Bouf the philosophical stoner libertarian Congressional candidate

Meet Jeffrey Brian Bouffard. He says most folks just call him “Bouf”, though.

Bouf is quite the stoner, it would appear. He is also running as a Libertarian for the 15th District seat in the US House of Representatives.

Here’s his autobiography, taken from his website:

Born Poughkeepsie, NY, 24 January 1973.
Grew up in Newington, CT, a suburb of Hartford.
Moved to Melbourne, Florida in 1991. 16-year Florida Resident.

- Catholic primary and middle school at St. Mary School of Newington, CT.
- Told classmates I was an Atheist by age 8.
- Graduated Newington High School in 1991, #150 of a class of 300.
- Varsity Letter – Gymnastics. Ran Track. Worked part-time all-the-time.
- Awarded a 4-year ROTC Scholarship and a Merit Scholarship. Coached gymnastics part-time while in college.
- Switched my party affiliation from Republican to Libertarian in 1993. Never looked back.
- President of my Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Chapter. (Beta-Nu)
- Graduated Florida Institute of Technology in 1996 with a BS in Computer Engineering.
- Served as a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Officer for the US Army on Active Duty from 1996 – 2000, with Infantry, Chemical and Rapid Reaction Units, both overseas and in these United States.
- Taught mechanical engineering instrumentation laborotories for Kansas State University.
- Opened and operated a small business in Melbourne, Florida. It failed.
- Under-Employed in Melbourne for the last 5 years.
- Attended Concord Online Law School. Did not complete the degree requirements.
- Realized and found peace with my own inclinations concerning “spirituality”.
- After six years in the Individual Ready Reserve, I was never called to Iraq or Afghanistan, though many National Guardsmen have been. I have finally resigned my Army Commission because I am not comfortable with the thought of raising children while there are morons at the wheel of our government.

THUS, I’m running to run our government -

I will fix the broken and starve the fat.

Bouf has some very interesting videos on YouTube. Here’s one of him smoking a joint in front of the Brevard County Courthouse (Florida).

I will say this. He’s got guts, and he can rhyme. He’s also got great hair. He even dances a little bit. And I’m amazed he didn’t get busted.

In this next video, he tells others not to copycat his courthouse joint stunt unless they “really really understand” where he’s coming from. He sits in the botanical gardens at Florida Tech, talks about his beard and the fact that his mom doesn’t like it, invites Dennis Kucinich to join the LP, and talks about the Grand Unified Theory (which he admits he doesn’t really understand, but I think he was stoned again when he taped that video). He invites Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z to come hang out.

I’m not sure how successful Bouf will be as a politician (though I’d guess not very), but I’d definitely hang out with him.

Check out more of Bouf’s videos on his YouTube channel.

______________________________

Originally posted on Adventures In Frickintardistan 

Liberty Decides

The Libertarian National Party has a new program, Liberty Decides ‘08 designed “to promote our pre-nomination presidential candidates as they engage in a competitive process. To participate in the program, candidates must cross three thresholds: meet the LP bylaws requirements; file with the FEC; and raise at least $5,000 for the LP or LP state parties for ballot access.

Once qualified, candidates will be ranked by the funds they have raised for the program and promoted through the Internet, mail and LP publications.”

40% of all donations to this program will be set aside in a special fund to be used for expenditures coordinated with the candidate who does eventually win the LP nomination in convention. The remainder of the funds will be used to help the LP move forward with core issues such as media, ballot access and member recruitment.

One candidate has declined to participate, noting that the money does not go to help the candidates now, when they need help the most, and only 40% will go to the eventual nominee – whoever that may be – not necessarily the candidate that the donors click on to contribute in the name of.

Further controversy ensued when, in an early version of Liberty Decides, this candidate was included without his consent, and a silhouette of Ron Paul was used as a “Future/Unannounced Candidate.” The silhouette was removed, as was the objecting candidate, but in a controversial and widely talked about move, the LNC voted unanimously to invite Ron Paul to seek the LP nomination for President if he does not get the Republican nomination.

Some candidates are more positive about Liberty Decides.

Some other Libertarian activists have criticized Liberty Decides, notably Susan Hogarth, who wrote:

It would be a much more useful tool for Libertarian activists and likely convention delegates (you know, the folks who actually select the LP nominee) with two simple additions, which I mentioned yesterday:

1) some indication of how many individual donors each candidate has (and, ideally, how many of them are Party members).

2) some indication (other than a link to their websites) of positions.

Susan shares her thoughts about Liberty Decides here, here,
here, and
here.

Despite the criticism, the LNC expressed support for Executive Director Shane Cory and Liberty Decides at its recent meeting in Charleston.

Award Speech

Thank you. Thank you. You’re too kind. No, really, that’s enough.

As the receiver of this year’s Icon of Smart Assery from Angela Keaton’s Liberated Space I must say…

Loretta deserved the award for the whole Sex Toys for Troy thing, or maybe Liv for the Red Sox cap at the end of this video.

