I’ve now heard both G.E. and Tom Knapp report that a man charged the stage last night at the “alternative debate” hosted by Jim Burns. The target of his anger seemed to be Presidential candidate George Phillies. The man was restrained and as it turns out, he had a firearm on him.
No word yet on exactly what set the man off or why he targeted Phillies in specific.
We’ll let you know as we learn more details about what exactly happened.
How many people dislike Phillies to the point of foregoing their oath of non-aggression?
Was the guy who became aggressive toward Phillies removed from the convention altogether, or just removed from that gathering?
Lots of Libertarians hate George Phillies.
The Massachusetts LP was the greatest I had ever seen before George Phillies showed up and started to acquire his “more electoral experience than anyone else in the race”.
We had hundreds attend our conventions, and the LPMA had record numbers of campaigns, the most high-profile of which resonated around the country. We rocked!
Now in the Phillies era, the attendance at state conventions is in the teens, and he has recruited only one candidate in the entire state, in addition to himself.
The reason for this is simple. George used his unreadable newsletters (Let Freedom Ring! and Libertarian Strategy Gazette) to bad-mouth the fine candidates we had – the more active they were, the viler was his innuendo.
He destroyed a vibrant state party – don’t let him do the same at the national level. He is a hypocrite and a silly crank. He will diminish our party.
I emphatically do NOT hate George Phillies; I just consider him somewhat deluded about his own importance within the LP. Repeatedly, starting with 2000 (when I actually stumped for him against the then perceived “machine candidate” Jim Lark), he has run for National Chair (and now President) and been stomped every time (in 2004, Ernie Hancock got more votes, and he wasn’t even trying!). He has also been asked by many folks (including me) to run for At Large, or regional rep or anything else, JUST ONCE., so he could show something other than his ego …but to no avail. Even an attempt to draft him for an At Large spot in 2004 failed.
As one who was basically dragooned into running for LNC rep in 2002 (the right person went and died!) I know whereof I speak. The Board is just that: a corporate board of directors trying to keep an organization functioning. It is neither an ideological weathervane nor an activist group;’ that ain’t its job, Dude! ANd it has in recent times forgotten that, and gone back to trying to set policy and steer directions beyond its mission.
It will die as it has lived …
where was I … oh yes. Sorry George got threatened;glad Tony was there to make sure nobody got hurt
Mike Theodore: I don’t hate George Phillies. Far from it, I think he’s a fine person. There are a lot of libertarians who like George. It’s the extremists who don’t like him, not the average libertarian, and the extremists are far more likely to make those feelings known on blogs.
So yes, it probably does look that way, but that does not reflect the reality.
I’d like to hear more about this armed man going after Phillies. Very strange.
Minor correction, Peter: the Tri City Herald is in Washington State.
George must have not give him one of those big cigars! He felt slighted.
How did the debate go otherwise ? I truly am interested in knowing who shined ? Was it held the same time Finan was being “escorted” out of the justice meeting?
Retired police officer and LNC rep Tony Ryan took care of the matter. It wouldn’t be an LP event without someone pulling one.
From Blogger’s Row, Keaton
Why does everyone hate this man? Every libertarian I know hates George Phillies. One said he was annoying, but that’s about all I could find. Attempted Phillies Assassination Attempt? Why?
If anyone knows any details of what went on there, please feel free to post them here!