[Lnc-business] Candidate/Campaign Funding

Starchild sfdreamer at earthlink.net
Wed Jul 19 10:57:05 EDT 2017


Ken,

	You know, I think you may be right. After reading your comments here, I believe I may have been barking up the wrong tree. I hadn't considered the possibility of turning this function over to the state affiliate parties. But your observation that we can't run the party from this body is spot on. I also can't argue with the sentiment that "I'd rather see 50 states doing this task in parallel, where they're actually able to meet the candidate and likely do a better job of assessing the candidate".

	The details may still require a bit of finesse though. When I started thinking about it, an issue quickly became apparent – precisely how to transfer candidate/campaign support spending authority to the affiliates. 

	One straightforward way to do it would be to divide the funds that the LNC has been spending for this purpose among the state affiliates using a proportional formula based on membership numbers. But while relatively simple and easy, this formula would have a significant downside, namely that it could frequently result in less money going to a state affiliate with several attractive candidates or campaigns seeking support, than to another state affiliate with fewer Libertarian candidates or less attractive campaigns that cycle (e.g. my state of California, which has the most members, but is saddled with a "Top Two" law that has greatly reduced the number of statewide candidates).

	I do have a slightly more complex proposal [don't worry Sam, it's shorter than my previous proposal, lol!] that I think could address that problem in a satisfactory manner, but I'd like to get your input on it Ken, and that of others, as well as hear any other suggestions for how to empower the affiliate parties to fund candidates and campaigns.  For instance, perhaps 

	Toward this end, I've started a Google Doc* document where my latest proposal can be viewed, and people can suggest modifications to it or propose their own alternate language for a motion addressing the general topic of LNC funding of candidates and campaigns:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17CxIixeu1GoQKLcJKQ05gvU-4jh35lX-B9vHJCKlzIA/edit?usp=sharing

[You don't have to be on the LNC to comment – if you're reading this on the reflector list and would like to suggest some motion language, or have other feedback or ideas for an approach on this issue, please feel free to go to the link above and comment.]

	Although I've edited several Google Docs documents, I believe this is the first one I've created, so please let me know if you have any trouble viewing or editing it, or any other feedback.

Love & Liberty,

                                     ((( starchild )))
At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
                         RealReform at earthlink.net
                                 (415) 625-FREE

*I'd actually prefer to patronize a smaller competing provider than reinforce the dominance of Google, so if anyone knows of another online service offering features similar to Google Docs, do share!


On Jul 18, 2017, at 11:15 PM, Ken Moellman wrote:

> It's a comprehensive plan.  However, the enormity of it is exactly why I think we should focus on developing and enabling state parties and let them build up to the point of being able to properly support the candidates in their state.  I'd rather see 50 states doing this task in parallel, where they're actually able to meet the candidate and likely do a better job of assessing the candidate.
> 
> I've run several campaigns and I was a statewide candidate myself (first executive branch candidate for LPKY, ever).  I have asked for help in those various campaigns, but not received it.  In hind sight, I realize that it was probably wise.  Though my own statewide campaign was largely about spreading the party out statewide, it was not framed that way and therefore the "now" version of me would have voted against the request made by the "then" version of me.
> 
> If we're building state parties, I'm for it.  If we're running temporary campaigns, I'm generally going to be against it.  I see the LP as the "long game" and therefore I believe in funding infrastructure and foundational items over temporary campaigns.  Exceptions do exist. 
> 
> We can't run the party from this body.  What we can do is help the party grow, so that a more local party can run a real political ground game and get some people into elected office.
> 
> ken
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jul 19, 2017 at 2:18 AM, Starchild <sfdreamer at earthlink.net> wrote:
> 
> 	If all committee members would be LNC members or alternates, what would be the advantage over simply having the LNC as a whole vote on these requests? 
> 
> 	Delegating this matter to committees populated (at least partly) by non-LNC members would help bring a wider crossection of LP members into the leadership, but a new committee composed only of a subset of the LNC would mean once again putting a handful of insiders in charge, while excluding those LNC members not on the new committee from the decision-making process. From the perspective of having committees reflect the makeup of the LNC as selected by the delegates and the regions, such an approach is arguably worse than having a committee composed solely of non-LNC members (in which case all LNC members would be on the same footing).
> 
> 	On a separate but related note, I think we should limit the number of committees on which individual LNC members can simultaneously serve. Is it honoring the will of the delegates and regions to emulate the U.S. Congress by allowing the LNC to delegate various powers to subsets of the LNC so that some LNC members serve on many powerful committees while others serve on few or no committees?
> 
> Love & Liberty,
> 
>                                   ((( starchild )))
> At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
>                          RealReform at earthlink.net
>                                  (415) 625-FREE
>                                    @StarchildSF
> 
> 
> On Jul 18, 2017, at 8:26 PM, Daniel Hayes wrote:
> 
>> I second that strongly. 
>> 
>> Daniel Hayes
>> LNC At Large Member
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> On Jul 18, 2017, at 10:37 PM, goldsteinatlarge <goldsteinatlarge at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> This committee will be LNC or Alternates in my proposal.  We are selected by the delegates or regions to make this type decision, not volunteers who answer to no one.
>>> 
>>> sam
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 active, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
>>> 
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: David Demarest <dpdemarest at centurylink.net>
>>> Date: 7/18/17 11:24 PM (GMT-05:00)
>>> To: lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>> Subject: Re: [Lnc-business] Email Ballot 2017-16: Joe Buchman Donation
>>> 
>>> Sam,
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> I suggest that the motion include a committee selection method (appointed and/or volunteer). Since this will obviously be an important committee of interest to us all, I suggest that the motion specify a minimum of three LNC members and two non-LNC members [substitute your own numbers].
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Thoughts?
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> ~David
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 2018 Omaha Roads to Liberty Un-Convention
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Freedom, Nothing More, Nothing Less
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> ~David Pratt Demarest
>>> 
>>> LNC Region 6 Representative (IA, IL, MN, MO, ND, NE, WI)
>>> 
>>> LSLA Vice-Chair
>>> 
>>> LPNE State Central Committee, Secretary
>>> 
>>> Cell:      402-981-6469
>>> 
>>> Home: 402-493-0873
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> From: Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces at hq.lp.org] On Behalf Of Sam Goldstein
>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 8:28 PM
>>> To: lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>> Subject: Re: [Lnc-business] Email Ballot 2017-16: Joe Buchman Donation
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Yes, I'm working on a motion to create a Candidate Support Committee to be tasked with first
>>> 
>>> developing a set of guidelines (subject to LNC approval) for LNC contributions to individual 
>>> 
>>> candidates other than POTUS.  Once the guidelines are approved the committee will submit
>>> 
>>> a proposed budget as a new line item for the 2018 LNC Budget then will administer the distribution
>>> 
>>> of funds.  The Committee might also be tasked with supporting  the new Candidate Support Specialist
>>> 
>>> position, if we so choose.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Any ideas about motion formulation will be appreciated.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Live Free,
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sam Goldstein
>>> 
>>> Libertarian National Committee
>>> 
>>> Member at Large
>>> 
>>> 8925 N Meridian St, Ste 101
>>> 
>>> Indianapolis IN 46260
>>> 
>>> 317-850-0726 Phone
>>> 
>>> 317-582-1773 Fax
