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Libertarian
Commentary on The News
Posted April 23, 2012By Nathan A. Barton © 2012 Weekend and Monday, April 16, 2012 Theft by government U.S. Will Pay a Settlement of $1 Billion to 41 Tribes (New York Times) In one of the largest financial settlements made to American Indian tribes, the federal government said this week that it had ended dozens of lawsuits by agreeing to pay tribes more than $1 billion for the mismanagement of funds and natural resources that the government holds in trust. This is the latest act in this drama: billions stolen, and now, "restitution" that is a joke is paid from some government officials to other government officials: the real owners of the land and the minerals taken are likely to get NOTHING. Stupid government tricks Secret Service Agents Relieved of Duty in Colombia (New York Times) A dozen Secret Service agents sent to Colombia to provide security for President Barack Obama at an international summit have been relieved of duty because of allegations of misconduct. It included some military personnel, apparently: boozing and fighting and whoring and refusing to pay - possibly involving pedophilia and statutory rape. Just what we would expect of this Administration - its corruption is vile. The Secret Service is corrupted, possibly beyond repair: So is much of the military. Mama's Note: But just think! If they had been there raiding, killing, bombing and destroying things, they'd be media darlings and all get medals and promotions. They do have their priorities skewed, to say the least. New religions: environism - Tyranny Green Police? DHS Launches ‘Environmental Justice’ Units (www.prisonplanet.com) Paul Joseph Watson In its Environmental Justice Strategy document, the DHS says the idea is to “include environmental justice practices in our larger mission efforts involving federal law enforcement and emergency response activities” and to incorporate environmental justice in “securing the homeland”. The DHS sees its role in promoting “environmental justice” as not just limited to overseeing reviews of its own operations, but also “through regulatory permitting activities” in conjunction with state, local and tribal governments. “It will take not one, but two DHS units to “ensure the success” of the environmental justice strategy,”reports Power Line. “But wait, there’s more! “Four other headquarters offices provide critical support for . . . successfully implementing this strategy.” But if you’re a lowly TSA agent not under one of those six offices, not to worry—you’re considered an eco-warrior, too: “Every Component of the Department has a role, some larger, some smaller, in ensuring that environmental justice has been considered in securing the homeland without placing disproportionate burdens on the health and environment of low income populations and minority populations.” The environmental tyranny grows worse. There are few federal agencies who haven’t jumped on this bandwagon as an excuse to increase their power, justify funding, and generally jerk people around. They understand that, after almost 40 years of brainwashing about the environment, and 70+ years of “modern public schooling,” most Americans are unable to reason these issues for themselves and will accept slavery for the "sake of the planet." Self defense - fail Suspects in triple-murder robbery were fresh from prison (MSNBC) Two suspects in a triple murder-robbery at a convenience store in rural North Carolina were released from prison — one after serving nine years — just a matter of weeks before they were arrested in connection with the April 1 slayings. ... In surveillance videos, the victims, whose family is originally from Yemen, did not appear to put up any kind of resistance to the robbers during the April 1 encounter, said Christy Wallace, public information director for the Pitts County sheriff’s office. “There wasn’t anything they could have done differently,” she said. Mama: Of course not... at least not according to MSN. They didn't resist. Doing so meaningfully might well have saved their lives. They should have been armed, of course. But none of the MSM wants to consider that idea. Nathan: Is it any wonder that the Sheriff of Spartanburg County (SC, not too far from this place) has flatout told the people of the County that they need to be armed; that there is no way that his officers can patrol enough to keep this sort of thing from happening? Home front - Natural disasters Deadly tornadoes strike US Midwest (Al Jazeera) The US tornado season started early this year, with twisters already blamed for 57 deaths in 2012 in the Midwest and South, raising concerns that this year would be a repeat of 2011, the deadliest tornado year in nearly a century. Some 550 people died in tornadoes last year. Mama's Note: Obviously need tornado control... a total ban. Hard to believe that people who would laugh at that think anything else can be "banned" just because it is dangerous. Nathan: Of course, we CAN'T expect people to be responsible for themselves, and to purchase services (like early warning and weather observation - if not weather control) that would help