But, since I am the wiener of this award, deserved or not, I’d like to thank some of the people who made it possible. If I left you out, blame it on the ‘caine. Like most other self-absorbed gliterati, as Necro says….I need drugs!

First of all I would like to thank my homies at last free voice.

My road dogs (woof! woof!) on the campaign trail. You know who you are.

The campaigns I worked on this year, bad, good and ugly, including LPNC, LPO, all the third parties in Arkansas, Mass. End the Income Tax
and Mass. Sensible Marijuana Policy.

Thank you for the opportunity, the great times, and for all the money I earned to spend on pet rocks, sex workers, porn, seedy motels, and stuffing my fat face.

I’d like to thank the LNC and the State Parties of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, NC, Massachusetts and New Hampshire for allowing me to attend their conventions to distribute Kubby and Radical Caucus literaganda.

Also, Doug Stanhope, Michelle Shinghal, Mike Nelson and Titanium/Speakeasygirl (websites deleted) for partying with me in Dallas.

There’s a lot of other people to thank – but my food is getting cold and my drink is getting warm.

See you next year, and thanks for all the fish!

Libertarians for Art, Entertainment and Culture

post by paulie

Image via http://www.morisecomics.com/

Group URL:
http://groups.myspace.com/LibertariansArts

Libertarians for Art, Music and Culture

Libertarians for Art, Music and Culture (1776 Members)

Artists, musicians and other creative talent within the Libertarian Party seek to replenish our ranks with an appeal to those in both the humanities and the performing arts.

Group Info

Related to such outreach are these fine organizations:

Information

Name:	College Libertarian Organizing Committee
Type:	Common Interest – Politics
Description:	Steering committee for a proposed new effort to create professional libertarian college field outreach. Once the group is created, we will raise funds and hire field organizers to travel, create and expand campus networks.

Name:	College Libertarians
Type:	Student Groups – Political Groups
Description:	This is the official global Facebook group for College Libertarians — representing over 85 unique student libertarian groups and over 4,000 members!! We have created this group to network with all Libertarians across the country. This will be a valuable resource for organization and communication. Invite all the Libertarians you know to join this group. There is a list of College Libertarian groups at http://chelm.freeyellow.com/collegelibsusa1.html . Message Aaron Biterman if your school needs to be updated. In addition, the Libertarian Party maintains a list of campus organizations at www.lp.org/organization/community.shtml. Organizations seeking inclusion on this list should message Prof. James W. Lark, III or contact him at jwlark (email address deleted thanks to porn spammers, let the Lib Space forward these to Dr. Jim.)

Website:

http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf

Jake Porter named Phillies campaign Chief of Staff

I’d like to congratulate Jake Porter, who comments here regularly, on his new position. I’m sure he will do a fantastic job.

George Phillies for President 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 18, 2007

Phillies Campaign Expands Lead Staff

The Phillies 2008 Campaign announced the appointment of Charles Wilhoit as Campaign Chairman, Jake Porter as Chief of Staff, Jeff Wartman as National Mobilization Facilitator for Volunteer Operations and Carolyn Marbry as National Mobilization Facilitator for Electronic Operations.

“For more than a year and a half,” said George Phillies, “I have been doing the extensive early development that is crucial to building a strong campaign, and that hard work is paying off. What started in April 2006 with two has expanded to an army of volunteers and a few part-time paid staff, working every day to build the campaign and bring my message of peace, liberty and prosperity to all Americans.”

From its beginning with no more than the candidate himself and a treasurer, the campaign now has a large core staff, state coordinators and close to a hundred volunteers. “There’s plenty of work still to be done. We can always use more volunteers,” said Carolyn Marbry. “But at this point, we are well ahead of any of the 2004 campaigns.”

Jake Porter agreed, “The campaign staff and volunteers continue to prove that we are running a well organized and credible campaign not only for the Libertarian Party nomination, but for the general election.”

“The two large parties may have more campaign volunteers,” added Dr.Phillies, “but my volunteers are Libertarians. They do more than volunteers in other parties. What’s more, they are competent. Just as Libertarians, if elected to office, will be competent.”

-30-

Contact Information:

Carolyn Marbry, Press Director

pressdirector@phillies2008.org

(510) 276-3216

_______________________________

Source:  Phillies MySpace blog 

Terry Liberty Parker Passes Away

Terry Liberty Parker Passes Away
Posted by Stephen Gordon — December 17th, 2007

Libertarian Party old timers and anyone involved in politics or the libertarian movement in the Austin, Texas area will know this name: Terry Liberty Parker. Angela Keaton just passed this e-mail on to me:

To all who loved Terry. Terry passed away at 4:35 Am this morning, December 17, 2007. His passing was very peaceful and quiet. Plans for his memorial will be announced as soon as they are made. Terry would want to tell all of you that he appreciated your presence in his life and the constant flow of love and support during his illness. They were a great source of comfort to him. We will all miss him deeply. Love Rita

I had heard that Terry was in poor health, but apparently his situation was worse than I realized. I last physically saw Parker in 2004 in Austin, where we had a few drinks at a local pub and mostly talked about opposition to the Iraq War. Parker was a colorful character in the movement and will truly be missed by many people who were touched by his life.

Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.” To the very end, Terry was young by Thoreau’s standards.

One Response to “Terry Liberty Parker Passes Away”

1. RockHoward Says:
December 17th, 2007 at 8:07 pm

The freedom movement is particularly large and vibrant in Austin. Probably most of the younger participants don’t know anything about Terry “Liberty” Parker, but nonetheless it was Terry who, almost singlehandedly, educated the city about the nonagression pact and its’ implications for philosophy, politics and day to day living.

Terry was not really a “political party” kind of guy and so that is not the real measure of his contribution. That is not to say that he didn’t occasionally jump in and collect signatures or serve as County Chair or such, because he did. It was just that he was so interested in exploring the ramifications of his chosen philosophy and arguing the ins and outs with whoever had the time, that other activities rarely held his attention.

Some argue that Terry turned off as many people as he turned on. That is probably true but the same can be said for most of the other leading voices for freedom who have followed in his wake here in Austin. But helping individuals really understand how to “think and love freedom” was Terry’s aim and in that he succeeded. If the current groundswell of freedom lovers hangs onto that same dream for their entire lives, as Terry certainly did, then a bright future for our country is still possible.

Meanwhile, if there is a God, he or she will be preoccupied with wide ranging debate for many years now that Terry has arrived on the scene. If I had to bet on that contest, my money would be backing Terry!

Until the day that I discover for myself if that debate is really raging, I will simply say that I will miss Terry and am glad to have had the pleasure of his company for the last two decades.

Helping Norma Jean

Just got this from Angela Keaton

Friends of Freedom:

Norma Jean Almodovar, the Libertarian Party of California’s 1986 candidate for Lt. Governor and author of Cop to Call Girl, is facing some serious challenges. Since she has gotten out of prison where she was incarcerated for a victimless “crime,” Norma Jean has difficulty finding work given both her record and courageous activism. In addition, Norma Jean’s husband is in frail and failing health. A proud libertarian activist, she is struggling to ask for much needed help.

Given the family’s strong objectivist leanings, a traditional fund raising appeal would be inappropriate. However, you can do the following:

*Norma Jean has significant knowledge of Quark and Adobe software. You have an affiliate newsletter. Hire a layout editor who shares your values.

*Add a link to International Sex Worker Foundation for Art, Culture and Education. Contributions are tax deductable and help educate the public on the realities sex workers face under our current laws.

*Interview Norma Jean on your blog, webcast, podcast, cable access or microbroadcast. Her story is one woman’s struggle against corruption and injustice.

*Norma Jean is a talented artist. With the holiday season upon us, please support your libertarian artist. They are your values embodied in song, storyline and style.

If you would like to contact Norma Jean, please write her at normaja@webuniverse.net. She has led a one woman battle against the LAPD. For that alone, we give thanks.

In liberty,

Angela

From Veronica Monet’s News Letter:
Resources and Announcements

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you a Halloween Freak? Do you decorate your home for the annual celebration of the macabre? With a doll character or doll character wreath created by artist and author Norma Jean Almodovar, you can really spice up the party and give your guests something to talk about! The doll characters are bendable and pose able and everything she makes is one of a kind-and each is signed by the artist. So, if you are really into Halloween, you owe it to yourself to get a Norma Jean’s Lil’ Peeps© Ghastly Creatures© collectible! Norma Jean also creates dolls for EVERY other holiday and occasions! Need a special gift for a very special person? She can create a custom doll character or wreath for you!”

Visit www.normajeansgifts.com//horror.html to find the perfect Halloween decoration (or email Norma Jean at normaja@webuniverse.net)!

Angela Keaton
At Large Representative
Libertarian National Committee

A big beautiful tent full of libertarians. Join Libertarians for Arts, Entertainment and Culture.

Remember, Remember the 16th of December

234 years ago today, American rebels protested oppressive taxes by throwing tea into the Boston Harbour.

234 years later, American rebels are still protesting oppressive taxes. However, instead of thowing tea, these modern-day rebels are throwing dollars to the only fiscally-conservative presidential candidate running in either of the two Establishment parties. That candidate is Dr. Ron Paul, a congressman from Texas.

Today’s the day. Help Ron out by making a donation here.

UPDATE by paulie

Ron Paul’s Realtime Donation Graphs and Statistics for Q4

Live Blogging: Radicals for Capitalism: Introduction: Reviving an American Radical Tradition

Having recently finished the Tannehills’ The Market for Liberty, I am currently reading Brian Doherty’s Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement.  The book deals with the many facets of the libertarian movement this century, as well as some details about classical liberal and proto-libertarian activists in centuries prior.  As I read the book chapter by chapter, I’ll write a little bit about it here for your pleasure.

Prior to reading this book, I had read one review of it: a poorly-reseached review from The New York Times by David Leonhardt.  The review had motivated me to write this reply.  David Boaz, too, couldn’t resist making mincemeat of Mr. Leonhardt’s review.

