LPM Online

May 13, 2008

1. Upcoming Events

   May 13, 2008 - 7:00 PM

   Monthly meeting of the Capital Area Libertarian Party. Everyone bring a friend and your own snacks or beverage. Convention discussion and Voters Bill of Rights initiative.

   Location: Lansing Libertarian office at 2722 E Michigan Ave., Suite 22 on the lower level. Park and enter in back.

   Contact: Will Tyler White Phone: 517 349-3806 Email: whitewi5@msu.edu

   
   

   May 14, 2008 - 7:30 PM

   Come and hear Tiffani Gagne speak to her efforts in the successful campaign to derail Ferndale's attempt to raise taxes on Downtown businesses and her ongoing efforts to remove the Authority that proposed the crippling tax. Also, the LPOC will holding its preconvention caucus. All of those interested in running for office please plan to attend. Join us at the next LPOC Meeting, on Wednesday, May 14th, at Sila’s in Berkley. Sila’s is located 2 blks. East of Greenfield Rd. on the south side of 12 Mile Rd. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm with the meeting commencing at 7:30 pm. All are invited. For further information please cal Bruce Hoepner at 248-219-3303

   Location: Sila's Restaurant, two blks. East of Greenfield on the south side of 12 Mile Rd.

   Contact: Bruce Hoepner Phone: 248-219-3303 Email: bahoeps@sbcglobal.net

   
   

   May 22, 2008 - 00:00 AM

   Libertarian National Convention 2008
   May 22nd to May 26th
   Every four years, Libertarians meet to choose who will represent them in the upcoming presidential elections. This is typically a very exciting event filled with debate, intrigue and celebration.
   http://www.lpconvention.org/index.php

   Location: Adam's Mark. Denver, Colorado.

   Contact: Natcom CSR Phone: 1-800-ELECT-US Email: info@lp.org

   
   

   June 04, 2008 - 6:00 PM

   LPSWM Executive Committee Meeting

   Location: IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Road, Benton Harbor, MI

   Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: 269-637-4525 Email: secretary@lpswmich.org

   
   

   June 04, 2008 - 7:00 PM

   Political Round Table Discussion. Everyone is welcome

   Location: 190 Fifth Steeet, Benton Harbor, MI

   Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: 269-637-4525 Email: secretary@lpswmich.org

   
   

   June 05, 2008 - 00:00 AM

   Wayne County Caucus. Candidates will fill out candidate paperwork. We will also need to elect officers for the upcomming election year at this meeting. Stay tuned for details. Let me know if you are interested in running for ofice this year. The LPM has set a goal of 100 candidates for this election. So far we are up to 60 with only three people from Wayne County indicating thier intention to run. Since we are the largest county in the state, we should be able to get a lot more libertarians involved.

   Location: Tentitively at Dimitiri's on the Avenue in the back room.

   Contact: Greg Stempfle Phone: 1-888-FREENOW Email: stempfle@hotmail.com

   
   

   June 07, 2008 - 08:00 AM

   State Convention which will include the nomination of 2008 Candidates for office. Registration 8:00 AM Convention starts 9:00 AM There will be a hosted luncheon, and a banquet in the evening. The Libertarian Party of Wayne County will host the Hospitality Suite. The suite will host a few events such as Relaxation and Refreshments, fundraising, accepting donations on pop, munchies of various sorts (that doesn’t require a license), and Notary station. The “post-election” LEC will hold their traditional 1st meeting in this room at 4 pm. Possible photo opportunities with our Presidential Nominee in the HS. Candidate photos.

   Location: Best Western Gateway Hotel, 9191 Wickham Road, Romulus , Michigan 48174

   Contact: Bill Gelineau Phone: 888-Free-Now Email: wgelineau@firstam.com

   
   

   More...

   For more events, see the online calendar at:

   http://www.lpmich.org/lpmonline/events.php

   
   

2. Don’t Reward Defamatory Campaign Tactics — by Scotty Boman
   
   
   Mary Ruwart
   

   
   I am deeply disturbed by recent mischaracterizations of Presidential Candidate Mary Ruwart. As an author, speaker, activist and candidate, Mary has always been a voice of reason, principal and morality.

