E TU REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS?

Mainstream Republicans are starting to notice the Republican Liberty Caucus, RLC. Founded in 1991, during the presidency of George H. W. Bush, the RLC took the stated principles of Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater and Robert Taft and made them the foundation of their movement. It bills itself as ‘The Conscience of the Republican Party.’

Nineteen ninety one was about the time I stopped my almost continuous 36 year subscription to National Review. It was also about the time I switched my registration to Libertarian after I started having doubts about exactly where the GOP was headed and increasing doubts about the elder Bush’s commitment to smaller government.

After all, the Berlin Wall had fallen and the Iron Curtain had lifted off Europe. So what was the purpose of the huge totalitarian bureaucracy that we’d have to tolerate to defeat international communism that William F. Buckley had told us about? I’d begun to think I’d missed something.

What I, and many like-minded people had missed was the fundamental flaw in the assumptions of the Cold War. We all knew that communism could never match the free market in production. We all knew the Soviet Union was falling far behind us, so how could such a system, mired in bureaucracy, ever truly be a threat to us? Of course, it couldn’t.

The second thing that never occurred to us was what would happen to the military-industrial complex when and if we did defeat international revolutionary socialism. We should have known that bureaucracies never simply folded up their tents and went away. There would always be other justifications for their perpetuation. The military-industrial complex found it in Islamic terrorism.

So I migrated to the Libertarian Party, the Constitutionalists, back to the Libertarians and finally back to the GOP with the candidacy of Ron Paul. In the meantime, I did a lot of thinking and reading. I think there are a lot of people like me.

Now, John McCain, as the 2008 nominee is the head of the Republican Party but that offers no solace. But, I am sticking with the GOP because of the disastrous results of 2008. The Libertarian nominee, Bob Barr, Constitutionalist nominee Chuck Baldwin and Alan Keyes didn’t even combine for 1% of the vote despite widespread disillusionment with the two main candidates.

So now what do we do? The Barack Obama administration is far more radical that of Bill Clinton, who despite the radicals in his, had a strong commitment to free market principles for new proposals, although he was at least as committed to the perpetuation of the existing bureaucracy. There is no doubt that Barack Obama wants to expand the bureaucracy exponentially. He is far and away, the worst news for individual freedom in American history.

Elections are looming and the RLC has been growing and is flexing its muscles. We are being noticed. When Rush Limbaugh, Bill Kristol, Bill Bennett, Frank Rich and Ben Stein start criticizing the movement and its titular head, Ron Paul, you know it is scoring some big points.

The RLC was instrumental in toppling Jim Greer, the autocratic Florida Republican State Chairman. Candidates are noticing and currying our support. In Texas, the RLC has endorsed 16 candidates and it has extended its endorsement in 16 others.

For candidates for United States Senate and House, I suggest that we draw up a series of planks that any candidate seeking our endorsement pledge and sign a commitment to work for. Further, every candidate should be made aware that we will be grading them on their performance very frequently during their terms, if elected.

I can see no room for variation in this. They must be held accountable for their actions, once in office and be aware that we are watching them. As M. Stanton Evans, one of the original staffers of National Review said, once elected, an office holder should be viewed as the enemy. Any office holder should be viewed as an enemy of freedom!

I suggest the following list of positions:

• To sponsor legislation to repeal of all the Federal Reserve Acts,
• To sponsor legislation to repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment,
• To sponsor legislation to repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment,
• To sponsor legislation limiting military commitments to 90 days without a declaration of war,
• Irrespective of the outcome of the recently heard, McDonald vs. City of Chicago case, to sponsor legislation defining the Second Amendment as giving the people the right to keep and bear arms and removing the Amendment from the purview of the courts.

These five positions I submit should be regarded as nonnegotiable. Between them, they will help choke out the life of the Washington behemoth and will help bring it to heel. The first two choke it at its trachea. Without money, Washington can’t continue its assault upon the states and citizens.

Numerous observers have noted that the Seventeenth Amendment deprived the states of representation to the federal government. Unmentioned is that it also deprived the states of a mechanism to order the proposal of additional amendments. With state power thus restricted, it helped spawn the unbridled power that is Washington tyranny today.

The fifth is self-explanatory.

To sponsor legislation to either the repeal of the 1947 act that established the Central Intelligence Agency or to transfer its function to the Congress where Congress can reassert its authority over foreign policy as it is supposed to. The President does Congress’ bidding, not the other way around,

To sponsor legislation to end all foreign military involvement within 2 years and the closing of all foreign American military bases within 10 years,

To sponsor legislation reasserting Congress’ authority over the courts by removing certain issues, such as abortion, from court purview and letting them devolve to the individual state,

To sponsor legislation to end every cabinet level position other than Defense, Justice, Treasury and State and to transfer the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to the Department of Defense and to end all of sub-departments of every one of the eliminated department.

Barack Obama is shaping up for the Democrats as worse than a combination of Herbert Hoover, James Carter and George H. W. Bush combined. He is a one-termer for sure.

This is an opportunity to make these next two elections referenda on The Constitution; to force it, front and center, into the debate. In the process, hundreds of thousands of bureaucratic leeches should be sent packing back to their homes.

Everyone displays interest. Even liberal Democrats respond with interest when The Constitution is invoked. This is an educational opportunity of a lifetime.

The vilified Glenn Beck is one of the few, if the only, national radio or TV host who has seen fit to criticize both Democrats and Republicans for their excesses. I have seen him blasted by both conservatives and liberals, which to me means he’s doing something right.

Just last week he featured the World’s Smallest Political Quiz on his program. The quiz gets away from the liberal-conservative, left-right, Democrat-Republican paradigm that has been at the base of just about all political discussion in this country. It was this quiz that showed so many people that they were libertarians, at heart. Libertarian ideas are ascendant.

