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December 2013 Open Thread

By on December 1, 2013 11:30 PM

Our monthly open thread. Post news tips about alt parties and independent candidates, discuss any story that should be posted here but has not yet been posted, or even delve into completely off-topic stuff….just avoid quarantined thread subject matter and things that could get us and/or you into legal trouble such as threats, libel, and copyright infringement.

News tips can also be sent to the IPR writers who have chosen to make their contact info available at https://independentpoliticalreport.com/about/.

It’s also become an IPR tradition to post videos in the open threads. This month, I’m going to post not one but two to kick things off:

246 Comments

  3. paulie December 26, 2013

    Hope you and everyone is having a great Yule!

  4. paulie December 26, 2013

    My winter solstice is pretty uneventful so far. Trying to decide between https://www.facebook.com/events/1446651095562491/

    Rainbow Sam’s Drunken Gathering

    Once again our good friend Rainbow Sam is holding a winter get together at his estate in South Alabama. And this year promises to be even bigger and better than last year.

    Camp outside or set up inside, bring friends and enjoy the holiday season!

    Events include, but are not limited to:
    Pottery Art Gallery
    Bonfire
    DJ
    Food
    Homebrew

    And

    https://www.facebook.com/events/549789745100610/
    LP Alabama 2nd Annual Inter-Holiday Party

    🙂

  5. paulie December 26, 2013

    I’m not working at the moment, but I’m not hurting for money either (actually managed to save up a little for once, and put some aside in cryptocurrencies, which have done very well over the 9 months or so I’ve had them…bit of a setback in the last couple of weeks, but still very well compared to other investments over the term) …so I’m enjoying the break. Spending some time at fleabags, some with friends and family.

  6. Marc Montoni December 26, 2013

    Nahhh…. But the sheer quantity leaves one wondering if you’re stuck in a fleabag in the middle of nowhere on the way to a job, with nothing else to do.

    <>

    Hope you had a good Christmas. Or Festivus (my personal favorite, because of the traditional Airing of Grievances). Or whatever your holiday brand may be.

  26. paulie December 26, 2013

    Police are much the same on the other side of the world….

  49. paulie December 25, 2013

    +1 to both langa’s and Jill’s comments. And a belated Happy Hanukkah to all! 🙂

  50. Jill Pyeatt December 25, 2013

    Thank you. Langa! I consider my involvement here to be a very lucky break and I’m proud of what we do, but it’s sure nice to hear that we’re appreciated.,

    Merry Christmas to you, too!

  51. langa December 25, 2013

    Merry Christmas to everyone at IPR. And even though it’s well past Thanksgiving, I would still like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributes to IPR, especially those who post the articles. Thanks, and keep up the good work!

  54. Jill Pyeatt December 22, 2013

    I see on Facebook that today is Gene Berkman’s birthday. Happy birthday. Gene!

  55. paulie December 20, 2013

    Tragedy of the commons? Dunno.

  56. Steve M December 20, 2013

    I am curious to hear the opinions of others on John Danaher’s essays on

    Libertarianism and the Basic Income

    “I have recently become interested in the case for an unconditional basic income (UBI). In large part, this has been prompted by an increasing fascination with the phenomenon of technological unemployment and its future progression. Some argue that increasing levels of technological unemployment, and the associated capital-labour income inequality that comes with this, would be best solved by something like the UBI. This strikes me as a prima facie plausible argument.”

    http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/danaher20131218

  59. paulie December 19, 2013

    It can and should be revived, and the question was being discussed in the comments on that thread.

    The LNC is not allowed to change basic dues by the current bylaws, BTW.

    As for LP News, that was discussed during the meeting but I may have failed to blog it. I was not able to get to nearly everything. I would appreciate if others who were there can fill in the gaps and possible mistakes in my coverage.

    Hopefully that thread is not over, but is just getting started. I can’t keep it going by myself so I would appreciate any and all help in doing so.

  60. George Phillies December 19, 2013

    @-1 from here The LNC Meeting Open thread seems to have dropped off the site, or is at least off the front page. Besides I had missed that the LNC had discussed what it was doing for its members.

  62. paulie December 19, 2013

    Maybe this subject belongs on the LNC meeting thread

    I think that would be good if you posted that there, yes.

    but can anyone confirm that Neale’s wife on the convention committee has put Michael Cloud in charge of the fundraising at the convention banquet next year? Maybe someone on the LNC can get confirmation.

    I haven’t heard or read any details at all about what the convention committees are doing. 100% of the joint time for the convention management and convention oversight committees in the LNC meeting were taken up by the floor fees debate and vote. I don’t recall any written reports, either.

    You could write the whole LNC just as I could, only difference being that you would have to put in all the addresses individually, but once you have done that once you could just copy and paste them any time.

    If it is true that Cloud is doing the fundraising, someone should start a petition to the LNC that says everyone will boycott the fundraising banquet in protest. They can either remove him from that position or else he speaks to an empty room.

    Well, that someone could be you, although it may be taken more seriously if you sign it with your actual name rather than as Columbo 🙂

    BTW did the LNC meeting thread get cooties or something? Why are all these followup discussions suddenly moving to open thread?

    I recommend reposting them there.

  63. paulie December 19, 2013

    However, if LNC dues have not kept up with inflation, neither have LNC member benefits. LPNews comes out rarely, not monthly.

    Why did we move this over to open thread? There’s a recent thred where this is being discussed.

    As for the substance: yes, LP News is now quarterly, because we don’t have enough money to make it monthly. If higher dues brought in enough money to make it monthly it would be. Also, I’ve suggested targeted fundraising, including for LP News potentially.

  65. Columbo December 19, 2013

    Just one more thing…

    Maybe this subject belongs on the LNC meeting thread but can anyone confirm that Neale’s wife on the convention committee has put Michael Cloud in charge of the fundraising at the convention banquet next year? Maybe someone on the LNC can get confirmation.

    Wouldn’t that be special? After he cheated last year to get elected, abused his position to take a pile of money from the party, the LNC is too chicken to do anything about it, and he gets rewarded by being put back in a place to get an advantage again for his reelection next year.

    If it is true that Cloud is doing the fundraising, someone should start a petition to the LNC that says everyone will boycott the fundraising banquet in protest. They can either remove him from that position or else he speaks to an empty room.

  66. George Phillies December 18, 2013

    However, if LNC dues have not kept up with inflation, neither have LNC member benefits. LPNews comes out rarely, not monthly.

  67. Dave Terry December 18, 2013

    “Also, in 2010, the same California Court of Appeals ruled that the Secretary of State should not investigate the qualifications of candidates for president. The decision in Keyes v Bowen, 189 Cal App 4th 647, says, “With respect to general elections, section 6901 directs that the Secretary of State must place on the ballot the names of the several political parties’ candidates.” The word “must” is in italics.”

