The following is part of Angela Keaton’s Day Two liveblog of the LNC meeting. However, due to its importance, it rates a post of its own.
Then it got weird.
I left an executive session. I had no idea this was coming.
Said in ExSession. I’m within my rights to reveal this:
We don’t have a contract b/t the Barr Camp and LNC b/c….Cory asserted to both Carling and Redpath that
they were afraid that someone would reveal data. I didn’t know what the hell they were talking about until
it was further explained that Cory was afraid that I would misuse “data.”
Why this is ExSession? No idea. To Redpath’s credit, he, Ruwart and several other believed that this was an excuse. That I am a scape goat.
Well, doesn’t that beat all?
**********
(Later message from Angela)
Kafka? Oh for the love of G-d! I’m about to be censured for blogging about the accusations against me.
I’ve been kicked out of the room b/c I blogged about the Cory accusations against me.
Oh, Afghanistan Res passed easily! While I sat in exile along in the hallway, the Admiral took his bags to the airport. “Hang in there,” he smiled.
UPDATE: The LNC is taking a vote on whether to ask Angela Keaton to resign.
From Twitter:
I was allowed back into make a brief defense. They are now going to vote to ask me to resign.
Last Free Voice 
On the one hand: Of course it’s all bullshit.
On the other hand: The LNC is probably better off, and the LP definitely is, the fewer concrete connections the LNC has with the Barr campaign.
Incompetence is sort of like uranium. Keep smacking to big gobs of it into each other, and eventually something really bad is likely to happen.
Er … sorry folks, I’m not really awake yet. Should be “two” instead of “to” in that last sentence.
We got the idea Tom.
Thanks for the work Angela.
MW
News to me.
While Angela should not have disclosed what was said in executive session, if this is correct, well. . . then it’s incorrect.
Angela will respect a donor list, that’s not an issue. At times, does Angela have the emotional maturity of a four year old in need of Ritalin? Sure, but that’s why it’s so much fun to have her around sometimes . . . like on the first day of the LNC meeting.
As far as the contract with the LNC goes, no there’s no need for one in my opinion. After November, we want the flexibility to help the party in the best ways possible — not just through the LNC. That may be through state parties, the LNC, LSLA, a great group like Atlas PAC or all of the above.
In the event that we were to turn the list over to a single group and they spoil it for us, then everyone suffers. We’re going to be careful about that.
For FEC purposes, we’ll probably just make the list available to organizations that truly advocate a small, limited government and increased individual liberty. Pretty simple.
Tom what I wrote reads a little harsh, sorry. My apologies. It wasn’t intended to be.
MW
Shane,
The LNC will be entitled to confidentiality of its executive sessions when it stops abusing executive session to try to conceal activities not covered by legitimate use thereof.
As far as the Barr campaign and any contract with LNC is concerned, I agree, that’s not really an issue. The campaign is free to contract or not contract with LNC for any reason it wants to or not to … which means there’s no reason to put up a bullshit reason. Nobody who’s not sucking hard on a crack pipe when saying so believes for a minute that Angela Keaton’s access to data exchanged under such a contract is an issue.
Of course they don’t want a contract. The Barr campaign has plenty to hide. Exposing their information to the members of the LP is certainly on their minds, given how little use they have for the general membership.
Shane rather idiotically asserts that Angela should not have shared what was said in executive session. That is not clear at all. In fact, Angela has a fiduciary responsibility to the members of the LP as a whole who elected her an at large rep in Denver. She has a responsibility to use her judgment to say what she thinks ought to be said to the members. It is not for Shane to say what Angela ought to say.
In fact, isn’t Shane Cory the scum who was forced to resign because of his nasty preferential behavior while executive director favoring one candidate before the nomination convention and using his office against the work of at least one other candidate for the nomination? I’m reminded of that earlier jerk Perry Willis every time Shane puts fingers to keyboard.
Thank you, Tom. I was just trying to figure out how to “twitter” Angela to offer an explanation for the Barr campaign’s request that the LNC not ask Angela to resign. Of course, if she did (or if she were removed), they would then have to scramble for a new excuse not to “contract” with the LNC – or reveal the real reason!
Rocky,
If you’re on Twitter, then you’d reach Angela by posting in your own Twitter form with the phrase “@AngelaKeaton” at the beginning.
I’m just now starting to figure out Twitter myself. I didn’t really notice it until the House GOP started using it to get its line out during sessions, and this is the first weekend I’ve really used it for more than the occasional “what’s everyone up to” thing.
Tom,
Then we have a bit of a chicken and egg problem. LNC members and staff (those who are included) need to respect the executive session.
