This is good news – as I’ve known Wes for over 5 years now and worked with him well – and represents Bill Redpath’s finally seeing the wisdom in steering an errant ship away from the looming iceberg and in a direction that MIGHT not result in certain sinking.

I don’t think there’s any argument about Wes Benedict’s directorship competence. Ideologically, I don’t know what to make of some of these comments as I know for certain Wes told me in Atlanta (LP convention ’04) outside a hospitality suite that he was a “real” (purist) libertarian, and wished to know that I was too (I am).

I nod in appreciation at getting a package at the top of the party HQ that combines competence + ideological soundness; AND he doen’t believe in the ‘Vast Gary Fincher’ conspiracy, either. Good man, that Wes.

Congratulations, Wes, if you’re reading this. I might even get over my disgust of the LP and look forward to working with you productively, just like old times.

The WV fundraising letter was right on track…..here is the issue, here is the people trying to make it happen, here is our goal, if you support this issue please donate. I wrote a check and sent it out the next day.

Thank you!

For anyone who did not receive Wes’s letter it is at

http://www.lpwv.org/2009/06/01/help-the-lpwv-put-candidates-into-office/

and

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/05/west-virginia-libertarians-raising-funds-for-2010-2012-ballot-access-ipr-one-year-anniversary/

I would hope that Wes can move the LP past this. There were calls for Wes to take this position from the beginning, but it is only now happening. Things must be getting pretty desperate for Star and Co. to let Wes take over. It will not be easy though, most of Wes’ success has come from mail out fundraisers and he will now be in the position of trying raise money from a base of members that has been continually inundated with fundraising letters for the last 2-3 years. I just throw em in the trash now. If you are listening Wes, we would love too see the LP fundraising be directed towards specific issues with specific goals for amounts needed. The WV fundraising letter was right on track…..here is the issue, here is the people trying to make it happen, here is our goal, if you support this issue please donate. I wrote a check and sent it out the next day. The filing deadline is coming up so it will be interesting to see where the LP stands financially. On another note I am glad to see the dedication of our LNC reps like Mary, Lee,Julie, and Rachel stay the course and hang in there and keep the faith in the LP. Hopefully this is our lowpoint and we can build from here.

97: Sorry, no. Of course, that would have been impossible on several levels: Ruwart would not have agreed to be on the ticket with you, and you wouldn’t have been on the ballot.

94: I knew Obama was not going to change anything – at least not for the good.

Barr was just not exciting enough for me to attempt to actually vote, which I probably would not have been able to do due to ID situation anyway, but if I had a candidate I felt strongly about I may have at least tried.

McKinney did not come through with any money for us to put her on the Alabama ballot, even though we were already getting sigs for Barr, Baldwin and Nader, the Greens contact for Alabama had an office for his business in the same building as the LPA office where I was turning in Barr signatures (and agreed to count and store signatures and cut checks), and both my coworkers and the LPA Vice Chair/admin at the time agreed to run them down to Montgomery together with Barr’s.

Loretta Nall’s race confirmed what I already knew about the uselessness of write-in votes in Alabama.

All progressives & greens & naderites vote for Milnes/Ruwart-instead of Nader, McKinney & Obama. & all libs vote for Milnes/Ruwart instead of Barr or Baldwin or McCain.

Funny thing, I heard a lot more L/libertarians say they would or did vote for Obama than McCain.

Tom voted for McKinney IIRC, and I may have too had I voted (and had I voted in a state where she was on the ballot).

I was definitely considering a (theoretical) vote for Barr as well.

Tom, you’re an intelligent man, but I don’t think you understand Milnes.

So, has he asked you to run for VP yet? LOL