MICHIGAN LIBERTARIAN
Volume 45:07
In This Issue:
What To Do When Your Cruz Ship Sinks
State Convention Proves to Be an Exciting Day for Delegates
Building a Libertarian Future
Proceed Ever More Boldly
Out of your Chair!!
Libertarians Make Waves In Florida
What To Do When Your Cruz Ship Sinks
Kasey Cross originally published May 10, 2016
Newsflash: there are more options than just Trump (and no, they are not Hillary or Bernie)
Ted Cruz’s dropout seemed to be the death rattle of the Republican Party. With no one standing in the way of Donald Trump many #NeverTrump voters are disheartened with the fast-approaching election, and may feel left without a worthy candidate.
But if we look to the third parties we may find a candidate that #NeverTrump conservatives can finally sink their vote into.
The nation now seems to collectively be railing against the establishment, and the sudden halt from Cruz and Kasich has escalated American frustrations. Third party candidates are picking up some serious popularity.
The Libertarian Party has recently experienced a spike in interested voters as applications have doubled for new members. Wes Benedict, executive director, told the Washington Examiner that as there had been no recent recruitment strategies the sudden jump would be all thanks to Trump standing alone as the unofficial Republican nominee.
Gary Johnson noted last week on his Facebook page that “a few folks” had been Googling him after Cruz dropped out.
Benedict believes that Trump is literally scaring voters into the Libertarian Party, citing the membership reports throughout April. As the primaries started the increase in donors began and, after Trump’s nomination became imminent, the donations and applications jumped.
“Of course they are scared of Trump,” Benedict said. “Trump sounds like an authoritarian…We need more transparency, and a smaller, less intrusive government.”
However, even as so many Republicans have reluctantly come to stand behind Trump, some are realizing that voting differently could make a difference in this election. Will Kremer, former chair of the Georgia College Republicans, said he’s been considering voting for a third party candidate in November.
“Party loyalty has its limits,” Kremer said. “Trump is the standard-bearer of the party and its spokesman. But what that tells me is the Republican Party has left me.”
But feeling let down by one’s party isn’t entirely new to the political scene. Exit polls have shown that as much as 60 percent (in some states) of primary voters felt a sense of betrayal by their leaders. Many Republican voters are upset that their elected leaders did nothing to change things in Washington, and yet so many have chosen such a non-conservative candidate.
Trump believes healthcare is one of the federal government’s three main responsibilities– conservatives do not believe in this type of federal intervention. Additionally, he lists education, which conservatives believe is a matter best left to the states.
Trump has yet to support conservative ideals of smaller government, while Cruz openly supported tea-party constitutionalism. One of Trump’s own selling points is his “flexibility,” a quality that conveniently releases him from political (and moral) consistency.
Of course, fed-up conservatives are voting in Trump as something like a “middle finger” to their corrupted party. But why vote in someone with no moral ground? No principles? Instead, why can’t our nation look toward the unsung heroes of the political landscape—those who have waited so patiently for their time to shine?
It is in the third parties that America may truly find her new leader. This election is primed for voters to abandon the binary system. Conservatives don’t want to vote for Trump, and certainly not for Hillary.
Is this really the election we want?
So many respectable, promising conservatives have dropped out of the race. But there are still plenty of third party candidates to be supported.
Gary Johnson, running with the Libertarian Party, holds very many of the same economic ideas that Cruz did. So far he is the only candidate that is likely to be on the ballot alongside Trump and Clinton.
While Romney himself doesn’t plan on running independently, he is at the head of the #NeverTrump conservative campaign, and has discussed ways to get an independent into the race. The Hillrecently released a list of top ten conservative alternatives to Donald Trump, all with their sights set on independent parties.
The disenfranchisement seen in the American public thanks to this presidential race is astounding, but has finally paved the way for voters to take note of third party candidates. This election is proving itself wildly beneficial for third party supporters, and the public will surely have these names stuck in their heads long after the new president is chosen.
Although the presidency may, this year, go to one of the two main parties one thing is for sure: American politics will never be the same.
State Convention Proves to Be an Exciting Day for Delegates
Scotty Boman, Political Director
The Libertarian Party of Michigan (LPM) held its state convention in Lansing on May 14th at the Lansing Radisson. The convention was well attended and delegates nominated candidates, debated platform planks, selected new officers, and enjoyed a lively Presidential debate at a festive banquet.
Delegates selected candidates for local, state and federal legislative offices. They also finalized the list of National Convention delegates and nominated a slate of Presidential electors. All told, Libertarians nominated 70 candidates in state and national races, with additional office-seekers in local and county races and 67 of those candidates will appear on the General Election ballots for their respective jurisdictions in addition to our Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees. Nearly all of the candidates are listed on the LPM “Candidate Listing 2016” page ( https://michiganlp.org/candidate-listing-2016 ). Many of the names are linked to their campaign websites. With candidates in 13 of the 14 Congressional districts, the LPM continues to uphold its status as the third largest, and most active party in Michigan.
