Ohio LP back in federal court seeking ballot access

Ohio GOP chairman denies party involvement in challenges to Libertarian Charlie Earl's candidacy | cleveland.com:

March 17, 2014 - "Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges denied in federal court on Monday that his party was behind challenges to Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Charlie Earl.

"Borges’ testimony came as part of a last-ditch attempt by Ohio Libertarians to restore Earl’s name to the party’s primary ballot this May."

"Secretary of State Jon Husted disqualified Earl from the primary last week on the grounds that people paid to collect petition signatures for him didn’t properly disclose that the Libertarian Party of Ohio had employed them.

"Libertarians suspect that the Ohio Republican Party covertly helped the two challengers to Earl’s petitions, Gregory A. Felsoci and Tyler King....

"But Borges, testifying in U.S. District Court in Columbus, denied that the Ohio Republican Party sought out Felsoci and King. He also said that the party did not pay any money to fund the pair’s cases..... Borges also said he misspoke when he initially told reporters late last month that the Ohio GOP did have a role in the challenges."

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/03/ohio_gop_chairman_denies_party.html

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Ghostbusters: the most libertarian Hollywood blockbuster of all time

Why 'Ghostbusters' is the most libertarian Hollywood blockbuster of all time | WashingtonExaminer.com - Philip Klein:

February 24, 2014 - "After learning the sad news that comedy actor and filmmaker Harold Ramis had died, I remarked on Twitter that the 1984 classic Ghostbusters (which he co-wrote and co-starred in) was the most libertarian Hollywood blockbuster ever made.... To me, it's quite obvious. In Ghostbusters, paranormal activity is becoming a growing problem in New York City. Government doesn't do anything to stop the problem, so private entrepreneurs set up a small business that successfully captures and stores ghosts — for a fee.

"But then, the villain -- a regulator from the Environmental Protection Agency -- decides to interfere with the private business by cutting off their power, thereby releasing all of the captured ghosts.... The EPA agent orders the shut down of the ghost containment unit over the protests of Ramis' character, Dr. Egon Spengler, who says: 'Excuse me, this is private property!'

"The movie's heroes are taken into police custody after the release of the ghosts. Once the assault by the ghosts causes apocalyptic chaos in New York City and the government is completely helpless in solving the problem, the mayor releases the small-business owners who once again save the day."

Read more: http://washingtonexaminer.com/why-ghostbusters-is-the-most-libertarian-hollywood-blockbuster-of-all-time/article/2544522
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The rise of the libertarians - Washington Post

The rise of the libertarians — and what it means for politics: - Jaime Fuller, The Fix, Washington Post blogs:

March 10, 2014 - "During the 2012 Republican primaries, young Ron Paul supporters received national attention that far outweighed their influence on the party's eventual presidential pick. NPR quoted a Georgetown graduate student who said about millennials, 'This is the most libertarian generation that has ever existed. I just think it's taking a little bit longer for people to realize ... but in 10 or 20 years, once our age group starts to have more of an influence in society, we're going to see very significant shifts in what's happening.'

"We're only two years removed from his prediction, but it's clear that libertarians are becoming a vocal faction within Republican ranks. In the annual straw poll that takes place at the Conservative Political Action Committee [CPAC], Rand Paul took first place, winning 31 percent of the vote despite the fact there were 24 other people on the ballot. Paul also won the straw poll in 2013....

"As Molly Ball pointed out in her CPAC recap, 'CPAC ... is increasingly dominated by libertarians, a combined result of their passionate engagement in movement politics and the discount rates the conference offers to college students.' Republicans may be subsidizing their young libertarian members, but they aren't quite listening to them yet.

"But, as that grad student said in 2012, 10 or 20 years from now, libertarians will likely be the Republicans to watch if current trends hold. Here are a few ways to look at the libertarian crowd in 2014, as the group tries to expand their influence within the Republican Party."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/03/10/here-a-libertarian-there-a-libertarian-but-will-there-be-libertarians-everywhere-soon/

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NSA impersonated Facebook to hack, infect computers

Leaked Documents show NSA Impersonated Facebook to Infect Millions of Computers | Ben Swann Truth In Media:- Joshua Cook:

March 14, 2014 - "With the intention to infect millions of computers with malware, the National Security Agency impersonated popular social networking site Facebook.

