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Maryland Independent Party - Platform
proposed by Steve Schulin of Rockville, May 7, 2008
Maryland Independent Party has as its goal the return of our nation to the set of foundational principles clearly defined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. We call them "the American Principles." We believe that the American Principles are the "first things" that our country should consider -- in domestic policy, foreign policy, the internal functioning of government, and in using the "bully pulpit" of public office and the political arena to promote certain societal virtues and behaviors.
The protection of the life, liberty, and private property of the people is the primary reason for the existence of human government, and more particularly, of our precious American republican form of self-government. This is why we willingly accept no breach of the rights of the free exercise of religion, free speech, free press, free assembly, free association, and the right to petition government for the redress of grievances. We defend all of the enumerated rights listed in our Bill of Rights, and, in addition, all natural rights which are not enumerated, as per the Ninth Amendment.
We seek to restore the intended balance between the three separate branches of our government, and to strictly limit government to the enumerated powers granted and expressed by the will of the people of the United States in our Constitution. All existing functions of the executive branch that are outside of those enumerated powers must be eliminated. All spending and regulation by the legislative branch that lies outside the enumerated powers must cease. Judges who attempt to legislate from the bench, or who abandon the clear principles of our Constitution, must be checked if liberty and justice are to prevail in our society once again. We call for the restoration of adherence to the provisions of the Tenth Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
We believe in a supremely strong, prepared, and well-equipped civilian-controlled United States military, and a bold, visionary and intelligent program of principled constructive engagement with the rest of the world. For us, "peace through strength" is not a mere slogan. It is the means of survival for our country in a very dangerous and often hostile world. Our friendship should be a sought-after possession of all men and women of good will everywhere in the world. Our enmity should be something that all rightfully fear.
As Ronald Reagan opposed and defeated the designs and desire of the Soviet Union to dominate the world and place it under the tyranny of their Evil Empire, we oppose the Islamic extremists. This opposition is not based in opposition to their religion, but in a complete rejection of their political ideology and actions. Since the first principle of America is the protection of innocent human life, an ongoing state of war exists between us and any who would use acts of terrorism targeted at innocent civilians to forward their political aims.
We completely oppose any action that surrenders the political and economic sovereignty of the United States and its people, and support the immediate restoration of that sovereignty wherever it has been eroded.
We support the immediate securing and continuous vigilant maintenance of our sovereign territory and borders. We oppose any private or governmental action that rewards illegal entry into the United States in any way, and demand speedy and full enforcement of our laws concerning all such activities. To stop the so-called "anchor baby" practice, we urge that the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment be changed: instead of "born in the United States" it should read "born of a citizen of the United States."
We consider the federal income tax to be destructive of our liberty, privacy, and prosperity. Therefore, we are working toward its complete elimination and the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We recommend that the current system be quickly replaced by a fair, simple, noninvasive, visible, efficient, consumption-based retail tax similar to the proposal popularly known as the FairTax. However, there are other constitutional tax reform proposals that are worthy of the people's consideration.
Because the stated ultimate purpose of our Constitution is "to secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity," we recognize the personhood of all unborn children and their protection by the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments. The right to life of all innocent persons, from conception to natural death, is God-given and unalienable. For the principled man or woman, no compromise is possible concerning such a critical matter of life and death. We believe that violators of this supreme right, in their words and actions, are unfit for any office of public trust, since this constitutes the breaking of the oath of office and the destruction of the very basis of our liberty.
The right of self-preservation and self-protection is inherent in all persons, communities and societies, which is why we fiercely defend the indispensable provisions of our Second Amendment. Liberty cannot be defended if the people have been stripped of the physical means of doing so.
We also call for the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment. Its enactment greatly reduced the power of our state legislatures and state governments -- which are much closer to the people -- and damaged our system of federalism.
While we do not acknowledge that our Constitution limits Congress in any way from protecting traditional marriage between one man and one woman, we support passage of a federal marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of removing any confusion or misunderstanding in the minds of judges.
Though in civic terms we call ourselves "independent," we fully acknowledge our utter dependence, as individuals and as a nation, on Almighty God and His divine Providence and Protection. We also recognize, and seek to actively fulfill, our obligations as individual citizens to the whole body of the people, as well as our responsibility to maintain standards of high moral character, both personally and in our public life.
Maryland Independent Party seeks a return to an approach to government that facilitates respectful and necessary debate, thereby drawing on the collective wisdom and knowledge of the entire body of the sovereign people. We truly do believe in government of, by and for the people, and our intent is to foster it by every means at our disposal. We believe that the American Principles work whenever they are practiced diligently. And so, we ask that you join with us in restoring and defending America and thereby securing the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
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Volunteer Today to help principles prevail!
County and City contact info and goals
Allegany County -
* Allegany County Election Office
* Email Allegany-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Allegany County goal for petition signatures: 129
* Cumberland goal: 37 signatures
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Anne Arundel County -
* Anne Arundel County Board of Elections
* Email Anne_Arundel-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Anne Arundel County goal for petition signatures: 911
* Annapolis goal: 65 signatures
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Baltimore (city) -
* City of Baltimore - Board of Elections
* Email Baltimore_city-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Baltimore city goal for petition signatures: 1,134
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Baltimore County -
* Baltimore County Board of Elections
* Email Baltimore_County-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Baltimore County goal for petition signatures: 1,404
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Calvert County -
* Calvert County Board of Elections
* Email Calvert-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Calvert County goal for petition signatures: 157
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Caroline County -
* Caroline County Board of Elections
* Email Caroline-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Caroline County goal for petition signatures: 59
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Carroll County -
* Carroll County Board of Elections
* Email Carroll-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Carroll County goal for petition signatures: 301
* Westminster goal: 32 signatures
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Cecil County -
* Cecil County Board of Elections
* Email Cecil-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Cecil County goal for petition signatures: 177
* Elkton goal: 26 signatures
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Charles County -
* Charles County Board Of Elections
* Email Charles-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Charles County goal for petition signatures: 250
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Dorchester County -
* Dorchester County Government
* Email Dorchester-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Dorchester County goal for petition signatures: 57
* Cambridge goal: 20 signatures
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Frederick County -
* Frederick County Board of Elections
* Email Frederick-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Frederick County goal for petition signatures: 400
* City of Frederick goal: 105 signatures
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Garrett County -
* Garrett County Board Of Elections
* Email Garrett-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Garrett County goal for petition signatures: 53
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Harford County -
* Harford County Board Of Elections
* Email Harford-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Harford County goal for petition signatures: 427
* Aberdeen goal: 25 signatures
* Harve de Grace goal: 22 signatures
* Bel Air goal: 18 signatures
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Howard County -
* Howard County Board of Elections
* Email Howard-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Howard County goal for petition signatures: 487
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Kent County -
* Kent County Board of Elections
* Email Kent-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Kent County goal for petition signatures: 36
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Montgomery County -
* Montgomery County Board of Elections
* Email Montgomery-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Montgomery County goal for petition signatures: 1,657
* Rockville goal: 105 signatures
* Gaithersburg goal: 103 signatures
* Tacoma Park goal: 33 signatures
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Prince Georges County -
* Prince Georges County Board of Elections
* Email Prince_Georges-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Prince Georges County goal for petition signatures: 1,476
* Bowie goal: 95 signatures
* College Park goal: 49 signatures
* Greenbelt goal: 39 signatures
* Laurel goal: 39 signatures
* Hyattsville goal: 27 signatures
* New Carrollton goal: 23 signatures
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Queen Anne's County -
* Queen Anne's County Board of Elections
* Email Queen_Annes-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Queen Anne's County goal for petition signatures: 83
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St. Mary's County -
* St. Mary's County Board of Elections
* Email St_Marys-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* St. Mary's County goal for petition signatures: 179
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Somerset County -
* Email Somerset-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Somerset County goal for petition signatures: 46
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Talbot County -
* Talbot County Election Board
* Email Talbot-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Talbot County goal for petition signatures: 64
* Easton goal: 25 signatures
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Washington County -
* Washington County Board of Elections
* Email Washington-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Washington County goal for petition signatures: 258
* Hagerstown goal: 70 signatures
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Wicomico County -
* Wicomico County Board of Elections
* Email Wicomico-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Wicomico County goal for petition signatures: 167
* Salisbury goal: 48 signatures
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Worcester County -
* Worcester County Board of Elections
* Email Worcester-volunteer@marylandindependentparty.org
* Worcester County goal for petition signatures: 88
"Contemplating" ...
