This blog is no longer active! From now on, I will be blogging at the site for my Congressional Exploratory Committee at kokeshforcongress.com. Please check it out, sign up to receive our weekly newsletters, and if you really want to get involved, check out the FTW-112 Communicator.

Love, faith, respect,

Adam Kokesh

Letter From Kevin Benderman

Subject: Adam Kokesh

To: whom it may concern
RE: Adam Kokesh


I am writing this to give my endorsement to Adam Kokesh as he attempts to gather enough support in an attempt to run for a congressional representative in the state of New Mexico.

It is past time that WE THE PEOPLE had someone in congress who is as concerned with doing the work of the American people as those currently “serving the people” are in accepting kickbacks and taking bribes from large corporations. It is time that WE THE PEOPLE started looking at the people who want to serve in government with a more critical eye. It is time to start being more involved in the running of our country and I believe that by Supporting Adam Kokesh we will be supporting someone who fully believes in the true authority of the United States as not being in the hands of the few, but is in the hands of the people.

I would ask that you take a look at what Adam Kokesh has to say about constitutional authority and his approach to how government should work in our democratic republic. I have heard some of his positions on constitutional authority as belonging to the people and this is the mindset we need in Washington and throughout our state and local governments as well.

So, if you believe the current system we have is broken and needs to be fixed, get involved, get informed, and become the true solution to the problems we face.

I believe that by Supporting Adam Kokesh and others of like mind, we will be moving our country in the direction it needs to move; back to government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Support Adam as he attempts to bring the voice of the people and the laws of the land back to Washington.

Sincerely,

Kevin M Benderman
Concerned United States Citizen
Former Army Sergeant, Iraq Vet, and Conscientious Objector

IT'S HERE!!!

Please share this, repost it, put it on your facebook status, etc. We're not starting the r3VOLution without you, but you don't want to get left behind! We can't do this without you . . .

More Coverage From the New Mexican . . .

. . . of the Sotomayor nomination that is. But apparently, I've reached local talking head status:

Adam Kokesh, a libertarian-leaning Iraq war veteran considering a run for Congress
in New Mexico's Third District, said Tuesday: "It's just sad that we're not discussing
how capable (nominees) are to interpret the constitutionality of legislation and their
commitment to those principles. ... In terms of faithfully upholding the constitution
(Sotomayor's) record is tragically deficient in terms of her views on general government
intervention and her disregard for the Second Amendment."

I would say I was misquoted, since I'm sure what I said was far more eloquent than that, but the points conveyed were exactly what I intended, and I got the last word in the story!

More Support From Our Very Talented Movement!

Someone just sent me the link to this video today and it was very exciting to see that our movement is really starting to gear up for 2010 and put its creative talents behind our viable candidates. I am honored to be counted among them.

While supporters are gearing up for a July 4th money bomb, we're gearing up for a huge Independence Day weekend here in Santa Fe. We'll have more details about that with the launch of the full site on June 1st. I also just saw the first draft of a video to promote the money bomb that should be coming out on Monday with the launch of the new site at kokeshforcongress.com from Clay Trainor. If you thought his previous videos were good, this one is going to knock your socks all the way to next November.

***EDIT: The crew from REP Freedom Force is also working on a video that will have significant footwear removing capabilities. Standby to be fully blown away as soon as tomorrow evening!***

Rand Paul's supporters are also gearing up for a "mini money bomb" for June 1st. I just donated and you should too! While having folks like myself, RJ Harris, or BJ Lawson standing behind Ron Paul in the House would be a giant leap forward for liberty, imagine our movement occupying a Senat seat! It's also looking more likely that Schiff will be entering the race to take Dodd's Senate seat in Connecticut. With Ron Paul considering backing a "10 in 2010" slate, this is looking to be a good time to be fighting for freedom!

Adam Kokesh at the Jekyll Island Project

Ron Paul Weighs In

Dear Friends,

Adam Kokesh has been a tremendous supporter - of both me AND you! As a leader of Iraq Veterans Against the War, Adam has spent years traveling the country to spread our message of peace, a strong national defense and limited government. Adam has tremendous credibility because of his service in the United States Marine Corps and I have deep respect for his commitment to principle.

And now, Adam Kokesh needs our support.

Adam has formed an exploratory committee to run for Congress in his home state of New Mexico. Sending Adam Kokesh to Congress would be a tremendous victory for the Freedom Movement, and if we come together and stand behind him, he has a real chance to win.

This race will be difficult, but I know Adam has the energy and drive to be successful and pour every ounce of himself into this effort. I urge you to go to www.KokeshforCongress.com and support him in anyway you feel comfortable. Whether it is making a financial contribution, volunteering or getting more information share with your friends and family, Adam needs your support now so he can start down this long journey with momentum and a strong wind at his back.

We have a chance to help a real patriot and lover of liberty join me in Washington. Again, I hope you will help me support Adam Kokesh for Congress.

In Liberty,





Ron Paul

Matthew Dobbs, Human Being

My name is Matthew Dobbs; I am not a Constitutionalist yet an advocate of the Constitution. I have the rank human being, I carry military rank no longer for I am no longer shackled to a system that no longer represents me, that to be a part of this species is honor enough. I am a veteran of the Afghanistan campaign, and also a concerned citizen of the United States. I believe America is at a cross roads, we are at one of those moments in history that define a people. We have immoral wars and corrupt leaders, we have corporations as war profiteers and bankers as policy makers, and we have a seemingly confused and therefore apathetic people. We also have strength and courage to oppose those who would tell us that we need to be silent and silenced, we have a determination to say no, not me, I have been used for too long, I will not be the excuse of why our republic was destroyed by Imperialism and propaganda spewed at us and told it is for our own good. So what is to be done? There is a stranglehold on our economy and veterans who speak out of line and patriotic peace loving people are becoming marked targets. We have a system where all you need is the backing of corrupt individuals and corporations, and a willingness to sell your own peoples souls to become president. We have to stop waiting for the power elite to present us with leaders that we can not only we can live with but guide us toward a greater destiny. America has sat on its hands for nearly 60 years before ever realizing we have been lied to. I can’t think of a president besides Eisenhower or Kennedy that has even believed in the concept of Republic. These corporations and banks have no bid contracts not just in Iraq and Afghanistan but on Capitol Hill and right down the street in Austin. We look to the few Politician’s who still do right by their constituents, they are few and far between, but there are still some who have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and expose the lies of our blackened kleptocracy that was once a proud Republic. So I ask again what is to be done. Do we toe the line with the people and systems that we know are hanging us out to dry? I would like to think not. Nor should we stand to the side and point fingers at the people at the top or whisper to our friends the responsibilities of the Government, one which is no longer ours. I present another question. What is the Patriots’ responsibility? In my humble opinion it is to spread the seeds of a Revolution of thought and the creation of a spirit of individual responsibility. Education for the people who no not of the destruction that Empire brings and the trust and compassion of a true Democracy. We need to throw to the curb the truths of yesterday where we defined our allies and enemies in broad strokes to fool ourselves and the masses into tight boxes of black and white. The inspired message of unfettered diplomacy amongst us all. Too long have we distrusted our neighbors even here in the heart of Texas, we need to conquer our fear and stop deceiving ourselves into thinking peace is too hard or a flight of fancy of fools. Conquer your fears and then we can march toward victory together. Someone once told me the least effective way to Influence an organization is to leave it, the most effective way to change one is from the inside. We need to support and vote for the ones who believe in peace and responsibility. The Revolution is here we now need to back and support those who are willing to do battle. We need not to just get involved with the political process but take it and make it ours once again. This is an ambitious and harrowing undertaking for those who are willing, but this course is better than fighting in the streets or capitulation to a monster we have let roam our country side and cities for far too long. John F Kennedy once said

"A revolution is coming - a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough - but a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character; we cannot alter its inevitability."

