Free Republic

Recently Congress sent the latest Farm Bill to the president. The bill features brand new federal programs, expansion of existing subsidies, more food stamps and more foreign food aid. This bill hits the taxpayer hard, while at the same time ensuring food prices will remain elevated. The president vetoed the bill, citing concerns over its costs and subsidies for the wealthy in a time of high food prices and record farm income. Nevertheless, this over-reaching, government-expanding Farm Bill will soon be law.

Huckleberry hates freedom May 29th, 2008, 4:20 pm · posted by Steven Greenhut Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee always set my teeth on edge, from his hokey folksy manner to his love of big government to his shameless use of his religion for political gain. But now I understand exactly why I found the Huckster to be so offensive (and it’s hard to stand out on that score given the overall quality of presidential candidates this year). Here, hat tip to AndrewSullivan.com, is a quotation from Huckleberry on Huffington Post regarding libertarianism: “The greatest threat to classic Republicanism is...

FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY: It's Time to Come Home Posted February 10th, 2008 by xntryk1 ----- Original Message ----- From: Libertarian Party Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2008 8:08 PM Subject: It's Time to Come Home February 9, 2008 FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY: Dear friend, Late Friday evening, Ron Paul sent out a message to his many supporters stating that he had a "nearly zero" chance of winning the Republican nomination in a brokered convention. Dr. Paul also stated loud and clear that "there will be no third party run." Many of our own members, maybe even you, have been enthusiastic...

Study: Presidential Frontrunners Would Boost Federal Budget by Range of $7 Billion to $287 Billion Annually byDemian Brady, Natasha Altamirano, Peter J. SeppJan 29, 2008 (Alexandria, VA) -- Presidential contenders have been busy portraying their political differences from others inside and outside of their parties, but when it comes to fiscal policy, ideological labels don't necessarily apply. That's just one finding of a comprehensive study from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF), which provides cost estimates -- based on hard data -- for more than 450 of the major candidates’ proposals that would affect the federal budget. "Our analyses hopefully...

Online oddsmakers have Ron Paul in a comfortable third place finish among bettors in both the Republican Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary. While third place may not be as good as an outright win, it's good enough to boost momentum for Ron Paul heading into future primaries where his treasure chest for advertising totals upwards of $20 mil. Many of the 2008 US Republican Presidential candidate's supporters believe that once voters realize Paul is a formidable candidate, finishing among the top 3, more Americans are likely to vote for him. Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney were in a...

I argued previously that liberty means the freedom of each adult to do or not do whatever he or she chooses as long as he or she accords the same freedoms to others. The most powerful justification for government in a land of true liberty is to prevent individuals from stepping on the same rights and freedoms of others. And while no one this side of sociopathy doubts the importance of keeping each of us from infringing willy-nilly on each other's rights, too many people regard organized infringement to be just fine. Indeed, some call it "progressive." "Progressives" yearn to...

State field director predicts second, even first in Iowa It seems like when we're young, we like to break a few rules.  Staying out a little too late, sneaking a drink before that official legal age, or backing a candidate who's outside the established mold (YEEEEEAH!) Several of those dynamics were on display Saturday at Olive Court, a notoriously wild tailgate spot three blocks from Iowa City's Kinnick Stadium.  It was here, just a year ago, that John Kerry was infamously photographed with a beer bong.  And into the anarchy marched the Ron Paul revolution. Ron Paul wasn't imbibing...

On November 5th we will see an interesting test of whether Ron Paul's internet buzz translates into real world events. It is said to be something that just sprung up online, without any help from the Paul campaign, who are certainly not complaining. They want to raise $10,000,000 in one day by getting 100,000 people to donate $100 each to Ron Paul on that day. Are internet spammers representing a few fringe kooks going to come along and spam his campaign with millions of dollars? Many of us have been on the internet since the 1990's, but think about how...

On Tuesday, September 11, the SAIS Center on Politics and Foreign Relations (CPFR) and the Financial Times hosted an event with congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul, entitled "A Traditional Non-Intervention Foreign Policy." Congressman Paul provided keynote remarks, followed by questions from CPFR's director Robert Guttman, the Financial Times White House correspondent Andrew Ward and members of the audience. Here is a link to the audio of Ron Pauls' speech today at SAIS

Tuesday, September 11, 2007 MORE EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE EVERYWHERE. Yesterday the guy who bought my dead Toyota showed up at the gate with an extra piece of paperwork. Seems the state didn't believe the low purchase price we stated on the title transfer. Our Bureaucratic Masters demanded that we explain why it was "too low." They compelled us both to swear under The Usual Dire Penalties that the price we stated was genuine. Poor dears. You know they might starve to death if they don't get their share of sales taxes on a 16-year-old heap of busted steel...

