Rescinding membership in Free State Project

[Caleb]

And by standing on the side of the road with signs with names of republicans saying they support torture don't you understand how that also effects LOCAL elections?  Many local republicans who were good people were tossed out as a result of things like that.

I'm sorry I missed this earlier, because it deserves comment.  I refuse to be held responsible for your uninformed assumptions.  I never stood on the side of the road with signs of names of Republicans saying that they supported torture.

If local Republicans were tossed out as a result of that, perhaps it's because they didn't sufficiently distance themselves from the horrendous actions of Bush, Bass, Bradley and company.

Let me offer you an alternative explanation for the landslide defeat that you suffered:  Governor Lynch got 74% of the vote.  74%!  Perhaps if you hadn't run such a piss poor candidate for Governor you might not have lost the House and Senate. 

But no ... that can't be it.  It must be the Free Staters who weren't sufficiently enthralled with torture for you.    Yeah.  That's it.  It's not our fault, it's the Free Staters.    Keep that attitude up and watch your party become a permanent minority party.

[muni]

In his victory speech, which I listened to at least 20 times, Joel said:
"I look forward to the day when the choice for governor is a republican
free stater or a democrat free stater. And it's going to happen"

Participants in this thread is not only share Joel's belief, they already
start practicing.

Please let me remind you that it's not going to happen any time soon,
even Joel talked about 7 years into the future. But thank you for
showing us what it will look like .

muni .

[anthonybpugh]

They don't have a problem in riding someone's coattails to power but seem indignant when it also drags them down.  Oh well.  What was Bass, Bradley and all them saying about Bush's torture?  How many of them have supported Bush's police state policies?  If they don't want people standing on the side of roads with signs about GOP torturing people, then they shouldn't be torturing people.  Didn't your mothers teach you anything?  Don't run with a bad crowd. 

[lildog]

Do you really think libertarians should shed a tear for Charlie Bass or Jeb Bradley?

Rocketman, you're missing my point... it's not so much their loss as much as the fact they were replaced with something MUCH worse.

[lildog]

Let me ask you personally Caleb, what have YOU yourself actually accomplished since moving to NH?  Have any government positions been disolved as a result of your actions?  Have taxes been lowered or budgets been cut?  Have laws been stricken from the books?

I harassed the Keene Council about a proposal to fine residents $100 for parking their own cars on their own property.  The Council eventually backed off.

I have harassed Keene Cops on several occasions while they are engaged in tyrannical oppression.  "Copwatch" seems to be very effective in keeping our police force honest.

I struck a deal with a small town police Lieutenant that he would protect the citizens in his town from the federal government if I went off to a gulag.

I have written letters to officials in behalf of imprisoned individuals.  I have also made phone calls in their behalf.

I met with a State Representative to encourage her to introduce legislation legalizing marijuana usage.

I endorsed a candidate for City Council who promised not to enforce property tax collection.

Most importantly, I wrestled the Bush administration to a standoff over the invasion of Iran.  Due to my efforts, Iran was not invaded as Mr. Bush felt that he could not risk my "Shock and Awe" response. http://keenefreepress.com/kfp062506.pdf   

On a serious note, I've also networked profusely, ran for Congress, am planning a run for City Council in the upcoming municipal election, and write occasional pieces for the Keene Free Press.  My appearance on several short videos on Cheshire TV has caused people more than once to come up to me and say, "Hey, I know you!  You were on T.V."  I talk about Independence wherever I go.

And I'm not even that politically active.

Let me make this as clear and as blunt as I know how Lildog:  I don't care what neo-con fascists think of me.  No, strike that.  I *do* care.  I want them to hate me.  If the fascists like me, I'm doing something wrong.  You are so stuck in your own little Republican world that you can't even see that there is a bigger picture or a world outside that. I wish RLC Republicans well, just as I wish DFC Democrats well.  But the neo-con Republicans and the socialist Democrats are of no use to me.  Let me make this clear:  I consider both groups atrocious.  I do not consider a neo-con Republican to be the lesser of two evils.  The only advantage to one over the other is how they can be played against each other to reduce each of their effectiveness. I hope the Democrat Congress and the Republican Executive fight like cats and dogs and nothing ... I repeat NOTHING ... gets done for the next two years.

I'm sorry that NH has gone to a single party until the next election cycle, but I am powerless to stop that. If the Republican Party wants FSP support, tell them that they can nominate strong liberty-oriented candidates.  Absent that, I'm glad they haven't got much FSP support:  it sends a strong message.

