Greeting
From the Chair
Lessons Learned from 2012--Bill Hall
Johnson Write-In Vote
Tragedy and Hope--Scotty Boman
Allen Park Proposal 2 Victory
State Ballot Proposals 2 and 4 Fail
Thanks for the Memories--Scotty
Liberty Fest to the Next Level
Gary Johnson: The Book

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

[main]
Welcome to the December 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).

Exciting Times!
Denee Rockman-Moon
chair@michiganlp.org

LIVE FREE: Your Life. Your Voice. Your Option.

I would like to send out a personal “THANK YOU” to all those in Michigan that helped on the Gary Johnson’s Campaign—and for all the other campaigns. The requests for yard signs, bumper stickers, and flyers were over whelming. As you know we put up a tough fight to get his name on the ballot, and your voices did not go unheard of, please read the impact that we made below. This month's newsletter is devoted mainly to the recent election and our Liberty Festival.
Thank you for all you do. – Denee

The good the bad and the ugly of LPM Election 2012
by Bill Hall: whall@wnj.com
Two-Page Table of Results here:
http://www.michiganlp.org/ENewsletters/201212/2012_Election_Results.pdf

At LibertyFest, I presented an overview of the Libertarian Party’s election results, likening them to the classic Clint Eastwood movie, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” For those who couldn’t make it to LibertyFest, here are the points I made.

The LP enjoyed really “good” results in the 2012 elections. Our presidential and vice presidential candidates Gary Johnson and Jim Gray earned more than one and a quarter million votes, about one percent, nationwide. They and other LP candidates earned permanent ballot status in 30 states. Both of these results set LP records.

In Michigan, LP candidates did very well. MSU Trustee candidate Michael Miller was our highest partisan vote-getter with 146,799 votes. Nonpartisan Michigan Supreme Court candidate Kerry Morgan earned an incredible 264,121 votes. Jamie Lewis, LP candidate for Kent County Clerk, earned our highest vote percentage in a three-way race, 4.9%. Our highest percentage in a two-way race was the 24.9% received by Rodger Young for Livingston County Commissioner. Scotty Boman’s US Senate race improved our percentage to 1.8%, up from 1.6% in 2008 and 0.7% in 2006. Our Congressional results improved dramatically, coming in at an average candidate vote percentage of 2.3%, compared to 1.3% in 2010, 1.8% in 2008 and 1.4% in 2006.

Several LPM candidates drew more votes than the difference between the Republican and the Democrat in their race. Emily Salvette achieved balance of power status in the 1st Congressional District, where the Republican Dan Benishek won re-election by only a small fraction of Emily’s vote total. Similarly, in his Muskegon area State Representative race, Nick Sundquist rolled up a large vote total, while the incumbent Republican Holly Hughes lost by very few votes. In the 11th Congressional District special election John Tatar earned balance of power status. For Michigan Supreme Court, Kerry Morgan and Bob Roddis each earned more votes than the difference between the Republican who won and the Democrat who didn’t. Unlike two years ago, LPM candidates led the other third party candidates in almost every race, usually by large margins.

The Libertarian Party of Michigan offered more support for its candidates than in past elections. In addition to providing “Vote Libertarian” yard signs, the LPM funded highway billboards, made contributions to some active candidates and local party affiliates, and bore much of the cost of two lawsuits to put Gary Johnson on the ballot.

But there were also some “bad” aspects to this campaign. The LPM fielded only 53 candidates, compared to 84 in 2010 and 85 in 2008. We only had four statewide educational board candidates, instead of the usual eight. Only 17 State Representative candidates were on the ballot, compared to 29 in 2010 and 32 in 2008. Recall that we also fielded 15 State Senate candidates in 2010, when senators were last up for election. Though many candidates had a Facebook presence, only 23 had websites, far fewer than in 2010.

And then there was the “ugly”. Nothing was uglier than Secretary of State “Ruthless” Johnson’s crusade, with the assistance of her Republican Party cronies, to keep Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson off the ballot. Michigan’s chief election official, sworn to make sure our elections are fair and honest, did everything in her power to make sure they were not. Neither of our lawsuits was successful in placing Gary Johnson – any Gary Johnson – on the ballot. We can only hope the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals issues a belated opinion recognizing Ruthless Johnson did violate our First Amendment rights, and overturning Michigan’s “sore loser” law.

We, the Libertarian Party, did very well this year. This election’s message is that there is hope. And going forward, we need to work harder to recruit and support our candidates, and to raise and spend real money. Please join me in doing so. You can help replenish our coffers by going to http://old.michiganlp.org/Shared%20Documents/Contribute.aspx and giving generously.

