Turns out, there was a fire just before the event planned without LP PA chairman Dr. Tom Stevens’ approval.
LOWER PROVIDENCE — As crews worked to drain the flooded basement of Valley Forge Beef and Ale, the cause the fire that damaged the restaurant over the weekend was still under investigation, Fire Marshal Charles DeFrangesco said Monday.
Firefighters spent four hours Saturday afternoon battling the blaze, which investigators believe started in the basement of the restaurant. The fire drew more than 100 firefighters from around the area to the scene. No one was injured in the fire.
When police and fire officials converged on the South Trooper Road restaurant at 12:27 p.m., they were met with heavy smoke and flames in the first floor of the building.
According to police reports, the basement was filled with heavy smoke when firefighters got to the scene.
For background on the event that had been planned, please see here .
It appears that Dr. Tom Stevens had his own problems that day.
Posted to the LPPa Facebook page, February 18th:
“As was widely announced in social media, I was attending the Farpoint Convention in Timonium, Maryland this past weekend and staying at the Hunt Valley Hotel. I was the lead organizer of two panels. Marakay Rogers, our candidate for Attorney General last year, was also in attendance.
I left the convention hotel on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at around 2:40 p.m. and proceeded onto Route 83 North for the 4 mile trip to Hunt Valley. I was in the right lane of the 3 lane interstate. After travelling a mile, I became consciously aware of a large blue van coming up alongside me in the middle lane (no there were no markings on the van; I could not see the driver nor could I get a license plate number). That van stayed directly next to me, which seemed odd since most vehicles travel at a slower or faster pace than cars in other lanes. This blue van stayed right beside me and eventually started slowly moving into my lane at about a foot every few car lengths. I continued to beep my horn and the blue van continued to attempt to force me off the road into the right shoulder of the highway. I tried slowing down but the blue van matched my speed and continued to crowd me off the road until I was completely on the right shoulder of the highway.
I cannot recall whether my car was tapped or whether I bounced off the right guard rail but I was soon careening across three lanes of oncoming traffic travelling an average speed of 70 mph (had any one vehicle hit my driver’s side door while I was not in motion on the highway, I would be dead). I ended up not being hit by oncoming traffic and was wedged in the left shoulder of the highway facing 180 degrees from the direction I was travelling.
While this could be all coincidence, I know what it looks like when someone swerves into a lane of traffic by accident. This blue van stayed directly to my left, did not respond to beeps of my horn, moved a foot at a time into my lane forcing me off the highway and then after completely crowding me off, I was either tapped by the van or bounced off the guardrail so I ended up entering the oncoming lanes of traffic. The blue van then quickly left the scene.
There was a high probability of my being dead if any one of the vehicles hit me head on but somehow I survived with no broken bones and no head injury. However, I am in extreme pain.
A state police report was taken but they said they could do nothing. I have been referred to individuals from the FBI Organized Crime Task Force and an individual who previously worked for Army Intelligence by LPPA members and others who say this incident is extremely similar to prior ones that have happened to others. I have also been contacted by people who have immediately identified possible perpetrators with differing motives.
There is a 10% chance this was all coincidence and there is some rational explanation for what happened not involving foul play. There are three other possibilities being investigated, each with a 30% chance of being the cause. The first involves operatives from the GOP with possible Mafia connections based in Bucks County. The second involves individuals in the LPPA, with former GOP connections. The third involves individuals attending Farpoint who have a real problem with the topics of the panels I have been running there for several years. In all cases, the motives are crystal clear and many involve, as reported earlier, attempts to degrade the LPPA’s ability to field a gubernatorial candidate in 2014; an effort which has succeeded to an amazing degree (and simply labeled “infighting” by those who leave or resign).
I have left my home in Philadelphia and I am now living at an undisclosed location. While this was the first recommendation of those with intelligence contacts, I have no confidence that I am safe. I am sure I can be easily tracked down by those with appropriate connections.
Thank you all for your kind words and good wishes. I would like to believe that the LPPA is too small and insignificant to be the subject of such shenanigans but given the bribery and threats received by our petitioners in 2012 that were delivered by a former FBI agent and current Private Investigator with ties to the GOP, and other similar attacks on other political enemies, I am not so certain and others are convinced this is just another example of foul play.
Ask yourself how much money the GOP spent trying to get Gary Johnson and our Statewide Candidates off the ballot in 2012. That amount comes to nearly a half million dollars. If the GOP could degrade the LPPA and prevent us from having a successful petition drive in 2014, how much would that be worth to them?
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair”
72 responses so far ↓
1 James Babb // Feb 19, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Luckily, the Libertarian workshop was relocated. Videos are being uploaded now for anyone interested.
We wish the LPPa chairman a speedy recovery from his 90% assassination attempt.
2 Jill Pyeatt // Feb 19, 2013 at 3:42 pm
I’m glad the event went well, James. I had planned to look into it yesterday, but didn’t have time. I totally missed the fire story.
3 Mike Kane // Feb 19, 2013 at 4:12 pm
an assassination attempt..this guy has lost it
4 Gigi Bowman // Feb 19, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Wait, so the car incident was an assassination attempt but the restuarant incident was not. Just trying to get my facts straight here lol
5 Nick // Feb 19, 2013 at 4:44 pm
I’ve seen bad drivers do something similar before. I doubt it was an assassination attempt.
