![]() ![]() |
Convention Notes
| ||
| |||
He has been working with a group to develop better wording than in the 2010 initiative (Prop 19) that lost. Judge Gray considers it a win because it put the issue squarely on the table. Now it can be discussed openly, without shame. The Libertarian Party has been in the forefront of efforts to end the drug laws and “drug war.” Gray considers this issue more comprehensible and easier to sell to voters than some of our more esoteric positions, like getting government out of our schools. Judge Gray’s group created a new approach to make the issue zippier, the “Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012,” which we endorsed. [See site for more.] Colorado and Nevada will also have state initiatives in the same vein, which suggests the possibility of interstate cooperation. More info on Higher Legalization (click links below)
I forgot to write down how late the afternoon session began. There was a big discussion about delegate-counting procedures for quorums. Aaron Starr brought up the popular Robert’s Rules of Order and other technicalities. I believe there were 53 delegates present. Writer-directors Tad Lumpkin & Harold Uhl discussed and answered questions about “The American Dream.” The animated short was created to “evangalize,” get people thinking about the Fed and central banks, not just appeal to scholars and economists, present a pro-market message of hope and change. The cartoon pointed out how secretive the Fed is, for instance giving trillions to banks in other countries without mentioning it to anyone. We might get a copy of the cartoon to see if we can spread pro-freedom propaganda in schools that prefer pushing greater dependence on bigger governments. More bylaws bullshit followed. I spare the reader all the grizzly details, even those I understood. The schedule listed the banquet at 6:30 p.m., only it was supposed to be 7:30. The speaker was John Stagliano on “My Victory in Court: a First Amendment Triumph.” Acquire an enormous amount of information on him by Googling “John Stagliano” or visit Buttman.com, if you are an adult. For Reasoned information about him and his case, see a fine interview by Nick Gillespie, the man in black on reason.tv. Stagliano is a pornographer (he is Buttman), involved in adult videos, mostly as director and producer, and a long-time Libertarian. The beginning of his talk was terrific, but I had to leave for an appointment to see Sarah Silverman at the Montbleu. I could have heard more had they started earlier. There was a Texas Hold ‘em Poker Tournament later. I decided to skip that, wisely as it seems. I’m no poker player. Don’t even know what Texas Hold ‘em is. I presume it involves cards. Sunday![]() Sunday’s breakfast speaker was Richard Winger. I’ve subscribed to his “Ballot Access News” for many years, met him during the campaign. He is knowledgeable, and his talk, “What’s New in the Fight to Keep Us on the Ballot in the Aftermath of Prop 14,” was on the mark. As you know, Prop 14 was the “Top 2” primary amendment that effectively excludes minor party candidates from the General Election. Not even the Democrat-Republican party support it, since it was part of a political deal with Abel Maldonado to get his vote on the budget or something. So the major and the Libertarian party are contesting it in San Francisco Superior Court, Field v Bowen. Their case attacks two flaws in the law and its execution.
From breakfast, we went right to the morning session, which reconvened at 10:12, not 9:00. (Snide comment omitted.) There were 76 delegates, with name tags for all.
“Are we awake?” We returned to the prickly Bylaws issue of compensating for Prop 14. Richard Winger was asked to provide his opinion, which was that it was not his area of expertise, he wasn’t sure about it and had nothing to offer. I wanted to remind the group that I said on Saturday that there was no reason to postpone deliberations for Richard Winger, but I resisted, not wanting to be called "out-of-order." My recollection is that we voted to not decide for now, keeping our options open, since no one seemed to understand the amendment sufficiently to make a case for its adoption. There were officer elections [complete list below] and a unanimous candidate endorsement of Steve Collett for the 36th Congressional District, the same one for which Debra is running.
Election Results (partial)
We broke for lunch, where Steven Kubby was to speak on “Liberty, Leadership and Libertarianism.” Surprisingly it began not at 12:45, more like 1:05, so early. I had to leave to free my belongings from the hotel before they charged me for another day’s lodging.
More stuff, in what might be considered an addendum: The web site earned some criticism. Flavio, the less than riveting spokesman, was not very helpful, but there was no resolution, just unanswered questions. The New Voter Registration Outreach Kit! looks impressive, only it seems to cost $100.
|