Mr. Doherty explains the title of his book on page fifteen.  It is true, as Mr. Doherty points out, that libertarians are radicals for liberty and for choice.  However the phrase “radical for capitalism” comes from Ayn Rand.  Mr. Doherty contends that this phrase “characterizes the movement’s prickliness, its willingness to take on terms from their enemies and turn them to their own advantage” (p. 15).  Although the term “capitalist” was used by Karl Marx to be a term of derision, many libertarians like the notion of “re-claiming” the term.  The GLBT community has since done the same thing with the term “queer.”

The introduction is where Mr. Doherty introduces us, broadly, to this whole “libertarian” thing.  Many have heard the term, perhaps linked to the Cato Institute or to the Libertarian Party, to blogs or to syndicated radio shows (p. 2-3).  Nevertheless, not everyone knows exactly what the term means.  Mr. Doherty sums up the libertarian belief as follows: “Government, if it has any purpose at all (and many libertarians doubt it does), should be restricted to the protection of its citizens’ persons and property against direct violence and theft” (p. 3).

Libertarians tend to have a fond view of America’s founding, but as Mr. Doherty explains, it is not a backward or reactionary ideology.  “By extending individual liberty into radical areas of sex, drugs, and science (no restrictions on stem cell research, cloning, or nanotech), libertarianism is the most future looking of American ideologies.  It sells the promise of a world mankind hasn’t yet fully known, one with personal liberty limited only by preventing damage to other people or their property” (p. 3-4).

One can arrive at libertarian views by a variety of avenues, including natural law theory and utilitarianism, sometimes both (p. 4-5).  But despite libertarianism’s radical individualism, it is not an atomistic philosophy.  Mr. Boaz’s father’s “good reputation didn’t extend much beyond the small town where [they] lived, and he would have had trouble borrowing money in a hurry even a few towns over.  [Conversely, Mr. Boaz has] instant access to cash and credit virtually anywhere…because the free market has developed credit institutions that extend around the world.  …  The network of trust and credit relies on all the institutions of a free society: individual rights and responsibility, secure property rights, freedom of contract, free markets, and the rule of law.  A complex order rests on a simple but secure foundation” (p. 7).  Despite the radical individualism advocated by libertarianism, it would yield a highly interconnected society.

The introduction states that the book will deal with five intellectuals in particular, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich A. Hayek, Ayn Rand, Murray Rothbard, and Milton Friedman.  He goes on to, in a section I love, note simularities and differences between these five (p. 8-9).  The book then briefly discusses these figures over the next few pages to provide the reader with some basic information.

Despite the libertarian’s association with the term “capitalism,” it would be a mistake to assume that libertarianism is simply apologia for privilege.  Whereas Big Business often petitions Big Government to enact protectionist measures, such as Roger Milliken agitating for tariffs, it would receive no such advantages from libertarians.  Those who advocate libertarianism do so therefore because of a personal conviction for liberty, not simpply out of pecuniary interest (p. 16).

Because libertarians are an eclectic bunch, arriving at their views from many different avenues, there tends to be a great deal of infighting within this movement.  To exemplify this, Mr. Doherty quotes one Fred Smith: “When two libertarians find themselves agreeing on something, each knows the other has sold out” (p. 19).

Although the in-fighting is quite annoying to those of us living through it, I suspect that the in-fighting depicted in this retrospective will make this an very interesting story indeed.  I look forward to it.

Steve Kubby Show Update

Times noted are Central. Noon Eastern, 9 AM Pacific.

