The Humble Libertarian original

While marijuana legalization is making massive strides forward throughout the country, with a whopping eight states voting to legalize marijuana use for medical or recreational purposes in November's election, the movement to "legalize it" is facing resistance in Tennessee. The Tennessee House of Representatives just approved a bill Thursday to repeal local ordinances approved by city councils in Nashville and Memphis last year that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, a seemingly promising foothold for marijuana legalization in a very politically and culturally conservative state. Read the rest of my latest article at The Independent Voter Network .

Oh yeah. You read that headline right. Bet you never thought you'd read a headline like that. Judge tells the police to give a man his weed back: Joseph L. Robertson's Marijuana Will Be Returned By Cops Who Seized It, Judge Orders TACOMA, Wash. -- Police in Tacoma could soon be in real trouble over pot. The department could be found in contempt if they continue to refuse to return a small amount of marijuana seized from a man after a traffic stop. Municipal Court Judge Jack Emery repeated an order to police Thursday to return the drug to Joseph L. Robertson within seven days or they could be found in contempt. "Appeal or comply," Emery told assistant city attorney John Walker. "Or next week, show up, and I would advise you to bring counsel." The judge first ordered police to return the drug on Feb. 28, but they have refused, The News Tribune reported Friday (http://bit.ly/10hwiD9). It was seized in May of last year when an officer pulled over...

"I'm going to grab your baby, and don't resist, and don't fight me, okay?" Imagine a mother hearing these words from an armed stranger. How would you react? This is your government. Look at it: Part I: Part II: Via: MoxNews . Fist bump: reader, Heath. And now, your moment of Zen: Text Summary of news segment: SACRAMENTO, CA - A Sacramento family was torn apart after a 5-month-old baby boy was taken from his parents following a visit to the doctor. The young couple thought their problems were behind them after their son had a scare at the hospital, but once they got home their problems got even worse. It all began nearly two weeks ago, when Anna Nikolayev and her husband Alex took their 5-month-old boy Sammy to Sutter Memorial Hospital to be treated for flu symptoms, but they didn't like the care Sammy was getting. UPDATE: Couple still unclear why CPS took their baby For example, one day Anna asked why a nurse was giving her so...

Marijuana Policy Project Press Release: MONTPELIER – The Vermont House of Representatives approved a bill 98-44 Friday that would decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana. The bill is scheduled for another House vote next week before moving forward to the Senate. Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell and Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn testified in favor of the bill, and Gov. Peter Shumlin has also expressed support for such a proposal. "Vermont is another step closer to adopting a more sensible approach to marijuana policy," said Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project. "The support demonstrated by members of the House reflects that of the state's top law enforcement officials and the voters." H. 200, introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (P-Burlington) with a tripartisan group of 38 co-sponsors, would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace ...

Alternate headline: Hey Washington, even California 's getting sick of you! Ha ha ha. The Daily Caller reports : 'California lawmakers are pushing a bill that would exempt the state from federal laws authorizing indefinite detention of citizens. The California Public Safety Committee voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of the California Liberty Preservation Act, which was introduced by Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly. The bill passed the Democrat-controlled committee 6-0 with the support of a wide-ranging coalition that included the American Civil Liberties Union, Tenth Amendment Center, San Francisco 99% Coalition, San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Libertarian Party of California. The legislation is designed to free California from having to comply with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012, which does nothing to prevent the potential seizure and indefinite detention of U.S. citizens. The California bill declares such federal power unc...

When his parents found this sentence scrawled onto a piece of paper in their 4th grader's backpack, they could not believe their eyes: "I am willing to give up some of my constitutional rights in order to be safer or more secure." The boy's classmates confirmed to his dad that they were instructed by the teacher to write this sentence, though the teacher is playing dumb and saying that the boy wrote this himself. Yeah right. I'm sure he'd think of that himself. The real irony is that most public school teachers are Democrats. This reads like something Dick Cheney would make school children write. Then again, this happened in Florida , land of Jeb Bush. Still I wonder if the teacher would have given this assignment to the students in 2004. And I don't wonder at all whether the progressive media and blogosphere would have jumped all over this in 2004; and I don't wonder at all whether they will now. Can you hear the silence on civil liber...

