On Scribbler's Mind

Do-It-Yourself Idea

2009-03-11T07:50:00.002-05:00

Fortune on CNN.Money reports:

Bill Gates' Dad: Raise Taxes On My Son!

Tell you what, Bill Sr., get off your duff, load your own gun, trot over to your son's house, and empty his pockets yourself.

Economics of Freedom Conference February 28

2009-02-03T19:40:00.001-06:00

Minnesota Campaign for Liberty

Presents

Economics of Freedom

A conference to be held

February 28
12:30 – 5 PM

At the
Minnetonka Marriott
5801 Opus Parkway
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343

Featuring

Thomas E Woods,
a senior fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute and prolific author
“Free Market Economics 101”

Terry McCall
“Freedom Sells”

And breakout sessions:

(1) Professor Butler Shaffer, author of In Restraint of Trade, on the Great Depression;
(2) Bill Butler on Monetary Policy and the Bailouts; and
(3) Parliamentary Procedure: How to Be Effective at Meetings and Conventions.

~ ~ ~ ~

To reserve your seat, send payment of $20 per person to Minnesota Campaign for Liberty, PO Box 64, Excelsior MN 55331 by February 21, and include the names of all attendees and which breakout session is preferred. Payment of $25 may be made at the door if seats are still available.

Credit card payments may be made at www.MNC4L.org for $20 through February 21 or $25 through February 26. Specify attendee(s) name(s) and breakout session preference with your PayPal payment.

Congress Throws Out Baby (Clothes) with the Bathwater

2009-01-04T13:03:00.003-06:00

Congress, in its impeccable wisdom, effectively voted last year to shut down the children's resale clothing business via the "Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008." Not a soul in the House dared to vote against "children's safety," proving many in the Congressional cesspool of counter-productivity neglect to read legislation before voting. (I'll cut a break for the 25 who abstained, as they potentially didn't vote because they hadn't an opportunity to read the bill.)

The act requires lead testing of all products sold for children aged twelve and under, including but not limited to clothing and toys, regardless of the date of manufacturing and the high improbability of lead in the clothing, particularly that manufactured domestically. Goodwill, other thrift stores, and one-person shops reselling new and used children's clothing, making a couple dollars per item, would have to forgo a year's worth of profit to fund third-party testing services, essentially putting most out of business. Further, as I understand it, the testing requires the destruction of an individual unit out of a batch, and would therefore not work for unique items.

Taking effect February 10, 2009, this ex post facto regulatory taking comes precisely at a time when lower-income and newly unemployed parents most need inexpensive children's clothing and the dollars they receive from selling or consigning their children's briefly used items.

While clothing is one of the few areas in which the market demands recycling, stores with existing, untested merchandise will have to opt for sending truckloads of perfectly good clothes to the landfill. And parents who purchased that expensive special occasion dress with plans to resell it after one wear are simply out the money. Not even Goodwill can take it now.

After months of planning my own recession-proof business, a children's resale shop, where one was lacking in my neighborhood, I'm lucky to have found this news story yesterday, and not after signing a lease. Although I am out some minor capital expenses and inventory costs, the regulatory taking could have had a worse toll.

(Cross-posted on MN C4L blog -- and filed under "Congressional Stupidity" -- at http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=7321)

2008-10-21T15:51:00.001-05:00

Royal Bank of Scotland will get 'billions' in US bail-out of economy

2008-09-28T10:30:00.001-05:00

The Sunday Herald reports today:

THE ROYAL Bank of Scotland is to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the planned $700 billion bail-out that comes courtesy of the American tax-payer if the US Congress gives the financial rescue package the go-ahead this weekend.

The bank's share of the bail-out will enable RBS to offload billions of dollars of questionable assets.

The bank's shares closed last Friday at 205p, a 71% fall from their pre-credit-crunch peak. However, analysts and investors predict that the shares will rebound sharply when markets open on Monday morning if the bail-out is approved over the weekend.

The Edinburgh-based bank will be able to write off a significant portion of its dodgy assets thanks to the bail-out, also known as into Tarp, the Troubled Asset Relief Programme as a result of the bank's significant presence in the US.

Oh, the expensive irony . . .

2008-09-14T08:53:00.002-05:00

For reasons I won't go into, I receive, almost daily, McCain snail spam. Sometimes I open it for kicks.

The most recent plea is for contributions to the "John McCain General Election Compliance Fund" to, in part, pay for "federal election law legal and accounting activities."

Rock Star

2008-09-05T02:09:00.004-05:00

Like a rock. Solid.

Democrats in GOP Clothing

2008-07-26T18:31:00.002-05:00

Straw, Last.

Coleman voted for the central-planning, economic-tinkering, flat-out socialist housing bill today. I hadn't gone on the record as to whether I was actually going to vote for Senator Coleman, but am ready to do so now: that'd be a negative.

I Was Right When I Said "He Was Right"

2008-07-21T14:24:00.004-05:00

By New York Magazine's standards at least, and for what it's worth, as they listed four prescient gurus on the economy yesterday, including Ron Paul:

“I think we are maybe 10 percent into this crisis. The economic distortions have been building for longer than we’ve seen in the history of the world. Never have we had such confidence falsely placed in a reserve currency.”
—Ron Paul, former presidential candidate, who advocates a return to the gold standard

Now You Know He Was Right, Part II

2008-07-20T12:34:00.012-05:00

IndyMac

Freddie Mac

Fannie Mae

10% + Inflation

Bear Stearns

Monetized Debt

Artificial Interest Rates

Consumer Credit / Irrationally Exuberant Consumption

Upside-Down Mortgages/Foreclosures

$1,000,000,000,000 Bubble Debt Write-offs

Nationalization of Financial Services

Banks Too Big To Fail / Social Security Too Big To Save

Where's Your Money?

If It's Still There Tomorrow, Will It Buy A Gallon Of Gas?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Or to put it another way, Charles Osgood's Sunday Morning, this morning:

"Now You Know He Was Right"

2008-07-16T23:06:00.003-05:00

Goldwater fans posted billboards with that slogan after he was defeated by LBJ, a play on Goldwater's campaign slogan,

"In your heart, you know he's right."

I'd kill to get my hands on a picture of one of those post-election billboards. I remember seeing such a picture -- I think -- in a biography I read of Goldwater over a decade ago.

Say, Barry Goldwater was one handsome devil.

Where Conservatism Has Gone Wrong

2008-07-13T18:52:00.006-05:00

Congressman Mickey Edwards came out of the Goldwater movement (as did many others, which is why I always say the history books are wrong -- Goldwater did NOT lose; he won much for the cause of liberty) and served as a Congressman from Oklahoma for sixteen years. He does a great job explaining how the GOP has gone off track in this interview with Bill Moyers on Friday:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07112008/watch.html

(Unfortunately I don't see a way to embed this video. But do click. This one's worth watching.)

Ron Paul questions Treasury Secretary Paulson

2008-07-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

Thursday, July 10

Freedom isn't always obvious

2008-07-04T07:35:00.008-05:00

I've been listening to this bird stuck in my screen porch all morning. An hour ago I opened the door so it could find its way out. But there it still persists, banging away at the same place in the screen, trying the same old thing, putting more and more effort into it, while behind it lies the open door to its independence.

Update 8:04 AM Darn. It was so close to the door, a foot away, then it reverted to the farthest location, where it had been before. Freedom was within its grasp, but it failed to ~~nominate~~, er, see that potential. Will it have another chance before it grows too weak from flailing in its perceived captivity?

Ron Paul on Fox Business News Yesterday

2008-07-03T12:07:00.002-05:00

Ron Paul discusses how the dollar bubble, income taxes, and our foreign policy are affecting the economy. (July 2)

Kent Snyder, RIP

2008-06-29T17:24:00.006-05:00

Bill Dumas, Steve Dore, Ron Paul and
Kent Snyder, Campaign Chair Ron Paul 2008, forever 49

Kent, you fought for liberty. Let that be said of us all at our end.

Read the Bills Act! and Lawson for Congress

2008-06-29T14:52:00.005-05:00

The video below serves two purposes, to promote the Read The Bills Act and to promote BJ Lawson for Congress:

BJ has a money bomb today, or more likely, as the case usually is, Paulians out there are hosting a money bomb for BJ without his solicitation. I gave:

Please give too!

Campaign for Liberty MN Kick-off Picnic This Saturday

2008-06-25T11:41:00.001-05:00

Join us for a campaign wrap-up / Campaign for Liberty kickoff picnic Saturday, June 28, noon (speeches about 1 pm, eat with congressional districts around 2, live music at 3) at the Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford.
(http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lake+rebecca+park,+rockford+mn\)

The Lakeview picnic area will hold up to 1,000 of us (only 200 RSVPed so far, so spread the word), so expect a great time among your fellow rEVOLutionaries as we conspire and talk each other into running for office. Playground, beach and horseshoe pits available; bring the kids.

We've added a raffle. Everyone gets a ticket for showing up, and you can earn more by contributing to RP candidates in attendance and Barb Davis White. Autographed and non-autographed copies of RP's Manifesto, rEVOLution sweatshirts, and who knows what else, will be up for grabs.

Please RSVP to Marianne (if you have my email -- if not, just show up) so we have enough hot dogs and drinks. You are welcome to bring a salad, bag of chips or dessert to share (mark your dishes), or contribute $1 - $2 for costs, but not necessary.

For Life, Liberty and Prosperity,
Marianne

PS: We no longer have access to the campaign lists and blast email capabilities, so we'll have to count on you all to spread the word to other supporters of Liberty.

Oklahoma Reclaims Sovereignty Under Tenth Amendment

2008-06-22T17:07:00.002-05:00

Oklahoma to Washington, "Ahem, didn't you guys get the memo circa 1789, you know, the Constitution?"

Regrettably, a news search only turned up two decent references to the resolution which overwhelmingly passed the Oklahoma House last week, World Net Daily and Russia Today.

But that's why we have the internet, to promulgate the hope that our own legislators could one day discover spines of their own. In Minnesota, that requires that we turn over the compost heap that is our Legislature. Luckily, that's precisely what we intend to do.

Back to Oklahoma, that brave and heroic state which is now "serving notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates."

Good luck with that.

Can McCain claim the Ron Paul votes?

2008-06-22T12:02:00.003-05:00

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11246.html

With iconoclast Ron Paul having ended his quixotic bid for the Republican presidential nomination — his platform had called for, among other things, ending the Iraq War, repealing the PATRIOT Act, returning to the gold standard and eliminating taxes on tips — his many dedicated supporters are up for grabs.

Yours truly is quoted in the story,

“Obama’s probably getting the least support from Ron Paul supporters,” said Marianne Stebbins, Paul’s state coordinator in Minnesota. “Fewer will vote for Obama than Bob Barr. There will be some because the war is such a big issue, but they can also vote for Barr.”

For what that's worth.

Ron Paul on Glenn Beck 6/19/08

2008-06-21T01:13:00.001-05:00

Part 1:

and Part 2:

16.8% Inflation!

2008-06-17T07:57:00.005-05:00

According to the AP:

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that its Producer Price Index, which measures the costs of goods before they reach store shelves, shot up 1.4 percent in May.

