Past issues from 2004-09 are now available for free PDF download at Libertarian Peacenik. As an added bonus, I've collected several back issues of The Los Angeles Libertarian, Liberty Magazine, Liberty for America and LP News, also available for free download at that webpage.
Enjoy!
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Prop 50 would undo a key reform that entrusted congressional map drawing to California’s independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Instead, it would adopt a new map written into law by politicians -- tilting the process toward the party in power.
Libertarians reject gerrymandering in all forms. Fair elections come from empowering voters, not letting politicians choose their voters. For more than a decade, Californians have relied on a citizen-led commission to keep redistricting independent and transparent. Prop 50 would move us backward.
LPC urges a NO vote on Proposition 50.
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Los Angeles libertarian José Castañeda shares his thoughts:
This is my Ed Clark story. In 1980, I and my brothers were on a trip to Disney World. We were staying at a nice fancy old fashioned hotel in Texas. It was July or August (I think it was August).
I was chilling out in the lobby watching television when an Ed Clark Libertarian Party candidate for President advertisement aired on one of the three major networks. I was impressed because only one other time in 1976 did I ever see an alternative candidate presidential candidate advertisement on television.
I of course am discounting independent John Anderson as he was a Republican.
Over the coming months I saw many Ed Clark for president advertisements. Ed Clark as a candidate seemed okay and I agreed with some of his views: Support for the ERA (I was and am a big supporter of the ERA), being against the draft, being against an interventionist foreign policy (I was against the Vietnam War), in support of tax cuts (I supported Proposition 13), and was for the free market.
My favorite advertisement was the politics of hope ad, and the one where the "voice" asks Ed Clark if he is going to be elected president. He responds it is not about that. He added, if you like what I am saying (and then lists some of his views) you should consider that (and vote for me).
I liked that he was on the ballot in 50 states. Which alternative party presidential candidate does that? Up to that time, none in my lifetime.
I was also impressed that there was another alternative party candidate (Barry Commoner of the Citizens Party) for president that was getting some notice. I thought, this is how bad things are in America that we have two alternative presidential candidates getting notice by the media, voters, etc.
I subscribed to the magazine Libertarian Review. I knew after reading the first issue I received I was a Libertarian. I changed my registration to Libertarian and I joined the Party in 1982.
A few years later, I was talking to a therapist who asked me what meetings (supper clubs) I was attending, and I mentioned Libertarian ones, and she knew from the Ed Clark advertisements (she mentioned Ed Clark) what I was taking about.
I used to attend libertarian supper clubs being held in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. This is when there were three non-Party supper clubs in Los Angeles County and one in Orange County. Speakers were libertarian VIPs such as Ed Clark, David Bergland, and Dagny Sharon.
Those were the days.
This is my Ed Clark story. RIP.
Sincerely,
José Castañeda, CAP
Secretary - Treasurer,
Representative Executive Committee South East Region 65
Libertarian Party of Los Angeles County
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The KHC expects to resume normal business at our July meeting.
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The Karl Hess Club will resume its monthly meetings beginning this upcoming March 17, Saint Patrick's Day.
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One of my best memories of Bob Weber is from a Libertarian state convention some years back which was held at a major hotel. Bob was conducting his annual Midnight Movie Madness in his suite, showing films from his cinematic collection. Prominent among the movies was The Monitors (1969), starring Guy Stockwell as a member of an underground leading a rebellion against an army of derby wearing aliens who were bringing peace and security to the Earth at the cost of essential liberties. It was all part of Bob's approach to the wider cultural aspects of the libertarian movement.
Bob was an ongoing member of the Karl Hess Club going back to the early days. He always had something interesting to say on any number of topics, whether it was in the cinematic realm, the Second Amendment or the 1960s counter-culture in which the Libertarian Party arose. He was founder of the Liberty Shooters, a local event for people who wanted to improve their proficiency in firearms. He could also be found at other Los Angeles area libertarian meet-ups, such as the Dave Larkin Pub Club.
Bob was a perennial candidate for public office, running as a candidate for the U.S. Congress on the Libertarian Party ticket. He was also active in the State Party as Vice Chair, served on the Judicial committee, and was Chair of LPLAC (Libertarian Party of Los Angeles County). His activism was recognized with the Karl Bray Award honoring Libertarian Party activists for their service to the cause of liberty.
Bob is survived by his brother Paul and his niece Rose (Jason Gonella), other family and relatives. He is well remembered by many friends, colleagues and midnight movie attendees.
