RealClearPolitics - Judge to rule on Libertarian ballot case Tuesday

RealClearPolitics - Judge to rule on Libertarian ballot case Tuesday - David Pitt, Associated Press::

August 31. 2012 - "Attorneys for two voters who challenged Johnson's listing on the ballot filed documents Thursday in Polk County District Court in Des Moines asking Judge Arthur Gamble to review the decision of a panel of three state officials that allowed Johnson on the ballot.

"Libertarians say they held a caucus at the Iowa State Fair to get Johnson, the former Republican governor of New Mexico, onto Iowa's ballot. Johnson's candidacy was challenged last week by two Iowa voters ... who said Libertarians didn't hold a real convention. Instead, the challenge says Libertarians had volunteers persuade fairgoers to sign a document that said they were delegates for Johnson.

"A panel of three state officials voted unanimously to allow Johnson on the ballot. Secretary of State Matt Schultz, Attorney General Tom Miller and Warren Jenkins, the chief deputy for Auditor David Vaudt concluded Iowa's law isn't clear in its definitions of a convention or caucus and that when in doubt open ballot access should prevail....

"Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Thompson, representing the panel of state officials, said ... the case must be decided by next Thursday for Iowa ballots to be printed so they can be sent to overseas military members by the Sept. 22 deadline."

Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Aug/31/judge_to_rule_on_libertarian_ballot_case_tuesday.html
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Gary Johnson finally included in presidential polling | KOB.com

Gary Johnson finally included in presidential polling | KOB.com - Stuart Dyson:

August 30, 2012 - "At last Gary Johnson is included in presidential polling. It's a major win for the Libertarian candidate who served two terms as Governor of New Mexico.

"A Rasmussen poll reports of 1,000 likely American voters finds 16 percent have a favorable opinion of Johnson, while 20 percent view him unfavorably. His biggest problem? 63 percent don't know enough about him to have an opinion.

"In a horse race the poll shows President Barack Obama and GOP contender Mitt Romney neck and neck with 48 percent apiece, with Johnson far behind with 1 percent and 3 percent undecided."

Read more: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2747708.shtml?cat=504
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The Ron Paul walkout - Milwaukee Political Buzz | Examiner.com

The Ron Paul walkout - Milwaukee Political Buzz | Examiner.com - Michael Priebe:

August 30, 2012 - "By the time they exited, ... Ron Paul delegates were battle-weary from losing floor fights regarding party rule changes that will make it impossible for a candidate like the Texas congressman to have his followers heard in future presidential elections. They exited during the first hour of yesterday’s convention festivities – long before Condoleezza Rice or Paul Ryan took to the stage and immediately after the showing of a four-minute video paying a paltry tribute to their candidate. After fighting through so many difficult and often hostile county and state conventions, bunches of Ron Paul delegates and supporters yesterday stood up and walked out of the Tampa Bay convention they had worked so hard to arrive at.

"The question is where they will go from here."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-ron-paul-walkout
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RNC Disenfranchises Paul Delegates; Rigs Rules to Nominate Romney

RNC Disenfranchises Paul Delegates; Rigs Rules to Nominate Romney - Joe Wolverton II, New American:

August 28, 2012 - "The RNC’s rule change effectively disenfranchised Republicans supporting anyone other than the Establishment’s man and left 10 of Maine’s 24 delegates locked out of the process, preventing them from casting votes for Ron Paul.... 'It’s a disgusting, disgusting display of a hostile takeover from the top down,” said Maine delegate Ashley Ryan....

Maine wasn’t alone in expressing its displeasure and disgust at the RNC’s pro-Romney rule manipulation.

Wayne Terhune, chairman of the Nevada delegation, reported that his state joined at least four others in submitting to the secretary of the convention, Kim Reynolds, valid and timely documents nominating Ron Paul.... Minnesota delegate Gary Heyer confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that his state joined Nevada, Minnesota, Iowa, Oregon, Alaska, and the Virgin Islands in submitting the forms to Reynolds....

D"isregarding the nominating rule and the Ron Paul delegates’ adherence thereto, when the roll call was read only the votes for Mitt Romney were announced. The nomination of Ron Paul was ignored in open and hostile violation of the RNC’s rules governing the presidential nomination process. No explanation. No chance for appeal. No recourse."

