Sunday, July 31, 2011

Gary Johnson talks straw poll, politics at RAGBRAI | Iowa Caucuses

Gary Johnson talks straw poll, politics at RAGBRAI | Iowa Caucuses, July 30, 2011:

"Gary Johnson knows Iowa. But he understands many Iowans don’t know him. So he’s not surprised he was left off the upcoming Ames Straw Poll ballot. He just thinks he should be included....

"'I’m being excluded. But I’m out here making the case that I should be a front runner,' he said, citing, among other things, his strong record of job creation in New Mexico. Though he’s quick to clarify he doesn’t think he created any jobs. He just created conditions that allowed the private sector there to flourish, he said.

He also made a prediction. 'They’re going to raise the debt ceiling,' he said. 'And our credit will still be downgraded.'

He also knows what he’d do in President Obama’s position. 'I’d veto it,' he said, of any legislation raising the debt ceiling.... And if congress overrode his veto? Johnson, who vetoed 750 bills during two terms as governor of New Mexico, says the U.S. would still end up with a more balanced budget than it would have without his veto."

http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/07/30/gary-johnson-talks-straw-poll-politics-at-ragbrai/

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Paul Splits Vote Versus Obama in New Poll

Ron Paul 2012 press release - July 27, 2011 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

Ron Paul Splits Vote Versus Obama in New Poll

Gets 50 percent against President according to new Harris survey
LAKE JACKSON, Texas -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- According to a newly released survey from Harris Interactive, 2012 Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul splits the vote in half versus President Obama, doing better than a majority of the other Republican contenders. The poll gives Paul 50 percent of the vote versus the president in a head to head match up.
“In poll after poll, Americans are eager for real change, they are sick of the status quo, and looking for a leader who stands for constitutionally limited government and individual liberty. Ron Paul is that leader.”
“Right now, the push for true leadership is gaining momentum,” said Ron Paul 2012 Campaign Manager John Tate. “In poll after poll, Americans are eager for real change, they are sick of the status quo, and looking for a leader who stands for constitutionally limited government and individual liberty. Ron Paul is that leader.”
Just last week, a Rasmussen survey showed Paul only 4 points behind Obama in a match between the two. In a similar head to head survey from last year done by Rasmussen, Paul actually drew a statistical dead heat with the president. And earlier this year in a survey by CNN he did the best out of the other Republicans put up against Obama in a head to head poll.
For more information on Congressman Ron Paul’s Presidential Campaign, visit www.RonPaul2012.com.

Contacts

Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee
Gary Howard, 1-855-886-9779

Friday, July 29, 2011

Club for Growth on Gary Johnson | United Liberty | Free Market - Individual Liberty - Limited Government

Club for Growth on Gary Johnson | United Liberty | Free Market - Individual Liberty - Limited Government:

"The Club for Growth notes that ... Gary Johnson received at 'B' on each of the Cato Institute’s biannual Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors (1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002). However, these scores don’t do him justice.

"Johnson’s record on taxes is described by the Club as 'excellent,' noting that he pushed back against all forms of tax hikes....

"Johnson earns the title of 'one of the most anti-spending governors in New Mexico history.' The Club notes that he vetoed 742 bills during his eight years....

"Johnson’s record on regulation is impressive. The white paper notes that he vetoed legislation to increase the minimum wage, which is often a barrier to employment, and deregulated New Mexico’s electric industry.... Johnson also opposed cap-and-trade and Net Neutrality.

"The Club also points out Johnson’s support for school choice, enacting tort reform and opposing barriers to political speech."

Read more: http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/8496-club-for-growth-on-gary-johnson

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Ron Paul raises most campaign cash from military workers- On Politics - USATODAY

Ron Paul raises most campaign cash from military workers- On Politics - USATODAY.com:

"GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul consistently has said that the United States should get out of Afghanistan and Iraq and that American military bases around the world should be closed.

"In this campaign, Paul is getting more donations from people who work for the military than either President Obama or any of the other Republican presidential candidates.... This is a trend that also came up in the 2008 campaign. USA TODAY's Fredreka Schouten reported then that Paul and Obama got the most military donations in the last White House race, using an analysis by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.

"There's no way to know for sure whether the campaign donors who list the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and National Guard as their employer back Paul because of his stance on the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars or for his libertarian views on the economy and fiscal policy -- issues for which he is well known.

"Paul first mentioned the latest trend in a July 20 interview. Politifact went to fact check his comments and, using its own review of the campaign-finance reports for April through June, found they were true."

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/07/ron-paul-military-campaign-donations-/1"

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Iowa Polling to Test Paul’s Move to Mainstream - NYTimes.com

Iowa Polling to Test Paul's Move to Mainstream - NYTimes.com - Trip Gabriel, July 26, 2011:

"Paul’s libertarian views have moved from the fringe toward the mainstream of conservative thinking in the past several years, with his warnings about fiscal meltdown gaining new resonance and the 2008 financial crisis allowing him to press his longstanding critiques of the Federal Reserve.

"Now, as he again seeks the Republican presidential nomination, he is hoping to show that he can translate the new attention into votes. And his first test is the straw poll next month, where he is hoping he can organize his band of followers into a political machine capable of beating some or all of his brand-name rivals....

"His effort in Iowa is well financed. His latest online fund-raiser, 'Ready, Ames, Fire,' brought in $550,000.... The money has bought time for radio and television spots, for six paid staff members in the state and to fly in Mr. Paul by private jet (“Operation Top Gun”) for weekly rallies, including two he attended Monday here and in Ames."

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/us/politics/27paul.html

Another setback for Gary Johnson in the GOP presidential race - Watchdog.org

Another setback for Gary Johnson in the GOP presidential race - Watchdog.org - Rob Nicolewski, July 27, 2011:

"Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has been ... left off the official ballot for the Iowa straw poll, which will be held next month.

"Nine GOP candidates have been listed on the ballot, including three who have not officially declared themselves for the straw poll scheduled for Aug. 13 — Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman and Newt Gingrich.

"Votes for write-in candidates will be counted, so Iowans who want to cast votes for Johnson can still do so, but being left off the ballot now raises another question for Johnson: does this mean Johnson will not get an invitation to appear on the Republican candidates debate, which will be televised by the FOX News Channel on Aug. 11 in Ames, Iowa?...

"Last week, Johnson talked to Capitol Report New Mexico and while he insisted his campaign will stay in the GOP race 'until the end,' he also admitted it’s been 'disheartening' that his campaign hasn’t attracted more attention from prospective voters. Click here to see Johnson talk about that … and a host of other topics."

Read more: http://newmexico.watchdog.org/8453/another-setback-for-gary-johnson-in-the-gop-presidential-race/

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Marijuana Ballot Measure? MyMotherlode

Marijuana Ballot Measure? MyMotherlode.com - B.J. Hansen, July 26, 2011:

"California voters may be asked once again whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use.... James P. Gray, William McPike and Steve Kubby have submitted the proper paperwork, and can now begin collecting the 505,000 needed signatures. A similar measure was voted down in 2010.

"[Kubby], a former Libertarian candidate for Governor, helped write [California's] medicinal marijuana law that was passed by voters in 1996.

"In the paperwork submitted to the state, the proponents ... cite the high costs to incarcerate marijuana offenders and the potential to receive tax revenues.... The group argues that pot growers should be treated the same as vineyard owners or microbrewers. Those who grow marijuana for their own use would not be taxed, but those who sell it would be regulated by the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control."

Read more:http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/1338874/Marijuana-Ballot-Measure.html