A view from an ideologue,

Caleb

Caleb,

That's quite a list but what have you acually accomplished?

Running for congress but not winning isn't exactly an accomplishment, it's an attempt.

And righting and calling on behalf of imprisoned people again isn't an accomplishment unless you're able to free them.  I assume you're talking about Lauren and she's still in jail.  It's a travisty and so far none of anyone's actions have been able to correct it.

And as for your comments regarding Republicans losing house and senate in NH, do you understand what that means for this state as a whole?  As I pointed out democrats continue to score at the BOTTOM of the NH liberty ratings.  Do you comprehend what that means?  It isn't a loss for republicans as much as a loss for liberty as a whole.

It was pointed out that there are more issues then guns and taxes and I agree but I'd be very interested in knowing what YOU think those issues are.

PS.  The comment regarding standing with anti-Bass signs when I said YOU wasn't directed to Caleb as much as to those reading who were involed in that.

Seriously, I can understand campaigning on behalf of someone better but to campaign against someone when the only other choice was worse is just insane.

[Rocketman]

Do you really think libertarians should shed a tear for Charlie Bass or Jeb Bradley?

Rocketman, you're missing my point... it's not so much their loss as much as the fact they were replaced with something MUCH worse.

I understand your point, lildog... I just don't find it persuasive.  Our parameters for evaluating congressmen are obviously quite different, and that's to be expected.  I've been a peace activist since long before I was even a libertarian, and this summer I routinely held anti-war signs in front of Bass's Nashua office.  I may or may not need to hold such signs in front of Hodes' office, and I certainly won't have to hold anti-war signs in front of Shea-Porter's office.  (I may well need a "Stop Socialized Medicine" sign, but that's a different question.)

Bradley and Bass supported Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld in every particular of their reckless, un-American, unconstitutional foreign policy.  Now that the D's are in control, Rummy is gone and phased troop withdrawals are finally being accepted as reality -- if R's hadn't been slaughtered Nov. 7, there would be no hope of ending this stupid war anytime halfway soon.

War is the health of the state, and I don't like it when the state gets too healthy, as freedom inevitably suffers.  That includes freedom in New Hampshire.

[lildog]

I may or may not need to hold such signs in front of Hodes' office, and I certainly won't have to hold anti-war signs in front of Shea-Porter's office.  (I may well need a "Stop Socialized Medicine" sign, but that's a different question.)

If you think Democrats are immune to the same issues you're blind.  Clinton not only used and supported torture, he went one step worse in my book? he used our tax dollars to PAY other countries to do the dirty work for us.

And all these hypocrites like Sheehan run around saying the US is evil and wrong yet they have no problems being all friendly to human rights violating dictators like Hugo Chavez.

And on top of it as I pointed out they time and time again vote AGAIST liberty and freedom.

And if you think the democrats have a real plan for Iraq you, not only blind but mad as well.  So far I?ve heard only two plans.  One calls for a draft which I think would be horrendous, the other calls for us to hand over Iraq to countries like Iran and Seria after a series of summits.  I don?t like the Iraq war any more then you do but I don?t see democrats as the answers.  I see them as a party filled with hate who?ve attacked anything they can to win seats from republicans by getting people to vote AGAINST the republicans instead of actually supporting democrat polices.  And now that Dems are in power you?ll start to understand why they couldn?t get people to vote in support of their policies because A) in many cases they don?t have any and B) the ones they do are things people would never support.

[FrankChodorov]

So far I?ve heard only two plans.  One calls for a draft which I think would be horrendous, the other calls for us to hand over Iraq to countries like Iran and Seria after a series of summits.

try a phased redeployment based on benchmarks & timetables...

[Dreepa]

and I certainly won't have to hold anti-war signs in front of Shea-Porter's office. 

Is she going to be submitting a bill on her first day asking for a withdrawl?  Will she vote yes to fund the military? 

[Rocketman]

I may or may not need to hold such signs in front of Hodes' office, and I certainly won't have to hold anti-war signs in front of Shea-Porter's office.  (I may well need a "Stop Socialized Medicine" sign, but that's a different question.)

If you think Democrats are immune to the same issues you're blind.  Clinton not only used and supported torture, he went one step worse in my book? he used our tax dollars to PAY other countries to do the dirty work for us.

