From: bam@bnlux1.bnl.gov (Bruce A. Martin)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.marrou
Subject: Re: Elected libertarians (was Re: Election results)
Date: 13 Nov 92 20:58:33 GMT
Organization: (none)


		Cross-posted from alt.politics.libertarian
		(with apologies to those who read both groups).

In article <BxIqJK.4x4@well.sf.ca.us> rab@well.sf.ca.us (Bob Bickford) writes:
>In article <1992Nov10.135209.10841@ornl.gov> de5@ORNL.GOV (Dave Sill) writes:
>>
>>Did *any* Libertarians win?
	    ^                    [Capital L means LP candidates.]
>
>Yes, at least five (4 state legislators in NH: 2 incumbents + 2 others,
>and something called a "public weigher" in TX) and I'm sure there will
>be more mentioned in coming days.....

Another question:  did any other libertarians win?  Answer:  YES!
                                 ^     
				 [No caps.  Refers to philosophy.]

A recent article said that, in addition to the four Libertarian Party
candidates elected in New Hampshire, there were libertarians elected to 
state legislatures in at least five other states!

No, these five (or more) libertarians did not run as Libertarian Party
candidates.  However, it is still a plus that there will be at least
five more friends of liberty in these legislative bodies.

These elected libertarians ran as Republican candidates, which certainly
does not help strengthen the LP.  Personally, I disagree with the strategy 
of the so-called "Republican Liberty Caucus" which sponsored them.  
However, that's a matter of TACTICS -- not a disagreement about PRINCIPLES.
Notwithstanding any criticism of their strategy and tactics, it is still
better to have these libertarians elected than to be governed by the usual
gang of unprincipled statists.

I also read that some of them were former officers in LP state affiliates.
Perhaps some of them are still members of the LP.  In any event, there is 
no indication that they have undergone any change of principles.  While
disagreeing with their partisan tactics, we should still welcome their
election and view them as allies and fellow friends of liberty!

If we consider ourselves the "party of principle", isn't it about time we
started paying more attention to the principles espoused by candidates than
to their party affiliation?

>        Robert Bickford                       rab@well.sf.ca.us

bam@bnl.gov (Bruce A. Martin)        BAM    [My opinions belong to me only,
Master of the Tripods of Hephaestus. ~~~    and they represent no one else.]
# include discaimers.h+copyright.h   ~o~  Don't blame me; I voted Libertarian!
# repeal XVI-th_amendment.           /|\  Call (800) 682-1776 for free info.

P.S.  Here's a different, but related idea I've been trying to promote:

  Instead of keeping silent until we actually have candidates on ballot,
  I'd like to see the LP begin RATING officeholders and candidates of ALL
  parties -- perhaps on an adapted Nolan chart, using selected issues where
  they have taken a stand.  

  We should compute and publish the "Liberty Quotients" (TM) of ALL potential
  candidates for an elective office, perhaps under the guise of "screening"
  them for suitability as possible LP candidates.  (In most cases, follow-up
  press releases would explain WHY they were all found to be unacceptable.)

  Any comments?

BAM
Xref: sparky alt.politics.marrou:2294 alt.politics.libertarian:1902