Greeting
LPM Convention 2012
Testifying against election law changes
Senator Carl Levin recall petition progress

LPM News and Announcements
  
   LP National Convention in Vegas (May 2-6)
   Membership recruitment tips
   Lakeshore Libertarians
   Libertarian State Leadership Alliance

Image of the Month
Quote of the Month
Past Blast
Letters
Book and Movie Reviews
Contacts
Calendar

[main]
Welcome to the May 2012 issue of the online newsletter of the Libertarian Party of Michigan, the Michigan Libertarian. The newsletter is our main vehicle for sharing what's happening for Libertarians in Michigan. You may manage your subscription by going here or visiting our Web site www.mi.lp.org (same as www.michiganlp.org).

LPM Convention set for Embassy Suites, Livonia
Renee Lewis
livingstonladyliberty@gmail.com

Main Business of Convention
We will be nominating the Libertarian Party of Michigan slate of candidates for the 2012 general election in Michigan. Be sure to inform the LPM political director Bill Gelineau ( politics@michiganlp.org) of your intentions to run for office in this important year.

Banquet Speaker — Adam Kokesh
Mr. Kokesh is an American activist and has a radio talkshow, Adam vs. the Man in Albuquerque, NM. Kokesh was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and is a veteran of the Iraq War. He is an outspoken opponent of the U.S. military intervention in Iraq and has received media attention related to anti-war protest activities. He is a leading organizer of a veterans' march on the Republican National Convention in Tampa, late August.

Online Information and Registration Form
[You may register and pay for the event through this page, as well as make a donation or pledge to the LPM. Note: for donations (not including payment for Libertyfest) over $100, please contact our treasurer for supplying other information required by the elections law.]

Testimony re:
S752 Minor Political Party Conventions and
S754 Third Party Voter Registration Part 2
LPM Chair James Lewis 248-687-1470, kokopellifinancial@gmail.com
LPM Legislative Committee Chair Will White 517 349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu
Before House Committee on Ethics and Elections, Lansing, April 24, 2012

Thank you for addressing the important issue of election integrity. The committee should be aware though, that voter fraud is almost nonexistent, while verification of voting results is a serious problem. Another major concern is the suppression of voters and independent or minor party candidates.

The provision in S752 (S-1) that would require minor political parties to provide a 10-day notice of county caucuses or state conventions is unnecessary, burdensome and problematic.

First, there has been no compelling interest of the State cited to require such a provision, as all political parties are already required to report the results of conventions within 24 hours of their conclusion. The instance of phony “Tea Party” candidates in the 2010 election was correctly prosecuted as a criminal act, which begs the question of why this bill punishes “minor” parties for prior illegal actions of “major” party operatives. Had a 10-day notice of a phony “Tea Party” convention been received by the Secretary of State, the phony candidates may have been given even more credibility and perhaps not even prosecuted.

Second, regulation of internal political party procedures violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. In San Francisco v. Eu, the US Supreme Court overturned California's regulation of such internal party procedures. This bill would also preclude emergency conventions in the event of a calamity like the sudden withdrawal of a candidate due to severe illness or accidental death.

The 10-day notice in S752 (S-1), like much of Michigan election law, is also unconstitutional as it requires of minor parties something not required of major parties, creating two classes of citizens: those who are members of the Republican or Democrat parties, and everyone else. This is unequal treatment of voters who are either independent or sympathetic to other parties, which is contrary to the very first article of the Michigan Constitution. Article 1, Section 1 states: “All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their equal benefit, security and protection”.

The photo ID requirements of S752 (S-2) actually present a greater chance of fraud than the current system of reliance on signatures, which are the gold standard for identification purposes. Any teenager can create a fake photo ID on a home computer, but accurate forgery of signatures is extremely difficult. Photo ID laws have already been thrown out as unconstitutional in Wisconsin and Missouri.

S754 (S-2) has one good provision we support that allows for rotation of ballot listings so that the top spot lists a different candidate in successive precincts, reducing the advantage of a top-of-ticket listing.

Unfortunately, most of S754 (S-2) is without merit, as it puts restrictions on third party voter registration, infringing on the Constitutional rights of assembly and petition, and making it more difficult to register voters. Given the large amount of unregistered eligible voters, it would seem prudent to make it easier to register voters, especially since Michigan has failed to meet its obligation under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to provide for voter registration at all State offices.

