Farewell, Friend Of Freedom

The freedom movement lost one helluva warrior when Hardy Macia succumbed to Hodgkin’s Lymphoma today at the very young age of 43…

I never had the honor of meeting Hardy in person, but worked with him through most of Gov. Johnson’s presidential campaign. He was truly an inspiration and always led by example…

Hardy braving the cold to spread the message of freedom.

A fighter literally until his last breath, Hardy taped this video pleading for medical marijuana legalization just last week. Even with a collapsed lung, Hardy’s voice was persuasive and powerful…

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Farewell, Hardy…your beautiful, fighting presence will be missed by everyone you touched & inspired.

Excerpts, Concord Patch – “Hardy Macia, who spent one of his last breaths requesting that Gov. Maggie Hassan approve a medicinal marijuana proposal for New Hampshire with a homegrown provision, passed away earlier today, according to friends and family.

Macia, who had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, was stricken with the disease last summer while he was running for the 2nd Congressional District and assisting former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson’s run for president. 

Previously, he was a Board of Selectman in Grand Isle, VT, and ran for governor there in 2004, before moving to New Hampshire as part of the Free State Project. He also attempted to run for state representative in New Hampshire in 2010. In his congressional race, he received 4.4 percent of the vote, or about 15,000 votes…”

“…Friends and family members began posting notes to his Facebook site around 5 p.m. on May 13,when the news began to be shared that he succumbed to the lymphoma.

Former state Rep. Seth Cohn, R-Canterbury, a colleague and friend, called him an inspiration and a role model for others, who spent his life “working for liberty, right up to the end,” earlier today.

“Despite a cancer diagnosis, he continued that run for Congress, hoping to wake a few more people up to the cause of freedom,” Cohn stated. “Even in his last days, he took action from, a hospital bed, confronting NH Governor Maggie Hassan to do the right thing and focus on people over politics. I’m honored to have been his neighbor, his friend, and a fellow activist alongside him. May his torch of liberty shine brightly in the heavens, a role model to inspire others onward toward freedom.” 

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Sep 24, 2012 - Hardy Macia runs into Zombies at the New Hampshire State House…

Related Content - Macia makes plea for relaxed medical marijuana rules (wmur.com) Hardy Macia, Libertarian activist and candidate, releases viral video calling for legal home growing of medical marijuana (txwclp.org) Cancer patient pleads for medical marijuana rules (wcvb.com) Stossel On The Free State Project: Moving To New Hampshire For Liberty (libertycrier.com)

Monsanto’s Poisonous Seeds In The White House

So, folks still think we have two major political parties who are quite different from one another, eh? People think the world would be a much different or better place “If Only…” their candidate and party of choice had won the election of 2012…or 2008…or well, you get the point. Hell, even thought I had found a “purist” party this time around when I jumped on the Libertarian train. Figures that I’d find out only a few short weeks after the election that my beloved Savior Party has been working with the corpo-legislative whores known as The American Legislative Exchange Council…ALEC. There is no place, no party and no politician that the huge agra-giants like Monsanto cannot sink their poisonous roots into…

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CLN  “The roots of the relationship between Monsanto and the White House go back for decades. Bush senior’s administration was responsible for deeming GMO crops substantially equivalent to non-GMO crops, opening the flood gates for the industry to take over the food supply with little room for the opposition.

Mitt Romney was intimately involved with Monsanto’s transition into biotechnology.  During the presidential primaries, Romney named an 11-member agricultural advisory committee that was full of Monsanto connections.”

