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Who decides what political positions the Libertarian Party takes? Who chooses the party's leadership? Who decides on the future direction of the party? Who has the time of their life surrounded by 1000 other free-minded Libertarians? You do -- if you attend the 1998 Libertarian National Convention.
Dear Friend, The 1998 convention will set the stage for Libertarian Party success into the next millennium. Will you be there to help shape that future? You know, the party has come a long way since my first national convention in Seattle in 1987. Although I had called myself a libertarian for more than a decade, I had only been involved with the Libertarian Party for a couple of years. (For a long time I hadn't even known where to find the party!) Once I finally joined, for the first year or so my only contact with other Libertarians was a one-page mimeographed newsletter from the state party. It was printed poorly, and rarely contained any news of Libertarian success. But I treasured the arrival of that little newsletter every month -- because it let me know I was not alone. It let me know that there were other people who saw through the big government smoke-screen, who knew that freedom works, and that freedom is right. When I found a local Libertarian group an hour away, I got involved immediately. The company of this small band of activists made me really enthusiastic. I felt I was part of a team that might really have an impact on the political system, that might roll back the enveloping tide of taxes and regulations, and might give America back its heritage of individual liberty and personal responsibility. Imagine how energized I became when I was surrounded by hundreds of Libertarians at a National Convention! Wow! A camera crew from a national TV network was there . . . I got to meet and talk with Presidential candidates, past and present . . . * Ron Paul, a four-term former Congressman. * Russell Means, actor and Indian rights activist. * Ed Clark, the man who got the Libertarian Party nearly a million votes. * Tonie Nathan, the first woman to ever receive an Electoral College vote. I got to hear Libertarian Party activists who had put both their lives and their principles on the line for Liberty . . . * Draft resister Paul Jacob. * Sexual rights activist Norma Jean Almadovar. * Tax resisters Jim Lewis and Karl Hess. I got to debate party principles with economist Murray Rothbard, and Reason magazine founder Bob Poole. I improved my fledgling activist skills at the "how-to" seminars. And I got to help shape the course of the party's future by campaigning on the convention floor for my choice for our presidential candidate. It was an experience I'll never forget! This year is your chance for a supercharging Libertarian experience that will leave you with memories for a lifetime. Most of those Libertarian heroes I met way back in '87 will be at this year's convention, too. And they'll be joined by many more stars of freedom. Don't miss the convention kickoff -- the "First Step to Victory" party on Wednesday -- with the funniest comedian I've seen in many years, Tim Slagle. Tim will mix the message of Liberty with government-bashing satire in a performance you will talk about for a long time. The party will also feature live music and dancing, and a chance to see old friends and meet new ones. Official business opens Thursday with a bang, with: * Keynote address by oratory dynamo Michael Cloud on "The Libertarian Party: The Unreasonable Alternative." * Renowned author Charles Murray on "What it Means to be a Libertarian." * Advocates for Self Government president Sharon Harris explains "How to Answer the Toughest Questions in 30 Seconds." * And Tanya Metaksa, voice of the National Rifle Association, will explain how the Second Amendment protects all of our other rights. * Followed by an evening of side-splitting musical comedy by the country's premiere political satirists, The Capitol Steps. And that's just the first day! Before you even have time to catch your breath, Friday brings you: * The most passionate speaker in the Libertarian Party, Jacob Hornberger, explaining why America needs "Open Minds on Open Borders." * The Cato Institute's Mike Tanner on "Ending Intergenerational Plunder." * Barbara Goushaw tells why "Handguns Are a Girl's Best Friend." * David Boaz, author of Libertarianism: A Primer and The Libertarian Reader tells us of "Liberty vs. Power, the Eternal Struggle." * And civil rights veteran Roy Innis speaks on "Libertarians, the Political Pioneers of the 21st Century." * Capped by a showing of the Academy Award-nominated documentary Waco, The Rules of Engagement, followed by a Q&A session with the movie's producers, Dan and Amy Gifford. Saturday really heats up with: * Walker Chandler, the first Libertarian to win a Supreme Court victory against the drug war, speaking on "Ending Prohibition Again." * Shelley Davis, IRS historian and whistle-blower, and author of Unbridled Power, will speak on the unbridled abuses of the government's most feared agency. * Elected Libertarians and their campaign managers show you how to repeat their successes, both at winning elections