6 David Colborne // Feb 19, 2013 at 4:51 pm
I had a persecution complex once. I sold it to a couple of investment bankers just before the bubble popped. The capital gains were a pain, but in hindsight, I made the right move.
7 Erik Viker // Feb 19, 2013 at 6:56 pm
Readers here should be aware that LP county committees (or group of LP members and associates) don’t needs the state chair’s approval to host events. The lead, perhaps satirically, suggests otherwise.
8 NewFederalist // Feb 19, 2013 at 7:17 pm
I had the same experience with a Pinto in 1976. I thought it was trying to force me off I-5 nothbound in San Diego but it turned out only to be a bunch of kids getting close enough to shoot me the moon!
9 Steve Scheetz // Feb 19, 2013 at 7:47 pm
In all seriousness, all of us in the Montco LP are deeply saddened by the misfortune that befell our venue. The wait staff were all friends as was the owner. Brian did great things for us, and we will be hosting an event to raise money to, in some small way, help all of them. As soon as there is a date and venue, we will notify IPR.
Sincerely,
Steve Scheetz
10 Krzysztof Lesiak // Feb 19, 2013 at 8:50 pm
I honestly don’t understand why there is so much infighting in the LP. Don’t people realize how small the party is with comparison to the Dems and GOP and this kind of dumb bickering will further ensure that LP loses election after election? I mean the party hasn’t had a single state legislator since 2000! Put your differences aside and actually get to work on doing what a political party is supposed to do in the first place, which is getting candidates elected.
11 Krzysztof Lesiak // Feb 19, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Ok, should’ve read the article before posting. My bad.
12 Wes Wagner // Feb 19, 2013 at 9:00 pm
NF @8
Were there two of them so that it was an ASS-ASS-ination attempt?
13 Stewart Flood // Feb 19, 2013 at 9:44 pm
He was slowing down…to 70?
Fires happen.
Accidents happen.
An undisclosed location? Stevens really knows how to spin a story.
And what a small world! I used to work in the building next to where the Beef and Ale is back in the 70s. Hard to tell from Google, but it looks like the same run down shack that was there 35 years ago.
Stevens needs to up his meds and add a few layers to his foil hat.
Yes, bad people do bad things. Politics can be dirty. I have seen it first hand here in Charleston. But why would anyone bother with Stevens? He is, has been, and probably always will be short a few cards in his deck. He is simply looking for a reason to bow out before the state party throws him out.
14 Erik Viker // Feb 19, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Undisclosed Location is a good name for a rock band.
15 Thomas L. Knapp // Feb 19, 2013 at 9:56 pm
SF @13,
“But why would anyone bother with Stevens?”
If I were a Republican operative in New York, Pennsylvania, etc., I’d consider reasonable efforts to keep Stevens active in the LP to be a worthwhile investment.
16 Mark Axinn // Feb 19, 2013 at 10:11 pm
I have had my differences with Tom well before he became active in LPPa, and he and I still disagree about many issues, but I don’t think his near accident is a laughing matter. I wish him well and hope his recovery is both swift and complete. Whatever happened to him on the interstate was clearly harrowing.
I am also glad Montco LP was able to hold its event in a different venue. As I wrote Jim privately, we in New York are anxious to see the webinar when available.
Best of luck to your friends at the restaurant in repairing and rebuilding their business quickly.
17 From Der Sidelines // Feb 19, 2013 at 11:18 pm
Stevens need to give an incident report number for independent verification. His story sounds like something out of Patriot Games…
18 Crownbeard Stickweed // Feb 19, 2013 at 11:32 pm
Nahhh, can’t be a name for a band.
Rather, it’s the new LP affiliate: The official “Undisclosed Location Committee”.
Meetings are to be held by invitation only, and you’ll only be privy to the exact time and location if you register in advance — and you’ll only be given one hour’s notice of where you’ll be expected to show up.
And if you don’t show up with your wig and holding up the secret gang hand sign, you can forget it.
19 Dr. Steve Thomas // Feb 20, 2013 at 2:45 am
I have been placed in the witless protection program along with my good friends Dallwyn and Jeff.
These guys are great, they sign up for almost every Meetup that I go to. A lot of times they are there with me, but they are not visible to others since they wear a cloaking device I build in my underground liberty lair, so only I can see them.
I am holed up in my liberty lair with my pal Lemmiwinks for the foreseeable future. I am going to miss these lovely Queens LP Meetup events. I so wanted to see these with Dallwyn and Jeff, but I can not leave the safety of my liberty lair.
I have been in touch on Facebook with fellow liberty loving friends Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chávez, Kim Jong-un to help with the planning of my re-election campaign for the LPPa Chairman.
My friends and I have also been working on a death ray to deal with those who dare ask questions.
Once the death ray is operational, I will use it to destroy those pesky Libertarians who joined the Libertarians Party, unless I receive one million buffet coupons.
Now let me go find my mini liberty lion Dr. Bigglesworth so we can go buy some frickin’ sharks with lasers on their head to place in the pool at the Danville Days Inn to protect me during the LPPa state convention.
20 NewFederalist // Feb 20, 2013 at 10:26 am
“Were there two of them so that it was an ASS-ASS-ination attempt?”
Yes, Wes there were more than two. One hung his posterior out the front passenger side window while the fellow in the back seat merely pressed the ham against the glass. I thought I was done for!
21 Crownbeard Stickweed // Feb 20, 2013 at 12:37 pm
haha… very funny, NF.
