Category Archives: Libertarianism

This morning, Politico's Ken Vogel and Tarini Parti reported that KentuckySenator Rand Paul had underperformed at the past week's Koch brothers showcase. (More officially, it was a gathering of the donors who supported the Koch network of pressure groups, and who finally saw returns in 2014.) Many, including Bloomberg Politics' Michael Bender and Julie Bykowicz, had reported that Florida Senator Marco Rubio did himself the most good. Vogel and Parti reported on a "straw poll" that determined the extent of Paul's problem, conducted by Frank Luntz in a breakout session.

"Kentucky Sen. Rand Paulwho received the least enthusiastic response from donors during a Sunday nightforum of prospective candidatesthat also featured Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruzfinished last in Luntzs poll," they reported.

That was how a source recalled it, but Luntz disagreed.

Anybody who thinks they're loyal, faithful Republicans have not talked to them for more than three minutes.

Joe Scarborough

"It wasn't a poll," wrote Luntz over e-mail. "It was a random question. It doesn't deserve any attention. It was only to a few people."

Luntz just asked some donors who showed up to his session who'd impressed them most. Yet the "few" apparently amounted to more than 100 people; in the wake of the event, not many people are following Luntz's distinction between an actual focus group and a quick read of the room. It doesn't change the basic truth that Paul did not blow away the donors, despite a steady campaign to portray himself as the natural choice of libertarians.

Should he be? Like Paul, the Kochs are forever surprising political observers who don't know how to classify libertarians."Anybody who thinks they're loyal, faithful Republicans have not talked to them for more than three minutes," said Joe Scarborough of the Kochs after speaking at the conference. "They have no use for these people who want to go out and have these bloody battles on social issues...they don't want the federal government in your pocketbook. They also don't want them in your bedroom. I think they're like most Americans."

That's exactly the way Paul presents himself. If he failed to impress the Koch summit, there are two reasons. One is that he didn't chew into the questions the way that Rubio or Cruz did. On foreign policy, Paul made a defense of free trade, saying that"opening up China made us less likely to go to war," and that opening up Cuba worked because "we tried isolationism for 50 years." He got into a long dialogue about taxes that was unlikely to excite anybody. He made a pitch for his idea of blocking big government contractors from lobbying, which, according to people like Scarborough, sounded like a hit against the "crony capitalism" the Kochs opposed.

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Bloomberg the Company

Is Capitalism Compatible With Libertarianism?
This is a non-profit channel. Please like, subscribe, and share as your way of showing support. Featuring Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Mikhail Bakunin, Pyotr Kropotkin, Noam Chomsky.

By: Reich-Wing Watch

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Is Capitalism Compatible With Libertarianism? - Video

Jan 28, 2015 8:28am

By MICHAEL FALCONE (@michaelpfalcone)

NOTABLES

THE ROUNDTABLE

ABCs RICK KLEIN: Indiana Gov. Mike Pence drew headlines this week for his odd if not just plain ill-conceived state news service, sparking enough Pravda and Kim Jong Un Tweets to power a Seth Rogen movie. But the most consequential thing Pence may have done this week, at least when it comes to 2016, is the deal he cut to expand Medicaid using funds available under Obamacare. If Pence winds up running, his move will become a major point of contention; if he doesnt, hes given some other key candidates a strong talking point, maybe even precious cover. This is shaping up as one of the biggest fault lines inside the Republican presidential race. Possible candidates will run the range of outright rejection of Obamacare funds (Jindal, Perry), through special state-specific deals for some expansion (Walker, and now Pence), right up to accepting the money and the coverage expansion that was designed as a key piece of President Obamas healthcare overhaul (Christie, Kasich). And, of course, well have the senators in the field, who can and almost surely will take the clean stance that any acceptance of Obamacare funds is abetting a fatally flawed program.

ABCs SHUSHANNAH WALSHE: Scott Walkers launch of his Our American Revival political committee Tuesday could not have happened at a better time, fresh off his well-received speech last weekend at the Iowa Freedom Summit. Whether the roll-out was long planned or not, using the momentum from his star turn is a perfect way to keep the 2016 story on him over his potential opponents. Its a 527 not a leadership PAC, like possible rivals Jeb Bush and Chris Christie have recently set up, but he will still be able to use the funds to travel to early states or donor meetings. And speaking of donors, like a PAC, it gives a spot for early supporters to place funds ahead of a full-fledged campaign.