Why don't the news media ask Ron Paul, the only physician running in the major party races for president, for his views on the problems of health care? Why does Ron Paul not explicitly address the questions of health insurance, affordability of health care and the spiraling costs, especially for Medicare and Medicare? Instead he focuses on relatively minor aspects such as supplements.

I got a press release the other day from Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani. He was announcing a photo opportunity. It seems a UFO will be landing soon to take him back to his home planet. Photographers are invited. Actually the press release didn't say that. What it really said is that Giuliani has appointed Norman Podhoretz as a foreign policy advisor. But the effect is the same. Only a visitor from another planet could think that the way to win the presidency of the United States is by taking foreign policy advice from the nuttiest man on Earth. That's...

Youtube Video Summary: An audience member challenger Dr. Paul on his position to end the war on drugs. Dr. Paul responds.

I posted this as a reply in another thread already. I appologize for posting twice, but thought there were likely going to be alot of replies, and it should be in it's own thread. The US was involved the Middle East since Democrat FDR made us a problem to them. Why do the terrorists care enough to plan an attack on the US? I agree with pulling out of the middle east and letting them fight eachother. Then they'll all wish the US was thier ally agaist thier neighbors. Nixon and Kissinger took this strategy with Russia and China. Staying...

Friends: CONGRESS HAS ONLY 24 DAYS LEFT TO PASS EMINENT DOMAIN REFORM! Over ten months ago, the House passed H.R. 4128, the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005, by an overwhelming majority of 376-38. This bill would discourage eminent domain abuse by withholding federal economic development funds for two years from local governments that condemn private property for private commercial development. Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. City of New London that private property can be seized through eminent domain on the mere promise of increased tax revenue or jobs, every home, business, church and farm...

In a startling report revealing a tale of transatlantic espionage not witnessed since the glory days of 007, the London-based Financial Times recently detailed how Britain, supposedly America’s closest European ally, has been leading a multi-year European undercover ('back-door') effort within the United States to undermine U.S. climate change policy. While this is not surprising, it does smack of interference with another nation's policies. It also happens to confirm prior ITSSD research, readily accessible on its website.

The Big Government, The Big Business and the Little Guy. Not too long ago, in a small village not far from where you now sit there lived an apple merchant. He was a kind little man with a loving wife and two beautiful children. He sold his apples out of a cart at the side of the road leading between the village and the village’s only large place of employment, the box factory. The local townsfolk would stop and pick up boxes of apples on their way home from work. Directly across from our dear apple merchant, another apple merchant...

Amendment II Right to bear arms. Ratified 12/15/1791. 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. http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am2 * ** *** INFRINGE: vb [Latin infringere] 1: violate, transgress 2: encroach, trespass Source: NMW In the context of the Constitution, phrases like "shall not be infringed," "shall make no law," and "shall not be violated" sound pretty unbendable, but the Supreme Court has ruled that some laws can, in fact, encroach on these phrases. For example, though there is freedom of speech, you...

If anybody uses MySpace at all, I created an RLC Group on there: http://groups.myspace.com/republicanlibertycaucus

SNIP..... While the Democrats and their base now think that finally the elected Democrats have stood up on their hind legs and they're showing some guts and they're showing some backbone, they're now happy. Are they not? The base is happy, and this is another thing that's difficult to comprehend. Unless you realize these people are whacked-out. They are happy over nothing. They are happy over rhetoric. They think shutting down the Senate has changed the momentum. They're as out of touch with what's happening in this country as they are out of touch with the war and the whole...

In Kelo v. New London, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that local governments have the power to seize private property for private redevelopment. What legal protections do Floridians have, if any, to protect us from such takings? What changes need to be made to state or local law in the wake of Kelo? What can Floridians do to see these changes are enacted? Hear Robert McClure, president and CEO of the James Madison Institute in Tallahassee answer these questions and more in his address to the Tampa Town Hall Meetup, Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Lone Star...

I am looking for a little research help. I am looking for a tally on the Democrat losses since 1994. This would also include defections. Any help would be appreciated.

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Does anyone have RLC t-shirts for sale?

ABC News correspondent John Stossel of "20/20" fame will speak at 7 p.m., March 29, at the University Theatre of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. In his talk, "Freedom and its Enemies," the libertarian journalist Stossel will share what he has learned in his 30-year journey from his job as a Portland, Oregon, consumer reporter to his current position as ABC's in-house contrarian. Stossel has received 19 Emmy awards and has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. He is currently co-anchor of ABC News' weekly news magazine "20/20." This free event...

