Monthly Archive for January, 2008

Glenn Beck Validates Ron Paul’s Income Tax Claim

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 23, 2008
in Economics, Politics & Other Objectionable Subjects and Ron Paul
. 7 Comments

Earlier today Ron Paul was on the Glenn Beck TV show via telephone. I was just reading through a transcript of the show, and this part caught my attention:

GLENN: When you were on my program on television, you said something that I didn’t correct because I didn’t — I mean, it sounded so outlandish but I let it go because I didn’t have the facts and you sounded so convinced of it that I thought, hmmm, I’ve got to check into that and I’ll correct it the next time he’s on or I’ll correct it the next day. What you said was, if we got rid of the income tax, the Government would still take about the same amount of money in as they had ten years ago.

PAUL: Approximately.

GLENN: We looked into it and it’s accurate. Can you explain that and how do we get that message out to people?

I’ve heard people ask Paul time and again in interviews how the Federal government would operate if we completely eliminated the income tax, and he’s always responded that if we did, we’d be taking in the same amount of money we were ten years ago … and without fail the person(s) interviewing him laugh as if the idea is absolutely preposterous.

Here we have Glenn Beck, who was (at first) not a Paul supporter … saying he thought the idea was “outlandish”, and that he checked into it and Paul is correct.

And then there is this gem:

GLENN: I mean, you know, we just — I just happen to disagree with you, but I respect you, sir, for your opinion. I have said this, you know, behind your back. So let me say it to your face. I think you are the closest we have running to a founding father. You seem to be the only guy who has actually read the federalist papers. So I appreciate your efforts, sir.

I think Glenn is starting to like Ron.

Addendum: You can find the transcript of the entire interview here: Ron’s Revolution

Local Ron Paul Supporters Open Ron Paul HQ in Cleveland, TN

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 23, 2008
in Politics & Other Objectionable Subjects and Ron Paul
. 0 Comments

Local grassroots supporters of Ron Paul’s presidential campaign announced today that they will be opening a local campaign headquarters in Cleveland, TN at 3525 Keith St., Suite I this Friday, January 25 at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Daniel Hoffman, Assistant Professor of History at Lee University will be speaking briefly at the event. The public is invited to attend.

The campaign headquarters is a joint project sponsored by the Ron Paul Meetup Groups in Chattanooga and Chattanooga, TN. The Chattanooga group was founded in May of 2007 and claims over 275 members. The Cleveland group was founded in September of 2007 and has 50 members.

The libertarian-leaning Dr. Ron Paul is the only anti-war Republican candidate contending for the presidential nomination, has broken two fundraising records in the past few months, reportedly has more money in the bank at this time than any other Republican candidate, and is still raising money at a time when other campaigns are short on cash.

Ron Paul has served Texas’ 14th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997. Dr. Paul works tirelessly for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. He voted against the Iraq War and Patriot Act, and never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. He presently serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. He continues to advocate a dramatic reduction in the size of the federal government and a return to constitutional principles. As a specialist in obstetrics/gynecology, Dr. Paul has delivered more than 4,000 babies. He and his wife Carol, who reside in Lake Jackson, Texas, are the proud parents of five children and have 17 grandchildren.

For more information about Ron Paul, visit www.ronpaul2008.com.
For more information about the Chattanooga, TN Ron Paul Meetup Group, visit ronpaul.meetup.com/386.
For more information about the Cleveland, TN Ron Paul Meetup Group, visit ronpaul.meetup.com/888.

Tennessee Constitution, Green and Libertarian Parties to File Ballot Access Lawsuit

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 22, 2008
in News and Politics & Other Objectionable Subjects
. 0 Comments

Third Party Watch (”Tennessee Minor Party Lawsuit to be Filed on January 23“) is reporting that the Constitution, Green and Libertarian Parties of Tennessee will be filing a lawsuit aimed at Tennessee’s ballot access laws for new and minor parties. Since 1972, only the Democratic and Republican Parties have appeared on Tennessee ballots, and while others have attempted ballot access reform, no progress has been made.

I’m hoping that they succeed. Ballot access laws in most states have turned into draconian measures that work prevent viable competition to the Republican and Democratic Parties.

