The young lady from Georgia said, “after the Convention [in Florida] I am going to return home to Georgia and my highschool in Albany and establish a Young Libertarian’s Chapter”.
The older gentlemen was so inspired and appreciative of the young lady’s words that he exclaimed, “You hear me Sons of Liberty when I tell you this is your Future!”
It was truly beautiful and one of the great moments, I think, in Libertarian history.
#StayVigilant
–Rhett.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, SHARE! PLEASE? THANK YOU. COME AGAIN.
Over Memorial day weekend Libertarians came together from across the country and around the world to nominate their president and vice presidential candidates at their annual national party convention. And for many the top of the ticket for the fall and the general election season is troubling, deeply troubling.
But lets look at it from this perspective for just a minute, shall we? My prediction is that the Johnson-Weld ticket will be Libertarian-lite in that they’ll run under the Libertarian party banner but will, instead, draw from the well of the Never Trump Never Hillary movements in a kind of “A Coalition of the Willing.” Or as Bill Clinton and Dick Morris did so infamously in the 1990’s, “Triangulation.”
In either case I like Bill Weld and have enormous respect for Gary Johnson, ever since 2011 when he first ran for the presidency. Then as now Johnson stands for some of the same things that I do, but with Charles and David Koch, through Bill Weld, pulling on Johnson like he’s a puppet and they’re the masters even I can’t stomach that!
I hate Charles and David Koch with every fiber of my being for what they have done to this great country of ours and this beautiful world in which we all live. They are evil incarnate, in my opinion, and hell itself would be a far worse place with them in it.
I call LINO – Libertarian in Name Only! And for those disgruntled and disaffected Libertarians I offer this as your Battle Cry:
Hold fast, and as Jesse Ventura says, “Stay Vigilant…”
–Rhett.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, SHARE! PLEASE? THANK YOU. COME AGAIN.
The Honorable Paul D. Wellstone, PD-MN. (July 21, 1944 – October 25, 2002)
Years ago PD – Progressive DemocratPaul David Wellstone very famously quipped: My name is Paul Wellstone and I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic party! And ever since the Democratic party has been trying to figure out what such a human qualifier like that even means?
But with the advent of Progressive firebrands like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren that human qualifier is being answered.
This weekend the Libertarian party or Libertarian National Committee held its national convention in Orlando, FL. C-Span covered the live event. I pretty much watched it all the way through, making a few exceptions for normally scheduled television and “honey-dos” for my lovely wife along the way. LOL.
I live in Kentucky and a few weeks prior to this event I sat down and made this video on Kentucky primary day for 2016. Take a look:
As most of you know I am throughly disgusted with the 2016 Democratic primary process. In particular how it is that Hillary Clinton has come so far without real question or scrutiny? Essentially, being handed my Democratic party’s nomination for the presidency of the United States of America in two thousand and sixteen.
But after this weekend and the last Libertarian presidential debate on C-span for 2016, and the epic opening and closing statements of Dr. Marc Allan Feldman and Mr. Darryl W. Perry my faith in humanity and the Democratic party has been renewed! Because it was both these men that managed to stir the echoes and fan the flames of democratic progressivism anew for me personally. Watch.
Hearing these men’s words and the stir of echoes from the late great Paul Wellstone in 1990 when it was first running for the United States Senate from Minnesota has renewed and restored my faith in the Democratic part of the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. Renewed that there is hope. Promise. And people out there filled to overflowing with a heart for the People of America and the World.
We cannot now nor anytime in the future let up folks. Our foot must stay on the gas pedal of progress, BUT not the kind of progress we’re seeing today. Instead it should be the progress that people like Senator Wellstone and so many others have advocated for, some for years some for decades, from the very beginning.
That healthcare for all is a fundamental right and not a privilege. That people deserve and have earned the right to a livable wage and a standard of living with access to housing and public transportation that is commiserate with the times. The right to organize and unionize for representation at the table of free markets. That as Americans we have a right to expect that our government will keep its nose out of our bedrooms and off our bodies. The right to come and go as we please and do business or not do business; politically, socially or ecumenically with nation’s, Peoples and places of our choosing. And the right that when we retire medicare, Medicaid and social security will be their for us in the twilight of our ‘golden years’.
