Friday, October 31, 2008

Libertarian candidates to represent Wake County in the NC Senate – Video Statements

Jan MacKay for NC Senate (district 15)
To learn more about Jan MacKay and her campaign to represent Wake County in the NC Senate, check out these articles:
and visit her campaign website.

Brian Irving for NC Senate (district 17)
To learn more about Brian Irving's campaign for NC Senate, visit his website – Liberty Point.

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Friday, October 24, 2008

October 28: Bob Barr to speak at Duke and UNC

Come join others around the area to listen to the former Congressman and Libertarian presidential candidate discuss his plans to restore the country.

Duke at 5 pm: Bob Barr will speak at Duke University in room 139 of the Social Sciences building this Tuesday, October 28, at 5 pm. The Social Sciences building is between the Allen and Soc/Psych buildings on Flowers Drive. Parking is available at Duke Gardens or in the parking lot at the Bryan Center.

UNC at 8 pm: Bob Barr will also speak at UNC-Chapel Hill at 8 pm this Tuesday in 103 Bingham Hall. For help with finding it, please consult the UNC campus map and this UNC visitor parking map. This little map with directions to Bingham Hall may also be useful.



Update 10-29-08: Both the News & Observer and the Independent Weekly reported on Bob Barr's visit to NC. The picture below is from the Indy story.
The N&O article contained this quote from Barr's talk at Duke:
“The lack of understanding that the job of the president of the United States is to protect, defend and expand our liberty, and not to protect, defend and expand their power, is dangerous.”
At UNC, Bob Barr talked about the bailout that he opposed, and how after adding hundreds of pages and more money to the bill, the bill passed with Paulson put in charge of overseeing Paulson.

Barr also talked about the criteria set up by the presidential debates commission that works to exclude most third party candidates from the debates. The commission requires a 15% level of support in 5 national polls that often don't even include third party candidates. So, it's a Catch-22, with the “nonpartisan” Commission on Presidential Debates actually working to promote the Democratic and Republican candidates while effectively keeping out all but the wealthiest competition.

Before he spoke at Duke and UNC, Bob Barr was also a guest on the Allan Handelman show on FM 101.1 WZTK in the afternoon. You can still listen to the podcast of that show.

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About the Libertarian Party of Wake County (2008)

The Libertarian Party of Wake County (Wake LP) is a county affiliate of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina. Wake LP members participate in a variety of activities, such as supporting Libertarian candidates for elected offices, working with local advocacy groups on state and local issues, and doing the studio work to broadcast the The Libertarian Alternative on RTN-10. Most recently, some of our members are forming a team to produce a local TV show.

Wake LP Organization
At the 2008 Wake LP Convention, members adopted a Statement of Organization (pdf) for the county party and elected officers for the year:

                Chair – Fernie Williams
                Vice Chair – Joy Elliott
                Secretary – Linda Ellis
                Treasurer – Stephanie Watson

In addition to an annual convention, Wake LP has monthly business meetings. For more details about these meetings and weekly social meetings for Triangle Libertarians, see Wake LP Meetings and Events.

Triangle Libertarian Meetup and Email Lists
For news from the Libertarian Party of North Carolina, sign up for LPNC Announcements. For online discussion relevant only to Libertarians in Wake County, we have a Wake LP email discussion list. Libertarians all around the Triangle are welcome to join the Triangle Libertarian Meetup.

LPNC Executive Committee Members in Wake County
Stephanie Watson is the Secretary of the LPNC. Joy Elliott, Brian Irving, Phil Jacobson, and Chris Spruyt are executive committee members at-large. Brian Irving is also the LPNC Communications Director, and Susan Hogarth is the Outreach Director for LPNC.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Libertarian Cole Tells Republicans: “Take on Me on Same-Sex Marriage!”

From the campaign of Christopher Cole for US Senate

A mailer from the GOP State Executive Committee hit mailboxes on Monday, accusing Democrat Senate Nominee Kay Hagan of being a closet supporter of legal same-sex marriage. Their evidence? A 2005 statement opposing a state constitutional marriage amendment and a contribution from the Godless Americans PAC.

The reality is that Hagan has been silent on gay marriage, even when directly asked.

The NC Family Policy Council distributed a candidate questionnaire that explicitly included the marriage issue. The answers clearly distinguish Libertarian Cole as supporting equality under the law, Dole opposed. Hagan? Silent. Out in Asheville, a gay-market newspaper in the western end of the state, published a voter guide, in which neither Dole nor Hagan spoke to their reporter. Libertarian Cole did, and is quoted strongly in favor of equality under the law.

