by Emily Salvette [main]:

I should probably make a couple of "Don't Forget..." announcements: Don't forget that the only way to become a Libertarian Party candidate on the November 2 ballot is to be nominated by LP caucus.

Our caucus will be at the State Convention on May 22 in Okemos. If you want to be a candidate, and haven't already contacted politics@mi.lp.org, please do so today! We want to make sure you know the procedures and have all the paperwork to be able to run.

Proposed changes to the LPM platform are due to the platform committee chair, Nathan Allen, by May 10. trustynathan08@yahoo.com Changes will be voted on at the state convention.

At the state convention, we will be electing new officers and executive committee of the party. If you're interested in a leadership position, either on the managing board or as a major committee chair, please let me know: chair@mi.lp.org. We need you!

Wayne Allyn Root, candidate for LP National Chair, will be giving a presentation and answering questions via a Skype video call at 4 pm at the state convention. Don't miss it! If you want to go to the national LP Convention in St. Louis May 28-31, contact the LPM secretary, Julie Mack, at secretary@mi.lp.org to be added to the delegate list. We still have spots open!

I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to run for office and help with the campaigns; almost 600 people have contacted us in the last 2 years eager to learn more about the Libertarian Party and to get involved. Now what we need are volunteers to be leaders of this party. We need energized individuals who will make a commitment to manage the essential activities and personnel to get our Libertarian message out to the public. We need strong leaders in our local affiliates who can organize new volunteers in their communities. We need state party leaders who can manage affiliate growth, direct communication with our members and the media, and coordinate our campaign efforts. Our candidates have the right ideas to combat this national malaise, we just need more support to mobilize our army of volunteers!

At our state convention in Okemos on Saturday, May 22, we will elect a new state chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer and 5 at-large members of the state Libertarian Executive Committee. Please think hard about whether you can commit to filling one of these offices. There are also major committee chairmanships that you could consider: Membership/Marketing, Political, Technology, Communication, Financial, and Affiliate Support. If you have skills in any of these areas, can organize a team, and reliably get things done, please consider stepping up to fill one of these vital leadership roles.

Our message, combined with strong leadership, can make the Libertarian Party an unstoppable force in Michigan politics. If you would like more information or would like to step up to volunteer, please contact me at chair@mi.lp.org or 734-645-5809. We are counting on you to lead the Libertarian Party to victory!

by Dan Johnson
dan.johnson40@gmail.com
[main]

I want to RALLY the troops once again! I am even MORE confident than ever before that the Libertarian Party will have a huge impact on the next election. Here is why:

1. Mainstream media is finally starting to recognize us as a “legitimate” party
2. People like John Stossel and Glenn Beck are raising awareness of the party
3. When was the last time the GOP and Dems were both as equally reviled?
4. Our candidates! True believers of Liberty, small government and less taxation

On April 9th, I had the opportunity to spend time with one of those candidates. Ken Proctor and I were invited by Chad Stevens of the Northern Michigan Liberty Alliance to attend the Tea Party in Sault Ste Marie and to speak about the very things we are passionate about! I emphasized a few bullet points which I want to share regarding not only the growth of the Libertarian Party, but the amount of votes we have received between election cycles of 2006 to 2008* for the Gubernatorial, Attorney General and Congressional candidates.

• Gubernatorial run- + 225%
• Attorney General- +108%
• Congress 1st District- +15%
• Congress 2nd District- +103%
• Congress 3rd District- +221%
• Congress 4th District- +95%
• Congress 5th District- +89%
• Congress 6th District- +36%
• Congress 7th District- +58%
• Congress 8th District- +58%
• Congress 9th District- +33%
• Congress 10th District- +60%
• Congress 11th District- +38%
• Congress 12th District- +46%

Ken Proctor educated the crowd (between 350 and 450) on what a Libertarian IS. Ken explained how as a legitimate alternative to the GOP and Democratic Party, we offer to follow the vision of the writers of our Constitution. With his decorated military background and his 35 years of continued service in various liberty-minded groups and as a life member of the Libertarian Party, Ken was an excellent vehicle to promote true “change” in the ballot box.

