Last night in Denver, a rumor circulated that George Phillies was considering running for president under the Boston Tea Party banner, with Alden Link as his running mate. The BTP offered Mary Ruwart their nomination and told an inside source that they could get her on the ballot in 26 states.
The Boston Tea Party’s convention was held concurrently with the Libertarian Party’s.
I was there at the tea party “convention”. They were complaining about how terrible the LP is for not being unified and electing Barr. Meanwhile one of their 6 or so members was wearing a Barr sticker, proving that consensus can never achieved.
Phillies showed up for the same reason that I did, just to see what was up. When asked if he would consider running he replied that he would have to think about it. He left fairly early. After Phillies left, the guy running the thing announced that Phillies had accepted the nomination. The entire table I was at knew that this was not what Phillies said. It was brought up thats not what we heard, but it didn’t matter.
I ate my dinner as fast as I could, paid my bill, and got out of there as fast as I could.
Kris – I agree. I’m only reporting the rumor that was circulating. Thanks for joining and posting, btw.
This has got to be somebody pulling people’s chains.
Granted, I was fond of Alden Link; he was so obviously a no-hope candidate, with a few good ideas, in very much the wrong place.
But the man made Gravel look like L. Neil Smith.
There’s no way on Earth that the BTP, composed of the purest of the purists, the archest anarchists, is going to put Link on any ballot for any job anyone would actually want.
And, considering my above perception of the BTP, I have serious doubts about them naming Phillies- both an LP loyalist and a reformer- to the top of the ticket, either.
hmmm. A TPW plot, I am sure! Such mutiny! Man your stations!
Mike,
No–the chatroom is disabled for some reason.
Support the Initiative, Robert?
On another note, is the chatroom working for anybody? If it is, my internet is funky.
Initiative is a progressive idea.
Mike Gravel’s pet project
National Initiative for Democracy
nationalinitiative.us
You’ve really been off sleep, haven’t you?
Pray tell, what is Ni4D?
The hardy will stay to fight and I think most know that George Phillies is one of those.
any more info, Ross? The chatroom isn’t working for me, so leave it here or contact me on my email ([email protected]). More info in website.
Just so everyone knows – there’s an effort going on to form an Ni4D caucus within the LP. I think the state chair of West Virginia has something to do with it.
Did I go to their event to listen? Yes. After all, a libertarian group with nine state chapters might have something to offer my party, should they be willing to support our nominee. Did they offer Alden Link and I their nomination? Not that I noticed, though at the time I was running on rather little sleep.
Seems unlikely due to the unity speech he gave. I’d have expected this more from Christine Smith or something.
This seems like an improbable move from Phillies, who is the definition of an LP party stalwart.
Foolish and silly. Whatever support for the BTP I once gave I now withdraw. I don’t enable people who take their marbles and go home.
I guess this would be more symbolic than anything else, at least until the BTP could establish itself a bit more?
Utter nonsense. The “Boston Tea Party” is a few dozen guys with blogs. I’d be shocked if they get ballot access in the five states they have (half-dozen member) “affiliates” in.
And after what Phillies said in his concession speech, I find it highly unlikely that he’d do this.