As an openly-gay man himself, Libertarian Christopher Cole has a personal and moral perspective on the legal treatment of gay and lesbian folks. Maybe that is why the Republicans attack the tongue-tied Hagan, but not the outspoken Cole.

For more information on Libertarian views of gay and lesbian Americans, visit the website of Outright Libertarians, at http://www.outrightusa.org.

----- end of press release -----

Christopher “Chris” Cole is the Libertarian nominee for US Senator from North Carolina. To learn more about Chris, visit his campaign website.

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Saturday, October 18, 2008

Fair Ballot Access for Increased Voter Choice

In anticipation of the Candidate and Ballot Access Forum coming up this Tuesday, Jan MacKay, the Libertarian candidate for NC Senator for District 15, has drafted proposed legislation entitled “Fair Ballot Access for Increased Voter Choice”.

According to Jan MacKay, “In addition to being extremely biased in favor of Democrats and Republicans , which are the two largest political parties, the current law is also very flawed. If, for whatever reason, a party is terminated, if there is a member of that party elected to the NC General Assembly, the legislator will automatically be deemed ‘unaffiliated’. Let’s say, for example, Jan MacKay is elected to the NC Senate as the Libertarian candidate. There is no provision which allows her to continue to be the Libertarian Senator if the party is terminated. It is not clear what would happen to Libertarians elected to the NCGA , but the law clearly specifies that all registered voters become unaffiliated upon termination of a political party. The State would probably deem the NCGA member as unaffiliated, and such a move might present an unwanted and unnecessary judicial challenge. Clearly the law must be amended.”

Jan MacKay knows about the legislative process as a result of diligence when fighting for civil liberties, and is ready to go to work as your senator immediately. She will be speaking during the ballot access part of the forum in Raleigh this coming Tuesday, along with Brian Irving, the Libertarian candidate for NC Senator for District 17.

The candidate and ballot access forum begins at 6pm this Tuesday in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 3313 Wade Ave, Raleigh. Susan Hogarth, the Libertarian candidate to represent district 38 in the NC House, will participate in the candidate part of the forum, as will Deborah Ross, the current representative for district 38.

Learn more about Jan MacKay on her campaign website. For more information on the candidate and ballot access forum in Raleigh, please see this article or this printer-friendly flyer, and plan to join us there!

Link to the proposed ballot access legislation (pdf)

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Mike Munger talks about ballot access in North Carolina on LibertyTube TV

In this episode of LibertyTube TV, Mike Munger talks about ballot access in North Carolina and democracy in America. Phillip Rhodes makes a brief appearance near the beginning.

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Friday, October 17, 2008

Upcoming Events in the Triangle

NC State Fair in Raleigh
Oct. 16 - 26: Email Susan Hogarth or call her at 919-906-2106 to volunteer or with questions.

Peace, Prosperity and Liberty Concert & Forum
Friday, Oct. 17, 7:15 pm on the UNC-CH campus
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/8979905/

Candidate Forum in Wake Forest
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 3:30pm at the Wake Forest Town Hall - Jan MacKay will be speaking, along with other candidates for NC Senate 15 and candidates for NC House 40.
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/8941265/

Candidate and Ballot Access Forum in Raleigh
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6:00pm - Three Libertarian candidates for the General Assembly are participating: Susan Hogarth (NC House District 38) in the candidate forum; Jan MacKay (NC Senate 15) and Brian Irving (NC Senate 17) in the ballot access forum.
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/8966288/

Bob Barr October Meetup - please sign up!
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 pm at Loco Lu's Coffeehouse in Raleigh
http://bobbarr.meetup.com/96/calendar/8830100/

Regular Wake LP Social Meeting
Thursday, Oct. 23, 6:30pm at Tir Na Nog in Raleigh
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/8922439/

Alamance County Libertarian Party Kickoff!
Thursday, Oct. 23, 7 pm in Graham, NC
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/8972267/

Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr to visit NC
Tuesday, Oct. 28 - Bob Barr will speak at Duke University at 5pm and UNC at 8pm.
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/9034384/

Regular Wake LP Social Meeting
Thursday, Oct. 30, 6:30pm at Tir Na Nog in Raleigh
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/8922585/

Election Day - Tuesday, Nov. 4

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Final Gubernatorial Debate Tonight!

