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Libertarians Help GOP Mourn

Libertarian Party sends condolences to the Republican National Committee

With the rise of John McCain, LP offers sympathy for the death of small-government values within the GOP

     Washington, D.C. - Following a solid McCain victory in the Super Tuesday primaries, the Libertarian Party has sent Republican headquarters a funeral wreath marking the death of limited-government values within the Republican Party.  The wreath was hand-delivered to the D.C. offices of the Republican National Committee.  "We simply felt the need to express our heartfelt sympathy for the Republican Party as they undergo this tough time within their party," says Libertarian Party National Media Coordinator Andrew Davis, who delivered the wreath. 

"Given that it has become readily apparent that Senator McCain will soon be the presidential nominee for the Republican Party," reads a card that accompanied the wreath addressed to RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, "we, the staff of the Libertarian National Committee, send our condolences to you upon the death of small-government principles within the GOP." 

The note continues:

Libertarians encourage competition within both the free-market and politics. Unfortunately, with the rise of John McCain and the big-spending practices of the Bush administration, the two-party system has emerged as representing only one philosophy - big-government liberalism.

With your loss, the Libertarian Party will continue to move forward to represent those American patriots who still believe in smaller government, lower taxes and more individual freedom.

"McCain's Super Tuesday win marks the death of limited government values within the Republican Party, which had struggled with its principles throughout the Bush administration," says Shane Cory, executive director of the Libertarian Party. "It is a day of mourning for the few remaining small-government Republicans."

Libertarian Doug Burlison Wins City Council Seat

POST ELECTION UPDATE: HE WINS! CONGRATULATIONS DOUG!

In addition, Cynthia Rushefsky Pounds Sheila Wright at the polls, winning the Zone 2 seat:

WRIGHT .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       468   19.58
RUSHEFSKY  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    1,922   80.42

Update: Burlison was recently interviewed by Vince Jericho on KSGF Newstalk Radio. You can listen to podcasts here.

***

Reposted by permission. Original article here.

By Keith Rodgers

 

Being an off-year election season, we turn our focus towards local issues and, since all politics is local in the end, what better place to start than a change at City Council?

That change starts with electing a candidate who believes in the ideals of limited government, being a good steward of the public treasury and public trust, and the importance of community involvement in solving issues.

Doug Burlison (upper left picture) garnered almost half the vote in his previous City Council bid in 2004, against an incumbent with more resources. Two of his Council platform issues have turned into reality -- an "Adopt-A-Stream" program, similar to the street cleanup model and, more importantly, his drive to have the city of Springfield audited by the State Auditors Office is currently underway, a task that has never been done in the entire history of the city.

As a candidate for the 7th Congressional seat, Doug challenged business-as-usual Republicans and Democrats by offering the public a no-nonsense, liberty-oriented choice. Now Doug brings with him, to this non-partisan, non-paid Council seat, the core beliefs of the Libertarian Party -- limited government, fiscal responsibility, and the accountability and responsiveness to the public that ALL public servants should have.

You can visit Doug's website at http://www.voteburlison.org/ for more information. Help put a true champion of liberty in local politics.

Ron Paul Link Round Up

*Ron Paul's site will be set up to take online donations on Tuesday, Feb. 20th.

NewsMax.com, Dave Eberhart: "...this independent thinking man is no slave to a strict libertarian agenda — voting against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (bigger government, he says), supporting border security, and opposing illegal immigration — all postures that would rattle the Libertarian core."

SmallGovTimes: "Unfortunately, the American people have grown comfortable with big federal government control, and Paul’s campaign knows it will be a tough battle positioning him for victory in 2008. “There is no question that it is an uphill battle,“ Kent Snyder, the chairman of Paul’s exploratory committee, said. "

George Will: "Paul, who really believes in limited government, will infiltrate that confabulation of sedate candidates in order, he says, to find out 'how many real Republicans are left.' This could be entertaining, meaning embarrassing." (Hat Tip: The Liberty Papers)

Politizine: "I don't agree with everything, but given the choice between him and some of the other Republicans, I would take him in a heartbeat. He knows in his core what freedom means."

Reason Hit & Run, Dave Weigel: "...maybe there's not a web conspiracy to promote Paul. Maybe (1) the other Republican candidates are gobsmackingly lame and (2)lots of libertarians use this fancy 'internet' contraption."

The New Liberty: "...maybe it is just tolerance for the usual BS from the other candidates who flip flop, waiver, and sell out on the issues has reached critical mass, and it’s being shown on the Internet, the place where the voices of the little people can be most loudly heard."

AgricultureOnline: "Representative Ron Paul (R-TX), is a chief sponsor of H.R. 1009, the "Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007.

