“Our goal is to transform Oklahoma into the best place to do business, the best place to live, find a quality job, raise a family, and retire in all of the United States. Not just better than average, but the very best.” — State Rep. Leslie Osborn, co-sponsor HB 3038

From Eric Dondero:

The number of states with no income tax could soon increase from 9 to 10. The Oklahoma legislature is currently considering legislation that would completely abolish the tax.

From National Review, “Oklahoma Leads on Income-Tax Repeal”

Oklahoma is poised to fully repeal its income tax and join the ranks of non-income-tax states. While Oklahoma is already a relatively business-friendly, low-tax state, income-tax repeal would launch it into the top tier of the most economically competitive states and the best places to live and work.

The State House bill HB 3038 has 23 sponsors. the bill on the State Senate side SB 1587 has 4 sponsors. Oklahoma has large Republican majorites in both the House and Senate.

The plan was developed by the libertarian/conservative Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs with consultation by none other than economist Art Laffer.

Gore “invented” the internet; Gingrich responsible for collapse of the Soviet Empire

From last night’s debate via RCP:

“I went to a Goldwater organizing session in 1964. I met with Ronald Reagan for the first time in 1974. I worked with Jack Kemp, and Art Laffer and others to develop supply side economics in the late ’70s. I helped Governor Reagan become President Reagan. I helped pass the Reagan economic program and worked with the National Security Council on issues including the collapse of the Soviet Empire,” Newt Gingrich said at tonight’s debate.

Editor’s comment – Next, we’ll learn Newt gets back rubs from female masseuses. Though, the thought of Newt chasing massage therapists around a table in a skimpy white towell is enough to send shivers up anyone’s spine.

MYTHBUSTERS!

From Eric Dondero:

Well, here it is. According to National Review, exit polls from South Carolina suggest Ron Paul gets no more support from vets and active duty military, than the other candidates.

Ron Paul won 14 percent of veterans. His supporters often emphasize how many veterans and enlisted men and women donate to his campaign; others have wondered if his stances on foreign policy and national security would come across as isolationist or dovish. Paul appears to do roughly as well as he does among veterans as among non-veterans.

Paul’s supporters, and sometimes Paul himself, have boasted all over the internet and at campaign appearances, that he gets far more support from the military, than any other candidate.

by Lynne Torgerson

Ron Paul said he thinks Israel should not exist. (ynetnews.com )

His 12 year aide says that Ron Paul says this often. Apparently Ron Paul also thinks that the Israelis should leave and give the land to the Palestinians. Why would Israel give its land away? Further, isn’t it true that Newt Gingrich revealed that the Palestinians are a fiction, and, Ron Paul was there when Mr. Gingrich said it?

Since the new beginning of Israel in 1948, the United States has been a major supporter of the State of Israel. In fact, our own United States President Truman’s vote was a significant help in establishing the State of Israel. That is something that the United States has, and always should be proud of. Further, the United States and Israel are allies and friends. Allies and friends help each other out. Israel helps the United States. The United States helps Israel. We have similar values as well. The United States should help foster such a nation in this part of the world. It is also good for the United States to have a strong friend in that part of the Middle East, where so many people hate the United States and its citizens, and burn our flag and our Presidents in effigy. Why would any US Congressman encourage the giving away of land to people who hate the people of Israel and the US? Further, the Palestinians elected for their governing body Hamas, a terrorist organization. Why would Ron Paul have any nation give away its land to a people governed by a terrorist organization?

Israel is the land of Israel, the Israelis, and the Jews. That is the it is, should be, and always will be. And, Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of Israel, which is obvious.

Where does Ron Paul get his repugnant ideas? How in the world does he get elected to Congress? Ron Paul’s ideas are repugnant to good and common sense. Israel is a nation, in the land of Israel, and will always be so. Further, that is the way it should be and, the United States should support that. Further, the United States has a long history of assisting Israel both militarily and financially and that should continue as well. The United States should be part of assisting this small beacon of democracy and light in this very hostile and turbulent part of the world. Overwhelming selfishness is not the answer to our debt and budget woes. The main guiding priniciple in what the US chooses to do or not is whether something is the right thing to do or not.

Lynne Torgerson, Republican for Congress, Minnesota 5th Dist. torgersonforcongress.com

Editor’s note – Lynne’s views don’t necessarily represent the views of all Libertarian Republican editors and associates.

by Clifford F. Thies

The Great Obama, quoting Lincoln, said the purpose of government is to do only what people are unable to do for themselves. Judging by his State of the Union address, we the people, as individuals and as citizens of our states, cannot be trusted with education, health care, infrastructure, international trade, housing, mortgages, credit cards, banking or insurance, energy policy, the environment, the workplace, consumer goods, the internet, or what industries or jobs are to grow. Other than those things, and anything else he might have failed to mention, we’re o.k.

Instead of dealing with the fiscal crisis of the federal crisis, he’s in denial. Companies and jobs are going overseas, he says, because tax rates in this country are among the highest in the world, the solution to which is to raise them. And, just like reducing reimbursements to health care providers is the way to lower the cost of health care, the way to make college affordable is for the federal government to regulate tuition.

The State of the Union is, he says, “not grave.” Those who say otherwise, don’t know what they’re talking about.

“Not grave,” how’s that for a goal. Hey, the country is no longer #1, but we’re not last! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

We avoided a Great Depression! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

Only 25 million people are out of work! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

The number of people under the poverty line only grown to 40 million! Thank you Oh Great Obama.