The convention included a very lively Platform debate. The platform is published on the LPM website here: https://michiganlp.org/platform
Delegates also nominated a new Libertarian Executive Committee (LEC) and Judicial Committee. The new executive officers are: Chair Bill Gelineau, Vice Chair Kim McCurry, Secretary Diane Bostow, and Treasurer Jason Brandenburg. The new LEC At Large Directors are Jonathan Osment, Jeff Wood, Tiffany Hayden, Greg Creswell, and Emily Salvette. The new Judicial Committee Members are Bill Hall and Mary Buzuma.
The convention featured appearances by some of the top Libertarian Presidential candidates, some of whom took part in a forum hosted by political correspondent and former legislator Bill Ballenger, which followed the banquet. One well-known candidate, Austin Peterson, mingled with delegates but did not participate in the candidate forum due to a time conflict.
The Presidential Panel was the Finale’ of the Convention. It featured former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and New Hampshire activist Darryl W. Perry. The moderator was Michigan’s own Bill Ballenger. He has a statewide reputation as the founder of Inside Michigan Politics and appears frequently on the TV talk show, “Off the Record.” Banquette attendees enjoyed a spirited give and take about a wide range of issues. Both Mr. Perry and Governor Johnson took on questions from the moderator, but also responded to questions from the audience. They were well received by those in attendance.
The night closed with awards and fundraising. This delightful closing featured a delegate bravely standing to sing as part of the fundraising shtick.
Building a Libertarian Future
George Phillies continued from May
Alvin See Reports on the
“Visit Town Hall” Step
A visit to Westfield, MA city hall. The city hall is in an old school building. Carved in stone above the front doors is: State Normal School.
On the second floor, between the elevator and the City Clerk’s office is a glass covered board with the names and regular meeting times for all the boards and commissions of the city. There are 24 of them.
Nearby is a bulletin board for postings for special meetings and other information from various boards and commissions. Special meetings are required by the State to have at least 48 hours notice. A separate bulletin board near the City Council chambers lists meeting notices for the various committees of the City Council.
In Westfield, the City Council and Planning Board have their regular meetings telecast on the local cable public access channel. Westfield State College provides a volunteer person to operate the cameras.
Proceed Ever More Boldly
Jeff Wood
In our culture it is seen by many as a mark of maturity to accept the legitimacy of the established authorities. Acquiescence to the status quo is believed to be indicative of practicality and respectfulness.
Due to this process of social inertia, the world as we know it has stagnated. Gone are the great upheavals of yesteryear, in their place we have instituted an electoral process that grants us the illusion of change. In the place of cultural progress we have progress theater, our so called leaders pantomime a commitment to the betterment of humanity, while ensuring that no substantive change actually takes place.
Those of us who oppose this system become outcasts, rogues living on the fringes of polite society. We’re labeled as purists, anarchists and malcontents. Any attempts that we make to change the system, no matter how well intentioned, are steadfastly rejected by those who have bought into it. We are excluded by the establishment not because our actions are a threat, but because our beliefs are a threat.
When faced with such stiff opposition it is only natural for people to become discouraged, to feel burnt out and to give up. Many great advocates of freedom have succumbed to this war of attrition. Why keep up your passionate activism when you never see positive results? It is in times like these that I remember the words of Ludwig von Mises:
“Do not give in to evil, but proceed ever more boldly against it”
It is when you encounter the stiffest resistance that you are doing the most to further your cause. When your enemies throw their worst at you, it isn’t because they are winning, it is because they are desperate.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing, and make no mistake, our opponents want nothing more than for you to give up the good fight. Demoralization is among the most powerful weapons in their arsenal, but it is a double edged sword. When they see our strength and perseverance even in the face of defeat, they will realize that they can never hope to match our determination.
Boldness is key. By controlling people’s attention you control the narrative. Electoral success and political titles are powerless against someone who conveys their message more memorably. Our daring, our willingness to challenge society’s accepted rules and social mores, is our greatest strength. We cannot be shy about who we are or what we stand for, not if we want to enact real change. Our goals are within reach, but only if we have the authenticity and bravery to pursue them openly and without fear.
Fortune favors the bold.
Out of your Chair!!
Happy summer, fellow patriots. Between the nauseating drivel of the major party conventions and the heat-stroke inducing temperatures we’ve had this year, even the most ardent of activists might wonder what they can do right now to, as my title pun suggests, get you “out of your chair”.
Well, let’s recognize that time is fleeting. The August Primary is right around the corner – and the field of opponents will be clear. Pretty soon, most kids will be in school, summer will fade, and Labor Day will turn the page. Once that happens, it’s a race course to November 8th. Make no mistake that while it may seem like there isn’t much going on for the Party – this is the time to get organized, get your calendar out, and determine what contributions you can make to help our team succeed.
With that in mind, I am announcing today a new program to help recognize the efforts of our activists.
It’s a simple program starting August 1 and running until Election Day. I’m hoping that many of you will take on this challenge. It will be called the LPM Activist Award. It’s nothing elaborate…but, it is a chance to make a special effort, get something for the ego wall, and see your name in the newsletter. Mostly, it’s designed to get you moving to help the LPM succeed.
