Think and Be Free

Last night New York became the sixth state to enact marriage equality.

The state senate — controlled narrowly by Republicans — was the final hurdle.  One Democrat was opposed.  So to pass, a few Republicans would have to break ranks and support the measure.

In the end, four did.  All four will undoubtedly face primary challenges and potentially tough re-elections.

So here is my challenge to HRC and the LGBT community.  To what extent are you willing to stand with these four men despite the fact that they are — horrors!  — Republicans?

Why don’t you start by putting some cash behind them, today?

Here, I’ll even give you some help.  Names and addresses.

Senator Mark Grisanti… 65 Court Street Room 213… Buffalo NY 14202

Senator Stephen Saland… 3 Neptune Road Suite A19B… Poughkeepsie NY 12601

Senator Roy McDonald… 433 River Street Hedley Building Suite 1004… Troy NY 12180

Senator James Alesi…220 Packetts Landing… Fairport NY 14450

I will be watching.  Closely.

I suppose my quote in the LP’s Capitol Pride news release marks my return to public life.

We’re going to be working to bring Outright more into the limelight.  I’m so excited to be able to work with friends like Rob Power and Angela Keaton to achieve this.  Stay tuned for further developments!

I’ve also been working on several new ventures.. some for profit, but an important not-for-profit idea.  Over the next couple months you will be hearing about more of those.

Among other things, I have been reading, researching and meditating on the role of non-major parties in the American political system; considering a 2014 political race; and determining how to use my experience the last several years most effectively as a means of helping others.

Sarah is off to Emerson College in August, now a high school graduate.  I am immensely proud of her but have the emotion and wistfulness that undoubtedly comes with seeing your child reach a place of transition and growth.

On September 5 I hit the milestone of a half-century of life.  This, in conjunction with all the immense losses and hardships of the last year, serves to remind me that this is the time to make things happen — to really stretch and make my dreams come true.  I am excited about the new opportunities ahead.

I am immensely grateful for all my friends, both old and new.  I believe my best days may lay ahead of me.

Here, I’ll even help him out a little. I know they are busy raising money for the first Billion (yes with a B) dollar presidential re-election campaign in American history.

“By the power granted to me under Article Two, Section Two of the United States Constitution, I hereby ORDER (ed. note: not “ask”, not “beg”, not “strongly suggest”, not “tell to get to someday but no hurry”) the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff as follows:

1. Effective as of the date below, all discharge actions against United States military personnel serving in all theaters of operations pending pursuant to Title 10, Subtitle A, Part II, Chapter 37, Subsection 654 of the United States Code are stayed for a period of six months.

2. The length of the stay may be extended at my sole discretion.

3. This order shall expire upon the passage of HR 1283 or substantively similar legislation by the United States Congress.

Dated this __ day of ___, 2010.

Barack H. Obama
President of the United States”

Will this happen? OF COURSE NOT!

Why? Sounds simple enough. And hasn’t he said time and time again he wants DADT repealed?

Well, here we run into the difference between what Democratic politicians (of whom President Obama is one, don’t tell me any different) SAY about LGBT issues, and what they actually DO about them, when they are in a position to actually do something constructive.

Instead of constructive action, we are treated to PR spin, like the President’s handwritten note of condolence last year to the young soldier being discharged because she is a lesbian, saying, well, while I’d really really like to help, there is absolutely nothing I can do about your plight… oh those bad bad Congresscritters… so enjoy civilian life sister, it has its advantages. You can even marry a hot woman with a mid six figure income and then become President one day yourself, I suppose.

And we (meaning the LGBT community) are just supposed to sit there and say, How wonderful. How magnificent. Said with such a serious, studied expression. Please, do it again to us, Mr. President. We like it.

And his money people have already descended on WeHo, Chelsea and all parts in between saying, oh you’d better get your checkbooks out RIGHT NOW, because, well, because the Republicans are so so much worse.

When will we see DADT repeal?  Well, maybe once the pigs have their wings but haven’t quite learned to fly yet.  Not before.

Such is the political state of LGBT America these days. And yes, there is a better way.

Remarks by James Oaksun
In Memory of Judith Dompkowski Ph.D.
Burchfield Penney Art Center
Buffalo, New York
August 21, 2010

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.

The words of Tennyson, 1889.

Well, I do have to admit to a great deal of “sadness of farewell”.  I miss her every day.