To many these ideals seem ‘high-minded’, ‘professorial’ and downright nice, BUT they are ideals ‘devoid of reality’, for now. But that through the advent of time, hard work, dedication and small ball politics we’ll get there, eventually. Afterall this is not Scandinavia or the Republic of Myanmar, we are told. “Hello. I’m earth. Have we met?” And so it goes, right?
I am all for third political parties because they keep the Republican and Democratic parties honest and accountable. They hold the two-party system in this country to a full accounting of the American people. Moving forward in 2016 third political parties can and should expect more mainstream viewership.
And speaking of, “money in politics” or the epic Citizens United Supreme Court case I have to, as a Progressive Democrat, draw a line in the sand. And push back against the idea that somehow people like Charles and David Koch, Foster Friess and Sheldon Adelson, just to name a few BIG MONEY donors, will get to dictate to Us, We the American Voters that is, how our political process or Our Future should be.
BIG MONEY politics is not a march towards progress at all, instead its a means to an end.
That is WHY I am renewed, restored and resolved to making the Democratic party Democratic again. Progressive again. Giving people a viable alternative(s) that will speak to and do far more than just be this candidate or a part of that political movement because its popular or politically expedient.
Because it’s not about a person or a slogan, a campaign or a dream, instead its about us, all of us together. We are, after all, all in this thing called life together and we are only as good as the person next to us. No better and no worse.
My name is Rhett E. Column (aka David Davidson) and I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic party! Care to join me in the march towards progressive ideals?
–Rhett.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, SHARE! PLEASE? THANK YOU. COME AGAIN.
7 “[a]Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly].2 For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you.3 Why do you look at the [insignificant] speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice and acknowledge the [egregious] log that is in your own eye?
Footnotes:
Matthew 7:1This is not a prohibition of judgment, nor is it a command to stop using godly wisdom, common sense, and moral courage together with God’s written word to discern right from wrong, to distinguish between morality and immorality, and to judge doctrinal truth. There are many judgments that are not only legitimate, but are commanded (cf John 7:24; 1 Cor 5:5, 12; Gal 1:8, 9; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 10); however, you cannot judge another if you are committing the same type of sin.
We can also take a few slips, trips and falls down memory lane here,here andhere.
“Full disclosure: I do not have absolute faith in the judgment and wisdom of the American people. We’re all human, and we can all be misled. When leaders don’t level with citizens, we can’t expect them to make good judgments. But I do have absolute faith in the heart of the American people. The greatest resource in this country is the grit, the resolve, the courage, the basic decency, and the stubborn pride of its citizens.” – “Promises to Keep,” By U.S. Senator Joe Biden, Page xx
You say well, “Bernie Sanders started it when he openly questioned Secretary Clinton’s foreign policy credentials.”
That was until she was judged by Democratic Socialist turned Social Democrat Bernie Sanders. Watch.
As with anything in politics you have what’s known as a walk back and the walk back started after Senator Sanders said this:
And continued on here:
But never one to be satisfied Hillary Clinton doubled down on the Senator’s comments about qualifications. Watch.
The New York, New York media scrum continued for these last many weeks, leading us up to these comments from Bernie 2016 Campaign Manager Jeff Weaver. Watch HERE. (Wow!)
Bernie 2016 Campaign Manager Jeff Weaver speaking at a press event in front of the campaign headquarters in Burlington, VT. USA (photo courtesy of Getty Images, 2016)…
And no doubt its wrong to say that someone made a “deal with the devil”, deliberately, BUT lets look at the context behind those words as well as the fallout from them since.
As I begin to close out this posting, and since Mr. Weaver spoke those words, a lot has happened.