Now…what we NEED to do is have these increases in votes for our Governor, Attorney General and Federal offices at the STATE level. We have excellent people in our party. Everyone I have met within the party in the last five years…allow me to emphasize…EVERYONE has had something to offer. We need to have those excellent people move forward as candidates and volunteers. We need people that really want to make a difference. This is the time to do it. This is when for the first time in recent history; a “3rd” party has a legitimate chance at not only affecting the outcome of the election numbers for the “big 2”, but of actually pulling more independents and undecided from BOTH sides into the fold!

How exciting is this?! We have people like Emily Salvette, Bill Gelineau, Bill Hall, Leonard Schwartz, Scotty Boman, Greg Creswell, Brian Wright and the list goes on and on; who have been soldiers fighting this battle for years and years. You can see it in their eyes. They are war-torn and exhausted, but they have never given up the fight. It is Patriots like these who for decades have laid the foundation for us to be where we are today. During our annual convention May 22nd, I would hope that you all take a good look around. Be sure to thank all of the old soldiers and Patriots. Then, continue to look and you will see new blood. Patriots ready to accept the torch and carry it forward with pride. People who want to be there when we can one day say “Did you hear so and so was elected to Governor…and they are a Libertarian!” Wouldn’t it be great to hear that? To see in print that a Libertarian has been elected to Congress? Not as a Republican with Libertarian leanings or ideals, but a true, steadfast Libertarian. How about Senator? Why not President!?

This may all sound crazy to you. Very “pie in the sky”. But look around you. A (hopefully) peaceful Revolution is happening right before our eyes. You can be a part of that Revolution and be on the “right” team. The team that believes as our Founding Fathers believed. That government is best which governs least. I look forward to seeing you all on May 22nd. Stay motivated and let’s change our cities, counties, state and country one vote at a time!

In Liberty,

Dan Johnson
Vice Chair

*I would like to thank Greg Stempfle, Leonard Schwartz and Emily Salvette for helping me compile the numbers needed to compare 2006 to 2008 voter numbers.

Don't miss the fun!

The State Convention is Okemos is shaping up to be a big turnout for liberty. Get registered by May 10 and get "speed sign-up". Easy to do - just go to this Michigan LP Webpage. Register online or mail with postmark by May 10.

This is our time to nominate dozens of active candidates for public office, set the platform, and elect our new LEC.

Join us for the fun and entertaining luncheon event -- featuring some of our most active candidates of past and present.

The Evening Banquet is not to be missed. Larry Reed, founder and former President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy (the premier Michigan think-tank), will be our speaker. He is not only one of the smartest people you'll ever hear, he'll lift you out of your seats for liberty. He now serves as the President of the Foundation for Economic Education in New York.

Help us make this an event to remember. Get registered now.

If you have any questions or need assistance getting registered, e-mail Bill Gelineau at freedomlover59@hotmail.com or call 616-723-2776.

News Release: Repeat

I have always thought that we, as Libertarians, could do a better job communicating with each other. So with that in mind, I want to share the fact that I will be a candidate, for your consideration, for the office of Governor, at our State Convention May 22, in Okemos, MI.

My name is Ken Proctor.  I am a Life Member of the National LP, and have been a member of the State LP since 1992.  As a Libertarian I have run for federal office eight times.  I have run for U.S. Congress seven times, and U.S. Senate once.  As you can see I have a bit of experience.

Like all Libertarians, I am a defender of individual liberty and freedom as it was recognized by our founding fathers in their creation of our Constitution and our Bill of Rights.

I am a decorated Viet Nam war veteran.  I was a visual tracker on an army Combat Tracker Team.  After working for General Motors for 35 years, most of that time as Skilled Trades Machine Repairman, I retired in 2006.

I am a Life Member of the NRA, and JWV.  I hold or have held memberships in Amnesty International, National Taxpayers Union, Drug Policy Alliance, Cato Institute, and Michigan’s Mackinac Center, just to name a few.

It is my hope that the Michigan LP affiliates, that will receive this letter,  will share it with their membership through emails, or meetings.  I will be grateful for any support or suggestions I receive concerning this campaign.

In Liberty,

Ken

The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in the government, is, to live under the government of worse men. — Plato

Why Winn Dixie went out of business?

Note: Please submit photos and cartoons for inclusion in the monthly newsletter by sending them to E-Newsletter@michiganlp.org

The following review excerpts are courtesy LPM Webmaster Brian Wright's commentary and review site, The Coffee Coaster. If you would like to submit book or movie reviews please notify the editor.

