"IT IS NOT TOO SOON FOR HONEST MEN TO REBEL ..."
Badnarik: I will debate or be arrested
October 8, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Stephen P. Gordon
Office: (512) 637-6867
Cell: (256) 227-8360
[email protected]Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian Party's 2004 presidential nominee, will debate John Kerry and George W. Bush in St. Louis on Friday. Or he'll go to jail instead.
"A majority of Americans say that I should be included in the events sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates," says Badnarik, 50, of Austin, Texas. "And the CPD, as a non-profit, has received special treatment from government on the requirement that they be non-partisan in their activities. Bi-partisan is not non-partisan.
"Unless I am allowed to participate, the debates become a massive campaign contribution to two of the candidates, illegal under the very campaign finance laws those two candidates have passed and signed as Senator and President."
At 8 p.m. on Friday evening, Badnarik, along with the demonstrators expected to assemble in protest against his exclusion, will proceed to the police line erected to keep himself and the other legitimate candidates out during broadcast of the "bi-partisan campaign commercial."
And then he will cross it.
"We'd have preferred to see John Kerry and George Bush stand up like men to debate the issues facing America," says Badnarik's communications director, Stephen Gordon. "However, they have interposed the machinery of government between the American people and the honest debate which must precede any honest election. Now it's up to patriots like Michael Badnarik to force the issue." In Arizona, the Libertarian Party is taking the state university to court to prevent the expenditure of state money on a similar event.
Badnarik has previously debated David Cobb, the Green Party's candidate; Michael Peroutka of the Constitution Party; and Walt Brown of the Socialist Party. Kerry and Bush, as well as Independent Ralph Nader, declined to participate in those debates. Tomorrow morning, he will proceed from a New York taping with Bill Moyers to St. Louis, ready to take on the Republican and Democratic machines in defense of American democracy.
Voters in 48 states and the District of Columbia will be able to vote for Badnarik on November 2nd. More than 600 Libertarians currently serve in public office across the United States.
-30-
Additional press information:
- The protest will proceed from Northmoor Park on Big Bend Ave., just south of Washington University to the corner of Big Bend and Forsyth, where the police line is expected to be arrayed. Badnarik's crossing onto the Washington University campus will take place at that point, some time between 8 and 8:15 p.m. Badnarik and Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb plan to cross the police line together.
- The headline quote is from Thoreau, and intended to apply to the US occupation of Iraq:
"In other words, when ... a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent is the fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army." -- Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
"Children learn what they live"
This is how you crush freedom and dissent. Arresting presidential candidates.....a new campaign tactic by the Big Two.
http://badnarik.org/newsfromthetrail.php?p=1346
MICHAEL BADNARIK ARRESTED
October 8
8:38PM CT
The first report from St. Louis is in - and presidential candidates Michael Badnarik (Libertarian) and David Cobb (Green Party) were just arrested. Badnarik was carrying an Order to Show Cause, which he intended to serve the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Earlier today, Libertarians attempted to serve these same papers at the Washington, D.C. headquarters of the CPD - but were stopped from approaching the CPD office by security guards.
Fred Collins reported to me from the ground that Badnarik and Cobb are in great physical condition and great spirit.
As soon as more details are available, they will be posted here immediately.
8:51PM CT
I just spoke with Jon Airheart on his cellular telephone. He reports that while he could see no handcuffs, both Badnarik and Cobb had their hands behind their backs, as if they were handcuffed. Airheart also confirms that Badnarik did have the papers to serve the CPD in his jacket pocket.
9:09PM CT
The first AP report just hit Google News:
Just as the debate began, two third-party presidential candidates purposely crossed a police barricade and were arrested. Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb and Libertarian Party candidate Michael Badnarik were protesting their exclusion from the debate
.
10:09PM CT
My cell phone is ringing off the hook. There is no way to catch up with all of the messages left - and I am sure the memory is full by now. Things are going too fast to keep up with them.
Jon Airheart just reported that he and Fred Collins are catching a taxi to the jail where Mike is currently located. The address is 200 South Tucker Street, St. Louis, MO. Jon stated that there were over one hundred police offices with helmets and shields in the particular line they crossed.