Your humble host
agrees with the signers of
Declaration of Independence
that all men are created equal,
endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights,
including the rights to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness
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t-shirt
'I promise
not to talk politics
during dinner'
-------------------
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* The Aegis (Bel Air, Harford County) - - - - - broadcast
* Kojo Nnamdi Show (WAMU) - - - - - blogs
* Maryland Politics Today
Other links of interest
* The Newseum's daily compendium of front pages from around the world
* Google News, Maryland election items, updated continuously throughout the day.
* nuclear.com - Steve Schulin's own site
* The Compleat Advocate - Steve's new public policy discussion site
* Steve Schulin for Congress (Special Election June 17, 2008)
Maryland news links
* Arbutus Times (Baltimore)
* Baltimore Business Journal
* Baltimore Chronicle
* Baltimore Examiner
* Baltimore Sun
* Baltimore City Paper (Alternative)
* Baltimore County Jeffersonian
* Baltimore County North East Times
* Baltimore Jewish Times
* Baltimore Messenger
* Bay Weekly (Deale)
* Bowie Blade
* The Capital
* Carroll County Times
* Catonsville Times
* Cecil Whig
* Columbia Flier
* Cumberland Times-News
* The Daily Record
* Daily Times (Salisbury)
* Easton Star Democrat
* Frederick News Post
* Hagerstown Herald-Mail
* Howard County Times
* The Jefferson (Baltimore County)
* Laurel Leader
* Montgomery Gazette
* Montgomery Sentinel
* Mt. Airy Messenger
* Oakland Republican (Garrett County)
* Owings Mills Times
* Silver Spring Voice
* Takoma Voice (Tacoma Park)
* Towson Times
* Washington Post
* Washington Times
* WBAL TV-11(NBC)Baltimore
* WJZ TV-13(CBS)Baltimore
* WMAR TV-2(ABC)Baltimore
* WBFF TV-45(FOX)Baltimore
* WHAG TV-25(NBC)Hagerstown
* WMDT TV-47(ABC)Salisbury
* WRC-4 (NBC) DC
* WTTG-5 (FOX) DC
* WUSA-9 (CBS) DC
* WJLA-7 (ABC) DC
* Maryland Public Television (MPT)
* Red Maryland (Boonsboro)
* Maryland Conservatarian (Rockville)
* RedState
* O'Malley Watch
* Brian Griffiths
* Brian Griffiths Minute at YouTube
* Conservative Refuge Blog
* Conservative Refuge Podcasts
* Anne Arundel Politics
* Annapolis Politics
* Politics, Hon (Baltimore)
* Delmarva Dealings
* The Main Adversary
* The No BS Zone
* Monoblogue
* Going to the Mat
* Baltimore Reporter
* PG Politics
* GOPinionPlus (Linover)
* Common Sense
* This Ain't Hell
* Vote No'Malley
* Maryland Chesapeake Blog
* Gunpowder Chronicle
* Big Dog's Weblog
* Howard County Maryland Blog
* Maryland Moment (WaPo)
* Maryland Blognews
* Pillage Idiot (Rockville)
* Soccer Dad (Baltimore)
* Crablaw (Reisterstown)
* Kevin Dayhoff (Westminster)
* blogger1947 (Gwynn Oak)
* Jousting for Justice (Owings Mills)
* The Voltage Gate (Frostburg)
* Howard County Md. Blog (Ellicott City)
* The Hedgehog Report (Columbia)
* C. Dowd's Blog (Lansdowne)
* Oriole Post (Silver Spring)
* Escape from Pianosa (Baltimore)
* The Greenbelt (Laurel)
* Leviathan Montgomery (Silver Spring)
* Pines Above Snow (Columbia)
* Creating a Jubilee County (Pr George's)
* Talk Lab (Columbia)
* Inside Charm City (White Marsh)
* The Candid Truth (Pasadena)
* PG Chic (Pr. George's)
* Mike's Nether Land (Severna Park)
* Tinkerty Tonk (Abingdon)
* It's Our Wits That Make Us Men (expat)
* abolitionofman.com (Baltimore)
* Capital Punishment (Annapolis)
* The Spewker (Pikesville)
* Baltimore History Examiner (Baltimore)
* That's What I Think! (Columbia)
* mad anthony (Nottingham)
* PsychoPhil (expat)
* Red Writes (Columbia)
* Clark's Picks (Chestertown)
* Randomonium (Reisterstown)
* River Mud Blog (Baltimore)
* Travel Musings (Annapolis)
* On the Red Line (North Bethesda)
* Quaintest Town In America (Chestertown)
* The Shores of Delmarva (Pittsville)
* What's New in Maryland (Baltimore)*
July 4, 2008
Celebrate, and resolve: an Independence Day to remember
Independence Day 2008
There's one person running for President who seems so different than the others, in his degree of understanding of the challenges facing our nation, that I hope his voice will be heard during the months leading up to the election. This candidate has long represented my views on a wide range of issues better, by far, than any other candidate I can recall. But the thing I like best about about this man -- Alan Keyes -- is his understanding of how these issues fit together. I saw a press release issued today by the Conservative Leadership Conference, announcing that Dr. Keyes will be speaking at their annual conference, to be held in September. Their website has a videoclip of him in a conversation at last year's conference that provides a succinct introduction to how the issues fit together: "We try to treat moral issues, economic issues, border issues [and others] as if they're separate. No. They're all the same issue. They're the issue of what's happening to our sovereignty because we have abandoned our commitment as a People to the right idea of citizenship and to the basic moral principles that make it possible to claim our freedom -- ... the American Creed right there in the Declaration of Independence ..."
Best wishes to all of good will on this special day of celebration. And we in Maryland are now exactly one month away from the deadline to obtain and submit the signatures of 10,000 registered voters who support putting our new Party -- Maryland Independent Party -- on the ballot in November. This is how to get Alan Keyes on the ballot. If four hundred folks will quickly step up and obtain 25 signatures, we'll meet that deadline. Please be one of these folks. Download and print the petition form available at http://www.MarylandIndependentParty.org -- and mail the completed forms to the address on the form.
Very truly,
MARYLAND INDEPENDENT PARTY
Steve Schulin
Candidate for Congress - Maryland's 4th District
240-751-7286
Saturday morning statewide conference call
Our new party is holding twice-weekly public conference calls. All of good will are most welcome to participate.
Saturday mornings: 9:05 am ET
Wednesday nights: 10:05 pm ET
Dial-in number: 712-421-7885
passcode: 2008#
The dial-in number is long-distance. The days and times of the calls allow folks to use the free night and weekend minutes on many cell phone calling plans.
June 27, 2008
Three Supreme Court opinions this week will probably be discussed, amongst other things, on our coming calls. Here are the PDF versions of the Supreme Court opinions:
* DC v Heller - city handgun ban struck down as violating rights of individuals to keep and bear arms
June 25, 2008
Abortion industry targets blacks. Democrat candidates praise 'em. Republican candidates are silent. How about you?
by Steve Schulin, Maryland Independent Party, candidate for Congress
Donna Edwards' campaign website prominently displays a list of groups she calls "Champions of Change". "Planned Parenthood Federal PAC" is high on the list. I urge all of good will to contrast Rep. Edwards praise of Planned Parenthood with the comments made yesterday by Judie Brown, founder of American Life League:
"The African American community continues to be targeted and, as LEARN points out on their web site, the Planned Parenthood professionals continue to assure that nearly 35% of all abortions are performed on mothers who are black, even though only 12% of the population is African American. The leadership of LEARN points out,
'If the current trend continues, by 2038 the black vote will be insignificant. Did you know that the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was a devout racist who created the Negro Project designed to sterilize unknowing black women and others she deemed as undesirables of society? The founder of Planned Parenthood said, 'Colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated.' Is her vision being fulfilled today?
Without hesitation they tell us the answer is yes, indeed. ..."
After we get finished petitioning for ballot access for the new Maryland Independent Party (please help -- complete and mail the petition form available here), I want to get started on a petition to amend the Maryland Constitution to explicitly guarantee the rights of personhood to the unborn. This effort is inspired by the recent success of similar petition drive in Colorado, where the personhood amendment will be on the ballot in November. For more info, see Colorado Right to Life website. I notice that the only presidential candidate they feature on their home page is Alan Keyes. I think there's good reason for that!