Book Review
JFK and the Unspeakable:
Why he died and why it matters
by James Douglass

"The extent to which our national security state was systematically marshaled for the assassination of President John Kennedy remains incomprehensible to us. When we live in a system, we absorb a system and think in a system. We lack the independence to judge the system around us. Yet the evidence we have seen points toward our national security state, the systemic bubble in which we all live, as the source of Kennedy's murder and immediate coverup." — page 370 ... [full review ] [main]

Movie Review
Weeds
Showtime series irreverently wastes WOD __ 9/10

Kohan not only treats each subject honestly, sometimes brutally so, but with a pinch of tenderness and large helpings of roll-on-the-floor-laughing your-ass-off (roflyao). Her story starts, just as a tiny, tenuous, innocent budding of a cannabis plant, with young, suddenly widowed Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise Parker) coming to the reluctant conclusion that, to keep her family together and pay the rent, she must turn her marijuana habit into something more entrepreneurial. Her 40-something husband, Judah, who keeled over from a heart attack while jogging, had no insurance; Nancy has no special skills... combined with two kids—Silas (Hunter Parrish) and Shane (Alexander Gould)—and no relatives inclined to help out.quot;  
[full review] [main]

Take a stroll down memory lane with this excerpt from one of the longest-running state Libertarian newsletters. Today, check out the May-June issue off 1996. Click on this link for the full PDF version of this newsletter.

Newsletter editor Greg Stempfle has compiled the entire body of available Michigan Libertarian newsletters up on this page of the LPM Website.

Hello.

[Some questions on the LP's platform on immigration.]

.... As I said, I was excited about joining the Libertarian Party until I saw.... The Libertarian Party is about personal liberties but does this mean the we can't have borders or that we should have less rights as citizens to protect the rights of those that are not supposed to be here?

 Some Guy

Response From Webmaster

Most libertarians are in favor of easing immigration restrictions but restricting government "privileges" to those who become citizens. This blog by the LP national director expresses the common position most Libertarians hold on this issue:

http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/lp-monday-message-dont-blame-immigrants

Most of us fear the National ID Card, which is advocated by many who want to restrict immigration. Fundamentally, most libertarians hold that the physical movement of a person from one side of a map boundary dictated by a central state to the other side of a map boundary dictated by a central state is not an act of aggression. Accordingly, as libertarians advocate the nonaggression principle, we cannot advocate aggression upon someone who has not initiated force.

Thanks for writing.

We would like to hear feedback from you, real people, on any little thing, preferably with something short and punchy. Please voice your comments or opinions to the newsletter editor, Greg, via email by the 25th of the month... and we will post them.

May 3 - Tri-City LP Monthly Meeting – group meets on the 1st Monday of the month. Dinner at 6, meeting at 7 at Damon’s, 4960 Towne Centre Rd, Saginaw Township, MI 48604 (off Tittabawassee, just west of I-675 at exit 6). Everyone interested in liberty, from Bay, Saginaw, Midland, Genesee, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot and Isabella counties is invited. Contact Jim Fitzpatrick, Liberty2333@wmconnect.com

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May 4 – LP of St Clair and Sanilac Counties Monthly Meeting - group meets the 1st Tuesday of the month starting at 6 pm at Military Street Music Cafe, 1102 Military Street (downtown), Port Huron. Contact Mark Byrne, 810-987-9856, iwantska@hotmail.com

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May 5 – LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Business Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@comcast.net

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May 5 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, 269-637-4525, Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com.

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May 6 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666

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May 6 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting and Candidate Caucus. The newly re-organized Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843, from 7PM-8:30PM (non-smoking area). The meeting will have 4 parts: Mingling (over dinner, if you want), studies in liberty, news and party business. Contact Tim Keirnan mailTim@sbcglobal.net

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May 10 - LPM Platform Change Submission Deadline – Send proposed changes to the LPM Platform, which will be deliberated at the State Convention on May 22, to Platform Committee Chair Nathan Allen trustynathan08@yahoo.com

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May 11 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

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May 19 – LP of Oakland County Monthly Meeting – The LP of Oakland County now meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting. Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Oakland residents interested in running for office as a Libertarian are strongly encouraged to come to this meeting. Contact Jim Fulner, LPOC Chair, fulner@gmail.com, or Johnny Skosnik, LPOC Secretary, 248-840-8604. Also, Michigan Libertarians interested in re-writing a section of the Michigan Constitution are invited to contact Nathan Allen at trustynathan08@yahoo.com, 248-891-3003.

