tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1407148584737557312024-03-21T15:48:21.367-05:00Minnehaha Creek MugwumpCasey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-34495759776774418852008-10-28T22:23:00.016-05:002008-10-29T22:31:33.583-05:00Letter to a writer at The New YorkerI wrote to Raffi Khatchadourian,<blockquote>I feel disappointed you didn't touch base with me on the facts of the story you wrote on Bob Barr, published this week in <span style="font-style: italic;">The New Yorker</span>. As the member of <span style="font-style: italic;">Minnesotans for Limited Government</span> (MNLG) who was the catalyst behind Bob Barr's invitation to the Langford Park picnic, I was privy to the full context of the situation, the tension between the Ron Paul and Bob Barr campaigns. There was a story beyond what you saw, which you might have learned had you asked, that would have balanced your presentation. In short the Ron Paul <span style="font-style: italic;">Campaign for Liberty</span> people were not happy that MNLG had invited Bob Barr, from what I was told. I was told they were trying to get MNLG to renege on the agreed upon time. I, myself, encouraged both sides, MNLG and the Bob Barr campaign, to speak directly with one another and act honorably. Fortunately MNLG acted with integrity as I knew they would. Regardless there were bad feelings on the part of the Bob Barr campaign towards the Ron Paul campaign, the after-effects of which you witnessed. If you had asked, you might have understood this full context, which few are aware of. Unfortunately you only painted half the picture, the latter half at that.<br /><br />Robert Kraus <a href="http://www.lp.org/blogs/andrew-davis/to-our-supporters-and-volunteers">writes of a pattern</a> -<br /><blockquote>This pattern is something that we never wanted to disclose but holds true to previous treatment where staff members for Paul's campaign tried on more than one occasion to have Bob Barr uninvited from events, including Bob's gracious introduction of Ron Paul at last year's CPAC conference.<br /><br />I do doubt that Dr. Paul was aware of these antics.</blockquote>(There's also <a href="http://www.kylevarner.com/2008/09/12/the-paulbarr-breakup-the-inside-story/">a hearsay report</a> which deserves additional investigation if the full story behind these tensions is of interest.)<br /><br />Meanwhile Ron Paul endorses Chuck Baldwin, <a href="http://www.peroutka2004.com/schedule/index.php?action=eventview&event_id=295">a candidate whose 2004 campaign bragged about an endorsement from the League of the South</a>. I would encourage this story to be more fully explored given <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whqtv9D9g-Y">the allegations</a> of James Kirchick in his New Republic article<a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e2f15397-a3c7-4720-ac15-4532a7da84ca"> Angry White Man</a>. Ron Paul had no compunction in inviting Baldwin to speak at a rally in Washington, DC. I see people in the Ron Paul campaign acclimatizing themselves to an anything-goes mentality at the state level, and I mean "anything goes". Walter Block, an economist of whom Ron Paul <a href="http://ronpaul2008.typepad.com/ron_paul_2008/2008/01/message-from-ro.html">speaks highly in his response to the TNR article</a>, has even <a href="http://www.mises.org/journals/jls/17_2/17_2_3.pdf">written in favor of slavery</a>. I hope I am wrong <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exhagneo.html">about my worst fears</a> here.<br /><br />As Charles Sumner wrote,<blockquote>Where liberty is there slavery cannot be, and where slavery is there liberty cannot be.</blockquote><br />Meanwhile our country, by reasonable accounts, is quickly becoming a closed society, where civil liberties are being curtailed acceleratingly. Torture, wiretapping, loss of habeas corpus, journalist and mass arrests (and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PWy-rCM_SQ">an alleged torture</a>) at the RNC, <a href="http://ivaw.org/node/4456">brutality</a> at a protest outside the last debate, domestic military operations (which Barr <a href="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-3962676876294897674">commented on in April</a> [15:41-15:50] when he announced his exploratory committee), who is speaking out about these, apart from Bob Barr, Amy Goodman, and <a href="http://snagfilms.com/films/title/the_end_of_america/">Naomi Wolf</a>? This is the big story. In my introduction to Bob Barr at <a href="http://www.muffuletta.com/">Muffuletta</a> I spoke of how we Americans need to rally 'round our liberty. We used to raise liberty poles to symbolize how, as Americans, we treasured our freedom, regardless of party. This is the story. I have supported Bob Barr because I believe he is in the best position to reverse this curtailment of our civil liberties. I fear Congress has not the courage now to do this but could regain it with the right President and the right message from the electorate, if informed.<br /><br />In contrast to this big story, I read a petty account of how one of the sign holders for Bob Barr complained about the task of holding his sign. Who knows? My guess is that he was saying this with a sense of humor, knowing the two involved. Did you know for a fact he was a big-L Libertarian? I know one of them was a Bob Barr supporter, but not a member of the Libertarian Party. That was me. I was off to the side except when the campaign people asked me to come close for the cameras. Moreover, both of us were in fact asked by the campaign to hold the signs earlier that morning. Why did you write "unbidden by the campaign"? Did someone tell you that? That was false.<br /><br />I enjoyed meeting you. The story I mentioned to you about Asma Jahangir in Pakistan in so many ways now reflects the situation here. Will our country retain a respect for individual rights? I hope so. I believe in fact that by doing so we will be in a stronger position to confront the real dangers of the world, having built stronger bonds of trust amongst ourselves.