Bob Barr for President

May 25, 2008

I just returned from the Libertarian National convention at which we nominated former Republican Conressman Bob Barr for President. I voted for him because I think that he will bring a lot of new people to the party, and that our votes for President will grow substantially. In order to support me for Attorney General, you certainly do not need to become a party member or vote for Bob Barr; but the party is going to exert more influence this year than ever before; and it will have an effect on the presidential race. Good luck to Congressman Barr. For more information on him and his candidacy, see http://www.lp.org/ and www.BobBarr2008.com


I look forward to a great election year. Let's all do what we can to get the government out of our private lives. More soon.

Libertarian NationalConvention

May 23, 2008

I am sitting at the Libertarian National Convention, listening to the debate on bylaws. I will file a couple more blolgs overt the naest few days, so stay tuned in. I did want to briefly comment on the decision of the Texas Court of Appeals overruling the courts who took control over the hundreds of children of the FLDS Church. Today the Texas child welfare authorities will appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. This really needs to stop. It would seem to be obvious that the State of Texas went way overboard in its reaction to a hoax call about abuse. While our present attorney general says that would not happen in Utah, he seems to support the general idea of the raid on the ranch. And his Democratic opponent says his own efforts to fight polygamy in Utah are not enough.

The simple fact is that, in Utah as well as Texas, the state interferes with parental rights too often, to fast and too hard. While everyone wants to protect helpless children from harm, State interference with families has grown exponentially in my lifetime. It really is time that we step back and find ways to help families who need help without the use of force on the part of the State in so mahny situations. More on this in the context of Texas, and in the context of our own State actions, soon.

More on campaign contributions

May 10, 2008

Today are the State conventions for both the Republican and Democratic parties. This week, their candidates had to file their financial reports for the first part of this year. The difference between the reports from the current Attorney General and his Democratic challenger are startling. HIs contributions are mostly from businesses, and many are quite large. Hers are mostly from individuals, and are mostly quite small. I am a lot closer to her than she is to him. I just had this wonderful thought: I could beat this Democrat, both in contributions and votes, if I really put my efforts into it. Why not help me do just that? What a coup! We all know that I would make a good Attorney General; but many people think the fight is hopeless, so why bother? Take a look at the contribution reports on the Lt. Governor's website, and tell me what is and is not possible. Then, see my official website at www.andy4ag.com and make a contribution. Help me really rock the boat! What fun we will have!

In Memorium -- Mildred Loving, and more

May 5, 2008

It is a name known mostly by those who have studied constitutional law. Mildred Loving, a black woman from Virginia, passed away earlier today at the age of 68. She married her longtime white boyfriend in Washington, DC in 1957. At the time, she didn't really realize that such a marriage was illegal in Virginia. But, when she went back home, she found out, as she was arrested shortly thereafter. She and her husband agreed to leave Virginia and live in Washington for a period of time. Then she contacted the ACLU and told them she wanted to go home without fear of arrest. She later said she didn't want to be a hero, just a bride, and said "We are not marrying the state. The law should allow a person to marry anyone he wants." To some degree, the landmark Supreme Court case of Loving v. Virginia held just that. but we all know the battle is far from over. The fight to keep the State out of our bedrooms goes on; but because of Mrs. Loving, one step has been taken. For all those of us who believe there is a part of our lives beyond the control of the State, we say "thanks".

On another subject, this morning's Deseret News reports that a majority of Utahns side with our present attorney general, who says that the public's right to be safe is more important than giving a person who is listed on the State's sex offender registry a chance to be delisted. Mr. Shurtleff, why do you fear Due Process of Law? Why not allow a person to go to court eventually to show that he is not a threat to society, and have himself removed from this hideous list? If the Court deems him still a threat, he stays. but if he is not, why should he be there?

The problem is that the listing requriements keep getting more severe. A person who entered a guilty plea years ago thinking he would not be listed, or thinking he would be delisted in ten years, now finds that the legislature has increased his listing requirement to lifetime. Where is the fairness in that? What is the harm in allowing him to challenge it, and show that it is not proper in his particular case? The current attorney general claims he is just protecting children. But, from what? Why have we allowed ourselves as a nation and a society to be governed by fear? Mr. Bush has transformed our nation into one afraid of everything and everybody. Do you really want to live in fear all your life? Do you truly feel safer this way? I don't; and I only ask that common sense prevail. Those who are dangerous can be labeled so. Those who are not deserve the chance to prove it. That, really, is the American way.

