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Libertarian National Committee, Inc. ♦ 2600 Virginia Ave, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 ♦ Phone: (202) 333-0008 ♦ Fax: (202) 333-0072 DECEMBER 2000 newsletter Libertarian wins Supreme Court case UP DATE n Indiana Libertarian "stand up to something that Election '00: Party member has won I know is wrong," he said. A a Supreme Court de- Palmer and co-plaintiff cision striking down random James Edmond first lost in 34 victories drug-search roadblocks. U.S. District Court, won in The number of Libertarians On November 28, the the Seventh Circuit Court winning public office in nation's highest court ruled of Appeals — and won the November has jumped to 6-3 that police checkpoints ultimate victory when the 34, thanks to a flurry of late infringe on the Fourth Amend- high court ruled in his favor. results — including a 5-vote ment's protection against In its decision, the squeaker in California. unreasonable search and Supreme Court said drug- The new victories make violate motorists' privacy. search roadblocks are fun- Election 2000 the most The ruling was a defeat damentally different than successful presidential year for Indianapolis, which had checkpoints to find drunk ever for the party in terms used police and drug- ■ Joell Palmer: Wins 6-3 drivers or illegal aliens, of winning local office, said sniffing dogs at random Supreme Court victory. which it has held to be legal. LP Political Director Ron checkpoints to search "We have never approv- Crickenberger. motorists for illegal drugs 1,161 drivers stopped in ed a checkpoint program "We may have fallen — and a victory for LP Indianapolis between whose primary purpose short in the presidential member Joell Palmer, who August and November 1998 was to detect evidence of vote, but we exceeded all was a plaintiff in the case. after police set up "narcotic ordinary criminal wrong- expectations in the number "This is a big day for checkpoints" in various doing," wrote Justice of local wins," he said. "We Libertarians everywhere," locations. Although he did Sandra Day O'Connor. If elected five times as many said Indiana LP Executive not consent to it, Palmer's the court allowed such Libertarians this year as we Director Brad Klopfenstein. car was searched by police roadblocks, "the Fourth did in 1996." "Freedom has won out over dogs. No drugs were found. Amendment would do little In addition to the 26 oppression for a change. We With the help of the to prevent such intrusions victories reported immedi- are all very proud of Joell." Indiana Civil Liberties Union, from becoming a routine ately after the November 7 Palmer, 21, was one of Palmer filed a lawsuit to part of American life." election, Libertarians were elected in West Virginia, Michigan, Iowa, and Idaho. Libertarians won posts as County Constables, on a Gov. : Loves 'libertarian' Soil & Water Conservation overnor Gary Johnson said in the January 2001 In response, Drug Czar Barry Board, as a County Prosecut- G loves it when you call issue of Playboy. "If people McCaffrey labeled him "Puff ing Attorney, on an Agricul- him a "Libertarian." call me a Republican Liber- Daddy Johnson." tural Extension District, Johnson, the two-term tarian, great. I separate At the time, New Mexico and as a County Surveyor. Republican governor of New myself from the [Republi- Libertarians tried to draft The most contested Mexico — and one of the can] party when it wants to Johnson as the LP's presi- race: The Rancho Simi Rec- country's leading advocates legislate morality." dential candidate, which he reation and Park District of an end to the Drug War — Johnson, 47, generated "politely declined." seat (Ventura Co., California), said so in a new interview. headlines in 1999 when he Johnson, whose term won by Kate O'Brien by five "If there's a criticism called for an end to the War ends in 2002, said in Playboy, votes out of 17,310 cast. Her about me that I love, it's on Drugs — becoming the "I don't plan to run again opponent didn't concede that I'm a Libertarian," he first GOP governor to do so. for any office." until December 11. Libertarian candidate calls earlyresultsavictory Harry Brownehadonegoal state theparty considers oneof about 1,000supporters ina about evenwithus.Thatshows said ofhisReformPartyoppo- Tuesday—night returns inAtlanta,speaking to its strongest. we did,andhetook$16million Buchanan. EarlyTuesday the powerofourmessage." million votesandaccomplish nent. "Withthat,he'srunning his goal. night, hepredictedhe'dtop1 in taxpayerfunds,"Browne ian presidentialcandidate II. —] o 77. 2000

Massachusetts, November 8, "He got50timesthepress Browne watchedelection ATLANTA (AP)—Libertar- o6 c.N1 co co U z V 1Z- 1 E C . !

