Make POTUS debate contract public, CPD told

Ron Paul on Presidential Debates: CPD Called on Controversial Third Party Debate Rule - Alex Marin, Policymic:

September 28, 2012 - "In early September, libertarian-leaning Texas congressman and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said on NBC's The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, "democracy isn’t all that healthy because if you’re in a third party, you don’t get into the debates.” The statement sparked reactions.... Libertarian Party nominee for president, Gary Johnson ... recently filed an anti-trust claim against the Commission on Presidential Debates to protest the supposed rule that a third party candidate must poll above 15% in order to gain access to the season's presidential debates.

"And now, 18 pro-democracy groups -- Open Debates, Common Cause, Public Citizen, Rock the Vote, Judicial Watch, Public Campaign, FairVote, Demos, Democracy Matters, League of Rural Voters, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, Essential Information, Personal Democracy Media, Reclaim Democracy!, Center for Study of Responsive Law, Citizen Works, Free & Equal Elections Foundation, and Rootstrikers -- are calling on the CPD to make public the secret debate contract that was negotiated by the Obama and Romney campaigns.

"According to the coalition, Robert F. Bauer of the Obama campaign and Benjamin L. Ginsberg of the Romney campaign negotiated a detailed contract that dictates many of the terms of the 2012 presidential debates, including how the format will be structured. The CPD, a private corporation created by and for the Republican and Democratic parties, agreed to implement the debate contract. And, in order to shield the major party candidates from criticism, the CPD is allegedly concealing the contract from the public and the press."

Read more: http://www.policymic.com/articles/15487/ron-paul-on-presidential-debates-cpd-called-on-controversial-third-party-debate-rule
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Johnson backs medical marijuana legalization

Gary Johnson backs ballot drive to legalize marijuana as medicine - Tampa Bay Times - Mark Caputo, Miami Herald:

September 28, 2012 - "'Johnson is expected to endorse the current effort to put a Constitutional Amendment to legalize Medicinal Marijuana on the Florida ballot in 2014,' said Johnson's Florida political adviser, Roger Stone, a one-time GOP operative who lives in Miami Beach.

The marijuana proposal faces a series of tough challenges in Florida....

"The People United for Medical Marijuana committee, called PUFMM, ... has raised $40,628 and spent $33,470 since 2009 to get medical-marijuana on the Florida ballot. It needs 676,811 valid voter signatures but has collected just 100,000 so far, said PUFMM's Florida Chairwoman Kim Russell.

"If the measure makes the ballot, it would then face the daunting requirement that it pass with 60 percent of the vote."

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/gary-johnson-backs-ballot-drive-to-legalize-marijuana-as-medicine/1253745
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Gary Johnson 2012: The Libertarian Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gary Johnson 2012: The Libertarian Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Seamus Light, policymic:

September 29, 2012 - "'The revolution will not be televised.'

"This phrase accurately describes the libertarian movement, as it continues to penetrate the American psyche in the forms of Ron Paul and Gary Johnson. Every day, a growing segment of the population, which is young, educated, and internet native, joins the ranks of the libertarians and their allies. And every day, the regime which currently controls the United States – those inner party officials, media mouthpieces, and corporate backers – continue to lose legitimacy, support, and ultimately, control. Over the next few years, these elements will become increasingly impotent, as they lose the ideological and technological race for supremacy against a new generation of Americans who are not dependent upon systems controlled by the corporatist state."

Read more: http://www.policymic.com/articles/15523/gary-johnson-2012-the-libertarian-revolution-will-not-be-televised
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Can Romney Win Over Libertarians in 2012? | TheBlaze.com

Can Romney Win Over Libertarians in 2012? | TheBlaze.com - Christopher Santorelli:

September 20, 2012 - "For Mitt Romney to have a better chance of surpassing the still small lead President Barack Obama holds in general election polling, he’ll likely need the support of the growing block of libertarian and libertarian-leaning voters.

"But the question remains whether Romney can or will present the arguments necessary to appeal to undecided libertarians and supporters of former Republican candidate Ron Paul, and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson....

"Those who identify with libertarian ideas represent a sizable part of the voter base in America. In a 2006 Zogby International poll, 59 percent of respondents said “yes” to whether they would describe themselves as “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.” The poll was commissioned by David Boaz and David Kirby of the Cato Institute – a think tank dedicated to advancing principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace.... In a 2010 paper, Boaz and Kirby noted that Gallup polling on the issue consistently finds about 20 percent of respondents to be libertarian."