(My first post, hope it comes out ok)

this guy ran a hard fought campaign for State Rep. in Illinois. Wonder how the GOP will accept him? NEWS RELEASE COMMITTEE TO ELECT BLUDORN FOR STATE REP. * BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS 60089 * E-mail FOR RELEASE: Monday January 10, 2005 Contact: Scott Bludorn (###) ###-####(cell) BLUDORN TO JOIN REPUBLICAN PARTY (BUFFALO GROVE) – Sunday evening in Des Plaines at the Libertarian Party of Cook County monthly meeting, R. Scott Bludorn announced that he was stepping down as President and joining the Republican Party. “I’d like to thank the membership for their steadfast support of my efforts to reign in...

My local city government (St. Peters, MO) is making noises about banning smoking from bars. Does anyone have or know of anyone or group who has sucessfully stopped such a law and might be able to provide help and advice?

With the 2004 election just behind us, many people around the country are worried about the integrity of our election systems. Are they fair? Did the process work? Depends on who you ask. Whether you're talking about ten-hour waits to vote in Ohio, or dead people voting in Washington state, we can all agree on one thing: IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Me and a few others are going to try and start a grassroots movement to get voting laws changed in this country. We need your help. We want to know what YOU think would make voting better. And we...

Here is what I think some of our strategy should be in order to ensure Democrat party's disarray: 1. The DP activists are in a tizzy about the "election fraud". They are all tangled up in "statistical analysis" of the election results and exit polls that they think "proves" that there was fraud, are pushing recounts, etc. This is good and should be encouraged. Let them recount and "crunch numbers" - it is harmless, will not change anything, and keeps them concentrated on the past. Even better, it keeps them frustrated, because they are so sure that fraud happened, but...

What do you call ten thousand former Kerry supporters going to Canada? A GOOD START!

How about that. This forum is called Free Republic. To me the definition of a free republic is where you have the freedom to express your ideas and not to be ridiculed. The question then becomes, is this forum a true Free Republic where one can express their own ideas even if same differ somewhat or is it a free republic for those with only one point of view, differences be barred from the forum. Gee, it sounds like what I left behind when I came to this country from Cuba where there was only one opinion accepted, that which...

WE ARE ALL LIBERTARIANS…, just like we are all a lot of things, but when it comes to politics there is ABSOLUTELY no substitute for victory, just as there is no substitute for victory in any form of war. Libertarians go wrong in thinking there IS a substitute for victory, whether it is "principle" or revenge, or personal pique. When you use your vote to pout, or "make a statement" you just throw it away. I know you have been told this a thousand times, but maybe this time you will listen. Your vote, anyone’s vote, is like a rifle...

I will admit I made a grammatical error. I know only too well about the RLC as I am the Chairman of the Florida RLC. We chose not to endorse Bush for re-election for his many positions that went against libertarian principles. It was left up to each individual in the RLC to vote for whom they pleased.. I was certainly not the only one that voted for Badnarik. There were many others who also voted for him and a group was formed called Republicans For Badnarik. As to Cuba, I am well aware that Bush has done many positive...

This election is indeed very important. However, what this election is about is whether or not we wish to have limited government once and for all not just by paying lip service to that concept but by deed which the Republicans have abandoned totally. I came from Cuba in 1961. I came to this country seeking liberty. When I became an American citizen I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution Of The United States. I took and still take that oath very seriously. I came to this contry where everyone is supposed to enjoy privacy. I came...

I wish for a Utopian Libertarian Society as much as anyone, especially for my grandsons. But let's get real and vote for George W. Bush even with his many warts. He is our best hope for a tax win with the Fair Tax. The war on terror is real like it or not, sKerry is not the answer to any questions.

When the stakes are not high it is sometimes acceptable, even desirable, to vote for a "minor party" candidate who cannot possibly win, just to "get the word out" and to promote the ideals for which that candidate stands. But when the stakes are high, as they are in this election, it becomes imperative that one should choose, not the candidate one considers philosophically ideal, but the best one available who has the most favorable chance of winning. The forthcoming election will determine whether it is the Republicans or the Democrats that win the presidency. That is an undeniable reality....

"Clean Air Act" causes more problems than it solves. Keep congressional scum out of the economy!

A newbie here, not sure if this is the right place for this question - please feel free to advise. I'm a minority (a conservative 8th grade US History teacher in CA) My classroom is full of patriotic/government stuff like most US History classroom, and at last night's open house a board member voiced his displeasure w/ my administrator over a Bush/Cheney Farm and Ranch Team sign that hangs in my classroom (it is from the 2000 election). My administrator tells me I have to take it down because I refuse to put up a democrat sign. It's the same...

The Republican party has been increasingly perverted by the neo-conservatives over the past 30-35 years. In fact, there has been a split within the Republican party since the early 20th century. At that time, there was a dominant conservative, populist wing and a budding "traditionalist", nationalist wing. To the common observer the difference in these terms seemed negligiable. The new movement grew indistinguished from the true conservatives. The neo-cons only rose to prominence after the Republican Party allowed the Democrats to siphon off some of their progressive stances in the 1960s and early 1970s. During that time, the Democrats moved...

