Dear Glenn To be fair with both sides on this issue of "are you or are you not a Libertarian", it's kind of like how one claim’s their sexual orientation, you are what you are and only you really know the truth. So don’t take it personally that a lot of Libertarians especially from the more anarchist people in the Libertarian Party are openly questioning your sincerity in claiming to be a Libertarian. You have to remember, for going on four plus decades, the Libertarian Party has been marginalized and it's only been with the advent of Ron Paul over the last 20 years that Libertarianism has moved from the fringe toward the more mainstream in politics. The result of this is there is a lot of the Libertarian Party Membership who are to put it mildly distrusting of newcomers, especially newcomers who are public figures. An example of this would be Wayne Allyn Root, who as late as May of 2012, in a room in Las Vegas (that I was sitting in) proclaimed loudly he was never going to leave the LP (Libertarian Party). It was late July 2012 that word got back to me that he had quit the LP and went back to Republicans. There are others I could name, but the point is the LP is not as open as many would like to new people because there have been so many pretenders as it were. You have to remember people who come to the LP are really dissatisfied with the status quo of the "R's" and the "D's". These are people who have grown weary listening to the platitudes of Republicans and Democrats, promising the world or promising smaller government and delivering nothing on their pledges no matter what direction they are pledging to take... Continue reading

Born in North Platte, Neb., he was a squad leader in Vietnam, twice wounded, who came home to work in Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign, was twice elected U.S. senator, and is chairman of the Atlantic Council and co-chair of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. To The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol, however, Hagel is a man "out on the fringes," who has a decade-long record of "hostility to Israel" and is "pro-appeasement-of-Iran. Continue reading

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Donna is correct the Republican Party does, need to moderate its stance. The problem is, as usual, she doesn't know who really is running the Republicans these days. And that is not uncommon, sadly the media gives such bad coverage and analysis one should not be blamed for not knowing. While I would agree that the Republicans have taken the first step off a tall cliff, Donna is assuming a lot of things in this article. For starters, Donna makes a common error of assuming that Libertarians are conservatives! And nothing could be further from the truth! The reality of the matter is, unless you really were paying attention to the Republicans and have been for some time, say the last eight years, then you might've or not, noticed the little quiet schism that has been ongoing all that time. Republicans, even Reagan Republicans, tout themselves as the small government party. The reality is the present Republican Party is just as much in love with big government as the Democrats are. Since Barry Goldwater was nominated by the Republicans in 1964 , the conservatives in the Republican Party have pretty much held sway. The result is a party that is very recalcitrant in its view of the world, one that in many ways mentally is still fighting the Cold War. That’s not to say there isn't any threats from terror organizations and other legitimate threats, but it is saying that while there are threats out there, their nature has drastically changed from the good old days. Donna's misunderstanding is typical of people from a left leaning perspective, she doesn't know what a Libertarian is, so I have to forgive her for assuming that Libertarians and tea party people are somehow one and the same. The reality is, had Donna merely... Continue reading

7pm on Tuesday Mitt was leading the polls, but a mere five ours later it was all over but the crying, the acrimony, the finger pointing and the R's wondering how they could lose and some D's wondering how it was they won. It also got me thinking about the election out come and what I had been observing during the run up to November 6th 2012. My theory on the reason Romney lost is actually steeped in the GOP's treatment of Ron Paul in Tampa. The RNC went out of its way to corner, brow beat and otherwise cajole Dr. Paul’s supporters and through changes made on the convention floor the day of the nomination deny them a voice at convention. Thus making it impossible for the Paul supporters to even put Dr. Paul’s name in nomination or to let him speak to the delegates. This was where the R's lost the election, not November 6th, Why and How you ask, well its simple really. The Paul supporters , call them what you will, paulbots, paulies, there's a rather long list of terms for Dr. Paul’s supporters, there was a sharp reaction or realization that came about. I first saw it as early as late April 2012, when Paul supporters realized that they would not have Dr Paul on the ballot for the R's this year. So the reaction started as a meme on facebook and similar sites where they publicly announced they would sit out the November election unless Doctor Paul was the nominated candidate for the Republicans. The common meme was No Paul means No vote. In September I made an effort to reason with the c4l, and other Paul supporting organizations to garner support for the only other Libertarian candidate in the running this year, that... Continue reading