and at rolling back government once in office. * And 1996 Libertarian Party presidential candidate Harry Browne presents "The Most Powerful Political Message in the World." * Followed by the Gala Awards Banquet, honoring our party's most dedicated candidates and activists. And comedy from New York's top-rated talk show host, WABC radio's Lionel. Then, dancing 'til you drop. During the convention you'll also hear from: * Reason magazine founder Robert Poole. * Washington State Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders. * And the Libertarian Party's modern-day Patrick Henry, KGO talk radio star Gene Burns on "The Promise of Liberty." All this will take place on a spectacular stage worthy of a major party. We'll have an elaborate sound system, two cameras to project the action on a giant screen next to the stage, and a huge, 18-foot-tall, three-dimensional scale model of the US Capitol to serve as the backdrop for our speakers. If that's not enough, we're also featuring training sessions by our top candidates and campaign managers. Plus presentations by Libertarian talk show hosts, media panels, issue panels, and more. And a hall filled with exhibitors from every facet of the Libertarian movement. Plus: Our all-day, intensive candidate-training session by campaign consultant Jerry Russell begins on Wednesday July 1st at 8:30 am sharp. If you want to learn how to run a winning campaign -- from someone who has won his last 19 straight elections -- this is the place to be! Plus, you'll vote on changes to the party's official platform . . . . . . and you'll have the opportunity to personally propose changes to the platform from the convention floor. Perhaps the most important part of the convention will be the election of the new Libertarian National Committee. The two years since the last convention have seen tremendous growth for the party. * We've topped 25,000 members -- a 60% increase in less than two years. But with growth comes both opportunities and obstacles. The choices you make at this convention will influence the course of the party for decades to come. * You will vote for the new officers of the party, including the new National Chairman. You will select the people who will set the party's agenda for the next two years. But only if you are there! And we are giving you all this at a package price less than what it cost me to attend my first Libertarian Party convention 11 years ago. We've gone to great lengths to make sure this convention is affordable to our members. Not only is the package price the lowest this decade, we've obtained discounts on air fares of up to 10% for advance purchases. Plus, room rates are only two dollars higher than in '96. And this national convention will be our largest outreach event ever. We'll have Libertarian talk show hosts broadcasting from the convention. While C-SPAN never confirms events ahead of time, their officials have said on the air they'll be covering this convention. Callers to our 800# from C-SPAN coverage of our conventions are one of our best sources of new members. And this year we'll be set up to take their memberships immediately over the phone and on our website. And this is not some boring, staged, and stodgy convention like the other parties put on. No, this is . . . A freewheeling, rollicking, free market of ideas in action! Will you please send in your convention registration today? Help us look good to the national television audience by filling our convention hall to overflowing! I'm counting on you to make this the most successful Libertarian Party convention ever. I hope to see you with us on C-SPAN at our July 4th convention. Thank you. Ron Crickenberger National Director, Libertarian Party PS: When it comes to excitement . . . the thrill of meeting hundreds of enthusiastic liberty-lovers . . . rubbing shoulders with the top thinkers and writers and speakers in the libertarian movement. . . charting the course of the LP for years to come . . . nothing beats a National Convention! We'd hate for you to miss the 1998 Convention. So here's a special, money-saving offer: We're extending the early registration deadline until May 31st. Register by that date and save $30 per person off every package price. --> Call 800-722-5141 to register right now! --> Or if you have a recent version of Netscape or Internet Explorer, you can sign up online at: http://www.lp.org/conv/1998/ --> Or print out the following form and mail it in today! ============================================================ GOLD PACKAGE: Only $289 if purchased by May 31st. Includes Convention Hall floor pass for all speakers and business sessions, all panels and "breakout" speakers, Libertarian Victory briefings, access to the Exhibit Hall, "First Step to Victory" opening night party, Waco: The Rules of Engagement tickets, two lunches with famous Libertarian authors, convention souvenir, the Capitol Steps, and the gala convention Honors and Awards Banquet. SILVER PACKAGE: Only $229 if purchased by May 31st. Includes all of the above *except* luncheon speakers. BRONZE PACKAGE: Only $139 if purchased by May 31st. Includes above *except* luncheon speakers, the Capitol Steps, and the Gala awards banquet.