Tennyson explained, “The Pilot has been on board all the while, but in the dark I have not seen him… [He is] that Divine and Unseen Who is always guiding us.”

That may be. And so I want to speak a moment of darkness… and of light… and of art.

When the Great Teacher – no, not my Mom, another great teacher – spoke on the Mount, He said:

Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works….

Of all the many lessons I learned from my Mom… there is one in particular I will always carry with me.

Her voice rings in my ears, even today: “Don’t hide your light under a bushel basket.”

But that is what I did.

For years, I hid from myself, I hid from the world… and I hid from all of you. That was wrong.

But my Mom was all about the light.  My favorite room in her home was her living room. It had exposure to south and west, and I always remember it being filled with light.

Even in the winter evenings… with the fire in the fireplace that my Mom liked so much… there was light.

But of course the brightest light of all, was the light that my Mom cast herself.

She brought so much light to my world, and I know to many of you here, as well.  And the best way I can honor her, in the time I have left here, is to make sure my light is always shining bright.

So ask yourself: Where is your light?  Are you hiding your light from yourself, from the world, from all of us?

Isn’t it about time for your light to shine before all?

Let that be what you remember my Mom telling us. Her light will shine bright before me, the rest of my days.

So yes, I am sad that my Mom is no longer here physically.  But I know her spirit is free – free of the room and bed to which she was confined at the end; free of the body that had failed her.

And I know that whatever light I am able to cast… my Mom will be nearby.

Something tells me she’ll like that. ‎

And now, given where we are… a word about art… in all its forms.

You know, there is a difference between math and art.

Building a fortune? That’s a matter of math.  But building a life? That, is a matter of art.

Shortly before he died, a friend of mine wrote:

“Life is about the art. What does your canvas look like? What kind of picture are you painting?

“Take your time, make bold strokes, use brilliant colors, and make of your life
the most beautiful masterpiece that you can.”

Today, in this place that celebrates art, we celebrate my Mom’s life. Her work of art. And a beautiful work it was.

Let us all remember… and enjoy. And think about our own works of art.

And if we can leave here dedicated to making our own brush strokes a little better, a little brighter… I know my Mom will be cheering us on.

Some of you know, one of my mom’s professional interests was the literature of the Holocaust.  So I thought it would be appropriate to end my remarks by reciting the traditional prayer of mourning.

He who makes peace in the heavenly heights, may he bring peace upon us all. Amen.

Goodnight Mom. “And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

# # #

Translation of Mourner’s Kaddish:

May the great Name of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world, which he has created according to his will. May his kingship be established in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel, swiftly and in the near future; and say, Amen.

May his great name be blessed, forever and ever.

Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored elevated and lauded be the name of the holy one, Blessed is he above and beyond any blessings and hymns, praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen.

May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen.

July 2010 will be seared into my spirit as a mensis horribilis.

I bore witness to my mother’s final precipitous decline, as well as to the near-simultaneous deaths of both my mom and my grandmother. I miss them terribly, but know their spirits are free – free of the rooms and beds to which they were confined; free of the bodies that failed them.

Knowing them as I did, I know their spirits will be active. And always with me!

First, I want to thank my friends for their kind expressions of sympathy and support. They meant – and mean – a great deal to me.

Overall I’m doing about as well as can be expected under the circumstances. I have good hours and bad hours. I’ve yet to have a good day… but I guess that will come again in time.

Both my mom and my grandmother were strong, sturdy, dynamic women. The two of them – along with my grandfather, who left us in 1993 – were the hardest workers I have ever known. I know that they would not want their dying to stop my living.

And so I will press on, inspired and informed by their example. My song has yet to be sung. Oh I’ve warmed up a little I guess… a few exercises, some etudes. Memorial Day was an interim goal, a goal (two, actually) achieved. Great milestones for my own new beginning.

The book is well along now, and hopefully will be wrapped up by the end of the year.

More decisions approach: keep or sell the Maine house? Buy a home in Florida?  Take some new risks – both professionally and in matters of the heart?

I know I’m not ready for big decisions, not yet. I’ve always been introspective and my work of the last five and a half years has given me the confidence of knowing not only my possibilities but also my short-term limitations.

It is undeniable – a large part of Old James died on July 14^th when my mom passed away. But I know that as New James continues to grow and evolve, my mom will be with me and a constant part of the action.

