Comments on Pro Libertate: The Hardin Saga: Waiting for the Punchline

Here's a good piece on the "back story&qu...

2009-11-20T21:04:03.859-07:00

Here's a good piece on the "back story" on how Hardin got ripped off by enabling financing for an illegal, unusable, vastly overpriced jail.

The Texas hustlers who did this to the town took millions off the top in fees and commissions, as well as hugely inflated construction costs. This was the consequence of the town allowing what effectively was a "no-bid" contract.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/behind_hardin_jail_fiasco_private_prison_salesmen_prey_on_desperate_towns.php?ref=fpa

Hey! Sorry we didn't cross paths when we rolle...

2009-10-14T19:31:37.254-06:00

Hey! Sorry we didn't cross paths when we rolled through MT (my bud Tennyson just messaged me expressing his surprise at that) but thought I'd share a vid we did on Hardin: http://motorhomediaries.com/hardin-montana-prison-blues/

Keep fighting the good fight!

-Pete

Post by DachsieLady This article and excerpt may ...

2009-10-10T16:55:26.872-06:00

Post by DachsieLady

This article and excerpt may lend a clue and bring us closer to "cui bono."

http://www.kulr8.com/home/related/63901022.html

""He puts packages together and goes around to different areas across the country. He used to only be in Texas, now they are all over the country, using the same routine. What they do is promise all sorts of things. There are millions of dollars in bonds, revenue bonds and then they go into default. They make their money upfront and within a month they are out of there. They're not there to make sure this thing runs," said Guerra.
Parkey was seen touring the Hardin facility last month when Two Rivers Authority was in contract talks to lease the jail to the California-based firm American Private Police Force, or APF. "

I do not know exactly how in this case the possible scamsters could have gotten their money up front and then left town.

I think the impending police state in the USA is very real. I somehow do not think this is totally a money scam. There was some other kind of secret goal in all of this.

Our city council entertains special "deals" from one scamster group after another. They are takers and insiders on some of these deals and the ordinary citizen is left holding the bag in more ways than one.

The Texas "Trans Texas Corridor" scam is simply Hardin times 100.

"Chuck is averse...." - Liberanter Thou...

2009-10-10T04:19:59.154-06:00

"Chuck is averse...." - Liberanter

Though he isn't averse to pimping his autographed photo or the "patriot club"

Apparently Chuck Baldwin hasn't read Will'...

2009-10-09T12:16:51.401-06:00

Apparently Chuck Baldwin hasn't read Will's latest update (assuming that he reads Will at all). His current newsletter presents the Hardin story to his regular readers in an alarmist manner, as if the Balkan-born Harold Hill and his dummy corporation were the second incarnation of Blackwater. I took the liberty of responding to the listserv email by directing Chuck's attention to Will's update, although I doubt it will matter. If the past is any guide, Chuck is averse to acknowledging, let alone responding to, feedback from his readers and it's likely that he won't let a little thing like facts get in the way of advancing his apocalyptic vision of the future.

Evil satanic jew communists lurk everywhere! Hopef...

2009-10-09T00:17:59.928-06:00

Evil satanic jew communists lurk everywhere! Hopefully my keyboard will save us! Obamber is the Satan! Glenn Beck is the towering intellect and Fox news tells the truth! Beware of counterfeit tickets! Alex Jones married a jew! *Gasp*

Thought you and the readers might enjoy this, Will...

2009-10-08T21:44:56.726-06:00

Thought you and the readers might enjoy this, Will.

"Super 8 Police State."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUOxgSp7jus&feature=player_embedded

OT, but perhaps a roar from the past with some fir...

2009-10-08T20:56:19.821-06:00

OT, but perhaps a roar from the past with some firebrand commentary is in order. I've always admired the effrontery of this woman, Devvy Kidd. Here's an archived post from June 5, 2002 that's most assuredly an even more accurate portrayal of today.

The self-"sissification" of America over decades, particularly its men, has wrought this predicament.

Where Have All the Men Gone?

Read it and...(NO! NOT weep!!)...ponder.

Perhaps, it will take a modern-day Jeanne d'Arc to get the menfolk riled up enough? Personally, as I've alluded to in the past, I don't think we as a people collectively have even the modicum of the moral fortitude possessed of our forebears of yore anymore, not even close.

Carry on. Just a minor intermission...

"I grew up in Berlin, NH and the although ove...

2009-10-08T20:34:53.705-06:00

"I grew up in Berlin, NH and the although over 5000 miles from Harding - the theme remains the same."

Harrisville, NH has been a woolen milltown since the late 1700's. The folks in that community seem to have had vision. I bought a loom made there in 2002 which is as fine a piece of workmanship and durability as you would ever hope to find.

