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Gambian President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency early Tuesday and refused to hand power over to Adama Barrow, who was inaugurated in Senegal on Thursday.

State-run television explained the declaration as a way to prevent a power vacuum while the supreme court rules on Jammeh challenging the results of the election, even though Gambias top judge refused to rule on the petition.

West African leaders have given Jammeh one last opportunity to step down from power before turning to military force. According to BBC News, Jammeh has been given until noon today to step down before the military steps in. Unconfirmed reports suggest that troops from Senegal have already crossed the border in an attempt tosecure cities and towns within Gambia, with the help of Gambian soldiers.

Barrow, who remains in Senegal, says he will not reenter the country until Jammeh is removed or has stepped down.

Many government officials have already stepped down, includingForeign Minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, as well as the mayor of Banjul, Gambias capital.

Some Gambians are even fleeing the country, fearing for their lives and safety. Awa Sanneh, 25, from the Gambian town of Birkama, said, [W]e are scared. There are soldiers with guns all the time. Sanneh was leaving with two children and 24 other family members.

This crisis is yet another attempt by President Jammeh to retain power. Being Libertarian previously reportedon Jammehs attempt to influence the election by banning Internet usage and international telephone calls prior to election day last month.

Jammehs refusal to transition power to Barrow highlights the problems of the growing powers of the executive branches of authoritarian governments. Jammehs continued refusal to accept the results of a legitimate election undermines Gambian democracy. Jammeh has interfered with elections, rescinded rights, and silenced political dissenters. His refusal to give up power is just the icing on the cake.

Check back for updates on this developing story in the coming days.

Photo credit: Sylvain Cherkaoui / AP

This post was written by Nicholas Amato.

The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.

Nicholas Amato is the News Editor at Being Libertarian. Hes an undergraduate student at San Jose State University, majoring in political science and minoring in journalism.

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And no, Sanders wouldnt have won either

Theres been a sort of progressive I told you so narrative going around since the election, asserting that Bernie Sanders would have won. Its an understandable argument. After all, Trumps upset victory was padded by his success with working class whites that very seriously could have gone to Sanders, but it doesnt take into account the whole picture.

Chuck Schumer said, For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in Western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia, and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin.

The issue is that the campaign failed to win big enough in Republican-leaning suburbs to make up for the losses. To those who say that the reason Hillary Clinton lost Michigan and Wisconsin was because of a lack of progressive bona fides, Ill give you that point. Ill even be generous and say that could have tilted Pennsylvania, though Im skeptical of that. However, do Rust Belt and Appalachian whites really explain a 9.6 point margin Trump victory in Iowa, or an 8.6 point margin win in Ohio, when Obama won those two states by 5.8 and 3 points, respectively, in 2012? Do whites in the Rust Belt and Appalachia explain how Hillary Clinton most likely would have lost New Hampshire and Colorado had Gary Johnson not been a presence in the election?

Obamacare-induced insurance premium spikes, on the other hand, provide an explanation why suburban voters across the nation tilted towards Trump. One candidate was saying Obamacare was a disaster as people were suffering double-digit premium increases, and the other was acting like there wasnt anything wrong. Obamacare serves as a helpful explanation for some other oddities of the exit polls. How did Trump improve with Latinos over Romney by 2 points (29-27) and blacks by two points (8-6)? A number of suburban blacks and Latinos decided their insurance premiums were the big issue. Why did Trump not do as poorly with college-educated white women as expected? Suburban white women have insurance premiums that are going up and women generally tend to be the ones in American households who handle bills so theyre more exposed to price shifts than men.

Of course, one could argue that Sanders would have pulled the rug out on that issue by attacking Obamacare and pitching single-payer as an alternative. Thankfully this election provides us with a handy counterpoint: Colorado had a referendum on single-payer healthcare. The referendum failed with 73% of Coloradoans voting against it and it never polled higher than the low 40s. Even Colorados Democratic Governor came out against the plan as it would cost over 140% of the state budget. A few years ago Vermont nixed a similar in-state single-payer plan because even uber-liberal Vermont didnt want to deal with the tax increase. If Sanderss response to increasing insurance premium costs would have been to jack up peoples withholding and income taxes, very Republican counties like Bergen County, NJ and Orange County, CA that flipped for Clinton would have stayed very red.

