Libertarian Party of Florida supports the Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act

Libertarian Party of Florida Supports SB1250 the Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act | Broward News and Entertainment Today:

February 28, 2013 - "Cathy Jordan, a disabled ALS activist was arrested after her home was raided by the Manatee County Sheriff’s office for cultivating plants for her personal medical use. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord....

The Libertarian Party of Florida had regional representative Bill Wohlsifer, Esq., draft the Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act.... Introduced in the Florida Senate (see the bill by clicking here), the bill will allow for the state to change its law to allow marijuana use for medical purposes. T

"The bill clarifies who is permitted to cultivate, manufacture, pssess, dispense, administer, or use medical cannabis, and will protect physicians from sanctions for recommending medical marijuana. A companion bill is expected in the house. The Libertarian Party of Florida wishes to follow 18 other states that have successfully passed and regulated medical marijuana. The LPF’s Executive leaders condemn the actions the Manatee County’s Sherriff has taken against Jordan and hopes the Medical Marijuana bill passes, especially after a poll showed Florida citizens in favor of this law. "

Read more: http://browardnetonline.com/2013/02/libertarian-party-of-fl-introduces-sb-1250-the-cathy-jordan-medical-cannabis-act/
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Senators: Give Obama flexibility to implement sequestration

Libertarian senators: Give Obama the flexibility to implement sequestration — he’ll hate it | WashingtonExaminer.com - Joel Gehrke::

Frebruary 27, 2013 - "While some Republicans are wary of giving President Obama the flexibility to implement sequestration at his discretion, two of the most libertarian senators in the party agree that Congress should make him allocate the spending cuts more efficiently than current law requires.

"'Allowing the president the flexibility to move money around? I think it’s a good idea,' Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told The Washington Examiner after the Republican Steering Committee debated the issue during a members-only meeting in the Capitol. 'The thing is, I think he’s using scare tactics and emotionalism and really he needs to make some wise decisions. We need to give him the power to ... make those decisions.'

"Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., agreed. 'It’s really the president’s job to manage [sequestration],' Johnson, who describes himself as an Ayn Rand Republican, said in an interview after the GOP  meeting. '[T]o manage it efficiently, effectively, to create as little disruption [with] the least amount of pain as opposed to the approach he’s taken, [with] the maximum amount of pain.'"

Read more: http://washingtonexaminer.com/libertarian-senators-give-obama-the-flexibility-to-implement-sequestration-hell-hate-it/article/2522754
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The top libertarians in business today

The Top Libertarians in Business Today | Benzinga - Alex Biles:

February 22, 2013 - : "Although the Libertarian Party never seems to climb out of the single digits in the polls, libertarians have a surprising influence in the business world and are well represented in a variety of sectors.... Benzinga took a look at the top libertarians in business today:...

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amaxzon ...

Patrick Byrne, CEO of Overstock.com ...

Marc Faber, head of Marc Faber Limited ...

David and Charles Koch, Executive Vice President and CEO of Kock Industries ...

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Inc. ...

Craig Newmark, Founder of Craigslist ...

Erik Prince, CEO of Academi (formerly known as Xe, Blackwater ...

T.J. Rodgers, CEO of Cypress Semiconductor ...

Jim Rogers, CEO of Rogers Holdings, Ltd. ...

Peter Schiff, CEO of Euro Pacific Capital ...

Peter Thiel, PayPal founder ...

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/general/entrepreneurship/13/02/3358739/the-top-libertarians-in-business-today
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Foundations gave over $1 million for "Stossel in the Classroom" educational outreach

Revealed: Right-Wing Groups Spent Over $1 Million Bankrolling Fox News Host's Propaganda in Schools | Alternet - Alexader Zaitchick

February 25, 2013 - "Two foundations ... have spent more than $1 million combined funding a non-profit organization whose primary function is distributing libertarian education materials featuring Fox Business host John Stossel.

"Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund ... have paid out more than $400 million to over 1,000 conservative groups since their 1999 founding..... The groups have also been the primary funders behind an effort to flood American classrooms with packaged libertarian lessons branded with John Stossel's mustachioed face. In 2011, Donors Trust gave $540,000 to the Philadelphia-based Center for Independent Thought (CIT), with the funds earmarked for the distribution of 'Stossel in the Classroom' teaching materials....

