Libertarian Party State Convention

It’s convention time!

The Libertarian Party of Colorado’s convention is Saturday, March 20, at the Red Lion Inn.

LPCO Business Meeting /State Convention

Red Lion Hotel

The Jefferson Room

3200 S. Parker Road

Aurora, CO 80014

303-695-1700

The doors will open at 7:30 am, registration begins at 8:00 am, and the business meeting will start at 9:30 am.

Vendor tables available for advertising your business.

Please complete a quick questionnaire if you're attending, so we can provide the best possible convention.

Book your king sized non-smoking room for $89 a day by calling the hotel directly or by going to: RedLion.com & using access code 0319libe.

If you call 1-800-Red-Lion through central reservations, simply request the Libertarian Party of Colorado rate.

Currently, we have three people seeking our nomination for Colorado Governor.

We have candidates seeking our nomination for every U.S. Congressional District and the U.S. Senate. This is good news.

We have some candidates seeking our nomination for state General Assembly seats. We need more. If you score near the top of the Nolan Chart and can effectively articulate why you answer each question on the World Smallest Political Quiz the way you do, consider running.

With growing dissatisfaction to the big-government two-party duopoly, the Libertarian Party of Colorado has an opportunity to do well in the 2010 elections. We are the only political party that actually believes in small government and free markets. The ONLY ONE. However, to capitalize, we need to provide an option to the public. The best way to provide that option is to run as many qualified Libertarian candidates as we can. We are off to a good start. Let us keep up the pressure.

====

The night before our Convention, there will be a candidate reception at the Red Lion Inn. You are encouraged to attend and meet them all. I will see you there.

LPCO Candidate Meet & Greet

Red Lion Hotel

Rooms A & B

3200 S. Parker Road

Aurora, CO 80014

303-695-1700

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Come meet the 2010 LPCO Candidate Pool,

and schmooze with fellow Libertarians.

$10 donation suggested.

Cash Bar.

All Donations Welcomed.

===

National Update

As I write, I’m in Austin, TX, attending the yearly Libertarian State Leadership Alliance conference. It is a good opportunity to meet members of other state parties and to learn what is working in their states.

The Libertarian National Committee is also meeting at the same time. Our current National Chairman, Bill Redpath, is not seeking another term. As of now, there are five announced candidates to replace him. All five spoke at the LSLA.

They are: George Phillies, Ernie Hancock, Wayne Allyn Root, John Jay Myers and Mark Hinkle.

Redpath’s successor will be selected at the National LP Convention this summer in St. Louis, Missouri. The convention will be the weekend of May 28.

In addition to selecting our candidates for the 2010 elections, we will elect our delegates to the National Convention.

If you have interest in attending the National Convention as a delegate, you are encouraged to attend the State Convention and seek a seat. Even if you can not attend the State Convention but wish to be a National delegate, you can have someone nominate you at the State Convention.

Other National News

Tony Ryan is our District Four representative on the LNC. Tony has done a great job representing us, but is not seeking another term. Tony’s alternate, Rob Latham of Utah, does not want the position but is willing to remain the alternate. Enter our own Jim Remmert, of Boulder. Jim is seeking the District Four spot on the LNC being vacated by Tony. Jim is the former Associate General Counsel for Exxon and has retired in Colorado.

Jim is also in Austin meeting many of the LNC and letting people know he is running.

Jim has my full support and I hope you all get a chance to meet him if you have not yet.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...

The Obama administration and the Democrat controlled congress extended the USA PATRIOT Act.

Do you believe in the Tenth Amendment? Really?

Below the jump is a press release from Sensible Colorado.

From their website:

Sensible Colorado envisions a system where drug use becomes a health issue, not a crime issue, through innovative drug policy reform that focuses on prevention and harm reduction education, provides accessible treatment opportunities, and reduces incarcerations, crime, drug use by minors, and strains on the judicial system and police departments while increasing the resources available for healthcare and treatment.

Treating drug use like a health issue? Whoaaaa now... that's just crazy talk.

For those "conservatives" that profess a belief in the Tenth Amendment and state sovereignty, do you mean it? Or do you only mean it when it is convenient?

My position is clear: Medical marijuana is a state issue, and the feds should stay the hell out of it.

All "conservatives" that support the DEA in this matter, please, never mention the Tenth Amendment again.

