Caucus Updates: Pearson for Paul, Daily Iowan on Debate Exclusion

Its been a noteworthy week for the two freedom candidates challenging the GOP statist-quo in the Iowa Caucuses.  One the heals of another million dollar moneybomb, Dr. Ron Paul announced he’d earned the endorsement of State Representative Kim Pearson.  Just a freshman, Pearson has already been making a name for herself as an uncompromising advocate for limited government in the statehouse.  While top Republican donors were pouring money into the coffers of her Democrat opponent in 2010, the freedom movement rallied around her.  Pearson was endorsed by Dr. Paul, Dr. Drew Ivers, and Iowa Freedom Report and rode a strong grassroots campaign to an upset victory in the Des Moines exurbs.

Dr. Ron Paul poses with Representative Kim Pearson and her family during a 2010 visit to Des Moines. Photo from Ron Paul's facebook page.

In returning the favor to the good doctor, Pearson noted:

“Ron Paul’s principled and courageous positions in defense of the Constitution are an inspiration. His understanding of the problems America faces and his limited-government solutions make him the statesman we need to lead America out of our moral and financial crisis.  He is the only Presidential candidate with the experience, integrity and tenacity to do what needs to be done in Washington.”

Governor Gary Johnson’s week hasn’t been going as well.  CNN and WMUR New Hampshire decided last week that the two-term governor was not welcome at their debate.  Organizers are claiming that because Johnson is starting in the traditional place of small-state governors – low poll numbers – he is not qualified to participate.  However, it is hard to ignore the ideological implications of the exclusion given that CNN has not included Johnson in the polls they supposedly are using as criteria and they have invited big-government Republicans with equivalent poll results as Johnson.

In protest, the Daily Iowan has fired back at CNN and WMUR in an article titled “CNN Hurts Debate by Excluding Johnson.”  Says the author:

CNN’s exclusion of Johnson, I suspect, is based in “journalistic discretion.” The same kind of “discretion” that inflated Donald Trump’s sham candidacy: a flashy, celebrity-style approach to politics that ranks spectacle over substance. . .

CNN’s snubbing of Johnson amounts to a disturbing new role for the network: that of political gatekeeper. When media networks focus exclusively on high-profile candidates, they reinforce the presence of those candidates in the mind of the American public. It would be difficult to argue that Johnson should be given equal coverage to the front-runners, but inclusion in debates — a medium for his message — should be taken for granted.

The snub was so egregious that even Fox News – which certainly has no credibility on the debate-inclusion-fairness issue – took up the Governor’s cause.  There is still time for freedom movement supporters, even if they are backing Paul over Johnson in this cycle, to let their demands for fairness be heard.  Contact debate organizers here:

CNN
(404) 827-1500 or (202) 898-7900
Text: CNN (space) and your news tip to 772937 (don’t forget the space after CNN). http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html
Twitter: @CNN or @teamCNN

WMUR
http://www.wmur.com/contact/index.html
(603) 669-9999
Twitter: @WMUR9

Union Leader
publisher@unionleader.com
http://www.unionleader.com/tip
(603) 668-4321 Twitter: @unionleader

Daily Iowan Urges Leftists to Caucus Libertarian

In an article published yesterday, Shawn Gude, an editor with the University of Iowa’s Daily Iowan urged campus leftists to shed partisan labels and unite with libertarians to support Governor Gary Johnson in the 2012 Iowa Caucuses.  The full article is available online here, with some of the interesting quotes pulled out below:

There are few things that pollute our political system more than vacuous partisanship. . .

I have an alternative for the disillusioned left: What if instead of reflexively backing Obama, we threw our vim and vigor behind Gary Johnson’s presidential bid? What if liberal Democrats in Iowa caucused for Johnson next February — not simply to scuttle the Republican field, but to mount a substantive challenge to Obama’s policies? . .

I know many of my ideological compadres have a visceral disdain for libertarians. But a strong showing by Johnson — buoyed by broad left-liberal support — would be a boon for several reasons.

Issue-based alliances between libertarians and the political left are needed to confront the bipartisan consensus of militarism, corporatism, mass incarceration, an unaccountable executive, and the erosion of civil liberties. The odious amalgam has become the norm that, save for a radical change, will only become more entrenched.

That’s where Johnson comes in.