Read more: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/12645-rnc-disenfranchises-delegates-rigs-rules-to-nominate-romney
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Robbing Ron Paul

---

Why Ron Paul will not be nominated in Tampa; a tale of "cheating, lying, abuse of process, and high-handedness" in the GOP.

by George Dance
(libertarian)

Monday, August 27, 2012

On the eve of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, it now looks as though Ron Paul will not be nominated from the floor before the presidential ballotting. Had Paul been nominated, he would have been entitled to address the convention in prime time.

Read more: 

http://www.nolanchart.com/article9813-robbing-ron-paul.html

Libertarians rally for Ron Paul

Libertarians rally for Ron Paul - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Tracie Maurielo:

August 26, 2012 - "Before Mitt Romney's supporters began trickling into town, a growing crowd of Ron Paul supporters had begun to assemble for a three-day alternative convention at the Florida State Fairgrounds that runs through this evening.... Missing, though, is Mr. Paul himself, the Texas congressman who had campaigned for the GOP nomination. He declined an invitation but is holding his own event today at the University of South Florida's Sun Dome....

Organizers were so disappointed that they changed the name of the event from Paul Fest to P.A.U.L. Fest, an acronym for People Awakening and Uniting for Liberty, but they say the candidate's absence doesn't diminish their passion for what he stands for....

[F]ormer New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, Libertarian candidate for president ... addressed a boisterous festival crowd Saturday, saying he was grateful for the path Mr. Paul ... paved by running as a Libertarian presidential candidate in 1988. 'Be Libertarian for me for one election, one election, and together we'll show the world and the nation that what Ron Paul stood for is not a fluke; it's the future,' he told the screaming crowd of about 1,000."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/politics-national/libertarians-rally-for-ron-paul-650537/#ixzz24ffTEqAu
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Nevada to appeal over 'none of above' voting choice | HeraldNet.com - Nation/World

Nevada to appeal over 'none of above' voting choice | HeraldNet.com - Nation/World - Associated Press:

August 25, 2012 - "CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Nevada has given official notice that it will appeal a ruling that struck down the state's decades-old voting option of 'none of the above.'

"The notice filed late Friday by the attorney general's office says the state will appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco once a written order is issued by U.S. District Judge Robert Jones. Jones struck down the ballot choice Wednesday....

"The Republican National Committee financed the lawsuit out of fears that votes for "none" could influence the outcomes of what are expected to be close presidential and U.S. Senate races in Nevada."
"
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120825/NEWS02/708259953
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Jewish Dems slam GOP for Ron Paul tribute

Jewish Dems slam GOP for Paul tribute | JTA - Jewish & Israel News - Ron Kampeas:

August 24, 2012 - " Jewish Democrats slammed Republicans for planning a tribute to Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) at the Republican convention. In a press call Friday, a top aide to Rommey confirmed that there would be a prime time video tribute....

"'Paying tribute to this man who disparaged the U.S.-Israel relationship on Iranian television and empathized with Iran's nuclear weapons program -- on top of the history of his hate-filled newsletters -- is a national disgrace,' the National Jewish Democratic Council said in a statement. 'Romney and the RNC should cancel the tribute and end this dangerous strategic partnership once and for all'....

"Paul, a libertarian who this year sought the GOP presidential nomination, has opposed foreign assistance, including to Israel, and has criticized multiple administrations, including that of President Obama, for what he describes as an overly militant posture in the Middle East."

Read more: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/08/24/3105011/jewish-dems-slam-gop-for-paul-tribute
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Maine's Ron Paul delegates lose final appeal | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

Maine's Ron Paul delegates lose final appeal | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME:

August 24, 2012 - "WASHINGTON — The slate of 20 Ron Paul supporters hoping to represent Maine as delegates to the Republican National Convention lost their appeal on Friday, prompting Gov. Paul LePage to announce that he will skip next week’s GOP nominating party.

"LePage announced his plan to forego the gathering after it became clear that members of the Republican National Committee would move ahead with plans to replace 10 elected Maine delegates who supported Paul with 10 likely to back Mitt Romney. The RNC’s Credentials Committee voted overwhelmingly to reject the pro-Paul contingent's appeal to seat all 20 delegates.

"As a result, LePage said he would spend the time focusing on 'state business and spending some time with family....

