We've heard it all before:  Republicans using fear tactics and racist rhetoric to win public support for harsher border security and immigration laws. With dangerous drug cartel members sneaking over US-Mexican borders to buy guns for the Drug War, Republicans should be ready and willing to stop these gun sales -- so you would think.

As the Obama Administration approved a new rule that would inform the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of anyone buying more than two automatic firearms in a five day period in the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, the NRA claimed that the new rule infringed on 2nd Amendment rights of US citizens. 

Republicans quickly scrambled to oppose the rule, since the NRA is a major ally of the GOP base -- not to mention a donor. The House Appropriations Committee blocked the bill Wednesday, as sponsored by Republican Denny Rehberg of Montana.

Yes it's true -- Republicans tend to side with 2nd Amendment rights -- but the GOP needs to clarify its message on immigration and border laws and stick with it. 

Photo Credit to the NYT.

With the Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge continuing to climb the popularity ladder, a person's signature seems to show just who in fact is a conservative. Eight presidential candidates, four governors, twelve Senators, and thirty-six House members have already given their approval. Predictably, all of the signers are Republican.

Despite this fact, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have not signed. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has gone on record opposing the Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge. Some conservatives see it as going too far. Others see it as not going far enough. The latter opinion is held by Michele Bachmann (R-MN), the only serious GOP presidential contender not to have signed the pledge.

No matter one's personal opinion on the matter of the Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge, it is important to see if it will truly have any impact. Will the pledge be a sign for things to come after 2012? Or is it merely a political tool used by so-called "conservatives" to broaden their electoral appeal to the Tea Party?

The Minnesota state government shutdown has provoked many to voice their opinions.  To be certain, there is no shortage of crazy things being said in the Gopher State.  However, the most ridiculous statement I have heard yet came from the CEO of Campbell Mithun, Steve Wehrenberg.  Wehrenberg was quoted in the Star Tribune saying, "you can't really create a 'good life' if you don't have a government." I couldn't help but stop and smirk out of disbelief when I read this.

Of course, there are people suffering from the state shutdown and it would be ignorant of me to say that nobody's life has changed due to it.  However, I would argue that the root of the problem is not the state shutdown itself -- that is to say, people are not suffering merely because the government is currently not functioning.  Rather, it is my opinion that people are suffering due to the philosophy of Mr. Wehrenberg:  It is because people have grown to rely on the government so much -- grown to believe that it is the source of the "good life" -- that the state shutdown seems like a bigger deal than it actually is.

The human race hasn’t exactly mastered the art of telepathy yet.  Whether we are right or not only matters if we are able to effectively communicate and share our knowledge with others.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind when speaking to potential supporters about the ideas of liberty.