Thomas Knapp just reported that prior to their arrests, Badnarik and Cobb explained to the crowd why they chose civil disobedience to express their message. He stated that Badnarik had to "bodily" push his way through the police line. Once through, he peacefully surrendered, was handcuffed, and taken out of direct site.
10:30 PM CT
We now have multiple audioblogs from Jon Airheart (in chronological order) at:
http://www.audioblogger.com/media/23496/102201.mp3
http://www.audioblogger.com/media/23496/102271.mp3
http://www.audioblogger.com/media/23496/102278.mp3
10:42PM CST
More news reports:
This quote comes from this St. Louis Post-Dispatch report:
"I have the freedom of speech and they have no authority to barricade that," Badnarik said from outside the security line.
The Progress Report reports:
"Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik pushed his way through the police line at the debate site about a minute after Cobb and was similarly arrested. Cobb and Badnarik have participated in genuine, non-scripted, nonpartisan debates four times in this campaign; a fifth debate is scheduled for October 15 at Eastern Tennessee State University with a number of other candidates."
10:51PM CT
Apparently, we have overloaded the facilities at //www.audioblogger.com. We will save and FTP the audioblog postings to our site as soon as we can retrieve them.
11:04PM CT
Jon Airheart and Fred Collins just called. They are at the city jail mentioned above. Jon stated, "What I will now tell you shows the absolute ineptitude of government. They don't even know, and won't know for three to four hours, whether he [Badnarik) is in this particular jail."
Fred Collins said, "He [Badnarik] should have picked a better city in which to be arrested."
The question which remains is whether Mr. Badnarik is in the city or the county jail.
11:12PM CT
It is a good thing we changed servers last night - as we have been seriously farked tonight.
11:19PM CT
The following is reported via e-mail from George Getz, the Libertarian Party communications director about his attempt to serve the CPD in D.C. today:
All:
At about 2pm ET, I hand-delivered the paper called "Arizona Case Order." I talked to David [Euchner - the lead attorney in the Arizona case] immediately afterward and he said the other papers can be faxed later. I am now back at the office, and there's no one here, so I'm unaware of any developments.
I will also fax the affidavit, as David and I discussed earlier.
GG
11:23PM CT
Former LNC Chair and Operations Manager for the Badnarik campaign Geoffrey Neale responded with:
Do you have a signature from anyone at the CPD?
11:27PM CT
Here is Mr. Getz's response to Mr. Neale:
Unfortunately, no. But this guy was so hostile there was no way he would have signed it. He wouldn't even take it in his hand, and made me just put it on the desk instead.
He wouldn't even tell me his name!?! – he was just "Tom."
I replied, "Tom, huh? Could you be more vague, Tom?"
However, David (our attorney) was on the phone with "Tom" at the time I came into the office, and overheard the whole conversation, so I don't think he can deny it. The lawyer is an "officer of the court," or whatever, and if he tells the judge that's what happened, that better be what happened. Plus, in my affidavit I described the schmuck and his assistant schmuck pretty well, which would be very odd if I wasn't there.
Let's hope for the best.
George
11:50PM CT
Nancy Neale (Geoffrey Neale's darling wife) just sent me the following interesting link while I was being interviewed by some reporter from Missouri:
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/thirdparties.html
12:04AM CT
Fred Collins just called on Jon Airheart's cell phone, as Fred's battery is ganz tot. He reports, "The county jail says they don't have him and the city jail says they don't have him."
Where is Michael? Perhaps at Gitmo already?
12:33AM CT
Shortnews reports:
US Presidential candidates arrested entering CPD debate site US Presidential candidates Michael Badnarik (Libertarian) and David Cobb (Green) were arrested Friday in St. Louis after breaking through a police
line barricading the Commission on Presidential Debates event hosted at Washington University.
The candidates peacefully surrendered, protesting the exclusion of their opposing viewpoints and
questioning the legality of the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).
Local police responded to the incidents by delivering two additional busloads of officers in riot
gear to the University's event site.
12:43AM CT
Jon Airheart just called to tell me, "WE FOUND HIM!" He is reported to be at some medium-security lockup at 7600 North Hall Street. They are going to call Tamara Millay to see if she is closer than they are - but Fred and Jon are going to catch a cab nonetheless to pick up Mr. Badnarik.