Read more: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/100-million-question-for-romney-will-he-do-what-it-takes-to-win-over-libertarians-in-2012/
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Liberty Caucus will challenge GOP Establishment at New Hampshire convention - Manchester Independent | Examiner.com

Liberty Caucus will challenge GOP Establishment at New Hampshire convention - Manchester Independent | Examiner.com - Kevin Kervick::

September 28, 2012 - "In a letter yesterday, Carolyn McKinney, Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, told supporters that the Caucus plans to stand firmly with the grass roots of the Republican Party. McKinney said the RLCNH will offer a bold resolution at the GOP state convention that condemns the establishment rules that were wrongfully enacted at the GOP National Convention in Tampa. The following statement appeared on the RLCNH website:

"'In Tampa earlier this summer, RNC management showed a blatant disregard for the party rules by removing legitimately elected delegates, removing members of the rules committee or preventing them from voting, silencing dissent, and disregarding the results of votes. Because such fraud and coercion were used to pass new rules that reduce the power and autonomy of state and local party organizations and impose a top-down structure of governance in place of the party’s traditional bottom-up structure, the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire is proposing a resolution from the New Hampshire Republican Party that outright rejects the rules changes.'"

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/liberty-caucus-will-challenge-gop-establishment-at-new-hampshire-convention
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Justin Amash raises $39,000 with lottery lure of dinner with Ron Paul | MLive.com

Justin Amash raises $39,000 with lottery lure of dinner with Ron Paul | MLive.com - Zane McMillin:

Sep. 27, 2012 - "GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Justin Amash's "Liberty Dinner Money Bomb" sweepstakes, featuring a meal with former presidential candidate and retiring Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, helped the Cascade Township legislator land more than $39,500 for his re-election bid.

"'Donate and be entered for a chance to win a private dinner for you and a guest with Ron Paul and Justin Amash,' a website promotion stated. 'We'll cover the plane tickets, hotel rooms and dinner.'

"The contest raised concerns from Mlive.com readers who believed the prize, valued at $2,300, violated campaign finance regulations. A disclaimer that says no contribution is necessary to win appears to give Amash clearance to run the "money bomb" contest that ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday."

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/reader_questions_whether_justi.html
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Gary Johnson reaches double digits in Ohio - Charlotte Libertarian | Examiner.com

Gary Johnson reaches double digits in Ohio - Charlotte Libertarian | Examiner.com - Matthew Reece::

September 27, 2012 - "On Wednesday, Gravis Marketing and Capitol Correspondent released results from Ohio from a poll conducted on September 21-22. The poll included 594 likely voters and covered the presidential race and senate elections, among others. The margin of error of the poll is 4.3%.

"When only President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney are included, Obama leads by 45.2% to 44.3%, with 10.4% either undecided or supporting a third party candidate.

"When Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson is also included, Obama leads Romney by 44.5% to 37.8%, with Johnson winning 10.6% of the vote. 7.1% are either undecided or supporting another third party candidate."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/gary-johnson-reaches-double-digits-ohio
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Pipe Dreamer - Molly Ball - The Atlantic

Pipe Dreamer - Molly Ball - The Atlantic:

October 2012 - "Attracting attention may be the chief challenge facing Johnson, a popular 1990s-era governor of New Mexico who now finds himself a political after­thought. He ran for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, but was excluded from almost all the debates, and dropped out before the Iowa caucuses.... Having since left the GOP for the Libertarian Party ... Johnson hopes to fashion a new voting bloc. He is more socially liberal than Obama, more fiscally conservative than Mitt Romney, and less interventionist than either on foreign affairs. He believes that combination leaves him well-positioned to unite liberals disappointed with Obama, conservatives distrustful of Romney, and the eccentric youth movement galvanized by Ron Paul....

"Johnson’s belief in his quixotic project has precedent: his experience backing drug legalization. He has been a vocal advocate since 1999, when, early in his second term as governor, he declared the drug war an expensive failure. Though New Mexico was by then accustomed to his unorthodox leadership style—he vetoed hundreds of spending bills and periodically left town to participate in grueling Ironman triathlons—his announcement came as a shock, and his approval rating quickly plummeted 30 points. By the time he left office in 2003, though, it had largely rebounded. His old supporters hadn’t come around; rather, he’d gained different ones—young people and liberals who had come to see him in a newly progressive light."

Read more:

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Gary Johnson has best ever haul - POLITICO.com

Gary Johnson has best ever haul - Dave Levinthal - POLITICO.com:

September 20, 2012 - "Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson had his best fundraising month ever in August.... Johnson’s $356,406 last month largely came in the form of modest contributions from hundreds of individuals, new federal records show.

"The former New Mexico governor, who initially sought the Republican Party’s presidential nomination this year, also received $73,692 in public matching funds from a federal program both Obama and Romney have rejected.

"Johnson spent more than $318,000 in August, primarily on advertising, travel and campaign advising services, federal disclosures indicate. He also owes more than $175,000.... He reported having $52,341 in his campaign account at the end of last month."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81456.html#ixzz27WxB9Rqe
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Libertarians: The time is now | SeacoastOnline.com

Libertarians: The time is now | SeacoastOnline.com - Michael McCord:

September 23, 2012 - "On Wednesday, Seacoast political candidates Kevin Kervick and Brendan Kelly both attended a rally in Durham to support their presidential choice, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate.