Get this President and the whole lot of Congress the hell out of town now. Their drunken spending is the biggest cause of this inflation via debt-induced money creation. This time, it's the Republicans driving up record-shattering spending overseas, with the Democrats all too happy to go along in order to get their record-shattering domestic spending.

If I were inclined to conspiracy theories -- sorry, I'm fresh out of tinfoil -- I'd say they were trying to destroy our currency on purpose. This war doesn't make any sense. The Federal Reserve isn't making any sense. They appear to be committing economic suicide.

Off to buy more precious metals while my rubles are worth anything at all. Ron Paul was America's last hope.

Campaign for Liberty MN Kick-off Picnic June 28

2008-06-16T13:04:00.004-05:00

Join us for a Minnesota Campaign for Liberty kick-off picnic/rally Saturday, June 28, noon (pep rally at 1 pm, eat around 2, live music at 3) at the Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford.
(http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=lake+rebecca+park,+rockford+mn\)

The Lakeview picnic area will hold up to 1,000 of us, so expect a great time among your fellow rEVOLutionaries as we conspire and talk each other into running for office. Playground, beach and horseshoe pits available, so bring the kids.

Please RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/5zsee5 so we have enough hot dogs/pork chops and drinks. You are welcome to bring a salad, bag of chips or dessert to share (mark your dishes), or contribute a couple bucks toward the band and food costs, but not necessary.

For Life, Liberty and Prosperity,
Marianne

rEVOLution 2.0 beta release

2008-06-12T18:41:00.002-05:00

Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty is up and running! With Dr. Paul at the helm, this movement has infinite growth capability.

A presidency? That's nothin'! We're talking Congress, state legislatures and governors, county commissions, city councils, dogcatchers -- Ron Pauls everywhere!

Ramp up phase is just beginning. Join us here in Minnesota September 2 for the gigantic kick-off!

MN GOP State Convention Anecdotes

2008-06-08T12:03:00.006-05:00

Retrieved from my inbox (more stories are yet being added). The entire emails have been retained in the event context is needed.

Who put out the non-disclaimered attack pieces?

One thing that Joe Xxxxxx, a Paul supporter in our BPOU said. He said he was one of the first people in the door of the convention hall Friday and they wouldn't let people in early. We he got in, the anti Paul literature was already on the chairs. Made us think that someone within the party had to be putting that information out there. Fair to put it out there but that particular literature was illegal because it didn't say who was responsible for it.
I thought it odd how Cxxxxx left Paul's speech early to put our literature on the chairs, but wasn't allowed in. Yet when the doors opened, literature on all the chairs, including 2 neon colored papers slamming Paul as 'not conservative'. (And they think McCain is?) I saw a man going around pulling these papers out of the last row of the Wright County seating area, as the rules stated (#7 on the first page.) He was stopped by a sergeant at arms, and when showed the rules, the sergeant said "Those aren't my rules." It got a little heated, and some delegates from Cokato went over to check it out. We won out later, but by that time, I'm sure everyone had seen the papers. I'm betting Cxxxxx wasn't allowed in because Ron Carey himself was putting the illegal literature on the chairs. I didn't get the sergeant's name, but if you've ever seen Jerry Mathers (the Beaver) as an adult, you'd know which one I'm talking about. I also overheard guys with headsets talking about Ron Paul people might be trying to put up signs, and they couldn't cover anyone else's. Since 'anyone else's' went around the entire room, it made for crafty placement.
On Thursday night I was outside the arena and I wondered what the setup was like so I looked for an open door and found one. When I got in I was walking around the floor, just trying to find my district's seating area. One of the workers approached me and asked me to leave because I didn't have credentials and also because the arena wasn't open yet. Fine.
Then the next morning I saw the orange and green flyers with all the misinformation about Ron Paul. I took one to the sargent of arms and asked him if it was okay for that material to be there. He said that there were no rules yet because they hadn't been adopted. He refused to do anything about removing them.
The Ron Paul Slam sheets without a sponsor's name on them. I wore my Ron Paul button and got a bunch of bad looks from people who were reading the sheets when I got there. Then they tell everyone to turn them in. This is a second chance for everyone who had not seen them to have a look. This was masterfully choreographed to insure that all participants saw the unapproved documentation.

Not counting votes

How many times did the person at the podium mention or act like they could not see the crowd? multiple people said it at various times. One committee chair the gave a short report at the podium even outright said it was impossible to see anyone in the room from up there. My question is, how did they count the vote of almost 2000 people if they couldn't see them? If they could see the voters, I can't believe that they could see the entire floor equally... some areas must have been impossible to see due to the lighting. There is maybe some rule about counting each vote with the same weight? Fran did not even seem to strain to see the audience on most votes. He strained very hard when he tried to see who wanted to speak at the microphone, or when he was calling the names of the volunteer award winners, but not when counting votes. Amy Koch appeared to try to count the votes, and even had to re-vote a few times. That was good, but did not mesh with Fran's behavior.
Many procedural breaches occurred. At one point the body voted to take a standing count only to have the chair not take the standing count and proceed with the agenda. There was also a number of votes that were way too close to call by a show of cards but they were not successfully stopped for recount.
It requires 2/3 vote to cut off debate. I don't remember if they achieved two thirds vote to call the question and then a majority to pass the adoption of the rules. Do you? I was an alternate and had just sat down and was looking for the rules so I could see what section they were talking about and I don't remember after that.

The rules stated that voice voting would be the norm, except at the discretion of the chairman, when a rising vote would be used. At the start of the convention, the chairman said we would always use the rising vote, and had pink cards to signify our vote which we would raise. The idea of this style of voting is to allow the chairman to see a transition from Yes to No, and so determine the will of the majority. This is entirely appropriate, however, during close contests, the rules allow for a call of division, meaning a counting vote. The rules specified that following a call for division each BPOU should assess whether a counting vote is needed (if 25 BPOUs have a majority of people wishing the counted vote then it would happen). However, the rules were interpreted by the chair to be, during a call for division instead of raising pink slips we should stand.
This effectively meant that there was no way to challenge the ruling of the chair. The specific time that this was most dramatically in effect was at the time of the nominating committees report. We being ushered through the process to approve the nominating committee's report, a point of information was made clarifying that this would in effect mean of the 35+ delegates desiring to be on the ballot to go to the national convention, only 26 delegates would allowed. The chair then announced that the adoption of the report had passed, at which point division was called. So instead of raising our pink cards, we were asked to stand up, as if this somehow provided a stronger sense of the will of the majority. I looked around, and it was pretty clear to me that there was not a majority in favor of this; a counting vote would have settled the matter, and I would have gladly accepted that judgment as fair, but as it was, the single most important decision of the event seemed to go against everything democratic.

Not Recognizing Speakers/Motions

I am new to this and certainly not well versed in parliamentary procedure, but the failure of the chair to recognize delegates waiting at the mike was shocking. It seemed the only time they were allowed to speak was when any motion they would make would be out of order, coincidence?? I think not.
The chair would not recognize requests to suspend the rules for certain purposes. I know on one occasion I requested to suspend the rules to take a vote of no confidence for Ron Carey (I had the support of a few BPOU chairs who have asked to remain unnamed). The Parliament Chair said my motion was out of order and needs to be done during other orders of business. Hello, I motioned to suspend the rules to take care of it.
When discussing the making Pawlenty delegate: at microphone one the guy with the earpiece was physically blocking our 3rd speaker (for lack of better definition) from the microphone. The speaker was trying to crawl over him while the chair directed his attention to the 2nd and 3rd microphones and ignored that microphone.

The rules (none specific) were suspended to allow Pawlenty his delegate seat. The chair cut off discussion at the allotted time according to rules that were suspended.

They had a constant line standing at the microphones simply to block us from getting to the microphones.
The chair called Txxxxx MxXxxx's point of order, out of order.
While I was trying to make my point my microphone was turned off at least three times. I had to raise my voice in order to be heard by the chair. When I said that the sergeant of arms had given me some instructions on how to accomplish the removal the chair turned on my microphone.
Txxx Wxxxxxxx was waiting to speak at the microphone (as we were debating something about the alternate delegate election process) when someone was allowed to come up to the front of the microphone and call to question, bringing an end to all discussion. People were disallowed the chance to speak by taking people out of order.
I approached Amy Koch during a break and said that I was really frustrated by that retroactive decision on the literature and she kindly indicated she would be amenable to a motion I drafted and handed her on paper regarding that issue. Well once things got rolling again I went to the microphone, where a woman (the one who led the Pledge of Allegiance on Saturday) bullied me and refused to yield when I said I wanted a Point of Order and even told her the Chair had indicated support for my Point of Order. I held my ground behind her, but they went a long time without recognizing the mics and finally I decided that the moment was past and it would not help our cause to bring it up again.
The one abuse that sticks out to me is the planting of McCain supporters by the microphones in order to call-the-question before we could have any discussion. There also were several instances when Paul supporters were blocked from coming to the microphone, most notably when we were discussing whether Pawlenty should be able to be a national delegate when he broke the rules of the convention by not registering in Rochester.
I'd have to agree with all the other statements people have made about there being a crowd of people in the way of the mics, not in line to talk, but to stand in the way and prevent/delay people from getting up to the mics. I found that the mics, though the physically switched on, were not linked into the sound system directly, so until the speaker saw I was there and someone was waving the orange light, anything I said (even if it was a point of order, which can always interrupt the speaker) could not be heard and would be ignored. They effectively had a mute button for every mic, and every speaker from the floor they didn't want to be heard. Even after indicating to the girl who had the orange airplane traffic control light at my mic what my question was, and that is was in fact very pertinent to the voting process, and she indicated the same to the speaker, I was continuously ignored while they cycled between the other mics and then she sat down for a while in silence while I waved my arms in the air and occasionally shouted "Point of Information!" to try to gain their attention. I was not recognized until there was only roughly two minutes left in voting and nearly everyone had already filled out their ballots. I was the first one to the mic once the ballots were passed out, I can only imagine how many other valid, pertinent point were wholly ignored / edited out by the leadership and those in control of the sound board - gee, wonder what color hats they were wearing.

National Delegate Election

The most egregious were related to the nomination committee and who did / did not actually appear.
I spoke at length with a number of old guard in SD33 regarding the Carey strategy. They claimed the lack of RP delegates and alternates on the ballot was a result of the GOP candidate committee rooting out an attempt by us to dilute the field. They felt that there was a large group of us running as delegates and alternates for that purpose only and no intention of winning. Not even voting for themselves. They felt they were under assault and had to tighten up the field. The best thing to do would be to find a highly qualified RP candidate that was dropped. That would indicate a tipped playing field.
When I settled into the convention hall seat area of our BPOU Friday morning the first thing I noticed is 2 banners at front and either side of the convention platform. Listed on the right banner, a 8'X12' suspended from the convention hall roof supports, is a list of 14 "Conservative Republican for national delegates". The left side has a similar list of 14 alternates. A banner of this type would take several business days to design, print, deliver then hang 50' above the convention floor prior to 7:30 AM Friday morning convention registration, not overnight.