An anonymous hotel employee told Jon, "We need to get him out of there - it is not a pleasant place to be - but if you wish to escape its not that hard."
The facility is locally known as the "City Work House."
Airheart reports that he called one number to find Mr. Badnarik, which led him to another number, which led him to another number...
Eventually, before Fred and Jon found Mr.Badnarik, Mr. Badnarik called Jon.
Jon reports that Mr. Badnarik said the whole process would have taken a lot less time but there was a lot of commotion on campus. They arrested five students who "literally just accidentally crossed over into the 'no-longer-a-free-speech-zone' and they nearly were nearly taken out by snipers. According to the report, it was just five kids trying to go back to their dorms. After expressing outrage over the way the students were treated, Badnarik stated that this slowed his processing dramatically.
As Airheart was reporting this to me, he suddenly said, "Cab is here - got to go! But tell people that this is just like a scene from the movie Brazil."
12:57AM CT
A gentleman by the name of Nick Patton called me. He said he "lives in area."
He stated that crossing the initial police line was not difficult. He had been in the tents near the debates for two hours and was leaving the premises to watch on it all video.
"I was leaving and they took me down," Patton said.
There were four other youths who live off campus who were also accosted and detained for around four hours, Patton reported.
1:09AM CT
The story has been picked up here by WorldNetDaily.
01:22AM CT
A young man by the name of Abel Jones called me. He reported that he was walking back from the debate activities with one guy and two girls. They saw some guys who Jones said looked like Secret Service agents. They asked if they could cut across the lawn they were approaching, and the "Secret Service looking guys" said they didn't care.
After walking 20 to 40 yards, they were taken down by two officers and told there were snipers trained on them.
They were told they were "lucky they were not hit by the snipers."
Jones said that no rights were read to them. He stated that one girl was treated roughly. Her earrings and shoelaces were taken off. He stated that she was treated more roughly than everyone else.
01:26AM CT
The story has just been picked up by Rational Review here.
01:47PM CT
I just talked with Mr. Badnarik. He was in his hotel room and eating some dinner.
He said that after he and Mr. Cobb were arrested, they were placed in a police van - then there was some delay as they threw some students in the van with them. The stories from two of them are posted in the prior two entries of this posting.
Mr. Badnarik says that they sat in a cell for one to one and a half hours. He reported that the fingerprinting process was not as thorough as he had expected.
They did not have to post any bail - but were given tickets for "trespass" and "refusing a reasonable order from a policeman".
Badnarik said that he had the papers to be served to the CPD in his pocket, but was never given opportunity to serve them.
01:52AM CT
The Cobb campaign has issued this press release.
02:02AM CT
Here is a screen shot of a Badnarik sign on MS-NBC.
02:09AM CT
Another MS-NBC screen shot.
02:22AM CT
I am now able to begin catching up on e-mail messages and voice mails. This one obviously caught my attention:
Stephen,
My name is Joel Beckwith. I'm a supporter of Michael's from AZ. I'm also running for office of course. I'm writing to give you good news that today the papers of the AZLP vs. ASU and the CPD were delivered to ASU personally by myself. I just wanted to share you some photos from the event. Hopefully it will come out in Michael's favor... ...Joel Beckwith
02:37AM CT
The following document is not yet available in .pdf format, so I have typed it below:
Affidavit
Friday October 8, 2004 3:35 PM
Statement by Samuel P. New and Margaret E. Taylor
Today at approximately 2:38PM, we entered the office building at 1200 New Hampshire Ave., NW in Washington, DC in order to serve Janet Brown at the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) with papers handed down by Judge Pendleton Gaines, Superior Court Judge in Maricopa County, AZ. In the lobby of the office building at 1200 New Hampshire Ave., NW. we were greeted by Officer S. Mack and another security officer. Officer Mack telephoned CPD to inform them of our visit and purpose. CPD refused to allow us to proceed to their office, on the fourth floor. We asked for the name of the person refusing to accept our materials, and the security officers informed us they did not know. We asked if we could wait in the lobby, while we placed a telephone call, we were told no, we would have to go outside. After consulting Geoff Neale, we returned to the lobby and left papers with Officer Mack, who told us that they were not accepted. We then left the building. This dialogue is documented with digital pictures and an audio cassette which was recorded in plain view, and I spoke directly into it.
