Video Update from Ron Paul

How do we organize buses from Pittsburgh to DC for the Grand Freedom March?

Plan to erect LED sign bypasses city panels, gets approval anyway

Plain and simple, this is what corruption looks and smells like.

Plan to erect LED sign bypasses city panels, gets approval anyway Plan to erect LED sign bypasses city panels, gets approval anyway
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A 1,200-square-foot electronic billboard will decorate the rising Grant Street Transportation Center as part of a deal between Pittsburgh officials and Lamar Advertising to trade old, paper signs for new, illuminated ones.

Digital Democracy -- a baby from the busman's holiday. Beep, beep. Jump on the bus and be there.

Bob Mayo, reporter for WTAE TV, with the city hall beat, sent this email. I'll try to attend.

Digital Democracy is a special event happening here in Pittsburgh next month. This is a project I've been working on for months and I'm excited to let you know about it now.

It's a conference that will explore how the digital revolution -- including blogs, online video, websites and social media -- is changing traditional news media coverage and citizens' access to the political process.

The event includes national-caliber speakers who are coming to town on Saturday, March 15.

Its website is now online at:

http://www.spj.org/pittsburgh

Our speakers include:

• New York Times Online Politics Editor Kate Phillips, who writes for and edits The Caucus, The New York Times politics news blog.

• Newsbusters.org Executive Editor Matthew Sheffield

• MediaMatters.org Senior Fellow & Director of Special Projects Paul Waldman

• Hearst-Argyle Director of Digital Media Content Jacques Natz

• J-Lab Executive Director Jan Schaffer

• Media Bloggers Association President Robert Cox

Other speakers include former USA Today reporter Toni Locy, who's topic is "Subpoenaed For Her Sources". She's the subject of a contempt-of-court request for her refusal to identify sources who provided her information about the 2001 anthrax attacks and the subsequent investigation.

There will also be sessions on "Bloggers as Journalists and Journalists as Bloggers", on new media skills and digital literacy for reporters, and on Open Records laws.

Digital Democracy is a Society of Professional Journalists regional conference, hosted by the Pittsburgh chapter. Region 4 covers Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, but the event can draw from beyond. Its something for all journalists -- and you don't have to be a member of SPJ. In fact, given the theme, bloggers, students, and others with an interest and involvement in the conference theme are welcome to attend. The Digital Democracy website has links for online registration and there's a special rate for students and SPJ members.

If you've been wondering why I haven't been blogging as much here on the Busman's Holiday for a while, it's because I've been working on this event. I'm program chair and have been lining up the speakers. I also created the website for the event. I know some fellow journalists check out the blog here, and I want to encourage you to join us and to spread the word. This is a professional enrichment event intended everyone in news organizations across the region. Links to more specifics are on the website. I hope to see you there.

In the past, I had been a member of the SPJ -- as I'm a Journalism Grad, BSJ, Ohio Univ. 1982.

Father crucial in Icer career

Dad gets props for supporting his son through sports.

Father crucial in Icer career - The Daily Collegian Online: "Nate Obringer used to wake up at 4 a.m. on weekends in the middle of winter. Battling the cold, harsh conditions of western Pennsylvania, his father Tim Obringer would take Nate to practice on the one outdoor ice rink at Schenley Park.

Now as a member of No. 2 Penn State ACHA Division I Icers, Obringer has emerged as a scoring threat and senior leader who's looking to cap his collegiate career with a national championship.

No one in Obringer's family played hockey, but he benefited from growing up in Pittsburgh in the early '90s.

Nice article about local kid that is doing well.

Too bad that the lone indoor ice rink in the city is still closed.

Streakin'

Schenley hasn't lost a City League game in four years. The Spartans also haven't lost a City League championship since 2004, when they fell to Perry. The streak started when Pitt center DeJuan Blair returned from a knee injury and played his first season at Schenley as a sophomore. The Spartans, who are led by Deandre Kane and Greg Blair these days, will look to continue their dominance tonight when they take on Langley in the semifinals at home.

The boys City League championship will be held at 5 p.m. on Feb. 21, and the girls title game will be played at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

Streakin'

Schenley hasn't lost a City League game in four years. The Spartans also haven't lost a City League championship since 2004, when they fell to Perry. The streak started when Pitt center DeJuan Blair returned from a knee injury and played his first season at Schenley as a sophomore. The Spartans, who are led by Deandre Kane and Greg Blair these days, will look to continue their dominance tonight when they take on Langley in the semifinals at home.

