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Sep

3

Christopher Ketcham on Huff. Post: ‘Vermont Revolutionaries and the Rise of a Green Tea Party’

September 3, 2010 | IndependentPoliticalReport.com | Leave a Comment

Independent journalist Christopher Ketcham, who says that he is writing a book about the Vermont secessionist movement, recently posted an article on the Huffington Post about Vermont’s secessionists (there are several running for office on their own ticket). It is an interesting news, analysis, and opinion piece, and the full thing can be read here. Below is an excerpt. H/T to Gene Berkman.

The liberal progressive machine that runs the state — its chief beneficiaries Senators Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy — tends to have a lighter view of empire. When Vermont National Guardsmen are called to arms to be killed or maimed in the wars, Sens. Sanders and Leahy are there for the send-off, the photo-ops, the patriotic gibberish and the bowing of heads. When it is proposed that squadrons of killer drones and the newest F-35 fighter jets, costing taxpayers $115 million each, are to be deployed out of the military airfields at Burlington International Airport, they’re for it. When nuclear weapons developer Sandia Corp. expresses interest in setting up operations in the state, bringing to Vermont good jobs in service of the imperial arsenal, Sanders lobbies in favor.

Unsurprising that Steele, who views Sanders and Leahy as “collaborationist,” is shut out from the debates about the political future of Vermont. Still, he’s not so lone a voice as might be expected. His running mate, for the position of lieutenant governor, is an ex-Subaru salesman named Peter Garritano, who keeps it short and simple in his campaign statement: “I do not want my tax dollars,” says Garritano, “being used for war and killing.” Seven other secessionist candidates are contending for seats in the state legislature (these include a consultant to Oracle, a former U.S. Army lieutenant, and an executive from one of the largest solar energy companies in the Northeast). A professor emeritus of economics from Duke University, Thomas Naylor, 74, a Southerner by birth and a bombthrowing contrarian by nature, is the white-haired intellectual voice of the movement, founder of the thinktank Second Vermont Republic (the name is homage to the fact that there was a first Vermont republic, founded in 1777 as an independent nation and enduring for 14 years, until 1791). The secessionists have partnered with a successful publishing base, the Chelsea Green Publishing Company — the company’s founder, Ian Baldwin, is a raging secessionist – and they have a bi-monthly newspaper, Vermont Commons: Voices of Independence, with a circulation of 11,000, the latest issue of which features on its cover a pig attempting to fornicate with a sheep (the caption reading “Wall Street Hog Jumping Main Street Sheep”). They even have their own silver “independence coin.” And they have a surprising degree of support from the street: when last polled on the matter of secession, in 2007, 13 percent of Vermont voters were for it.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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Sep

3

In SC, ‘Third-party Senate candidate hopes to fill gap between DeMint, Greene’

September 3, 2010 | IndependentPoliticalReport.com | Leave a Comment

An article from WISTV in South Carolina, including the rare news that the Green Party candidate for US Senate has raised more than the Democratic candidate:

USC political expert Mark Tompkins says any third party candidate faces tough odds. “Many Democrats who are unhappy about the situation they find themselves in the Senate race,” said Tompkins. “But I’m not sure that a Green Party candidate is going to be that successful.”

Tompkins says Clements has to have support from a lot of disaffected Democrats, independents and moderate Republicans to be competitive. Conventional wisdom says he needs money to do that, and so far Clements has raised only $15,000.

Then again, Alvin Greene proved when it comes to winning an election in South Carolina, money isn’t everything.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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Sep

3

Local newspaper reports on Green-Rainbow campaign for state legislature

September 3, 2010 | IndependentPoliticalReport.com | Leave a Comment

From the Berkshire Eagle in Massachusetts:

Candidate for state representative L. Scott Laugenour hosted a “meet and greet” Thursday night, talking to supporters at the Firefly Restaurant.

The evening itself was low-key, with Laugenour meeting with supporters and speaking mostly one-on-one. There were probably a few dozen people moving in and out of the restaurant during the event.

Fellow Green-Rainbow Party member Mark Miller was also on hand. Laugenour is running for a two-year term in the 4th Berkshire District, while Miller is seeking a similar term in the 3rd Berkshire District.

“I’ve been out there, knocking on doors, meeting people,” said Laugenour. “And a lot of them don’t recall the last time they had a choice in this district.”

For the record, state Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli last faced an opponent in 2004, when he defeated Republican challenger James Bashour.

Laugenour said one of his party’s platforms is refusing to take money from lobbyists or officers of corporations who hire lobbyists.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/

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Sep

3

Peter Schiff Report : Jobs, global economy, SBA loans, stimulus, GI bill

September 3, 2010 | From Peter Schiff Blog | Leave a Comment

Schiff Report Video Blog Sept. 3rd 2010

http://peterschiffchannel.blogspot.com/

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Sep

3

I’m on Twitter

September 3, 2010 | John Stossel | Leave a Comment

I’ve been skeptical about Twitter. IT folks at ABC called it a passing fad, but now I’m giving it a try.