Something tells me she’d like that.

A couple weeks ago I learned there had been (at some point in the past) a complaint of some sort lodged against the LNC and the incumbent treasurer, that the FEC had conducted an investigation, and that the complaint had been dismissed.  I did not learn at that time “who” had lodged the complaint, the nature of the complaint, when it was filed… or when the dismissal had occurred.

Shrug.  No story there, I thought.

However, last Wednesday evening I learned additional facts about this matter of which I had previously been unaware, and questions have been raised in some circles regarding it.

I had nothing to do with the analysis that led to the filing of the complaint, or the decision to file it.  These things happened well before I entered the mix.  And again, I was not aware that this matter was in progress at the time I signed on with New Path to run for treasurer.

George Phillies is my friend.  If I have any further comment to make about the specifics of this matter, I will deliver those comments directly to my friend.  In private.

I would urge the St. Louis delegates to focus on the main issues which I have been articulating for four months:

• My substantive and fact based critique of the LNC’s performance over the last 10 years generally and the last five years in particular; and
• The New Path team’s development and promulgation of a detailed road map for how to move ahead from here – something which none of the other chair candidates or their representatives have produced for us.

I believe the circumstances did warrant some reflection on my part.  Upon that reflection, I have decided to stay on as part of New Path. I am not in this to be the New Path treasurer.  I am running to be the Libertarian Party’s treasurer!

I am in this race for the good of the party, because of my desire to advance the cause of liberty and freedom… and because I know I have a lot to offer.  Our best days lay ahead of us!  We have tremendous untapped and unutilized potential.  I care about the LP and I care about our future, and am fearful and saddened that that future is being squandered.  I am running less because of what we are, and more because of what I know we could become.

I believe the incumbent treasurer needs to step aside – ideally voluntarily, by the vote of the delegates if need be – and that my ideas and what I offer are superior to the incumbent’s record and tenure on the committee, which even an unbiased observer would acknowledge has had its share of challenges and controversies.

I will stipulate for the record:  the incumbent treasurer is a fine accountant.  I have no issue with his abilities in that regard.

I do, however, believe the incumbent treasurer bears considerable responsibility for creating and participating in the dysfunction we have all witnessed on the LNC during his time on the committee – the penchant for secrecy (which, it must be noted, was a major factor in the decision to pursue the remedies recently pursued), the pie fights, the attempts to oust duly elected committee members, the lack of strategic vision, the parliamentarianism run amok.  Not to mention the fact that he needs to be held accountable as a committee member, executive officer and leader of the committee’s dominant coalition for the continuing diminution in the party’s fortunes nationally during his specific time in service.

The incumbent would have you believe he bears no responsibility whatever for these things.  He is mistaken.

If our national party were a publicly traded corporation, there would have been a “shareholder revolt” long ago, the existing leadership would have been removed to the last person, and new leaders brought in to try to salvage the situation and start moving in the right direction.  It is a mystery why this has not happened yet, but I sure hope it happens in St. Louis.

No rational person would, given a 70 percent decline in real revenues, and a 60 percent decline in the membership, go to the delegates and say, “Haven’t we done a great job?  Don’t you think we should be re-elected for another two-year term?”

Yet that is what these people ask of us!

The only appropriate answer to them is:  “Thank you for your service, and best of luck in your future endeavors.”

Over the last four months, I have offered the incumbent members of the committee every reasonable opportunity to answer some very simple questions of mine.  In the end, only five of the LNC members seeking election to At-Large and Regional positions chose to engage in any dialogue whatever with me about matters concerning our party (some more so than others): Mary Ruwart, Lee Wrights, Rachel Hawkridge, Pat Dixon and Dan Karlan.  I believe these people deserve favorable consideration for re-election.

This does not change the dire state our Party is in under the current LNC, but it does show that these committee members are at least willing to communicate to some degree with a credible outside officer candidate.

As far as everybody else presently on the LNC is concerned, I will gladly hold the door open for them as they exit. This is the main reason I am staying with New Path – that we recognize that our party needs a lot more than a new face at the top. The numbers and results show that the committee, the system and the process are fundamentally distressed.

I have extraordinary respect, affection, and admiration for Carolyn Marbry and Rob Power.  My opinion of them has grown daily throughout the last few months.  They are honest-to-goodness Libertarians and believe in our cause with every fiber of their beings.  Regardless of what anyone believes about me personally, I urge and implore the delegates to seat Carolyn and Rob on the committee!