Libertarians saythey'rebuildingforthefuture By JASONLEFFERTS Sun Staff as importantthefeelingthatitssmall but growingbandofsmall-government gaftis thepartyhasmadesince1998. were sorelylackingforinformation. Poor ballotperformancetakessecondtoraisingvoterawareness yoU do?—Libertaiaaartycandidates DaY questionforacandidate—Howdid area faredpoorlywhentheresultsare advocates ispickingupsteaminMassa- pa'Oy membersdrawcomfortfromthe ecstatic, butthisisaboutbuildingforthe elinsetts. l'If'be happy.IfIbreak20percent,I'llhe against DemocratEdwardKennedy,and gled toreach20percent,butneverthreat- waA inaduelwithRepublicanJackE. I Thwellmusteredonlyabout13percent Rqbinson forsecondplace. viewed intraditionalterms.Thethree candidate PatrickEl-AzemofChelmsford. enpd anyDemocraticincumbent. future," saidHouseofRepresentatives House andthreeSenatecandidatesstrug- betit CarolClevenofChelmsford,14,419 to 3,697. joined theHowell/Libertariancelebration El .Azemwassoundlybeatenbyincum- of acenteractivityfortheLibertarian 200 cheeredforHowellandanyLibertar- and booedKennedy. knowing howhewasdoingbecause ell area,whichhasturnedintosomething ian resultsthatwereshownontelevision, in Dedham.Anenergizedcrowdofover " 'I'mrealistic.IfIbreakdoubledigits, ''The numbersdidn'tmatter,however,as - Statewide,U.S.SenatecandidateCarla • For Libertarians,countingvoteswasn't DEDHAM --AskedabasicElection Last night,candidatesfromtheLowell Much ofthecrowdcamefromLow- El-Azem spentmuchoflastnightnot - 7 beatingPat because itdoesn't acceptfeder- ously party, whichrelies ondonors also showed tise coritinu- build sup- cial thatwill port forthe plan, hesaid, supporters a weeks. The begin airing new commer- is toadver- in coming moved." been this campaign,"hesaid."I've Browne "People areexcitedabout Liberty PledgeNews• to BROWNE Arlington, butputupastrongfightinher Senate raceagainstRobertHavern,D- trict bya4-1marginbutBillericaonly hometown. Shelostthe4thMiddlesexDis- a fewthousandvotes(8,773to6,223). the night. Party. Sixoftheparty's21candidateson ballots aroundthestatethisyearcame one elsehereseemshappy,butIdon't showing P.ChristopherSchoaffmade five." from theLowellarea,includingsomewho against Rep.GeoffreyHall,D-Westford, had someofthemostimpressiveresults know. Iwashopingforoneoutofevery didn't landherintheSenate,shewould candidates lastnightwhodidcareabout wasn't overlypleasedwiththeresults. the numbers.Freedmansaidifhervotes against LowellincumbentStevePanagio- a 2002campaign. have beenbetter,"Fischettisaid."Every- use themtodeviseacampaignstrategyfor phone, tryingtofindouthowhefared seat inWestford,whereSchoaffwonabout for the1stMiddlesexDistrictseat.He takos forthe1stMiddlesexDistrictSenate 25 percentofthevote,6,933to2,473.They didn't knowthatPanagiotakossteam- and Schoaffdidn'tespeciallycare. rolled SchoaffinLowell,23,482to2,159, you're arealparty." air radioadsandtelevisionwhen and wewantpeopletobeactiveinthe party," Schoaffsaid."We'vebeenableto the Libertarians.Thepartywasabletoget people seeyouontelevision,theything "I thinkifwehadadebate,itwould Ilena FreedmanofBillericalosther Libertarians werethrilledwiththe Freedman wasoneofafewLibertarian Joe Fischettispenttimeonhiscell "We wanttoattractpeopletheparty, Party-building istheultimategoalfor- All threeattract youngview- accept nopolitical advertising. paign, hesaid,wasthatMTV, VH-1 andComedy Central major problem drug useandprostitution. A whom hesaidarereceptive to wants totargetyoungvoters, front door.Firstreachingfor The messageisthatgunspre- the phone,womanthinks Libertarian ideasoflegalizing vent crime. al campaignfunds. woman homealonewhena twice andaimsagunatthe masked manbreaksopenthe intruder, foilingtherobbery. December 2000 Browne saidheparticularly The adshowsayoung , in.thiscam- 24th MiddlesexDistrictandlosebya candidates likeJimMollisonofBillericato similar marginsintheMiddlesexand Kamal JaintoloseSen.PamResorby Mollison, whodidn'treachhistopfigure and admittedhedidn'tcampaignmuch."I Worcester District. nearly 5to1margin,El-Azemlose Chelmsford toClevenbyabout41,and run againstRep.WilliamGreeneforthe They pointoutthatthepartyhadthree that isyou'areseeingaparty around 20percentwouldbenice,"said 1998, and21thisyear.Theyareencour- Our numbersaredoublingandaresultof growing." don't thinkit'sparticularlyimportant. candidates ontheballotin1996,eight Howell finishesat13percent—party House campaignreached20percentor the onlypartyinstatethatisgrowing. aged bythefactthatintwoyears,party her auditor'srunin1998. only getstrongerinthenextfewyears. cash comparedtothe$8,000shespentin campaign, whichraised$800,000,apileof two years.TheyalsopointtoHowell's members feeltheLibertarianeffortwill fidently predictsthepartywillhave100 