How amazingly prophetic is 12 of the national delegates and all 14 alternates listed on the 2 banners were promoted to National. Friday evening a delegate from the convention floor confronted the Party leadership on stage to their keen ability to predict with 92% accuracy the national delegates and alternates prior to the convention gave drop. A member of the nominations committee responded with a statement close to "We just thought real hard about who would be elected". Using the descriptive word "ARRAGANCE" fails to do justice to the attitude of the Party leadership's response to the delegate question of foresight. P8
A specific convention rule prohibited any nominations from the floor. Convention delegates were provided 16 or 18 choices for national delegate on the ballots. The other remaining 100 or so delegates not permitted ballot access for convention consideration or stage time to present their case for national delegate. Protest erupted by many McCain delegates and a couple Ron Paul delegates omitted from an open floor nominations process.
On the alternate side, a 1992 to current
Minnesota State House of Representatives Ron Paul delegate attempted nomination to national. The committee placed in nomination over this current Representative a young mother of a newborn. Ironic a young mother has more political experience than a 16 year State House Representative.
We raised a point of information asking if all the individuals on the ballot had met with the nominating committee according to rule 25 section a:

"Individuals wishing to be considered for the position of National Delegate or Alternate must meet with the nominating committee in Rochester, Minnesota on Thursday, May 29th, 2008."

The committee indicated that it would make a report on this question later. We waited for 2 hours with no response so I waited at the microphone for an hour (through all of Norm Coleman's speech and some business thereafter) and was finally recognized by the chair. I asked a point of information asking to hear the report from the nominating committee on whether all of the candidates had met with the nominating committee. They responded:

"No. Some of the candidates did the interview by phone."

I had called Brian Humphreys (an employee of the State Party) on Wednesday asking if I could have a later time or if I could do the interview by phone. He told me unequivocally that I could not. Due to our inexperience with parliamentary procedure we did not make the correct motions to get the ballots thrown out but we did expose the hypocrisy and unfairness of leadership. The party had created an illegal ballot (according to the rules they rammed down our throats). This was our turning point! (On Sunday the convention voted to change the rules to allow Tim Pawlenty to stay on the ballot though he did not meet with the committee according to rules)
What really chafed my butt were (1) the convention refusing even to allow the rest of the national delegate nominees onto the ballot or even to speak, and (2) the clincher for me -- MANDATING that everyone HAD to vote for 14 delegates, even though doing so diluted our votes for you and Barb and Dave Mathias. Of course, we know WHY they did that, and to be honest, I did comply so that my votes for you guys would count. But after turning my ballot in, I left the convention for good.
The national alternate interviewers' first question was about who I would support for president.
I said that I would support the candidate who most closely adhered to the Republican platform. There were multiple pairs of rolled eyes immediately.
The questioner shot back, even before I was finished, "We need a name."
At that point I figured I was already out of favor with them so I said Ron Paul. Another male interviewer reassured me that I would not be given an up or down vote based on the name I gave them.
Then the next day when the nominating committee gave their criteria for selection, one of the items mentioned was that the person needed to support the presumptive nominee.
I was very disappointed in the nominating committee a)not nominating many of our very experienced supporters b) only nominating the "conservative team" slate-especially concerning the alternates c)nominating four to seven more than a person can vote for, limiting choice, and not allowing write-ins. d)not knowing the ballot until it was time to vote, and then after we realized that we didn't have any of our nominees on the ballot, it was too late to take nominations from the floor.
The whole Tim Pawlenty not being there in person thing was kind of a joke. I don't think we should have tried to prevent him or Norm Coleman from being a delegate, but I can't believe that they wouldn't name the others that didn't show up for the interview process. If I had to to guess it was probably the majority of the "conservative team".
Not putting the majority of the Ron Paul Delegates on the ballot after many of them spent there time and money coming down a day early for the nominating committee.

No Ron Paul alternates on the ballot. Not even one. And they said they wanted it to be a fair convention.

The large Red banners had been created several days before the nominating committee meetings. I guess those people knew they would be on the ballot and they all were.
Scott & I had walked out of the auditorium for a break, and met Angie Exxxxx who was one of the members of the nominating committee. She was very open & polite and tried to explain to us what the qualifications were that they were looking for. The #1 being a McCain supporter. She then mentioned how she believed that John McCain has been chosen by God to lead us into the "end times", and she could hardly wait because she would be here to see it all end. Now - this is one of the people who said that we weren't qualified to be a delegates or alternates. She also told us that the Republican party is grassroots only at the local levels - not at the National level. The National level should only be filled by long standing office holders within the party. (which is totally opposite of Matt Dean, who said he didn't think elected officials should be allowed to be delegates and it should be grass roots all the way)

Red Hat Society

I was sitting on the far left in the first row. So I had a front row seat to many small meetings between the Sergeant of Arms, Ron Carey, Daren Bearson (Executive Director), Barret (the Treasure) and what I call "the Red Hat Society" (the guys with the "yes" and "no" signs). When I started questioning what they were doing the Sergeant of Arms sent a suited man to sit next to me.

I spoke to a bunch of delegates around me about the BS going on and I know that I wasn't just imagining this stuff.

We believe that Daren Bearson was coordinating the Red Hat Society. He was constantly talking with and directing them.

He would go up on stage and talk to "the honorable" Ron Carey and then go off stage to talk to the Red Hat Society.
In the back of the convention there was a guy with a McCain hat, an earpiece, a mic, and a laptop. I personally watched that guy press his earpiece against his ear as the opportunity for delegates to go on the mic was approaching. Then he would talk into his mic at his wrist, when he did that, I observed the McCain hat folks on the floor hold their earpiece (so he was talking, and they were listening). Then, they would go flag specific people to squat at the mic, cut in line, and call the quest (not debatable, requiring an immediate vote...ending debate). Additionally they would flag the vote yes/no crowd to walk around.

This squatting at the mic though, was a very organized effort to end debate before it started. I can give you the name of one mic squatter, a National Alternate named Tibideaux (Robert??? Guy with the Hawaiian shirt). He cut in line, the chair immediately recognized him and his calling the question, which received an immediate vote, which ended debate. They did the same thing every time..."Mr Chair, I would like to commend the Election Board and the Parliament for an outstanding job. We've heard lots of debate on the issues [cough] so I call the question...or....so I motion to adjourn for the evening....or I motion to adjourn from the convention
A McCain staffer with a red hat and a headset pushed me a away from the microphone when I wanted to make a motion. He said, "Your candidate has lost, you people have lost, give it up and let us get McCain elected".
I saw another McCain staffer across the auditorium physically push another Ron Paul republican, and try to prevent him from making a motion.
Later on Friday I asked one of the fellows who was carrying the Yes/No signs around if he knew that they were not allowed. He said yes they were. They were a normal event at conventions like this and I should get over it. I asked him who was directing him which sign to display. He said no one. He was just a delegate. Then I asked him who was talking to him on the earpiece he was wearing and if they were relaying instructions to him about which sign to display. He reiterated that he was just a delegate.
The one abuse that sticks out to me is the planting of McCain supporters by the microphones in order to call-the-question before we could have any discussion. There also were several instances when Paul supporters were blocked from coming to the microphone, most notably when we were discussing whether Pawlenty should be able to be a national delegate when he broke the rules of the convention by not registering in Rochester.

Not Seating RP delegates

Wendell Christenson (i believe my bpou chairman, sd42) had [Yes/No signs] he was waving around. He's a total McCain. He also told me and several other Ron Paul alternates we could not be seated because "we don't think we should be seating any Ron Paul supporters." I immediately shot him down for being unprofessional, and magically he stated "we had a vote, and I guess you can be seated."

We had 40 seats allotted, 19 delegates and 9 alternates showed, so by default we should have been seated, there was a RP supporter as a sergeant in arms who had to use his power to intimidate him to seating us as well. We did get seated though.

BIGGEST THING. I found a list of all sd42 delegates/alternates, with the big wigs of the district highlighted, and the people who they refused to seat with "rp" by their names, this list was obviously used to select who cannot be seated. They kept us out long enough so that we could not vote on adopting the rules.
In Goodhue, Pxxx Rxxxxx was the 1st alternate, but was always sent back to the balcony whenever a delegate returned to the floor even though there were alternates seated who were numbered higher and should have been sent back before he was. The other alternates were not RP.

When I expressed dismay to Janet Biehoffer, CD2 chair, over the pre-selected ballot of delegate candidates, she told me it was done purposely because the Ron Paul people had "hijacked" the Nevada convention and they were not going to let that happen here.
One incident that concerned me though is after my registration card fell off my neck and when I went to recover it. Outside the doors of the convention, I asked the sergeants at arms if anyone had turned in a registration badge and whether there was a lost and found where it might be found. My shirt sported a pin promoting Republicans against War. A pretty good indicator I was a Paulite republican. The individual I talked to denied there was a lost and found and did nothing to help me recover my registration card. He stated I was not allowed to go back inside. It wasn't until a second individual I asked at the very same door willing to help me. He did so by immediately going to the lost and found and returning with my registration.

My thoughts on this as I walked away was how uncourteous and commandeering this first individual was to me. He attempted to prevent me from performing my duty as a seated delegate. Was it because of the pin I wore,? I asked. I believe it was.

Rules

"Copies of "the rules" were never even made available to our section until after they were railroaded through."
What bothered me the most is the fact that the rules were adopted before I had a chance to read them. I was an alternate and was seated shortly before the convention voted to approve the rules. This was my first state convention, so I am not sure if this is typical, but I do think it is suspicious that the rules were not handed out earlier so that we could make a more informed vote.
It requires 2/3 vote to cut off debate. I don't remember if they achieved two thirds vote to call the question and then a majority to pass the adoption of the rules. Do you? I was an alternate and had just sat down and was looking for the rules so I could see what section they were talking about and I don't remember after that.
Ron Carey's letter to all delegates and alternates 3 days before the convention announced that any rule change attempts in the name of fairness should be seen as an attempt by RP supporters go gain a disproportionate advantage. In the end, the rules didn't matter that much - the executive committee only enforced them when it was convenient. The most flagrant abuse was the rule on division.

The rules stated that voice voting would be the norm, except at the discretion of the chairman, when a rising vote would be used. At the start of the convention, the chairman said we would always use the rising vote, and had pink cards to signify our vote which we would raise. The idea of this style of voting is to allow the chairman to see a transition from Yes to No, and so determine the will of the majority. This is entirely appropriate, however, during close contests, the rules allow for a call of division, meaning a counting vote. The rules specified that following a call for division each BPOU should assess whether a counting vote is needed (if 25 BPOUs have a majority of people wishing the counted vote then it would happen). However, the rules were interpreted by the chair to be, during a call for division instead of raising pink slips we should stand.
It is easy to follow and enforce rules when they support your position; being fair means following and enforcing the rules especially when they don't.

Reversing National Delegate Election

On Saturday we were presented with another interesting development – we would be hearing from the contest committee. This committee was convened to review the findings of the CD1 convention where Jake Dettinger was voted in as National Delegate. The rules of the convention indicated that an individual must receive 40% of the convention delegation vote to take the position. It was found that in the first vote two of the initial "winners" did not receive that amount. So the convention re-voted and Jake Dettinger took a slot. This was the published result of the convention and was the final decision of that body. The state party decided to step in and overturn the will of that convention by convening the contest committee.

