Income Tea Party

I can’t make it to a Tax Day Tea Party today, but I am wearing a tea bag.

Robert Has Rules for a Reason – Local GOP Attempts Clampdown Against Conservatism

I find the following post of Don Rasmussen’s very interesting and heartening.

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Standing Strong in the Southwest

Campaign for Liberty

Posted by Don Rasmussen @ Campaign for Liberty
on 11/18/08

Apparently having learned nothing from Nevada, Arizona’s 4th legislative district GOP meeting was abruptly halted Monday night when Chairman Bob Burges realized he didn’t have the votes to elect his delegates to the county convention or re-elect his friends to leadership positions.

The reason? A large group of Constitutional Republican Reformers including many Ron Paul supporters showed up and established a clear majority. The flustered chair, upon realizing his predicament, gaveled the meeting to a close without electing delegates at all, ordered the sheriff’s department to clear the hall, and had the lights shut off.

The reformers quickly gathered in the parking lot determined to finish the meeting. When Chairman Burges had the exterior lights cut as well, the group found a janitor and had them turned back on. They established a quorum, elected a slate of delegates, and new leadership.

I understand that Chairman Burges is a genuinely decent man, but these tactics reflect the deep dysfunction that now haunts the GOP at every level. For my part, I hope that former Chairman Burges and the old guard in LD-4, as well as around the country, come to realize that our ideas ARE Republican ideas and begin to smooth the way for a new generation of leaders rather than causing further erosion of the party by standing in the way.

——–SEE A RELATED POST AT saintluke HERE:

Ron Paul on CNN: GOP Made Total Sacrifice of Original Belief

Dr. Ron Paul Cured MY Apathy (See an Inspirational Video)

Click to visit the Campaign for Liberty

The following video was posted recently on the Campaign for Liberty website.

Watching this helped me relive that amazing feeling of finding out about Ron Paul for the first time.  I was used to caring about what politicians did that made me angry.  I wasn’t used to hearing a candidate talk and make me swell up with passion for the truth and for liberty in America.

Granted, there are emotional experiences far more important than those we feel from Presidential Candidates… emotions brought on by God or by our families, but the emotions I have felt in being changed in mind and action by Ron Paul remind me of this:

When I was in high school, my family visited the Grand Canyon.  On the roads toward the Grand Canyon, there are other much smaller gorges.  We stopped and looked at some of them, thinking they were fantastic.  But when we finally arrived at the real thing, well… I mean… you could just cry in silence, because… there it was.  And it was so astounding you couldn’t believe what you had called awe inspiring before.

Have you watched a politician and had the pleasure of saying, “I know he’s not lying to me.  He actually believes and acts on all the things he is saying!”?  Listening to Ron Paul and reading Ron Paul brought me to feel like I had been asleep for years and didn’t know it.  Ron Paul woke me up.

To be sure, Ron Paul is not a savior.  He’s a sinner like me.  But he’s a good and honest politician.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, don’t expect a single video to flip your mind on to Ron Paul – but please don’t ignore him either.  Look him up – find out what you can about him.  Maybe Dr. Paul can help cure your apathy too, if that’s the shot you need today.

DIGG the Video

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Obama’s Demonstrably Bad Social Security Plan

Matt Hawes, of the Campaign for Liberty writes:

“In the following video, the Center for Freedom and Prosperity examines Obama’s Social Security tax plan.”

Matt Hawes Comments on Possible Government Takeover of 401(k) Accounts

THE FOLLOWING CONTENT by MATT HAWES at Campaign for Liberty

[See original]

Not content merely to socialize our banking system and spend hundreds of billions of your tax money to bail out Wall Street, big government-legislators are considering taking over your 401(k) accounts as well and replacing them with government-sponsored accounts.  These would be known as “Guaranteed Retirement Accounts.”

Under this system, the government would contribute $600 annually to these accounts (indexed for inflation) and workers would put in 5% of their yearly pay, with government paying a 3% rate of return in interest.

Once again, big government proponents are acting on their belief that they know how to handle your money better than you do.  They’ve already robbed the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for their endeavors, so it makes sense that they would make a play for the rest of your retirement.

