by Gregg Juster

The third district in Tennessee typifies what’s happening in America today. An open seat that will go to the Republican winner of the primary August 5, it is the Republican establishment vs. the liberty groups like RLC and the Tea Party.

Ten candidates are vying for the seat that Zach Wamp help for 16 years, but only three candidates have a chance:

1) Robin Smith. Former head of the TN Republican party and Zach Wamp acolyte, she is the choice of the Republican establishment. She will be just like Zach — good on many issues until the Constitution gets in the way. Zach Wamp voted for TARP. Robin will be more of the same.

2) Chuck Fleischmann. The choice of establishment Republicans that don’t like Robin. Better than Robin, but I don’t know if he is strong enough to fight off orders from above and would be a Republican puppet. Both Robin and Chuck are very well funded.

3) Van Irion. Endorsed by the RLC, and the favorite of 95% of Tea Party members in the 3rd district. Has one rule book, the Constitution. Van is a true believer in the 2nd Amendment with a carry permit. (View this clip.)

Van Irion has acted on his beliefs by filing a federal lawsuit against the Constitutionality of the recently passed Health Care bill. You can join in as a plaintiff at http://www.obamacareclassaction.com.

Van (pictured below) has been endorsed by Congressman Ron Paul. His goal in getting to Washington is to leave with less power by giving it back to the people and the states. For more information go to www.van4congress.org.

Gregg Juster is Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Tennessee.

The Republican Liberty Caucus, a grassroots network of concerned citizens dedicated to upholding individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party, is pleased to announce its support of the following Colorado candidates:

* Mike Fallon, U.S. Congress in District 1
* Stephen Bailey, U.S. Congress in District 2;
* Tim Leonard, State Senate in District 16
* Ted Harvey, State Senate in District 30 (Incumbent);
* Robert Houdeshell, State House in District 13
* Donald Beezley, State House in District 33
* Luke Korkowski, State House in District 61
* Carl Bruning, Larimer County Sheriff

Each of our endorsed candidates share common goals of dramatically reducing spending, cutting taxes, and an overall sense that government needs to return to its proper role and and exercise only those powers enumerated in the Constitution.

In addition to these endorsements, the Republican Liberty Caucus is pleased to endorse the following Colorado ballot initiatives in 2010:

* Yes on Amendment 60, to limit property taxes;
* Yes on Amendment 61, to limit Colorado debt; and
* Yes on Proposition 101, to limit vehicle registration fees.

The Republican Liberty Caucus mission is to recruit and endorse candidates who support its agenda, elect limited-government Republicans to political office, and change the direction of the Republican Party to reflect members’ vision of peace and prosperity.

If we are able to elect these liberty-minded candidates while passing these ballot initiatives, Colorado will be many steps ahead of where it is now. There’s lots of work to do still, so please get involved today!

Learn more about the Caucus at http://www.RLC.org.

The Republican Liberty Caucus National Board has selected to endorse Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate in Nevada against Harry Reid.

Mrs. Angle is a former Reno area Assemblywoman who often cast independent votes — often in opposition — while in the legislature. In 2006, the Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed Sharron Angle’s candidacy in the primary against now-Congressman Dean Heller. Angle lost by a very narrow margin.

But she’s back and better than ever in 2010, after winning the primary against two major Republican challengers.

Voters interested in supporting a candidate who will work to reduce the size of government should enthusiastically support Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate in Nevada.

The bonus is that electing Angle will rid our country of Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Become a fan of Sharron Angle on Facebook and join her campaign today!

Oklahoma State Senator Randy Brogdon has been endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus in his race to become the next Governor of Oklahoma. Brogdon is in a tough election with Congresswoman Mary Fallin, the establishment favorite, to win the Republican primary taking place July 27.

As a State Senator, Randy Brogdon proposed or passed …

• The Healthcare Freedom of Choice Act
• The Real ID Opt-out Bill
• The Freedom Firearm Act
• The Tenth Amendment Resolution

Brogdon was also the lead sponsor of the Stop OverSpending Initiative (TABOR) and was instrumental in supporting an initiative to protect private property rights in response to Kelo v. New London.