I continue to support George Phillies for chair. Whether I believe the matter in question could have been dealt with in some other way, is not relevant.  In the end, we need to focus on the big picture and the substantive nature of the entire argument we have all been making.

Previously I have stated that I will accept the delegates’ verdict on the chair’s race, and would serve as treasurer regardless of who the delegates chose to be chair.  I reaffirm that stand.

To the extent I have reservations about any of the other gentlemen’s candidacies, I am open to hearing how they (or their supporters) would address my concerns, and will remain open to so hearing up until the time of the vote Sunday.

My critique of all the individuals in question has been substantive and 100 percent limited to their public political actions.  And it will remain so.  I am strictly opposed to making an issue out of matters not germane to people’s public actions with respect to the Libertarian Party or the national committee.  I do not need to be on the committee so badly, that I would sacrifice my own principles to do so. I would rather lose with dignity than win ugly.

If some people need to be “power brokers in the Libertarian Party” so badly that they would resort to personal attacks, that says a lot more about them than it does about the people they are attacking.

In short, I hope to be involved with the LP for a long time.  I also hope what is called the “LP” is something that is worth my while to be involved with.  I am amply qualified by educational credentials and professional experience to hold the position I seek, and I amply count as a “Libertarian” by any measure that has thus far been devised.

I’m going to win being who I am – warts and all – or lose being who I am.  I never said I was perfect.  I’ve had more than my share of challenges in my life the last five years, and I have survived them and come out the other side stronger than ever.  That, in itself, is a skill the LP needs now more than ever, in my opinion.

Over the last four months, I have made a reasoned, substantive and fact-based critique of the committee’s public actions.  I have offered my diagnosis, my services, and a vision for a way forward – a vision consistent with the objectives of the New Path team.  None of the people in the committee’s dominant coalition (with the partial exception of Pat Dixon and Dan Karlan) have chosen to engage with me, or offer any substantive defense or explanation of their actions (and inactions) while in our collective service.

And guess what, people?  They’re not going to. They’re going to hope that another convention will pass, that they will be safely returned to office, the deck chairs on the Titanic will be re-arranged yet another time, and that I will just go away.

Well, let me say this as clearly as I can:

I’m not planning on going anywhere.

This is a letter I am sending to some of the St Louis delegates later this week. I want it to be clear, what I am doing and why.  As I said in my initial candidacy statement, I have had my share (maybe more than my share) of challenges and “wake up calls” in my life.  But I survived them, and came out the other side better than ever, and stronger than ever.  The Libertarian Party nationally is at a moment of challenge, and is getting a big wake up call — maybe its last.  Time is short, and if we don’t get it right, we may not get another chance.

*****

To All St. Louis Delegates and All Lovers of Liberty:

I have reached a point in my life, where my life circumstances permit me to give a little something back.  I believe in liberty and I believe in the LP.  My political philosophy plants me well within our quadrant of the Nolan Chart.  As I have written elsewhere, I’m sure I’m too ___________ for some, and not ___________ enough for some others.  But hey – I’m 48 years old and I have a worldview that makes sense for me.

It’s called Libertarianism.

I’ve been voting libertarian at the presidential level since 1988.

I want to see a freer and more prosperous America in my lifetime. Regardless of how things go for me in St Louis, I am committed to spending the rest of my days working to help people find freedom.

I’m running for LNC Treasurer because I really do believe in our Statement of Principles. I have written elsewhere, that as an executive officer and member of the committee I will have no interest in, nor patience for, any activity that does not advance our platform and our Statement of Principles.

Any action that is not geared toward communicating our message, winning new converts to our Party, encouraging a vote for a libertarian candidate… I say, Pass that by!  We don’t have time to be bothered doing that!

But looking at the state of the Party over the last 10 years generally, and the last five years in particular, there are obviously people serving at high levels on the committee who have a different opinion of what our priorities should be.

And that saddens me.

Actually… it Infuriates me.

And it should sadden and infuriate you, too.

Liberty and freedom are gifts.  The greatest way we can help others… is by expanding liberty and freedom everywhere.

And make no mistake:  I believe “liberty” and “freedom” are words with meaning.  They do not mean, “whatever might get us a vote, doesn’t matter from whom.”  No matter what any charismatic personality might claim.