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Thank you for your forbearance. We are still working to find a new, permanent venue for our monthly meetings. Meanwhile, we settled on a temporary location for next Monday, February 17, 2025.
We will meet from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (or later?) at the IHOP in Alhambra.
Go to 701 South Fremont at Concord. Plenty of free parking. Separate checks okay. Friendly management and staff. Senior menu. Open 24 hours, so if you want to stay all night arguing over commas, you're welcome.
Seriously, this is a great place. It's near my neighborhood, so I know and recommend this venue.
We will continue to explore prospects on the Westside, including an IHOP there. Please bear with us on this interim locale. Our suggested topic for Monday is "Politics and Foreign Policy at the Speed of Trump." We'll review the first three weeks of the new administration. Open discussion.
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It covers free speech in the world of game design and military simulations, with additional analysis of cybernetic conflict. Plus commentary on libertarian related films.
"We regret that due to a loss of our venue, we will not meet in December or January. We are taking this hiatus to find just the right location for our meetings.
"Dinah's Kitchen, successor to our longtime venue, Dinah's Family Restaurant, has closed permanently and with very little notice.
"It is our intention to keep the club in the general environs of the Westside of Los Angeles. The location must meet certain requirements, so we are taking extra time in our search.
"We thank you for your patience and understanding. Because we are living through interesting times, we are eager to get back to business. We hope that will be by February.
"We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Boxing Day, and extend best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
"Your servant, Mike."
"I was apprised by Linda Dorfmont that effective now, Dinah's Kitchen is no longer in business. Thus we must find another venue (yet again) for the KHC.
"Linda suggested the IHOP in Westchester. I will follow up on this and see if we can get seated for Third Monday this month. This seems like possibly a good solution. I will try to nail down this tentative new venue in the next few days.
"My greatest regret about all this is that we, and I, will miss our great Dinah's staff, Sandra, Sue, Roberto, et al. I hope they will be okay, but I'm sad we didn't have an opportunity to say good-bye and good luck. This sort of thing, which does happen, is particularly tough right before Christmas. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
"Just flabbergasted that Dinah's legacy ends like this. Very sad.
"Well, sometimes you must take the bad with the good. More on this sad subject as it develops. I will try to update you in the next two to three days.
"Thanks and Blessings."
The KHC celebrated its 30th Anniversary, at Dinah's new Culver City location, on June 17, 2024. Here are some images.
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Beginning on Monday, May 20, 2024, the KHC will convene at 4130 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City (near Washington Place).
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Edward L. Plumb was a producer and writer known for The Vampire Hunters' Club, Her Morbid Desires, and The Boneyard Collection. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and other industry trade associations. He lived and worked in the greater Los Angeles area.
He is credited with producing 65 projects during his lifetime. His production company, Irena Belle Films, mostly made comedy-horror films, but also dramas with such future stars as America Ferrera, who went on to TV's Ugly Betty. Edward's many short and feature films have screened at festivals such as Cinequest-San Jose Film Festival and Slamdance.
He produced some episodes for the sci-fi web series, The Silicon Assassin, which featured the work of several KHC members.
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Presley had a Ph.D. in social psychology which she received from the City University of New York. Her dissertation was a study of political resisters to authority. Her mentor was Dr. Stanley Milgram, author of the classic study, Obedience to Authority.
Presley had taught at California State University, East Bay in Hayward. Her research specialties were obedience and resistance to authority, women resisters to authority, and gender issues.
She co-edited Exquisite Rebel: The Essays of Voltairine de Cleyre, which won an American Library Association Choice award for Outstanding Academic Title 2005.
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We were saddened to learn of the passing away of Carl Marty Swinney on May 11, in Lincoln, New Mexico.
Marty was an indefatigable activist in southern California and New Mexico, often running for office on the Libertarian ticket. He also served a term as New Mexico LP chairman. A medical professional by trade, he was a man of many talents and abilities, including the holder of a patent for a mobile joystick.
Because Marty had been a longterm resident of southern California in the Whittier area, services and internment were at Rose Hills Memorial Park on Friday, June 3rd. He is survived by his widow, Weng, of Lincoln, nephew Aaron of northern California, and many relatives, colleagues, friends, and fellow libertarians.
Marty was and is well loved, and will be sorely missed.
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For my review of 2021's The Bitcoin Filed Guide, click here.
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