I'm working to ensure that voters in Maryland have a God-fearin', liberty-lovin', sovereignty-conservin' choice on the ballot in November for President and for Congress. Alan Keyes is that Presidential candidate. I'm registered as a candidate for 4th District. If you don't see a leader in your your district, I hope you'll consider running on the ballot line of the new Maryland Independent Party. I invite all of good will to join in on our twice-weekly statewide conference calls, Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings.
Here's the call-in details. The times were chosen to allow folks to take advantage of their free night and weekend cell phone minutes:
Dial-in number: 712-421-7885
passcode: 2008#
Wednesday nights: 10:05 pm ET
Saturday mornings: 9:05 am ET
June 21, 2008
Citizens protest the accomodation of illegal aliens by Montgomery County, Maryland
by Steve Schulin of Maryland Independent Party, and candidate for Congress - Maryland's 4th District
The platform I've proposed for Maryland Independent Party includes plank on illegal immigration as follows:
We support the immediate securing and continuous vigilant maintenance of our sovereign territory and borders. We oppose any private or governmental action that rewards illegal entry into the United States in any way, and demand speedy and full enforcement of our laws concerning all such activities. To stop the so-called "anchor baby" practice, we urge that the citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment be changed: instead of "born in the United States" it should read "born of a citizen of the United States."
One of the first things our new County Executive did here in Montgomery County was to ensure that aspiring day laborers wouldn't continue to congregate at the various locations which have in recent years become favorite spots. The County Executive's approach to this problem is to provide alternate location for the laborers to gather. We now have two taxpayer-financed day worker centers in the County.
Here's some photos of Saturday morning rally held near the "Temporary Worker Site" located near the Shady Grove metro station at the end of the Red Line.
Folks driving down Crabbs Branch Way Saturday morning saw a group of approximately fifteen folks gathered to call attention to our government's encouragement of illegal immigration:
The rally-goers really enjoyed seeing the signs one participant made for her delightful canine companion:
When I arrived shortly after 9 am, there were several policemen present and many dozens of folks in what looked like a counter-protest at the day labor center. The Fox news piece noted that there was a class being held by CASA de Maryland to inform its clients of their rights. It was very cool to see many of the folks at the center start to clean up the grounds around the day labor center as the day went on. They even planted some flowers. I don't know if our protest prompted the beautification, but I'm pretty sure it started after the TV truck showed up.
A reporter and cameraman from FOX-5 TV came and spoke with several of the folks at the protest, and also with some of the CASA de Maryland folks at the center. The edited news video is available on the web here
The local ABC TV affiliate also covered the simultaneous rally held at the County's other temporary worker site, in Silver Spring. Personally, I think the coverage of WJLA seemed much better than the FOX story. See it here.
Update
Help Save Maryland has posted some photos that tell more of the story. Here's how the folks assembled at the day worker center looked when I first arrived:
And here's a better shot of how in need the grounds were for some attention:
Do you think this fellow had seen our "We love legal immigrants" sign?
And here's a shot of the sign on the other side of the dog:
And this one really captures the spirit of the citizens who just want to pass the blessings of liberty on to our children and grandchildren:
And finally, here's a sign that focuses on an issue that's very important. The one point that I disagree with Help Save Maryland on is the Real ID Act. I do agree, however, that voter fraud is already at unacceptable levels. I sadly recall when the Republicans failed to come to the aid of the legitimate voters in Rep. Bob Dornan's district whose collective will was denied by vote fraud.
June 20, 2008
Democrats and Republicans have failed, miserably
76% of Americans told pollsters that the USA is on the wrong track. Maryland Independent Party invites all Americans who value principle over party to join in reclaiming control of our government, unleashing the productivity of We The People, and restoring the prospect of passing the blessings of liberty on to our children.
[Source: The Anniston Star (Alabama), June 20, 2008, p. 1]
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The Democrats will spend millions to sway voters - if you won't help beat them, who will?
[Source: front page of today's The Register-Guard, of Eugene, Oregon]
Every one of you has skills and knowledge that might make a difference in this election. If the current Democrats or Republicans continue their dominance, our prospects for preserving the blessings of liberty for our children and grandchildren seem pretty much nil. The adage about the price of liberty being eternal vigilence is good to keep in mind. By your very presence here, you demonstrate a level of civic participation greater than most of our fellow citizens. Now you have to ask yourself if you're satisfied with that, or if you think, as do I, that these extraordinary times require the extraordinary action of those who value the American experiment in self-government. To have candidates on the ballot in November, we need 10,000 petition signatures to submit by August 4. You personally could probably get ten of these today by downloading the form, printing a copy, visiting your closest neighbors, and mailing the completed form to the address shown on the form. If a thousand folks get ten signatures each, we're done with this step in a day. Please help. Alan Keyes has agreed to run for President on our ballot line. And I, Steve Schulin, pledge to support the strongest congressional candidate we can field here in the 4th District, whether that's me or another God-fearin', liberty-lovin', sovereignty-conserving Marylander.
It's going to take cash to compete, too. Please send check, little or large as best you see fit, payable to Maryland Independent Party, P.O. Box 5650, Rockville MD 20855. If you contribute $200 or more to a political committee in a single year, federal election law requires us to report your name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of your employer. Please provide us with your correct information.
May 28, 2008
Marriage - recent government actions threaten the very basis of our claim to the right of self-government
by Steve Schulin, candidate for Congress in June 17 special election, 4th District
I've proposed a platform for Maryland Independent Party. It discusses the defense of marriage as follows: "While we do not acknowledge that our Constitution limits Congress in any way from protecting traditional marriage between one man and one woman, we support passage of a federal marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of removing any confusion or misunderstanding in the minds of judges."
Since then, the Supreme Court of California has issued its opinion that a similar defense
of traditional marriage, adopted by vote of the people of California, is invalid. Whether or
not this opinion is let to stand is a serious matter for many reasons. I'd like to discuss one
that you will likely have heard only if you were participating in the Alan Keyes for President
conference call last night. One of the things that I've long appreciated about Dr. Keyes is
his thorough understanding of the importance of the concept expressed in the Declaration of
Independence, that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights. In other
nations, your rights are determined by the government, or by your fellow citizens. But here in
the USA, our founding fathers claimed the right to self-govern because our Natural rights
trumped the sovereignty of the King of England. The King did not take kindly to that claim,
and it took a hard war before our claim prevailed over the might of the crown. How we react to
this California court opinion is a key component in whether we,
as Dr. Keyes put it, "perpetuate or destroy our institutions of self-government". The court's
opinion -- that government officials decide what a family is -- represents a rejection of that
central claim of our founders, that there are self-evident truths which government must
reflect, and which government may not justly countermand. There is no more self-evident
natural institution than the family. The bonds between parents and children are not the
product of government decree. If this court opinion is allowed to have the force of law, then
we are rejecting the idea that government must respect the self-evident natural rights
described in the Declaration.
There's a recording of Dr. Keyes' comments available on the audio archive page at www.alankeyes.com, but the recording is pretty poor.
Here's my transcription of approximately seven minutes of the call:
...[T]his decision in California ... in which the Supreme Court in California expressed its view that the action that had been taken by the people of California to show respect for traditional marriage and make it clear that that was the form of marriage in California, that that was somehow unconstitutional ... [garbled]
And as usual, we have seen an ignorance, sadly, from people who profess to be supporters of the traditional family, and opponents of the abuses that take place in our courts. And yet, many of them, oblivious to what was actually written in the decision and what is actually possible ... [garbled] ... are actually acting as if what the Supreme Court of California said has the force of law -- which of course it does not. It was an opinion expressed. And an opinion expressed on a Constitutional question, contrary to the expressed will of the people by Constitutional means, obviously has no more ground than anything that is said by any other individual in this country. Since at the end of the day, though they want us constantly to forget it, it is the people who are the ultimate arbiters of constitutional [garbled], because each constitution, whether it's in California or at the national level, speaks for We the People. And when the People, directly, by vote, or amendment, have expressed their voice, [garbled] the court is subordinate to that voice. It does not have rule over that voice. And that is something that now of course is being totally ignored while our system is being transformed.
And it's being transformed from a government of, by, and for the people to a government that is essentially based upon the rule of the few. The few are favored with judicial appointments, with wealth and power. The ultimate decision as to the fundamental issues of justice and right in our society will no longer be taken by the People.