You don't believe in it.

I will be at this event, waving a Tenth Amendment sign. I hope you'll join me.

==================================

MEDIA ADVISORY -- For event on Thursday, February 18

Contact: Brian Vicente, Sensible Colorado, 720-280-4067

Medical Marijuana Patients and Supporters to Rally at President Obama Event

Protesters call for end to recent "rogue" DEA raids; Release of licenced provider and recent arrestee Mark Bartkowicz

DENVER, CO -- On Thursday, February 18, at an event to be attended by President Obama, medical marijuana patients and supporters will participate in a protest of the continuing federal raids of medical marijuana patients and providers in Colorado. This event is a response to the recent Drug Enforcement Administration raids of two front-range medical marijuana testing facilities and the Feb. 12 raid of a licensed medical marijuana grower in Highlands Ranch.

"These DEA raids are out of compliance with both the will of Colorado voters and that of the White House," said Brian Vicente, event organizer and director of Sensible Colorado. "In particular, the recent, armed raid and arrest of licensed medical marijuana provider Mark Bartkowicz, highlights the rogue nature of the regional DEA office. "President Obama needs to be made aware of this agency's miscreant actions."

Colorado voters passed a medical marijuana law in 2000. In October, 2009, the Department of Justice issued a memo instructing federal agents to refrain from focusing resources on the arrest and prosecution of individuals following state medical marijuana laws. That memo is available here.

WHAT: Medical Marijuana Protest at Event Attended by President Obama

WHO: **PHOTO-OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE** with Sign-Waving Medical Marijuana Patient, Providers, and Supporters.

WHEN: Thursday, February 18 from 12-1pm

WHERE: Across from the Fillmore Auditorium, at the corner of Colfax and Clarkson in Denver, CO. See Directions HERE

# # #

Sensible Colorado is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a more sensible, evidence-based approach to drugs and drug policy in Colorado. For more information visit http://www.SensibleColorado.org.

--
Brian Vicente, Executive Director
Sensible Colorado
P.O. Box 18768, Denver, CO 80218
Ph# 720 890 4247
Fax# 303 861 0915
brian@sensiblecolorado.org

Please visit www.sensiblecolorado.org to sign up for Sensible Colorado's
free email updates.

--
Brian Vicente, Executive Director
Sensible Colorado
P.O. Box 18768, Denver, CO 80218
Ph# 720 890 4247
Fax# 303 861 0915
brian@sensiblecolorado.org

Please visit www.sensiblecolorado.org to sign up for Sensible Colorado's
free email updates.

Jeffrey Sweetin, rogue federal cop, decides national and state policy in Colorado.

Who determines Colorado law?

(a) Colorado voters via amending the state Constitution through the petition process.

(b) The general assembly.

(c) The Colorado Supreme Court.

(d) A local DEA agent.

The answer is (d).

Jeffrey Sweetin, the head of the federal DEA in Denver, has unilaterally decided that Colorado's constitution means nothing. Despite a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in this state, despite the general assembly working on a regulatory framework, despite his boss the President of the United States of America telling him that the feds will not use its resources to arrest those in compliance with local medical marijuana laws, this rogue fed decided to arrest a medical marijuana grower in Highlands Ranch.

Apparently all the meth labs have been closed in Colorado.

Apparently Barack Obama has no control over his policemen.

Apparently one federal cop gets to decide not only Colorado policy, but federal policy as well.

That is an awful lot of power for one man.

According to today's Denver Post, Sweetin "said he has no plans to start cracking down on the hundreds of medical-marijuana dispensaries that have popped up around the state."

Well, that is certainly reassuring. As long as he has no plans on once again ignoring the Colorado constitution, we should be okay.

But since when does Colorado law depend on the whim of one federal cop?

Even if you think medical marijuana is a horrible idea, this abuse of federal power on an internal state matter should be of serious concern.

I hope all that profess to believe in state sovereignty and the Tenth Amendment, regardless of their position on this internal issue, complain long and loudly about this usurpation of state power by the federal government.

Call your U.S. Rep and let them know you want the feds out of Colorado internal business.

This is about state sovereignty, not medical marijuana

As the Denver Post reports, “Major metro grower jailed,” federal agents have asserted their authority, primacy and superiority over its mere subjects in the district of Colorado.

I say “district,” because states have rights. Districts are mere political subdivisions of, and exist at the whim of, the larger federal government.

