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Because There's Never Enough KN@PPSTER
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  • Thomas L. Knapp

Some Evidence for the Existence of the Cult of the Omnipotent State Oct 3, 2016

Some people say it doesn't exist and object to its inclusion in the Libertarian Party's Statement of Principles.Among those who disagreed -- at least as of March 18, 1766 -- were Great Britain's House of Commons, House of Lords, government and king (emphasis by bolding mine):AN ACT FOR THE BETTER SECURING THE DEPENDENCY OF HIS MAJESTY'S DOMINIONS IN AMERICA UPON THE CROWN AND PARLIAMENT OF GREAT BRITAINWhereas several of the houses of representatives in His Majesty's colonies and plantations in America have of late, against law, claimed to themselves, or to the general assemblies of the same, the sole and...

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The KN@PP Stir Podcast, Episode 98: Welllllllllllllld! is the New Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Oct 3, 2016

This Week's episode of The KN@PP Stir Podcast is brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:In this episode:Thanks For Asking! (McMullin, Sanders and political careerism);Bill Weld You Ignorant Slut (riffing on this Politico story).Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

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The #NeverTrump Republican Argument Against Evan McMullin Sep 30, 2016

I haven't paid a lot of attention to Evan McMullin's presidential campaign other than one early column on his likely motivations. But this morning's Erick Erickson column is a bit of a challenge that I think should be answered. The column concerns USA Today's condemnation of Trump but non-endorsement of Clinton. Erickson closes his opinion of that piece out with:It'd be nice if they highlight Evan McMullin. He is a sound alternative.In what universe is McMullin "a sound alternative" to any of the top three (by polling) candidates for president?Apart from a year as a Goldman Sachs investment banker, McMullin appears...

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A Choice Not a Leppo Sep 29, 2016

On the one hand, it's not likely the state of Florida will count a write-in vote for Darryl W. Perry (it's too late for him to register and appoint electors here).On the other hand, it's a vote I can cast without guilt. So I may just cast it's anyway, as if I was a libertarian voter in one of the 17 states where he's all formal and stuff.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

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Speaking of Trump … Sep 29, 2016

... that last post was a digression from where I intended to go. I clicked through to the account of Trump's visit to the Versailles Restaurant in Miami from a different Miami New Times piece -- a piece about Trump having apparently illegally (versus US embargo laws) done business in Cuba.Thing was, I was prepared to find something likable about Trump. The US embargo of Cuba has been instrumental in keeping the Castro brothers and the Communist Party in power for half a century. I'm not sure if every violation of the embargo law is heroic per se, but it's definitely...

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Trump, Totally a Teetotaler? Sep 29, 2016

Camera 1:I've never had a glass of alcohol. I won't even drink a cup of coffee. -- Donald Trump in an interview with Esquire magazine, 06/17/16Camera 2:The Versailles spokesperson confirmed that the presidential hopeful ordered a colada and a croqueta and then commented on how strong the colada was and that the croqueta was "good." -- "Donald Trump Visits Versailles With Rudy Giuliani, Thinks Coladas Are Strong," Miami New Times, 09/28/16 (the Versailles menu lists two kinds of colada, both alcoholic)Not that I care whether or not he drinks. But it seems like his claim that he doesn't (in fact,...

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The More Things Change, 2016 Edition Sep 28, 2016

It's been years since I last re-read Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72. Over at CounterPunch, Eric Draitser pulls out a very relevant/prescient quote from it:"That's the real issue this time," he said. "Beating Nixon. It's hard to even guess how much damage those bastards will do if they get in for another four years."The argument was familiar, I had even made it myself, here and there, but I was beginning to sense something very depressing about it. How many more of these goddamn elections are we going to have to write off as lame,...

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Thanks For Asking! — 09/28/16 Sep 28, 2016

This week's AMA thread, and the podcast to follow, are brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:You ask (in the comment thread below this post).I answer (in comments, on this weekend's podcast, or both).Yes, anything.Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

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New Bike Update Sep 26, 2016

OK, so I've put 30 miles or so on the new $80 bike, enough to have a semi-informed opinion.Took it out for its first 10-mile-plus ride this morning. I'm still thinking it felt like a lot of bike for 80 bucks. Enough bike that I'm not going to feel bad when I have to pop a little for new tires, etc. over time. I still need to futz with the fitting just a little (maybe another half inch up on the seat height), but it's pretty comfortable.Keeping a reasonable pace (breaking a sweat and feeling some burn in the quads most...

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The KN@PP Stir Podcast, Episode 97: The Wreck of the Old Sep 26, 2016

This episode of The KN@PP Stir Podcast is brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:In this episode:Thanks For Asking! (A night out with Lorenzo Mendoza; The Week in Stupid, part 1; Sorry, not very scary story);The Week in Stupid/Scary Story Redux (Gary Johnson and Jill Stein on climate change, me on nuclear weapons)Congratulations to my sponsor, Darryl W. Perry -- he's the new chair of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire, and LAVA Flow Podcast host Rodger Paxton is the new vice-chair!Like KN@PPSTER? Check out Tom Knapp's work at the Garrison Center too!

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