	Bill Redpath, Libertarian Party National Chairman Steve Kubby* Date / Time: 12/17/2007 11:00 AM Category: Politics Call-in Number: (646) 378-1107 Bill Redpath was elected chair in July of 2006 at the party’s national convention in Portland, Oregon. Bill is the Vice President of a financial consulting firm and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Bill and his wife Melinda live in Leesburg, Virginia. Schedule 12/18/2007 11:00 AM - Ed Rosenthal 12/19/2007 11:00 AM - Jack Herer set reminder X To receive your reminder via Email Enter an email address Please notify me 5 Minutes 10 Minutes 15 Minutes 20 Minutes 30 Minutes 45 Minutes 1 Hour 1 1/2 Hours 2 Hours 1 Day before the show. Marc Emery talks about Liberty and Ron Paul Marc Emery discusses his personal battles for Liberty, the Ron Paul campaign and what he and others are doing to help. Marc currently faces extradition to the United States where he faces a possible life sentence on charges of selling marijuana seeds and using the profits to fund pro-cannabis legalization activities. His outspoken advocacy in favor of legalizing cannabis led the media, beginning with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (later picked up by Bernard Shaw of CNN), to dub him “The Prince of Pot,” a nickname he embraces heartily. David Nolan on the Libertarian Party, Ron Paul, and the Future of Politics David Nolan offered a fascinating perspective on the Ron Paul phenomenon and how it will change America. David Nolan founded the Libertarian Party in 1971. He subsequently served the party in a number of roles including National Chair, editor of the party newsletter, chairman of the By-laws Committee, chairman of the Judicial Committee, and Chairman of the Platform Committee. Nolan is also known as the inventor of the Nolan Chart. George Phillies and Keith Stroup Some tech problems at first. You can fast forward for about 9 minutes, but Steve wings it with two great interviews. At 9:09 is George Phillies, who is also seeking the LP Presidential nomination,– then at 9:30 Keith Stroup, the founder of NORML.
Shane Cory, Cliff Schaffer (Fast forward for about 5 minutes to get past the tech confusion.) Shane Cory, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party, discussing the LP’s controversial invitation to Ron Paul to seek the LP Presidential nomination, and Cliff Schaffer of MarijuanaBusinessNews.com, with some really provocative views.
Leading from the Front Lines On this show we discussed the Libertarian Party National Committee’s controversial invitation to Ron Paul to seek the LP presidential nomination. Steve Kubby wants the Libertarian Party and movement to lead the country from the front lines in the battle for individual freedom, especially in the drug war which criminalizes millions of Americans. Kubby has survived the attempts by two countries to kill him. He knows that freedom is not an abstract concept.
The First Steve Kubby Show PLEASE NOTE: There is a 3 minute delay because of technical problems. Richard Cowan of MarijuanaNews.com hosts the Steve Kubby Show. Steve is seeking the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination. Steve is a medical marijuana patient/activist who ran as the Libertarian candidate for Governor in Calif. in 1998. He spent several years as a medical marijuana refugee in Canada. He knows first hand the importance of freedom.

An Open Letter to Students

Students across America are excited about politics.

Wait a minute, politics?  Politics!?  Where did the youth apathy suddenly go?

A sense of optimism floats today across our nation’s college campuses.  Dr. Ron Paul, a 10-term Congressman from Texas, is running for President.  And, unlike most candidates, he’s responding to the concerns of young Americans.

Read the rest of this LewRockwell.com article »

The FKN Newz

Hotties for Ron Paul Calendar Now Available

A couple of days ago
I posted about the Hotties for Ron Paul
calendar which was not yet out. Since then the website has become available and the calendar can now be ordered.

According to the website

The much anticipated, “Hotties 4 Ron Paul” calendars are now available for pre-sale at a special pre-order discounted rate, but only until our official release date of December 16th, 2007, at the Los Angeles Tea Party ’07 Celebration!
Ordering instructions are on the Purchase page.

They also have some details about the Tea Party. And a few previews.

The calendar has caused a stir in such places as disinter,
Gordon Unleashed, Ron Paul Forums,

Crazy for Liberty, and those are just the ones I know of!

Of course, it’s gotten some of the stereotypical comments that such things always get, like this one at redd.it.

fromagewiz says

I think I want the job of removing that bumper sticker, at least.

I liked Michelle’s reply

Because the philosophy of individual freedom empowers people, I was able to remove it all by myself!

While I do appreciate your offer of service, I’ve found that no expert is needed to handle a quality, free market product. Now, if I ever mistakenly don bumper stickers of a candidate other than Ron Paul or of the Libertarian Party, I will look you up right away.

Red tape can be a bitch to fight through and when I find it necessary to hire assistance, I like to look within my community.

At digg
Juliet Annerino, the creator of the calendar writes

1,200 hits worldwide in our first 24 hours!

But the thing I really want to know is…is this outtake

from the same photoshoot? (OK, I admit. I was just looking for an excuse, however flimsy,
to keep it on the front page).

Orange to red on the sedition.com scale

A Report from the 1770s by the Modern American Mainstream Media

BOSTON – Calls have been recently made by fringe elements in these colonies to secede from Great Britain, which they call an “empire.”

The movement for breaking our bonds with our king has the appearance of being large.  Indeed, some are calling this a ”revolution.”

In reality, only a small band of quixotic yet well-organised pamphleteers are behind this effort.  Many mail-boxes, including ours here at the New York Province Times, have been spammed with pamphlets and letters in support for this radical measure.

Donations by these out-of-touch yet apparently-wealthy radicals toward secessionary forces have been surprisingly large.  This cause has had more money directed to it than have been directed to our king–even considering his power to tax–nevertheless secession remains a long-shot cause.

Leaders of this cause, such as dark horse Patrick Henry, have given a few speeches in support for this cause.  Supporters have called these speeches “stirring,” but King George III dismisses them, noting that he is our rightful sovereign and that secession is an isolationist cause.

“These nutty rebels cannot succeed,” explained George yesterday.  “They lack the resources and the momentum.  Moreover, most of our subjects in America oppose these anti-British radicals.”

When told that some of these fringe activists actually believe our colonies can survive without British leadership, George said, “That’s really an extraordinary statement.  That’s an extraordinary statement, as someone who lived through many European wars, that the colonies can govern themselves without a government.  I don’t think I’ve heard that before, and I’ve heard some pretty absurd explanations for cutting and running from Great Britain.”