And yes, the LNC should be willing to debate issues in the open even if it may be unpleasant. Personnel, legal strategy and FEC issues need to be kept in ES.
We violated the ES guidelines with the Ron Paul resolution last year but I’ll take the heat for that as I pushed for it and felt it was necessary.
I don’t know what happened today so can’t tell you if they should have been in ES when those comments were made, however, Angela should not have made it public. She could have proposed a motion to “unseal” that portion of the ES instead.
Regardless, this will all work out.
Thanks Tom, I’ll try that. I understand too that the Barr people used it to their advantage during the LP convention.
[…] September 7, 2008 by ElfNinosMom This is a follow up to Angela’s liveblog for today, as well as the statement re Cory. […]
It is not obvious that Angela should not communicate to her constituents what is happening as she sees fit. Her constituents elected her to the LNC to represent them, not to keep secrets from them. She has a fiduciary obligation to her constituents which pre-dates and supersedes any obligation to the “executive session.”
Executive sessions are not possible in the Boston Tea Party for a reason. Deliberations should be open and in public view so the members, and prospective members, can understand what is being done in their name. That’s even more important where members pay dues, as in the LP. Happily, the BTP national has no dues mechanism, so there is no budget to corrupt the national committee, either. (All the relevant work happens at the state affiliate or campaign level anyway.)
It is clearly possible to run a national political party with executive sessions, secrecy, dirty deals, payoffs, ripoffs, bitterness, back biting, infighting, corruption, and abuse of power. The LP has proven it. But, yet another existence proof was not required, since the repugnant Republicans and the demolishing Democrats have also proven it.
Those who want a corrupt and obscene, or as New Yorkers like to say, “sophisticated” political party would do better joining the RNC or the DNC, where they could not only engage in corrupt and indecent behavior, but also make a personal fortune lobbying for bombing civilians in other countries and maybe even get the contract on turning dissident bodies into feed stock for soap factories.
The question for Americans is not whether to have a party of corruption run by a privileged inner clique, but whether to have a party for individual liberty, private property, peace, and prosperity. The LP, by censuring Angela or kicking her out of the room for daring to report the functions of the LNC to her constituents, is telling Americans that it is not a party of free speech and integrity.
But, Carol Moore has pretty well settled that issue, huh?
http://www.carolmoore.net/4secretary/controversies.html
If a person is talked about in ES, they have the right, if they choose, to disclose it and waive their own confidentiality. Note that she only disclosed what pertained to her.
Frankly, I think ES is a stupid idea. We never used it when I was on the state board on CO. We had no need nor desire to do so. We believed in openness.
WHAT SHANE WROTE IS IN LOWERCASE (LIKE THE FIRST LETTER OF HIS NAME SHOULD BE), AND MY RESPONSES ARE IN UPPERCASE, FOR EASE OF SEPARATION, AND FOR EMPHASIS, SINCE IT ANNOYS WEB ETIQUETTE PURISTS AND EASILY-OFFENDED “LIBERTARIANS”
on September 7, 2008 at 12:08 pm4 Shane wrote:
News to me. THEN AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS NEWS TO SHANE CORY, SINCE HE’S SERIOUSLY MENTALLY DEFICIENT.
While Angela should not have disclosed what was said in executive session, SINCE SHANE’S ACTIVITIES AND THE ACTIVITIES MOST OF THOSE WHO OCCUPY POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY IN THE LP REQUIRE DARKNESS if this is correct, well. . . then it’s incorrect. …YOU HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH LOGIC YOURSELF SHANE, SO WE’LL LET IT SLIDE.
Angela will respect a donor list, that’s not an issue. At times, does Angela have the emotional maturity of a four year old in need of Ritalin? AT TIMES DOES SHANE USE AD-HOMINEM ATTACKS THAT APPLY MORE TO HIMSELF THAN ANYONE ELSE? ..SURE. Sure, but that’s why it’s so much fun to have her around sometimes . . . like on the first day of the LNC meeting. UNLIKE ANGELA, SHANE IS NEVER FUN TO HAVE AROUND. HE IS A RANTING, INCOMPETENT, MICRO-MANAGER, AND A PETTY-POWER-LUSTING CONTROL FREAK WHO STILL THINKS HE’S IN THE MILITARY. HE SHOULD NEVER EVER BE TRUSTED WITH ANY JOB THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE RIGHT. HE IS ADEPT ONLY AT BEING A LOYAL GUARD DOGGIE TO WHOMEVER IS IN POWER (AS SUCH, PERHAPS HE SHOULD BE A LITERAL NIGHT-WATCHMAN, BUT NEVER SOMEONE TRUSTED WITH CREATING A NIGHT-WATCHMAN GOVERNMENT).