And I think it's also instructive that this abuse of power which overturns the Constitutional system of government comes on an issue that exemplifies the assault on the basic understanding of rights -- the basis of which as a People we claim our natural rights, our right to self-government, our right to liberty.
Many people, sadly, and I would have to tell you, all of the leaders that I see up there, do not understand the serious connection between this whole issue of homosexual marriage so-called and the question of whether or not we shall remain a self-governing people. ... [garbled]
The Declaration of Independence which stated in simple and clear terms the rationale for our system of government, ascribed our claim to self-government to an idea of natural rights, unalienable rights that come from the hand of God.
The paradigm of such natural rights is of course the family. And the relations -- and bonds of mutual obligation and respect and authority and caring, concern -- that characterize the relationship between parents and children, children and parents; a relationship that is respected by the law and in various ways the law has to deal with it and reflect it. The authority that [garbled] that relationship that establishes those obligations is not an authority that arises from human law or decision because the family is an institution grounded in our very nature. It is a natural institution. It is an institution that reflects a kind of belonging that does not rise from the creation of property by the state or the law or decisions of government. No. It is a kind of belonging that arises directly from the way that we are made. And from the bonds and relationships that arise [garbled] of a process of procreation that is inherent in our nature, and that reflects of course the will of God for us. In that sense the family is the paradigm of natural right. And the relationship that arises in a family, the sense of obligation and expectation; the fact that a certain kind of care to children is their due, and a certain kind of respect from children to the authority of parents is their obligation -- those things do not depend on humanly-made laws. They are a reflection of the deep decisions of God that inform and instruct our very biological functions and give rise to the first human community which is the family.
Once we have, however, gone down the road in which we accept the notion that the object of what constitutes marriage and family life can be arbitrarily determined by the decision of judges or even by the decision of legislatures, then by that fact alone we reject the very idea of natural rights that is the foundation of our claim to self-government, and to be a people respected in our right, therefore, to self-government.
That means that issue of homosexual marriage isn't just about individual behavior. It's not even just about how our families will be constituted in some formal and social sense. It is actually about the way in which we understand the universe itself, and whether we accept or reject the concept of God-ordained natural right that is the basis for our claim to liberty.
Once we decide that the most self-evident natural institution -- which is what the family is -- is in fact grounded in arbitrary human ... [garbled]
That idea represents the rejection of God, the rejection of natural authority, the rejection of natural right, and at the end of the day, the rejection of that which is the very foundation stone of the idea that makes us free.
I'm sad to tell you that you probably won't hear that exposition of this issue from anybody but me. It certainly hasn't been reflected in utter indifference -- of people like John McCain and others -- to the terrible enormity of what the court in California is doing. But it's no accident that -- in both the way in which these decisions are being made, and the substance of the decisions themselves -- we see, clearly, the image of the end of our system of government of, by, and for the people.
In the fact that the courts arrogate to themselves to overturn that which the people in their sovereign capacity have said and done -- and in the fact that the substance they decide upon -- utterly denies the very concept of natural right, without which we cannot sustain our claim to freedom.
In a sense, therefore, this issue of homosexual marriage is the paradigm of the crisis that seems now to be upon us, which is the crisis that will determine once and for all whether we perpetuate or destroy our institutions of self-government.
- - - - - END OF EXCERPT FROM ALAN KEYES COMMENTS LAST NIGHT - - - - -
One of the callers asked Alan what we can do to help ensure that we elect candidates to Congress who share his views. Well, I'd like to invite every one who can to help do just that in the June 17 special election in Maryland for the 4th Congressional District seat in U.S. House of Representatives. My name is Steve Schulin, and I am registered as a write-in candidate in this election, which means that votes for me will be counted. If five hundred folks will volunteer to spend election day at the various precincts here, informing voters about this unique opportunity to tell the dominant parties not to take their votes for granted, I can win this election. How about it? This one June election, in an overwhelmingly Democrat district, could easily end up affecting the August conventions, and might even help get Alan Keyes into the national televised debates in the fall. Please email me for details on which precinct to cover, and what you should bring. If you can't come, please consider helping out financially. Contributions can be mailed to Steve Schulin for Congress, PO Box 5652, Rockville MD 20855.
May 28, 2008
A survey of various candidates' positions on guns, and what those positions mean
I've proposed a platform for Maryland Independent Party. It discusses the right to keep and bear arms as follows: "The right of self-preservation and self-protection is inherent in all persons, communities and societies, which is why we fiercely defend the indispensable provisions of our Second Amendment. Liberty cannot be defended if the people have been stripped of the physical means of doing so."
I'd like to point out what other candidates have to say on the subject:
Start with the Democrats. In preparation for the June 3 primary, a Montana newspaper asked Senators Clinton and Obama the following question: "Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer has said he is skeptical a Democrat can beat John McCain here because of a real or perceived weakness on gun rights. Do you think Gov. Schweitzer is correct and how do you reconcile any need for gun law reforms in urban areas with the anxiety many Westerners may feel that their Second Amendment rights may be trampled?"
Here's their answers:
Sen. Clinton: "Well, I believe strongly in the Second Amendment and the right for responsible gun ownership. Obviously hunting and fishing are traditions that are especially important to generations of Montanans and I think it's important too that we look to strike the right balance that doesn't in any way infringe on the rights of lawful gun owners but endeavors to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and gang members and people who, unfortunately, have been adjudicated as in some way mentally fragile or disabled. And I don't see any contradiction between those two very important goals. So I'm going to work to preserve and promote responsible gun ownership. I want to make sure we preserve access to public lands for hunting and fishing and I want to see if we can support law enforcement in a constitutional manner to try to make sure that guns don't fall into the wrong hands."
Sen. Obama: "Well I think you just identified exactly the argument that has to be made. And that is that we have two realities when it comes to guns in this country. You've got illegal guns landing on the streets in the hands of gang-bangers in places like Chicago where children have been shot on the streets in astonishing numbers, and then you've got law abiding gun owners who are hunting, and sportsmen, and keeping a gun in the house to protect their family, and who have a tradition of lawful gun ownership dating back generations. It's part of a way of life. The key is to reconcile those two realities.
The voters of Montana need to understand that I believe in the Second Amendment, I believe it is an individual right and I will not encroach on their right to get firearms and to do everything that they're doing right now. What I do want to see is better enforcement when it comes to handguns that are pouring into the streets of urban centers and that means better background checks, it means being able to trace guns that are used in crimes back to gun dealers that may be violating our laws. It means closing the gun show loophole. Those are, I think, some common sense regulations that in no way will impede on the ability of lawful gun owners in Montana or anywhere else in the country from exercising their Second Amendment rights."
Steve Schulin's view of their answers:
You'll notice that both these Democrat candidates mention hunting. Obama mentions sportsmen, and families with tradition. Hillary even mentions fishing. It's important to stress that this emphasis on sports as a basis for the second amendment represents a serious misunderstanding; the word "silly" would be a fair way to begin to characterize their views, if it weren't so serious a matter. The second amendment is not about sports. It is about a free people having the means to repel those who would try to trample the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I do appreciate that Sen. Obama states that the second amendment is an individual right. I recall Sen. Clinton saying the same thing in Pennsylvania recently. There are many advocates of gun control who vehemently disagree that second amendment is referring to individuals. I suspect that they will vote for Hillary or Obama despite this diifference, because they reasonably might conclude that the Democrats still in the race will pursue the same gun-grabbing policies regardless of their position on whose rights the second amendment describes.
Now, how about Sen. McCain? I urge you to check out the web page put up by the organization Gun Owners of America (GOA). Their McCain page is at http://www.gunowners.org/mccaintb.htm. They give McCain a failing grade in recent years. I especially recommend the GOA Alerts links shown at the bottom of the page, such as "McCain Still Trying To Gag Gun Owner Criticism Of His Anti-gun Record".
Alan Keyes is the candidate I enthusiastically support for President this year. His website alankeyes.com includes an archive of dozens of inspiring video and audio recordings of various speeches and interviews over the past twenty years or so, many with transcripts that can be searched for words and phrases online. Here's an excerpt that showed up in a search on "gun control". It's from an interview during the Illinois Senate campaign of 2004, and I agree with every word:
... the argument on gun control is very clear. The Second Amendment is there so that we never lose either the practice or the mentality of defending our liberty. Self-government, government by representative institutions, in human history went hand and hand with the willingness of common people to overcome their fear of weapons and take up those weapons in defense of their own rights. If we lose that mentality in which we are willing to stand fast in defense of our liberties, we will lose those liberties. So, the Second Amendment isn't just about gun bearing.