"According to CIT's website, its mission is to 'bring the ideas of liberty to freedom-loving people around the globe.' They do so primarily through the distribution of free 'Stossel in the Classroom' videos, DVDs and discussion guides, which the program claims are currently used by more than 150,000 teachers in middle school, high school, and college classrooms around the country.

Read more: http://www.alternet.org/media/stossel-classroom-fox-news-libertarian-propaganda-pushed-americas-schools
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Rand Paul: GOP rooted in push for racial progress

GOP rooted in push for racial progress | Op-Ed | Kentucky.com - Rand Paul:

February 24, 2013 - "On June 30, 1870, 10,000 African-Americans gathered in Court Square in Louisville ... to celebrate the passage of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited using race as a disqualification for voting ... those gathered sang: 'Come all ye Republicans, faithful and true, here is a work for you / The Democrat Party its race has run, to give a way for an era that freedom has won.'

"It was the Republican Party that ushered in abolition, then emancipation and then voting rights. And blacks — virtually all blacks — became Republicans.

"Democrats in Louisville, led by Courier-Journal editor Henry Watterson, were implacably opposed to blacks voting. Watterson wrote in the Courier-Journal that his opposition was 'founded upon a conviction that their habits of life and general condition disqualify them for the judicious exercise of suffrage'."

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/02/24/2529351/rand-paul-gop-rooted-in-push-for.html
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Ron Paul sues supporters for control of RonPaul.com

Ron Paul sues supporters for control of RonPaul.com - Salon.com - Jillian Rayfield::

February 10, 2013 - "Ron Paul supporters are angry and confused about a complaint Paul filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization, an agency of the U.N., in attempt to regain control of RonPaul.com and RonPaul.org.

"In a blog post on Friday, the site’s owners wrote that after hearing Paul say on a radio show that he wished he owned the domain name, they offered to sell him RonPaul.com and their 170,000 supporter mailing list for $250,000, with RonPaul.org included as a 'free gift.'

"'Instead of responding to our offer, making a counter offer, or even accepting our FREE gift of RonPaul.org, Ron Paul went to the United Nations and is trying to use its legal process related to domain name disputes to actively deport us from our domain names without compensation,' the blog post said."

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/02/10/ron_paul_sues_supporters_for_control_of_ronpaul_com/
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Joe Biden Advises His Wife To Break Delaware's Gun Laws

Gun Expert Joe Biden Advises His Wife To Illegally Discharge a Shotgun - Hit & Run: Reason.com - J.D. Tucille:

February 21, 2013 - "Joe Biden is the Obama administration's point man on the firearms issue. Back in December, he took charge of a task force given the responsibility of finding excuses for violating Americans' self-defense rights coming up with legislative solutions to address gun violence in the United States. So, how much of a firearms expert is Joe? And how well does this member of the Delaware Bar know the gun laws of his home state? Not so much, it turns out. At least, he's publicly dispensing advice that would leave people disarmed in dangerous situations, and could get them thrown in jail...."

Read more:: http://reason.com/blog/2013/02/21/gun-expert-joe-biden-advises-his-wife-to
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Students, former police officers argue for marijuana legalization at Libertarian conference

Students, former police officers argue for marijuana legalization at Libertarian conference - Molly Braswell, Red Alert Politics:

February 18, 2013 - "A common misconception about marijuana is that individual, recreational consumption is permissible, but widespread legalization would wreak havoc upon our society.

"Several libertarians and other supporters of marijuana for recreational use were determined to break down that misconception at the International Students for Liberty Conference this weekend....

"Colorado and Washington state have already legalized pot for recreational use, and Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Rhode Island most likely to be the next states to ratify a legalization law.

"Legalization is the ultimate goal for many libertarians, but 14 states, including California, Mississippi, Nebraska and New York, have decriminalized the recreational activity. This means that if cases of marijuana use are brought in front of a judge, then they will be tried as a civil action in a court, not as criminal cases. This would leave the [accused's] record clean for instances such as background checks from prospective employers."

