Blue Collar Muse

Wayne Allyn Root, the Libertarian Party candidate for VP spoke to us for the second year in a row at the Conservative Leadership Conference 2008 in Las Vegas, last week.  As always he was an entertaining speaker and the debate between Wayne and Saul Anuzis, GOP chair for Michigan, was lively, entertaining and more than a bit sporty!

I also had a later opportunity to speak one-on-one with Wayne for about 45 minutes.  It was not an interview. It was  just two concerned American activists getting to know one another. The more he spoke, the more respect I felt for what he and Bob Barr were not only feeling but what they were up against.

Wayne’s roots are deeply Conservative and GOP.  Like many, he feels the GOP is no longer the best vehicle for advancing Conservative ideals and values.  But he remains open to dialogue and relationship with all who choose to remain Republican while contending for the Party.  These are my impressions of the man from my conversation with him.  They should not be taken as an authoritative statement of what Wayne believes or what he will do.

I am pleased to pass on to my readers this press release announcing Wayne’s new book.  Titled “The Conscience of a Libertarian”, it’s due out Spring 2009 from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.  If Wayne turns out to be the breath of fresh air for the LP that I believe he has the potential to be, this book will be a must for every Conservative activist, Libertarian or otherwise.  Put it on your reading list.

Blue

Libertarian Party Vice Presidential Nominee Root Announces Major Publishing Deal

September 30th-Las Vegas, Nevada– Libertarian Party Vice Presidential Nominee Wayne Allyn Root announced today a major publishing deal for his new book tentatively titled “The Conscience of a Libertarian.” It is modeled after Root’s hero Barry Goldwater and Goldwater’s all-time best-selling conservative book “The Conscience of a Conservative.” Root’s book will be released in Spring, 2009 by global publishing powerhouse John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Wiley is one of the oldest and most successful publishers in the world- founded in 1807 during the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson. Wiley has 5000 employees across the globe, with annual revenues in excess of $1.7 Billion, and is best known for book series and trade brands such as For Dummies, Frommer’s, Webster’s New World, CliffNotes, Betty Crocker and J.K. Lasser.

Root’s resume is a throwback to our Founding Fathers. He is the quintessential “ANTI-Politician.” He is a second generation American;  S.O.B. (son of a butcher) from humble beginnings; small businessman (and son and grandson of small businessmen); and home-school father of 4 young children. Wayne has never worked for or with any state or federal government. He has never collected a check from government (other than a student loan which he paid back in full). In an age of Beltway Insiders, Wayne is a complete Washington D.C. outsider.

Root is also a proud Nevadan. Nevada is a state known for independence, self-reliance, personal responsibility, rugged individualism, more freedom for the individual, smaller government, and low taxes. Nevada has no state income taxes, no business income taxes, no inheritance taxes, and property taxes limited by law. Root believes the big difference between Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. is that in Vegas, the people gamble with their own money.

Root said of his new book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian will honor the ideals of freedom and limited government as communicated by great political leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan and, most recently, Dr. Ron Paul. My views are simple- the government that governs least, governs best. I believe the constitution is clear- power does not belong to the government, or the politicians, or the career bureaucrats, or corporate interests, or lobbyists. It belongs to the American people. The day that I take office, I vow to dramatically cut government; to dramatically lower taxes; to dramatically increase freedom; to fight to make my own political office obsolete; to make government so small, you won’t even notice it’s missing; and, most importantly, to give power back to the people- where it belongs.”

Root said of his political future, “I want to thank great patriots and freedom-fighters like Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr and Republican Presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul for reinvigorating the modern- day Libertarian freedom movement. I would do anything, make any sacrifice, to move the freedom agenda forward. The media has called me “Ron Paul on steroids!” A quarter of a century from now, I’ll still be younger than Ron Paul is today. That’s a very good thing- the freedom movement can benefit from the unique combination of energy, passion and youthful enthusiasm that I bring to the table.”

Root added, “In recent weeks, as the Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate, I have been a guest on hundreds of TV and radio shows throughout America, Canada and the UK. That was a small start of a long journey to lead this Libertarian freedom movement to victory. Starting in April 2009, with the release of The Conscience of a Libertarian, I expect to travel the globe to spread the Libertarian message of smaller government, lower taxes, dramatically reduced spending, and more freedom.

I want to thank my publisher, John Wiley & Sons, for giving me this opportunity. The Conscience of a Libertarian will present a timely message. With the mortgage and credit crisis; the Wall Street investment banking disaster; and the controversial government bailout of corporate America; now more than ever, a free-market message needs to be heard. Someone must be the voice of taxpayers.
I hope to be that voice.”

Popularity: 20% [?]

Per Barr, 2 Party system is indeed a duopoly. But Barr and those like him are doing great work to push back against that reality.

Regardless of your choice in election, there are threats to the process.

With so many close results in states, for 37 days we agonized over the results of the Presidential race.

We have the same tinderbox results and lots more folks with matches. OBama has 9K lawyers, McCain has 5K lawyers. Can’t be good.

We continually  overlook election irregularities and problems because they generally don’t really affect results.  This year that’s different.

Provisional ballot issue, allowing ANYONE to cast a ballot as provisional will permit thousands of chances for legal challenge.

ACORN, who Obama supports, is effectively a lawless organization. I used that term carefully.  They just don’t care.

Many ACORNers leave due to shoddy and creepy practices.

They have been involved in voter fraud cases for years and up to today’s elections as well.  They are perennial voter fraud defendants.