22 Crownbeard Stickweed // Feb 20, 2013 at 12:46 pm
“witless protection program”… LOL!
23 James Babb // Feb 20, 2013 at 7:28 pm
Most of the workshop videos have been uploaded to this playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEAdmrPm0VvbLggoAXin5sJi9jVi6G9UR
Topics include “Being the Media”, “Running for Office”, “Grassroots Organizing” and other subversive stuff.
I’d like to thank everyone who helped promote this event, especially the LPPa chairman for his “Extraordinary Alert” who brought us national attention.
24 paulie // Feb 26, 2013 at 1:25 pm
LPPA_BB:
“Update:
I am still without transportation, living at the mercy of others and unable to make a living.
Threats regarding the initiation of force and violence against me continue to occur. James Babb specifically, and others in the Montgomery County LP continue to speak about executing the “Amish Mafia” – “Dutchy” solution while others speak of the probability I will not live out my term in office.
Assuming they are joking, and what they say is not related to the incident, it is still the actual threat of the use of violence to achieve a political goal and is definitely harassment – not very libertarian in my book but in accordance with the views of some anarchists.
I will keep you updated.
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair”
25 Thomas L. Knapp // Feb 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot we have ever had to face. … Mandrake, have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water?
26 James Babb // Feb 26, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Yes, it’s true. Anarchists in Pennsylvania have dispatched an armada of raw milk-laden horse drawn buggies to chase Dr. Tom back to Queens.
27 Steve Miller-Miller // Feb 26, 2013 at 2:04 pm
You got a license for that milk, Babb? Once Dr. Tom is gone the very first thing we’re going to do is check everyone’s milk licenses so as to glorify statism.
28 Lebanon Levi // Feb 26, 2013 at 2:49 pm
The so called Dr. Tom sure is lucky.
Mayor Bloomberg’s police officers turned our buggies away at the Holland Tunnel due to our raw milk cargo. We lost a key member of our team, who was arrested for illegal possession of a 44 ounce soda by the NYPD. Hell man he was on rumspringa, so the rules should not have applied.
Anyway since we can not get our buggies into Queens, we have given the contract to the Amish Outlaws. They are more street savvy than I, Lebanon Levi.
Here is a link t0 a video messages from the Amish Outlaw regarding Dr. Tom Stevens:
29 Steve Scheetz // Feb 26, 2013 at 2:55 pm
posted to LPPA_BB:
“Update:
I am still without transportation, living at the mercy of others and unable to make a living.
Threats regarding the initiation of force and violence against me continue to occur. James Babb specifically, and others in the Montgomery County LP continue to speak about executing the “Amish Mafia” – “Dutchy” solution while others speak of the probability I will not live out my term in office.
Assuming they are joking, and what they say is not related to the incident, it is still the actual threat of the use of violence to achieve a political goal and is definitely harassment – not very libertarian in my book but in accordance with the views of some anarchists.
I will keep you updated.
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair”
30 paulie // Feb 26, 2013 at 3:07 pm
State Chairs list
“Paulie Cannoli, who has been added to the State Chairs List by the Alabama State Chair is a journalist as you know and has been using the e-mails posted here to gather information and to post what you post here elsewhere.
The latest post he re-posted was mine and he did so with this note:
The following was sent by Tom Stevens to LP News and to State Chairs list. Apparently Stevens reads this page and interprets my posts here as asking you all to write the LNC and claim that he is not telling the truth. He did not confront me with this accusation, but instead called other people I know with it and his suspicion that it has something to do with trying to get petition contracts. Not so.
Fact is I am sharing these posts in my role of trying to facilitate greater communication between the membership and the LNC. Nothing to do with petition contracts, and I am making no statement about whether he is telling the truth or not – just asking and giving an avenue for those who agree or disagree with his claims to present evidence to the LNC one way or the other. Statement from Ste vens below the dashes . If you write the LNC (http://www.lp.org/lnc-leadership) each name links to an email address. Please make sure you write with verifiable facts, not just opinions, if you write.
When I contacted one of his associates as to why he was doing this even to the point of offering to run against me as State Chair of Pennsylvania, I was told by this person that to make him motivated to inquire, he wanted some promise of future petition business from Pennsylvania (Paulie is an admitted associate of this petition gatherer). When I pointed out the obvious extortion issues, he denied it and I ended the conversation.
I can no longer share information with my fellow State Chairs as long as the list is not confidential and is used as a public forum.
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair”
On Sun, Dec 9, 2012 at 8:54 PM, Dr. Tom Stevens wrote:
Paulie Cannoli,
p] I no longer use “cannoli” as my nickname except on facebook. I only use it there because I can’t get rid of it and because I’ve been using it there for years.
“who has been added to the State Chairs List by the Alabama State Chair is a journalist as you know”
p] I’m a volunteer reporter, blogger, and LNC alternate.
“and has been using the e-mails posted here to gather information and to post what you post here elsewhere.”
p] Only very selectively.
“The latest post he re-posted was mine and he did so with this note:
The following was sent by Tom Stevens to LP News and to State Chairs list. Apparently Stevens reads this page and interprets my posts here as asking you all to write the LNC and claim that he is not telling the truth. He did not confront me with this accusation, but instead called other people I know with it and his suspicion that it has something to do with trying to get petition contracts. Not so. ”
p] Note the fact that Dr. Stevens is discussing a post that he sent to be published in LP News, not just to this list. He is seriously trying to say that I disseminated a confidential statement that he was submitting to LP News? Really?
