United Liberty

Free the Hops - a local political activist organization formed to change Alabama’s overly restrictive laws on beer & home brewing - is hosting annual “Magic City Brewfest” at the Historic Sloss Furnace in Downtown Birmingham. My purpose of coming to the Brewfest is to raise awareness of the need for legislative change, while still promoting specialty beer, and of course having a good time.
Tonight there are over 200 types of beer available to sample in addition to a popular local band.

To learn more, join, or donate to Free The Hops please visit their website: http://www.freethehops.org/

Yet another reminder how one of the greatest Libertarians, Ron Paul, constantly fights for the American people. This isn’t to increase his profile either - Ron has been working for libertarian principles since he has been in congress. Who else goes into such detail in defense of non-interventionism? No euphemisms for Dr. No.

Condoleezzaa Rice: “We’re not planning, or intending an attack on Iran.”

One of the key statements I picked up from Condi was this:

“Finally as to what we intend to do, when we have a carrier strike group into the Gulf…It’s simply to demonstrate that the US remains determined to defend it’s interests in the Gulf and the interests of it’s Allies. And that Congressman is a position that has been held by American Presidents going back 60 Years.”

60 years of some of the most horrific wars the world has ever seen? That is only the tip of the iceberg as far as what these policies have done to our reputation around the world. I’d highly recommend the books by Chalmers Johnson:

Books by Chalmers Johnson

Amid cries and accusations of being a spoiler for GOP candidate, Senator John McCain, Russell Verney (current campaign manager for Bob Barr and former campaign manager for Ross Perot) has same words of advice,

“Those people claiming that [Barr] is going to be a spoiler should buy some cheese to go with that wine. We are not spoiling anything. Competition is the backbone of America. And no one can take votes from anyone else, because votes are not a birthright. Votes have to be earned.”

Read more at Newsweek.

A small, but growing group are refusing to accept McCain as the GOP nominee… at least not without a fight. Republican leaders are having to face a determined group of Ron Paul supporters at their local and state conventions. And they’re learning, sometimes the hard way, that these Ron Paul activists are well-organized and self-educated about the delegate-choosing process. The LA Times’ Top of the Ticket blog reports:

“Largely under the radar of most people, the forces of Rep. Ron Paul have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against Sen. John McCain when Republicans gather for their national convention in Minnesota at the beginning of September.”

In the last three months, Paul’s forces, who donated $34.5 million to his White House effort and upward of a million total votes, have, as The Ticket has noted, been fighting a series of guerrilla battles with party establishment officials at county and state conventions from Washington and Missouri to Maine and Mississippi. Their goal: to take control of local committees, boost their delegate totals and influence platform debates.

At the Nevada convention, the party leaders abruptly ended the meeting when it became obvious that the Ron Paul delegates would not go unheard. From the Las Vegas Sun-

They [Ron Paul supporters] seemed to make up more than half of the 1,300 or so state delegates to the convention. They won a key procedural vote on the rules, and their boisterous presence created significant delays, causing the convention chairman, Bob Beers, a state senator from Las Vegas, to recess the convention without selecting delegates to the national convention. The state convention is to resume at a later date.

Although it is largely papered over by the GOP establishment’s unifying behind McCain, party regulars are debating the future of the party, and especially whether to return to the small-government principles of the late Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential candidate.

Republican conventions are usually well-organized, rather staid affairs for bashing Democrats and rallying around the presidential nominee, in this case, McCain.

Not so this time, as many of the more than 1,300 delegates were Paul supporters who viewed themselves as insurgents taking on the establishment.

Boston.com remarks-

In Minnesota, Paul loyalists captured seven delegate slots at congressional district meetings,

and,

last weekend in Maine, McCain’s forces were well organized, but Paul’s activists nevertheless managed to pick up one of the 18 delegates at stake.

also,

In Missouri, where activists will elect at-large delegates at a state convention at the end of May, a credentials challenge to as many as 300 Paul supporters is underway after his acolytes nearly swept several big county conventions that chose delegates to the statewide gathering. On some Internet sites, Paul supporters have contended they are being discriminated against by the party’s establishment.

There have been similar shows of strength for Paul at some county conventions in Washington state, where Republicans will also hold their statewide convention at the end of this month.

Will these admirable efforts force a Paul nomination? Highly unlikely. But might they garner Dr. Paul a speaking spot at the National Convention or positive changes in the GOP platform? Let’s hope so. Read more- ajc.com

Though he is considered the presumptive nominee for the Republican party, Senator McCain is finding opposition on every side. He’s already trading barbs with the assumed Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, but further competition is emerging from the right. Supporters and delegates for Congressman Ron Paul continue to garner more delegates for the good doctor, determined to have a presence at the GOP Convention in Minnesota this September. Having earned a million votes thus far, no one can deny that Dr. Paul is a force to be reckoned with. But there is another contender- Congressman Bob Barr. Already labeled the “clear front-runner” for the LP by various columnists, Barr will pose a serious problem to McCain as he siphons away disaffected conservatives from the run-amok GOP. The Democrats, however, also have reason to be concerned about a Barr candidacy. His firm stance against the Iraq war and continued commitment to the protection of civil rights will draw a share of traditional Democrat voters as well. From the Telegraph.co.uk-

Mr Barr’s critique of Mr McCain’s support for strong central government and reluctance to support further tax cuts will strike a chord with many Republicans, and is significant because in a tightly contested presidential election just a small number of votes can determine the outcome in crucial states. The quirks of the US electoral system, where the presidency hangs on victory in a handful of swing states, mean that for all the billions spent on electioneering by the main parties, the identity of the next president could rest in part on the performance of the thrice married 59-year-old maverick.