ATTN: AMERICA

Submitted by Jordan Page

“If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”
- Samuel Adams, 1780

My fellow Americans, the time has come. Undoubtedly we stand at the edge of a great abyss, with our most cherished liberties in jeopardy. We live in a time when the people of once free nations have no voice, and live in fear of repression by dark forces aligning against them. We live in a time when laws that dissolve the security and sovereignty of our country are passed without public debate and those who swear public oaths to defend it blatantly attack our Constitution. We live in an era when ruthless men atop mountains of wealth control all mainstream information outlets, thus creating false reality and proving that money is stronger than truth.

Our unaccountable elected and selected officials in Washington DC have squandered our inheritance, and given themselves immunity. They have allowed and perpetuated unsound monetary, legislative, and foreign military policies, which have led us down the path to untold human suffering. We have survived the eight long years of smug arrogance and hypocrisy that defined the Bush presidency and changed the face of the world forever, only to be swept up by the fervor of the idea of change personified by one man, whom I believe to be under the thumb and shield of the upper echelons of high finance. I remain, thoroughly unimpressed. I anxiously wait for a true voice of the people to emerge from out of the mire that is our Congress and bring sanity and humanity to our nation’s capital.

Please join me in your support for my friend, Adam Kokesh, a true American Patriot, in his quest for a seat in the United States Congress. The issues that we as a nation face have evolved beyond party affiliation, and political terminologies. We are no longer red and blue states. We are all Americans who believe in the idea of freedom and we must put forth our best efforts to protect it. Please visit www.kokeshforcongress.com, sign up and donate to Adam’s campaign. There will be a money bomb event on Independence Day, July 4th 2009, so please show your support, pledge $10 at thisjuly4th.com and help spread the message. I know Adam personally and am thrilled that someone is running for public office who genuinely believes in and fights for the ideals upon which this country was founded.

Adam Kokesh is a former Marine and outspoken voice for Iraq Veterans Against the War. I support his mission to bring passion and dedication to the table. We must have people of this caliber battling our domestic enemies in government and finance on the battlefield of the high political arena. This is a most desperate hour, and we are in need of experienced patriots to prevent our ruin.

Jordan Page, musician/activist
www.myspace.com/jordanpagemusic

Motorhome Diaries in Santa Fe!

The Motorhome Diaries crew stopped by my place in Santa Fe Sunday for a brief stay that included a meetup, an interview, and a showdown in the high desert. The videos are below. Check out what these guys are up to and how you can support them to spread the message of liberty throughout America.

Once A Marine, Always a Marine

Contributed by Tina Richards

I was so excited on Saturday when I opened up my email and found a link to the New Mexican's article about Adam's possible Congressional run. I expect there will be many more articles if he jumps in the race. While I thought the piece was fair on balance, their were a couple of items that I felt should be addressed.

First, I was caught off guard by the title of the article calling him an "Ex-Marine." As the mother of a Marine, I know that there is no such thing as an "EX"-Marine. A Marine who has left the Corps still holds the title, and if you have to, you can call Adam a "former Marine." Especially for a Marine who has served in combat in one of Iraq's toughest battles. My son was there too, Fallujah, April, 2004 in what has become known as the "Siege of Fallujah". A mother's worse nightmare and one of the defining moments of Adam's life. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fi!

In addition, I would like to set the record straight as to the results of the last election. The article reported that Lujan received 65% of the vote. As that would be almost 2/3's of the votes cast, that would truly be an uphill climb for any Marine. However, I found that the New Mexican just got the facts wrong. Lujan received 56% of the vote, although a strong showing, this is hardly the deep blue that the article described.

Adam Kokesh, regardless of what party banner he may run under, represents a powerful new political ideology that serves the people, not the political structure. Within hours of his announcement, he received endorsements from Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The wide appeal from across the political spectrum, truly shows that with Adam, labels do not apply.

Apparently, Congressman Lujan recognizes how formidable Adam will be. I've never heard of a sitting congressman responding to a potential adversary 18 months before the election, especially since we don't even know what party Adam will run with yet. Lujan sees the threat. On that point, I completely concur.

Tina Richards
Media Relations
Kokesh Exploratory Committee

It's Here!

The first grassroots-generated video in support of the exploratory committee:

A Touching Response to My Last Post

Nicely written and inspiring Adam,

As the power elite and their lackeys push us toward and ever increasing
state of oppression under the "police state" and suffocate us with
un-Constitutional laws and morph the occupations while spending our money at
an unprecedented rate, I have become increasingly more disaffected as a
federal employee. I fear that sticking it out to retirement may be for
naught for the possibility that my retirement benefits may be held ransom in
exchange for my loyalty to the system or, that once we've reached a breaking
point, I may be unable to claim and enjoy those benefits for risk of
exposing myself to confinement as an "Enemy of the state".

In recent days I have done a serious soul searching and find that the time
may be close that I should leave the safety of the federal nest. This is not
an easy pill to swallow as I have grown accustom to the security and
standard of living which my employment provides. I have grown fat and lazy
while living off the public dole, wasted the talents and ability that
Providence has provided while selling out the Birth Right bequeathed me by
our Forefathers. At the same time I have grown weary of the low
energy-sleepy pace of this pitiful existence.

While you announce an Exploratory Committee for public office, I announce an
exploration of my own and myself in search of a mission loyal to the cause
of Liberty, worthy of my existence, and the trials endured and sacrifices
made by those who left us so much.

I care not what the call may be; whether as a cog in the political machine
to grind away at our fiat government and it's hidden masters, a voice in the
wilderness of sheep in denial or, as a last resort, a soldier risking life
and limb in defense of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. I stand
committed and willing to defend, at all costs, those ideals which made our
Federation of States what it once was and can be again. Long live Liberty!


In Liberty,

Bill *****

Kokesh for Congress Exploratory Committee

My fellow patriots,

Thank you for all you have done to help me in my journey over the past years. It has been an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Slowly but surely, in our struggle for freedom from authoritarianism, we are making progress. As long as we continue to hang together, we will not hang separately!