The contest committee report indicated that the rules were misunderstood by the CD1 convention and that Jake Dettinger should be stripped of his delegate status. They presented these findings to the convention. Jake stood in opposition to this ruling and humbly asked for 4 minutes for he and his opponent to present information to the body. He was denied. He used his mic time to indicate how unfairly he was treated – his opponent was given a month to prepare arguments and collect evidence while Jake was given only one day. He was not even made aware of the challenge until the day before he was to appear in Rochester before the conference committee. Even though this was a challenge to the findings of the CD1 convention the onus was put on Jake to defend himself and the finding of the convention.

A motion was made to exclude the convention from voting on the matter and limit the vote to only those in CD1. This was denied as well. Eventually the convention voted and overturned the will of the CD1 convention, stripping Jake of his delegate status. Does this sound like the fight between the federal government and the states to you? It should! This is the exact same thing that is happening in California and Oregon.

Misc

Rory Koch, the legislative assistant for the GOP caucus at the MN House, accosted me for wearing a "Republicans against the war" button. He told me in fairly rude terms that I was creating trouble by wearing such a button. I responded by telling him that my role at the convention was to represent those republicans who voted to send me to the state convention as THEIR delegate.
The fundamental disagreement we have is whether power should be concentrated at the top or the bottom. Our constitution and our republic have set up the rules to favor local rule and individual rights. Yet within our own party we have allowed power to concentrate at the top.

A good example of this attempt to consolidate power was presented in the proposed changes to the constitution of the Republican Party:

"If the State Executive Committee determines a BPOU is not fulfilling its responsibilities the State Executive Committee shall have the authority to take all actions it deems necessary or proper to fulfill the BPOU's responsibilities"

This change would essentially allow the party leadership to remove any BPOU leader that did not conform to the party line or change delegates or really do whatever it deems necessary or proper! This was a gross grab at power and was not ignored on the floor. Many delegates spoke out against this change and questioned why these changes were necessary. At one point Ron Carey descended to the convention floor and took up the mic indicating that this was an attempt to give authority to the party to remove rogue BPOU leaders that refused to comply with party demands. Does this sound like the fight between the federal government and the states to you? It should! This resolution was defeated (garnering only 33.9% of the vote) but even that is frightening. Why would we want the State Executive Committee to have such power over the local BPOU chairs?!
One thing I noticed which really bothered me and the others in my BPOU was the way the parliamentarian spoke up on a request basis only. During the CD4 convention, the parliamentarian stepped in numerous times to give clarification and to correct the chair when an incorrect statement was made. In the state convention I noted numerous times when Ron Carey made mistakes (such as not allowing debate on motions where debate should have been allowed) and the parliamentarian only stepped in at the request of someone from the microphone. In some cases, the mistake was made and the motion would either pass or fail before anyone could reach the mic to ask for a ruling from the parliamentarian. I'm not sure how this is normally handled, but it did not feel right to me. In my opinion, the chair should either have a stronger understanding of the rules or the parliamentarian should step in anytime an incorrect statement is made, not just when the delegates notice it.
Our little group from Cottage Grove/St Paul Park spoke to a women who was a long time party regular, red suit, long white hair, 60ish said that because of what happened in MT and NV the MN party was not going to let the Ron Paul group "hijack the convention". When a member of our group asked what that meant she became evasive and never did answer the question.
One of my friends gave me a semi detailed account of him being recruited and acting as a goon making sure "certain people didn't have access to mics" by Carey himself at a credentials committee right after the 2006 elections.
The press was told, and reported, that Coleman was endorse unanimously, however, there was no call for "No" votes, as the "Yes" votes were immediately followed by Coleman's speech. The leadership can't even admit that he was just endorsed, but ignores the rules to be able to put the word "unanimously" in front of it for the press.
Just a general observation, but the delegations with the most Ron Paul supporters seemed to be seated all the way to the back and sides, with the more "leadership loyalist" groups front and center. I can find no other reason to arrange the delegations they way they were.
John McCallum and my campaign manager have been telling me that I should not count on any funds from the 4TH. Jeff Williams, vice chair of the 4th has been telling me that to gain back some respect with the party I have to vote McCain at the national convention. (MN House candidate/national delegate)
As expected, Pat Igo, and especially Rory Koch, were vocally bitter to me about it. Odd, in that we had no candidate disagreement – so it really is about control for these folks. But these gripes are from people who've never have or would support me anyway, so it had no credibility with me. The poisonous atmosphere also made me want to get out of there as soon as possible. I can honestly say it was the worst-run, least fair convention I have ever experienced in the party in my 18 years doing these. Given low expectations and the odds and hostility I was up against, it was particularly satisfying to win this year. (A slate candidate)
On a lighter note, my wife overheard a conversation (I'm sure she couldn't help it?) in a restaurant that went something like this:

"We met a couple and struck up a conversation. They were well dressed, and they turned out to be such nice people. We talked with them for awhile, and it was so enjoyable. Then we were shocked to find out...they were Ron Paul supporters! Boy, were we fooled!"

Encouraging

But I have to say on the plus side, a very nice old couple in my BPOU who have been active forever and are not RP people asked me how my first state convention was going for me, and when I said I was disappointed by what was going on and was feeling a little sick to my stomach and didn't know if I could go to another one, the husband told me I needed to stay involved and change the party! So even some of the wiser old-timers know there is a need for (that waaay overused word) "change."
I think you are right there were some McCain gop folks that seemed a little embarrassed by the tactics and are possibly more sympathetic to our cause.
I think we helped many there change their opinion of the MN GOP leadership. I spoke with an GOP establishment-type, many years with a party post, that started by following the herd, but after some talking with me not only agreed RP was correct (he didn't support RP because he believed he wasn't 'electable'), but in the end quietly admitted he didn't think he could vote for McCain.
First and foremost we demonstrated to the convention at the large the way the leadership in the party has marginalized and railroaded us. This upset the body of the delegates and I personally had many delegates, Senate and House District Chairs, a couple Congressional District Chairs, and many long-time Republicans tell me that they were upset with the party leadership and the way the leadership conducted the convention. At several points they used the rules against us then turned around and violated their own rules.
Later that night at the various hospitality suites we were approached by party regulars and McCain supporters. These folks gave us their sympathies, pointed out our parliamentary procedural errors, and indicated their dissatisfaction with the conduct of the party leadership. They indicated that they were willing to make coalitions with us and help us. This was huge! We were winning the battle for the soul of the party.
Through our defeats we learned. Through our small victories we rejoiced. Overall we left the convention with a strong feeling of encouragement and strengthened resolve. We will sharpen our skills with parliamentary procedure. We will seek leadership positions. We will not be shut out or marginalized.
I don't think people realize how much support we have from other "non-paul" people. There were many that came up to us to say how disappointed they were with the way things were run.
I was incredibly disappointed with the way we were all treated at the convention, but I still left the convention with a sense of hope. I believe that our presence at the convention a year from now will help bring our party back to its original principles. I will not give up the fight for liberty. I must continue to fight; my freedom is at stake.

"Always vote for principle,
though you may vote alone,
and you may cherish the sweetest reflection
that your vote is never lost."
John Quincy Adams

I Am an Old Whig

2008-06-06T20:54:00.003-05:00

"The more I learn about the evolution of ideas, the more I have become aware that I am simply an unrepentant Old Whig . . ." - F. A. Hayek

Conservatism is, by definition, the "middle ground" between liberty and collectivism. Conservatives eschew change and fight, not for a return to a smaller government, but for the current state of existence, unhappily giving in to what they consider a slower slide toward bigger government. But conservatives don't want a smaller government either. Conservatives, again by definition, simply do not like change. In many ways, that is to be commended, or would be were we now defending a state of liberty.

If it's not already obvious, I just finished reading "Why I Am Not a Conservative" by Friedrich Hayek, a shock to this life-long Republican who cut her teeth on Goldwater's Conscience of a Conservative (link opens pdf file). These two like-minded guys obviously got their signals crossed, although clearly that was a matter of usage and vernacular. Hayek was much more comfortable calling himself a "liberal" in Europe, acknowledging the label had been hijacked by the collectivists. In America, "conservative" has typically applied to the anti-collectivists (no longer, as collectivism is the status quo). Just as a rose by any other name, "It is not who governs but what government is entitled to do that seems to me the essential problem" acknowledges Hayek.

The essay, which you may read here, is less about the labels than it is about how conservatism allows – if not condones – collectivism. If you disagree, please comment, but only after reading Hayek's essay.

One Day by Sky (the story of a convention)

2008-06-01T10:19:00.002-05:00

The forecast for Friday morning couldn't have been more dire: 95% chance of thunderstorms. 57 umbrellas and 40 ponchos were purchased, a canopy rented; protection would be needed.

Friday morning, break of dawn: The clouds parted. The sun shone down on the stage in the park where 500 people gathered to celebrate freedom in the presence of the man who had been cast out, the Champion of the Constitution.

From the sunshine, the 500 were sucked into the dark hall filled with "ayes" and "nays" and crashing gavels. Out of order, indeed. The weight of the atmosphere could not be borne, and the skies reigned down its disgust in hailstones.

Overview of America

2008-05-18T14:47:00.003-05:00

Excellent thirty-minute primer on the founding of our nation, our intended system of government, the differences between other systems of government, generally, and definition of free markets. Something every ten-year-old kid or underinformed adult should watch.

(Bigger screen available at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6732659166933078950)

Can we get an IQ check over here, please?

2008-05-18T09:01:00.004-05:00

The LA Times today discusses the shambles of the Republican party and one InSane "solution."

McCain's approach -- tough on taxes, but receptive to immigrants and committed to easing global warming -- could help paint the GOP in new colors, more attractive to independent voters, Latinos and women. Some GOP leaders now say that by embracing McCain and his policy platform, Republicans would instantly "rebrand" and reinvigorate their party.

Good grief! Are they this obtuse? When have we won? When have we lost? We've only won when we've been firm about small government principles. When we became more like the democrats, government expansionists, we lost. If we go out preaching on the issues of the Democrat party, we're going to turn out voters for the Democrats.

For the record, McCain voted AGAINST Bush's tax cuts. If someone can find ONE issue where I can agree with this guy, I may consider voting for him. We're clearly not going to approach anything close to Reagan's 80% rule, but can anyone find me a 5% to at least work with?

The GOP has thrown in the towel on conservatism and now is telling the electorate, "Ya know, the Democrats are right; government is the solution to any problem from education to global warming -- I mean cooling -- I mean . . . Anyways, facing foreclosure? No health insurance? We've got your government answer right here!"

Back to McCain and the LA Times article,

Like President Bush, McCain has split from the party base in backing more liberal immigration laws and criticizing conservatives for ethnically insensitive rhetoric.

As a result, McCain aides believe now that the Arizona senator has the potential to do well among Latino voters, perhaps winning more than the 40% that Bush did in 2004.

Good for him. He can go run on the Illegal Immigrant ticket. I understand they can all vote.

The GOP has lost its mind. I feel for the genuine conservatives who are trying to run for Congress or state seats. McCain, Bush and party leadership have screwed them for 2008. Will we still have a party in 2009?

(Cross-posted at http://johnadamsblog.blogspot.com/)

Gold at $2k/oz next year?

2008-05-10T11:40:00.003-05:00

So says Peter Shiff.

As goes oil, so goes gold.