"'I made it clear, when the challenge was issued, that I felt the Maine delegates selected at the Maine convention should be seated in Tampa,' LePage said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/LePage-skipping-GOP-convention-due-to-flap-over-Ron-Paul-delegates.html
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Libertarian gets on Minnesota ballot for president - AP State Wire News - The Sacramento Bee

Libertarian gets on Minnesota ballot for president - AP State Wire News - The Sacramento Bee:

 August 23, 2012 - "Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson has obtained a spot on the Minnesota ballot after gathering more than 3,000 signatures.

A spokesman for the Minnesota Secretary of State said Thursday that Johnson met the requirements to get on the November ballot with running mate Jim Gray.

"Johnson, a former Republican, served two terms as governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003."

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/23/4751766/libertarian-gets-on-minn-ballot.html
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Romney And GOP Strike Deal With Ron Paul Loyalists Before Convention : It's All Politics : NPR

Romney And GOP Strike Deal With Ron Paul Loyalists Before Convention : It's All Politics : NPR - Liz Halloran::

August 22, 2012 — "GOP officials and the Mitt Romney campaign have cut a deal with Texas Rep. Ron Paul's campaign to allow some — though not all — of Paul's delegates from Louisiana and Massachusetts to be seated at the Republican National Convention. The status of Maine's delegates remains unsettled ... but negotiations were continuing.

"Pro-Paul delegations from Iowa, Nevada and Minnesota have already been credentialed, without challenge, for the convention.

"Romney and the RNC had been pursuing a legal strategy that appeared designed to prevent Paul from coming into the convention with 'the support of a plurality of the delegates from each of five or more states'.... Reaching that threshold, according to the party rulebook, would allow Paul delegates to place the longtime congressman's name into nomination during the convention and the candidate to make a speech. Paul has not sought to be nominated from the floor.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/08/21/159594780/romney-and-gop-strike-deal-with-ron-paul-loyalists-before-convention
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Romney calls for Fed audit as party mulls platform plank

Romney Calls for Fed Audit as Party Mulls Platform Plank - Bloomberg - Lisa Lerer and Julie Hirschfeld Davis:

August 20, 2012 - "'The Federal Reserve should be accountable,' Romney told thousands of voters at a campaign rally today in Goffstown, New Hampshire. 'We should see what they’re doing.'

"Under pressure from anti-tax Tea Party activists and other small government advocates, Republicans are considering including a plank in their platform calling for a full audit of the central bank -- a prospect that concerns many party leaders and their financial supporters. Romney’s remarks could put pressure on the Republican Platform Committee -- which is currently meeting in Tampa, the convention site -- to adopt the proposal.

"On the platform committee’s website, proposals to audit the Federal Reserve are among the most popular. Representative Ron Paul of Texas, a longtime Fed critic who made opposition to it a major theme of his failed bid for the Republican presidential nomination, has said that if Romney’s backers resist the effort, it could result in a political battle at the convention.

"Romney has chosen his words on the issue carefully, stopping short of siding with Paul even as he seeks support from him and his supporters."

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-20/romney-calls-for-fed-audit-as-party-mulls-platform-plank.html
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Obama Protest unites populist groups in New Hampshire - Manchester Independent | Examiner.com

Obama Protest unites populist groups in New Hampshire - Manchester Independent | Examiner.com - Kevin Kervick:

August 19, 2012 - "Yesterday, about 200 people participated in a demonstration in Rochester, New Hampshire to protest the visit of President Obama.... The rally included Tea Party affiliates, folks from the 912 Project, Gary Johnson and Ron Paul supporters, and Occupy Wall Street affiliates. What appears to tie these groups together is their disdain for government corruption, opposing bailouts of big banks and big corporations, and their desire to end crony capitalism. These are related populist concerns that these protesters believe have increased dramatically during President Obama's tenure in Washington."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-protest-unites-populist-groups-new-hampshire
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Assange demands US end WikiLeaks ‘witch hunt’

From Ecuador’s Embassy, Julian Assange demands U.S. end WikiLeaks ‘witch hunt’ | thestar.com | David Stringer, Associated Press:

August 19, 2012 - "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange urged President Barack Obama to end a so-called 'witch hunt' against his secret-spilling website, appearing in public Sunday for the first time since he took refuge two months ago inside Ecuador’s Embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden on sex crimes allegations.

