Three vie to replace Ron Paul

Shortly after Congressman Ron Paul announced he was not seeking re-election, three Libertarian candidates announced their interest:

Beaumont real estate agent Amy Jacobellis, 54, serves currently as Chair of the Jefferson County LP affiliate.

Bob Smither, 66, who in 2006 was the Libertarian Party of Texas’ candidate in the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay. A self-employed engineering consultant, Smither chairs the Galveston County LP affiliate.

Dallas attorney Eugene Flynn, 62, with service on the Texas State Libertarian Executive Committee and experience in immigration law.

Paul one of the FFC speakers

As Republican presidential candidates lined up to speak at the recent Faith & Freedom Coalition event, Ron Paul was one of the speakers who generated some attention. Stephanie Samuel reported on Paul's comments. One part:

Samuel's thinking, he noted, was astute advice for then and now. Paul maintained that by demanding the American government to provide assistance for broken families, job creation and more, its citizens have essentially appointed a king over themselves.

Paul echoed the U.S. Constitution in his call for limited government.

"We have, as a people, lost our confidence and our understanding of what true liberty is all about and where it comes from," he summed. "It doesn't come from the government. Our liberties come from our Creator."

A different take on Pawlenty at Cato

This piece from the Washington Post gives a bit of a different take on the meeting at the Cato Institute. The audience questions are not really referenced in great detail.

Pawlenty also had little to say about the Republican plan to overhaul Medicare, which some GOP leaders are blaming for the party’s loss of a special congressional election Tuesday in a heavily Republican district in Upstate New York. Asked what he thought of the Ryan plan in the wake of Tuesday’s results, Pawlenty credited Ryan for a “courageous” plan but said he would put out his own, different proposal soon.

Pawlenty's lack of plenty in answers

David Weigel's piece on some of the answers provided by presidential contender Tim Pawlenty is a recommended read. One part:

In the wake of NY-26, what did Pawlenty make of the Ryan plan? This elicited the safe, smart, tapioca answer that Pawlenty's been giving for weeks.
"In general," he said, "I think the direction of it is positive, but I'm going to have my own plan."
Issue, dodged. Pawlenty pointed into the crowd again.
"We'll take the guy in the purple tie," he said. "That's a Vikings color!"
Unfortunately, the wearer of Vikings colors worked for the Marijuana Policy Project, who asked Pawlenty how he could be taken seriously on health care since he had opposed "my group" on medical pot.
"What was it?" asked Pawlenty? "Marijuana? Yeah. Well... I stood with law enforcement issue on this issue... we just have a respectful difference on this issue."
End of audience questions.

He should have kept answering questions, rather than create the impression that drugs are a key issue or that he will avoid tough questions on the Ryan plan ...

Libertarian Party builds big war chest for 2012

WASHINGTON - In its most recent FEC report, for the period ending March 31, 2011, the Libertarian Party reported $284,882.95 in cash with $0 in debt. At the same point four years ago, the party reported $21,962.37 in cash with $31,589.74 in debt.

Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle said, "Four years ago, we were $10,000 in the red. Now we're almost $300,000 in the black. That's a big step forward for the LP, and should help us a lot going into the 2012 campaign.

"If our candidates, volunteers, and donors keep it up, 2012 may be one of the biggest years ever for the Libertarian Party.

"

Paul says he would have opposed 1964 Civil Rights Act

Ron Paul making headlines again:

MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews pressed Paul during a TV appearance on whether he would have voted against the '64 law, a landmark piece of legislation that took strides toward ending segregation.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't vote against getting rid of the Jim Crow laws," Paul said. He explained that he would have opposed the Civil Rights Act "because of the property rights element, not because they got rid of the Jim Crow laws."

It's not a new position from some in the Libertarian party:

"This gimmick, it's off the wall when you say I'm for property rights and for states rights, and therefore I'm a racist," said the Texas congressman. "That's just outlandish."

Paul appealed to the free market, and argued that if a business owner were to post signs declaring segregation in his or her business, people wouldn't patronize it.

"For you to imply that a property rights person is endorsing that stuff, you don't understand that there would be zero signs up today saying something like that," he said. "And if they did they would be an idiot and out of business."

That written, there are quite a few postings out there labeling Paul as a racist for this position. He really had two choices, support his free market theory and have some label him a racist or say he would have supported it and then be called a hypocrite for not believing his stance on the free market ...

