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Rick Jore hosts “open mic” day in Montana |
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Continue Reading January 16th, 2007
The Montana Standard reports that on Thursday Rick Jore, the Constitution Party of Montana’s elected member of the state legislature, held an “open mic” day at the House Education Committee which he chairs.
Mike Keckes, of Helena, said public schools began deteriorating when public prayer was removed, decades ago. Removing prayer …
Continue Reading January 16th, 2007
NewsBlaze, SmallGovTimes, Blogcritics.org, Technocrat, and many other blogs and news sites have run items on the Ron Paul announcement.
Ballot Access News has a good piece on “sore loser” laws. Apparently it would be possible for Paul to run as a Republican and then eventually bolt and accept the Libertarian …
Continue Reading January 16th, 2007
Mark Sanchez, a San Francisco Board of Education commissioner and Green Party member, was elected to serve as the Board’s new President this week.
From the Bay Area Reporter…
The San Francisco Board of Education opens the new year with many changes, as Mark Sanchez was elected as the third openly gay …
Continue Reading January 16th, 2007
Pro-life: The LDS church had no official policy on abortion (baby murder) until the mid ‘80’s. The first published policy I have seen is dated 1989. This policy allows for exceptions for “rape, incest, health of the mother… severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.”
CQ: …
Continue Reading January 16th, 2007
I just couldn’t let this go by. Part 2 will come a little later…
Pro-Life: I was born and raised in Wyoming on a ranch in a small town. I was a basketball player, and a good one. I stand 6’5 which was tall back in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. My …
Continue Reading January 14th, 2007
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE.
LEGISLATORS BREAKING WITH PARTY LEADERSHIP ON PREZ’S IRAQ ESCALATION PLAN.
President Bush’s plan to send an additional 21,500 US soldiers to Iraq — touted as a “surge” strategy to gain control on the ground — has prompted some unexpected stances from legislators on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill. Frankly, I’m fascinated by the willingness of legislators — R and D alike — to break with their party leadership on this key issue. Last week we mentioned how US Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS) announced their opposition to the surge. Hagel called it “the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam.” US Senator Joe Lieberman (Independent Dem-CT), by contrast, strongly supports the surge plan as “necessary.” Since then, here are more who are openly breaking with their party leaders:
REPUBLICANS AGAINST THE “SURGE”:
Congressman Ric Keller (R-FL): “The American people have paid the ultimate price for this war, and now is not the time to escalate the tragedy even further”;
Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL): “I advised against the proposed troop surge. The best way forward for the United States in the Middle East is to assemble a diplomatic surge that far exceeds any troop surge”;
Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL): “It’s not about Democrats and Republicans — it’s about doing what’s right”;
Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL): “It’s too little, too late”;
Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-TX): “I am not interested in sending in more troops just to have more boots on the ground. I am not interested in doing more of what has not been working”;
Congressman Charles Boustany (R-LA): “This proposal is a military solution to an internal, political problem”;
Congressman Tim Johnson (R-IL): “It is not in the best interest of our country to contribute additional troops to this war … The primary goal [should be] to bring our troops home as quickly and safely as possible”;
Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-MN): The surge “would be counterproductive”;
Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Howard Coble (R-NC), Walter Jones (R-NC) and Ron Paul (R-TX) co-signed a letter to President Bush urging him to “reject any … short or long term increase in the number of U.S. troops”;
Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM): “It is not vital to America that Iraq be able to defend itself from outside powers”;
Congressman Jimmy Duncan (R-TN): “I think that this is a desperate attempt to turn around what was an unfortunate policy in the first place. It really sounds just like a continuation of the failed policies of the past four years”; and
Congressman Jim Walsh (R-NY): “No increased amount of American military power can force the Iraqi people to work out their differences.”
DEMOCRATS SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN:
Congressman Jim Marshall (D-GA): “It is something that can be done and can help”; and
Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) isn’t sure the surge is a good idea but will vote for funding for the additional troops, saying it would be “irresponsible and dangerous” to oppose it.
US Senators Dick Lugar (R-IN), Richard Shelby (R-AL), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Larry Craig (R-ID), David Vitter (R-LA), Pete Domenici (R-NM), George Voinovich (R-OH) and a significant number of House Republicans expressed skepticism and said they remained undecided on the proposal. Several Democrats — including Congressmen Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) — said they were against the surge, but would still support adequate funding for it if the President pushes forward on his escalation plan. Congressman Virgil Goode (R-VA) supports the surge, but opposes the President’s plan to spend $1 billion in additional funds to rebuild Iraq’s economy to promote political stability “until a like amount is appropriated for rebuilding the economy of [my] District, which saw its anchor [textile] industries disappear because” of free trade treaties.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.15.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011507a’);
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Your daily open thread for the MLK holiday.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.15.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011507b’);
FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE.
