Congressman Ron Paul correctly writes that “tyrants from Hitler to Mao to Stalin have sought to disarm their own citizens, for the simple reason that unarmed people are easier to control.” Paul rightly concludes that “only armed citizens can ultimately resist tyrannical government.”

President Barack Obama has appointed two Supreme Court justices, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, whose position on the second amendment makes me uncomfortable. They join wildly out-of-touch and scary Justice Stephen Breyer on the bench.

Ron Paul is the only candidate for president who offers a platform of Federal Republic thinking, including a strict interpretation of the Constitution and powerful support of the second amendment. There is an excellent summation in The New Yorker of Paul’s Federal Republic approach to governing. Read 

With the important GOP primaries in Arizona and Michigan just a week away, and with the absolutely critical Super Tuesday slate of primaries just two weeks off, it is looking more and more likely that the Republican presidential nominee won’t be definitely selected after these primaries. This has led to whispering about a “brokered convention”, with no one candidate receiving enough delegates through the primaries and caucuses, which would lead to a re-vote and release of all previously bound delegates.

It has also led some nervous Republican party members to suggest another candidate enter the primary fray.

Though no one has been brave enough to publicly discuss it, there is apparently a memo circulating around the Republican ranks discussing how another candidate might enter the remaining primary races, and who they might be. Granted, the odds would be stacked against someone who has missed out on the early primary season, particularly the momentum building events in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida. But a majority of delegates are still up for grabs, and many primaries and caucuses award delegates proportionally and not winner-take-all, giving a late-comer more of a chance to make up ground. Read 

Eurozone: Europe is bogged down with debt worries and austerity cuts, so a rise in oil prices could push more eurozone nations into recession. Eurostat reported last week that eurozone GDP contracted at a 1.3% annual rate in the fourth quarter. Italy contracted at a 2.9% annual pace last quarter, while Belgium, Greece, the Netherlands, and Portugal officially fell into recession with their second straight quarter of negative GDP growth.

These four eurozone countries are in a recession, and Italy is on the verge. Only France was able to buck the negative GDP growth by growing at a 0.9% annual pace in the fourth quarter.

Complicating matters further, insults are flying between Germany and Greece over payment of the second installment of the 130 billion euro ($171 billion) rescue package for Greece. Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands are pushing to delay Greece’s aid package until Greek political leaders make good on their promises for more austerity. Read 

Personally, I think all PACs are a means of keeping the money’ed crowd in power so they can continue bleeding the people dry, stay in power, and keep making money.  The Democrat and Republican Parties are “birds of a feather.”  I don’t think PACs have anything to do with “free speech.”  It is all about POWER and CONTROL.

My idea for true campaign finance reform would be a national TV channel dedicated every four years to presidential election campaigns, every other year to mid-term elections.  During the presidential election years, the certified, vetted, qualified and eligible candidates (under Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution) of the various parties would schedule hour-long segments each day to be seen and heard, with the opportunity to sell the voting public on their ideas and plans.  Voters could email or tweet questions for the candidates.  All candidates could be seen and heard daily during the specified (hopefully, only two months) campaign period.  All unused hours could be reserved by Representatives and Senators seeking reelection.  By this “campaign” method, no candidate would have to raise a dime, and consequently, none would be beholden to any special interests.

During the off-election years, this channel could be used as a “public service channel.”  Time could be reserved by individual citizens (screened), whereby their ideas could be presented and challenged.  Or they could debate the issues of the day with their elected officials (federal, state, county and local levels).  Since C-SPAN is sponsored by cable and satellite channels, they might also provide this service, which would be unique.  By this method, freedom of speech would not be violated; if a special interest group so desires, they could contribute toward the continuation of this “public service channel.” Read 

In most cases, rock stars have not supported Republican candidates for president, or even the GOP itself.  How many times have we heard about a candidate borrowing a popular rock song, like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” and the Ronald Reagan campaign borrowing it mistakingly as an unabashed anthem in support of the U.S.? This election season, though, things are different.

Politico has compiled a list of famous musicians who have thrown their support to one of the Republican candidates for president. Below are five of the most interesting stars, and who they support. Kelly Clarkson — Ron Paul

Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the first American Idol season and multi-Platinum recording artist, expressed her support for Texas Rep. Ron Paul in a December 29, 2011 tweet, though she also expressed doubts that Paul would actually win the GOP nomination. Read 

After months of bickering and high drama on Capitol Hill over whether or not to extend the 2011 payroll tax cut, unemployment benefits and payments to Medicare providers, Congress passed a bill Friday that will extend all three of these elements for the rest of 2012.

The final legislation was basically a good deal all around: arguments over spending cuts and millionaires didn’t stymie the entire process, the GOP got a little of what it wanted and broadband access should get faster and more reliable. Debates over spending cuts don’t have to block everything

It became clear Friday that this Congress can actually work together to pass legislation, even in an election year. Perhaps it is the record low approval rating of Congress (only 10% of Americans currently approve of the work Congress is doing), combined with the slowly rising approval rating of President Obama (now at 50% according to the New York Times) that finally scared the GOP into agreeing to this tax cut. Read