This final gubernatorial debate, the third for Libertarian candidate Mike Munger, is also a first this election season, because it's the first debate in which all three candidates for governor will participate. It's sponsored by WSOC-TV, WTVI Charlotte and the Charlotte Mecklenburg League of Women Voters, and will be rebroadcast by television and radio stations across the state, beginning at 7 pm tonight.

Mike Munger participated in two previous UNC-TV debates with Mayor McCrory of Charlotte. If you missed either of these previous gubernatorial debates, you can still catch them online. You can find a link to the first one, along with some quotes from Mike Munger posted here. You can view the second of these two debates on PBS.org.

If you're in the Triangle area, you can watch tonight's debate live on WRAL-TV or listen live on WUNC, 91.5 FM. UNC-TV will also rebroadcast the debate this Sunday, the 19th, at 1 pm.

10/16/08: WTVI has provided a podcast of the October 15 debate that you can view here.

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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Candidate & ballot access forum

The Triangle Green Party is sponsoring a Candidate and Ballot Access Forum Tuesday, Oct. 21 beginning at 6 p.m. in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 3313 Wade Ave, Raleigh.

The first part of the evening will feature a discussion between Democrat Rep. Deborah Ross and Libertarian candidate Susan Hogarth, candidates for NC House District 38. The second half of the forum will be a discussion of Ballot Access issues, with Libertarian candidates Jan MacKay (Senate 15) and Brian Irving (Senate 17) joining the panel.

All candidates were invited to attend this forum. The Triangle Greens held three similar forums in Durham.

For more information email build4green@nc.rr.com or call 919-491-3186.

I urge all Wake Libertarian activists to attend, to show our support for the Libertarian-Green alliance on this issue. The Greens have sponsored three similar forums in Durham.

A good turnout could also influence Rep. Ross, who has said she's in favor of lowering the ballot access restrictions. Jan will have copies of a bill she's drafted, Fair Ballot Access for Increased Voter Choice.

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Saturday, October 11, 2008

NC Senate Candidate Battles Safety Nanny Government

From the campaign of Jan MacKay for NC Senate
Raleigh NC, Bikers USA, September 29, 2008

On April 25th, Jan MacKay says she was nearly run down on Garner Rd, by a highway patrol truck driven by a state trooper, just down the street from Highway Patrol Headquarters. She received a ticket for not wearing a helmet, despite wearing one which she says meets the lawful requirements. Perhaps, it did not appear to conform. Perhaps, it did not meet with the troopers subjective approval. However, Ms MacKay says it was a manufacturer self-certified partial coverage helmet. As such, it is of a type compliant with federal motor vehicle safety standard, FMVSS 218, therefore lawful.

Since then, she has gone to district court four times. The first three times, the court was not ready to proceed. The trooper who is based in Surry and Yadkin counties has driven to Raleigh twice, a 5 hour round trip, and sat in court. The total amount of time the trooper has been away from patrol has been approximately 17 hours, over an infraction which carries a $25 fine. This seems like a travesty not wanted by the taxpayers. Some citizens might also see problems when consumers, rather than manufacturers, are held responsible for complying with federal requirements on motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, and in the case of a helmet - what they wear.

On July 1st, Ms MacKay announced her candidacy for NC Senate representing Senate District 15 which is North Raleigh, Wake Forest, and unincorporated areas around Falls Lake, which she says should remain unincorporated despite annexation plans. She is getting lots of well-wishers from all over North Carolina and from other states as well. Her internet campaign is doing well, with a website that is top-ranked on Google. "That's good because I do not have money from PAC's and lobbyists in order to support my campaign. I think the pathway to ending corruption in Raleigh is for legislators to stop taking money from special interests. Information, yes. Money, no. I will try to live on the meager $20,659 salary and do my best for the people rather than the well-financed."

On August 27th, she was found guilty in district court and immediately appealed to Superior Court. According to the judge, she was not found guilty due to the leather helmet she was wearing, but because the trooper testified the straps were not tightly cinched under her chin. It was exactly the type of decision she wanted, because an appeal to Superior Court is needed in order to overturn the NC helmet law and stop law enforcement from being overly aggressive in pulling over motorcyclists.

