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Sad News – David Nolan, R.I.P.

By
Mike Kole
Published: November 22, 2010

Libertarians across the country were saddened to learn that a co-founder of the Libertarian Party, David Nolan, had died suddenly Saturday night. The Libertarian Party was actually formed in Nolan’s living room. There are many articles in response. Here’s a small sampling:

Libertarian Party’s blog
The Advocates For Smaller Government blog
Tucson Citizen
Freedom’s Phoenix
Independent Political Report – the comments are loaded with tributes

David Nolan was on the current Libertarian National Committee, and just recently ran for US Senate against John McCain. He invented the “Nolan Chart”, a later version of which is now used by the Advocates For Smaller Government, which we all use for outreach at events.

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Check Out Heartland’s New Policy Blog, ‘Somewhat Reasonable’

By
marcoestreich
Published: November 17, 2010

The Heartland Institute is proud to unveil its  new “in-house” policy blog, Somewhat Reasonable. It is the place friends and fans of The Heartland Institute can keep up with the conversation about free markets, public policy and current events that takes place every day among our fellows and scholars. Heartland staffers don’t always agree, which is part of the fun of working at a “libertarian” think tank.

We’ve been working on it for a while, so it already features plenty of interesting content.

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2010 By the Numbers: A Final Look

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 16, 2010

The final numbers are in for the 2010 elections, and Libertarians had a very good year. Our party exists to give a platform to true advocates of a smaller, less intrusive government in affairs both foreign and domestic. By looking at these numbers, more Hoosiers are willing to abstain from voting for the lesser of two evils. Our party is proud to give principles an option on the ballot.

We’d like to thank all of our candidates for putting their name on the line, taking shots from the other parties while responding with grace, giving solutions to problems rather bickering and talking points, and ensuring that more Hoosiers hear our message than ever before. And most of all, we thank YOU for your vote and support.

These highlights are brief because we aren’t able to write and tell you of all of the hard work by our 99 candidates, their volunteers, or the county parties that support them. Hopefully the overall growth in these numbers speak volumes about the effort that was put forth by the Libertarian Party of Indiana this election cycle. Our party’s growth even caught the attention of Indiana’s largest newspaper this past weekend.

Here are just some of the highlights:

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The 7 Never-to-be-Forgotten Principles of Government

By
LPIN Headquarters
Published: November 16, 2010

(By Harry Browne in 2003, Originally posted at HarryBrowne.org.)

It’s easy to think sometimes that a new government program, law, or regulation could cure a pressing social problem.

Whether it’s a desire to end abortions, keep the wrong people out of the country, make your city drug-free, stop corporate frauds, crack down on criminals, or make health care more accessible and less expensive, you can imagine how the right new law could make everything okay.

But when you get that kind of thought, I hope you’ll remember the seven principles that apply to all government programs — not just the ones you oppose.

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Action Alert: LPIN Calls on TSA to End Use of Full Body Image Scanners at Indianapolis International Airport

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 16, 2010

(This is a repost from February 2010. It contains form letters giving you the ability to post your name and send it to your representatives.)

Dear Fellow Hoosiers,

In light of recent events, the Indianapolis International Airport, by order of Transportation Security Administration, has implemented the use of full body scanners. Many are unaware of the nature of this machine. We need all Hoosiers that care about their privacy to contact their Congressmen, Senators, the Indianapolis Airport Authority, and the TSA.

We have written two form letters that you can use to attach your name and send off.  You can download them here and here.

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Quantitative Easing Explained

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 16, 2010

Why is Gas $3.00 a Gallon and Going Up?

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 7, 2010

Did you notice that gas has gone up to $3 a gallon, or that cereal and other food is now more expensive? It’s not big business out to gouge you. It’s the actions of a group of bankers (the Federal Reserve) that do not answer to Congress (or you) when they increase prices (or tax you) by making your money worth less. The Federal Reserve has announced a plan called “Quantitative Easing 2.” This will increase the supply of money. This lowers the value of the dollar and enables America to pay back its creditors easier. NPR explains it in an easy way here.

Some are warning of a 1970′s style malaise as inflation rises. The Wall Street Journal recently discussed all food the companies that are now forced to raise prices, or slash jobs.

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Three Reasons The Midterm Elections Didn’t Change Anything

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 5, 2010

The economy, foreign policy, and social issues…

2010 By the Numbers: Statewide and Federal Races Show Growth

By
mwittlief
Published: November 4, 2010

A snap shot of the numbers from past cycles versus the numbers in the 2010 election (as of 11-4-10).

SOS:
Sink-Burris 2002: 60,937; 4.1%
Kole 2006: 54,381; 3.3%
Wherry 2010: 100,847; 5.9%

Auditor:
Parisi 2002: 49,030; 3.4%
Knipe 2010: 78,098; 4.6%

US Senate:
Hager 2000: 33,992; 1.6%
Barger 2004: 27,334; 1.1%
Osborn 2006: 168,820; 12.6% (2-way)
Sink-Burris 2010: 94,562; 5.4%

Combined US House (percentages include all 9 races in each year):
2002: 37,270; 2.4% (9 candidates)
2004: 35,470; 1.5% (7 candidates)
2006: 17,324; 1.0% (2 candidates)
2008: 47,306; 1.8% (5 candidates)
2010: 84,518; 4.8% (9 candidates)

The Libertarian Party of Indiana Maintains Ballot Access for Four More Years

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 3, 2010

The Libertarian Party of Indiana will maintain ballot access for four more years because of their achievement of six percent in the Secretary of State race. Libertarian Mike Wherry earned 100,847 votes which is the highest number of votes cast for a single candidate in the LPIN’s history.