Read more:
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Libertarian Party of North Carolina breaks voter registration record

Libertarian Party of North Carolina breaks voter registration record - Charlotte Libertarian news | Examiner.com - Matthew Reece

February 19, 2013 - "On Sunday, Ballot Access News reported that the latest North Carolina voter registration tally shows that 0.31% of the state's voters are registered as Libertarian. This is the highest percentage of registered voters that a third party has ever had in North Carolina since statistics began to be kept in 1966.

"The old record for third party voter registration in North Carolina was set in October 1972 by the American Party, with a 0.30% share. The American Party gained ballot access in 1968 but lost ballot access after the 1972 election. When a party loses ballot access in North Carolina, the state converts the registered voters of that party to unaffiliated (independent) voters, thereby making a third party start all over again if it regains ballot access."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/libertarian-party-of-north-carolina-breaks-voter-registration-record
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Libertarian student group: Glenn Beck is no libertarian

Libertarian student group: Glenn Beck is no libertarian | The Daily Caller -Robby Soave, Daily Caller News Foundation:

February 18, 2013 - "A leader of a libertarian student organization challenged Glenn Beck’s self-described libertarianism at an annual gathering of pro-liberty students in Washington, D.C. on Friday.

"In his remarks to conference attendees, Students for Liberty President Alexander McCobin criticized Beck for trying to co-opt the word 'libertarian'....

"Though the conservative talk show host declared himself a libertarian last month, if Beck wants to call himself a libertarian, he needs to disassociate himself from many of his past views, said McCobin.

"'I am fine with Glenn Beck becoming a libertarian, but you can’t just apply that term to yourself and expect it to be accurate unless you have the right stances that agree with libertarianism,' said McCobin, president of Students for Liberty, in an interview with The Daily Caller News Foundation."

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/18/libertarian-student-group-glenn-beck-is-no-libertarian/
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Rand Paul: Country Is Ready For A "Libertarian Republican Narrative" | RealClearPolitics

Rand Paul: Country Is Ready For A "Libertarian Republican Narrative" | RealClearPolitics:

"February 17, 2013 - "[Chris] WALLACE: Finally, let's talk about 2016. How serious are you about ... running for president? And would it be to make a point as your father did, in his presidential runs, or would it be to win?

"PAUL: I would absolutely not run unless it were to win. You know, points have been made and we'll continue to make points, but I think the country really is ready for the narrative coming, libertarian Republican narrative, also because we have been losing as a national party. We are doing fine in congressional seats but we're becoming less and less of a national party because we don't win on the West Coast, we don't win in New England. We really struggled all around the Great Lakes.

"I think people want a party that's a little bit less aggressive on foreign policy, still believes in a strong national defense but less aggressive. They want -- the young people want politicians who don't want to put them in jail for 20 years for a nonviolent drug possession charge. So, they want a little bit different face. I think people want a little different face on immigration frankly. They don't want somebody who wants to round people up, put them in camps and send them back to Mexico."

Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/02/17/rand_paul_country_is_ready_for_a_libertarian_republican_narrative.html
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Libra, the 21st century libertarian space colony

Libra: The 21st Century (Libertarian) Space Colony | Paleofuture - Matt Novak:

February 15, 2013 - "There’s nothing hotter right now than starting your own libertarian-minded community from scratch.... Glenn Beck imagines building a community/theme park somewhere in the United States called Independence Park.... Others envision Idaho as the perfect spot to build a fortress-like libertarian utopia called The Citadel.... Still others — like PayPal founder Peter Thiel – are drawn to the idea of floating cities in the ocean, a libertarian dream of the future called seasteading.

"But all of these dreams pale in comparison to the grand utopian vision of a 1978 film called Libra. Produced and distributed by a free-market group based in San Diego called World Research, Inc., the 40-minute film is set in the year 2003 and gives viewers a look at two vastly different worlds. On Earth, a world government has formed and everything is micromanaged to death, killing private enterprise. But in space, there’s true hope for freedom.

"The film explains that way back in 1978 a space colony community was formed using $50 billion of private funds. Back then, government regulations were just loose enough to allow them to form. But here in the year 2003, government regulators are trying to figure out a way to bring them back under their oppressive thumb through taxes and tariffs on the goods they ship back to Earth."

