Our party currently has affiliates in 12 states. I think we all would like for us to have affiliates in all 50 states by the 2010 election, and I think that it’s possible but only if we work towards it as a goal.
From what I see on the ballot access petitioning chart on Ballot Access News, there are 9 states that I would say have “easy” ballot access. My qualifications for easy is less than 1,000 signatures for whole state ballot access, a very small (like 25) candidate ballot access signature requirement or some type of party organizational requirement. Our party currently has affiliates in 4 of those 9 nine states. I think that we should focus on getting candidates to run in those states. We should also try to organize state parties in those 9 states that we don’t have affiliates.
I believe that if we run several active campaigns in those states along with write-in campaigns in states were ballot access is not possible that our party will experience a great deal of growth. This will help to ensure that our 2012 presidential candidate and other local candidates will have ballot access. Below is a listing of states with party affiliates and states that have considerably “easy” ballot access.
Alabama- Organized state party, 2010 party ballot access is 37,513 signatures which is far out of reach, write-in campaigns might be considered
California- Organized state party, 2010 party ballot access in 88,991 signatures which is very out unattainable for us right now, write-in campaigns might be considered
Colorado- Organized state party, ballot access is only 1,000 signatures which can be attained with relative ease, Colorado has a governor’s election in 2010 which presents an great chance for a BTP state-wide campaign
Delaware- No organized state party, state wide ballot access is only 310 signatures so it would be good if we could organize an affiliate there
Florida- Organized state party, state wide ballot access only requires for a slate of presidential elections to be provided, 2010 is when Florida has its next governors election providing another chance for a state-wide campaign
Hawaii- No organized state party, ballot access is only 663 for full party access or 25 per candidate, this is another place where it would b wise to consider building a state party, Hawaii also has a governor’s election in 2010
Indiana- Organized state party, ballot access is 32,742 per candidate and there is no full party access, this is far out of reach for our current resources, write-in campaigns might be best for Indiana
Kansas- Organized state party, 16,994 for party ballot access is not really within our current means, write-ins would also be the best option for Kansas
Louisiana- Organized state party, ballot access is 1,000 signatures for full party and $500 for a single candidate, this is one of the easier states
Michigan- Organized state party, one needs 38,024 signatures to gain full party ballot access in Michigan, this is another write-in state
Mississippi- No organized state party, there is only a organizational requirement for full party ballot access in Mississippi so it might be a good state to try to get on the ballot
Nevada- Organized state party, ballot access is 250 signatures for a full party which is pretty easy, Nevada has a governor’s election in 2010 also
Tennessee- No organized state party, while our presidential candidate was on the ballot last year and received over a 1,000 votes here we have no recognized state party in Tennessee, it would be good if we did though because ballot access is only 25 signatures per candidate and there’s a 2010 governors election, party ballot access is in court right now
New Mexico- Organized state party, party ballot access is 2,794 signatures which might be reachable if we try hard
North Carolina- Organized state party, party ballot access numbers are in court right now but single candidate access requires 69,734 which is way out of reach, write-in campaign are our best option here
Texas- Organized state party, its 43,991 signatures for party ballot access in Texas, once again out of reach for anything but write-ins
Vermont- No organized state party, while we don’t have a state party here but there is only an organizational requirement to get on the ballot so maybe we should try to organize one to run a 2010 candidate for governors
-Raymond Lady
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I Won!!!
I want to thank everyone who participated in the recent election and, in general, all Boston Tea Party members. You participation and activism on behalf of this party is greatly valued by me.
I enter office and join the party’s national committee joyfully, humbled by the thought people would support me for this office and happy that I can work more for this party. My only regret in all this is that I had to come to office under a situation such as I did. The resignation of our party’s founder, Thomas Knapp, from the national committee and from our party is very regrettable. I hope that maybe, someday, Tom will rejoin our party.
I have many new ideas for the party I will share with everyone in the coming weeks. I have already started talking with committee member Darryl Perry about getting an online party newsletter started. Hopefully something will come out of the project.
I hope that, in my own small way, I will bring new insight to the committee and help it function better so that it can work more proficiently to reduce to size of government. We must never forget that that is our goal as an organization. That the only reason the Boston Tea Party is here is not to work for any special interest, other than the interest of liberty.