The left won’t be amenable to Johnson’s agenda on most fiscal and economic issues. (I also find his enthusiastic cheerleading for school vouchers and support for privatized prisons as New Mexico governor deplorable.)

But he supports limiting America’s military footprint abroad, legalizing marijuana, and halting civil-liberty curtailment.

Contrast that with Obama’s horrendous record on foreign policy, drug policy, and civil liberties. I don’t think you’d see Johnson trying Khalid Sheik Mohammed before a military commission or tacitly accepting the inhumane treatment of Bradley Manning.

Gude seems to dismiss the possibility of supporting another potential candidate with libertarian sympathies, Congressman Ron Paul.  Paul has taken a risky stance in his recent trips to Iowa, aligning himself with anti-gay bigots, which has earned him some “atta-boys” from mainstream Republicans but quizzical looks or even outright disdain from freedom activists.  Paul will need to tread carefully with college aged voters if he wishes to keep them in the fold in 2012.  Just in Johnson County, the home of the U of I, Paul’s percentage of the vote was 5% higher than his state average.  Unlike the average GOP voter, today’s youth are more likely to get riled up over wars and violations of privacy than they are over their friends making a different lifestyle choice than they do.  The energy and passion of free-thinking young people could be a boon to whichever campaign puts forth the effort to reach them.

At Iowa Freedom Report, we are not endorsing in the Caucus because of the likelihood of having two candidates who are solid on the issues, but we welcome the alliance of honest progressives and libertarians.  It is often these groups that can forge real “bi-partisanship” by honestly acknowledging their difference as well as opportunities to for collaboration such as Ron Paul and Bernie Sanders’ work on auditing the Federal Reserve or Justin Amash and Dennis Kuchinich’s resolutions ending the war in Libya.

Event Updates: Fairfield Rally Re-brands and Adds Speaker, Rand Paul Adds Stops to Iowa Tour

Spring thaw has brought out a rash of great events for freedom-loving Iowans, including some visits by some of the biggest names in our movement.  We’ve already reported on the upcoming Iowans Rally for Freedom in Fairfield as well as the April 1-2 visit by Senator Rand Paul.  Now, we have updated information on both events:

Iowans Rally for Freedom is now promoting itself as “Dismantling Corporatocracy:  Corporation-Ruled Government.”  They have also added a speaker to the dynamic duo of Sheriff Richard Mack and Iowa’s own Clyde Cleveland.  Barbara Loe Fisher, the co-founder and President of the National Vaccine Information Center will address the crowd via video-conference.  This topic is particularly timely as the Supreme Court recently ruled that pharmaceutical companies cannot be held liable for problems caused by government mandated vaccines – a blatant affront to health, the market economy, and government accountability.

In the beginning of April, we will be blessed with the visit of Senator Rand Paul.  Paul was originally slated for only one appearance, as keynote speaker for a state GOP fundraiser.  Now the Senator has added events in Iowa City and Ames as well as an additional speech to college Republicans in Des Moines.  Visit the Iowa page at Campaign for Liberty’s website for a full schedule.

Of course Senator Paul’s father Congressman Paul was in Des Moines yesterday for the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators day at the Capitol.  Unfortunately, Iowa Freedom Report wasn’t able to be on the scene but the liberty activists we’ve talked to report that Dr. Paul did a great job and impressed the audience with his knowledge of the subject and his legislative record on the issue.  The Iowa Republican even reported that Paul was “pandering” to the crowd because he spent the bulk of his speech on the issue rather than promoting himself like the neo-con (or should we say “tea-o-con”?) speakers Michelle Bachmann and Herman Cain did.  The Register has the story here.  Dr. Paul also had the chance to meet privately with Governor Branstad and state Republican leaders.

Ron Paul Makes Triumphant Return to Iowa

Ron Paul presents a donation from his Liberty PAC to SD-7 candidate James Mills at a rally in Mason City on Friday. Photo courtesy of James Mills for Senate

Texas Congressman Dr. Ron Paul may have finished 5th in the 2008 Iowa Republican Caucus, but in 2010, his ideas of limited government and Austrian economics are winning the day.  Next Tuesday, several of Paul’s disciples may be winning seats for the movement in the Iowa legislature and the Champion of the Constitution was in Iowa this week to lend them a hand.