Bear in mind that the value of gold and oil really doesn't change with the exception of small supply and demand fluctuations, much, much less than you'd think. The value of the dollar decreases.

Physical barrels of oil don't store well, but owning gold, diamonds and silver is sheer joy. Excuse me while I work up some new algorithyms to find the below-spot deals on eBay.

Oklahoma could be Minnesota

2008-04-30T18:11:00.003-05:00

Richard Engle discusses how the party is including (rather, excluding) the Ron Paul Republicans who have come to the GOP in droves this past year in his editorial, Defining Oklahoma’s Conservatism, in the Tulsa Beacon April 24.

Similar to Minnesota, the Oklahoma GOP has Neocons, Values Conservatives and the "new" Liberty Republicans, the latter being quite similar to the Values Conservatives.

What Engle misses is that the Liberty Republicans have been here all along, just as they apparently have been in OK, as he points out that some prominent Republicans have been drawn and quartered for appearing to be too sympathetic to the Ron Paul Republicans.

We also have a situation in Minnesota where the party is forcing regular old grassroots Republicans, the Values Conservatives mostly, to choose. Many who hadn't been Paul supporters are finding themselves very uncomfortable with the heavy-handed tactics by the party by which they are ordered to enthusiastically support McCain, with whom they find little agreement, and to vote for a precise slate of candidates for national delegate. They're questioning why the head of the MN GOP is using such vitriol against these enthusiastic new recruits as well as the Ron Paul Republicans who have put years of work into the party.

In the words of Richard Engle, "[T]hey are being accused of dividing the party? What they are doing is building the party."

My, what a small tent!

2008-04-09T21:57:00.003-05:00

Isn't this kind of Nicole Russell -- whoever she is, ostensibly speaking for the entire GOP National Convention -- to say:

"This is hardly worth posting . . ." in her post titled Ron Paul Wants Talk Time. "Ron Paul's Minnesota-based campaign folks think it's a "tactical" victory that will get Paul speaking time at the convention."

She concluded,

While Paul and his campaign's fighting spirit is to be admired, it's time to know when it's quittin' time. He has hardly any delegates, especially when compared to the other nominees.

Maybe next time!

Gee, I guess Ron Paul supporters have only been imagining that the GOP is trying to kick them out. This ain't my party no more, is it?

Goldwater and Reagan, RIP.

T'was the Day before Super Tuesday . . .

2008-04-02T15:07:00.002-05:00

What a crowd at Northrup Auditorium! (I got to speak to them before Dr Paul did that night.)

The Omnipotent Seat Belt

2008-03-13T13:36:00.005-05:00

We're all well aware, via incessant promotion and big brother concern, that seat belts have brought people back from the dead and turned water into wine. But could a seat belt really have helped in the situation where a woman went off an exit ramp at high speed, crashing into first a light pole, then a tree, causing the car to burst into intense flame?

This Star Tribune article today quotes Lt. Mark Peterson of the State Patrol, "we might not ever know if there was alcohol [involved] or if she was wearing a seat belt."

The problem, as stated in the article, was that rescuers were unable to get the woman OUT of the car. Had she not been wearing a seat belt -- and we may never know, as stated -- she may have been thrown clear of the car and escaped with her life and mere injuries, however severe.

Ah, the good old days

2008-02-24T19:47:00.002-06:00

The campaign office was a-buzz, staffers scurrying to and fro. Now only a handful of us are needed to string together the delegates through the conventions.

On this team, we fight

2008-02-10T10:10:00.000-06:00

Ron Paul supporters never give up. We've stuck with it despite media blackouts and smears. We know that the freedom movement, the Revolution, is enduring.

Idea of the Century

2007-10-30T21:46:00.000-05:00

You know how one CPU can be arrayed -- is this the right word? -- on more than one monitor/keyboard setup? Why not the human mind?

We already have functioning robotic arms and the like. Why not an entire robotic body?

Oh my! I am a multi-tasker. And one who loathes delegating because few others can do things the way I like things done. And with few exceptions, things are not done correctly unless I do them, so this is not irrational thinking.

Imagine what I could accomplish with one brain arrayed across two or more bodies, be they cloned or entirely manufactured. Not only could I be multi-tasking at different workstations within my office, but I could have a lesser droid run down the stairs to throw clothes in the drier, all powered off my single brain!

The technology is, to some degree at least, available.

Date stamp this. (I hate to Google my best ideas before blogging them, as it's likely someone has thought of even this billion dollar idea.) Thirty years, I say, and the technology will be here for those not faint of heart, or should I say, of mind. Fifteen years, rat experiments will be underway.

With this motivation I am now off to study the alleged 120-year diet.

America's Favorite Crooner Belts It Out for Ron Paul

2007-09-11T13:39:00.000-05:00

Unbelievably Sinatra. And this dame knows her Sinatra. Take a listen for yourself:

2007-09-02T23:48:00.000-05:00

2007-08-25T00:23:00.000-05:00

Ron Paul's greatest strength is also his political Achilles Heel.

When the busy obstetrician told his wife, Carol, that he wanted to run for Congress "to get a few things off [his] chest" thirty years ago, she expressed her concern of the danger. "What could possibly be dangerous about running for Congress," Dr. Paul asked. "Because when they hear your message, they're going to elect you." And history proved Carol Paul right.

The one thing no one can accuse tenth-term Congressman Ron Paul of is being disingenuous. Because he really doesn't care if he gets elected. Did he, he might be taking the more popular position on some issues. He doesn't. Ron Paul views things differently, as if outside the context of Washington and the pollsters. Luckily for us, Ron Paul's brain could run circles around all the other presidential candidates' brains combined, were they squished together. Unfortunately, they're not.

But the Constitutionally hungry voters aren't going to let Ron Paul get away from us while we see, before our own eyes, a founding father in our own time.

So while he proceeds to get things off his chest, we have the daunting task of educating the tired, mainstream press as to why this country doctor has become such a sensation on the avant-garde internet, the new media; why this groundswell is not registering on their tired, mainstream polls. (There are numerous other reports of why the previously scientific polls no longer work both in the internet age and with a newly-inspired electorate, so no need to explore that here.)

~ ~ ~ ~

Ron Paul does not care if he gets elected, and as such, has indeed attracted a politically homeless crowd for all its bane and glory.

Having been in and among these politically homeless, they can be glorious in their passion, their pride, their principles.

Hailing from the GOP, I can see the homeless hindrance on the campaign. Ron Paul would never see this, which is why he is so adored. Because I can see it through his eyes, even I can welcome these homeless, while still wanting them to understand that, to achieve the greatest feat in recent political history, they should, um, bathe. [Editor's note: THAT was entirely unnecessary.] Of course it was unnecessary: even the one guy who keeps showing up in Iowa with the 911 Truth shirt looks as if Martha Stewart lint-brushed him.

Ideologically, the gold bugs are as right as Hayek; you can't argue with their pure philosophy. On the Constitution and the grounds of pure liberty, you can't dispute that it's wrong for the government to take the fruits of one's labor. If you're for states' rights on abortion and death penalty, why not on drugs? Yes, yes, they're all ideologically correct.

But since when did being ideologically correct matter to the American -- or any -- public? Not only are most Americans' IQs equal to or less than average (fancy math), but Americans are vastly either busy, lazy or both.

So which would you want, dear squire of the Constitution? Would you prefer to stand on the street corner and yell anti-war slogans that happen to rhyme at passers-by? Or would you rather get the one Constitutionalist you may ever see at this level in your lifetime elected? Because you can't do both. You can either educate (painfully slow, often two steps back for one step forward), or you can elect. But not both at once.

Letter to [hypothetical friend]

2007-08-19T08:54:00.001-05:00

(In response to email from [hypothetical friend] forwarding WSJ article, Of Bridges and Taxes, August 18, 2007; Page A6)

Light rail in every pot!

More than enough dollars have always been there for the proper government role of roads and the safety thereof, unfortunately siphoned off.

[Hypothetical friend's name deleted], you've always been a beacon for truth in politics for me: we happened to be together for Sullivan, and I respected your vocal stance against the party before that, when it was called for, so bear with me on this.

Why are we spending a trillion dollars a year to bomb, then rebuild, bridges in the name of nation-building?

I know I've immediately lost you, because I was there too. "We have to attack them there so they don't attack us here." I had to force my brain cells to reconcile themselves with principle; not easy to admit I was wrong. (i.e. we didn't go after bin Laden. He was never in Iraq -- none of the terrorists were, they were primarily from Saudi Arabia. Bin Laden is, or was, in Pakistan, and we've surrendered there. But I digress.) Why, I had to ask, are we welcoming 25,000 to 75,000 Iraqi immigrants HERE because of the war? Isn't that bringing them here instead of fighting them there? Why aren't we going after bin Laden as Ron Paul insists we should?

Which brings me to Ron Paul. It's always nice to be behind a sure-fire winner.

Naw, actually, it's a hell of a lot more fun to be behind the dark horse.

I've been a periheral fan of Ron Paul for years -- who wouldn't be? The guy has NEVER voted for an unconstitutional bill! Hence, the nickname among his peers: Dr. No.

When he announced, I assumed he was a longshot, but dove into the waters regardless. You only live once, and how often does a Barry Goldwater come along? Since January, I was joined by only a handful in handing out Ron Paul lit at the Tax Rally, and have had that rare experience of being at the front of a tidal wave.

Just today, Ron Paul won -- by a landslide -- both the Alabama straw poll (81%) and the Strafford Co, NH straw poll (73%). It's true that he only came in a close 3rd in the IL straw poll this last week, and 5th in IA last Sat, but that is because he does not participate in busing in supporters. I predict a solid win in the anxiously anticipated TX GOP straw poll Sept 1.

On and on I could go, and all to ask that you consider the merits of supporting a dream candidate for president. The GOP used to sing of eliminating the Department of Education. Only one candidate is now making that promise.

Personally, I have contributed $1,500 cash to the campaign itself, and over $1,500 in independent expenditures or to PACs supporting Ron Paul, have written radio ad scripts and participated in print ad production, and have spent easily a couple hundred volunteer hours toward this campaign. I only say this to show how serious I take the best chance we have had for a long time, and likely for a long time to come, to get an actual government reductionist into the big house.

Don't rule out the dark horse. Even if he were just today's Barry Goldwater, his wave of support could bring about the next generation of reductionist city, state and federal candidates.

Thanks for thinking about it, [hypothetical friend].

Which Way, my Grand Old Party?

2007-07-23T14:42:00.000-05:00

An email conversation:

From: Scribbler
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 12:01 PM
To: some friends

At a toasting session of an unnamed organization recently, one attendee was arguing that it might be necessary to vote for Giuliani to defeat Hillary. Immediately, three of us (out of the seven at the table) insisted we would either not vote or vote for a third party. If we are indicative of the Republican base and the newly burgeoning independent segment of the population, Giuliani guarantees a Republican loss in '08.

Few Republicans are truly HAPPY about Giuliani's frontrunner status, but they are told he is viable. Truth is, he is a frontrunner entirely of the media's making. If every Republican actually supported the candidate he WANTED, Giuliani would be running fifth at best. Frontrunner status should be a creation of the will of the voters, not an imposition from those who think they know better how to choose for us.