The 41-year-old Australian, who has fought for two years against efforts to send him to Sweden for questioning over alleged sexual misconduct against two women, addressed several hundred supporters and reporters as he spoke from the small balcony of Ecuador’s mission, watched by dozens of British police.

Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa on Thursday granted Assange asylum and he remains out of reach of British authorities while he is inside the country’s embassy. Britain insists that if he steps outside, he will be detained and sent to Sweden, as by law it must meet the obligations of a European arrest warrant."

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1243789--from-ecuador-s-embassy-julian-assange-demands-u-s-end-wikileaks-witch-hunt
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Gary Johnson on Paul Ryan: "He is anything but a libertarian" - Hit & Run: Reason.com

Gary Johnson on Paul Ryan: "He is anything but a libertarian" - Hit &; Run : Reason.com - Garrett Quinn:

August 18, 2012 - "Gary Johnson is not happy that some in the media call Republican vice presidential candidate and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan a libertarian.

"'He voted for the Patriot Act, he voted for the National Defense Appropriation Act, he voted to ban online poker, he’s proposing a budget that gets balanced in thirty years. He is anything but a libertarian, anything but,' said Johnson after a packed campaign dinner at Hill’s Café.

"Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee for president, noted that Ryan was a strict social conservative that voted to restrict abortion rights and against marriage equality.

"'Paul Ryan submitted personhood legislation that is anything but libertarian,' he said. Johnson's eyes widened and his volume increased as he went into detail about Ryan’s support for a national version of Virginia’s controversial transvaginal ultrasound law."

http://reason.com/blog/2012/08/18/gary-johnson-on-paul-ryan-he-is-anything
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Paul Ryan Doesn't Follow Ayn Rand on Civil Liberties | The Nation

Paul Ryan Doesn't Follow Ayn Rand on Civil Liberties | The Nation - Ben Adler::

August 15, 2012 - "Throughout his career Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) has proudly touted the influence of philosopher Ayn Rand on his political beliefs.... But Ryan does not share any of Rand’s commitments to freedom, other than the freedom to be selfish.

"The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a report on the Republican vice-presidential contenders. Ryan’s record is just as bad as the others’, and his running mate’s. Writing in the Huffington Post, ACLU president Anthony Romero observed, 'There’s no constitutional daylight between Ryan’s civil liberties positions and Romney’s and that means a pall of darkness over our Constitution and the rights it guarantees'....

"Ryan has actually never supported many central tenets of libertarianism. Unless it is an excuse to support a policy benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the poor, Ryan has no interest in individual liberty."

Read more: http://www.thenation.com/blog/169412/paul-ryan-doesnt-follow-ayn-rand-civil-liberties#
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Libertarian candidate comes to Nashville to meet ballot requirements | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Libertarian candidate comes to Nashville to meet ballot requirements | The Tennessean | tennessean.com:

August 15 - "Wednesday ... Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson came to Nashville to ensure he made the state’s ballot as a[n] independent presidential candidate in November, including meeting one requirement that candidates sign every nominating petition his campaign submitted.

"Later in the day, his campaign was also getting additional petitioners to nominate him after more than half of the people who tried to nominate the former New Mexico governor were considered invalid by state election officials."

Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120815/NEWS/308150166/Libertarian-candidate-comes-to-Nashville-to-meet-ballot-requirements?nclick_check=1
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Book excerpt: The Ron Paul Revolution in America | National Post

Book excerpt: The Ron Paul Revolution in America | Full Comment | National Post

:
August 14, 2012 - - Rudy Giuliani couldn’t believe his ears. That scrawny old nut at the podium down the row had just said what? There was a reason America was attacked on 9/11? And it had to do with America’s own behaviour?

“That’s really an extraordinary statement,” Giuliani said, with some swagger.... 'That’s an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through the attack of September 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I don’t think I’ve heard that before, and I’ve heard some pretty absurd explanations for September eleventh.'

"The crowd was on Giuliani’s side, raucously, giving him cheers and whistles and resounding, rolling applause. 'And I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn’t really mean that,' Giuliani continued....

"That wasn’t going to happen. The man, Ron Paul, from southeast Texas, then veteran of over nine terms in Congress looking too small for his suit, his ears almost laughably prominent, delivered his heresies neither hesitantly nor militantly, but with the authority of common sense. Paul knew what he meant, meant what he said, and given the chance, just explained himself further."