When Kervick and Kelly returned to their campaigns — Kervick is running for a state representative seat in Portsmouth and Kelly is making a bid for the 1st District Congressional seat — they faced different challenges. Kervick is supporting a Libertarian for president but is running as a Republican.... Kelly, of Seabrook, said he is remaining true to his political philosophy and running as a Libertarian....

"Kervick, who has been endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, said he has no problem running as a Republican in New Hampshire for both pragmatic and philosophical reasons.... He believes Republican leaders in the Legislature should be congratulated for their efforts to cut spending and shrink the role of government.

"On the other hand, Kervick said he couldn't support either major-party presidential candidate, President Barack Obama or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.... 'At the national level, they (Republicans) talk a good game about cuts, but they use government to fund the things they like,' he said."

Read more: http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120923-NEWS-209230340
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Gary Johnson sues the Commission on Presidential Debates - Charlotte Libertarian | Examiner.com

Gary Johnson sues the Commission on Presidential Debates - Charlotte Libertarian | Examiner.com - Matthew Reece:

September 21, 2012 - "On Friday, the Libertarian presidential ticket of former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and former California Superior Court judge Jim Gray filed an anti-trust lawsuit in U.S. District court to ask the court to force the Commission on Presidential Debates to include all presidential candidates who have enough ballot access to have a mathematical chance of winning the presidential election to have a spot on the debate stage.

"The lawsuit accuses the Democratic Party, Republican Party, and Commission on Presidential Debates of violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890, which prohibits certain business activities that reduce competition, and requires the federal government to investigate and pursue trusts, companies, and organizations suspected of being in violation."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/gary-johnson-sues-the-commission-on-presidential-debates
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Philadelphia Officials Disapprove of Man Who Paid $20,000 to Clean Up Vacant Lot - ABC News

Philadelphia Officials Disapprove of Man Who Paid $20,000 to Clean Up Vacant Lot - ABC News - Susannah Kim:

September 18, 2012 - "A man who spent $20,000 to clean up a rubbish-strewn and weed-filled lot next to his Philadelphia coffee shop is now in trouble with the city for supposedly putting public safety at risk.

"Ori Feibush, owner of OCF Realty and OCF Coffee House, said he spent his own money to clean up the neighborhood eyesore next to his business last month. After trying to purchase the 1,600-square-foot lot for years, he said he reached the end of his rope about a week before his coffee shop's grand opening on Aug. 16....

"Feibush, 28, had visited the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority on Aug. 8 to complain about the lot and outline his plan for it. He was told the agency would clean the lot and that he was not permitted to enter it. "They promised they would get around to it," Feibush said. "I did not believe I could open up a coffee shop when people couldn't traverse traverse the sidewalk."

"He said he finally cleaned up the lot out of "frustration," poured a new sidewalk, and placed a bench and picnic table.... Soon enough, city offcials came out to the lot and called him a "trespasser".... {H]e received an email on Aug. 13 that read, "You are requested to immediately stop all work and return the j-barriers to the original location.""

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/philadelphia-officials-disapprove-man-paid-20000-clean-vacant/story?id=17254329
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Poll: Gary Johnson rakes in six percent of the vote | The Daily Caller

Poll: Gary Johnson rakes in six percent of the vote | The Daily Caller:

September 21, 2012. - "Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson is supported by six percent of likely voters, according to a new Reason-Rupe poll.

"Johnson also has a favorability rating of seven percent, though 65 percent of likely voters said they had never heard of him, and 14 percent hold an unfavorable view.

"Johnson is still polling far behind the major party candidates, with President Barack Obama taking 49 percent and Republican challenger Mitt Romney taking 40 percent in a three-way race, according to Reason-Rupe.

"A JZ Analytics/Washington Times poll from May had the Libertarian at only two percent. And a second JZ Analytics poll from July had Johnson at 5.3 percent.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/21/poll-gary-johnson-rakes-in-six-percent-of-the-vote/
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Auburn's censorship of Ron Paul poster is part of larger problem | The Daily Caller

Auburn's censorship of Ron Paul poster is part of larger problem | The Daily Caller - Greg Lukianoff, President, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)::

September 20, 2012 - "Auburn student Eric Philips made the mistake of hanging a Ron Paul poster in his window, just as he’d seen students do in support of President Obama and other causes throughout his time at Auburn. Within three hours he was told he needed to take it down. Auburn, recycling a claim that FIRE has gotten so used to seeing that we considered putting it on a company T-shirt, argued that the University was simply enforcing a “safety” policy that it had always had against window hangings....

"All Philips had to do to disprove Auburn’s safety claims was walk around campus taking pictures of window hangings left up after he received his speech-code surprise. It wasn’t hard to demonstrate that he had been singled out."