Fact is I am sharing these posts in my role of trying to facilitate greater communication between the membership and the LNC. Nothing to do with petition contracts, and I am making no statement about whether he is telling the truth or not – just asking and giving an avenue for those who agree or disagree with his claims to present evidence to the LNC one way or the other. Statement from Ste vens below the dashes . If you write the LNC (http://www.lp.org/lnc-leadership) each name links to an email address. Please make sure you write with verifiable facts, not just opinions, if you write.
TS:
“When I contacted one of his associates as to why he was doing this”
p] Why would you contact someone who had no idea and who did not know I was doing it, much less why, and who does not speak for me? In fact I know that you contacted at least two people (Darryl Bonner and Jake Witmer) neither of whom had any idea. Yet you did not contact ME. Why not? I’m easy to get a hold of. 415-690-6352; paulie.frankel@LP.org; https://www.facebook.com/paulie.cannoli
“….even to the point of offering to run against me as State Chair of Pennsylvania,”
p] You took that seriously? I’m not running for state chair of Pennsylvania LP. I was asking the people in Pennsylvania who object to your leadership if they were going to run against you. I frequently pose the same question to LP members who are not happy with their state leadership in different states. Someone threw it back at me and suggested I should run, since you live(d) in New York. I played along. I thought everyone would know better than to seriously think I was going to run for PA chair.
“I was told by this person that to make him motivated to inquire, he wanted some promise of future petition business from Pennsylvania (Paulie is an admitted associate of this petition gatherer). When I pointed out the obvious extortion issues, he denied it and I ended the conversation.”
p] Once again, this person, Jake Witmer, was speaking for himself, not for me. My reasons – severely misinterpreted by you – were quite simple: I was trying to facilitate communication between the membership and the LNC. It’s one of the main things I do on the LNC. The bigger question is why you contacted him rather than me.
What you were contacting him about was that I posted Bill Redpath’s message to the LNC in defense of you, not anything from you or from this list. I very simply asked that IF anyone disagreed that they write the LNC and explain why. I simply wanted both sides to be heard. That was all. I made no statement about who was right and who was wrong. This was allegedly twisted by you, when you called Jake, as asking him (as if he knows) why I was trying to get people to contact the LNC and tell lies about how you did not work hard to fight the ballot access challenge.
This was a misleading question, since in reality I did not take a position as to who was right and who was wrong, all I said was that IF anyone disagreed with Bill’s message, which was positive about you and touched on more than just ballot access, that they were welcome to write the LNC with relevant facts.
This was absolutely NOT connected to trying to get any ballot access contracts. It was 100% about facilitating communication between LNC and party members who have concerns. If Jake said what you claimed he said – which I had not heard about til now – it has nothing to do with me. The fact that I have sometimes worked on petition drives with Jake does not make him my spokesman in all matters. If you want to know why I said or did anything, ask me, not Jake.
“I can no longer share information with my fellow State Chairs as long as the list is not confidential and is used as a public forum.
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair”
p] Just to be clear, what Dr. Stevens says was confidential was something he submitted to LP NEWS and which talked about party growth since he has been chair.
My deepest apologies for sharing that outside this list.
Paul Frankel
31 Steve Scheetz // Feb 26, 2013 at 3:22 pm
Apologies to Mr. Frankel. I posted the statement of Dr. Tom before I saw that you had already done so… (LPR has a lot of lag on my computer for some reason)
32 Jill Pyeatt // Feb 26, 2013 at 3:24 pm
No problem, Steve. It was just as amusing the second time I read it!
33 paulie // Feb 26, 2013 at 3:34 pm
No need to apologize.
I’mm not noticing any lag. Just hit reload, it doesn’t do it automatically like facebook.
If you still see a lag let me know, I’ll report it to the technical admin to see what’s going on.
BTW you can call me Paulie or Paul, although I have no problem with it if you prefer to call me Mr. Frankel.
34 James Babb // Feb 26, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Pauli, Perhaps “Dr” Tom should moderate the LP Chairs list, so he can bring the same much needed order, that he has bestowed on the LPPa.
35 paulie // Feb 26, 2013 at 3:42 pm
State Chairs list……
“I am starting to get some very bad feedback about Starchild, a self-described Sex Worker, serving on the LNC. Do not get me wrong, I have always been one to appreciate Starchild’s colorful expressions at national Libertarian Party conventions and I also oppose laws that criminalize prostitution.
But while continuing to earn a living as an Escort, this article also says Starchild has advocated the reopening of bath houses in California.
http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4576
In addition, the article not only discusses these issues but also reports Starchild advocates the government building small homes for the homeless, not a very libertarian position on the issue.
During a 2006 Campaign for Supervisor in San Francisco, “he was fighting solicitation of prostitution charges after the police arrested him in 2005 at a Fremont hotel during an undercover sting operation.”
I could post more but that’s not the purpose for my e-mail.
I wanted to ask the State Chairs if I am alone in thinking that having a Sex Worker with questionable libertarian views on the LNC is the image we want to portray when promoting the Libertarian Party.
If I am alone, I will drop it but if other State Chairs feel the same way, perhaps we should address the issue.
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair ”
================
On Tue, Feb 12, 2013 at 2:31 PM, Dr. Tom Stevens wrote:
I am starting to get some very bad feedback about Starchild, a self-described Sex Worker, serving on the LNC. ”
p] Very ironic, especially considering the source. Starchild is one of the best members of the LNC.