Latest on FLDS controversy

April 29, 2008

I have been asked a number of times why, if I don't want to be a Republican, I don't choose the other "major party", the Democrats. Frankly, I would probably rather have a Democrat in the White House than another Republican disaster, like the one who is there now. But I am not a Democrat, because they favor too much government interference into our lives, much like the Republicans do.

Today's newspapers reported that Senator Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, has railed against the State of Utah for not being more aggressive with our southern Utah "polygs". He says he is a "cheerleader" for the overreaction of Texas authorities, and thinks it is time for the Federal government to get involved if Utah won't do more. Our current Utah Attorney General fired back that he has done a lot, and boasted of putting Warren Jeffs in prison for rape. Once again, the "major parties" are trying to outdo each other by being more aggressive at eroding our civil liberties. Shame on them both! Both men are active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS); and neither appear to be familiar with the history of their own church. The LDS Church came close to being totally wiped out by the fervor of Federal government agents trying to fight LDS polygamy in the late 1800's. The charges that were leveled against church leaders were as exaggerated and fanciful as some of those being leveled now.

Let me make it clear yet again that I do not condone child abuse or welfare fraud, or any of the other numerous possible violations by this group. But I do condone their freedom of religion and their right to Due Process of Law. The overreaction of the Texas authorities is to be protested, not cheered. And those who are cheerleaders for this can be counted on to push aside our constitutional rights the next time there is a "crisis".

Had enough? There is a choice, and now is the time to make it.

campaign contributions

April 26, 2008

Today's Salt Lake Tribune reported that last year our current Attorney General received $1.4 MILLION in campaign contributions. He has so much money, that the Tribune reported earlier this week that his campaign committee was the single largest contributor to the campaign of Senator Curtis Bramble, who today avoided a Republican Primary by obtaining 67% of the vote at the Utah County Republican Convention. Much of this came from corporations; and several of them did not report those contributions, as required by law. Who enforces this law? The Attorney General, of course; but does he? Not so far. He and the Lt. Governor's election office each seem to be saying it is the other guy's problem. Wow, and with that kind of money the Democratic candidate thinks she has a chance? Why not support real change, and at least make some waves?

So, here is what you do: You too can avoid campaign reporting of any kind by writing me a check of up to $50 today. (Any more, and I will have to report it, though you will not -- unless you are a big corporation). See my website at www.andy4ag.com for instructions. And then get a friend or two to do the same. Can I match the stacks of money given to the current Attorney General? Of course not, but we can yet put a little spark into this campaign. Right now it looks like the Republican steamroller is out to flatten everyone. Want to put a monkey wrench into the gears? You can; and it is easy and cheap.

What a day!

April 19, 2008

Today the Utah Libertarian Party held its convention to choose both candiates for public office , and also party officers. Yes, I was nominated to run for Attorney Gnereral, so now it is official. I will do my best to change the tone of the debate, and to give the electorate a real choice between pholosophies of government. While the other two candidates will disagree about policies, and will tout their abilitites to efficiently run a large "law firm", doing the State's legal business, they will agree on most things. They will agree that the State should spend your money trying to increase the already bulging jail and prison populations. They will not acknowledge that we hold too many prisoners; and the financial and social costs are just too high. They may have some slight differences on their approach to "protecting children"; but they will both tell you that the kind of mass interference with families recently seen in Texas is probably necessary, and in the "best interests" of the children. They will tell you that the State must tolerate law enforcement officers who stretch thier authority to "get the bad guys"; they will tell you that the State has a legitimate interest in helping you decide for yourself what you can read and view in the privacy of your own home; and they will tell you that if the govenment "sneaks and peaks" into people's homes, they are only doing it to protect you and me from those same bad guys, who are just about everywhere.

Thankfully, there is another point of view -- that we can be both safe and free; and that we can reduce the terrible costs of law enforcement without sacrificing public safety. Please consider helping me spread this message.

Oh, and one additional thing. I was also elected State Chair of the Libertarian Party today, for the next year. Mostly, I think, because nobody else wanted it. And yes, "Super Dell" Schanze is our candidate for governor. Give him a chance, he grows on you. And watch for an exciting Libertarian candidate for President as well. More on that soon.

Please see my werbsite at www.andrewmccullough.org to help out my campaign.
Please see the party website (soon to be revamped and made easier to use) at www.lputah.org