them; no, these people HAVE to have all those government services to warn them, protect them, provide welfare for them to build shelters, and then to rescue them, treat them, and provide them money for rebuilding and doing it all over again. First Citizen Obama in Colombia: ‘Part of My Job Is to Scout Out Where I May Want to Bring Michelle Back Later for Vacation’ (CNSNews.com) It's a lame joke. But then, so is the First Citizen: a 3.5-year-old lame joke. First Citizen's minions - Abominable Act Sebelius: Thanks to Obamacare, Law Student Can 'Devote Her Career' to Social Justice (CNSNews.com) And 95% of the rest of us can devote our lives to being slaves of the government. Theft by government Americans Making Over $50,000 a Year Paid 93.3 Percent of All Taxes in 2010 (CNSNews.com) Together with the top 1% making 20% of the taxable income and paying 40% of the taxes: what is fair about THAT? Islamic war: Afghan front Afghan Security No Match for Taliban's Brazen Attack on Western Targets in Kabul (CNSNews.com) Afghan security is as much a joke as our First Citizen - and perhaps for similar reasons: ineffective is one thing, but it appears that many of them are working for the other team. It is as if the Royal American regiments and volunteer units raised by the Brits during the War of American Independence worked for King George III daytime, and marched with Washington or Francis Marion at night and on weekends! Mama's Note: Hmmmm... what makes you think they didn't? :) Theft by government HUD 2013 Budget Requests $250 Million for ‘Creating Communities of Opportunity’ (CNSNews.com) What is needed are NOT these Communities of Opportunity but rather, Committees of Correspondence promoting liberty and resistance to government meddling and nanny-state antics, including these forms of welfare and bribery for local politicians, bureaucrats, jack-booted thugs and their clientele. Natural disasters: Rebuilding Cardboard Cathedral Planned in New Zealand's Earthquake-Devastated Christchurch (CNSNews.com) Yes, it is temporary (10 years) and yes, it really is cardboard, but the entire building will include shipping containers, concrete and steel structural supports and a polycarbonate roof - 82 feet high! This shows the ingenuity and dedication of the people involved. Guess what their MAJOR obstacle is? That's right: government bureaucracy and getting the unique structure approved. I imagine that NZed Atheists will also find ways to oppose it, since they want to put it up in a park across from the CTV tower which killed 115 people in the quake: after all, religious structures and symbols are no longer appropriate in the West to remember the dead. [Note: this cathedral is being paid for by private funds - not government.] Islamic war: Arab street revolt Mass Protests Brewing in Egypt, After 3 Leading Presidential Candidates Are Disqualified (CNSNews.com) Egypt’s convoluted presidential election campaign became even more muddled at the weekend with an official electoral body’s decision to disqualify 10 out of 23 candidates, including three tipped as strong possibilities to win. ... official Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghozlan on Sunday decried what he called a “substantial threat to the gains of the revolution, a heinous attempt to reproduce the corrupt former regime with the same faces.” Here we see one difference between a democracy and a republic: our liberal friends - Tranzi or not - can only see that "democracy" is threatened by this, while failing (or refusing) to understand that LIBERTY is threatened if someone who is dedicated to destroying liberty and what few secular institutions of government Egypt has is elected. To the democrats (lovers of democracy, not the party), the voice of the people is all - even if they want to sell themselves into slavery. It happened in 1923 in Italy, in 1933 in Germany, and many of us think it happened in the United States in 1932, 1936, and 1940 - at a minimum. And in 2008. Stupid people - Islamic war: Canaanite front Israel Tells Pro-Palestinian Activists to ‘Solve the Real Problems of the Region,’ Then Kicks Them Out (CNSNews.com) Left-wing activists who flew into Tel Aviv as part of a pro-Palestinian publicity stunt at the weekend were met with a letter from the Israeli government suggesting they devote their energies instead to humanitarian crises in Syria or Iran – and then wishing them a “nice flight.” Several dozen activists were barred from entering the country and were being deported. Some minor scuffles took place at Ben Gurion Airport, with arriving activists waving “Welcome to Palestine” signs. A handful of pro-Israeli counter-demonstrators were also seen, including one holding a sign advising the visitors to “Go to Syria.” It must have been something to see - especially the expression on the faces of the protesters when they read their official Israeli welcome letter. I am sure many people will castigate me for even showing any sense of balance as that is "supporting Israel" but I think that the Israeli handled it well. Ironically, the "Go to Syria" signs remind me that prior to about 1980 or so, EVERY Arab nation's leaders considered "Palestine" to either