And also, gun control is absurd. If the law-abiding citizens can't carry weapons, and they obey the law, then the only people who will have the weapons are people willing to break the law--that is to say, the crooks. So, you'll have disarmed law-abiding people and armed crooks. That sounds like a real uneven match, and I think it's idiotic to suggest that a society should place itself in that position."
May 23, 2008
This video is well worth the five minutes. It captures some stark and important differences between Obama and Keyes, and urges folks to think about how they will cast their vote in November. Alan Keyes is running for President as an independent. Maryland Independent Party is honored that Dr. Keyes will run in his home state of Maryland on our new party's ballot line. If you are over 18, please download the petition, get as many registered voters from our state to sign as you can, and mail it to the address on the form.
The video is entitled "Barack Obama is a Superstar". Thanks to Dr. Keyes for highlighting it last night on his myspace.com blog.
I see there's some problem with the standard U-tube embedded link shown above. Here's the plain link to the video -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXKBfhVZUr4.
May 14, 2008
Alan Keyes comments on why he will continue to support Israel
The following is from a post today on the alankeyes.com discussion board.
Here is a statement made by Alan, with respect to support for Israel:
Radio interview
Presidential Candidate Forum, Ohio Christian Alliance
Alan Keyes
October 11, 2007
MODERATOR: Ambassador, our next question pertains to support for Israel. This was emailed in to us from one of our listeners: "Israel is a small nation surrounded by enemies who want to drive her into the sea. Why is it important for the U.S. to remain a staunch supporter of Israel?"
KEYES: I learned this lesson when I was working with Ronald Reagan and representing the United States in the international arena, at the General Assembly at the United Nations, where all the nations of the world would gang up on Israel and the only ally they reliably had was the United States.
I went through many battles — at the Women's Conference in Nairobi, where I fought against the "Zionism is Racism" resolution, and everywhere else that I was heading or helping to head delegations where they were trying to undermine and destroy the legitimacy of our relationship with Israel.
I think that relationship is important, because Israel is a country that has been committed to representative government and democratic values.
It is also a country that represents a part of our Biblical heritage, where it is clear that God, Himself, has a plan of which Israel is a part. And we need to be cognizant of that as a people — for, I believe we ourselves are also, if we're willing to act with consistent respect for God, a part of that plan.
So I believe that on a twofold level, both the moral level and the level of our interest as a people in working with an effective and strong democracy — the only one that's out there as a representative government in the Middle East — that we have a strong stake in the U.S./Israeli relationship. I have fought hard over the years in my person to defend it, and as president I would certainly be doing so.
- - - -
This is the closing of
A LETTER TO MESORA
by Alan Keyes, Apr. 26, 2000
It might give some insight into Alan's strong support of Israel:
"Israel is today, as Israel has always been, a sign of hope that G-d's children can seek to be pleasing in His sight. Israel is today, as Israel has always been, hateful in the eyes of those whose neck is stiff, and whose heart is filled with hate and falsehood. Until it shall please G-d to make the land of His special favor a pleasing sight to all the nations, may it please Him to continue to give to all Americans the eyes to see in Israel, as is truly the case, a beacon of justice, courage, and truth.
My prayers, my heart, are with the brave people of Israel."- - - -
Transcript:
Alan Keyes on the Tovia Singer Show
February 28, 2006
Israel National RadioMay 12, 2008
Steve Schulin will be write-in candidate for the special election
Did you know that write-in votes are often not even counted? Well, that will not be the case this time, if you write-in Steve Schulin. Your write-in vote for me at the poll will count, or, if you will be absent or unable to vote in person in the election, you can write-in my name on absentee ballot. The form to request absentee ballot is now available here. Download the pdf file, fill it out, and send it to your county board of elections at the address listed on the form. The board of elections will then send you an absentee ballot. It's a good idea to request the absentee ballot as soon as you know you should. Applications must be received by the board by June 10 (4:30 pm if by mail, 11:59 pm if by fax). After the deadline, a late application must be submitted in person at local board.
We did not get the 10,000 signatures in 10 days in order to get the new Maryland Independent Party a slot on the ballot for this June 17 election. But the reasons to vote for Steve Schulin to serve the remaining six months or so in this Congressional term are every bit as valid regardless of the ballot access. If anything, the impact of the write-in win will be even more resounding in telling the dominant parties not to take your vote for granted. I respectfully ask each and every voter in the 4th Congressional District for your vote in this extraordinary election.
May 7, 2008
Maryland Independent Party - Proposed Platform
[note: moved to sidebar on May 31, with added provision about 'anchor baby' phenomena]Maryland Independent Party has as its goal the return of our nation to the set of foundational principles clearly defined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. We call them "the American Principles." We believe that the American Principles are the "first things" that our country should consider -- in domestic policy, foreign policy, the internal functioning of government, and in using the "bully pulpit" of public office and the political arena to promote certain societal virtues and behaviors.
The protection of the life, liberty, and private property of the people is the primary reason for the existence of human government, and more particularly, of our precious American republican form of self-government. This is why we willingly accept no breach of the rights of the free exercise of religion, free speech, free press, free assembly, free association, and the right to petition government for the redress of grievances. We defend all of the enumerated rights listed in our Bill of Rights, and, in addition, all natural rights which are not enumerated, as per the Ninth Amendment.
We seek to restore the intended balance between the three separate branches of our government, and to strictly limit government to the enumerated powers granted and expressed by the will of the people of the United States in our Constitution. All existing functions of the executive branch that are outside of those enumerated powers must be eliminated. All spending and regulation by the legislative branch that lies outside the enumerated powers must cease. Judges who attempt to legislate from the bench, or who abandon the clear principles of our Constitution, must be checked if liberty and justice are to prevail in our society once again. We call for the restoration of adherence to the provisions of the Tenth Amendment: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
We believe in a supremely strong, prepared, and well-equipped civilian-controlled United States military, and a bold, visionary and intelligent program of principled constructive engagement with the rest of the world. For us, "peace through strength" is not a mere slogan. It is the means of survival for our country in a very dangerous and often hostile world. Our friendship should be a sought-after possession of all men and women of good will everywhere in the world. Our enmity should be something that all rightfully fear.
As Ronald Reagan opposed and defeated the designs and desire of the Soviet Union to dominate the world and place it under the tyranny of their Evil Empire, we oppose the Islamic extremists. This opposition is not based in opposition to their religion, but in a complete rejection of their political ideology and actions. Since the first principle of America is the protection of innocent human life, an ongoing state of war exists between us and any who would use acts of terrorism targeted at innocent civilians to forward their political aims.
We completely oppose any action that surrenders the political and economic sovereignty of the United States and its people, and support the immediate restoration of that sovereignty wherever it has been eroded.
We support the immediate securing and continuous vigilant maintenance of our sovereign territory and borders. We oppose any private or governmental action that rewards illegal entry into the United States in any way, and demand speedy and full enforcement of our laws concerning all such activities.
We consider the federal income tax to be destructive of our liberty, privacy, and prosperity. Therefore, we are working toward its complete elimination and the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We recommend that the current system be quickly replaced by a fair, simple, noninvasive, visible, efficient, consumption-based retail tax similar to the proposal popularly known as the FairTax. However, there are other constitutional tax reform proposals that are worthy of the people's consideration.
Because the stated ultimate purpose of our Constitution is "to secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity," we recognize the personhood of all unborn children and their protection by the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments. The right to life of all innocent persons, from conception to natural death, is God-given and unalienable. For the principled man or woman, no compromise is possible concerning such a critical matter of life and death. We believe that violators of this supreme right, in their words and actions, are unfit for any office of public trust, since this constitutes the breaking of the oath of office and the destruction of the very basis of our liberty.
The right of self-preservation and self-protection is inherent in all persons, communities and societies, which is why we fiercely defend the indispensable provisions of our Second Amendment. Liberty cannot be defended if the people have been stripped of the physical means of doing so.
We also call for the repeal of the Seventeenth Amendment. Its enactment greatly reduced the power of our state legislatures and state governments -- which are much closer to the people -- and damaged our system of federalism.
While we do not acknowledge that our Constitution limits Congress in any way from protecting traditional marriage between one man and one woman, we support passage of a federal marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of removing any confusion or misunderstanding in the minds of judges.