Paul’s trip commenced with a rally Thursday night for freedom candidates Kent Sorenson (SD-37), Glen Massie (HD-74), and Kim Pearson (HD-42).  Certain officials from Campaign for Liberty reported a crowd of 250, including many central Iowa homeschooling families.  Liberty’s Best Frenemy, Steve Deace, emceed the event and Paul rallied the troops for what is looking like a tight finish in all three races.

On Friday, Paul headlined an Ames fundraiser for candidates Tim Gartin (SD-23) and Chad Steenhoek (HD-46).  Then it was north to Mason City where Iowa Freedom Report caught up with the good doctor at a rally for James Mills (SD-7).  Paul and Mills filled the room as 85 northern Iowans took an extended lunch break to hear the message of limited government.  Mills related the story of how he had learned of Dr. Paul’s message only in December of 2007 when CNN aired a story about the Ron Paul Blimp.  Mills followed the blimps message to “Google Ron Paul” and quickly became a caucus volunteer and leader in Paul’s campaign.  Paul then delivered a 30 minute stream-of-consciousness lecture on the principles of liberty, touching on Obama’s war in Afghanistan, federal spending, the recent failings of the Republican Party, and the United Nations.  But lest you think Paul’s intellectual styling went over the head of the locals, they raised the roof when Paul began to speak on his signature issue, the need to end the Federal Reserve.  Only a subsequent call to abolish the IRS got wilder cheers.  Paul wrapped up his message about the problems in American government on an optimistic note, stating his enthusiasm that young people are hearing and responding to the message.  He praised Mills as the vanguard in a new crop of leaders, untainted by the liberal and neoconservative politics of the past.

From there it was on to Iowa City where Paul delivered the capstone speech of his whirlwind tour.  Some 800 students and interested citizens crowded the Iowa Memorial Union to hear Paul expound on Austrian economics, personal liberties, the pro-life foreign policy.

Catch up with all Dr. Paul’s events with the state media:

Des Moines Register

Radio Iowa

Mason City Globe Gazzette

Iowa City Press Citizen

Its a welcome sign, not only that Dr. Paul has a handful of great candidates to come and campaign for, but also that the Iowa media is more interested in his potential to run in 2012 than they ever were when we actually was in 2008.

Iowa vs. Iowa State: Which is Iowa’s Freest University?

On the eve of the annual rivalry game between the Iowa Hawkeye and Iowa State Cyclone football teams, we here at Iowa Freedom Report thought it would be fun to consider which of our state’s largest universities would win the contest if the criteria were which school was more favorable to the freedom movement.  Unlike the football game, you can make a pretty good case for either one to win.  To keep it fair and fun, we’ve expanded our view to include the Iowa City and Ames areas in addition to merely the universities.  Now the tale of the tape:

Hawkeye athletics: Champions of capitalism?

Economics:  Both are government universities and both soak up their share of taxpayer largesse, so lets limit our look to the athletic departments.  Athletics at Iowa are funded fully by private sources, while the Cyclones pick Iowan’s pockets to the tune of roughly $3 million a year and have been ordered by the state to get off the dole.  The reason Iowa has been able to profit without subsidies was through smart business decisions.  Iowa and the Big 10 conference took a risk by forming their own cable television network.  At the time, there was no guarantee that such an unprecedented move would pay off, but now the Big 10 Network essentially functions as the conference’s own personal federal reserve, pushing all member schools onto the list of the most profitable sports programs in the nation.  At the same time the Big 10 Network was founded, the Big 12 conference passed on a similar set-up.  No risk, no reward, and more dependency on government – Iowa’s athletic department must have listened to one of the Austrians in their economics department.

Iowa State: Big crowds for Ron Paul

Support for freedom candidates:   In the 2008 caucuses, Ron Paul outperformed his state and nationwide averages just about wherever a college campus was located and Story and Johnson counties were no exception.  Iowa State and Story county posted a stronger finish with Paul “winning the bronze” while Johnson County freedom lovers scored a higher raw percentage (15-12) but finished out of the medals in fourth a few votes behind fascist standard bearer John McCain.  Iowa State’s numbers were no doubt boosted by several appearance by Dr. Paul that drew hundreds of freedom lovers and converted many to the message.  Dr. Paul’s rallies at Iowa paled by comparison, but that may be due in part to Paul showing up at a tailgate party before the Iowa-Western Michigan football game sporting the Broncos colors.  At least potential 2012 candidate Gary Johnson knows how to fire up the Hawkeye crowds.