I may never have 300,000 followers like my friend Glenn Beck … or 6 million like Lady Gaga, but it’s nice to interact with as much of my audience as I can. I will post behind-the-scenes pictures, previews of my upcoming shows and specials, and video clips.

You can follow me at @FBNStossel

http://stossel.blogs.foxbusiness.com/

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Sep

3

Hazelwood Wasn’t Drunk?

September 3, 2010 | John Stossel | Leave a Comment

The captain of the Exxon Valdez, Joseph Hazelwood, emailed Walter Olson to complain about what I’ve been saying about him. In my column, and on television, I said:

“Exxon gave ship captain Joseph Hazelwood a job after he completed alcohol rehab. Hazelwood then drank too much and let the Exxon Valdez run aground in Alaska. Exxon was sued for allowing it to happen.”

Hazelwood writes:

“I note that from Mr. Stossel’s promotional newsletter for this evening’s broadcast that he (not for the first time) somehow assigns blame for the grounding of the Exxon Valdez at the feet of the ADA.

I’m loathe to comment (as my relations with the media in general have left me with little regard for their regard for the treatment of the truth), Mr. Stossel’s inaccuracies have touched a nerve however. Once again, in regards to the grounding of the Exxon Valdez, there has never been any credible evidence (nor any Judge or Jury’s finding) that alcohol had any involvement with the event. More to the point Mr. Stossel now claims I “drank too much and let the Exxon Valdez run aground”, which as a statement in and of itself is, at the very least flippant if not false.

In my employ at Exxon I did avail myself of their medical benefit programs, as do most employees of their employers’ benefit plans. In availing myself of the benefit program I was not attempting to assert my “rights” under the purview of the ADA. Rather I was seeking simple medical treatment, what that treatment was for, in my lay understanding at the time, was to remain private (as are most forms of medical treatment). Whether its (said treatment) privacy was sacrosanct is another matter. As I’ve heard the treatment I allegedly received for the condition I supposedly had, so mis-described (once again by the likes of Stossel et al) over the last two decades, I rarely pay much attention such commentary anymore. However, Mr. Stossel’s bootstrapped argument vis a vis the ADA and myself has caught my attention.”

Hazelwood didn’t get drunk and let the Valdez run around? Who knew? I sure thought he wasn’t at the helm because he’d gotten drunk. At the time The Los Angeles Times wrote in an article headlined “Legally Drunk Ship’s Captain Fired by Exxon” that “The National Transportation Safety Board reported Thursday that the captain of the Exxon Valdez was legally drunk when he was tested some 10 hours after his tanker hit a reef last week, causing the worst oil spill in U.S. history.”

However, Hazelwood denies he was drunk. Yes, he did leave the helm to a third mate, and maybe if he hadn’t, the tanker wouldn’t have grounded. Also, those blood tests suggested that he was drunk that day. However, a jury found they were mishandled because they were taken about 10 hours after the accident, and Hazelwood was acquitted of charges that he was drunk at the helm.

So Captain Hazelwood, I apologize if I got the facts about you wrong in my book Give Me a Break, but I’m still not exactly clear on what the facts were, and what role alcohol played. I admit to being flippant.

What I do know, however, is that that last night’s show was correct. Because of laws like the American With Disabilities Act , companies like Exxon cannot win. Exxon gave Hazelwood his job back because they thought it the right thing to do (not because of the ADA—it hadn’t passed yet). Then, after the oil spill, Exxon was attacked for allowing Hazelwood to captain the ship, and sued for billions. Exxon promptly banned employees who’d had alcohol or drug issues from “safety sensitive positions.” Would that protect them from future lawsuits? No. Exxon then was sued by employees who’d had alcohol and drug issues and who claimed that under the ADA, they had a “right” to those safety sensitive jobs. The courts may take those on a case by case basis, but no company can be certain what to do. Exxon is sued if they do, sued if they don’t.

The show, titled “Good Intentions Gone Wrong”, will repeat tonight at 10pm EST, and this weekend on Saturday at 9m and midnight, and Sunday at 10pm.

http://stossel.blogs.foxbusiness.com/

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Sep

3

Lew Rockwell on Antiwar Radio 9/1/10

September 3, 2010 | From Peter Schiff Blog | Leave a Comment

Lew Rockwell, founder and Chairman of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, discusses how central banks print fiat money to pay for world wars that would otherwise be impossible to finance, the enormous resources at the U.S. government’s disposal to delay an economic reckoning, why WalMart is a net gain to society, the division between those who live off the state and those who support it (albeit unwillingly) and why more super-rich dynastic families are needed to compete for power with the state.

http://peterschiffchannel.blogspot.com/

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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Sep

3

I’m on Twitter

September 3, 2010 | John Stossel | Leave a Comment

I’ve been skeptical about Twitter. IT folks at ABC called it a passing fad, but now I’m giving it a try.

You can follow me at @FBNStossel

http://stossel.blogs.foxbusiness.com/

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

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Sep

3

Bad Monetary Policy Is Redundant

September 3, 2010 | Mises.org | Leave a Comment

The Austrian theory of the trade cycle explains why the Fed’s below-market interest rates invariably lead to a correction known as the bust. The theory is not new. Why has it been so out of favor with most economists?