Become a Facebook fan of Randy Brogdon and join his campaign to claim the Governor’s seat for limited government.

In this video, I narrate my most recent article at CAIVN- Jack Hunter style.

Opponents of cannabis legalization worry that it will have a detrimental effect on society. That feeling is understandable, but citing a Cato study, I take a look at Portugal where all drugs were decriminalized in 2001.

Ten years later not only has Portugal avoided a nightmare of spiraling drug addiction, all signs indicate that drug use in Portugal has declined.

Take a look.

And please Digg it up. Don’t have a Digg account? Get one!

For Immediate Release: June 24, 2010

Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas Calls on Party Leaders to Address Problems with Anti-Gay Platform Planks

CONTACT: Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas
(512) 656-8011

AUSTIN, TX – At the state Republican convention earlier this month, Texas Republicans opted to abandon the Republican tradition of respecting the Constitution and protecting individual liberty and privacy rights by adopting a platform which includes planks attacking the civil liberties of certain Texans.

The platform advocates policies which would make it a felony to perform a same-sex marriage in Texas, which would re-criminalize sodomy and which would take away the rights of gay parents in custody cases. These proposals are contrary to the values of most Texans and run counter to the Republican tradition of vigorously defending individual liberty.

The Republican Liberty Caucus strongly opposes the Texas GOP platform’s anti-gay and anti-liberty planks. We call for the state party to take action to address this problem. While it may not be possible to repeal or change the party platform, the state leadership should issue a clear statement that the platform is non-binding and does not represent the core, shared beliefs of Texas Republicans or of our candidates.

In a year in which we are looking forward to extraordinary opportunities for a great slate of Republican candidates in Texas, it would be a terrible mistake to shackle them to a platform which will alienate many potential supporters. This platform will weaken the party at a time when a strong coalition of Republicans and independents is needed to stop the radical agenda of Democrats in both Austin and Washington.

“We need to focus on keeping the government out of our pocketbooks; especially in Texas,” said Texas RLC Chairman, Joey Dauben of Ellis County. “There are far more pressing problems for the GOP in our state to worry about. While I personally disagree with same-sex marriage from a Biblical perspective, marriage is a contract between individuals and God, not with the government. If we want government out of our wallets and our boardrooms, we should also keep government out of our churches and our bedrooms.”

The Republican Liberty Caucus believes that cutting government spending is more important than wasting our limited resources on policies that open Texas to lawsuits and treat some citizens in a different manner than other citizens. Texas RLC members believe divisive social issues should be put on the back burner and instead the focus should be on solving real problems.

We call on the state party to send a clear message to voters that the this platform does not represent the highest ideals of our party and that as a party we support individual liberty and equal rights for all Texans.

–30—

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas advocates constitutionally limited government, individual liberty and traditional Republican values. It is part of a nationwide organization which shares those goals and has local organizations in almost every state. This year the RLC has endorsed hundreds of candidates nationwide, including Rand Paul (KY), John Dennis (CA), Peter Schiff (CT), Mike Lee (UT), and Nikki Haley (SC).

For more information on the Texas chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus, visit http://www.rlctx.org. For information on the national RLC, visit http://www.rlc.org.

They call the legislation the “Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act,” but in actuality is a direct assault on participation in the political process.

We have the power to stop it.

But we must act quickly — today, now. It’s being introduced as I write this.

The bill is HR 5175 and they call the act “The Disclose Act.”

It will force groups like the Republican Liberty Caucus to report our members to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

As a grassroots, all-volunteer organization, we don’t have the staff to prepare such reports. By requiring us to spend time on reporting to the FEC, they are taking away from time we could be spending on promoting our candidates and our cause.

The government wants to create a list of all people who donate to all organizations who support political campaigns so they can post it on the Federal Elections Commission website.

This attack on free speech and liberty-oriented groups in particular must be stopped.

Please contact your member of Congress today and ask them to oppose HR 5175, which will be used as a tracking tool to stop liberty-minded groups like the Republican Liberty Caucus.

Thank you.