Last night the feds, asserting their supremacy, arrested a man who was in full compliance with Colorado state law.

With the federal government’s decision to completely ignore the Colorado Constitution and assert its statutes, any semblance of Colorado autonomy has been crushed.

=====

Lest there be any doubt, Special Agent Jeffrey Sweetin, who is in charge of the DEA’s office in Denver, was very clear:

"Technically, every dispensary in the state is in blatant violation of federal law. The time is coming when we go into a dispensary, we find out what their profit is, we seize the building and we arrest everybody. They're violating federal law; they're at risk of arrest and imprisonment."

And you thought the Governor, state legislature and state Supreme Court had some say what goes on in Colorado.

Not if the feds decide they do not like it.

====

TAKE ACTION

Remember, this is not about medical marijuana. It is about Colorado sovereignty.

In a polite, reasoned manner, tell the feds you do not appreciate them stepping into a Colorado law enforcement matter. Tell them if they have enough time and money to spend usurping Colorado’s sovereignty to enforce federal policy, they have too much time and money.

Tell them to leave us alone. We can handle our own business.

CALL NOW IF YOU CAN

Here is the Denver DEA office contact information:

Media Contact – Special Agent Mike Turner

Phone: 720-895-4214

Email: Robert.M.Turner@usdoj.gov

You can also call these other Colorado field offices:

Colorado Springs, CO — (719) 866-6100

Durango, CO — (970) 385-5147

Glenwood Springs, CO — (970) 945-0744

Grand Junction, CO — (970) 683-3220

And let your U.S. Representative and Senators know you want him/her to get the federal agents out of Colorado state business:

United States Representatives

District 1 – Diana DeGette

(303) 844-4988

District 2 – Jared Polis

D.C. # (202) 225-2161

District 3 – John Salazar

D.C. # (202) 225-4761

District 4 – Betsy Markey

D.C. # (202) 225-4676

District 5 – Doug Lanborn

D.C. # (202) 225-4422

District 6 – Mike Coffman

D.C. # (202) 225-7882

District 7 – Ed Perlmutter

D.C. # (202) 225-2645

Colorado Senators

Mark Udall

Toll free # 877-7-MUDALL

(877-768-3255)

Michael Bennet

Toll free # (866) 455-9866

====

Please forward this to any other citizen concerned about Colorado's sovereignty.

David K. Williams, Jr.

Big Brother in a windbreaker

Little Brother had an idea, but he knew his big brother did not approve.

Little Brother went ahead and tried it, but tried to keep it small so as not to bring undue attention to himself. Big Brother eventually noticed, however, but said, “sure, Little Brother, go ahead and play with your little idea, I don’t care.”

Little Brother, no longer concerned about undue attention, really expanded his idea. He still had lots of issues to work out, but he felt he could work them out eventually.

Well, Big Brother decided one day he did not like Little Brother’s idea any more. So he stepped in and stopped it. Just like that.

He does not need a reason. He is Big Brother.

======

This is exactly what has happened in Colorado and its burgeoning medical marijuana industry.

And Big Brother is not in a fairy tale or contained in an Orwell novel. He wears a windbreaker with “DEA” across the back in yellow letters.

See "Major metro grower jailed."

Insurance company profits, trial lawyers and Saul Alinsky

According to an Associated Press report, "Healh insurers' profits surged in 2009."

Of course, the "progressive" statists used the news to demonize greedy insurance companies.

To wit,

In a speech on the Senate floor, (Sen. Harry Reid) attacked WellPoint and other "greedy insurance companies that care more about profits than people."

This is classic Saul Alinsky - demonize the opposition.

And it is exactly what the "conservative" statists do when they argue for corporatist legislation to protect these same insurance companies: Demonize the "greedy trial lawyers" for "demanding" a mutually agreed upon compensation.

Demonization is very effective. However, it does not address any substantative issue. That, of course, is Alinsky's entire point.

Substance does not matter. Only achieving one's ends matters.

Remember that when either end of the statist spectrum starts complaining about how much money someone makes.

FDR and the legacy of his malignant "Second Bill of Rights"

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of the most successful presidents in our history. This is unfortunate.

His vision of a government that could provide bounty to all is fanciful. Far worse, it is malignant. And it lives on today as strong as ever.