Want more information? Contact The Balcomb Group
Registration Management at: 202-234-3880, or by e-mail at
The Jerry Russell candidate training workshop on July
1st is priced separately -- call the LP national office at
202-333-0008 for information or to reserve your place.
Delegate status for voting in the convention business
meeting is determined by the state affiliates -- contact the
affiliate for your state (see http://www.lp.org/lp-geo.html)
for information about being credentialed as a delegate or
alternate. (Voting delegate status is not required for
participation in other convention activities.)
For Convention hotel reservations, call the Renaissance
Washington Hotel at 800-228-9290. Be sure to mention the
Libertarian Party National Convention to qualify for the
special rate of only $101 per night (rate good for
reservations made before May 29).
For discount airline reservations, have your travel
agent call US Airways Convention Reservations office at
800-334-8644. Refer to GOLD FILE No. 176 101 07.
The recent nuclear tests by India have inspired your
government to spring forth with its long-time favorite
foreign policy plan. I believe it was about 35 years ago
that American foreign policy prodigies devised the Cuban
cigar embargo that brought about a cataclysmic, catastrophic
crumbling of the Castro regime. There is also the example
of the toppling of Iran's government due to a worldwide
embargo. The success of this foreign policy tool is
self-evident. No doubt, India's un-nuclear-ization is
imminent. I find myself dialing into the Internet almost
hourly to pick up the latest headlines waiting with faith
for the good news to be announced.
The [Fiscal] 1997 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
is now available from the Department of Management and
Budget. It is the last one to be printed before this year's
Gubernatorial election. With this data available, it is now
time to create an honest report card for Governor John
Engler and perform a comparison of the relative merits, or
lack of merits, of the Engler administration to that of his
predecessor, Governor James Blanchard.
On the report cards, there are five subject grades and
a composite grade at the end. The 'subject' grades are
Revenues, Expenditures, Assets, Liabilities, and
Surplus/(Deficit). Since less is more, the following
grading scale will be used for the first four subject
grades. The grades are based on the percentage
increase/decrease over the first seven years of each
administration.
These figures are not adjusted for population growth.
Michigan's population growth rate is now 1/2 %, which is
half the national average. Under Blanchard, the growth rate
was almost nil.
As for inflation, I will grant two grades in each
category, one which is not inflation adjusted and one which
is. The aggregate inflation factor for adjusting Engler's
grade is 22.8%, for Blanchard, 28.5%.
The fifth category, Surplus/(Deficit) will be graded on
the net effect of the first 7 years.
Yes, I am using letter grades, and no, I don't care if
their feelings are hurt!
Now for the report cards.
To put the size of Michigan's government into
perspective:
Scotty Bowman (our WSU Board of Governors candidate --
not the Red Wings coach:-) has booked a room for the
national convnention for Thurs, July 2 -- Sat, July 4. It
is a double and he wants someone to split the cost -- which
he did get at the special $101/night convention rate. If
you're going and need a place to stay you can get a room IN
the convention hotel for only $50/night by calling Scotty at
(313) 831-9774.
We need someone to coordinate a state-wide effort on
behalf of our entire slate of candidates for U.S. Congress.
We want to reach what is undoubtedly the single largest
and currently most villified minority in the country:
tobacco smokers. This group (more than 30% of the entire
adult population) has been utterly disenfranchised by BOTH
major parties. They have NO ONE to stand up for them and
say that they have rights like every other American. We
want to fill that void by a very aggressive campaign to show
them that a Libertarian congress would not treat them like
either pariahs or cash cows for the latest government
schemes.