membership hasdoubledtoover16,000in candidates in2002,andpartyofficials were trumpeting30,000membersintwo years. Jainputsthenumberofcandidates of wherethepartyisnow. in the2002electionatamoreconservative 45 to50,-whichstillrepresentsadoubling and youhavethreeaces,"Jainsaid."You know you'regoingtowinbig." know whatyouhaveinyourhand,and [email protected] "Getting outofthesingledigitsand Leaders saytheLibertarianPartyis Despite thenumbers—whethera State PartyChairmanEliasIsraelcon- "This islikewhenyou'replayingpoker, Jason Lefferts'e-mailaddressisfief- starting asyndicatednewspa- speaking atcollegecampuses, ertarian cause,hesaid,by Drugs." per columnsand possiblywrit- ing abookabout the"Waron lives," hesaid. get governmentoutofour dicted ahealthyfutureforthe Libertarian Party. ers. way theirparentsare." free tolivetheirlivestheway the presidencyagainbutpre- they seefit,"hesaid."They're not weddedtotheparties "This isthepartythatwill He'll stayactiveintheLib- "Young peoplewanttobe Browne saidhewillnotseek

Liberty Pledge News ♦ December 2000 Greens, Libertarians make third-party inroads

Some strong statewide 'We're planning on getting several legislative showings for groups seats next (election) time.

BY HAL BERNTON Seattle Times staff reporter CAROL MILLER Washington's Greens emerged from Tuesday's election unapolo- State director, Libertarian Party getic for the potential spoiler's role played by their presidential candi- date, Ralph Nader, and hoping for new legitimacy as a statewide par- second statewide convention ty. Nov. 18 in Olympia and hopes to Joe Szwaja, the Green Party's offer a much broader slate of candi- lone congressional candidate in dates in the next election. Washington, claimed 20 percent of Szwaja said he would like to see the vote against Democrat Rep. Jim the Green Party focus on electoral McDermott. reform as well as environmental That's the best issues. showing ever But Washington Democrats for a U.S. Green don't see Szwaja's showing in the Party candidate congressional race as a big sign of in an election support for the Green Party. for national of- "I don't think it means too fice, according much," said Paul Berendt, State to party offi- Democratic Party chairman. Joe cials. "Quite frankly, I think some Re- "This party Szwaja publicans who just didn't want to was coming out JIM BATES/THE SEATTLE TIMES vote for Jim McDermott ended up of nowhere; and A Ralph Nader sign appears in a window of the Green Party headquarters at the Speakeasy Cafe on 2nd voting for Szwaja. I think it's more we consider that we won a lot," said Avenue in Seattle's Belltown area. The party hopes to emerge from the election with new legitimacy. • of a partisan Republican vote than a Kara Ceriello, a Green Party Green vote." statewide organizer. "The growth Bennett, who earned more than siphoning away support from Vice "May God have mercy on the of this party will be very powerful." 7 percent of the vote in a three-way President Al Gore in closely fought Democratic Party. They know not Others said Szwaja's showing But the Greens still can't claim battle for lieutenant governor. Ben- states. what they do." was an important step for the state to be the state's pre-eminent third nett's vote gained the Libertarians On Election Day, Nader won If the presidency swings to Green Party. party. Based on the results of status as a major party with a spot more than 90,000 votes in the Bush, the Greens likely will contin- "I think it's a base upon which to Tuesday's elections, those brag- on the ballots in future state races. cliffhanger Florida race that will ue to be the focus of Democratic build," said David Olson, a Univer- ging rights belong to the Libertar- "We're planning on getting sev- determine the presidency. anger. But Szwaja said that Green sity of Washington professor of ian Party. eral legislative seats next (election) At an Election Night party, Party also has helped the Demo- political science. "I think that we In Washington state, the Liber- time," said Carol Miller, director of Green Party loyalists were largely crats by recruiting many new vot- are going to be hearing a lot more tarians ran a full slate of 61 candi- the state Libertarian Party. unmoved by Gore's plight. And ers. And in the tightly fought U.S. from the party in the future. Not at dates for legislative and national Even though the Libertarians some were bitter over the Demo- Senate race in Washington, these the national level, but at the state office. Their best showing was a boast a presence across the state, crat's efforts to persuade Nader Green Party voters likely favored and local level." 