</blockquote><br /><br />I wrote this letter in response to the article in this week's New Yorker magazine<ul><li><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/27/081027fa_fact_khatchadourian?currentPage=all">The Third Man: Bob Barr's Libertarian run for the White House</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >by Raffi Khatchadourian</span></li></ul><br />Earlier, on September 1, 2008, I had sent <span style="font-size:100%;">Khatchadourian</span> my contact info, as he had requested, with the following note -<br /><blockquote>It was great meeting you at the Bob Barr dinner. You did meet a lot of the people there, didn't you? I was the one, before dinner, who commented on the wonderful article on Asma Jahangir last year in the New Yorker, which I'd read. We later discussed forms of election, including a novel one which would be party-neutral and eliminate spoilers, by allowing primary candidates to throw their percentages towards leading candidates, the top two of which, after this coalescing, would go on to a final run-off. It's simpler, more straightforward, and so less vulnerable to fraud than IRV, which passed in San Francisco a few years ago, passed in Minneapolis in 2006, and is on the ballot in St. Paul this year. I believe that much of our problem lies with the rigidity of the two major parties and the privileged position they enjoy unnecessarily.<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed the event.</blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (Oct 29, 2008):</span> I have confirmed by email that the other sign holder did in fact say what he said "with a humorous sarcastic tone...not from the point of view of a reluctant or disgruntled supporter."Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-47061297817642247322008-10-22T20:57:00.005-05:002008-10-22T21:18:26.246-05:00A vote for McCain is a wasted vote<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Food for thought to a Republican</span><br /><br />"<span style="font-weight: bold;">A vote for John McCain is a wasted vote</span>" says Bob Barr. There's no practical excuse for not voting your conscience now. A vote for Barr is a protest vote against the <span style="font-style: italic;">unlimited spending</span>, the <span style="font-style: italic;">bailout</span>, and the <span style="font-style: italic;">warrantless wiretaps</span>, which now seem inevitable, unless Obama is a closet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_liberal">classical liberal</a>, hah! At best one can only hope he's a <a href="http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/10/20/obama-chicago-election-oped-cx_re_1021epstein.html">moderate</a>. A vote for Barr is a way to make your vote count by giving it meaning.<br /><ul><li><a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwyTbJZo9EBmGzGJluTtY70jSrPgD93VQ2400">Libertarian Barr says McCain can't win presidency</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >by Shannon McCaffrey</span></li></ul><br />Here are the facts.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.intrade.com/">inTrade.com</a> shows Obama today with an 87% chance of winning and McCain at a mere 13%.<br /><br />The electoral college is predicted to be 364 to 174. If you place the states in order, either Colorado or Pennsylvania, each at the electoral 50% mark, would put McCain over the top, each showing an 85% chance of an Obama victory. There are 6 other states leaning Obama that would also have to switch over, FL (63%), NC (64%), OH (65%), MO (70%), NV (73%), VA (81%).Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-88093691117430241922008-10-22T20:45:00.007-05:002008-10-23T11:32:59.098-05:00Barack Obama, copyright, and the surveillance society<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Food for thought to a Democrat</span><br /><br />Is Obama's support for warrantless wiretapping related to his wife's professional background as an "intellectual-property" lawyer? I learned about her work in Barack Obama's book, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Audacity of Hope</span>. Are she and her former colleagues egging him on?<br /><br />Don't laugh. Some wonder if the dramatic erosion of our civil liberties is connected to this decade's efforts to enforce copyright in an acceleratingly draconian fashion. Richard Falkvinge of the Swedish Pirate Party makes this argument (not about Michelle Obama in particular), that unscrupulous copyright lobbyists <span style="font-style: italic;">want surveillance.</span><br /><br /><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-05232677597888075 visible ontop" href="http://blip.tv/play/AbylGoa8EA"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-06046505641148557 visible ontop" href="http://blip.tv/play/AbylGoa8EA"></a><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AbylGoa8EA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="283" width="400"></embed>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-35766292114276815992008-10-22T01:37:00.002-05:002008-10-22T01:40:17.590-05:00Bob Barr on the NewsHour<object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mtw4VL3aIrI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mtw4VL3aIrI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-29991697780832349472008-09-12T00:54:00.015-05:002008-09-12T09:26:13.234-05:00On the Barr-Paul brawl<ol><li>Robert Kraus, Acting Executive Director of the LP <a href="http://www.lp.org/blogs/andrew-davis/to-our-supporters-and-volunteers">wrote</a>,<blockquote>This pattern is something that we never wanted to disclose but holds true to previous treatment where staff members for Paul's campaign tried on more than one occasion to have Bob Barr uninvited from events, including Bob's gracious introduction of Ron Paul at last year's CPAC conference.<br /><br />I do doubt that Dr. Paul was aware of these antics.</blockquote>Last week I was privy to negotiations in Minnesota during the RNC week which strongly corroborate the pattern described by Kraus.