Barack Obama is of ACORN, by ACORN, for ACORN. He has been in bed with them for years, including working as their counsel in IL

ACORN will shill for Obama and care not what laws they break.  The want to intentionally destabilize the election process.

They will dump registrations and provisional ballots on overworked overstressed election system and then call for investigations.

Then usual suspects such as Jesse Jackson will show up in support of chaos and demand every vote be counted but who is really a voter?

Then usual suspects such as Jesse Jackson will show up in support of chaos and demand every vote be counted but who is really a voter?

There will be challenges this election. Remember Obama petitioning for polls to be kept open due to weather? More of same on the way.

Some are valid. But it is also valid not to have legal votes invalidated by bogus and frivolous lawsuits.

Motor Voter was first law enacted by Clinton. That’s how important it is to Democrats!

It was challenged by IL, ACORN was challenger. Attorney for ACORN was Barack Obama - OMG!!

Illegal aliens DO vote and that is a problem, but not the worst problem.  Legal residents illegaly voting via absentee ballot is far worse.

What about GOP voter fraud?  It’s just as bad.  Voter fraud is a felony yet it’s usually just a fine and community service.  Jail time is needed.

GOP fraud is less now. Likely due to fewer GOP political machines than Dem political machines.

Popularity: 38% [?]

In 218 BC, Hannibal took on Rome with cutting edge tech, including elephants.

Today, “elephants” are large, slow moving, easy, tempting targets.

Why, then, try to salvage the GOP?

The GOP and G.W.Bush claim to be Conservative. But the gap between GOP and Liberals is narrowing considerably.

Record deficits, increasing Government employment, Government bailouts resulting from bad Government policies without any Government hearings during a Lame Duck administration are NOT Conservative.

These things appall Conservatives but both McCain and Obama approve of recent Government bailouts. How is this change or maverick?

McCain promised no more bailouts not all that long ago.  But he’s supporting AIG, carmakers and more?  Big Gov vs Bigger Govt is not a good choice.

Doing bad things like the other guys - just slower and not as egregiously! This is a lousy platform for GOP candidates.

There are other options.  And it’s me, Bob Barr!  I will not be apart of the Bizarro world tactics and policies of GOP in Washington.

In Superman’s Bizarro world, everything was opposites.  Up was down, in was out - weird!  But this is the policy of the GOP today.

For instance, buying up bad mortgages with taxpayer dollars is what got us in trouble in the first place. Why do it again?

We need MORE regulation?  The most regulated arena of the Economy IS investments.  That failed and we need MORE regulation to fix it?

Strip away the self congratulatory rhetoric and we find, increased spending, more regulation, less transparency from the GOP.

But at the end of the day, if GOP is elected, it will be a victory of the status quo.  Turning to the guys who broke it and trusting them to fix themselves.

If we don’t stop it this election cycle, we may not have another chance to fix it.

Regarding Obama SCOTUS picks as reason to reject Barr and vote for McCain BB asks what about other great GOP picks like Souter?

Plus, McCain bills self as a maverick, outside the fold.  After McCain-Feingold would JM appoint Justices to overturn his signature legislation?

Perot got huge numbers of votes but not a single electoral vote. He still moved the GOP to the Right.

Much of the later legislative successes of the Right depended on Perot’s influence on the process by running even without winning.

Participation in campaign debates is not about message and voter information. Even inclusion of Perot was more about control of race, not information.

Popularity: 42% [?]

I’m a “Cranky Conservative”.  What is that?  GOPers who express their displeasure over the policies of the GOP over the last 15 years.

Cranky Conservatives gave us Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin herself is a Cranky Conservative. So if you are, too, you have an advocate on the GOP ticket.

Palin isn’t popular because she’s cool or fresh.  She’s popular because she adheres to the principles she adheres to.

Liberals understand that Palin’s nomination is a game changing event.  She’s more than just a Veep nominee, she’s a threat to them.

Vuguerie believes McCain/Palin could win with as much as 55% of the vote and perhaps 60% of electoral votes.

Many Dems and GOP in office are responsible  for current financial market woes.  There ought to be an investigation of Congress.

Power corrupts regardless of Party. GOP experienced that. If Obama wins, Democrats will fare no different. 

GOP becamse what it beheld.  They threw out corrupt Dems in early 90s only to become the thing they warred against.

GOP railed against Government spending throughout the 90s. But when they took power, what did they do?

They took up the politics of bribery.  Give to everyone associated with GOP with the purpose of holding on to power.

GOP claimed Washington was a cesspool but when they got there proclaimed it, instead, to be a Hot Tub.

The work and accomplishments achieved over years by Conservative and Free Market devotees has been largely undone by Big Government Republicans.

This was accomplished largely because Conservatives allowed themselves to become little more than an appendage to the GOP.

Conservatives must become a 3rd Force, not 3rd Party, on the Right.  Start new organizations and pull the GOP to the Right.

Do so by utilizing all the tools and opportunity of New Media and other up tools of new technology and modernity.

Don’t wait to be asked by any person or group.  Do it yourself and do it with passion.  You’re not invited to meetings?  Organize a few of your own.

Don’t wait for orders from Headquarters, rush to the sounds of the guns.

Dems and GOP alike have been in power for years and have made sure it’s very difficult to bring change by making it hard to even get a seat at the table.

If Cranky Conservatives successfully move the GOP to the Right, they’ll successfully move even the Left to the Right.

That can happen as long as we don’t tie our issues to a particular party. Fight for them on the basis of principle.

Don’t ask, hat in hand, the GOP or Dems for anything.  Work for your issues and passions and when the parties feel the heat, they’ll see the light!

Popularity: 36% [?]