be part of Greater Syria (citing borders and geography dating back to Alexander the Great) or up for grabs by whichever REAL Arab nation could take and hold it. None could, of course. Somehow, soldiers encouraged by "Insha'Allah" just didn't do well against soldiers motivated by "Sh'ma Yisrael or just Shema"(Hear O Israel) and the memories of Masada. Palestine is a bogus, imaginary state - whether you consider Israel to be one or not. Natural disasters National Weather Service Credits Dire Tornado Warnings With Saving Lives (CNSNews.com) Duh. Provided that it is not a chicken-little squawk or a boy crying wolf, that is what Tornado warnings are meant to do. It does NOT mean that the NWS has to be a government-run and theft-funded institution to provide the data for such warnings. A combination of The Weather Channel, WeatherBug, insurance companies, charitable organizations and foundations, and volunteer work and funding could and WOULD provide an even better system - and probably at substantially less cost. Yes, the various media, including TWC and WB, DO depend on the NWS - in essence welfare and subsidies - because they are not stupid. But if NWS were either privatized or simply sold off and broken up, multiple competing systems fighting for profit and striving for clientele would very swiftly replace AND improve the entire situation. We hear (or heard) the same arguments about telephone companies, about electrical power companies, about television broadcasting - and in many countries even airlines and railroads. But just like European and British countries have shown that postal services don't NEED to be government-owned and -run monopolies, neither does the Weather Service. Theft by government - First Citizen Obama Says His Plan to Tax Millionaires ‘Is Not A Redistributionist Argument’ (CNSNews.com) Of course not, because the Messiah himself defines the words and the arguments. And there is FAR more justification for increasing government power by taxing millionaires unfairly than there is for "redistributing" the money to the poor: because the bulk of the redistribution goes to elected officials and bureaucrats who are already in the upper brackets. TTheft by government - Arrogance - Congress in action First of 4 Congressional Hearings on GSA’s Wasteful Spending Begins Monday (CNSNews.com) What a joke! (I know, again!) for Congress to investigate - especially since it is Congress that ALLOWED and EMPOWERED GSA to do this. It is like appointing the top five liquor store owners in the county to be the "Commission on Prevention of Drunkenness." Or appointing cops to investigate cops. In their own eyes, the GSA bureau-rats should be REWARDED for what they did: their purpose in life is to spend taxpayer's money. Tuesday, April 17, 2012 Self-defense California: Stand-your-ground the rule in state, courts affirm (San Francisco Chronicle) "The stand-your-ground doctrine, which has vaulted into national prominence with the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, isn't limited to the two dozen states that have passed laws since 2005 expanding the right to use deadly force in confrontations. It's also the rule in California, by court decree. For more than a century, the state's judges have declared that a person who reasonably believes he or she faces serious injury or death from an assailant does not have to back off -- inside or outside the home -- and instead can use whatever force is needed to eliminate the danger." (04/15/12) Mama Liberty: Of course, you'll have to use your hands or a convenient stick to deliver that needed force... since you can't carry the appropriate tool. Nathan: Ah, but our "freedoms" are preserved; just because we can't actually EXERCISE them... Local tyranny - Free speech Williamsburg (VA): Excuse Me, You Can Only Speak Freely There (Godfather Politics) In the latest instance, the historic city of Williamsburg, Virginia is seriously considering stripping Americans of their First Amendment right to the freedom of speech. It seems that some merchants in town complained about Christian's trying to witness, preach and hand out materials on the public sidewalks outside their businesses. ... ready to enact a city ordinance that will establish designated areas for free speech and restrict free speech in other areas. Furthermore, there would be an additional condition placed on the free speech zones stating that any speaking heard more than 50 feet away would be a violation. The restricted areas would include Market Square and all historical areas within the city. I guess this is more shocking because it IS Williamsburg, where Patrick Henry made his inflammatory (and hated) speech, and where the Cavaliers and Roundheads of England became the even more liberty-loving and extremist Americans. Of course, Massachusetts long ago lost any concept of real liberty, so why should I be surprised that Virginia and Rockefeller-rebuilt Williamsburg itself are just one more dominion of tyranny? Campaign 2012 Colorado GOP Convention Surprise Victory for Paul, (The Denver Post) Colorado Republicans are heading to their national convention with their most conservative delegation in years, as supporters for