After promising to label GMO’s during his 2008 campaign, President Obama has opened the doors for the following GM crops during his administration:

Monsanto GMO alfalfa
Monsanto GMO sugar beets
Monsanto GMO BT soybean
Syngenta GMO corn for ethanol
Pioneer GMO soybean
Syngenta GMO BT cotton
Bayer GMO cotton
GMO papaya strain

This is not surprising given the fact that Obama has appointed the following people to regulatory bodies that are supposed to be responsible for the safety of our food (click on the links to see the announcements of Obama’s appointments):

Roger Beachy, director of the USDA, is a former director of Monsanto
Michael Taylor, the USDA food safe czar, is a former VP of Monsanto
Ramona Romero, a USDA council, was previously on Dupont’s corporate council.
Islam Siddiqui, the US agriculture trade representative, who pushes GM exports to other countries, is a former Monsanto lobbyist.” Full Story Here

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By Connor Adams Sheets | March 27 2013 3:03 PM

International Business Times – “The “Monsanto Protection Act” is the name opponents of the Farmer Assurance Provision have given to this terrifying piece of policy, and it’s a fitting moniker given its shocking content.

President Barack Obama signed a spending bill, HR 933, into law on Tuesday that includes language that has food and consumer advocates and organic farmers up in arms over their contention that the so-called “Monsanto Protection Act” is a giveaway to corporations that was passed under the cover of darkness.

There’s a lot being said about it, but here are five terrifying facts about the Farmer Assurance Provision — Section 735 of the spending bill — to get you acquainted with the reasons behind the ongoing uproar:

1.) The “Monsanto Protection Act” effectively bars federal courts from being able to halt the sale or planting of controversial genetically modified (aka GMO) or genetically engineered (GE) seeds, no matter what health issues may arise concerning GMOs in the future. The advent of genetically modified seeds — which has been driven by the massive Monsanto Company – and their exploding use in farms across America came on fast and has proved a huge boon for Monsanto’s profits.

But many anti-GMO folks argue there have not been enough studies into the potential health risks of this new class of crop. Well, now it appears that even if those studies are completed and they end up revealing severe adverse health effects related to the consumption of genetically modified foods, the courts will have no ability to stop the spread of the seeds and the crops they bear.

2.) The provision’s language was apparently written in collusion with Monsanto. Lawmakers and companies working together to craft legislation is by no means a rare occurrence in this day and age. But the fact that Sen. Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, actually worked with Monsanto on a provision that in effect allows them to keep selling seeds, which can then go on to be planted, even if it is found to be harmful to consumers, is stunning. It’s just another example of corporations bending Congress to their will, and it’s one that could have dire risks for public health in America.

3.) Many members of Congress were apparently unaware that the “Monsanto Protection Act” even existed within the bill they were voting on. HR 933 was a spending bill aimed at averting a government shutdown and ensuring that the federal government would continue to be able to pay its bills. But the Center for Food Safety maintains that many Democrats in Congress were not even aware that the provision was in the legislation:

“In this hidden backroom deal, Sen. [Barbara] Mikulski turned her back on consumer, environmental and farmer protection in favor of corporate welfare for biotech companies such as Monsanto,” Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety, said in a statement. “This abuse of power is not the kind of leadership the public has come to expect from Sen. Mikulski or the Democrat Majority in the Senate.”

4.) The President did nothing to stop it, either. On Tuesday, Obama signed HR 933 while the rest of the nation was fixated on gay marriage, as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument concerning California’s Proposition 8. But just because most of the nation and the media were paying attention to gay marriage doesn’t mean that others were not doing their best to express their opposition to the “Monsanto Protection Act.” In fact, more than 250,000 voters signed a petition opposing the provision. And Food Democracy Now protesters even took their fight straight to Obama, protesting in front of the White House against Section 735 of the bill. He signed it anyway.

5.) It sets a terrible precedent. Though it will only remain in effect for six months until the government finds another way to fund its operations, the message it sends is that corporations can get around consumer safety protections if they get Congress on their side. Furthermore, it sets a precedent that suggests that court challenges are a privilege, not a right.” Full Article Here on IBT

Related Articles:

