<html><head></head><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_3209">Taking over other parties is the name of the game in politics. When the Russians had their little revolution against the Zar, it wasn't that the Communists were in charge, but when there was a demonstration, the Communists ran to the front of the crowd and shouted "fellow me" until after a while everyone thought they really must be in charge. Be it pro-lifers, or labor, or whatever. You infiltrate and take over a party as a quick way to get power.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_3212">In ND we changed our bylaws last year to require national delegates or the chairman to be a member of the party for the last 2 years. Not perfect, but it would slow things down.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_3369">In our state parties, I doubt that many of our members have ever read their bylaws, and for the most part ignore them. So it would not be that difficult to take over a state affiliate. That is why at this national convention I would like us to require all delegates to be sustaining members of the national party.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_3219">As for the presidential nomination. It an outside strong candidate really wanted our endorsement, and he was not too outlandish of a candidate, and we ended up with a good presidential vote total that secured us ballot access in a number of states, and maybe even electing a number of Libertarians on the state level. Well, I personally could live with that.</span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span><br></span></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1458066519224_2799" dir="ltr"><span>Roland Riemers ND</span></div></div></body></html>