Bill Would Bring Uniformity To Iowa Weapons Law

Here in Iowa there are armed strangers among us. They could be lurking in our shopping malls, at busy intersections or even near playgrounds, their deadly firearms hidden from view… waiting.

This is how the press usually portrays Iowa’s rather unremarkable weapons permit regime, when they mention it at all. However, the fact that most Iowans probably don’t even know that the state issues permits to their friends and neighbors to carry concealed firearms, and has for years, is a testament to what a non-threat these law-abiding gun bearers are to the public.

Iowa is one of 40 states (often called right-to-carry or RTC states) that issues such permits to its citizens to defend themselves in public. There were only 10 RTC states until 1987. That year Florida introduced its own RTC law and it was a big success. Despite dire predictions of a bloodbath from anti-gunners, from 1987 to 1992 Florida’s murder rate fell by 23% while the national average shot up 9%.

Inspired by Florida’s success, 29 states have since enacted RTC legislation. A 1996 study found that states which passed concealed carry laws reduced their rate of murder by 8.5%, rape by 5%, aggravated assault by 7% and robbery by 3%, without an increase in accidental deaths. In 2005 RTC states had lower average violent crime rates compared to the rest of the country (total violent crime by 22%; murder, 30%; robbery, 46%; and aggravated assault, 12%).

Not all RTC states are the same however. Two states, Vermont and Alaska, require no permit or training to carry firearms openly or concealed. 36 of the 40 have “shall issue” carry laws which require that carry permits be issued to applicants who meet uniform standards established by the state. Iowa, on the other hand, has a “discretionary-issue,” also known as a “may issue” carry permit system. This means that the issuing authority (in Iowa’s case that’s the county sheriff) “may issue” the permit to an applicant who meets the requirements.

Our discretionary-issue system has led to a patchwork quilt of restrictions and qualifications in Iowa’s 99 counties. Some counties require extensive training of its applicants while others require very minimal training. Some sheriffs issue permits to all qualified applicants, while others refuse to issue them at all. This map provided by IowaCarry.org shows the relative degree of difficulty in getting a concealed weapons permit for each county in Iowa. (Red are the most restrictive, yellow are average, and green are the least restrictive.)

A new bill (HF 2092) in the Iowa Legislature seeks to remedy this situation. It would standardize training requirements statewide and require the sheriff to issue permits to qualified applicants, who also must pass background checks. It would also grant reciprocity, recognizing RTC permits from other states, like we do with other states drivers licenses. The bill would also provide issuing sheriffs with immunity from liability for any potential (yet unlikely) damages caused by a permit holder. While the bill does contain compromises (a necessity in purple-state Iowa) it is an improvement over the current system in that it provides uniform standards for the entire state.

HF 2092 is currently before the House Public Safety Committee. Committee members can be reached via snail mail, email, or the House general number 515-281-3221. Iowa gun owners and anyone who cares about equal application of laws in the state should contact them and tell them to support HF 2092.

BALLOTS? WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKING BALLOTS!

Just wondering. Does anyone else besides me have a problem with hackable computerized voting machines with no paper trail, accountablity, or corrorbaration?

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE

So, you get laid up after a major surgery and can't go traipse around the mountains with your Presidential candidate dog. What else are you supposed to do but make up crap on the computer?

ENOUGH COMEDY, JOKES!

Today, boys and girls, we venture into new and uncharted waters here at das Blog. Yes, that's right, we're going to make crap out of politicians with cartoons. It's so crazy, it just might work!

YIPPEE-KI-YAY, KING GEORGE

God Bless Montana, folks. Even as El Presidente Jorge, who had a great many gun owners to thank for his two terms, bites that hand that fed him by leaning all the power of the Executive Branch against the Supreme Court to abolish the 2nd Amendment as an indiviual right, a few Westerners are standing up to say, "We've had enough, King George!"

Excerpt from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/...757685551/1002
__________________

By Valerie Richardson - Montana officials are warning that if the Supreme Court rules in the D.C. gun ban case that the right to keep and bear arms protects only state-run militias like the National Guard, then the federal government will have breached Montana's statehood contract.

Nobody is raising flags for the Republic of Montana, but nobody is kidding, either. So far, 39 elected Montana officials have signed a resolution declaring that a court ruling of the Second Amendment is a right of states and not of individuals would violate Montana's compact.

"The U.S. would do well to keep its contractual promise to the states that the Second Amendment secures an individual right now as it did upon execution of the statehood contract," Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson said in a Feb. 15 letter to The Washington Times.

The resolution also was signed by Rep. Denny Rehberg, Montana's lone Republican congressman, and state Sen. Roy Brown, who is running to unseat Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat.

The dispute goes back more than a century. Back in 1889, the settlers of the Montana territory struck a deal with the federal government: They agreed to join the union, and the government agreed that individuals had the right to bear arms.

That has worked fine for the past 118 years, but the Supreme Court is expected next month to hear oral argument in District of Columbia v. Heller, the appeal of a federal court decision striking down the District's gun-ownership ban on Second Amendment grounds.

The high court has not issued a broad ruling on Second Amendment law in almost 70 years, including the key question of whether it provides an individual right, like speech and jury trial, or a "collective right" held by state governments. Many constitutional scholars, both liberal and conservative, say this case gives the justices an opportunity to rule on that matter.

The Montana statehood contract, which was preserved as Article I of the state constitution, specifies gun ownership as an individual right: "The right of any person to keep or bear arms ... shall not be called in question."

"There was a promise made to Montana that the right to bear arms was an individual right," said Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association and the author of a book on Montana gun law.

What's more, he said, a "collective-rights" interpretation would have been impossible because Montana had no state-run militia in the 1880s. "It's pretty disingenuous as an argument," said Mr. Marbut. "At the time, they had no image of what a National Guard was. But history and logic don't always prevail in these matters."

GRIZ ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL BID

MONTANA, (AP). Yesterday, my black Labrador retriever, Griz, formally announced his bid for the Presidential nomination under the banner of the newly formed Sniff-and-Pee Party. “Why not?” Asked Griz, taking time out from his busy campaign schedule of licking himself and pooping. “Everyone else is doing it.”