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/20/auburns-censorship-ron-paul-poster-part-of-larger-problem/
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Clint Eastwood: I Have No RNC Speech Regrets - iVillage

Clint Eastwood: I Have No RNC Speech Regrets - iVillage - Terri Schwartz:

September 19, 2012 - "Clint Eastwood really could not care less about the world's response to his Republican National Convention speech.  Eastwood recently went on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show.... DeGeneres almost immediately brought up the topic of the RNC, asking if Eastwood had been fazed by the negative response to his appearance.

"'No,' he answered.... He continued, 'It was an interesting reaction, actually. The Democrats who were watching thought I was going senile and the Republicans knew I was!'

All joking aside, it turns out that Eastwood doesn't really align himself with the Republican values that have been present in recent years. The A Fist Full of Dollars star identifies as a Libertarian, a political party that, as he says, has the mentality of 'leave everybody alone.'

"'Libertarian values, that's where Republicans used to be when they were saving money,' he explained to DeGeneres. 'A Libertarian means you're sort of socially liberal, leave everybody alone, but you believe in fiscal responsibility and you believe in governments staying out of your life. I still believe in that, and when I was 21 years old and started voting, I sort of became Republican because that's the way they were thinking. In later years, in the last few years, both sides have just spent like drunken sailors -- not to insult the Navy in any way."

Read More:  http://www.ivillage.com/clint-eastwood-i-have-no-rnc-speech-regrets/1-a-488239#ixzz26xxSr0x7
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Libertarian candidate calls for withdrawing from Middle East - latimes.com

Libertarian candidate calls for withdrawing from Middle East - latimes.com - Colby Itkowicz:

September 18, 2012 - "WEST CHESTER, Pa. - Little-known presidential candidate Gary Johnson gave an answer that would create a media firestorm if delivered by Barack Obama or Mitt Romney: the United States should get out of the Middle East.

Johnson, a Libertarian who is on 47 state ballots and fighting petition challenges in the other three, including Pennsylvania, suggested that the U.S. presence in the Middle East is abetting unrest in the region.

"Get out of these embassies, just plain get out," Johnson said in an interview Monday with the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call. "Right now, they seem to be the focal point for being able to express that dissension.”"

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-gary-johnson-embassies-20120918,0,819921.story
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Intervention Backfires in Libya / by Rep. Ron Paul -- Antiwar.com

Intervention Backfires in Libya / by Rep. Ron Paul -- Antiwar.com:

September 18, 2012 - "The attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya and the killing of the U.S. ambassador and several aides is another tragic example of how our interventionist foreign policy undermines our national security. The more the U.S. tries to control the rest of the world, whether by democracy promotion, aid to foreign governments, or bombs, the more events spin out of control into chaos, unintended consequences, and blowback.

"Unfortunately, what we saw in Libya last week is nothing new.

"In 1980s Afghanistan, the U.S. supported Islamic radicals in their efforts to expel the invading Soviet military. These radicals became what came to be known as al-Qaeda, and our one-times allies turned on us most spectacularly on Sept. 11, 2001."

Read more: http://original.antiwar.com/paul/2012/09/17/intervention-backfires-in-libya/
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Governor Johnson’s Rally for Jobs, Opportunity, and Diversity

Event: Governor Johnson’s Rally for Jobs, Opportunity, and Diversity | Independent Political Report:

"Event: Governor Johnson’s Rally for Jobs, Opportunity, and Diversity
September 17th, 2012

"On Tuesday, September 18, former Governor and Libertarian Party Presidential nominee Gary Johnson will be holding an event at the Rosenthal Pavillion on the 10th Floor of NYU’s Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South, New York NY 10012).

"Speakers currently include Jesse Ventura, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Kennedy, and Kristin Davis.

"For [further] information about the event, follow the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/events/340699849355524/permalink/345611695531006/
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http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/09/event-governor-johnsons-rally-for-jobs-opportunity-and-diversity/

Oklahoma AG tricked Libertarians into postponing ballot access suit

Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » Oklahoma Attorney General Ruled on August 17 that Americans Elect May Not Place a Presidential Candidate on the Ballot, but Kept the Opinion a Secret, and Tricked Libertarians Into Postponing the Ballot Access Lawsuit:

August 29, 2012 - "On August 17, the Attorney General issued a 20-page opinion saying the State Board of Elections should disregard the action of the state officers of Americans Elect, who had nominated Gary Johnson for President on July 21. But, he kept this opinion a secret from the Americans Elect Party state officers....

"He also kept it a secret from Jim Linger, attorney for the Libertarian Party ballot access lawsuit. But he told Linger on the phone that the Attorney General’s office, and himself, did not lend any credence to the claim of national leaders of Americans Elect that the party should be removed from the ballot. Therefore, Linger, feeling optimistic about Gary Johnson being on the ballot as the Americans Elect presidential nominee, voluntarily agreed on August 20 to postpone further legal action in the Libertarian Party’s ballot access lawsuit (which had been filed on January 31, 2012) until next year. The lawsuit had been stalled for two months because the state’s expert witness, Professor Clifford Jones, was out of the United States."