After leaving the Marine Corps, I joined the monumental fight to end the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, bring our troops home to defend America, and restore a Constitutional foreign policy. Having won the public to our side, it is time we take the fight to the capitol, to the real enemies of the Constitution. Posturing against war while voting to fund it is unacceptable! Tragically, we still have a government that behaves like it owns us, rather than serves us.

Since I was first politically active, people have been encouraging me to run for Congress, including a recent effort to “draft” me to run (draftkokesh.com). We need rallying points to keep our movement invigorated and growing, and if a run for Congress from my home town of Santa Fe can serve as one, I will gladly step up. In that spirit, I am excited to announce the formation of the Kokesh for Congress Exploratory Committee.

While I am asking for your financial support in this effort, I want to make it clear that I am willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary to raise the standard of our national leadership. If elected, I will not accept the Congressional salary of approximately $170,000, but only the national average income. It is unbearable in these difficult times, for Congress to tell the American people what is best for us economically while they vote themselves another pay raise and burden our children with impossible debt. Enough is enough!

There is a temporary website up now at kokeshforcongress.com. Please sign up and donate there as we prepare for the launch of a complete site on June 1st.

It is time once again to draw the line between patriots and loyalists. I am a patriot because I am committed to the ideals of liberty and equality this country is destined to achieve, loyal to no false authority. I know that much more than political resistance is required to achieve a paradigm shift, but we can do no wrong standing up for what we know to be morally right. Regardless of my decision, I remain eternally committed to the cause of liberty.

Love, faith, respect,

Adam Kokesh

Flag Draped Coffins

by Tina Richards

US flagged draped coffins
our children inside,
Iraqi flagged draped coffins
their children inside,
Afghani flagged draped coffins
their children inside

As I hold a lily to place on our children’s coffin,
my heart is torn.
So many Marines I have broken bread with,
Thanksgiving dinner,
Christmas dinner
I remember their eyes with so much innocence
Their families spread far and wide
For that day,
we became their family
I became their mom

These children who returned home in flagged draped coffins.
Not knowing what war and occupation would bring them
Conflicted
I mourn for what should not have been,
what should not be

Trusting their government not to lie
Not to send them into harm’s way,
unless it was absolutely necessary
I see their innocent faces each time I see a flagged draped coffin,
I go to lay a lily upon them

But then I hesitate

I hear my son’s words

“Mother,” he told me with a tear stained face,
Innocence no longer there
“I thought what we were doing was right,“
“I was told we were going to liberate the Iraqi people.”
“I trusted our leaders.”

“Baghdad,”
“We set it free,”
“We set it free by shelling them with our artillery.”
“As we began to secure the city,
to safeguard the innocent civilians,”
“I saw three children playing,”
“I thought, ‘Yes that is why we are here.’”
“I saw a girl, maybe ten or eleven,
just the age of my sister,
playing with her younger brother and sister”
“Twirling something in the air.”
“Pink and Purple streamers she twirled it by.”
“Her brother and sister laughing.”
“Laughing at the pretty toy,”
“Delivered by the US military. “
“I realized at that moment,
it was a bomblet from our artillery.”
“Unexploded ordinances.”
“Cluster bombs.”
“In the moment I went to run,”
“to scream,”
“to shout, “No, No’”
……it detonated.
“In an instant,
half her face and arm gone.”
“Her brother and sister lay dead before her”
He said, “At that moment, I knew all I had been told was a lie”
“You cannot liberate or bring democracy with a howitzer,” he cried.
That thought would haunt him for years,
as he would bring a gun to his mouth
and call me to say he didn’t deserve to live.
Not live with the guilt of all the children killed

I think of that little girl,
Her brother
Her sister
I am so overwhelmed with sorrow and shame.
That our soldiers and Marines so trusting,
so patriotic,
have been so mislead
I brought my sons up to be Patriots
The occupations are not patriotic,
There is no honor
It is genocide.


As I lay the lily on the Iraqi coffin,
I make a vow
We must stop the killing of all these innocents,
perpetuated by the war profiteers,
military industrial complex,
our government
No more “patriots” will I raise

Rick Reyes Calls Out John Kerry

Former Marine Corporal Rick Reyes testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Senator John Kerry. Of course, Kerry has come a long way since he was in Rick's position, testifying himself about the war crimes of Vietnam. He has sold out. Kerry composed a panel of four veterans expecting them all to support Obama's criminal escalation in Afghanistan as he has. Fortunately, Rick was there to point out his great failure. John Kerry went from being a principled anti-war activist, to being a presidential candidate who, regarding the Iraq war, "voted for it before voting against it," and now is supporting Obama's interventionism. Thank you Rick Reyes!

The video here from Brave New Films doesn't go quite as far as I have in pointing out the great hypocrisy of Kerry, but is still quite informative, and a nice juxtaposition of the two veterans.

Here is Rick's full testimony. You can see Kerry looking extremely bored around 2:00.

I think Reye's predictions about Afghanistan are right on, and simple observations of history (recent and not so recent) back them up. But let me go one step further, because Reye's predictions about Afghanistan are "if" predictions. I predict the Democrats will continue to posture against war while voting to fund it. The precedent of the last two years of the Bush Administration highly support this prediction. Obama will keep his campaign promises (especially those to Wall Street and the Military-Industrial Complex) and maintain the American empire of exploitation. I hope I'm wrong!

Matthis Vindicated!

A letter from Matthis today about his hearing. Be sure to watch the video, he's brilliant in it!

Good Things Come to Those Who Struggle

Today, I stood before the Army. I looked a board of officers in the eyes, and I told them I thought they were sending people off to participate in war crimes. And what did they say? Get out of here, Sergeant, and keep your damn G.I. Bill!!!

Indeed, folks! The Army awarded me a recommendation for a general discharge under honorable conditions from the Individual Ready Reserve for my refusal to deploy to Iraq last summer. This landmark decision means not only am I a free man, I’m free to continue school this fall with the “new” G.I. Bill that I earned while on active duty.

Though this discharge is identical to the one I refused in exchange for having this hearing, I can now rest easy knowing I never submitted, I never backed down and the Army has heard my story.

And not just my story, but the stories of those brave veterans at Winter Soldier and those who’ve participated in IVAW’s Warrior Writers’ program. Full texts of both books were submitted to the Army this morning, and I can only imagine the fun they’re having transcribing them into the record.

I testified, Marjorie Conn, the president of the National Lawyers’ Guild, testified, and my mother Patricia testified as to why my refusal to deploy was quite legitimate and not deserving of attack by the military.

Though Maj. Laws, the prosecution, did everything he could to keep my legal arguments from the ears of the board (he even prevented me from reading to them from my Constitution calling the document irrelevant), our voices were heard loud and clear by a board of gentlemen who’ve given me a new respect and hope for our nation and servicemembers world-wide.

The hearing, which lasted around four-and-a-half hours, cemented in my mind that not only is military resistance to our illegal occupations righteous, it is finding new breath amongst troops who are fed up with the status quo.

This all came after a provocative appearance this morning on the local Fox News Channel (http://www.fox2now.com/ktvi-ap-soldier-on-trial-042109,0,1094348.story) in which I wore a patriotic symbol of distress (an upside-down flag) on my uniform.