This an obvious reference to the recent Third Party announcement for a Presidential bid by Ralph Nader, and a Fourth Party bid by Pat Paulsen. The latter, announcing his candidacy on the Sally Jesse Rafael Show, excited much interest among both viewers. New York Mayor Bloomburg has also recently stated he would back Obama with large sums of money were he to run Third Party if Hillary wins the Democratic nomination.

“America needs change,” Griz announced today, pausing from gnawing on an elk leg bone. “Even a dog knows you can’t buy $100,000 worth of chew toys and fetchies when you only have $1,000 in the bank. My first step in reducing the National Debt would be to get rid of all these ‘fat cats’ I keep hearing about in Washington. Ggrrrr.”

Asked about fierce competition from the “Mainstream” Democratic and Republican candidates, Griz did not express any worry. “As far as I can tell, they’re no smarter than I am. Plus I always remain loyal. I look forward to barking at them and biting their legs in a live televised debate so that the American public can clearly see why I am most qualified for the position of Commander-in-Chief.”

“Being neutered,” he added. “We won’t have the kind of shenanigans going on in the Oval Office that we had under Bill Clinton, although the rugs may need cleaned more often.”

Questioned about the international threat of Islamic Terrorists, Griz shrugged and replied, “You shoot ‘em, I’ll fetch ‘em.” Stepping over to pee on a fencepost recently visited by a coyote, Griz also opined, “You humans just need to learn to mark your territory. I would immediately begin construction of a series of scent posts all along the Mexican border.”

Hillary Clinton has already said she would support the first four-legged minority candidate by providing all the Chinese-made dog food he could eat.

At the end of the interview, Griz made one last pitch for his Presidency. “Unlike John McCain, I don’t bite the hand that feeds me.”

McCain Bites Self!

An early decision to try to stick the American taxpayer with the bill for his then floundering presidential campaign has come back to bite Republicrat "maverick" John McCain right in his... uh, "senate seat."

McCain signed up for federal matching funds (with all the strings attached) when his campaign was financially strapped last year. Now that the private donations are starting to roll in, McCain wants to back out of the arrangement, but the FEC wrote him a letter stating that they can't release him from the contract for those funds.

You see, the FEC doesn't have enough commissioners, or a quorum, to do business. President Bush's nominees to the Commission have been stalled in the senate. The Commission therefore can't vote to approve or deny McCain's withdrawal from the federal funding arrangement.

Why is this important? As the Washington Post explains it: "Life within the public financing system, in which candidate contributions are matched with federal funds, comes with severe spending restrictions. Most notable among them is an overall spending cap of $54 million that would hang over the campaign until McCain officially accepts his party’s nomination at the Republican National Convention in September. McCain has already spent $49 million, according to a report his campaign filed this week[...] Still, the spending restriction would create an enormous crisis for a campaign that had planned to raise and spend huge volumes of money over the next six months." [Emphasis added.]

So the man who made campaign-finance rules the centerpiece of his Senate career now faces the risk of "running aground" (a little navy lingo in McCain's honor) on campaign-finance rules.

In regard to this matter, the McCain campaign today released the following statement: "D'oh!!" A spokesman for Ben and Bawb's Blog (me) pointed and replied, "Ha ha!"

CHICKENHAWK RETURNS!!!

TV Review: "Jericho"

On February 12, CBS began showing the second season of the apocalyptic series “Jericho.” The series details the lives of the residents of a small Kansas community after America’s major population centers are nuked in a coordinated terrorist attack.

The main character is Jake Green, played by “Scream” star Skeet Ulrich. 32 year old Jake is the son of Jericho’s mayor, played by veteran actor Gerald McRaney, and returns to Jericho after having apparently left town amidst scandal and controversy. While away he was involved in some shady business as a private contractor in Iraq. While home to try to reconnect with his family and friends the terrorists strike.

The terrorists hit the major cities with small nuclear devices , knocking out the power grid and communications networks. Without power or information, Jericho nearly plunges into complete chaos. Jake and his friends and family must rally the town to defend against anarchy, starvation, marauding looters and a hostile neighboring town.

A mysterious stranger named Robert Hawkins arrives in town shortly before the incident, with his estranged family in tow. We soon learn that he has first hand knowledge of the terror plot, and a nasty little secret buried in his tool shed, namely the last remaining nuke. The terror plot is a labyrinthine conspiracy involving elements of the federal government.

As the second season begins, the army of the new “Allied States of America” (consisting of the states west of the Mississippi, minus Texas) arrives to restore order. Far from Jericho, the nation is ripped by a civil war, east versus west, with independent Texas trying to decide which side to join. The storyline now has less to do with the towns battle for survival and now is delving into political intrigue in the new country.

The government of the Allied States in the west includes at least some of the conspirators from the terror plot. Jake and Hawkins now must unravel the conspiracy and get the proof to Texas so they won’t join the corrupt government based in Cheyenne Wyoming.

While those of you with much grounding in military tactics or agriculture may occasionally wince at some of the technical details in the show, all in all it’s an interesting show, especially for network television. It was cancelled once and brought back due to a grassroots campaign by its fans. You might want to check it out while you can. “Jericho”airs Tuesdays, 9pm central time on CBS.

FLIGHT OF THE CHICKENHAWK

Are the Amish Libertarians?

Here's a link to good article by Beth Cody at the Iowa City Press-Citizens website. It's about how, in many ways, the Amish exemplify the libertarian ethic. I didn't figure anyone near ultra-liberal Iowa City would write anything nice about libertarians, but Beth Cody does. Go figure.

Can the Amish be libertarians?

Federalist No. 8

There’s a saying in American politics that short term planning is reacting to today’s headline, long term planning is anticipating tomorrow’s headline. Since our "leaders" have become so shortsighted, when I read the words of our nations founders I often marvel at their foresight.

Today I was rereading The Federalist Papers and was struck by how well a certain passage in Federalist No. 8 fit our current situation in America. It went: “Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. The violent destruction of life and property incident to war, the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free. […]

“They would, at the same time, be necessitated to strengthen the executive arm of government, in doing which their constitutions would acquire a progressive direction toward monarchy. It is of the nature of war to increase the executive at the expense of the legislative authority.”

In this instance, Alexander Hamilton was discussing standing armies and what would happen if the American states were to become separate political entities, constantly warring with each other like the nations of continental Europe. But his words seem apropos to our current war on terror, and while we might not fear standing armies much any more, modern times have shown that police and “security” forces (as heavily armed as the militaries of old) can become the jackbooted couriers of tyranny.