Read more: http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/08/29/oklahoma-attorney-general-ruled-on-august-17-that-americans-elect-may-not-place-a-presidential-candidate-on-the-ballot-but-kept-the-opinion-a-secret-and-tricked-libertarians-into-postponing-the-ball/
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Judge rules against third-party candidates on Oklahoma ballots | Tulsa World

Judge rules against third-party candidates on Oklahoma ballots | Tulsa World - Barbara Hoberock:

September 14, 2012 - "OKLAHOMA CITY - Candidates for a third political party will not appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

"The court denied a request by a group calling itself the local chapter of Americans Elect. The national group got enough signatures to appear on the ballot and then disbanded.

"The state group filed suit to prevent the printing of the ballots pending the outcome of its attempt to force the state to put Gary Johnson of New Mexico and James P. Gray of California on the ballot as candidates for president and vice president, respectively.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20120914_16_A9_OKLAHO212432
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Oklahoma knocks Libertarian off ballot

OK: Sooner State knocks Libertarian hopeful off ballot « Watchdog News -Patrick B. McGuigan:

August 29, 2012 - "OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma State Election Board removed the Americans Elect party from the November presidential election ballot Wednesday, effectively knocking out Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson.

The decision was made based on the advice of the state Attorney General’s Office.

Earlier this summer, the state Americans Elect party had designated a slate of presidential electors and named Johnson as its candidate, even as the national party’s directors spiked the group’s nationwide drive to provide an alternative to the two major parties....
"Richard Winger, editor of Ballot Access News, ... contends the Election Board ... "acted in a deceitful manner.”
Read more: http://watchdog.org/53096/ok-flash-americans-elect-ballot-line-stricken-in-oklahoma/
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Gary Johnson, Other Libertarians, Make Montana Races Squeakers - Reason 24/7 : Reason.com

Gary Johnson, Other Libertarians, Make Montana Races Squeakers - Reason 24/7 : Reason.com:

September 12, 2012 - "Montana's a state where Gary Johnson may have a bigger impact than other places. When he's included he polls at 7% and since he pulls more from Romney than Obama he pushes Mitt's lead down to a 46-43 margin. Montana hasn't received the kind of attention it did in 2008 as a state that Obama could possibly win, but it looks like he's at least headed for a competitive loss there again this time around."

http://reason.com/24-7/2012/09/12/gary-johnson-other-libertarians-make-mon
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Johnson wins PA ballot fight; GOP to Appeal

Libertarian Gary Johnson Wins First Ballot Fight; GOP to Appeal | PoliticsPA:

September 14, 2012 - "A Pa. Court ruled that Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson has enough petition signatures to appear on the ballot in Pennsylvania, but Republicans are expected to appeal the decision....

"Commonwealth Court judges sided with Johnson by a margin of 2-1 on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. They ruled that about 9,000 of the candidate’s petition signatures are valid despite the fact that voters’ home addresses from the petitions did not match the addresses listed in the voting file.

"Another Libertarian candidate, Rayburn Smith, is also being challenged. He’s running for U.S. Senate against Sen. Bob Casey and Republican Tom Smith.

"Johnson is on the ballot in 47 states.... Johnson’s candidacy has worried some Republicans who fear that the fiscal conservative could siphon votes away from Romney ... given the warm reception Johnson has received from disaffected supporters of former candidate Ron Paul."

Read more: http://www.politicspa.com/libertarian-gary-johnson-wins-first-ballot-fight-gop-to-appeal/41141/
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Nevada's 'none' voting option not dead yet - Yahoo! News

Nevada's 'none' voting option not dead yet - Yahoo! News - Sandra Chereb, Associated Press::

"Nevada's "none of the above" voting option will be on the November ballot following an emergency stay sought by the secretary of state's office.... A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco blocked the injunction Tuesday and had strong words for U.S. District Judge Robert Jones, who last month declared the voting option unconstitutional and struck it from the ballot.

"One appellate judge accused Jones, chief judge in Nevada, of deliberate foot-dragging by delaying hearings in the case and not issuing a written order in time for state lawyers to appeal before ballots must be printed.

"'His dilatory tactics appear to serve no purpose other than to seek to prevent the state from taking an appeal of his decision before it must print the ballots,. 9th Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote.... 'Such arrogance and assumption of power by one individual is not acceptable in our judicial system.'"

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/nevadas-none-voting-option-not-dead-yet-172633526--election.html
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Gary Johnson on ballot in 47 states - POLITICO

Gary Johnson on ballot in 47 states - POLITICO.com - Charles Mahtesian:

September 12, 2012 - "The Libertarian Party reports that Gary Johnson will be on the ballot in at least 47 states, plus the District of Columbia.

"The party is involved in litigation to get him on the ballot in the three remaining states, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Michigan, where a judge ruled last week that Johnson could not appear on the ballot because he also ran as a Republican in the state’s February presidential primary.