The boys City League championship will be held at 5 p.m. on Feb. 21, and the girls title game will be played at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

American Policy Center calls for action against the Real ID. Nice summary too

From: American Policy Center, www.americanpolicy.org

Real Rebellion Needed - DUMP The Real ID Act!

The Real ID Act passed the Senate on May 10, 2005, and was signed into law by President George Bush with a compliance date for State DMVs of May 11, 2008. Most Americans have staunchly and consistently opposed any kind of a national ID card each time it had previously been considered. But Congress approved the Act, tucked largely out of sight inside an emergency war spending and tsunami relief bill. This stealth passage of the Real ID Act shocked and angered many Americans, especially those who remembered Congress' own assurances when creating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with language actually written into the US Homeland Security Act of 2002, that "Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the development of a national identification system or card."

Now in 2008, after nearly three years of incessant fear-mongering and challenges to opponents' patriotism, the public is still outraged, and resistance is swelling. Seven states have now enacted binding legislation to stop Real ID (Georgia, Maine, New Hampshire, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington), with Oklahoma on the verge of being the eighth. Fourteen more states have passed resolutions in at least one chamber registering their dissent, and similar efforts have been introduced in 11 more.

The American Policy Center has issued many warnings of the serious threats to public and national security this liberty-smothering law, and ultimately wealth-suppressing law brings to bear on the American public.

The public comment period has come and went. All 50 state governors notified DHS Secretary Chertoff, President Bush, and all 535 members of Congress they opposed the Act, at least as written, for a variety of reasons. Despite the strong negative reaction, whether from average citizens, state agencies, or members of Congress, on January 11, 2008, Secretary Chertoff released his department's final Real ID regulations, which can be read here: Part 1, and Part 2

Secretary Chertoff says he's heard the concerns, rectified many shortcomings of the Real ID Act, and is now offering states an 18-month (with the option of an additional 18-month) extension period within which to comply (by demonstrating material compliance with the core requirements of the Act). Additionally, only those born after December 1, 1964, will have to have their current Driver License re-issued. The rest of us can choose to keep our current DL, so that by December 1, 2017, all 245 million Americans that hold either a State issued Driver License or ID card will be compliant. Encouraging news, right? After all, any delay is a victory.

Secretary Chertoff has taken some hits. On January 18, 2008, Montana's Governor, Brian Schweitzer (D), invited the governors of 17 other states to join Montana in all-out rebellion against the Real ID Act. The Montana Bill states in part:

"The legislature finds that the enactment into law by the U.S. congress of the REAL ID Act of 2005, as part of Public Law 109-13, is inimical to the security and well-being of the people of Montana, will cause unneeded expense and inconvenience to those people, and was adopted by the U.S. congress in violation of the principles of federalism contained in the 10th amendment to the U.S. constitution.

(2) The state of Montana will not participate in the implementation of the REAL ID Act of 2005. The department, including the motor vehicle division of the department, is directed not to implement the provisions of the REAL ID Act of 2005 and to report to the governor any attempt by agencies or agents of the U.S. department of homeland security to secure the implementation of the REAL ID Act of 2005 through the operations of that division and department."

Schweitzer's letter went out to the governors of Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington.

A piqued Chertoff snapped that opponents of the Act needed to "grow up." He further warned that, as of May 11, 2oo8, anyone not presenting a Real ID-compliant state, or federal, ID at an airport will be subject to a complete pat down, screening of their carry-on luggage, and possibly will not be allowed on a commercial airplane.

Governor Schweitzer wants Congress to show some leadership and enact alternative legislation to stop Real ID, while re-instating the commission working on driver's license rules before the Act assigned DHS sole authority to set the rules. He took "great offense at this notion we should all simply 'grow up'," saying Chertoff's remarks "reflect DHS continued disrespect for the serious and legitimate concerns of our citizens."

Laura Keehner, a DHS spokeswoman, said DHS has no intention of backing down. Her comments indicated a department policy of trying to turn States' citizens against their governors, stating failure to comply "will mean real consequences for (a rebel state's) citizens starting in May if their leadership chooses not to comply." Keehner suggested that patted-down citizens will turn their wrath on their state leadership, rather than the federal government.