Look at how our nation has responded to the many “external dangers” that it has faced in the last century. Faced with the Fascists and Imperial Japanese we saw internment camps and nationalized industry. Faced with Soviet hegemony we saw McCarthyism’s witch hunts and CIA human rights violations. Faced with “evil” drug cartels we see no-knock warrants and random vehicle searches. Faced with Islamic terror, we now see roving wiretaps, email eavesdropping, federal snooping when buying a house or a car, and attempts at suspending habeas corpus and the right to a jury trial for U.S. citizens deemed "combatants."

The reality that war has always and will always erode civil liberties makes the warmongering of John McCain and his ilk all the more frightening. If we shall be in a perpetual state of war into the foreseeable future, then we can expect that our children will pay for it with their freedom if not their blood.

“[T]he continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort […] to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be more safe, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free.” Did Hamilton have a crystal ball?

I Tip My Hat to the New Constitution- Final Part

Okay, I’m all rested up and ready to resume work on the new Constitution. However for this, the final installment, I believe I will write it up as a barebones summary, so I won’t worry your pretty little heads with too many details. I do this for two reasons: First, I think I may be getting too far ahead of the groundswell of grassroots support for my new Constitution. Second, writing this malarkey is more time-consuming than I thought.

To review, Article I was an awesome Bill of Rights. Article II laid out the plans for a bicameral legislature. The Senate featured two Senators from each state, one popularly elected, the other appointed by the state government. The “Peoples House” was comprised of 100,000 person districts with one representative randomly chosen from the citizenry.

Article III
The Executive

All executive powers are lodged in a 5-member Executive Council (E.C.). Each “Executor” shall be popularly elected as the head of one of 5 Federal Departments: Dept. of State, Dept. of Defense, Treasury Dept., Dept. of Justice and Dept. of Public Safety. The council shall elect its chief Executor who will preside over their meetings. [A single executive just concentrates too much power in one man’s hands. This way the people can assemble their own executive dream team. I think Switzerland has something similar, of course mine is cooler.]

The council shall appoint the heads of lesser independent bureaus and agencies as proscribed by law. The council shall vote on legislation passed by Congress. Normal votes only require a simple majority of the E.C.

Special E.C. votes:

1)To order the military to conduct domestic civil policing shall require an affirmative vote of the Executors of Defense, Justice, AND Public Safety, and may only be done after a written request from the governor of the state in which the operation is to take place. Troops may not be so used for a period longer than 96 hours without approval from Congress AND the state legislature.

2) Except for routine training missions at the behest of a host nation, troops may not be deployed into foreign territorial land or seas longer than 96 hours without approval from Congress. Such deployment shall require the assent of both the Executor of Defense AND State (as well as at least one other Executor). With approval from Congress, troops may be so deployed no longer than 30 days without a Declaration of War vote of the people.

3)Any negotiated treaty must be approved by both the Executors of State AND Treasury (and one other) before it is transmitted to Congress for ratification.

There will be one non-voting, independent Inspector General, with full power to investigate waste, fraud, abuse and usurpation by and against the Federal Government, and report his findings to Congress and the public quarterly.

Executors can removed by a petitioned recall election by the people. A 60% supermajority is required to remove one.

Article IV
The Judicial

There shall be a three-person Supreme Court and lesser federal courts as proscribed by law.

The Supreme Court Justices shall each be elected to a SINGLE 12-year term, staggered between the three. There will be modified electoral college to elect a Justice: Each state gets one electoral vote for each seat it has in Congress. Each congressional district’s vote shall go to whichever Supreme Court candidate got the most votes in said district. The two votes for the state’s two Senators shall go to whichever candidate garnered the most votes statewide. [Unlike the “winner take all” electoral system we now use for the President, this would be “winner take most.”] The court shall elect its own Chief Justice who shall preside.

Justices may be removed by the usual method of recall election, but shall require a 75% vote to remove.

Article V
Other Stuff

How A Bill Becomes a Law:

Method 1 (In-House): The Bill must pass both houses of Congress (same as now), it is then sent to the Executive Council who can veto it in whole or in part (line item veto). If the E.C. approves it, it is sent to the Supreme Court who shall vote only “Constitutional” or “Unconstitutional.” [Automatic judicial review… I’m so clever!] If the Supreme Court declares it constitutional it becomes law, if not it is null and void.

Method 2 (National Referendum): Congress may put it out to the people to vote on. If it passes with less than 75% of the vote, it shall be reviewed by the Supreme Court for Constitutionality. If it receives more than 75% of the vote it becomes an amendment to the Constitution.

Method 3 (National Initiative): If petitioned by at least 5% of the people in at least 10 states or petitioned by the legislatures of at least 10 states, an initiative shall be placed on the national ballot for a vote of the people. Requirements are then the same as for Referendum.

*All laws expire 10 years after passage, unless repealed before then or renewed at that time.

Special Bills requiring a vote of the people:

1) Any bill that would raise government revenues except for fines and user fees.

2) Any bill that would incur public debt.

3) Declarations of war.

4) Accessing the “Peoples Fund.” (See below.)

5)Amending the Constitution requires 75% vote of the people.

Special Budgetary Restrictions:

1)Federal Gov’t can spend no more than 99% of its yearly revenues. The remaining 1% shall be placed in a special “Peoples Fund,” the principal of which may only be accessed by a vote of the people.

2) Total expenditures cannot raise by more than 5% over the previous year without a 2/3 supermajority vote of Congress.

3) If the government shall have a surplus of $1 billion or more, at least half shall be rebated to the people, at least one quarter shall be put toward the national debt, if any.

Okay, that’s it. The best darned Constitution since the last one. Now I hope you people will get a move on and adopt it, lest a begin to think that the American people aren’t just my willing minions after all.

HICKS AGIN' MCCAIN

Well, I done posted my little parable about Lucy and Charlie Brown on another board and danged if I haven't been chewed out and cussed up one side and down t'other. Seems like the Slow Bus really is the good, wise and viable choice. Bein' as how I'm just a dumb ol' hick, I thought I would at least try and 'splain my reasoning a mite better.