A record write-in vote picks Johnson
John Cruz (john@cruzweb.net)

The amount of challenges we faced at each stage of the campaign were simply staggering. Those in power did everything they could to silence our voices, and what happened? 7,774 proud Michiganders stood up and cast their votes for Governor Johnson on election day (although I suspect that number may be a little low). This would have never been possible without each and every one of you.

All the work that you did, no matter what the amount, was a tremendous help. With extremely limited resources and every possible obstacle being thrown at us, we were able to accomplish the most successful presidential write-in campaign in Michigan's history! On behalf of Governor Johnson, campaign manager Ron Nielson and the rest of the Gary Johnson 2012 staff, thank you so much for your efforts and support. I can't tell you how proud I have been to be a part of this, and you should be as well.

Live Free,

John Cruz
Michigan Campaign Director, Gary Johnson 2012
Additional Info on National Johnson Campaign

Tragedy and Hope at the Ballot Bax
Scotty Boman

“If the presidential race was to be a referendum on where our country should be headed, then there was a mandate by 98% of the voters in favor of a bankrupt police state embroiled in endless war.”

At the 2012 Liberty Festival Banquette, legendary author Mary Ruwart emphasized issue related activism and ballot initiatives as successes in the Libertarian movement. She carefully analyzed election results and membership trends, finding little cause for optimism, but when she looked into the roll of Libertarians in state and local ballot initiatives, the effect of Libertarian activism was significant.

This message rang true in Michigan. None of our candidates won. Those who received significant percentages were only running against one major party opponent, and while Gary Johnson may have gotten high numbers for a Libertarian, the results were far short of any poll results.

I thought being top-of-ticket (as a result of Johnson’s removal from the Libertarian ticket) presented an opportunity to give the Libertarian Party of Michigan (LPM) de facto major party status. Polls even indicated this would be the case. Unfortunately, the election that was characterized as a “nail-biter” by the lame-stream media, proved to be just the opposite; statist politicians won by a landslide. If the presidential race was to be a referendum on where our country should be headed, then there was a mandate by 98% of the voters in favor of a bankrupt police state embroiled in endless war.

But what about polling results? The fact that both Gary Johnson, and myself (The only Libertarians I know of included in professional polls) had polled close to 5%, while getting much lower proportions of the vote indicates a pattern. Why such a difference? In about a month, millions of people will make New Year's resolutions to quit smoking, drinking, drugging, and over-eating. In so doing, these people admit there is something wrong with their behavior. Nonetheless, one can place a safe bet that most of these people will break their resolution within a week. Why? They are addicts. Addiction can drive a person to do something even when one knows it is wrong. This explains why at least a few percent of the voting population can see that it is wrong to vote for statist politicians, commit to voting for an alternative, then vote for more statism anyway. This affliction, however, appears to be less virulent when it comes to voting on issues.

Colorado voters voted in favor of re-legalizing marijuana, while also re-electing a President who has a track record of enforcing unconstitutional Federal marijuana prohibitions on the states. In Michigan there was a similar phenomena. Michiganders mostly voted for statist politicians,* however a few local initiatives helped us restore some atolls of liberty amidst the statist tsunami:

• In Kalamazoo, voters overwhelmingly supported of a measure to create medical marijuana dispensaries in Kalamazoo.
• In Ypsilanti, 74% of the voters moved marijuana offenses to the bottom of the enforcement priority list. • In Flint, 60% of the voters passed a measure to make possession of up to an ounce of marijuana legal on private property for anyone who is at least 19 years old.
• In Grand Rapids, a proposal was passed that decriminalizes the marijuana possession, reducing the penalty to a $25 civil infraction.

But two other local achievements can be credited to Libertarian activists:

• Tim Beck, chairman of the Coalition for a Safer Detroit, spearheaded Proposal M which allows adults over 21 to possess less than an ounce of marijuana on personal property without criminal prosecution. Beck won a Defender of Liberty Award in 2004; he received the award for Producer of Liberty for being organizer of the Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care, which was responsible for the medical marijuana initiative for Detroit approved in the 2004 November election. This success was the model for the statewide compassionate care initiative that is now law. Beck has also run for office, for instance he ran for Wayne County Commission in 2002, but his success has been with local proposals.
• Tim O’Brien, via the group “Restore Allen Park” got a charter amendment on the Allen Park ballot that will require the City Council to get voter approval before issuing bonds. The proposal was approved by 78% of the Allen Park voters. O’Brien is also executive director of the Small Government Alliance. He won a Defender of Liberty Award in 2006; he received the award for Producer of Liberty for being on the original Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI) Committee in 2003, and continuing the fight at the grass roots level in support of the successful 2006 attempt at passing the initiative. Obrien has also been an office holder within the LPM.

