Freedom's Gate

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76412292024-10-24T14:22:40.226-04:00Freedom's GateA progressive-libertarian virtual online magazine with news aggregation, lifestyle and humour, and editorial comments on society, including excoriating outrages against freedom, subverting the rise of the omnipotent state, advocating personal responsibility and social justice, eliminating corporate welfare, and celebrating victories for liberty.Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-20240004587589427062009-11-28T05:40:00.002-05:002009-11-28T05:45:09.899-05:00Grad School is almost finished

So my "temporary" hiatus from being rather burned out turned into one of a few years.There was work, and then the Ron Paul campaign, and oh yeah, this little thing called GRAD SCHOOL.So in just a few short weeks I'll have a Master's of Science in Information Science, Security Assured Information Systems.How's that for a mouthful?Time to advocate for Freedom again. A lot of my focus may shift to

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1124736005364653482005-08-22T14:39:00.000-04:002005-08-22T14:40:05.370-04:00On Hiatus

Sorry that I haven't been updating recently, I'm taking a hiatus for a few weeks.Be back soon, and thanks for reading.AndrewL

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1124089484511562062005-08-15T02:59:00.000-04:002005-08-17T18:26:04.073-04:00He is one of my favorite actors

This is interesting. I wonder where it will lead. He's running as an independent right now, although he says he may join a party at some point. Update: It's apparently a hoax.

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1123773418952035592005-08-11T11:08:00.000-04:002005-08-11T11:16:58.960-04:00Bad Costco. Bad, Bad Costco.

Why, you can't go treating your employees well and like human beings!Employees at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club or something might take notice and advocate for workplace change or unionization or something like that. Or even just ask for basic healthcare rather than having the taxpayers pick up the tab! It will ruin the retail industry!And consumers? What will happen when find out that they can get

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1123595739504493252005-08-09T09:49:00.000-04:002005-08-09T09:55:39.513-04:00Espionage Act (Title 18 of the US Code, Part I, Chapter 37, Section 793)

A few weeks ago I wrote a brief entry about an avenue other than the very narrowly constructed Intelligence Identities Protection Act that Fitzgerald may be building a case under for Rove, Libby, and whomever else may be caught up in the conspiracy.David Corn wrote a much longer article on it yesterday.

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1123269641122844112005-08-05T14:51:00.000-04:002005-08-05T15:22:59.276-04:00A few photos from the YDA Convention

Will Anderson and I with New Mexico Governor Bill RichardsonWith Representative Barney FrankMarvin Bing and I with San Francisco Mayor Gavin NewsomeThe Pennsylvania Delegation

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122048621950512432005-08-04T00:00:00.000-04:002005-07-29T16:25:46.410-04:00Can you help a Freedom Democrat get to the Young Democrats of America Convention? - Sticky

The following is the official fundraising letter.510 North Third Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 www.payd.org 412.983.7663 We Need YOUR HELP To Represent Pennsylvania!From August 3-7, 2005, 1000 Young Democrats will convene in San Francisco for the Young Democrats of America 2005 National Convention. This convention provides an incredible opportunity for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At the

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1123012025289261932005-08-02T15:33:00.000-04:002005-08-02T15:47:05.313-04:00This man is on the Palestinian Authority's payroll

Sheik Ibrahim Mudeiris is paid by the Abbas regime to preach in Gaza. The following is an excerpt of a "sermon" that he delivered May 13th, 2005. It was aired on Palestinian Authority TV.Ibrahim Mudeiris: Allah has tormented us with "the people most hostile to the believers" – the Jews. "Thou shalt find that the people most hostile to the believers to be the Jews and the polytheists." Allah

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122928030889523592005-08-01T16:19:00.000-04:002005-08-01T16:40:22.726-04:00Pennsylvania Legislative Minutiae

Unfortunately, these add up and up and up, and people think it's reasonable for these things to be done.I find even the idea of a "There ought to be a law" contest to be incredibly offensive --Posted on Wed, Jul. 06, 2005He'd have dogs riding safely in carsAssociated PressGREEN TREE, Pa. - A Pennsylvania lawmaker is pushing for doggy seat belts on the advice of an 11-year-old constituent.Marc

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122670465286296232005-07-29T16:52:00.000-04:002005-07-29T16:54:25.293-04:00And now the Senate wants to track your use of cold-medicine.

Mike Rezulli writes about the "anti-meth" bill.

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122652918404047352005-07-29T11:42:00.000-04:002005-07-29T12:01:58.433-04:00Why was the Defense Appropriations Bill REALLY put on hold in the Senate?

While some folks like Chris Woods of The Political Forecast have questioned the priorities of Bill Frist/Senate Republicans in postponing the Defense Appropriations bill in favor of the legislation to block liability lawsuits against gun manufacturers, this editorial from The Washington Post suggests that it may have more to do with trying to block the McCain/Graham Amendment "that would exclude

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122646255842200882005-07-29T10:10:00.000-04:002005-07-29T10:14:21.166-04:00Live on the Radio

1 Political Junkie on WPTT This AM!Tony Norman columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is subbing for Lynn Cullen (9 - noon) on WPTT Radio - 1360AM this morning and he will have David, 1 of the 2 Political Junkies, on as a guest.You can stream WPTT live online at 1360wptt.com.

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122589633767053822005-07-28T18:23:00.000-04:002005-07-28T18:27:13.773-04:00Does lil Ricky need a new pair of Flip-flops?

2 days ago, Senator Man-On-Dog said that his intention was not to run for President in 2008.Now he says that he is open to a 2008 candidacy.Probably because he'll be out of a job as of January 2007.