The argument that a real progressive would have won reminds me of people complaining that if Al Gore had been more liberal, Ralph Nader wouldnt have been an issue. Gore being too moderate wasnt why he lost his home state of Tennessee, and why 191,000 self-described liberals voted for George W. Bush in Florida (vs the 34,000 who went for Nader). Democrats lose when they threaten to squeeze whatever they can out of suburbanites. In 2016, holding her Rust Belt losses as a constant, had Clinton focused on suburban voters more and done better with suburban voters of black, Latino, and female persuasions, shed likely have flipped Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, and perhaps even Georgia.

So no, Hillary Clinton didnt lose because she wasnt progressive enough. Hillary Clinton lost because of Obamacare.

* Jacob Linker is a Campus Coordinator with Students For Liberty and the State Chair of Young Americans for Liberty in his state.

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Why Hillary Clinton Lost - Being Libertarian (blog)

LP Texas hold conventions at the precinct, county, district, state, and national level. The state convention will be in San Antonio, Texas April 8-10. The national convention will be in Orlando Florida May 27-30. Anyone may attend the conventions and all interested in the LP are encouraged to do so. The state and national conventions have speakers and panels and are not just business meetings.

Tuesday, March 8th @ 7pm Norris Conference Center,Park North Shopping Center, 618 NW Loop 410 #207, San Antonio, TX 78216, Live Oak Room Please arrive on time to help with the verification and check in.

Saturday, March 12th @ 1pm Luby's,4541 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201 Plese arrive on time or early for check in. The convention will start very soon after 1pm. The District Conventions will include US Congressional District 35 and Texas Senate District 26. Additional may be scheduled as we get closer to convention time.

Saturday, March 19th @ 1pm Luby's,4541 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201

Friday, April 8th - Sunday, April 10th Norris Conference Center,Park North Shopping Center, 618 NW Loop 410 #207, San Antonio, TX 78216 Find out more atLibertyNow.organd be sure to reserveyour tickets! Convention Accomodations: DoubleTree Hotel @ $99/night

Friday, May 27th - Monday, May 30th. (Non convention meetings start May 25th) Rosen Centre Hotel 9840 International Drive, Orlando, Florida 32819 You can go to thenational convention pageor get reservations.

Note: Our LNC Representative, Kevin Ludlow, is putting together a LP Convention bus trip. LPCon2016.com has all the information. You can reserveyou seat now to get on the bus.

To be a delegate you need to affiliate with the LP at our conventions. The starting point for this is the precinct conventions. Although not required, it is highly encouraged to bring your voter registration card to make things go quickly and smoothly.

Pleasedirect questionsto Bexar LP Chair, Gil Robinson @210-957-9780|chair@lpbexar.org

2016Convention Information Guide

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Libertarian Party of Bexar County Texas | "Liberty and ...

This is satire.

With the Democrats, The Office for Government Ethics, and various non-profit groups all scrambling to delay Trump from picking his cabinet, you may be wondering what all the panic is about. Who could possibly be nominated to create this much fuss?

Well, below weve compiled a totally real list of some of Trumps most controversial cabinet selections:

Rex Tillerson State Department

After spending a few days making Mitt Romney beg for this position, Trump finally decided to give the State Department to outgoing ExxonMobil chairman Rex Tillerson. Tillerson once received the Order of Friendship from Vladimir Putin, which, in terms of accolades to be proud of, is right up there with The Kim Jong Un Award for Being a Good Bloke.

Ben Carson Department of Housing and Urban Development

A retired neurosurgeon, Dr Carson has been put in the most logical department for a skilled medical professional: housing. Duh. When hes not doing brain surgery, Carson passes the time boasting that he once tried to stab someone and coming up with bizarre uses for the pyramids.

Pepe the Frog Department of Trolling:

Although he used to be largely apolitical, Pepe became a vocal supporter of Donald Trump in the lead-up to the election. Pepe will be the first frog confirmed (though not the first frog to be nominated) to a cabinet position, and the first meme to serve in a senior government position since Joe Biden.

James Mattis Defense Department

A retired marine corps general whose vocal opposition to Iran caused friction between him and Obama. Thats right, this guy was deemed too antagonistic by the administration that dropped bombs on 7 different countries.