Just last night, Don Rasmussen informed me about recent events in Argentina, where President Cristina Fernandez signed a bill earlier this week to nationalize the country’s private pension funds.  We mentioned in passing that the U.S. was probably just a few steps away from such a move, but I never imagined I would be doing a blog post less than 24 hours later on Congress considering something so similar.

Read the original US News article on this here.

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Good Article on the Rally for the Republic – from The American Conservative

Ron Paul’s Party

Daniel McCarthy  – The American Conservative

September 22, 2008 Issue

While twitchy cops and party hacks congregated in St. Paul for the Republican Convention, 12,000 Ron Paul supporters assembled for the Rally for the Republic in Minneapolis. The counter-convention featured a dozen speakers—from libertarian luminaries Bill Kauffman and Lew Rockwell to ex-governors Jesse Ventura and Gary Johnson—plus musical acts Sara Evans and Aimee Allen (the freedom movement’s answer to Avril Levigne, with more talent and less tolerance for the Bilderberg Group). Barry Goldwater Jr. introduced Paul’s keynote.

John McCain’s big tent across the river brought together hawks of all persuasions, from Joe Lieberman to Sarah Palin to Rudy Giuliani. The Connecticut senator, as staunch an advocate for military adventurism as abortion, got a prime-time speaking slot. A certain pro-life, antiwar Texan was persona non grata.

“We offered our services. We would have been glad to have an opportunity, we would have been pleased to participate,” Paul said. But “that wasn’t available to us.” McCain did not want his primary challenger even to be seen. “We had thought we would be able to go over, but my floor privileges have been strictly limited,” Paul revealed. “They’ve given me a pass that is second class.”

That pass required that the congressman enter and leave only by a certain door, be chaperoned by a McCain flack, and not bring any staff. Paul had no intention of attending under those conditions. Yet he didn’t get mad—he got even. “We still have enough freedom in this country to get involved and become the party,” he said, “and that’s been our approach rather than complaining about it.”

“The Republican Party ought to be welcoming me because I appeal to young people,” Paul contended. Indeed, one of the most remarkable things about Paul’s presidential campaign was its ability to energize youth around the unlikeliest of causes: “One of the most exciting issues that we talk about with young people is monetary policy.”

Even more than the Iraq War, the Federal Reserve stokes the passions of Paul’s supporters. During his keynote, the Target Center shook to chants of “End the Fed!” Months earlier, during a Paul appearance at the University of Michigan, students burned Federal Reserve notes—money, or Uncle Sam’s facsimile thereof.

Impressive as the rally was, even more portentous may have been the 600 activists who turned out for training put on by Paul’s new organization, the Campaign for Liberty, in the days before. They sat through ten-and-a-half hours of political boot camp on Aug. 31 and another eight hours the next day. This was a promising start for the Campaign for Liberty, which aims to do for the small-government, antiwar side what the Christian Coalition did for religious conservatives in the early 1990s.

Yet it has tensions at the philosophical level. One activist observed that there seemed to be many “paleoconservatives” in the group’s leadership, while much of the grassroots were “anarcho-capitalists.” Paul recognizes the fault line. “I have many friends in the libertarian movement who look down on those of us who get involved in political activity,” he acknowledged, but “eventually, if you want to bring about changes … what you have to do is participate in political action.”

The Campaign for Liberty’s organizers emphasized that though there might be few candidates Paul supporters can get behind, there are always ballot issues and legislation that the grassroots can organize to stop—tax hikes, gun registration, municipal bonds. Yet the great causes that animate the Paul coalition—war and monetary policy—are national. Paul is 73. If he doesn’t run in 2012, where will his supporters go?

One man eager to take up his banner is former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. “I wrote the book Don’t Start the Revolution Without Me. Well, I’m here,” he announced, hinting that “in 2012 we’ll give them a race they’ll never forget.” The former pro-wrestler was charismatic—and kooky. He teased the 9/11 “truther” contingent in the audience by asking why Osama bin Laden had not been formally charged with the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. That way lies madness. If Ventura is the future of the Paul movement, it will go the way of the Reform Party.