During the hearing, my girlfriend Alexandra among others were present in the board room to offer moral support. Having them there made all the difference as I squared off with the military over human slaughter that we’ve all been forced to bow down to.

So what does this mean for the military? RESIST!!!! Now’s the time, ladies and gentleman. The flood-gates are open. Your leaders are listening, and more and more, they are agreeing. Resisters are moving away from being the exception, and slowly becoming the norm.

If I can refuse to go to Iraq, climb monuments, march into presidential debates, lobby congress, face the military, not go to jail and not even loose my G.I. Bill, we just don’t have any excuses anymore! Resistance is rising, and IVAW will stand firm underneath it. My story is now history, and I humbly pass the torch.

More to follow soon on my testimony at Winter Soldier and the juicy details of my hearing. Now, I’m going to sleep like I haven’t in a year!

Peace and Solidarity,

Matthis Chiroux

Matthisresists.us

Obama Looks Forward, Sees More Torture

The Obama mantra on crimes of the Bush administration since before he was elected has always been, “We're looking forwards, not backwards.” This is why people think Obama is arrogant, because he must think we are all idiots. Pointing out the logical absurdity of this statement is not enough when the intent is clear: Obama is arguing for immunity for his own continuation of the crimes he is trying to cover up.

In Obama's recent statement regarding Bush Administration torture memos, he said, “In one of my very first acts as President, I prohibited the use of these interrogation techniques by the United States because they undermine our moral authority and do not make us safer.” After a few paragraphs waxing about how none of this matters anymore, as in, “I fixed it, you can all feel better and go back to sleep now,” he concludes by saying that, “The United States is a nation of laws. My Administration will always act in accordance with those laws, and with an unshakeable commitment to our ideals. ... That is why we have taken steps to ensure that the actions described within them never take place again.” So the Bush Administration does something that is not moral and makes us less safe, and we're supposed to believe that by releasing a few memos and waving the magic Obama wand, everything is just going to be ok? Not only is Obama derelict in his duties to support and defend the Constitution, he is criminally obstructing justice.

Of course there is something much more insidious here. Yes, we should be outraged that Obama is letting Bush and his cronies off. We should be outraged that there will be no justice for the innocent detainees at Guantanamo. We should be outraged, that on behalf of those doing the torturing, Obama has intervened with the defense that was rejected at Nuremberg so long ago, “We were just following orders.” But there is something far worse to be outraged about.

Please consider for just one second why Obama would not seek accountability and establish precedent that torture will not be tolerated. It is because he plans to continue the same basic policies! Obama is working to deny detainees at Bagram their right to habeas corpus. Obama is keeping open secretive prisons within the US called Communcation Management Units in Indiana and Illinois which inmates refer to as “little Guantanamos.” Obama has declared his intent to continue the practice of rendition of victims to other countries to be tortured. His largely symbolic closing of the facility at Guantanamo will do nothing to change our image around the world when our travesty of a justice system continues to produce torture victims. Perhaps Bush did not know better, but as a scholar of Constitutional Law, Obama must know that he is crossing numerous lines. Even the most deeply “immoral” and “dangerous” policies created by the Bush Administration have not changed with the election of a President at least as immoral and dangerous.

Tea Party posters, poseurs, lions, tigers, and infiltrators, oh my!

Trouble is brewing, and the movement of patriots demanding individual economic freedom is being infiltrated, co-opted, and derided. But fear not. Restore the Republic, a truly grassroots, unregistered organization of freedom fighters is going to be there to ensure that the true message of liberty will be heard. For my contribution to the effort, I designed a series of posters for them that you can download here.

The Tax Day Tea Parties that began as a grassroots effort have been somewhat co-opted by big money sponsors and "neocon types." If they want to invest in a message that is important to us, I say let them. This may not be a day for our movement, but it could be a day for a much broader coalition to form. In Santa Fe, we even have a former Democrat State Senator speaking.

It is for this co-option (and her obsession with our tongue-in-cheek use of the verb "to teabag") that they have been derided by Rachel Maddow. She claims Obama is going to be cutting taxes for most people present, and only raising them for the rich sponsors of some of these events. Oh Rachel. If only you were paying attention when Bernanke himself admitted to Ron Paul in a Congressional hearing that inflation constituted a tax. In fact, it is the most insidious and regressive tax there is.

There have been reports that ACORN reps plan to infiltrate these events and gather signatures of people who like to sign things without reading them, only to tell Obama they were collected from people who support his economic policies.

And on top of all that, a number of movement insiders are calling the whole thing an exercise in controlled opposition. I suppose if they have us building coalitions at rally after rally (the 25th End The Fed followed by 4th of July Tea Parties) we won't have time to build a real resistance. I don't think so. Rallies will always have their place in any movement, even if they only become really effective in places like France and Thailand. Those guys know how to shut a country down! Maybe the rallies are helping our movement build towards 2010 and 2012. Believe me, the opposition our movement puts forth in 2010 and 2012 will be nowhere near controllable!

SANTA FE TEA PARTY!

The taxman is coming: 090415. RESIST TODAY!

santafeteaparty.blogspot.com

reteaparty.com

What Caused Me To Become "Anti-War"

A message I received via YouTube:

Hello, I am not for nor against your beliefs..I respect everyone's, and every Marine's opinion. I was just curious, and if you don't want to answer I understand, but what event and such caused you to become "anti-war" (please don't take that the wrong way)? I'm not saying that I necessarily agree or disagree with the conflict in Iraq, but I volunteered to serve in the USMC and understood that it meant I could go to war and fight and possibly die, I never questioned it...But I don't know, I guess what I'm looking for is another prospective from someone who did. Again, I understand if you don't want to discuss it. Thank you for at least taking the time to read this and for volunteering for my beloved Corps. Semper Fidelis.

In response:

There was no one particular event and there was no regret for me in facing the hardships of war. I never questioned my duty, but I have since questioned the morality and Constitutionality of the war in Iraq. Remember, we swore an oath to the Constitution first, and obeying unconstitutional orders is contrary to that oath. Then there was Ronald Reagan, who said that resorting to war was essentially a sign of weakness. "Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means."

My disillusionment about Iraq in particular began as a slow process with the "handover of power" on June 28th, 2004, when I was in Fallujah. There was no such handover, and there was no expected draw-down when I left. When the reality failed to meet the rhetoric, I started questioning.

Then there was the sinking feeling in my stomach when I realized (and was emotionally ready to accept) that we had been lied to. It didn't help when Allen Greenspan finally admitted, "the war was largely about oil," but it did help me to stop doubting myself.

We should all, as human beings, be "anti-war." What is war but the widespread, systematic destruction of human bodies by machinery? Who could be for that? Only those who are missing a part of their humanity. Sometimes the experience of war or the bloodlust of the military can take that away, but it is always ours to reclaim.