by Gary North at Tea Party Economist Reprinted with Permission It is not often that readers get a clear-cut choice between two forecasts. Most forecasts have wiggle room. Not the following. 1. The United States government will default. 2. The United States government will not default. I hold the first position. John T. Harvey holds the second. He wrote a piece for Forbes defending his position: "It Is Impossible For The US To Default". I regard this as the most fundamental economic issue facing the U.S. government. I regard it as the most fundamental economic issue facing Americans under age 60. Mr. Harvey begins. With so many economic, political, and social problems facing us today, there is little point in focusing attention on something that is not one. The false fear of which I speak is the chance of US debt default. There is no need to speculate on what that likelihood is, I can give you the exact number: there is 0% chance that the US will be forced to default on the debt. That is the kind of forthrightness that I appreciate. Here is my response. With so many economic, political, and social problems facing us today, it is crucial that we focus attention on something that is both catastrophic and inescapable. The fear of which I speak is the chance of U.S. debt default. There is no need to speculate on what that likelihood is, I can give you the exact number: there is 100% chance that the U.S. will be forced to default on the debt. UNFUNDED LIABILITIES Why do I believe this? Because I believe in the analysis supplied by Professor Lawrence Kotlikoff of Boston University. Each year, he analyzes the statistics produced by the Congressional Budget Office on the present value – not future... Continue reading

The point is, for the last 20 years Americans have become more and more disenchanted with politics as usual. And by rebuking Ron Paul and changing the rules on the convention floor the day Dr. Paul's people try to put his name in nomination for the president, you guys basically just painted yourself into a corner, also that paint will keep you from winning the election box and in November. Continue reading

The point is, for the last 20 years Americans have become more and more disenchanted with politics as usual. And by rebuking Ron Paul and changing the rules on the convention floor the day Dr. Paul's people try to put his name in nomination for the president, you guys basically just painted yourself into a corner, also that paint will keep you from winning the election box and in November. Continue reading

by R. Lee Wrights Here's a news story you'll rarely read in your local newspaper: YOUR HOMETOWN (Today) - A masked man armed with a rifle entered a local school today, but left quickly when one of the teachers produced a revolver and ordered him to leave. No one was injured and no shots were fired in the incident. The gunman is still at large. Most newspapers, radio and TV stations still operate on the hard-and-fast journalistic rule, "if it bleeds, it leads." You really can't blame the news media for this. Most people like stories about conflict and action. That's why the sports pages are so well read, and we have cable channels dedicated to every competitive activity and sport conceivable -- even golf. But there are hundreds, thousands, perhaps millions of incidents where a firearm was used by a private citizen to prevent a crime or defend against a crime which are never reported to the police and never covered by the news. In a white paper "Tough Targets: When Criminals Face Armed Resistance from Citizens," the Cato Institute looked at thousands of news reports over an eight year period. Their study found that the overwhelming number of self-defense cases involve situations where the gun is never fired. These are some of the law-abiding gun owners who were able to save a life, or prevent a rape, burglary or other crime, and no shots were fired: - An 80-year-old pharmacist on duty in Missoula, Montana who confronted a masked man demanding painkillers. The pharmacist pulled out a pistol and told the criminal to leave. The masked man screamed and left the store. - An unidentified bystander who saved Gracie Watson when her estranged husband stabbed her repeatedly, doused her with gasoline, and threatened to set her ablaze on... Continue reading