On September 26th, she served a copy of a 26 page legal brief on the Wake County District Attorney Office and filed it with the clerk of Superior Court. Jan is not a lawyer, and is defending herself. "I do not recommend anyone represent themselves pro se in major crimes, but if an intelligent person cannot represent herself in court against a minor infraction, and get a fair trial, then our judicial system has serious problems".

If the law is overturned, people will still be able to wear helmets. They will be able to wear any helmet they want, rather than being forced to wear one that someone in China says is compliant, and perhaps they will not be forced to attach any device to their heads. This is all about individual liberties and the right to decide such important matters for ourselves rather than rely on a safety nanny government to make all decisions for us.

The date for the trial in Superior Court is November 10th, six days after the election. Perhaps it will be the first of many rights and individual liberties "Senator" Jan MacKay will energetically fight for.

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Monday, October 06, 2008

Mike on the Move: Munger Campaign Updates

The following is adapted from a message from the Munger campaign. Subscribe to Munger campaign updates here.

Last Day to win a Debate Ticket!

There are a limited number of tickets to the October 15th debate in Charlotte between Mike and his two opponents, Bev Perdue and Pat McCrory.

If you want to be entered into a drawing to win a seat in the audience, just make a contribution of $50 (or more) at Munger08.com TODAY, October 6! If you've snail-mailed a donation, let us know to enter you into the lottery.

Rules for entering: If you are selected, you agree to attend. The debate will be at the WTVI studio in Charlotte. Mike's guests should plan to arrive by 6:15pm; the debate will be broadcast live from 7 to 8pm. Winners will be notified by email.


This Week on the Campaign Trail

Monday: Mike will travel to Whiteville to be part of the Columbus County Fair.

Tuesday: Mike will be headlining a Green Party forum in Durham on ballot access on October 7.

Wednesday: Mike will speak to members of the Senior Tar Heel Legislature about his campaign at the Brownstone Inn in Raleigh. AND Mike will face off in a second live televised debate with his Republican opponent Mayor Pat McCrory on UNC-TV at 8 pm.

Thursday: Mike will speak to members of the Campaign for Liberty Meetup at Café 101 in downtown Raleigh. Dinner starts around 6:30 pm and the program begins around 7:00 pm.

Friday: Mike will participate in a live interview and web chat at WXII in Winston-Salem. AND Mike will greet voters at the Libertarian Party booth 7 to 9pm at the Dixie Classic in Winston-Salem. The booth is in the Annex Building. Come chat with Mike and pick up a yard sign or two!

More Information

LAWN SIGNS: Lots of folks are asking about lawn signs and bumper stickers. You can request them from the campaign by replying to this email*, but you can also pick them up at the LPNC's booth at the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem this week or the State Fair in Raleigh Oct 16 to 26. If you'd like to work a shift at either Fair, information can be found here.

NEW LIBERTARIANS: The State Board of Elections registered over 230 new Libertarians last week! We've had to start from ground zero after being disaffiliated by the state,and Mike's campaign is generating a lot of new Libertarians. There are over 1,700 registered Libertarians already, and we've only been able to register folks as Libertarian for the past few months.

* email updates from the Munger campaign (subscribe here)

10/11/08: The 2nd UNC-TV debate is now available as an online video.

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Independent Political Action Public Forum in Durham this Tuesday

On Tuesday, October 7, 6pm, Durham Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro Street, Main Auditorium- the Triangle Local of the NC Green Party will sponsor a forum on fair ballot access featuring Mike Munger, Libertarian candidate for Governor. Mike Munger will respond to questions about the impact of the recent bailout legislation on the North Carolina economy.

Other speakers will include Jan Martel, Co-Chair, NC Green Party and Barbara Howe, Chair, NC Libertarian Party. Third party leaders will speak on ballot access rules and the status of a joint lawsuit against the State for relief from oppressive ballot access rules. The State Board of Elections required nearly 70,000 verified signatures for third party candidates to get on the ballot in 2008.

This is the last of 3 Durham forums providing opportunities for Durham candidates running in contested elections for state offices. Forums were held on September 17 with Paul Luebke (D) and Libertarian challenger Sean Haugh running for House District 30. On September 23, incumbent Larry Hall (D) and Libertarian challenger Justin Lallinger made their cases in the race for the House District 29 seat. Also, on September 23, Ken Chandler (R), Floyd McKissick (D) and David Rollins (L) appealed for support in the State Senate District 20 race.