ON THE ROAD WITH POTUS

FIRST LADYS VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA SENDS STRONG MESSAGE ABOUT WOMEN. In a country where women have few rights, First Lady Michelle Obama yesterday seemed to lead by example. There she was, standing side-by-side with her husband as he stepped off Air Force One in Riyadh Tuesday, where, during a brief visit, the president offered condolences for the recent death of King Abdullah and met with his successor, King Salman. According to ABCs MARY BRUCE, the first lady accompanied the president throughout the stay, embodying some of the reforms that her husband is pushing the country to adopt. Wearing pants and her head uncovered, Mrs. Obama stood dutifully beside her husband as he shook hands with the Saudi delegation on the airport tarmac Tuesday morning and again at Erga Palace on the outskirts of Riyadh. Due to the cultural constraints, the first lady purposely stood slightly behind her husband and waited for a gesture to be made to her by the men in the receiving line. If one of the men initiated a handshake she returned, if not then she simply smiled or nodded politely. http://abcn.ws/1JC1iqO

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Scott Walker Steps Out

Left Libertarianism VS Right Libertarianism
Left Libertarianism is a fraud. It is oxymoronic and contradictory and has no place in a true libertarian society. Right Libertarianism on the other hand is ...

By: LibertarianUniverse

Originally posted here:
Left Libertarianism VS Right Libertarianism - Video

HOUSTON Rand Paul wants to lead the United States. On Saturday in Texas, his father was speaking at a conference about how to leave it.

"A lot of times people think secession, they paint it as an absolute negative," said former representative Ron Paul (R-Tex.). After all, Paul said, the American Revolution was a kind of secession. "You mean we should have been obedient to the king forever? So it's all in the way you look at it."

This weekend was a crucial one for Rand Paul, the Republican senator from Kentucky and undeclared candidate for the presidency. He was in California, trying to line up donors at an opulent retreat organized by the billionaire Koch brothers.

At the same time, his father retired after 12 terms in Congress and three presidential runs was in the ballroom of an airport hotel here, the final speaker at "a one-day seminar in breaking away from the central state." He followed a series of speakers who said that the U.S. economy and political establishment were tottering and that the best response might be for states, counties and even individuals to break away.

"The America we thought we knew, ladies and gentlemen, is a mirage. It's a memory. It's a foreign country," Jeff Deist, Ron Paul's former press secretary and chief of staff, told the group. "And that's precisely why we should take secession seriously."

The contrasting scenes this weekend illuminate the odd situation of the Pauls as the 2016 campaign season begins. They are a father and son tied together but running in opposite directions.

Rand, 52, is contemplating a presidential run at its heart, an act of optimism. He is moderating some hard-line positions and introducing himself to donors and voters. At the same time, Ron, 79, has embraced a role as libertarianism's prophet of doom, telling his supporters that the United States is headed for catastrophes and might actually need catastrophes to get on the right track

Which puts Rand Paul in the unusual position of trying to win over the country while his father says it is going down the tubes.

Asked by a reporter whether he was worried about making trouble for his son's presidential campaign by talking about secession here, Ron Paul deflected the blame to the press: "If we had decent reporters, there would never be any problems. You think you could ever meet one? Have a heart, buddy."

A spokesman for Rand Paul said he was not available to comment for this story. Both Pauls have said that if Rand Paul runs for president, his father will not campaign with him.

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Are Ron Paul's hard-core stands a problem for son's presidential bid?

OBAMA AGENDA: Drone lands inside White House grounds

This morning's alert: "A drone landed inside the White House grounds early Monday, a federal law enforcement official told NBC News. The official gave no further details about the unmanned aerial vehicle, other than to say it landed in a tree at 3 a.m. ET. The Secret Service responded and determined the drone did not pose a threat, the official said."

From the AP in New Delhi: "President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared an era of 'new trust' in the often fraught relationship between their nations as the U.S. leader opened a three-day visit to New Delhi. Standing side by side at the stately Hyderabad House, Obama and Modi cited progress toward putting in place a landmark civil nuclear agreement, as well as advances on climate change and defense ties. But from the start, the day was more about putting their personal bond on display. Modi broke with protocol and wrapped Obama in an enthusiastic hug after Obama got off Air Force One."