For these reasons, the Libertarian Party opposes these bills as stated above, and petitions this legislature to enact bills that are more equitable to “minor” political parties. In our view, all political parties represent minorities of eligible voters (which has been verified by independent national polling firms), and should be treated the same, as called for in Article 1, Section 1 of our state constitution.

Contact:
Scotty Boman, scottyboman@hotmail.com, (313) 247-2052
Warren Raftshol. raftshol@gmail.com, (231) 271-5650
Website: http://committeetorecallcarllevin.com/2012/04/02/19/

- News Release: April, 24th, 2012 Detroit, MI –

The Wayne County Election Commission will meet on Tuesday, May 1st at 2:00 PM to determine the clarity of reasons cited in petition language for Carl Levin. The meeting will be held in Room 705 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit, MI 48226. The proposed petition language reads:

“He co-authored and introduced S.1867 (the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012) which provides for the military arrest, and indefinite detention, of U.S. citizens without Constitutional due process (Subtitle D). He voted in favor of the final version (H.R. 1540). In so doing, he violated his oath or affirmation.”

One of the sponsors, Scotty Boman of Detroit (who is a candidate for United States Senate), originally attempted to deliver the petition language in person on March 29th and was turned away by Director of Elections, Delphine Oden. On April 9th Boman sent a certified letter requesting compliance with MCL168.952 which requires recall petitions to be reviewed for clarity by the “board of county election commissioners.” Boman received notification of the hearing on April 24th. Boman summarized the exchange saying, “They were served and now it’s on.” The other sponsor of the effort is Warren Raftshol of Suttons Bay.

Both sponsors cite Levin’s pivotal role in provisions they describe as “de facto martial law,” as there reason to initiate the recall effort. The recall would require 468,709 signatures.Boman said, “Warren and I can’t do this on our own. We can get this started with a build-it-and-they-will-come approach. In 2008 1,810,234 people voted against Carl Levin. We need to have about a quarter of these people sign the petition, and a much smaller portion to step up and be activists.

Recall advocate Barbara Willing encouraged public participation saying, “Mr. Levin has been "belligerent" to the people by allowing offensive language to pass as law in the form of NDAA. So offensive is this language that it is designed to disturb and destroy the sovereignty of the People. I invite you to attend as a first step in restoration of your God given rights.”

-END-

2012 LPresidential Nominating Convention May 2-6—Las Vegas

You won’t want to miss the stars of the Libertarian Party re-uniting in Las Vegas to celebrate the LP’s 40th birthday:

• Ed Clark, 1980 LP Presidential Candidate
• David Bergland, 1984 LP Presidential Candidate
• Robert Poole, Co-founder of REASON
• Sharon Harris, President, Advocates for Self-Government
• Many more long-time friends of liberty from around the country.

The convention will be held at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. Find out everything about the convention and register here (http://www.libertywillwin.com/)

Picking a presidential candidate along with hundreds of other Libertarians from around the country is exciting and special--you'll want to be part of this! Whether you can only come for the weekend and presidential selection on Saturday, or you can take a week to enjoy all the convention has to offer plus the fun of Las Vegas, don’t miss this great event. It’s your chance to meet the stars, learn the history, and celebrate the 40th year of your Libertarian Party.

C'mon affiliates, let's grow membership!
by Denee Rockman-Moon

As with any organization, membership recruitment for the Libertarian Party continues to be Job 1, 24/7. If need literature to pass out please contact me thru email at denee.rockman-moon@live.com or you can visit http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/. I would like to say "Thank you" to all those that have recently renewed their memberships, or have become a new member! Please keep spreading the word. Helpful tips for affiliates to gain membership:

• Use the names of new inquiries from the LPM to send a letter or call them asking them to join and/or attend your next meeting or event.
• Have a signup sheet at all meetings for peoples names and contact information. A few days after your meeting have someone write or call any new people on the sign up sheet to thank them for attending the meeting, answer any questions they may have and ask them to join the party.
• Send each new inquiry in your county(ies) the next two issues of your newsletter. In each of these, insert letter printed on brightly colored paper asking them to join. Get mailing labels for these new names from the LPM Membership Clerk.
• Hold an "Open House" meeting. This would be a meeting geared specifically for LP newcomers and people interested in learning more about the party. You should find a speaker that can give a brief history of the party, explain the basic philosophic principles of libertarianism and answer questions about the party.

