Kennedy Campaign Supporters Sound Like My Kind of People

Columnist Michelle Goldberg makes her disdain for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. clear in her Friday New York Times editorial. She paints Kennedy as a dangerous “crank.” But, when Goldberg wrote in the editorial generally about supporters of Kennedy she encountered at a June campaign event in New Hampshire, her description seems to be closer to objective and is in line with what I have observed from afar.

Goldberg’s general description of the Kennedy supporters is also, in my view, quite positive. For Goldberg and many of her regular readers, though, her description is likely negative. The difference springs from differing views regarding the United States government and its expansive exercise of power.

Describing the people she encountered at a campaign speech by Kennedy in New Hampshire this month, Goldberg wrote:

The people I encountered believe that they are living under a deeply sinister regime that lies to them about almost everything that matters. And they believe that with the Kennedy campaign, we might be on the cusp of redemption.

This description of Kennedy supporters’ assessment of the situation Americans face makes me think they are my kind of people.

Also wrote Goldberg, “the movement around [Kennedy] represents a significant post-Covid social phenomenon: a coalition of the distrustful that cuts across divisions of right and left.”

That sounds like what America needs.

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/30/kennedy-campaign-supporters-sound-like-my-kind-of-people/

How Corrupt Are The Bidens?

More information released by the House Oversight Committee demonstrates even more influence-peddling and possible felonies committed by Hunter Biden and the entire family. Millions coming in from foreign governments to Hunter while his father was Vice President? And the Justice Department blocked a proper investigation? Also today, RFK's big townhall - did he nail it? Watch today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/29/how-corrupt-are-the-bidens/

On Ukraine RFK Offers The JFK Solution

Democratic Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr is the first candidate to offer a concrete solution to our fast-approaching nuclear conflict with Russia. It's an old solution...but it worked pretty well the first time. Also today: Tucker Carlson wonders why we are at war with Russia. Meanwhile, Biden has announced another $500 million to Ukraine. Will anyone in DC say "NO"? Watch today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/28/on-ukraine-rfk-offers-the-jfk-solution/

Ron DeSantis Joins the Wage War on Mexico Chorus

In a post last week, I pondered whether Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis would stand up against talk by frontrunner Donald Trump, and several other Republican presidential primary candidates, favorable to the United States going to war against Mexico.

A week later, it appears the answer is “no.” Instead of opposing the call for war on Mexico, DeSantis is advocating for it.

The DeSantis campaign released this week a position paper titled “Mission: Stop the Invasion — No Excuses.” It includes the following statement of a commitment by DeSantis that puts him squarely in the camp of Republican presidential candidates promoting a US war on Mexico:

And if the Mexican government drags its feet, DeSantis reserves the right to operate across the border to secure our territory from Mexican cartel activities. If the Mexican government won't stop cartel drug manufacturing, DeSantis will surge resources to the Navy and the Coast Guard and block precursor chemicals from entering Mexican ports.

That’s pro-war talk, plain and simple.

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/27/ron-desantis-joins-the-wage-war-on-mexico-chorus/

John Kerry ROASTED Over US Iraq War Hypocrisy

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry was sent out by the tone-deaf Biden Administration to shore up condemnation of Putin over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One French journalist dared to ask the obvious question: what about when the US did it? Also today: Constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley wonders why the US House is not asking "who lied" about the Hunter Biden investigation. Watch today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/27/john-kerry-roasted-over-us-iraq-war-hypocrisy/

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Could Follow His Own Advice and Not Call Vladimir Putin a Gangster and Thug

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. posted at Twitter on Friday some advice for President Joe Biden: Don’t refer to the leader of China’s government with the insulting descriptor of “dictator.” And the advice went further, indicating Biden should avoid using similar language to describe leaders of other nations as well.

In the first of a series of Friday tweets, Kennedy commented, “It’s Diplomacy 101 that a President doesn’t send his senior diplomat to speak to a foreign leader, then insult that leader the next day.” In this tweet Kennedy linked an article regarding Biden having in a recent speech called China leader Xi Jinping a “dictator.”

In the second of his series of tweets, Kennedy further stated:

Maybe Biden is trying to appear 'tough on China.' But absurd, unhinged, and personally insulting remarks don’t make you tough. There is a level of unavoidable tension between great powers like China and the U.S. that doesn’t need to be artificially aggravated by antagonistic rhetoric.

Kennedy, however, does not appear to have followed this advice in his own presidential campaign.

In his campaign that began on April 19, Kennedy has volunteered his assessment that Russia President Vladimir Putin is a “gangster” and a “thug” at least two times. You can hear Kennedy make such comments six minutes and 19 seconds into a report on Kennedy’s interview with Noel Phillips and 41 minutes and 8 seconds into Kennedy’s interview with Freddie Sayers at UnHerd.