Though in civic terms we call ourselves "independent," we fully acknowledge our utter dependence, as individuals and as a nation, on Almighty God and His divine Providence and Protection. We also recognize, and seek to actively fulfill, our obligations as individual citizens to the whole body of the people, as well as our responsibility to maintain standards of high moral character, both personally and in our public life.
Maryland Independent Party seeks a return to an approach to government that facilitates respectful and necessary debate, thereby drawing on the collective wisdom and knowledge of the entire body of the sovereign people. We truly do believe in government of, by and for the people, and our intent is to foster it by every means at our disposal. We believe that the American Principles work whenever they are practiced diligently. And so, we ask that you join with us in restoring and defending America and thereby securing the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
May 2, 2008
Musings while drafting bylaws for new poliical party
While friends new and old are out trying to obtain the "10,000 signatures in 10 days", I'm turning my attention to another part of the May 9 paperwork -- the initial constitution and bylaws for the party. In addition to reviewing the state requirements and examples of existing parties' documents, I'm also checking out what independent parties in other states have in this regard. The first place I looked was the Alaskan Independence Party website www.akip.org. I had some great conversations with their delegates at the Constitution Party convention last week, including one of the folks who founded that party in the 1970s. Lynette and J.R., if you ever see this, please know that it was real pleasure to meet you.
One of the items in their bylaws was a description of their party's symbol (a polar bear, with Big Dipper and North Star in the background). That got me to thinking about what might best symbolize our new party. With blue crabs on my mind, I googled for "Maryland symbols" and went to our state government's Maryland State Symbols page. We have 21 state symbols.
I started my search for inspiration by clicking on the "Tree" category, recalling the great old liberty oak in Gaithersburg and the similar tree of renown where folks in Boston met to talk and listen about independence.
Maryland's State Tree is the White Oak, a relatively slow-growing and long-lived species. I like the coincidence that a typical mature individual can issue 10,000 acorns in a season. 10,000 acorns. 10,000 petition signers. But wait! Acorns are nuts! I'd hate to feed that analogy, although I guess the Democrats have survived despite showing folks a braying jack-ass as their symbol. All in all, I'd prefer a symbol that evokes the ideas that underlie the Maryland and U.S. constitutions, with some obviously Maryland aspect. The Maryland Republicans have the GOP elephant, filled with Maryland state flag pattern. I never had occasion to mention it before, but the lack of any obvious American link to the elephant symbol long seemed to me like an opportunity lost to say something more inspiring with every imprint. Let us do better, in this, as well as in governing.
Amidst all this thinking about symbols, I'd like to praise the fellow I met last week, a Californian, for his idea some years ago to change the name of the U.S. Taxpayer Party to the Constitution Party. That was a great idea. One icon I can well imagine using if I get on the ballot next week will show a page from the U.S. Constitution, with one amendment x-ed out. That's right, I want to see, as soon as possible, the repeal of the 16th amendment. That's the one that reads "The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration." One of the many things I love about Alan Keyes is how thoroughly he describes many various onerous aspects of this tax system of ours. One aspect that I haven't heard him mention, but which I have thought about a lot, is the deduction for charitable contributions. As I see it, our regulations on deductions are incompatible with Jesus' teaching that, when it comes to charity, one's right hand should not know how much the left hand is passing out. Millions of folks who love the Bible are turned away from this teaching. Churches keep detailed records and tally the total in a report to the individual each year to facilitate the claiming of the deduction. In my way of thinking, this is much more hostile to my religion than, say, renaming the Christmas break.
April 29, 2008
Ten done, 9,990 to go
The nice folks at alphagraphics in Gaithersburg did rush job on the petition master, and the first page is done. Many thanks to my neighbors who were thoughtful and encouraging in this effort.
April 28, 2008
The new party will be independent, rather than an affiliate of Constitution Party
I was delighted to attend the Constitution Party's national nominating convention in Kansas City this past week. I got to cast both of Maryland's votes for our favorite son for President. Here's how I addressed the chair: "Maryland, The Free State, enthusiastically casts all its votes for our favorite son, whose family has lived in our state for over 200 years -- sometimes as free men, sometimes not -- Alan Lee Keyes."
Here's a photo of me at the Maryland table (which was shared with the friendly delegates from State of Washington)
April 20, 2008
The first candidate will be ...
Our Maryland ballot line petition project was started with an eye towards meeting the deadlines for the presidential election in November. The announcement of June 17 special election for the House seat being vacated by Rep. Wynn presents a unique opportunity, and I'm resolved to try to get on the ballot. Different petition requirements apply for individual vs party. I've been discussing this with the folks at national Constitution Party, and I hope they'll agree to party petition route to getting on the special election ballot. There's some common tasks to be done before decision is required. Stay tuned in coming days. I'll be at the national nominating convention in Kansas City this week, making my case as persuasively as I can. In the meantime, please check out my fledgling candidate website - md4steve.org.
April 17, 2008
Today's this site's eighteenth birthday (that's 18 days)
According to the most recent analysis of USA voter registration statistics by Ballot Access News editor Richard Winger, the Constitution Party ranks third nationally amongst all US political parties in registered voters. Winger found that our party had 366,937 registered members as of November 2006. I think it's pretty cool that my humble website has gone from nothingness to being selected by the national party as the place to find out more about happenings here in The Free State. I feel like I've made a difference already. And you and I and many of our fellow liberty-loving neighbors can make an even bigger difference every day between now and November. It was my enthusiasm for Alan Keyes that brought me to Constitution Party, and the content I've put up reflects that. But I am happy to post other Marylanders' views, too. Email me if you'd like to help with content or any other aspect of getting Constitution Party on the ballot, fielding candidates, and winning elections.
April 16, 2008
Update on President Bush's climate policy remarks today
He stopped short of the kind of mandatory cap program proposed by McCain, Clinton/Obama and rest of the nincompoops on that side of the issue, but he surely gave aid and comfort to the alarmists today. There's no excuse for President Bush to get this wrong. Yet, here we are. Many will take some cheer that he praised nuclear power several times. Well, I'm pro-nuclear even without giving a whit of credit to the CO2 alarmist view.
April 16, 2008
PLEASE CONTACT WHITE HOUSE BEFORE 2 PM TODAY
The folks at RightMarch.com emailed a plea a few minutes ago which prompted me to write the following letter, using their automated system:
SUBJECT: Please don't lend credence to the CO2 alarmists
Dear President Bush:
I have spent literally thousands of hours since early in your administration reviewing the scientific basis for the type of alarm about CO2 expressed by your first Treasury Secretary. Claims by alarmists that the science is settled enough for purposes of major policy change are bunkum. The field of climate science encompasses so many specialties that few, if any, scientists have time to really understand the limitations of research commonly touted as authoritative. A great example is the so-called hockey stick graph which was quickly embraced by IPCC as sort of a poster child for their 2001 report. The hockey stick graphic was even portrayed as policy-relevant by its inclusion in the Policymakers Summary document which was leaked in the autumn of your 2000 campaign. The full report wasn't released until 9 months later. By then, the hockey stick had become what I've come to think of as an "icon of calamitology". I urge you not to give the alarmists the slightest benefit of any doubt you may have. I've long told folks that abundant and cheap electricity gives your average Joe today a life better, in many ways, than Kings used to enjoy. Unnecessary CO2 controls are bad for liberty, bad for the economy, and the notion that the results will have any predictable effect on global or regional climate is an exaggeration.
Mr. President, my industry is nuclear power. If these CO2 controls are adopted, my industry will surely benefit, at least in the short run. But every appeasement of the CO2 alarmists further empowers them and their shoddy science. And I have no doubt that these same fraud-mongerers will not long tarry before turning their attention to other targets, including my industry.
Please don't empower the alarmists!
Very truly,
NUCLEAR.COM
Steve Schulin,
Founding Editor- - - - END OF STEVE's EMAIL - - - -
Here's the text of the alert which prompted me to jot off the above missive:
URGENT -- CONTACT THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE 2:00 PM TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
http://capwiz.com/sicminc/mail/?id=20004&type=PR
ALERT: This is an URGENT EMERGENCY ALERT! President Bush is scheduled to give a major speech on global warming policy TODAY at 2:45 PM. A former WH official has warned us that "It will be very bad." Our intel is that he will not support the environmentalists' "cap-and-trade" or a carbon tax explicitly, but he WILL call for setting national mandatory targets and lay out principles for the kind of legislation he would sign.