In a nutshell, I think that if you want to destroy yourself with alcohol, drugs, sex or gambling, you should be free to do it. Just don’t try to turn around and force me to subsidize the disasters that result.

And, you should be free to be a bigot or racist in your own affairs, just so long as you don’t hurt someone else’s physical well being or his property but once more, you’d better be ready to suffer the economic consequences of your actions. If you don’t want to associate with me or anyone else for whatever reason, you will pay a price, directly or indirectly.

And don’t come knocking on my door to send me or my children off to fight your battles. I’ll be ready to defend this country, when an enemy comes here.

Personally, I would be very reluctant to vote for any candidate who wouldn’t sign on to, at least, the first four planks. Washington, D.C. is a hydra-headed monster. The people and Congress must guard their power jealously so that this doesn’t happen again.

These would just be for starters. I am sure that any libertarian could come up with a whole group of others. So, put on your thinking caps, guys. I don’t think we’ll have another chance to save this country.

US Senate Candidate Marco Rubio will be the featured speaker at the March 2^nd Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida (RLCNEF) Meeting. Rubio is running against Florida Governor Charlie Crist in a race that has generated interest throughout the country.

The RLCNEF is anxious to hear Rubio address the liberty issues they have been focused on since being chartered in May of last year. Questions will cover the proper role of government, state and national sovereignty, foreign policy, monetary policy, the national debt and civil liberties. There will be a “liberty lightning round” in which Marco will be asked a series of support or oppose questions as well as a Q&A opportunity for members and guests. The host of the evening’s event will be Will Pitts, State Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida (RLCFL).

The March meeting will be the first in the new Four Points Sheraton location. There will be a reception from 6:00PM – 7:00PM with complimentary drinks and appetizers donated by the RLCNEF membership followed by the meeting from 7:00PM – 8:15PM.

All are welcome to attend RLCNEF Meetings regardless of party affiliation.

Please help us promote this event!

Promotional Flyer:
http://files.meetup.com/1148187/RLCNEF_March2010_Regular_Meeting_Flyer.pdf

Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=346585562537

Meetup Event:
http://www.meetup.com/RLCNF-org/calendar/12590727/

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida had a large crowd for its last meeting at the offices of W.G. Pitts, with the feature of the meeting being Dave Shields’ presentation on “Living the Liberty Message” and a forum for members and guests.

Randy Scudder opened with the Patriot’s Pledge, then Chairman John Stevens recognized the elected leaders and guests, and gave the guests an overview of the RLCNEF.  Kimberly Wells stepped up to the podium for a moment after, letting the assembly know of her resignation as Vice Chairman of the RLCNEF, and Chairman of the Membership Committee.

Dave Shields followed with an inspirational discussion titled “Living the Liberty Message.”  It focused on self-sufficient living and removing yourself from many of the schackles of typical government-dependent living.  You can find a transcript of his speech on this website at http://www.rlcnef.org/self-sufficient-living-living-the-liberty-message/.

Following was a forum for both members and guests, with a panel including John Stevens, Erik Setzer, Kristi Dunn, Michael Wahlman, Savannah Poole, Cliff Johnson, Jon Anderson, Cal Heseman, Victor Wilhelm, and moderated by Louis Rose.  Members were able to able to ask some questions for the panel to answer, and then were able to vote on the topics that the RLCNEF should focus on moving forward, with the top two being education of the Consitution and trying to get liberty-minded candidates to win local (county and state level) elections.

After the forum, John Stevens announced new members, and moved on to new business.  Will Pitts gave a review of the Republican Party of Florida meeting on January 8-9, and urged members to attend the February 20 RPOF meeting to vote for the next state chairman.  Savannah Poole told members about an upcoming members-only event for fun on March 19.  Finally, Michael Wahlman informed members that the RLCNEF bylaws had gone through a lengthy revision process and will be up for vote by the members on April 6.

Finally, three guests running for office spoke afterward: Mike Yost running for Congress District 3 (yostforcongress.com), Troy Stanley running for Congress District 4 (stanley10.com), and Chelsi Henry running for Soil and Water Group 5 (chelsiphenry.com).

Next Board meeting: February 24, 2010, Offices of W.G. Pitts
Next Regular meeting: March 2, 2010, Four Points Sheraton (8520 Baymeadows Rd.)

After reading few of the article written by several RLCers Doug Kosarek contacted me and asked that I called into the radio show. We talked about grassroots activity, local politicians, the recent controversy in the local Republican Executive Committees and the electing of a new Republican Party of Florida chairman.

You can listen to the show with the player below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida is holding a Rally in Support of Ending the Federal Reserve Banking System

On Sunday, November 22nd from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM outside of the Federal Reserve Building, 800 Water Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204, members of the Republican Liberty Caucus will be holding a rally to express support for “Ending the Fed.”

This rally is being held simultaneously at 38 cities across the country with various liberty minded organizations to express support for U.S. House Bill HR 1207 and U.S. Senate Bill S 604 authorizing a full and complete audit of the privately held Federal Reserve Bank System.

The local chapter’s chairman, John Stevens, says, “American Taxpayers deserve to have a full and complete audit to bring transparency to the Federal Reserve Banking System that has repeatedly created financial bubbles and exacerbated the current economic crisis.”  Mr. Stevens further adds, “Very few Americans realize that the Federal Reserve System is a privately owned banking cartel with the ability to create money out of thin air.”

Founded in 1991 as a 527 political organization, the RLC works to advance the principles of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise within the Republican Party and throughout the country at all levels of government.

For more information about the RLC, contact Northeast Florida Chairman John Stevens at 904-806-3586 or johncharlesstevens@msn.com.

For more information about this event, contact Activism Chair Victor Wilhelm at 904-318-7208 or VLW149@gmail.com.