Read more: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/08/14/brian-doherty-the-ron-paul-revolution/
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Boy Whose Hot Dog Cart Was Shut Down by the City of Holland Now Homeless [Mackinac Center]

Boy Whose Hot Dog Cart Was Shut Down by the City of Holland Now Homeless [Mackinac Center] - Anne Scheiber:

August 10. 2012 - "Holland, Michigan - Several weeks after a city zoning officer shut down his hot dog business, 13-year-old Nathan Duszynski and his parents are homeless.

"The family was hoping Nathan’s hot dog cart could help them through a difficult time.  Nathan’s mother, Lynette Johnson, suffers from epilepsy and his stepfather, Doug Johnson, has multiple sclerosis. Their illnesses have restricted them from finding permanent, full-time work.

The family receives about $1,300 a month in disability payments, Medicaid and food assistance..... MLive confirms what the Mackinac Center learned Thursday — Nathan and his mother are staying at the Holland Rescue Mission."

Read more: http://www.mackinac.org/17372
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Conservative Group Launches "Dump Romney" Campaign

Conservative Group Launches "Dump Romney" Campaign - Rosie Gray, BuzzFeed:

August 8, 2012 - "A group called 'Jews and Christians Together,' which backed Rick Santorum in the Republican primary, is sending a memo to Republican National Convention delegates urging them not to vote for Mitt Romney at the convention, even if they're bound to him....

"A core of Ron Paul supporters had been the only organized Republican opposition to accepting Romney as the nominee, but Paul campaign manager Jesse Benton told BuzzFeed that the memo had nothing to do with them, calling it 'disgusting and highly inappropriate.'

"Instead, it's a brainchild of Steve Baldwin, the former chief of the Council for National Policy, a low-profile, well-connected conservative group. Baldwin said the memo was sent out to 20,000 people in politics in media, as well as RNC delegates.

'"We’re just saying that Romney has so many liabilities that will be exploited by Obama,' Baldwin said in a phone interview. 'I don’t have a problems with Mormons personally, but it is a liability issue' among evangelical voters, Baldwin said.

"Baldwin said that the people who put together the memo are supporters of different primary candidates, including Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich (Baldwin is a Bachmann supporter)."

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Libertarian VP endorses CO marijuana legalization initiative

Libertarian VP goes after Obama's Drug War - West Palm Beach Libertarian | Examiner.com - Karl Dickey

August 10, 2012 - "Visiting a Denver medical marijuana dispensary Thursday, Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee and retired Superior Court Judge Jim Gray urged passage of Amendment 64, the statewide initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol that will appear on this year’s ballot.

"Judge Gray was also critical of the Obama Administration’s interference in Colorado’s state-regulated medical marijuana system. Last week, the Justice Department issued letters to 10 state-legal medical marijuana facilities demanding that they shut down. Fifty-seven total businesses have now received such letters.

"'Marijuana prohibition has been just as ineffective, harmful and wasteful as alcohol prohibition,' Gray said.... 'Amendment 64 presents a responsible new approach, and I am proud to lend it my full support.'

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/libertarian-vp-goes-after-obama-s-drug-war
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Opinion: Ron Paul and the tea party playbook

Opinion: Ron Paul and the tea party playbook - David Kirby and Emily Ekins - POLITICO.com:

"The Republican National Convention this week announced speaking slots for libertarian Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and social conservative Rick Santorum. Both claim the 'tea party' brand. However the 2012 primary season reveals that the tea party playbook is more Paul than Santorum.... Santorum never won a majority of the tea party vote in any primary....