    Absurd! The court ruled that the Sec’y of State “MUST” become an accessory to a political party’s deliberate violation of the Constitution of the United State??????

  70. Dave Terry December 18, 2013

    I’d love to believe these polls, but I recall that Gallup also predicted that Thomas Dewey would beat Truman. If this were true we would not have the kind of leadership in this country. that we have. Invariably, when this is tested, it is specific areas or departments of government that some folks rebuke, NOT government per se. The addiction to government will not be broken that easily.

    The task for libertarians is to ignore these polls and work to create an environment in which it IS true

  71. paulie December 18, 2013

    Thanks! Shared.

  73. Darryl W. Perry December 17, 2013

    @Dave – the NOTA option would not be binding

  74. Dave Terry December 17, 2013

    Additionally, there is a bill (HB1225) to add NOTA to the ballot,

    This is most idiotic proposal that I’ve seen in some time. What possible benefit would result from this? It would make more sense (at least more honest) to propose “abolish this office”
    on the ballot.

    Whereas no rational person is going to deliberately nullify their own representation in the Congress, it would (at best) simply require another election for that same office which would cost $millions and possibly result in the same non-result.

  76. Darryl W. Perry December 17, 2013

    Many thanks to Reps Steven Smith, Michael Sylvia & Tim O’Flaherty for introducing & co-sponsoring the Ballot Access Fairness Act!
    http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2014/HB1497.html

    Additionally, there is a bill (HB1225) to add NOTA to the ballot, and another bill to reduce the vote threshold for a party (HB1322)! http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2014/HB1225.html
    http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2014/HB1322.html

    Oddly, neither HB1225, nor HB1322 include a “financial impact” whereas the Department of State claims that HB1497 would cause the cost of elections to double!

  85. paulie December 16, 2013

    Libertarian Party shared a link.
    about an hour ago
    Do you like to write about Liberty? Or tangible ways to be free in a world of ever-growing oppression?

    One way to cut the government is to cut it out of your life. We don’t need a lot of what the government is selling.

    http://liberty.me/?ref=k1Otd

    Wake the #SleepingGiant

  86. Dave Terry December 16, 2013

    “If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state income tax.”

    “If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state sales tax.”

    “If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state property tax.”

    Pick ONE!!! If you are a serious candidate, you won’t publicize all three.
    Otherwise you won’t be able to address ANY other issue in your campaign.

  87. paulie December 16, 2013

    Arvin Vohra created the doc: "Candidate Pledges"

    Sign below by writing your name, what your’re running for, and the district. If you have been nominated by your state party, write (Nominated) after your name. Multiple candidates can, and should, sign the same pledge!

    FEDERAL PLEDGES

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to cut spending to 1992 levels, eliminate the Federal income tax, and abolish the IRS.

    Arvin Vohra, MD-4, Candidate for U.S. Congress (Nominated)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to end the War on Drugs, release all victimless drug “criminals” from prison, abolish the DEA, and cut taxes accordingly.

    Arvin Vohra, MD-4, Candidate for U.S. Congress (Nominated)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to abolish the NSA, consolidate our 18 spy agencies into one acocuntable agency, and cut taxes accordingly.

    Arvin Vohra, MD-4, Candidate for U.S. Congress (Nominated)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to cut military spending by 60% or more, and cut taxes accordingly.

    Arvin Vohra, MD-4, Candidate for U.S. Congress (Nominated)

    STATE PLEDGES (Feel free to add new ones!)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to end all mandatory schooling laws, and allow parents to choose the best education for their children – including private tutors, homeschool, religious schools, nonreligious schools, and learning centers.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to repeal all restrictions on firearm ownership, carry, and defensive use.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state income tax.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state sales tax.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state property tax.

    LOCAL PLEDGES

    Sign below by writing your name, what your’re running for, and the district. If you have been nominated by your state party, write (Nominated) after your name.

    FEDERAL PLEDGES

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to cut spending to 1992 levels, eliminate the Federal income tax, and abolish the IRS.

    Arvin Vohra, MD-4, Candidate for U.S. Congress (Nominated)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to end the War on Drugs, release all victimless drug “criminals” from prison, abolish the DEA, and cut taxes accordingly.

    Arvin Vohra, MD-4, Candidate for U.S. Congress (Nominated)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to abolish the NSA, consolidate our 18 spy agencies into one acocuntable agency, and cut taxes accordingly.

    Arvin Vohra, MD-4, Candidate for U.S. Congress (Nominated)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to cut military spending by 60% or more, and cut taxes accordingly.

    STATE PLEDGES (Feel free to add new ones!)

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to end all mandatory schooling laws, and allow parents to choose the best education for their children – including private tutors, homeschool, religious schools, nonreligious schools, and learning centers.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to repeal all restrictions on firearm ownership, carry, and defensive use.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state income tax.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state sales tax.

    If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the state property tax.

    LOCAL PLEDGES

    (more being worked on)
    (design team can create designs to go with these)

  88. Dave Terry December 16, 2013

    Mr. Frankel’s comment reminds me of a comment by Kurt Vonnegut, “The last thing I ever wanted was to be alive when the three most powerful people on the whole planet would be named Bush, Dick and Colon.”

    Joeforamerica, aka Joe the Plumber is right about ONE thing; It isn’t about right or left, it’s about right or wrong. And is he ever wrong about this amnesty farce.

  89. paulie December 16, 2013

    Agreed and … joeforamerica.com…what a shithole.

  90. Marc Montoni December 16, 2013

    If I were Edward Snowden, and a letter arrived promising amnesty in exchange for the remainder of the documents in my possession, I would ball it up and throw it in the fireplace.

    http://joeforamerica.com/2013/12/snowden-amnesty-return-documents/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=snowden-amnesty-return-documents

    Only a complete idiot would accept vague promises from liars — especially liars who associate with serial killers like that guy who shot all the Branch Davidians trying to flee the flames at Mt Carmel, and before that shot a woman holding a baby in Idaho.

    The only reason Obama has not had the stones to assassinate him is because he is in Russia. Russia isn’t a stone-age, weak country like Yemen.

  93. paulie December 14, 2013

    http://reason.com/archives/2013/12/12/the-vast-nsa-conspiracy

    http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/12/nsa-chief-no-other-way-but-to-keep-up-ma

    http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/13/reason-rupe-poll-americans-still-uncomfo
    Reason-Rupe Poll: Americans Still Uncomfortable with Cops and Drones

    http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/12/one-year-after-newtown-americans-not-int
    One Year After Newtown, Americans Not Interested in Gun Control

    More militarized police state public-private partnership (public costs for private profit) http://libertycrier.com/nypd-to-use-radiation-detectors-lock-down-times-square-during-superbowl

    http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/NJs_2_million_stapler_accident.html
    N.J. cop’s gun range stapler accident and its $2 million fallout
    One staple may cost New Jersey taxpayers more than $2 million.