First off, drop an e-mail to Chair@LPMichigan.org<mailto:Chair@LPMichigan.org> to let me know that you’d like to participate. I will e-mail you back to acknowledge that I’ve received your note. If for some reason you don’t hear back in 48 hours, please re-send the note. I don’t miss many, but I am human. I will then put you on my list.
Here are the 4 criteria:
1. Must attend an affiliate meeting and get a signed agenda. You can scan it, take a picture and e-mail it, or mail it to the LPM ( I’ll get it). I will confirm receipt each time….so, feel free to follow up.
2. Snap a picture at an event you attend on behalf of a candidate or LP event. Again, e-mail it over or post it to Facebook and tag me.
3. Sponsor one new person to join the LP.
a. If you are a current member, you have to tell me the name of the person who you recruited and our treasurer will confirm their dues. E-mail me when it happens.
b. If you’re not currently a member, I will count you joining by October 1 as sufficient to meet this item.
4. Speak at a public event about the LP or for a candidate / OR / Write an article with the word Libertarian which is published in any non-libertarian publication.
This last one is probably the most difficult for anyone to achieve. If you speak at a local event, ask someone to snap a picture of you and send or post a copy. This is even easier if you have another Libertarian go with you! This is easier than you may think…… If you hand out literature on behalf of a candidate, just have that candidate sign a piece of the literature. Again, you can scan or post to Facebook (remember to tag me).
More difficult is getting published. But, with so many online publications…… we’re not being picky here. You can snap a picture, post a link (tag me). Mostly, I want you to know that we’re going to assemble all these articles and put them up on our site in some fashion or form. So, give us your best!!
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A few other things. July has been a super busy month for many of our candidates. All of us on the LEC, affiliate leaders, and candidates are doing the very best we can to elevate the image of the Libertarian Party. But, like any organization, we’re only as strong as the efforts that everyone puts into our group. Some of the projects that give us great exposure take a lot of people.
I want to thank the many, many people that have stepped up this month to help. We have people that have volunteered to do website work, act as campaign managers, treasurers, designing Facebook pages, doing proofreading, and many other tasks. Thank you to those that helped the Ann Arbor Art Fair. (the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is coming!) We still need volunteers – and given the growth we’re experiencing (thank you Hillary and Donald!) – we need more help than ever.
There have been campaign training, many interviews and printed articles about the Party. And the pace of those will only increase. The last national poll I’ve seen showed the Johnson/Weld ticket at 13%. You can do your part by making calls to your local TV and newspaper asking them to make sure Gary Johnson is included in their poll. This is something that every single activist can do to make a difference.
The doldrums of summer will soon pass. Let’s get ready for the best fall of our lives!!!
Bill Gelineau, Chair
Libertarians Make Waves In Florida
Scotty Boman, Political Director
There was a meeting of the region three representatives. Representatives of regions sit on the LNC and represent multiple states. Region the includes Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio. The Region Three delegates nominated Advocates for Self-Government spokesperson, Brett Bittner as their representative and the late Dr. Marc Feldman as an alternate. After the tragic passing of Dr. Feldman, the alternate roll was filled by Ken Moellman of Kentucky.
There were a variety of amendments debated to the platform. This included an unsuccessful attempt to significantly change or remove the plank concerning abortion, and the addition of a plank opposing capital punishment.
The greatest amount of outside attention concerned the Presidential nomination. Delegates nominated former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson for President of the United States, on the second ballot. As his running mate, delegates chose former two-term Governor of Massachusetts William Weld, on the second ballot. He was for many the first major office holder the larger media every referred to as “libertarian”.
As might be expected, the surge in media publicity led to the inclusion of the Johnson-Weld ticket in National Polls. Since then Gary Johnson has polled nationally between 9% and 13%. There have also been some hinds that prominent Republicans might be suggesting the Libertarian alternative in the wake of wide-spread dissatisfaction over the nomination of Donald Trump, who’s statist policies and unpredictable bombasticness, has proven to be too much, even for Republicans.
One pathway to winning requires inclusion of Gary Johnson in the televised debates controlled by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The idea being that Libertarians would then be taken seriously by enough Americans to be viewed as more than just spoilers or protest votes. The Commission requires a minimum of 15% in the polls. There is currently a lawsuit sponsored by Our America Initiative to remove the polling criteria from the debate requirements, but a Federal judge is letting the case collect dust on his desk rather than giving it the hearing it deserves. Find out more about this, and how to help, at https://fairDebates.org
For Michigan Libertarians, the big opportunity lies in the chance to reach the threshold needed to qualify for de facto major party status in Michigan. If the Libertarian Parties principal candidate earns 5% of the vote cast for Secretary of state in 2014, then the Libertarian Party will operate under the same rules as Democrats and Republicans. We would be a major party in every way but name since the election law defines “Major Party” as being either of the top two vote getters.
Michigan delegates supported 5 different candidates during the nominating process. So, clearly some are disappointed that their favorite did not win. However, the differences that divide Libertarians are small compared to the differences between us and the major parties. It will serve Libertarians well to look outward and use the unprecedented publicity afforded them, to bring attention to the myriad of issues where libertarian ideas can be applied to make America a more sane, peaceful, prosperous and free.