From Reason : Man Faces Charges After Defending Himself from a Bear in His Own Yard Richard Ahlstrand, of Auburn, Massachusetts, faces criminal charges after encountering a bear in his back yard and shooting the damned thing to avoid being mauled or eaten. Specifically, as noted at Reason 24/7, he's charged with "illegally killing a bear, illegally baiting a bear, illegal possession of a firearm and failure to secure a firearm." All of these charges, once translated from Massachusetts to American, seem to stack up to outrage that Ahlstrand didn't make his yard completely inhospitable to animals that are rarely seen in the area, and then investigated a suspicious noise with a weapon in hand rather than cower under the bed. Worst of all, he actually defended himself when he encountered danger. According to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Ahlstrand had a 50-gallon drum of birdseed in his backyard, and this appears to be the basis of the "baiting"cha...

"The U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday not to review a California Supreme Court ruling from last June that upheld the constitutionality of vehicle stops made by California game wardens to make sure motorists leaving hunting or fishing grounds haven’t bagged any wildlife out of season. By denying review of the ruling, the nation’s high court handed California game wardens the authority to conduct vehicle stops without a warrant. While it was the National Rifle Association that joined the defendant’s legal counsel in requesting a hearing from the Supreme Court, the ACLU might have had more at stake than the NRA in a case that has more to do with the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution than the Second Amendment..." Read the rest of my article at The Independent Voter Network . Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

When I first read a headline saying that the city of Rocklin, California was considering banning residents from smoking outside of their homes on their own property, I was outraged. Even though I acknowledge the dangers of smoking, the idea of a city government telling a resident that they couldn’t choose to smoke on their own porch, in their own driveway, or in their own backyard seemed patently absurd to me. It didn’t seem too absurd to believe, however, especially about a city in California, which is notorious for city governments that pass “nanny state” regulations to meddle in matters like whether or not a fast food chain can put toys in meals that consumers willingly elect to purchase for their children. But when I followed the link to the CBS Sacramento article bearing the headline, I discovered a discrepancy between the text of the article and the words of the reporter in the video at the top of it.... Read the rest of my article at The Independent Voter Network Wes M...

Oops. California's government is coming up $3.3 billion short by March. Some lawmakers are acting like it's a minor hiccup. Some analysts say Facebook's IPO will save the Golden State's finances. Wesley Messamore says this is no minor hiccup and there's no way the NASDAQ is going to fix CA's problems: Read it all at IVN.us . Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

'Voters will see these “pre-endorsements” for what they are and resent the party hierarchy’s attempt to dictate results to them. Instead of helping the candidates that they endorse so early on, the parties will only hurt their chances. Pre-endorsements will become a liability to establishment picks and be used against them by their grassroots opponents. It isn’t about left vs. right anymore.  It’s about the establishment vs. you, and more and more voters are starting to really believe that.' Read the entire article at IVN.us . Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

CBS Los Angeles reports : The Los Angeles Police Department teamed with military special operation forces Wednesday evening to conduct multi-agency tactical exercises in the skies above downtown LA. Many questioned what was going on Wednesday night as a Black Hawk helicopter and four OH-6 choppers – or “Little Birds” – flew over the city, at one point hovering just above the US Bank building downtown and later flying low over the Staples Center as the Lakers played inside. Someone could be seen sitting inside an open chopper with his legs hanging off the side. Sky9 spotted the Black Hawk in the dark, making what appeared to be a drop off at a park before quickly ascending back into the air. Throughout the exercise, the five rotorcrafts were staged at Dodgers Stadium. The LAPD said the purpose of the training was in part to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments. ... Similar exercises have been seen in Miami and Boston. Wes Messamore , Edito...