In North Carolina, I registered as a Libertarian in early 2002, and just before I moved here, I received a nice letter from the NC Board of Elections informing me that I was no longer a member of any “recoginized” political party. Why? Because the LP candidate for president in 2004 didn’t get enough votes to meet the ballot access requirements.

The Libertarian Party has been in existence since 1971. According to the Michael Munger, there were 13,000 registered Libertarians in North Carolina at the time of the 2004 elections, and over 50,000 voters cast their vote for Barbara Howe, the Libertarian candidate for governor that year (”NC’s repressive stance on ballot access“). If this list is still accurate, there are 18 Libertarians holding office in North Carolina. Seems to me that a party that has been in existence for over 35 years and has elected people to public office in the state ought to be considered a viable party.

The same web site cited above lists three Libertarians in office in Tennessee. Pretty impressive considering that LP hasn’t been a recognized party since 1972, isn’t it?

It’s time for the hegemony of the Republicans and Democrats in Tennessee (and across the United States) to end. Best of luck with your lawsuit, folks!

Constitution Party of Oregon Endorses Ron Paul

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 22, 2008
in News, Politics & Other Objectionable Subjects and Ron Paul
. 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 21, 2008
CONTACT: DAVID BROWNLOW, VICE CHAIRMAN, 503-307-3851

CONSTITUTION PARTY OF OREGON

RON PAUL SHOULD BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Eugene, OR - On January 19, 2007, the Central and Executive Committee of the CONSTITUTION PARTY OF OREGON met and voted to offer our wholehearted endorsement of Congressman Ron Paul for President.

Chairman Jack Alan Brown, Jr. said, “This may seem as an unusual step for the CONSTITUTION PARTY OF OREGON, to endorse a Republican, but our reason is clear – Congressman Paul is the best choice among any of the candidates currently seeking the nomination from the “two” big parties.”

Congressman Paul stands out among the professional politicians of our day:

He has never voted for a tax increase during his ten terms in Congress.
He supports the elimination of any program or bureaucracy that is not specifically authorized by our Constitution.
He would bring our soldiers home, not just from Iraq, but also from the 130 other countries where we have left them to languish.
He advocates a return to sound, constitutional gold and silver money.
He would work to restore the proper balance of power between the states and the federal government.
He would work to abolish the IRS.
He would defend the sovereignty of the United States, while avoiding “nation building” misadventures.
He would initiate legislation that recognizes the legal personhood of the unborn child.

Congressman Ron Paul’s positions are very timely, considering America’s present economic and foreign policy challenges. We urge our fellow Oregonians to inform themselves regarding the message being put forth by his campaign.

David Brownlow, Vice Chairman, said, “It is notable that Ron Paul’s record during his 20 years in Congress is one of dedicated adherence to the oath he swore to defend the constitution, and is entirely consistent with his message today. Maybe change is not always such a good thing.”

The CONSTITUTION PARTY OF OREGON offers Congressman Ron Paul our enthusiastic support.

#

CONSTITUTION PARTY OF OREGON
560-A NE ‘F’ Street, Box 201, Grants Pass OR 97526
541-659-4313, 503-307-3851; www.constitutionpartyoregon.net

Hat Tip: Third Party Watch

Fred Thompson is Dropping Out

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 22, 2008
in News and Politics & Other Objectionable Subjects
. 0 Comments

CNN is reporting that Fred Thompson is dropping out of the Republican presidential race (no article yet). I’m sort of sad to see him go. I had some degree of respect for three candidates on the R side (besides Ron Paul): Huckabee, McCain, and Thompson. I’ve lost my respect for the first two, but I still like Thompson despite my disagreements with him.

I also think he got a bum rap a few weeks ago when he stated that he ran not because he wanted to be president, but because people wanted him to run and he felt it was his duty to do so. Honestly, I think that’s the best statement somebody can make regarding why they are running. I’m suspicious of people who run for pretty much any other reason.

Update: The Times-Free Press has an article now (”Republican Fred Thompson quits the presidential race“).

Huckabee Campaign Has Financial Issues

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 22, 2008
in News and Politics & Other Objectionable Subjects
. 0 Comments

The American Spectator is reporting that the Huckabee campaign seems to be running out of cash rapidly (”Huckabee broke“). He’s joined his compatriot Giuliani in asking his senior staff to work without pay, and has eliminated or cut salary for lower-level positions, prompting many of the affected staff to abandon ship.