For me, at least, it all adds up to one thing. One saying, one expression in the form of action, “Judge not, least you be judged” so says the Lord Jesus Christ, and that for me says everything BECAUSE if you can’t function, perform as a fellow human being, behave accordingly as an American running for the highest and best office in the land THEN you have no business doing so. And in Christ’s own words you will be judged accordingly.
–Rhett.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, SHARE! PLEASE? THANK YOU. COME AGAIN.
Late last night, early this morning I shared with my wife over a snack and cup of coffee what I think is going to happen with this 2016 presidential election cycle. One of two things in fact:
Donald Trump will become the nominee for the GOP. And Hillary Clinton will become the nominee for the Democratic Party. And from out of that will emerge a viable alternative to the Republican and Democratic nominees to be President of the United States BECAUSE Donald Trump got the GOP to get him to sign a pledge not to run as an Independent in 2016. Remember? A class action lawsuit that the for-profit civic-minded organization *Our American Initiative* has against the Commission on Presidential Debates will be decided in US Federal Court, favorably, opening up the debates, finally, to all contenders for the highest and lowest offices in the land, and we will see one or more third political party representatives debating, openly, the Republican and Democratic candidates for President in 2016. In a fit of rage Hillary Clinton will order her people to rig national elections, as was done in 2012 and 2014 elections were rigged, making her our next President of these United States. Trump, visibly happy because that’s what he really wants anyway – Hillary as President, will concede the election, “unite the country and the two political parties.” And everyone will live happily ever after.
President Obama, who has so much on his plate already, will have to declare Martial Law in the United States thus rendering the upcoming national election null and void, ordering the Congress of the United States of America back to Washington for a Special Session with orders to Repeal the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, thereafter he will dissolve the Government entirely making him Supreme Leader of the United States of America [and its last Democratically elected President]. And begin work to make North America a much faster reality; merging Canada and Mexico with us, making himself the Supreme Leader of North America – Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will go along with that as both men respect and admire President Obama greatly. Vice Leaders will be assigned to Provinces or Territories within North America these Vice Leaders will govern those territories or provinces, all will answer to him. He will appoint courts, because he likes courts after all, to keep the people, overall, in check and balance via the U.S. Troops will be federalized, all Police will be federalized, and those that don’t comply will be thrown in jail (Federal Emergency Management Administration or FEMA Camps) …That’s how it could well end up for us all.
In any case its something to watch for and pay close attention to because in this day and age you never know.
David won the respect and admiration of thousands of fellow Kentucky voters across all political party lines, perspectives and ideals.
And he ended, for now at least, his effort with one of the classicist concession speeches you will never ever see much less read/hear on a 10 o’clock nightly news cast. …
Just in case anyone missed it (and many of you may have because of the willingness of the press to ignore everything about my campaign), here is my concession statement:
“A quick congratulations to Senator McConnell. I wish him, his wife Elaine and their family nothing but the best moving forward. And congratulations to Secretary Grimes. I am sure she will continue to represent her party with cl…ass as she continues in the political arena. Best to her and Andrew. I am sure this will not even come close to slowing her down. Most importantly thank you to my wife, Ashley, for standing with me. It has been a long year and a half but well worth it. – Dave #VoteBetter
A notable edit: To write in candidate Michael Maggard of Madison Co. who lost his mother in October. Congratulations on your run sir. A more God fearing, principled man you will not find.”
David Patterson didn’t just go out with a whimper or a nod he went out of the race for United States Senate here in Kentucky with a SONIC BOOM!
The guy got nearly 50,000 votes! You say well, that’s not much, not much at all by any stretch of the imagination. And such is true, but only partly. Look at it this way. That’s 50,000 people, because one person, one vote, right? So that’s 50,000 votes NOT CAST for McConnell or Grimes. Think of how much more of a showing, a far better showing, had McConnell or Grimes gotten all 50,000 of those votes.
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican-Kentucky and KY Secretary of State Alison Lundergan-Grimes, Democrat-Kentucky, Fancy Farm, Getty Images 2014
We would be setting here today, reading this early morning posting as if it was a landslide victory for either Establishment party candidate when, and clearly, it was not.