    Government gone nuts http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/13/high-school-senior-suspended-for-one-ye
    High School Senior Suspended For One Year, Won’t Graduate on Time, Because He Hugged a Teacher

    http://libertycrier.com/six-year-old-boy-suspended…
    Six Year Old Boy Suspended For Kissing Girl On Hand

    http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/13/obamacare-has-lost-the-uninsured

    http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/13/try-not-to-laugh-at-the-latest-folks-los
    Try Not to Laugh at the Latest Folks Losing Their Health Coverage

    Sure, schadenfreude can be fun, but let’s not forget that the rolling disaster that is the Affordable Care Act is an opportunity to teach a valuable lesson…

  97. Dave Terry December 10, 2013

    Hey Marc, how FAR did it go? The Guinness World Record is 6 ft 4-1/2 in.

  98. Dave Terry December 10, 2013

    Hey Porky, any truth to the rumor that you are running on the ticket with Roseanne Barr.

    She doesn’t have control of HER mind either.

  99. Jed Ziggler December 10, 2013

    “Maybe not: ‘The American Nazi Party gets regular e-mails from non-whites who sympathize with our struggle…'”

    LOL, last I checked they’ve gone functionally inactive as far as politics are concerned, much like the CPUSA.

  100. Marc Montoni December 10, 2013

    Hold on just a minute. The reality is, dinga ding dang, my danga long ling long.

    Dammit, Matt, I just sprayed a Cheerios out of my nose because of you.

  101. paulie December 10, 2013

    D’oh! You beat me to it. I was going to correct that but too late.

    I must be getting old…another 30 years like this and I’ll be babbling incoherently all the time like Dave Terry 🙁

    And yes, I know Der Schwarzenfuhrer is working on the whole “foreign born” issue… but I didn’t know he was also working on getting the Vietnamese added to the Aryan fold.

  102. Steve M December 10, 2013

    under age? you just have to be 35 so 1981 + 35 = 2016 he other issues Ahnold is rumored to be working on.

  103. paulie December 10, 2013

    Maybe not: “The American Nazi Party gets regular e-mails from non-whites who sympathize with our struggle…”

  104. Jed Ziggler December 10, 2013

    She’s practically a shoe-in.

  105. paulie December 10, 2013

    Yes, I think she is definitely the leading non-white foreign born underage contender for the AFP nomination.

  106. Jed Ziggler December 10, 2013

    Remember Paulie, you don’t have to be eligible to run for President. Peta Lindsay. Roger Calero.

  107. paulie December 10, 2013

    Early frontrunner for American Freedom Party’s presidential nomination in 2016?

    “Tequila — born Tila Nguyen in Singapore in 1981 …”

    I see three problems with her prospective nomination there right off the bat: Nguyen…born in Singapore…born in 1981.

    But other than that it could definitely work 🙂

  109. paulie December 9, 2013

    Corrected version. I’ll email it to the list. No hurry.

    It seems the duopoly spin machine is at it again.

    Latest case in point: Rodney Lee Conover on the website of “Joe the Plumber”.
    http://joeforamerica.com/2013/11/phony-libertarian-fix-coming/

    Rodney Lee Conover writes: “…This guy Robert Sarvis who ran as a Libertarian against Ken Cucinelli in Virginia got 6.5% of the vote – enough to allow someone even more vile than Hillary Clinton to become Governor of Virginia – and if Democrats can skim off just 1% of the votes in a presidential election, that’s huge!”

    Well, for starters, out of the Sarvis voters who would have still voted if Sarvis had not been in the race, exit polls show that the Democrat, McAuliffe, would have received twice as many of their votes as Republican Cuccinelli. Thus the logic that Sarvis running “allowed” McAuliffe to win is faulty. Actually, Sarvis almost, but not quite, cost McAuliffe the election. The fault for Cuccinelli’s loss lies with his own coercive social issues positions, and can’t be blamed on Sarvis.

    Conover writes “We can argue all day long about whether or not Sarvis was serious about trying to win or not, but you can’t debate where his money came from. Democrat money bundling – specifically an Obama bundler from Texas threw in the lion’s share of the cash. Bottom line: Sarvis’ campaign was funded in large part by Democrats and this made Terry McCauliffe the winner. Them’s the facts.”

    There’s not a single fact there. Of course Sarvis was serious, but as for the money…. a Libertarian donor whose wife is a Democratic bundler paid some seed money to a Libertarian PAC with no strings attached. Some of that money was used to help get Virginia Libertarians (not only Sarvis, but also a whole slate of legislative candidates) on the ballot, something that should never have been necessary to begin with if it weren’t for the insane and ridiculous ballot access barriers to non-establishment party candidates running in the first place. The donation was made without any mention of Sarvis, and it is quite likely that the donor had never heard of Sarvis when he made the donation. It was nowhere near the “lion’s share” of Sarvis’ campaign funding, in fact it was not direct Sarvis campaign funding at all, and even if we count ballot access for all Virginia Libertarians as part of Sarvis’ campaign funding it is still a tiny fraction of all the money spent by and on behalf of Sarvis. Oh, and as we already learned, it didn’t make McAuliffe the winner – it almost cost him the election.

    Conover again: “Who could forget how Bill Clinton himself got into office? It was the third-party libertarian-type candidate Ross Perot who siphoned off a significant number of votes from Bush the elder to allow the long-shot hick to slip into power.”

    Yet another oft repeated falsehood. I’m not sure where the idea that Perot was a “libertarian-type” candidate came from, but regardless – actual exit polls showed that an equal number of Perot voters – 38% in each case – would have voted for Bush and Clinton had Perot not been in the race. The rest would not have voted at all, except for a small number who would have voted for a different non-duopoly candidate.

    “No one else of any quality would even run against Bush 41 because he was so popular after all those videos of Iraqi’s getting blown up by smart bombs, narrated by Norman Schwarzkopf. ”

    Sure, for a quick minute, the war gave Bush’s popularity a quick artificial spike, sort of like a crack binge. And then the inevitable crash – a persistent recession, broken promises of “no new taxes” and Republican culture wars combined to bring Daddy Bush down in much the same way that they brought down his son 16 years later. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in that family. But it’s so much easier to blame independent and third party candidates, “libertarian-type” or otherwise, than to accept responsibility, right?

    “…you could run a decent Libertarian campaign for President in 2016 and get who knows how many votes?”

    Finally Conover says something I agree with. Between the mounting world-policing wars, spiralling debt, unfunded mandates, corporate bailouts, domestic espionage and militarized police-prison-industrial complex perpetuated by Democrats and Republicans alike, more and more people are waking up to the need for a Libertarian option. Perhaps that’s why Libertarian voter registration nationwide is growing faster than any other party, and the percentage of voters not picking any party to register with rises year after year as well.

