Bob Barr Announces Presidential Run

Although I wouldn't consider the nomination his, yet. For a while, I would have said it was his for the taking. But many libertarians, and enthusiasts from the Ron Paul Revolution, might find this unsatisfactory: "In a news conference, Barr said 'only a fool' would specify a date and timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. But he said it's 'extremely important' and in the best interest of national defense to draw down dramatically the US troop presence in Iraq and decrease the military and political footprint in Iraq." For a critique of some of his other foreign policy views, see Justin Raimondo.

Is the Media Going Bust?

Lew: Your comment, in your earlier blog, read "The bust marks a return to reality." Might you be making a reference to this news story about Playboy's earnings?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080506/media_nm/playboy_dc_1

Private Science Funding

I just learned that the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (a private philanthropic foundation) awarded $60 million to undergraduate teaching institutions. The list of awardees indicates that many of the recipients were also "private" schools.

I often complain about scientists always wanting more money from the state for their worthy cause, so I am thrilled to hear about this completely voluntary science initiative. As an added bonus, it focuses on undergraduate schools, rather than the big research institutions, where a little bit goes a long way.

A Fed Boom Engenders Insanity

The bust marks a return to reality. (Thanks to Danny Ajamian.)

Human Action and Conservation

An interesting commentary on recent research on conservation is in last week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Although it may be unintended, it sounds like the author is arguing for the application of Austrian Economics to environmental conservation in his conclusion:

although the goal of conservation is biological (e.g., maximize the number of species conserved), the means to obtain the goal are primarily socioeconomic... In the end, it is human actions that have caused the biodiversity crisis and changes in human behavior will be required to adequately resolve it.

Rating LRC vs. the Beltway

WebsiteOutlook.com rates websites on their economic worth and daily pageviews.

LRC's worth is $286,780, and daily pageviews are 130,069. The New Republic's figures are $185,106 and 83,580. The Weekly Standard's are $112,967 and 50,776. Reason's are $96,579 and 43,218. CATO's are $61,466 and 27,186. And AEI's are $20,819 and 9,507.

So, as a website, LRC is worth 1.5 times as much as TNR, 2.5 times as much as the Weekly Standard, three times as much as Reason, 4.7 times as much as CATO, and 13.6 times as much as AEI.

Note: From WSO's lips to God's ear on LRC advertising potential! Also, our daily pageviews are understated, according to Google Analytics, but thanks to Doug Eberhardt for drawing all this fascinating information to my attention.

UPDATE from Burt Blumert: "How about pointing out that the neocons and Koch libertarians (if there is a difference) have vast funding and many full-time web staffers, and LRC is pretty much a one-man band?"

GTA IV on Unions

Writes Joshua Warren: "I was just playing the new videogame Grand Theft Auto IV, when I heard a quote that just thrilled me.

"The main character is told that a construction union is blocking the construction of a new hospital, and his next mission is to 'clear the union members out' of the construction site. Confused, the protagonist (a recent immigrant) voices his concern about attacking the simple union workers.

"He's then laughed at and told 'union's just another word for mafia!'

"Needless to say, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that in such a mainstream game."

Sweet Home Alabama

Writes Eric Garris: "I had no idea your state was so libertarian!" Of course, like the US constitution, the Alabama one has pretty much failed, though we are still one of the least-taxed, least-regulated states in the Imperial Union.

re: Jim Webb for Veep?

I don't see the need to put Webb on the ticket -- although he could name him as Secretary of Defense. The environment of temporarily-reduced violence that the surge created (and gave McCain the nomination) is collapsing, and the case against the war will be easy to make. If he needed to shore up his foreign policy bonafides, he could simply pre-announce his foreign policy team (SecState Biden, bring Perry back as SecDef, etc.); putting realist foreign-policy "veterans" back in the White House would add a lot to the narrative of "un-doing" the damage Bush has done.

As for the list, it excludes Brian Schweitzer, the Democratic MT Gov. who's a strong supporter of the second amendment and a major opponent of REAL ID and the Patriot Act. The Gov. has said in speeches that REAL ID is the first step on the road to a police state.