Ron Paul and Rick Santorum masterminded a stunning upset in electing delegates. We heard about this firsthand, from a friend who was a delegate (to the state convention, not national) and pleased with the outcome but disgusted at the brazen attempts by the "party leadership" and the Romney camp to steal the delegates, including the printing and distribution of fake ballots. Culture wars - Government attacks religion Georgetown Invites Sandra Fluke to Talk to Undergrads About Contraception; Bans 'Outside Press' (CNSNews.com) Well, if you were a Catholic school inviting a woman who practices and promotes free love and not just contraception, but killing babies, I’d think keeping the press away would seem like a good idea, wouldn’t you? Our right to defend ourselves Brady Campaign President: NRA Put ‘the Gun in George Zimmerman’s Hands’ (CNSNews.com) Of course. Just like the Brady Campaign puts the shackles around our ankles and wrists as they work to pass more laws to enslave us still more. Free men are armed: slaves are disarmed. First Citizen’s minions - Nazgul in chief Kagan on Going from Obama’s Solicitor to Supreme Court Justice: ‘Sometimes I Think the Job Doesn’t Really Change at All’ (CNSNews.com) Wow - in other words, her loyalty is to the First Citizen and his political beliefs, and not to the Constitution or even the people, much less her colleagues. Theft by government cronies Subsidized, Bankrupt Solyndra Managers Got $368,500 in Court-Ordered Bonuses (CNSNews.com) Rewarding failure requires punishing success: didn’t Reagan say something about government’s idea being: “ if it moves tax it, if it works regulate it, if it stops working subsidize it.” Apparently, that extends to anything that doesn’t work in the first place, now. Abominable act - Stupid government Beyond Health Care: HHS Aims to Help Elderly, Disabled People 'Live Productive, Satisfying Lives' (CNSNews.com) This used to be the realm of preachers and such, not government. But it implies that if government (HHS) doesn’t have the resources to help, or if in government’s opinion, “productive and satisfying lives” (as defined, of course, by government) cannot be had, then the elderly and disabled should be put out of their misery so that the limited resources can be applied to those that (in government’s judgment) will be benefited. Nice! Stupid, theiving government GSA Exec in Charge of $800,000 Las Vegas Conference Refuses to Give Even His Title to Oversight Comittee (CNSNews.com) Issa acknowledged at the hearing that he was informed that Neely, who was subpoenaed to testify, might evoke his constitutional right to remain silent. Issa: “It is my understanding from your counsel that you may want to reserve your constitutional privilege to remain silent, it that correct?” Neely: “Yes, Mr. Chairman, that is correct.” Issa: “Mr. Neely, the topic of today’s hearing is a culture of waste and spending. You were uniquely positioned to provide testimony that will help the committee better understand GSA’s spending of more than $800,000 at a conference in Las Vegas in 2010. To that end, I must ask you once again to consider answering questions, so bear with me. Mr. Neely. What is your title at GSA? Neely: Mr. Chairman, on the advice of my counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my Fifth Amendment constitutional privilege. Issa: Mr. Neely, did you attend the 2010 Western Regional Conference in Las Vegas? Neely: Mr. Chairman, on the advice of my counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my Fifth Amendment constitutional privilege. Of course, by invoking his “privilege” (the Fifth Amendment contains RIGHTS not “privileges,” by the way) in even the question regarding his position, he is tacitly admitting that even THAT information would incriminate him; but I suspect that employment records and other information will be more than adequate to incriminate him. Of course, Congress won’t do that: they are afraid of their own creations, like the GSA and IRS and DHS. And they gave GSA the authority and money to hire this man, boost the economy of Las Vegas, and stick it to the taxpayers (as they did to the Secret Service in Columbia). Instead, the criminal charges against him will be plea-bargained away in some judge’s palatal chambers (provided the judge by GSA, almost certainly) and he will find a nice juicy non-governmental job with some supporter of the First Citizen. Stupid, thieving government Criminal Charges Recommended in GSA Scandal (CNSNews.com) Of course - but the dragnet is not nearly wide enough: I don't see ANY Congressmen or Senators on the list: and every one of them has stolen FAR more from the taxpayers - no matter how “legal” the theft is. It is obvious that Neely (in the story above) realized this was going to happen. And supposedly, the Inspector General has already started prosecution of Neely and others. Don’t expect anything to come of it. Mama's Note: Oh, they throw someone under the bus occasionally, if it seems prudent to cloud the issue or distract the masses... but you can bet that sacrifical lamb is well cared for - and would also be dead shortly if he/she ever speaks out of turn later. They play for