</li><br /><br /><li>Is <a href="http://www.kylevarner.com/2008/09/12/the-paulbarr-breakup-the-inside-story/">the hearsay reported here</a> true? Does anyone have evidence?</li><br /><br /><li>The worst vitriol seems to come from the seething tensions of rule-of-men advocates. If I'd met Ron Paul last week, I would have asked him directly his own opinions on the inalienability of rights and due process, two issues regarding which rule-of-menners tend to devolve, though only perhaps at the state level.<br /></li></ol><span style="font-size:78%;">Version 1.1</span> - <span style="font-size:78%;">added detail to point 1</span>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-30391705829980681072008-09-10T04:02:00.006-05:002008-09-10T04:31:50.202-05:00Bob Barr speaks at September 1 picnic hosted by Minnesotans for Limited GovernmentBob Barr spoke September 1 at Langford Park at a picnic event hosted by Minnesotans for Limited Government (MNLG), of which I'm a member. Soon afterwards Ron Paul took the podium. Langford Park is in the St Anthony Park neighborhood of St Paul, Minnesota. This was the day before the Rally for the Republic.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZlZF5ixjI8g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZlZF5ixjI8g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ATuEm2sTu9U&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ATuEm2sTu9U&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-52600196620845691492008-09-10T03:20:00.002-05:002008-09-11T13:06:41.729-05:00My second liberty pole<object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fM9zqgu-0L8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fM9zqgu-0L8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Related Post:</span><ul><li><a href="http://minnehaha-creek.blogspot.com/2008/07/grapes-and-liberty-pole.html">Grapes and liberty pole</a></li></ul>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-59094058109029362622008-09-10T01:05:00.002-05:002008-09-10T01:07:06.974-05:00Here I am meeting Bob Barr<object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ch004h5XxG4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ch004h5XxG4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-56568612170486841802008-09-10T00:18:00.012-05:002008-09-10T03:44:54.377-05:00"Ron Paul has done a tremendous job," says Barr in St Paul, Minnesota<object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GibFlr7TJSQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GibFlr7TJSQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><br />The other day Bob Barr expressed his appreciation for what Ron Paul has accomplished and argued, <blockquote>As the nominee for the Libertarian Party, I have the honor and the ability to do what Ron Paul cannot do. He is not the nominee. He was a great candidate on the Republican side and did a tremendous job getting these ideas out there, and he's continuing to do so, but the only way that we can go to the next level is through my candidacy with the Libertarian Party between now and November 4.</blockquote>Barr spoke on September 1 at a dinner with the Minneapolis Bob Barr Meetup at Muffuletta in St Paul, not long after two speeches, one by him and another by Ron Paul, in Langford Park a few blocks away at a picnic hosted by Minnesotans for Limited Government (MNLG).Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-412193602971928972008-09-09T20:45:00.012-05:002008-09-10T11:16:13.031-05:00Nader discusses National Press Club press conference with Barr, Paul, and McKinney<object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fdRl03S8Sw4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fdRl03S8Sw4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><br />Ralph Nader at his "Open the Debates" rally in Minneapolis on Sep 4, 2008, discussed the upcoming National Press Club press conference on Wednesday morning, Sep 10, 2008, with Bob Barr, Ron Paul, and Cynthia McKinney. He revealed 4 points of common agreement.<br /><blockquote>Next week we're going to have a news conference with Cynthia McKinney, Bob Barr, and Ron Paul in Washington, D.C. We will have a preliminary manifesto where we agree on four categories....<br /><br /><ol><li>to reverse the militarization of foreign policy ...</li><li>to hold the Federal Reserve accountable ...</li><li>to repeal the Patriot Act ...</li><li>to treat the massive deficit ...</li></ol><br />We obviously see a convergence of people on both sides of the political spectrum on things like civil liberties and the militarization of foreign policy ...</blockquote><br />The video of Nader's statement has been uploaded to Vimeo and <a href="http://vimeo.com/1701812">should be available there soon, too</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (Sep 9, 2008, 9:16 pm Central):</span> According to a Houston Chronicle blog, <span style="font-style:italic;">Texas on the Potomac</span>, "Houston Chronicle Washington correspondent Bennett Roth obtained an advance copy of Rep. Ron Paul's remarks planned for delivery tomorrow at the National Press Club." <a href="http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2008/09/chronicle_exclusive_ron_pauls.html">The blog has posted the purported copy</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (Sep 9, 2008, 11:00 pm Central):</span> <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/09/ron-paul-to-announce-presidential-endorsement-plans/">CNN Political Editor Mark Preston reports</a> information from senior Ron Paul aide, consistent with purported copy of Paul's planned remarks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (Sep 10, 2008, 10:30 am Central):</span> <a href="http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog/?p=483">Here's the official statement</a> Ron Paul made to the National Press Club.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (Sep 10, 2008, 11:11 am Central):</span> <a href="http://reason.com/blog/show/128716.html">What about Bob?