40th District House race in which they were often overshadowed by voters to switch to the vice presi- Democrat Maria Cantwell over Re Mark Leigh claimed 22 percent of the high-profile campaign of the dent. publican incumbent Slade Gorton. Seattle Times staff reporter Catherine the vote as the sole opponent of Green Party's national standard "We do not know how many "We should get some credit for Tapley contributed to this report. state Rep. Dave Quail, D-Mount bearer, Ralph Nader. people went into the voting booths that," Szwaja said. Vernon. In the weeks before the elec- their minds confused, their souls He said the Green Party now Hal Hendon's phone message number In statewide races, the Libertar- tion, national and regional media torn," said the Rev. Robert Jeffries has organizers in all 39 Washington is 206-464-2581. His e-mail address 45 ians' strongest candidate was Ruth focused on the prospects for Nader of the Good Hope Baptist Church. counties. The party will hold its hberntonOseattletimes.com.

By Business Journal Staff • , national director of Dasbach said politicians instantly could the Libertarian Party, merrily points out erase the recent surge in gas prices by sus- that government could make "the price of pending or repealing the 43 separate taxes A The Seattle a gallon of gas immediately plummet by they impose on the production and distri- Seattle, Washington 54.2 cents in Hawaii, 53.7 cents in bution of gasoline. November 9, 2000 Connecticut, 51.4 cents in Nevada, 50.4 How likely is that to happen? And how cents in California, and so on. Consumers quickly? would save a whopping $67 billion in one Well, don't forget: the telephone use tax ► The Grand Rapids Busine.rs Journal year." that Congress imposed to finance the Grand Rapids, Michigan (Included in "and so on" would be a Spanish-American War lasted more than a October 2, 2000 like amount at the pump in Michigan.) century. (Congress repealed that tax early this year.) OJ Liberty Pledge News • December 2000 Libertarians win credibility ELECTION: Party's stances come close to them. But such a nutty idea after all. It's worth checking to see if that's true. Our ideas as common as the One of the reasons why Libertarians Private business can't do everything bet- should be included in debate of 40-hour workweek were aren't overly concerned about wide- ter than government. But sometimes it tkk) state, national issues. once considered radical. open borders is that they believe most, can, and the state should explore it Most revolutionary ideas if not all drugs, should be legalized. when possible. They didn't win a single political start out with fringe can- Doing that would do away with much of Libertarians hate taxes. They hate office locally, but there's no doubt in didates. the reason for border checks. taxes more than Republicans and so our minds that some of the biggest win- For example: It's no secret that we have serious they believe it's critically important for nem in Tuesday's elections were the view Libertarians call for a reservations about our nation's drug government to be able to justify the Libertarians. completely open border war. So do people as diverse as money it's spending. Two months ago it's safe to say the with Canada They feel so strongly Whatcom County Superior Court Judge It's a message we hear more and public knew little or nothing about about the issue that they campaigned David Nichols and conservative pioneer more from a cross section of voters, but Libertarians. Today, through the magic together at a Blaine border crossing. William F. Buckley. A city in California it's far from clear that lawmakers are of our electoral process, we know quite The balance between encouraging trade considered Tuesday whether to legalize getting the message. Government a bit about them. and the need for drug and smuggling growing marijuana for personal use. should invest in programs that work They fielded candidates for all of the interdiction definitely needs continued Alaska also was considering a marijua- and do so generously. But it must also statewide partisan races and all of discussion, and lawmakers need an na initiative. The tide is turning on this actively purge what doesn't work. That's Whatcom County's partisan races. The open mind. The costs and benefits of issue, and lawmakers will need to hon- what voters don't see happening nearly party's ranks are swelling, and it's safe our current border-crossing system estly address whether we're in a battle enough. to say they'll be growing even more now need to be weighed against the lost more hopeless than the Vietnam War Voters are really tired of politicians that the party's views are better known. business opportunities. We do need to ever was and what we should do about who are more interested