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 9:10 PM, Joshua Katz <planning4liberty at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Our colleague from Indiana has told us he plans to introduce a motion in August. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Joshua A. Katz
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 8:03 PM, Ken Moellman <lpky at mu-net.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> What committee would be charged with coming up with these guidelines?  Another committee?   I'm pretty busy so I don't think I want to commit to direct action on another committee.  But as a former campaign manager, and former candidate, I would like to give some suggested guidelines or watermarks.  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> ken
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Tue, Jul 18, 2017 at 8:42 PM, David Demarest <dpdemarest at centurylink.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I hope I am proved wrong but it looks like we have a vicious circle – Continuing ‘No’ votes on candidate support motions until we develop guidelines and no appointees or volunteers so far to develop guidelines.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Am I missing something here?
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> I am sure there are more qualified LNC and LP members but I will volunteer to be part of an effort to develop candidate support guidelines. We will need a strong leader to meet this challenge. Is this a matter of Nick either appointing a committee leader and supporting committee members or soliciting volunteers? I suggest that both LNC and non-LNC members be part of this initiative. Any other volunteers? Might be a good opportunity for new or aspiring LNC members.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Thoughts?
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> ~David
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 2018 Omaha Roads to Liberty Un-Convention
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> ~David Pratt Demarest
>>> 
>>> LNC Region 6 Representative (IA, IL, MN, MO, ND, NE, WI)
>>> 
>>> LSLA Vice-Chair
>>> 
>>> LPNE State Central Committee, Secretary
>>> 
>>> Cell:      402-981-6469
>>> 
>>> Home: 402-493-0873
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> From: Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces at hq.lp.org] On Behalf Of Brett Bittner
>>> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 6:47 PM
>>> To: lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>> Subject: Re: [Lnc-business] Email Ballot 2017-16: Joe Buchman Donation
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> TL; DR - I vote nay on email ballot 2017-16.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> My thoughts: I find myself in the same situation as I did when the Wicks motion was presented. At that time, promises to come up with a procedure we made (and we even delayed considering a request from Senator Ebke for that procedure to be in place), yet action has yet to materialize. I believe that our first duty is to win elections, and without a process to vet funding requests, we are ill-equipped to determine which campaigns should receive our limited funds. 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> As both Arvin and Sam have outlined my concerns, I don't feel the need to reiterate them. 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> I appreciate Dr. Buchman's many years of service to the Party and as an activist, and I think very highly of him. I also enjoyed seeing his debate performance online, and I think he did a tremendous job of offering a different perspective in that debate. 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Unfortunately, I believe that we will never create a process for these type of requests if we continue to fulfill them in the ad hoc manner from our limited funds. As such, I must cast a nay vote. I will continue to do so for all candidate funding requests until we've established a process to vet such requests. 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Brett C. Bittner 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Region 3 Representative 
>>> 
>>> Libertarian National Committee 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> brett.bittner at lp.org 
>>> 
>>> 317.537.8344 
>>> 
>>> **This message sent from my phone. Please excuse any typos.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Jul 17, 2017 07:17, "Patrick McKnight" <patrick.joseph.mcknight at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I vote no.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> Patrick McKnight
>>> 
>>> Region 8 Rep
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Jul 17, 2017 12:07 AM, "James Lark" <jwl3s at eservices.virginia.edu> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Dear colleagues:
>>> 
>>>     I hope all is well with you.  I am writing in my capacity as Region 5 representative to vote "nay" on the motion.
>>> 
>>>     As always, thanks for your work for liberty.
>>> 
>>>     Take care,
>>>     Jim
>>> 
>>>     James W. Lark, III
>>>     Dept. of Systems and Information Engineering
>>>     Applied Mathematics Program, Dept. of Engineering and Society
>>>     Affiliated Faculty, Dept. of Statistics
>>>     University of Virginia
>>> 
>>>     Advisor, The Liberty Coalition
>>>     University of Virginia
>>> 
>>>     Region 5 Representative, Libertarian National Committee
>>> -----
>>> 
>>> On 7/15/2017 4:15 AM, Alicia Mattson wrote:
>>> 
>>> We have an electronic mail ballot.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Votes are due to the LNC-Business list by July 25, 2017 at 11:59:59pm Pacific time.
>>>  
>>> Co-Sponsors:  Harlos, Bilyeu, Demarest, Starchild
>>> 
>>> Motion:  for the LNC to contribute $5,000 to support the Congressional campaign of Joe Buchman (Utah)
>>> 
>>> -Alicia
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> 
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>>> 
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>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 
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>>>  
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>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
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