I hope to see a Libertarian option on the ballot for years to come, but there isn’t another major election for two years. Meanwhile there are plenty of issues that need to be addressed. Now that we can see where our strength lies, we should activate our dormant volunteer base and seize the day.

* [There were a few libertarian leaning candidates elected under another banner including the election of Kerry Bentivolio and Justin Amash to Congress]

Proud Day in Allen Park
Tim O'Brien

Success! Though you wouldn't know it to read the headline in the Nov. 7 Downriver News Herald: Election 2012: City’s proposal 2 passes, won’t be enforced. The bottom line is that we extended the application of the voter approval requirement of the Headlee Tax Limitation Amendment to include borrowing by adding this one sentence to Section 12.02 Limitations on Borrowing of our city charter:

"No obligations or municipal bonds backed in whole or in part by the taxing power of the city shall be authorized, issued or sold to obtain funds for any purpose or purposes unless approved by a majority of electors at a general or special election.”

It is, however, worth adding that the proposal passed by 10,462 to 2,979 -- a nearly 4 to 1 margin!

The Small Government Committee, the new BQC baby sister to our 10-year-old Small Government Alliance PAC, has begun an effort to propose amending the Taylor city charter--our downriver, next-door neighbor--to be more taxpayer friendly. Anyone who is interested in doing good by helping to break up a local government cabal while doing well by earning themselves some supplemental holiday cash--we are offering $2 per voter signed--should contact Tim O'Brien by phone (313-562-5778) or email (tobrien@smallgov.us) and we will provide what you need.

Labor freedom scores major victory in 2012
http://www.laborfreedom.com/

This has been an eventful week to say the least. From the perspective of Labor Freedom the highlight was the crushing defeat of Proposals 2 and 4.

Proposal 4 would have put into the constitution a rogue provision that allowed the Service Employees International Union to collect dues from home-based health care workers, including from family members caring for relatives. SEIU has collected more than $32 Million so far. This session of the legislature passed a law to stop the practice but the union bosses took it to court. Thanks to voters, the collection of “dues” under the contorted scheme that make ma and pa state employees from the perspective of collecting union dues, but without any benefits, will stop upon expiration of the contract in February. This is a huge victory. Thank you for your support!

Proposal 2 was a referendum on right to work. Knowing the facts, the voters overwhelmingly rejected the union boss ballot initiative. The union chiefs sought to freeze labor freedom proposals in the legislature; to modify the constitution and more than 100 laws to give union contracts precedent over the authority of law makers state and local, and to put in the constitution a permanent prohibition on right to work. The voters spoke clearly. They did not want a constitutional provision that prohibited right to work. The numbers parallel polls we have consistently seen for at least the last five years.

Michigan favors right to work. In fact, posed as the labor freedom and workers’ choice it is, freedom to work polls 73 to 78% favorable. Michigan lost 83,000 union jobs in 2010, down to 627,000, less that 17% of the workforce. http://www.bls.gov/ro5/unionmi.htm. Only two counties in the entire state (Wayne and Genesee) voted in favor of Prop. 2.

For more information and to help continue the fight for Michigan jobs, jobs, jobs, contact:
Michigan Freedom to Work, http://www.laborfreedom.com/

Taking the LP to the Next Level
Scotty Boman

Dear supporter,

It has been a week since the election, and I know this message is due. Let me first thank all those who contributed time, donations, or both to this campaign. Unofficially, I received 84,198 votes, which is nearly 2% of the total count. This result was not what we hoped for (or even expected). I was hoping to get a minimum of 158,663 votes, which would effectively make the Libertarian Party of Michigan into a major party. One poll predicted that I would receive 7% of the vote, while I polled 3% in another. As it turns out, both predictions were overly optimistic.

Nonetheless, this vote return was the second highest third party result for US Senate since the Libertarian Party was founded. As is customary, I congratulated Senator Debbie Stabenow on her victory. In that message I appealed to her to reconsider some of her positions, especially indefinite detentions. While the voters have over-whelming given her their seal of approval, I doubt indefinite detentions are the source of their enthusiasm.