</a> by David Weigel at <span style="font-style:italic;">Reason</span>. By the way, I met Austin Petersen last week at the Libertarian Party booth at Ron Paul's <span style="font-style:italic;">Rally for the Republic</span>.Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-88738202588940602082008-09-09T12:08:00.010-05:002008-09-09T14:22:28.316-05:00What's good for the goose - Bob Barr in TexasMy mother warned me long ago that the day might come when 2 + 2 would equal 5. In Texas, there's some basic arithmetic now in play. What day is 1 day before the November 4, 2008, election? What day is 70 days before the November 4, 2008, election? I just looked on a calendar. 70 days would be 10 weeks. That day would be Tuesday, August 26, 2008. Apparently the Democrats <a href="http://www.bobbarr2008.com/files/dqcertification.pdf">who filed on August 27</a> disagree.<br /><br />The Bob Barr 2008 campaign <a href="http://www.bobbarr2008.com/files/lettertosos.pdf">is fighting</a> to keep the Democrats off the Texas ballot.<br /><br />Why so adamant? What's a day among friends?<br /><br />Well, the problem is that third parties have been regularly left in the wilderness when it comes to ballot access. I've seen the barriers to political competition over the past decades. The two major parties rigidly claim preferential treatment both in <a href="http://minnehaha-creek.blogspot.com/2008/03/for-truly-general-form-of-election.html">the form of election</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_debates#Debate_sponsorship">debate access</a>. Let's make a deal. If the Bob Barr campaign pulls back and lets Texas let the Democrats off the hook, then let's have some <span style="font-style: italic;">quid pro quo</span>.<br /><br />What's the quid?<br /><ol><li>A debate <span style="font-style: italic;">open</span> to civil candidates with noticeable percentages, such as Bob Barr and Ralph Nader. Perhaps the time allotted could be weighted by their polling percentages, apart from equal time in their opening and closing statements.<br /></li><li><a href="http://minnehaha-creek.blogspot.com/2008/03/for-truly-general-form-of-election.html">A truly general form of election</a> with no favoritism towards the two major parties.<br /></li></ol>There may be a problem with the Republican Party's candidate filing, too, in Texas. The Bob Barr 2008 campaign thinks it has a case. I highlight the Democratic Party's failure to file on time because it is so clear-cut.Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-30861033013303506302008-09-09T10:07:00.012-05:002008-09-09T14:47:41.288-05:00What a week! - RNC 2008 - part 2<a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-09403823156162081 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/lNTFnWrJDfA&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object height="324" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lNTFnWrJDfA&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lNTFnWrJDfA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="324" width="400"></embed></object><br /><br />According to Amy Goodman in this interview, when Goodman asks how the press could do their job without arrest and charges, St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington made to her a sordid suggestion, that the press be <span style="font-style: italic;">embedded</span> in the "police mobile field force". (!!!!!)<br /><br />How about citizen journalists with a Flip video? How do citizens peacefully assemble and exercise the 1st Amendment, and do so with witnesses?<br /><br />Someone I know was arrested blocks away from a <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1594053/20080904/rage_against_the_machine.jhtml">concert</a> in Minneapolis she was leaving, trying to leave, other streets having been blocked by police. <br /><br />Were the troops wearing names and jurisdictions? Do they need badges?<br /><br />How does one stay innocent? How does one disperse when the question "Which way?" goes unanswered? How does one witness? <br /><br />Need we be embedded citizens?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (Sep 9, 2008, 2:00 pm Central): </span> Melissa Hill, whom I trust on this, writes,<blockquote>I was arrested on Wednesday night after the RATM concert on 7th Street. I stayed on the sidewalks and didn't do anything but apparently I'm being charged with "obstructing traffic??", being a "public nuisance" and "unlawful assembly"??? They handcuffed us and we had to sit there for hours on the street. They also arrested MN Peace Team members and freelance journalists and people simply going home.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Source:</span> Wall on public Facebook group "<a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26125152661&ref=nf"><span style="font-style:italic;">I went to the RNC 08 and all I got was arrested!</span></a>" (Sep 8, 2008, 7:56 pm Central)<br /><br />As I understand it, the <a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/07/16/peaceteams/">MN Peace Team</a> tries to mollify crowds.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Update (Sep 9, 2008, 2:47 pm Central):</span> <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080903_why_we_were_falsely_arrested/">Why We Were Falsely Arrested</a></span> by Amy GoodmanCasey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-39837482049156095912008-09-09T02:08:00.009-05:002008-09-09T02:37:04.221-05:00What a week! - RNC 2008 - part 1<object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tJiXHatVh9A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tJiXHatVh9A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><br />Video by Melissa Hill<br />Song: <span style="font-style:italic;">Handlebars</span> by FlobotsCasey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-58370069918280676692008-08-30T22:46:00.011-05:002008-08-31T09:14:54.814-05:00Dinner with Bob Barr in St. Paul, MinnesotaIt's all set. Bob Barr is coming to have dinner with supporters on Monday at <a href="http://www.muffuletta.com/about.html">Muffuletta</a>, in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul. He's planning to give a speech