Comments on: Alaskan Independence Party and Alaska Libertarian Party cross-endorse

By: Kohlhaas is a ripoff

Kohlhaas is a ripoff — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:20:46 +0000

Northern Exposure,

What makes you think libertarian petitioners are the only ones Kohlhaas has ripped off?

He runs left wing initiatives as a petition manager in Alaska and has a bad habit of not paying people for their work so as he can buy more dope and run up his credit cards.

By: Good luck ----- Fly to Atlanta .......... Lake

Good luck ----- Fly to Atlanta .......... Lake — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:57:05 +0000

National Socialist State of Georgia Pedophiles and International Socialist State of Georgia Zoophiles Party proudly endorses any local ‘zebdonks’ [Zebras and Donkeys but not Zebras and Mules!].

Opeach Obama, he’s our kind of guy!

By: Northern Exposure

Northern Exposure — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:24:11 +0000

Seems like someone has a vendetta against Mr. Kohlhaas. A former LP petitioner perhaps? Just a guess.

By: National Socialist Pedophiles and Zoophiles Party endorses Scott Kohlhaas

National Socialist Pedophiles and Zoophiles Party endorses Scott Kohlhaas — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:29:42 +0000

National Socialist Pedophiles and Zoophiles Party proudly endorses Scott Kohlhaas. He’s our kind of guy!

By: Erik G.

Erik G. — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:18:49 +0000

The idea that Palin’s a libertarian because she’s said she doesn’t mind marijuana being legal is the same idea that Tom Tancredo is a libertarian (he also favors legalizing marijuana). The “she’s a libertarian!” crowd seem to completely dismiss her views concerning warmongering, immigration, reproductive rights, prostitution, pornography, freedom of religion, prison reform, etc.

By: Scott Kohlhaas rips off petitioners

Scott Kohlhaas rips off petitioners — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:04:30 +0000

The Alaskan Independence Party should unendorse dope addict Scott Kohlhaas who has ripped off many petitioners. He is a person of low character who should be in jail.

By: paulie

paulie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:39:40 +0000

Palin may have been at one time but she has since sold out.

Even the first part is highly dubious.

By: Gay Aryan Satantist Stoners Party of Alaska

Gay Aryan Satantist Stoners Party of Alaska — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:10:26 +0000

We also endorse Mr. Scott Kohlhaas as well.

Gay Aryan Satantist Stoners Party of Alaska

By: Snoop Dougie Doug

Snoop Dougie Doug — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:48:53 +0000

The Alaskan Independence Party should think twice about endorsing Scott Kohlhaas. He is a shady operator with a long record of ripping off petitioners and helping put left wing measures and candidates on the ballot. He is an embarrassment and the Alaska Libertarians were quite stupid to allow him to be their state chair and candidate once again.

By: Gene Berkman

Gene Berkman — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:05:51 +0000

The by-law prohibiting endorsement by LP affiliates of candidates belonging to other parties was passed in the early 1970s at the behest of Murray Rothbard and Ed Crane, both of whom have long since abandoned the Libertarian Party to support other party’s candidates.

So perhaps it is time to repeal it. It cannot really be enforced, it just gives people another thing to gripe about.

By: David Colborne

David Colborne — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:00:55 +0000

Northern Exposure:

The LP National Committee can’t disband anything. National political parties are only an association of their constituent state parties.

That’s actually untrue in the LP’s case. It’s quite possible (and quite common) to be a member of the LPUSA while not being a member of a state or local affiliate. It’s also possible to be a member of a state affiliate but not be a member of the LPUSA, though that’s more uncommon since many states require LPUSA membership to boost their standing at national conventions.

Of course, the LP National Committee can’t tell the LP-AK to not hold meetings anymore or legally “disband” them – we have freedom of association, after all. However, the LP National Committee can choose to revoke recognition of that affiliate and organize a new LP-AK using members that willingly honor the LPUSA bylaws.

I thought the LP was for free thinkers and liberty? How is such a bylaw provision consistent with either?

The LP’s goal is, ultimately, to be a major political party that wins at least as many elections as the other two political parties while adhering to a pro-liberty platform. It’s goal is not to become a pro-liberty PAC that endorses various candidates – there are more than enough of those already of all shapes, stripes, and sizes. Requiring state affiliates to adhere and work toward those goals by running LP-branded candidates does not infringe on individual liberty because individuals are still free to organize into pro-liberty PACs and endorse non-LP candidates if they so choose – they just don’t get to call their group the “Libertarian Party”.

