4 charges against Benton & Tate thrown out

Judge dismisses four of five charges against former Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell aide | Rand Paul | Kentucky.com - Sam Youngman, Lexington Herald-Leader:

October 9, 2015 - "A federal judge dismissed four of the five counts against Jesse Benton on Friday, ruling that the U.S. Department of Justice violated an agreement with the former aide to U.S. Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell by using his statements to obtain an indictment.

"Benton, who also was a longtime aide to former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, resigned last year as campaign manager for McConnell's re-election campaign amid an investigation into allegations that Benton and others involved with Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign bribed an Iowa state senator to switch allegiances and then concealed the payments.

"Benton and another Republican operative, John Tate, took leaves of absence from leading Rand Paul's super PAC after they were indicted this summer.

"On Friday, Judge John A. Jarvey dismissed four counts — dealing with falsifying campaign documents and conspiracy — after Benton and Tate argued that the federal government used their statements against them in grand jury proceedings despite an agreement not to.

"A charge against Benton for allegedly lying to the FBI was not dismissed....

"Tate and GOP operative Dimitri Kesari were accused of bribing Iowa state Sen. Kent Sorenson with $78,000 to switch his endorsement from former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign to Ron Paul's in the final days of the 2012 Iowa caucuses."

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2015/10/09/4079804_judge-dismisses-four-of-five-charges.html?rh=1
'via Blog this'

Libertarian offers different approach to politics

Oakville North—Burlington Libertarian candidate says he's 'socially liberal, fiscally responsible' - Julia Le, Oakville Beaver:

September 28, 2015 - "David Clement says he's tired of the way politics are playing out in Canada.

"The 25-year-old, born and raised in Oakville, said Canadians are being overtaxed, the government is overspending and the charter of rights and privacy rights is being eroded.

"'I want to offer a different perspective and offer voters a different approach to how politics should be run in Ottawa,' said the White Oaks Secondary School (WOSS) graduate, who is currently is an entrepreneur working in the consulting field and on projects that involve energy security, youth engagement in electoral politics and municipal issues.

"He said residents shouldn't have to sacrifice the things they want, or feel like they have to 'settle by voting for the lesser of three or four evils.'

Clement is running as the Libertarian Party candidate in the new electoral riding of Oakville North—Burlington in the Oct. 19 federal election. He said he's offering change and a different approach on what the effective role of government can be....

"Clement, who describes himself as 'fiscally conservative, but socially liberal' noted he would be 'a strong independent voice... I represent a different option that isn't left or right,' he continued. 'It's more consistent in what the role of the government is and it's more consistent on making sure constituents’ needs are represented more accurately in Ottawa'....

"Clement, who holds an honours bachelor of arts in political science and a master’s degree in political science from Wilfrid Laurier University, said he would work at reducing federal income taxes, incrementally, to a rate of 15 per cent, end all forms of “corporate welfare” and increase the personal income tax exemption amount to $17,000 from $11,000.

'That significantly increases the residents' tax-free earnings and lowers taxes across the board. It's a tax fund that really seeks to benefit everybody,' he said.

Read more: http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/5934853-oakville-north-burlington-libertarian-candidate-says-he-s-socially-liberal-fiscally-responsible-/

The Libertarian Moment is alive and well

The Libertarian Moment Is Alive and Well, Regardless of Rand Paul's Campaign - Tom Mullen, Huffington Post:

October 5, 2015 - "Rand Paul's campaign reported $2.5 million in donations for the entire third quarter, a precipitous drop from his previous reports.... That and anemic poll numbers have inspired many to not only pronounce Paul's presidential campaign dead, but to gleefully declare the so-called 'Libertarian Moment' over. Nothing could be further from the truth.

 "Anyone who believes the presidential election is a barometer of how libertarian America is becoming doesn't understand libertarianism and isn't paying attention to what's happening in the real world. Libertarians don't believe government solves anything, no matter who is running it. The purest libertarians refuse to vote on principle.