    For the first time in Pew poll history, a majority of Americans say the US government should mind its own business and stop policing the world. Also for the first time this year, a majority of all Americans favor ending marijuana prohibition, as the Libertarians have been advocating for decades, and some states are starting to do just that. Growing majorities of Americans also favor Libertarian positions on lower government spending, lower taxes, a balanced budget, an end to mass surveillance of citizens, marriage equality…and a record majority are dissatisfied with both major parties and believe a new major party is needed.

    Conover says that Libertarians are “just appealing to the idiots who don’t pay much attention to detail.” Actually that’s what his article tries to do…and fails.

    Time to give Conover a plumber’s flush, and let him have the last word:

    “…you could run a decent Libertarian campaign for President in 2016 and get who knows how many votes?”

    Yeah…who knows? Let’s find out!

  110. Jed Ziggler December 9, 2013

    If you want to correct it & email it to me I’d be happy to post it, though I may not get to it tonight.

  111. paulie December 9, 2013

    Oops …I did not notice that. That needs to be corrected if someone decides to repost it as an article here.

  112. Jed Ziggler December 9, 2013

    The only correction I would make, Paulie, is that Joe apparently didn’t write it. It was posted to his website by someone named Rodney Lee Conover. Does that make a difference? I’ll let others decide.

    You’re spot on though. I made several similar points on Twitter, though not as eloquent as I was limited to 140 characters. We need to start fighting back on this now, so we don’t get “Cooched” like the GOP tried to do to the Sarvis campaign in the Virginia race.

  117. paulie December 9, 2013

    I guess it depends on how you define “success…”

  118. paulie December 9, 2013

    http://www.livefreeblog.com/it_seems_the_duopoly_spin_machine_is_at_it_again

    By Paulie – Posted by LiveFreeBlog.com
    It seems the duopoly spin machine is at it again.

    Latest case in point: Joe the Plumber.
    http://joeforamerica.com/2013/11/phony-libertarian-fix-coming/

    Joe, the former plumber, writes: “…This guy Robert Sarvis who ran as a Libertarian against Ken Cucinelli in Virginia got 6.5% of the vote – enough to allow someone even more vile than Hillary Clinton to become Governor of Virginia – and if Democrats can skim off just 1% of the votes in a presidential election, that’s huge!”

    Well, for starters, out of the Sarvis voters who would have still voted if Sarvis had not been in the race, exit polls show that the Democrat, McAuliffe, would have received twice as many of their votes as Republican Cuccinelli. Thus the logic that Sarvis running “allowed” McAuliffe to win is faulty. Actually, Sarvis almost, but not quite, cost McAuliffe the election. The fault for Cuccinelli’s loss lies with his own coercive social issues positions, and can’t be blamed on Sarvis.

    Joe writes “We can argue all day long about whether or not Sarvis was serious about trying to win or not, but you can’t debate where his money came from. Democrat money bundling – specifically an Obama bundler from Texas threw in the lion’s share of the cash. Bottom line: Sarvis’ campaign was funded in large part by Democrats and this made Terry McCauliffe the winner. Them’s the facts.”

    There’s not a single fact there. Of course Sarvis was serious, but as for the money…. a Libertarian donor whose wife is a Democratic bundler paid some seed money to a Libertarian PAC with no strings attached. Some of that money was used to help get Virginia Libertarians (not only Sarvis, but also a whole slate of legislative candidates) on the ballot, something that should never have been necessary to begin with if it weren’t for the insane and ridiculous ballot access barriers to non-establishment party candidates running in the first place. The donation was made without any mention of Sarvis, and it is quite likely that the donor had never heard of Sarvis when he made the donation. It was nowhere near the “lion’s share” of Sarvis’ campaign funding, in fact it was not direct Sarvis campaign funding at all, and even if we count ballot access for all Virginia Libertarians as part of Sarvis’ campaign funding it is still a tiny fraction of all the money spent by and on behalf of Sarvis. Oh, and as we already learned, it didn’t make McAuliffe the winner – it almost cost him the election.

    Joe again: “Who could forget how Bill Clinton himself got into office? It was the third-party libertarian-type candidate Ross Perot who siphoned off a significant number of votes from Bush the elder to allow the long-shot hick to slip into power.”

    Yet another oft repeated falsehood. I’m not sure where the idea that Perot was a “libertarian-type” candidate came from, but regardless – actual exit polls showed that an equal number of Perot voters – 38% in each case – would have voted for Bush and Clinton had Perot not been in the race. The rest would not have voted at all, except for a small number who would have voted for a different non-duopoly candidate.

    “No one else of any quality would even run against Bush 41 because he was so popular after all those videos of Iraqi’s getting blown up by smart bombs, narrated by Norman Schwarzkopf. ”

    Sure, for a quick minute, the war gave Bush’s popularity a quick artificial spike, sort of like a crack binge. And then the inevitable crash – a persistent recession, broken promises of “no new taxes” and Republican culture wars combined to bring Daddy Bush down in much the same way that they brought down his son 16 years later. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in that family. But it’s so much easier to blame independent and third party candidates, “libertarian-type” or otherwise, than to accept responsibility, right?

    “…you could run a decent Libertarian campaign for President in 2016 and get who knows how many votes?”

    Finally Joe says something I agree with. Between the mounting world-policing wars, spiralling debt, unfunded mandates, corporate bailouts, domestic espionage and militarized police-prison-industrial complex perpetuated by Democrats and Republicans alike, more and more people are waking up to the need for a Libertarian option. Perhaps that’s why Libertarian voter registration nationwide is growing faster than any other party, and the percentage of voters not picking any party to register with rises year after year as well.

    For the first time in Pew poll history, a majority of Americans say the US government should mind its own business and stop policing the world. Also for the first time this year, a majority of all Americans favor ending marijuana prohibition, as the Libertarians have been advocating for decades, and some states are starting to do just that. Growing majorities of Americans also favor Libertarian positions on lower government spending, lower taxes, a balanced budget, an end to mass surveillance of citizens, marriage equality…and a record majority are dissatisfied with both major parties and believe a new major party is needed.

    Joe says that Libertarians are “just appealing to the idiots who don’t pay much attention to detail.” Actually that’s what his article tries to do…and fails.

    Time to give Joe a flush, and let him have the last word:

    “…you could run a decent Libertarian campaign for President in 2016 and get who knows how many votes?”

    Yeah…who knows? Let’s find out!

  120. Electoral Watch December 9, 2013

    Here is a non-embedded link to video of an event about CIA mind control operations featuring former Presidential candidate Roseanne Barr.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XECHz8alr_Q

  122. Matt Cholko December 9, 2013

    Hold on just a minute. The reality is, dinga ding dang, my danga long ling long.

