The NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board produced a report covering incidents of police misconduct in the city for 2020, the most recent year where data is available. According to the following Queens Borough President Cabinet meeting by Zoom call, there were 53 substantiated cases, but only 3 officers disciplined. Much detail on the board’s findings are reviewed in the first half of the video, below:
During an appearance on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC earlier this week, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had some choice words for crypto bros navigating questions of deplatforming amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“If the Ukrainians with our help can impose enough economic pain on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and, sadly, the Russian people, combined with providing weapons…that might be the only way…that I can see us getting to a stalemate that might save the Ukrainian people from even greater tragedy,” said Clinton, referring to the broad-based sanctions imposed by Western governments on Russian financial institutions and state-owned companies.
Clinton added,”I was disappointed to see that some of the so-called crypto exchanges, not all of them, but some of them are refusing to end transactions with Russia for some philosophy of libertarianism or whatever,” later in the segment. “Everybody…should do as much as possible to isolate Russian economic activity right now.”
Maddow, who seemed to agree with her guest, responded by calling crypto “an escape hatch” with potential to stymie “multilateral action.”
That’s precisely the point. Crypto’s transcendence of national borders is a feature, not a bug… Read the rest
QL President John Clifton’s analysis of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, adapted from a recent email libertarian discussion:
Stolen elections have consequences. The Russian invasion is the outcome of years of it not reaching security agreements with NATO, ongoing bombings of a Russian population in eastern Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin perceiving ‘weakness’ in Biden, following the (ahem) somewhat questionable circumstances of the November 2020 election, and his disastrous withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Putin thinks, probably correctly, that the current occupant of the White House will not risk full out war over a country in eastern Europe.
By contrast, Trump threatened to bomb Moscow if Russia invaded Ukraine, and has called Putin’s current actions “smart.” Putin sensed Biden did not have the stones to say that, let alone do it, so he has proceeded, based on a long term frustration about failed negotiations in the region. Given the US and NATO expanding up to Russia’s doorstep since the end of the Soviet Union, even though they verbally promised they would not do this, Putin wanted a formal written assurance they would not try to make Ukraine a member of NATO.
Russia also wanted Western powers to recognize the autonomy of the Donbass region (in accordance with the Minsk peace accords) as the US (again) said they supported. They have done neither. Putin is at the end of his patience with US/NATO saying one thing, but doing the opposite. Even given that, Russia was not deciding to invade, until the emergency meeting held two weeks ago, where US/NATO indicated they would not give whatsoever on these issues. That forced Putin’s hands, into starting this military op. Trump simply notes this is what Putin’s motives are, and that he has been smart about it.
Russia is not slowing down its invasion as of this writing, but they are taking their time on seizing the major cities. Putin has probably war gamed the op down to this and other scenarios. He has taken out the Ukrainian military’s communications and command and control with the Donbass region, which is where their biggest military presence is. But there has been almost no damage done to the nation’s civilian infrastructure, compared to, say, the “shock and awe” number the US Empire did to Iraq (further evidence this is a controlled, restrained operation). They ultimately don’t want to play endless occupy-the-country games, they just want the West to back off further militarization of that country at their border.
Russia failed to knuckle under to NATO, in a situation where their security concerns were ignored or never formalized, and where millions of Donbass Russians were already under attack. While the hawks have one-sidedly characterized their invasion as ‘aggression,’ a war crime, or other forms of indecency, Russia has actually asserted the same self defense rights in 2022 that the US did in the Cuban missile crisis in 1963. Then, the US objected to Russian missiles being placed on our doorstep, and we were not going to budge. Now, Russia objects to more NATO forces being placed on their doorstep, and they are not going to budge. The reason 1963 was a crisis was if Russia hadn’t conceded, we weren’t going to budge, and war WOULD have erupted. If the US had militarily escalated in such a crisis, would that have been ‘aggression?’ If not, then neither is it aggression if another country does so. Russia has budged on NATO expansion to its doorstep for decades, and it will budge no farther. Russia gets to have sovereign security interests too.