in getting cred- It's tempting now that the votes are in ask the question as to why Europe can it. it or stopping someone else from getting and the Libertarians have been crushed enjoy highly unrestricted borders while Libertarians believe government credit than they are in seeking solu- by the major party candidates to dis- we cannot. should provide only the most-essential tions. Politicians care about their par- miss their Quixotic candidacies. But we That's not to say we're ready to services and that virtually everything ties, but voters don't. They are ready to would submit that there is much that endorse the idea_ It clearly requires a else can be privatized. While we certain- reward anyone who can deliver. we heard from these candidates that is great deal more thought. But the ly aren't ready to advocate disbanding Otherwise voters are going to be worth considering and including in Libertarians aren't the only people push- most of government, the idea of priva- increasingly willing to shake things up. broader debate of state and national ing the concept. The same business tizing where possible is worth more dis- If lawmakers believe they can contin- issues. leaders in New York, Toronto and cussion. During the debate over ue with business as usual, independent The issues are controversial, which is Montreal that pushed NAFTA are talk- Initiative 745, we heard that Yakima has and third-party candidates will only why more mainstream candidates won't ing about it seriously. It may not be successfully privatized city bus service. become more attractive alternatives.

A The Belliiwberm Herald, Bellingham, Washington, November 8, 2000 V The l3ellingbant Herald, Bellingham, Washington, October 16, 2000 Libertarians seek honks, support POLITICS: Blaine rally that costly border-policing ef- forts provide little more than designed to promote the illusion of controL open-borders cause. Under Libertarian rule, border inspections might BY JOHN STARK seem superfluous. Andrews THE BELLINGHAM HERALD said the party favors both BLAINE — Libertarian drug legalization and an end Party members haaR-TOr to immigration testa ictions. the Peace Arch border cross- Andrews said that drug ing Sunday in hopes of re- prohibition has been no more cruiting frustrated motorists effective than alcohol prohi- to their regulation-free vision bition and that immigrants of America's future. who want to enter the United They picked a good day for States to work hard should it. Southbound traffic was be welcome. Seeing as how moving at a snail's pace the Libertarians would re- through the U.S. port of place the public welfare sys- entry. Party members planted tem with private charity, a series of signs in the Peace there would be no danger of Arch park lawn to provide a immigrant-welfare cases chuckle for drivers old soaking up public funds, he enough to remember Burma said. Shave signs: "Out with the Joan Hansen, Libertarian old, in with the new. Vote for candidate for a 42nd District us, and drive right through." state House seat, said What- They also waved signs that corn County and the Vancou- read, "Honk if you want free ver, B.C., area form a natural borders." At one point, economic unit, demonstrators were encour- "Sitting there or 45 min- aged by a sudden burst of car utes to be.tsle 'What is horns, but the motorists ap- your citizenship and where peared to be saluting a fifth- inning home run by Edgar are you going' doesn't seem Martinez as they listened to RACHEL E BAYNE HERALD PHOTO like a very productive use of the Seattle Mariners game on ROAD WARRIORS: Jacqueline Passey, 22, club coordinator for the of Western Washington University, everybody's time," she said. their car radios. hands out fliers to drivers waiting to cross the U.S. border at the Peace Arch during a Libertarian rally in support of "It would be like the bank Libertarian Stuart An- opening the Canadian-U.S. border. A number of Libertarian candidates for the Nov. 7 election attended the event. frisking everybody as they drews, a Bellingham physi- come the bank because there cian who is running for the gration and drugs. He argued do little to stop drugs, crimi- choke commerce that would favor open borders to the are bank robbers around." 2nd District congressional that despite the occasional nals or illegal immigrants. In- benefit people on both sides south as well as to the north. Reach John Stark at seat, explained the Libertari- well-publicized border drug- stead, they inconvenience of the border, he said. "We have open borders [email protected] or an position on borders, immr- bust, the border checkpoints law-abiding citizens and Andrews said he would now," he said, contending call 715-2274.