Governor Gary Johnson - Herky's #1 choice in 2012

In the general, Story County turned out 503 votes for the freedom candidates Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr while Johnson managed just 415.

In 2010, both universities and surrounding communities have produced candidates running on the “less government, not more” message.  We’ve profiled the state legislative campaigns of UI medical student Dustin Krutsigner and Coralville surgeon Dr. Chris Peters.  Of course the Libertarian Party has Dr. Eric Cooper from the ISU faculty on the top of the ticket while student Tyler Pauly is running for the state house.  One of Pauly’s opponents is pro-freedom Republican Chad Steenhoek, who as we recently noted, has been endorsed by movement leader Dr. Drew Ivers.

Movement leaders:  Both universities and communities have contributed strong leaders to the freedom movement.  Both the first and the most recent Libertarian Party candidates for President, Dr. John Hospers and Congressman Bob Barr hail from Iowa City and 2004 Vice Presidential nominee Richard Campagna still lives there.  While no Cyclone has yet been a presidential contender (Cooper in 2012?), no freedom candidate would get far in Iowa with help from Campaign for Liberty and former Ron Paul caucus leaders Dr. Drew Ivers, David Fischer, and AJ Spiker.  Dr. Ivers and Fischer are ISU grads while Spiker chairs the Story County Republicans.  All three are now fighting the good fight from inside the Republican Party State Central Committee.  While not with us on every issue, Iowa tea party leader Ryan Rhodes is also an Iowa State alum and is right more often than he’s wrong.

Freedom activism:  Iowa and Iowa State both can be proud of their young people’s work for the cause of liberty.  Both campuses have active chapters of Young Americans for Liberty.  The Hawkeyes may take this one by a hair as their activists are unwilling to shy away from controversial issues.  Their agitation for drug policy reform won them praise from High Times magazine as being one of the top ten campuses for freedom activism thanks to a great Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter.

Conclusion:  The freedom movement in Iowa is the real winner when Cyclone and Hawkeye activists fight for liberty.  We’ll leave the comments section for the black and gold to fight it out with the cardinal and yellow.  We’ve got a game to watch.

Gary Johnson Makes Whirlwind Tour of Iowa

Governor Gary Johnson (center) talks with Iowa students after his speech to Young Americans for Liberty and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. Photo by Jimmy Morrison

Potential presidential candidate Gary Johnson made his second visit to Iowa this week on behalf of his organization the Our America Initiative.  Johnson had speaking opportunities with numerous student, political, and citizen groups in addition to getting some great press for the message of “less government, not more.”

Governor Johnson’s week began on Monday with an interview with the Des Moines Register’s editorial board.  While the Register went out of their way to avoid covering Ron Paul in the 2008 caucus season, they’ve greeted Governor Johnson quite favorably with an excellent story this week following up on his op-ed published on the eve of his RAGBRAI visit.  After sitting with the press, the Governor was invited to a private meeting with state GOP officials.  In the afternoon, Johnson joined Liberty’s Best Frenemy Steve Deace in the WHO studios for a half-hour interview.  While Iowa Freedom Report has it on good authority that the Governor deliberately chose Deace’s in-station rival, libertarian Jan Mickelson to introduce himself to the state in July he knocked it out of the park discussing real fiscal discipline with Deace.  In the evening, Governor Johnson appeared at a forum for Iowa Patients for Medical Marijuana at the Des Moines Public Library.

On Tuesday, Johnson had an even fuller schedule with meetings from 7 in the morning until 10 at night.  The day opened with a speech to the Des Moines Golf and Country Club’s Breakfast Club then moved on to Iowa City where the Governor was a guest speaker at a class on Entrepreneurship and Innovation.  Governor Johnson’s main event on Thursday was a speech jointly hosted by the U of I’s chapters of Young Americans for Liberty and Students for a Sensible Drug Policy.  Johnson’s staff estimated that he spoke to more than 200 people over the course of the various events.  Johnson also meet with journalists from the Iowa City Press-Citizen, the Daily Iowan, and the Bob Bruce Radio Experience.