So was it all for nothing? Certainly not. While I ran to win, I never held to the naive expectation that winning was likely. I knew I would be greatly outspent and that after my switch from Republican to Libertarian, I would face the entrenched bias against minor parties. However, I knew I would be able to get the message of liberty out to people who needed to hear it, and I couldn’t watch my nation degenerate into an Orwellian nightmare without trying my best to save it. So what did we accomplish?

• We reached out to potential libertarians within the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement: Thanks to you, I was able to debate other candidates at several candidate forums, organized by TEA Party groups, and was the guest speaker at several TEA Party meetings. I was able to challenge conservatives to go beyond the Republican Party line by consistently applying a philosophy of liberty to contemporary federal issues. After the primary, many TEA Partiers joined my Libertarian campaign team.
• We made sure people knew there was an alternative to big government candidates: With your help, I got much more news coverage then in 2008. This includes a few brief appearances on television evening newscasts, as well as being featured in dozens of Newspaper articles. Volunteers like you put Scotty Boman postcards in the hands of thousands of voters, and sent letters out to over a thousand households.
• We gave the general public a chance to hear libertarian solutions to national problems: I participated in a few extended interviews on local, national and international television programs. Talk radio hosts were also very receptive and welcomed me on their shows often. I was a guest on well-known internet programs.
• We advertised on Radio, Television, Facebook, and Robo-calls: For the four business days preceding the election I had continuous radio commercials running on WYPV radio in Northern Michigan. For the weeks preceding the election, I reached tens of thousands of voters by robo-call, and I ran TV commercials for several days during the nationally televised program, “Liberty Town Hall.”
• We were included in state-wide polls: Once I had declared my intent to run in the Republican Primary, I was included in state-wide polls. In prior years I was left out due to bias against Libertarians. In a February poll of Republican Primary voters I placed third at 6%. This was the last time I was included in such a poll, though I did not return to the Libertarian Party until May. After a few months as a Libertarian candidate, I was still being left out, so with your help I paid to have one done. I polled at 7% in this Gravis Marketing Poll. I used this to argue for Debate inclusion, and not long after, EPIC MRA included me in their poll. This time I got 3%.
• We exposed the partisan bias of the general election debates and election coverage: After I released my initial poll results showing that I qualified for the traditional televised debate, Debbie Stabenow backed out. Later Pete Hoekstra started setting up so-called debates, to draw attention to Stabenow’s avoidance. That is when supporters like you sprung into action; you got the attention of MLive reporter Mark Tower, who couldn’t ignore the irony of Pete Hoekstra chiding Stabenow for avoiding a debate, while he was doing the same thing to me. The result: An excellent article. When WGVU excluded me from their debate substitute program, your calls to the stations Assistant General Manager Ken Kolbe had an effect. I had been included in an Epic MRA poll. While the result (3%) was disappointing, I should point out that this is the first time a Libertarian US Senate candidate has been included in one of their state-wide polls since Jon Coon ran in 1994.

So what’s next?

• I have no intention of running for US Senate in 2014, but in case I change my mind, you are welcome to hold on to signs and literature. If you wish to return items to me you may do so at Libby Fest. I strongly urge all of my supporters to reserve a place as soon as possible. In either case, collect as many sign wires as you can. They are more expensive then the signs, themselves, and any candidate can make use of them in the future.
• I will be closing the books on this campaign after Thanksgiving. Any contributions made at this point will go to post election expenses and re-reimbursing myself for money spent out-of-pocket on this campaign. I will leave the contribution page open for a few more days, incase you wish to pitch in.
• I hope to finish what I started and organize some Libertarian college organizations. If you attend a college, or know libertarian minded people who do, let me know.
• Please consider joining the Libertarian Party of Michigan. This is an opportunity to join a wonderful group of people, and the only way we can ensure the continuation of a pro-liberty choice on the ballot, is to keep the LPM alive.

In liberty,

Scotty Boman
scottyboman@hotmail.com
313-247-2052.

Taking the LP to the Next Level
by Denee Rockman-Moon (chair@michiganlp.org)

The 2012 Liberty Festival was a HUGE Success! The Libfest this year was held on November 18th at The Club Venetian in Madison Heights, Michigan. The event was hosted by our own Karl Jackson from Oakland Affiliate. Karl did an amazing job with all aspect of this event and topped it off with our Guest Speaker Dr. Mary Ruwart. Dr. Ruwart (http://www.ruwart.com/) is a native of Michigan and onetime leader in the Kalamazoo area affiliate of the LPM.