If Biden calling Xi a dictator is unacceptable under Kennedy’s take, why would Kennedy’s use of these other descriptors for the leader of Russia’s government — another great power — be acceptable?

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/24/robert-f-kennedy-jr-could-follow-his-own-advice-and-not-call-vladimir-putin-a-gangster-and-thug/

NCAA Committee Recommends Stopping Marijuana Testing of College Athletes

In May, I wrote about how the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) had earlier in the year significantly eased the marijuana testing and punishment for marijuana use to which college athletes are subjected. Those changes were made upon the guidance of the NCAA’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. Now that same committee is recommending quickly retiring the NCAA’s remaining marijuana testing requirement and marijuana use prohibition.

The Associated Press reported on Friday:

An NCAA panel is calling for the removal of marijuana from the organization's list of banned drugs, suggesting that testing should be limited to performance-enhancing substances.

The proposal released Friday from the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports would mark a big change for the NCAA, which has been conducting drug tests at championship events since 1986. Committee members recommended halting cannabis tests at such events until a final decision is made, likely this fall.

Read the Associated Press article here.

Read the NCAA’s Friday press release addressing this new development here.

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/21/ncaa-committee-recommends-stopping-marijuana-testing-of-college-athletes/

Republican Presidential Candidates Lining Up in Support of War on Mexico

On April 10, I wrote about Republican presidential candidates being open to pursuing war on Mexico — sending the US military into Mexico to fight drug cartels despite the opposition of the Mexico government to such intervention.

Mexican-American War II advocates, I noted, included candidates Donald Trump, Asa Hutchinson, and Vivek Ramaswamy.

It turns out the list of Republican presidential candidates open to such US military action is longer. Republican presidential candidates Tim Scott and Nikki Haley have announced they support war on Mexico, as detailed by Brad Dress in a Saturday The Hill article.

Ron DeSantis, who has the second most support among Republican presidential primary candidates, has so far refrained from endorsing war on Mexico. Dress wrote:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the top candidate after Trump, has not explicitly endorsed military action but said last month “we really need to hold the Mexican drug cartels accountable” over migration concerns.

If DeSantis were to come out strongly against war on Mexico, he could set himself apart from the field and challenge front-running candidate Trump’s claim to the title of “peace candidate” in the Republican presidential primary contest.

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/19/republican-presidential-candidates-lining-up-in-support-of-war-on-mexico/

Shock Poll: RFK Beats Biden On Favorability!

A new poll from The Economist and YouGov released yesterday brings more bad news for Biden, as Democratic rival RFK, Jr. surges in favorability with voters while Biden slumps. No wonder Biden refuses to debate RFK, Jr. and is desperately trying to move the first primary to a more favorable state. Also today: Did Massie fumble on the Schiff censure vote? Watch today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/15/shock-poll-rfk-beats-biden-on-favorability/

Watching The Wall

As has happened with other individuals who have prominently challenged pro-authoritarian and pro-war narratives pushed by major politicians and media figures, marquee musician Roger Waters has ended up the target of a campaign to tar him as antisemitic. The campaign even includes an effort to prevent Waters from performing his music across the world.

A large component of the argument for Waters being antisemitic and for prohibiting him from performing his music is that at times in concerts he dresses in an outfit similar to what some German National Socialist (Nazi) officials wore in the mid-twentieth century. This argument is absurd because anyone with basic familiarity with Waters understands that he is wearing the outfit as part of a performance that is intended to attack authoritarianism, including the Nazi variety.

Years back, Waters, who was then in the band Pink Floyd, arranged for a movie to be made that used songs of the band’s album The Wall. That movie, Pink Floyd: The Wall, was released in theaters in 1982. In the film, Bob Geldof plays the primary character as an adult, donning at one point clothing similar to the outfit Waters has been criticized for wearing at concerts.

Here are three political themes that the movie strongly conveys. First, war is horrid, an activity terribly destructive to both the physical world and the psyches of affected individuals. Second, education can be a form of indoctrination that strips lively, independent thought from students. Third, beware of authoritarians and their supporters who will attack people categorized as outside norms the authoritarians set.

The Wall, directed by Alan Parker, is a very well made movie. Sometimes, I think it is the best movie ever made. But, it is hard to directly compare The Wall, considering its distinctions including the absence of regular dialogue, to most films. At Rotten Tomatoes it scores an 89 percent “fresh” rating from viewers.

It is a travesty that people are misrepresenting the political messages of The Wall — whether in concerts, the film, or the album — in an effort to smear Waters. On the bright side, maybe these efforts of wild swingers of the “antisemite” label will encourage more people to watch the movie Pink Floyd: The Wall. That should lead to some good for the world.