We DO have the added advantage of being able to play
into the media campaign now being waged by the tobacco
industry (TV ads pointing out the big government, high taxes
and black market the D's and R's are conspiring to create)
which has suddenly discovered a backbone.
We have a simple, well-thought out and detailed plan
which has already been demonstrated to draw very positive
feedback. We only need someone to coordinate its execution.
This effort will essentially involve organizing the
distribution of a single piece of lit across the state
continuously throughout the campaign season. It will NOT
involve any fund-raising or public speaking.
If you have a small amount of time and a large amount
of desire to strike a huge blow for liberty on behalf of our
entire party and its full slate of congressional cadidates,
contact either LCC coordinator Doug MacDonald or LPM
Chairman Tim O'Brien.
This is a tremendous opportunity for us to fill a very
obvious and enormous void. Let's not miss it.
The US House will be voting on two pieces of
legislation introduced by former LP presidential candidate
and current Republican House member, Ron Paul:
HR 2477--The Voter Freedom Act
This will lower the requirement for ballot access
signatures to 1/10 of one percent of the number of people
that voted for that federal office (President/Senator) in
the most resent election. This will lower the requirement
for ballot access signatures for office of Representative to
1/2 of one percent of the number of people that voted for
that office in the most resent election.
HR 2478--The Debate Freedom Act
This requires that cadidates who receive campaign
financing from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund agree
not to participate in multicandidate forums that exclude
candidates who have qualified in at least 40 states for the
ballot.
This Wednesday May 20th the US House will be voting on
these bills. PLEASE CALL, FAX, OR EMAIL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL
REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AND URGE HIME OR HER TO VOTE FOR THESE
BILLS! Also CONTACT other parties and members and urge them
to do the same.
The telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of
your Rep. is availible at:
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ or the Capitol
switchboard 202-225-3121
Michigan Election Law establishes the criteria for
ballot access of political parties. The determination is
based on the top of ticket race. For the Libertarian Party
of Michigan in the election of 1998, our top of ticket race
is Diane Barnes and Jon Coon for State Board of Education.
If the top of ticket race receives a number of votes equal
to or greater than 1% of the winning Secretary of State vote
count (in the 1998 election), then that political party is
classified as a minor party. If the top of ticket race
receives a number of votes equal to or greater than 5% of
the total votes cast for Secretary of State (in the 1998
election), then that political party is classified as a
major party.
The 1998 Secretary of State election results will also
be used for determining ballot access for the Libertarian
Party of Michigan in the 2000 election, where our
Presidential candidate will be the top of ticket.
Consequently, it is in our best interest that you not vote
for any candidate for Secretary of State. This is my
recommendation. This is what I intend to do myself.
It is also advisable that you attempt to convince
others to do the same. I have already convinced two other
people. And, one of them intends to convince others as
well.
NOTE: It is important to point out that the voter must
not cast a straight ticket vote (unless it's a Libertarian
straight ticket vote) and must not cast a write-in vote.
Michigan Election Law requires political parties that
have lost ballot access (due to an insufficient vote count
in the top of ticket race) to petition to get back on the
ballot as a minor party. The petition requirement is
determined by the votes cast in the Gubernatorial election.
The Libertarian Party of Michigan will retain ballot access
from our 1998 election results, but …
The 1998 Gubernatorial election results will also be
used to determine the petition requirements of political
parties losing ballot access in the 2000 election, where our
Presidential candidate will be the top of ticket.
Consequently, it is in our best interest that you not vote
for any candidate for Governor. This is my recommendation.
This is what I intend to do myself.
It is also advisable that you attempt to convince
others to do the same. I have already convinced two other
people. It is easy to convince people of this because there
is no wasted vote argument. Engler is likely to win 62 to
38 (my prediction).
NOTE: It is important to point out that the voter must
not cast a straight ticket vote (unless it's a Libertarian
straight ticket vote) and must not cast a write-in vote.
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