[signed]
Margaret E. Taylor and Samuel P. New
[notarized in the District of Columbia]
02:40AM CT
The following two documents show two more attempts at serving the CPD.
Fax Service
E-mail Service
02:51AM CT
David Euchner sent the following message to Janet Brown at CPD:
From: David Euchner
Date: October 8, 2004 4:13:56 PM EDT
To: "Stephen Gordon" ,
[email protected]Subject: Re: Order to Show Cause
Dear Ms Brown,
Please contact my office immediately at 520-326-3550 or 520-400-8324 to confirm receipt of these documents.
David Euchner
Attorney for Plaintiffs Arizona Libertarian Party, Inc. and Warren Severin
03:04AM CT
The candidate is in bed, as he has a busy day scheduled for tomorrow. The reporters must have gone to bed, as well.
Two presidential candidates - Michael Badnarik and David Cobb - were arrested tonight. Papers were served to stop the third Bush - Kerry debate today. Neither of these stories (short of the aforementioned AP wire) were covered by the mainstream media.
We now know with whom the television networks went to bed tonight.
09:35AM CT
The story has been picked up by Slashdot.
10:07AM CT
I spoke with Mr. Badnarik and Jon Airheart. They were at the Chicago airport catching a connecting flight. Mr. Badnarik stated that he did not get much sleep last night. He sounded wide awake and filled with energy to me, though.
Jon said that he e-mailed some digital photographs of the arrest to me last night. I never received them. Perhaps they are floating around in the ether. Jon will resend them once he has internet access again.
11:17AM CT
The blogosphere begins to awaken. Mellifluous contributes the following:
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT REAL DEMOCRACY THRIVES ON DIVERSE POLITICAL VOICES AND THAT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA SUPPRESSES ALTERNATIVE VIEWS, STAND UP FOR YOUR BELIEFS. POST THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR XANGA, PROFILE, OR LIVEJOURNAL, OR E-MAIL IT TO THOSE WHO CARE.
On October 8th at 9PM, two third party candidates were arrested for attempting to enter the Washington University complex holding the second presidential debate. The candidates, Michael Badnarik of the Libertarian Party and David Cobb of the Green Party, chose civil disobedience to fight the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Over half of Americans believe third party candidates should be included, yet politicians continue to funnel public funds into the bi-partisan Commission. S.W.A.T. teams were used to deny the will of the American people while mainstream media ignored this historic event, a shameless suppression of political diversity.
Americans deserve to know about the unjust takeover of our political process. I posted this to take matters into my own hands. If you believe that real democracy thrives on diverse political voices and that it's time to use alternative methods to support these voices, post this in your Xanga, profile, or Livejournal, or e-mail it to those who care.
12:35PM CT
The following clarification was sent from David Euchner:
...First, we did succeed in serving CPD. The Badnarik people were unable to execute service in St. Louis, but the LPHQ staff in Washington were very helpful to us and got the job done at the CPD office in DC. CPD attempted to evade service in DC as well, but the whole incident is recorded on audiotape and photographs. If they send someone to argue insufficiency of service of process, and I whip out our evidence, the Judge will be none too pleased with them.
By 1:30 Arizona time, I had confirmed via telephone with George Getz, Sam New and Margaret Taylor at LPHQ, and with Warren Severin in Tempe (our individual plaintiff) that service of process was complete (ASU did not resist at all, they were congenial to the Libertarian activist who served them). I called the court and let them know and our hearing is confirmed for Tuesday morning at 9am...
...As to why we didn't use professional process servers, the reason is simple. We were concerned that a professional would not feel the same level of urgency with getting this job done immediately that we felt. In order to serve process, there is only one requirement: that the server be 18 years old and not a party to the case. LPHQ staffers certainly had other things to do with their time, but when I explained the situation to them they were extraordinarily helpful. Kudos to George Getz and Sam New and Margaret Taylor for a job well done.
I think that answers all the questions posed here. Now that the logistics are taken care of, I need to prepare my oral argument for Tuesday morning. Wish me luck!