As far as the contract with the LNC goes, no there’s no need for one in my opinion.
I GUESS THAT IT’S THE SAME AS THE WRITTEN CONTRACT SHANE OFFERED TO SEND TO ME. WRITTEN CONTRACTS ARE SO UNATTRACTIVE TO SHANE CORY! THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE HONORED!! (UNLIKE HIS ORAL CONTRACTS!) I DEMANDED A WRITTEN CONTRACT BEFORE GOING TO WEST VIRGINIA, BECAUSE SHANE STRUCK ME AS BEING KIND OF SHADY AND “DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH”. HE AGREED TO EMAIL ME ONE IMMEDIATELY. IT NEVER ARRIVED.
After November, we want the flexibility to help the party in the best ways possible — I WOULDN’T TRUST SHANE OR THE LIKES OF SEAN HAUGH, ETC… TO HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT “HELPING THE PARTY IN THE BEST WAYS POSSIBLE” MEANS. THIS SOUNDS LIKE TOTAL BULLSHIT (IT SOUNDS LIKE NEWSPEAK FOR “FUNNELLING MONEY TO MYSELF AND MY FRIENDS AND CO-CONSPIRATORS”). not just through the LNC. HMMMM, MY BS DETECTOR IS GOING OFF AGAIN. That may be through state parties, the LNC, LSLA, a great group like Atlas PAC or all of the above. IF ANY OF THE CURRENT PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY HIRED BY THE LP FOR (PARTIAL)”BALLOT ACCESS” TAKE HOME A PAYCHECK FROM ANY OF THESE GROUPS, THEN THEY ARE ALL SUSPECT. MOST LIKELY, SHANE SEES THE WRITING ON THE WALL, SINCE HE SO DRASTICALLY SCREWED UP BALLOT ACCESS IN WV, AND CONTINUALLY RUNS AROUND SCREWING THINGS UP, FIRING PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF JOBS, AND THROWING INSANE TEMPER TANTRUMS. THE WRITING ON THE WALL SAYS THAT HE WILL NOT REMAIN EMPLOYED WITH THE BARR CAMPAIGN, NOR THE LP, NOR ANY LIBERTARIAN GROUP, AND IS LOOKING FOR A SOFT LANDING INTO SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE RUN INTO THE GROUND.
PEOPLE IN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD READ HIS FORTHCOMING RESUME WITH A SKEPTICAL EYE.
In the event that we were to turn the list over to a single group and they spoil it for us, then everyone suffers. We’re going to be careful about that. I BET. IF THAT “WE” INCLUDES SHANE CORY, THEN IT’S STILLBORN. SHANE CORY COULD EASILY SCREW UP A WET DREAM.
For FEC purposes, we’ll probably just make the list available to organizations that truly advocate a small, limited government and increased individual liberty. AS IF SHANE WOULD HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT THOSE GROUPS ARE. Pretty simple. FOR ANYONE WHO IS A LIBERTARIAN, SURE, IT WOULD BE. FOR SHANE AND THE VERNEY/BARR CAMP, IT WILL LIKELY PROVE IMPOSSIBLE.
PS:
HEY SHANE, WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE COMING CLEAN THAT THE BALLOT ACCESS FAILURE IN WV WAS ENTIRELY THE YOUR FAULT OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO (YOU IDIOTIC 4TH GRADER ON RITALIN). YOU PERFECTLY DESCRIBED YOURSELF WHEN TRUSTED TO RUN A PETITION DRIVE.
BTW: HOW MANY SIGNATURES DID THE 10 YEAR OLD KID ON A DIRTBIKE GET FOR THE BARR CAMPAIGN IN WEST VIRGINIA? YOU KNOW, THE ONE WHOSE OLDER SISTER YOU HIRED? …YOU FUCKING SLIME-BAG!!!!
PSS: THE BARR CAMPAIGN STILL OWES ME $3,106.77, AND THE RIP-OFF ARTIST SHANE CORY AND RUSSELL VERNEY (WHO IS COVERING FOR HIM) CLEARLY HAVE NO INTENTION OF PAYING ME. THEY PUT THREE AUTOMATED PAYMENTS INTO MY ACCOUNT WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO GET ME INTO WV (PAYMENTS THAT ONLY PARTIALLY COVERED MY EXPENSES). THEY ARE CURRENTLY STATING THAT THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO PAY ME (EVEN THOUGH I OFFERED TO COVER THE WIRE FEE, AND EVEN THOUGH BOTH I AND MY LAWYER SENT THEM MY ADDRESS). THEY ARE HIDING BEHIND LIES AND BULLSHIT, AND SHOULD NEVER EVER BE HIRED BY ANYONE (OTHER THAN MAYBE MCDONALD’S DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW) EVER AGAIN.
