Recently in National Concerns Category

Bozeman (Apple Cart News) - August 27, 2008

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer revealed a critical aspect to the plans for a unified government in North America in an eerie replay of Stan Jones' speech during a CSPAN debate in the 2006 US Senate race.
Unnamed sources are confirming a plan by the recently minted 'petro-dictators' to establish an office in Bozeman in order to advocate media control, night time curfews and random spot checks for oil abusers. They say that anyone caught with oil on their breath will not be tolerated and summary ejections from the city could result if their plan is accepted.

EA (an Helena based group called Energy Alarmists) is decrying the plan. Spokesman Ira Green feels that " addiction is a real problem, if we just banish people who can't control their carbon footprint, it's only a matter of time before the shoe is on the other foot".

I thankfully had other pursuits at the end of my long summer rather than watch the Democratic National Convention. I could care less about the Michelle speech or the Kennedy idolatry, but that would require energy spent when it wasn't necessary. The protesters are hitting my radar though.

Are the anarchists behind all this ? Fortunately, that's not a copyrightable thing, so we can only assume that those "A's" in the middle of the anecdotal evidence that anarchists were in fact present. There were no similar incidents during the LP convention in May, but maybe they lay off a party that claims 30% membership of their own (pfffft - yeah right). Or perhaps, as what is all too often repeated, they aren't anarchists.

Over fifty million is being spent on security at each of these conventions. Better to spot light the jackboots busting up the skate boarders (my apologies in advance to that cool and peaceful group) than to look into the more nefarious aspects of surveillance and control. We need a 100x 1968 effort in Denver right now . . .

Dr. Ruwart is correct that an encroaching attitude of elitism may be contributing to a decline in interest in the Libertarian Party. The ironic part is that the quest for contributions is perhaps the reason. Before Angela Keaton self-censored her Anarchist Bitch blog, I left a comment on one of the posts also describing this trend of the LNC in regards to my own experience. As I cannot find that post or a reasonable copy, I'll re-hash the basics and add some other notes after the jump.

Perhaps the loss of Mary Ruwart as the nominee can be reconciled by her election to the LNC. I do find it difficult to just send money when so much of my actual time is given freely, often at the expense of my own self-employed billable hours. After spending close to 15K on my own campaign in 2006, it wasn't that I was unable to donate, but money was tighter for a bit. I was able to offer my time and willingness in regards to fund raising as an LNC member, but between LPHQ staff and the volunteer coordinator no opportunities really arose. But perhaps there was more to it . . .

Ralph Nader and Bob Barr ought to consider a national debate tour like the famed Lincoln Douglas debates. Both are making the case that they should be included. Most likely they will be excluded by the Presidential Commission for Debates and such a tour might compliment their efforts better than a gamble to shoot for the Big Show.

I'm sure McCain and Obama would struggle on some level with either opponent. Nader stakes many claims in the American Polis and Barr also has a claim to a national spotlight more so than the Greens and Constitutional Party. To be sure, Barr and Nader should participate in any such third party debate, but one can certainly appreciate their tactics and goals in the matter.

Mr. West speaks of us wayward anarchists as if we're conquering or occupying Romans who determine value or worth with the flick of a thumb . . . . except ours will always come down in rapacious negativism no matter any success crossing the Tiber.

What tripe indeed. I'll be the first to take my hat as a meal should the former Congressman take the ring. It would not change my perspective on the world nor the conclusions that I reach on any given day. But I have not denounced Barr or spoken ill of my former colleague on the LNC. I'd be honored to dine at the White House if the invitation was offered. But let's be real, please !

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The problem with the Constitution is that a priesthood took it over about two hundred years ago. That order comes in two flavors, red & blue. While many on both sides of the 'guns' issue will have a field day of discontent and celebration, any cause for such has long been lost in a ghastly display of reason based on hierarchy and plain old power.

Seems to me that the average folk throughout the ages can easily interpret the second amendment as simply " Well, we had to take up arms against Britain, you never know. So let's not abridge the right to do so." That's now called 'originalism' (though its doubtful that any current justice in that camp would deign to come down to such prosaic and simple language or justification, they still have to hang out together), and while its often rendered quaint by the devious and cunning brutes who feel their relationship to power entitles them to decree, it has become the last weak stand by those who counter the blue players on the board near check mate time.

Your candidate sucks. Know this as you prepare your guy for the fight in the fall. He just flipped on FISA & matching funds. Things he pledged not to do. Who hired Samantha Power and James Johnson ? I have have to say as an atheist, it was hard to get worked up about the Reverend Wright. But I do get worked up about ballot access and candidate debates. Both of which your guy fails miserably about. Now I hear he's going to help bail out multi-millionaire Hillary Clinton and her campaign debt, go figure.

I suppose touchy feely crap is the stuff of modern political candidacies, but I'm still waiting for substance. I know the average Ivy League graduate in the MSM thinks those memoirs and books we're the right stuff, but I'm unswayed. But is he the darling that the disgruntled right would have us believe ? As far as I'm concerned the dude can't even bowl, so Harvard degrees in law are meaningless. There simply is no evidence that he understands economics or anything beyond the typical pandering of a main party politician. My vote for President of the United States has always been 'wasted', as a denizen of New York, there's no doubt that my fellow collectivist citizens and their deep desire to hope and have change will carry the day for Obama. This is just a quick protest note to goad your idealism a bit.

Well it looks like Hillary has come home. At least to the extent that she carpet bagged into my own home and decided she could represent me in Washington. As there seems no limit to the capacity that New Yorkers will allow the Democratic Party to walk all over them (witness Hevesi and Spitzer), it is fun to reflect on the last two years. The naked and raw ambition of the Clintons has never been a question for little 'ol me who had to endure the embarrassment of the listening tour in 2000.

Even though I know they exist, I never found the ardent Hillary supporter willing to discuss the ideas or issues that she presumably represented for us. Rather it was always how horrible the Republicans were or some other equally vague bromide or premonition. So let's take a quick look at the highlights of the POTUS chase for our favorite daughter from, Illinois, Arkansas and DC.

Despite all the ruminations about the LP and it's odd place in the Universe, one has to wonder if voters ever read articles about the sleazy activities of Democrats and Republicans and even care. I suspect that they do not.

But if they did and wanted to do anything about it on a meaningful level, could they ? After all, the either/or aspect of the process offers few choices in most races. As much as we may gripe or complain about third party choices/efforts for President, there are little to none in terms of choices in most Congressional and local races. While the smug anarchist may find delicious humor or satisfaction in this fate, the average person is left wanting. Not so much in terms of their own immediate benefit, but more in terms of meaning and hope. After all, hope and meaning are what the big players ply their craft in. Yet when it comes down to it, the background noise and real happenings are disgusting examples of cronyism and the pathetic need for attention amongst their fellow parasites as the rest suffer. Even the good anarchists couldn't avoid this if their intentions were noble and hearts pure and power to absolve the state absolute. Sleaze begets sleaze.

Bruce Barlett has rendered another piece about the relevancy of the LP. This time it's not about whether the LP should exist, but whether it matters. I think the time before was about how we could matter. Bruce can be confused at times.

In that most of my fellow libertarians are making their way to Denver, I'll get back with Bruce a bit and explain why we matter. He says this time;

" The fact that such well-known, former establishment figures would seek a fringe party's presidential nomination demonstrates to many libertarians that their party has come of age. It's also created fear in Republican ranks that a viable LP candidate could throw a close election to the Democrats. "

Fringe ? . . . . Twinge.

Viva la resistance !