Also I want to send out a big whoppin' "Thank You" for all the RENEWALS we have been receiving and welcoming all the new members! On the Website, please find your affiliate and locate its next meeting from our events column... then come to the next meeting of your affiliate. The more we grow and make our voices heard, then the sooner we are no longer ignored. 2012 is the Year of Liberty. You won't be part of the victory parade if you sit on the sidelines. Let's get in the game and make our presence felt! — drm

Join the Lakeshore Libertarians

Do you live in either Muskegon or Ottawa counties?  Do you want to meet with other Libertarians, but don’t want to drive to Grand Rapids?  Then come on out to the Lakeshore Libertarians.  Our first meeting was held at the Grand Haven Community Center on Tuesday April 24.  The Community Center is located at 421 Columbus (corner of Columbus and Fifth) in downtown Grand Haven.  If you have any questions please contact Mary Buzuma.  Email:  mary.buzuma@att.net  Phone:  616-607-7064.  Or contact Nick Sundquist.  Email: lpwmsecretary@yahoo.com Phone:  231-780-3364.

Libertarian State Leadership Alliance

The Libertarian State Leadership Alliance (LSLA) has been in touch with a pitch for helping them to grow more effective practices for affiliate organizations. The LSLA is continuing to grow to help our LP Affiliates! We are recruiting qualified and talented members to join the LSLA Support Committee. The short term goal of the LSLA Support Committee is to put together a guidebook (play book, manual, hand book, etc.) of best practices which will be distributed to all State Chairs. The Committee will reach out to all states to gather and aggregate anything and everything we can which will help build our Affiliates. Please check the LSLA out at http://lsla.org/.

Looks real, eh? Some trucking company in Germany with a sense of humor. Probably banned in the US because it sends the wrong message to children... that truck drivers don't know how to load their stock because they drink beer all day. :)

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right.
A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice.
A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.

— Martin Luther King

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 2001. Click on this link for the full PDF version of this newsletter.

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

Serendipity Strikes: Keep it Going!

The well-known Christmas carol, "Silent Night", was composed in an hour, by a church organist, silenced by a crack in a leather organ bellows, who suddenly needed a song he could play on a guitar.

In 1743, watchmaker Benjamin Huntsman dropped a Swedish-made nail into a batch of charcoal and fools-gold, that he had melted, and ended up with the world's first heat of manganese steel, which made good springs practical.  The ones that open my garage door are big versions of the Huntsman recipe.

In 1926, Alexander Fleming was growing cultures of bacteria and discovered, in a culture that got contaminated with mold spores, that there existed a mycotoxin that was harmful to bacteria but that humans had safely eaten for centuries, in blue cheese.  The result:  Antibiotics.

And in March 2012...the editor of The Michigan Libertarian had a malfunctioning email system, and sent us all a link to the Web version. I was very pleasantly surprised by the graphics, the layout, the dynamic links to other stories, and the ease of reading it online, instead of from an emailed copy.  It was actually faster to retrieve from the LPM's webserver, than to get a copy from my ornery e-mail server.

Bravo!

Please consider doing this with all future issues of The Michigan Libertarian.  The efficiencies of emailing a link, instead of a complete newsletter, make the reading experience MUCH better.

Sincerely,
Bob Schubring.

The following review excerpts are courtesy LPM Webmaster Brian Wright's commentary and review site, The Coffee Coaster. If you are interested in receiving the e-newsletter for the Coffee Coaster, so you may receive notice of his site's reviews and commentary, please fill out the form link here then check the Email List box 0_Coffee_Coaster. [Reader submissions of reviews are also solicited for this Michigan Libertarian Movie and Book Review feature. -- ed.]