Read more: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/paleofuture/2013/02/libra-the-21st-century-libertarian-space-colony/
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Dave Nalle on the GOP's growing libertarian movement

Dave Nalle on the GOP's growing libertarian movement | Washington Times Communities - interview by Joseph Cotto:

February 16, "It has been noted that younger Republicans are far more moderate than preceding generations on social policy. During the years ahead, might social issues fall by the wayside and be replaced by fiscal as well as national security concerns? Speaking of national security, it is a subject on which libertarians are criticized due to their almost peacenik stances. Generally speaking, do libertarian Republicans differ from the stereotype?

"Dave Nalle is the chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, an organization devoted to promoting the ideas of limited government. He is also a columnist here at The Washington Times Communities. In this second part of our discussion, he shares his answers to the aforementioned questions."

Read interview here: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conscience-realist/2013/feb/16/dave-nalle-gops-growing-libertarian-movement/
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Libertarian Super PAC pledges ‘six to seven figures’ for Amash Senate run

Libertarian Super PAC Encourages Amash Senate Run, Pledges ‘Six to Seven Figures’ - By Robert Costa - The Corner - National Review Online:

February 15, 2013 - "Liberty for All, a libertarian super PAC, says it’ll put 'six to seven figures' behind Justin Amash, should he run for Senate next year.

"'If he runs, he can count on six to seven figures,' says Preston Bates, the super PAC’s executive director, in an interview with National Review Online. 'He represents a fresh start for a state whose economy has been devastated by sugar-high economics and crony capitalism.'

"NRO broke the news on Thursday that Amash, a 32-year-old Michigan Republican, is seriously considering a bid. Democrat Carl Levin, the incumbent, is up for reelection in 2014, but he is reportedly considering retirement.

"John Ramsey, a 22-year-old venture capitalist, has poured millions into Liberty for All, which he founded after supporting Ron Paul’s presidential campaign."

Read more: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/340825/libertarian-super-pac-encourages-amash-senate-run-pledges-six-seven-figures-robert-cos
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Brian Doherty, Patri Friedman et al discuss Libertarian New City schemes

Brian Doherty Discusses Libertarian New City Schemes on Huffington Post Live with Seasteading Institute Founder Patri Friedman - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Brian Doherty:

February 11, 2013 - "Libertarians have long dreamed of escaping the depradations of modern states through creating new countries, cities, or other communities with their own sets of rules....

"I chatted about some such ideas in the works now (including Seasteading, Honduran free citiees, Glenn Beck's Texas redoubt, and a hoped-for libertarian buyout of Detroit's Belle Island) on Huffington Post Live on Friday, with host Jim Poulos and fellow guests Patri Friedman (founder of the Seasteading Institute) and Christina Heller, maker of the documentary Libertopia, which focused on the Free State Project.

You can watch the HuffPost Live segment here" (http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/libertarians-plan-belle-isle-city%2C-seasteading%2C-citadel%2C-plus-glenn-beck/510c0d24fe34440336000292).

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Justin Amash relishes libertarian rebel label, writer says in New York Times opinion piece

Justin Amash relishes libertarian rebel label, writer says in New York Times opinion piece | MLive.com - Zane McMillin:

February 11, 2013 - "GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Oft-outspoken Rep. Justin Amash is portrayed as relishing the libertarian rebel label that has amassed him a significant following in a New York Times opinion piece that ran over the weekend.

"Amash takes a starring role in the piece, titled "After Ron Paul, Then What?" and written by Reason magazine senior editor Brian Doherty, published Saturday on NYTimes.com.

"The column by and large examines how retired Rep. Ron Paul, of Texas, oversaw a firing up of the Republican Party's libertarian voters, and how his son, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Amash are among those carrying the torch forward.

"Amash is an ardent Paul supporter who frequently appeared at rallies for the latter and who shares many of the longtime congressman's beliefs."

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/02/justin_amash_relishes_libertar.html
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Libertarian Party taps Bill Slantz for 8th District race in Missouri

seMissourian.com: Local News: Libertarian Party taps Bill Slantz for 8th District race (02/10/13):

February 10, 2013 - "BENTON, Mo. -- Lacking the suspense of the GOP meeting, the Libertarian Party's meeting to nominate its candidate for the 8th Congressional District special election created an opportunity for the party's man to talk policy and politics.