"Johnson is already on the ballot in two more states than the 2008 Libertarian nominee Bob Barr."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/09/gary-johnson-on-ballot-in-states-135285.html'
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Ron Paul's Political Director Jesse Benton Quits Campaign for Liberty - Hit & Run : Reason.com

Ron Paul's Political Director Jesse Benton Quits Campaign for Liberty - Hit & Run : Reason.com, Brian Doherty:

September 11 - "Jesse Benton, Rep Ron Paul's controversial political director and the de facto guy in charge of the political end of the Ron Paul operation (though never officially the "campaign manager") has left the position in the larger Paul machine he held between the 2008 and 2012 runs, senior vice president of the Campaign for Liberty. (Benton also managed Rand Paul's winning Senate campaign in 2010 in the interim.)"

Benton said ... in his public resignation letter to Campaign for Liberty president, and Paul 2012's official campaign manager, John Tate: "After much soul searching, I have decided that my passion lies in direct electoral politics, and I plan to work on campaigns.... It is therefore with a heavy heart that I write to tell you that I will not rejoin Campaign for Liberty’s staff this fall....

"Benton is also married to Paul's granddaughter Valori Pyeatt."

Read more: http://reason.com/blog/2012/09/11/ron-pauls-political-director-jesse-bento
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Alabanza / Martin Espada

Alabanza 
(In praise of Local 100)

for the 43 members of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 100, working at the Windows on the World restaurant, who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16596

Gary Johnson, Presidential Candidate, Wants to End Marijuana Prohibition

Gary Johnson, Presidential Candidate, Wants to End Marijuana Prohibition Marijana Policy Project, at Opposing Views:

September 10, 2012 - "Gary Johnson, this year’s Libertarian Party candidate for president, spoke at a rally on Tuesday outside the Democratic National Convention. He criticized both President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for avoiding one of the nation’s most important political issues. Obama has laughed off or ignored persistent questions about marijuana legalization, while Romney is equally dismissive, calling the issue insignificant.

During his two terms as governor of New Mexico, Johnson established himself as the highest-ranking public official to call for a dramatic shift in the nation’s drug laws. He explains that during his two terms, he applied a cost-benefit analysis to every issue. Regarding costs of the war on drugs, he has cited the United States’
world-record incarceration rate and the fact that approximately half of current criminal justice expenditures deal with drug cases."

Read more: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/drug-law/gary-johnson-calls-attention-marijuana-prohibition
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Gary Johnson Campaign Schedule Winds Through Conventions

Gary Johnson Campaign Schedule Winds Through Conventions - Michael Higham, Independent Voter Network:

September 9, 2012 - "On Tuesday, the two-term New Mexico governor spoke at a demonstration in Charlotte led by the NORML Foundation, a non-profit marijuana legalization activist group. With rain pouring that day, Gov. Johnson still spoke about the cost of drug-related laws and rallied support for the Libertarian Party ticket. Halfway through Johnson’s speech, an activist politely held an umbrella over the governor’s head.

"Gov. Johnson had a full schedule Wednesday. He spoke and participated on a panel with the American Muslim Alliance. He also stopped by a Tea Party event known as LibertyStock in Charlotte....

"A rally took place at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina on Wednesday evening. Gov. Johnson spoke the Libertarian message to about 100 people, promoting non-interventionist foreign policy, legalizing marijuana, cutting spending on healthcare, and cutting taxes. What stood out was his message on guaranteed student loans.... He argued that guaranteed student loans lead to the high tuition costs of universities."

Read more: http://ivn.us/2012/09/09/gary-johnson-campaign-schedule-winds-through-conventions/

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Rep. Amash calls for RNC audit over Paul convention snub - The Hill's Floor Action

Rep. Amash calls for RNC audit over Paul convention snub - The Hill's Floor Action, Pete Kasperowicz:

August 27, 2012 - "Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) on Sunday called for an audit of the Republican National Committee (RNC) after it decided to seat delegates from states with significant support for Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) at the edges of the convention floor.

"'I think it may be time we audit the RNC,' Amash said at a Paul rally, according to the Houston Chronicle.

"Amash, who often votes against GOP leadership, is seen by some as the next Ron Paul."

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/floor-speeches/245601-rep-amash-calls-for-rnc-audit-over-paul-convention-snub
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Take a look at a candidate few have ever heard about | FAGIN - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO

Take a look at a candidate few have ever heard about | FAGIN - Colorado Springs Gazette, CO - Barry Fagin:

September 6, 2012 - "here’s only one way to save the presidential debates from degenerating into boring snoozefests: Put Gary Johnson in them.

"Gov. Johnson is the Libertarian Party candidate, whom you’ve never heard of. Unless you’re from New Mexico, where he served two terms as a wildly popular Republican governor in a Democratic state. That means he’s been elected governor more often than Romney, and served in public office longer than Obama before he sought the presidency....