Pladimir Vutin Department of Russia Knows Best

A surprise pick, the previously unheard of Mr Vutin has since garnered national attention for his Pro-Kremlin foreign policy and for how much he looks like Vladimir Putin in a trench coat and moustache. Pladimir has spent most of his time since his appointment wandering around Washington asking people their email addresses.

Steven Mnuchin Treasury Secretary

This former Goldman Sachs partner (#draintheswamp!!) is famous for jumping on failing businesses and making big money from government bailouts. He also looks a bit like the lovechild of Chevy Chase and Rick Santorum. Plus, he was a producer for The Legend of Tarzan, which sucked.

Mr Burns Chief Hounds Releaser

A nuclear energy magnate and inventor of the Spruce Moose, C. Montgomery Burns is a US WWII veteran who may also have made shells for the Nazis. Its rumoured hell lean on Trump to cover America with a giant plastic dome to block out the sun.

Thomas Bossert Homeland Security Advisor

Famously hawkish, Bossert is STILL convinced the war in Iraq was a good idea. Plus, he wants to get more involved in Syria. Are we sure this isnt just Hillary Clinton in a mask?

Hillary Clinton in a Mask Any Job She Can Grab

Come on, you know shed try it.

Rick Perry Department of Energy

Remember in 2012 when the bumbling Texas governor forgot that the Department of Energy existed in the middle of a presidential debate? God, that was funny. Anyway, hes head of it now.

The Ghosts of Trumps Businesses Past Department of Spooky

Okay, so these werent exactly nominated but the ghosts of Trump Steaks, Trump Vodka, Trump Magazine, Trump: The Game, Trump University, the USFL, Trump Airlines, Trump Mortgage, and The Tour de Trump constantly follow The Donald around.

Mike Pompeo CIA Director

A three-time Congressman from Kansas, Pompeo has called Edward Snowdon a traitor and CIA members caught torturing people heroes. Most libertarians would probably flip those two around.

A Literal Swamp Monster Department of Swamp-Draining

Swamp Monster swears hes committed to draining the swamp. Honestly. Pinkie promise.

* Luke Terry is a freelance journalist who has written about libertarianism for Spiked, LibertarianHome, and others. He freelances comedy content and regularly performs stand-up on the London circuit. Follow him on Twitter at @Vitrioholic

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Trump's Full List of Cabinet Picks - Being Libertarian (satire) (blog)

Al Jazeera is reporting that the Palestinian Authoritys dominant political party Fatah and Hamas have agreed to form a new unity government.

The agreement was reached Tuesday evening after three days of talks in the Russian capital of Moscow, and will include the Islamic Jihad group, which had been previously precluded from negotiations.

The deal signals an end to a decade of hostilities between Fatah and Hamas, which began when Hamas won elections in Gaza in 2006, and followed up their political win with a military conflict in which they removed Fatah officials from power.

From Al Jazeeras report:

Last year the Palestinian government postponed the first municipal polls in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip in 10 years after the high court ruled they should be held only in the Fatah-run West Bank.

The last time the Palestinians staged elections in which both Hamas and Fatah took part was in 2006.

The Palestinian representatives also met on Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and asked him to dissuade incoming US President Donald Trump from carrying out a campaign pledge to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Peace discussions in the Middle East have typically been shepherded by the United States, but this germinating peace accord symbolizes a further expansion of Vladimir Putins Russia into Middle Eastern geo-politics. The Obama Administration has had very few foreign policy successes in the Middle East, mishandling its involvement in the Syrian Civil War as well as a cooling of relations with Israel. Adding to uncertainty in the region is the impending inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump.

This peace deal between Fatah and Hamas should help the Palestinian people seek their own destiny, facilitate their natural rights to movement and free association, which would benefit their economy, and be on a more united and solid footing when seeking peace with Israel.

This post was written by Dillon Eliassen.

The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.

Dillon Eliassen is the Managing Editor of Being Libertarian. Dillon works in the sales department of a privately owned small company. He holds a BA in Journalism & Creative Writing from Lyndon State College, and needs only to complete his thesis for his Masters of English from Montclair State University (something which his accomplished and beautiful wife, Alice, is continually pestering him about). He is the author of The Apathetic, available at Amazon.com. He is a self-described Thoreauvian Minarchist.

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Russia Brokers Peace Deal Between Fatah & Hamas - Being Libertarian (satire) (blog)