Freedom and responsibility are inexorably tied together. In fact, they are two sides of the same coin. We all have the responsibility to fund our retirement. When we abdicate that responsibility to the government, we get ... Social Security. Because we have abdicated that responsibility, we are required by law to participate. Congress is free to take the "surplus" and do with it what it pleases. And the same amount of money which in any reasonable annuity would be able to fund our retirement does not even come close. Somehow, we have taken to the idea that being free from...

I was deeply saddened by Toomey's heartbreakingly close loss to Arlen "Yay Abortion!" Specter. If you still want to send a message to Specter and the RINOs, consider voting for Jim Clymer, the Constitution Party candidate, who is 100% pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-tax. He needs help getting on the ballot, though-26,000 signatures before early August. If you would like to help him, please email me at epeemon@hotmail.com or visit his website and sign up. Don't worry about throwing the election to Hoeffel-the latest polling I've seen has Specter up by 20 points because he's convinced so many Democrats he's one...

HOUSE MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS REQUEST TO UNITED NATIONS TO MONITOR ELECTION Rep. Johnson Spearheads Effort to Invite International Body Washington, D.C. - The request by several Members of Congress to the United Nations to send observers to monitor the upcoming Presidential election has sparked interest around the globe. At this juncture a dozen House Members have signed the letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Thursday morning those Members who have signed the U.N. letter will hold a news conference on Capitol Hill to discuss the ramifications of their request. ”We are hoping that our action will alleviate the nation from...

Ronald Reagan by Roger W Hancock An actor, orator, fortieth President, Ronald Reagan, man of many paths. .... Now sits among America’s greats. Copyright June 9, 2004 Roger W Hancock www.PoetPatriot.com

Isn't it interesting how so many people (usually people who were dumbed-down in socialistic public schools) claim that the concept of world govt is "all made up", "make believe", "wild tin-foil conspiracy theory"? I suppose all of the people listed below, the books and articles they wrote, and the newspaper /tv interviews are 'made up and make believe'? lol. The New World Order - Chronology Pt. 2 D. L. Cuddy, Ph.D. Arranged and Edited by John Loeffler March 1,1962 -- Sen. Clark speaking on the floor of the Senate about PL 87-297 which calls for the disbanding of all armed...

Gresham’s Law states that whenever government overvalues one form of money and undervalues another, the undervalued money will leave the country or disappear into "hoarding," while the overvalued money will flood into circulation. Hence the saying, "Bad money drives out the good." There is a version of Gresham’s Law that applies to economic literature: Bad economics drives out the good. There are many reasons for this, including the fact that most people never seriously study economics but are nevertheless influenced by the economic commentaries of fellow economic ignoramuses. A case in point is the huge sales of two books written...

To elect liberarians, the way to do it is through the GOP. The LP just doesn't seem to get it. They insist on running their own candidates and keep losing. About all they succeed in doing is getting LP members elected to local water boards or maybe a school district or planning commission. No state or federal positions. They brag that the Mayor of Moreno Valley, California ia an LP member. Big deal. When the governor of California is a libertarian, then I will be impressed. When our Senators, Congress members, state assembly members are libertarians then I will be...

To speak of freedom in an institute named for Lord Acton is like carrying coals to Newcastle. For Acton, according to Gertrude Himmelfarb, liberty was no mere social arrangement recommended by convenience but was on the contrary "the highest ideal of man, the reflection of his divinity."1 Another great historian of the concept of freedom, Mortimer Adler, writes that "there is perhaps no philosophical idea which has had so much impact on political action."2 For centuries, he points out, the world has been divided by rival conceptions of freedom. Whether liberty consists in doing what one likes or in doing...

Right-to-carry guns is proven way to reduce the crime rate Web-posted Mar 24, 2004 Some Daily Oakland Press readers had mixed emotions last week when we reported a Farmington Hills woman had frightened away would-be robbers because she was legally carrying a gun. They praised us for printing the story, but wished we'd put it on the front page. It may be the first such local story we've printed or known of - and that was because the chief of police there wisely brought it to public attention. The successful threat of a weapon in the hands of a potential...

Bush is spending our country into bankruptcy. Government spending has grown nearly 29% over the last four years. The Bush administration has spent money twice as fast Clinton. (7.6% vs. 3.4%) Fighting the Al Quaeda terrorists costs money, but the fiscally responsible solution is to cut back low priority government spending. Pork-barrel Republicans in Congress have increased nondefense discretionary spending at a record rate of 36%. Bush has yet to veto one pork-barrel spending bill. In just 4 years, the Bush administration has increased nondefense discretionary spending by 1/3 more than the Clinton administration did in 8 years. The government’s...