Top 10 excuses for Obama signing the Monsanto Protection Act (thesurvivalplaceblog.com)
Obama Signs Monsanto Protection Act Into Law After Promising GMO Labeling in 2007 (naturalsociety.com)
Top 10 excuses for Obama signing the Monsanto Protection Act (jonrappoport.wordpress.com)
FOCUS | Monsanto and the Seeds of Suicide (readersupportednews.org)
Farmers and food safety advocates lead Monsanto backlash (salon.com)
‘Monsanto Protection Act’ slips silently through US Congress (rt.com)
Monsanto Required (Nutrition Optional) (factgammon.wordpress.com)
Obama Betrays Americans Again…with the “Monsanto Protection Act” (thedailysheeple.com)
Monsanto, DuPont bury the lawsuit hatchet, set to make more GMO (EndtheLie.com)
Monsanto is up to no good… AGAIN! (thebubbaeffect.wordpress.com)

“No Comment” As Man Rots In Prison

Oh my…how tempting it is to accept the offer of the White House and to tell them what I think of them right about now…but…

…I sort of have a hunch that if I were to sit down and really tell the White House how I feel, I’d be banned from ever communicating with anyone there again. Rick Perry asked people what they thought and I answered him honestly…next thing I knew, I was blocked from his FB and Twitter accounts. Hrm…maybe he really doesn’t know how he functions as a sociopathic, cold-blooded murderer while appearing to be a real human being?

At any rate, below is the White House response to the recent petition I posted concerning Chris Williams, the medicinal marijuana grower in Montana who is now serving an 80 year prison sentence in a federal penitentiary.

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By The White House

Thank you for signing the petition “Grant a full pardon to Chris Williams, a man facing 80 years in prison for legally growing medical marijuana“ We appreciate your participation in the We the People platform on WhiteHouse.gov.

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the President the authority to grant “Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States.” For more than 100 years, Presidents have relied on the Department of Justice and its Office of the Pardon Attorney for assistance in the exercise of this power. Requests for executive clemency for federal offenses should be directed to the Pardon Attorney, who conducts a review and investigation, and prepares the Department’s recommendation to the President. Additional information and application forms are available on the Pardon Attorney’s website.

The President takes his constitutional power to grant clemency very seriously, and recommendations from the Department of Justice are carefully considered before decisions are made.  The White House does not comment, however, on individual pardon applications. In accordance with this policy and the We the People Terms of Participation – which explain that the White House may sometimes choose not to respond to petitions addressing certain matters — the White House declines to comment on the specific case addressed in this petition.

Tell us what you think about this response and We the People.

***

And I might just end up telling the White House folks what I think…but probably not until after I’ve had time to uh…munch a nice bowl of fresh green salad and calm down a bit!

Related articles

• 25,900 People Want Obama to Pardon a Medical Marijuana Provider Facing Life in Prison. Will He? (reason.com)
• Outrage at Potential 80-Year Sentence for Montana Medical Marijuana Grower (informationliberation.com)
• Colorado’s first marijuana club shut down in landlord dispute (denverpost.com)

Book Review: Growls Of A Wolf

A few months ago, I posted an interview with Howls from the Wolfpack author, Ronin. At the time I interviewed him, his latest book, Growls of a Wolf was in the final stages of editing and had not yet been released. I was fortunate enough to win an autographed copy of the book shortly after it came out and wasted no time digging in to the goods when it arrived…and if I were disappointed, it was only because the book ended before I was ready to be done reading.

“…The sheep begin to murmur

The ground underneath tremors

Some in fear, some in anger

The shepherd senses danger…” 

“Growls” covers just about all of my favorite topics – freedom, politics, common sense…and more freedom. Now, to be honest with my readers, I knew before I ever cracked the cover that I would probably agree with most of the ideas Ronin presented in the book. I’ve followed his blog Ronin’s Journey, for about a year now & know from chatting in forums that we are like-minded thinkers so it was no great surprise when I found myself nodding my head in agreement as I read through the book.

Ronin writes in a very down-to-earth style; no-nonsense, no bullshit. As a fellow ‘pissed off independent’ I appreciate the moderate voice of reason…

“Pass laws on the actions that physically infringe on people’s rights like murder, assault, rape, stealing or endangering kids. The actions that only affect you by choice – stay out of it.”