The money simply hasn’t come in at the rate that we expected,” says the aide. “Florida is a $7 million commitment that we can’t meet, and if we did, that leaves us exposed for Super Tuesday, where we have a lot of states and a lot media buys. We had to make tough decisions.”

Doesn’t sound good.

Hat Tip: James Ostrowski @ lewrockwell.com

Paul Volcker, Where Are You?

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 22, 2008
in Economics and News
. 2 Comments

Paul Volcker … I know you’re out there. Please call Ben Bernanke and give him some advice on how to deal with the economic situation we’re in now.

I’ve been reading speculation that the Fed would cut interest rates significantly after an unscheduled meeting for around a month now. This morning, it happened (”Fed slashes rates“). Bernanke gave us a 3/4% drop in both the federal funds rate (to 3.5%) and the discount rate (to 4%). This is the largest cut in rates since 1984.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington Tuesday morning, said that he hoped the rate cut would restore some confidence in the financial markets and U.S. economy. “I think it’s very constructive and what I think it shows to this country and to the rest of the world [is] that our central bank is nimble and able to move quickly to respond to market conditions and that should be a confidence builder,” he said.

I hate to rain on the parade, but does anybody remember what was happening in 1984?

To give you an idea … in 1979, Jimmy Carter appointed Paul Volcker chairman of the Fed. The previous occupant of that position, G. William Miller, had only held the position for about a year and a half because he twiddled his thumbs while the economy went down the tubes.

Volcker, on the other hand, did not twiddle his thumbs. He increased the discount rate from 11% to 12% (notice how much higher they were then than now). By 1981, he’d raised the rate to 20%. His actions severely contracted the money supply, and pretty much sent the economy into a recession. His actions were horrendously unpopular. Farmers drove their tractors to DC and blockaded the Fed building, and the brick layer’s union sent over loads of bricks with a note saying they didn’t need them any more.

However unpopular his move was, it had a positive effect on the economy. Officially, the recession ended in November 1982 (as if you can really put a date on these things). By 1984, the Fed was aggressively cutting back on interest rates because of the recovery. Volcker’s actions, as unpopular as they were, are widely recognized today as having been the right medicine at the right time.

So, dear readers, in 1984, the situation was drastically different than it was today. We had a recession and ultra-high interest rates from the Fed behind us. Although we weren’t out of the woods yet, so to speak, the economy was recovering and growing again. We, on the other hand, are in 1978 or so, waiting for our 1979 to get here, and Bernanke is doing the exact opposite of what the Fed should be doing (assuming for a minute that the Fed should be attempting to control the economy in the first place).

I suspect the path the economy takes now is not going to be one that makes Bernanke happy. I hope I’m wrong …

If you want to read more about Paul Volcker:
WikiPedia: Paul Volcker
Educate Yourself - Paul Volcker: Part 1 & Part 2

Best Pearls Before Swine. Ever.

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 22, 2008
in Humor and Twitter Updates
. 1 Comment

Sunday’s Pearls Before Swine is the mostest awesomest one I’ve seen yet. “and the wind cry moron” … can’t get any better than that. I love this strip!

Back on Benadryl

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 22, 2008
in Life
. 0 Comments

Folks who know me know that I’ve had an awful time with the hay fever type of allergies for most of my life, and I also am officially allergic to an awful array of substances, including shellfish (no shrimp! arrrrgh!), beef, pork, egg, chocolate, soy products, and two other things I can’t remember any more.

Fortunately, the only one of the foods listed above that really bothers me is shellfish (though I really, really, really miss eating shrimp). It’s a good thing, because I’m not giving up steak and bacon until eating them comes close to killing me.

People who’ve known me since high school know that I controlled my allergies with Benadryl at that point. It worked really well, except for the drowsiness factor. Once I’d recovered, though, I’d be fine for a while. Then000 one day after I took some at school, I drove home under the influence and couldn’t recall getting there. I was told I backed into a bush dropping a friend off.