and answer questions afterwards. <br /><br />Tomorrow is the Liberty Parade. I just finished painting the base to a 15-foot, pine liberty pole I made with a red liberty cap. I plan to raise it somewhere in Loring Park during the concert in the afternoon after the parade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.visi.com/~crbowman/image/liberty_pole_2000.png"><img style="border-color: white; margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfSvngkDmOYX3wYvETLXfbfCgzfynepTLyMGZvuQJo9ctOOf5KVuit_dibwhfKA7FPa_4WKPn844cFg4fPiTof4Kj_ZqMHx_mo-fXdfoqCsIq5qs4fiQN1S3nbQQKcTdg6kqTxU1x7yI/s1600/liberty_pole_500.png" alt="" title="Raising the Liberty Pole - 1875" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182529189347902994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Meetup event</span> - <a href="http://bobbarr.meetup.com/13/calendar/8627673">Dinner with Bob Barr</a>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-57108855181412698752008-08-28T17:30:00.008-05:002008-08-28T18:47:56.032-05:00Dinner with Bob Barr in Minneapolis/St. Paul - Labor day, September 1Bob Barr, candidate for President, is coming to town, and he'd like to meet with us for dinner. Please join us. This is your chance to hear him speak and answer your questions in person. This is <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> a $1000 per plate affair. We're just getting together to have dinner and talk with Bob Barr.<br /><br />This event is scheduled for 5 pm, Monday, September 1, Labor Day evening. We'll chose a location once we have a better sense for the size audience we'll have. We just found out 2 days ago that he'd be available. Please let others know if you would. <br /><br />Here's a link to the invitation, where you can sign up - <a href="http://bobbarr.meetup.com/13/calendar/8627673/">Dinner with Bob Barr</a>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-32817659280345834712008-08-15T15:35:00.004-05:002008-08-26T18:18:05.735-05:00Bob Barr is coming to MinnesotaI just got off the phone with Mike Ferguson, Midwest Regional Coordinator for Bob Barr 2008. According to Ferguson, Bob Barr is coming to the Twin Cities in late August or early September.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (Aug 26, 2008):</span> Barr is coming on Aug 31 and will stay through Sep 1 at least, according to Ferguson, with whom I just spoke on the phone.Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-37578548576448243352008-08-10T00:07:00.004-05:002008-08-10T18:09:41.898-05:00Article in Sunday Star Tribune by Jill BurcumThere's an article in the Sunday Star Tribune written by Jill Burcum, assistant managing editor, which appeared on the front page of the opinion section. She mentions Bob Barr and his 8% showing in Minnesota and Iowa in the recent Zogby poll.<br /><br />This is no accident. The other day she interviewed me and four other people active in the liberty movement. Jill's initial focus was on the Ron Paul phenomenon, but she learned from us (and perhaps others) that the movement was more than just about one man.<br /><br />The first half of the 4th-to-last paragraph reflects what I discussed with her. I pointed out how I came from a staunch Democratic Party background. I mentioned how I grew up in San Francisco in the 60s and felt strongly about our entering wars such as Vietnam, Haiti, and Iraq without constitutional process. I also strongly emphasized the importance of civil liberties in this election. So I think she was looking at her notes from her discussion with me for those sentences. I also mentioned to her how Barr was in this to win. I mentioned the Zogby poll, which surprised her (as it had me, when I had first heard about it). She asked me for info on it via email, which I sent her later.<br /><br />The great thing about the whole conversation was the tone. It was friendly and relaxed. We put our trust in her, and I think she sensed that. You know there's a great deal of power in what editors can do with your statements. I was very pleased tonight to see what she had written.<br /><br />Burcum's article is not online yet, that I can see. It'll probably appear at <a href="http://www.startribune.com/opinion">http://www.startribune.com/opinion</a> later this morning sometime. The title is <span style="font-style:italic;">It's not the man--it's the movement</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update (August 10, 2008):</span> <a href="http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/26432549.html">Here's the article</a>.Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-90444010529988170442008-08-08T12:51:00.022-05:002008-08-13T19:35:08.157-05:00Baby steps for Bob<div><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-08764052735901526 visible" href="http://d.yimg.com/static.video.yahoo.com/yep/YV_YEP.swf?ver=2.2.17"></a><object height="252" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://d.yimg.com/static.video.yahoo.com/yep/YV_YEP.swf?ver=2.2.17"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"><param name="flashVars" value="id=5727956&vid=1713260&lang=en-us&intl=us&thumbUrl=http%3A//us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/i/bcst/videosearch/976/53622802.jpeg&embed=1"><embed src="http://d.yimg.com/static.video.yahoo.com/yep/YV_YEP.swf?ver=2.2.17" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="id=5727956&vid=1713260&lang=en-us&intl=us&thumbUrl=http%3A//us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/i/bcst/videosearch/976/53622802.jpeg&embed=1" height="252" width="400"></embed></object><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Calling all Minnesotans</span></span><br /><br />Remove your party blinders, and help restore civil liberties.<br /><br /><a href="http://rejaw.com/casey_bowman/shout/dQa5gGN7iAW">Baby steps for Bob</a> -<ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Baby step #1</span> - Walk around a lake. Think about things.