Secretary Chertoff has also hinted the Real ID card will soon be used for a wide variety of purposes not specifically detailed in the Real ID Act, stating DHS will do nothing to prevent non-government private parties from requiring the ID card. So you could soon be required to have a Real ID card to obtain or hold a job, open a bank account, enter a school, receive medical care, purchase a gun, or a virtually unlimited host of unrelated purposes. Eventually, once smart chips are incorporated, these ID cards will contain your entire life history - not just identification, but birth, school, employment, medical, financial, purchase and travel records.

Incredibly, Secretary Chertoff has no plans for encrypt the stored data on these cards, leaving unprotected the very personal records and access to the financial assets of 245 million Americans. The Real ID Act does not require DHS to secure the records they create or link to. Thus, this national web-like database will provide easy, one-stop shopping for identity thieves, swollen beyond recognition as not only state and national government agencies input and share data, but the private sector accesses the system for routine tracking, monitoring, and regulation of everyday Americans' every move and activity. These ID cards will truly be "internal passports," utilized by the federal government to determine where and how you will be allowed to travel, whether within your own state, or within your own country. Do you really want Big Brother making these decisions for you? Do you want to be tracked in office buildings, subways, or on buses?

Governor Schweitzer has demonstrated great leadership. The Real ID Act will impose rules that threaten the privacy, security and freedom of 245 million Americans. This Act is, as was so aptly stated by the New Hampshire legislature, "contrary and repugnant" to state and federal constitutions. We must all demand other state governors follow suit. We must call Secretary Chertoff's bluff! Follow the spirit of Governor Schweitzer's command to his fellow Montanans - report demands by any federal employee that you produce a Real ID card to your elected state and federal representatives. Complain loudly! Complain in your own best interest, and that of your children. The Real ID Act is fatally flawed, and will soon result in massive litigation. That litigation will be funded, in all phases, by your tax dollars!

Rebellion against the Real ID Act goes far beyond simple defiance of an unpopular public program. Our national roots, our heritage, the very foundation of America springs from a profound understanding that the power of our federal government must be limited - restricted to certain enumerated powers. We have allowed, as a society, and as individuals, the usurpation of much of our liberty and freedom of choice. We're already allowing ourselves to be video taped in private, and on public roads and within public facilities. When is enough, enough? The United Kingdom has one video camera in place for every 14 people in the whole country. Video cameras do NOTHING to increase security; they merely assist the police with later identification of the perpetrators of whatever horror or crime HAS ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED.

Likewise, improved, so-called tamper-proof identity documents that cannot be counterfeited (Oh, really!) will do little, if anything, to secure our borders, and they will DO NOTHING to protect you from a suicide bomber. After all, most potential suicide bombers are already in country, may well have been born and raised here, and will not have a history of this criminal activity. We need to get real, people, and DUMP THE REAL ID ACT!

ACTION NEEDED

Contact your State Governor. You will find their name and contact information here :

Tell your Governor:

a.. S/he must defend your state's sovereignty, and the police powers granted by your state constitution, and acknowledged by the U.S. Constitution.

b.. S/he should oppose imposition of the Real ID Act on the state's citizens.

c.. S/he must not waste the state's precious, and limited, financial resources on the fatally-flawed Real ID Act.

d.. S/he will bear the full wrath of the state's voters if those voters are betrayed, and forced like slaves into acceptance of this arguably unconstitutional, and very dangerous program.


Contact your State Legislators:

Tell your Legislator:

a.. S/he must defend your state's sovereignty, and the police powers granted by your state constitution, and acknowledged by the U.S. Constitution.

b.. S/he should oppose imposition of the Real ID Act on the state's citizens.

c.. S/he must not waste the state's precious, and limited, financial resources on the fatally-flawed Real ID Act.

d.. S/he will bear the full wrath of the state's voters if those voters are betrayed, and forced like slaves into acceptance of this arguably unconstitutional, and very dangerous program.

Contact your U.S. Representative. Call the House Switchboard at (202) 225-3121. Tell the Operator your Congressman's name, or the city and state where you live, and you will be connected.

