GOP may be behind challenge to keep Earl off Ohio ballot

Challenge to Libertarian Charlie Earl's candidacy will determine whether he appears on the gubernatorial ballot | cleveland.com - Robert Higgs, Northeast Ohio Media Group:

March 4, 2014 - "A challenge filed against Charlie Earl, a former state legislator, and his running mate Sherry Clark, alleges that signatures collected on their candidacy petitions were improperly gathered.

"The challenge was filed with Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted by Gregory Felsoci of Rocky River, who is a registered as a Libertarian....

"Republicans, meanwhile, may have had a hand in filing the contest. Party Chairman Matt Borges acknowledge[d] the party had a role in a media interview, although he quickly backtracked and said it was the Libertarians who made the challenge....

"Brad Smith, a law professor at Capital University and a former member of the Federal Elections Commission, will hear testimony today and prepare a recommendation for Husted, who will ultimately decide if Clark remains on the ballot. There is no fixed timetable for that decision."

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/03/challenge_to_libertarian_charl_1.html
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Libertarian Lucas Overby hits 12% in Florida poll

Alex Sink leading David Jolly by 9 percent in St. Leo Poll of CD 13 | Sunshine State News - Kevin Derby:

February 13, 2014 - "The polls keep coming in the special congressional election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla.

"St. Leo University released a poll on Thursday which shows former state CFO Alex Sink, the Democrat in the race, takes 46 percent while Republican David Jolly takes 37 percent and Libertarian Lucas Overby garners 12 percent. The Tampa Bay Times released a poll on Wednesday night showing Sink with a smaller lead and St. Pete Polls and St. PetersBlog unveiled a poll on Thursday which had Jolly up by a small margin. Both of the other polls found Overby polling in single digits.

"'Ms. Sink’s advantage is being driven by solid favorability ratings coupled with issue positions that seem to be more closely aligned with voter preferences than are Jolly’s,” said Frank Orlando who teaches political science at Saint Leo.... 'The fact that a Libertarian candidate has robust support levels in the double digits seems to be contributing to the size of Sink’s lead.

"'Jolly is not only leaking Republican voters to Alex Sink, but also to ... Overby,” added Orlando. 'Traditionally, Libertarian candidates have siphoned off more support from Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, and this is the case here. Despite being outspent and advertised, Overby’s presence in the televised debate has increased his visibility, but it remains to be seen if he can maintain this support to Election Day.'"

Read more: http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/blog/alex-sink-leads-david-jolly-9-percent-libertarian-lucas-overby-12-percent-st-leo-poll

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The libertarian populism of The Lego Movie

The Libertarian Populism of The Lego Movie | The American Spectator -  Michael Turk:

February 27, 2014 - "As the parent of small kids, it was inevitable that I would see The Lego Movie, but I was totally unprepared for the reaction I had ... at best, I expected a typical kids movie. At worst, I expected more liberal indoctrination in the form of children's entertainment.

"Instead, I found a classroom lesson in the ideals of populist libertarianism.

"For those who are unfamiliar, and hopefully without revealing any spoilers, the movie tells the story of an unexceptional construction worker living and working in Bricksburg, a megatropolis that mirrors our own reality, with interchangeable pop bands, overpriced franchise coffee bars, and TV shows that appeal to the lowest possible denominator. Emmet, our reluctant blue hero, falls down a hole, discovers the 'Piece of Resistance,' and finds himself anointed 'The Special' — the citizen who will fulfill a prophecy to bring down Lord/President Business.

"Now, much has been written by conservative thinkers about the producers' choice to make 'business' the villain of the film. Focusing on that single aspect is a mistake if you want to get the real meaning. As the movie progresses, we see that Lord/President Business has used nearly every facet of popular culture to subdue the masses and stifle their creativity. Everything must conform to specific instructions. These instructions are Bricksburg's regulations and are strictly enforced by government in the form of Scribble-Face Bad Cop.... Creating outside those regulations is not allowed."

Read more: http://spectator.org/articles/57950/libertarian-populism-lego-movie
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Why social conservatives should embrace libertarianism

Rand Paul Is Right. Social Conservatives Should Embrace Libertarianism David Harsany, The Federalist:

February 25, 2014 - "At Robert P. George’s The American Principles Project last week, [Rand] Paul argued that a dose of libertarianism would not only help the GOP broaden its base, but that it was philosophically compatible with social conservative values. 'Libertarian and liberty doesn’t mean libertine,' he explained. Paul might have added that libertarianism isn’t synonymous with 'uncharitable' or 'selfish' or a 'Social Darwinist,' either. He might have argued that libertarianism would do a lot more than just help orthodox Christians politically. It may even be the most conducive political philosophy for them to thrive."