Now, I’m just an ol’ country boy. I know as a citizen an’ taxpayer I got no blamed right to be a-criticizing’ my massahs out yonder in Washington Town, ‘specially them real smart fellers in the GOP. One thing ‘bout redneck hicks, though, what with all that huntin’ for squirrels and varmints and such out in the woods, why one does tend to develop an ability to notice things and then recall them things later on.

I recollect being told that Billy Jeff Klintoon was a-gonna destroy this here country in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. What he done, though, in them eight years was get folks all disgusted an’ riled up, riled enough to sweep a bunch of fellers they thought was conservatives into the Congress in ’94 and, later, what they thought was a conservative into that there Whitehouse. Although he ‘complished darn near nothin’ of substance, why even that ol’ snake Slick Willie he tossed a couple of nasty old bones to his base--gays in the military and an odious weapons ban--to thank them crazy Commies for puttin’ him in office. That's more'n them GOP boys have done for us.

I also recollect that them there smart boys in the GOP tried to out-Democrat the Democrats in them there mid-terms in ’06, and they got their teeth kicked in but good. Even them radio fellers, that Limbaugh and that Hannity, they was a-rakin’ the Republikrats over the coals over it. Folks wanted more and real conservatism from ‘em, not more Democrat Lite Socialism. Seems they didn’t learn much of a lesson, cuz for this rodeo they started a-leanin’ so far to the left, why they could walk plumb straight upright across a 70-percent grade. Even them Gingrich and Rush fellers are a-sayin’ that this McCain’ll be the end of the Republikrat Party. Their words, not mine.

Other things puzzle me fearsome, too. I recall many folks tellin’ me that Ron Paul feller, even if elected, would not be able to do one single consarned thing in four years cuz he was jes’ one man, and one man why he couldn’t never change nothin’ a’tal. Well, that Hitlery or that Barrak is jes’ one “man” too, but they must have magic wands or super powers like them comic book folks or somethin’ like that cuz I got people a-tellin’ me that twenty seconds after they hit the door of the Whitehouse, we’ll be stuffed into cattle cars a’headin’ for the Gulags. Seems like I heard somethin’ real similar ‘bout ol’ Hitlery’s co-President when he was a-fixin’ to get elected some years back too.

Here now I come to find out that them there Republikrats and their stubborness and arrogance, why somehow it’s all this ol’ boy’s fault for not supportin’ ‘em enough. And I been told that I oughta come up with a solution my own darn self, when all them big shots in Washington town can’t. Well, there was a solution come down the pike not long ago, but them there GOP fellers, they done everything they could to ham-string him and hide him under a bushel. Why, it shore did remind me of the time awhile back when them GOP “blue-blood” big shots they done that very same thing to a feller name o’ Reagan. I guess don’t nobody but this ol’ hick recall them days, when they said that Regan feller why he was just “too conservative” and “unelectable”. But some of us ignor’nt hicks why we voted for him any ol’ way and danged if he didn’t get the nom’nation an’ went on to get ‘lected anyhow. He done a right smart job of things, too, cuz he actually was conservative, and lots folks really liked him, except them reporter fellers, but they’re all no-accounts anyhow. Why I even hear tell that ol’ Reagn he’s a Saint now. Good thing us dumb ol’ hillbillies didn’t get the word he was unelectable.

So, folks, I surely do ‘pologise for causin’ this here mess but, like I said, I’m just a slack-jawed ol' hick from up in the hills. But mebbe, just mebbe, if them there Neo-Con boys get whacked upside the head with a 2x4 enough times they might finally pay a lil’ tiny bit of attention to their base. If not, well mebbe them smart boys will jes’ blow theyselves up into little bitty pieces, just like even some of their own folks are a-sayin’ they’re a-gonna do. I reckon that mebbe they got that a-comin’ anyways. Mebbe afterwards a REAL Conservative party could pop up outta the wreckage, or real Conservatives could grab a-holt of them GOP reins one time more. Mebbe a “liberal” Socialist dictator ‘stead of a “conservative” Socialist dictator in that there Not-Quite-Round Office will get even them Sheeple folks riled up enough again to throw them bums back out into the streets next go-round, like when they got sick of that Carter fella and gave that Reagan boy 44 states. ‘Course, that’s assumin’ them danged ol’ GOP boys can some up with somethin’ a mite more tolerable to serve us peasants than that there Rudy McRomney Show. Mebbe we are in the End Times already and the Good Lord will take me Home so I don’t even have to bother with this here conundrum.

Bein’ an ornery and contrary sort of ol’ boy, I ain’t a-chosin’ neither of the choices I done been told I got; to vote for them Commies on t’other side or stay home. I’m a-gonna vote me a straight Libertarian ticket so’s I can look myself and my Maker in the eye and say I done what was right ‘stead of what was less evil or “politically expedient” as them fancy pants boys say to cover up the evil part. We done already got one Libertarian in that there Legislature up in Helena, what they call a swing vote. ‘Pears to me it’s long past time we rounded up a few more o’ them boys.

Even us hillbillies sometimes read books now and agin’, and I recollect a few things I done read. There was this feller name o’ Peter, a fearsome long time ago, who once said, “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” A friend of his’n, name of Paul, wrote a letter to some folks in Rome and pointed out that their policy of “Let us do evil that good may result” wasn’t real sound nor ethical nor successful, for that matter. Then later on, jes’ a couple of hundred years ago, this other ol’ boy by the name of Paine sure agreed with ‘em. He said things like, “Better fare hard with good men than feast it with bad.” and “Moderation in temper is always a virtue, but moderation in principle is always a vice.” He also said somethin’ that would sure seem to apply to that there McCain critter. “I should suffer the misery of devils, were I to make a whore of my soul by swearing allegiance to one whose character is that of a sottish, stupid, stubborn, worthless, brutish man.” Well, I find these ol’ boys better comp’ny than that John McCain, so I’ll be stickin’ with them ‘stead of him.

That’s jes’ stubbron ol' contrary me, though. It’s still a free country, kinda, and I ain’t a-tellin’ nobody else what their choices has to be. You’re more’n welcome to take that slow bus, or the fast bus or no bus a’tall for that matter. Good luck, God bless, and, like that ol’ boy Paine sez, “May your chains rest lightly upon you.”

THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS; ONCE MORE WITH FEELING!

I've been posting a great deal lately, but there are so many rich subjects to address and ridicule these days. As Thomas Paine once said, "These are the times that try men's stomachs."

