Eric Sundwall

Post election seems to be a slow time for blogging in general. I'm starting a new project which will hopefully start sometime in January. I've re-worked my other 'blog' and will be posting old favorites and maybe some new items as we go. I'll continue to re-work and tweak that blog so go there for the latest or newest stuff.

Keep checking here also, I'd like to lose the whole 'candidate' thing and concentrate on more pro-Liberty issues and ideas without the burden of catering to disgruntled voters, to the extent that ever occurred. So the bottom line is look for writings and musings elsewhere.

A friend of mine stuck in New Jersey for the rest of his life complains about his nine year old daughter's need for a thirty dollar wig for her cheer leading group. Aside from the usual quips about Jersey girls, I do have sympathy for his middle-age, middle class plight. A recent ruling in upstate New York has determined that cheerleaders must also be present at girls sporting events in order to comply with the fairness provisions of Title 9. While some whole heartedly support this idea and others are baffled by it, I'll take a different stand and say eliminate the sports programs altogether.

To quote Wikipedia: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (United States), commonly known as Title IX, is a 37-word law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Back in seminary one of my big papers was about the 1962 dispute between the U.S. and the EU involving 'broilers', conveniently packaged chickens still popular in most households. It was dubbed the 'chicken war' and involved numerous trade issues of the day. A great exercise in study for an aspiring political science student. As I get older it's more common to accept my bucolic roots then have those international aspirations. So when a friend and former neighbor told me about their recent troubles with a couple chickens they had on their property, I put together a letter of support for their effort. A few years back we had another set of chicken issues crop up in the local and possibly national news. It's nice to look out at the world and try to tackle the real big issues like war and national debt, but sometimes it's nice to help a neighbor and keep it real. It's also nice to be known as the local libertarian who can and is willing to speak up about these issues. Here's the letter;

I stopped in at 'Professor Java' last night to jibber jabber with fellow bloggers from the Capital Confidential and their MSM counterparts. It was in between a trip to BJ's and the Capital LP meeting downtown, so it wasn't like I didn't have anything else to do. I did have a quick interlude with 'devtob' and 'Everyday People'. I was happy to see Andrew White, who despite his collectivist longings, I respect for the fact that he's willing to identify himself and put forward his own beliefs. It's unfortunate that the 20th CD race was reduced to name calling in such an expensive format. I'm still not sure what Gillibrand stands for on many issues. Glad to see the Sweenster gone however.

I'll be maintaining this site and hope to open a few new features and authors. We'll stick to Liberty issues and maybe get into the whole purist v. party arguments. It's possible that I'll change the site to my other site with just my name, rather then any reference to Congress that might seem outdated considering that the season is over.

We're still averaging about 500 unique users a day (down from our highs of 2000 mid-October) and hope to build that up with some new tricks of the trade. I'm courting a few Libertarian celebrity types so we'll see what happens. I have two special projects coming up and will keep the loyal readers in the loop. Also working up a quick 'behind the scenes' write-up of the LNC meeting last weekend.

As the Kos Komrades revel in their current victory of Democrats over Republicans, those of us in the real Libertarian community sadly ready ourselves for another tough two years. Our standard of success is a little different. Making the ballot, participating in debates and raising a sliver of the money needed for serious assaults on Olympus.

Ours is a quixotic union. While the 'best & the brightest' cling to the statist and collectivist revisions of the electoral shuffle, we seem to take the refugees from the geeks and the freaks. It's just hard for us to promise better government, let alone more. Despite what our brains relay as rational political behavior, somehow our hearts take up the call to resistance every cycle. Yet few listen to our message.

This isn't some vain glorious delusion based on the effects of the two party tyranny, simply an acknowledgement of my duties as a Dad and party member. This weekend I'm in fact going to Washington D.C. for the Libertarian National Committee. I'm the alternate rep for Region 7. I managed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time at the National Convention in Portland and the New York delegation hijacked me for another committee assignment. As I protested asking about the other state delegations, they exercised their one effort all year as a majority. I'm happy to go however . . .

Look's like he's going down.

Congrats, Kirsten !

Americans take heart. Despite the nastiness of the Red & Blue this campaign season, real third parties are emerging from the primordial electoral ooze. We are Libertarians and Greens.

Every cycle we battle impossible ballot access laws and still manage to lend our voice to the process. The socially tolerant and fiscally responsible message of both parties will resonate with more and more Americans as they cease to be fooled by the machines.

I proud to be a part of that process. I like the radicals. I like the moderates. I like anyone with an alternative voice and awareness.

We are young and capable. We are strong and smart.

We value the future and understand the past . . .

The Times Union came out in favor of Kirsten Gillibrand on Sunday. Aside from the usual editorial pandering and self-righteous prattling they claim the following:

'She has been against the war in Iraq from its ill-conceived beginning and offers a sensible course that recognizes the failure of President Bush's mission and envisions a negotiated political solution that would allow a deadline to be imposed for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.'

Envisioning something and making it possible are two seperate things. The reality is that Mr. Bush was given a blank check and no freshman Congressman will persuade the powers to be otherwise in future forays. My recollection is that 'no permanent bases' and Iraqi's should have a stake in their country and oil. No tacit acknowledgement that the undeclared 'war' was unjust or unjustified. I recall the editorial board interview with the PostStar in Februaryand Ms. Gillibrand gave a qualified answer at best. Calling for the initiation of the War Powers Act would be evidence of opposition. Paid strategists would never be so bold in a tepid electoral environment like the 20th CD.

As we get closer and closer, consider wasting your vote this year for Governor. We only need 50,000 votes in order to get real candidates running next cycle. That's truly a drop in the bucket. Outraged you can't vote for Sundwall this year ? Vote Clifton Silberger this year. Maybe you could run next time. No reasonable idea refused.