Holding numerous positions in academia and in the pharmaceutical profession, she was able to indentify to the group a great outlook as to the direction we should take to help our state grow even move in the right direction and taking it to the next level. With over 60 people in attendance, the LEC and I would like to say “THANK YOU” to all of those that were able to attend. Without your support, this event would not have been possible! The sole purpose of this event each year is to acknowledge all of the Libertarians over Michigan that have went beyond the call of duty, and also at that time award three categories:

Please help me in CONGRATULATING THIS YEAR'S WINNERS:

• TIM KEIRNAN -Spokesperson for Liberty - a member of the community whose patriotism and conviction have inspired contributions to the cause of Liberty
• GARY JOHNSON -Promoter of Liberty - A Libertarian whose efforts have done the most to promote the LP and Libertarian principles
• TOM NARDONE -Producer of Liberty - a dedicated, behind-the-scenes Libertarian whose quiet labors over the years exemplifies the backbone of the LP.

Come be a part of our team….You could be the next Libby award winner!

Seven Principles of Good Government
Referred by Will White
whitewi5@msu.edu

Gary Johnson makes the most consistent and compelling arguments for limited government of any politician on the American scene today. Even if you don’t agree with everything he advocates, his new book is worth reading for its common-sense policy proposals and intellectual honesty. Silver Lake Publishing is proud to announce the release Gov. Gary Johnson’s SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. CLICK HERE to get this book at the best price available anywhere. Johnson is the former two-term governor of New Mexico. He made headlines during his tenure as governor for supporting school vouchers, a freeze on all state taxes, real cuts in government agency funding and the decriminalization of marijuana. In 2012, he is running for President of the United States on the Libertarian Party ticket. He will be campaigning aggressively through the fall in all 50 states.

SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT is Gov. Johnson’s first book. It’s part memoir, part campaign document and part advice from a successful entrepreneur, governor and father of two. In the book, Johnson writes: "Government should protect you and me from those who would do us harm, threaten our rights and take away our civil liberties—whether they be foreign or domestic enemies, unscrupulous businesses or corporations, or individuals." The retail price for SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNMENT is $12.95. If you order directly from Silver Lake Publishing, you can get one book for $9.95. Or five books for only $39.95. Or, the best price, 50 copies for $299.95. That’s less than half of the retail price and the best deal available anywhere.

Through clever and constant application of propaganda people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise.
— Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, 1923

Take a stroll down memory lane with this excerpt from one of the longest-running state Libertarian newsletters. Today, check out the post-election issue 2000. 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.

Voters need NOTA on ballots: revamped for Election 2012
Peter Ponzetti III impete80@yahoo.com

For too long, those who go to the polls, and those wanting to but do not for lack of better candidates, have been unable to withhold their votes and still have them numerically count. When voters see candidates as unsuitable, they must either choose those they do not want or forego voting altogether.

There are two types of “none-of-the-above” (NOTA) voting options: binding and non-binding. With binding, if NOTA receives more votes than the candidates listed, either a new election is ordered or the office goes unfilled. In the case of non-binding, if NOTA wins, it is symbolic. With both options, none-of-the-above sends a message to all political parties and their NOTA-defeated candidates. Run more publicly-favorable individuals or you will lose to “none-of-the-above.”

NOTA on Michigan ballots is not farfetched. In 1995, House Bill No. 4794 was introduced by six state representatives but, unfortunately, never made it past its first committee. In Nevada, a non-binding NOTA voting option has been in place since 1975. The main argument against none-of-the-above goes like this: voters already have the option to vote none-of-the-above by writing it in on Election Day. The problem with this contention is that, in Michigan anyway, only votes for candidates who register as write-in candidates prior to the election are actually counted and reported.

NOTA voting options on ballots would give Michiganders a much-needed alternative. It is a no-cost, worthwhile option that would benefit voters whether they choose to use it or not. Until legislators permit their constituents to do so, however, the electorate will have to keep voting for candidates they dislike or not vote at all.

Peter

[Submissions of reviews are solicited for this Michigan Libertarian Movie and Book Review feature.
Please contact us via webmaster@michiganlp.org -- ed.]

