Ron Paul Attacks Santorum as Spendthrift in New Hampshire Swing - Businessweek

Ron Paul Attacks Santorum as Spendthrift in New Hampshire Swing - Businessweek - Julie Hirschfield Davis:

January 7, 2012 - "Arriving in the state yesterday to try to harness momentum from his close third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses for a strong showing in New Hampshire’s Jan. 10 primary, Paul criticized Santorum for supporting increased spending on education, a federal prescription drug benefit and legislation to boost the debt limit.

“'He talks about being for the Balanced Budget Amendment -- he never did anything about it,' Paul, 76, told reporters in Nashua. “Four or five times he voted to raise the national debt, so that tells you how conservative he is.'

Looking to the next contest in South Carolina, a primary on Jan. 21, Paul’s campaign announced it would run television ads there branding Santorum a “serial hypocrite who can’t be trusted” and charging he has a “record of betrayal” of conservative principles."

Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-07/ron-paul-attacks-santorum-as-spendthrift-in-new-hampshire-swing.html
'via Blog this'

Portugal's drug decriminalization shows positive results

5 Years After: Portugal's Drug Decriminalization Policy Shows Positive Results: Scientific American:

April 7, 2009 - "In the face of a growing number of deaths and cases of HIV linked to drug abuse, the Portuguese government in 2001 tried a new tack to get a handle on the problem — it decriminalized the use and possession of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD and other illicit street drugs....

"Five years later, the number of deaths from street drug overdoses dropped from around 400 to 290 annually, and the number of new HIV cases caused by using dirty needles to inject heroin, cocaine and other illegal substances plummeted from nearly 1,400 in 2000 to about 400 in 2006, according to a report released recently by the Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C, libertarian think tank."

Under the Portuguese plan, penalties for people caught dealing and trafficking drugs are unchanged; dealers are still jailed and subjected to fines depending on the crime. But people caught using or possessing small amounts—defined as the amount needed for 10 days of personal use—are brought before what's known as a "Dissuasion Commission," an administrative body created by the 2001 law.

Each three-person commission includes at least one lawyer or judge and one health care or social services worker. The panel has the option of recommending treatment, a small fine, or no sanction.

Read more: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=portugal-drug-decriminalization
'via Blog this'

Gary Johnson picks up endorsement from Nebraska Libertarians

Gary Johnson picks up key endorsement from Nebraska Libertarians - West Palm Beach Libertarian | Examiner.com - Karl Dickey:

January 6, 2012 - "The Libertarian Party of Nebraska's Central Committee has officially endorsed Gary Johnson for President.... Party Chairman Gene Siadek issued the following statement:

"'After Governor Johnson’s December 28th announcement that he was going to seek the Libertarian Party’s nomination for President of the United States, I called a meeting of the State Central Committee in accordance with our Party bylaws to discuss and vote on endorsing his candidacy.

“'I am happy to announce today, the Libertarian Party of Nebraska’s Central Committee has voted to endorse Governor Johnson as the Libertarian candidate for President of the United States.  I believe we are the first state committee to do so and we are happy to announce our endorsement on Governor Johnson’s birthday.'"

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/libertarian-in-west-palm-beach/gary-johnson-picks-up-key-endorsement-from-nebraska-libertarians
'via Blog this'

Ron Paul is still a contender in New Hampshire – Telegraph Blogs

Despite the disappointment of Iowa, Ron Paul is still a contender in New Hampshire – Telegraph Blogs - Dr. Tim Stanley:

Jan. 6, 2012 - "Considering that he is loathed by his party’s establishment and had to deal with a nasty 'racist newsletter' buzz a few days before the vote, Paul did pretty darn well. He doubled his 2008 result and placed within four thousand votes of winning. He also took as many counties as Romney. His voters were far poorer and youthful than Romney or Santorum’s, and less conservative than you might think. He took 44 percent of independents. The demographics of Paul’s support suggest he still is the best pick to appeal to disaffected Democrats – even liberals.