THESE BASTARDS (AND THEIR BUDDIES SEAN HAUGH AND SCOTT KOHLHAAS) ARE THE LITERAL DEATH OF THE LP.
THEY, AND ANYONE WHO COVERS FOR THEM, NEED TO BE ROUTED AT THE NEXT LP CONVENTION.
CALL ME FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION AT 907-250-5503. BUT ONLY CALL ME IF YOU DON’T GET OFFENDED BY ALL-CAPS POSTS LIKE THIS ONE.
I FIGURED THAT THE ALL-CAPS HELPS ANNOY PEOPLE WHO NEED TO FEEL SOME LEVEL OF ANNOYANCE. IMAGINE NOT BEING PAID $3,106.77 BY AN EMPLOYER WHO THEN SLANDERED YOU, AFTER YOU DESPERATELY TRIED TO TALK SENSE INTO HIM THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED HIM FROM MAKING A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR MISTAKE! WELL, I’M BEYOND ANNOYED, SO YOU CAN READ MY ALL-CAPS POSTS AT LFV, OR YOU CAN IGNORE THEM.
…IT REALLY MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME. MY ALLEGIANCE LIES WITH THE AS-YET-UNFORMED WYOMING FREEDOM PARTY, OR SOME VARIANT THEREOF.
A DECENTRALIST INDEPENDENT WYOMING IS WHERE THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM IS. (I WOULD HAVE SAID “LIES” IN PLACE OF “IS” IN THE PRIOR SENTENCE, BUT I WOULDN’T WANT TO SEE SHANE CORY THERE, THINKING WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO COULD TELL LIES.) PEOPLE WITHOUT INTEGRITY WHO CAN’T HONOR THEIR OWN WORD HAVE TAKEN OVER THE LP. RUN FOR THE SUNNY HILLS OF WYOMING! SHANE CORY’S ILK ARE REPRODUCING IN THE SEWERS OF DC!
—end caps—-
Sorry about that. After reading that, I guess you’re entitled to imagine that I am yelling at you when you read it. I strongly encourage you all to adopt a “scorched earth” policy to the following people, who do not deserve their positions of authority and need to be fired/demoted immediately:
1) Sean Haugh
2) Shane Cory
3) Russell Verney
4) Scott Kohlhaas
5) Eric “Master Shake” Dondero
6) George Squyres
Of the above people, Squyres and Kohlhaas might, by some contortion of philosophy, be allowed to call themselves libertarians (if not “honorable men”). The rest of them may not do so without provoking outright laughter from those who know them. None of them is as valuable to the libertarian movement as a wet piece of toilet paper is.
They all need a flush.
Before Squyres took Sean Haugh’s “order” not to hire me to the AZ LP exec committee meeting, he might have escaped my righteous indignation. Too bad he’s put himself in the “delusional and can’t think for himself” camp. I guess Wes Benedict was right about him.
Jake Witmer
907-250-5503
Hey, Jake, a simple technical suggestion:
Separate the “they said” from the “you reply” with quotes and paragraphs, or better yet, use you initials on you part.
Not complaining about you using caps here, or even what you wrote, I’m just thinking of ways top make it easier to read.
The result of this lack of co-operation is that local affiliates are not getting leads in a timely manner. Yhe LRC will then (and already has begun ) to blame the affiliates for lack of activism, which ties in with Karlan’s , Holtz, Carling’s etc. plans of trying to put them i under direct control while turing the LP into some meaningless less-government PAC, to judge by the last Convention.
In Oregon and Florida they’re having a battle royal as the Barr/LRC keep local officers in the dark while attacking them for not doing enough, and looting the treasuries to sdupport do-nothing candidates they favor. They’ve even threatened people with threatened violence, screaming matches, made early AM calls, the works. The state LP’s they control have become utterly dysfunctional while the US LP posts false information on how many people they have in office, etc.
BTW, LNC has a long standing procedure on the subject. Where is it?
This is very similar to the claims in past years that UMP was in the way of State affiliates who depended on it, getting rid of UMP, then blaming the affiliates for doing nothing as they had their funding stolen from them.
Keaton has just turned one rock and the vipers come out from all the others. This all reminds me of the NRA takeover by these types in the 70’s.