“If the government slowdown (it’s not a shutdown) creates the aftershocks the masters of fear (politicians & their media talking heads) say it will, doesn’t that tell you the government is too big, and we who live under it are weak? It’s WE THE PEOPLE – not kneel before the Federal Government begging for your monthly stipend…” 

While my favorite section of the book is the one on politics (huge surprise there, right?) I enjoyed all of the chapters & topics – from poetry to politics…focusing on Wolf Mentality, self-reliance, an independent mindset and way of living…Ronin delivers a dose of it all in his first solo book.

“Silent in the Shadows

Omniscient eyes

Small animals scurry

Under my watchful stare

Wind rolls over me

As it moves along its way…”

If you are looking for a unique gift for a special liberty lover on your gift list, look no further. Better yet, make it a package deal and grab a copy of Howls from the Wolfpack and keep a book for yourself – I promise you will not be disappointed!

Read my Interview with Ronin here.

Follow Ronin’s blog here.

Order your copy of Growls of a Wolf here.

E-Day Has (Finally) Arrived!

WooHoo! Yippee! Hooray!

Finally! E-Day has arrived!

Oh wait…that was just a dream I had that today would be something glorious to behold…I haven’t had a full dose of coffee yet this morning, pardon my slip between Dreamland & Reality. I wish I could be truly excited and twist my hands in anxious anticipation as I await the outcome of the elections this evening but it seems I am suffering from the side-effects of Electile Dysfunction and possible political burn-out. Maybe it’s just a migraine brought on by the sound of so much “baa-ing” ringing in my ears today that has me just a touch…disheartened by it all.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled at the way my vote was cast – but I’m also a realist and aware that come tomorrow morning I’ll wake up in a country where nothing has changed. And as today passes, I can’t help but flash back to my 1st time at the polls…and how much I have learned in the years that have passed.

On my 18th birthday I did two things I had been longing to do – get a tattoo…and to follow in the family tradition of registering as a member of the Republican Party. Naive little fool that I was, I was quite proud of both actions. 20+ years later and I still don’t regret the ink…but oh my how I came to be ashamed of my political affiliation!

MisBehaved Ink – Gift from my hubby for my 35th

My first vote was cast for Bush…no snazzy-jazzy sax player for me..! I had convictions…I had morals!

I was going to stand on the side of all things Right, dammit!

If it were possible to time travel I think my first jaunt would be back in time to bitch-slap the smug little voter I was back then. I’m sure I meant well but if ever there was a wasted vote, my first attempt would most definitely qualify as such. I voted for the ideas with which I was most familiar…the ‘convictions’  I claimed to hold were passionate regurgitation of household conversations and nothing more.

A Day With Gary Johnson

After months of writing about and promoting Governor Gary Johnson’s presidential campaign, I actually got to meet the man himself yesterday afternoon. To say that it was a truly exciting day would be to make the understatement of the century…it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime days that will forever be woven into the fabric of my memory as a day that made my life a more interesting tale.

First off, much love and credit to my best friend and light of my life, Steve, who really made this day happen. I may be willing to support or campaign online or behind the scenes but he is the one who stepped forward and took the campaigning efforts to a whole new level. This week marks our 8^th wedding anniversary and the trip to meet Governor Johnson was Steve’s gift to me. Other women may get diamonds but I’ll take a good adventure & road trip over a cold rock any day and Steve knows that better than anyone!

Gary Johnson: Mountain Climber, Bicyclist…Surfer!

Nothing of any great political importance here…just a really, really cool clip of a presidential candidate enjoying the support of the people.

Gary Johnson – truly, “The People’s President”

A President Of Peace

With insanity spreading and riots raging around the world, I want a candidate with a rational mind and a heart of peace leading this country for a change. Gary Johnson IS that man. No fear-mongering, no desire to expand our war-mongering ways.

I want a leader capable of representing the citizens of this country rather than the lobbyists of this country. I truly believe that Johnson is the only candidate who will hold the best interests of this nation as a whole above the interests of the War-Pig lobbyist groups. His desire is to bring our troops home and place our money where it is most needed and can do the most good – right here in the USA.