I would not vote for Giuliani because I do NOT see him as enough lesser of an evil to warrant a lifetime of guilt. In fact, he would take the Republican Party further down than our current president has. And there can be no argument that Bush hasn't narrowed the Republican base significantly. Even those still pledging allegiance to the GOP feel little confidence in the wake of the amnesty push and other snubs. Count on Giuliani to exacerbate these sentiments and further degrade the party.

From: a friend
To: Scribbler and some other friends
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 1:02 PM

Maybe.... but you are taking a risk that the Party will come back right to get your vote rather than moving left to capture a majority instead. If that happens then you are totally out of luck. You will be stuck in the wilderness hoping for revolution or worse yet groping to get back into a party that thinks you are an outlier.

The purpose of the party is to create a coalition to win elections. People who are in the party reach a pact between each other that they will go with the candidate who wins the primary, i.e. who gets the majority vote within the party. They argue and complain but present a unified front after a candidate is chosen. In this way, the chosen candidate still owes some allegiance to all camps within the party, even those who didn't vote for him because they are part of the institution of the party. You may not like it, but that is how the game is played. If you decide not to play and abandon the party then the party owes you nothing.

I am surprised to hear the Ron Paul's supporters will not support Giuliani if he were to win the primary. They say this even though they assume that Giuliani's supporters would support Ron Paul if he won (and they call Giuliani arrogant). Why then is Ron Paul running for the Republican nomination if he is not accepting the pact of the party.

Further, abandoning the election to the democrats in hope that it will teach the country a good lesson smacks of an ideological stance rather than conservatism. Being a conservative is not about being ideological or supporting one revolution over another. It is about conserving the traditions we have. There is a great military maxim that states a good strategist must always leave an avenue open for retreat if fortune turns against you. If you don't all could be lost. I suggest conservatives take this stance in the coming election. They should fight tooth and nails for their candidate to win the primary. But, if they lose, they need to keep an avenue open for retreat by voting for the primary winner. Better for him to win and remain influential than have the democrat win and lose.

From: Scribbler
To: some friends
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 1:38 PM

I was not aware of this binding contract and will immediately seek counsel to determine my options. Some -- unwisely I might say -- endorse exercising the abstinance loophole.

If the purpose of a politcal party is to simply plot a position on the political map to achieve a majority in a general election, the GOP still fails with Giuliani. In a Giuliani nomination, the party 1) intersects with the left, splitting the leftist votes with Hillary, 2) leaving an unrepresented contingent on the right (if "right" is operative -- perhaps the "liberty wing" works better) which will more naturally merge with a Libertarian/Constitution Party candidate.

If the Republican Party is so, um, flexible as to nominate a statist, then certainly the voting public is within its right to enjoy its own flexibility.

----- Original Message -----
From: Scribbler
To: some friends
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 2:02 PM

Recall, if you will, the 1964 GOP nomination battle between liberal New Yorker Rockefeller and the Father of Conservatism, Barry Goldwater. The outcome determined the face of the Republican party for the next few decades. Barry Goldwater spawned the Reagan revolution, as is widely acknowledged.

Before you verbally wring your hands over The Great Society, either Nelson Rockefeller or Barry Goldwater would have lost that year to the sainted memory of JFK. This election is similar in that the nation, rightly or wrongly, is overwhelmingly against the quagmire in Iraq, and the victor will be the nominee who most closely sides with the people on this matter. Assuming the GOP nominee is pro-war -- I assume no such thing, personally -- and the Dem is anti-war, the Dem will win.

So if the GOP must lose, why not do so while advancing the principles of the party and conservatism?

Military Support by Contributions

2007-07-16T08:11:00.000-05:00

2007 Second Quarter Fundraising, Presidential Race 2008

NAME: TOTAL [ARMY] [NAVY] [AIRFORCE]

RON PAUL: 18,640 [6,975] [7,265] [4,400]
McCain: 14,775 [6925] [6305] [1545]
Romney: 3,550 [2,050] [0] [1,500]
Rudy: 2,070 [1,450] [370] [250]
Hunter: 1000 [0] [1000] [0]
Huckabee: 750 [250] [0] [500]
Tancredo: 350 [350] [0] [0]
Brownback: 71 [71] [0] [0]
Thompson: 0 [0] [0] [0]

Source with thanks to njandrewg for crunching the numbers.

Students for Paul come up with even better numbers when they add in veterans.

Why are Entrepreneurs Behind Ron Paul?

2007-07-13T22:17:00.000-05:00

Why do a disproportionate number of entrepreneurs support Ron Paul? Because entrepreneurs, the successful ones, are used to hearing -- and more importantly, ignoring -- the advice that "it can't be done."

How do I know that hordes of entrepreneurs are among the fervent Ron Paul supporters? Anecdotally, to be honest. Large groups of us meet in the Twin Cities at least twice monthly, each of us spending hours a week of our own time and hundreds of dollars of our own money to promote Ron Paul. We're banded together as so many Davids against the government/MSM Goliath.

Two weeks ago forty of us got up at 6 a.m. and carpooled down to Iowa to join over a thousand fellow supporters for the Ron Paul Blowback rally. (Seen here.)

In our lengthy, even obsessive, conversations at meetings, by phone and online, a good half of these fellow supporters mention their small business in passing. This comes as no surprise. Small business owners are risk-takers; they are individualists; they want no boss above their own self; they don't listen to the advice that "it can't be done." They are the backbone of this nation, interestingly, as they are the only ones left with backbone.

(Comments originally directed at Jason Lewis, who says, "It can't be done.")

Opinion Polls vs.The Revolution

2007-07-13T21:20:00.001-05:00

Lasse Pitkaniemi, a Finnish economist and politicial scientist, via LewRockwell.com provides a point-by-point explanation of polling data with respect to Ron Paul's otherwise evidently successful campaign for POTUS, and concludes:

The Ron Paul revolution has already succeeded. It has brought a lot of attention to the libertarian ideas of peace and a limited government. It has also put a strain on the mass media, who can no longer deliver any information they want in any manner they please. Just like a real revolution the Ron Paul revolution has become a movement everyone wants to join. The real test for the Ron Paul revolution is not the victory over the GOP nomination, the question is how to win the presidency from a Hillary-Obama ticket, which will undoubtedly be seen as a dream team by the academia, the mass media, the special interest groups, the bureaucrats and the politicians.

Operation Blowback: Des Moines

2007-07-02T18:05:00.000-05:00

Ed Failor, principal of Iowans for Tax Relief (not -- see previous post), "invited" blowback. Ron Paul supporters responded.

2007.06.30 T 17:00:00 Mission accomplished.

The March on the Hy-Vee

2007-07-01T20:37:00.000-05:00

Des Moines, Iowa. June 30, 2007. A date in the timeline of the Ron Paul rEVOLution. The March on the Hy-Vee where over 1,000 supporters rallied for Life and Liberty with Congressman and Presidential Candidate, Ron Paul.

Ron Paul's Impromptu Parking Lot Speech

2007-07-01T18:44:00.000-05:00

Supporters were assembling themselves in to the appointed staging center, the parking lot outside the HyVee Center in Des Moines, IA, where the forum was being held and where our Blowback rally was to commence at 4:30 yesterday. As forum buddies were meeting for the first time, pictures were being snapped and signs being swapped, who should appear but the good doctor, Dr. No, ten-term Congressman Ron Paul. Here's what he said:

Gives the phrase, Google Ron Paul, new meaning

2007-07-01T14:49:00.000-05:00

Google about to endorse Ron Paul? Neocons cry "foul." (American Council of Neocons? Is that a spoof? LewRockwell linked to this, so it must be legit.)

Story echoed by Tribble Ad Agency: http://www.tribbleagency.com/?p=288

Iowans for Tax Relief isn't for tax relief

2007-06-22T19:45:00.001-05:00

Roth & Company reports that ITR does not support tax relief for the average, middle class Iowan, but pushes instead for special interest carve-outs and corporate welfare tax subsidies that shrink the tax base and raise the rates on the remaining base. Their work has resulted in Iowa being rated one of the ten worst tax environments by the Tax Foundation, earning claim to the WSJ's "Meathead Economics" list.

Front and center, however, conservative Iowans should note that Ed Failor, spokesman for ITR, has failed them spectacularly in representation, first propping up tax-and-spender George Pataki as a presidential candidate, and now Sr advisor to the anything-but-conservative McCain.

None of this scandal would have seen the light of day had the ITR not purposefully neglected to invite Congressman and presidential candidate Dr Ron Paul to its forum on June 30. Even unintentionally, Ron Paul, Dr. No, is shining the light of day into the dark corners of big government corporatism, corrupt and cozy lobbying arrangements, and neocons masquerading as conservatives.

Iowans deserve a legitimate taxation watchdog. I call on the National Taxpayers Union to install such a viable organization in my neighboring state to the south.

Full Roth article here | digg story

The Ron Paul Censorship Continues. Excluded by Iowans for Tax Relief? WTF

2007-06-19T17:12:00.001-05:00

Lew Moore, our (RP) campaign manager, called Mr. Edward Failor, an officer of Iowans for Tax Relief, to ask about it. To our shock, Mr. Failor told us Dr. Paul was not invited; he was not going to be invited; and he would not be allowed to participate. And when asked why, Mr. Failor refused to explain. The call ended.

Read the full story on the Ron Paul Blog for information on how to contact the responsible parties.

Sign the petition to have Ron Paul included in the forum.

Digg Story

Reagan on Ron Paul

2007-06-18T18:33:00.003-05:00

"Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country."

--U.S. President Ronald Reagan

Reagan was not one to confuse a necessary and vigorous defense with nation-razing/building, meddling, escalating where we have no business, and other popular forms of globalism. These are two entirely different concepts, somehow completely escaping the scrutiny of some conservatives today.

No, today we dare not talk about actually defending our borders. Instead, we aim to erase them. Conservatives need to re-educate themselves on what the word Defense means.

Ron Paul: 5 Million Dollar Man?

2007-06-10T07:27:00.001-05:00

Donkefant.com reports:

Congressman Ron Paul’s donations have moved up - not by hundreds of thousands - but by millions as a result of his debate performances and groundswell of support on the Internet and in New Hampshire. Now observers close to the campaign are revealing that donations to the campaign in recent weeks have pushed the total up to perhaps $4 or $5 million.

I am proud to boast that .012% of that $5m is mine. If anyone wishes to join me, secure donations may be made through the campaign website at www.ronpaul2008.com. Donations less than $200 are not reported with the contributor's name.

This puts Dr. Paul on par with McCain, and at half of where Rudy and Romney stood at last reporting. Are you naysayers going to make the case that this is contribution gaming/vote-botting/internet hoaxing? Money talks and neocons walk.

Read more at donkefant.com | digg story

Update: CommentaryUSA reports that Dr No just garnered 5.4% in the Utah GOP straw poll, second only to Utah's favorite, the Morman. Bear in mind that a lot of his support is coming from outside of the established GOP and won't be measured in polls until the primaries.

Libertarian Nitpicking

2007-06-06T12:49:00.001-05:00

Did Giuliani sound like a libertarian last night by proposing tax credits for health insurance? Some thought so, including a friend sitting next to me watching the debates who commented, "He sounds like Ron Paul!"

