There goes the Judge

By William R. Toler

Shortly after 4 pm, FOX Business Network announced a reshuffling of programming which included cancelling Freedom Watch hosted by Judge Andrew Napolitano.

Photo Courtesy FOX News

And Libertarians across the country are pissed.

In a press release, the network announced that encore presentations of “the channel’s top post-market programs” would be aired, and three programs would get the ax. That’s right…they’re cancelling the Judge for reruns!

“We look forward to Judge Napolitano…continuing to make significant contributions to both FOX Business and FOX News,” said Kevin Magee, executive vice-president of the network. “In addition to daily branded segments, each of them will be showcased throughout future programming on both networks.”

Meet the Libertarians

By William R. Toler

After a struggle to stay on the ballot, the North Carolina Libertarian Party has six, count ’em, six candidates for president listed on the ballot.

Out of the six, the most-known is former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who started out the race on the Republican ticket. During the early debates, Johnson’s views were close in line with Texas Congressman Ron Paul, and may have been too far out there for mainstream Republicans. But Johnson’s ideals seem to fit right in with Libertarian thought.

Another politician with his hat in the ring is Roger Gary. Who is Roger Gary? According to his campaign website, Gary has been involved with the Texas Libertarian Party since 1977. He was elected to public office where he served 6 years as Director of the San Antonio River Authority. Gary has also served two terms as the state LP chair.

NDAA causes controversy

By William R. Toler

You wouldn’t think something as innocent-sounding as the National Defense Authorization Act would pose such a threat to the people of the nation.

On first thought, it sounds like just funding the military….which is just what it is supposed to be. According to Wikipedia it is a “federal law that has been enacted for each of the past 49 years to specify the budget and expenditures of the United States Department of Defense.”

So, why then, has there been so much opposition among liberty activists?

There’s a dangerous provision that the Huffington Post calls the “worst thing since the Alien and Sedition Acts.” That provision allows for the arrest and indefinate detention of Americans seen as a threat by the military, thereby abolishing the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act which prohibits the military from domestic policing.

The act, which passed through the Senate 93-7, was signed by President Obama on New Years Eve…despite orignally saying he would veto the bill with that provision. However, he did include a signing statement saying:” I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation and prosecution of suspected terrorists.”

Most of our state’s servants in Washington voted for the act including both Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan. NC Congressmen Mel Watt and Walter Jones were among the opposition in the House of Represenatives. If Jones, a staunch advocate for the miltary, is against it…there must be something wrong.

Golden Rule booed in S.C.

By William R. Toler

“[C]an’t believe the golden rule got booed in SC. wow.”

That was the status from a Facebook “friend” during the GOP debate Monday night in the Palmetto State.

The Golden Rule, treat others as you would like to be treated, was uttered by the media and establishment’s least favorite candidate, Texas Congressman Ron Paul. The audience, made up of apparently status quo, warhawk conservatives, promptly booed the libertarian-minded, predidential hopeful.

During a reubuttal to an answer by Rick Santorum, Paul said our nation should follow the Golden Rule in terms of foreign policy.

“If another country does to us as we do to others, we’re not going to like it very much. So I would say, maybe we ought to consider a Golden Rule in foreign policy. [Cue the boos] Don’t do to other nations what we don’t want them to do to us.”

I was a little surprised myself, considering Republicans, especially in the Bible Belt, teach and preach the Golden Rule.
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Hudson says ‘Let the Students Speak’

By William R. Toler

Over the past year I’ve added a number of books to my personal library that compose what I’ve dubbed my “Liberty Shelf.”

Included on the shelf are four books each by Judge Andrew Napolitano and Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX). Also on the shelf are seven books focusing on First Amendment issues. The newest addition is a topic that I have a fond interest in.

Let the Students Speak is a history of the fight for student speech in public schools. The author, David L. Hudson, Jr. is quite the authority on the subject. He’s a scholar with the First Amendment Center and teaches law and Vanderbilt University. The Independent Register often refers to Hudson for local speech issues.

In the book, Hudson chronicles not only well-known cases (such as Tinker v. Des Moines or “Bong Hits 4 Jesus“) but a bevy of smaller cases. Those cases run the gamut of speech and expression, including speech outside of school.