David Euchner
Attorney for Arizona Libertarian Party
12:46PM CT
Here is a digitized version of the affidavit signed by Sam New and Margaret Taylor.
1:54PM CT
The story is now covered at e.thePeople. Here is a exerpt:
You would think that Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and MSNBC would be all over this affront to the democratic process, but no, not a peep.
Badnarik was also attempting to serve the Commission on Presidential Debates with a "Show Cause Order," issued by an Arizona judge, requiring the CPD to appear at a hearing concerning the Libertarian Party's lawsuit to stop the upcoming debate at Arizona State University, as an illegal campaign contribution to Bush and Kerry, an unconstitutional use of Arizona state funds to support selected candidates, and a violation of the LP's equal protection rights, since they are a recognized political party in Arizona.
If this happened in some other country, what would we call them? Undemocratic? Human rights violations? Unbelievable?
If you think America is a free country, you are sadly mistaken. If you think the news media aren't controlled by the same people who control the Democrat and Republican parties, think again.
2:31PM CT
The photographs may not have arrived yet, but here is one person's depiction of last night's events:
2:49PM CT
Reason Magazine Hit and Run provided some not-so-good coverage while Boing Boing has decided to cover the basic facts.
Some democracy we live in. This makes me sick. What pisses me off, is the media. What are they trying to hid? If it had been Bush or Kerry, they would have been all over it and make it an all day 'Special Report'
Bush and Kerry must be damned afraid of something...
I'm not surprised. I didn't even know about this until I read your post. I've been out of town for a week, and even though I have access to cable up there, I'm stuck watching Nickelodeon 24/7.
I always watch some news programs, but no one mentioned this. It reminds me of when Bill Simon and Gray Davis were running for the Governor's office for California. Davis said if the guy from the Green Party showed up(for the one debate that Davis would consent to), even in the audience, he would take his toys and go home. Does that man even have a penis? Needless to say, Davis was recalled, and now we're stuck with Ahhhhnold.
For the record, I've voted for both Perot and Buchanan. This election is too important to vote for Badnarik. We need to finish what we started in the Middle East. Personally, I'm for an all out crusade. Kerry is a self-centered gigolo, nevermind a full blown traitor. Bush's first four years has had many flaws, which could have been corrected if he had fired every Clinton appointee. We need to secure the Middle East, and W is the guy to do it.
Let's focus on 2008. I like Badnarik, but I worry about how to get the support. Both the Democrats and Republicans have huge coffers, and will swat him down like a fly.
Ha! Just got a call for my mom, who has been dead for a year, from the Republican party. I gave the guy a lecture about the "cemetary vote". My oldest daughter and I have been dealing with this for almost 4 years. Idiots!!!
I won't get into a debate over the political aspects of the upcoming election. But I will be damned if I waste my vote for 'the lesser of two evils'.
Badnarik may not have a snowballs chance in hell, but a good showing WILL send a clear message....
"Children learn what they live"
I completely understand. I voted for Perot....four years of Clinton. I voted for Buchanan....four more years of Clinton. I hate voting for the "lesser of two evils", but there is no way I will cast a vote that could help Kerry win. I wanted to send a clear message when I voted for those two, but didn't like the response I got.
Like I said, this is the time to plan for 2008. If Badnarik has staying power, I wouldn't mind doing something for him that doesn't cost money. I'm broke. Maybe spread the word, and help get him some positive exposure. If it starts immediately after November, then he has four years to gain positive recognition. Fighting the Republicrat machine is almost a losing battle, but I think it can be done.
Glad I did not step on toes here. I have to stay with my beliefs. And i know where you are coming from.
I think he does have staying power and I have taken the steps on passing the word:
Michael Badnarik will be on the Alex Jones radio program today at 1:00PM CT. Michael and Alex will be discussing Michael's arrest and the hearing to stop the Bush - Kerry debate in Arizona. A partial listing of stations which will air the program are below. The Alex Jones Radio Show is also available on the Internet and by short wave radio. Stream information and short wave frequencies are located at http://www.infowars.com/.