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Baby step #2</span> - Construct a pair of blinders. I did it for just a few bucks. I bought a mask and some black cardboard paper at a party supply store on Ford Parkway in St. Paul. Cut two 8" x 3" rectangles and fold them in half. Staple them at the loose ends with the elastic string of the mask inside. 2 staples each will do. Place the mask on top of your head and the elastic under your chin, positioning the two black cardboard blinders forward at eye level.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Baby step #3</span> - Walk around the lake again, this time with the blinders on.</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Baby step #4</span> - At the end of your walk, symbolically take off your blinders</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Baby step #5</span> - Sign the nominating petition for Bob Barr</li></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Adult step #1</span> - Join the <a href="http://bobbarr.meetup.com/13">Minneapolis Bob Barr Meetup</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update (August 10, 2008):</span> At Rejaw, I wrote -<blockquote>Bob Barr is in this to win, but he can't do it without you.<br /><br />Help us remove the party blinders from people.<br /><br />I don't see a check on power. Obama fails on surveillance, McCain on torture.<br /><br />If you cherish due process, habeas corpus, and privacy, then please consider doing something. Baby steps for Bob.</blockquote>A college friend of mine wrote me via email, commenting on the two issues I brought up regarding the other two candidates. In response, I added -<blockquote>I picked two issues of great importance, which I care deeply about, where each has done a 180 or at least a 90 degree turn.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Regarding McCain…</span></span><br /><br />A college friend of mine, who read this, felt, if I understand him correctly, that McCain was just pandering to the Republican base, but would, once elected, come to the rescue and stop the torture.<br /><br />My perspective is different. At a debate Nov 28, 2007, shown on two big-screens at a local hotel, McCain <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2007/11/29/romney_mccain_spar_on_waterboarding_and">came out strongly against torture</a>. I nearly broke my arms applauding. Later in February he dropped the ball, I believe. See this article from the San Francisco Chronicle's SFGate.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/09/MNBHVGLVO.DTL">McCain supports Bush veto of bill banning harsh interrogation tactics</a><br />Doesn't want CIA limited to methods used by military<br />Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer<br />Sunday, March 9, 2008<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Regarding Obama...</span></span><br /><br />Obama said he would filibuster a bill such as the recent FISA bill. Instead he voted for cloture. <a href="http://www.cato.org/dailypodcast/podcast-archive.php?podcast_id=682">Here's a CATO podcast on the issue by Tim Lee</a>.<br /><br />Warrantless surveillance and torture, is this America? I don't see a check on power rising from either of the two parties, in contrast to the Watergate era.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Baby steps for Bob...</span></span><br /><br />When you go to the Minnesota State Fair, please do stop by the Liberty Center and sign the petition. We need your help. It's close by. If you look at the map, you can see that it's about as far to walk from one end of the fairgrounds to the other as it is to walk to the Liberty Center. -<br /><br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=799+raymond,+st.+paul&daddr=como+and+stella,+st.+paul&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=44.971478,-93.20406&sspn=0.053435,0.122566&ie=UTF8&ll=44.978217,-93.177452&spn=0.026714,0.061283&z=14">5 minutes by car</a><br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=799+raymond,+st.+paul&daddr=como+and+stella,+st.+paul&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=44.978217,-93.177452&sspn=0.026714,0.061283&ie=UTF8&ll=44.978764,-93.178139&spn=0.026714,0.061283&z=14"><br />30 minutes by baby steps</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=799+raymond,+st.+paul&daddr=como+and+stella,+st.+paul&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=44.971478,-93.20406&sspn=0.053435,0.122566&ie=UTF8&ll=44.978217,-93.177452&spn=0.026714,0.061283&z=14"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYzRZn6SffLZiS-7zRdQwCzI2cDDQ14nbfkcES-6Q8mr3Nw5v9WLmLHgz2IRO-DWZXQwPZKXgd6IbFlUpZxDvxhY53j2Nhzr51SPxizwrPs0hyBBiyOb7UIBoK6D99eJ49W6GNlOKRWNN/s400/Liberty+Center+%26+MN+State+Fair.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233081212743678226" border="0" /></a><br /></blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update (Aug 13, 2008):</span> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >The Liberty Parade</span><br /><br />Maybe we could do this as part of the <a href="http://www.libertyparade2008.com/">Liberty Parade</a>!! It would fit in perfectly with the spirit of the parade. We'd wear party blinders and symbolically take them off when we arrive at Loring Park. What's funny is that the organizers of the parade are encouraging people to be creative and use cardboard paper. What a coincidence!Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-46168091706695542482008-08-03T00:03:00.014-05:002008-08-03T09:30:51.769-05:00Triggering a war with IranSeymour Hersh of <span style="font-style:italic;">The New Yorker</span> reports that someone at a meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney seriously suggested that a fake incident be staged to provoke the American public against Iran, to start a war. Who was this man? Has he been fired? Where is the outrage? If there is a unitary vice-presidency :-/, Cheney, if he condoned a breath of this behavior, if he did not drum him out, adds a count, a count to his impeachment. Where is Congress?