I'm sure other small communities could develop products unique to their regions and expertise. It does require 'vision' as someone mentioned and the ability to work together cooperatively.

http://www.harrisvillenh.org/

Yikes. I meant neocons, not necessarily conservati...

2009-10-08T19:58:29.333-06:00

Yikes. I meant neocons, not necessarily conservatives.

DD, I like to read Michelle sometimes because she ...

2009-10-08T17:54:39.627-06:00

DD, I like to read Michelle sometimes because she is the perfect conservative in that conservatives are the meanest, most vicious race of people that ever walked the earth. Can anybody, after eight years of war, be so eager to start a new one and can’t really say why? Who else but conservatives could have the same passion for a fake war eight years into it that they had on the day it started? And who else but a conservative still believes in and is not embarrassed to talk about the “ongoing Jihadi threat?”

What’s WRONG with them?

And beside, I love it when Michelle gets all self-righteous, and threatens the government: “You ignored the warning we gave you this summer about the amnesty bill. For your sake, don’t ignore this one.”

You Didn't Know There Was An Office of Civilia...

2009-10-08T16:46:18.735-06:00

You Didn't Know There Was An Office of Civilian Police and Rule of Law Programs?
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/109826

Mr Grigg, you are an excellent columnist, one of t...

2009-10-08T15:24:42.229-06:00

Mr Grigg, you are an excellent columnist, one of the best I've read in a long time. I only wish we could get you published in the Chicago Sun Times, where you could reach a wide swath of the population who need their eyes opened and minds freed. I recently read that you had joined facebook. I was an active supporter of Ron Paul and the freedom movement on that site, and just recently they decided to deactivate my account. No reason was given, and I hav not been able to re-activate it. Please take 3 minutes to watch this informational video regarding the powers behind facebook. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2Un74P0Ym0

In Liberty.
qb

Super investigative reporting, Will. Are you still...

2009-10-08T13:09:20.250-06:00

Super investigative reporting, Will. Are you still plannin' to release some sort of video expose too? Just curious.

ihbf, don't pay too much mind to folk like Malkin and her ilk because since they desire to play in the MSM booby circus sandbox, yet not get sand tossed in their (pretty) faces, their reports, naturally, tend to be complimentary of MSM reports (albeit the "conservative" faction). IOW, just like the MSM they themselves grovel (Fox News, in her case), they simply regurgitate the same, tired sputum, i.e. quote another MSM source without further in-depth and, most importantly, incisive investigation on their own.

You'll get MUCH better, poignant (and incisive) info right here at Pro Libertate.

Since that time the mill has closed and Berlin now...

2009-10-08T12:43:53.440-06:00

Since that time the mill has closed and Berlin now looks like well, Dresden after the bombings. To fill the economic void a couple of prisons have been built but the harsh economic reality remains - their are few jobs and the place is an economic desert. These regions are ripe victims for the newest snake oil salesman - peddling whatever jobs they may claim to have.

Sadly, this destructive scenario is being repeated in localities of varying sizes and populations throughout the country. In Berlin, NH's case, it's highly likely that some enterprising entrepreneur with sufficient capital could have purchased the mill in question and made something productive and profitable of it if left to his or her own devices. The problem, however, is that there is no such thing as "free enterprise" in Amerika anymore, due in no small measure to the fact that one cannot even open up so much as a sidewalk lemonade stand anywhere in this country without dealing with an onslaught of intrusive, counterproductive, unnecessary, and, last but not least, unconstitutional regulations from some level of government, all of which serve to choke the economic life out of any potentially viable entrepreneurial effort. Add to this the moral hazard created by taxpayer-subsidized favoritism conferred upon preferred classes of hucksters and criminals by said same government, and you have dozens situations like Hardin and your own example of Berlin. The Hardin example is just one of the more egregious, although it will certainly not be the last, as the Amerikan Empire descends into economic chaos, its economic lifeblood drained.

ihbf,it means that millions of american made this ...

2009-10-08T11:45:51.428-06:00

ihbf,it means that millions of american made this story hit the main stream by speaking out.writing emails to the president and montana officials.It would appear the public outcry stopped a would be paramilitary group from sneaking in the back door of America.

Michelle Malkin hopes the Hardin story will be a t...

2009-10-08T10:12:03.592-06:00

Michelle Malkin hopes the Hardin story will be a teaching moment for Americans: “This is an object lesson in citizen vigilance. If you see something, say something.”

I‘m not sure what she means by that…

Residents desperate for jobs and living in towns w...