This is exactly what we were afraid of. We've been able to STOP the implementation of "Kyoto Accord" environmentalist extreme measures in Congress -- but now, the President might side-step our efforts and do it himself!
We MUST try to convince him NOT to!
TAKE ACTION: Enacting further mandatory limits on emissions would be especially unwise at this time, as the U.S. economy totters on recession and consumer confidence sags from rising food and energy prices. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the Kyoto process, with its built-in momentum for ever more unrealistic emission reduction targets, is economically ruinous and, hence, politically unsustainable.
We need to try to stop this nonsense QUICKLY -- before the President's speech. Please CALL the White House at 202-456-1111 NOW -- or email comments@whitehouse.gov -- and urge President Bush NOT to give in to the radical environmentalists and abandon the prudent and successful course he's followed during the past seven years. Or, click below NOW to "compose your own letter" to him now:
http://capwiz.com/sicminc/mail/?id=20004&type=PR
P.S.: This is URGENT-- the President's speech is TODAY, Wednesday, April 16th. Call or send him a message RIGHT AWAY. Thank you!
- - - - END OF RightMarch.com's email - - - -
April 16, 2008
I've asked C-Span to broadcast Constitution Party national convention next week, and I hope you ask them too
C-Span urges folks to send requests for coverage of public events, via fax. Here's what I faxed yesterday. Please send a fax of your own to them if you agree:
Fax to C-Span 202-737-6226
From: __________________
re: A public event C-Span should cover
The Constitution Party is having its national convention in Kansas City next week -- www.consitution party.org
This is USA's 3rd largest party in terms of # of registered voters. This is worthy of gavel to gavel coverage April 25-26, and even committee meetings like platform committee on April 23-24
April 13, 2008
Alan Keyes, scholar of our Declaration of Independence, will be making his own declaration Tuesday night about the many ways our sovereignty is being assaulted
On Tuesday night at an event in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Dr. Alan Keyes will elaborate on why the coming election is important, and the reasons he can no longer support the Republican Party. He accepted the invitation of folks in Hazleton to come to their beleaguered city to make the announcement. [update: video of his speech is now available on the main page at the Keyes campaign website -- http://www.alankeyes.com.]
Dr. Keyes has been working on the speech for several weeks, and I have no doubt it will be a real humdinger. Tuesday is April 15, and that's a fitting day to hear Alan describe the many reasons that our federal income tax system ought to be replaced by the excise taxes and tariffs used before the 16th Amendment was added to our Constitution. Hazleton is an incredibly appropriate place for the speech. The event was organized by people of Hazleton to help focus attention on the problems caused by illegal immigration, the compounding of the problems by federal government, and the intentional snubbing of the town by the Democratic and Republican candidates in the current primary campaign -- and they invited Alan to come. A Philadelphia Daily News columnist this week called candidates McCain, Obama and Clinton "fraidicats" for not coming to Hazleton during the primary campaign. I suspect Alan will discuss much that our entire nation can learn from the story of the town's troubles in recent years. This is a town of 50,000 -- and 20,000 of them are here illegally, according to Dan Smeriglio, the Hazleton resident who extended the invitation to Alan on one of the conference calls early last month. Town officials asked federal immigration control agency, ICE, to set up a branch office in the town. No, said ICE. Then, in 2006, after a man was murdered, while on an outing with his son at public park, by MS-13 gang members, the town council passed law that included significant fines for employers who hired illegals and landlords who rented to illegals. A federal district court judge ruled the law to be unconstitutional, a ruling which Don reports to have prompted "Illegal-and-Proud" rallies in the town.
C-Span, and every TV network news organization, ought to cover this event. I hope you'll join me in contacting as many of the TV news organizations as you can, urging them to be there with cameras rolling and microphones on as Alan Keyes tells a tale that you won't hear from the Democrats or Republicans. For more information, see the Keyes campaign press release. And if you can, check out the audio archive of Dr. Keyes' views of our tax system and how best to replace it in interview by Tennessee talk radio host Steve Gill yesterday. Keyes explains why the income tax is a "bad, enslaving, anti-freedom system that cannot be administered without destroying one of our fundamental Constitutional rights." His favored proposal would also lead to "more businesses, more job creation, and an expansion of the horizons of our productivity as a people like nothing we've seen." And Steve Gill's commentary was lively too: "... if King George, instead of imposing tax stamp on tea, but had just taxed the tea companies, we might still be speaking with an English accent." The interview is archived at WLAC radio. It takes up most of the third hour of his April 12 show.
April 11, 2008
Maryland's 4th Congressional District: the million-dollar special election might end up benefitting the people more than any other money the Democrats have caused to be spent
Maryland Gov. O'Malley has to decide whether or not those of Prince Georges and Montgomery County, currently represented in Congress by Albert Wynn, will have a representative or not during much of the rest of this year. His fellow Democratic Party member, attorney Donna Edwards, won the party's primary and reportedly wants to have the special election. I do too, because this is a unique opportunity for Constitution Party candidate to win the seat in this District -- it's my district, by the way. In fact, if a Constitution Party candidate can win the special election, the million-dollar estimated cost of the election might come to be viewed as saving the state (and the nation) much more than the costs.
One of the issues on which I disagree with McCain, Hillary/Obama, Wynn, and Edwards is what I've come to call their CO2 alarmism. In his statement yesterday, announcing that he's relinquishing his House Energy and Commerce Committee seat (and subcommittee chairmanship), Rep. Wynn gave his reason: he wants to avoid distracting "the critical work of the committee to combat climate change, achieve energy independence, and protect our environment". You notice that climate change was the first issue he mentioned. On her campaign web site, Ms. Edwards explicitly claims that global warming is a crisis: "Forget voluntary limits on carbon emissions - they don't work and we're in a crisis. It's time to set mandatory limits on emissions with a goal of 20 percent reductions by 2020 and 80 percent reductions by the middle of the century. This is the call for this generation of leaders if we're serious about tackling global warming."
Marylanders have been hit hard with electricity price rises since the last general election. That the national Democrats and McCain, and Edwards, are determined to implement mandatory CO2 caps is a sorry state of affairs for every citizen. The science these leaders portray as warranting crisis mode is actually very speculative.
I hope you agree that this million-dollar election might end up being the best million that Edwards has ever wanted to be spent. If you'd like to be or support the Constitution Party candidate in the upcoming election, drop me an email at steve.schulin@MarylandIndependentParty.org [note: that's an updated email, effective May 2008]
April 10, 2008
The first ConstitutionPartyMD.org conference call will be ...
I'd like to suggest that Marylanders interested in Constitution Party get together regularly via telephone conference call. Here's a post I made eliciting suggestions this morning over at the Alan Keyes campaign discussion board, since it was the Keyes campaign's use of this idea that makes me so enthusiastic about it. If you think you might want to participate in such calls, please feel encouraged to send me an email with any scheduling preferences. I'd sure hate to exclude folks from live participation due to the scheduling.
Using conference call idea for local outreach
I've found the Tuesday and Thursday night conference calls to be uplifting, informative, inspiring and energizing. I think the same concept could be used to good advantage here in Maryland as we build the Constitution Party. I'd appreciate any suggestions or other comments from you folks about how best to adapt the idea.
I've obtained the basic free service from freeconferencecall.com, which will allow up to 99 folks to dial in to the same number anytime.
The dial-in number they gave me has an Iowa area code - long distance from here. That prompted me to call them and see if I could offer a local number to my callers instead. The answer to that is no, although they do offer an 800 # service where you get charged six cents a minute for each of up to 200 callers. That means it's possible to rack up fee of $720 an hour. Sheesh, that's no good, although I guess it's a bit presumptuous to imagine that so many would participate :)
A lot of folks have cell phones with free night and weekend minutes. I see that Verizon's basic plan offers unlimited free night calls starting at 9:01 pm (and unlimited weekend calls), and AT&T's basic plan offers 5000 minutes of free night calls starting at 9:00 pm. (weekends are all-day free, with minutes counting towards same 5000 limit).
So one thing I'd appreciate comments on is what's the best day/time to conduct such calls.
Another topic is whether and/or how to publicize the calls to get attention of folks who are unaware that a Constitution Party affiliate is being formed in our state. I'll probably suggest press releases to newspapers, local political blogs, and other web sites covering Free State news. And maybe classified ads or other paid ads too.
And another thing (I've prayed about this one) is whether or not (and how) to start and end the calls with prayer. I recall that I knew I was in the right place when I heard the prayer on the first Keyes campaign call in which I participated. I note that our national House and Senate have Chaplains who start off each day's proceedings with prayer.