"Gov. Johnson is the only fiscal conservative running for president. He left his state with a balanced budget. He used the line item veto constantly to trim unnecessary spending from legislation; he consistently cut taxes, and established an economic regime that permitted businesses to create thousands of jobs. This is all a matter of public record, no smoke and mirrors or fact-fudging needed.

"But at the same time, Gov. Johnson is pro-choice, a position he believes is the principled one. He is more zealous in his protection of civil liberties than the current president, and more enthusiastic about the protections they afford to every American than the candidates of either major party."

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/few-144304-heard-look.html#ixzz25tF6U2aO
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Wayne Allyn Root defects from LP to GOP

Wayne Root defects from LP to GOP - Charlotte Libertarian | Examiner.com - Matthew Reece:

Sep. 7, 2012. - "On Thursday, 2008 Libertarian vice-presidential nominee Wayne Allyn Root announced that he was resigning from his positions within the Libertarian Party and joining the Republican Party. In the public letter he wrote, ... Root announced that he is endorsing Republican nominee Mitt Romney, saying, 'I don’t deny that Romney and Ryan aren’t libertarians, but Romney is a pro-business capitalist and Obama is a Marxist-socialist. The economy has been trashed. This is about my kids’ future, it’s about my businesses. There is no hope for America if Obama is re-elected.'

"In his resignation letter, Root also announced that he would seek a U.S. Senate seat in Nevada in 2016, saying he 'plan[s] to join Tea Party U.S. Senators like Rand Paul, Jim DeMint, Marco Rubio and Mike Lee in the near future, representing the great state of Nevada'."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/wayne-root-defects-from-lp-to-gop
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Poll Suggests Johnson Could Hand Election to Obama | The Blog on Obama: White House Dossier

Poll Suggests Johnson Could Hand Election to Obama | The Blog on Obama: White House Dossier - Keith Koffler:

Sept. 4, 2012 - "A new Zogby poll suggests that Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson could throw the presidential election to President Obama.... In a survey of 798 likely voters conducted August 31 through September 3, Zogby found that if Johnson’s name was not mentioned, Obama and Romney were basically tied, with Obama receiving 43.8 percent of the vote, Romney getting 43.5 percent, and 12.7 percent undecided.

"But throw Johnson’s name in and the numbers shift toward Obama is a way that could swing what is expected to be one of the closest elections ever.

"Obama now gets 42.7 percent of the vote compared to 41 percent for Romney, with 4.3 percent backing Johnson and 12 percent unsure."

Read more:
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Choice leads to prosperity, says Libertarian Dettweiler

TheRecord - Choice leads to prosperity, says Allan Dettweiler:

August 31, 2012 - "Libertarian Party candidate Allan Dettweiler wants to advocate fighting the deficit and giving Ontarians the choice to purchase private health insurance and to send their kids to publicly funded religious schooling.

“We’re in a pile of trouble,” Dettweiler said of Ontario’s $15-billion deficit.

"He says that giving people a choice and combating state-legislated 'monopolies' like the LCBO and Ontario Power Generation is what would lead Ontario to a more prosperous future.

"He maintains that Libertarians still cherish Ontario’s public health-care system, but would merely give doctors and patients the option of purchasing private insurance."

Read more: http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/790630--choice-leads-to-prosperity-says-allan-dettweiler
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Libertarian Gary Johnson will be on NH Presidential Ballot

Libertarian Gary Johnson will be on NH Presidential Ballot - Grant Bosse:

September 4, 2012 - "(CONCORD, NH) Gary Johnson is joining Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in November. Secretary of State Bill Gardner confirms to New Hampshire Watchdog that the Libertarian Party of NH has submitted more than enough verified petitions to place Johnson and a small slate of Libertarian candidates on the General Election Ballot.

"This morning, New Hampshire Libertarians brought in boxes of petitions, which Gardner and his staff took several hours to count. Gardner says they submitted more than 15,000 petitions, qualifying their slate of candidates for the November ballot. Republicans and Democrats vote for their nominees next Tuesday, and each party has until next Friday to fill vacancies on the ballot.

"Libertarians, and independent candidates trying to get on the ballot, must file their intention to run alongside Republican and Democrat candidates in June, and have until tomorrow at 5pm to submit their signed petitions. Gardner says the Libertarian Party is the only political organization that filed an intention to put up a slate in New Hampshire this year, and they made their deadline with a full day and over 1,000 signatures to spare."

Read more: http://newhampshire.watchdog.org/11561/libertarian-gary-johnson-will-be-on-nh-presidential-ballot/
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Gary Johnson Makes Virginia Ballot - Reason 24/7 : Reason.com

Gary Johnson Makes Virginia Ballot - Reason 24/7 : Reason.com - Newsfeed:

September 4, 2012 - "The state Board of Elections said today that Constitution Party presidenital nominee Virgil H. Goode Jr. and Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson have qualified for the Nov. 6 election, rejecting efforts by the state Republican Party to bar them from the Virginia ballot.

