March Madness: Three major LP events scheduled in Orlando at same complex, same weekend - Page 3 Libertarian affiliate goals - Page 6 Libertarians call for Homeland Security to drop new program - Page 2 January 2007 The Official Monthly Newspaper of the Libertarian Party Volume 36 / Issue 1 Denver to host Former Congressman Bob Barr 2008 Libertarian newest LNC member an Americans tarian Party, became a part of the and Alabama met via teleconfer- National Convention be persuaded Libertarian management team he ence to discuss the matter after to cast votes had described after he was of- the recent resignation of Mark HE LIBERTARIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE has an- based “C on something more than fered the position of Regional 4 Bodenhausen for medical rea- nounced that Denver, Colorado will be the host city party label and habit,” asked for- for the 2008 Libertarian National Convention. The mer U.S. Congressman Bob Barr LPT presidential nominating convention will be held between in a recent Atlanta Journal-Con- Friday, May 23 and Monday, May 26 at the Adam’s Mark stitution article. “Will the next Hotel. Adam’s Mark Denver is Colorado’s largest hotel, two years witness, at long last, the with over 1225 rooms and 133,000 sq. ft. of meeting and ex- rise of a truly viable third party hibit space. — not one molded in the image “We are extremely proud to serve as the venue for the 2008 of a wealthy egotist but one based convention,” said Libertarian Party of Colorado Chairman on meaningful and substantive Travis Nicks. “We look forward to showing the nation’s ideas? Will the 35-year-old Lib- Libertarians what the birthplace of the Libertarian Party ertarian Party finally prove itself has to offer.” a party truly concerned with winning elections as opposed to defiantly championing issues ■ Bob Barr stumping in Texas with Libertarian congressional candidate that will never fit the description Bob Smither ‘mainstream?’ If the new man- agement of the Libertarian Party Representative to the Libertarian sons. has anything to say about it, the National Committee. State leaders endorsed Barr as answer to those questions will be The state chairs of Region their representative to lead them a resounding ‘yes.’” 4, which is made up of Florida, into the 2008 presidential elec- In mid-December, Bob Barr, a South Carolina, North Carolina, tion season. David Chastain is recent Life Member of the Liber- Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, See BARR Page 3 Indiana Libertarian sworn in by Libertarian judge T’S BEEN SAID that “when on January 1st, when Susan Bell, the Libertarian Party of Indiana. dog bites man, that’s judge of the Hagerstown Town “Despite the election law hurdles ■ Adam’s Mark Hotel in Denver Colorado not news, but when man Court, administered the oath placed against the Libertarian bitesI dog, that’s news!” While of office to Conley Tillson and Party by the Republicans and While Libertarians hold a Libertarian National Conven- it doesn’t appear there was any Steve Coffman. Democrats, the Libertarian Party tion every two years, on presidential election years they select biting going on, there was an un- “What makes this so very spe- has grown in Indiana to the point their presidential and vice presidential candidates through usual occurrence in Hagerstown cial is that this is the first time this where an elected Libertarian the convention process. has ever happened judge is now giving the oath of “With all of the recent media interest about the libertar- to my knowledge See SWORN IN Page 2 ian vote in western mountain states, Denver will provide an in the United excellent opportunity for us to show the voters what is meant States. Never be- by smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom,” said fore has a judge Affiliate news LNC Chairman William Redpath. “Additionally, the Liber- elected as a Lib- .........................Page 5 tarian National Convention won’t be a coronation of some ertarian given the LTEs return to LP pre-determined candidate held at taxpayer expense.” oath of office to News..............Page 8 The Libertarian Party, which recently celebrated its 35th any newly elected birthday, was founded in Colorado in 1971. Libertarians officials elected as Convention plans for ■ do not accept public funding for their national convention, Indiana LP State Chair Mark Rutherford and a Libertarian” said Inside your family members while the Republican and Democrat conventions generally former Executive Director Brad Klopfenstein Mark Rutherford, .......................Page 12 cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. congratulate newly elected Libertarians Steve State Chairman of Coffman and Conley Tillson PAGE • Libertarian Party News • January 007 WHAT’S NEW Indiana Libertarian sworn in by a Libertarian Continued from Page 1 office to two Libertarian elected expressed appreciation for the from people who like what Liber- “Obviously, the