  123. thaneeichenauer December 9, 2013

    Commie Watch asks: Is it possible to have the video-spammer banned?
    Dr. Lanning’s Hologram: I’m sorry, my responses are limited. You must ask the right questions.

  128. December Liberty for America magazine is out December 8, 2013

    Now at http://libertyforamerica.com/201312.pdf

    Buchman Resigns from Audit Committee —Cites “Culture of Corruption”

    Editorial
    Contents
    LNC Audit Committee Sparks Major Controversy
    LNC 2014 Budget
    Letter from Chuck Moulton Opposing Floor Fees
    State News
    LNC Audit Committee Reports
    LNC In Action
    Join Liberty For America
    Mailer

    In the Electronic Edition
    2014 LNC Draft Budget
    2nd Interim Report of the Audit Committee
    Further Report from the Audit Committee
    Mississippi and Texas Rationales for Secession

  130. Jed Ziggler December 7, 2013

    Sanders would be well suited to seek the nomination of the Green Party.

  131. Deran December 7, 2013

    If Senator Warren is really taking herself out of contention for the Democratic Party nomination in 2016, is this the answer to Senator Sanders’ prerequisite for him to run for President? No committed, strong progressivist running a serious campaign with in the Democratic Party?

    And it is interesting that Warren spoke up this definitively so recently after Sanders started talking abt the need for a Left candidate. I suspect the Clintons, Obama and the DNC wants to put the kabosh on any incipient insurgency inside the party.

    Doesn’t quashing any talk of a progressivisit in the Democratic Party in 2016 just create more wind in the sail of an independent Left candidate in 2016?

    I know that is supposed to be the Green Party, and Dr Stein does a lot toward making the GP in the US a more sustainable progresivist political alternative, but they just don’t have the spark a Sanders campaign could?

    And it seems to me that Sanders is not going to run for reelection as a Senator, so this is sort of his moment?

    http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/columnists/kimberly_atkins/2013/12/elizabeth_warren_steps_out_of_hillary_clintons_way

  133. Jill Pyeatt December 7, 2013

    I like the shirt! Can you give us the details of how I can get one?

  134. Executive Detractor December 7, 2013

    I’m sexy and I know it . . .
    Libertarian T-shirt Wes Benedict White Teeth
    (Shirt by Wes–Teeth by Wayne)

  135. Jill Pyeatt December 6, 2013

    Hey, Vernon–
    When I sit here at work, I have two monitors. One to work on, and another to keep open to IPR to delete troll’s comments on, as soon as they appear. FYI.

  137. paulie December 6, 2013

    Thanks for doing your part Thane!

    Everybody pitch in and post more videos 🙂

  139. paulie December 6, 2013

    It’s all good 🙂

  140. Darryl W. Perry December 5, 2013

    Sorry, Paulie – I didn’t look to see if anyone posted it as a comment.
    Additionally, this is the first time in NH that a judge has recognized the Glik decision as superseding current NH wiretapping law!

  142. Dave Terry December 5, 2013

    P_____ wrote: “when I return I’ll post at least as many videos as Dave Terry posts comments in the meantime!

    It’s nice to see that P______ admits that his insipid videos were posted as infantile acts of both hostility and spite.

  143. paulie December 5, 2013

    Thanks DWP… I already posted that in the comments above after you emailed it to us, as well as passed it on to all IPR writers via email.

  144. Darryl W. Perry December 5, 2013

    In May, the City of Keene sued 6 people for “Robin Hooding” (one of those being Ian Freeman, a co-chair of the NH Liberty Party). On Dec 3, the case was dismissed! See the write-up at FreeKeene.com to read the 17 page ruling. I could be wrong, but this could set some kind of precedent for recognizing that political speech is protected!
    http://freekeene.com/2013/12/04/breaking-news-robin-hood-cases-dismissed/

  145. paulie December 5, 2013

    Thanks for taking out the trash Jill. I’m packing for a trip, so I may be out for a bit, but everyone don’t fret – when I return I’ll post at least as many videos as Dave Terry posts comments in the meantime!

  146. Jill Pyeatt December 5, 2013

    Having fun, Vernon? I’m sitting here at my desk working on a big project. I’ll be deleting your foul comments as soon as they show up. FYI.

  147. paulie December 5, 2013

    Packing for a trip, so due to lack of time not much chance to scour the web and bring you all the best in quality entertainment like I usually do. This oldie but goodie popped up in my youtube suggestions so we’ll go with that. Funny thing, most of the videos so far this month would not have been posted if it was not for the pointless bitching (when it’s so easy to just start a new thread instead whenever the old one gets to be too long) …

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xm0HNbvtgQ

  148. paulie December 5, 2013

    That’s pretty awesome! My cryptocurrency holdings are up about 1,000% since I got them in March, not nearly enough to get a Lamborghini though…at least not yet 🙂

  150. Dave Terry December 5, 2013

    Ironically, if PF had been posting only videos relating to issue of interest to libertarians or others interested in individual freedom (like these last two), This “LAST” exchange would not have occurred.

  153. Dave Terry December 5, 2013

    Stop WHAT??? PF initiates the insults and I respond in kind, and YOU want to ban ME?

    Do what you have to do; but please do yourself a favor and don’t become the facilitator of his ‘holiness’s arrogant and insulting demeanor and further marginalize what little value is left of IPR.

    PF has chased away almost everyone with a different view point already; do you REALLY want to be a party to this?

  154. paulie December 5, 2013

    There’s no need to delete the sad ravings of the old man afflicted by senility. You can simply not read his comments, and not respond to them. Oh, and put up another video or two every time he comments, since I’ve been told he doesn’t like them. I don’t have time to pick one out right now so I’ll just post the first thing that pops into youtube.

  155. Jill Pyeatt December 5, 2013

    Stop it, Dave, or I’ll start deleting your comments. Just don’t go to the December Open Thread, if it irritates you so much.

    I mean it.

  156. Dave Terry December 5, 2013

    LOL: the ONLY response to Porky’s infantile tantrums is derisive laughter.

    Eleven stupid videos in 5 days…….and counting……….

  158. paulie December 5, 2013

    Dave Terry,
    maybe you should stop the ad hominem attacks if you want to declare yourself the “adult” in the conversation.

    It’s best to ignore David Terry. He is suffering from early, but advancing, senility.

    I don’t read his comments. I suggest others not read them either.

  159. Dave Terry December 5, 2013

    There’s nothing “ad hominem” in my alleged “attacks”. There are, to date, 17 videos posted to the Dec. Open Thread; 1 by Jill, 1 by Deran and15 by Paulie (only 5 of which are anything remotely related to legitimate subjects for discussion on this venue.