One may assume FDR had good intentions. But we all know what paves the road to hell, or, in our case, the road to serfdom.

FDR's version of utopia was laid out in his State of the Union address on January 11, 1944.

In this speech, he lays out a "Second Bill of Rights," which include:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights, no matter how well-intentioned, have disastrous results.

Let us look at just one: "The right of every family to a decent home."

If such a right were to exist, then every family would have the right to demand it.

If they have the right to demand it, then someone has the obligation to provide it.

If someone has the obligation to provide it, that person MUST provide it. What if they don't? Then the government must use force to make the person provide it.

The result is not freedom. It is the opposite.

And this is perfectly acceptable to FDR and the "progressives" he has spawned.

Rule One: If you can't afford it, you can't have it.

It is a familiar sight at the legislature.

Another well-intentioned bill that would cost taxpayers' money was supported by all the members of one party and opposed by all the members of the other party.

The supporters of the bill, estimated to cost $22 million according to the Denver Post, argued that it was good for the state, despite the cost. The party opposing the bill said that this is no time to increase government spending since the state is facing a $1.2 billion shortfall.

Of course, it is easy to tell which party is which. Yep, all the Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee voted in FAVOR of the bill and spending the money, and all the Democrats on the committee voted AGAINST it.

Wha - what?

It's true. Apparently "fiscal restraint" has its limits.

The bill in question died in committee along a 7-4 party vote. It would have made a third DUI a felony. That is probably a really good idea. But when you can not pay for it, you can not have it. It is a pretty simple rule.

Isn't that what the Republicans tell the Democrats all the time?

I demand you read this!

There is more than one problem with Mark Hillman's Denver Post column published yesterday. (Trial Lawyer Hypocrisy Act.)

One, however, really jumps out. Twice he writes how plaintiff attorneys can "demand up to 40 percent" of the eventual recovery.

How does that "demand" work?

Circle K can "demand" consumers spend $5.00 for a "fun size" Snickers. So what? Ain't nobody gonna be meeting that demand.

I can "demand" Sandra Bullock's appearance at dinner. That demand ain't gonna be met either.

People that have been injured by the someone else's negligence have a wide selection of attorneys from which to choose to represent them. Almost none will hire an attorney who "demands" 40 percent. It is called a "free market," something Republicans usually extol the virtues of.

Couldn't we get a few more levels of government involved?

Today's Denver Post declares in a broad headline

Feds jump aboard rail hub

The article by Mike McPhee states that "the announcement of a $304 million federal loan Friday gave the green light to the redevelopment of Union Station... ."

Further, "the loan (is) guaranteed by the City and County of Denver."

This means that one level of government, the feds, are going to give your money to another level of government, the Regional Transportation District, and that another level of government, the City and County of Denver, has guaranteed with your money the loan of your money to you.

All of this for a project no private investor would touch.

Of course, every transaction between each level of government has a cost. You, of course, pay for that, too.

Hey, let's put these guys in charge of EVEN MORE healthcare

According to today's edition of the Denver Post:

A Montbello mother says her 9-year-old son's death from severe asthma could have been prevented had Denver Human Services resolved problems with his Medicaid pharmacy benefits.

Zuton Lucero said she called Human Services every three days for months last year when she was suddenly unable to get prescription drugs for her son, Zumante.

The boy's health deteriorated without the medication, his doctor said, and he died at Children's Hospital in July after losing consciousness at his house after an attack.

"I don't want anyone else to be sitting where I'm sitting," Lucero said.

Unfortunately, "compassionate" progressives want us ALL to be sitting there, Ms. Lucero.

They want the same government run system that neglected your little boy to take care of all of us.

And somehow those of us that don't believe the government is the answer to all problems are the "callous" and "uncaring" ones.

See "The human system fell down" in today's paper.

We are frogs in a pot of water. Is it getting warmer in here?

This is part one of 3. At the end of each clip, you can click to see the next one.

I ask you to watch all three parts. His comparison to the frog in the pot is 100% accurate.

I ask you to fight the expansion of state power.

And notice how hot the water is getting, before it is too late.

Hickenlooper may be "class clown," but he is also "most likely to succeed."

The Colorado GOP knows it has uphill battle on its hands in the 2010 race for governor.