Stations which carry the Alex Jones Radio Show:
ALABAMA
Prattville/Montgomery WIQR - 1410 AM
COLORADO
Buena Vista KDMN - 1450 AM
Colorado Springs KWYD - 1580 AM
Denver KLMO - 1060 AM
Vail KSKE - 610 AM
CONNECTICUT
Bridgeport WICC - 600 AM
FLORIDA
Chattahoochee WTCL - 1580 AM
Pensacola WVTJ - 610 AM
Pensacola WASG - 550 AM
Sarasota WIBQ - 1220 AM
ILLINOIS
Havana WDUK - 99.3 FM
Murphysborough WINI - 1420 AM
IOWA
Estherville KILR - 1070 AM
Maquoketa KMAQ - 1320 AM
Mt. Pleasant KILJ - 1130 AM
Oskaloosa KBOE - 104.9 FM
Oskaloosa KBOE - 740 AM
LOUISIANA
New Orleans WTIX - 690 AM
MARYLAND
Denton WKDI - 840 AM
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston WBPS - 890 AM
MISSOURI
Fulton KFAL - 900 AM
Liberty KCXL - 1140 AM
Mountain Grove KELE - 1360 AM
Salem KSMO - 1340 AM
Springfield KWTO - 560 AM
Thayer KALM - 1290 AM
MONTANA
Glendive KXGN - 1400 AM
North Platte KOOQ
NEBRASKA
Ainsworth KBRB - 92.7 FM
Ainsworth KBRB - 1400 AM
North Platte KODY - 1240 AM
North Platte KOOQ - 1410 AM
NEW YORK
Brockport WMJQ - 105.5 FM
Brockport WASB - 1590 AM
Canandaigua WRSB - 1310 AM
OHIO
Canton WCER - 900 AM
Uhrichsville WBTC - 1490 AM
RHODE ISLAND
Greenville WALE - 990 AM
SOUTH CAROLINA
Anderson WAIM - 1230 AM
TENNESSEE
Alcoa WBCR - 1470 AM
TEXAS
Austin KWNX - 1260 AM
WISCONSIN
Ladysmith WLDY - 1340 AM
"Children learn what they live"
Maybe I should give KFI (am 640)a "heads up".
The only problem I have with this guy is his stance on the war. Unfortunately, I have seen things that I would prefer to forget, regarding Iraq. Imo, we need to finish what we started. A defining moment was a picture someone posted on Free Republic, last year. A local gave our guys a tip about a children's prison.
There were about 500 kids running out of the gates. Most were wearing clothes that they came in wearing.....they outgrew them. Human rights violations are high on my list for intervention. I have preached isolationism for years, but when you're the biggest dog in the yard....
That is the only problem I have with Badnarik. I believe that the war in Iraq is needed. WMD? Syria is holding them for Iraq. Saddam had 12 years to hide that crap.
Let's see what happens. I personally believe that Iraqis deserve the level of freedom that most of us take for granted.
I want to hear about curtailing illegal immigration, and the outsourcing of jobs out of this country.
I will also be damned if I will vote for the lesser of two evils. Evil is evil, no matter how much or how little or how you slice it.
A good showing WILL send a message which is one of the many reasons I also intend to vote LP/Badnarik. It's one of the many reasons I voted for Harry Browne in the last Presidential election. Besides, IMHO, to vote based on one issue is something one does once, and then one learns that there are countless issues and countless positions on those issues. The LP is something I agree with on at least 90% of their platform.
I will not vote for more of the same from Rep's or Dem's. I will vote for true change. It is time, long past time, for real change.
Thank you all for keeping Badnarik on this board. Off topic? Maybe a little, but if anyone has read his position on family law, I think it's a bullseye.
I agree. Even thought about starting a letter writing campaign so that he does not lose interest after the election, if he does not win. Hearing stories of the NCP's and knowing how much we count on him for true change, just might do it.
When there are polls on the internet concerning Bush or Kerry, I gladly write back, vote Libertarian...
I think it is absolutely neccessary to keep candidates like Badnarik in the spotlight. I agree with many of his views.
I used to think like you, and like I said in an earlier post on this subject, I got little Billy Clinton for 12 years. We all got him, and his satanic bitch of a wife.
