Pretty insightful and worth the watch.

“If Fannie and Freddie were not underwritten by the federal government, investors would demand Fannie and Freddie provide assurance that they follow accepted management and accounting practices…. By transferring the risk of a widespread mortgage default, the government increases the likelihood of a painful crash in the housing market. This is because the special privileges granted to Fannie and Freddie have distorted the housing market by allowing them to attract capital they could not attract under pure market conditions. As a result, capital is diverted from its most productive use into housing. This reduces the efficacy of the entire market and thus reduces the standard of living of all Americans.”

- Ron Paul, 5 fucking years ago

by committing to attend Congressman Paul’s press conference only to declare minutes before hand that “it just isn’t worth it.” This is according to Don Rasmussen, Events Coordinator of the Campaign for Liberty.

Bob Barr has been slamming Dr. Paul publicly since he won the formerly-libertarian party nomination, but this seems to have offended more Ron Paul supporters than anything he has done so far.

For those who don’t know, Barr spent much of his life jailing people on behalf of the federal government for possessing substances that the state hadn’t approved of, before recently “seeing the light”. Even since his supposed revelation, he has praised the troop surge, argued for intervention in Iran and South America, advocated a national sales tax, and voted for the PATRIOT Act twice. This just scratches the surface, of course.

With that said, it’s probably for the best that he didn’t show up today.

I was a little shocked by how emotional I felt watching this. Fox spends the first minute playing up the rumor that Ron Paul might take Bob Barr’s place, which would completely shake up the 2008 presidential elections. How exciting! Hope for America returns! A possibility to promote a completely anti-war, anti-tax, pro-market, pro-freedom candidate! A chance to encourage people to read Ron’s new book, and explain the ideas of libertarianism.

Alas, this excitement was promptly broken and replaced with disappointment as soon as Ron Paul began responding.

If only.

Many of those who aren’t pro-war gathered in Minneapolis, MN this week to celebrate the ideas of freedom and liberty. Check it out:

It was a blast to attend.

Pete Seeger - What Did You Learn In School?

Tom Paxton - George W. Told The Nation

(You’ll need to view this post on ChrisBrunner.com in order to see the video.)

Click here if you can’t see the video.

“We gonna pop [the drug dealers] in the head,” says Mayor Valley, who just instituted a 24-hour, non-stop curfew as part of an effort to reduce violence. This means that everyone in the area is essentially under house-arrest. The people who live there are not even allowed on their front lawns.

“Nobody can walk down the street and be safe, that is, be free from police interference,” says the mayor.

According to a local television station, not all locals are thrilled:

“I don’t think it’s right,” expresses Stevens. Some neighbors say they’re being unfairly punished for the crimes other people have committed. “They know exactly who’s doing the shooting, the robbery, but it seems like we’re never going to get any justice around here,” says Stevens. “We got kids down here. They should lock up these young folks that have been doing the shooting; don’t put us hostage or on lockdown,” complains Commons.

Fortunately, the good mayor’s staff has provided his cell phone number in case people have questions.

Bob Dylan is surely one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived. This may be my new favorite song.

(Thanks to Leslie Webb for the email and link.)

Shawn, an American hero and verbal critic of the Cult of Scientology, was found dead on February 16th, 2008.

Rest in peace, Shawn Lonsdale.