And all these hypocrites like Sheehan run around saying the US is evil and wrong yet they have no problems being all friendly to human rights violating dictators like Hugo Chavez.

You're painting with a very broad brush.  I spoke out against Clinton's foreign policy as well, and you'll never see me buddying up to a goon like Chavez. 

I do, however, believe Carol when she says she opposes the occupation of Iraq and that she wants to bring the troops home ASAP.  Good for her, I say.  To answer Dreepa's question, I expect she will settle for Frank's phased withdrawals with benchmarks and timetables.  And so will I, I suppose.

And on top of it as I pointed out they time and time again vote AGAIST liberty and freedom.

Yes, as did Bass and Bradley.

And if you think the democrats have a real plan for Iraq you, not only blind but mad as well.  So far I?ve heard only two plans.  One calls for a draft which I think would be horrendous, the other calls for us to hand over Iraq to countries like Iran and Seria after a series of summits.  I don?t like the Iraq war any more then you do but I don?t see democrats as the answers.  I see them as a party filled with hate who?ve attacked anything they can to win seats from republicans by getting people to vote AGAINST the republicans instead of actually supporting democrat polices.  And now that Dems are in power you?ll start to understand why they couldn?t get people to vote in support of their policies because A) in many cases they don?t have any and B) the ones they do are things people would never support.

My contempt for D's and R's is more or less equal.  I'm neither blind nor mad enough to think the D's have a good plan for Iraq.  It would be impossible to undo the great and unforgivable mistake of invading Iraq in the first place, but at least the D's acknowledge the error.  When you walk into a cave and find out it's full of snakes, the only plan is to get the hell out and make sure you never make the same mistake again.

[FrankChodorov]

I expect she will settle for Frank's phased withdrawals with benchmarks and timetables.

my bet is a strategic redeployment to surrounding bases in the area but not "withdrawls" as in coming home to the US...

[Rocketman]

I expect she will settle for Frank's phased withdrawals with benchmarks and timetables.

my bet is a strategic redeployment to surrounding bases in the area but not "withdrawls" as in coming home to the US...

Unfortunately, I expect you are correct. 

[lildog]

Rocketman, can you please list what you consider the top issues for NH and for the federal level?  You stated Bradley and Bass voted against freedom, and you seem to support Porter so I'd be interested in hearing what issues you see as big issues.

We've already covered Iraq and torture but beyond that?

[Ear]

I'm disgusted by the numbers and vociferousness of the pro-war people here, it's like watching the Republican Party get co-opted by fundamentalist Christians.  Even those who don't overtly support the war, but who rant and rave about how we should have kept the Bush-supporting Republicans in office in NH just make me want to vomit... the message I get from them is that they don't mind if a bunch of foreigners and some American kids they aren't personally acquainted with get brutally killed, as long as we don't have to pay higher taxes for social programs.  Disgusting.

There is such a thing as the lesser of two evils, and in the two party system that lesser evil is currently the Democrats.  To disagree is tantamount to asserting that you object more to higher taxes than you do to the PATRIOT Act, the death of habeas corpus, wiretapping without a warrant, legalized torture, and wholesale slaughter perpetrated in violation of the Constitution and international law for the sake of doling out corporate welfare.  If that's really how you feel, you're a pig and I don't want to know you.

Sometimes, in order to honestly and selflessly choose the lesser of two evils, you have to pay for it.  Defining 'evil' as that which costs you more money is just swinish and self-serving, when the choice is between paying more money, and allowing other people to die for no good reason.

To those handful of you who have stepped up and said that attacking Iraq was an act of self-defense: fuck you.  A is A, you bloodthirsty assholes.  Attacking is not defending, and the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive warfare is nothing more than another way of saying that A is B, as is you calling yourselves Objectivists.

A is A!

[Tom Sawyer]

Just my two cents...

The problem I see is the whole left/right seesaw...
Call attention to evil promoted by one side and you stand accused of promoting the other side. Fascist vs. Socialist, not much of a choice.

American politics is like professional wrestling...
They figure we're a bunch of rubes, the game is rigged and panders to people's base emotions.

That's why I am spending most of my activist energy in changing the culture and shunning the same old BS they want us spending our time on.

Fascists are out of power and the Socialists are on the assent...
So what, I live my life in spite of the powers that be. Or to quote Chesty Puller, when told 'General, we are surrounded by five Chinese Divisions.' He said 'good, now we can shoot in any direction.'