I think that the Dem's path to victory is in the Mountain West, where they have made the most gains in the past 4 years, hence their choice to have the convention in Denver. That's why I think it'll be a western Gov., either Schweitzer, Richardson, or the Governor here in Colorado, Bill Ritter. Ritter is a pro-life progressive (he was even a Catholic missionary in Zambia in the late 80s) from a swing state (that was red until '06) who's decent on gun rights.

Dennis Farina meets the police state

Actor Farina, whose down to earth work I always enjoy, forgot he had a loaded 22 caliber pistol in his luggage at the airport. I believe him.

"The actor was booked on one misdemeanor count of carrying a loaded firearm - until the charge was upgraded to a felony when police discovered the pistol was not registered.

Bail was initially set at $25,000."

What gets me boiling mad -- really angry -- is not only that this is a misdemeanor, but it's a felony that the pistol was not registered. Not to mention the outrageous bail.

When I was a kid, having a 22 pistol or rifle was NOTHING! NOTHING!

My dad had two unregistered pistols (one a 25 caliber Mauser semi-automatic) that I inherited, and they are the only material objects I have from him. They are no longer in my possession because I am a felon in New York if I keep them here. Transporting them by car through Massachusetts is another felony.

Who even thought about registration? Today it's a felony if it is not registered? Is America a police state or is it a police state? The answer is obvious. Any of us can be put away for infractions that we are completely unaware of or for doing what any free and law-abiding person should be able to do. And that includes walking down the street with a loaded and unregistered pistol in one's pocket.

Gun carry laws are all well and good, but frankly I don't want to spend months of my life getting the State's permission to do what I should be able to do and once could in the first place.

'Bill O'Reilly Goes Nuts'

Warning: foul language. (And thanks to Ryan Bassett.)

UPDATE: Here is a working link.

Cap'n Unhinged

From US News:

McCain begins talking about his captors. They are living in Hanoi, he says, except for the Cuban, the man he called "Fidel," who would beat the American prisoners with an automobile fan belt. "He was particularly cruel," McCain says, his mood darkening almost imperceptibly. McCain says he has the CIA looking for "Fidel," and a reporter innocently asks why. "He was from a foreign country!" McCain says, his voice rising. "He had no business coming to Hanoi and killing my friends! And I'd love to bring him to justice!" And just as quickly, the storm passes. McCain adjusts his glasses a little and says, "It was a long time ago. I almost never talk about it." He looks from one reporter to another. "Really. There was a lot of humor in prison. A lot of funny stories."

"If the CIA ever does find the Cuban who tortured McCain, they'll surely take him to one of their secret prisons overseas. Considering his skills, the only question is whether he'll arrive as an inmate or a member of the staff."

California's Potemkin Environmentalism

Max Schultz in City Journal on "a celebrated green economy [that] produces pollution elsewhere, ongoing power shortages, and business-crippling costs." Thanks to Sean Corrigan, who calls it a "fabulous piece."

A Respectful Opponent of Ron Paul

Law professor and famous blogger Glenn Reynolds writes a decent review of Ron's important new book. Despite the review, Ron is right on foreign policy, right on earmarks (an executive vs. congress issue, not a spending issue), and right on the Fed and the gold standard, but hooray for the reviewer's civil and intelligent tone. This is a first for the neocon Pajamas Media, and a recognition of what an historically important figure Ron is, as well as a tribute to Professor Reynolds. (Thanks to Steve Bartin.)

Ron Paul Insurgents To Show Up McCain at Convention

As Andrew Malcolm notes in the LA Times political blog, and as highlighted in red by Drudge, there is still a lot of opposition to Cap'n McCain within the Republican party. The Ron Paul guerillas will never give up, as Ron's #1 book and current state convention achievements show, and the Imperial Occupation Forces are vulnerable. Freedom, prosperity and peace! How, by the way, is a Rebel yell spelled? (Thanks to Greg W.)

re: Safe Deposit Boxes Not So Safe?

Under PATRIOT Act II, if the government claims an "emergency" it has given itself the "right" to confiscate the contents of any safe deposit box.