Experts say this quixotic effort will not be able to muster anything other than destructive acts like we say two years ago in the Harbour of Boston.  This cause will fizzle away any day now.

Steve Kubby media update

As I mentioned a few days ago, Steve Kubby is now doing a radio show five days a week, Monday through Friday

9AM Pacific, 12PM Eastern. Call in

1-646-378-1107

or just listen by logging on at

http://www.Blogtalkradio.com/SteveKubbyShow

Richard Cowan of MarijuanaNews.com hosts the show.

Despite some technical difficulties, during the first week of broadcasting the guests have included:

• Shane Cory, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party, discussing the LP’s controversial invitation to Ron Paul to seek the LP Presidential nomination.
• Cliff Schaffer of MarijuanaBusinessNews.com.
• George Phillies, who is also seeking the LP Presidential nomination.
• Keith Stroup, the founder of NORML.

You can listen to all the archives at the show site. Tune in tomorrow (Thursday) with David Nolan,
founder of the Libertarian Party.

In addition to co-hosting his own show, Steve Kubby is also doing some candidate debates. In the past week, there have been a debate with Brian Moore of the Socialist Party USA and another one with fellow LPer George Phillies on Angela Keaton’s Liberated Space.

Also tomorrow, Steve will be on Miller Politics.

Three candidates for the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nomination are set to take part in the second This Is Politics Libertarian Party presidential debate December 13 starting at 5:30 PM (ET). Candidates attending are: Steve Kubby, Mike Jingozian and John Finan. Tune in at: www.blogtalkradio.com/tip.

UPDATE!

Friends,

Don’t miss these two great shows on my new Blog Talk Radio Show.
Join me and my co-host, Richard Cowan, on the front lines and hang
out with the folks who are making the news.

Enjoy,

–Steve Kubby

Recorder earlier today and now available on demand:

The Ron Paul Phenomenon, analysis by David Nolan

Our guest today was David Nolan, who offered a fascinating
perspective on the Ron Paul phenomenon and how it will change
America. David Nolan founded the Libertarian Party in 1971. He
subsequently served the party in a number of roles including National
Chair, editor of the party newsletter, chairman of the By-laws
Committee, chairman of the Judicial Committee, and Chairman of the
Platform Committee. Nolan is also known as the inventor of the Nolan
Chart.

Scheduled for this Friday:

The Prince of Pot LIVE
Friday, Dec. 14th, 9:10 AM PST

Marc Emery, magazine publisher and leader of the BC Marijuana Party,
will be joining us live, this Friday, at 9:10 AM, or just after noon
Eastern time. Marc currently faces extradition to the United States
where he faces a possible life sentence on charges of selling
marijuana seeds and using the profits to fund pro-cannabis
legalization activities. His outspoken advocacy in favor of
legalizing cannabis led the media, beginning with the Seattle Post-
Intelligencer (later picked up by Bernard Shaw of CNN), to dub him
“The Prince of Pot”, a nickname he embraces heartily.

In Defense of Christine Smith

This will not be an all-out defense of every aspect of Ms. Smith’s campaign.  Rather, my objective is to first address concerns that have been addressed recently by others, acknowledging the apparently good and the apparently bad, and then presenting a comparison between her and the other candidates up against whom she is.  (Sometimes I wonder if it would just be better to end a sentence with a preposition.)

To state my bias up front, as far as the competing candidates for the Libertarian presidential nomination, Ms. Christine Smith has the best political positions as explained on a candidate site.  Mr. Steve Kubby seems to me to be the best public speaker of the bunch.  Finally, Mr. Michael Jingozian and Ms. Smith are tied as the most photogenic candidates.

Controversey started recently when Ms. Smith posted on her website a long essay titled “I Will Not Compromise – An Open Letter to libertarians.”  My main complaint is that this letter is far too long and repititious.  Make the point more succinct and it will reach more people.

My Endorsements for Libertarian National Committee Seats are…

Actually, I’m not ready to endorse anyone yet, but thought the title might catch the attention of people interested in the LNC race. I’ve put together a list of candidates for various LNC positions over at TPW. If you know of any additions or modifications, please let me know in the comment thread over there.

At this time, it looks like the LP Radicals are running more candidates than the LP Reformers are.

LP Sponsoring Live Chats with Presidential Candidates

First one is tonight

FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY:
Don’t miss the first Web chat with an LP presidential hopeful!

Date: TODAY, December 11, 2008
Time: 8:00 p.m. eastern
Location: www.lp.org/chat

Today, December 11th, at 8 p.m. eastern we’ll be chatting with Wayne Allyn Root, who is one of the many candidates vying for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination.

Wayne is currently ranked in first place in the LP’s new program, Liberty Decides ‘08, and is also fresh off an interview on Fox Business this morning.

To join our chat, go to www.lp.org/chat , login as a guest or you can choose to register, and then simply join the room “Chat with Wayne Allyn Root.”

This first Web chat will be open to the first 100 people who log in.

Next week, we’ll be chatting with another presidential hopeful, Mike Jingozian on December 18th. Also, on January 8th, we’ll feature candidate Daniel Imperato.