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May 19 – Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting – The Libertarians of Macomb County meet on the third Wednesday of the month. All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited to attend. The meeting begins at 7:30 but feel free to join us for good food and conversation at 6:30 pm at the Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. Contact Jim Allison, jim.e.allison@gmail.com

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May 19 – LP of Washtenaw County County Candidate Caucus-7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@comcast.net

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May 22 – Libertarian Party of Michigan State Convention – 9 am – 10 pm at the Okemos Conference Center, 2187 University Park Dr, Okemos, MI 48864. Nominations of candidates for public offices; election of state party officers and delegates to the national LP Convention in St. Louis. Contact Bill Gelineau, freedomlover59@hotmail.com

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May 25 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

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May 28 - 31 – National Convention of the Libertarian Party – St Louis, MO. Join Libertarians from around the country to shape the Party’s policies and strategies through bylaws and platform debate and election of national party officers. Info and registration at www.gatewaytoliberty.com. Michigan may send 39 delegates and 50 alternates to this convention. Contact Emily Salvette, chair@mi.lp.org, if you would like to be considered for a delegate or alternate spot.

June 1 – LP of St Clair and Sanilac Counties Monthly Meeting - group meets the 1st Tuesday of the month starting at 6 pm at Military Street Music Cafe, 1102 Military Street (downtown), Port Huron. Contact Mark Byrne, 810-987-9856, iwantska@hotmail.com

June 2 – LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Business Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@comcast.net

June 2 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, 269-637-4525, Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com.

June 3 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The newly re-organized Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843 (non-smoking area). The meeting will have 4 parts: Mingling (over dinner, if you want), studies in liberty, news and party business. Contact Tim Keirnan mailTim@sbcglobal.net

June 3 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666

June 7 - Tri-City LP Monthly Meeting – group meets on the 1st Monday of the month. Dinner at 6, meeting at 7 at Damon’s, 4960 Towne Centre Rd, Saginaw Township, MI 48604 (off Tittabawassee, just west of I-675 at exit 6). Everyone interested in liberty, from Bay, Saginaw, Midland, Genesee, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot and Isabella counties is invited. Contact Jim Fitzpatrick, Liberty2333@wmconnect.com

June 8 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

June 16 – LP of Oakland County Monthly Meeting – The LP of Oakland County now meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting. Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, LPOC Chair, fulner@gmail.com, or Johnny Skosnik, LPOC Secretary, 248-840-8604. Also, Michigan Libertarians interested in re-writing a section of the Michigan Constitution are invited to contact Nathan Allen at trustynathan08@yahoo.com, 248-891-3003.

June 16 – Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited to attend. The meeting begins at 7:30 but feel free to join us for good food and conversation at 6:30 pm at the Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. Contact Jim Allison, jim.e.allison@gmail.com

June 16 – LP of Washtenaw County Social/Work Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact James Hudler, 734-475-9792, or Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@comcast.net

June 22 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

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Michigan may send 39 delegates and 50 alternates to this convention. Contact Emily Salvette, chair@mi.lp.org, if you would like to be considered for a delegate or alternate spot. freedomlover59@hotmail.com

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More...

For all events, see the full online calendar on the Website:
http://www.mi.lp.org/Shared Documents/Calendar.aspx

The Michigan Libertarian ONLINE is distributed on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news articles by the 25th of the prior month to:
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org

Note: The final print edition of the Michigan Libertarian is available online at http://www.mi.lp.org/Past%20Newsletters/ Michigan%20Libertarian%2038.2%20summer%202009.pdf

The Michigan Libertarian is published/posted on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news/articles to e-newsletter@michiganlp.org by the 25th of the prior month.

The Michigan Libertarian is one of the longest-running Libertarian newsletters in the country, debuting in 1973 shortly after the founding of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. The "new" Michigan Libertarian (a predominantly online version) debuted on August 1, 2009 and replaced the monthly LPMOnline and the printed-and-mailed ML.  We will post on the Website and deliver via email on the first of every month. A printed version of the new Michigan Libertarian will be sent free to anyone who signs up, which you may do at the LPM web site www.mi.lp.org (or www.michiganlp.org).

LPM members who need a hard copy may request one be mailed to them by contacting
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org or calling the LPM toll-free number 888-Free-Now.

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Newsletter URL (Webpage address for this issue of the ML):
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