Office of Congressman (Name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Tell your Representative:

a.. Congress mandated in the U.S. Homeland Security Act of 2002 that "Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the development of a national identification system or card."

b.. Congress is over-reaching its authority by dictating to state Governors and state motor vehicle departments requirements for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards.

c.. Congress is exposing precious, and limited, tax dollars to fund a fatally-flawed program that is arguably unconstitutional, and that will be the subject of massive, taxpayer-funded, litigation.

Contact your U.S. Senator. Call the Senate Switchboard at (202) 224-2131. Tell the Operator who your Senator is, or what state you live in, and you will be connected.

Office of Senator (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Tell your Senator:

a.. Congress mandated in the U.S. Homeland Security Act of 2002 that "Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the development of a national identification system or card."

b.. Congress is over-reaching its authority by dictating to state Governors and state motor vehicle departments requirements for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards.

c.. Congress is exposing precious, and limited, tax dollars to fund a fatally-flawed program that is arguably unconstitutional, and that will be the subject of massive, taxpayer-funded, litigation.

Source: American Policy Center, 70 Main Street, Suite 23, Warrenton, Virginia 20186

Landing on all four paws and one tooth: James Traficant

Panther Rants: "PITTSBURGH (PR) - Panther Rants has learned through a source close the athletic department that former Ohio Congressman and Pitt quarterback James Traficant is a candidate for the Panthers' vacant defensive coordinator's position.

State parks going without lifeguards in '08

State parks going without lifeguards in '08 Swimming at state park beaches soon will be at your own risk.

Starting this summer, the Bureau of State Parks is getting rid of lifeguards at all beaches except at Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie. The move will save about $800,000, eliminate the challenge of hiring enough lifeguards and allow beaches to be open longer, state officials said.

Panther Rants noticed that the Pitt Scrip clothing has been hijacked from the store shelves, again.

Panther Rants: "If that's the case we are left to believe that its simply back to business as usual with Pederson and his well documented out-of-control ego. He's been on the job two months and the FIRST PRIORITY is killing off a line of clothing that re-connects some fans with a part of the school's history. Not a new season ticket plan for football. Not a new advertising campaign for football. Not anything to make the athletic department more fan friendly and palatable. Nope, Steve reverts back to his good old fashioned obsession: uniforms, logos and colors.

Pink slip clothing to come?

Grass gets legalized -- that's moving forward

The Steelers are keeping a grass surface at Heinz Field. What was there stays. Humm.... That's same old same old.

Moving forward would be the legalization of grass.

Steelers to keep it "real" at Heinz Field 'The majority of our players have told us that they prefer natural grass to any artificial surface,' said club president Art Rooney II in a statement today, 'and grass is also the preference of our coaches and athletic staff. We also discussed this with the University of Pittsburgh officials to make sure everyone is comfortable moving forward.'

Steve Pederson is in the news again -- the 'moving forward AD' if there ever was one. He was the old AD that was responsible for the destruction of Pitt Stadium.

Seems that the prices to the Pitt football games are going to drop -- because there are so few people who are attending the games at Heinz Field.

PIIN -- and update from the Pgh Interfaith Impact Network

In the wake of the murders of two African American youths, Jolesa Barber (12) and Ernest Tolliver (15), on the 28th and 29th of January, 2008, Rev. Johnnie Monroe and the PIIN Spiritual Leaders caucus declared enough is enough.

On January 30th, Rev. Johnnie Monroe called on the spiritual leaders of PIIN to meet with police Chief Nate Harper to begin discussions on stemming the proliferation of gun violence. During the meeting, PIIN leaders decided to launch a Holy Ground Campaign and Chief Harper agreed to fully support the initiative.

On February 1st, Rev. Welch organized a meeting with the NAACP’s religious affairs committee to further engage non PIIN members in the campaign. During that meeting a candle light vigil was organized to take place on the street where Jolesa Barber was murdered as a show of support for her family and to declare our campaign. 20 pastors including 10 who were members of PIIN committed to the campaign.

On February 5th at 9 PM, 200 women, men, and children gathered at Bright Ridge Place, where Little G (Jolesa Barber) was gunned down to declare that we would not stand for the gun violence any more. Reverends Monroe, Grayson, and Welch led the group in a series of prayers. Court of Common Pleas’ Judge Dewanye Woodruff was on site to support the event and plead with the people to “do something” to help save our children who want to do the right things. There were pastors from the northside who committed to join our effort, leaders of other community groups and initiatives who declared that they would partner with us to begin addressing gun violence and the upstream issues that lead to it.