keeps. Congress in action Stay-At-Home Parents Could Face Credit Denial Under Banking Law (CNSNews.com) Ah? Another unintended consequence of a law passed by Congress - or intentional and just buried so that it took a while to notice it? Mama's Note: Painful to those involved, of course, but probably a blessing in disguise. I am quite sure they'd be far better off with less debt. Congress in action Democrat-Led Senate Rejects 'Buffett Rule' Taxes on Wealthy (CNSNews.com) It was, of course, the 60-vote rule that caused the rejection, not the lack of a Democratic majority. And frankly, it had nothing to do with the stupidity of the tax: just the election year politics. East Asian front - First Citizen Obama Administration Says Its Response to N. Korea’s Provocations Is Tougher Than Bush’s (CNSNews.com) Lies and more lies. However, it is true that this administration is just following the same script as Bush II - but with their own agenda thrown in. This is true in Korea, the Middle East, and the “worldwide war on terror[ism]” - and the war against Americans. For both administrations, Korea is the nutty old uncle who lives over the garage and periodically gets drunk and belligerent, but is armed to the teeth. First Citizen - Liberty Obama Says He’s ‘Neutral’ Over Falklands But Seems to Tilt Toward Argentina (CNSNews.com) Of course he is. Because to him it is about politics and not liberty. Libertarians support the people of the Falklands, and right now, they are FAR better off as British subjects than as Argentine "citizens." Too many people - even some who claim to be libertarians, treat the Falkland Islanders the way they do the Northern Irish: they think that THEY know better than the people who live there and have decided to affiliate or give their loyalty to. If we had a world where they could choose whether or not to have a government, instead of just which government, it would obviously be better. But with current limits, let the Falklanders choose London over Buenos Aires. Mexican Civil War - War on Some Drugs Twelve Dead in Mexico near Texas Border (Huffington Post via AOL.com) Forensics tests have confirmed that 12 sets of skeletal remains found near the U.S. border are those of girls and women, authorities announced Monday, fueling fears that young women in the Ciudad Juarez area may once again the targets of serial slayings. The sets of bones were found in January and February in fields in the Juarez valley, east of Ciudad Juarez, and experts have discovered an alarming similarity in the victims' ages. Of those for whom identities have been established, two were 15 years old, one was 16, two were 17 and one 19. There were more than 100 women killed between 1993 and 2004, now this appears to be a new "outbreak." Of course, even in the US, NONE of these young (identified) women would be allowed to carry a handgun for their own defense. That is ILLEGAL for anyone under age 21, thanks to the idiots in DC. And Mexico is so PROUD of its disarmed population. Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Tranzi Theft of Liberty Obama ’08 campaign failed to disclose $2 million in contributions, FEC audit finds (Washington Post) The Obama campaign did not disclose nearly $2 million in donations ahead of the 2008 elections, according to an audit by the Federal Election Commission released Thursday. The campaign was required to file public disclosures of contributions over $1,000 within two days after they were received in the weeks leading up to the election. The campaign failed to disclose 1,312 contributions totaling $1,972,266 that were transferred from a fund used to raise money with the Democratic National Committee. So the First Citizen was breaking the law even BEFORE he got elected. Nice. What a great country this is! Even criminals can get elected to high office. Tranzi Theft of Liberty ‘Posse of Radicals’ Wants to 'Overturn the First Amendment,' Says Citizens United Founder (CNSNews.com) David Bossie, founder of the conservative group Citizens United, says that people advocating to overturn the landmark Supreme Court case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission are a “posse of radicals” who are trying to "overturn the First Amendment." … Bossie made the remarks outside a Capitol Hill conference of liberal groups and Democratic legislators advocating for a constitutional amendment that would in effect overturn the Citizens United decision, on the grounds that the high court’s ruling in Citizens United’s favor will eventually lead to massive corporate spending in political campaigns. Tranzi Theft of Liberty Democrats Call for New Amendment to Limit First Amendment Rights (CNSNews.com) This piece of garbage seems to be DESIGNED to allow for massive “unintended” consequences, as well as outlawing this hideous horror called “free speech” if there is more than one of you who own a company, and you are organized in certain ways. How about an amendment outlawing LYING, as the next story would encourage us to beg for. Thursday, April 19, 2012 First Citizen Obama Once Needed 'to Take a Subway or a Bus Just to Find a Fresh Piece of Fruit’ (CNSNews.com) Oh, give me a BREAK. What a crock this is! I can