"Bill Slantz was unanimously nominated Saturday to be his party's candidate in a June 4 special election to replace former U.S. representative Jo Ann Emerson.

"Before the meeting at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton, Slantz fielded questions posed by Missouri Libertarian Party executive director Greg Tlapek and the Southeast Missouri State University Student Libertarian Association.

"Slantz said his views incorporated 'the best' of the Democratic and Republican parties, and he would encourage resolutions to bring the polarized parties closer."

Read more: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1939807.html
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Roger Stone Eyes Florida Run for Libertarians - National Review Online

Ex-GOP Bad Boy Roger Stone Eyes Florida Run - By Robert Costa - The Corner - National Review Online:

Feb. 7, 2013 - "Roger Stone, an infamous political consultant, tells National Review Online that he will probably run for governor of Florida.

"The former campaign adviser to Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan says he wants to run as a libertarian, third-party challenger to incumbent Republican governor Rick Scott and the Democratic nominee.

"'I don’t have any illusions about winning, but I’d like to carry the flag for the liberty movement,' Stone says. 'The Republican party is dead and it can’t be revived, so it’s time for the Libertarian Party to be a force.'

"Stone will make a final decision on a gubernatorial run by the end of the year. In the meantime, he’ll ask libertarian activists for their support.

"His politics have evolved since he once practiced the 'black arts', as Stone describes his past activities, for Nixon and other Republican contenders. He now supports marijuana legalization and open borders; on social issues, he is pro-choice and pro-gay-marriage. He’s also a fiscal hawk and detests 'Beltway Republicans' for their frequent 'spending orgies.'"

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/340095/ex-gop-bad-boy-roger-stone-eyes-florida-run-robert-costa
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After Ron Paul, Then What for Libertarians? New York Times

After Ron Paul, Then What for Libertarians? - NYTimes.com - Brian Doherty:

February 9, 2013 - "Ron Paul, Republican of Texas, has retired from the House, after winning more than two million presidential primary votes in 2012. He took the party’s libertarian wing from ignorable fringe to significant faction. His son, Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, is angling to lead that faction, very possibly as a presidential candidate himself.

"The libertarian wing’s dissatisfaction with Mitt Romney led the Libertarian Party to earn 1.2 million votes in the presidential election for its candidate, the former New Mexico governor (and former Republican) Gary Johnson. That was its largest vote total ever. In at least seven national House and Senate races a Libertarian beat the spread between a winning Democrat and a losing Republican. From the Republican point of view, losing the libertarians can mean losing elections."

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/after-ron-paul-then-what-for-libertarians.html?_r=0
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What is a functional Libertarian? - Jim Gray

It's a Gray Area: What is a functional Libertarian? - Daily Pilot - Jim Gray:

February 8, 2013 - "It's nice to be home again with the Daily Pilot. After my recent venture into national politics, I am looking forward to regaling you once again with weekly columns for at least the next year. During this time, the predominant theme will be to cite an issue that is troubling our country and show how a functional Libertarian would address and resolve it.

"So what is a Libertarian? In a word, Libertarians believe in liberty — hence our name. But far from the idea that "anything goes," Libertarians know that inherent in liberty and freedom is the requirement that people and entities at all levels of society must be responsible for their actions. So in its essence, a Libertarian believes that with only a few specifically defined exceptions, adults should be able to live their lives as they choose, as long as in so doing, they do not harm other people."

Read more: http://articles.dailypilot.com/2013-02-08/opinion/tn-dpt-0210-gray-20130209_1_libertarians-government-property-rights
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John Tate of Campaign for Liberty explains libertarianism's appeal

John Tate of Campaign for Liberty explains libertarianism's appeal | Washington Times Communities interview by Joseph Cotto:

"FLORIDA, January 30, 2013 — Libertarianism has found tremendous success across our country over the last several years. Right now, that seems unlikely to change.

"At the crest of this political tidal wave has been the Campaign for Liberty. Founded by former U.S. Representative Ron Paul during the 2008 election cycle, it has grown into a formidable organization. With the guiding mission of informing Americans about Constitution-related issues, it has found a considerable degree of popularity among younger voters.