In a rousing benediction, Rev. John Welch announced that “We are declaring Holy Ground on the North Side. We are declaring Holy Ground on the East End. We are declaring Holy ground in the West End. And, we are declaring Holy Ground in the South Side. It is time for us to stand up and let the powers that be know that the people of Pittsburgh are some bodies too”. He also reminded the people that our situation did not get like this over night and that it was not going to be addressed over night., That the solutions to these problems will have to addressed in the School board chambers, city chambers, county chambers and in Harrisburg and Washington D. C.

Members of PIIN, this is the year that we take unwavering stand to combat those issues that stamp out prosperity and cause a sense of hopelessness. This year we declare Pittsburgh Holy Ground!!

Britain moves against offensive Oly protests - Sunday February 10, 2008 3:39PM

Original post from Feb 10, 7:46 pm. Update below from Feb 11 at noon.

The world gathers and the UK players do nothing else, by design, as stipulated in contracts.

SI.com - Olympics - Britain moves against offensive Oly protests - Sunday February 10, 2008 3:39PM British athletes at the Olympics must sign a new clause in their contracts which prohibits making politically sensitive remarks or gestures during the Beijing Games.

"The reality is, given the level of political scrutiny of the world's media on these games and the way China will handle them, the BOA felt it was sensible and proper to flag that rule to our athletes," British Olympic Association communications director Graham Mewson said Sunday.



The International Olympic Committee already has a rule which states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

The rules of the game are in the rulebook. What is out of bounds is marked, clearly.

What goes on in life, beyond the playing court, is not as 'clear cut' as what goes on in the time of the competition. Rules of life are NOT so neat nor so specific.

Review: Sports are games of space, time and relationship. (Kevin DeForest, author)

Life is not a game.

Life is about space, time and relationship.

As the UK tells its athletes, officials and coaches -- under contract -- about their restrictions in life, beyond the game, these sports warriors become less free.

Athletes are masters of time space and relationship. And, we play in sport so we can develop skills that are transferable to life -- beyond the game.

Sports should help us become 'better.' That's better citizens, better consumers, better managers of time, better organizers of relationships, better thinkers in a diverse, tolerant society.

Rules and contracts like this, from the Brits, make me sad. They make sports less human. They diminish the Olympic experience. They zap freedom. And, finally, they are hard to enforce. So, they don't work as intended.

More problems fuss about as a result of these rules and contracts. Let the black-gloved fisted salute occur from the medal podium as a sign of solidarity because the effort to prevent such is to put new flavors of slavery onto everyone's backs.

Creative expressions and characters and struggles are necessary. Otherwise, we've got robots. Otherwise, we've got a de-humanized game. Otherwise, we got the big boot of officials (government) with justifications for interventions.

If you win the attention of the world, bring your "A Game." To the victors go the spoils, an olive wreath and a trinket of gold, silver or bronze, if you are so fortunate. Celebrate. Smile freely. Speak with the skill that equals that of the dexterity of the sports moves we all just witnessed.

Play hard. Play fair. Then, it is time to live your life fully. Speak and act as your spirit moves you.

From NZ dump - tra...

---

Update: The Brits change their tune. Link.

BOA says it won't censor athletes

Olympic Chiefs claim no intent to "gag" comments
Posted: Monday February 11, 2008 10:54AM; Updated: Monday February 11, 2008 11:05AM

LONDON (AP) -- The British Olympic Association has "no intention of gagging" its athletes at the Beijing Games.

A day after the BOA said it would require its athletes to sign a new clause in their contracts prohibiting them from making politically sensitive remarks or gestures during the Olympics, the association clarified its stance.

"Clearly (the instructions) had been misinterpreted and we now accept they may have been open to misinterpretation," BOA spokesman Graham Newsom said Monday. "But there is no intention of gagging anyone. We are trying to mirror what it says in the Olympic Charter."

Simon Clegg, the BOA's chief executive, acknowledged that the BOA's Team Members Agreement appeared to go beyond the provision of the Olympic Charter.

"This is not our intention nor is it our desire to restrict athletes freedom of speech and the final agreement will reflect this," Clegg said.

Newsom said no such gagging order existed. He said the organization had not tried to put a block on free speech and had been under no political pressure from the government.