The forum is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Mike Munger says the bailout bill will do more harm than good

Mike Munger, a Duke economist and the Libertarian candidate for governor, is among dozens of university professors nationwide who are telling Congress the proposed bailout will do more harm than good.

Check out this news clip of Munger talking about the bailout on WRAL-TV yesterday:

http://www.wral.com/news/state/video/3654603/

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Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Mike Munger on the Issues -- Share this!

The short statements below were taken from the more detailed Issues Page of Mike Munger's website. Please share this post with fellow North Carolina voters.

Mike Munger on the Issues
The reason I want to run for Governor of North Carolina as a Libertarian is that I want to restore good government to our great state. My themes, a moratorium on capital punishment, control of municipal aggression against property, a broad-based education vouchers system and ending corporate welfare, are all echoes of this one central theme. I am a liberal, in the way that Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were liberals. I believe in the human spirit more than I believe in government direction and control of human activity. As Governor, I will lead North Carolina towards a rebirth of liberty, tempered by the requirements, and the ethics, of personal responsibility.

Annexation
As Governor, I would work to persuade the General Assembly to pass legislation to curb this assault on freedom and property.

Corporate Welfare
We are being played for saps, and it is time to end this wasteful and corrupting practice. The way to attract new business, and to retain existing factories and jobs, is to create an atmosphere that is good for business. Low taxes, no burdensome regulations, and an educated and productive work force are the things that make an economy prosper.

Death Penalty
Get the state out of the killing business! As Governor, I would immediately impose a two-year moratorium on executions in our state, and would ask for legislation ending executions completely.

Election Reform
Elections are the means by which the citizens control politicians. We cannot rely on politicians and elected officials to police their own activities. I would favor a relaxation of ballot access and retention rules for 'third parties'. I would reduce signature requirements for 'write-in' challengers. I would also favor relaxing restrictions on campaign contributions, though keeping the disclosure requirements as they now stand.

Continue for complete short version of issues list … Eminent Domain
The first piece of legislation I would try to persuade the General Assembly to pass would be a statute sharply limiting the use of eminent domain to public uses. Second, I would support an amendment to the state Constitution curtailing the use of eminent domain forever.

Marriage
I would support legislation that allows legal civil unions between same sex couples, under the same conditions that this contract is offered to female/male couples. The state cannot tell churches or spiritual groups to award or withhold a sacrament or ritual of marriage. But neither can churches require that the state deny the economic benefits of the civil union contract to citizens.

School Choice
It has become customary to bash public education, and the state of our educational system in general. I want to sound a positive note; there are a lot of good things happening in North Carolina education, and I would want to continue that advance, to guide continued improvement. And the path to continued improvement is to foster choice. School choice would be the central premise of the education policy of a Munger administration.

I would offer each parent in the state of NC an education voucher, financed by lottery proceeds, of $1,250 per child in their household. This voucher could only be spent at a state-accredited school, or be credited to the household in the case of home-schooling. But I would make the accreditation process streamlined and simple, fostering the growth of charter schools, religious or theme schools, or any other kind of innovative educational program that can attract the children of parents who want to exercise their choices as parents.

Victimless Crimes
The US incarcerates by far the largest proportion of its population of any country in the world, accounting for nearly one fifth of the world's prison population.

Our state must strike a better balance, on two fronts. First, we must stop criminalizing so many behaviors that represent addictive personalities or recreational pathologies. I do not advocate the legalization of all, or even most, drugs. But I would favor decriminalizing most drug possession, and most other victimless crimes including prostitution. Second, we must stop spending so much of our money and effort on incarceration, and more on rehabilitation and alternative sentencing.

Please forward this post to your friends and associates and encourage them to check out Mike's website - Munger08.com

Print this article.

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Libertarian Cole, The Candidate for Gun Rights

From the campaign of Christopher Cole for US Senate

Grassroots North Carolina (the NC affiliate of Gunowners of America) has announced their candidate ratings of the US Senate candidates on the issue of protecting Second Amendment rights:
Christopher Cole, 100%, four stars
Elizabeth Dole, 92% (100% for voting history), four stars
Kay Hagan, no response (64% for voting history), one star
Christopher Cole, reliably pro-gun, for hunters, collectors, and for self-defense. And most importantly, for the enemies of tyrants. As Thomas Jefferson said, "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

----- end of press release -----

Christopher “Chris” Cole is the Libertarian nominee for US Senator from North Carolina. To learn more about Chris, visit his campaign website.

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