TS: “Do not get me wrong, I have always been one to appreciate Starchild’s colorful expressions at national Libertarian Party conventions and I also oppose laws that criminalize prostitution.
But while continuing to earn a living as an Escort, this article also says Starchild has advocated the reopening of bath houses in California.
http://ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=4576
”
p] As far as I know bath houses are privately run businesses. Obviously patronizing such businesses carries risks, but since when should that be the government’s business to interfere in? Proposing government interference in people taking risks with their own bodies and health sounds very unlibertarian. What next, outlawing fast food and sugary drinks? Oh wait, Bloomberg is already there….
TS “In addition, the article not only discusses these issues but also reports Starchild advocates the government building small homes for the homeless, not a very libertarian position on the issue.”
p] Haven’t read the article, but Starchild is copied so he can explain his views on the issue. If you are going to discuss Starchild’s views with the State Chairs and HQ staff he should certainly get a chance to reply!
TS “During a 2006 Campaign for Supervisor in San Francisco, “he was fighting solicitation of prostitution charges after the police arrested him in 2005 at a Fremont hotel during an undercover sting operation.”
I could post more but that’s not the purpose for my e-mail.”
p] Well, you could at least post that he beat those bogus charges, which should never have been on the books to begin with. But, you are correct, that would go against your purpose.
TS “I wanted to ask the State Chairs if I am alone in thinking that having a Sex Worker”
p] What’s wrong with being a sex worker?
TS “with questionable libertarian views”
p] Starchild’s libertarian views are far less questionable than many others – including many you associate closely with, others currently or formerly on LNC, and some state chairs, possibly including the author of above comments
TS “on the LNC is the image we want to portray when promoting the Libertarian Party.”
p] LNC members elected by delegates in convention not presenting the “image” you want to portray … is what, something you want to pressure state chairs to pressure LNC to remove “for cause”? That requires 2/3 and needs to stand up to Judicial Committee review if it somehow passed.
Fortunately, this is the Libertarian Party, not the Objectivist Party or Republican Party, so the “image” does not come anywhere close to being a reason to remove a duly elected LNC member “for cause.”
TS “If I am alone, I will drop it but if other State Chairs feel the same way, perhaps we should address the issue.
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair”
=====================
Starchild’s response:
Paulie,
Thank you for your remarks defending me here. I can only assume that Tom Stevens’ message comes as a consequence of my recent decision to endorse his opponent Steve Scheetz for Pennsylvania LP chair, since I have not had any other recent interaction with Tom and can’t imagine what else might have suddenly prompted him to complain about me based on an article about my run for local office a couple years ago.
That endorsement was mainly made on the basis of opinions I formed upon reading a lengthy 400+ message thread about the controversy in the Pennsylvania LP which you may have also read on IPR. I do want Tom to know that there was nothing personal about my action; although I’ve been aware that he has not always gotten along well with others in the party, he’s always been friendly toward me and we haven’t had any negative personal interactions that I can recall. In general I think it’s a good thing that we have more GLBTQ participation in the LP, and have welcomed Tom’s involvement as an out member of that community. Indeed when I first learned of his election as chair of the Pennsylvania LP, I was pleased to hear it. I also recall watching a video of a Manhattan LP event at which I thought he asked some very good questions, although I do not immediately now recall what they were. And in my endorsement email, I gave him credit for his work for Gary Johnson campaign ballot access in Pennsylvania, and for being a good organizer. Nevertheless, I did come to the conclusion that, based on the sum total of what I’d read and heard from others, including positive stuff about Steve Scheetz, that Steve will make a better LPPA chair.
I’ve got a thick skin and can take the criticism, but some of the issues Tom has focused on with regard to me do tend to raise further doubts with me about how libertarian some of his own views are, and confirm my feeling that the endorsement I made is in the best interests of the party. You’re absolutely right that bath houses are private businesses and the government ban on them in San Francisco which was enacted under Dianne Feinstein’s mayoral administration during the AIDS crisis was never justified, and has certainly now outlived any public health rationale it may have once had. Similar establishments operate in other Bay Area cities without serious controversy. And certainly I do not feel that there’s anything wrong with being a sex worker, or with the LP allowing anyone who is victimized by the State for something that shouldn’t be a crime to serve in our leadership. Worrying too much about “image” and putting that ahead of substance has generally caused problems for the Libertarian Party.
As for my proposal that government build small homes for the homeless, this did not include a call for any new spending, but simply for some of the money the city of San Francisco currently spends on various programs and services for the homeless to be diverted toward that purpose, which I think would tend to make these new homeowners more self-reliant and less dependent on government services, reducing the perceived need for future government spending. It was based on the example demonstrated by Jim Reid, a building contractor who ran for SF mayor in 2003. He personally built a tiny, one-person 10′ by 10′ house in his backyard at a cost of $12,000, with all the basic features of modern life including a shower, electricity, phone, bed, storage, toilet, etc., and lived in it himself for a month to show it was habitable. He said that he thought these tiny homes could be built even cheaper in bulk, and additional savings could come from the city using donated materials and volunteer labor. (See http://www.editorial.fnphoto.com/stories/2150/story.htm for an article about this.)