Anyway, thanks in advance for considering these kinds of things. I don't know what kind of role I'll have in the Constitution Party's efforts here in Maryland, but I've offered to help as best I can, and I think the adage I've heard on the Keyes campaign calls -- "If you don't see a leader, be a leader", is part of what's happening here. To keep tabs on progress in Maryland, please check out my infant web page at www.ConstitutionPartyMD.org -- I've offered to transfer it to the party when it gets organized, and to have it listed on the state contact page at ConstitutionParty.com
April 9, 2008
Last year's opinion by Maryland state Court of Appeals on petition-related matter
Here's pdf file, obtained from state judiciary web site, of the opinion in Nader For President 2004, et al. v. Maryland State Board of Elections, 399 Md 681 (2007).
The Greens submitted a petition in 2004 similar to the one we're planning now. They obtained about 15,000 signatures, but many were not counted as valid by the state, so many in fact that the number of valid signatures was determined by the state to be too few to meet the 10,000 minimum. The Nader folks filed lawsuit, focusing on those hundreds of folks who were not counted because they were not residents of the county that was specified on the signature page they signed. The decision is an interesting read, and one of the lessons I take away from it is that petition circulators ought to ensure that if a prospective signer resides in different county, then a separate sheet ought to be started for him or her with the right county specified. Another lesson is that the earlier the petition is submitted to the state, the better.
April 8, 2008
Petition signature page pitfalls
We are embarking on a petition drive to get Constitution Party candidates on the ballot in Maryland. The following list of criticisms of a recent referendum petition in Montgomery County includes a lot of information that petition circulators should keep in mind when gathering signatures and submitting the pages:
Source of the following, excerpted from legal challenge to the petition, is www.teachthefacts.org
* The Petition contains Petition sheets with the names of persons who did not sign the papers in their own proper persons, and such signatures are not genuine and are forgeries, in violation of the Maryland Election Code, applicable COMAR regulations, and the Montgomery County Charter.
* The Petition contains Petition sheets with the names of persons who are not registered voters, or who are not registered voters at the addresses shown opposite their respective names ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets with the names of persons for whom the addresses stated are not in Montgomery County, and such persons are not registered voters in Montgomery County ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets with the names of persons for whom the addresses given are either missing entirely or are incomplete ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets with the names of persons who have signed the Petition more than one time ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets with the "signatures" of persons which are not signed but rather are printed, and said signatures are not genuine signatures ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets with signatures that consist of neither the individual's name as it appears on the statewide registration list nor the individual's surname of registration and at least one full given name and the initials of any other names ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets which bear a circulator's affidavit which is not signed by the circulator, and every signature on such sheets is invalid ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets bearing a circulator's affidavit on which the circulator's address is incorrect in that the purported circulator does not reside at the address indicated on the Petition sheet, and every signature on such sheets is invalid ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets bearing a circulator's affidavit which is not signed by the circulator in his/her own proper person, and such signatures are not genuine and are forgeries ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets that the purported circulator did not personally circulate and every signature on such sheets is invalid ...
* The Petition contains Petition sheets bearing a circulator's affidavit on which the circulator's address is incomplete, and every signature on such sheets is invalid ...
* The Petition contains numerous Petition sheets reflecting alterations indicative of fraud by the circulator such as circulator and/or signer information that appears to have been covered with "white out" ...
* The Petition contains numerous Petition sheets on which it appears, that individuals signed Petitions not in the presence of the purported circulator as evidenced by numerous Petition sheets with only one signature with the same circulators, including but not limited to Ruth Jacobs and Theresa Rickman. Such activity demonstrates a pattern of fraud and disregard for the Maryland Election Code, applicable COMAR regulations, and the Montgomery County Charter, to such a degree that every sheet circulated by said individuals should be invalidated in order to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
* The Petition contains numerous Petition sheets on which the circulator purported to attest to his or her own signature ...
* The Petition contains numerous Petition sheets on which the date of the circulator affidavit is before the date of the signatures purported to be attested to ...
* The Petition contains numerous Petition sheets on which the date of the circulator affidavit appears to have been altered, and that without such alteration, the date of the circulator affidavit would have been prior to the date of the signatures purported to be attested to, in violation of the Maryland Election Code, applicable COMAR regulations, and the Montgomery County Charter.
* The Petition contains numerous Petition sheets on which other disqualifying errors, not specifically enumerated herein, are contained ...
* Defendant BOARD OF ELECTIONS ignored the deficiencies in the Petition's form and content, and the unfair, inaccurate and misleading tactics used by its proponents to obtain signatures ...
* Although certain signatures were invalidated during its review, Defendant BOARD OF ELECTIONS either ignored or did not properly analyze the categories set forth above.
April 8, 2008
Petition drive - 10,000 voters needed
For the Constitution Party's presidential nominee to be a choice on the ballots here in Maryland come November, all that's needed is for at least 10,000 registered Maryland voters to sign a petition which will be circulating soon. I expect to post a copy of the approved signature sheets here for folks to download and print for use. Please send me an email at volunteer@ConstitutionPartyMD.org if you'd like to help in the signature-gathering. You have to be at least 18 years old to be a petition circulator. I've been convinced of the wisdom of having a lot of people in such tasks, each doing an easy share. A thousand folks could probably each get 10 signatures in less than an hour. We could have this vital step behind us in a day. Please volunteer!
[May 2008 note]: No more constitution party volunteering, please. The address for new party is volunteer@MarylandIndependentParty.org
April 6, 2008
What do conservatives believe these days?
The term conservative originated back in the days when folks were trying to "conserve the monarchy" -- that is, to keep kings in their place against the onslaught of democratic tide like the French Revolution. Lots of folks in the USA consider themselves conservatives today, but they have no interest in conserving any monarchy. So the definition of conservative has changed.
The single most important factor in US conservativism in recent years, as best I can tell, is a desire for smaller role of federal government than currently exists. But I'm not the guy who gets to define what conservatism is. A popular way to think about conservative voters today is the "three-leg" model: national defense conservatives, economic conservatives, and social conservatives.
A complicating matter in defining conservatism is the use of the term conservative in the specific context of describing part of the continuum spanning from reactionary to radical. In this context, conservatives are those who hold significant general presumption against change.
Here's how one of the leading candidates for Libertarian Party nomination for President this year defines conservatives:
"We real libertarians have a challenge," Phillies said. "Some conservatives pretend to be Libertarians. Fifty years ago, conservatives claimed states had a right to keep persons of color from voting. Conservatives were wrong. Now, conservatives claim states have a right to keep women from having abortions. That claim is the same old racist Jim-Crow states' rights doctrine. It's still wrong. Our Constitution's 14th Amendment makes things crystal clear. If Congress isn't allowed to do it, neither are individual states."
Mr. Phillies continues "[D]on't let conservatives take over our party. America already has two conservative parties, Republican and Constitution. We shouldn't become the third."
I thoroughly disagree with Mr. Phillies' equating of those opposed to abortion with those who adopted Jim Crow laws. It seems to me that one can be a libertarian and still consider abortion to be murder, and thus the just subject of criminality. And that one thinks that states are the proper level of government to adopt laws against murder, rather than federal, does not make one a Jim Crow kind of advocate.
One of the things I like about the Constitution Party is the pro-life plank in their platform. And Alan Keyes is one of the most eloquent advocates against abortion I've ever heard. As a debate coach at The Catholic University of America in the late 1970s, it was my pleasure to work daily with students who advocated against legalized abortion at debate tournaments across the country, week after week. These kids were good. Keyes would have been a good addition to the team, just as he will be, if you and I help elect him, a great President. The Keyes campaignwebsite -- alankeyes.com -- has a lot of archived speeches of his, and I hope you'll watch and listen to a bunch of them, so that you too can stand against the "culture of death", of which the so-called "pro-choice" movement is a part. A hugely tragic part.
March 31, 2008
Hello and welcome. My wife and I moved here to Maryland in mid-1980s. I was used to Virginia's open primary system, and had been registered as an independent there. To vote in primaries here in Maryland, I had to choose a party, and my choice was an easy one. But in the years since, I've become largely dissatisfied with the Republican Party. I switched my registration to Constitution Party last week, because I understand that Alan Keyes is seeking the nomination of the Constitution Party for the coming Presidential race, and he represents my views better than any other candidate.