We have received from a highly reliable source a message sent by a Libertarian Party State Chair to the LNC. We know which state chair is identified as sending the message, but to protect confidentiality we will not reveal which chair was involved.
As always, response articles from National Committee members will happily be considered for publication.
Dear LNC:
It’s come to my attention that Ms. Harlos used the confidential list to comment that someone was telling the R1 chairs “people on the LNC are going to throw a fit” about Miguel’s Civi motion. The person who told them that is me.
I already knew someone was screencapping the R1 chairs and vice chairs Signal chat and sending it to Ms. Harlos. That’s annoying, but of course I know anything I say is not really secret. Ms. Harlos, it’s fine with me if you know that I, a member and state chair who voted for you, am disappointed with your behavior. You can put it on your Youtube channel for all I care, and this email too. But I want you to know that when people know they will get blowback because you secretly access and criticize our conversations, it has a chilling effect on members being able to honestly form criticism and address issues with our elected leaders (that’s you). The number of people who privately tell me you are obstructive and destructive to the work of the LP, and yet do not tell you to your face because they fear an emotional outburst about injustice and being seen as victimizing you, is in the dozens at this point.
I am not afraid of you. And I am telling you it is absolutely an abuse of the private list for you to throw shade and vaguepost behind closed doors about what R1 chairs are saying in order to gain sympathy and lobby privately for your position. You shout loudly and often about how righteous you are about the confidential list. You should be ashamed of yourself, because YOU are abusing the confidential list to be shielded from criticism for saying things that warrant no protection. Ms. Harlos, I voted for you in Reno. You represent me. I expect better.
And since I am certain Ms. Harlos is going to complain that Miguel revealed to the R1 chairs what she said about us, I will ask the rest of the LNC: Do not be fooled by what she is doing. This is a distraction, one of many ways Ms. Harlos weaponizes procedure to deflect criticism of herself or her position. Do not fall for it.
As for “throwing a fit,” LNC members, you tell me: Was I wrong?
I urge you now, LNC, as I urged Region 1, to not be fazed by these theatrics and address the actual issue: The great need for staff to be loosed from the LNC’s vestigial attachment to CiviCRM and empowered to use their discretion, as the ones using Civi day in and day out, to decide how best to serve the party’s and affiliates’ database needs.
Jeff, apparently someone “screencapped” something and sent it to Harlos. That is not the same as “you [Harlos] secretly access” a private group. It is the difference between someone in the group telling her what happened and Harlos, covertly, getting into a group’s chat. There is no suggestion that the latter occurred.
Hi Jonathan – how is it apparent that it is a public conversation? It might be, but how from what we know here is it apparent?
I believe that ‘screencap’ and ‘criticize’ are two separate steps.
I think the anonymous author needs to explain how someone “screencapping the R1 chairs and vice chairs Signal chat and sending it to Ms. Harlos” translates into “secretly access and criticize our conversations.” People send screenshots (of what is apparently a public conversation) to LNC members, and those members comment upon them. That is not unusual.
Thanks to Joe Buchman for pointing out a theft of personal property. The LP should be happy to get xerox copies of some items.
I’ve been holding back items to give to the LP after 44 years of membership til someone more trust worthy than Ms. Harlos is in charge. Hope I don’t die first and they get tossed!
Hi Rick. I don’t think the GOP is doing a good job. Must I run for their presidential nomination and win before I am allowed to criticize them?
The current secretary removed from my home items belonging to Elizabeth Nolan, inherited by her after her husband David F. Nolan died.
The current secretary refused to return those items when requested following Mrs. Nolan donation of them “to the American People for preservation by the Library of Congress”.
I ask again that they be returned.
Perhaps now the insane claims made by the current secretary to multiple past LNCs regarding my integrity and character will be more fully seen by all as completely without merit.
I also hope the LNC has a complete and accurate inventory of all party history and other items currently held in the home, or other personal storage locations, by the current secretary, so that they can be relocated upon her replacement.
Rick, by what measure are you using to quantify that the LNC is ‘doing a good job’. I would be interested in learning what I am apparently missing.
Two is obsessive? If you say so. Also, your definition of ‘good’ seems at variance with mine.
In my opinion, you are getting a bit obsessive posting these emails. If you hate Mises so much, run for LNC next year. That’s how they took control of the party and have been doing a good job.