Read more- John McCain must battle for conservative votes to beat Barack Obama

Press release from BobBarr2008.com-

Bob Barr, former Member of Congress from Georgia and current candidate for President for the Libertarian Party, today issued the following statement in reaction to Gov. Mike Huckabee’s recent remarks at the National Rifle Association’s National Convention:

“Mike Huckabee showed incredibly poor taste when he joked about a gun pointed at Senator Barack Obama. His words were reckless, callous and harmful to the sports men and women of America and to those of us who fully support the Second Amendment.

“Every candidate for public office inflames the passions of people who fervently disagree with them. To suggest, as Governor Huckabee did, the misuse of a fire arm toward a political candidate is reckless. His attitude toward proper, legal and safe use of fire arms was demeaning to all of us who advocate the right to bear arms. His reprehensible use of a threatening and violent scenario involving a firearm at the NRA’s National Convention was beyond belief.

“I call on all supporters of the Second Amendment and all supporters of civil discourse in our political races to demand a public apology from Governor Huckabee.”

This story broke in February, but many people missed it. For those of you who don’t know Murray, he is currently campaigning for Senate in New Jersey. A traditional conservative who opposed the war, Murray occasionally rode on the coat tails of the Ron Paul Presidential Grassroots campaign, accepting Ron’s endorsement, even appearing at the April 15th Tax rally. His website talks about the Ron Paul campaign on many levels. In early February, this statement was released:

As a proud conservative Republican who has donated to, campaigned for, and supported such solid conservatives like Scott Garrett, Steve Lonegan, Jay Webber and Bret Schundler, I will support the Republican Presidential nominee if it is John McCain.

Link to full article

Now, I understand this politically, however Ron Paul is still in the race. Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr are poised to run very successful 3rd party races. Why would you take up the party banner when your party has decided to leave you behind?

I like Murray Sabrin, but I’m still questioning this one and I know of many Ron Paul supporters who are surprised when they hear of this.

McCain is admittedly concerned about the rejection of GOP candidates in three recent special elections. Are voters sending a message that will carry over to the presidential election in November?

CSMonitor.com- Can McCain overcome the GOP brand?

FoxNews.com- McCain Reacts to GOP Loss in Mississippi

The Barr Campaign has managed to achieve an amazing amount of media coverage that really continues to bring our movement to the mainstream media. Please check out his site @ bobbarr2008.com and support his continued efforts.

• Barr is viewed as an alternative to the status quo and claims that McCain is a johnny-come-lately to modest tax cuts.  ajc.com- Pundits debate whether Barr is an alternative or a distraction

• Barr rejects the spoiler label and insists he’s “in it to win it.”
  Newsweek- Belly Up to the Bar

• Will Barr capture the Ron Paul vote?
  U.S. News & World Report- Blog Buzz: Blooming Barr

• Barr intends to immediately freeze discretionary spending, start withdrawing troops from Iraq, and consider slashing spending at federal agencies, including overseas military bases.
  Associated Press: Barr launches Libertarian White House Bid

• Barr’s path to win the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination
  Southern Political Report- Barr can’t afford to look past winning Libertarian nod

• Barr is expected to win the Libertarian Party nomination this month in Denver
  LA Times- Bob Barr, a former GOP congressman, is running for president as a Libertarian

• Barr vows to slash the size and power of the federal government and restore civil liberties and claims that the GOP has abandoned fundamental conservative principles.
  courant.com- Libertarian Barr Takes Aim At McCain

• Barr donated $1,000 to Ron Paul’s campaign
  Washington Post- Barr Has Been Spending Freely
  
  
• Barr will steal votes from GOP on foreign and economic issues, and from the Dems on social issues.
  The American Spectator- Barr Knuckled
  
  
• Can Bob Barr become the next Ron Paul?
  The New York Times- In the Tracks of Ron Paul, a Candidate Goes Forth?
  
  
• With Barr as nominee, things could be different for the LP this year.
  National Post- Will Bob Barr be the\ next Ross Perot or the next Ralph Nader?

• Barr swears off old party because of violations of constitutional civil liberties in pursuit of war on terror The Swamp: Bob Barr wants to be your president

• Barr is not getting into race to be a spoiler or make a point.
  Daily News- Too Close for Comfort

• Barr describes U.S. Troops in Iraq as “occupying force”.
  ajc.com- Boortz vs. Barr on Iraq, and Barr-o-metric readings form the internet

• Barr says McCain has not taken significant stance opposed to government spending.
  The New York Times- Libertarian Juggernaut

• Barr says federal government has become too big, too costly, and too intrusive.
  ajc.com- Barr is presidential race but denies spoiler role

• Barr cites continued deterioration of civil liberties and conservative government by the Bush administration as reasons for entering race.
  National Review Online- Enter the Barr

• Barr irked some Republicans when he challenged the Bush administration on civil liberties.
  Boston.com- Libertarian a potential spoiler for McCain

• Dissatisfied social and libertarian conservatives will naturally be inclined to support Barr candidacy Wired Blog Network- Libertarian Bob Barr Hopes to Scoop Up Ron Paul’s Internet-Driven Support