"And Iowa did give Paul a New Hampshire bounce. According to Zogby, the candidate jumped a few points to 24 percent: still way behind Romney (who has fallen a bit to 38 percent) but enough to make him the clear favourite for second place. Santorum may have leapt into third position, but he still only has 11 percent."

Read more: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100127705/despite-the-disappointment-of-iowa-ron-paul-is-still-a-contender-in-new-hampshire/
'via Blog this'

Ron Paul: A Most Brilliant Oddball - Honduras Weekly

Ron Paul: A Most Brilliant Oddball - Marco Caceres, Honduras Weekly:

January 5, 2012 - "Mr. Paul is a libertarian who preaches more limited government than even the most conservative Tea Partiers and a kind of military isolationism and non-interference in other countries' affairs that would put to shame even the most liberal pacifists.

"Mr. Paul advocates ... eliminating the Federal Reserve System and most federal government agencies, abolishing the federal income tax, and withdrawing from regional military alliances (including NATO). He opposes almost all federal regulations, believing either that regulations should be left to state governments or that the free market should be allowed to determine things....

"Mr. Paul ... is original, authentic, intelligent, consistent, honest, and serious -- which is why he has a attracted such a passionate following, especially among young adults. But his support is limited and will not be enough to make him a serious contender in most Primaries.... For Honduras, this is too bad, because Mr. Paul is the only candidate -- Republican or Democrat -- who supports ending federal criminalization of drug use. He has long believed that the US government's so-called 'war on drugs' is a massive failure that has only served to empower criminals and cause a great deal of violence and death... as we've become all too familiar with in Honduras. "

Read more: http://hondurasweekly.com/ron-paul:-a-most-brilliant-oddball-201201054686/
'via Blog this'

Gary Johnson encourages Iowa supporters to back Ron Paul

ABQJournal Online » Gary Johnson Encourages Iowa Supporters to Back Ron Paul - Michael Coleman:

January 3, 2012 - "Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who abandoned his bid for the Republican presidential nomination last month, is encouraging voters in today’s Iowa caucuses to support Rep. Ron Paul instead.

"Johnson is now seeking the Libertarian nomination for president, but he has strongly endorsed Paul in the GOP contest. Johnson also endorsed Paul’s presidential bid in 2008.

"'While Ron Paul and I are both libertarians, we don’t necessarily agree on every single issue,' Johnson said in a statement issued New Year’s Eve. 'However, on the over-riding issues of restoring our economy by cutting out-of-control spending and the need to get back to Constitutional principles in our government, Ron Paul and I are in lock-step.

"'The cause of individual liberty and freedom is bigger and more important than any candidate or campaign,' Johnson added. 'I am hopeful that in urging my supporters in Iowa to vote for Ron Paul in the upcoming Caucuses, a victory for the principles we share can be won.”'

Read more: http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/01/03/politics/gary-johnson-encourages-iowa-supporters-to-back-ron-paul.html
'via Blog this'

Rand Paul: Ron Paul surging at the right time - CBS News

Rand Paul: Ron Paul surging at the right time - CBS News - Kevin Hechtkopf:

January 1, 2012 - "(CBS News) Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said his father, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, is surging at the right time.... 'I think this is the best time to be surging to the top,' Rand Paul said on 'Face the Nation.' 'Ron Paul has surged probably as much as anyone in the last two or three weeks and has been the frontrunner or near being the frontrunner in Iowa. He's closing the gap in New Hampshire. So I think he's surging at precisely the right time....'

"Rand Paul also addressed the conventional wisdom that, despite a recent rise in the polls, his father would be unable to win the Republican nomination, or the general election.

"'Who is scoring the best with Independents and Democrats among Republicans? Ron Paul is the only one getting significant Independent vote, and Democrat vote,' he said.... 'Look at the crowds... Ron Paul is having these big huge crowds in Iowa and really exciting a lot of young people and new people. I think there is a lot of momentum. I think he could win by bringing in the Independents.'"

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3460_162-57350715/rand-paul-ron-paul-surging-at-the-right-time/
'via Blog this'