"The reality is that we have historically had a very strong independent views and we are completely different from government," Newsom said. "We don't take any government funding and we make our own views."

The BOA has sent out instructions to athletes headed for Beijing that they should abide by IOC-backed regulations which state they should not comment on any politically sensitive issues or take part in political, religious or racial propaganda at the Olympic sites and venues.

Newsom said the instructions had been in place for at least 20 years and were sent out to those athletes going to their first Olympics who had not seen them before.

In January, Belgian athletes were told they would be prohibited from raising human rights or other political issues at Olympic venues. Outside the sports venues and Olympic village, however, they will be free to speak their mind.

Great!

Tech Pres observations from Mitt's Video Guy

Michael Kolowich of DigiNovations, the folks behind Mitt Romney’s Mitt TV video channel offers ten observations about the successes and challenges of his video arm.

Among them: YouTube is weak at inspiring voters to act;

YouTube can be used for and against a candidate;

It’s important for a candidate to find ways to control his or her message;

Make the software work; and

Reach out to bloggers.

He’s writing from the perspective of helping Mitt win, and doesn’t seem particularly interested in actually involving voters in a campaign, so in my mind he overemphasizes the need to control the message. But, hey, Mitt knew best, right?

---

Here, first of all, are my ten most important observations:

1. YouTube is a two-edged sword
2. A YouTube channel is necessary but not sufficient
3. A content-managed video platform is vital to success
4. When choosing a platform, back-end workflow is a key decision criterion.
5. Prepare for success: use a CDN (content delivery network)
6. Maintain one asset collection, many faces
7. Build a fast & flexible production process
8. Seeds and feeds build viewership
9. Don’t believe everything you read about clip length
10. Listen to the data

John He Is, musical video.

You've seen, I hope, the one for the other guy. Now you can check out the one for John McCain.

Mayor defends staying put in wake of growing text message scandal

Mo-Town Music charges top dollar for whistle blower.

Mayor defends staying put in wake of growing text message scandal Brown sued, contending he was fired for opening an investigation that could have exposed the mayor's affair. After he won in the trial and the city said it would appeal, he and two other ex-cops settled their lawsuits last year for $8.4 million. The amount rose to more than $9 million after legal costs.

Who let the the texted dogs out?

Update: Blogger changes the world! Yep, spot on!

See the post below about how the Brits wanted to insert a clause into the contract with the UK's Olympic Athletes. Notice the update.

Ron Paul Fallout from Libertarian perspectives

Libertarians in PA, are pondering, in part, these concepts with party divisions and libertarian leaning candidate in the R-party, Ron Paul. This is a merged post from M&M R (PA Libertarian Party leader) and Dan Sullivan, Pgh L and political friend.

Headline: McCain Moves Toward Republican Nomination

Sub headline: Libertarian Party Conducts Snide Antic

Some have said that Ron Paul has no place in the Republican Party. Dan posted, "It is fairer to say that he has no place in the American political process, period. Certainly he has gotten more attention and more support as a Republican Party than he could have gotten as an Libertarian Party candidate.

Dan feels that Libertarians could have great credibility as a philosophical movement, or as a political force that uses its party mechanism as one of the weapons in its arsenal.

Ron Paul has done far more to discredit the dominant warmongering, corporate-welfare big-government Republican than we (Libertarians) could ever hope to do within the Libertarian Party.

If Obama wins the D Party nomination, the race will effectively be over, thanks largely to how well Ron Paul forced the other Republicans to be explicitly in their
defense of Bush's war. Of course, if Hillary Clinton wins, it will just be a more competent warmongering corporate-welfare liberty-smashing administration against a less competent one. Incompetence being a virtue in such a situation, McCain might be the better choice.

Questions linger as to it Libertarianism has never been a prominent feature of the R Party.

-- Republicans in Pennsylvania introduced home rule, freeing counties and municipalities from top-down control by the state.

Libertarianism has not been dominant in recent times in American politics generally.

-- Eisenhower warned of the influence of the military-industrial complex.

-- Goldwater was a Presidential candidate.

-- Reagan paid some lip service.

Republican Presidents unduly used or expanded federal power or sat back while their corporate backers so trampled on individuals that government had to act with things like anti-trust legislation, pure food and drug legislation, and worker safety standards.

Congresses controlled by the R Party have been bad for liberty. Those who have been successful in getting to Congress have, for the most part, made matters worse, regardless of what party's mechanisms they used as stepping stones.