"But the board voted to have the attorney general's office investigate allegations of fraud, raised by the state GOP,  in how the Constitution Party collected its signatures.

"The elections board also said the Green Party nominee, Jill Stein, qualified for the ballot."

http://reason.com/24-7/2012/09/04/gary-johnson-makes-virginia-ballot
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Fed audit reveals $16 trillion in secret bailouts

Audit of the Federal Reserve Reveals $16 Trillion in Secret Bailouts:

September 1, 2012 - "The first ever GAO (Government Accountability Office) audit of the Federal Reserve was carried out in the past few months due to the Ron Paul, Alan Grayson Amendment to the Dodd-Frank bill, which passed last year. Jim DeMint, a Republican Senator, and Bernie Sanders, an independent Senator, led the charge for a Federal Reserve audit in the Senate, but watered down the original language of the house bill (HR1207), so that a complete audit would not be carried out.

"Nevertheless, the results of the first audit in the Federal Reserve’s nearly 100 year history were posted on Senator Sanders’s webpage earlier this morning.

"What was revealed in the audit was startling:

"$16,000,000,000,000.00 had been secretly given out to US banks and corporations and foreign banks everywhere from France to Scotland. From the period between December 2007 and June 2010, the Federal Reserve had secretly bailed out many of the world’s banks, corporations, and governments. The Federal Reserve likes to refer to these secret bailouts as an all-inclusive loan program, but virtually none of the money has been returned and it was loaned out at 0% interest.....

"To place $16 trillion into perspective, remember that GDP of the United States is only $14.12 trillion. The entire national debt of the United States government spanning its 200+ year history is “only” $14.5 trillion..... Take all of the outrage and debate over the $1.5 trillion deficit into consideration, and swallow this Red pill: There was no debate about whether $16,000,000,000,000 would be given to failing banks and failing corporations around the world."

Read more: http://www.sott.net/articles/show/250592-Audit-of-the-Federal-Reserve-Reveals-16-Trillion-in-Secret-Bailouts
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GOP trying to boot Gary Johnson from PA ballot

Republicans trying to boot Gary Johnson from Pennsylvania ballot | PA Independent - Eric Boehm:

August 20, 2012 - "The Pennsylvania Republican Party has already booted one third-party candidate from the state’s presidential ballot and is making life difficult for Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson.

"Republican voters acting on behalf of the state GOP this week officially challenged the signatures submitted by Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, who is seeking an equal place on the November ballot beside major party candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

"Ron Nielson, senior adviser for the Johnson campaign, told PA Independent on Wednesday that the campaign submitted more than 49,000 signatures — more than twice the amount required to gain access to the ballot in Pennsylvania.

"He said the campaign expected to survive the challenge from the Republicans."
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Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » Two Ohio Voters Challenge Gary Johnson Ballot Status

Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » Two Ohio Voters Challenge Gary Johnson Ballot Status:

August 31, 2012 - "On August 24, two Ohio voters, Kelly Mills and Cynthia Rees, filed a challenge to the placement of Gary Johnson on the Ohio general election ballot. The Ohio Libertarian Party and the Johnson campaign were not informed of this until August 31.

"The basis for the challenge is that Ohio law says candidates cannot get on the general election 'by nominating petition' if he or she 'seeks a party nomination for an office or position at a primary by declaration of candidacy.' 3513.04. This is a frivolous challenge. Gary Johnson did not get on the general election ballot in Ohio 'by nominating petition.' He is on the November ballot because the Ohio Libertarian Party has been ballot-qualified ever since 2008....

"To get around this problem, the objectors point out that the Libertarian Party would have got on the ballot by “nominating petition” if a court hadn’t put it on the ballot. But, the ... petition to put a party on the Ohio ballot does not list any candidates; it just mentions the party, so plainly it is not a “nominating petition.”

Read more: http://www.ballot-access.org/2012/08/31/two-ohio-voters-challenge-gary-johnson-ballot-status/
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Ron Paul family detained by TSA. Again

Ron Paul Family Detained by TSA Again - Raven Clabough, New American:

August 30, 2012 - "Ron Paul, his wife, and granddaughter were stopped by eight TSA [Transportation Security Agency] workers at a small airport in Clearwater, Florida, and told they must be screened. According to the agents, the screening was necessary because Mitt Romney 'might be nearby'.... The agents inspected Paul’s credentials and demanded to check the airplane for explosives.

"The entire incident came to an end once Ron Paul’s wife, Carol, refused to be screened by TSA personnel, asserting that she wore a pacemaker, and a Paul aide began taking video of the ordeal on his cell phone....

Earlier this year, Ron Paul’s son, Rand, was detained by the TSA in Nashville, causing him to miss his appearance at the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C."

Read more: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/12663-ron-paul-family-detained-by-tsa-again
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