And, you can look this one up. every day that Obama has been President, the very oxygen we need to breathe has been there for us, the Sun has risen in the east, and we have avoided the cataclysmic earthquakes and volcanoes that have devastated other countries.

At which point, the audience bursts into chants of “Thank you Oh Great Obama! Thank you Oh Great Obama!” Women are overtaken by orgasms and Chris Matthews has a tingle go up his leg.

“Fairness” is his vision for the country, which means more for those on his side. Will somebody propose that Freedom is the other vision for the country?

Norway proves no safe haven for those fleeing Islam

From varldenidag.se “Iranska konvertiter knivhöggs i Norge”(translation provided by Jihad Watch):

Two Iranians who converted from Islam to Christianity were stabbed by masked men in Norway Haugesund last week. The attackers shouted “kuffar” — an Arabic invective for unbelievers — during the attack. The attack occurred on Tuesday evening when the two Christian Iranians were out for a walk in Haugesund. They were attacked by three masked and knife-armed men, who reportedly shouted “kuffar” as they stabbed the two. …

They have lived in Norway for several years. One of them has become a Christian in Norway, the other left Islam and became a Christian in Iran and fled to Norway a couple of years ago after being beaten and imprisoned for his Christian faith in Iran. Both are involved in a mission church in Haugesund.

You decide…

Florida Senator Marco Rubio weekly GOP radio address Via Roll Call:

[Obama wants to make America] “like the countries people come here to get away from.”

“He tells all of us that the only way for some of us to climb up the economic ladder is for others to be pulled down. This divisive rhetoric, this effort to gain political support by convincing some that they will be better off if we punish others, this stuff has never worked anywhere it’s been tried. People end up fleeing countries who adopt economic policies based on these flawed principles. And more often than not, they come here.”

“They come here because this is not who we are…”

Editor’s comment – Of course, the distinguished Senator from Florida would not be the first person ever to make such a comparison.

Mitt Romney wants to take the country back away from President Obama’s “socialism”

From Eric Dondero:

ABC News and various other media are reporting this morning on a surprise visit to a Mitt Romney campaign event in Pensacola, by a well known libertairan/conservative actor.

From ABC Politics, “Actor Jon Voight Endorses Romney, Says Newt Gingrich ‘Falls Short’”:

Academy Award winning actor Jon Voight threw his support behind Mitt Romney today, telling a crowd of hundreds at a local restaurant that Newt Gingrich “falls short” of having the characteristics needed to run the White House.

“Governor Romney is a man of faith, honor, love, and truth,” said Voight. “These are the first very important qualities a president must have. He is strong, honest, and wants to bring the country back to its exceptional place, where we have been for hundreds and hundreds of years, until President Obama decided to follow his father’s footsteps and take us to socialism.”

“I’m sorry to say Speaker Gingrich may fall short in many ways,” said Voight. “Please join me to bring in Gov. Mitt Romney as the next President of the United States.”

Romney joked around with Voigt about family matters. Continuing:

“I started talking about my five boys,” said Romney of his conversation with Voight. “I said, you know, it’s easier to raise boys than girls. Well, after a long pause, he says, ‘Tell me about it.’”

Voight is the father of actress and one-time Hollywood bad girl Angelina Jolie.

Note – Voigt was a backer of Rudy Giuliani for president in 2008. He went on to make a number of campaign appearances for McCain/Palin. Jolie has yet to endorse a candidate for 2012, but has noticeably backed away from Obama in recent celebrity media interviews.

Photo credit – Warnerbros.tv.com

by Clifford F. Thies

Mitt Romney put in a strong performance in CNN’s Florida debate, on Thursday night, and he won the debate three ways.

First, he presented his record as a businessman positively. No apologies.
Second, Newt Gingrich put in a subpar performance.

Third, Rick Santorum came on strong, which helps Romney in terms of splitting the social conservative vote.

There was a “gotcha” moment, after Gingrich attacked Romney for owning stock in Freddie and Fannie, Romney pointed out that this ownership was indirect, via mutual funds, and that Gingrich also owns stock in Freddie and Fannie via mutual funds.

Newt’s brain spasm on colonizing the moon really hurt him. Romney pointed out the promises Newt has been making in state after state after state, pandering to the locals.

As for Ron Paul, he had a very good night. He was charming, witty, relaxed, grandfatherly. But, he is fast becoming a non-factor.

Four Muslim men commit spree of break-ins and assaults including beating of an elderly couple

From Eric Dondero:

They started their string of robberies by bursting into a home of an elderly native British couple, tying them up, and beating them until they revealed where their jewlery and other valuables were hiding. Four “Asian” men (in Britain Asian is used in place of Muslims from Pakistani, Bangladesh or Middle-Eastern origin), are now on trial for the crime spree.

From burnleycitizen.com “Gang admits robbery at Burnley jewellers” Jan. 25:

A GANG of four have admitted carrying out a £30,000 raid on a Burnley jewellers.

One of the gang was wearing burka before the other trio burst in to the shop brandishing a gun and other weapons.

At Burnley Crown Court the gang, all from Bolton, also admitted two other robberies in other towns across the North West.

Rais Atcha, 20, of Burwell Close, Faheem Kola, 19, of Willows Lane, Mohammed Khan, 26, of Mancroft Avenue and Babar Khan, 25, of Jasmine Court, all Bolton, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Photo h/t Gates of Vienna of previous burka robberies in England.