9:35. We are here. There are distant voices on the live stream. Pat Ford is talking to describe what is happening off the floor. Registration will be open until 10:30.
He passes to Avens O’Brien.
There is good sound, but the picture comes and goes. There will be a Chair debate. Jim Lark is moderating. 6 candidates on stage.
I did not catch all the names.
One is Jeremy Kauffman. Attacks part of the audience as the problem, people who laugh at him. Says party is overrun by leftists and degenerates.
Evan McMahon – Notes his achievements. We need active members. Membership is the silver bullet. Notes opportunities.
Wes Benedict – Former National Executive Director. Before that was paid TX State Director. Recruited large numbers of candidates.
Lark: What are the good metrics?
Phillips (?): Focus on smaller races
McMahon: Membership, money, affiliate support, positive public recognition
Ostrowski: Have we increased American Liberty? Direct citizen action
Benedict: I mailed and put out fliers. Notes what we did when he was national director.
Kauffman: Party has existed for 55 years. Never won a statewide or Federal office. Baits the audience, which heckles him.
Lark: How do we penetrate young people
#1: TPUSA model is excellent
Kauffman: LPNH – grew LPNH electronic followers from a few thousand to over 100,000.
McMahon: Bring in young people. Make sure younger advocates have resources.
Ostrowski: Key issue is affordability. We focus on it.
Phillips: Look at Massie’s campaign. He had young peopel support.
Benedict: Booth on the world’s smallest political quiz.
Lark: What will you do that we are not already doing? Help state affiliates.
Benedict: Web site, database, etc. support.
Kauffman: Says LNC spends time attacking state affiliates. It should stop by shutting it down.
Ostrowski: Direct citizen action. Notes need for rural strategy.
McMahon: #1 Support our Presidential candidates, not other candidates. Help affiliates, not dictate to them.
Lark: how to work with movement organizations.
Kauffman: I promise you I will do nothing.
Ostrowski: Think tanks get huge amounts of money, but what do we get for it? Reach out to 2A groups.
Benedict: Use think tanks to prepare issues for our candidates.
Phillips: Get away from the do-nothings
McMahon: Need to work with single-issue coaliions, even if their people mostly disagree with us.
Yates: Need to work with other groups for training.
Lark: Where can we get real wins?
Several speakers note the surveillance state.
Benedict: People are disgusted with the last several administrations.
Ostrowski: Affordability, affordability, and affordability. Claims government takes 80% of everything.
Closing
Phillips: How much did you spend on this campaign when it’s not a paid position? Avoid issues where we do not agree.
McMahon: I want the the next generation to be freer. Let’s be proud
Kauffman: The LP does nothing but stand in the way of the liberty movement. Vote for me. I promise to do nothing and I will deliver.
Ostrowski: We need a new strategy of citizen action, a new logo, an international strategy conference .. where there is not vision the party parishes.
Benedict: I’m running because I want the party to do well.
Yates: Chair won’t change the world. you will. We’ll supply support material.
Debate ends.
Speaker on automatic criminal record clearance.
Come to order. 604 delegates, 16 alternates Motions to add more delegates. There is a proposal to add a delegate from Michigan, made by someone from Missouri. Motion passes. An Alaska Alternate was added to the Hawaii delegation.
We reach the discussion of a bylaws proposal on conflicts of interest. The Bylaws proposal as amended passes.
Proposal to allow convention committees start their work sooner. Motion passes. Adjourn for lunch. It seems that there is a Libertarian Choir. Yes, choir, a bunch of people who sing.
It appears that you credited Kaufman’s closing statement to McMahon.
Fixed. Thank you.