The mantra has started already, even from some old and dear friends of mine. Juan McCain has not even been anointed yet, and RINOs and Neo-Cons are already bleating away, starting to make excuses for him rather than extoll his "virtues". The same old tired arguments are being drug back out into the light of day once more, just as they always are. “Well, he’s better than Hillary or Obama! We can’t let either one of them in the Whitehouse or life on earth as we know it will end! The sky is falling! Wolf! Wolf!

So what the heck. I’ll beat this dead horse one last time and call it a day. Hhmmm, let me think back to the last time I fell for the old “Lesser of Two Evils” ploy. If Owl Gore or Kerry beats Bush, I was told by the Neo-Cons, things will be so horrible as to defy the imagination. So, once more, I held my nose and voted for the lesser of two evils one last time. And what did I get?

I got two reigns of King George the Shrub. He had eight years, half of that with a GOP majority in Congress to do something, anything for his conservative base. Instead, I got the country plunged further and faster into a Socialist Police State than ever before. I got a Constitution that is “just a g****** piece of paper”. I got a President who was ready, willing and able to sign a permanent assault weapons ban when it got to his desk and who is, as we speak, putting all his office’s political pressure on the courts to rule that the 2nd Amendment is not an individual right. The First Amendment keeps taking kicks in the teeth in the form of “Free-Speech Zones”, McCain-Feingold, and legislation against “domestic terrorists”, and not the ones in office. The Fourth has already weathered a couple of hits, and Jorge is salivating to get warrant-less wiretaps rammed through Congress right now. Eminent domain was urinated upon, and a few more shovels of dirt were thrown upon the wilted flowers that mark the 10th Amendment’s grave.

When a whole alphabet of bloated, inefficient, bureaucratic “intelligence” agencies failed us miserably, the solution was (obviously!) to create and even bigger, more complex, and less efficient monster bureaucracy called Homeland Security (Fatherland and Motherland were already taken). I got TSA goons harassing my elderly mother when she tries to board a plane. I got wide open borders, repeated attempts to shove an amnesty for illegals down my throat, and Border Patrol agents rail-roaded and incarcerated for doing their jobs. At the same time FedGov cannot even find 25 million illegal aliens, I’m supposed to put chips in my dog, cat and chickens via NIAS. I got increased militarization of law enforcement agencies, and less accountability for them. I got a quagmire of endless wars and nation-building, costing us roughly $2 billion every 24 hours and making us more enemies every day, in which no one can even define “victory”, let alone how to achieve it. I got oil that went from $23 a barrel to $100. I got a national debt that has spiraled well past 9 TRILLION dollars, bankrupting the nation even more than it already was. I got a government that condones torture. And, to top it all off, despite the unwilling sacrificing of freedom for security, I just have less of both in the end.

Oh, thank goodness that horrible mean ol’ nasty other guy didn’t get into the Whitehouse and screw things up! Now I am told, once again, that if Hillary or Obama gets into the Oval Orifice, the world will once again end. Hey, as much as I loathed Billy Jeff Clinton, even a halfway honest person will have to admit that we lost a heckuva lot more freedoms and civil rights under King George than we ever did under Slick Willie. Now, once more, in lieu of coming up with a candidate that is even halfway decent, or at least doesn't cause naseau and vomiting among real Conservatives, the GOP Party drones and hacks have had to fall back, again, on the old lesser of two evils game plan.

To get all this down to simple terms, the Neo-Cons and RINOs are Lucy from the comic strip Peanuts, and the conservative GOP base is, of course, Charlie Brown. Every two to four years, Lucy tells Charlie Brown she’ll hold the football for him, and this time he can boot it to the moon. And every time poor old Charlie Brown gets himself all wound up, steps back to kick, and rushes forward whole-heartedly. And every time, Lucy yanks the football away at the last minute, and Charlie Brown once more is betrayed and crashes and burns. Yet, two to four years later, Charlie Brown not only believes Lucy again, he bleats to the country that Lucy is the only one who can be trusted. So now in 2008, what a surprise, Charlie Brown is already starting to wail and gnash his teeth we must trust Lucy one more time because Hillary and/or Obama will lie to us.

Let’s take a look at our latest Lucy, shall we; Senator Juan “Amnesty” McCain. He has, since the Savings & Loan Scandal of the 80’s, been proving that he has the morals, integrity and truthfulness of late-night Texaco urinal bacteria. At least King George pretended to be a conservative; McCain hasn’t even bothered to pretend, playing kissy-kiss with Uncle Teddy in the Senate, feeling out Edwards for a Democrat VP ticket, and already speaking of "reaching across the aisle". Sure, he may be to the right of Osama-Bama or Hitlery, but the angle is so acute you have to measure it in mils, not degrees. Here, ladies and gentlemen, is the Great White Hope, the last man standing between us and total annihilation. Hitlery or Osama-Bama will drive the bus off the cliff into a Socialist Police State at 75 miles per hour. Juan McCain promises to keep ‘er down to 70 mph and to use his turn signal when he veers sharply left. Yeah! Our savior! How can you vote for anyone else?!?!

So, sorry Lucy; that poor, tired old dog is just too stove up and long in the tooth to hunt any more. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

TREASON BY ANY OTHER NAME

This ticks me off so bad I have smoke coming out of my ears, gentle readers. It seems El Presidente Jorge Boosh is finally getting on board with securing the borders. MEXICO'S borders that is. Under something called the Meridia Iniative, the Shrub wants to give MEXICO a 1.4 billion dollar foreign-aid package so they can secure THEIR southern border against illegal immigrants from Central American nations. Mr. "Homeland Security" himself, who toots his own horn about fighting "terror" in Iraq, has left our own southern border wide open despite the 9/11 Report and massive public support for a wall. How come we cna spend billions to secure Iarq's and Mexico's borders, but not our own? Hell, he won't even pardon rail-roaded Border Patrolmen Ramos and Compeon. And, of course, el Presidente is doing all he can to keep Congress from being involved in the whole process. Can't tolerate all those messy checks and balances? Just ignore them!

Think this is too outrageous to be true, even for Dubya? Check out the full story at Michelle Malkin's site.

