20. July, 2002 - Freedom and politics

• I got a call Friday afternoon from the Congressional RNC asking me what I thought the biggest obstacle to retaining a Republican majority in Congress was. I answered that I thought the biggest problem was The Shrub's attempt to turn America into a police state. Apparently they've heard that answer more than once, and I think that's a Good Thing.
• Mindless Security, 2002. Yeah, I feel a lot safer now.
• Operation TIPS-TIPS: Report TIPS informants Heh! [scripting]
• I find myself wondering whether the existence of TIPS is enough of a threat to my personal security that I might qualify for a concealed carry permit in Minneapolis now (Sure I've got a permit. It's called the Second Amendment. -Ted Nugent). I'm pretty sure I'd rather have someone else be the test case on this one, though.
• Gilmore v. Ashcroft -- FAA ID Challenge: Secret rule demanding Your Papers Please claimed unconstitutional by John Gilmore. I like the FAQ , too. Why are you challenging the ID requirement? Before I answer that question, may I see your papers, please? Gilmore's one of the (main) folks behind the EFF, but this is an extracurricular activity. Good for him. [scripting]
• I don't think it's time to Shoot The Bastards (Yet), but I spent some time behind the Iron Curtain (E. Germany, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia) in 1980 when I was going to school in Austria. There's an awful lot of what's going on lately in the US that has the same vibe to it, and that worries me.
• Independence Party enters next phase, now that Jesse's stepping down. Jesse's defection from the IP disappoints me. He isn't the best politician, but he's one hell of a symbol, and I think the IP would be stronger with him around to shoot his mouth off. Even if he's not going to run again, he should remain active in the party that got him elected.
• Doug Grow: Tim Penny a bit rusty at political game, and a bit cranky about politics as usual. I thought the whole point of the Independence Party was being cranky about politics as usual. But I'm one of those fringe voters who believes in limited government and freedom and crazy shit like that. [strib]
• Utah attorney general calls colleges' gun bans illegal. Try as they might, Universities are still governed by state law. [fark!]

Copyright 2009, Dave Polaschek. Last updated on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:52:03.