Once again, thank you all and God bless. I look forward to working with all of you soon.
In Liberty,
Raymond Lady
I enter office and join the party’s national committee joyfully, humbled by the thought people would support me for this office and happy that I can work more for this party. My only regret in all this is that I had to come to office under a situation such as I did. The resignation of our party’s founder, Thomas Knapp, from the national committee and from our party is very regrettable. I hope that maybe, someday, Tom will rejoin our party.
I have many new ideas for the party I will share with everyone in the coming weeks. I have already started talking with committee member Darryl Perry about getting an online party newsletter started. Hopefully something will come out of the project.
I hope that, in my own small way, I will bring new insight to the committee and help it function better so that it can work more proficiently to reduce to size of government. We must never forget that that is our goal as an organization. That the only reason the Boston Tea Party is here is not to work for any special interest, other than the interest of liberty.
Once again, thank you all and God bless. I look forward to working with all of you soon.
In Liberty,
Raymond Lady
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Letter to the Boston Tea Party Membership
Fellow Lovers of Liberty,
As many of you know I’m running for the open At-Large seat on the BTP Nat-Comm. Two of my main campaign issues are getting a functional BTP newsletter started and opening up the Albert Gallatin Institute. I know there has been some discussion of both these things but little has been done on getting them started. I’d like to get some action done on both, even if I don’t win a seat on the committee. Here are some of my ideas; feel free to committee on them and to add your ideas, that’s kind of what I’m trying to get started by writing this.
We need to find a state party with a bank account willing to take on the project of publishing a print newsletter. The newsletter needs an Executive Editor to oversee the entire project and at least two Contributing Editors to write additional material. I don’t know who would be willing to do one of these jobs but I think several people on the Nat-Comm might be fit to help with this project. Once we have an Executive Editor and a few Contributing Editors they can start on an email newsletter right away. I’m not really sure how often the newsletter should come out but I’m thinking a seasonal print one (with like a $10 fee) and a free monthly email one. The newsletter should have BTP news in it along with some editorials or something.
Steve Newton proposed the Albert Gallatin Institute last year, discussion on the project can be found at http://bostontea.us/node/446. If he would like to be its President (or Chairman) I think that would be great. But if he doesn’t we need to find someone with a high level of education (preferably a masters or higher) to lead the project. We should also find a few people with college educations willing to be fellows at the Institute. A Gallatin Institute website can be up pretty fast and studies/ papers can be published online there for the time being, but the ultimate goal of the Institute should be to publish an academic journal. People working for the Institute don’t have to be members of the party but they should at least agree with the platform.
I know we can find energetic people willing to work for liberty and help our party by doing one of the things above. I don’t currently have the education to be a fellow at the Gallatin Institute but I do have some limited Journalistic experience, so if we can’t find anyone else I could be a Contributing Editors for the newsletter. I’m going to work to organize a more formal youth caucus to spur those who cannot yet vote into activism after the election but I can take some time away from that to work on the newsletter.
That’s it for me right now, I hope I can get some impute from the committee and from the membership at large, so we can get some real work done. If I do get elected to the committee, I look forward to working with all of the committee’s members and with helping out all of our party’s other members. If I don’t I still would like to help on some of these projects.
Thanks,
Raymond Lady
Candidate for the Boston Tea Party National Committee
As many of you know I’m running for the open At-Large seat on the BTP Nat-Comm. Two of my main campaign issues are getting a functional BTP newsletter started and opening up the Albert Gallatin Institute. I know there has been some discussion of both these things but little has been done on getting them started. I’d like to get some action done on both, even if I don’t win a seat on the committee. Here are some of my ideas; feel free to committee on them and to add your ideas, that’s kind of what I’m trying to get started by writing this.
We need to find a state party with a bank account willing to take on the project of publishing a print newsletter. The newsletter needs an Executive Editor to oversee the entire project and at least two Contributing Editors to write additional material. I don’t know who would be willing to do one of these jobs but I think several people on the Nat-Comm might be fit to help with this project. Once we have an Executive Editor and a few Contributing Editors they can start on an email newsletter right away. I’m not really sure how often the newsletter should come out but I’m thinking a seasonal print one (with like a $10 fee) and a free monthly email one. The newsletter should have BTP news in it along with some editorials or something.