That was it for Benadryl. After that I tried a whole slew of medications … drowsy and non-drowsy, prescription and non-prescription. The ones I remember include Actifed, Tavist, Sudafed, Seldane, Claritin, Allegra, Nasalcrom, Advair, Nasonex and Astelin. Without fail, the ones that did work would stop working after weeks or months. I guess my body builds up resistance to them or something.

The most recent disappointment was Astelin. My doctor gave me a few trial dispensers, and at first they’d dry me up so fast I didn’t have time to count to 10. If I wasn’t careful, I got an awful aftertaste in my throat for 15-20 minutes afterwards, but that was a small price to pay for a non-drowsy solution. Then, before I even got through my third (and final) trial dispenser, right at the time I was about to call the doc back and ask for a prescription, it quit working. Completely. Totally. Wouldn’t even slow down the allergy train.

At least I hadn’t invested in any yet.

Then while I was at my parents’ house over Christmas, my allergies got so bad on Christmas Eve that I drove to Wake Forest with my brother, and after staring at the selection of OTC allergy meds, hoping to find something new and potentially useful, I finally just settled on a box of plain ol’ Benadryl.

I took it as soon as we got back, and within the hour I was out like a light. But … when I woke back up, I was allergy-free. In the days that followed I resorted to Benadryl a number of times. It disrupted my workday, but it wasn’t nearly as disruptive as trying to program while sneezing and dealing with burning sinuses. Trying to concentrate in the midst of that pure misery is absolutely impossible.

Then, about a week and a half ago, I stumbled upon some advice online. Somebody suggested taking the Benadryl at night before I went to bed. After all, if it put me to sleep at night, that was no big deal. I’d never thought about that before. I’d always taken it reactively … never proactively.

I’ve been doing that since then, and it works quite well. Most days, I’m completely clear. On the worst days, I have minor sniffles. I have probably been consistently productive more in the last 10 days than I have since I first entered the work force.

So, I’m posting this thinking that perhaps somewhere out there in internetland, there is another poor soul who has suffered for twenty-some years as I have who might benefit from this advice.

I’m crossing my fingers and hoping it keeps working.

Maryland Abandons Touch-Screen Voting

Published
by
Jeremy Clifton
on January 21, 2008
in News and Politics & Other Objectionable Subjects
. 0 Comments

According to the Baltimore Sun (”Security of ballot not 100%“), the State of Maryland plans to retire its electronic voting machines and move back to scanning paper ballots by 2010, a full four years before it finishes paying the bill for the electronic machines it is retiring.

I’m thrilled to see a state moving in this direction. I have worked with computers for years, and been exposed to them since 1979 (or maybe 1980) when my father brought home an Atari 800, and my experience is enough to make me more than just slightly uncomfortable with the idea of electronic voting machines.

It’s not really the computer part of the voting machines that makes me uncomfortable, though we’ve seen issues with core components themselves, such as the famous (at least in the geeky circles I run in) Pentium FTV bug that caused the CPU to have trouble doing certain floating point division operations.

What really concerns me is the people that program the voting machines as well as the people who are in charge of running them. Quite frankly, I simply don’t trust everybody to not try to do things to alter the results of an election … and considering that vote fraud wasn’t unheard of even in the days before electronic voting, it’s not a stretch to imagine that people would try to manipulate the results of an election electronically.

The main issue, in my book, is that electronic voting machines make it easier for a single person to alter the vote, and the results of such an alteration can potentially be far worse than has been previously possible with paper ballots.

If you don’t think it could happen with electronic voting machines, watch this video which features a Clint Curtis, computer programmer, testifying in court about how easy it would be to alter the results of an election:

Yes, he could be lying, but remember … he testified under oath that the Speaker of the House of Florida asked him to write a program that would rig an election.

If that doesn’t concern you, maybe this video, recorded by three Princeton computer scientists, will:

In case you didn’t watch the video, after showing the machine give an incorrect vote, the narrator says

When the election ends, the vote-stealing software can delete itself from the voting machine. No evidence remains that the machine was ever hijacked. No evidence remains that any votes were stolen. As far as anyone can tell, the election was conducted fairly … but the result is fraudulent.

…

Anyone who has access to a voting machine for a few minutes can install malicious code.

Concerned yet?

I think I want to cast my votes in Maryland.