 

“Republicans are Thelma. The Democrats are Louise. Together they are taking our nation over a cliff. We have a President and a majority in Congress who insist on endless war. But a majority of Americans are insisting on Peace. As our President, I will end the wars and bring our men and women home — where we will rebuild and renew our broken nation together.

We the People will have PEACE.“

“Maintaining a strong national defense is the most basic of the federal government’s responsibilities. However, building schools, roads, and hospitals in other countries are not among those basic obligations. Yet that is exactly what we have been doing for much of the past 10 years.

Given trillion-dollar deficits, America simply cannot afford to be engaged in foreign policy programs that are not clearly protecting U.S. interests. There is nation-building and rebuilding to be done right here at home.

Our military should remain the most potent force for good on Earth. To do this, we should resort to military action as the last option and only as provided in the Constitution.” ~Gary Johnson~

His common sense is highlighted here in this outstanding article on All Voices Sept. 13th, 2012

Excerpt from, “Johnson more presidential than Romney in response to Middle East violence“

 ”Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson, who served two terms as New Mexico governor and currently has­­ more executive-level experience in government than Romney and Obama combined, on Thursday released a statement about the tragedy.

Johnson had no time for petty partisan jabs and blame games; he was too busy asking an important question that neither Romney nor the president seem to be capable of asking: Does it serve our national interest to be in places where we are not wanted, not appreciated and targeted for violence by American-hating extremists?

Johnson’s statement read, in part:

It is tragic when Americans serving their country are murdered, and we both mourn their loss and honor their service.

Part of honoring that service is to ask the obvious question: What U.S. interest is being served by putting our people – and our money – in places where U.S. personnel can be killed by extremists over a video?

(…)

Protecting America with a strong national defense and a rational foreign policy is our leaders’ most basic responsibility. But let us not confuse national security with senseless intervention where our interests are clearly not being served.

As Romney spews nonsense about Obama standing by a statement that sympathized with the killers, his words are all the more reason for voters unsatisfied with the choice between the two major party candidates to take a long, hard look at their alternatives. By any reasonable standard, Johnson represents the best alternative a non-major party has had to offer since former President Teddy Roosevelt ran on the Bull Moose ticket in 1912…”

Read Full Article Here

PEACE.

Demand it.

Donate to it.

Elect it.

Protect it.

Related articles

• Gary Johnson: Libya, Afghanistan and the Middle East — Why Obama and Romney are Both Wrong (huffingtonpost.com)
• Ron Paul on Gary Johnson: He Certainly Has A Lot Of Libertarian Views (txwclp.org)
• Disillusioned Democrats should support Gary Johnson for President (libertarianreview.us)
• Gary Johnson News Update (roninsjourney.wordpress.com)

Who Is Jack Gault?

My name is Jack Gault.

I am one of Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson’s campaign minivans.

Live Free in Las Cruces, NM

Follow me around America as I spread the message of “Live Free”.

Learn more about Gary Johnson

Previous posts about Gary Johnson

Growls Of A Wolf; Exposing The Games Society & It’s Leaders Play

Ronin cuts through the spin and shows the reasons behind the lies, how freedom is being lost and showing the principles to living life to the fullest…

On Facebook

Ronin’s Journey

My Interview With Ronin

Independent thought is hard and liberating; thoughtless acceptance is easy & enslaving.

Gary Johnson – End The Drug War

Two-term Governor, Gary Johnson, will win our nation’s futile war on drugs by ending it. America once faced a similar dilemma with alcohol and mustered the public will to make a wise decision in ending Prohibition. Today America is safer and organized crime is out of the alcohol business.

It’s time to take the Capone out of cannabis, too.

We The People are ready to LIVE FREE.

Visit http://www.garyjohnson2012.com

Giving The Bird To Elephants & Donkeys

I absolutely love the newest video from  Libertarian presidential candidate, Gary Johnson. As always, the message is brief – and straight to the point…

Both parties are indistinguishable from one another. Both are keeping America broke. Both are keeping America at war. Both have trampled on the Constitution. And both are products of the same big money players that never change behind the scenes. It’s time to give the elephants and donkeys a little company. We the people are ready to let Washington know the TWO-PARTY IS OVER.