NATO has not been constrained to abide by its own (again verbal) promises to Russia, for decades on NATO expansion, and for 8 years in both Minsk agreements. Russia will not accept a one way situation where only it is supposed to abide by agreements the other party is disregarding. Certain neo-liberal, globalist figures and pro-NWO groups (like WEF, Soros etc), who believe in a perpetual situation where they call the shots, while all other nations must comply, are of course upset by this. This does not change the reality, in full context and with cooler heads, that Putin’s actions appear to be a legitimate, self-defense response to protect Russia’s security interests. I agree with Ron Paul, Tucker Carlson, Pat Buchanan, and numerous other libertarians and paleocons in opposing hot war escalation with Russia, feeling that this entire matter could have been avoided by formally giving Russia the security guarantees, and abiding by them. Shopworn jingoism and demonizing the other side as “indecent” will not resolve the impasse.
According to Paul Craig Roberts, “the days of baiting the bear are over. As I have reported for some time, Russia has had enough of the West’s lies, deceptions, insults, and provocations. Henceforth, when Russia tells them something, they would do well to turn their ears on. Putin has said that Russia will not permit Ukraine to develop nuclear weapons, and he has said that Russia will not tolerate US/NATO bases on her borders. The US and NATO had better believe it. Putin said Russia has no intention to occupy Ukraine. Russia does not want Ukraine, but Russia will not permit the continued militarization of the country by the US and NATO or the Ukrainian attacks on the Donbass Russians. The West had better understand this.”
From the LPNY release. Note–Long time member Bill Schmidt has indicated he will appear at QL’s May meeting, to discuss his candidacy for Comptroller, and year one of the Biden era:
Libertarian Party of New York Nominates Candidates for Statewide Races
Albany, New York, February 22, 2022: On February 19, the Libertarian Party of New York voted on nominations for the statewide races of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller, as well as United States Senator.
The nominees chosen are led by 2018 gubernatorial candidate Larry Sharpe of Queens County and his 2018 running mate, Andrew Hollister of Monroe County. Also chosen were attorney Sean Hayes of New York County, for the office of Attorney General, and William Schmidt of Westchester County for the office of Comptroller. The LPNY nominated former State Senate candidate Thomas Quiter of Chenango County to run for the office of United States Senator.
Cody Anderson, Chair of the Libertarian Party of New York Cody Anderson shared the party’s enthusiasm over these nominees.
“The name recognition that Larry Sharpe and Andrew Hollister bring statewide is unprecedented among Libertarian candidates in New York,” Anderson explained. “Sean Hayes and Bill Schmidt are qualified experts in their fields who have a deep desire to bring a better, freer future to New York State. We also have a proven candidate in Tom Quiter, who will bring his previous experience to one of the highest profile races in the country as he challenges Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“It is not hyperbolic to call this the strongest slate of liberty candidates the LPNY has ever had. We are confident that these candidates will show New Yorkers that there is a third choice, and they need not be resigned to the authoritarian regimes brought forth by the Democrats and Republicans in Albany and Washington for decades.”
QL is very pleased to host a meet and greet, Q & A and fundraising appearance in NYC on April 9, 11:30 am by Larry Sharpe, prospective LPNY candidate for Governor in 2022. Larry will speak about his campaign and take questions at our relaxed setting at OBA Grill (corner of Austin St and 70th Rd) in Forest Hills. He will talk about issues in New York that impact liberty, and on the bipartisan support he has garnered for his candidacy. This may be one of his few early appearances among libertarians in the city (due to his statewide schedule, and mandate complications), so come meet him and donate while you can. Note: Maximum seating is 24, RSVP today! Details and Directions
Join us on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at OBA Mediterranean Grill (corner of Austin St and 70th Rd) in Forest Hills, New York for “Eric Adams, Justice Reform and the Freedom Agenda.” Discussion will be led by Darren Mack of the Urban Justice Center, an activist group advocating for more criminal justice reform and civil liberties protection in New York.
With the election of new NYC Mayor Eric Adams, formerly a 22 year veteran of the NYPD, questions have been raised as to whether he will address crime in the city in a manner that approaches civil liberties, bail reform, drug laws and other fronts with fairness? Or, will Adams return to more authoritarian practices that may increase police misconduct, or abusive treatment of suspects or prisoners? The speaker will explore these issues, and how “the Freedom Agenda” can address fully restoring justice to the system.