Don’t miss it!

Who is Alex Peak?

Before I say anything else, I should probably say hi. I was apparently added to the gang back in early August, but didn’t realise it until just recently.

I considered for a while whether I should simply give an introduction to myself, or jump right in with a post about something political. If I simply jump in with no introduction, I’d likely incur some confusion from the readers. “Who is this?” But if I solely use this post to introduce myself, might that not seem conceited?

As you noticed with the title of this post, I went with the potentially conceited route.

For the past few years, I’ve been heavily involved in campus politics at Towson University. I’ve served as President (2004-2006), Vice President (2007), and Membership Chair (2006-2007) of the College Libertarians. I also helped to co-found the Gun Rights Advocates of Towson and the Students for Sensible Drug Policy, serving as Vice President of each in 2007. Finally, I also founded and served as President of Towson Students for Ron Paul this year.

My interest in politics began back in Middle School. I recall not knowing what NATO was, or what the deal was with Kosovo and Serbia. Nor did I have any understanding what we had to do with it all. But I wanted to know.

I considered myself a liberal going into high school, which I saw at the time to be the small-government side. My first introduction to economics was an ABC special with John Stossel which argued against over-regulation and in favour of privatisation. It made sense, but when I discussed this with a teacher, he commented that it seemed I was turning conservative. This struck me as extremely perculiar, as the only thing I knew about conservatism was that it was big-government on speech, marriage, and a litany of other things.

I was introduced to the word “libertarian” twice before looking into it. The first time, it was after telling a co-worker that I was a liberal. She approved, then paused, asking, “You’re not a libertarian, are you?”

Not knowing what that was, I cautiously said no, asking, “What’s a libertarian?”

“Oh, something really extreme. You don’t want to be that.” Alas, I did.

The other reference to libertarianism was brought to me from Bill Maher, who was at the time the host of Politically Incorrect. It was after watching this show that I decided to check out the Libertarian Party’s website. And, of course, what I checked was the LP’s wonderful platform.

Since my biggest issues at the time were anti-censorship and anti-racism, I particularly checked out what the platform had to say about free speech and immigration. Needless to say, I approved. I also liked how it took what I had seen as a liberal position on gun rights. I searched through the document, focusing on those issues that were of particular interest to me–I can only imagine how turned-off to the party I would have been if all I had to go by was the 2006 rendition!

I wasn’t, at the time, as radical as the LP on certain issues, particularly economic issues. But that was okay, and over time, they grew on me. Particularly important to my intellectual development were Harry Browne and Murray N. Rothbard.

It was Browne, through his articles and his archived radio-show, that I went from libertarian/liberal hybrid to classical-liberal libertarian minarchist.

After Browne’s unfortunate death, I began reading a lot more on the Ludwig von Mises Institute website. I had previously only been slightly familiar with Rothbard, although I soon fell in love with his prose and logic.

Rothbard, at first, merely turned me into a radical, anti-tax minarchist–but a minarchist all the same. In fact, it wasn’t until this summer (2007) that I took that small yet scary leap into anarchism. (I still consider minarchists extremely important to the movement, mind you.)

And here I am today, still very much on an intellectual journey.

I hope you will accept me with loving arms.

And in case I haven’t made myself appear conceited enough as it is, here’s my website!

Michelle, Liv and More in Hotties for Ron Paul calendar

Via disinter

Some grassroots supporters are creating a “Hotties for Ron Paul” calendar. The website is still being worked on, but sources say it should be up within a couple days.

My friend Michelle was selected to be on the calendar. Here’s one of the for-fun pictures that was taken during the photo shoot:

Michelle writes about it
here

I received an interesting Facebook message a couple weeks ago. Juliet Annerino contacted me and asked for my participation in a Ron Paul for President calendar effort. I wrote back to her that I was too old to participate in something like that. There are many very beautiful, very young women supporting Ron Paul for the Republican Party nomination and I thought she could do much better than a libertarian grandma from Texas. But, Juliet had seen my Tucker appearance, read my blog and thought that I might have something to offer. Since I’ve maxed out on campaign donations, I agreed.

And, let me tell you that models have a harder job than we all think.

I met with a photographer last week and took several shots. (Thank FSM for digital cameras- we would have wasted a lot of film trying to get a decent shot of me without one.) The pics we kept are totally cute and with the exception of a couple of bumper sticker photos taken as a gag, totally G rated. All in all, it was a good time and I can’t wait to see the finished product. I just hope they don’t arrange my picture too closely to Liv’s (Ron Paul Girl); no woman could feel pretty next to her perfect body.

You can email Juliet at Hotties4RonPaul@hotmail.com.

UPDATE: The website is up @ www.hotties4RonPaul.com and it is officially a go!