RON PAUL JUMPS IN; FLORIDA MOVING UP; DEMS PICK DENVER; GOP GRABS MS SENATE.
Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) last ran for President in 1988 as the Libertarian Party nominee, winning 400,000 votes and earning ballot status in all 50 states. On Thursday Paul filed federal exploratory committee paperwork to make a second run for President, this time as a Republican. Still an outspoken libertarian iconoclast, Paul stridently fights to slash taxes and reduce the role of the federal government. He also has opposed the Iraq War from the inception and opposes the President’s domestic surveillance program and the Patriot Act as unconstitutional. On many House votes — even routine ones of seemingly uncontroversial matters — Paul frequently casts the lone dissenting vote. That is why Paul, a physician, earned the moniker of “Doctor No.” Paul’s campaign chair concedes Paul is “an underdog … but we think it’s well worth doing and we’ll let the voters decide.” No word on whether Paul has any interest in continuing his run as the Libertarian candidate if his quixotic GOP bid falters … A bill with bipartisan sponsors is advancing in the Florida legislature to move the state’s Presidential primary to January 29. The bill, which was the subject of committee hearings this week, would make Florida the fifth Presidential primary of 2008 … The Democratic Party designated Denver on Thursday as the site of their 2008 Presidential convention. Dems will likely use the location to emphasis the party’s growing strength in the West. The party now holds governorships and/or US Senate seats in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Nevada and Montana. The GOP convention will be held days later in Minnesota … Mississippi State Senator James Walley (D) changed parties this week, giving the GOP a 26-26 tie in the State Senate. With Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck (R) breaking the tie, the switch allowed Republicans to grab control of the chamber for the first time since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.12.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011207a’);
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
The daily open thread.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.12.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011207b’);
THURSDAY NEWS UPDATE.
BUSH PROPOSES IRAQ ESCALATION; BROWNBACK, OTHER GOP SEN’S OPPOSE IT.
As expected, President Bush on Wednesday evening proposed an escalation of the Iraq War by sending an additional 21,500 US soldiers to Iraq. About 132,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Iraq. Most Democrats, unsurprisingly, opposed the President’s “new strategy” for Iraq. However, some prominent Republicans were also quick to attack the proposal. “I do not believe that sending more troops to Iraq is the answer. Iraq requires a political rather than a military solution,” said US Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), a 2008 White House hopeful, in a major surprise move. “I oppose the troop surge in Baghdad because it is not a strategy for victory,” said US Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN). “I want real evidence that a potential surge in troops will do more good than harm and will not exacerbate the existing violence in Iraq,” said US Senator George Voinovich (R-OH). “The President ignored the recommendations of members of both parties, military leaders, foreign policy experts, and the will of the American people by announcing that he intends to escalate our involvement in Iraq by sending more troops there. Congress must bring an end to what has been one of the greatest foreign policy mistakes in the history of our nation,” said US Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI). Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS) said it “does not make sense to send in more troops if the Iraqi people aren’t willing to set aside sectarian differences and commit to rebuilding their country.” On the opposite end of the debate is US Senator Joe Lieberman (Ind Dem-CT), who called the surge “necessary” and said he “applaud[ed] the President for rejecting the fatalism of failure and pursuing a new course to achieve success in Iraq.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) promises a roll call vote on sending more troops to Iraq. US Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) introduced legislation requiring the President to get Congressional approval before sending more troops to Iraq. In related news, Great Britain plans to start withdrawing UK forces from Iraq. Reuters reports Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government plans to reduce their 7,200 solidier force by 3,000 by the end of May 2007.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.11.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011107a’);
DODD JUMPS INTO P2008 RACE; ILL. MAY MOVE FORWARD; FORD TO CHAIR DLC.
US Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) is set to announce his Presidential candidacy on Thursday. Dodd, a traditional liberal Dem, has served in DC for over three decades. With little name recognition outside the Beltway, Dodd starts the contest well in the back of the “second tier” pack … Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D) wants to advance the date of the state’s Presidential primary to help US Senator Barack Obama’s likely White House campaign … Radar magazine reports former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. (D-TN) will be named the new Chair of the centrist Democratic Leadership Conference. Ford will replace former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who is stepping aside to run for President.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.11.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011107b’);
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
The daily open thread.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.11.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011107c’);
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE.
HARKIN NOT YET COMMITTED TO ‘08 RUN; OLLIE OPPOSES SURGE; JOHNSON IMPROVES.
DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made this interesting comment this week to the New York Daily News: “We have now gotten 11 of the 12 Democrats to commit to running again. Tom Harkin (D-IA) is still making up his mind. He’s a great Senator. He does more in a couple of years than many senators have done in a lifetime.” A visit to Harkin’s campaign website, however, makes the 67-year-old populist look very much like a candidate who is seeking re-election in 2008 … Former Reagan White House aidem TV show host and former US Senate nominee Oliver North (R-VA) is the latest conservative to oppose President Bush’s “surge” plans for Iraq. The USMC combat veteran — during an appearance on O’Reilly Factor — said Bush’s surge plan “sounds eerily like Lyndon Johnson’s plan to save Vietnam in the ’60s by gradual escalation as a way not to lose.” A new USA Today/Gallup Poll shows the Americans oppose the President’s plan to send an additional 20,000 US soldiers to Iraq by a 61% to 36% margin … The AP reports US Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) was upgraded this week to “fair” condition, following the brain hemorrhage and emergency surgery he underwent last month … Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL) told Alabama newspapers on Monday he will not challenge US Senator Jeff Sessions (R) in 2008.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.10.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011007a’);
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
The daily open thread.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.10.07 | Permalink | postCount(’011007b’);
TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE.
RICHARDSON THE DIPLOMAT; SHARPTON RETURNS; FIRST P2008 DEBATE SET.
Bill Richardson (D) may currently be the Governor of New Mexico, but this 2008 White House hopeful wants to remind Americans he is also a former US Ambassador to the United Nations with extensive foreign policy experience. Richardson is currently in Sudan meeting with government leaders in a private attempt to get them to agree to allow UN peacekeepers into the Darfur region. More than 200,000 have been killed to date in the campaign of genocide being waged in the Darfur region by rebel forces. The Sudanese government has thus far ignored internation pressure to allow a force of 20,000 UN soldiers into the country. Sudan President Omar al-Bashir has a frustrating diplomatic history of seeming to agree to deals with Western governments, then later backing out of the agreements. Richardson is keeping the details of his ongoing talks private, merely telling the media that “the meeting was good, we made some progress”… The first debate of the 2008 Presidential campaign season is set for the Democratic hopefuls on April 26, 2007 at South Carolina State University … Controversial and colorful civil rights activist Al Sharpton (D-NY) told the AP on Monday he is seriously considering making a second run for President in 2008. “I don’t hear any reason not to. If we’re talking about the urban agenda, can you tell me anybody else in the field who’s representing that right now? We clearly have a reason to run, and whether we do it or not we’ll see over the next couple of months,” he explained. Sharpton also said a potential candidacy by US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) would have little impact on his own plans because Obama was offering “little substantive discussion” of his urban agenda.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.09.07 | Permalink | postCount(’010907a’);
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
The daily open thread.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.09.07 | Permalink | postCount(’010907b’);
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE.
POWELL OPPOSES “SURGE”; PELOSI SUGGESTS TAX HIKE FOR WEALTHIEST TO HELP KIDS.
According to conservative columnist Robert Novak, former Secretary of State and retired Army General Colin Powell is the latest Republican to oppose President Bush’s proposal for a “surge” in US troops in Iraq. “The colonels will always say they need more troops. That’s why we have generals,” explained Powell … House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) is suggesting possible tax hikes for the wealthiest Americans to fund improved education and health programs. In an interview with CBS, Pelosi said she thought a repeal of “tax cuts for those making over a certain amount of money — $500,000 a year — might be more important to the American people than ignoring the educational and health needs of America’s children.”
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.08.07 | Permalink | postCount(’010807a’);
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Our daily open thread.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 01.08.07 | Permalink | postCount(’010807b’);
Continue Reading January 12th, 2007
I’ve been getting emails for the past 2-3 days of people telling me they’ve heard Ron Paul was going to run for President again… either as a Republican, a Libertarian, or some sort of independent or that he was planning to mount some sort of fusion campaign that would include …
Continue Reading January 12th, 2007
Howdy everyone…
I mentioned a couple of days ago that I was working on a new website that would be relevant specifically to Libertarians. The project is, essentially, a Digg-inspired news site that allows anyone to register, submit stories, and then vote (based on quality) to determine what gets the …
Continue Reading January 12th, 2007
I recently posted an article from the Idaho Press Tribune about the candidate formerly known as Marvin Richardson. It generated much discussion so I thought I would interview him.
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TPW: Please tell us a little bit about your personal background.
Pro-Life: I was born and raised in Wyoming …
Continue Reading January 12th, 2007
Looks like someone registered RonPaulForPresident.com and RonPaulForPresident.org on January 10th… yesterday.
Paul’s Congressional campaign site was RonPaulForCongress.com – so this seems in line with that.
In addition, whoever registered the domain names went to the extra trouble of using the DomainsByProxy.com service to conceal exactly who the new owner is.
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