Libertarian National Convention Nominates Gary Johnson for President

I’m still a bit disappointed that I was unable to attend the convention but nonetheless, I am THRILLED that Gary Johnson has been nominated as their candidate in 2012. Congratulations Governor Johnson on a job well done and best of luck in November – this country needs you now more than ever…

LAS VEGAS - The Libertarian Party nominated former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson for President of the United States, expressing confidence he will be able to find effective small-government solutions to the country’s most pressing problems and mount a strong challenge to his major party rivals.

Mr. Johnson was declared the party’s Presidential nominee after he won 70% percent of the vote in the first round of balloting by the 595 delegates of the National Libertarian Convention held at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, NV.

His closest challenger, R. Lee Wrights of Texas, finished second with 25% of the ballots.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Johnson promised to present a clear and viable alternative to major party candidates, saying his victory in November will offer Americans effective solutions to slow economic growth, high unemployment and endless foreign military commitments that sap the country’s financial strengths.  America, for the first time in modern history, is poised to reject the tired two-party duopoly that has brought the nation to its knees economically.

“I am honored and I just want to pledge that no one will be disappointed. We’re going to grow the Libertarian Party.” said Mr. Johnson.

A successful businessman who lives in Taos, NM,  Mr. Johnson is known as an unwavering crusader for fiscal responsibility, free enterprise and individual freedoms. During his gubernatorial tenure, he used his veto pen more than 750 times to forestall attempts to grow government and put an end to wasteful government projects. He cut taxes 14 while maintaining New Mexico as one of only four states in the country with a balanced budget. The state boasted a $1 billion budget surplus when Mr. Johnson left office in 2003.

The nominee’s biography can be found at garyjohnson2012.com/about

Mr. Johnson’s running mate will be chosen later today and can be watched live on C-Span. If no candidate for Vice President attains a majority on the first ballot, the candidate finishing last will be eliminated from the race. In addition, any candidate polling less than 5 percent will also be eliminated from the subsequent ballot. A candidate securing a majority of convention delegates will be the Vice Presidential nominee.

“I am convinced that Gary Johnson will be an exceptional candidate, and a very successful President,” said Mark Hinkle, Libertarian Party Chair. “We have an impressive roster of talent this year to challenge our Big Government opponents not only in the race for the White House, but also in state and local races. The major parties offer Americans only one solution: Bigger government.  Libertarians will show voters how we can make government small while dramatically increasing jobs, lowering taxes, and scaling back government debt.”

Yesterday the convention approved a new party platform, which leaves unchanged the fundamental tenants of the Libertarian Party: Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. Changes adopted by party delegates were generally ones that improve the wording or clarity of the party’s intent to advance liberty and shrink Big Government. One significant change adopted was to add ballot initiatives to the party’s mission.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, which is active in all 50 states and has more than 250,000 registered voters.

Libertarians call for ending government interference in personal, family and business decisions, much lower government spending, repeal of dangerous and unnecessary regulations, lower taxes, a currency free of government manipulation, free trade, and a peaceful, non-interventionist foreign policy.

Millions of Americans have voted for Libertarian Party candidates in past elections throughout the country, despite the fact that many state governments place roadblocks in order to keep third party candidates off the ballot and deprive voters of a real choice.

Additional information about the 2012 Libertarian National Convention can be found at www.LibertyWillWin.com.

Additional information about the Libertarian Party can be found at www.LP.org.

Gary Johnson: ‘Mickey Mouse Would Poll 15 Percent Against Obama And Romney’

What can I say…when Gary’s right, he’s right! 

At this point I’d vote for Donald Duck or even Goofy before I’d waste my time casting a vote for Obama or Romney either one…

From Huffington Post - Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson has no qualms about running as a third party candidate, telling HuffPost in a recent interview he thinks Americans are so dissatisfied with their options that “Mickey Mouse would poll 15 percent against Obama and Romney.” That’s actually not as far-fetched as one might think.