Libertarian and abortion

Ron Paul says being anti-abortion is a Libertarian stance based in faith

That's not how the Libertarian Party addresses abortion:

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

Want a small-government Republican? Try Gary Johnson

That's the suggestion of Michael Tanner in the National Review, in a recent article. I recommend his article for several reasons, one of which is the beginning, he is right:

It says something about our political culture that while the mainstream media were obsessed last week with the latest bizarre pronouncements by Donald Trump, another businessman-turned-politician was becoming the first declared Republican presidential candidate, with far less fanfare.

There is less and less focus on quality candidates, no matter which party or political philosophy you subscribe to. All too often it's charisma or controversy that drives the attention. It shouldn't ...

Green & Libertarian in PA

Interesting Ballot Access article on the increases of Green and Libertarian candidates:

The Green Party nominee for State House, 194th district, Hugh Giordano, received 18.50% of the vote in a race that also included a Democrat and a Republican. Giordano almost outpolled the Republican, Timothy Downey, who got 19.77%. The district is partly in Montgomery County and partly in Philadelphia County. Giordano is a 26-year-old organizer for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). He won the endorsement of one of the Democrats who had sought the Democratic nomination for this seat. Giordano’s share of the vote is the highest for any Green Party nominee (who was not simultaneously the nominee of the Democratic Party) for Pennsylvania legislative races. The previous Green Party best percentage for a Pennsylvania legislative race had been 17.43% in 2006, but that was a race with only one major party nominee.

The Libertarian Party nominee for State House, 120th district, Tim Mullen, received 14.91% of the vote in a race that also included a Democrat and a Republican. The district is in Luzerne County, which contains Wilkes-Barre. Mullen is a health care professional and a veteran of both Iraq wars. He knocked on the doors of a majority of the voters in the district. He was endorsed by the Luzerne County Controller, as well as the Republican nominee for the 120th district from the 2006 election. He is the only Libertarian for Pennsylvania legislature (running against opponents from both major parties) who has ever exceeded 8.81% of the vote.

Father and son reunion

It's more of a fluff story than one related to Libertarian politics, but the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Ron Paul and his son Rand will be sharing a condo in Washington, D.C. The story also states that while the two men will be sharing a home and share some similar political philosophies, it's not expected for Rand to be too much like his father.

Political analysts say it would be a mistake, however, to say that Rand Paul is a carbon copy of his father.
"In his two presidential campaigns, Ron Paul ran to educate," said John Samples of the libertarian Cato Institute. "Rand Paul is more about holding power and making changes, pushing the agenda to libertarianism."
Occasionally, Rand Paul may push in directions his father won't go. But the junior Paul promises it'll never get personal.
"We don't really have heated disagreements," he said of his relationship with his father. "Neither of us are yellers. I do joke that I don't criticize my dad on TV or I might get kicked (out) from the adult table."

Will 2012 be the year of the libertarian?

That's the premise behind this National Review piece that I recommend reading. One small part:

If Gary Johnson were president, he would immediately cut all federal spending — entitlements, defense, education, everything — by 43 percent to rectify our fiscal blunders. And he’d just be getting started. In a recent interview with National Review Online, the former governor of New Mexico — and a rumored presidential candidate — outlined his governing philosophy and some of its practical applications.

What is that philosophy? In two words: limited government. From 1995 to 2003, Johnson served as governor of the Land of Enchantment, where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one. During his tenure, he vetoed more bills than the other 49 governors combined — 750 in total, one third of which had been introduced by Republican legislators. Johnson also used his line-item-veto power thousands of times. He credits his heavy veto pen for eliminating New Mexico’s budget deficit and cutting the growth rate of New Mexico’s government in half.

He just wants 2...

Many times it's stated that the Libertarian candidate has no chance of winning, and many times that may be true. However, an Iowa Libertarian candidate has set a goal of getting 2% of the vote. With five candidates on the ballot that could be a challenge, but it's a realistic goal. Sometimes you have to start small.

Read more -- here.

A Democrat, a Libertarian and a Green walk into a room

When I saw the title online - A Democrat, a Libertarian and a Green walk into a room I thought it was going to be a joke, then I noticed it was from Politfact in Texas...

Not withstanding the lack of a joke, it's coverage of a recent debate and the fact that the Republican candidate, Gov. Rick Perry did not attend.

It doesn't seem his presence was missed...

Tico Libertarianism

Similarities are being raised as to what's taking place in Costa Rica and what's taking place here in the US with the Tea Party movement. Tico Libertarianism and the U.S. Tea Party caught my attention, it's an article that might interest you as well. Part of:

The movement is based on the precepts of libertarianism and fueled by a romantic “pick-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps,” American Dream mentality, a la Horatio Alger. Tea Party advocates revere the authority of the U.S. Constitution and tend to take a diehard conservative stance on issues like gun control and illegal immigration.

