Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr.'s Blog, page 2695

Ron Paul Ignites LA

Thanks to John Seiler for this story.

The Conquering Hero

(Thanks to Joe Sansone)

Ron Paul Through the Years

Great photos (mostly). (Thanks to Travis Holte)

Obama Endorses Oligarchical Tax Increases

One thing we can be absolutely sure of: Obama's tax increases will not target the plutocrats like Warren, but new and rising entrepreneurs and the self-employed, whom they both hate. BTW, wasn't huge deficit spending a stimulus? Isn't it still, in the More Plush Government Jobs at the Expense of the Non-Parasites Act? But they pause a moment to advocate even more rips-off of the productive so rich bureaucrats and their rich friends can get even richer through the gun. But then, they are a "gang of thieves writ large," as Murray Rothbard noted. See them that way, and all becomes clear.

Congratulations, Ron

His money bomb raised $902,490 from 16,113 people, an average gift of $56.

Garda$il Rick's Defining Moment

Writes Tim Flynn:

"Even living in Texas I don't know much about Governor Rick Perry. My filter for state news disregards most events but now and then there is an action, legislation or a lobbying effort that catches my ear. One of those items was regarding Rick Perry and his statewide mandate that girls as young as 11 be ordered to receive a three course vaccination at $120 per of the HPV virus vaccine developed by Merck.

"My first thoughts of course were to my own 7 year old daughter and all the other daughters in the state. My second thoughts were to the tyrannical nature of the order. The intrusiveness of this order was even one level deeper than Obama's mandate that all his subjects purchase health insurance because it specified invasive medical procedures and mandated specific drug consumption. Put aside the danger or untested effectiveness of this vaccine, you're ordering me to inject my daughter with Merck's vaccine? What is wrong with this picture?

"At the federal level the corporate puppets are already mandating strip searches and feel-ups, insurance purchases and any number of other intrusive procedures and demands. Chances are a presidential decree, sorry executive order, is much harder to dispute than the governors decree.

"Now Rick has apologized and said it was a bad idea (so sorry) but he's established a precedent for bad judgement, corporate influence, centralized planning and royal decrees. We hear from these presidential candidates, then the MSM filters the real arguments and the public largely picks a presidential candidate based on what their tailored pitch and how they look. Past behavior and actions are much stronger predictors of future behavior. Do we really want someone like Rick Perry with that kind of power? Sometimes there are defining events in a politicians career. That was Rick's."

Top of the Top-Tier Ron Paul

The results of the California Straw Poll:

Paul 45%

Perry 29%

Romney 9%

Bachmann 8%

Huntsman 2%

Cain 2%

Gingrich 2%

McCotter 1%

Santorum 1%

Johnson .2%

And note that unlike the normal stawpolls, no one could show up, pay, and vote. Every voter was a delegate or some other official in the California Republican Party. Folks, this is hugely significant. Even the establishment is breaking for Ron, given the economy.

UPDATE The RP campaign, like others, did buy tickets for sympathetic officials: $25,000 worth. Money well spent. And does Ron really leave the door ajar for a possible independent run, in the interview?

Ron Opens MI Headquarters

The campaign's press release:

Ron Paul Presidential Campaign

Opens Michigan Office

Grand opening event to be held at Ann Arbor HQ

LAKE JACKSON, Texas – The Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today the grand opening of its Michigan campaign headquarters located in Ann Arbor.

A grand opening celebration for the new office, which has already commenced operations, will take place on Thursday, September 22nd at the Michigan headquarters, located at 122 South Main Street, Suite 110-C, in Ann Arbor.

The event will feature a press conference followed by an all-day welcoming atmosphere for both volunteers and the at-large public. The afternoon will begin with a noon press conference and celebratory ribbon cutting, continue with an open house and volunteer registration, and conclude with a debate-watching party.

"We're pleased to establish a headquarters in Michigan, which stands to gain a lot from the pro-growth policies of a Ron Paul presidency. Ron Paul's message of Constitutionally-limited government, sound money and a traditional non-interventionist foreign policy is sure to win over Republican voters," said Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton.

The Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign has selected Adam de Angeli to coordinate efforts in the state. Mr. De Angeli worked for Dr. Paul's 2008 presidential bid, where he developed software for the campaign's precinct leadership program.

"Adam brings a lot to the table as an experienced political organizer as well as software developer. The tools he builds for Michigan may well be adapted for other state campaigns," said Dimitri Kesari, Ron Paul 2012 Deputy National Campaign Manager.

"The strategy in Michigan is simple: engage every supporter to engage every voter. We will recruit, equip, train, and mobilize volunteers across the state to win their precinct for Dr. Paul," de Angeli said.

"Ron Paul is the only candidate capable of building such a volunteer network, because Ron Paul is the only candidate whose message truly resonates with those who hear it."

The campaign urges all volunteers to sign up on www.ronpaul2012.com/mi.

Details of the event are as follows. All times Eastern.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

11:30 a.m. – Doors open, public welcome

12:00 p.m. – Ribbon cutting and press conference

12:30 p.m. – Open to the public and volunteers

6:00 p.m. – GOP debate-watching party

TARP-Supporter Rick Perry

Now lies about it.

'9 Presidential Traits That Make Dr. Ron Paul the Most Electable Candidate'

From Laura Tice in HuffPo. (Thanks to Brad Funkhouser)