  160. David Johnson December 5, 2013

    Dave Terry,
    maybe you should stop the ad hominem attacks if you want to declare yourself the “adult” in the conversation.

  161. Mark Axinn December 4, 2013

    BTW, I think IPR readers need to understand what’s involved in becoming a Judge. There a very strict criteria.

    If you’re a really bad lawyer, they make you a Judge.

    If you’re a really bad Judge, they put you on one of my cases.

  162. paulie December 4, 2013

    Why would Judge Napolitano run for elective office? He gets 10-20K for a speech, has lots of TV coverage, and is a respected retired Judge. What a great gig. Compare that to the grueling hours of campaigning and the constant criticism if actually elected to anything.

    He’s got better hours, better working conditions and lots money with his current job.

    Yep.

    People who talk about various people they would like to see run almost always think of the benefits to themselves or others, but rarely ever whether it would make sense to the person they are trying to recruit in terms of their personal well-being and career.

  163. Steve M December 4, 2013

    The libertarian argument about why the government should have very limited power isn’t necessarily that the people working for the government are evil… we are more likely arguing that they can be incompetent and hurt real people when they exercise their authority given their limited competence.

    Libertarians are arguing that given the Peter Principle its better to make Peter have to justify his actions then to make the People have to show that Peter is incompetent.

  164. Mark Axinn December 4, 2013

    Why would Judge Napolitano run for elective office? He gets 10-20K for a speech, has lots of TV coverage, and is a respected retired Judge. What a great gig. Compare that to the grueling hours of campaigning and the constant criticism if actually elected to anything.

    He’s got better hours, better working conditions and lots money with his current job.

  165. paulie December 4, 2013

    From Darryl Perry:

    In May, the City of Keene sued 6 people for “Robin Hooding” (one of those being a co-chair of the NH Liberty Party). On Dec 3, the case was dismissed! See the write-up at FreeKeene.com to read the 17 page ruling. I could be wrong, but this could set some kind of precedent for recognizing that political speech is protected!
    http://freekeene.com/2013/12/04/breaking-news-robin-hood-cases-dismissed/

  168. paulie December 4, 2013

    http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/majority-of-americans-aligned-with-libertarian-party-on-foreign-policy

    Majority Says U.S. Should ‘Mind Its Own Business Internationally'

    A poll released by the Pew Research Center indicates that a majority of Americans are aligned with the Libertarian Party’s goals of less U.S. military intervention and more free trade.

    The poll concludes that Americans’ support for U.S. global engagement has fallen to a historic low while “support for closer trade and business ties with other nations stands at its highest point in more than a decade.”

    For the first time in nearly 40 years since the survey was first conducted, a majority (52 percent) say that the United States should “mind its own business internationally and let other countries get along the best they can on their own.”

    Add foreign policy to the growing list of broad issues with which the American public is aligned with the Libertarian Party, which includes:

    • lower government spending
    • lower taxes
    • a balanced budget
    • an end to mass surveillance of citizens
    • an end to the failed prohibition of marijuana
    • marriage equality

    And now:

    • a non-interventionist, free-trade foreign policy
  170. Jill Pyeatt December 4, 2013

    Jed, I don’t like it when people are rude, either, but I know I was part of the problem for a while. I’m trying hard to mend my ways.

  171. Dave Terry December 4, 2013

    Jed, get OVER it! There are rules for Paulie and other rules for the rest of us.

  172. Dave Terry December 4, 2013

    Phillies> ” Something like that happened in Oregon, not to the current leadership, and donations dried up.

    Yeah, and something like that happened in Russia in 1917, but not to the current regime.
    When It took over the educated bourgeois took their money and property (to the extent it
    was portable) an left the country.

  174. Dave Terry December 4, 2013

    Quit complaining; we can have new open threads as often as people want. Nothing says they have to be only monthly. Here, have a video: paulie Post author December 4, 2013

    How about starting each month with TWO open threads; one for Paulie & Friends and one for us adults!

  176. Jed Ziggler December 4, 2013

    I quoted it. Get over yourself. That was rude. That’s all I’m saying. Can we please move on.

  177. paulie December 4, 2013

    How did anyone say or imply that wrong to express your opinion?

  178. Jed Ziggler December 4, 2013

    Well yeah, duh, that’s completely not my point.

  179. paulie December 4, 2013

    No, it was fine for you to express it, but some of us disagree with that opinion.

  180. Jed Ziggler December 4, 2013

    “Get over yourself.”

    You’re right. It was wrong of me to express an opinion on the internet.

  184. George Phillies December 4, 2013

    Readers should take note of Mr Wagner’s comment on some thread that the LNC risks having its donor base educated. Something like that happened in Oregon, not to the current leadership, and donations dried up.

  185. paulie December 4, 2013

    DALLAS BUYER’s CLUB (barely) got made because McConaughey found Ron Woodruff’s true story compelling. It’s hardly a mainstream movie. Get over yourself.

    Agreed.

  187. Electoral Watch December 4, 2013

    @ Ziggler:

    1. It’s not just slow connections. I have a good connection, but there are RAM issues with opening 82 videos at once as well.

    2. DALLAS BUYER’s CLUB (barely) got made because McConaughey found Ron Woodruff’s true story compelling. It’s hardly a mainstream movie. Get over yourself.

  188. Jill Pyeatt December 4, 2013

    Viewers need to start demanding basic decency again. I’m not too hopeful that will happen, of course, when even legislators get away with hateful speech.

  189. Electoral Watch December 4, 2013

    re Bashir, GE didn’t have any problem with their hosts saying that anyone who opposes Obama should eat shit and die. It’s only weeks of public pressure that has finally led to the non-suspension suspension of this British filth.

  193. Dave Terry December 3, 2013

    May I remind you that Bashir was quoting some slave/plantation owner.

    Also, there is a LOT of S–t coming OUT of Palins mouth. I won’t speculate
    on HOW it got there.

    BTW, do you know who the guy wearing the Atlanta Braves cap is in the Daniel
    Defense video?

  194. paulie December 3, 2013

    Dave [Terry]… I see no reason to waste my time and continue this conversation.

    Some unnecessary verbiage in between, as the above is a universally true formula 🙂

  195. Jill Pyeatt December 3, 2013

    Yes, Oathkeepers is an excellent organization. I think I’m the one that introduced you to it, Dave.

  196. Jill Pyeatt December 3, 2013

    Dave, I’ve fired many people in my 30-year career. Sometimes it needs to be done.

