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).

'via Blog this'

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
'via Blog this'

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
'via Blog this'

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
'via Blog this'

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
'via Blog this'

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
'via Blog this'

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/
'via Blog this'