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/02/11/the-white-house-wants-a-14-billion-stimulusnational-security-packagefor-mexico/

RAY "SCHOOL BUS" NAGIN TRIES ON HIS NEW JACKBOOTS

Here we see New Orleans Mayor Ray "School Bus" Nagin and Police Chief Warren Riley, shortly after NOPD received $1,000,000 worth of military hardware to keep the populace safe. So much for the argument that only government officials are trained, safe, and responsible enough to have guns.

Libertarian Party Files Friend-of-the-court Brief in D.C. Gun Case

From www.lp.org:

Washington, D.C. -The Libertarian Party has filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in the case District of Columbia v. Heller -- a case that will decide the future of gun rights in America for decades to come. The amicus brief was filed in support of Heller. "As an organization dedicated to constitutional principles, the Libertarian Party has a compelling interest in the outcome of this historic case and therefore decided to file a brief to ensure our position on gun rights is documented," says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory.

The Libertarian Party "is an established political party dedicated to a strict adherence to the Constitution and the protection of rights both natural and enumerated," reads the brief, submitted by attorney and current Libertarian National Committee member Bob Barr, who also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. Included in those rights is "the right of an individual to keep and bear arms in the defense of life, liberty and property. As America’s third largest political party, [the Libertarian Party] has considerable experience with litigation involving parties gaining ballot access, which is the subject of the precedent invoked by the Solicitor General in proposing a standard of review," the brief further states.

The Libertarian Party's brief connects court rulings on ballot access cases with gun rights. Directly attacking the amicus brief filed by the United States Solicitor General's office, the Libertarian Party argues that strict scrutiny should be applied in judging the Constitutionality of firearm regulations.

"The Libertarian Party is committed to the individual's right to keep and bear arms," says Cory. "We're pleased that we could be a part of hopefully protecting this fundamental right for future generations of freedom loving Americans."

A copy of the Libertarian Party's brief can be obtained by visiting http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/07-290_amicus_lnc.pdf.

For more information about the LP's amicus curiae brief, or to arrange an interview, please call Andrew Davis at (202) 333-0008 during normal business hours, or at (202) 731-0002 during any other time.

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

I Tip My Hat to the New Constitution- Part 2 The Legislature

As you know, I’m writing a new Constitution since the federal government has trashed the old one. I think this one will be a big hit. In my previous post I unveiled the new kick-ass Bill of Rights. Now it’s time for the new improved legislature. This is just a thumbnail sketch, I‘ll give you more details when you‘ve convened the Constitutional Convention. Radical departures from the current system are in red. [As before, I’ve included bracketed notes to help you, the unwashed masses, understand my brilliance.]

Article II
Legislative

Sec. 1: Introduction.
The powers of the U.S. government shall be divided into three separate branches- the legislative, the executive and the judicial; and no person charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these branches shall exercise any function appertaining to either of the others, except as prescribed herein.

Sec. 2: Congress in General.
All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a People‘s House.

Sec. 3: The People‘s House.
A.) Representatives shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective populations, one representative for every 100,000 people, but each state shall have at least one representative. [That’s more reps than we currently have.]
B.) No person shall be a Representative who shall not have been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when selected, be an inhabitant of that district in which he shall be chosen.
C.) For the first apportionment, each representative and an alternate shall be chosen at random from an at-large list of registered voters in the state. [The ancient Athenians stole the idea of random reps from me! This would make the House a more representative demographic cross-section, rather than just rich white guys. (Not that I have anything against rich white guys, I hope to be one someday and I'm two-thirds of the way there.)] Thereafter, each state shall be apportioned into representative districts on the basis of population, as proscribed by law. Each district so established shall be of compact and contiguous territory.
D.) Thereafter, a representative, an alternate and a second alternate shall be chosen from a list of registered voters in each district by random allotment, every second year.
E.) When a vacancy shall arise, the next alternate shall serve the balance of the term.
F.) The Peoples House shall choose their Speaker and other officers.

Sec. 4: The Senate.
A.) Each state shall have two Senators serving six year terms.
B.) One Senator shall be appointed by the legislature of their respective state, the other shall be popularly elected by the people of their respective state. [State’s rights went the way of the dodo when we went to elected Senators. Having one Senator appointed by the state gov’t and one elected by the people gives the best of both worlds: state’s rights and democratic advantages.]
C.) No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
D.) The Senate shall choose their President pro tempore and other officers.
E.) When a vacancy shall arise, the legislature of that Senator’s respective state shall appoint a replacement to serve the balance of the term, unless that legislature shall delegate that authority to the executive of that state.
F.) No Senator shall serve more than two terms consecutively. [Term limits. After two terms, the Senator must surrender the incumbent advantage and sit out at least one term, but can be reelected again later.]

Sec.5: How Removed
A) The voters of a Senator’s state or Representative’s district may petition for a recall election as proscribed by law. This shall require a 60% majority to remove an officeholder.
B) Senators originally appointed by the State gov’t may be removed and replaced by the State at any time.
C) Officeholders may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of both houses.

Sec. 6: Powers Granted to Congress
The Congress shall have power:
A.) To enforce the Bill of Rights;
B.) To lay and collect taxes, duties, and user fees; but all taxes, duties, and user fees shall be uniform throughout the United States;
C.) To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and otherwise conduct relations with them; [No interstate commerce clause!! Congress has abused that one too much.]
D.) To define and regulate the nations borders;
E.) To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform bankruptcy laws;
F.) To coin or print money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign currency, and provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the currency of the United States; and fix the standard of weights and measures;
G.) To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court;
H.) To provide uniform copyright, patent and trademark laws and maintain a patent office;
I.) To define and punish international terrorism, piracy and felonies committed on the high seas and offenses against the law of nations;
J.) To raise and support military forces, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;
K.) To make rules for the government and regulation of the military forces and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
L.) To provide for calling forth the militia to aid in the execution of the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions;
M.) To assist in organizing, arming, and training the militia;
N.) To purchase and maintain property for military posts, government services, and other needful buildings;
O.) To conduct a census and collect relevant statistics as proscribed by law.
P.) To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

To be continued...

BUSH ENDORSES MCCAIN AS A "TRUE CONSERVATIVE"

I Tip My Hat to the New Constitution- Part 1 Bill of Rights

Since our government no longer uses the Constitution, I've taken the liberty of writing up a new one. Since I, your gracious blogger, have already done the hard part of writing it up, I expect you, the readers, to do the easy part and convene a Constitutional convention and implement it. I'm thinking noonish tomorrow. Thanks. Here it is:


Preamble. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. [Ed. Note: The preamble works. Why change it?]