"In this first part of our discussion, John F. Tate, the Campaign’s president, explains how libertarianism came to find support among American voters, his opinion of what the Ron Paul movement’s most important accomplishment is, whether or not he expects social libertarianism to gain prominence, if libertarianism appeals to those with left-of-center views, and more.   "

Read interview here: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conscience-realist/2013/jan/30/asking-john-tate-why-do-so-many-americans-libertar/
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Ron Paul to speak at 2013 Manning Conference in Ottawa in March

Global News | Controversial Republican Ron Paul to speak at Canadian conservative gathering - Jenifer Ditchburn, Canadian Press:

February 6, 2013 - "OTTAWA - Former Republican presidential candidate and libertarian Ron Paul will be the marquee speaker at Canada's premier gathering of conservatives next month, a figure that even organizers bill as controversial.

"Paul will speak to the Manning Centre for Building Democracy's networking conference....

"Paul, referred to by some pundits as the real inspiration behind the Tea Party movement in the United States, is one of the foremost voices for small government — including eliminating foreign aid, the education department, key social programs and the war on drugs.

"He is staunchly anti-abortion, anti-gun control, and opposed to President Barack Obama's health-care reform. The 77-year-old has advocated for an end to Medicare and Medicaid in the United States....

"Paul is a former doctor turned congressman and currently the chairman of the Campaign for Liberty. He was able to assemble a loyal following over the course of two Republican races in 2008 and 2011, notably with the use of the Internet."

Read more: http://www.globalnews.ca/controversial+republican+ron+paul+to+speak+at+canadian+conservative+gathering/6442803996/story.html

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Libertarian candidate announces Senate run in Massachusetts

The Daily Item: 6th District Libertarian candidate announces Senate run:

February 5, 2012 -  "BEVERLY — Libertarian candidate Daniel Fishman, who ran for Congress in the 6th District, announced Tuesday he will attempt to get on the ballot for the U.S. Senate special election to fill former Sen. John Kerry’s seat.

"Fishman, a software engineer from Beverly, launched an unsuccessful campaign for Congress this fall against U.S. Rep. John Tierney, a Democrat from Salem, and former state senator Richard Tisei, a Republican from Wakefield. Fishman earned about 16,000 votes in that race, or 5 percent.

"He said in a press release Tuesday that he’s decided to try to run for Senate because he thinks Massachusetts voters are stuck between a 'Democratic machine' and a too-conservative Republican party."

Read more: http://www.itemlive.com/articles/2013/02/05/updates/updates25.txt
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Students have free speech, due process rights, jury rules

Students Have Free Speech and Due Process Rights Too | Cato @ Liberty - Ilya Shapiro:

February 4, 2013 - "This past Friday, a federal jury in Atlanta sent a powerful message to university administrators across the nation: you cannot violate students’ free speech and due process rights with impunity. The jury found Valdosta State University president Ronald Zaccari personally liable for $50,000 in damages for expelling former VSU student Hayden Barnes, who peacefully protested a planned $30-million campus parking garage. The trial and award followed a ruling last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit that Zaccarri could not claim the immunity given to public officials acting in their official capacities because he should have known that Barnes was entitled to notice and a hearing before being expelled.

Barnes’s saga began in 2007, when Zaccarri announced, and Barnes protested, the proposed garage construction.  Barnes’s activities included sending emails to student and faculty governing bodies, writing letters to the editor of the VSU student newspaper, and composing a satirical collage on Facebook. In retaliation for these acts, Zaccari ordered that Barnes be 'administratively withdrawn' from VSU, without any hearing before his expulsion in May 2007."

Read more: http://www.cato.org/blog/students-have-free-speech-due-process-rights-too
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Blaer Bjarkardottir wins right to use her given name

Blaer Bjarkardottir, Icelandic Teen, Wins Right To Use Her Given Name - Gidjon Helgason, Huffington Post::

January 31, 2012 - "A 15-year-old Icelandic girl has been granted the right to legally use the name given to her by her mother, despite the opposition of authorities and Iceland's strict law on names.

"Reykjavik District Court ruled Thursday that the name "Blaer" can be used.... The decision overturns an earlier rejection by Icelandic authorities who declared it was not a proper feminine name. Until now, Blaer Bjarkardottir had been identified simply as "Girl" in communications with officials.