Leave it up to government to call outright theft "patriotic" (as long as government bureaucrats are the thieves). What's next: Will they call taxation (a.k.a., legalized theft) "patriotic" too? (Oh yeah, they've been doing that for about 100 years already).

Safe Deposit Boxes Not So Safe?

I just watched a story on the morning news about how states, California in this particular example, have been seizing the contents of safe deposit boxes without even the consent of the person whose items were stolen. In the news report, a woman's family jewels and important documents were simply taken by the state and went into the government's archives as belonging to "Unknown" when it was clearly her name and address on all the papers that had been taken.

The report also noted that "unclaimed property" is, in Delaware, the third most profitable source of income for the state.

Man Jailed After Adult Daughter Fails To Get GED

Judge David Niehaus, of Butler County, Ohio, has sentenced Brian Gegner to six months in jail because his 18-year-old daughter failed to pass the math portion of her GED test.

The article says the state may let him see his daughter and granddaughter again once his daughter passes the state's math test. Of course, he'll likely be jobless by then...

(Thanks to Spencer Hahn for the link.)

What Ron Paul Did

One of a multitude, a man writes: "I had never heard of the Mises Institute or Austrian Economics until I heard of Ron Paul. Now I read everything I can on your site, and rent books from the library from Rothbard to Mises. I just wanted to just say GOOD JOB!"

Sustaining a Workforce

I came across a blog entry on Wired that laments the Presidential candidates' lack of dedication to the space program. Her blog entry, as well as the original NPR story, point out the main problem with not funding NASA:

It is time for the United States to get... a space program powerful enough that kids are demanding an education to support their dream of using space to make a difference here on Earth.

It amazes me that people actually think that the federal government is, and should be, responsible for maintaining a given workforce. If there is demand for a certain product that requires space exploration, the market will provide the jobs. If no such demand exists, it's better for everyone if would-be astronauts are employed in some other occupation.

(Note the "conflict of interest" by the blogger - she has spent 12 years in said workforce. But this is presented as expertise, not conflict of interest, because it is a government gig.)

"Lincoln Turned My Ancestors into Welfare Bums"

I recently received a very thoughtful letter from Kerry P., who wrote after reading The Real Lincoln.

"What drew my very personal attention in your book were your comments about General Sherman and Grenville Dodge [chief engineer of the government-subsidized transcontinental railroads). I know both very well . . . because my grandfather was the General Counsel for the Union Pacific from the 1950s-1971."

"My grandfather was a very good man, and we loved him. He was a Swedish-American and quite aware of he fact and behaved very much like Scandanavians still behave -- I mean older gentlemen -- mild-mannered and wore a suit to breakfast. His grandfather had come from Sweden in 1852, and only 8 years later, in 1861 at the age of 18, joined the Union Army . . . . He along with the whole regiment [the 3rd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, all Swedish immigrants] was captured by Nathan Bedford Forrest. They were fortunately parolled, and unfortunately for the Sioux, sent to fight the Sioux uprising with Gen. Pope."

"As to how a foreign 18 year old knew enough about American government and its institutions to go and join the army, is something to wonder about . . . . But I have to say that [my grandfather and great grandfather]both profited very much from this new Lincolnian subsidized industry and the land grants."

Republican Doubts About Captain McCain

Especially, of course, among the anti-McCain Ron Paul activists.
Says AFP: "While John McCain is practically assured the Republican presidential nomination, many party members are having a hard time accepting him -- and showing it with symbolic votes against him in primary contests.
"The Republican nomination battle has been all but decided for over two months. Still, some Republicans used the April 22 Pennsylvania primary and last week's votes in Indiana and North Carolina to register their unhappiness with the de facto victor.
"Some vote for libertarian Texan Ron Paul, who has refused to quit the race and has racked up more than one million votes, according to his campaign." Read the rest.

What You Read Last Week

Articles and blogs.

I Love Slate TV

See the latest video on attack ads; it reminds me of why I loved George McGovern.

Why the Campaign Against the Burmese Junta?

So the US empire can once again use a humanitarian crisis to take over another country, of course. (Thanks to Sean Corrigan.)