"According to documents leaked by Edward Snowden, the clandestine initiative enabled the NSA to break into targeted computers and to siphon out data from foreign Internet and phone networks.

"Journalists Glenn Greenwald and Ryan Gallagher reported in The Intercept: 'In some cases the NSA has masqueraded as a fake Facebook server, using the social media site as a launching pad to infect a target’s computer and exfiltrate files from a hard drive. In others, it has sent out spam emails laced with the malware, which can be tailored to covertly record audio from a computer’s microphone and take snapshots with its webcam. The hacking systems have also enabled the NSA to launch cyberattacks by corrupting and disrupting file downloads or denying access to websites.'"

"The Facebook exploit was called QUANTUMHAND and was first used on a few hundred hard-to-reach targets, whose communications could not be monitored through traditional wiretaps.

"After that, the NSA planned to spread it to millions of computers around the globe using an automated system known internally as TURBINE. TURBINE gave members of the NSA’s Tailored Access Operations (TAO) unit the ability to tap into, or destroy, computers on a massive scale, documents show."

Read more: http://benswann.com/leaked-documents-show-nsa-impersonated-facebook-to-infect-millions-of-computers/
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LP of Georgia nominates candidate for open Senate seat

Hall County woman gets Libertarian Senate bid | AccessNorthGa:

March 14, 2014 - "Former Flowery Branch City Council member Amanda Swafford has been nominated by the Libertarian Party of Georgia for the open Senate seat being created by the retirement of Senator Saxby Chambliss.

"Swafford garnered the nomination at her party's March 8th convention in Marietta....

"She is a 1998 graduate of Agnes Scott College and works as a paralegal. She also attends 12 Stone Church.

"Prior to her term on the Flowery Branch City Council she was an elected Libertarian in Sacramento County, California.

"Those interested in finding out more about Ms. Swafford and her campaign can visit her website www.AmandaSwafford.net."

Read more: http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=272421
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Jamaica to decriminalize ganja in 2014

Jamaica Pushes Forward With Decriminalizing Marijuana by End of Year - Atlanta Black Star:

February 24, 2014 - "Jamaica will this year join a virtual tidal wave of countries across the globe in decriminalizing ganja, the forerunner to the establishment of a medicinal marijuana industry estimated to be worth billions of dollars.

"The undertaking was given to the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Task force by Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives Phillip Paulwell, according to one of the main task force leaders, Delano Seiveright.

"In a press statement yesterday, Seiveright said Paulwell, who is also the minister of science, technology, energy and mining, told members of the task force at a meeting last Thursday that 'ganja will be decriminalized in Jamaica this year and emphasized that Jamaica cannot be allowed to be left behind on the issue'....

"If Paulwell’s promise becomes reality — a strong possibility because of bipartisan support in the Parliament — Jamaica could be the first English-speaking Caribbean country to decriminalize ganja and usher in a new era, allowing Jamaicans to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes under State regulation."

Read more: http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/02/24/jamaica-pushes-forward-decriminalizing-marijuana-end-year/

Our America raises $14K to sue Commission on Presidential Debates

Gary Johnson continues quest to get third party in debates - Karl Dickey, West Palm Beach Libertarian Examiner:

March 5, 2014 - "Gary Johnson's Our America Initiative campaign to litigate against the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) continues its success raising nearly $14,000 as of today to pay for the costs of litigation. Johnson's campaign goal is to raise $30,000 by March 15, 2014 before the time to litigate has expired. Johnson was the 2012 Libertarian Party presidential nominee who was purposefully excluded from the presidential debates. He met all the criteria to be included in the debates except the one that required him to show at least 15% results in at least 5 presidential polls - the only issue was his name was not included in those polls....

"42% of Americans identify themselves as political independents. Only 25% consider themselves Republicans, and 31% Democrats.... Yet, in 2012 and the past several presidential elections, when it came time for nationally televised presidential debates, only the Republican and Democrat candidates were on the stage....

"It’s not surprising because, despite its official-sounding name, the ... organization that controls the debates was created by the Republican and Democratic national committees -- for the mutually beneficial purpose of creating the impression that their candidates are the only real choices for President of the United States."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/gary-johnson-continues-quest-to-get-third-party-debates