Media bias nothing new

By William R. Toler

The media bias on Rep. Ron Paul when it comes to the presidential election is not a new development. It’s been going on since the last election.

During the 2008 election I watched as Paul was constantly ignored and the networks failed to even mention he was a candidate…much like they’re doing now. I even recorded a video blog to address my concern.

Working for a local television station, I sometimes scan through scripts just to see if he gets a shout out. Usually, I’m disappointed.

It’s not just the “liberal” television news media either. FOX News and conservative talk radio hosts are just as guilty. Personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are loathe to mention Ron Paul. If they do, it’s usually a jab at his stances that don’t fit in with mainstream neo-con political thought.

What is it that draws the crowds and frightens the establishment?

Jon Stewart bashes media for snubbing top GOP contender Ron Paul

By Natalina
Extraordinary Intelligence

Jon Stewart took the floor (read: desk) to slam the mainstream media for completely ignoring Ron Paul in the current race for the Republican nomination.

Ron Paul dominates polls, he wins approval from all sides of the political spectrum, he doesn’t waver in his beliefs, and he draws huge applause at every debate he’s in.  So, why the heck does the media routinely ignore his very existence?  Or perhaps put more succinctly by Mr. Stewart, “How did Ron Paul become the 13th floor in a hotel?”

Republicans rage in Iowa debate

By James White

Another Republican debate down.  If nothing else, this one was certainly entertaining.

Tim Pawlenty found his spine and attacked Michele Bachmann.  That kitty has claws, though, and she gave just as good as she got (and looked classier doing it!)  They fought over each other’s record.  Pawlenty pointed out that Bachmann had a zero success rate while she painted him as a liberal while he was governor of Minnesota.

Rick Santorum and Ron Paul sparred over basic conservative values.  Paul constantly blew Santorum’s mind, and it showed on Santorum’s face as he looked incredulously at his opponent.  Of course, Santorum almost made Congressman Paul have an aneurysm when he began talking about the need for more military action against Iran.

Newt Gingrich fought with no one on the stage, but instead directed his rage to the mainstream media and their “gotcha questions”.  Remember, when I say “mainstream media”, this is FOX News that is hosting this debate, and by “gotcha questions” I mean questions about his record.  But everyone knows that Gingrich has trouble keeping everything he says straight.

New Hampshire Debate: Results skewed; candidate screwed

By William R. Toler

The winner of Monday night’s GOP debate hosted by CNN is, well, debatable.

CNN proclaimed former Mass. governor Mit Romney the victor. Most “experts” agree or say it was won by Minn. Congresswoman Michele Bachman. Audience applause and online polls suggest otherwise.

Although the Atlanta-based network is promoting Romney, its own online poll shows Rep. Ron Paul leading with 81 percent. Romney, Bachman and businessman Herman Cain are in a 3-way tie with five percent.

Another online poll was shut down after Paul supporters responded overwhelmingly. A poll at the Patriot Action Network website was taken down and the site blamed supporters for their blitz. That page has also been removed.

One columnist also commented that Paul won based on the applause. “I realize Paul’s supporters tend to be louder and more enthusiastic than other candidates’ and the amount of applause is hardly a scientific way to judge a debate. But to not even consider as a potential debate winner the person who was applauded more than twice as much as any other candidate strikes me as strange.”

Fighting for the Fourth

By William R. Toler

I was originally going to write this post about the recent events of continuing tyranny in this once-great nation of ours. But because of recent events, I decided to discuss the freedom fighters that you won’t see on the news.

In an effort to hold off a vote on the four-year extension of three provisions of the Patriot Act, recently elected Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) stalled the senate floor Wednesday. A day before, Paul held a 7-hour filibuster and vowed to use up the maximum time allowed for debate.

Like his father, Texas congressman Ron Paul, the freshman senator is a critic of the civil liberty violations of the bill passed after the tradgedy of Sept. 11, 2001. The current provisions expire after midnight.

According to The Hill:

The Patriot Act renewal legislation would extend the ability of U.S. intelligence authorities to conduct roving wiretaps, gain access to business records and survey “lone-wolf” operators, non-U.S citizens believed to be acting alone to commit terrorist acts.

“I think it was a mistake,” Paul said regarding the passing of the original Patirot Act, when it was rushed through without reading, “and I think we should have an intelligent and rational discussion over this.”