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I'll keep the summary very short.

The Barr 2008 campaign was in its operation a scam for transferring money from Libertarian donors to Barr's Republican cronies and a few libertarian hangers-on.

The Barr 2008 Campaign raised nearly one and a half million dollars.

It spent barely 4% of its income on anything that resembles classical public outreach. That includes $12,618.88 to book publisher.

It spent under 1% of its income on actual press advertising, counting google.com.

That's a tenth what it spent on rent of real estate and office furniture.

That's a tenth what it spent (or still owes) on a web page.

That's considerably less than it spent on limousines and town cars.

That's what the campaign our party's establishment gave us.

    LNC FEC Filings Do Not Support This Claim.

Liberty for America has discovered that the Bob Barr 2008 campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission claim that on July 23, 2008 Barr 2008 received $10,000 from the Libertarian National Committee.  The Libertarian National Committee's filings covering the same month do not appear to reveal a corresponding disbursement, even though the two reports should be consistent. A search of earlier LNC FEC filings has not yet located an LNC payment made in an earlier month.

Indeed, the confidential LNC Financial reports from the LNC Treasurer to the National Committee, as received by Liberty for America magazine, claim that in 2008 the LNC spent a total of $500 on candidate support.  It is inobvious how LNC, Inc. could have given $10,000 to the Barr 2008 campaign without it being candidate support, which is a specific line item in the LNC budget.

Members of the LNC with whom Liberty for America has been in contact were entirely unaware of the alleged financial transaction.  Indeed, the impression your Editor has received from members of the LNC was that the National Committee had instructed that LNC, Inc. was not to make a financial contribution to the Barr campaign.

LIBERTY FOR MAINE NEWS RELEASE
PO Box 961
Portland ME 04104

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2009

 CONTACT:  James Oaksun
603.397.3387

 LIBERTY FOR MAINE FORMED

Saco, Maine - Today, Liberty for Maine was formed.  The new organization will advance the interests of freedom and liberty in Maine in an active, creative and assertive manner, offer support to similar efforts underway in many other states and nationally, and engage in other activities as appropriate.

James Oaksun, 47, a Saco businessman and a Maine delegate to the 2008 Libertarian National Convention, chairs the new group.  According to Oaksun, the group has a full slate of officers, and its operating bylaws are available upon request.  The group has also declared its support for the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party.

 Mr. Oaksun said, "Many important efforts are in progress across Maine and across America right now, and there are many people here in Maine who are totally frustrated and discouraged because there has been no organization in Maine that has worked actively, publicly and consistently to chart a new course toward freedom.  Until now.

 "Over the next 90 days," Oaksun continued, "our new group will focus on education, outreach and marketing, principally at the major summer festivals in Maine which attract thousands of visitors from across Maine and across America.  We will start with the Southern Maine Pride events in June.  With the recent passage of marriage equality here in Maine and the likelihood of a referendum campaign on the matter, the Maine LGBT community and its allies are energized like never before. It's a golden opportunity to align Maine libertarians in support of a vital and immediate human rights and freedom issue."

 Oaksun said Liberty for Maine would work in concert with its principal corporate sponsor, Virtual Galt Corporation, in advancement of freedom.

For a more-or-less current time line, see Mike Seebeck's blog http://muddythoughts.blogspot.com/2009/05/timeline-of-duesgate.html  This article is heavily based on Seebeck's superb work in preparing that line.

Several weeks ago, the LNC Judiciary Committee heard Lee Wrights' appeal of his removal from office.  The hearing was the first time in twenty years that the LNC Judicial Committee had met.  The hearing was public; expect a recording to be available fairly soon. As of this typing, they have not yet issued a decision.  

What should an effective Libertarian National Committee do to advance the libertarian political movement?

Carrying out the substantive intent of its Bylaws might be a good start.

(Previously published on The Nolan Chart)