"Should social conservatives 'commit themselves' to a political philosophy that not only strives for gay equality, but one that seeks to impel others to participate in these new norms despite religious objections? Should they commit to a philosophy that impels them to fund contraception coverage and abortions — either through direct funding or fungible dollars? A philosophy that continues to force them to send their kids to crappy public educational systems that often undermine their faith-based beliefs? A philosophy that attacks parents who seek alternative means of education, like homeschooling? Or should they be more interested in wedding themselves to a political philosophy that downgrades the importance of politics in everyday life and allows citizens to work together to structure their communities without interference?

"The growing state, after all, not the atheist, is religion’s biggest rival. And, intentionally or not, government is crowding out parts of community life that have traditionally been taken care of by civil society. It’s draining resources once used by communities to implement services and take care of their own. And even more destructive, perhaps, is that government is becoming a source of moral authority for so many."

Read more: http://thefederalist.com/2014/02/25/rand-paul-is-right-social-conservatives-should-embrace-libertarianism/
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3 try to have Libertarians removed from Ohio ballot

Protestors against Libertarian candidates - Mark Kovac, Wooster Daily Record:

February 27, 2014 - "Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted has set two hearings next week to consider challenges to primary petitions submitted by Libertarian candidates for governor and attorney general.

"Separate written protests were filed by two Columbus-area men and one Cleveland-area man – one said he's a member of the Libertarian Party, another said he sympathizes with the Libertarian position on issues and the last said he is not affiliated with any party.

"The trio contend gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Earl and his running mate, Sherry Clark, as well as attorney general candidate Steven Linnabary, did not follow state law in collecting signatures and should not appear on the May primary ballot.

"Libertarian Party spokesman Aaron Keith Harris said Tuesday afternoon that he had not yet heard about the challenges but was not surprised.

"'Plain and simple, they're scared to death because they know Kasich's a bad governor and we have a great candidate,' he said. 'That's all this is. We complied with the law every step of the way.'"

Read more: http://www.the-daily-record.com/local%20news/2014/02/27/protestors-against-libertarian-candidates 

Future looks bright thanks to Students for Liberty

John Stossel: Future of libertarianism bright, thanks to Students for Liberty | New Hampshire Columns - Manchester Union Leader:

February 20, 2014 - "Recently, some 1,500 students from all over the world gathered to discuss freedom at the Students for Liberty Conference in Washington, D.C.

"Economist Donald Boudreaux showed the students a department store catalog from 1958 to underscore how the free market, while contributing to income inequality, also dramatically improved the lives of the poor: 'The typical American worker back then had to work 30 hours to buy this vacuum cleaner. Today, a worker has to work only six hours to buy a much better vacuum cleaner. And that's true for clothing, food, all sorts of things.'

"That's how free markets work: quietly, gradually improving things....

"If there were a part of America for which the American students at this conference felt a special pride, it was the Constitution. 'The Constitution of the United States is a promise about how government power will be used, Timothy Sandefur, author of The Conscience of the Constitution, told them. 'A promise was left to us by a generation who lived under tyrannical government and decided they needed a framework that would preserve the blessings of liberty.'

"These students appreciated that inheritance, although they said the Constitution is rarely discussed at their schools."

Read more: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20140220/OPINION02/140229848
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Thiel makes a libertarian case for minimum-wage hike

Uber-libertarian Peter Thiel praises minimum-wage hike | The Daily Caller - Neil Munro:

February 26, 2014 - "Uber-libertarian billionaire Peter Thiel suggested he may support a spike in the minimum wage to $12 an hour because it could roll back the welfare state.

"'I actually think that it’s a very out-of-the-box idea. … It’s something one should consider seriously, given all the other distorted [government-created economic] incentives that exist,' Thiel said in a video interview conducted by the San Francisco Chronicle on Feb. 21.

"Thiel is so much of a libertarian, he’s trying to create islands where people can work and live away from national laws. He’s used some of his $2 billion fortune to fund the libertarian Club for Growth PAC and spent almost $4 million to help Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul campaign for president in 2012....

"'“Given how low the minimum wage is, and how generous the welfare benefits are, you have a marginal tax rate that’s on the order of 100 percent, and people are actually trapped in this sort of welfare state,' Thiel told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2014/02/26/uber-libertarian-peter-thiel-praises-12-an-hour-minimum-wage-hike/

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