Analysis from the Wall Street Journal: "U.S. President Barack Obama joined Indian leaders on the reviewing stand at a military parade here Monday in a display of strengthened ties between the world's largest democracies as an increasingly assertive China shifts Asia's power balance."

Eye on the environment -- in Alaska. "The Obama administration is moving this week to designate areas of Alaska off limits to oil and natural gas drilling in its latest effort to bolster its environmental legacy," writes the Wall Street Journal. "The Interior Department announced on Sunday that it was proposing to preserve as wilderness nearly 13 million acres of land in the 19.8 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, including 1.5 million acres of coastal plains that is believed to have rich oil and natural gas resources."

Eurozone Watch, from the AP: "A radical left-wing party vowing to end Greece's painful austerity program won a historic victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections, setting up a showdown with the country's international creditors that could shake the eurozone. Alexis Tsipras, leader of the communist-rooted Syriza party, immediately promised to end the "five years of humiliation and pain" that Greece has endured since an international bailout saved it from bankruptcy in 2010."

CONGRESS: Surgery day for Reid

Roll Call reminds us: Harry Reid's eye surgery is today.

OFF TO THE RACES: Wrapping up the cattle calls in Iowa, California

A couple of takes from NBC's Perry Bacon Jr. in Iowa here and here

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First Read's Morning Clips

HOUSTON Rand Paul wants to lead the United States. On Saturday in Texas, his father was speaking at a conference about how to leave it.

A lot of times people think secession, they paint it as an absolute negative, said former representative Ron Paul (R-Tex.). After all, Paul said, the American Revolution was a kind of secession. You mean we should have been obedient to the king forever? So its all in the way you look at it.

This weekend was a crucial one for Rand Paul, the Republican senator from Kentucky and undeclared candidate for the presidency. He was in California, trying to line up donors at an opulent retreat organized by the billionaire Koch brothers.

At the same time, his father retired after 12 terms in Congress and three presidential runs was in the ballroom of an airport hotel here, the final speaker at a one-day seminar in breaking away from the central state. He followed a series of speakers who said that the U.S. economy and political establishment were tottering and that the best response might be for states, counties or even individuals to break away.

The America we thought we knew, ladies and gentlemen, is a mirage. Its a memory. Its a foreign country, Jeff Deist, Ron Pauls former press secretary and chief of staff, told the group. And thats precisely why we should take secession seriously.

The contrasting scenes this weekend illuminate the odd situation of the Pauls as the 2016 campaign season begins. They are a father and son tied together but running in opposite directions.

Rand, 52, is contemplating a presidential run at its heart, an act of optimism. He is moderating some hard-line positions and introducing himself to donors and voters. At the same time, Ron, 79, has embraced a role as libertarianisms prophet of doom, telling his supporters that the United States is headed for catastrophes and might actually need catastrophes to get on the right track

Which puts Rand Paul in the unusual position of trying to win over the country while his father says it is going down the tubes.

Asked by a reporter whether he was worried about making trouble for his sons presidential campaign by talking about secession here, Ron Paul deflected the blame to the press: If we had decent reporters, there would never be any problems. You think you could ever meet one? Have a heart, buddy.

A spokesman for Rand Paul said he was not available to comment for this story. Both Pauls have said that if Rand Paul runs for president, his father will not campaign with him.

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Daddy issues: Are Ron Pauls hard-core stands a problem for sons presidential bid?

Book Review | Escape From Leviathan: Libertarianism Without Justificationism
BOOK REVIEW OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOK =--- Where to buy this book? ISBN: 9781908684080 Book Review of Escape from Leviathan: Libertarianism without Justifica...

By: Gene Walter #39;s Marketplace

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Book Review | Escape From Leviathan: Libertarianism Without Justificationism - Video

Jonathan Bowden on Libertarianism
Decent enough conversation between Jonathan Bowden and Richard #39;Hungarian jailbird #39; Spencer on the topics of libertarianism,Ron Paul,Ayn Rand etc.

By: Gaelic Neoreactionary

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Jonathan Bowden on Libertarianism - Video

NYPD Goes on De Facto Strike: Arrests Fall 66%: A Victory for Libertarianism
http://nypost.com/2014/12/29/arrests-plummet-following-execution-of-two-cops/ Stop asking the police to enforce stupid laws and community relations, cost, an...

By: Styxhexenhammer666

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NYPD Goes on De Facto Strike: Arrests Fall 66%: A Victory for Libertarianism - Video