I am against this war because it is bad for America. It is bad for our security, it is bad for our military, it is bad for our economy, it is bad for our reputation abroad, and it is bad for our brothers and sisters who continue to loose their lives for lies. I am against war because I am a human being. I believe in the right to self-defense, and even collective self defense, but we should never take joy in even the most righteous acts of causing pain and suffering for fellow human beings.

Semper fidelis,

Adam

I Am a Domestic Terrorist

Right now, I am listening to Tom Woods at the first Campaign for Liberty regional conference in St Louis. They think we're terrorists here. A report recently released by the Missouri Information Analysis Center equates Ron Paul supporters, tax resistors, militia members, and flyers of the Gadsden flag as “terrorists.”

According to Merriam-Webster, terrorism is “ the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.” It also defines terror as “a state of intense fear.” The definition that I learned in school is even more specific: the threat or use of violence to incite fear by non-state actors to influence the actions or policies of governments.”

So terrorism can go two ways in directing its threat or use of violence, by either terrorizing a population or terrorizing the government directly. The moral choice is to attack the transgressors of individual rights, the violators of the peace, and the organized criminals that are always to be found within the government, and not in the general population. What more righteous cause could there be than to strike fear into the hearts of those who think and act like they can control by force the lives of others?

As a political movement, we are calling out the abusers of power, the tramplers of the Constitution, the servants and lackeys of the truly powerful, and we want them to be afraid! We want them to be afraid first because we are a political force. We are young, we are strong, we are calling for no less than a revolution, and we are not going anywhere until we get it!

The revolution that we speak of is a revolution of values, a paradigm shift, and a renewed commitment among the American people to patriotism, not loyalism. Our patriotism is resisting state power and being ever-ready to defend this country . . . from the government. This is in direct opposition to the current propaganda driven definition that has perverted patriotism into loyalism, the worship of power and authority and willingness to cede the rights of self-ownership to an external power that is the source of all unjust powers in the world. As a political force, they should fear us.

The core of our philosophy is non-aggression, but we do not cede the right to self-defense and collective self-defense. As Judge Napolitano said here just last night, “The dirty little secret about the second amendment, is that it was written that way so that you could shoot at the government!” The assertion of the human right, the natural right, or God-given right, to keep and bear arms is the utmost manifestation of that old rallying cry, “POWER TO THE PEOPLE!”

Thomas Jefferson said, “The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.” We live in an era of uncanny increases in tyranny in the United States and never has it been more important, despite the heightened difficulty, to assert the right to keep and bear arms. John F. Kennedy astutely observed, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”

To go back to Jefferson, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Make no mistake, the first blood of this era's revolution has already been spilled. The victims of a violent statism are all around us. We are far from ruling out the possibility of peaceful revolution, but we bring that same commitment that our founders did to today's cause of liberty, and if you would use the force of government to trample the rights of others, you should be very, very afraid!

If you want to be respected as an individual, if you want to respect the rights of others, you have nothing to fear. If you believe that our government is no longer serving the people, join us. As a member of this movement I am fighting for no less than the highest values of humanity that this country was founded on. That makes me a patriot. Some of us found out the hard way that the greatest enemies of the Constitution that I celebrate only as a means of restraining government power, are not to be found in the sands of some far off land, but rather right here at home. We know who our common enemies really are, and I want them to be scared. So I guess that makes me a terrorist. I am a domestic terrorist for freedom!

Hey Adam!

Hey Adam-

Just wanted to let you know that "Is It Time" Hit over 6000 plays this week!

Though it's been out since January - I continue to get great responses to it, and the message just becomes more powerful with each passing day.

Here it is on my Myspace:
www.myspace.com/jerm073

and here is the Free Download link:
http://www.divshare.com/download/6221713-855

I think it's a powerful message that everyone should hear - which is why I had to put it to music.
It's an easy format to burn and pass to fellow Americans. Motivational!

Hope you're well, man! Must go back to work. Thanx much again for spreading the truth & continuing to fight for freedom!

In solidarity-
Jeremy / jerm

Lots of Beautiful People Protest Occupations - Only One Obama Shirt Present

This was the hard-core. The remnant of the anti-war movement. The non-Koolaid drinkers. As in the Obama Koolaid. The ten thousand or so people that joined IVAW and the ANSWER Coalition to protest the occupations last Saturday were there because they meant it. This was no Obama rally. We had a great time setting up "Operation Not Change" at the rally and became the focus of the attention of the "Pro-War Blogosphere" contingency. I even got to do an interview with Uncle Jim from Blackfive. Enjoy:

Iraq Veterans Against the War Commence "Operation Not Change" to Mark the 6th Anniversary of the Invasion

Because the real reason for being in Afghanistan, to gain control of access to natural resources did
NOT CHANGE!
Because maintaining non-combat troops in harmʼs way in Iraq to continue the subjugation of the
Iraqi people under the guise of a softer, friendlier occupation after SIX YEARS is
NOT CHANGE!
Because continuing the indiscriminate bombing of Afghanistan, which has led to countless
unnecessary civilian casualties, driving the Afghan people back to the Taliban is
NOT CHANGE!
Because escalating the occupation of Afghanistan when our soldiers are tired of STOPLOSS,
IRR MOBILIZATIONS, and REPEATED DEPLOYMENTS with not enough
down time, to fight the same imperialist war on a different front is
NOT CHANGE!
Iraq Veterans Against the War is committed to the immediate withdrawal of all occupying
forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, reparations for the Iraqi and Afghan people,
and full veterans benefits for all returning soldiers, and that . . .
WILL NEVER CHANGE!

I had a great time today setting up and manning the towers for "Operation Not Change." My favorite raving pro-war blogger even stopped by to interview me. He had the courtesy of posting a good part of our exchange unedited. Normally, he just tries to make me look like an idiot, (he would say he needs not try) but he was surprisingly polite this time. It's true what he says in the beginning about being right behind me everywhere I go. It feels like I have a stalker! One more reason I'm glad to have moved to New Mexico.

An Open Letter to the Peace/Anti-War Movement from Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Peace

After six years of war and the historic election of a new President, we as veterans, military and Gold Star families felt an urgent need to reach out to the larger peace/anti-war movements to make our position on Iraq clear during this time of political and economic uncertainty. Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out and Veterans For Peace continue to stand together in our demand to Bring the Troops Home Now! We ask all those who have stood with us in the past to stay faithful to the cause.

President Obama has announced a plan to gradually reduce troop levels in Iraq. Many in the peace/anti-war movements are breathing a sigh of relief, and suggesting that it is time for us to scale back our efforts to bring an end to the occupation of Iraq. But for our troops on the ground, their families and the Iraqi people, the nightmare continues. They need all of us to stay in the struggle. IVAW, MFSO and VFP have been long united in our call for an immediate and complete end to the occupation of Iraq and will not shift our stance under any circumstances.

President Obama's plan will result in more casualties and suffering for U.S. troops, their families and Iraqis. To the American public facing hard times here at home, two and a half more years of occupation may not sound like that long — but for our troops and their families it means two and a half more years of fear, pain, and separation in a war and occupation based on lies. Hundreds of the troops deployed in the next two and a half years will not come home alive. Many more will return forever scarred by deep wounds to their bodies, minds, and spirits. Well over a million Iraqis have died as a result of this war — many more will be killed as the occupation continues.

