out how to seemore than a million snow geese as they feastin NorCal's plentiful rice fields. And our Palm Springs-based political reporterbreaks downall you need to know ahead of the Golden State'sMarch 3 primary.

It's Wednesday's news.

But first, a California mom creates a 3-D, AR app to get your littles using the loo. "Let's get this pottystarted" (VIDEO).

I'm Arlene Martnez and I write In California, a daily roundup of news from across USA TODAY Network newsrooms and beyond. Signing up is fast, fun and free.

Vote button on star background(Photo: Marilyn Nieves, Getty Images)

Yes, the state's 5.4 million voters who registered "No Party Preference" can cast a ballot in the presidential primary for the Democratic Party, the America Independent Party and the Libertarian Party. Where they won't be able to weigh in are theRepublican Party, the Green Party and the Peace & Freedom Party. That's because each party sets its own rules and decides whether to hold an "open" or "closed" primary (can you imagine if the Libertarians closed theirs? Anyway).

If you're registered with a political party a Republican or Democrat, for example candidates for president will automatically appear on your ballot. But if you're not one of those voters, you have to request what's called acrossover ballotto vote in a party primary. Now you're wondering what a crossover ballot even is.Political reporter Sam Metz not only answers that but these questions as well:

March 3 is an exciting day whendemocracy goes into action. Between now and then, I and the other 100 or so reporters with the USA TODAY Network are here to answer any of your questions. As important as the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.are those people who represent you locally.

SOURCE AP(Photo: USA TODAY)

The flu's contributed to thedeaths of 70 Californiansthis season;five of them were children.

The pilots who dumped fuel atop small children in Los Angeles yesterday before making an emergency landing didn't have FAA clearance, buteveryone survived so...

In time to nail your New Year's resolution, the E. coli threat has passed andSalinas-grown lettuce is safe to eat again, the CDC said.

Arctic-dwelling snow geese migrate as far as 6,000 miles to the Sacramento Valley every winter to feed.(Photo: Mike Peters, Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway)

With their wide, majestic wingspan, white bodies and black wingtips, snow geese make for a captivating show. And every year, a million of them travel upwards of 6,000 miles before arriving at California's wetlands for the winter.

It's a migration dating backmillennia. Their arrival sendsbird enthusiastsand conservationists flocking to the Sacramento Valley to catch the boisterous spectacle. And for the past 20 years, there's been Chico's Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway celebrating the birds' landing.

With festivities only days away, learn more about snow geese and how to get the best kind of show, the kind you can only seein nature.

A truck loaded with cardboard for recycling in San Francisco.(Photo: Elizabeth Weise)

Santa Ana is suing Orange County and the cities ofDana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistranoon claims they shuttle homeless people to its shelter and fail to offer services and housingof their own.

California's Tom Steyer, diversity and other losersin Tuesday's Democratic presidentialdebate.

Recycling has plummeted since China stopped taking our things, but San Francisco's managing to keep 80% of its trash out of landfills. It isn't perfect critics say the no-bid contract drives up the price but supporters see it as anexample of badly needed domestic recycling investment.

A former police officer faces charges for allegedly possessing121 guns (two were assault weapons), military-grade flares, riot-control smoke grenadesand an explosive lotion bottle. The Monterey resident isrelated to Leon Panetta, who headed the CIA.

Mountain lions like to go it alone. I feel them, I feel them. So it'srare to see five of them together, like this pack in Sacramento(VIDEO).

The California Route 66 Museum in Victorville features exhibits of historic artifacts and photography that explore the cultural and economic impacts of Route 66.(Photo: David Kafer)

It's hump day, which means you may be dreaming of a getaway with the weekend so very far, yet so very near. Consider theCalifornia Route 66 Museum.It's got oldroad signage, gas pumps,a 50s diner booth, a psychedelically painted 60s-era VW van andthe original Route 66 kiosk, which oncesat onthe Santa Monica Pier.

And while you're there, don't forget to explore downtown Victorville! Or, drive just three more hours to Vegas.

I'll leave you now, dear reader,with a listening recommendation:

The Bay's newscast from Wednesday, The Anonymous Companies That Buy Up Homes. What role are shell companies playing in California's housing crisis? And what can citiesdo to require companies to acquire property out in the open? Worth the 11-minute listen.

In California is a roundup of news from across the USA TODAY Network newsrooms. Also contributing: New York Times, Orange CountyRegister, Reveal, KQED, CBS.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/01/15/california-knowing-half-battle/4471612002/

Read more here:
In California: Get ready to matter in the presidential primary - USA TODAY

Mormon fundamentalist, reality star, and polygamist Kody Brown is best known for his appearances on TLCs Sister Wives. Since 2010, Kody and his four wives, Meri, Janelle, Christine, and Robyn Brown, have expressed their desire to be out and proud polygamists.

It looks like Kody might also want to get into politics, at least on a local level. Last season, he opened up about his desire to run for office in Arizona on a libertarian platform after the family moved from Las Vegas to Flagstaff. Based on a recent exchange with a 2020 U.S. presidential candidate on Twitter, the Sister Wives star might be making good on that promise soon.

In mid-Jan. 2020, Kody responded to a surprise tweet from Adam Charles Kokesh, a 2020 presidential candidate running with the U.S. Libertarian party. Yo! I just heard you moved to my neighborhood of Northern AZ. Please follow me so I can DM you! Kokesh wrote to Kody.

The Sister Wives star seemed eager to meet up with Kokesh, writing back: Hi Adam, I have been following you for a few months (I think?). Lets have lunch!

Kokesh is a former Marine and Republican who now works as a podcast host, independent journalist, and libertarian politician. The presidential candidate, who lives in Ash Fork, Arizona, is known for his niche political views, including his election platform of complete dissolution of the federal government.

Its no surprise that Kody is hoping to meet with a libertarian presidential candidate one-on-one. The Sister Wives star has frequently referred to himself as liberty-minded and as neither conservative nor liberal. He has also clashed somewhat with his adult daughter, Mariah Brown, who is a self-professed Democrat.

Kody has been outspoken many times about his political views. He has even said in the past that he hopes to run for political office in order to champion the right to practice polygamy legally. In 2017, Kody supported politician Rand Paul, who is frequently beloved by libertarian voters, writing on Twitter, Could we please get our freedom back?!

In another tweet, the Sister Wives star wrote, Collectivism is not freedom. Thus our God/nature given rights belong to all, every individual. Society bands to protect INDIVIDUAL rights.

Kody and his wives have also protested repeatedly with other polygamist families against anti-bigamy laws in Utah and elsewhere, citing their belief in personal freedom and individual rights as their main reasoning for doing so.

This isnt the first time Kody has expressed interest in getting involved in politics, both locally and nationally.

The Browns Supreme Court case, Brown v. Buhman, was ultimately dismissed in 2016 after an initial win in 2013. In the case, first filed in 2011, the Browns argued that it was unconstitutional for the federal government to criminalize polygamy, citing the Supreme Courts ruling on gay marriage as precedent.

True to Kodys beliefs, the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, even submitted documents to argue that the Sister Wives cast was in the right. While the court at first agreed that the Browns had the right to practice polygamy, they ultimately threw out the case because the State of Utah (where the case was filed) almost never actually prosecutes polygamy cases.

Since the case was dismissed, it looks like Kody might be hoping to take legal matters into his own hands.

Continue reading here:
'Sister Wives': Kody Brown Is Going to Hang Out With This 2020 Presidential Candidate - Showbiz Cheat Sheet