Despite the best efforts of the Democrat-Republican political cartel based in Raleigh to repress democracy and retain for North Carolina the dubious distinction of being one of the most restrictive states in the union with regard to ballot access, the Libertarians have satisfied the statutory requirements to stay on the ballot.

Now let's see if the Republicrats will make the election laws even more restrictive, as they have done in the past when anyone else dared to have some measure of political success.

The measure of progressive commitment to principle above Democrat party cheerleading will revealed in whether a progressive or green party can follow the lead of the libertarians to inject another real choice into North Carolina politics. I certainly wish to see an alternative party on the left gain traction in NC, and I will do whatever I can to help them.

But also, congratulations to the Democrats for obtaining complete control of the government. If your party's complicity with the treasonous policies of the Bush years were not evidence enough, the next four years will certainly be quite revealing as to the shallowness of your message. Troops will remain in Iraq. An unwinnable and irrational war will continue to rage in Afghanistan. I hope that Obama drafts you first if or when he engages Pakistan, Iran, or Russia in the defense of our puppet governments of the former Soviet Union. Obama is the new face of the empire - but many of us see through it. We will resist the police state regardless of which party is promoting it.