Libertarian Party Congressmen have not been guilty of betraying the public trust simply because there is no such thing as Libertarian Party Congressmen.

Yes, politics makes strange bedfellows, but is there virtue in our chastity if we offer ourselves up and have no takers? Are we really in a position to denounce those who failed in the sense of turning the country around, but whose successes vastly exceed the successes of those who work only within the LP? Dan doesn't think so.

The two-party system has not been imposed on our form of government; it is our form of government.

Leaving aside the additional injustices of discriminatory ballot-access laws, etc., the fact of the matter is that a winner-take-all electoral system is, de facto, a two-party system. It aways was, and it always will be. One does not change that reality merely by running a third party as if reality didn't matter, but by using every means at one's disposal to fundamentally change the structure of government itself.

To do that we need credibility and the confidence of the voters. While it may be fun to conduct these antics, I'm not sure it will help to convince anyone that the LP is the party representing the fundamental principles of American government.

That's not such a difficult task. The difficult task is to convince people that the LP actually matters. If, in order for us to matter, we must elect enough LP members that we actually control legislation, thenhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif we simply don't matter, period. However, if we can matter by shaping the debate and making major-party candidates explicitly state their unacceptable authoritarian views, as Ron Paul did, then we can matter
very much.

In other discussions:

Milwaukee GOP to Vote 'No' on McCain
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/genera_patrick__080209_milwaukee_gop_to_vot.htm

According to a draft copy I have received, the Republican Party of Milwaukee County is penning a resolution to oppose Senator John McCain as the GOP nominee for President of the United States. The resolution will be proposed during their meeting on Monday, February 11, 2008.

The resolution includes a long list of grievances against McCain, including his past efforts towards illegal immigration, campaign finance reform, and tax increases. McCain has long been rejected by the Republican base and his success on Super Tuesday has apparently stirred that base into action. It is to be expected that once a front-runner has clearly emerged, the party base will rally; though normally they rally for their candidate, not against.

What may prove even more interesting is that the resolution is being penned by one of Milwaukee?s leading supporters of Ron Paul. With Romney stepping aside and clear disdain for McCain, will Republicans finally see Ron Paul as the only true conservative in this race?

One can only assume that the Milwaukee GOP is not alone in taking this action. Perhaps this is the beginning of the end for the media-anointed nominee John McCain. The question remains however, will it prove the beginning for the true conservative nominee Ron Paul? Only time will tell as Wisconsinites prepare for their own primary on February 19.

The draft resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS the Republican Party is founded upon the conservative political philosophy derived from the belief that individuals are endowed not by the government but by the Creator with certain unalienable rights and the belief that the Constitution of the United States of America is designed to guarantee the free exercise of these rights through strictly limiting the power of government whose powers are derived only from the consent of the governed, and

WHEREAS the Principles of Conservatism promote Liberty, Prosperity and Individual Freedom, and

WHEREAS the leading presidential candidate for the Republican Party, Senator John McCain, has consistently demonstrated a record of public service counter to the philosophy and principles of conservatism and the Republican Party. To prove this, let these facts be submitted.

He has colluded with Tom Daschle to vote against President Bush's tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 and joined leading liberal senators in offering and voting for amendments designed to undermine the tax cuts.

He has colluded with Russ Feingold to undermine the First Amendment to abridge citizens' free speech in the political process.

He has colluded with Vice-President Al Gore and Senator Joseph Lieberman to expand greatly the power of government in order to combat global warming in ways that would greatly increase energy prices and negatively affect consumers.

He has colluded with Ted Kennedy to promote amnesty for 20 million illegal immigrants.

He has colluded with Ted Kennedy and John Edwards to create the Patients Bill of Rights, which allowed the government to impose a set of onerous mandates on insurance coverage instead of allowing individuals to make their own decisions about healthcare plans in the marketplace.

He has undermined the principles of a free market economy by voting for an amendment that would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set prices on prescription drugs under Medicare.

He has voted to undermine American Sovereignty by granting consulting rights to Mexico concerning the erection of a southern border fence

He has a consistent pattern of shocking verbal abuse of Senate colleagues who oppose his bills.

He has exercised extremely poor judgment by intervening with the federal regulators on behalf of Keating in the Savings and Loan Crisis of the 1980s.

