GOV. GARY JOHNSON: Concerned over U.S. drone program within America

By Karl Dickey, West Palm Beach Libertarian Examiner Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is calling congressional approval of legislation making it easier for the government to operate unmanned drones over U.S. soil an “ominous step that raises serious concerns about individual freedom and privacy.” The FAA Reauthorization Act, signed into law by President Obama Tuesday, includes a provision directing the Federal Aviation Administration to develop rules for the testing and licensing of drones to be flown in U.S. airspace and to expedite the process for authorizing their use by federal, state and local agencies.  The FAA projects that as many as 30,000 drones could be in use over the U.S. by 2020. In a statement, Johnson said, “The threats to privacy in America – from our own government – seem to never end.  Does Congress really think they can just stick an ‘oh-by-the-way' provision in an obscure piece of legislation directing the FAA to clear the way for 30,000 drones to fly over our neighborhoods, and have no one notice? “Big Brother is alive and well, and now we’re talking about making it easier for him to fly remote control planes loaded with cameras over our neighborhoods.  Based on our experience with the Patriot Act, the National Defense Authorization Act, and several other laws Congress has enacted in recent years, it is not alarmist to fear or assume that when we give the government the power to snoop, they will indeed snoop. “The government, through the FAA, already has the power to permit specific uses of drones, such as in fighting forest fires, looking for lost campers, or helping deal with natural disasters.  And right now, they are being used to patrol the border.  Some of those uses may be justified and legit, and the rules allow for that today.  But directing the FAA to come up with a system that will allow federal, state and local law enforcement to deploy 30,000 drones is a very different proposition, and should absolutely not be allowed to proceed without a serious conversation about a very real threat to fundamental privacy. “The ACLU, the Electronic Freedom Foundation and numerous other groups are expressing serious concerns about Congress’ action, as they should.  I share those concerns.  The idea that the air above our heads and homes should be turned into a wide-open playground for government snooping is an insult to freedom and to what remains of privacy in this country.” Continue reading on Examiner. com Presidential candidate concerned over U.S. drone program within America - West Palm Beach Libertarian Examiner.com

KEVIN SMITH HIRES PROFILE STRATEGY GROUP AS SENIOR ADVISORS

MANCHESTER – Today, Kevin Smith, Republican candidate for governor of New Hampshire, announced that he has hired Profile Strategy Group to advise his campaign.

“The principals at Profile Strategy Group are a proven and accomplished team of political advisors, with significant experience in statewide campaigns,” said Kevin Smith. “I’m pleased to have their support and counsel, and I couldn’t ask for a better team of strategists for my campaign.”

Profile Strategy Group is based in Concord and specializes in political strategy and campaign consulting. Brothers James Sununu and Michael Sununu formed the company with political veteran Jamie Burnett in 2009.

Strategist Jamie Burnett, said, “Kevin Smith is a smart and convincing candidate for governor. He is singularly focused on improving New Hampshire’s fiscal condition and economic environment to attract new businesses and to create good-paying, sustainable jobs for the 21^st Century. Kevin is running a very competitive campaign, and once elected, he will provide excellent leadership for the state as Governor.”

The principals of PSG have served in key roles for numerous political organizations, including:

• New Hampshire Republican State Committee 2009, 2010
• New Hampshire House Republican Victory PAC 2010
• John Robitaille for Rhode Island Governor 2010
• Rich Ashooh for Congress (NH-1) 2010
• Chris Sununu for New Hampshire Executive Council 2010
• John E. Sununu for U.S. Senate 2002, 2008
• John E. Sununu for Congress (NH-1) 1996, 1998, 2000
• Mitt Romney for President 2008
• RNC Victory Campaign/Bush-Cheney 2004
• National Republican Congressional Committee 1991-1996
• Steve Forbes for President 1996
• Steve Merrill for New Hampshire Governor 1992

Tonight On-line Town Hall with Gary Johnson & Michael Strong

Tonight, February 16, 2012

6pm MST/ 8pm EST

Just a friendly reminder that our on-line Town Hall will be held this evening, February 16, 2012. I will be joined for this informal on-line chat  by a very special guest, Michael Strong.

Michael is a pioneer in education and independent learning who has founded innovative Socratic, Montessori, and Paideia schools and programs in Alaska, Florida, California, Texas, and New Mexico. Michael is co-founder and serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Visionary Officer of FLOW.

"Our Recession is now 5 years old and despite No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top, our education system too remains mired in depression.  Not only does education need an entrepreneurial renaissance, but so does our economy!"-- Michael Strong

Please join us on-line at 6:00pm MST/8:00pm EST tonight.

To participate, go to www.garyjohnson2012.com.  Anyone can view the online town hall just by going to the website.  However if you want to participate, you will need to log in with your Facebook account or go to Yowie.com and create an account there.  

Likewise, if you do not have a web camera, you can still participate via text questions. Please note that, if you log on before the video chat actually begins, you may need to refresh your browser to join.

Also, you will see a volume icon on the screen, which may be automatically muted until you "un-mute" it or adjust the volume.

If you can't join us "live", and would like to watch the video later, you can always go to Yowie.com to view my video archives. 

These informal on-line video chats are an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas regarding important issues of the day, and I urge you to participate if you can.
 
Again go to www.garyjohnson2012.com at 6:00pm MST/8:00pm EST tonight and join what I am sure will be a great discussion.
 
 
Hope to see you on-line tonight, February 16th, 2012.
 
Governor Gary Johnson

RNC - WMUR: Demers Nominated To Obama Administration Role

All – just wanted to make sure you caught this story from last night.

Demers Nominated To Obama Administration Role

WMUR

James Pindell

February 14, 2012

http://goo.gl/C5QPo

Jim Demers, arguably President Obama’s point person in New Hampshire, has been nominated to a part-time role within the Obama Administration.

On Friday, Demers, of Concord, was nominated to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. OPIC works to connect private businesses in the United States into emerging markets around the world.

Ahead of Obama’s first trip to New Hampshire in December 2006, Demers played the lead local role to organize his key visit. As the campaign began, Demers took on a leadership role.

His involvement in the campaign even became an issue in the final debate before the 2008 New Hampshire primary when Hillary Clinton signaled out that Demers is a New Hampshire lobbyist.

ADM. DENNIS BLAIR: AMERICANS ELECT IS THE SOLUTION TO BROKEN POLITICAL SYSTEM

Blair discusses viable third candidate option on
MSNBC's Morning Joe

WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 15, 2012 - After a distinguished career in public service spanning the highest levels of government, Adm. Dennis Blair now lends his unique worldview and expertise to Americans Elect as a board member and advisor. A Maine native and a Rhodes Scholar, Blair devoted more than three decades of his life to the U.S. Navy, where he served aboard guided missile destroyers and as a battle group commander. Blair was named chief of the U.S. Pacific Command and went on to leadership roles with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Security Council and most recently as Director of National Intelligence. True to form, Blair’s steady hand has helped guide Americans Elect’s decision-making and direction since coming on board in October.

“There are big festering problems in this country which we’re not addressing in the big way that we have in the past,” said Blair. “We’re not making progress due to the partisan rancor that’s set in and the destruction of the middle in politics.”

“I don’t think our political leaders have gotten any better or worse along the way. I think the political system, as it’s developed, has made them do things which are unworthy of them and certainly unworthy of the country, and I think we need to change that.”

Watch Adm. Blair on Morning Joe here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc_tv-morning_joe/

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Allison Grant at allison.grant@americanselect.org or 202-677-7025.

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Americans Elect