We cannot afford the cost of empire. Today we are in the midst of the worst economic crisis most of us have seen in our lifetimes. Yet our government continues to allow the occupation to drain $10 billion a month from our nation's coffers. Meanwhile, veterans and military families struggle to put food on the table and get decent housing and adequate medical care. Women and men who risked their lives for this country are often forced to fight tooth and nail to get health care from an underfunded and overburdened Veterans Administration. Hundreds of thousands of veterans are homeless.

The occupation of Iraq is the source of the violence not the solution. Living under occupation the people of Iraq are held back from taking control of their own lives to determine their destiny. The continued U.S. military presence there is a cause of the violence they face, not its solution. U.S. continued interference contradicts the principles of democracy and self-determination our country was founded on.

IVAW, MFSO and VFP will continue to keep pressure on Congress and the President to bring all our troops home from Iraq NOW, ensure that veterans receive the care they need and deserve, and that the U.S. provides resources to rebuild a country we destroyed. But we cannot do that alone. We need your help to reach out to the vast majority of the American people who are completely isolated from the realities of this war. Please don't abandon this struggle or shift your position before the occupation is over and our veterans and the Iraqi people are on the path to healing.

— Signed by Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Peace

Texas Straight Talk

The following essay is from Ron Paul's weekly column. I think one of the primary things that keep neocon ditto-heads (as opposed to deliberate, neocon propagandists) from being libertarians is the inability to empathize with other people. This is prevalent in their worldview and is tragically relevant in most of their positions, but most offensively in their "views" (regurgitated talking points) on foreign policy. This is made possible by a distorted sense of American exceptionalism. I'm a patriot and believe that America is exceptional, but not because of our militarty, our economy, our government, our borders, or even our Constitution. America is exceptional only as it remains a symbol of the principles on which it was founded, as embodied in the Declaration, another imperfect, man-made document. That exceptionalism does not give us some biological advantage or the right to exploit the rest of the world's population by force, or even to think that we can tell other people how to run their countries. Ultimately, if a people want to tolerate a dictatorship, or an oligarchy, that is their decision. We have been doing it in this country for quite some time and the final responsibility lies always, with we the people. In this essay, Ron Paul profoundly asks his readers to think outside of their bubbles and EMPATHIZE. Enjoy.

Imagine

Imagine for a moment that somewhere in the middle of Texas there was a large foreign military base, say Chinese or Russian. Imagine that thousands of armed foreign troops were constantly patrolling American streets in military vehicles. Imagine they were here under the auspices of “keeping us safe” or “promoting democracy” or “protecting their strategic interests.”

Imagine that they operated outside of US law, and that the Constitution did not apply to them. Imagine that every now and then they made mistakes or acted on bad information and accidentally killed or terrorized innocent Americans, including women and children, most of the time with little to no repercussions or consequences. Imagine that they set up check points on our soil and routinely searched and ransacked entire neighborhoods of homes. Imagine if Americans were fearful of these foreign troops, and overwhelmingly thought America would be better off without their presence.

Imagine if some Americans were so angry about them being in Texas that they actually joined together to fight them off, in defense of our soil and sovereignty, because leadership in government refused or were unable to do so. Imagine that those Americans were labeled terrorists or insurgents for their defensive actions, and routinely killed, or captured and tortured by the foreign troops on our land. Imagine that the occupiers’ attitude was that if they just killed enough Americans, the resistance would stop, but instead, for every American killed, ten more would take up arms against them, resulting in perpetual bloodshed. Imagine if most of the citizens of the foreign land also wanted these troops to return home. Imagine if they elected a leader who promised to bring them home and put an end to this horror.

Imagine if that leader changed his mind once he took office.

The reality is that our military presence on foreign soil is as offensive to the people that live there as armed Chinese troops would be if they were stationed in Texas. We would not stand for it here, but we have had a globe straddling empire and a very intrusive foreign policy for decades that incites a lot of hatred and resentment towards us.

According to our own CIA, our meddling in the Middle East was the prime motivation for the horrific attacks on 9/11. But instead of re-evaluating our foreign policy, we have simply escalated it. We had a right to go after those responsible for 9/11, to be sure, but why do so many Americans feel as if we have a right to a military presence in some 160 countries when we wouldn’t stand for even one foreign base on our soil, for any reason? These are not embassies, mind you, these are military installations. The new administration is not materially changing anything about this. Shuffling troops around and playing with semantics does not accomplish the goals of the American people, who simply want our men and women to come home. 50,000 troops left behind in Iraq is not conducive to peace any more than 50,000 Russian soldiers would be in the United States.

Shutting down military bases and ceasing to deal with other nations with threats and violence is not isolationism. It is the opposite. Opening ourselves up to friendship, honest trade and diplomacy is the foreign policy of peace and prosperity. It is the only foreign policy that will not bankrupt us in short order, as our current actions most definitely will. I share the disappointment of the American people in the foreign policy rhetoric coming from the administration. The sad thing is, our foreign policy WILL change eventually, as Rome’s did, when all budgetary and monetary tricks to fund it are exhausted.

Posted by Ron Paul (03-09-2009, 10:29 AM) filed under Foreign Policy

Constitution r3VOLution 2012!

The new video is here and the website is up! We already have over 7k views and over 1k members on the Facebook group in our first weekend! Please help out with this effort by rating and fav'ing the video, joining the group, digging it, and signing up at www.constitutionrevolution2012.com. Then do what you can to spread the word! The creator of the videos, Clay Trainor, also has a post on Ron Paul Forums that talks about other things you can do to help with spreading the message.This r3VOLution is just getting cranked up again!

From the website:
We are coming together to make it clear that as a movement, we are young, we are strong, we are calling for no less than a revolution, and we are not going anywhere until we get it. Consider this our muster. It is time to stand up and be counted. Almost six years ago, on March 19th, 2003, our government began the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, a war of aggression, the worst manifestation of state power. Six years later, we will pledge our support for Ron Paul, a principled non-interventionist, to run for President of the United States of America in 2012. If he will not run, we will support whomever he deems worthy of his endorsement. Watch the video, sign up for the email list, join the facebook group, tell your friends, and come back on March 19th, 2009 to show the world there is still hope for freedom in America. ~ Adam Kokesh, Iraq War Veteran

Obama Puts the Economic Cart Before the Horse

In the following article, Peter Schiff deconstructs a lot of the myth behind Obama's economic plan in his typical, easy to understand yet revelationary style. Enjoy.

by Peter Schiff
www.europac.net

Obama Puts the Economic Cart Before the Horse

In his first televised speech before Congress, President Obama asserted that prosperity will return once the government restores the flow of credit in the economy. It may come as a surprise to him, but an economy cannot run on consumer loans. Furthermore, credit stopped flowing in the U.S. for a very good reason: there was no more savings left to loan. Government efforts to simply make credit available, without rebuilding productive capacity or increasing savings, are doomed to destroy what’s left of our economy.