At the time I was running for county supervisor in 2010, I calculated using official statistics on the number of homeless individuals living on San Francisco streets that the city government could build a “Jim Reid house” for each of those people for significantly less than the cost of all the municipal spending on various programs and services allegedly designed to help these folks (but in reality mostly helping well-compensated people working in city government and non-profit organizations while leaving vast numbers of them living on the streets year after year). So while it may not have been the ideal solution from a libertarian perspective — and I acknowledged as much at the time — I stand by it as an incremental but radical approach toward more freedom and less government that potentially could win the support of people among San Francisco’s left-leaning majority. Another part of my proposal was for these homes to be built throughout the city on various parcels of unused, government-owned land, without the normal bureaucratic process of building codes and permits, so it would have had the additional advantage of getting more government assets into the voluntary sector and undermining the usual red tape of city government.
As with everything I write about party affairs while serving as an elected LNC representative, I do not consider this message private, and any of you reading this are welcome to post or share what I’ve written here at your discretion.
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))
At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
————————-
My reply:
Hi Starchild,
Thanks for the explanation. I try not to post to the state chairs list any more than absolutely necessary, but I think since the unwarranted attack on you was posted there, a state chair should post your explanation to that list.
I’m not surprised to hear that Dr. Stevens went after you in such a fashion merely for endorsing his opponent for State Chair.
I have not read the IPR thread to which you refer. In the last month or so I haven’t had enough internet access to do anything besides check my email and the rare venture on facebook. Some weeks not even that.
My apologies for inadvertently referring to Dr. Stevens as Steven in the last message, that was a typo.
36 paulie // Feb 26, 2013 at 3:43 pm
“Pauli, ”
The i and the e are a package deal.
“Perhaps “Dr” Tom should moderate the LP Chairs list, so he can bring the same much needed order, that he has bestowed on the LPPa.”
Yes, it’s way too anarchistic as it is right now.
Possibly under the control of the Anarchist-Amish Mafia connection?
Order, we must have order!
37 Ed Reagan // Feb 26, 2013 at 6:07 pm
Tom Stevens wrote:
“I am still without transportation, living at the mercy of others and unable to make a living.”
I find it hard to believe that someone with 19 years of formal education can not figure out how to travel without their car.
I know when I have been in an auto accident, my insurance company provided me a car, while my car was being fixed.
When I travel for work I some times travel by train or airplane. When I get to my destination they have this thing called rental cars. I rent one, and use it to travel without the use of my own car which is parked at a train station or airport.
Dr. Tom seems to have lived in the NYC metro area for a while, if not his whole life. I travel to NYC for work on a regular basis and really have no problem getting around. There are many options: car service, taxi, bus, subway, etc.
Then again it is rumored that he is now a “resident” of Philadelphia. I having been borm and raised in suburban Philadelphia, attended college in Philadelphia, worked in Phladelphia and travel in to Phiadelphia on a regualr basis can attest that there are: car service, taxi, bus, subway and other ways to get around that do not require a car.
I also find it hard to believe that Dr. Tom is , “living at the mercy of others and unable to make a living.”
I have traveled 30-40 wees a year for work from 1999 untl 2012, and when I was not traveling I work out of an office in my home. Give me a laptop, phone and internet connection and I can bill my clients by the hour. I figured that out without being a “doctor”.
Tom you are a “doctor” and have way more schooling than I who only has a bachelors. So unless you don’t use your J.D. and are actually working as a cab driver or pizza deliver guy, help me understand how you can not lawyer without a car?
We are all waiting on your extraordinary enlightening reply.
38 johnO // Feb 26, 2013 at 6:27 pm
I still don’t understand why the LP is allowing him close to power? Has he left his own Objectivist Party? Is it defunct? Can the LP say go back to your own Objectivist Party or create OP of PA? Strange whats going on in the LPof PA as well as LP nationwide for that matter. (LP of Oregon, LP of Nevada etc…Why are some LP’ers on other threads attacking fellow LP’ers? All about varied ideology/personality disputes I guess.
39 Steven Wilson // Feb 26, 2013 at 7:46 pm
In my expert opinion (In a past life, I was a carpenter who worked on a house once looked at a by a deputy sheriff and his wife)
I think that it was :
1. Elvis
2. In the Blue Van
3. With the candlestick
“I would rather have liberty with danger, than peace with slavery”.
BOO! LOL
40 paulie // Feb 26, 2013 at 8:04 pm
@38
Elvis is alive and doing hits for the Amish-Anarchist Mafia? Why does that not surprise me?
41 Erik Viker // Mar 1, 2013 at 10:12 am
I’m running out of popcorn.
42 Mark Axinn // Mar 1, 2013 at 11:39 am
Ed @37.
I got my JD in 1982 (I think within a year or so of Tom), but living and working in Manhattan I have never owned a car. (my wife has one out in Ohio.) Somehow, my law firm has kept me on all these years even though I rent instead of own a vehicle (Thank goodness for the Hertz Corporation).
You left out my favorite method of travel, especially in Philadelphia, one of the prettiest cities in the world: walking.
One time when I was in Philly all the buses said “Go Eagles” so I took the “Go Eagles” route and got someplace cool to walk around.
Best way to get to Philadelphia from NYC is on a Chinatown bus (pay in cash and do not disclose anything); Chuckie Schumer wants to make them illegal so I use them whenever I can.
Can one of the Amish guys out there send Erik some more popcorn with non-processed milk on the side?