My main concern is Islamic terrorism at this point. Imo, you'd better be prepared to go in shooting people. We already have them here in our country, thanks to our disasterous border policies. Do we want a Beslan?
Veronica, you're too smart for this. Politics are a game. Badnarik doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning this election. Neither did Perot or Buchanan. If he could change his stance on the war on Iraq, I could see voting for him in the next election. How about illegal immigration? How about legal immigration? Offshoring jobs? Suspicious activity? Deport! Let us bury political correctness, before it buries us and our children.
Sorry, but I just viewed some really heartbreaking pictures from Beslan, Russia. These folks are going to kick their neighbors butts. The Russian Orthodox 40 day mourning period is up.
Well, this is just my opinion....
Did not want to get into this, but here goes...
My family has lost a family member in every war this country has fought. It goes back to the Revolutionary War. A direct descendant was a Captain and is listed on the Red Lions Plaque.
I had an uncle, who I never met, he died in the Korean War and was declared a hero, received the Purple Heart and Silver Star. I have several family members who risk their lives everyday to protect us and our fredoms. I have several family members who are now overseas fighting in todays war.
Yes, what you say is a valid point. I worry what the future holds and things are out of my hands. I see, more then you know, what is happening.
What I do have a problem with, is walking into court, expecting my rights and freedom. My family has given the ultimate sacrifice with every war and every generation. FOR WHAT?
The one GIFT I cherish most is in the hands of family court. I have no say, no imput. It is left in the hands of strangers. HOW IS THAT FAIR?
All I ask is for my rights and my son's rights. Equality. Fairness. A level playing field.
I would gladly give everything I am, everything I have and everything in my future, just be be MYSONSDAD
Well guys, the straw just broke this camel's back. I was watching CNN's pre-debate coverage and the ticker on the bottom randomly mentions Ralph Nader and how many ballots he is on. MICHAEL'S BEEN ARRESTED AND FILED A LAWSUIT IN THE PAST WEEK AND STILL CAN'T GET RANDOMLY MENTIONED! They also continue to put Nader in the polls and exclude Badnarik. Michael is doing as many interviews as humanly possible. When the day is done he will have done 11 interviews in Charlottesville, VA, Portland, OR, Phoenix, AZ, Slovakia (you read that right), Charleston, SC, Denver, CO, Washington, DC, Fort Worth, TX, Johnstown, CO, Milwaukee, WI and Columbus, OH. He's making noise! How about you? Wanna help? THE NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE IS SHAMEFUL! Let's do something about it.
Go to http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?21
Or, call or fax James Walton, CNN President:
ph 404-827-1500
fax: 404-827-2437
Here's what I wrote: You can use it or make your own.
"I am upset that you mentioned Ralph Nader is on the ballot in 35 states and DC on the crawling ticker at the bottom of the screen and failed to mention someone who is more of a threat than him, Michael Badnarik, Libertarian for President. He is on 48 state ballots and DC and filed a lawsuit against the CPD and ASU to include him in tonight's debate. He was also arrested in St. Louis with David Cobb of the Green Party last Friday at Washington University. What has Mr. Nader done lately? What is your definition of newsworthy?"
Let's shock the system that is shockingly biased!
Thanks!
Jon Airheart,
Executive Assistant to Michael Badnarik
Paid for by Badnarik/Campagna 04
"Children learn what they live"
So I should vote only for a person who can win? That's not what it's all about for me. Whether my preferred candidate in any type of election wins or not, or even has a snowballs chance of winning or not, I have to look at myself in the mirror. You say I'm too smart for this and you're right: I'm too smart to keep doing the same thing over and over while somehow expecting a different outcome. We have allowed government to take us over and fail us time and time again. I only have one vote, and I will use it wisely.
I will not keep voting for the same Republicans and Democrats who have squandered my rights and my paycheck away. I will no longer vote for anyone who thinks they run the country or has forgotten that I am his/her employer.
As far as I'm concerned nearly all Rep's and Dem's are FIRED! (I hate the Donald but I had to do it.)