The central tenets of Obamanomics appear to be that access to credit will enable people to borrow money to buy stuff, the spending will spur production and employment, and thus the economy will grow. It’s a neat and simple picture, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with how an economy works. The President does not understand that consumption is made possible by production and that credit is made possible by savings. The size and complexity of modern economies has obscured these simple concepts, but reducing the picture to a small scale can help clear away the fog.

Suppose there is a very small barter-based economy consisting of only three individuals, a butcher, a baker, and a candlestick maker. If the candlestick maker wants bread or steak, he makes candles and trades. The candlestick maker always wants food, but his demand can only be satisfied if he makes candles, without which he goes hungry. The mere fact that he desires bread and steak is meaningless.

Enter the magic wand of credit, which many now assume can take the place of production. Suppose the butcher has managed to produce an excess amount of steak and has more than he needs on a daily basis. Knowing this, the candlestick maker asks to borrow a steak from the butcher to trade to the baker for bread. For this transaction to take place the butcher must first have produced steaks which he did not consume (savings). He then loans his savings to the candlestick maker, who issues the butcher a note promising to repay his debt in candlesticks.

In this instance, it was the butcher’s production of steak that enabled the candlestick maker to buy bread, which also had to be produced. The fact that the candlestick maker had access to credit did not increase demand or bolster the economy. In fact, by using credit to buy instead of candles, the economy now has fewer candles, and the butcher now has fewer steaks with which to buy bread himself. What has happened is that through savings, the butcher has loaned his purchasing power, created by his production, to the candlestick maker, who used it to buy bread.

Similarly, the candlestick maker could have offered “IOU candlesticks” directly to the baker. Again, the transaction could only be successful if the baker actually baked bread that he did not consume himself and was therefore able to loan his savings to the candlestick maker. Since he loaned his bread to the candlestick maker, he no longer has that bread himself to trade for steak.

The existence of credit in no way increases aggregate consumption within this community, it merely temporarily alters the way consumption is distributed. The only way for aggregate consumption to increase is for the production of candlesticks, steak, and bread to increase.

One way credit could be used to grow this economy would be for the candlestick maker to borrow bread and steak for sustenance while he improves the productive capacity of his candlestick-making equipment. If successful, he could repay his loans with interest out of his increased production, and all would benefit from greater productivity. In this case the under-consumption of the butcher and baker led to the accumulation of savings, which were then loaned to the candlestick maker to finance capital investments. Had the butcher and baker consumed all their production, no savings would have been accumulated, and no credit would have been available to the candlestick maker, depriving society of the increased productivity that would have followed.

On the other hand, had the candlestick maker merely borrowed bread and steak to sustain himself while taking a vacation from candlestick making, society would gain nothing, and there would be a good chance the candlestick maker would default on the loan. In this case, the extension of consumer credit squanders savings which are now no longer available to finance other capital investments.

What would happen if a natural disaster destroyed all the equipment used to make candlesticks, bread and steak? Confronted with dangerous shortages of food and lighting, Barack Obama would offer to stimulate the economy by handing out pieces of paper called money and guaranteeing loans to whomever wants to consume. What good would the money do? Would these pieces of paper or loans make goods magically appear?

The mere introduction of paper money into this economy only increases the ability of the butcher, baker, and candlestick maker to bid up prices (measured in money, not trade goods) once goods are actually produced again. The only way to restore actual prosperity is to repair the destroyed equipment and start producing again.

The sad truth is that the productive capacity of the American economy is now largely in tatters. Our industrial economy has been replaced by a reliance on health care, financial services and government spending. Introducing freer flowing credit and more printed money into such a system will do nothing except spark inflation. We need to get back to the basics of production. It won’t be easy, but it will work.

President Obama would have us believe that we can all spend the day relaxing in a tub while his printing press does all the work for us. The problem comes when you get out of the tub to go to dinner and the only thing on your plate is an IOU for steak.

www.europac.net

Meet Obama's Residual Iraq Force

It is the noble, humble attitude of the soldier training the Iraqis in this video that will embody the spirit of Obama's residual force of "non-combat troops" in Iraq.

IVAW is Armed and Dangerous in New Hampshire!

Not only is there an IVAW member here (James Schmill) enjoying the lack of laws prohibiting open-carry in the state of New Hampshire at the Liberty Forum, we also scored some free press for IVAW at the Wilson Hill Pistol Club! (more photos on facebook here)
If they think all of us are pacifists, they might find out the hard way that's not the case! There's been a lot going on here in New Hampshire. Our first day here, we got up early to rally in support of HCR6 at the New Hampshire State House.

I gave my speech today as part of the forum and received a standing ovation. It blew me away. To be able to contribute something of value to such a savvy and educated crowd felt like quite an achievement. I'll post video if I see some.

There is so much going on here I'd love to post about, but it's well past my bed time and it all starts again tomorrow morning, bright and early. It's great to feel surrounded by people here that really feel like, "my people."

Speaking of which, the following article was written by a fellow member of my local Ron Paul Meetup in Santa Fe just for our listserve, but it was so well-written, I have to share it with you here. Frank Martin only insisted that I include his email address so you can send feedback to him directly: frank@fundimensions.com

The Lifeline of Capital, and Its Greatest Enemy

Capital is what makes it possible to produce, to employ labor and to extend credit. Capital consists of the accumulated surplus of production, in the form of machinery, buildings, transportation, communication, and so forth, together with factors of nature, such as land and labor. Capital is created primarily from unconsumed production, but also from homesteading natural factors of production.

Wages and materials must be paid out of capital, since it is usually impossible to sell production soon enough to meet payrolls. Capital is used in the production process, in the form of methods and equipment that amplify and extend labor. Finally, capital is converted to money which can be lent, either for purposes of consumption, or (more commonly in a free market) for the conversion to other forms of capital, to be used for expanding or creating new means of production.

Capital is the only thing between us and a life of subsistence farming, or hunting and gathering. Economically, these ways of life would mean rapid death for most of the people on this planet, and an end to civilization and all that it provides in art, literature, and thought. Ontologically, it would be a contraction of human possibility in a scale unmatched even by the Dark Ages.

Government is the enemy of capital. Government seeks to appropriate capital without a prior corresponding act of production, which free markets generally require, so the existence of government acts to decumulate capital. Even when government, ex post, produces something with the capital it has appropriated, it has produced something which the free market either would not produce at all (the production of "bads", such as war), or it has engaged in production to a degree more or less than the free market would have chosen. This is also the production of "bads", since the result is either a surplus, so that actors of production are wasted, or a deficiency is enforced by monopoly, and so demand is unmet.

The economic stimulus programs being conducted by government now are further assaults on capital. Government itself is stimulated substantially: one of the few prosperous ares of the country right is the Washington, DC area, and here in New Mexico, government wages have and are rising substantially. But to the extent that these programs stimulate spending as they are designed to do,the result is consumption (decumulation) of capital. While the consumption may be matched by new production, this production itself involves consumption- of materials, labor, of the useful life of plants and equipment. Without the prior corresponding act of production, the net result is still one act of consumption more than that of production. That act of prior production is missing when the government simply puts money in people's hands to spend.