   
   

   
   Those who want to know about this controversy, and what Ms. Ruwart actually thinks can link to:
   
   http://www.votemary2008.com/node/52
   

   
   

   
   It is important that a party as fragile as ours not succumb to the types of infighting and knee-jerk reactions that reflect poorly on all of us. I urge all delegates to listen carefully to the candidates’ positions on the issues, and the reasons they cite for having those positions.

   
   

   
   Unlike most Democrats and Republicans, it is vital that Libertarians continue to represent a consistent philosophy and platform that is based upon fundamental principles of individual liberty and consent. The alternative is the regrettably mainstream culture of dogmatism, snap-judgments, intolerance, and coercion.

   
   

   
   I am an undecided delegate to the 2008 LP Presidential Nominating Convention in Denver. As such, I have not yet decided whom I will vote for. This is not an endorsement of Ms. Ruwart as a candidate. I am undecided, but…

   
   

   
   I know I will not be rewarding Ruwart bashers with my vote. I urge all of my fellow delegates to refrain from nominating any candidate who so quickly seeks to tarnish the reputations of our long-time activists and our party. I urge all members to refrain from making contributions to such a candidate. I don’t wish to chase such people away either.

   
   

   
   There is a learning curve here, and students of Liberty 101 may not be ready to graduate to presidential candidate yet; they may need to get a bad grade so they can study harder for the next exam.

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3. Michigan Senate Ushers in New age of Tyranny — by Scotty Boman
   
   

   
   The State Senate ushered in a new age of tyranny last week by voting to ban smoking in all bars and restaurants.

   
   

   
   The ban had been previously supported by the state house, but was struck down by the State Senate. If the House votes the same way as before, the prohibition will become law.

   
   

   
   Libertarians running for state office now have a new issue with which to gain support against both Democratic and Republican incumbents. Republicans control the state Senate, and Democrats control the state house. Passage of this bill shows that both of the ruling parties are opposed to the free market and property rights. They have shown themselves to be enemies of small business, and extremists in opposition to personal liberties.

   
   

   
   Bar owners and their patrons are destined to be our natural constituencies; they are bound to lose business to underground clubs and private parties. After-hour clubs and blind pigs continue to thrive as a result of blue laws that limit the hours of state sanctioned establishments. Now a whole new motive has arisen for underground clubs. Smoke-easies will be sprouting up all over. No ifs, ands, or butts.

   
   

   
   Note: None of what I write here is intended to trivialize the adverse effects of cigarette tobacco. The fact is that health effects have nothing to do with legalization and prohibition. For example, the first person to synthesize and use LSD (Albert Hofman), recently died at the age of 102. Since its discovery 2 people have died from consuming thousands of times the normal dose of LSD. Meanwhile an estimated 5 million people per year die from the regular use of tobacco. So if your keeping score its…
   
   Sir Walter Raleigh: 1 billion plus.
   
   Albert Hofmann: 2.

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4. Clouds Part for 2008 Detroit Liberation Day — by Scotty Boman
   
   
   
   Photo by Greg Stempfle
   
   

   
   Detroit, MI – On May third the 2008 Detroit Liberation Day drew modest crowds in spite of dire weather predictions and a couple of notable speaker cancellations.
   

   
   The Detroit Liberation Day was held in Detroit at Grand Circus Park, and was organized by Paul Pierson Guest speakers included yours truly, Radio Personality Peter Werbe, Activist poet Susan Sunshine, 2000 LPM Board of Regents Candidate Marvin Marvin Surowitz, libertarian-Republican State Rep. Candidate Everett Swift, Ann Arbor Medical Marijuana patient Rene Emry, Libertarian Candidate 2002 Wayne County Commission Candidate Tim Beck, 1998 Congressional Candidate Bruce Cain, Hash Bash organizer Adam Brook, and many others.

   
   

   
   Famous Poet and Marijuana legalization advocate John Sinclair was unable to attend, and neither was State Rep LaMar Lemmons.

   
   

   
   Those who attended seemed to have a lot of fun and were ready to dance when the band hit the stage. In spite of the modest turn out several people volunteered to help the Boman for US Senate campaign.

   
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