'It is indefensible that the United States government prevents American farmers from growing this crop. The prohibition subsidizes farmers in countries from Canada to Romania by eliminating American competition and encourages jobs in industries such as food, auto parts and clothing that utilize industrial hemp to be located overseas instead of in the United States," said Dr. Paul. "By passing the Industrial Hemp Farming Act the House of Representatives can help American farmers and reduce the trade deficit- all without spending a single taxpayer dollar.'

...Farmers in Canada have reported that hemp is one of the most profitable crops that they can grow. "

Yannone: "When Ron Paul talks about reducing the size and scope of government, he is not talking about privatizing anything. He's simply talking about obeying the Constitution. That's the kind of scary talk that causes Ron Paul's 534 fellow congressmen--those in the House and Senate who line their pockets as they busy themselves redistributing your income--to hyperventilate, sweat, and swoon."

Jack Stevison: "Ron Paul Gets It"

News Blaze: "Ron Paul has been unafraid to criticize the neocon Bush Administration, and has been highly critical of their excessive spending."

Blogcritics: "He's earned a reputation as a pain in the ass to every fat cat and party hack on both sides of the aisle. Standing alone or with a few allies from the Republican Liberty Caucus he's always there to raise the uncomfortable truth or ask the question no one else will ask. He's voted against so many bills in his 18 years - including every budget and every expansion of government's size or power - that he's earned the title 'Dr. No'. He's one of very few representatives in Congress who can be counted on to always vote their conscience without making any political compromises."

Technocrat: "...For those who aren't aware of him, he is the major thorn in the Rs side on things (because he is traditional, not even close to being a neocon)"

ed: One thing's for sure, if Ron Paul starts polling too well, Sean Hannity's hair will catch on fire. Wouldn't that be something to see:)

Springfield Watch Party

Here's the scoop on the Libertarian's election night watch party:

The Greene County Libertarian Party will be holding their Election Day watch party on Tuesday, November 7th, starting at 7:00 PM at Ebbet’s Field, 1027 E. Walnut.

Local Libertarian candidates and supporters will be in attendance to watch the election results. The public is invited to attend.

Election night contacts:

Keith L. Rodgers, Chairman of the Greene County Libertarian Party and 134th House District candidate: Cell phone - 880-7864; pager – 841-6353

GCLP phone number: 300-9148

Bush's Base Betrayal

Richard Viguerie has an excellent article in today's Washington Post about how conservatives have been utterly betrayed by the President and the GOP.

Conservatives tolerated the No Child Left Behind Act, an extensive intrusion into state and local education, and the budget-busting Medicare prescription drug benefit. They tolerated the greatest increase in spending since Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society. They tolerated Bush's failure to veto a single bill, and his refusal to enforce immigration laws. They even tolerated his signing of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance overhaul, even though Bush's opposition to that measure was a key reason they backed him over Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in the 2000 primaries.

Bush talks the talks, but seldom walks the walk.

Conservatives can thank President Bush for Judges Roberts and Alito, (though Alito came after the disastrous nomination of Harriet Miers).

And we have him to thank for tax cuts and a booming economy (of which the average Joe seems blissfully unaware).

Sixty-five months into Bush's presidency, conservatives feel betrayed. After the "Bridge to Nowhere" transportation bill, the Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination and the Dubai Ports World deal, the immigration crisis was the tipping point for us.

Viguerie notes the obvious:

[...]

congressional Republicans have sold themselves to conservatives as the continuation of the Reagan revolution. We were told that they would take on the Washington special interests -- that they would, in essence, tear down K Street and sow the earth with salt to make sure nothing ever grew there again.

Instead, that earth is hog wallow. Republicans have tasted pork and can't get enough of "the other white meat."

He continues:

But unhappy conservatives should be taken seriously. When conservatives are unhappy, bad things happen to the Republican Party.

[...]

In 1992, conservatives were so unhappy with President George H.W. Bush's open disdain for them that they staged an open rebellion, first with the candidacy of Patrick J. Buchanan and then with Ross Perot. The result was an incumbent president receiving a paltry 37 percent of the vote. In 1998, conservatives were demoralized by congressional Republicans' wild spending and their backing away from conservative ideas. The result was an unexpected loss of seats in the House and the resignation of Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).

The current record of Washington Republicans is so bad that, without a drastic change in direction, millions of conservatives will again stay home this November.

And maybe they should. Conservatives are beginning to realize that nothing will change until there's a change in the GOP leadership. If congressional Republicans win this fall, they will see themselves as vindicated, and nothing will get better.

Exactly.

Does that mean that I suggest that conservatives voice their discontent by voting for Democrats? Only if you're a Socialist at heart.

Can the Libertarian Party capitalize on the Republican disaster? (To be continued)

Link: Washington Post: Bush's Base Betrayal.

Check out the following for more on this subject: The foolishness of tribal loyalties