"Tea party supporters are actually united on economics, but split on social issues, we find, compiling data from local and national polls with dozens of original interviews with tea party members and leaders. Roughly half the tea party is socially conservative, half libertarian: fiscally conservative, but socially moderate to liberal.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79539.html
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Also Read:
The Two Faces of the Tea Party
by George Dance

Johnson a Bigger Threat to Obama Than Romney in Colorado - Reason 24/7 : Reason.com

Johnson a Bigger Threat to Obama Than Romney in Colorado - Reason 24/7 : Reason.com:

August 8, 2012 - "The latest survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling (PPP) shows the president leading Romney among likely Colorado voters, 49 percent to 43 percent. In a three-way match-up between Obama, Romney and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, the president’s lead over Romney shrinks to 4 points, 46 percent to 42 percent. Johnson picks up 6 percent support, much stronger than he has performed in other polls and perhaps an indication that the former Republican New Mexico governor poses a greater threat to Obama than Romney in Colorado."

http://reason.com/24-7/2012/08/08/johnson-a-bigger-threat-to-obama-than-ro
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Americans Elect gives Oklahoma ballot access to Gary Johnson

Zombified Corpse of Americans Elect Gives Oklahoma Ballot Access to Gary Johnson - David Wiegel, Slate:

"Back in May, as Americans Elect's national organization collapsed, ballot genius Richard Winger and I wondered whether the local organizations could give their ballot lines to other candidates. After all, "Americans Elect" was legally on the ballot in nearly 30 states, and it was illegal to take them off. Would they just field no candidates? Or would enterprising third partiers take their ballot lines?

"The second one. From the inbox:

"'The nonpartisan organization Americans Elect has submitted the names of presidential electors to the Oklahoma State Board of Elections who have pledged to support former New Mexico Governor and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson for President and Judge Jim Gray for Vice President. The nomination by Americans Elect ensures that Gov. Johnson's name will be on the November ballot in Oklahoma.'

"The Sooner State has strict ballot access laws, and no Libertarian nominee had fulfilled them since 2000, when Harry Browne got 0.5% of the vote."

Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/08/08/zombified_corpse_of_americans_elect_gives_oklahoma_ballot_access_to_gary_johnson.html
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Libertarian Gary Johnson qualifies for Maine’s presidential ballot – BDN Maine Blogs

Libertarian Gary Johnson qualifies for Maine’s presidential ballot – Capitol Incite - BDN Maine Blogs - Matthew Stone, Bangor Daily News:

August 6, 2012 - "Gary Johnson, the national Libertarian Party nominee for president, has turned in enough signatures to qualify for Maine’s presidential ballot. Volunteers for Johnson ... submitted the petitions to qualify him on Friday. Johnson needed between 4,000 and 6,000 signatures; his supporters turned in 4,355, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

Johnson is the first — and likely the only — non-party presidential candidate to turn in the needed petitions to qualify for the November ballot in Maine. Other campaigns have until 5 p.m. on Aug. 15.... Johnson will appear as a non-party candidate in Maine, where only the Democrats, Republicans and Green-Independents are official parties."

Read more: http://capitolincite.bangordailynews.com/2012/08/06/libertarian-gary-johnson-qualifies-for-maines-presidential-ballot/
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Ron Paul Comes To South Carolina: FITSNews

Ron Paul Comes To South Carolina: FITSNews:

August 6, 2012 -  "U.S. Rep. Ron Paul ... is traveling to South Carolina to raise money for Tom Davis, an up-and-coming State Senator from Beaufort, S.C. who endorsed Paul’s 2012 presidential bid.  Davis is widely expected to challenged liberal U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in the 2014 GOP Senate primary – ... it’s clear that he’ll have Paul’s army behind him …

"'I endorsed Congressman Ron Paul in the recent GOP presidential primary because he has stood for those same things throughout his three decades in public life, to a degree and with a passion unmatched by any other candidate,' Davis said. 'And that diligence has certainly paid off, as evidenced by the number of establishment politicians who now routinely incorporate Ron Paul’s governing philosophy into their stump speeches and in how they vote. Last week, for example, every Republican in South Carolina’s congressional delegation voted in favor of his bill to audit and examine the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve, something that would have been unheard of just three years ago.”"

Read more: http://www.fitsnews.com/2012/08/06/ron-paul-comes-to-south-carolina/
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Libertarian Gary Johnson warmly welcomed in chilly Alaska

Libertarian Hopeful Gary Johnson Warmly Welcomed in Chilly Alaska | Alaska Dispatch - Amanda Coyne:

August 3, 2012 - "Even though Alaska has a relatively strong Libertarian Party, former two-term New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson’s face isn't readily recognizable to many in the state. So it was surprising to this reporter when a young man walked up to his table at the Midtown Anchorage Village Inn, where Johnson was munching on a cobb salad, to shake his hand and thank him for running for president of the United States.