The much anticipated, “Hotties 4 Ron Paul” calendars are now available for pre-sale at a special pre-order discounted rate, but only until our official release date of December 16th, 2007, at the Los Angeles Tea Party ’07 Celebration!
Please read carefully for ordering instructions below:
For immediate Pre-order, calendars are $8 each (to cover cost alone) sent to my paypal account + an e-mailed receipt from headquarters (www.RonPaul2008.com) showing a donation from you made to the Ron Paul Campaign (www.RonPaul2008.com) of $10 per each calendar, using the code word “Juliet” in the specially-allotted code section after the forward slash (/). This e-mail receipt must be forwarded to: Hotties4RonPaul@Hotmail.com. Thank you!

Please note: Your order cannot be processed until we have received a forwarded e-mail of your donation to the campaign.
This then comes to a total price for pre-ordered calendars of $18 (plus $6.00 each, for shipping and handling on domestic orders).

Note: Overseas orders can be shipped for an additional shipping charge of $8.
As soon as I receive this and have the calendars printed (December 16th!) I will send them out! The cost price of the calendars will go up to $15 for orders received after midnight on December 15th (plus shipping $6.00 and of course the $10 minimum contribution to the Ron Paul Campaign), so order early as we are expected to sell out quickly!

UPDATE 2 Not sure, was this from the same photo shoot?

Steve Kubby radio show

Call in today: and let us know how YOU feel about the LNC’s actions.

The Steve Kubby Show
MONDAY at 9AM Pacific, 12PM Eastern.
1-646-378-1107

or just listen by logging on at

http://www.Blogtalkradio.com/SteveKubbyShow

UPDATE: The show is five days a week, and LP Executive Director Shane Cory is on tomorrow (Tuesday).

UPDATE 2: George Phillies, who has been critical of LPHQ and LNC will be on the air too. Tune in for the fireworks

Christine Smith may bow out of LP presidential race

Update from Christine Smith, December 9th, 2007

Since a number of you have asked what is disturbing me: fundraising is only part of it (though significant), it is also my general feeling about the LP itself, the LNC, and the LP’s Executive Director Shayne Cory (for whom I have no respect based on my personal experiences). As a 3rd party candidate, I am willing to fight the system, but I shouldn’t have to constantly fight my own party which I’ve had to do since my campaign began.

A quick update from Christine Smith, December 8th, 2007

I have received over 100 replies to my December 6, 2007 message.

Approximately 95% of those are from individuals who have left the LP (most of them current Ron Paul supporters) or are current members who are experiencing similar disillusionment with the LP as I have; with many sharing personal stories of the reasons they left or are thinking of leaving. The other 5% of messages have come from LP members asking me to stay in the race and be a leader in the LP, but few of them cared to contribute to help me be the leader they say they want in the LP.

My goal is advancing liberty and joining only with others who share that commitment. I thank each of you for taking the time to write and share so much with me; my suspicion about the LP is being confirmed.

I have quite a bit to ponder as Dec. 31 approaches (it is the date I will decide to withdraw or not from the LP presidential race).

A message from Christine Smith, December 6th, 2007

Why did Ron Paul leave the LP as a means to advance liberty as a candidate? I’m asking this of myself over and over. Is the reason because he saw the LP as a futile path? A waste of his time and energy? No place for an individual who really wants to be part of achieving liberty in America now? For myself, as someone who is devoted to advancing liberty and sharing libertarianism, I am having serious doubts as to whether the LP deserves individuals willing to give of themselves so selflessly. Perhaps Ron Paul’s experiences brought him to such a point and decision. I know my experiences with the LP are pointing that way.

Every several days, it seems I learn of yet another individual I respect who has left the LP, and always for reasons I now more completely understand than ever before.

They are individuals who achieve progress in advocating liberty. They are the truest libertarians I have ever met. And they left the LP.

These are all individuals who tried to make a difference within the LP and finally made the decision that the LP was unworthy of their continued support and participation, that the LP did not deserve what they offered to give, that they could accomplish much more good work for liberty outside the LP rather than within it (and they’ve done it!).

I am at a point where I am seriously questioning whether the LP is a political party to take seriously at all or is it primarily a place for those who merely sit around and talk and argue but never actually do anything of substance? Is it a place where winners (those who actually work hard to achieve progress and success in advancing liberty in our nation) find themselves surrounded by losers (those whose priority is not liberty but who use the cause of liberty for other agendas)?

I have been reluctant to follow that line of thinking until now.

Because now, the more experiences I have, the more I wonder if all those who left the party are right.

I know it was the right choice for themselves because I see them joyfully doing good work which makes a difference, and now I also am thinking that maybe they are right about the utter failure of the LP as a means to make meaningful progress toward liberty…maybe it is a waste of one’s time.

Since writing ‘I Will Not Compromise – An Open Letter to libertarians,’ I have obviously become even more discouraged, and even more disillusioned about the LP.

I am yet undecided, and though I yet am making a conscious choice to believe there is yet hope and yet a possibility that the LP may be a viable vehicle to advance liberty, I am uncertain. I am discouraged. I am wondering…and I am watching.

Meanwhile, my appreciation goes to Ron Paul (and his supporters) for doing more to advance liberty in this nation than anyone has ever done in the political arena before.