<br /><br /><object width="400" height="329"><param name="movie" value="http://www.liveleak.com/e/37d_1217534537"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.liveleak.com/e/37d_1217534537" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="400" height="329"></embed></object>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-40599334214032756032008-07-25T16:53:00.005-05:002008-07-25T17:06:45.955-05:00Cascade Creek<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2w1uDYTEs3Feag_Lw9lQeFxy2T4hjiYIwAIjgHZ6wKVndUiWEjqTBmEqgK7Ql1hzoT9oU7e4_J4vcy7qRb479EcLzEtwq5kFovBYj8Qelle11cL2qr_k5zyicqEQPoR082cF37GH74aCV/s1600-h/Picture+34.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2w1uDYTEs3Feag_Lw9lQeFxy2T4hjiYIwAIjgHZ6wKVndUiWEjqTBmEqgK7Ql1hzoT9oU7e4_J4vcy7qRb479EcLzEtwq5kFovBYj8Qelle11cL2qr_k5zyicqEQPoR082cF37GH74aCV/s400/Picture+34.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227073913402035794" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday at the Borders Bookstore in St. Paul, I saw an old map of Minneapolis from 1849. With the help of a magnifying glass, I discovered that <span style="font-style:italic;">Minnehaha Creek</span> used to be known as <span style="font-style:italic;">Cascade Creek</span>. The name means the same thing. I'm glad it changed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Source:</span> Map of the Territory of Minnesota Exhibiting the Route of the Expedition to the Red River of the North, in the Summer of 1849 By Capt<span style="vertical-align: super;font-size:small;" >n</span> John Pope, Corps Top Eng<span style="vertical-align: super;font-size:small;" >rs</span>. Drawn by P. S. Morawski.Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-17592622778332107752008-07-25T15:18:00.018-05:002008-07-26T16:00:47.760-05:00Minnehapolis - "City of the Falls"Years ago I researched the meaning of the name Minneapolis at the Minnesota Historical Society. Now thanks to Google Books you can see for yourself... The name Minneapolis comes from a combination of "minnehaha" meaning <span style="font-style:italic;">waterfall</span> and "polis" meaning <span style="font-style:italic;">city</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Source #1</span><blockquote>An interview with Daniel L. Payne, who at that time was working on the St. Anthony Express, was published shortly before the death of Payne a few years ago. In this interview Payne said that during a meeting called a the office of Col. John H. Stevens, to see if a better name than Albion could be found, Colonel Stevens suggested that Minnehaha be compounded with the Greek word <span style="font-style:italic;">polis</span> in some way. [George D.] Bowman suggested dropping "ha" from the combination, making the name Minnehapolis. Payne advised dropping the other "ha", leaving Minnepolis. The conference ended by taking "hah" from Minnehaha and attaching <span style="font-style:italic;">polis</span>. Minneapolis was the result. The combination of <span style="font-style:italic;">polis</span> with Minnehaha was no doubt first suggested by Charles Hoag and seconded by Colonel Stevens; but the exact way in which the combination was made was probably as stated by Payne. Bowman advocated the name so persistently that it was finally adopted.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society</span>, Volume X. Part 1. (1905), <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=NyoUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA262&dq=minnehapolis&lr=#PPA262,M1">p. 262</a></blockquote></blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Source #2</span><blockquote>The name of a place is so important that the manner in which our city was christened ought to be known to everyone. In the beginning, not to be outdone by St. Paul and St. Anthony, the citizens on the west side of the river called their settlement "All Saints," and so it was known to travelers. Possibly it seemed to some of the residents that there was too much saintliness. At any rate discontent arose over this name, and various artful schemers tried to better it. "Albion," "Lowell" and other names were suggested in vain. Finally Charles Hoag, one of the crowd at the St. Anthony jewelry store club, wrote the editor of the Express the following letter:<blockquote>Minnehapolis, opposite St. Anthony, Nov. 5, 1852.<br /><br />Mr Bowman: We are accustomed on this side of the river to regard your paper as a sort of exponent of public sentiment and as a proper medium of public expression. My purpose in writing this letter is to suggest a remedy for the anomalous condition we occupy of dwelling in the place selected by the constituted authorities of Hennepin County, as the county seat, which yet bears no name unless the miserable misnomer "All Saints" shall be considered so thrust upon us that the unanimous determination of the inhabitants cannot throw it off. It is a name that is applicable to no more than two persons in the vicinity of the falls and of doubtful application even to them. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The name I propose is Minnehapolis—derived from Minnehaha, "laughing water," with the Greek affix "polis," a city, meaning "laughing water city" or "city of the falls." You perceive that I spell it with an "h" which is silent in the pronunciation.</span><br /><br />The name has been favorably received by many of the inhabitants to whom it has been proposed, and unless a better can be suggested, it is hoped that his attempt to christen our place will not prove as abortive as those heretofore named. I am aware other names have been proposed such as Lowell, Brooklyn, Addiesville, etc., but until some one is decided upon we intend to call ourselves—Minnehapolis</blockquote>...<br /><br />From that time forward all other names were forgotten and Minneapolis, dropping its silent letter in spelling, became famous for its beautiful name as for its useful products.