Steve Newton proposed the Albert Gallatin Institute last year, discussion on the project can be found at http://bostontea.us/node/446. If he would like to be its President (or Chairman) I think that would be great. But if he doesn’t we need to find someone with a high level of education (preferably a masters or higher) to lead the project. We should also find a few people with college educations willing to be fellows at the Institute. A Gallatin Institute website can be up pretty fast and studies/ papers can be published online there for the time being, but the ultimate goal of the Institute should be to publish an academic journal. People working for the Institute don’t have to be members of the party but they should at least agree with the platform.
I know we can find energetic people willing to work for liberty and help our party by doing one of the things above. I don’t currently have the education to be a fellow at the Gallatin Institute but I do have some limited Journalistic experience, so if we can’t find anyone else I could be a Contributing Editors for the newsletter. I’m going to work to organize a more formal youth caucus to spur those who cannot yet vote into activism after the election but I can take some time away from that to work on the newsletter.
That’s it for me right now, I hope I can get some impute from the committee and from the membership at large, so we can get some real work done. If I do get elected to the committee, I look forward to working with all of the committee’s members and with helping out all of our party’s other members. If I don’t I still would like to help on some of these projects.
Thanks,
Raymond Lady
Candidate for the Boston Tea Party National Committee
Monday, March 23, 2009
My Agenda for the Boston Tea Party
I’m running for the national committee because I want to help my political party, the Boston Tea Party, become a force in American politics. I want to see our party grow over the next four years so that, in 2012, our presidential candidate can be placed on the majority of state ballots. That’s a tough goal, but I think if we work hard towards it we can do it. I believe in liberty and I believe in you, the activists of this party. I’m not running to lead you or anyone else in the party; I’m running to help make this party work better for you and for America.
Below are some of the projects I’d like the national committee to work on. I’d listen to any impute or advice you might want to give me on these, or any other project you might want the committee to work on.
• STARTING A PARTY NEWSLETTER- There has been some discussion of starting a party newsletter by the National Committee, but there has been little action on getting one started. If elected to the committee I will help the committee work towards creating a functional print and e-mail newsletter. A newsletter would inform our members of important events, inspiring them to becoming more active within the party, and provide libertarian commentary on recent news, giving our membership intellectual fire to defend the cause of liberty.
• SUPPORTING THE GALLATIN INSTITUTE- If elected to the committee, I would lead the effort in providing support to open the Gallatin Institute. I would work towards the Gallatin Institute functioning as the intellectual arm of the Boston Tea Party, conducting research that would provide support to our party’s candidates. More information on this proposal can be found at http://bostontea.us/node/446.
• ORGANIZING BALLOT ACCESS- If elected, I would work towards having a national level Boston Tea Party partisan organization that would work with state parties and non-partisan organizations such as Freedom Ballot Access, Free and Equal, and The Coalition for Free and Open Elections to put Boston Tea Party candidates on the ballot.
• PROVIDING SURPORT TO OUR STATE PARTIES- I understand the proper role of the National Committee is to support our state and local Boston Tea Parties. If elected, I will help to focus the committee to provide the framework for national actives, without stepping out of the bounds set by the bylaws. I will not allow the committee to step out of its proper role and become overreaching like the LNC.
Like I said above, I’m running for your interests. So if I’m elected and you have any comments or suggests for the party, I will take them to the national committee. I will do this even if I disagree with them, because I want everyone’s voice to be heard in this party. I want to make this party work, will you help me?
-Raymond Lady
Below are some of the projects I’d like the national committee to work on. I’d listen to any impute or advice you might want to give me on these, or any other project you might want the committee to work on.
• STARTING A PARTY NEWSLETTER- There has been some discussion of starting a party newsletter by the National Committee, but there has been little action on getting one started. If elected to the committee I will help the committee work towards creating a functional print and e-mail newsletter. A newsletter would inform our members of important events, inspiring them to becoming more active within the party, and provide libertarian commentary on recent news, giving our membership intellectual fire to defend the cause of liberty.