GOP leadership has acknowledged that Democratic candidate John Hickenlooper is a likable fellow and their candidate Scott McInnis is .... well..... not. (See Dick Wadhams warns Republicans Scott McInnis can’t beat John Hickenlooper in a personality contest).

In a press release today, Colorado GOP chairman Wadhams says "This is not an election for class clown, it is an election for Governor of Colorado."

This is a doomed strategy. It will backfire.

Continuing the "class clown" analogy, making fun of the popular guy does not make one more popular. Generally speaking, the one making fun of the popular guy comes across as a jerk. Or, in today's vernacular, a "hater."

McInnis does not need help in that regard.

Even those that don't particularly care for the class clown will feel some sympathy for him as the jerk keeps calling him names. The official GOP name for Hickenlooper in almost all of its press releases is "Hickenritter," a reference to the sitting Democratic governor, Bill Ritter.

While the GOP may think Hickenlooper is the "class clown," it is the GOP itself acting like petulant school boys.

If the Colorado GOP does not grow up, the Colorado governor race might be one of the few elections the Dems win in 2010.

Think they'll be hatin' it then?

Unused scratch pads get jealous

Yesterday's Denver Post contained the headline:

“Countries sign deal to reduce emissions”

The story notes that “the accord is not legally binding. It has no enforcement provision….”

Allow BlueCarp the liberty of translating this story. The headline would be more accurate if it proclaimed:

“Dishonest, easily duped doodle on paper; proclaim moral superiority.”

The story should then note that “true Conservationists decried the shameless waste of paper”

Never take the first offer ... ever.

On the most recent episode of 24 (the second greatest drama in television history after The Shield), an undercover agent, Renee Walker, is making a deal to buy some weapons grade plutonium from a former KGB official. Apparently, this plutonium is a necessary and hard to get ingredient for nuclear weapons. It is not cheap.

He has the stuff. She knows he has it, but plays along as if she's just asking if he knows who might have it.

He does not know that she knows this.

He says he has to make some calls to see if he can find out who has it. He says it will take a $5 million payment just for him to make the calls because just asking around is very dangerous. He tells her if he can find the owner, $5 million is a pittance.

She plays along, says she'll ask her buyer if he's willing to pay the $5 million, and she'll get back to the former KGB guy. The make believe buyer is Jack Bauer.

Jack tells her that he can have the money wired to the KGB guys' account to facilitate the deal. The federal government is all good with this, since they are trying to keep New York City from being nuked.

Here is my quibble: if a KGB terrorist says he needs $5 million, you do not say "okay, no problem.' That's not how negotiations work. KGB terrorists know this.

You say, "sorry, my buyer isn't going to give you $5 million just to make some calls without a guarantee of some kind. You can either have a third party hold the money in escrow, or he'll pay you $1 million for your trouble, even if you come up with diddly squat. If you come through and we make the deal, you'll get your huge cut."

I'm just sayin', ....

if I were a former KGB agent with weapons grade plutonium to sell, and somebody said "OK" to my first demand without haggling, I'd immediately think I was dealing with an undercover agent and that person would be sharin' a room with some mutated fish at the bottom of the East River.

Apparently, I have spent way too much time thinking about making a deal with former KGB officials.

End the Patriot Act!

This is an email from Justin Longo regarding an important event. I have reposted here:

Hey everyone,

I want to alert you to an event that both Dave Williams and I will be attending (bonus: Dave will be speaking at the event!):

Come Join Us in supporting the Bill of Rights Defense Committee for the End the Patriot Act Rally -- Noon - 1:00pm on the West Steps of the Colorado Capitol!

It’s time to END the USA Patriot Act and enforce the Bill of Rights! Please join us over the lunch hour this Wednesday, on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol Building to send a big message to our DC Representatives. Congress will soon be voting to extend provisions of the Patriot Act, so let’s fully support the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, and the members of the House and the Senate who will be saying ‘YES’ to our beloved Bill of Rights, by voting ‘NO’ to extending the Patriot Act.

Come join Colorado Campaign for Liberty, ACLU, Libertarian Party, We Are Change, Progressive Dems, We the People and a host of other groups, for a gathering of Americans from all political persuasions who are standing up for the Bill of Rights!

That's this Wednesday, from Noon till 1pm on the west steps of the State Capitol.

Thanks for listening,

Justin Longo

Legislative Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado

"Whoever wishes peace among peoples must fight statism." -Mises