So here am I to burst y'all's bubble. Meddling in people's lives by tinkering with the tax code, offering incentives in the form of some of your money back, is not libertarian. If I choose to go without health insurance and to pay directly out of my wallet for the oft-touted hangnail, or decide to just live with the hangnail, shouldn't I get a tax credit?

Let us suppose the federal government thinks that music lessons are good for kids. Heck, they'll save us money on education because music at a young age makes kids smarter. So you over there can have a tax credit because your daughter is taking violin lessons. But you, with the eight-year-old son, can pay for his drum lessons yourself. Drums are too loud.

And now let's take these tax credits to their logical conclusion. A larger portion of our income will have to go to the government, of course, for those music lessons and to cover the health insurance tax credits. But then the government will start giving automobile credits for hybrids, and housing credits for Mother-friendly tire-houses and caves -- we're doing a lot of this already -- so taxes will need to go up to cover those credits. Then we'll get credits for buying healthy food. And by this time most of our income will be going to the government which will then simply dole out directly what they think we should have for transportation, housing and sustanance. This will vary depending on which party is in power and which corporations are in that party's favor. So it's not like we'll lack variety.

Taking this too far, you say? I'll blame my jerking knee on the way we've been fed these "great" programs to only sink beneath their weight years or decades later. I don't trust government. I don't trust politicians. And Giuliani's the worst kind of 'em.

He likes me! He really likes me!(or at least his web guy does, in an online, technical sort of way)

2007-06-03T11:47:00.002-05:00

Ron Paul has 23,793 friends on his MySpace profile, twenty-four of whom are shown on his main page, half of those family. I am STILL one of those top twenty-four friends.

[Hands fluttering to chest, gazes skyward and sighs blissfully.]

I simply must send that man another contribution.

Ron Paul on Bill Maher's Real Time May 25

2007-05-26T09:43:00.000-05:00

Dr. Ron Paul seems slightly uncomfortable with the effusive applause and Hollywood surroundings. I hope he never does become slick; I hope he stays real, and always just slightly uncomfortable with all the attention. He's always said it's about the message, not the candidate.

WTF?

2007-05-21T07:40:00.000-05:00

It's tough to show well in the polls when the pollsters don't read your name. They include Jim F-ing Cox but not internet sensation, Ron Paul. This is how they used to keep candidates out of office.

(Hat tip to Webyod of usaelectionpolls.com.)

Ron Paul #1 on Youtube, Surpasses Obama & All Others

2007-05-20T10:18:00.001-05:00

Ron Paul now ahead of all presidential candidates in both parties: As of 9:59 this morning he surpassed B. Hussein Obama, to take the top post on YouTube. Keep on rockin' the free world, RP!
Ron Paul's YouTube Channel

read more | digg story

Benito Giuliani Has No Clothes

2007-05-19T08:05:00.001-05:00

Ron Paul gets turn in spotlight at U.S. debate (Rueters)

2007-05-15T23:43:00.001-05:00

So, is this the break Ron Paul needed to get off the internet and onto the front page? We've always known he had a corner on the market of truth in the GOP.

Full Reuters story here. | digg story

Shocking Mainstream Media Defense of Ron Paul's 9/11 debate comments

2007-05-15T22:56:00.001-05:00

Ron Paul was right, says Free Republic. Giuliani made a fool of himself. Kudos to Dr. Paul for no apology.

read more | digg story

Where's Ron Paul

2007-05-12T15:16:00.000-05:00

2008 Political Internet Sensation: Ron Paul

2007-05-12T11:45:00.001-05:00

Do my MSM KoolAid drinking, don't-want-to-get-caught-supporting-a-loser, GOP friends still want to tell me this is nothing? You can't click three times on the internet without encountering Ron Paul. Read Josh Dorkin's blog and get back to me.

digg story

ABC accuses Ron Paul supporters of fraudTechnorati proves otherwise

2007-05-10T16:10:00.001-05:00

ABC involved in censorship, accuses Ron Paul supporters of rigging an online poll, deletes comments on their story. See this link for timedated screenshots.

digg story

Ron Paul beats out Obama, Hillary & Edwards in Website Traffic

2007-05-10T13:38:00.000-05:00

Besides trouncing all of the GOP candidates, Ron Paul beats out the most popular Dem candidates:

Ron Paul # 1 in Technorati's Top Searches

2007-05-08T19:17:00.001-05:00

Following the May 3 debate, the internet has been burning up over Ron Paul. Must MSNBC be regretting their decision to let him on? He trounced the other candidates in MSNBC's post debate poll, as well as that of ABC, and other polls across the internet. Despite lack of coverage by the MSM, bloggers have taken over and have proven that traditional media no longer have a lock on annointing candidates.

Ron Paul has now surpassed Obama in traffic to his website, and Technorati is showing Ron Paul as the TOP blog search, beating YouTube, MySpace and Paris Hilton. Rock on, Ron!

digg story

Machine Gives Full Night's Sleep In 3 Hours

2007-05-07T12:52:00.001-05:00

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have invented a machine that makes you sleep with the PUSH OF A BUTTON, then gives you the equivalent of eight hours of sleep in just two or three hours. The machine uses a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to induce the slow brain waves associated with the deepest phases of sleep.

Full story here.

Yes! Where can I get one? How much? I'll pay it.

digg story

The Great Moment in the Debate

2007-05-04T12:06:00.001-05:00

From Lew Rockwell:

It was when Ron Paul denounced the national ID, and all the other candidates, advocates of the police state to a man, scuttled away. They actually claimed that their "tamper-proof" card proposal would only apply to illegal aliens! Was it Orwell who said that in an age of lies, speaking the truth is a revolutionary act?

I've always said the importance of getting Ron Paul in the debates was to get his message out and to put pressure on the other candidates. This is just one small example.

read more | digg story

Ron Paul May Be Banned by Fox from the May 15th "Debate"

2007-04-30T11:54:00.001-05:00

It appears Fox News will be filtering the opinions of those who dissent from Republican dogma by choosing who may compete in the May 15th Republican debate.

Actually, you can't call it a debate. Only the top three candidates are assured of inclusion. So it will essentially be a circle jerk. For certain, illegal immigration won't be mentioned. These guys have no problem with our population doubling courtesy of illegal Mexican illegitimate births.

Read the full story here.

read more | digg story

Four Years Later

2007-04-29T20:09:00.000-05:00

Borrowed from LewRockwell.com, actual quotes:

Ron Paul Interviewed in College Dorm Room

2007-04-26T21:02:00.001-05:00

No joke. I love this!

James Kotecki emails: Today Ron Paul made history as the first-ever Presidential candidate to be interviewed from a college dorm room. Here's the video we made. (www.JamesKotecki.com)

Tonight on Lou Dobbs: Ron Paul

2007-04-23T15:46:00.001-05:00

Tonight on Lou Dobbs (CNN): Ron Paul discusses issues that affect the middle class.Would someone tape this for me? For more reasons than I can list, I don't take cable. YouTube, DVD, 8 mm, any format will work.

read more | digg story

Security and Liberty by Ron Paul

2007-04-23T14:16:00.001-05:00

More from Ron Paul in his Texas Staight Talk Column on Virginia Tech, guns, and freedom vs security.

Government cannot protect us. No matter how many laws we pass, no matter how many police or federal agents we put on the streets, a determined individual or group still can cause great harm. Perhaps the only good that can come from these terrible killings is a reinforced understanding that we as individuals are responsible for our safety and the safety of our families.

Read the entire column,Security and Liberty by Ron Paul | digg story

Ron Paul leads McCain, Giuliani in NH fundraising

2007-04-19T16:42:00.001-05:00

In the New Hampshire Republican primary race, Ron Paul is currently in 2nd place when it comes to fundraising, beating McCain and Guiliani, and trailing only Romney. What would happen if the candidate the media is ignoring wins the first primary early next year?http://www.wmur.com/news/12508249/detail.html

read more | digg story

Ron Paul: More Guns Will Deter Shootings

2007-04-18T08:17:00.000-05:00

Ron Paul spoke with politico.com yesterday and said what many of us have been trying to express: "A concealed gun carried by a responsible person -- that might have ended the problem that they had at Virginia Tech with one person being killed or two people being killed," adding that 9/11 may have turned out differently had the pilots been armed.

Amid calls by liberals for even further gun control -- despite the fact that the murderer would not have adhered to yet more laws -- some more rational souls are saying that the answer is to allow the law-abiding to defend themselves.

Dr. Paul is not alone. All freedom-loving individuals need to continue to express the need for individual self-defense as the answer to crime. When the cops can't get there -- and just as with Virginia Tech, most of the time they can't until after the fact -- we, ourselves, are our only defense.

Ron Paul today on the Federal Reserve

2007-04-09T12:48:00.000-05:00

Monday, April 09, 2007

The Federal Reserve Monopoly over Money
by Ron Paul

Recently I had the opportunity to question Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke when he appeared before the congressional Joint Economic committee. The topic that morning was the state of the American economy, and many of my colleagues raised questions about how the Fed might better "regulate" things to ease fears of an economic downturn. The tenor of my colleagues' questions suggested that Mr. Bernanke's job is nothing less than to run the U.S. economy, like some kind of Soviet central planner.

Certainly it's true that Mr. Bernanke can drastically affect the economy at the drop of a hat, simply by making decisions about the money supply and interest rates. But why do members of Congress assume this is good? Why do we accept without objection that a small group of people on the Federal Reserve Board wields so much power over our economic well-being? Is centralized, monopoly control over our money even compatible with a supposedly free-market economy?

Few Americans give much thought to the Federal Reserve System or monetary policy in general. But even as they strive to earn a living, and hopefully save or invest for the future, Congress and the Federal Reserve Bank are working insidiously against them. Day by day, every dollar you have is being devalued.

The greatest threat facing America today is not terrorism, or foreign economic competition, or illegal immigration. The greatest threat facing America today is the disastrous fiscal policies of our own government, marked by shameless deficit spending and Federal Reserve currency devaluation. It is this one-two punch-- Congress spending more than it can tax or borrow, and the Fed printing money to make up the difference-- that threatens to impoverish us by further destroying the value of our dollars.

The Fed's inflationary policies hurt older people the most. Older people generally rely on fixed incomes from pensions and Social Security, along with their savings. Inflation destroys the buying power of their fixed incomes, while low interest rates reduce any income from savings. So while Fed policies encourage younger people to overborrow because interest rates are so low, they also punish thrifty older people who saved for retirement.
The financial press sometimes criticizes Federal Reserve policy, but the validity of the fiat system itself is never challenged. Both political parties want the Fed to print more money, either to support social spending or military adventurism. Politicians want the printing presses to run faster and create more credit, so that the economy will be healed like magic- or so they believe.

Fiat dollars allow us to live beyond our means, but only for so long. History shows that when the destruction of monetary value becomes rampant, nearly everyone suffers and the economic and political structure becomes unstable. Spendthrift politicians may love a system that generates more and more money for their special interest projects, but the rest of us have good reason to be concerned about our monetary system and the future value of our dollars.

Paul a close second in PJ Media

2007-04-02T08:04:00.000-05:00

Dr. Paul finished a close second last week in the PJ Media staw poll, and is leading so far this week. (Vote in the PJ poll here to the right of this column.)