by R. Lee Wrights When I was young and just starting out in political life, I believe I went through the same terrible experience Ron Paul supporters just went through in Tampa. Part of my political awakening was learning that the views I held, the belief in individual rights and personal responsibility, had a name -- libertarian. I also learned that these views weren't always acceptable in politics. People who held such views, or dared to speak of such things as individual rights, fiscal responsibility and limited government, were very often ignored, derided, mistreated, and sometimes threatened by the leadership of the establishment parties. Ron Paul supporters paid their dues to the GOP, played by the rules, and elected enough delegates to place Dr. Paul’s name in consideration for nomination for the presidency. But when their grassroots, libertarian movement was successful, it threatened the status quo. So the GOP establishment changed the rules, disenfranchised them and made sure their movement would never be as successful again. Why were they surprised? I wasn't. Dr. Mike Munger , a Duke University economics and political science professor and former Libertarian candidate for governor in my home state of North Carolina, explained this phenomenon exactly. He said complaining about the lack of integrity and corruption in politics is like complaining about dogs eating garbage. "They can't help it. It's what they do." One of the first things I learned in my early years of political activism was that neither of the so-called major political parties want their members to speak their minds. Their primary goal is not to advance ideas and certainly not to promote liberty and freedom. The primary goals is control and submission, and to gain and maintain power. And in a two-party state that means everyone in the party must be... Continue reading

By Richard Winger http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/06/01/new-mexico-presidential-poll-shows-gary-johnson-at-12/ June 1st, 2012 On May 31, a Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz poll was released, for the presidential race in New Mexico. It shows President Obama at 48%, Mitt Romney at 35%, Gary Johnson at 12%, and undecided 5%. The poll has a breakdown by the age group of respondents. Johnson’s strongest age is the 18-29 category, where he is at 18%. Thanks to Political Wire for the link. Continue reading

"Republicans and Democrats are the two mainstream political parties but many Americans are getting tired of just those choices. Too many Americans believe the left and the right are one in the same, so is it the perfect time for a third political party to emerge? Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico, went from GOP hopeful to the presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party. He joins us for more on why he switched parties leading up to Election Day." ("Gary johnson: Americans," 2012) Continue reading

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Karl Dickey West Palm Beach Libertarian Examiner Calling it proof that last year’s budget agreement was a “charade”, Libertarian presidential candidate and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson today criticized the U.S. House of Representatives for voting to “renege” on scheduled budget cuts for next year. Led by Republicans, the House voted late last week to exempt $55 billion in military spending from automatic spending cuts scheduled to take effect next year as the result of the failure of the deficit reduction “super committee” to reach agreement on a budget. Johnson made the following statement today: “When the purported conservatives in Congress, the House Republicans, vote to renege on a deal to cut defense spending by $55 billion, how are we supposed to believe that anyone in Washington really means it when they say they want to eliminate deficits? It is clear that the ‘budget deal’ Congress concocted last year was, and is, a charade. “Maintaining a strong national defense is obviously important. But violating their own budget agreement with the excuse that a 10 percent reduction in military spending would somehow be disastrous is classic Washington. We spend almost as much each year on defense as the rest of the world combined. If Congress can’t figure out how to reduce that spending by $55 billion, we need a new Congress. “Before last week’s vote in the House, we heard all kinds of pained cries that a $55 billion cut would mean troop strength would have to be reduced, bases would be closed, and that we would have a smaller Navy and Air Force. To that, I say: Exactly. That’s what happens when you reduce spending to rational levels we can afford. We are bankrupt. We simply cannot afford to have hundreds of thousands of troops in places like Europe... Continue reading

It was 03:44 hours EST at Cape Canaveral on May 22 2012, I was watching live via the companys Livestream video feed and got to watch the launch go off with out a hitch, unlike the last launch in December 2010 in daylight all you got to look at this time was a very bright fire plume rocketing into the atmosphere ever faster until it left visual range, followed by a brightly cherry red engine bell on the 2nd stage. The video feed was excellent all the way to 2nd stage engine cutt off and then further to just a minute forty seconds later when the Solar cell array deployment that was met with a loud cheer from the gallery at Spacex's Hawthorne California facility. The hosts were visibly shaken as they realized, hey we really are in the space launch BUSINESS. My hearty and HEART FELT compliments to Spacex, every milestone you've set you've hit, maybe not the first time but, but you did hit them. With the Falcon 9 you so far havent missed, a far cry from the early days of NASA, Excellent work one and all. Continue reading

