IFC/NRA Second Amendment Rally

Ron Paul Gains Ground In Iowa (Literally)

It may come as a surprise to former Congressman Anthony Weiner, but the best way to judge a politician's efficacy is by the size of his... uh, tent.  At least that's how it works at the Iowa Republican Straw Poll in Ames.  Judging by the site awarded to candidate Ron Paul, the good doctor plans on having a lot of supporters in his tent.  (I'll be one of them.)

The straw poll is held in and around the Hilton Coliseum on the ISU campus which is sectioned off and lots are "auctioned" off to the respective campaigns.  Of course not all lots are equal and the choicest spots go to those who cough up the most cash.  (The proceeds go to the Iowa GOP.)  According to the Iowa Republican (which listed Ron Paul as one of the big winners of the straw poll real estate auction):

The Ron Paul Revolution will take center stage at the Iowa Straw Poll now that Paul has purchased the same lot that has hosted the previous two winners of the event, Mitt Romney and George W. Bush. Paul had to pay a hefty price, $31,000, but the space is the closest of any other to the voting locations. The elevated walkways that will surround the Paul compound make it an ideal spot for the media to use as a backdrop.

This will be quite different than when I attended the event in 2007.  Back then the deep-pocketed candidates (like Romney) were in the center of the action and had huge tents, catered meals, bands, and carnival rides.  Dr. Paul's lot was a bit off the beaten path and I can only recall one open-sided picnic tent.  He had some local garage bands and campaign volunteers grilled a few hotdogs.  (That was still better than 1999 when I supported Alan Keyes.  His small space was literally out in a parking lot.  He had a small GI pup tent set up and he and I split a Fresca.  Okay, I made that last part up.)

This time Ron Paul appears to one of the major players at the event.  Unlike 2007, Ron Paul will be providing charter bus transportation for supporters to get to the event.  The IowaForRonPaul website boasts that Dr. Paul's tent will include free food, drinks, literature, music and games.  Before supporters had to pay their own way into the event, this year Paul's campaign is subsidizing the tickets so supporters only pay $10 for everything, including transportation.

If you'd like to attend, you can order your ticket at http://www.iowaforronpaul.com/.

TSA Tyranny Update

Former Miss USA Sexually Assaulted by TSA



TSA Not Just In Airports Anymore

According to a recent American Thinker article, the TSA is currently storming about 8,000 public places per year.   In one typical TSA operation, "[b]us travelers were shocked when jackbooted TSA officers in black SWAT-style uniforms descended unannounced upon the Tampa Greyhound bus station in April with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and federal bureaucrats in tow.  A news report [...] showed passengers being given the signature pat downs Americans are used to watching the Transportation Security Administration screeners perform at our airports. Canine teams sniffed their bags and the buses they rode."  TSA conducted a similar operation at a Des Moines Greyhound bus depot this month.

Not impressive enough?  More spectacular was a recent operation where "the agency led dozens of federal and state law enforcement agencies in [an] exercise that covered three states and 5,000 square miles. According to the Marietta Times, the sweep used reconnaissance aircraft and 'multiple airborne assets, including Blackhawk helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as well as waterborne and surface teams.'" 

As the TSA extends its reach well beyond airports, the apathetic masses might soon rephrase Pastor Martin Niemöller's famous statement, "First they came for the air travellers, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't an air traveller."

Texas/TSA Showdown Continues

Earlier in the year the Texas legislature introduced a bill banning the TSA's intrusive "enhanced pat-downs" and one banning the TSA's new nude body scanners in Texas airports.  (See "TSA Tyranny Update" March 20, 2011)  Support for the bills apparently crumbled after the Obama administration threatened to shut down air traffic in Texas if the bills passed.  Neither bill made it out of the regular legislative session.

Now, however, Texas governor Rick Perry has added the anti-groping bill to the agenda of legislative special session at the urging of state legislators.  According to the Texas Tribune, "The bill would criminalize any intentional, knowing or reckless touching of a person's private parts during a security screening, including through clothing."  It appears that the bill now has the necessary votes to pass.

Don't mess with Texas!

Iowa In Top 15 Freest States

Ever wonder how Iowa stacks up against other states in the area of freedom?  Pretty well according to a recent study by Mercatus Center at George Mason University.  Iowa came in 13th in this study that "comprehensively ranks the American states on their public policies that affect individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres."  Iowa ranked 7th and 30th in the economic and personal freedom subcategories respectively.

According to the study, Iowa "particularly stands out on economic regulation. Iowa also has a light touch on land-use planning. Labor regulations are business friendly, with right-to-work laws [..] and a decent workers’-compensation regime." 

Iowa appears to be more of a mixed bag when it comes to government paternalism.  Private schools and homeschooling are over regulated while marijuana sentencing and asset forfeiture laws need reformed.  However, much gambling is allowed and most  PAC political contributions are unregulated.  The same-sex marriage ruling occurred after the period studied in the report (as did Iowa's new right-to-carry firearms law).

The study makes the following policy recommendations for Iowa:

"1.Improve the environment for personal freedom by cutting sin taxes and reforming marijuana sentencing guidelines.

"2.End private-school teacher licensing. Reduce standardized testing and notification requirements for homeschoolers.

"3.Reform asset forfeiture by placing the burden of proof on the government and redirecting proceeds to the general fund."

Vote Ron Paul At The Ames Straw Poll



 I’ll be supporting doctor and U.S. Representative Ron Paul at the Ames Straw Poll on August 13th.

At a time when the U.S. government is borrowing $3 million every minute, many Republicans have signed on to a supposedly “bold” plan that pretends to have unknown future politicians balance the budget 50 years from now. Ron Paul, however, supports balancing the budget while we still have a country. In his 21 years in Congress, Paul has never voted to raise taxes and has voted AGAINST every unbalanced budget. Imagine what he could do with a presidential veto pen.

He never votes for legislation unless it’s expressly authorized by the Constitution. His votes have earned him the derisive name “Dr. No” from his big-spending colleagues in Congress and “Taxpayers' Best Friend” from the National Taxpayers’ Union. He realizes that we can no longer afford to fight war after endless war where we no longer even bother to define victory. Ron Paul is pro-life, pro-free market, and pro-Second Amendment.

If you want to support Dr. Paul in the Ames Straw Poll you can get your ticket at http://www.iowaforronpaul.com/. If you register before July 4th, you get roundtrip transportation to the event, a Ron Paul T-shirt, and food, drinks, and entertainment at the Ron Paul tent for only $10.