PJMedia is still trying to make excuses for why Dr No is doing so well, calling him a "purely Internet Phenomenon." Y'all used to say the internet was the the future of politics, that cosmos in which the next President would be elected. And now netizens are banned from voting for our nation's executive? Complete comments of the PJ Editor:

What does the ascendancy of Fred Thompson and Ron Paul mean? Is this an Internet (early adopter) harbinger of things to come? In the case of Thompson, we think this is indeed a possibility. The former Tennessee senator-slash-prosecutor-slash-movie-and-television-star has… despite being undeclared … fared quite well on other polls. On the latest Fox News Poll he is ahead of the declared Romney and the undeclared Gingrich, ditto on the Gallup Poll.

Ron Paul is a different matter. The paleo-libertarian seems to be a purely Internet Phenomenon. He has yet to score significantly on any national poll, his best being a mere 3% on Zogby. Of course this could change. Pajamas Media would like to note, however, that the vast majority of his votes in our poll (1331 of 1725) were placed right here on the portal site, suggesting a determined effort by his supporters to “bomb” this poll. Support for other candidates in both parties is spread over the approximately three hundred and growing websites that now have widgets (polling places) for the PJM Straw Poll.

Vox Day offers an interesting anaylysis of the poll results here.

And Mike Tennant via LewRockwell.com comments here.

Ron Paul, the Friendliest Republican on MySpace

2007-04-01T19:24:00.000-05:00

"Dr. No" beats out all other GOP candidates with roughly 5,000 MySpace buddies, though not coming close to touching the popular Obama. Why do the media insist on tagging him a "long shot"? For now I prefer the label, Internet Dark Horse.

read more | digg story

Ron Paul #50 on Youtube.

2007-03-29T10:14:00.000-05:00

Ron Paul hits #50 for Youtube's most subscribed channels this week. Burning up the 'net, he is. Burning up the 'net.

read more | digg story

Gender Gap Favors Ron Paul in Zogby Poll

2007-03-28T15:35:00.000-05:00

Although libertarianism is overwhelmingly a male enterprise, Ron Paul is a hit (relatively speaking) among women. Despite the near complete black-out of his campaign by the MSM, he is up to 3 percent nationally and has 6 percent among women (tied with Fred Thompson)

read more | digg story

Changing Politics Forever: Ron Paul's Presidential Candidacy

2007-03-25T20:40:00.000-05:00

Think of how much less interesting, indeed how downright intolerable, this election cycle would be without Ron Paul: a bunch of hacks and drones, not one of whom would make a single substantial change to Washington, D.C., if elected. Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani may as well drop the pretense and just run on the same ticket, for heaven’s sake.

read more | digg story

Ron Paul's Desk

2007-03-24T15:42:00.000-05:00

I think I'm falling in love with this man.

read more | digg story

It's a MySpace World After All

2007-03-21T12:11:00.000-05:00

After looking down upon MySpace for being something teenagers and the lighter, fluffier crowd gravitate around for social experiences, I shamefully succumbed to the lure yesterday. The impetus? Ron Paul for President.

For the last week, since joining the Ron Paul Yahoo Group, I have been faithfully voting in news site poll after blogger poll, visiting YouTube and Vlogger, doing anything requested to propel Dr. Paul higher in the polls. And then I was asked to vote for Paul by becoming his MySpace Friend. In for a penny, in for a pound, I was sucked into the vortex of the, ah, less intellectual side of the internet.

What's the harm, you might ask, in being Matricized? MySpace begs photos, statements of personal preferences, and fosters both networking and intrusion. Indeed, very soon after I exposed myself to the sticky web of MySpace, I received a request to "add" some guy as a friend. Is there an ettiquete laid down for such encounters? Was this a casual request, or was this guy going to show up on my doorstep at sundown?

Turns out, he was just another Ron Paul supporter (Dr. Paul boasting thousands of MySpace Friends), and the "add" manuever seems to be a method of hailing one of like mind.

Wanna be my friend? Any friend of Ron Paul is a friend of mine.

Word for Today: Xenodochiophobia

2007-03-17T13:33:00.000-05:00

Xenodochiophobia (n) An irrational fear of foreign hotels that may include a fear that there won’t be soap, proper toilet paper, clean towels, etc.

I cannot find the word for fear of general hotel room uncleanliness, one of my favorite phobias along with a fear of airplane seats. It's not a germ phobia, per se, but a fear of strangers' bodily fluids, or anything else expelled from the body, and hair. Google is not rendering a definition, but I can't believe this is an uncommon aversion.

Word for Today: Gargalesthesia

2007-03-16T23:02:00.000-05:00

Gargalesthesia (gar·gal·es·the·sia) (gahr”gəl-əs-the´zhə) [Gr. gargalos itching + esthesia] The sensation caused by tickling.

How many times can I say "I told you so?"

2007-03-05T20:38:00.000-06:00

Big spending Pawlenty strikes again in demanding more taxdollars for yet another welfare program, as the Strib reports in this story titled Pawlenty joins call to restore money for kids' insurance.

This guy is an embarrassment to Republicans and Minnesotans. I regret voting for him in 2002 and certainly did NOT vote for him in 2006. To my conservative friends who fell into the trap and did not heed my advice to vote elsewhere, there's a saying you should take to heart, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Your track record's not looking good here.

Is Three Too Young for Kindergarten?

2007-02-27T16:36:00.000-06:00

I've got a smarty-pants on my hands, and it's not easy. She was about 20 months when she started to read letters off my shirt. By 22 months she could identify most of the letters of the alphabet, and all of them before she was two. The grocery store set the scene for her favorite game, reading letters off the wall. "Where's 'M'?" "Where's 'I'?" "Where's 'L'?" "Where's 'K'?" Nonstop. Now she has to add the phonetic sound to each letter. Reading from my shirt again, "K k-k-k" "S s-s-s" "T t-t-t" "P p-p-p" (She reads the 0's in 1500 as o's, however, "ah-ah-ah.")

I have to sheepishly admit that I did not sit her down to teach her all this. No, embarrassed as I am, she learned most from Sesame Street (which she now finds too "babyish" at her mature age of 25 months) or her favorite movies, The Talking Letter Factory, The Talking Word Factory, and The Storybook Factory.

But her favorite movie by far is Math Circus. She was counting to 10 months ago and now can count to 20 with help. She was even getting it when I dared to take her up to 30.

Unfortunately, she has my mind in more ways than these and can throw a righteous fit when it suits her. Despite the tantrums and incessant spelling, I really don't mind. I understand her. You see, she's just like me.

I am thinking, however, that I'm ready for her to start kindergarten. If I started at age four, so can she!

Winter Hibernation

2007-02-26T17:44:00.000-06:00

Well, it caught up with me after all this year: the Annual Winter Weight Gain. I was set to get away with it, even losing a little over the cold, sunless months. But I had yet to meet February.

My theory is that I was getting a lot of exercise over the spring, summer and fall, building up muscle, so when I had knee surgery at the end of fall, I didn't gain, but just started to lose muscle. At this point, I guess I've lost all my muscle and am still not getting enough exercise. Ten minutes on the stationary bike does not count as sufficient exercise.

I want sun! And warmth! And walks by the lake! Now there's my antidote for the dastardly five pounds.

Now Serving Citizen 235-860-1964

2007-02-26T09:21:00.000-06:00

I sit here laboriously addressing packages to ship my wares, and begin to wonder, how long until we no longer need shipping addresses? Any day now, we are to be assigned our national number. Think of the conveniences this brings us in tandem with our vigorous technological advances! Not only will our implanted chip tell the postal service where to send the package for Citizen 235-860-1964, but we will be required to file travel plans with the Central Computer 7 days in advance (pending approval). Society will hum along seamlessly with Uncle Sam matching Citizen 593-589-3385 to the aforementioned 235-860-1964 to produce new Citizen 593-860-3364 (See Any Rand's We The Living) and the trains will run on time.

You could live that long, but do you want to?

2007-02-26T08:42:00.000-06:00

A 107-year-old man in Hong Kong is attributing his long life to sexual abstinence. He admits to smoking on occasion, which will surely cut his lifespan by twenty years.

The way things are looking, I have a long, miserable life in front of me.

The Future of the Electronic Nation

2007-02-25T08:25:00.000-06:00

We were gathered at "Brits" sometime last year when Harsh Pencil announced that his two-year-old could rewind and replay VHS movies. We poked a little fun at Pencil, suggesting the movies just hit the end and rewound themselves. But I doubt you no longer, Pencil. My two-year-old (Jan 8) has figured out the whole DVD/VHS combo player, switches out the DVDs and tapes, knows which button to press to move between DVD and VHS on the player, etc. I'm just not sure this is something we should be bragging about. What does this say about us as parents? What are we doing when all this is going on, playing MahJong? (Cut me some slack -- she set up the macros on my computer to take me directly to the game.)

Beats Drowning In a Shoebox of Receipts

2007-02-24T13:53:00.000-06:00

As I started to think about starting to think about doing my taxes, I found a good stalling technique was to collect some random thoughts on taxation from various sources on the internet:

What Mae West said about sex is true about taxes. All tax cuts are good tax cuts; even bad tax cuts are good tax cuts.

What's the difference between a mosquito and an IRS agent? One is a bloodsucking parasite, the other is an insect.

"It's tax time and President Bush is saving a lot on taxes this year. He's writing off his entire second term." --David Letterman

"65% of people say that cheating on your income tax is worse than cheating on your spouse. The other 35% were women." --Jay Leno

There is no child so bad that he/she can't be used as an income tax deduction.

Nothing makes a person more modest about their income than to fill out a tax form.

The income tax forms have been simplified beyond all understanding.

Income-tax forms should be more realistic by allowing the taxpayer to list Uncle Sam as a dependent.

A lot of people still have the first dollar they ever made - Uncle Sam has all the others.

It is reported that the politicians in Washington are thinking of abolishing the income tax and taking the income.

Another American invention is the permanent temporary tax.

Patrick Henry ought to come back and see what taxation with representation is like.

Another difference between death and taxes is that death is frequently painless.

For every tax problem there is a solution which is straightforward, uncomplicated and wrong.

How do you know you've met a good tax accountant?
He has a loophole named after him.

The kid had swallowed a coin and it got stuck in his throat, and so his mother ran out in the street yelling for help. A man passing by took the boy by his shoulders and hit him with a few strong strokes on the back, and so he coughed the coin out.
"I don't know how to thank you, doc...", his mother started.
"I'm not a doctor", the man replied, "I'm from the IRS".

The Love Department

2007-02-24T11:42:00.000-06:00

Dennis Kucinich is authoring a bill to create a US Department of Peace. I have some other brilliant ideas for new departments. My favorite is:

The Love Department. We have reached a point in society where we prefer to delegate our most important decisions (retirement, health care, etc.) to government. With the divorce rate at over fifty percent per marriage, it is clear that the government should step in to regulate the matchmaking process. A department must be formed, administrators, sub-administrators and hordes of staffers hired to cull through databases of single men, women, and other, matching each for the highest probability of marital success. A sub-department dedicated to gene-matching should also be established. If we agree that society works best with intact families, I can foresee no viable or cogent opposition.