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We are different. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney support the Patriot Act. I will advocate repealing it. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will keep waging war in Afghanistan. I will get us out immediately. Neither Obama or Romney has proposed actually cutting government spending. I will propose a balanced budget in 2013. Mitt Romney, in a speech three days ago at Liberty University, repeated that he is against marriage equality. Barack Obama now says he supports gay marriage, but says he will leave it up to the States . I believe the right to marry under the law is a constitutionally-protected right the Federal government is obligated to defend. Both Obama and Romney have pledged to continue the failed War on Drugs – even if it means sending federal marshals to shut down medical marijuana businesses operating legally under state law. I have pledged to not only call off the marshals, but legalize marijuana. On issue after issue, when you look past the rhetoric, there really isn’t a great deal of daylight between the Democrat Obama and the Republican Romney. And America is looking for daylight: The daylight between the tired business-as-usual that has driven us to the brink of bankruptcy, kept us in Afghanistan 10 years longer than necessary, and inserted the government into more and more corners of our privacy and daily lives – and an America that is living within its means, ending senseless intervention abroad, and where government protects our liberties rather than destroying them. America is longing for a real choice in November, and with your support, we can tell America that the choice they are looking for will be on the ballot. Please go to www.garyjohnson2012.com and help deliver that message. A few days ago, after months of hard work by many great supporters... Continue reading

U.S. House Dist 1 - DEM 53% Jimmy Farris (5355 votes)Winner 47% Cynthia Clinkingbeard (4721 votes) 100 percent reporting U.S. House Dist 1 - GOP ` 81% Raul Labrador (57876 votes)Winner 19% Reed McCandless (13898 votes) 100 percent reporting U.S. House Dist 2 - DEM 84% Nicole LeFavour (10521 votes)Winner 16% Jack Chappell (1997 votes) 100 percent reporting U.S. House Dist 2 - GOP 70% Mike Simpson (50778 votes)Winner 30% Chick Heileson (22220 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 1 - GOP Senate 70% Shawn Keough (4671 votes)Winner 30% Danielle Ahrens (1976 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 2 - GOP 62% Steve Vick (3487 votes)Winner 38% Mike Jorgenson (2159 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 5 - GOP 68% Gresham Bouma (2259 votes)Winner 32% Barrett Schroeder (1062 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 6 - GOP 60% Dan Johnson (1968 votes)Winner 40% Jeff Nesset (1334 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 7 - GOP 73% Sheryl Nuxoll (4094 votes)Winner 27% Mary Heston (1493 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 8 - GOP 44% Steven Thayn (3312 votes)Winner 28% Alan Ward (2065 votes) 28% Terry Gestrin (2053 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 9 - GOP 56% Monty Pearce (3395 votes)Winner 44% Matthew Faulks (2672 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 10 - GOP 69% Jim Rice (1987 votes)Winner 31% Kent Marmon (900 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 11 - GOP 60% Patti Lodge (3469 votes)Winner 40% Maurice Clements (2331 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 12 - GOP 61% Todd Lakey (1975 votes)Winner 39% Robert Schaefer (1242 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 13 - GOP 54% Curt McKenzie (1726 votes)Winner 46% Hubert Osborne (1452 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 14 - GOP 55% Marv Hagedorn (1988 votes)Winner 30% Stan Bastian (1059 votes) 15% Gary Bauer (536... Continue reading