Article I.
Bill of Rights
[The Iowa Constitution starts with a bill of rights, why not mine?]

Sec. 1: Introduction. The provisions of this Bill of Rights shall be effective upon all levels of government, unless otherwise noted. [Bill of Rights is automatically "incorporated" against state and local laws.] Congress shall have the power to enforce this Bill of Rights by appropriate legislation. The enumeration in this constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Sec. 2: General Rights. All people are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights- among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness. [From Virginia Declaration of Rights.]

Sec. 3: Political Power. All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right, at all times, to alter or abolish the same, whenever the public good may require it. [From Iowa Bill of Rights.]

Sec. 4: Equality Rights. There shall be no law discriminating by race, gender, age (over 18 years), political affiliation, sexual orientation, or religion. All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform operation; no citizen nor class of citizens shall be granted privileges or immunities which upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens

Sec. 5: Voting Rights. There shall be no poll tax or other fee upon the right of any United States citizen to vote in a government election.

Sec. 6: Slavery. There shall be no slavery; nor shall there be involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime; nor shall there be military conscription, nor compulsory civil service, paid or unpaid.

Sec. 7: Freedom of Expression. There shall be no law abridging the freedom of speech or expression or of the press, regardless of medium; and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. [Present 1st Amendment broke into two parts (one below) and reworded.]

Sec. 8: Freedom of Religion. There shall be no law establishing a state religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise of religion.

Sec. 9: Right To Assembly and Association. The people have the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. No one may be compelled to belong to an association. [From U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yuck! The only one that I borrowed from those weenies, since most of their “rights“ amount to: “You have the right to the shirt off someone else‘s back.”]

Sec. 10: Right to Bear Arms. The people have the right to acquire, possess and bear individual arms for the purpose of sport or for the defense of themselves, their liberties, their property, and their communities; and there shall be no law disarming the people or any of them, unless for actual felonies committed; the people shall not have to pay a fee or tax to enjoy this right, nor shall a licensing or registration regime be imposed. [Any questions Hillary? First part is inspired by the wording of the Pennsylvania delegation to the 1787 Constitutional convention’s minority dissent. Second part just to make sure everybody gets it.]

Sec. 11: Defense Rights. A person engaged in lawful activity is justified in using any degree of force that the person reasonably believes is necessary, including deadly force, when resisting any attempt to murder any person, or to commit a felony, or to do some great bodily injury upon any person or in defense of habitation or property. A lawful person does not have a duty to retreat from an attacker in the circumstances described in this section. [Commonly called “Castle Doctrine.”]

Sec. 12: Security Rights. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, homes, papers, vehicles, personal communications and effects, against unreasonable searches, seizures, and eavesdropping shall not be violated; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to searched or surveilled, and the persons or things to be seized; nor shall a government be immune from responsibility for damages caused by improper action. [Expanded 4th Amendment.]

Sec. 13: Military. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner prescribed by law. The United States military may not be used as a posse comitatus, except as prescribed in this document. No military personnel may be placed under the command of a foreign nation or international body. No United States soldier shall be surrendered to a foreign court or body to be tried for any reasonable and necessary actions taken to carry out a lawful order.

Sec. 14: Free Market and Property Rights. The right of the people to exchange goods and services on the open market, free from excessive government interference shall not be violated. The United States [federal gov't] shall impose no wage or price controls. The people shall have the right to choose their own employment, within their means and abilities, but no one shall be required to employ another. No taxes shall be levied upon property; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation and in a manner prescribed by law.

Sec. 15: Habeas Corpus et al. The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. [From Article I, Sec. 9 of the U.S. Constitution.]

Sec. 16: Rights of Persons Accused. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or other infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury; nor shall any person be tried for the same offence twice; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty , or property, without due process of law. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trail, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime was committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed one-thousand dollars, the right of trail by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of common law. [Current amendments 5, 6, and 7 combined.]

Sec. 17: Rights of Persons Convicted. Excessive bail shall be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The United States [federal gov’t] shall have no capital crimes excepting treason, which shall be defined as levying war against the nation, adhering to its enemies, or giving them aid and comfort; or terrorism, which shall be defined as any act intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an international organization to do or abstain from doing any act.

Sec. 18: Family Rights. Any consenting adult may marry any other consenting adult or consenting adults. The parents or legal guardian of a child shall have the right to raise, discipline and educate the child in a manner consistent with their own beliefs, free from government intervention, unless those actions pose a grave risk of death, serious bodily injury, sexual degradation or extreme emotional trauma to the child.

Sec. 19: Extradition. No U.S. citizen shall be extradited to a foreign nation unless that nation shall demonstrate probable cause of wrongdoing to a domestic grand jury and said jury approves. [I just made that up, I rather like it.]

Sec. 20: Federalism. The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. [ Current 10th Amendment. I should add, “Really! We mean it this time!”]

To Be Continued...

THE LAST GOODBYE

Here is a copy of the letter I sent to the Republican National Committe expressing my extreme displeasure concerning the pathetic weasels they have become, and the even more pathetic weasel they have chosen to run. If you would like to do the same, please address your correspondence to Mike Duncan, RNC Chariman, Republican National Committee, 310 First Street, Washington, D.C. 20003. Phone: 202-863-8700, Fax: 202-863-8820, Email: Chairman@gop.com

I may wind up saying goodbye to all of our loyal readers as well after this. I doubt they will let me post from the "Re-education Camp".



Dear Sir,

I just wanted to say goodbye, this time permanently, to the so-called “conservative” Republican Party. I am not leaving the party, the party has left me. If I wanted Socialism, I could vote for the Democrats. As it is, I have been left with no choice at all other than a Third Party protest vote. The conservative base that once made the GOP great has been betrayed by the power mongers one too many times. The way the Republican Party treats its soon-to-be-former base members begs for them to say goodbye to the party and seek conservatism elsewhere.