Having said that, does this mean the LP National Committee should functionally nuke the LP-AK out of the org chart? I don’t think so – it’s one third-party candidate that they’re endorsing, and they got that same third party to endorse three candidates in return. If they were endorsing a Republican or a Democrat, that’d be a little different. At worst, I’d encourage them to run an LP candidate in that race next time and view other third parties as friendly competition instead of friendly collaborators.

Then again, I’m a nice guy.

By: NewFederalist

NewFederalist — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:49:04 +0000

“No affiliate party shall endorse any candidate who is a member of another party for public office in any partisan election. No affiliate party shall take any action inconsistent with the Statement of Principles or these Bylaws.”

Oh, oh… somebody stepped in the doodoo. Purge them! Purge them all!

By: Northern Exposure

Northern Exposure — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:34:42 +0000

The LP National Committee can’t disband anything. National political parties are only an association of their constituent state parties. The LP punishment could be a refusal to seat Alaska LP delegates at LP functions. That would truly be a shame and would show the true colors of the LPUSA. I thought the LP was for free thinkers and liberty? How is such a bylaw provision consistent with either? Very, very interesting…

By: David Colborne

David Colborne — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:50:12 +0000

Here’s the National LP bylaws:
http://www.lp.org/files/bylaws-2010.pdf

And the chapter and verse that the LPA might be in trouble with (Article 6, Paragraph 4):

No affiliate party shall endorse any candidate who is a member of another party for public office in any partisan election. No affiliate party shall take any action inconsistent with the Statement of Principles or these Bylaws.

Though I’m sure more than a few parliamentarians have found loopholes around this provision (e.g. “Well, they don’t have members, exactly…”), I think they’re going to have a heck of a time defending themselves if somebody wants to make a stink of it. That said, I’d also be a little surprised if 3/4 of the National Committee were willing to vote to disband the LPA over this, so it might not matter either way.

By: Mik Robertson

Mik Robertson — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:02:08 +0000

@5 I had gone over this with Dan Karlan of the bylaws committee a while back, and there can also be some confusion of what constitutes a member of another political party.

This is really a crummy bylaw provision, and I had hoped that with all of the time spent on bylaws at the last national LP convention that this would be one that was addressed, but it wasn’t.

Maybe the LP bylaws committee would be more focused if it wasn’t a standing committee and served as an ad hoc committee, addressing specific problems.

By: citizen1

citizen1 — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:48:51 +0000

@6 Palin may have been at one time but she has since sold out.

By: Eric Dondero

Eric Dondero — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:17:58 +0000

This is not the first time this has happened. This happened routinely with the Libertarian Party in the 1980s. In fact, the three founders of the Alaska Independence Party came from the LPA. The LP lost ballot status for a few years because of a plane raffle controversy. So, they moved over into the AIP.

Funny thing is the Palins were involved with AIP around this time.

But you never hear about any of this, cause it doesn’t fit the template on Sarah Palin. Libertarian partisans are loathe to admit, she’s a real Libertarian, with Libertarian credentials. So, the AIP/LP story from the 1980s gets lost.

By: Alaskan Independence Party

Alaskan Independence Party — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:31:21 +0000

It seems we have generated some discussion among the LP. I am greatful that the leadership of the Alaska LP were able to endorse our AIP candidate. It would be a shame if your national LP rules would be against this encouraging Alaska experience. The AIP has elected a Governor and Lt. Governor, while the ALP has elected legislators. We should be working closely together when and where possible. As to the Green Party. In Alaska, they have lost ballot status and members here and have no candidates on the ballot this year. That being said, the AIP is willing to work with others on issues of mutual concern. That is why we have provided our ballot line to the Constitution Party for President and V. President in the past. – J.R. Myers, AIP Vice Chairman South

By: Erik G.

Erik G. — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:25:19 +0000

Mik@3,

They sure are.

http://www.elections.alaska.gov/pi_rp.php

I never realized the LP’s not allowed to cross-endorse. Maybe the AKLP didn’t realize that either?

By: A Different Green Party Conservative

A Different Green Party Conservative — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:47:48 +0000

They should also cross-endorse with the Green Party. Alaska has some great Green Party candidates. If they are cross-endorsed by the other two parties, it will help to strengthen the Green Party Conservative movement and get great Green Party conservatives and other brave Green Party activists into office nationwide.