The Quad Cities were on the schedule on Wednesday.  Johnson spoke at a retirement community before having supper with Super Liberty, perhaps Iowa’s most successful local pro-freedom group and the backbone of freedom campaigns such as Ron Paul’s 2008 caucus effort and Will Johnson’s Congressional primary run.  Johnson also had interviews with the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Quad City Times.

Most of Johnson’s speeches stuck to his dominant theme of cost-benefit analysis.  It is a different approach to the freedom message than many are used to from the “natural rights protected by a Constitution” approach popularized by the likes of Dr. Ron Paul and Dr. Tom Woods, but the conclusions are the same.  As he noted in the interview with Deace, reductions in Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Defense (the 4 areas where the government actually spends money) might be painful to some, but “we’re paying in much more than we’re getting out.”  It remains to be seen how the Governor will advance the freedom message or even if he will do it as a Presidential candidate.

If he does run, he seems to have already learned the lesson from Dr. Paul that to be viable in Iowa, you actually have to be in Iowa.  Johnson’s next visit is penciled in for November, right after the election results come in.  While the mainstream of the Republican party likes their presidential candidates to come in before the polls and campaign for them, the timing of Johnson’s return should be perfect to remind the likely-victorious Republicans to keep their promises, hold to principles, and adopt Johnson’s realism in governance.  “Elections have consequences,” the big-government Republicans like to remind freedom voters, but we know that actions speak louder than campaign rhetoric.  While no schedule has been announced for November, Iowa Freedom Report will have it for you first.

Thanks to Jimmy Morrison of Iowa Patients for Medical Marijuana and Governor Johnson’s de facto state chairman for contributing to this report.

Gary Johnson Announces Iowa Events

A flyer announcing Gary Johnson's upcoming event with Young Americans for Liberty at the University of Iowa

Freedom activist and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson told audiences during his July visit to Iowa that he was in the first caucus state testing the response to his ideas.  The results must have been encouraging because he’ll be back next week.  Today, Johnson’s organization Our America Initiative released the official schedule for the Governor and potential Presidential candidate’s visit.

In addition to the events listed below, Johnson is expected to give several print and radio interviews and participate in a number of private briefings with Iowa Republican leaders.  Music lovers will also be pleased to see that Jake Dilley and the Color Pharmacy with join Johnson in Iowa City.  RAGBRAI riders dubbed the Minneapolis-based band “the best band on RAGBRAI” after their acoustic shows in Waterloo and Manchester.

While Iowa Freedom Report was the first media outlet to break the story of Johnson’s return, a hat tip goes out to our friend Dustin Krutsinger, blogger and freedom candidate for State House for being the first to publish Johnson’s schedule.

From Our America:

GARY JOHNSON, HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF OUR AMERICA INITIATIVE, TO VISIT IOWA AGAIN, SPEAK AT PUBLIC EVENTS TO DISCUSS KEY POLITICAL ISSUES
Former Governor of New Mexico Returns to Iowa to Focus on Immigration Reform, Cutting Deficits, Lowering Taxes, and Ending the War in Afghanistan
SANTA FE, N.M.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico and Honorary Chairman of the OUR America Initiative, today announced that he will return to Iowa for the second time this summer to visit with citizen and student groups to discuss pertinent issues of the day. Johnson’s comments will focus on key issues such as: lowering taxes, cutting deficits, the implications of immigration reform, his opposition to continued nation-building in Afghanistan, the failure of the war on drugs and a return to common-sense governing. Governor Johnson visited Iowa last month, where he participated in the annual RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) event, and held several public events along the RAGBRAI route.
As Governor of New Mexico, from 1994 to 2002, Johnson was known for his common-sense business approach to governing. He eliminated New Mexico’s budget deficit, cut the rate of growth in state government in half and privatized half of the state prisons. During his term, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the State’s history. Additionally, Governor Johnson vetoed 750 bills and thousands of line item vetoed bills.
Since the launch of OUR America in December of 2009, Governor Johnson has garnered significant media coverage, recently appearing on several prominent national news programs, including the Hannity Show, FOX News, FOX Business Network, CNBC, the Colbert Report, and Real Time with Bill Maher, as well as on radio programs around the country.

Iowa Economist Hosts “Radio Free Market”

Businessman and economist Michael McKay of Fairfield (where else?) hosts the weekly internet radio program Radio Free Market.  McKay parlayed a successful career in sales into his own investment firm, Iowa Capital Management.  The program centers around the Austrian School of Economics, which McKay terms “Reality Economics.”  McKay’s basic theory integrates economics with history, law, and ethics to comprise our human ecology.