This is something we need to start taking more and more seriously. Looks like South Carolina's Attorney General is : COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina's attorney general has notified the U.S. Justice Department of potential voter fraud. Attorney General Alan Wilson sent details of an analysis by the Department of Motor Vehicles to U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles. In a letter dated Thursday, Wilson says the analysis found 953 ballots cast by voters listed as dead. In 71 percent of those cases, ballots were cast between two months and 76 months after the people died. That means they "voted" up to 6 1/3 years after their death. The letter doesn't say in which elections the ballots were cast. The analysis came out of research for the state's new voter identification law. The U.S. Justice Department denied clearance of that law. Wilson told Nettles he asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate. Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Art...

Here's a message from Dr. Ron Paul: In only his first term, Senator Tom Davis has become a respected Tea Party leader and the most outspoken advocate for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and conservative principles in the South Carolina state legislature. At a rally that just wrapped a little while ago in Myrtle Beach, SC, Senator Davis announced he is endorsing me for the Republican nomination! Senator Davis has been one of the most sought-after endorsements in this South Carolina primary race. Matter of fact, one of my establishment opponents, Rick Santorum, recently told The Hilton Head Island Packet that, “To get an endorsement from someone like Tom Davis is a big deal.  It would speak volumes to folks and make them take notice and give us a look.” After closely evaluating the records of each candidate, Senator Davis has decided to support my campaign because he knows I’m the only candidate serious about reining in spending, shrinking government, and r...

In 2010, Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control & Tax Cannabis Act , received enough valid petition signatures (nearly 700,000) to qualify for the November ballot, but failed to become law with 53% of Californians voting “No” and 46% voting “Yes.” This election cycle, there have been at least three proposals for ballot initiatives to soften the Golden State’s laws on marijuana. Let’s take a look at all three: Read my entire article at IVN.us . Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

Putting California’s primary so late in the game creates a playing field that will naturally favor candidates suited for the long, hard slog. Only candidates with a steady and reliable source of sustained donations will be able to weather the terrain, and at this point, the only two candidates that seem to fulfill that criterion are Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. No well-timed surges with a bit of good momentum will earn any candidates the nomination this time around. It’s going to take big money and disciplined organization... Read my entire article at IVN.us . Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

MEDIA ADVISORY: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA CAUCUS PROCEDURE The Republican Party of Iowa caucuses are among the most transparent, grassroots-based political activities in the country. Below is a detailed overview of what will happen at 1,774 precincts in the state of Iowa on caucus night, January 3, 2012.  ·          All caucus participants arrive at their precincts where they will sign in at the door upon arrival.  Caucuses will begin at 7:00PM CT. ·          The caucus meetings begin with the pledge of allegiance.  A caucus chair and secretary will be elected by the body to run the meeting and take notes. ·          After the chair and secretary are elected, candidate representatives from each campaign are given time to spea...

Dec 21, 2011 - Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto defends against media smear and dismissal of Ron Paul: Dec 21, 2011 - Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto on the media and top Republicans continuing to discount Rep. Ron Paul even as he surges in the polls (this includes great historical examples of Republicans who the media said would never win, including Ronald Reagan): Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

"In yet another showdown between the Obama Administration and the states, which are already challenging President Obama’s signature health care legislation in the nation’s highest court, the Supreme Court announced Monday that it would also be taking on Arizona’s controversial and tough immigration law, passed in 2010." Read my full coverage at the Independent Voter Network . Wes Messamore , Editor in Chief, T H L Articles | Author's Page

Reuters reports : Mitt Romney spent nearly $100,000 in state funds to replace computers in his office at the end of his term as governor of Massachusetts in 2007 as part of an unprecedented effort to keep his records secret, Reuters has learned. The move during the final weeks of Romney's administration was legal but unusual for a departing governor, Massachusetts officials say. The effort to purge the records was made a few months before Romney launched an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. He is again competing for the party's nomination, this time to challenge Barack Obama for the presidency in 2012. Five weeks before the first contests in Iowa, Romney has seen his position as frontrunner among Republican presidential candidates whittled away in the polls as rival Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, has gained ground. When Romney left the governorship of Massachusetts, 11 of his aides bought the...