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/14/watching-the-wall/

Did Ukraine Attack NATO?

According to a new Wall Street Journal report, the Central Intelligence Agency warned Ukraine early last summer not to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline and Ukraine did it anyway. Instead of punishing Ukraine, however, Biden keeps sending billions. Is the story true? Or does Hersh have it right? Also today US acknowledges big Ukraine losses in counter-offensive and plans to send Ukraine depleted uranium ammo. What could go wrong? Don't miss today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/14/did-ukraine-attack-nato/

A Life Sentence For Donald Trump?

As former President Donald faces arraignment today, the charges against him keep piling up. If convicted of all charges, he faces 400 years in prison. But what may be even more concerning to Trump and his supporters is the fact - pointed out by Constitutional Law Professor Jonathan Turley - that even one single conviction for Trump means effectively a life sentence in prison. Watch today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/13/a-life-sentence-for-donald-trump/

NASA Blocks Replies to Its ‘Pride Month’ Tweet

Generally, the posts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Twitter are open for replies. But, that is not the case for NASA’s June 2 tweet regarding “Pride Month.”

When the United States government agency shares an impressive photograph or video, such as video of a spacewalk in a June 9 tweet, the ability of Twitter users to post replies below the tweet is left open. As would be expected, most of the 150 replies as of June 12 to that spacewalk tweet are positive. Score for NASA public relations.

Compare this with a tweet from NASA a week earlier — on June 2 — regarding “Pride Month.” Above a photo of the “Progress Pride Flag” flying alongside the flags of the US and, it appears, NASA, that tweet states:

There’s space for everyone this #PrideMonth, and we’re celebrating the LGBTQI+ employees who help us reach for the stars, examine humanity’s place in the universe, and study our home planet: go.nasa.gov/3C9ncnU

The only reply to this tweet is from NASA itself on the same day. That reply states:

The diversity of our NASA team is what brings different perspectives to our missions, and we celebrate and share their stories. To protect our people from personal attacks, we have decided to limit comments on this post.

Replies to this second June 2 tweet are also barred.

Hmmm. What’s the deal with a US government agency selectively blocking the public from commenting on its actions because those comments may be harsh or critical? Shouldn’t free speech be valued and respected by the US government? Isn’t a government trying to silence speech critical of itself and its agents incompatible with respect for liberty?

This restriction on replies to both June 2 tweets goes hand in hand with the unprecedent effort to shield Joe Biden, the current boss the US executive branch, from situations in which he can face pushback and tough questioning, including via limiting access of reporters.

Industrious Twitter users have found a way to register their reactions to the NASA tweets from June 2 in a different manner. As of June 12, there have been 222 quote tweets of the original NASA Pride Month tweet and 84 quote tweets of NASA’s reply tweet in which it declared replies are blocked. Quote tweets involve Twitter users retweeting the original tweets along with comments. Looking through these quote tweets, many of the comments Twitter users have appended are negative.

The people’s voices are managing to be heard. But, isn’t it a shame that the US government is seeking to stamp out the criticism? The US government and its various agencies should not be selectively intervening to prevent free and open debate.

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/13/nasa-blocks-replies-to-its-pride-month-tweet/

Trump Indictment Will Backfire Bigly

The indictment of former President Donald Trump looks like something out of a banana republic. With his numbers among the lowest of any president, Biden's justice department (sic) decides to threaten his leading opponent with 100 years in prison? It's going to backfire! Also today: J6 cops were provocateurs? Finally, "mis"-gender your kid, lose your kid in Cali. Watch today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/12/trump-indictment-will-backfire-bigly/

Poll: Americans Don’t Want a Central Bank Digital Currency

A new poll from the Cato Institute indicates that, while about half of Americans do not have an opinion regarding whether the Federal Reserve should “begin offering a government-issued digital currency, called a ‘central bank digital currency’ (CBDC),” among those with an opinion on the matter over twice as many — 34 percent of poll participants — oppose the prospect as support it — 16 percent.

This result of the poll conducted from February 27 through March 8 in collaboration with YouGov is promising for Americans concerned about the threat a CBDC, which the Federal Reserve and big financial companies have been testing in preparation for its potential introduction, poses to freedom and privacy in America.

The poll results further indicate that, if Americans can be educated about the abusive government powers a CBDC can advance, many Americans currently undecided regarding the introduction of a CBDC will see good reason to oppose it. Emily Ekins and Jordan Gygi wrote in their May 31 in-depth Cato Institute article concerning the poll results:

Overwhelming majorities would oppose the adoption of a CBDC if it meant that the government could control what people spend their money on (74%), that the government could monitor their spending (68%), that a CBDC would abolish all U.S. cash (68%), that a CBDC would attract cyberattacks (65%), that the government could charge a tax on those who don’t spend money during recessions (64%), or that the government could freeze the digital bank accounts of political protesters (59%). Americans were marginally opposed (52%) if a CBDC could cause some people to stop using private banks, resulting in some banks going out of business.