town and city officials today.” confidence voters have placed tarians stand for, especially at the elections that will be held this Susan Bell was elected to the in them, and vowed to keep a state and local level, but they fear year are more within reach of the Town Court in 2003. Tillson was watchful eye on the taxpayers’ voting for us amounts to wasting LP and its limited resources. We elected to the Clay Township Ad- money. their vote. Putting a few in the can’t come close to spending as visory Board, and Coffman was Township Board members are ‘win column’ will go a long way much as the two major parties, elected to the Liberty Township elected for four-year terms, and in alleviating those fears.” but in the smaller races we can Advisory Board in last Novem- have responsibilities in the town- According to Bell, the LP is do the ground work and meet the ber’s election. ship similar to those exercised focusing its attention on the 2007 voters. That is where we shine. Both Tillson and Coffman by the County Council, dealing elections. That is what we can build on.” ■ Steve Coffman, Conley Tillson and Susan Bell mostly with township budgets. Rex Bell, Chairman of the Lib- ertarian Party of Wayne County, says all three wins were quite welcome. “We organized the local LP in 2002 and since that time we have ran some competi- tive races with some respectable vote totals in the 25-30 percent range, but a win definitely feels better.” Bell also hopes the wins will ■ Judge Susan Bell administers the oath of office to Steve Coffman, instill confidence in the local vot- ■ Judge Susan Bell administers the oath of office to Conley Tillson, recently elected member of the Liberty Township Advisory Board ers. “We hear a lot of comments recently elected member of the Clay Township Advisory Board Libertarian Party calls for Homeland Security to drop expansive screening program HE LIBERTARIAN PARTY to ensure accountability,” said LP “may be utilized to develop or test gation, arrested, indicted or con- ty system. The Libertarian Party has called upon the De- Communications Director Ste- algorithms assessing risks to pas- victed, Homeland Security seeks is objecting primarily on Fifth partment of Homeland phen Gordon. “The Libertarian sengers whose names are not on to add tens of millions of addi- Amendment grounds. The Fifth SecurityT to cease activities which Party has jumped into the fray government watch lists.” Home- tional people to this general law Amendment clearly requires target tens of millions of people on this issue because Americans land Security announced that the enforcement category. Homeland government to use “due process as potential threats to the govern- are being denied the most basic system “builds a risk assessment Security’s other claim for Privacy of law” before depriving anyone ment. The Bureau of Customs of their civil rights guaranteed by for cargo, conveyances, and trav- Act exemption is for people un- of “life, liberty or property.” The and Border Protection recently our laws and our Constitution.” elers based on criteria and rules der criminal investigation. The Libertarian Party contends that announced that it is using its Au- In a formal comment submitted developed by CBP.” Homeland Privacy Act requires that law en- the right to travel freely is one of tomated Targeting System, a sys- in December by the Libertarian Security’s actions clearly contra- forcement comply with requests the liberties described in the Fifth tem previously used to track car- Party, opposition to the Homeland dict the very piece of legislation to furnish copies of collected per- Amendment. go, to create risk assessments on Security system was expressed in which funds it. sonal information to persons who “The obvious attempt of DHS all international travelers as well three general categories of com- Conflict with the Privacy Act: have been investigated. Home- is to deprive people of liberty as a wide variety of U.S. citizens ments: Homeland Security has claimed land Security refuses to comply without being restrained by our who work in the transportation Conflict with DHS Appropria- exemption from the Privacy Act with this statute. ‘due process’ tradition and law,” and travel industries. tions Act: The Department of on law enforcement grounds. Constitutional Arguments: reads the Libertarian Party pub- While individuals may be as- Homeland Security Appropria- While the Privacy Act clearly There are a variety of potential lic comment. “If allowed, DHS signed risk categories and denied tions Act of 2007 expressly for- identifies exceptions as persons Constitutional arguments in op- will be circumventing the entire flights, they are not able to obtain bids the use of any funds that who are under criminal investi- position to the Homeland Securi- judicial system and consequently a copy of the information Home- depriving Americans of one of land Security has compiled about their most essential rights.