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122567956435986182005-07-28T11:16:00.000-04:002005-07-28T14:55:35.573-04:00George Bush's America -- The goal of a neo-fascist state.

Many (most?) people equate fascism with Hitler's Nazi state, and while they are related fascism is more Mussolini than Hitler, and many of the same qualities make up neo-fascism.Wikipedia defines fascism as any system of government that in various combinations:exalts the nation, (and sometimes the race or culture) above the individual, with the state apparatus being supreme. stresses loyalty to a

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122561861548076732005-07-28T10:40:00.000-04:002005-07-28T11:07:31.863-04:00A very serious case with very serious implications for personal freedom and discrimination in the work place

From Reason:"A Good Fit"Transgendered rights at the Library of CongressRetired Special Forces Col. Dave Schroer seemed like the perfect fit for the terrorism analyst position with the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. Last December, two weeks before he was due to start work, he met for lunch with the supervisor who'd hired him, Charlotte Preece, at a Chinese restaurant on

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122499800346146502005-07-27T17:26:00.000-04:002005-07-27T17:30:00.346-04:00Gubernatorial Candidate Gov. William Weld?

Now the George Pataki has bowed out of running for a 4th term as Governor of New York, will former Massachusetts Republican Governor Bill Weld through his hat in the ring?I lived in Boston while Weld was Governor and have nothing but great respect for him -- very libertarian on social issues and a fiscal conservative. New Yorkers would be well served with a Governor like Weld.

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122499303152386842005-07-27T17:17:00.000-04:002005-07-28T11:06:40.966-04:00Ron Paul on the (anti-)PATRIOT act

The Police State Act: A ReportMoney quote:The Patriot Act, like every political issue, boils down to a simple choice: Should we expand government power, or reduce it? This is the fundamental political question of our day, but it's quickly forgotten by politicians who once promised to stand for smaller government. Most governments, including our own, tend to do what they can get away with rather

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122494573195590462005-07-27T15:54:00.000-04:002005-07-27T16:02:53.940-04:00What's wrong with being a member of the Federalist Society?

One thing that I really don't get is why so many people get in a huff about a lawyer's membership in the Federalist Society.From it's Our Background page:Founded in 1982, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is ... dedicated to reforming the current legal order. We are committed to the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122476319456445772005-07-27T10:21:00.000-04:002005-07-27T10:58:39.516-04:00Roll Call Results for HR 3199 (The [anti-]PATRIOT act reauthorization)

These 43 Democrats need to be told that they are violating their oaths of office to support and defend the Constitution, and fighting against the civil liberties that make us American.Andrews, Baca, Barrow, Bean, Bishop (GA), Boren, Boswell, Butterfield, Cardin, Carnahan, Case, Chandler, Clyburn, Cooper, Cramer, Davis (AL), Davis (FL), Davis (TN), Edwards, Emmanuel, Ethridge, Gordon, Gene Green,

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122468425284147132005-07-27T08:36:00.000-04:002005-07-27T08:47:05.290-04:00If the Press is the 4th estate, does that make bloggers and online publishers the 5th Estate?

I don't care where you are on any political spectrum, this story reported over on the Knappster should concern everyone.Please link to it, write about it, keep it from getting buried.An excerpt:We knew it had to happen eventually: A blogger arrested for pissing off the powers that be.DuBois' "crime?" Exposing some fairly nasty political corruption and prosecutorial abuse in his little corner of

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122411663015522962005-07-26T16:57:00.000-04:002005-07-26T18:06:15.763-04:007 Questions for John Roberts

Matt Welch of Reason wants the Senate to ask John Roberts 7 Questions:1) What isn't interstate commerce?2) How much reverence should be given to precedence?3) Quick—Recite the Tenth Amendment.4) Do you agree with United States v. Reynolds, and if so how do you square that agreement with the fact that the federal government, in successfully arguing for what was then a new right to keep secrets

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122391665038594832005-07-26T10:54:00.000-04:002005-07-26T18:07:34.243-04:00What does it mean to "support and defend the Constitution?"

This Entry over at 2 Political Junkies prompted me to write this, a proposal for every sitting federal elected office, judicial nominee, and candidate for federal office.First, the following Oaths of Office are required by the Constitution:For Representatives and Senators:I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122387023112270432005-07-26T09:55:00.000-04:002005-07-26T18:09:42.530-04:00How to read the Bill of Rights

(Adapted from: Because the Government is evil and stupid...)We hold this truth to be self evident— Government is prone to excess and unless watched like a hawk, will abuse people, violate their rights and their property.So we're setting down some limitations here—the government shall NOT:Have any opinion on any religion, pro or con.Limit what anyone, anywhere at any time has to say Limit any

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122322182182885302005-07-25T15:48:00.000-04:002005-07-25T16:09:42.206-04:00Civil Discourse

Our polarized society seems to be inclined to shout at each other, not listen to the arguments at all (why should we let little things like facts get in the way of propaganda and talking points anyway?), and engage in vicious ad hominem attacks. I think a lot of this has to do with the Limbaughs and Honsbergers out there, taking away the civil discourse and serious policy discussions. But even

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641229.post-1122041400881611582005-07-22T09:51:00.000-04:002005-07-22T15:16:16.083-04:00Some Analysis of the Roberts Nomination from around the Blogs

From Tom Knapp of The Knappster (former LP member now DFC activist):Gaming the Roberts nomination:My opinion?Smooth move, and I mean it, for Bush. He picked an appointee whose previousSenate confirmation went well, even with Democrats. He's effectively putRoberts's career prior to 2003 off-limits for criticism. ...I don't think the Democrats can win on this one. As a matter of fact, I'mnot sure

Andrew Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00679300090538084304noreply@blogger.com0