"Johnson, however, didn't seem surprised. He's experiencing this more and more often as he crisscrosses the country, trying to gain traction for his quixotic campaign."

Read more: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/libertarian-hopeful-gary-johnson-gets-warm-welcome-chilly-alaska
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Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson predicts pot will be legal by 2016 | The Seattle Times

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson predicts pot will be legal by 2016 | Local News | The Seattle Times - Brian M. Rosenthal:

August 2, 2012 - "Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee for president, predicted Thursday that marijuana will be legal nationwide within the next four years. Johnson ... said he thinks that pot legalization will be approved by voters in Washington and Colorado this fall, helping to spur other states to follow suit.

"'We are [at] a tipping point here on this issue,' Johnson said in an interview during a visit to the Seattle area as part of his longshot campaign.

"Johnson, who unsuccessfully pushed for marijuana legalization as governor of New Mexico a decade ago, has admitted to smoking pot as recently as 2008, when he was recovering from a paragliding crash."

Read more: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2018836530_johnson03m.html
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Paul strives for common ground with tea party - Washington Times

Paul strives for common ground with tea party - Washington Times - Ralph Z. Hallow:

August 1, 2012 - "Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made efforts this week to overcome a split between his father’s supporters and tea party backers in a move that could pay dividends for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.

"Republican strategists say tea partyers and supporters of Mr. Paul and his father, Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, will be essential to the coalition they will need to defeat President Obama in November, but the two sides have been at odds over their choices of candidates in state primaries and over who will wield more influence within the Republican Party.

"But when Rand Paul this week heaped lavish praise on the tea party, that diverse movement’s leaders said they saw signs of a denouement and a willingness to work together to boost Mr. Romney."

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/1/pauls-will-try-to-find-common-ground/
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Ron Paul Ally Kerry Bentivolio Gets Super-PAC Aid in Congressional Bid

Ron Paul Ally Kerry Bentivolio Gets Super-PAC Aid in Congressional Bid Thomas R. Eddlem, The New Ameican:

August 2, 2012 - "Michigan congressional candidate Kerry Bentivolio ... will get a leg up in his battle against the GOP establishment in next week's Republican primary election, courtesy of the Ron Paul movement-aligned Liberty For All Super-PAC. The SuperPAC — headed by 21-year-old Texas financial heir John Ramsey — has committed an estimated $300,000 (already spending some $130,000, according to OpenSecrets.org) to support Bentivolio in his primary race over establishment write-in candidate Nancy Cassis.

"Bentivolio — a teacher and part-time reindeer farmer — committed to the race earlier in the year when victory seemed all but impossible. The Tea Party-aligned Bentivolio faced a quixotic but daunting primary against five-term incumbent Thaddeus McCotter in this district in the northwest suburbs of Detroit, but the eccentric McCotter surprisingly failed to gain enough signatures to make the ballot for reelection. The result was that Bentivolio, a Tea Party candidate with similar positions to Ron Paul, emerged as the only Republican on the August 7 primary ballot in this heavily Republican district and the favorite to succeed McCotter."

Read more: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/12286-ron-paul-ally-kerry-bentivolio-gets-super-pac-aid-in-congressional-bid
'via Blog this'

Paul campaign leader is cleared of charge in St. Peters : Stltoday

Paul campaign leader is cleared of charge in St. Peters : Stltoday - Mark Schlinkmann::

August 1, 2012 - "A local campaign leader for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul on Tuesday night was acquitted of trespassing in the wake of the unruly St. Charles County GOP caucus that broke up in disarray March 17.

"Municipal Judge Donald Kohl cleared the defendant, Brent Stafford, 45, of O'Fallon, Mo., after hearing testimony from witnesses Tuesday night and on July 24.

"Stafford had been arrested on the sidewalk outside the caucus site, the Francis Howell North High School gym, as he was trying to get caucus participants to reconvene.

"The caucus had shut down after about a half hour of boisterous disputes. Some of the several hundred people present, with Paul supporters in the forefront, yelled objections to decisions made by caucus organizers. Much criticism was aimed at a ban on videotaping and other recording."

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/stcharles/paul-campaign-leader-is-cleared-of-charge-in-st-peters/article_333145e0-db93-11e1-87fd-0019bb30f31a.html
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