The downside is you have to pay to read the rest of the article, but it's worth it for those of you interested in the topic.

Great political ad on Republicans and Democrats

It'd be funnier if it wasn't true, but I wanted to point out this campaign ad by Warren Redlich's campaign...

Libertarian Activist Checklist for Fall 2010

Recommended reading from our neighbor up to the North, in the Michigan Libertarian newsletter, Bill Hall gives you his "Libertarian Activist Checklist for Fall 2010" - while I recommend reading the full piece a few parts of it:

3.Contribute funds to at least one active local Libertarian campaign. Local campaigns have the best prospects to garner votes and affect election outcomes. With a local race, you get more “bang for your buck”. If a local candidate is willing to spend his or her valuable time campaigning, the least I can do is provide financial support.

4. Contribute funds to at least one active statewide Libertarian campaign. Statewide campaigns have the best prospects to receive media attention. Often, they are the ones that get the Libertarian name and philosophy out there, and bring in new activists.

5. Put a Libertarian bumper sticker on my car. Ken Proctor, our candidate for Governor, is printing and distributing bumper stickers, as are other candidates. Use them!

Plain Dealer endorses Libertarian Matt Cantrell

The Cleveland Plain Dealer decided rather than to endorse current Ohio Treasurer Kevin Boyce, the Democrat or current District 17 Ohio House of Representative Josh Mandel, the Republican -- they endorsed Matthew P. Cantrell, the Libertarian candidate for Ohio Treasurer.

LINK to the endorsement which says in part:

Frankly, Cantrell is unlikely to prevail against opponents whose war chests are each in the seven figures.
But it would be a shame if Cantrell were to be squashed like a midge in the general election, simply for the lack of money and a big-party label.
Cantrell's professionalism and his willingness to serve should matter more than his ability to hit up the big givers.
That it doesn't is one reason Ohio and much of the rest of the country lack the kind of selfless, let's-get-the-job-done leadership needed to erase some of the cynicism from politics.
As for his opponents, it's called business as usual and Ohio can't afford it any longer. A vote for Cantrell won't be wasted if it helps make that point loud and clear.

Benedict says Republicans owe apology not promise

Libertarian Party executive director Wes Benedict said, instead of a “Pledge to America,” the Republicans should have written an “Apology to America.” It should have gone something like this:

“We’re sorry, America. Sorry we grew the federal government budget from $1.7 trillion to over $3 trillion. Sorry we added $5 trillion to the federal debt. Sorry we doubled the size of the Department of Education. Sorry we started two incredibly costly foreign wars. Sorry we supported the absurd and costly TARP bailouts. Sorry we created a huge and costly new Medicare entitlement. Sorry we did nothing to end the costly and destructive War on Drugs. Sorry we did nothing to reform the federal government’s near-prohibition on immigration. But hey, at least we helped you by shifting a lot of your tax burden onto your children and grandchildren.”

There are so many lies, distortions, hypocrisies, and idiocy in this document that it’s hard to know where to start.

It is deeply insulting to see the Republicans refer to “America’s founding values” on their cover. The Republican Party has no understanding whatsoever of America’s founding values. They have proven and re-proven that for decades.

Targeting TARPS supporters

WASHINGTON – This November, Libertarian Party candidates are challenging 97 incumbent members of Congress who voted for the TARP bailouts in 2008. View the list here.

The list includes 33 Republicans and 64 Democrats.

LP Chair Mark Hinkle commented, “Few acts of Congress have evoked as much fear, ire, disgust, and disapproval from Americans as the 2008 TARP banker bailouts, passed with bipartisan support in Congress, and signed into law by Republican President George W. Bush.”

Hinkle continued, “Bailer-in-chief John McCain, who famously suspended his 2008 losing Republican presidential campaign to rush back to Washington DC to vote for TARP, tops our list. He’ll face Libertarian Party co-founder David Nolan in November.”

According to Congressional Quarterly, twelve of these TARP incumbents are in close re-election battles (classified in the “tossup” or “leans” category). The Libertarian Party hopes to help kick them out of office. “They tried to justify TARP by claiming our economy was going off a cliff. Let’s push their teetering careers off a cliff,” said LP Executive Director Wes Benedict.

Ken Matesz says America has lost it's way

Article from a paper just a bit to the north east of where I live, focusing on Ohio Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ken Matesz LINK. He faces quite a challenge since he's been excluded from appearing with the Democratic governor -- Ted Strickland and the Republican candidate -- John Kasich. Which unfortunately has become all too common place to not include third party candidates. The two party candidates don't want them included and most times they are allowed to dictate the process.