The progressively greater regulation of free markets by government further diminishes capital, by adding to the costs of production, while contributing little or no additional value to the consumer. If the value of these things was economic, it would not be necessary to regulate them into existence.

Government deficits represent pure consumption and loss of capital. Government says "I will spend this money, claiming goods and services in return for it, without any prior act of production by myself or by the victims of my taxation." The loss of capital in the economy is exactly reduced by the amount of the deficit. The money is then used to produce "bads", which require further depletion of capital ("goods") to ameliorate.

It is this assault on capital, together with the production of bads, that make government the greatest enemy of peace, prosperity and civilization. The solution is widespread acknowledgement of the parasitic character inherent to government (even, and especially, of democracies), and the replacement of government with free markets in the production of security, justice, infrastructure and other so-called "government services." Failing this, we advance to economic collapse and the destruction of civilization.

The author acknowledges the contribution to this text of Economic Recovery Requires Capital Accumulation, Not Government 'Stimulus Packages' by George Reisman and Democracy: The God That Failed by Hans Herman Hoppe.

Regards,
Frank Martin
Author, FUNDimensions Fundraising Software
Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist

And finally, the following video was made with the audio of a speech delivered by Ron Paul on the floor of the US Congress recently. It seems the most strident non-interventionist in the Congress is a Republican!

IVAW Austin Pulls Off a Great Winter Soldier

Allow me to start by saying congratulations to the Austin Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War for pulling off an amazing local Winter Soldier event last weekend. Thanks to everyone who helped me out along the way to get there, to our Code Pink allies who helped with housing, to all of the allies who helped make this event possible, to Doug Zachary for hosting, and to the Austin Chapter for inviting me to participate. I posted some photos from the event on facebook here.

One of the highlights of the day was the much anticipated testimony from Brandon Neely about his time as a prison guard at Guantanamo. The actual testimony has not been posted yet, but after he spoke to the AP, two of MSNBC's sillier talking heads picked up on the story. The first video is of Keith Olbermann's segment which sets up the second video of his interview "twenty minutes later" with Rachel Maddow. His testimony is like pulling the sheet off of the elephant in the room that we had all been feeling around and thought was an elephant, but weren't quite sure. But as with 99% of the times that we suspect the government of wrongdoing of one kind or another, despite the denials by politicians of what is under the sheet, the elephant was right there all along. And yes, I mean that the reality of Guantanamo is as bad as we all suspected.

Although all of the testimony was well-presented and a welcome addition to the growing body of evidence condemning the Global War O(f) Terror, there was one other standout that was particularly insightful. Ronn Cantu, president of the Fort Hood Chapter until he recently got himself and his four top organizers honorably discharged early, testified about how an Iraqi becomes a detainee. His thorough explanation of the process will make it very clear how exactly we are making enemies fast than we can kill them.

Here's a video with some shots of the march and some clips of speeches at the rally, including mine.

The next day we went to the grand opening of the Under the Hood Cafe. Under the Hood is carrying on the tradition of the Oleo Strut by providing a place for vets and active duty guys to have a true free speech zone where they are welcome to question authority, hang out, shoot the shit, and get help with legal or personal issues they might be facing as a consequence of their service. I posted another album from Under the Hood on facebook here.

And one more parting shot for all you Obama voters out there . . .

I couldn't resist . . .

Get it yet?

Constitution Revolution Trailer - Calling All Remaining Patriots!

Something big is coming with this . . . get ready.

We are coming together to make it clear that as a movement, we are young, we are strong, we are calling for no less than a revolution, and we are not going anywhere until we get it. Consider this our muster. It is time to stand up and be counted.

Obama Pushes Back Iraq Timeline

Is anyone reading this surprised? I sure hope not, but I'll bet some of my liberal friends who endorse the concept of interventionism (and like good Democratic Party ditto-heads support a 17,000-troop surge in Afghanistan) are willing to forgive President Obama going back on his campaign promise. Even as aides say that he is trying to end the war by removing “all combat troops,” or at least reclassifying a remaining residual force of at least 30,000 troops as “non-combat,” Obama just announced that he is pushing back his promised timeline by three months.

I was in Iraq on a Civil Affairs Team. We were not “combat troops.” Too bad no one told the guys who were shooting at us. One of the most common causes of death suffered by American troops in Iraq is IEDs, which often take out the driver of a vehicle. You think it will be any comfort to the families of soldiers who die after Obama removes all the “combat troops” from Iraq (and replaces them at least in part with more mercenaries) that their perished loved ones were classified as “non-combat?”

The excuse offered is nothing new. After listening to “ground commanders,” (like Bush listened to Petraeus!) Obama has agreed to give them more time to cement security gains, strengthen political institutions, and make sure Iraq does not become more unstable again. Wasn't that what “THE SURGE” was for? Aren't we the cause of the instability? Raise your hand if you still think Obama is going to give us any kind of substantive, principled CHANGE in our foreign policy.

From the article in the New York Times, there is a direct anonymous quote that is very telling: “'The president has been struck by the fact that there has been a meeting of the minds in a lot of ways among his military advisers about what would be a safe and responsible way to redeploy our troops while protecting our interests in Iraq,' said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no decision had been announced.” This means that the Obama administration accepts the premise that it is appropriate to use force in Iraq to protect “our interests.” This is the fundamental immorality of our foreign policy.

All of this amidst a backdrop blowback denial. According to another recent New York Times article, after four years at Guantanamo, Abdallah Al-Ajmi was released into Kuwaiti custody, as there was no evidence to convict him on. The Kuwaitis tried him but also released him after a full acquittal. American officials were disappointed, but expected him to, “move on, to put his Guantanamo experience behind him, to get a job and settle down after his time in one of the toughest prisons on the planet.” Yeah, right. Last March he killed 13 Iraqi soldiers near Mosul with a suicide car-bomb.

I learned from my time in Iraq, that by the very nature of the occupation, we are making enemies faster than we can kill them. The dynamics in Afghanistan are the same. We must get over the idea that people in the middle east are going to be any more grateful for our government's intervention abroad than we are of it at home. Through both ground assaults and drone attacks, Obama has already killed dozens of Pakistanis. Do you think the brown people that we continue to dispose of so carelessly care about the skin color of our president? No. They were burning his effigy in protest next to Bush and the American flag before Obama even took office. Although I have no fear of a loving God, Jefferson's famous words are very appropriate. "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."

Photo from AP Photo by KM Chaudary: Pakistani protestors chant anti American slogans after setting on fire the effigies of U.S. President George W. Bush, center, Republican Tom Tancredo, left, and U.S. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, right, at a protest rally in Lahore, Pakistan on Sunday, August 5, 2007. Protesters criticized to Tancredo and Obama for allegedly making irresponsible statements on military strikes against Muslims and bombing on the Islamic holiest sites, Mecca and Medina.