It took a bit of time, but Justin Amash’s campaign for Congress in District 3 (Grand Rapids area) is picking up steam. Yesterday he added an endorsement from Congressman Ron Paul and today he gained the endorsement of the Republican Liberty Caucus (receiving support from both the Michigan RLC and the RLC National Board).

Justin Amash has been a formal member of the Republican Liberty caucus since 2007. He is running for an open seat in Congress, as Congressman Vern Ehlers decided to retire.  It’s possible that his challenge to the moderate Ehlers from the right resulted in the longtime Congressman calling it quits.

Now Congressman Ehlers has endorsed one of Amash’s four opponents, but he has no fear.  “I wouldn’t expect Ehlers to endorse a candidacy like mine — which is committed to less spending, limited government  and free markets,” he said in response.

In the August primary, Justin Amash will face four others, including a former State Senator and a former County Commissioner.

Amash is a first-term State Representative who has championed efficient, common sense, limited government. He’s a husband, father and attorney.

Representative Amash publishes his votes on his Facebook page so residents can get the inside scoop of the inner workings of the legislature in Lansing. He’ll do the same as a Representative in Congress

According to Congressman Ron Paul, “Justin Amash in one of the most principled young leaders I have seen in a generation. Justin will do the work to fight for lower taxes and spending and for more freedom in Washington. We need people like Justin voting with me in Congress.”

National Vice Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus Aaron Biterman is excited about Amash’s campaign, saying “Americans who are concerned about an ever-expanding government and the growing debt need to cast their votes for Justin Amash or donate directly to his campaign as I have.”

Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed candidates in Utah and South Carolina won their runoffs last night.

Congratulations to Mike Lee, who narrowly defeated Tim Bridgewater in the Utah U.S. Senate race. Lee will be a voice for common sense in the Senate after he wins in November. Until then, we have to make sure he is able to fend off his Democrat opponent.

In South Carolina, Nikki Haley won her run-off against bailout-supporting Congressman Gresham Barrett. Haley will be the first female Governor if she is elected. She will also be the 2nd southern Republican Governor of Indian origin currently serving. It’s good to see the Republican Party in a southern state embracing diversity and independent thinking.

In South Carolina’s 8th District, the votes were so close between RLC endorsed candidate Nancy Harrelson and her opponent that there will be a recount.

Congratulations to Mike Lee and Nikki Haley, their campaign teams, and Utah/South Carolina voters!

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Nebraska played host to Governor Gary Johnson on Friday and Saturday, June 18 and 19th.

On Friday evening, a group of about 20 attended an informal pizza party (see photo, above) with the Governor where they learned more about Johnson’s views on a range of issues, with the greatest debate coming in the area of immigration.

Governor Johnson took a bit of a walking tour of Lincoln with a couple of RLC members, seeing Nebraska’s historic capitol building (built during the depression without borrowing any money), as well as a look around the Haymarket area of downtown Lincoln, and a quick tour of the University of Nebraska campus. (UNL has just signed an agreement to become a part of the Big 10 Conference in 2011.)

Upon returning to the hotel, Governor Johnson took in a bit of the “Nebraska Liberty Summit”, being hosted by the Nebraska RLC, and consisting of leaders from the RLC, Grassroots in Nebraska, 912 groups, Minutemen Patriots, Campaign for Liberty, and others. The goal of the summit was to discuss ways that groups might work together in upcoming legislative sessions.

Following the summit, a reception/fundraiser was held, with 65 who bought $35 tickets to have a bite and a chance to talk with Governor Johnson. Another 10 or so came for Governor Johnson’s speech alone. Folks hung out for an hour or so afterwards, continuing conversations with Governor Johnson and others, and enjoying some evening snacks.
The RLCNE convention was held immediately prior to the Liberty Summit, with 20 members present. Elections of Officers and Directors for the ensuing two years was held, with the following elected to office until 2012:

Laura Ebke, Chair
Jon Tucker, Vice Chair
Amy Haberman, Secretary
Ron Schwab, Treasurer
Zach Dean, Director
Brian Petermann, Director
Mike Schwab, Director
Nick Sulser, Director

Officers and Directors of the Nebraska RLC come from seven different communities, and six different counties — both urban and rural — stretching from the far northwestern corner of the state to the eastern edge.