Lincoln (2012)
Well-acted propaganda for 'unity above principle'
Review by C.Jay Engel in the Liberty Crier

As I walked away from the movie, an older man behind me whispered to his friend: “that movie should have come out ten years ago.  What a needed story for our time.”  Needed? I’m not so sure.  But the timing was impeccable.  With the recent talk of frustrated citizens storming the White House petition website demanding the allowance of secession, perhaps this movie, which portrayed the closest the United States has ever come to a break up, was reinforcement of “unity above principle.”  A disturbing political tendency that haunts our current political climate.  “Uniting” together as one nation in “times of trouble” has been the public goal of leaders, not only in the American narrative, but throughout countries worldwide, including and especially those countries considered to be overseen by tyrannical or dictatorial leaderships. [Full Review]

Book Review
The Barrier Cloud (2010)
Understanding the key obstacle to a free society
by Brian Wright

People will achieve a benevolent society without coercion most assuredly by understanding what stands in its way. The external cause is a small group of psychologically diseased men who lack the natural inclination to live and let live: they have coalesced in stealth over time at the top of a hierarchy of immense political and economic power. Specifically, The Barrier Cloud draws solid references to the essence of this “patharchy,” in the modern Western world, and how it exploits the internal cause… which is a persistent primitive brain structure, the limbic system, that many normal humans let overrule critical, independent thinking. The cure to the external cause is the truth, that is exposure of the “men of the power sickness;” the cure to the internal cause is spiritual enlightenment. [Full Review]

December 4 - Tom Woods Speaking at Michigan State -7 pm at MSU Business College Complex, Room N130. This event is open to the public. Tom Woods is a senior fellow of Ludwig von Mises Institute, creator of Tom Woods Liberty Classroom, author of Rollback, Nullification, Meltdown and a few others. This is not a Libertarian Party event but would be of interest to Libertarians. Link: http://www.tomwoods.com/event/michigan-state-university/
Contact Bob Broda bob_broda@att.net.

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December 5 - 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, or its Facebook page—“Like” us at Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County! Contact LPWC Chair, Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com

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December 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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December 6 – 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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December 8 - LP of Oakland County – Holiday party. 7:00 pm. Potluck dinner. BYOB. Where: Home of David and Heather Eisenbacher 1863 Lakewood Troy, MI 48083 North of Big Beaver West of John R. Home phone: 248-619-7119. Contact Leonard Schwartz leonard@leonardschwartz.us (248-619-7119).

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December 10 – 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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December 11 – 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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December 19 – Libertarian Executive Committee Meeting – 4 pm by telephone conference. Call 218-844-3366, access code#576532 (long distance charges may apply depending on your phone plan).The state executive committee meets the 3rd Sunday of every month. All LPM members may dial in to teleconferences or attend face-to-face meetings.

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Libertarians of Macomb County - No meeting in December - Contact Keith Edwards, keithmarni@wowway.com.

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December 25 – Deadline for Michigan Libertarian –Get your article, advertisement, or event published in our online publication. Send them to: e-newsletter@michiganlp.org or Emily Salvette at salvette@umich.edu

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December 27 – Kalamazoo Area LP Meeting – 7 pm, Portage Public Library, 300 Library Lane, Portage. The new Kalamazoo area LP meets the 4th Thursday of the month. Contact Dennis Miller, drmiller94@gmail.com, 269-270-7747.

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January 2 – 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, or its Facebook page—“like” us at Libertarian Party of Washtenaw County! Contact LPWC Chair, Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com.

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January 2 – 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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January 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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January 8 –LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 7 pm, 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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January 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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January 16 –Monthly Meeting of the Libertarians of Macomb County – 6:30-8:30, 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 Keith Edwards keithmarni@wowway.com.

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January 16 – Libertarian Party of Oakland County Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting. Sila´s Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile, Berkley (2 blocks east of Greenfield on south side of 12 Mile). Contact Jim Young, LPOC Chair, lpocmi@lpocmi.org.

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January 24 – Kalamazoo Area LP Meeting – 7 pm, Portage Public Library, 300 Library Lane, Portage. The new Kalamazoo area LP meets the 4th Thursday of the month. Contact Dennis Miller, drmiller94@gmail.com, 269-270-7747.

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January 25 –Deadline for Michigan Libertarian –Get your article, advertisement, or event published in our online publication. Send them to: e-newsletter@michiganlp.org or Emily Salvette at salvette@umich.edu.

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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. Subscribe/Unsubscribe to Newsletter You are subscribed to a newsletter email list on http://test.michiganlp.org/mailinglist: Click here to modify your message preferences or to unsubscribe from any future mailings. We respect all unsubscribe requests.

Newsletter URL (Webpage address for this issue of the ML):
http://www.michiganlp.org/ENewsletters/201212/201212_ML.html

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