  197. Dave Terry December 3, 2013

    Oath Keepers is a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, reserves, National Guard, veterans, Peace Officers, and Fire Fighters who will fulfill the Oath we swore, with the support of like minded citizens who take an Oath to stand with us, to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God. Our Oath is to the Constitution

    Our motto is “Not on our watch!”

    http://oathkeepers.org/oath/

  198. Jill Pyeatt December 3, 2013

    Dave, if you don’t know at your age what’s wrong with what Martin Beshir said on national television, I see no reason to waste my time and continue this conversation.

  199. Dave Terry December 3, 2013

    It’s a good thing that the NFL prohibited the Daniel Defense commercial.

    Otherwise, Jill might have to fire someone.

  204. Dave Terry December 3, 2013

    ” If he’d been my employee, he’d have been fired.”

    If he had been your employee, I think he’d have the good sense to quit!

    “And, no, I am by no means a fan of Sarah Palin.

    me thinks ye doth protest too much.
    With folks like you, who NEEDS fans OR friends.

    So HOW did his “insult” cause him to deserve to be fired?
    Just a little over the top, aren’t you?

  207. Jill Pyeatt December 3, 2013

    DT: Bashir worked for a company, and when he said those things it was as their representative.
    They had every right to suspend him.

    Free speech does NOT mean “I want to be free to say whatever I want without any consequences”. If he’d been my employee, he’d have been fired.

    And, no, I am by no means a fan of Sarah Palin.

  208. Jed Ziggler December 3, 2013

    Yeah the ban on gays giving blood is absurd, and proof of the flaws of government involvement in healthcare decisions.

    As far as Dallas Buyers Club, yet another film centered on a traditionally gay issue, that features a straight white male lead character. Some will say it’s to show viewers that straight people suffered too, but the real reason is to have an unoffensive lead to attract more mainstream attention. I say skip it.

  210. Dave Terry December 3, 2013

    New thread:

    MSNBC’s Bashir Suspended for Palin Remarks
    Television commentator Martin Bashir is currently off the air serving a suspension for remarks he made about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Politico reports.

    But MSNBC, the cable news channel that airs Bashir’s self-titled program, says he is “on vacation.”

    Bashir was off last week during Thanksgiving, but did not return to the air Monday. Guest host Joy Reid sat in for him. Politico’s Dylan Byers reported that network sources had told him Bashir was under temporary suspension after making
    crude(?) remarks about Palin on his Nov 15 show . After a weekend of criticism, Bashir led his show the next Monday with an apology.

    Bashir’s original remarks were a response to Palin’s comparing the United States’ debt to China to slavery. He called her a “world-class idiot” before describing the inhumane treatment a certain slave owner had used and suggesting Palin be given a dose of the same treatment.
    © 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved

    Clearly, Palin IS less intelligent than a tree stump and ANYONE making such an ignorant statement SHOULD spend a week or so as a slave, with all the indignities that status entails.

    Anyone remember when there was “freedom of speech” and “freedom of the press” It looks like freedom of speech is ONLY allowed if you are not a member of the press or on any government controlled “media”.

    All those in government supervision of the internet, say AYE!

  212. Dave Terry December 3, 2013

    Jed, I don’t know what cave you’ve been in for the past 3 years, but you seem to be unaware that Gov. Johnson WAS the L.P nominee for PRESIDENT in the last election cycle. He is clearly
    better known in the political arena than Judge Whatshisname!

    If you are so eager to have a well known judge and public figure as our standard bearer, you should be supporting Judge Judy!

    I also found your comment; “Having Johnson on the ticket adds the executive experience the judge lacks” be be extremely obtuse. Just exactly what the country needs; a President with less executive experience that the VICE-President. Maybe the Republicans should have nominated Nixon for President and Eisenhower as Vice President.

    As for Napolitano’s “shadow”, I think maybe you’re view is distorted by your own shadow. :>)

  213. paulie December 3, 2013

    I haven’t seen any such hints. I don’t think the rumors are correct.

    If there have been hints, they are probably a way to generate more interest in his books and speeches.

  214. Jed Ziggler December 3, 2013

    It’s been rumored for a while & Napolitano has hinted at a Presidential run.

  215. paulie December 3, 2013

    Governor > Judge, unless the judge is a supreme court justice. But I don’t know the point of the conversation – I don’t see Judge Napolitano accepting any such idea.

  216. Jed Ziggler December 3, 2013

    I don’t get why y’all think it’s so insulting. Getting asked to be a candidate’s running mate is a high honor. Judge Napolitano is a well-known public figure, far more so than Johnson. Having Johnson on the ticket adds the executive experience the judge lacks. Having Napolitano as Johnson’s VP would serve to have the running mate overshadow the candidate.

  217. paulie December 2, 2013

    That’s a mighty big if. Getting back to things that are more realistic, I don’t see it happening.

  218. thaneeichenauer December 2, 2013

    I don’t see any likely candidate for President asking Gary Johnson to be a VP candidate but if elected I can’t see that being asked to “only” be VP would be an insulting position to be in compared to not being elected at all.

  220. Dave Terry December 2, 2013

    Israeli Palestinians Charged for Defending Themselves from Jewish Terrorist
    by Richard Silverstein on December 2, 2013 ·

    Those of you who’ve visited courthouses or seen them pictured in movies will remember the statue of Justice blind-folded while holding two balanced scales. Israel has put a new spin on this statue. In Israel Justice may be blind-folded but she is somehow able to peek out from behind the blindfold to determine whether the detainees before her are Jewish or Palestinian.

    That’s justice Israel-style. Israeli police charged seven of the Palestinian victims of the 2005 terror attack by Israeli serial-murderer, Eden Natan Zada. In that bus attack, Natan Zada set out to kill as many Palestinians as possible with his IDF-issued rifle. He succeeded in murdering four and wounding twenty-three more. The bloodshed ended only when the survivor-victims overpowered him and killed him in self-defense. Defending oneself from a Jewish terrorist is apparently a serious criminal offense in Israel. Doing the same when confronting and killing a Palestinian terrorist will get you the keys to the city and a hero’s welcome.

    An Israeli court sentenced the survivors of the attack to up to two years in prison:

    A Haifa district court judge said on Thursday that despite the soldier’s actions, Israel could not tolerate vigilante justice, or an “eye-for-an-eye” defence.

    A funny thing about this statement: Israeli Jews routinely engage in vigilante justice when they face Palestinian terrorists. At times they have murdered unarmed terrorists or wounded terrorists. At times, they’ve killed terrorists in the midst of an attack. But it’s extremely hard to distinguish between vigilante justice when it’s meted out by Palestinians or Jews. Unless of course you’re an Israeli Jewish judge punishing Palestinians for defending their lives.

    I know there will be some of the hasbara crowd who will claim that I’m defending the Palestinian murder of Jews. Not at all. I believe anyone, whether Palestinian or Israeli, who murders in cold blood should be arrested, tried, convicted and imprisoned. But that also includes Jews who murder Palestinians who’ve engaged in an act of terror. Sorry to abuse that old saying: “what’s good for the goose…” But it’s true. In order to mete out justice equitably and fairly no one should get a pass for murder, no matter what the circumstances.