• SUPPORTING THE GALLATIN INSTITUTE- If elected to the committee, I would lead the effort in providing support to open the Gallatin Institute. I would work towards the Gallatin Institute functioning as the intellectual arm of the Boston Tea Party, conducting research that would provide support to our party’s candidates. More information on this proposal can be found at http://bostontea.us/node/446.
• ORGANIZING BALLOT ACCESS- If elected, I would work towards having a national level Boston Tea Party partisan organization that would work with state parties and non-partisan organizations such as Freedom Ballot Access, Free and Equal, and The Coalition for Free and Open Elections to put Boston Tea Party candidates on the ballot.
• PROVIDING SURPORT TO OUR STATE PARTIES- I understand the proper role of the National Committee is to support our state and local Boston Tea Parties. If elected, I will help to focus the committee to provide the framework for national actives, without stepping out of the bounds set by the bylaws. I will not allow the committee to step out of its proper role and become overreaching like the LNC.
Like I said above, I’m running for your interests. So if I’m elected and you have any comments or suggests for the party, I will take them to the national committee. I will do this even if I disagree with them, because I want everyone’s voice to be heard in this party. I want to make this party work, will you help me?
-Raymond Lady
Announcement of Campaign
My Fellow Boston Tea’ers,
I’ve watched as several of our National Committee members, most recently Tom Knapp and Steve Trinward, have resigned. Resignations are rarely a good thing and they often create unstable situations. But this situation has not come of the blue, our party has been plagued with problems and our National Committee has seemed to do nothing but escalate these problems.
I hope that I can change this. That is why, after much consideration and discussion with fellow patriots, I am announcing my intention to run for the open At-Large seat on the Boston Tea Party National Committee. I want to bring the message of our party once again to the forefront and leave silly personal vendettas behind. I want to bring the Boston Tea Party back to what it was founded to be, a populist party with a purely libertarian message. And most of all I want to bring the “party” back into the Boston Tea Party. I want to do this by helping to lead youthful (in both sprit and body) people not only into the membership of our party but into activism on behalf of liberty.
I am not new to this party; I have been actively involved in the Boston Tea Party since last summer. During the election I created a Yahoo message group to support our presidential candidate. I also wrote several editorials supporting our 2008 candidate on libertarian and Ron Paul websites across the internet. I created and still maintain our party’s Digg.com account. Since October of 2008 I have served as the Vice President of the Indiana affiliate of the Boston Tea Party and I’ve also organized the active Monroe County (IN) Boston Tea Party. I am committed to seeing this party succeed.
With all that said, I hope you will find me to be the best candidate for our party and vote for me in the poll during the special election, after I have been nominated. Thank you for your time and consideration.
-Raymond Lady
I’ve watched as several of our National Committee members, most recently Tom Knapp and Steve Trinward, have resigned. Resignations are rarely a good thing and they often create unstable situations. But this situation has not come of the blue, our party has been plagued with problems and our National Committee has seemed to do nothing but escalate these problems.
I hope that I can change this. That is why, after much consideration and discussion with fellow patriots, I am announcing my intention to run for the open At-Large seat on the Boston Tea Party National Committee. I want to bring the message of our party once again to the forefront and leave silly personal vendettas behind. I want to bring the Boston Tea Party back to what it was founded to be, a populist party with a purely libertarian message. And most of all I want to bring the “party” back into the Boston Tea Party. I want to do this by helping to lead youthful (in both sprit and body) people not only into the membership of our party but into activism on behalf of liberty.
I am not new to this party; I have been actively involved in the Boston Tea Party since last summer. During the election I created a Yahoo message group to support our presidential candidate. I also wrote several editorials supporting our 2008 candidate on libertarian and Ron Paul websites across the internet. I created and still maintain our party’s Digg.com account. Since October of 2008 I have served as the Vice President of the Indiana affiliate of the Boston Tea Party and I’ve also organized the active Monroe County (IN) Boston Tea Party. I am committed to seeing this party succeed.
With all that said, I hope you will find me to be the best candidate for our party and vote for me in the poll during the special election, after I have been nominated. Thank you for your time and consideration.
-Raymond Lady
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
