Comments on: Saturday morning’s General Session at the ‘Defending the American Dream’ Summit

By: joeydauben

joeydauben — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:26:37 +0000

Hey, Austin, guys, here's a photo of you from the AFP summit: Photo of Austin Cassidy talking with Virginia AG Bob McDonnell

By: G.E.

G.E. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:50:00 +0000

Itâ€™s capitalism, but not free market. Corporatism, I guess.

True. Marx coined the term. We abuse it.

Reactionary opposition to female empowerment.

Agreed.

By: paulie cannoli

paulie cannoli — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:47:50 +0000

Better question: Why are they â€œanti-choiceâ€?

Reactionary opposition to female empowerment.

By: paulie cannoli

paulie cannoli — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:43:11 +0000

The socialists had it right when they said war is about profits. But that ainâ€™t capitalism.

It’s capitalism, but not free market. Corporatism, I guess.

By: joeydauben

joeydauben — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:59:53 +0000

Austin, it was good meeting you at the AFP Summit; I’ve got a photo of Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell and you in the RightOnline.com Blogger’s Row room; I’ll e-mail it to you as soon as I get back to my office tomorrow morning.

I wanted to stress that I believe in the mission, the organization and the leadership of the Americans For Prosperity, especially that of the Texas chapter under Peggy Venable. There’s simply no other “lobbying” organization for taxpayers than AFP in my view.

However, allow me to also say that – since I was there this year and last year – it was a bit demoralizing being in the Sea of Socialism and being among a smattering of true free market fans.

David Koch is someone I look up to not because of his support for GOP candidates, but due to the fact that he’s simply living the American dream and then putting his billions where his views are into the various organizations listed above.

No, it’s not a pure “Libertarian Party” outlet, but it’s also non-partisan so I’m fairly certain that if LPers were to become active in the chapters – especially in Texas under Venable – then you would see a lobbying force that is/was/will be very powerful.

I had fun, but at the same time I feel sorry for our country right now. It’s simply inexcusable to bailout Wall Street and then play to people’s fears of, “what if Obama is elected?”

I’m still very disappointed that the Libertarian Party, nor its apparatus outside of say, Bureaucrash, made a presence there.

Oh well.

By: Austin Cassidy

Austin Cassidy — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:42:24 +0000

I think AFP had more members at this convention than the America First Party has ever or will ever have.

By: chinese_conservative

chinese_conservative — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 08:02:27 +0000

The initials AFP are confusing because at first I thought it was the America First Party.

By: G.E.

G.E. — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:19:08 +0000

Red – Better question: Why are they “anti-choice”? It can’t be out of respect for human life, like you and I are, when they are willing to see an infinite number of people die in the defense of Israel.

By: G.E.

G.E. — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:18:10 +0000

Koch and criminal band fund tReason and Stato, which are ostensibly “libertarian.” tReason is neck deep up Barr’s ass.

By: RedPhillips

RedPhillips — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:34:34 +0000

“a strong majority are anti-choice on abortion”

Those crazy cats. How could anyone be against baby killing?

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:03:53 +0000

Austin,
I’m curious to know the third party angle as well. I’m not questioning your judgment in covering it but I am interested in the mood of the attendees. You mentioned in an earlier post that a significant number were card-carrying Libertarians. How is this Libertarian crowd interacting with the neo-con lineup of speakers. And what is Koch’s thought of them, since he went neo-con several years ago and I’m not aware of any active connection he has with Libertarians.

Wes Benedict’s insight on the Texas group was interesting, how does it play out in the national organization?

By: G.E.

G.E. — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:40:58 +0000

a strong majority are anti-choice on abortion.

Good.

While AFP clearly advocates free markets, … but plenty support the war

Incompatible.

By: wesbenedict

wesbenedict — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:36:08 +0000

One concrete example of the problem in Texas. Peggy Venable is the Texas Director. She’s super nice and invites me and Libertarian members in general to participate and she has been a guest speaker at many Libertarian Party conventions. But about a year ago, she was quoted in the paper as not being opposed to an expansion of the Austin Community College taxing district. Big Business in Texas likes taxpayer funded community colleges because they in effect subsidize training in areas that some big businesses specialize in. AFP gets some funding from big business, so AFP leaders probably feel obligated to support government community college expansion. I believe Peggy Venable wishes she could support more libertarian principles, but the funding of her organization is at stake.

By: wesbenedict

wesbenedict — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:22:22 +0000

I attended AFP’s Summit July 18-19 in Austin, Texas (my favorite city and state). Several Libertarian Party members did, as did Bob Barr as a guest speaker. Plenty of Ron Paul supporters as well. Texas has one of the most active AFP state affiliates (similar to the Libertarian Party–Texas is way more active than most states even when population size is factored in).

While there’s plenty of libertarian participation, the overall political make-up is like what is described above, regular Republicans and libertarian-leaning Republicans plus some independents and Libertarians.

Most participants are for low taxes, but plenty support the war, and a strong majority are anti-choice on abortion.

While AFP clearly advocates free markets, I question there effectiveness because in the end, they mostly complain about Democrats (if they complained about Republicans much, they’d lose their funding) and pretty much the Republican Party can take them for granted, though a small amount will vote Libertarian. They do provide some educational value.

I know most of the AFP staff in Texas fairly well and have worked with them on some projects. But again, when push comes to shove, Republicans can take them for granted.

By: G.E.

G.E. — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:15:31 +0000

My guess is no. These WSJ types are totally blind. They’re the type who criticize $6 million for a Woodstock museum but support a mutli-trillion-dollar bailout, and a $6-billion a day war.

The socialists had it right when they said war is about profits. But that ain’t capitalism.

By: darolew

darolew — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:14:05 +0000

“Is anyone talking about the War and foreign policy? Do you get any non-interventionist vibes from any of the speakers or attendees?”

I was wondering this as well.

By: RedPhillips

RedPhillips — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:52:47 +0000

Is anyone talking about the War and foreign policy? Do you get any non-interventionist vibes from any of the speakers or attendees?

By: Austin Cassidy

Austin Cassidy — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:52:18 +0000

Ross,

Sure, I may have done better explaining that. Although in my previous posts I’ve mentioned Koch quite a few times. He was Ed Clark’s running mate and the man who pumped the millions into that campaign that allowed them to buy quite a lot of television advertising.

By: Austin Cassidy

Austin Cassidy — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:51:07 +0000

Well, it was exciting rally music. The RNC’s musical selections lacked a lot. Not all my personal taste, but at least it was peppy.

By: darolew

darolew — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:03:15 +0000

“…the music is top notch…”

Creed? Bon Jovi? U2? Black Eyed Peas? I do not approve.