The Liberty Papers to Cover the National Convention in Denver

The Libertarian Convention of course! Which convention did you think I was talking about? The Libertarian National Convention will run this Memorial Day weekend beginning on Thursday, May 22nd and ending on Monday, May 26th. I plan on attending the convention representing The Liberty Papers as a citizen journalist on Saturday, Sunday, and possibly Monday.

My press pass will give me the same access as the MSM outlets (though some events will be reserved for “invited media only”). The events which I believe I will be able to get into include the platform debate, the presidential debate, national chairs debate, presidential nominating speeches, presidential election roll call with acceptance speech, the first press conference with the LP Presidential Nominee, and much, much more.

Fellow Liberty Papers contributor Jason Pye will also be attending the convention as a delegate.

Usually, The Liberty Papers does not have a great deal of activity on the weekends as far as posts are concerned but this weekend will be much different. Expect periodic reporting from the convention beginning Saturday. I’m going to try to score some high profile interviews, will post lots of photos, and possibly post some video for your consumption.

It’s my goal to bring the convention to The Liberty Papers’ reader. Any suggestions for what you would like me to cover, who I interview, and what questions you would like me to ask would be greatly appreciated!

The Drew Carey Project Presents Cory Maye’s Story

Drew Carey’s latest web video called “Mississippi Drug War Blues” at Reason.tv tells Cory Maye’s story and where his case stands now. Maye’s mother, grandmother, his attorney Robert Evans, and locals of Prentiss, Mississippi (on both sides of the issue) are interviewed at length about their impressions of the case.

Not only does this episode focus on the miscarriage of justice for Cory Maye but it also gives the due respect for the slain police officer Ron Jones. Both Cory Maye and Ron Jones are casualties in this senseless war on (some) drugs and the increasing militarization of local police forces across the country.

Part I



Part II


Part III



Related Posts:

The Plight of Cory Maye
Update I
Update II
Update III
Collateral Damage of the War at Home (Part I, Part II)

Hillary Clinton: Second Amendment Defender?

The Hillary Clinton campaign has sent out mailers criticizing Barack Obama for trying to have it both ways on the Second Amendment. The mailer reads as follows (double click to enlarge):



These are all valid criticisms of Barack Obama; I have made some of these very criticisms myself (here, and here). But the source of these criticisms (Hillary Clinton) seems very strange to me. Barack Obama could very easily ask the same question: What does Hillary Clinton really believe?

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t Hillary Clinton’s husband Bill Clinton sign the Brady Bill into law? Maybe this is another example of her disagreeing with the policies of her husband’s administration, such as with NAFTA (if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you).

Apparently, I’m not the only one who is skeptical of Hillary Clinton’s sudden bid to become the NRA’s next president (she might as well, she doesn’t have any realistic chance of winning the Democrat nomination for president). Ben Smith writes:

The piece [the mailer as shown above] is particularly striking coming from Clinton, who has been seen for most of her career as a firm advocate of gun control, but more recently has emerged -- without dramatically shifting her stance on specific issues -- as a defender of the Second Amendment who fondly recalled being taught to shoot by her grandfather in Scranton.

Hillary Clinton: Second Amendment Defender? How stupid does she really think we are?

The Next Phase of the Kathryn Johnston Saga Begins

(WSB Radio) Opening arguments begin today in the trial of an Atlanta police officer charged in connection with killing of Kathryn Johnston.

Arthur Tesler is the only cop to go on trial for the shooting of the 92 year old woman in her Atlanta home.

Tesler did not fire a shot during the November 2006 incident. But prosecutors say he assisted in the cover up that followed. Officers have admitted to planting drugs to justify breaking into her home.

He's charged with making a false statement to an investigator, violating his oath of office and unlawful imprisonment.

Tesler's lawyer, William McKenney, says his client was in the backyard when the shooting took place and was not involved in the cover-up.

Two former officers, Gregg Junnier and Jason Smith, have pleaded guilty to a state charge of voluntary manslaughter and a federal charge of violating Johnston's constitutional rights.

The very fact that possession of drugs could be used as justification to break into an elderly woman’s home in itself is very disturbing but such is the state of the war on (some) drugs. What is even more disturbing is that in this case, the police admitted to planting drugs to cover up their mistake of killing an innocent person; how often does this happen where the police get away with such cover ups?

Related: Two Officers Surrender in Johnston Death