 "As radical as that might sound, almost half of all eligible American voters behave the same way, if not for the same reasons.... For the most part, they're not stupid. They just don't care. They may say they support this or that candidate when a microphone is shoved in their face, but in reality they live their lives, do their jobs and run their businesses without giving politics a second thought. This is an inherently libertarian worldview and it's growing....

"What Americans are interested in is the market and what it can offer them, regardless of what the government says or even legislates. Sharing economy companies like Uber and Airbnb are growing exponentially because they offer higher quality products at substantially lower prices. They are able to do so precisely because they either sidestep or openly flout the protectionist regulation supported by their established competitors....

"[G]un sales have exploded in the past fifteen years, despite strong anti-gun rhetoric following highly publicized mass shootings. This isn't limited to red states in flyover country. Gun sales have even seen a meteoric rise in deep blue California....

"Almost half of U.S. states have legalized medical marijuana in open defiance of federal law. Four states have legalized recreational use. They have consistently used the libertarian non-aggression principle as their reasoning: if it does not harm the person or property of someone else, the government shouldn't have the power to prohibit it.

"An overwhelming majority of states legalized gay marriage ... ten states ... through their legislatures.... [A] majority of Americans support gay marriage, but oppose forcing businesses to serve same sex couples if they don't want to ... perfectly consistent with the libertarian principle that government force should never be brought against those who have not aggressed against the person or property of another....

"The future will be even more libertarian than the present. Technology and the marketplace are threatening to render centuries-old government institutions largely irrelevant. What meaning will trade regulations have when 3-D printers disrupt the manufacturing industry? What will the who-will-build-the-roads crowd say to libertarians when hovercraft technology reaches its full market potential? How will the Federal Reserve control the economy when Bitcoin or its successors reaches theirs?"

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-mullen/the-libertarian-moment-is_b_8242024.html

Paul wins RLC straw poll, Cruz second

Rand Paul, Ted Cruz top straw poll at New Hampshire libertarian gathering - POLITICO - Katie Glueck:

October 10, 2015 - "Sen. Rand Paul on Saturday won the straw poll at a major libertarian gathering, with Sen. Ted Cruz coming in a close second.

"The poll, held at the Republican Liberty Caucus convention in Nashua, N.H., allowed attendees to vote for multiple candidates -- an effort to show which candidates would earn the approval of libertarian voters.

"Paul, the Kentucky senator and libertarian-leaning Republican, was voted the 'most-preferred' presidential candidate, pulling in 57 percent of the vote. Cruz, of Texas, came away with 51.2 percent of the vote, meaning that both candidates were considered acceptable by more than half of those who voted.

"The two candidates at the RLC, which endorsed Ron Paul in 2012, were separated by only 46 votes out of about 800 cast.

"The Paul campaign insisted that the Cruz campaign bussed in supporters and still fell short in the poll, a charge the Cruz campaign denied. However, it was clear from the convention that both campaigns had organized heavily for the event, and Cruz and Paul were the only major candidates in attendance.

"No one else came close to cracking 50 percent: in third place was Ben Carson with 18 percent, followed by Carly Fiorina and Marco Rubio at about 10 percent. Donald Trump registered 7 percent."

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/paul-cruz-straw-poll-new-hampshire-libertarian-214643
'via Blog this'

Tech, libertarian groups press for strong encryption

Tech, libertarian groups up pressure on Obama on encryption | TheHill - Cory Bennett:

October 7, 2015 - ""In two separate letters, a major tech trade group and a libertarian-leaning coalition pressed President Obama to publicly support strong encryption, even if it locks out law enforcement officials.

"'As organizations committed to free markets and limited government, we urge your administration to take a clear stand in support of the individual’s right to protect his or her security and privacy with strong encryption technology,' said one letter, signed by groups like TechFreedom and the Niskanen Center.

"''Regardless of good intentions, any efforts to undermine the security and effectiveness of strong encryption are misguided, shortsighted, impractical and ultimately counterproductive,” said a second letter from Ed Black, CEO of the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), which represents major tech players like Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft.