Radio Free Market has attracted many of the leading Austrian scholars in the field, including many from the Ludwig von Mises Institute, as guests.  Show archives include interviews with such luminaries as Lew Rockwell, Mark Thornton, Tom Woods, Thomas Dilorenzo, and Dr. Walter Block.  While the show is not expressly political, Dr. Ron Paul, one of the few elected officials with even an elementary understanding of economic law, gave an interview during his visit to Iowa in May.

McKay is occasionally joined as co-host by Patrick Barron, a professor of Austrian economics at the University of Iowa.

Young Americans for Liberty Now Hiring

Young Americans for Liberty, the student movement that grew out of the Ron Paul for President campaign, is looking to beef up its staff as it prepares to make an impact on college campuses and on political campaigns nationwide.  The organization is looking for seven part-time, paid Regional Directors.  YAL places Iowa in the Midwest region so if an Iowan gets the job, s/he will oversee development in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.  There are also volunteer positions to fill including state chair and regional organizer which will have a more local focus.

To apply, college students and recent graduates can fill out the online application on YAL’s website.  It’s an interesting application as it asks applicants to list their skills and personality traits so prospective staff can be matched to a position that suits their unique personality.  Applicants can also list which issues are most important to them.  Proving Iowa Freedom Report doesn’t hold a monopoly on political snark, applicants who click “9/11 Truth” are politely advised that “if you check this box, please don’t waste your time filling out the rest of this form.”

Young Americans for Liberty currently has Iowa chapters at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and Drake.

Dustin Krutsinger Running for HD-30 as Libertarian

Libertarian candidate Dustin Krutsinger protests socialized medicine at an Obama rally

University of Iowa medical student and Campaign for Liberty activist Dustin Krutsinger announced his candidacy for State House District 30 as a Libertarian last week.  Krutsinger’s previous political activism had been as a Republican beginning with the Ron Paul caucus campaign and continuing until recently when Krutsinger was elected as a member of the Johnson County Republican Central Committee.  Despite the lack of a Republican challenger to Democrat incumbent Dave Jacoby, Krutsinger felt that the Libertarian Party would be a better vehicle to promote his issues.

From materials posted on Krutsinger’s website, it seems his campaign will mainly focus on federalism issues, using state government to protect individual liberty by interposing itself between the people and oppressive national government.

Krutsinger made his announcement with a press release and blog post on Caffeinated Thoughts, a conservative blog where he is a contributor.  The text of the announcement is as follows:

Many Americans are understandably upset about the out of control spending and assaults on personal liberty coming out of Washington.  There is something we as Iowans can do to prevent this.

The US Constitution sets limits on the role of the federal government and reserves all other responsibilities to the states.  Washington has ignored the Constitution for some time now.  This has led to the massive national debt and government officials micromanaging our daily lives.

All states, including Iowa,  have the means and responsibility to its residents, to prevent Washington from overstepping its bounds.

I am running to promote this plan for returning power to Iowa.  If the Iowa Legislature retakes authority usurped by the federal government, you and your neighbors will have much more impact on the regulations, laws, taxes, etc imposed on Iowans.

Krutsinger’s campaign has already been covered online by the Cedar Rapids Gazette, by conservative Shane Vander Hart at the Des Moines Register, and by popular Iowa City progressive blogger John Deeth.  One of Krutsinger’s previous projects, a Campaign for Liberty spin-off at the medical school, made it to the front page of Campaign for Liberty’s national site.  The “People’s Republic of Johnson County” has long been considered a one-party fiefdom.  With Krutsinger in a two-way legislative race and an impressive candidate for Congress, the Libertarian Party could make serious inroads in local politics.

On a personal note, this editor has gotten to know Dustin via facebook as we seem to be on at the same times and ended up frequently commenting on each other’s links.  When Iowa Freedom report was starting Dustin was one of the first people I recruited to join the site (just after contributor Ben Cashner) but he took the offer from Caffeinated Thoughts instead.  In addition to his libertarianism, he’s also a Christian who has used his medical skills in the mission field around the world.  As James Dobson once said, “sounds like my kind of man.”  We expect to have an interview with Dustin soon and will check in regularly before election day to keep the movement posted on his campaign.