An Opinion Revolution?

Philip Weiss, long the prophet of a coming change in Amerian opinion on the Middle East, notes some shocking news.

Jim Webb for Veep?

A friend long ago predicted that he would be the key to a Hillary victory against the McCainiac. But he works for Obama too, though he is only #7 on the London Times list.

The Wrestler Kane Writes David Gordon

"Hi, David. Just thought you'd like to know that you'll be spending some time with me on the road over the next couple weeks. I downloaded your History of Political Philosophy seminar from mises.org. Looking foward to listening."

'Oh, the Roman Was a Rogue'

Lay of Ancient Rome

Oh, the Roman was a rogue,
He erat was, you bettum;
He ran his automobilis
And smoked his cigarettum;
He wore a diamond studibus
And elegant cravattum,
A maxima cum laude shirt,
And a stylish hattum!

He loved the luscious hic-haec-hoc,
And bet on games and equi;
At times he won, at others, though,
He got it in the necqui;
He winked (quo usque tandem?)
At puellas on the Forum,
And sometimes even made
Those goo-goo oculorum!

Let's Hope!

(Thanks to Mary Lou Van Houten.)

Hans-Hermann Bush

George W. Bush is heroic and great, when Hans-Hermann Hoppe speaks through him, on The Rules. (Thanks to Niels van der Linden.)

The Real Mother's Day

Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the vicious hymn to Mars called the Battle Hymn of the Republic, saw the results of Lincoln's war, and founded Mother's Day for international peace. Here is her great 1870 proclamation:

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Continue reading "The Real Mother's Day"


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'If Only the UAW Would Allow It...'

This is a fascinating look at Camacari - one of the most advanced auto assembly plants in the world. Its system of supplier integration makes it perhaps the "leanest" plant in the world. Why will there never be any plants like this in the US? Because union thugs run Ford's business in the US and they will never allow such a thing to happen.

As in the United States, assembly workers make more than those employed by suppliers, and the union is eager to ensure that work reserved for the higher paid Ford employees is not being done by lower wage supplier staff.

Labor expert Harley Shaiken of the University of California, Berkeley, said similar concerns are one reason why the Camaçari model is unlikely to be duplicated in the United States. He said the UAW has relaxed work rules at many Ford factories to allow workers to do more than one job, and has even allowed experiments with limited supplier integration.

But he said the UAW is concerned that giving too much on these fronts will just allow the companies to speed up production and transfer more and more work to lower-paid supplier employees.

'I Pledge Obeisance'

Wikipedia is not quite correct in its chronology of the pledge, . . . at least from my experience. I began the first grade in the fall of 1941, and the pledge of allegiance was recited with our right arm extended, palm-down. This continued until sometime after the U.S. entry into World War II, when the pledge was recited as Wikipedia described it, with the palm turned upward. I don't know if our teacher told us the reason for the change, or if kids - being brighter than adults give them credit for being - figured out that the change occurred so that we would not appear to be emulating the Nazis. But prior to Pearl Harbor, the palm-down, extended-arm salute was the officially prescribed form at Prescott School in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Daily Loyalty Oath

Writes Farrell Nicholson: "The discussion on LRC's blog concerning the pledge (loyalty oath) is very interesting. From Wikipedia's entry, it states that similarities to Fascism were soon discovered: 'Before World War II, the Pledge would begin with the right hand over the heart during the phrase "I pledge allegiance". The arm was then extended toward the Flag at the phrase "to the Flag", and it remained outstretched during the rest of the pledge, with the palm facing upward, as if to lift the flag.

"An early version of the salute, adopted in 1892, was known as the Bellamy salute. It also ended with the arm outstretched and the palm upwards, but began with the right hand outstretched, palm facing downward. However, during World War II the outstretched arm became identified with Nazism and Fascism, and the custom was changed: today the Pledge is said from beginning to end with the right hand over the heart.'"

More Bestseller News For Ron Paul

His new book is #7 on tomorrow's New York Times bestseller list, #1 on the NYT list for May 18, and now #2 (up from #14 last week) on the Wall Street Journal's list.

