I just voted for Bob Barr....

...and, damn, it felt good to stand up for freedom. First time I ever voted for the libertarian for president, and if the major parties continue their ways, it won't be the last.

One last pre-election message from Bob Barr

Now get out and make your vote count for liberty!

There are only so many ways to say it....but here's one more

I haven't posted a lot lately because there are only so many different ways to tell you that there's only one candidate in this race standing up for freedom, and that's Bob Barr.

But let me take one more shot at fellow pro-liberty conservatives with this pitch: John McCain isn't going to win. The way the polls stand right now, he would need to run the table on about eight swing states and he's behind in every one. It isn't going to happen. If you want your vote to actually say something--to send a message to the national Republican party that they are far off the mark and need to get back to the small-government/pro-freedom message of Barry Goldwater, a vote for Bob Barr will say much more than a vote for John McCain. Otherwise, if you vote for John McCain, not only is your candidate going to lose, but the Republican Party is far more likely to think you'll accept any nonsense they'll send your way, even when it's a candidate as distinctly anti-freedom as John McCain. Cast a vote (and send a message) for liberty next Tuesday. Vote Bob Barr!!

They Can't Even Answer a Simple Question

Did you notice at the debate the other night that neither Obama nor McCain, even when pressed over and over, would answer a simple question: how would a Wall Street bailout of $700 billion affect your spending/budget plans?

Their bobbing and weaving was a disgrace. Had Bob Barr been in that debate, we know first of all that he would have answered the question, and, second, that he not only wouldn't be supporting a bailout but would be slashing federal spending to actually take a chunk out of the deficit, not increase it, like the other candidates will.

There is only one reasonable choice for fiscal conservatives: Bob Barr.

Let's Keep This Simple: NO!!!!

Fiscal conservatives who believe in the free market shouldn't be supporting a bailout of Wall Street. Bob Barr makes that clear in this press release from his campaign:

Congress Should Vote ‘No’ on Bailout, Says Bob Barr

September 29, 2008 12:59 pm EST

Atlanta, GA – “The leaders of both the Republican and Democratic Parties are rushing ahead with their $700 billion bill,” says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. “Without a single hearing and without considering other solutions, Congress is preparing to put the typical American family on the hook for more than $8,000. Legislators in both parties need to stand up for the American people and say no,” says Barr.

“If bailouts are the answer, why hasn’t the $300 billion housing bailout worked? What of the $100 or more billion bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae?” Barr asks. “This bailout package doesn’t resolve the underlying problems. It merely transfers the liabilities to the taxpayers,” he observes. “Instead, we need to make Wall Street take the hit for its irresponsible investment decisions.”

“The process will be painful. Some companies will go bankrupt. Some firms will go into receivership. Healthy companies will take over failing institutions,” Barr adds.

“Instead of bailing-out banks and investors, Congress should address the causes of today’s economic mess. The first is to end government pressure for irresponsible lending. That means privatizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and repealing the Community Reinvestment Act. It also means depoliticizing the nation’s money supply. The Federal Reserve cannot continue artificially inflating the money supply, which creates the illusion of a boom that is inevitably followed by a bust,” observes Barr.

“The government needs to investigate and prosecute fraud. It also needs to adjust accounting rules, such as ‘mark-to-market,’ which threaten the balance sheets of sound companies. We need to streamline complicated regulations that have not created transparency for customers and investors. And we need to look at any rules that make it harder for companies to make the necessary adjustments themselves,” says Barr.

“The bailout bill is not only bad because it forces innocent taxpayers to pay off irresponsible bankers and investors, but because the bill creates an excuse for more extensive federal economic meddling—setting corporate salaries, receiving stock in companies, and 'adjusting' mortgage terms. Once the government gets into these areas of the economy, it isn’t likely to get out,” Barr warns.

Finally, Barr explains, “we must force the federal government to get its fiscal house in order. The national debt already is $9.5 trillion. Social Security and Medicare currently threaten us with $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities,” Barr says. “Just where will this new $700 billion come from?”

“With the economic crisis upon us, painful adjustments are inevitable. Instead of bailing-out those who made the mess and slowing down the adjustment process, Congress needs to get out of the way. Its job is to fix government policies that have made things worse. The job of the American people is to replace those politicians who created the failed policies—and who today think the answer is to conscript the public’s money to pay off failed businessmen. Only by voting for Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party will the American people be voting for the change that is necessary."

What About Spending????

If you take a serious look at either McCain's or Obama's proposed budgets, neither one is taking spending or the deficit seriously. Bob Barr says that we need a "surge" in fiscal responsibility. Again, he, not John McCain, is taking the classic Republican approach to the issue. Read about it here.

Stop the Bailouts!

This government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should convince you that neither Democrats nor Republicans favor small government. The Barr campaign had this to say about it:

" I am sure you must be as angered as I am by the government take over of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This taxpayer rip-off is guaranteed to cost you and me billions. . . and who is to benefit?

First and foremost, THE BANK OF CHINA. That's right, the government bank in the People's Republic of China. Among others, numerous countries in the middle east and institutions around the world are also benefiting. Billions and billions are being sent overseas at our expense.

What do Senators McCain and Obama say about this government nationalization of our home lending system? They are both reported to be supportive.

I can tell you unequivocally, that Presidential candidate Bob Barr opposes this bail out!

Why? Because our tax dollars are being used (once again - remember Bear Stearns?) to fatten the bank accounts of speculators who bought bad loans. This is a case of the government rewarding those who took high-risk investment positions and were about to lose. . .

And where is Congress through all of this? Today they are back from a six week vacation and after just three more weeks, they quit work for the rest of the year! Between lengthy paid vacations, you can be sure they will be privately encouraging federal regulators and bureaucrats to bail out their friends. You see, Congress is paid handsomely - in the form of campaign contributions and other gifts - to make sure that the wealthy are protected from their own mistakes.

Do you need still more evidence that the only ones to benefit from this bail-out are foreign investors and Wall Street, check out all the major stock exchanges TODAY and you'll see massive gains that you are paying for.

John McCain and Barack Obama support this. No surprise there. Bob Barr is alone in blowing the whistle on this multi-billion bail out."