"The letters come a week after privacy advocates and digital rights groups officially petitioned the White House to take the same stance.

"The combination has created a unique and powerful coalition pressing the White House on encryption.

"The Obama administration has been considering possible proposals that would give law enforcement guaranteed access to encrypted communications. Silicon Valley, privacy advocates and technologists have pushed back against this, arguing any such access makes encryption vulnerable to hackers and cyber spies.... Officials have countered that without access, investigators may not be able to get legitimate data on criminals and terrorists, even when armed with a warrant....

"In recent weeks, leaked memos have shown the White House is considering backpedaling from its desire for a technological solution that would let investigators bypass encryption.

"Privacy advocates have jumped on these signals, collecting signatures on a petition that would require the White House to publicly respond to a call for it to support full encryption.... As of Wednesday, the appeal had collected over 48,000 signatures in nine days."

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/256281-tech-libertarian-groups-up-pressure-on-obama-in-encryption-fight
'via Blog this'

Ted Cruz courting Ron Paul Republicans (video)

Ted Cruz snags former Ron Paul supporters - Washington Post - Katie Zezima:

September 29, 2015 - "For months, the presidential campaign of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) has quietly been courting libertarian-leaning supporters -- people who once supported Ron Paul and ostensibly would have been inclined to back his son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in the 2016 race.

"On Tuesday, Cruz released a video showing eight former Ron Paul liberty movement supporters -- a number of them from Iowa -- who are now backing Cruz. The campaign announced that former Congressman Bob Barr will chair a 'Liberty Leaders for Cruz' coalition comprised of libertarian-leaning Republicans....

"In the video, Cruz's supporters talk about how both Pauls endorsed Cruz's 2012 Senate run and said they believe he has held positions consistent with the liberty movement, including a reluctance to send boots on the ground to Syria and support for Rand Paul's bill calling for an audit of the Fed."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/29/ted-cruz-snags-former-ron-paul-supporters/
'via Blog this'

Harris running for Libertarians in Ottawa Centre

Meet the Ottawa Centre Libertarian candidate: Dean Harris - Ottawa East News:

September 28, 2015 - "Inspired by the 2008 U.S. presidential run of Ron Paul, Dean Harris is running as the Libertarian candidate in Ottawa Centre.

Harris is a 23-year-old linguistics student, who does not live in the riding but attends Carleton University. He grew up in southern Ontario and works as a ski instructor in the winter when he is not in school. Dean has also volunteered with the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, preparing puppies to help blind people. 

Q: Why are you running?
A: I’m running to promote the ideas of freedom, to promote the idea that individuals own themselves and their own life and to try to promote the idea that we shouldn’t allow government to do things individuals are not allowed to do....

Q: What is the biggest federal issue facing your riding and how has it been handled to date? How would you approach it?
A: The issue I’m focused on most of all is the war on drugs, especially considering I’m campaigning and focusing a lot of my campaign on university campuses. A plurality of students and young people has used what are deemed to be illegal drugs. Thankfully most of those people who have used drugs haven’t faced the criminal justice system, but those who do, stand to have their lives ruined as a result of the prohibition of drug use....

Q: Nationally, what do you view as the biggest issues facing Canada, and how do you plan to address them?
A: The economy is a huge issue and our party platform is about deregulation, allowing free market mechanisms to take care of the economy. We’re in favour of deregulation of the CRTC as well as we are proposing a 15 per cent flat tax and to see the personal exemption based to $17,300. So that means the Canadians who are earning the lowest income would be able to keep more money in their pockets. Our plan would see a $17,300 exemption for basic personal income, with an additional $4,000 for students, seniors and each dependent child. So a family of four with two parents and two children would be able to earn their first $42,000 without paying a cent of tax. Everyone would pay a fair flat tax of 15 per cent after their exemptions."

Read more: http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/5934063-meet-the-ottawa-centre-libertarian-candidate-dean-harris/
'via Blog this'