On Election Night former Governor of New Mexico and 2012 Libertarian Candidate for President of the United States of America, Gary E. Johnson summed the whole electoral process up in the most absolutely beautiful way possible. Watch!
Is that not beautiful folks?! Not a beautifully expressed sentiment?
David Patterson may not have won the election but he did win the process, he did win the day. He ran one of the cleanest, fairest and most honorable campaigns of any candidate out there. (So too did every Libertarian who ran for office in 2014.)
He engaged the voters at every turn, every opportunity. And the message resonated.
The annual, “Not Fancy Farm Picnic & Meeting for 2014…”
And here…
Dave and a fellow voter/supporter hanging out on the campaign trail…
Time and again they came to Dave and said, “Mr. Patterson where do you stand on the issue?” “Can you tell us what you will do as our next United States Senator?”
Kind of along the same lines as this old political hero of mine said and did in the 1980’s when running for President. Watch! Classic.
And it worked because he got nearly 50,000 votes folks! That’s 50,000 registered voters that DID NOT side with McConnell or Grimes. Instead they went with Dave because they believed in him. Believed in what he said. What he was demonstrating to them when it comes to Liberty, Freedom & Limited Governance. Good Governance. Just like Reagan.
SO, say what you want or will. ‘Eh! That David Patterson man he’s, he’s just a spoiler vote!’ Sure was, he spoiled your pick for United States Senate here in Kentucky, at least, outta nearly 50,000 votes! So, how’s that for spoilage?
Kentucky Educational Television (K.E.T.) Logo …
Imagine IF he would have been given equal time in that KET debate back in early October. How different things might well have been. Perhaps? Perhaps now, winning the whole thing? We very well could have been setting here on this day speaking or posting about U.S. Senator-Elect David Patterson, Libertarian-Kentucky? Hmm. Something to ponder.
So while David may very well have lost the battle, Libertarians are winning the war. #SeeYouAtThePolls. #POTUS2016 here we come!
#LiveFree
Peace.
–Rhett.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, SHARE! PLEASE? THANK YOU. COME AGAIN.
I’ve blogged about this issue before. It’s very near and dear to my heart, and I hope it will be to yours as well. Of course I’m talking about opening the presidential debates. Especially for 2016 and then moving forward.
Not since the League of Women Voters controlled the presidential debate process in the late 70’s and early 80’s has their been any kind or sort of fairness much less openness to all points of political view. NOW, and since Ronald Reagan was last in the Oval Office a collective called The Commission for Presidential Debates has sole control over our debate process. Hence why we have never heard from anyone other than the Democrat and the Republican running for the presidency.
UNTIL NOW. Please meet my friends and neighbors at Our American Initiative. O.A.I. has been working with the likes of former New Mexico Governor and 2012 Libertarian Candidate for President Gary Johnson and John Anderson, one time U.S. Senator from Illinois and 1980 Independent Candidate for President since the Commission for Presidential Debates was formed and took the debate process over, to Open The Debates Back Up Again.
Together they have teamed up with Gov. Johnson and others to sue the Commission for debate stage access. Yes, you read that right, they have had to sue and are suing the Commission to have debate stage access for 2016.
So far and to date the process looks promising. O.A.I. & Co. are in the U.S. Court System and are awaiting a date for court. When that date comes rest assured their will be an awful lot of interested parties in the outcome of the trial. They have and will continue to pull out all the stops to stop the suit BUT, Gov. Johnson and Co., are on the case and REST ASSURED you and I will hear from alternatives in 2016.
Their is far too much at stake to turn back now. That is why I invite and encourage you all to check out O.A.I. and Gov. Johnson out via the link below. Follow them on Twitter HERE: https://twitter.com/OurAmericaInfo
We’re just inviting you to take a timeout into the rhythmic ambiance of our breakfast, brunch and/or coffee selections. We are happy whenever you stop by.
Say What News?! 