Dr. Phil’s presentation on Covid from the February QL meeting, and his reply to the member discussion that followed. An additional note that reflects the other members’ side is also below:
At the beginning of 2019, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson consulted two of the world’s leading experts of epidemiology on what to do of the outbreak of covid-19 pandemic. Neil Ferguson, research epidemiologist of London’s Imperial College, scared the bejesus out of the prime minister by declaring his mathematical modeling projected that one million Brits would die if the country did not lockdown. Dr. Anders Tegnell, the official Swedish State Epidemiologist, who worked for the Public Health Agency of Sweden, advised against lockdowns. He argued there were no data to indicate that they would work. Furthermore, there would be immense collateral damage to society and to the economy. Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, decided to follow China’s decision to lockdown as well did virtually almost the rest of the world. Was this the right decision?
• Part I. Before the Crisis—Plan how to work together.
Benjamin Franklin wrote in Poor Richard’s Almanac, “an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”
Step # 1: Be Aware.
Edgar Allan Poe in his 1842 short story, “The Masque of the Red Death” in which implementing a quarantine did not work, began the long literary and cinematic tradition predicting doomsday by pandemic. Numerous documentaries, histories, and novels have revisited the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 or dramatized future epidemics as science fiction possibilities or as horror stories… Read full text here.
Additional comments following a discussion of Dr. Schoenberg’s presentation:
Dear friends,
Thank you for listening to my presentation and your support.
After I gave my presentation on Lessons of the Covid Crisis: How We Can Do Better, the discussion meandered into the world of unfounded conspiracy theories in which Dr. Fauci is blamed and scapegoated for the origin of the corona-19 virus. Dr. Rand Paul has led the conspiracy charge against Dr. Fauci.
What are the creds of the two contenders? Dr. Rand Paul is an eye doctor turned politician. He is the polar opposite of Bernie Sanders, the socialist, who is a libertarian. Both know how to be demagogues. Both have written best-selling books to explain their philosophies. Dr. Paul’s most practical contribution is to covid debate is to become the first senator to get the covid-19. He received bipartisan criticism from his colleagues sharing this with several of them before he bothered to get tested and self-isolated…. Read full text here.
Special Note: With deep respect to Dr. Phil, but in fairness to other members who commented, the ‘COVID was created by the Wuhan lab and funded by Fauci’ position is not an ‘unfounded conspiracy theory.’ The National Institutes of Health admitted in writing to this last fall, as reported by Lew Rockwell and others. NIH also stated this under oath in Senate hearings, in direct contradiction to what Dr. Fauci had previously testified.
Fauci himself is a long term government official, thus also may be subject to using political demogagic tactics, such as mischaracterizing even Ivy League level scientists who disagree with him as being ‘fringe.’ Much of his dispute with Sen. Paul consists of Paul QUOTING Fauci’s statements of this kind to him and confronting him about it. See a key exchange between the two here: https://youtu.be/kz7OGxb9X6E
Commissioned by Unite NY on January 22, 2002, John Zogby Strategies conducted a wide-ranging poll of New York State voters’ outlooks on the current political climate of their state, as reported in Forbes Magazine. Larry Sharpe has not officially announced his candidacy. Despite this fact, he garnered 6% sentiment from New Yorkers who indicated they intend to vote for him during this election cycle, in a three-way race against Governor Kathy Hochul, and Congressman Lee Zeldin. This is almost 4 times the percentage of votes Larry Sharpe received in 2018, which could mean over 350,000 votes if the election were held today…(More)
Join us on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at OBA Mediterranean Grill (corner of Austin St and 70th Rd) in Forest Hills, New York for a review of “Why Do People Resist Taking the Covid-19 Vaccine?” by Phillip Ernest Schoenberg, PhD. Schoenberg will provide historical and logical background on the controversy. “Those who do not want to take the one of the Covid-19 cannot all be lumped together into one group or stereotyped as irrational or hysterical. There are actually five groups that we shall look at in terms of their rationale of why they refuse to take the vaccine and if there is any way to convince them.