"Children learn what they live"
I appreciate your family's service to our country. My dad was Army, and my uncles were Navy in WWII. One uncle narrowly missed Pearl Harbor. From what I understand, another mass grave has been uncovered in Iraq. I swear that whole country is a mass graveyard. I don't know if we are wasting our time and lives over there. Imo, their culture and religion seems to go against democracy. There was an African country who sent an SOS for help. Sudan? Well, how many places can we be in? These countries with their oppressed populations look toward America as their salvation.
I don't exactly know where to pinpoint when this country started rotting from within. The 1920's? The origins of what we have going on in local, state, and the federal government is so obscured. It's like peeling an onion. Many have said that this stems from turning away from God. Marriage and family were once the province of religion. People were closer knit to their communities, and behavior was judged. We've lost the concept of shame.
I think this was deliberately engineered. After African Americans were emancipated, their marriage rate was higher than whites. They worked their butts off building communities, and a better life for themselves. What happened? Things are slowly turning around in the Black communities, but the damage done to their family structure could take many more generations to repair. The goal seems to be a fatherless society, with big brother being the parental figure.
I still remember being shocked in 1975 when a former student came back to my high school to show off her out of wedlock baby. Of course I was raised a little more conservatively than many people. Actually my mom was fanatically Catholic, and I ended up rebelling. Which caused the problems I face today. Blah...
It seems like someone realized that the best way to coerce and control the population is through their children, and their "property rights". Ban fathers, and of course guns. Our society is breeding sociopaths at a high rate of speed. Our "education system" has now been hijacked by the feds. Family court decisions have been hijacked by the feds. Liars are rewarded, innocent people get sucked under the wheels.
I don't know if we can fix it. Many people just hate having their comfort zone disturbed. I don't know if Badnarik is the answer, but he does present a positive message for the most part. I have too much to deal with (at the moment I am once again on "hold"), but if enough of us came up with a wish list for candidates at our local and national levels, maybe there is something that we could do. Time flies and 2008 isn't that far away.
My wish list would be for the feds to honor the constitution and get out of usurping states rights. For the states to reinstitute fault in divorce, and use that in determining custody and visitation. No more usurious arrearages....it amounts to indentured servitude, which I believe is still against the law. Place the running of public schools at the hands of individual counties. It's much easier, and will save money. Focus on the core subjects, not secular humanism and situation ethics.
I understand you frustration. It is shared by perhaps millions of people, my bf, son in law's brother, friend from hs's older brother, and other son in law's coworkers. We just have to figure out where things went wrong in this country, and try make things right without getting into too much trouble....
That was really long winded :-(
It's hard to pin point where things went wrong. So much is 'out of wack' If we can try to put things right, one step at a time, someday we may all have the freedoms so many have fought and died for...
Starting with Equal Rights, is a good first step
"Children learn what they live"
In this particular election I will vote for George Bush, whether or not I agree with some of his positions. I have voted Libertarian and American Independent regularly over the years. No one should be forced to vote for a person simply because he or she has a better chance of winning.
To me, it comes down to "damage control". Take the recall election in CA. I held my nose and voted for Arnold, knowing that he is a full blown RINO(Republican in name only), rather than my instinctive choice which was Tom McClintock. There was no way I could let Bustamante become Governor. His first act would have been to give CA back to Mexico. Everything that Arnold is against....I'm voting for, and vice versa.
I agree with what you're saying, but I'm scared to death that with the Democrats finding a way to "lose" absentee ballots, not to mention the "cemetary vote", he could actually squeak by and win. Do you know what a disaster he would be as president? I resent having to give up my principles, but there is no damn way I will play a part in helping that traitorous gigolo get in office.
Did you see the last debate? I missed it, but from what I hear it was pretty nasty on a couple of points. Kerry stole a line from Ronald Reagan, but when it came out of his mouth it was a really bad diss towards his wife. Then he went on with an anecdote about his mother. She lectured him about integrity. Too bad he didn't listen. The crowning blunder for Kerry was when he dragged Mary Cheney into the debate. OMG, she's gay!!!!!! Kerry is like a sewage spill meeting low tide.
I've been meaning to send Badnarik's site URL to my son in law the Democrat. He has stated that he's staying home rather than voting for either Kerry or Bush. Hey maybe he'll like what Badnarik has to say and vote for him rather than stay home?
I share your disgust with the current political system. The problem is getting enough people to work together for future elections.