The pathetic fact that the “best and brightest” that the Grand Old Party could offer us peasants this election cycle was the Rudy McRomney Show illustrates that the GOP is about as “conservative” as Karl Marx, and as financially, morally and spiritually bankrupt as the rest of the nation. Honestly, I cannot tell the difference between the two major parties any longer. Both parties are driving the bus off the cliff into a Socialist Police State but the Republicans brag that they are only doing 75 mph, while the Democrats are doing 80. If that were not enough, now our GOP “handlers” here in Montana will not even allow us to vote for our own poison in the primaries.

The conservative base of the party is more than fed up; we are outraged and seething. No more are we willing to play the same tired, apathetic games of “vote for the lesser of two evils” or “Well, he’s better than Bill…or Al…or Hillary.” The choice you have presented us with is so odious that no, he is neither the lesser of two evils nor “better” than the Socialist megalomaniac running on the other side. If Juan McCain represents conservatism, I represent the Planet Zork.

I gave the GOP one last chance this year before leaving once and for all because of Ron Paul. Yet the only real conservative in the race was ridiculed, resisted, and marginalized by both the GOP and the media. His message of freedom and a return to the rule of law terrified the creatures that infest Capital Hill, Democrat and Republican alike, because they know they are corrupt and do not wish to lose their money, power and perks, even if the country goes down the toilet because of them.

Enough is enough. Barring a miracle, I will never again support nor vote for the Republican Party. I will probably actually enjoy watching the GOP implode over this latest brazen and arrogant attempt to spit in the face of their conservative base. If that means Hillary in the Whitehouse, so be it. You see, the “lesser of two evils” argument can work both ways. Goodbye and good riddance.

IF VOTING ACTUALLY CHANGED THINGS, IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL

"It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything."

Don't worry. This is not a thread about the evils of the stackable hackable Diebold voting machine. There are plenty of low-tech ways to influence an election. Just ask the members of the DDVC, Deceased Daly Voters of Chicago. They won't answer, because they're dead, but that's just an example. Even out here in the wilds of Montana the politicians have found new and reprehensible ways to take the public out of the equation even in the lousy primaries.

Last night the lil' Missus and I went downtown to the Republikrat "primary" caucus thingie. The actual primary is June 3rd but, wanting to be important and join the other bellowing, milling cattle on Super Tuesday, the Montana GOP came up with this weird new convoluted system to pick a candidate without the pesky voters interfering with them.

I'm still not quite sure how it works. There were many questions about the new system last night, none of which were answered by the GOP party officials to anyone's satisfaction. Perhaps it is truly unexplainable. At any rate, only a select handful of the GOP faithful already in positions of power are allowed to cast votes in the primary. Us peasants were allowed to pretend to be participating, but certainly not allowed to vote.

At any rate, in a small town in a small county in rural Montana, the Ron Paul supporters equaled the other candidates' supporters combined. Several of us gave empassioned speeches in support of Ron Paul. One lady gave a good talk supporting Romney. Another member of the Romney group gave a strong anti-McCain presentation. It was all very nice and civil. The other supporters applauded each speach. I went over and thanked the Romney supporter and the McCain hater for their contribution and good speeches.

The important thing to note was that not one single member of the public present stood up to toot McCain's horn. As mentioned earlier, one woman spoke out quite forcibly and eloquently against him. The GOP Party Faithful thanked us all for our "contributions" in the same tone of voice you would say, "Screw you, you ignorant peons. Now shut up and obey your masters."

So the Great and Powerful Oz went behind the curtain and emerged to announce that John McCain had won our county by a landslide with more votes than all the other candidates combined. Truly amazing.

Is this the last dying gasp of the GOP? I'm registered Independant and only strayed back into the fold this one last time because of Ron Paul. I detest El Presidente Juan McStain. Apparently, just about every other conservative in the country does as well. Ann Coulter went on Hannity & Colmes and announced that if McCain got the nomination, she would not only vote for Hitlery but campaign for her. Rush Limbaugh says if McCain gets the nomination, he will just stay home and not even bother to vote.

Well, GOP Nazi Hierarchy, I believe a great many more among your conservative base will be just staying home. I always vote, even if just to cast my Third Party protest vote, but the days of the "lesser of two evils" are gone for many of us. During the '06 Mid-term elections, the Republikrats tried to out-Democrat and Democrats and got kicked in the teeth and lost a lot of seats in both houses of Congress. Rather than even thinking about learning a lesson from what the peasants were telling them and running conservative "mainstream" candidates, this go-round our handlers leaned so far to the left as to make Al Gore seem like a Right-winger and gave us the Rudy McRomney Show. McStain and his ilk snort derisively at the GOP's alienated and angry conservative base. "Where the hell else can they go, chortle chortle? They'll have to vote for the odious offerings we present them with because 'it's better than Hillary'. Snicker, snicker."

So, if the party of Reagan and (the good one, Teddy) Roosevelt implodes and crashes and burns, they have only themselves to blame. Get a clue you morons.

One spot of good news. Although Romney came in first, some of the other counties listened to at least a few of the peasants and Ron Paul came in second, narrowly beating John McStain. It is doubtful if I will ever again go to any GOP primary or caucus after this but, if I do, I will take a freind's advice and show up with a vat of tar and a bag of feathers. Maybe that's what it takes to get the party's attention.

More Political Choice For Iowans

Well, it's official. You're now reading the rantings of a registered Libertarian kook. It took a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Iowa to get it done, but Iowans can now register as Libertarian or Green Party members. Unwilling to let go of the old political duopoly completely, the two newest parties are technically referred to as "Non-Party Political Organizations" on the official voter registration form.

Really the Libertarian and Green Parties make good opposing bookends on each side of the two Republicrat Parties. Now that neither of the major parties is advancing small government principles, the Libertarian Party gives an option for those who still believe in those principles. For gaia-worshipping freaks who don't believe that the two major parties trample on free markets and property rights quite enough, there's now the Green Party.

This is a small step, but one in the right direction. I think we'll begin to see a mass exodus from the two-party system as the industrial era that spawned them sputters out. Kids that are now growing up with hundreds of different television channels, soda pops, religious denominations, and websites to choose from won't long tolerate a political system that essentially offers them the choice of vanilla or french vanilla.

Such institutional change will be hard fought. If there's one thing that the two major parties always agree on, it's protecting their turf. But any system that potentially offers voters only the choice of Hillary Clinton or John McCain invites the wrecking ball.