Automatic Ballot access is granted to a political party that reaches two percent of the vote while the ten percent mark enters a political party in to the primary system. In 2006, Mike Kole received 54,381 votes (3.3%). Rebecca Sink-Burris was the party’s candidate in 2002, and received 60,937 votes or (4.1%).

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LPIN Podcast: LPIN State Chair Sam Goldstein on Election Night Early Returns

By
Mike Kole
Published: November 3, 2010

As Election Night early returns rolled in, Libertarian Party of Indiana State Chair Sam Goldstein commented on the numbers- thus far, the highest seen for Libertarian candidates in the history of the LPIN.

Listen Here: LPIN State Chair Sam Goldstein

Election Night Parties Planned Across the State

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 2, 2010

Many Election night parties are planned around the state to celebrate the hard work of Libertarians in this past cycle. All are welcomed to attend any of these functions.

The State Party will have it’s election night gathering at the Antelope Club in downtown Indianapolis. Come congratulate Rebecca Sink-Burris, Mike Wherry, and many other candidates after the polls close!

Time: November 2, 2010 from 6pm to 11pm
Location: Antelope Club
Street: 615 N Delaware St.
City/Town: Indianapolis, IN 46204-1397
(This is a private club and those under 21 are allowed, but it is an adult atmosphere.)

LaPorte County‘s Election Night Party will be at Rother’s Pub in LaPorte on Pine Lake Ave after the polls close.

There will also be a gathering of Libertarians in Evansville.

Time: Tuesday, November 2 · 6:30pm – 11:30pm
Location: Chris Flener’s Home 2922 Langston Dr. Evansville, IN

Rex Bell will host a gathering for supporters in his home in Wayne County: 17059 State Road 38, 2 miles west of Hagerstown as soon as the polls close on Tuesday, to watch the Wayne County results, as well as from across the state.

Rush County will have a party for their poll workers and supporters after the polls close at the home of Paul and Joyce Morrell. To attend, please call Paul at 1-765-561-2130.

Anyone who volunteers at a polling site for at least 2 hours Tue. will be treated to eats and drinks at the Greg “No Bull” Knott for Congress celebration starting at 6:30p Tue. at Killroy’s on Kirkwood in Bloomington.  Call Greg (812-345-9783) or his campaign manager Luke (317-850-6078) when you are ready to work and we will get you materials and assign you a polling location.

The Howard County group will hold court after the polls close in the pool room at the Half Moon tomorrow night from 7-10pm, please join us as we watch the election results, for a bite to eat, a beer and a much needed wind down to the election season.

May We Please Have Your Vote?

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 2, 2010

Tip O’Neil is famous for the phrase, “All Politics is Local!” He wrote a book with the same title, and in it he tells the story of why asking people for their vote is so important.

In the story, he tells of his first campaign where one of his neighbors, Mrs. Elizabeth O’Brien, stopped him and said “Tom, I’m going to vote for you tomorrow even though you didn’t ask me to.”

He was stunned and said, “I’ve lived across the street from you for eighteen years. I cut your grass in the summer, I shovel your walk in the winter. I haul out your ashes. I didn’t think I had to ask for your vote.”

“Tom, let me tell you something: People like to be asked.”

So I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t email our supporters today and ask you for your vote today for our candidates.

We’ve worked very hard this campaign season to put good candidates in place and letting people know that voting third party is the right thing to do. We’ve worked hard at getting earned media, shining in debates, canvassing neighborhoods, raising money, and putting out ads.

It would be a shame if we forgot to actually ask you to vote for Libertarians in the process.

Please go to LPIN.org/candidates and look up those in your districts. For statewide races, please visit Rebecca Sink-Burris’ (US Senate) website here and Mike Wherry’s (Secretary of State) website here.

Thank you for your amazing support in 2010,
Chris Spangle
Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana

Poll Workers Needed!

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 1, 2010

The Libertarian Party and their candidates are looking for volunteers tomorrow! If you are willing to stand at polling places and ask for votes, please contact one of the people below and we will make every attempt to get you materials. We have plenty of materials, but we need more liberty lovers! Here is a quick guide to stumping for votes at the polls.

If you are in central Indiana, there will be a materials pick up point tonight from 5 PM until 9 PM at the Antelope Club. Please click here for more information. Please call Chris Spangle with questions at 317-920-1994.

  • If you live in the Fort Wayne Area, please contact Robert Enders at 1-260-420-5148.
  • In the Elkhart/South Bend area, please contact Ron Cenkush 1-574-876-3464.
  • In Lake County, please email Beth Duensing: beth@weknowthetruth.net.
  • For LaPorte and Porter Counties, please call Dan Drexler at 1-317-507-8902.
  • In Kokomo, please call Jerry Titus at 765-271-1273.
  • In the 5th Congressional District, please contact Chard Reid at 1-317-508-9995.
  • In Hamilton County, please call Mike Kole at 317-709-2374.
  • In the Richmond area, please contact Rex Bell at1-765-969-0086.
  • In the Rushville area, please contact Paul Morrell at 1-765-561-2130.
  • In Bloomington, please call Luke Hilton at 317-850-6078.
  • In Evansville, please contact Chris Flener via email at ctflener@lucentconcepts.com.

Conversations with Rebecca: Big Government and Why it Doesn’t Work

By
Chris Spangle
Published: November 1, 2010

Conversations with Rebecca Sink-Burris: Big Government and Why it Doesn’t Work

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