2009-10-08T07:40:12.288-06:00

Residents desperate for jobs and living in towns where the leadership is devoid of vision and backbone place their faith in charlatans peddling stupid ideas like this. I grew up in Berlin, NH and the although over 5000 miles from Harding - the theme remains the same. At one time Berlin had a prosperous pulp and paper mill. As time progressed little to no money was put into the mill and the mill kept being passed off to new owners like a game of hot potato. One of the final owners was an Iranian who used the mill to launder money. Although lauded as a savior when he first arrived in town when the gig was up he was vilified. At one time during the crisis the mayor claimed that all would work out particularly since he was in talks with a potential buyer. The potential buyer was ( I kid you not) Enron. With leaders like this it is no wonder these formerly prosperous towns have collapsed. Since that time the mill has closed and Berlin now looks like well, Dresden after the bombings. To fill the economic void a couple of prisons have been built but the harsh economic reality remains - their are few jobs and the place is an economic desert. These regions are ripe victims for the newest snake oil salesman - peddling whatever jobs they may claim to have.

File this under "incredible but true". ...

2009-10-08T00:38:26.513-06:00

File this under "incredible but true". It's just plain wacky to say the least. Still, as Will and others have stated, who "profits"? By following the money we can get an idea of whats going on but it still boggles the mind that the citizens of Hardin would agree to put themselves so deep into debt for a pie in the sky project like this.

Kansan srote: "Meanwhile, the right wing blog...

2009-10-07T22:25:26.549-06:00

Kansan srote: "Meanwhile, the right wing blogosphere has come alive with hysterical ravings about black helicopters, FEMA concentration camps, forced vaccinations and
mass confiscations of firearms."

Interesting you don't see many folks who openly deride the 'black helicopters' since it is widely known that there are plenty of very real Blackwater helicopters.

Merc's know no boundaries, the money is the same color whether it comes from a RepubliRat or a DemoRat. Same coin . . . two heads . . .

Sic Semper Tyrannis

For the record, Kansan, I believe Mr. Grigg is a l...

2009-10-07T20:29:02.178-06:00

For the record, Kansan, I believe Mr. Grigg is a libertarian Christian.

Support your local sheriff. They usually live in y...

2009-10-07T19:35:27.200-06:00

Support your local sheriff. They usually live in your community and care about the quality of life in that area. If you ever see a nationalized police force you will know the gig is up that its Zimbabwe, Argentina, Brazil time.

The inbred global elite pondscum should know bette...

2009-10-06T21:14:59.233-06:00

The inbred global elite pondscum should know better than to try these things in the age of the internet. Bloggers can get stories out hours before the corporate presstitutes and days before the birdgcage lining printed press.

Thank you, for a perfectly measured report from th...

2009-10-06T18:07:45.690-06:00

Thank you, for a perfectly measured report from the trenches.

Our entire county has less than 4500 people. The county seat has less than 3500 population. I can imagine the same sort of hustle perpetrated on the taxpayers of this farming community. The town & county 'officials' are easily flattered and influenced by relatives, friends, and, of late, the compulsively energetic wife of a Brazilian doctor working at the local medical clinic.

She has had herself elected as City Alderman, opened an exercise emporium right next door to her restaurant, and set the 'city' cop on every property in town which looks like it could be the refuge of rats due to its unmown lawn or untrimmed shrubbery. Notices are sent to such property owners with threat of fines and $100 per hour cutting & trimming rates should the 'city' be compelled to do the job for you.

Is small town corruption worse than big town corruption? It seems more offensive to me. Maybe it's because this 'pathological credulity' and glitter awe arises from a generation whose parents knew how to make an honest living and understood how to do without what they did not NEED.

Thank God, literally, for our County Sheriff who is a truly good man. I'm not sure how we managed to be so blessed.

“Following threats of legal action on behalf of th...

2009-10-06T14:59:09.187-06:00

“Following threats of legal action on behalf of the government of Serbia against APF for using a near copy of the Serbian Coat of Arms......[t]he group’s leader, Capt. Michael Hilton said the crest was a family emblem and he used it to honor his grandfather."

***********************************

Ah yes, the grandfather - I remember him well, the old man - Grand Duke Alexander Esterhazy of Montenegro, twenty-ninth Baron Rostropovitch of Bratislava and cousin to the last Emperor of Austria. (Suuure.) One of the oldest and most illustrious families west of the Caucasus Mountains. Richer than Satan. Fifty thousand acres of land. Magnificent castle - more spendid even that that of Vlad Dracula. However the accusation about those little girls was never proven, you know, even if the judge did suffer that horrendous accident, and the jury foreman retired to Tahiti.

I'm surprised His Celestial Magnificence the Grand Duke Michael would disguise himself with such a common pseudonym as "Hilton." He must be an uncommonly modest man.

(Or, mayhap it is in honor of the delectable Paris Hilton? You know, the case of the little girls and all that....??)

Okay, I admit His Serene Dignity Baron Michael "Hilton" has more pizzazz than Bernie Madoff, even if old Bernie was about a thousand times more successful at robbing widows and orphans.

This whole circus would be hysterically funny, if it wasn't for all the poor peasants of Hardin who will have to pay back that $27 million.