Governor Paul LePage (R-Maine) confronts Agenda 21

Paul LePage, the governor of Maine elected in 2010, riding the wave of the Tea Party and being the beneficiary of a split liberal vote, is publicly opposing Agenda 21, the goals of which conflict with private property rights.

A short history on Agenda 21: It was developed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environmentand Development in Rio de Janerio. The purpose is a call to action at the global, national, regional, and local levels of government to implement strategies that are environmentalist and village mentality in nature. Ultimately, it is dangerous to national sovereignty to all member nations and the citizens within.

The full details can be found on the U.N. website, HERE.

The official Republican party platform opposes Agenda 21, stating:

 "We strongly reject the U.N. Agenda 21 as erosive of American sovereignty."

Many states and localities have also adopted resolutions prohibiting Agenda 21 implementation. Unfortunately, "12 mega-cities, 100 super-cities and urban regions, 450 large cities as well as 450 medium-sized cities and towns in 84 countries." are members of an Agenda 21 sister organization, ICLEI.

In February, Maine State Representative Ricky Long of District 9 introduced LD 220, An Act To Ban the United Nations Agenda 21 in Maine. However, the Democrat-controlled legislature killed the bill.

Governor LePage is commendably carrying on the fight. On April 20 he joined Dr. Michael Coffman to speak on the issue to over 200 people. LePage is taking a heavy political risk, especially considering he is facing reelection next year, but with his actions he is showing he cares more about principle than what liberal blogs will think of him.

                                     Dr. Coffman speaking on Agenda 21

CISPA vote shows growing support for privacy among House conservatives

On Thursday, some of the strongest conservatives in the House of Representatives voted against CISPA, or the Cyber Intelligence Sharing Protection Act. While it ultimately passed, not all was lost as there are signs it can be defeated in the future.

The ACLU, while not always correct on the issues, nailed the civil liberties problems CISPA entails in an excellent 4-part breakdown:

CISPA Explainer #1: What Information Can Be Shared?

CISPA Explainer #2: With Whom Can Information Be Shared?

CISPA Explainer #3: What Can Be Done With Information After It Is Shared?

CISPA Explainer #4: Is There Anything Besides Information-Sharing Hidden in CISPA?

The full roll call for the vote can be found HERE. 

Particularly interesting is the list of Republicans who voted nay:

Amash
Bentivolio
Bishop
Bridenstine
Broun
Davis, Rodney
DeSantis
Duncan (SC)
Fleming
Garrett
Gibson
Gohmert
Gosar
Hall
Herrera Butler
Huelskamp
Kingston
Labrador
Marchant
Massie
McClintock
Meadows
Posey
Rigell
Rohrabacher
Sensabrenner
Stockman
Yoho

Many of these Republicans are among the far right of the Republican party on the majority of issues, yet they find common ground with far left organizations such as the ACLU for one primary reason: CISPA violates the civil liberties and Constitutional rights of American citizens. 

For the reasons listed in the links, CISPA preempts the 4th Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

It is also dangerous for the 1st Amendment, as it increases government regulatory powers over the internet, the bastian of free speech.

Unlike the Bush era Republicans, the Tea Party Republicans understand that the 4th and 1st Amendments are just as important as the 2nd and the 10th amendments. (Even though Bush era Republicans often only paid lip service to the last two).