only recall a few times in my entire life where I lived close enough to be able to walk to a full-service grocery store or commissary, and often have lived 20-50 miles away from anything defined as bigger than a convenience store by today’s standards. This man never lived ANYplace like that. And if he were really serious about this, and not just using it for political gain, he’d have his minions do something about places like Manderson, South Dakota (on Pine Ridge), and Slick Rock, Colorado, and Cisco, Utah, and Lance Creek, Wyoming, and Howes, South Dakota. Congress in action - First Citizen Boehner: Obama Is ‘Shrinking From His Responsibility to Lead’ (CNSNews.com) Boehner is as out to lunch as the First Citizen: First, NONE of them have a “responsibility to lead” - they are legislators and administrators, not kings or emperors or nobility (not officially, at least). Second, the First Citizen IS leading the nation - over the edge. Just not in the direction Boehner and the GOP wants to lead the nation - THAT section of the cliff, not THIS one. Third, the First Citizen is the latest to prove that those who can win the presidency are INCAPABLE of serving as president. Culture wars: killing babies NOW President: Make Birth Control Universal (CNSNews.com) The president of the National Organization for Women says that abortions are "common and it is necessary" and that the United States should "make birth control available to any woman who wants it universally." The fact is, birth control IS “universally available” to any woman who wants it - and even to CHILDREN (as defined by the Tranzis, at least) who want it. But SHE wants government (taxpayers) to pay for it - and universal sex education, also. She uses these two “lacks” as justification for killing babies in the womb. If there WERE government-paid birth control - even if it were MANDATED! - she’d come up with another excuse for killing them in the womb: eugenics or whatever. Theft by government - Stupid government Former GSA Chief ‘Focused on Performance’ in Giving $9,000 Bonus to Organizer of $822,775 Vegas Conference (CNSNews.com) Was this the mind-reader’s performance or the magician’s performance? “My kids were hungry.” or “I needed to buy medicine.” or “I’m robbing the rich to give to the poor.” are all the same sort of excuse for theft or robbery as this man is giving. Congress in action Hoyer: Reagan ‘Would Not Have Felt Comfortable’ in House GOP (CNSNews.com) Probably not, but not for the reasons that Hoyer is claiming. Even though Reagan was no libertarian, he certainly would STILL be far to the right of the modern GOP in the House or Senate. Stupid local government North Dakota: Town would outlaw “man camps” in oil fields (Fox News) "One town smack in the middle of North Dakota's historic oil boom has a plan for getting rid of the 'man camps' that have sprung up as laborers pour in: Ban their campers. Williston, the state's ninth-largest city, is fed up with an estimated 400 RVs that are scattered throughout the city limits and house out-of-state workers who have flocked in to help oil companies tap the massive Bakken formation. ... If passed, the law would make living in a home on wheels a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine." (04/18/12) Mama: They have no place else to live, are not causing any problems, and are - no doubt - paying in tons of taxes, but the burrorats don't LIKE them, so they've got to pass a "law." Morons... Nathan: It is greed. They want motels (10% sales tax) or new houses (1,2% property taxes per year) (instead of just the 6 or 7% sales taxes that people living in campers pay for food and clothing and such). And the city fathers of Williston want more jobs and work and land purchases (with the increased tax revenue and power) - until the boom ends. And they don't care about 5-10 years down the road. Self defense: Florida: Attempted robbery suspect shot, killed (Orlando Sentinel) "An attempted robbery suspect was shot dead by his intended victim late Monday, Orlando police said. The suspect, Tavish Lee Mathews, was attempting to rob Terrance Lamar Taylor in the 2000 block of W. Jackson Street when the shooting occurred, said police spokesman Officer Dave Allmond. Taylor pulled out a gun and shot Mathew numerous times. He was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he later died. Investigators have determined the shooting was justified and Taylor will not be charged, Allmond said." (04/17/12) Mama Liberty: At least this story gets the language right... shot by his intended victim... YES! Nathan: Unlike the next one, where the victim was unarmed. Delivery man killed by 2 armed robbers in Parramore (Orlando Sentinel) An Orange County man making a delivery near a busy intersection was fatally shot Tuesday by two armed robbers who fled, Orlando police said. The robbers approached Gary W. Vaughan, 51, of Gotha after he pulled into the parking lot of Al's Food Store at 916 S. Parramore Ave. about 8:15 a.m., records show. "There was some sort of confrontation that took place between Vaughan and the suspects and he was shot in an apparent robbery attempt," Sgt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department