He sponsored and voted for a 282% tax increase on cigarettes that also would have increased the size of the federal bureaucracy exponentially.

He supports raising Social Security taxes.

He has promoted the granting of the unconstitutional line-item veto power to the president that tramples the constitutional separation of powers.

He has undermined the Republican Party and opposed the constitutional duties of the vice president to break a tie on judicial nominations.

He has demonstrated consistent leadership to undermine second amendment rights by his promotion of bills that regulate all sales at gun shows; that force gun-owners to purchase trigger locks making their firearms useless for self-defense; that restrict the legitimate transfer of firearms over the internet; and that extend the restrictions of the Brady bill to pawn shops and gun repair shops.

He has voted to use taxpayer funds to harvest stem cells from human embryos.

He has refused to take immediate and direct action to protect the life of the unborn; he opposes the repeal of Roe v. Wade; and by opposing a constitutional amendment to protect all human life.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Milwaukee County [branch omitted] opposes any effort to promote, support, or endorse Senator John McCain as the Republican nominee, and

RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Milwaukee County [branch omitted] will only support candidates who promote the philosophy and principles of conservatism in government, and promote Liberty, Prosperity and Individual freedom, and whom have consistently demonstrated a record of public service as evidence of their principled beliefs.

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With perhaps a few exceptions, the vast majority of those in the LP are seeking to maximize individual liberty and minimize the role of the state. Of course there are different ideas on how to this is best achieved, but that should not be confused with wavering. I think this over-arching principle makes for a more coherent political party than most.

The LP is for the most part bereft of those wanting government to provide things like health care, retirement security, moral guidance through legislation, or legislative support of special interests. There are other political parties, including other non-mainstream parties, that work toward those goals.

Mik Robertson

Stop Teacher Strikes Website, call for action

Some insights...

Stop Teacher Strikes Website: "Calling PA School Board Directors to action!



http://www.stopteacherstrikes.org/index.php?pr=School_Boards

The Pennsbury School Board in Bucks County was the first School Board in PA to do it. Two news reports with reaction from upset local teacher union officials:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-02082008-1484750.html
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-02092008-1485171.html

The Bucks County Courier Times Editorial Board had this favorable opinion:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/321-02102008-1485538.html

The Pennsbury School Board took a public stand on an important issue where many week-kneed state legislators will not. They are now sending a copy of their signed resolution to Governor Rendell and all Bucks Co. legislators. This activity helps put pressure on the legislature. We encourage everyone to contact their local school board to do the same thing as Pennsbury did.

Stop, tread, go home, re-tool: NZ Open Water Swimmers won't be in Spain

11th February 2008

Open water swimmers need further nurturing

Swimming New Zealand won’t be sending any open water swimmers to this year’s World Championships in Spain.

The selectors decided that the current crop of talented young open water swimmers need to be nurtured through an international pathway aimed at the 2012 Olympics.

The New Zealand swimmers did not come up to world standard at last week’s Oceania Open Water Championships to force selection to Spain, which is the major selection event for Beijing.

Rotorua’s Kane Radford finished in second place, Philip Ryan (Auckland) fourth and Joyce Wiegersma (Southland) third behind the Australians in the 10km at Lake Okataina last weekend.

“All three are excellent young prospects but based on their swims last weekend the selectors believe they are not yet at a standard to warrant selection to the World Championships this year,” Swimming New Zealand’s Clive Rushton said.

“We do recognise that they are real talents for the future but they need much more experience in top international open water swimming before they could expect to prosper at the World Championships. And we will look to see how we can assist to get them on the FINA World Cup open water circuit to gain much more international experience.”

The selectors took into account the overall standard of the Oceania field and also the expected quality of this year’s World Championships, where a top-10 finish will be required to qualify for Beijing.

The Oceania 10km winner Trent Grimsey was 16th in the Australian 10km Championships, while the event in Spain will draw an extremely strong field including the likes of three time Olympic gold medalist Grant Hackett and Olympic and World bronze medalist David Davies.

“The World Championship will be highly competitive and it is unrealistic to believe that any of the New Zealand swimmers would be a top-10 candidate in Spain.”

Radford is the best of the New Zealanders, placing 36th at the World Championship Open Water Swim in Melbourne last year, with the field expected to be substantially more competitive in Spain as the Olympic qualifier.