According to a new poll, more than two-thirds of American voters would consider voting for a third party candidate and a full 48 percent say a third party is necessary. Throw in numbers like 22 percent of voters saying they would definitely vote for a third party candidate they agreed with and 28 percent saying they would flatly rule it out, and presidential frontrunners may have something to worry about.

“I think there’s a real opportunity that a third party candidate could poll significantly enough to be on the stage in what would be the national debates,” said Johnson, the former New Mexico governor. “I think that’s a possibility, and if that happens, I would hope to be that third party nominee to be able to do that.” Read the full article HERE.

Learn more about Gary Johnson – Gary Johnson 2012

Deep In The Bowels of Texas

This is what happens when religious beliefs and influence seep into the legislative process. The state has no business inserting *laws* such as this into the private meetings between women and their doctors. Aside from the obvious attempt to discourage women from obtaining abortions as is our right in a *Free* country, what is there to be gained from this invasive nonsense? 

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A federal appeals court cleared the way Friday for the immediate enforcement of a new abortion law in Texas requiring doctors to conduct a sonogram before the procedure.

The three-judge panel on Tuesday lifted a temporary stay issued by a district court judge who found the new law potentially unconstitutional, but did not issued a legal mandate. On Friday, the judges agreed to a request by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to cut short the typical three-week waiting period between a ruling and its implementation.

The new law requires doctors to conduct a sonogram before performing an abortion, to show the woman the image, to play the fetal heartbeat aloud and describe the features of the fetus at least 24 hours before the abortion. There are exceptions in the case of rape, incest, fetal deformities and for women who have to travel great distances to reach a doctor.

The most recent order does not give time for doctors fighting the law to appeal Jones’ decision, which under normal circumstances would not have gone into effect until Jan. 31. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which supports the doctors, did not have an immediate reaction to Friday’s order.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals order clears the way for the Texas Department of State Health Services to issue rules for complying with the law and to prosecute doctors who do not obey it…

As with most new regulations that are pushed through in the dark of night, there is no time for folks to fight or stop it. How ‘convenient’ that the judges agreed (on a special request from the AG, Greg Abbott*) to waive the standard waiting period before the new law is implemented. I’m sure there were no favors or golf-course deals that influenced this decision at all…

The article goes on to state - 

One of the conservative supporters of the law, the Liberty Institute, welcomed the court’s decision not to delay the law any further.

“This court order means that the Texas sonogram law is to be enforced effective immediately, as it should be,” said Jonathan Saenz, the institute’s legislative director.

Read the full story here.

In case you’re not familiar with the Liberty Institute, here is a snippet from the “About” section of their website,

The Race Is On: Two State Libertarian Parties Endorse Gary Johnson

January 7, 2012 COLUMBIA, SC – In the style of the Continental Congress, Members of the South Carolina Libertarian Executive Committee have endorsed Gary Johnson. A Resolution was penned as follows:

” Whereas, the South Carolina Libertarian Party supports the libertarian principles demonstrated by Gary Johnson and appreciates the efforts the candidate has been making to bring the message of libertarian ideas of personal and financial freedom to the voting public.

Resolved, that the following South Carolina Libertarian Party Executive Committee members endorse Gary Johnson for his bid for the Libertarian Party’s nomination for the Office of President of the United States at the upcoming national convention in May of 2012 and we encourage our delegation to support him.

GOP Jokers Would Extend Patriot Act

This latest AP Article titled, “GOP Contenders: Extend Anti-Terrorism Patriot Act” on NPR explains one of the many reasons why I’d not support any of the so-called ‘top runners’ in this media orchestrated joke of a presidential race.

Republican presidential hopefuls spoke up strongly for the anti-terror Patriot Act in campaign debate Tuesday night, saying it should be extended or perhaps strengthened to help identify and capture those who would attack the United States.

Only Rep. Ron Paul of Texas among eight presidential hopefuls dissented, arguing that the law is “unpatriotic because it undermines our liberties.”

Note that former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson was once again excluded from the debate and denied his opportunity to also voice his opposition to the Patriot Act.  

More From the article – “In a debate on national security, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said President Obama has “essentially handed over our investigation of terrorists to the” American Civil Liberties Union. “Our CIA has no ability to investigate,” she said. Bachmann did not cite any examples to buttress either of her claims.

The debate unfolded six weeks to the day before the Iowa caucuses inaugurate the competition for delegates to the Republican National Convention. The venerable DAR Constitution Hall was the site a few blocks from the White House and as close as most if not all of the GOP hopefuls are likely to get…”

Read Complete AP Story Here on NPR

Who Is Gary Johnson?

*Gov. Johnson is a two-term Republican Governor of New Mexico.
*Gov. Johnson has the most executive experience of any candidate in the race.
*Gov. Johnson is the most fiscally conservative Governor in the country.
*Gov. Johnson vetoed more bills than his contemporary 49 Governors combined.
*During his time, Gov. Johnson was one of only 4 Governors to leave their state with a balanced budget.
*Gov. Johnson cut taxes 14 times.
*Gov. Johnson has the best record on jobs growth of any official Republican presidential candidate, according to a National Review report.
*According to a Public Policy Poll, Gov. Johnson is the only Republican presidential candidate who is still popular in his home state, which also happens to be 2-1 Democrat.
*Gov. Johnson has the record and the serious policy proposals needed to bring common sense back to Washington and put our country back on the right track.

Gov. Gary Johnson On Freedom Watch

2012 presidential candidate and two-term New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson talks to guest host Michael Graham on FOX Business Channel’s “Freedom Watch” about his plan for fixing the economic mess without raising the debt ceiling or taxes, on 7-14-2011.

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Governor Johnson: Family Leader Pledge “Offensive”

Truth For A Change – Presidential candidate and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson charged today in a formal statement through his campaign that the Family Leader “pledge” Republican candidates for President are being asked to sign is “offensive to the principles of liberty and freedom on which this country was founded”.  Governor Johnson also plans to further state his position against the Family Leader pledge this afternoon in Las Vegas, NV at a speech he will deliver at the Conservative Leadership Conference.

Johnson went on to state that “the so-called ‘Marriage Vow” pledge that FAMILY LEADER is asking Republican candidates for President to sign attacks minority segments of our population and attempts to prevent and eliminate personal freedom.   This type of rhetoric is what gives Republicans a bad name.

“Government should not be involved in the bedrooms of consenting adults. I have always been a strong advocate of liberty and freedom from unnecessary government intervention into our lives. The freedoms that our forefathers fought for in this country are sacred and must be preserved. The Republican Party cannot be sidetracked into discussing these morally judgmental issues — such a discussion is simply wrongheaded. We need to maintain our position as the party of efficient government management and the watchdogs of the “public’s pocket book”.

“This ‘pledge’ is nothing short of a promise to discriminate against everyone who makes a personal choice that doesn’t fit into a particular definition of ‘virtue’.

While the Family Leader pledge covers just about every other so-called virtue they can think of, the one that is conspicuously missing is tolerance. In one concise document, they manage to condemn gays, single parents, single individuals, divorcees, Muslims, gays in the military, unmarried couples, women who choose to have abortions, and everyone else who doesn’t fit in a Norman Rockwell painting.

The Republican Party cannot afford to have a Presidential candidate who condones intolerance, bigotry and the denial of liberty to the citizens of this country. If we nominate such a candidate, we will never capture the White House in 2012. If candidates who sign this pledge somehow think they are scoring some points with some core constituency of the Republican Party, they are doing so at the peril of writing off the vast majority of Americans who want no part of this ‘pledge’ and its offensive language.

Related articles

• Gary Johnson Calls Traditional Marriage Pledge “Offensive And Unrepublican” (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Gary Johnson Would Take The Republican Party To A Much Healthier Place (alan.com)
• GOP Candidate Gary Johnson Blasts “Offensive” Anti-Gay Pledge (towleroad.com)
• WATCH: Rick Santorum Explains Signing Controversial Pledge (huffingtonpost.com)
• Gary Johnson Outraged By ‘Marriage Vow’ Pledge (huffingtonpost.com)