I am saddened and infuriated at the condition of our national party today.  Appalled that many of those who have sat at the table of authority, have offered no defense or explanation for their actions and inactions while in our collective service.  But now have the audacity to say “re-elect us anyway!”

My friends, we deserve better.  And we can have better.

I believe our best days as a Party and a movement lie ahead of us.  Yes, we will have a new Chair come Memorial Day.  That’s a good start.  (Maybe even a great start, depending who wins.)

But it’s not enough.

Below are two charts.  I started my campaign by showing the first one.  That’s what has happened to the national LP over the last 10 years.  It’s a disgrace.  But look at the next one.  That’s what I think could happen, if we make a fresh start in St. Louis, and start down a New Path.

Want to learn how it might be possible?  Read our team’s business plan, out on the Net at www.NewPathForTheLP.org.

Or as George Bernard Shaw famously said:  “Some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream of things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’”

Meet me in St. Louee.

In Liberty,

James Oaksun

P.S.  I humbly ask for your help and your vote.  My friends and I are ready to serve.  We offer work boots and shoe leather, not smiles and shoeshines.  If you want to know who stands with me, check out my website at www.JamesOaksun.com. Or better yet, shoot me an email at James@JamesOaksun.com.  Even best, call me at 603.397.3387 and let’s have a chat at your convenience!

It’s all the rage!  And so simple even I (who was once accused of dancing like Boris Yeltsin) can manage it.

Step One: Determine the membership in the LNC’s dominant coalition, the people who held the votes as our party’s situation at the national level disintegrated.  (I have done the heavy lifting on this for you; see here.  Note the right half of the diagram.)

Step Two: Do as Wayne Root suggested in another context:  VETO* (Vote Every One of Them Out!).

Then, and only then, will you see progress.

* Now, of course, when Wayne says this, he theoretically means everyone in Congress; however, I have yet to hear him refer specifically to a Republican who should be removed.  Just Democrats, and many of them.  Just sayin’.

And for more on me and my ideas, visit the main JamesOaksun.com site.

Recently, longtime libertarian activist Steve Kubby posted an article where he asked all the candidates for LNC Chair to forswear a 2012 run for President.  Perhaps not surprisingly, the minions of one candidate (Mr Root) say what a horrible idea this is. (see note at end)

Speaking for myself, I think this is a great idea.  Here’s why.

The new LNC has a huge task ahead of it. We need to rebuild, and it’s going to take time and effort.  The last thing we need, is to become perceived as nothing more than a shadow Elect Wayne Root in 2012 Committee.

If that happens, all is lost, all credibility is lost, and we may as well just re-name ourselves the Wayne Root Party at that point.  (Maybe that’s the point of the grouper/sea bass story after all!  Maybe Ernie was right!)

So let me just tell everybody right now:

I will not seek, nor would I accept, the LP’s 2012 presidential nomination.

We have a huge rebuilding task ahead of us given the clear diminution in our fortunes at the national level over the last 5-10 years. The last — absolute last — thing we need, is for the LNC to become perceived as nothing more than a Wayne Root 2012 shadow campaign committee. As a member of the LNC and an executive officer, I will strenuously object to and vote against any efforts to turn the LNC into such a shadow group. If I am unable to persuade a majority of my colleagues to similarly object, I will resign.

As always, check out the main JamesOaksun.com site for a ton more info about me and my ideas.

(Note:  Messrs. Hinkle, Myers and Phillies signed the pledge.  No word from Ernie Hancock as of 9am Monday.)

Here are some more links to videos of my appearance at the Indiana convention a couple weeks ago.  Thanks again to Ernie Hancock for recording!

First, some thoughts about goals for the party — financial and otherwise:

Financial Goals

Next… some musings about what we’re doing wrong and how we can fix it:

What We\’re Doing Wrong

Next, some thoughts on our primary purpose as an organization:

Primary Purpose

Next — shockingly! — you might be surprised that someone other than the person whose website continues to rank second to JamesOaksun.com, has thoughts about marketing the LP, namely, me:

Marketing the LP

And finally, some of my metrics for our success.  Unfortunately this and my closing statement didn’t make the recording.  I will be re-creating my closing statement, probably tomorrow, and will alert you all once it’s up:

Metrics for Success