    So I’d have no problem with prosecuting the Israeli Palestinians who killed Natan Zada if those who murdered Palestinian terrorists would also be held accountable. Anyone in their right mind knows that no Israeli who kills a Palestinian terrorist will ever be charged with a crime. Thus no Palestinian facing the same situation should be either

  221. paulie December 2, 2013

    http://www.ballot-access.org/2013/12/independent-voter-project-prominent-backer-of-california-top-two-system-wont-reveal-names-of-legislators-who-attend-its-hawaii-resort-retreat/

    http://www.ballot-access.org/2013/12/u-s-supreme-court-wont-hear-ralph-naders-case-against-federal-election-commission/

    http://www.ballot-access.org/2013/12/u-s-supreme-court-sets-conference-date-for-libertarian-party-presidential-primary-sore-lose-case/

    http://www.ballot-access.org/2013/12/u-s-supreme-court-refuses-to-hear-virginias-appeal-in-out-of-state-petitioner-case/

    http://www.ballot-access.org/2013/12/new-mexico-supreme-court-asks-secretary-of-state-to-respond-to-constitution-party-ballot-access-lawsuit/

  222. Dave Terry December 2, 2013

    It would be an insult to ask him to

  223. paulie December 2, 2013

    And I doubt Johnson will want to run for VP.

  224. paulie December 2, 2013

    I don’t see Napolitano putting himself in the Rand Paul crosshairs. Rand Paul is IMO unlikely to be the nominee, but he will have many crazy supporters who will believe he has a shot all the way to the Republican convention regardless of whether that view is supported by reality or not. These are many of the same people that go see the judge speak, buy his books, etc. Unlike Ron Paul, Rand Paul may actually have a realistic shot at VP. If he comes in second for the nomination, which I do not think is implausible, and/or if he gets VP he could be the leading contender for 2020. Also unlike Ron Paul, I think Rand Paul will be actively campaigning to get libertarians to vote for Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush or even Santorum – really any turd the Republicans nominate.

    Peter Schiff has a very negative view of the LP, which he has stated many times. He wants all libertarians to run as Republicans.

  226. Jed Ziggler December 2, 2013

    I think it’s quite likely that Napolitano runs no matter what Paul does, and a Napolitano/Johnson ticket would be quite strong.

    Failing that, perhaps Peter Schiff as his running mate?

  227. paulie December 2, 2013

    I don’t think Napolitano will run for the LP nomination while Rand Paul is running for the Republican nomination.

    I haven’t heard of Celente being a libertarian, much less a Libertarian, that I can remember. Got anything on that?

  228. George Whitfield December 2, 2013

    For Libertarian Party candidates in 2016, Gerald Celente would be a good Vice Presidential running mate with Andrew Napolitano for President.

  229. paulie December 2, 2013

    Get enough of them on a page & it makes it impossible for those of us with slow connections to load the page.

    There’s nothing that says we have to have only one open thread a month. There could be two, or they could be weekly or even daily if they get enough comments. Months is just what we settled on as a convenience.

  230. Dave Terry December 2, 2013

    Deran wrote: “Richard Wolff does a weekly hour on economics, and then a monthly 2 hours overview. Here is last months. Good clean Marxian fun.

    If one has an hour and 31 minutes to spare, one would be better served to open a copy of “Economics In One Lesson” by Henry Hazlitt. One MIGHT actually LEARN something

  231. Jill Pyeatt December 2, 2013

    If I find one that I don’t think should be an article, but might be of interest to some people here, I’ll try to find a related thread and add it as a comment. We’ve had a couple Bitcoin threads.

  232. Deran December 2, 2013

    Richard Wolff does a weekly hour on economics, and then a monthly 2 hours overview. Here is last months. Good clean Marxian fun.

    http://youtu.be/zt5M27F5XKg

  233. Jed Ziggler December 2, 2013

    “What’s the problem with videos?”

    Get enough of them on a page & it makes it impossible for those of us with slow connections to load the page.

  234. Dave Terry December 1, 2013

    Wasn’t referring to YOUR video!!

  235. Jill Pyeatt December 1, 2013

    The Bitcoin video was not those things.

  236. Dave Terry December 1, 2013

    Lousy music, stupid graphics, ignorant message

    Any OTHER questions?

  238. Jill Pyeatt December 1, 2013

    What’s the problem with videos?

  241. Dave Terry December 1, 2013

    Fw: New low for Congress: Just 6% approve, finally lower than used-car salespeople

    > http://bit.ly/1j9cw9S
    >
    > NOVEMBER 30, 2013 AT 10:53 AM
    >
    > New low for Congress: Just 6 percent approve, finally lower than car
    > salespeople
    > By PAUL BEDARD | [email protected].
    >
    > The public’s approval rating for Congress has finally hit rock bottom: For
    > the first time, America has a higher opinion of used-car salespeople.
    >
    > A new Economist/YouGov.com poll put the approval rating of Congress at a
    > historic low of 6 percent. A December 2012 Gallup poll comparing Congress’
    > approval ratings to other occupations had used-car salespeople at the
    > bottom at 8 percent and Congress at 10 percent. Now Congress is the cellar
    > dweller.
    >
    > The nation’s bad opinion of Congress, impacted by inaction, budget fights
    > and the battle over the filibuster, has also spread to Senate leaders.
    > Just 19 percent approve of Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell while
    > 54 percent disapprove. Democratic leader Sen. Harry Reid’s ratings are 52
    > percent unfavorable, 25 percent favorable.
    >
    > “What Americans are sure about is how they feel about Congress in general.
    > They don’t like it, and haven’t liked it for a while,” said the poll. “But
    > Congress’s approval rating in this week’s Economist/YouGov Poll matches
    > its all-time low. Just 6 percent approve of the way Congress is handling
    > its job. 72 percent disapprove.”
    >
    > “Only 10 percent of Democrats, 7 percent of Republicans, and 3 percent of
    > independents approve of Congress.”

  242. Jed Ziggler December 1, 2013

    “Let’s start a pool on how many days it will be before the open thread is unopenable because it’s littered with too many videos. I’ll go with 13.”

    I’ll say 16. But yeah I hate embedded videos too.

  243. Dave Terry December 1, 2013

    Yeah! PF seems to be getting worse.

  244. Electoral Watch December 1, 2013

    Let’s start a pool on how many days it will be before the open thread is unopenable because it’s littered with too many videos. I’ll go with 13.

  245. Dave Terry December 1, 2013

    Idea for new bumper sticker;

    “B E A T T H E S T A T E
    – File Bankruptcy First – “

Comments are closed.