A better prospect for 2012 might be the rally’s other ex-governor—Gary Johnson of New Mexico. He doesn’t have Ventura’s presence, but he’s witty. Describing his opposition to mandatory-helmet laws for motorcyclists, he said, “We have an organ donor shortage. If you want to ride your motorcycle without a helmet, go ahead.” Johnson is even more of a non-interventionist than his admirers had suspected. “We have a military presence in 155 countries,” he said, “We need to embark on a process of getting those 155 countries unoccupied, à la Ron Paul.”

The Rally for the Republic made plain that Ron Paul Republicans will have no truck with McCain or Obama. But is there any other politician they can support, besides Paul himself? More than just their movement is at stake: Paul’s revolution might be the last chance in a generation for sound money and a non-imperial foreign policy. 

The American Conservative welcomes letters to the editor.
Send letters to: letters@amconmag.com

Ron Paul’s Address at the National Press Club

Ron Paul Statement to the National Press Club

September 10th, 2008, posted by Don Rasmussen at The Campaign for Liberty

The American Majority

The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy.

Carroll Quigley – Author of Tragedy & Hope

The coverage of the presidential election is designed to be a grand distraction. This is not new, but this year, it’s more so than ever.

Pretending that a true difference exists between the two major candidates is a charade of great proportion. Many who help to perpetuate this myth are frequently unaware of what they are doing and believe that significant differences actually do exist. Indeed, on small points there is the appearance of a difference. The real issues, however, are buried in a barrage of miscellaneous nonsense and endless pontifications by robotic pundits hired to perpetuate the myth of a campaign of substance.

The truth is that our two-party system offers no real choice. The real goal of the campaign is to distract people from considering the real issues.

Influential forces, the media, the government, the privileged corporations and moneyed interests see to it that both party’s candidates are acceptable, regardless of the outcome, since they will still be in charge. It’s been that way for a long time. George Wallace was not the first to recognize that there’s “not a dime’s worth of difference” between the two parties. There is, though, a difference between the two major candidates and the candidates on third-party tickets and those running as independents.

The two parties and their candidates have no real disagreements on foreign policy, monetary policy, privacy issues, or the welfare state. They both are willing to abuse the Rule of Law and ignore constitutional restraint on Executive Powers. Neither major party champions free markets and private-property ownership.

Those candidates who represent actual change or disagreement with the status quo are held in check by the two major parties in power, making it very difficult to compete in the pretend democratic process. This is done by making it difficult for third-party candidates to get on the ballots, enter into the debates, raise money, avoid being marginalized, or get fair or actual coverage. A rare celebrity or a wealthy individual can, to a degree, overcome these difficulties.

The system we have today allows a President to be elected by as little as 32% of the American people, with half of those merely voting for the “lesser of two evils”. Therefore, as little as 16% actually vote for a president. No wonder when things go wrong, anger explodes. A recent poll shows that 60% of the American people are not happy with the two major candidates this year.

This system is driven by the conviction that only a major party candidate can win. Voters become convinced that any other vote is a “wasted” vote. It’s time for that conclusion to be challenged and to recognize that the only way not to waste one’s vote is to reject the two establishment candidates and join the majority, once called silent, and allow the voices of the people to be heard.

We cannot expect withdrawal of troops from Iraq or the Middle East with either of the two major candidates. Expect continued involvement in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Georgia. Neither hints of a non-interventionist foreign policy. Do not expect to hear the rejection of the policy of supporting the American world empire. There will be no emphasis in protecting privacy and civil liberties and the constant surveillance of the American people. Do not expect any serious attempt to curtail the rapidly expanding national debt. And certainly, there will be no hint of addressing the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationship with big banks and international corporations and the politicians.

There is only one way that these issues can get the attention they deserve: the silent majority must become the vocal majority.

This message can be sent to our leaders by not participating in the Great Distraction—the quadrennial campaign and election of an American President without a choice. Just think of how much of an edge a Vice President has in this process, and he or she is picked by a single person—the party’s nominee. This was never intended by the Constitution.