One of the top petitioners (primarily) for the LP nationally and in New York for decades, Darryl Bonner, is recovering from a stroke he suffered in early December. Bonner, while participating in a petition drive in Alabama, was persuaded to go to the ER when he showed signs of having issues. AGoFundMe page was set up to cover his medical expenses, that has at this point reached its financial target. Bonner has often obtained most of his signatures for the party in NY campaigns from Queens and Brooklyn. He has since returned home, and we wish him well in his recovery.
The annual toy drive conducted by QL’s Michelle Yaskel has concluded successfully, with 95 toy items distributed to New York Families with Autistic Children (NYFAC). We encourage other Libertarian committees and groups to likewise sponsor a community based cause to improve their engagement in their counties or region.
QL’s 2021 Thomas Stevens Award recipients were revealed at the Christmas or Holiday Luncheon on December 11. The Local Libertarian award was given to John Clifton, for his efforts at sustaining QL in the two years following the passing of Dr. Stevens. Naturopathic Doctor Saul Marcus was named for the National Libertarian award, for his health freedom advocacy in combating the ongoing tyranny of the COVID narrative.
Queens Libertarians has increased its Meetup.com numbers from 167 to 198 members in 2021, and expects to expand those totals significantly in the coming year, when its newsletter and alternative social media presence fully launches. QL returns to OBA Grill restaurant in Forest Hills for its next regular meeting on January 8.
The line separating libertarian vs. liberal statist mindsets can be clearly seen with authoritarian Frankenstein Bill DeBlasio’s lame duck expansions of the NYC COVID mandates, now extended to all private employers and children over 5 years old. LPNY and Ron Paul respond:
Libertarian Party of New York Vehemently Opposes Mayor de Blasio’s Announced Vaccine Mandate for All NYC Businesses
New York, New York, December 7, 2021: This week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced new, stricter vaccine mandates, announcing that anyone working in the City’s more than 180,000 private businesses must receive a COVID-19 vaccination. According to de Blasio, the new mandates were put in place as a “pre-emptive strike” against the omicron variant of COVID-19. These measures, which apply to all in-person employers with at least two employees, would take effect on December 27th, five days before de Blasio leaves office.
Business leaders decried these new restrictions, calling them devastating to every private business in New York. Cody Anderson, Chair of the Libertarian Party of New York, echoed that sentiment.
“For a lame-duck mayor to put in place such short-sighted measures that will hurt employers during one of the busiest times of the year – measures that the incoming mayor does not support – is absolutely absurd,” Anderson explained. “These measures will force mass firings and resignations at the tens of thousands of retail outlets who rely on December staffing and sales for their year’s profits. The mandate disproportionately harms minority communities and the working poor. 45% of the black community and 30% of the Hispanic community will effectively be barred from earning a living within New York City at a time when working families are already struggling to make ends meet.
“Early reports on the omicron variant are encouraging; its mild symptoms have not warranted additional lockdown measures. Policy based on a dubious premise of transmissibility, rather than virulence, and unsupported by quantitative and qualitative medical data is absolute lunacy, and the Mayor’s timing and means of implementation is absolute tyranny. We call on Mayor de Blasio to rescind these needless measures, and further call upon Mayor-Elect Eric Adams to publicly denounce the newest round of mandates. If Mayor de Blasio does not reconsider before he leaves office, we demand Mayor-Elect Adams rescind the order. We implore businesses to practice noncompliance, and to deny entry to NYC officials seeking to enforce the order. The Libertarian Party of New York stands with every one of the more than 180,000 businesses in New York City who chooses not to comply with these mandates, but rather to do business and assess risk as they and their customers see fit.”
For more information about the Libertarian Party of New York, please visit lpny.org. You may also visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/LPNYOfficial, Twitter @LPNYOfficial, or Instagram @LPNYOfficial.
Long time libertarian advocate John Stossel takes down the censors of the Facebook-Twitter-YouTube gestapo, who never saw a dissenting opinion on COVID it didn’t want to cancel: