Libertarians for Ron Paul » 2008 » February
Congressman Ron Paul has used his campaign to point out the connection between interventionist foreign policy and the monetary problems caused by current government actions. Steven Horwitz has an in-depth analysis of the link between money and foreign policy in the January-February issue of The Freeman:
William F. Buckley,Jr died yesterday, at the age of 81. He devoted much of his life to creating a conservative movement committed to limited government and individual freedom. David Boaz of The Cato Institute reflects on Buckley’s movement, and how modern conservatives have become cheerleaders for big government: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9245
Mr Boaz notes that “Bill Buckley had come to recognize the degraded state of American conservatism. In 2006, he deplored Bush’s “absence of effective conservative ideology — with the result that he ended up being very extravagant in domestic spending.” And he noted the failure of Bush’s expansive, interventionist foreign policy.”
The Indiana Libertarian Party has nominated several candidates who will be running active campaigns challenging the pro-government parties in November.
Andy Horning is the Libertarian candidate for Governor of Indiana. Andy Horning is a long-time Libertarian activist, and he has run for Congress several times as a Libertarian. In 2004 Andy Horning received 44% of the vote as the Republican candidate for Congress in the 7th district, running on a platform of less goverment. This year, Andy Horning is backing Ron Paul for President.
More on Andy Horning’s campaign @ http://www.horningforgovernor.com/
Sean Shepard is the Libertarian candidate for Congress in Indiana’s 7th District. A long-time Libertarian activist, Mr Shepard managed Andy Horning’s run for Congress in 2004.
Sean Shepard calls for bringing the troops home from Iraq, and favors ending the Income Tax. More on Sean Shepard for Congress @ http://shepard2008.com/
“Few presidents have interpreted their authority more broadly than George W. Bush. He has claimed the right to defy a federal wiretapping law, used “signing statements” to nullify provisions of law that he dislikes, ordered Americans arrested on U.S. soil to be held as enemy combatants without access to the courts, and generally taken a view of his power that echoes Buzz Lightyear: “To infinity … and beyond.”"
“He has had fervent support from legal thinkers who worship at the altar of a strong executive branch. The United States signed an international convention banning torture, which is also against federal law, but former Bush Justice Department official John Yoo, asked in 2005 if the president could encourage a suspected terrorist to talk by crushing his child’s genitals, didn’t say no. He said, “I think it depends on why the president thinks he needs to do that.”"
“This indulgent approach contrasts with the thinking of conservatives 50 years ago, who thought the presidency was evolving toward virtual dictatorship. A lot of today’s conservatives agree, but wish it would evolve faster.”
Full column by Stephen Chapman @ http://www.reason.com/news/show/125106.html
Stephen Chapman looks at Hillary Clinton’s proposals for dealing with the mortgage crisis, and tries to count up the cost http://www.reason.com/news/show/125030.html
Former Congressman Bob Barr, now a member of the Libertarian National Committee, issued this statement after the LNC passed a resolution for withdrawal from Iraq:
“Given the lack of action by both the Democrats and Republicans to find a swift and safe conclusion to American adventurism in Iraq, it is imperative that the Libertarian Party stand resolute in its calls for ending the war without undue delay. The Libertarian Party refuses to back down on this paramount issue, even if we are the only Party standing up for the safety of our troops, the respect of our nation, and the stability of our economy. If President Bush wants this war, then he needs to go through Congress, as the Constitution requires the president to do. The lives of our troops and the wealth of our nation need protection from the adventurous whims of single individuals. Our current course of foreign policy jeopardizes the future of this great nation, and as long as the Libertarian Party has a voice, we will continue to fight to bring our men and women in uniform home as quickly and as safely as possible.”
The national Libertarian Party (LP) organization has taken their strongest position in favor of withdrawal from Iraq. At their national committee meeting yesterday in Las Vegas, the following resolution passed overwhelmingly.
WHEREAS the government of the United States should return to its historical libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances, foreign quarrels, and military adventures and;
WHEREAS the armed forces of the United States have invaded Iraq, a foreign nation that neither directly attacked nor imminently threatened to attack the United States and;
WHEREAS the injustice and imprudence of this invasion cannot be undone by the continued presence of the armed forces of the United States in Iraq and;
WHEREAS the stability and security of Iraq lie outside the jurisdiction of the government of the United States;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Libertarian Party National Committee calls on the government of the United States to withdraw the armed forces of the United States without undue delay.
“Republican presidential front-runner Sen. John McCain on Thursday defended his statement that U.S. troops could spend “maybe 100″ years in Iraq — saying he was referring to a military presence similar to what the nation already has in places like Japan, Germany and South Korea.” source:http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/14/mccain.king/index.html
Of course, we kept troops in Germany & Japan to defend those countries from Russia & China. Who does Senator McCain propose we are defending Iraq from?
Maryland has a very active grassroots campaign to support Ron Paul, who won 6% of the vote in the Maryland primary. On the same day, Ron Paul supporters were nominated for Congress in 3 districts,
In the 2nd District, Richard Matthews won the GOP primary without opposition. His campaign site is http://www.richardmatthews.org/
In the 4th District, Peter James won a contested primary to get the Republican nomination for Congress. The incumbent Albert Wynn was defeated in the Democratic primary by an antiwar progressive candidate. Peter James has a campaign site @ http://www.peterjames08.com/
In the 7th District, Dr Mike Hargadon was nominated by the Republicans for Congress. Dr Hargadon has been active with the Constitution Party, but joined the Ron Paul Revolution for this election. His campaign site is http://www.hargadonforuscongress.com/
With the Republican nomination going to the pro-war Sen McCain, libertarians and antiwar conservatives have to elect people to Congress who will oppose the bipartisan statists and the warmongers. Send your contributions to these candidates or others identifed @ www.libertycongress.org
“Some conservatives might conclude that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s endorsement of presidential candidate John McCain only proves that true conservatism has left the Republican Party. McCain has indeed diverged from supposed conservative values in many areas. And so has our governor.”
“McCain criticized President George Bush’s tax cuts. Schwarzenegger has delivered some of the largest bond increases in California history….
“Republican politicians in recent times have sided with big government advocates, despite their rhetoric. President Bush gave us No Child Left Behind, enormous prescription drug entitlements, immense corporate regulation, and staggering spikes in domestic spending. His father raised taxes and signed the Americans With Disabilities Act. No less a Republican hero than Ronald Reagan raised Social Security taxes, increased tariffs, busted the budget and – in his earlier years as California governor – expanded social programs, passed the largest tax increase in state history, and signed landmark gun control legislation. Almost every Republican president in the last century oversaw significant expansions of government size and power.”
“So why have many conservative intellectuals and commentators tolerated all this social spending, gun control, meddling in education, violations of civil liberties and high taxes and debt? One reason: War.”
Full column by Anthony Gregary @ http://ca.lp.org/lp20080204.shtml