43 Mark Axinn // Mar 1, 2013 at 11:41 am
Several state chairs responded to Tom’s post on the state chairs list. They were unanimous in praising Starchild for his choice of profession and declaring that it was none of our business.
44 Wes Wagner // Mar 1, 2013 at 12:04 pm
MA @43
Good to hear! Too bad someone still hasn’t figured out I am a state chair and keeps me of said list
45 Wes Wagner // Mar 1, 2013 at 12:04 pm
of=off
46 paulie // Mar 1, 2013 at 12:24 pm
True. I also recall that several chairs responded to Dr. Stevens’ paranoia about me copying LNC messages that praised him and notices he submitted to LP News to a site run by his opponents in the LPPA. I seem to recall that they all thought that wasn’t a big deal either.
I wonder if any of the state chairs are in on the conspiracy involving the reanimated corpses of the Dutch Schultz gang, the Amish Mafia, the Sicilian-American GOP Club and Philly area Anarchists?
47 Erik Viker // Mar 1, 2013 at 10:04 pm
“LP of Pennsylvania: making Oregon look good since 2012.”
48 paulie // Mar 1, 2013 at 10:06 pm
I think that this next convention will produce changes. What do you think?
49 Mark Axinn // Mar 1, 2013 at 11:00 pm
I will be at the LPNY Convention that same weekend so will have to turn to IPR for the results of LPPA Convention.
50 Jill Pyeatt // Mar 1, 2013 at 11:10 pm
What weekend is that?
51 paulie // Mar 2, 2013 at 9:40 am
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania 2013 State Convention
When:
Start date:
Friday, April 26, 2013 – 6:00pm
End date:
Saturday, April 27, 2013 – 10:00pm
Time Zone:
US/Eastern
Where:
Danville Days Inn Conference Center
50 Sheraton Road
Danville, PA 17821
Description:
Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania 2013 State Convention.
Please note, Saturday’s Convention Dinner will be held at:
A Taste Of Italy Restaurant
6007 Columbus Boulevard
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
All other info TBA – please visit http://www.lppa.org/ for updates.
52 paulie // Mar 2, 2013 at 9:41 am
Libertarian Party of New York 2013 State Convention
When:
Start date:
Saturday, April 27, 2013 – 11:00am
End date:
Saturday, April 27, 2013 – 4:00pm
Time Zone:
US/Eastern
Where:
The Rhinecliff Hotel
4 Grinnell St
Rhinecliff, NY 12574
Description:
Libertarian Party of New York 2013 State Convention. More information coming soon. Please visit http://ny.lp.org/ for further details.
53 Mark Axinn // Mar 2, 2013 at 10:08 am
I expect another challenge from NOTA in New York.
That guy doesn’t know how to stop running for things!
But, really, what has he done????
54 paulie // Mar 2, 2013 at 10:18 am
Sounds like you will have a difficult campaign ahead of you. Good luck!
55 Mark Axinn // Mar 2, 2013 at 7:34 pm
Thanks.
I beat NOTA 41-3 in 2010 and he didn’t get any votes in 2011 or 2012 for New York Chair, but I heard he was busy in Vegas last year instead.
56 Welsh Terrier Farm // Mar 2, 2013 at 7:37 pm
I wonder what organization Tom Stevens will try to take over next, after he gets thrown out of the Pennsylvania LP next month?
57 Dr. Tom Stevens // Mar 8, 2013 at 4:37 pm
STEVENS NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION AS LPPA STATE CHAIR
I have decided not to seek re-election as State Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania at the Annual Convention scheduled to be held on April 27, 2013.
I considered three factors before taking this decision.
The first was whether I deserved a second term based on the accomplishments of the Board and the Party under my leadership. By looking at our solid record of goals achieved and by the number of individuals urging me to run, I concluded that on this count, I should run for a second term.
Richard Winger of Ballot Access News wrote: “Tom Stevens led the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party to the greatest ballot access victory in the state party’s history. The Pennsylvania Libertarian Party’s 2012 ballot access victory was the first time any statewide minor party or independent candidate for statewide office has ever defeated a challenge backed by one of the two major parties.”
Roy Minet, John Karr and I were designated “Libertarian Ballot Access Heroes” by LP News for obtaining 18,000 additional signatures after problems were identified with the quality of the signatures obtained during the petition drive, which was considered over when I took office as Chair.
After a 9-week battle, with the help of 84 volunteers, the Gary Johnson Campaign, and the national Libertarian Party, we got Gary Johnson and our statewide candidates on the ballot. Gary Johnson obtained the highest vote total of any Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate in the history of the party. Rayburn Douglas Smith (LP Candidate for United States Senate), Betsy Summers (LP Candidate for Auditor General), Marakay Rogers (LP Candidate for Attorney General) and Patti Fryman (LP Candidate for Treasurer) all ran extraordinary campaigns and each received a significant number of votes over what Gary Johnson and Judge Gray got. As a result of all our efforts, the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania once again qualified for “Minor Party” status so people can again register “Libertarian”.
We won a series of lawsuits with decisions that will make obtaining ballot access easier in the years to come. Membership was up 87.8% from the April, 2012 Annual Convention through the end of 2012 and new LPPA County and Regional LP Chapters were formed in Bucks County, Berks County, Chester County, Monroe County, Lehigh County, Schuylkill County, Carbon County, Franklin County, Adams County, Montour County and Columbia County. Facebook Groups were also formed for at least 14 additional counties in the process of forming County Committees.