said. Vaughan died from his injuries at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Mama: This one was unarmed, and so many people are completely blind to the implications. Nathan: Sadly, the two killers should have paid their own death penalty for being stupid enough to do it in broad daylight. But I suspect there is more to this story. Even for Orlando, this is pretty strange. First Citizen Will Obama Fine Catholic Institutions Into Oblivion? (CNSNews.com) Only if he can... The evil nature of these places demands that he try. He is just trying to protect women from the GOP’s War on Women, after all. Tranzi actions Rep. Steve King to Warren Buffett: Live By Your Own Rule (CNSNews.com) Of course, Buffett is living by his own rule: the Gold Rule (He who has the gold makes the rules.) - he is a bigger frog in a big pond, and knows that only the relatively small-fry millionaires would be hurt by this - until they wise up and find the loopholes which he has for himself. Meanwhile, the Buffets continue to manipulate people as they see fit: Warren Buffett's Son Launches Campaign to Feed the Hungry in Rural America (CNSNews.com) Not with his own money, of course: like his father, he believes that OTHERS should pay - but at least UNLIKE his father, he believes in voluntary donations - at least for now. The thing is, rural people HAVE a way to feed themselves if they are hungry - and I don’t mean just growing food, as he correctly points out we are specialized insanely: no, they know that “he who does not work does not eat,” even if it means picking up trash on the roadside to find and sell cans... Islamic wars: Arab Street Revolts Frontrunner in Egypt’s Presidential Race Is an Anti-Israel Holdover From Mubarak Regime (CNSNews.com) Speaking of making up the rules as you go: the “Arab Spring” leadership pledges not to have any former Mubarak bosses - and throws out one or two to “prove” they are keeping their pledge. But anyone who thinks that an Egyptian election will be fair, open, honest, or change anything to reflect popular opinion or create liberty is sadly mistaken. World wars: African collapse Nigerian Gov’t Unhappy About Terror Warnings Issued by U.S. Embassy (CNSNews.com) Why not make them happier and include warnings about Nigerian Scams, too? That way, killers, rapists, and exploding chrurch meeting houses won’t get quite so much attention? Stupid government tricks Report: Arkansas Receives $1M Gift for ‘Courageous Leadership’ in Firing Petrino (CNSNews.com) Actually, 1.25 million - and only for doing what needed to be done! Petrino is a scumbag: his “example” to his college student football players is that cheating is okay, your word is NOT your bond, and that you can drag your institution and your profession into the mud and slime over great people and get rewarded for it. Some commenter claimed that they did not know if he was “immoral” or not - as if breaking a contract and sleeping with an employee under your supervision were not BOTH immoral acts. Of course, they claim this sort of “immorality” has nothing to do with his duties as a coach - is THIS the kind of man we want mentoring 18-22 year olds? Friday, April 20, 2012 Jury Powers - Free speech Heicklen: Jury Tampering Case dismissed! (New York Times) "The next time the 80-year-old retired chemistry professor takes his protest to the plaza outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan, he may make it home without being locked up. A federal judge on Thursday ordered the dismissal of an indictment against the professor, Julian P. Heicklen, who had been charged with jury tampering for advocating the controversial position known as jury nullification while outside the courthouse. ... Kimba M. Wood of Federal District Court, wrote that a person violated the jury tampering statute only when he or she knowingly tried to influence a juror's decision through a written communication 'made in relation to a specific case pending before that juror.'" (04/19/12) Good news - no, great news. But expect every prosecutor and most judges and the various agencies to continue to fight it tooth and nail. This makes too much sense for them, and makes it harder for them to crush the idea. See this from the Fully Informed Jury Association as well. World disease and threats CDC: 2011 was worst measles year in US in 15 years (KHOU News) "Last year was the worst year for measles in the U.S. in 15 years, health officials said Thursday. There were 222 cases of measles, a large jump from the 60 or so seen in a typical year. Most of the cases last year were imported -- either by foreign visitors or by U.S. residents who picked up the virus overseas." (04/19/12) This should be a reminder that we are always just a few people away from a pandemic, and that we need to be prepared - and NOT assume that government actions are working or will working. Mama's Note: "Pandemic" can hardly be applied to measles. The CDC itself states that, "No measles deaths were reported in the U.S. last year..." It is a simple illness that is seldom serious if contracted in childhood, especially if children have a good immune system. Unfortunately, far too many people count on government