"'I'm very happy,' she said after the ruling. 'I'm glad this is over. Now I expect I'll have to get new identity papers. Finally I'll have the name Blaer in my passport.'

"Like a handful of other countries, including Germany and Denmark, Iceland has official rules about what a baby can be named. Names are supposed to fit Icelandic grammar and pronunciation rules....

"The court found that based on testimony and other evidence, that the name could be used by both males and females and that Blaer had a right to her own name under Iceland's constitution and Europe's human rights conventions."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/blaer-bjarkardottir--icel_n_2589657.html
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Old Guard launches coup in Alaska GOP

Old Guard launches coup in Alaska GOP | Washington Times Communities - Dave Nalle:

"WASHINGTON, DC, February 1, 2013 - In a hastily convened meeting Thursday night the outgoing leadership of the Republican Party of Alaska staged what amounts to a coup to oust the incoming Chairman and seize control of the party.

"Two weeks ago, I wrote about the controversy over the election of reformer candidate Russ Millette to the Chairmanship of the Alaska GOP.  Millette is a Republican Liberty Caucus member who represents the more libertarian/conservative wing of the party and party insiders did not want him to take control of their party and institute reforms.

"During the lame duck tenure of the outgoing State Executive Committee, party insiders raised various charges against Millette and his Vice Chair Debbie Brown.... A plan was put forward to hold a hearing on the charges at the installation meeting of the Executive Committee on February 1st. Then ... the hearing was moved forward a day so that the new committee members would not yet be seated or have a vote on the accusations.

"Even more troubling to many party members was the notification right before the meeting that outgoing Chairman Randy Ruederich had cleaned out the party treasury of $35,000."

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/liberty-our-times/2013/feb/1/old-guard-stages-coup-alaska-republican-party/
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State Democratic leader mastermind in tea party plot, convicted ex-official says | Detroit Free Press

State Democratic leader mastermind in tea party plot, convicted ex-official says | Politics/Election 2012 | Detroit Free Press | freep.com - Kathleen Gray:

February 2, 2013 - "The former chairman of the Oakland County Democratic Party, who was convicted for his involvement with a scheme to sign up fake tea party candidates for the 2010 election, now says that Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer was the mastermind behind the plot.

"Mike McGuinness, in a post on the Michigan Liberal blog, said that an 'emissary' from the state party started calling, 'pleading to help find candidates for their tea party farce.'

"'I thought I was being a loyal party soldier, doing just what the Republicans would do,' he wrote. 'I deserve all the scorn I got. I'm not interested in relitigating the past, but I got six felonies and he got another term as chair.'

"McGuinness and Jason Bauer, an employee of the party, were accused of forging documents for tea party candidates in an effort to siphon votes away from Republicans in the 2010 election by putting up a slate of candidates under the tea party banner.blicans in the 2010 election by putting up a slate of candidates under the tea party banner. But the Michigan Supreme Court disqualified the mysterious start-up party's entire slate of candidates."

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20130202/NEWS15/302020122/State-Democratic-leader-mastermind-tea-party-plot-convicted-ex-official-says
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Gary Johnson reboots with libertarian non-campaign campaign

Gary Johnson reboots with libertarian non-campaign campaign - Rob Nikolowski, New Mexico Watchdog?:

February 1, 2013 - "It’s not a campaign, but Gary Johnson is back in the political game.

"Starting in April, the 2012 Libertarian Party presidential nominee and former two-term governor of New Mexico told New Mexico Watchdog, his 'Our America' initiative will kick off a series of speaking engagements across the country to spread his message of fiscal conservatism and social liberalism.

"'We’re up and running and we’ll see where it goes,' Johnson said by phone from his home in Taos.

"Last November, Johnson’s Libertarian Party run ... received just under 1.3 million votes, the most ever for a Libertarian Party candidate.

"'I don’t want to talk about a presidential run (in 2016),' Johnson said, 'but I do want to have a seat at the table.… I think what I bring to the equation is the best of both worlds. I’m more liberal than Obama on social issues and I’m more conservative than Republicans on fiscal issues. And I think a lot of Americans feel the same way.'"

Read more: http://newmexico.watchdog.org/16814/gary-johnson-reboots-with-libertarian-non-campaign-campaign/
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