Since a principled non-voter sends a message, we must count them and recognize the message they are sending as well. The non-voters need to hold their own “election” by starting a “League of Non-voters” and explain their principled reasons for opting out of this charade of the presidential elective process. They just might get a bigger membership than anyone would guess.

Write-in votes should not be discouraged, but the electoral officials must be held accountable and make sure the votes are counted. But one must not be naïve and believe that under today’s circumstances one has a chance of accomplishing much by a write-in campaign.

The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two-party system, which in reality is a one-party system with no possible chance for the changes to occur which are necessary to solve our economic and foreign policy problems. This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment principled candidates—Baldwin, Barr, McKinney, Nader, and possibly others. (listed alphabetically)

Yes, these individuals do have strong philosophic disagreements on various issues, but they all stand for challenging the status quo—those special interest who control our federal government. And because of this, on the big issues of war, civil liberties, deficits, and the Federal Reserve they have much in common. People will waste their vote in voting for the lesser of two evils. That can’t be stopped overnight, but for us to have an impact we must maximize the total votes of those rejecting the two major candidates.

For me, though, my advice—for what it’s worth—is to vote! Reject the two candidates who demand perpetuation of the status quo and pick one of the alternatives that you have the greatest affinity to, based on the other issues.

A huge vote for those running on principle will be a lot more valuable by sending a message that we’ve had enough and want real change than wasting one’s vote on a supposed lesser of two evils.

Ron Paul Rally for the Republic Tickets on Sale : Info Here

Friday, July 25, 2008

It’s time to buy your tickets! Today at 10:00AM CST tickets go on sale at www.ticketmaster.com for the Rally for the Republic in Minneapolis on September 2.

All Tickets sell for $17.76. The best seats will go fast so be the first in line at 10:00AM CST. You can buy up to 8 tickets for you, your family, friends, and co-workers.

Are you going to participate in the Ticket Bomb? Can we sell out the Target Center?

All eyes will be on us in Minneapolis as Republican National Committee delegates ascend on the Twin Cities. All RNC delegates and alternates who want to attend our event will have a reserved seat. This is our greatest opportunity to make a statement and take our Party back. Join us in Minneapolis on September 2 as we witness history.

A true revolution is occurring. It’s time to stand up for our Constitution and restore the republic!

Every major broadcasting network is lining up to cover our event and the kickoff of the Campaign for Liberty. Stories have already been written by the Associated Press, ABC, CBS, CNN, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Minneapolis Star Tribune, just to name a few.

We will be treated all day by musicians, special guests, and performers. And the evening will afford a legendary speech by Dr. Ron Paul. This will be the most courageous moment of Dr. Paul’s career. You won’t want to miss it.

See you in Minneapolis,

The Campaign for Liberty Team

P.S – It is important to start planning your transportation and lodging accommodations right now. Visit our lodging page for available hotels, camp sites, and RV Parks. Make arrangements with your Meetup group or State Coordinator to be in Minneapolis September 2. Buy your tickets now before it is too late!

28,000 Public Comments and 12,000 Warm-Bodied Texans get the TX DoT to back down on NAFTA Superhighway…For Now

Ron Paul’s weekly column at the House of Representatives’ website posts this information:

I am pleased to report that last week we received notice that the Texas Department of Transportation will recommend the I-69 Project be developed using existing highway facilities instead of the proposed massive new Trans Texas Corridor/NAFTA Superhighway. According to the Texas Transportation Commissioner, consideration is no longer being given to new corridors and other proposals for a new highway footprint for this project. A major looming threat to property rights and national sovereignty is removed with this encouraging announcement.

Public outcry was cited as the main reason for this decision. I was very impressed to learn that the TxDOT received nearly 28,000 public comments on this matter, and that some 12,000 Texans attended the 47 public hearings held earlier this year. They could not ignore this tsunami of strong public opinion against the proposed plans. I was especially proud of how informed my constituents became on the subject, and how eloquently and respectfully they spoke and conducted themselves, considering how upsetting the plans were for our communities in Texas.

This comment was from June 23, 2008 [Click here to see the original].