and vaccines for their health, and spend their whole lives destroying their immune system instead of nurturing it. Theft by/from government Illinois: Official accused of raking $30 million off top of gang's extortion take (Fox News) "The finance chief for a small city in northern Illinois has been arrested and charged for allegedly stealing more than $30 million from the city coffers and using the money to sustain a luxurious lifestyle. MyFoxChicago reports that Rita Crundwell, 58, the comptroller of Dixon, is accused of using city funds to finance her horse farm and buy expensive items ranging from tractor-trailer trucks to a motor home to jewelry." (04/19/12) Nice, huh? The theft is understandable, but that a town like this should have such an enormous budget is just as criminal. Is it theft to steal from a thief? Theft by government State Government Tax Collections Increase $56 Billion in 2011 (U.S. CENSUS BUREAU) Overall government tax collections for states increased $55.7 billion to $757.2 billion in fiscal year 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau... Remember this EVERY TIME you are told that governments are being starved and services are being cut back and this, that or the other is not possible anymore. That is a 7% increase in just one year, when supposedly the inflation rate was only 3%. MORE THEFT – and nothing to show for it. As is the case in the next story: Crash of 2009 Obama's "Green Jobs" Have Been Slow to Sprout ( REUTERS) A $500 million federal job-training program has so far helped fewer than 20,000 people find work... And most of those 20,000 were the government employees running the silly program! Seriously, that is $25,000 per job: a LOT of people wish they were making 25,000 a year. Congress in action - Lies and more lies Pelosi: Obama Has Been ‘So Respectful’ of GOP Lawmakers and ‘Engaged With American People’ (CNSNews.com) House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters at her Thursday briefing that President Barack Obama "has been so respectful of the Republicans in Congress." She was responding to a reporter who asked her to react to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Calif.)who said on Wednesday that the “president has been AWOL since Labor Day” and that he “lacks the courage to lead on the economy.” Respectful? Please, Ms. Pelosi, we get so sick of your lies. Mama's Note: Oh, I just love when they fight and call each other names. Home front - Stupid Tranzi tricks DOJ Alum at Racial Profiling Hearing Calls Crimes, Out of Wedlock Births in Black Community ‘Elephant in the Room’ (CNSNews.com) This should not be a surprise. Expect the Administration to scream racist at this guy for even suggesting it. And of course, out of wedlock births is what the Tranzis WANT - except for their own families, where bloodlines are all important. They do not WANT families: slaves don’t have families to their way of thinking. Home front - Stupid Tranzi tricks California Police Chief: Racial Profiling ‘Ineffective,’ ‘Insulting’ (CNSNews.com) This man’s argument and explanation doesn’t even make sense. He babbles about racially profiling whites, then goes on to talk about how ineffective it is - ignoring the differences in culture and appearance and the relative ratio of races. Then he is intentionally “confusing” profiling with observing “actions.” Chalk one up to people who successfully muddle an issue. Theft by government - Congress in action Republicans Consider Which Tax Breaks to Toss As Part of Their Tax Reform Plan (CNSNews.com) This just shows that the GOP gets it NO MORE than the Democrats do. Tax reform (unfortunately, not tax REPEAL) means cutting rates AND eliminating political hits AND benefits. This just plays into the hands of those who lie about who really pays the taxes in this country. First Citizen in Tranzi-Land Obama’s Leadership Losing Luster Abroad, Poll Shows (CNSNews.com) And about time, too. Even the socialists seem to be getting sick of him. Home front - Culture wars: government attacks religion Religious Liberty in Peril, Warn Speakers at National Catholic Prayer Breakfast (CNSNews.com) Along with every other sort of liberty, of course. **************** Your comments and feedback are welcome! Now PoL has its own forum at The Mental Militia! Check it out Nathan Barton Written from the Four Corners, a land and community which has some (but not much) freedom left, but where even that liberty hangs by a thread. Nathan is a christian, a free-market anarchist, military officer, engineer, and writer. Feel free to contact him through The Price of Liberty. Special Feature! Add your signature to the NEW Declaration of Independence By Robert Greenslade To Read previous Commentaries, go to the archives page and click onto the link for the week. The commentaries are linked from the weekly front pages. Please note: Information about readers is never given or sold to anyone for any purpose. Remember, however, that many people can read and recover anything posted to web sites or email unless it is carefully encrypted. Please take personal responsibility for what you post anywhere. MamaLiberty) |
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