The candidates now in second place in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries — Ron DeSantis and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — appear to be in the anti-CBDC camp. Hopefully, we will see more and more politicians joining them over the coming months in standing up against this threat posed by the Federal Reserve and US government.

Meanwhile, it is also important that Americans across the country educate the people they come into contact with about why a CBDC in America is unacceptable. The new poll from the Cato Institute suggests that many people will be receptive to this message.

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/10/poll-americans-don-t-want-a-central-bank-digital-currency/

The FBI, Ukraine’s Censorship Assistant

Aaron Maté has been among a handful of reporters to whom Elon Musk granted access to Twitter records to uncover efforts by the United States government along with Twitter to censor communication on the social media platform in the time before Musk gained control over it. The newest revelations from Maté concern the US government, via the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), having acted as an assistant to the Ukraine government’s main intelligence agency, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), to seek censorship of 163 targeted Twitter accounts — Maté’s included — as well as personal information related to those Twitter accounts.

Maté’s chilling revelations here.

It is bad enough that the US government has been seeking to censor social media communication to advance the goals of power-hungry politicians, businessmen, and bureaucrats here in America. Now, comes revelations that, on top of that, the US government has been seeking to advance the censorship goals of, and hand over personal information of individuals using social media to, the government of Ukraine. Keep in mind that Ukraine is an intensely corrupt government, is overrun with nazis, and is apparently comfortable with targeting for assassination foreign individuals merely because those individuals have expressed views judged intolerable regarding Ukraine or its war with Russia.

The Ukraine government has also been relentless in suppressing free speech, opposition political parties, and the free exercise of religion within its borders.

Of course, the US assistance to Ukraine’s censorship effort has extended beyond Twitter. Maté notes in the concluding paragraph of his article:

News of the FBI’s work with Ukrainian intelligence to censor Twitter users also follows reporting from journalist Lee Fang that the FBI has pressured Facebook to remove accounts and posts deemed by the SBU to be Russian 'disinformation.' According to Fang, a senior Ukrainian official in regular contact with the FBI defined 'disinformation' in such broad terms that it could mean viewpoints that 'simply contradict the Ukrainian government’s narrative.'

How about the US starts respecting the First Amendment, and stops assisting Ukraine in pursuing its authoritarian objectives?

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/07/the-fbi-ukraine-s-censorship-assistant/

The Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Shot is Kaput

Last week, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked the Emergency Use Authorization for Johnson & Johnson coronavirus shots. Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, noted in a Thursday letter that the FDA made the revocation at the request of Janssen Biotech, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, that had related that the company would not be updating its shots, the latest “lots” purchased by the US government have expired, and “there is no demand for new lots.”

The lack of demand is little surprise. Americans have increasingly became hip to the fact that Johnson & Johnson’s shots, along with those of other companies such as Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, are dangerous and ineffective. This is in contrast with the relentless sales pitch from shots promotors in government and media that the shots were safe and effective. Successive court decisions, followed by withdrawal of much of the remaining US coronavirus shots mandates by the Biden administration have further reduced demand by removing much of the mandates to which Americans have been subjected.

All along, Johnson & Johnson has apparently been singled out by the US government for harsher treatment than other companies engaged in the American coronavirus shots campaign. I have written about this situation in previous posts:

FDA Says Stop the Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine Shots” on April 13, 2021

If Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine Shots Are Halted Because of Blood Clots, Why Have Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Shots Not Also Been Halted?” on April 17, 2021

‘Teacher’s Pets’ Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech Again Avoid FDA Scrutiny” on July 15, 2021

Propaganda Master Anthony Fauci” on December 17, 2021

FDA Again Singles Out Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Shot for Danger Warning” on January 13, 2022

Eliminating Competition: The FDA Further Restricts Use of Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus shots” on May 6, 2022

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/06/the-johnson-johnson-coronavirus-shot-is-kaput/

Mexican Cartel Spotted With US Anti-Tank Weapons On The Texas Border!

A Mexican television news station has reported that a Mexican cartel operating near the Texas border has been spotted with US or Norwegian anti-tank missiles of the kind being sent to Ukraine by the boatload. Is Washington's insane Ukraine policy coming home to roost? Also today: The Taliban use US weapons in border skirmish with Iran - what could go wrong? Don't miss today's Liberty Report:

from Peace and Prosperity http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/peace-and-prosperity/2023/june/01/mexican-cartel-spotted-with-us-anti-tank-weapons-on-the-texas-border/