Our Increasingly Totalitarian Regime

Reports the LA Times: "The Bush administration recently announced it will allow select members of Congress to read Justice Department legal opinions about the CIA's controversial detainee interrogation program that have been hidden from Congress until now. But as the administration allows a glimpse of this secret law -- and it is law -- we are left wondering what other laws it is still keeping under lock and key." Read the rest.

Of course, in a moral sense, these are not laws at all. Neither are the arrogant orders that pour out of legislatures and agencies. Genuine law, natural law, is unchanging, and we do not have to be told what it is by some politician: you shall not kill, steal, bear false witness, etc. What the state emits is anti-law.

Narcs as Accessories to Murder

Writes J.P. Lepez, who has been keeping me up-to-date on this outrage: "It turns out that the speculation was true. This girl was busted for being a low level pot dealer, and was coerced to provide information on her suppliers by the cops. The operation went horribly wrong."

This is also a reminder that when a product or service is outlawed by government, though the market cannot be abolished, legitimate businessmen are driven out, and criminals tend to dominate.

Now D.C. Cops Get AR-15s

It was only a matter of time. When the NYC and Chicago police departments get new toys, it's only a matter of time before others catch on. The latest (anyone surprised?) is the federal city, where the cops there are going to be getting 500 rifles. Don't tread on them.

Our Father, Who Art in Washington

Writes Greg Sutton: "The expert on the Pledge is Dr. Rex Curry. His website contains many disturbing photos of early pledge takers. Here is a sample."

Also, lots of good material here.

Thank Goodness for Government

"Man Accused of Providing Illegal Taxi Service."

Phil Donohue Redeems Himself

While Bush hides the caskets and puts funerals off-limits, Phil Donohue (Notre Dame, class of 1957) produces a movie to tell the truth about the war. For once, his estimable talents are put to good and fruitful use.

Republicans in Maine

From the Bangor Daily News, and thanks to Jesse Stewart.

Go Quietly Into That Bad Night?

Not the Ron Paul people in Utah. No kowtowing to the Republicans for them.

The Paulestinian Resistance

Ron Paul suporters continue to fight, much to the outrage of the Republicans.

The Red Army Chorus

Russian soldiers join with the Finnish rock band, the Leningrad Cowboys, to sing the Alabama national anthem.

(Thanks to Dennis Marburger.)

Does This Remind You Of Somebody We know?

"Whereas in 1960 22,000 people donated to John Kennedy’s campaign and 44,000 to Richard Nixon’s, in 1964 Goldwater had more than a million contributors. A mass movement was gestating, undetected by complacent celebrators of liberalism’s hegemony."

Rick Perlstein, cited in George Will's review of his new book, Nixonland.

The Revolution reviewed

My review of Ron Paul's book will appear in Sunday's Orange County Register -- but it's online now.

If you appreciate the review, you can click on the "Recommend" button at the top of the article. If enough people do this, it will become one of the "most recommended" articles at the OCR -- and then there will be a link to it from essentially every single page on the OCR's website, potentially making many more people aware of the book.

In other words, there could be free advertising all over a major newspaper's website for Ron Paul's book.

But only if enough of you find the review worthwhile and click "Recommend."

Bankrun!

"Uh oh," says Justin Raimondo. "Is it starting?"

The State's Interests Are Flagging

The Barnette case was decided in 1943, in the midst of the passions of World War II, when - war or no war - there was still some underlying sense that philosophic principles were supposed to be applicable to governmental action. Today, however, . . . but,. . . but, . . . uh, . . . that is, . . . er, . . . but, . . .oh, yeah, 9/11!

The Right to Not Pledge to the Flag

Regarding not saying the pledge to the flag, in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943), the Supreme Court overturned a West Virginia law that compelled public school children to salute the flag and recite the Pledge.

The Court said:

If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein. If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us.

We think the action of the local authorities in compelling the flag salute and pledge transcends constitutional limitations on their power and invades the sphere of intellect and spirit which it is the purpose of the First Amendment to our Constitution to reserve from all official control.

See a summary of the case here and the full opinion here.