Our new website will be up by the Annual Convention and more federal lawsuits are in the works to make ballot access easier. Communication avenues were re-established, moderation was applied, hundreds of party members now observe party business on a regular basis and all our Standing and Working Committees are fully staffed and working on real issues every day. A new Life Membership was established and donations to the party are up in every category. The many other goals we achieved have been posted elsewhere.
The second factor I considered was whether as a practical matter, I could win re-election. I concluded this would not be a problem. The announced candidate for State Chair did not support Gary Johnson because he did not believe Gary Johnson was libertarian enough. In addition, he did not obtain a single signature for either Gary Johnson or the LPPA’s Statewide Candidates and did not volunteer a single hour to help defend our petitions against the GOP challenge but he had no problem in actively working for Ron Paul in the GOP primary. While four of the statewide candidates running against the incumbents are all active in Montgomery County, the statewide slate of candidates running for re-election come from a broad geographic region. Not one person has urged me not to run. To the contrary, I have been receiving offers of support from individuals who, despite illness and advanced age, were willing to make the trip to the Annual Convention to support me for re-election.
The third factor I considered was whether I wish to serve another term given the anticipated continuation of the politics of personal destruction, threats to my personal well-being and harassment taking place every day. My only goal has been to build the party in numbers and strength and I am finding my ability to continue to do that has been undermined by the efforts of those who oppose a strong Libertarian Party as a threat to liberty, who don’t believe in running candidates with the goal of winning elections, who exhibit their prejudices against those peacefully living in lifestyles of their choice, who are contacting new members and dragging them into the manufactured “infighting” so they lose interest in being active, and who would rather support Ron Paul and a “Vote for Nobody” campaign than support Gary Johnson and those statewide Libertarian Party candidates nominated by LPPA delegates in convention.
Given these circumstances, I feel that continuing to build the party to only see it torn down by radical anarchists and Toxic Libertarians is not the best use of my time and effort. Still, I will continue to help the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania in any way I can and I will always be friends with the scores of people who have worked hard to make this year a success.
In Liberty,
Dr. Tom Stevens
LPPA State Chair
58 NewFederalist // Mar 8, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Is the above post verified? I just don’t know WHAT to believe.
59 George Phillies // Mar 8, 2013 at 5:22 pm
As seen on the LPPA Facebook page.
60 NewFederalist // Mar 8, 2013 at 5:26 pm
Thanks, George.
61 James Babb // Mar 8, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Although, there was no mention of the Anarco-amish syndicate, the self-congratulatory platitudes lend an air of credibility.
Let me be the first to wish “Doctor” Tom well with his new life in his secure and undisclosed bunker.
62 Jill Pyeatt // Mar 8, 2013 at 5:34 pm
I also wish Dr. Stevens well. It would certainly be noble to retract the untrue things he said about Paulie.
63 NewFederalist // Mar 8, 2013 at 6:07 pm
Why would you wish him well, Jill? If he has done half of the things he has been accused of (including the false things said about Paulie) I would think it is a good thing that he just goes away. Perhaps I am just too harsh but from what I have been reading he seems to be the kind of individual that will retard the growth of the LP not further it.
64 Jill Pyeatt // Mar 8, 2013 at 6:23 pm
NF, by not running, he’s doing the PA LP a service. I’ll wish him well on his next venture for that reason. I was sincere in wishing WAR well as well.
65 NewFederalist // Mar 8, 2013 at 6:55 pm
Jill… you’re just TOO good!
66 Jill Pyeatt // Mar 8, 2013 at 7:11 pm
Well, it’s the Karma thing, NF. I have enough of the bad stuff in my life already.
67 NewFederalist // Mar 8, 2013 at 7:21 pm
I get it. Kinda like “your Karma ran over my Dogma”!
68 Ed Reagan // Mar 8, 2013 at 11:02 pm
Jill @62
Tell Paulie to get to the end of the line, there are many of us who Tom Stevens needs to retract untrue things he said about us, and we are in line well ahead of Paulie.
In fact Tom Stevens should start with retracting the untrue things he has been spreading about himself, before he starts addressing the untrue things he said about others.
69 Ed Reagan // Mar 8, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Jill @64
Just because he is not running for re-election for the LPPA Chair does not mean we are done with him. Since as the Ex-Chair he maintains a board seat for the next year, unless he resigns and/or the new board exiles him from the party for violating the non-initiation of force oath.
Every member of the LPPA must take this oath to be a member. “I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force or fraud as a means of achieving political or social goals. “
70 Steve M // Mar 9, 2013 at 12:12 am
casting stones saint Reagan?
71 James Babb // Mar 9, 2013 at 12:47 am
Tom could save time and just retract everything he has ever said or written, and then add a few asterisks for the times he was honest.
We certainly have enough proof of fraud to reasonably challenge his membership, without even addressing fairytales like his “assassination attempt” by the Anarcho-Amish, Vote for Nobody, GOP operatives.
Hopefully, he’ll save us the trouble and just go bother somebody else. The LPPa will just be the latest alienated organization in his rearview mirror.
I hear Venezuela is looking for a strong leader. The Vatican also has an opening for a “people person.”
72 paulie // Mar 9, 2013 at 8:56 am
I don’t particularly care that much if Dr. Stevens retracts what he said about me. I don’t consider his word to be worth much of anything, so I’m not worried about it.
I do hope his false statements and quoting of foul language are retracted from the official region report which will be published at LP.org.
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