<blockquote>Ernest Dudley Parsons (1913) <span style="font-style:italic;">The Story of Minneapolis</span>, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=AZ0IXWogQxIC&pg=PA53&dq=minnehapolis&lr=#PPA52,M1">pp. 52-53</a> [bold emphasis added] (photo <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=AZ0IXWogQxIC&pg=PA173&dq=minnehapolis&lr=&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1#PPA173,M1">p. 173</a>)</blockquote></blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://books.google.com/books?id=AZ0IXWogQxIC&pg=PA173&dq=minnehapolis&lr=&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1#PPA173,M1"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px;border-color:white; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzI7QjiNsOP73slX9Wa0lT_GQmWPRcg5ChFFMmuo4prJmvM6l11vwOBhGv9GubYWTbB1YHpoojZjnvf24Rn1G4PlHQgaKtEeDuBR10jBq6pOYJW2GvU7NZe5fI6s5fLp-eii3nSMDRaZW/s400/Picture+35.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227070710322501650" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Source #3</span><blockquote>You remember that John Stevens, "The Father of Minneapolis," came in 1849, and in two years a settlement began to grow about his house, for which, of course, people wanted a name. Goodhue, the editor of the first St. Paul paper, said that everything in Minnesota was named after a saint, and so, as the names were almost all used up they ought to call this one "All Saints." Though no one liked it then, the name stuck for quite a while, as a nickname will. Afterward they tried calling it Lowell, then Albion, and finally Charles Hoag thought of Minnehapolis, spelled with an "h," which name at once pleased everybody and has been the name ever since. We often hear people say "what's in a name?", but perhaps there is a good deal, for the little town began to grow and grew so fast that before many years it had outstripped all the older ones. As the fur trade grew less and the lumber and wheat trades greater, and after the railroads came, it wasn't important to be the head of navigation, and very much more important to have the great water power, which was a cause, of course, for the mills.<blockquote></blockquote>Hester McLean Pollock (1917) <span style="font-style:italic;">Our Minnesota</span>, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=lT8VAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA158&dq=minnehapolis&lr=#PPA157,M1">pp. 157-158</a>.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Related posts:</span><span style="font-weight:bold;"><ul><li><a href="http://minnehaha-creek.blogspot.com/2008/06/minnehaha-falls.html">Minnehaha Falls</a></li><li><a href="http://minnehaha-creek.blogspot.com/2007/12/wayward-as-minnehaha.html">Wayward as the Minnehaha</a></li></ul><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span><br/>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-58625096468159338292008-07-25T14:35:00.001-05:002008-07-25T14:37:46.988-05:00How Bob Barr became liberty-mindedBob Barr speaks about how he has come around and how important it is for others to move forward, too,—that's you and me—to rally around our Liberty. <br /><br /><object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LQiReh_i2bU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LQiReh_i2bU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object>Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-8299886708362842692008-07-09T10:21:00.002-05:002008-07-09T10:29:29.698-05:00Zogby shows Minnesota support at 8% for Bob BarrBob Barr approaches double digits here in Minnesota. <a href="http://blog.bobbarr2008.com/2008/07/09/good-polling-numbers/">A recent Zogby poll breaks it down state-by-state</a>. 8% of Minnesotans <span style="font-style:italic;">already</span> support Barr. I was surprised and pleased. That's a number you can really do something with.Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-64443248605470800002008-07-06T15:30:00.002-05:002008-07-06T15:35:17.389-05:00To live peacefully<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qjqf5XEkLoQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qjqf5XEkLoQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><br />Astounding point. This was news to me. Even if you wish to be independent, to live peacefully, after the age of 65, you can't really, because government will punish any service that provides you with an alternative. This can't be true, is it?Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-140714858473755731.post-88716473174603818532008-07-06T11:04:00.014-05:002008-07-06T13:05:08.545-05:00Bob Barr's final point with George Stephanopoulos<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4nWMwfIZJcE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4nWMwfIZJcE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><br />Bob Barr, in his interview with George Stephanopolous on ABC's "This Week" this morning, made an important point. We Americans must do something about the two-party state. We must open up the electoral system. Barr said, <blockquote>Success will come from opening up the electoral system here so that no longer after this cycle will Americans feel themselves bound to the artificial constraints of the two-party system.</blockquote> This was his closing point. <br /><br />Are we going to help? Short of changing our way of voting, short of making elections party neutral, short of eliminating the "spoiler" argument (see <a href="http://minnehaha-creek.blogspot.com/2008/03/for-truly-general-form-of-election.html"><span style="font-style:italic;">For a Truly General Form of Election</span></a>), what can we do now? <br /><br />I argue that, if you're concerned about Barr being a spoiler, if you're not sure he can pull a Ventura, then there's still a way for you to help. Simply answer the polls honestly by stating whom you really support. If there's insufficient support by election time, you can always switch back to McCain or Obama. Answering a poll doesn't hurt the election. If, on the other hand, Barr does gain a potential winning plurality of support as shown in the polls, then you can feel good about voting your preference. <br /><br />So - (1) Express yourself in the polls, and (2) Vote as you will at election time.Casey Bowmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06004964294568558404noreply@blogger.com0