Movie Review
Wonderful World (2009)
Way undervalued film of way undervalued lives ___ 10/10

Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) in the courtroom: "The 910 Freeway has a very sharp turn as it winds into the valley from the hills. And every year four or five motorists are killed on this spot. And the city conducted a costs and effects study, and concluded that the cost in terms of human life was not equal to the cost of rebuilding the highway. And so this deadly spot on the highway remains and in five years 20 more people will die. Well if this isn’t depraved indifference, I don’t know what is. Ibu Endai came here from Senegal; he worked as a guard in an outlet store in Carson. He’s a great chess player, he’s my friend. And, uh, he was thrown away. Well, what kind of a world do we live in that his life is worth less than this Nobody’s [pointing at neighbor] ability to get quickly into a parking space. Or the city impound’s need to for revenue so that each one of these amoebas [city attorneys] can have a beach house in Miami. Is that really the kind of world we want to live in?" [Full Review]

Book Review
Little Pink House (2009)
One woman’s historic battle against eminent domain
A true story of defiance and courage
by Jeff Benedict

It’s with the greatest pleasure that I review this epochal action-crime drama of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Little Pink House is the exhilarating literary ride about the Kelo vs. City of New London eminent domain case that shook the country. It’s chock full of heroes (Susette Kelo and her many partners in the freedom fight) and villains (the several local, state, federal, and corporate poobahs who think nothing of bulldozing the poor and handing the vacated land to the looting rich… minus a healthy commission for their thuggery). If you ever entertained doubts about the confiscatory evil of eminent domain (ED), this book will dispel them: ED = Erector-set Dysfunction. The book makes crystal clear that public takings are nothing but expropriation of some persons for connected, well-to-do other persons… and those who participate in the action are the slimiest scum: cowards who steal under protection of law. [Full Review]

May 2-6, 2012 - Libertarian Party National Presidential Nominating Convention -Red Rock Resort, Las Vegas NV. More info here. Contact LPM State Secretary Mary Buzuma, secretary@mi.lp.org, if you would like to be a delegate or alternate.

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May 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, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com

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May 3 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666. If you want to be a candidate for the coming election, you must attend the state convention on June 2

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May 3 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843. Join them to discuss local and national news from a Libertarian perspective. Contact Pam Sanderson, factorylady@yahoo.com, for details.

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May 8 – LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. Join the LPWM on the second Tuesday of the month at Branns Restaurant on Leonard St. at US 131 in downtown Grand Rapids. Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

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May 14 – 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 16 – LP of Washtenaw County – (DATE CHANGE due to National Convention) - 7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). The May meeting will feature the opening of our Washtenaw, Ann Arbor and possibly other nominating caucuses. This meeting will be after the filling deadline for the August primaries (for most offices), which will allow us to look for open uncontested offices to run candidates for. You can see more announcements and information regarding the LPWC at its new website, http://lpwc.wordpress.com or its Facebook page. Like us at Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County! Contact LPWC Chair, Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com

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May 16 – LP of Oakland County Meeting – 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting -The LP of Oakland County meets the third Wednesday of the month at Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. We will have a guest speaker, Mark Avery from OverTaxedProperty.com. Mark will be speaking on how the county ignores its own rules in setting property tax values and what you as an individual can do to ensure your being taxed as little as possible and being treated equally as your neighbors.  Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com.

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May 16 - Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - 6:30 for dinner, 7:30 business meeting, at Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited for good food and conversation on the third Wednesday of every month. Contact Dan Flamand, daniel.flamand@att.net.

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May 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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June 2, 2012 - Libertarian Party of Michigan State Convention. Embassy Suites Hotel, Livonia. Candidate nominations, officer elections, guest speakers and more! See info above in this newsletter. Contact Renee Lewis livingstonladyliberty@gmail.com

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June 6 - LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). The LP of Washtenaw County meets on the first Wednesday of every month. You can see more announcements and information regarding the LPWC at its new website, http://lpwc.wordpress.com. Contact LPWC Chair, Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com

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June 6 – 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, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com

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June 7 – 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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June 7 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843. Join them to discuss local and national news from a Libertarian perspective. Contact Pam Sanderson, factorylady@yahoo.com, for details

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June 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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June 12 – LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. Join the LPWM on the second Tuesday of the month at Branns Restaurant on Leonard St. at US 131 in downtown Grand Rapids. Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

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June 20 – LP of Oakland County Meeting – 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting -The LP of Oakland County meets the third Wednesday of the month at Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com

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June 20 - Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - 6:30 for dinner, 7:30 business meeting, at Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited for good food and conversation on the third Wednesday of every month. Contact Dan Flamand, daniel.flamand@att.net.

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June 26 – 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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More... For all events, see the full online calendar on the Website:
http://old.michiganlp.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://old.michiganlp.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 weekly LPMOnline and the printed-and-mailed ML.  We will post the newsletter 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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