Here is a list of published race results from Idaho's Primary U.S. House Dist 1 - DEM 53% Jimmy Farris (5355 votes)Winner 47% Cynthia Clinkingbeard (4721 votes) 100 percent reporting U.S. House Dist 1 - GOP ` 81% Raul Labrador (57876 votes)Winner 19% Reed McCandless (13898 votes) 100 percent reporting U.S. House Dist 2 - DEM 84% Nicole LeFavour (10521 votes)Winner 16% Jack Chappell (1997 votes) 100 percent reporting U.S. House Dist 2 - GOP 70% Mike Simpson (50778 votes)Winner 30% Chick Heileson (22220 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 1 - GOP Senate 70% Shawn Keough (4671 votes)Winner 30% Danielle Ahrens (1976 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 2 - GOP 62% Steve Vick (3487 votes)Winner 38% Mike Jorgenson (2159 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 5 - GOP 68% Gresham Bouma (2259 votes)Winner 32% Barrett Schroeder (1062 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 6 - GOP 60% Dan Johnson (1968 votes)Winner 40% Jeff Nesset (1334 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 7 - GOP 73% Sheryl Nuxoll (4094 votes)Winner 27% Mary Heston (1493 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 8 - GOP 44% Steven Thayn (3312 votes)Winner 28% Alan Ward (2065 votes) 28% Terry Gestrin (2053 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 9 - GOP 56% Monty Pearce (3395 votes)Winner 44% Matthew Faulks (2672 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 10 - GOP 69% Jim Rice (1987 votes)Winner 31% Kent Marmon (900 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 11 - GOP 60% Patti Lodge (3469 votes)Winner 40% Maurice Clements (2331 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 12 - GOP 61% Todd Lakey (1975 votes)Winner 39% Robert Schaefer (1242 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 13 - GOP 54% Curt McKenzie (1726 votes)Winner 46% Hubert Osborne (1452 votes) 100 percent reporting Senate Dist 14 - GOP 55% Marv Hagedorn... Continue reading

May 10, 2012, New York, NY – Libertarian nominee for President and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson today said he’s “disappointed” with President Obama’s position on gay marriage. Obama told ABC Wednesday he would let each individual state decide the gay marriage question instead of seeking federal protection of the right to marry. Johnson noted that more than 30 states already ban same sex marriage in one way or another. In a statement, Johnson said, “Instead of insisting on equality as a U.S. Constitutional guarantee, the President has thrown this question back to the states. When the smoke clears, Gay Americans will realize the President’s words have gained them nothing today, and that millions of Americans in most states will continue to be denied true marriage equality . I guess the President is still more worried about losing Ohio, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia than he is in doing the right thing. What is the President saying — that he would eat a piece of cake at a gay wedding if the state the happy couple lives in allows it ?. Where is the leadership? While I commend him for supporting the concept of gay marriage equality, I am profoundly disappointed in the President.” Continue reading

by R. Lee Wrights Hearing my name placed into consideration for the Libertarian Party's nomination for President of the United States was the proudest moment of my life. It was a privilege and an honor for me to be considered for that august office by my family -- the Libertarian Party. When I started my campaign for the nomination I said that I was determined to ensure that whatever else happened the Libertarian Party would talk about war during the 2012 national convention. We did that. Every American who watched the presidential candidates debate or the convention proceedings on CSPAN heard that message loud and clear – stop all war. They also were treated to a fine example of how political discourse should be conducted in America. During the debate, they didn't witness the spectacle of two men going after each other, out for blood and tearing each other apart. They saw two rational and reasonable people discussing alternative ways that liberty and freedom can bring peace and prosperity to our nation. Yes, there were contentious debates and votes – several votes – over electing members of the national committee. But no blows were struck, no blood was spilled, and no one stormed out of the room. We resolved our differences peacefully and nominated candidates for President and Vice President every Libertarian can and should support. We showed America that Libertarians are not the bogeymen the mainstream media and establishment politicians make us out to be. We showed America why libertarians are different and how, by being different, the Libertarian Party will make a difference in the 2012 election. I left the convention proudly wearing a Gary Johnson for President button. My entire staff and I are unwaveringly committed to working for the Johnson-Gray ticket, and continuing the Million Vote... Continue reading

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The real question is do you have any other choice? The answer is always yes, but the question is if not the statist offered candidates then the who could you vote for? Continue reading

It's been nearly two years since I began this campaign to earn the Libertarian Party presidential nomination. From the beginning I stated my goal clearly and I've stuck to it. I said then that the Libertarian Party faces a critical test in 2012 and I want to make sure we're up to the challenge. The Libertarian message in 2012 must be a loud, clear and unequivocal call to stop the wars! Stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop the war on drugs and alternative lifestyles, stop the war on civil liberties - stop all war. Continue reading

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