Union Leader on NHLF

[KBCraig]

This NH news should be of interest to liberty lovers. I hope the article isn't too political for Russell. 

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Free+Staters+see+gains%2c+obstacles&articleId=6c52452f-ed27-4b02-a461-90946e4216e1

Free Staters see gains, obstacles

By GARRY RAYNO
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff

CONCORD ? Lovers of limited government shared their views, victories and vision at the first New Hampshire Liberty Forum yesterday, drawing about 300 people.

Sponsored by the Free State Project, organizers hope the three-day forum serves as an advertisement to like-minded souls to join them in New Hampshire and, for those who have already moved to the Granite State, the opportunity to learn more about it.

The group's goal is for 20,000 pro-liberty, small-government activists to move to the state to influence and then secure the political climate of decentralized power.

"There have been some challenges and there have been some blessings on the unexpected end," said the group's president, Varrin Swearingen of Keene. "We have had an impact."

While recruitment has slowed from its initial surge, he said, the group's major goal of having 1,000 activists commit to relocate to New Hampshire by the end of 2008 was achieved by the end of last year.

The commitment should make the group more visible and more attractive to other people who could be considering the move to New Hampshire, Swearingen said.

To date, several hundred people have moved to the Granite State from other places and 7,500 people have signed up to participate in the project. "We realize to get to 20,000 is years away," Swearingen said.

But already some of the members who have moved to New Hampshire have been successful, he said.

One member successfully sponsored legislation passed last year ending the requirement for state approval of home school curricula, Swearingen said.

And he noted last year's defeat of the proposed smoking ban in restaurants and the state's push for real ID or a national identification card.

He also said a group member was elected to the Legislature, that other members hold a number of local positions and that more than $1 million in spending has been trimmed at the local level through members' advocacy.

Swearingen moved to Keene in October 2004, from California. He is an airline pilot with World Airways. "I'm sold on the project," he said.

The three-day forum includes last night's keynote address by author and ABC television's 20/20 anchor John Stossel, and appearances by Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik, Texas U.S. Rep. and potential Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul, CATO Institute research director Jim Harper and New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News publisher Joseph W. McQuaid.

McQuaid told the group New Hampshire people do not trust government; that is one reason there are 400 House members and two-year terms for governors.

One of the few governors to be thrown out after one term, Craig Benson, did one thing right, he noted, "He welcomed your group to New Hampshire."

McQuaid said although some people expressed shock and dismay when the Free State Project announced it would come to the state, the group's goals of small government and personal freedom were laudable.

After being asked what group members could do to prevent New Hampshire from becoming more like Massachusetts, McQuaid said they should get involved politically by running for office and by being intelligent voters.

"You are almost better off not identifying yourselves (as Free Staters) when you run for office," he said.

One of the founders of the group, Jason Sorens, a political science professor at the University of Buffalo, said he believes the project is going well particularly in terms of enthusiasm and organization among the people who have already moved to the state.

He listed some of the early successes and said "the signs are bright."

[CNHT]

And we had about 150 at the Ron Paul event and raised thousands of dollars for him. They were still applauding as he went out the door at 11:30!

[ny2nh]

Too bad that the UL didn't mention the Ron Paul crowd (I'm presuming the media was informed, weren't they?). There was an online article about John Edwards drawing 100 at some house.....

[Russell Kanning]

you would have to invite the UL president to the party

[error]

The party would have been well after press time.

[LiveFree]

Well after press time just means they get to put it in the SUNDAY paper.

[error]

You must be on some other calendar entirely. TODAY is Sunday!

[Rochelle]

Tomorrow, maybe. I thought I saw Jane talking to a reporter...?
Anyway, it's up to them whether or not they want to run it

[CNHT]

Too bad that the UL didn't mention the Ron Paul crowd (I'm presuming the media was informed, weren't they?). There was an online article about John Edwards drawing 100 at some house.....

I haven't informed them yet...I want the final count of $$.
I think it was between $7K and $10K

[Tyler Stearns]

Its amazing how the big-wigs get like 20 people in a room and they get a newspaper story and someone like Ron Paul probably won't get anything.  We will have to see, but they probably won't even mention that we could get 150 people in one house to see him!  And if I am right (which I hope I'm not, knock on wood) we need to be writing LTEs and getting in touch with the press people.  And if you are a member of the GOP be sure to contact your local/state group and tell them about Ron Paul and this event!

[Dreepa]

Too bad that the UL didn't mention the Ron Paul crowd (I'm presuming the media was informed, weren't they?). There was an online article about John Edwards drawing 100 at some house.....

I haven't informed them yet...I want the final count of $$.
I think it was between $7K and $10K

That is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

[CNHT]

Too bad that the UL didn't mention the Ron Paul crowd (I'm presuming the media was informed, weren't they?). There was an online article about John Edwards drawing 100 at some house.....

I haven't informed them yet...I want the final count of $$.
I think it was between $7K and $10K

That is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

I've sent out a nice press release with Ed's breakfast article attached as well.


US Congressman Ron Paul wows crowd of 150 in NH
Pembroke, New Hampshire
Saturday, February 24, 2007

US Congressman Dr. Ron Paul was still receiving applause as he walked out the door of a private home in Pembroke on Saturday evening after speaking to 150 supporters who donated thousands of dollars to seed his bid for the presidency. Paul arrived at 9 PM and stayed to mingle with the adoring crowd until 11:30 PM as they drank coffee and dipped fruit from a large arrangement into a chocolate fountain.

While visiting New Hampshire on a presidential exploratory trip, he also appeared at the NH Liberty Forum in Concord, where he had been endorsed for the presidency on the Friday evening before by former Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik.

Paul?s speech, which was recorded professionally by California filmmaker Bill Dumas, centered around the financial state of the country, the war in Iraq, and the limited roll of government, and was met with long bouts of applause by the standing-room only crowd.

Supporters believe that Paul?s message can unite fiscal conservatives, republicans, libertarians, constitutionalists, and others who are disillusioned with the direction in which the country is headed, in the cause of less government and reasonable spending and on getting the country back on track with regard to foreign policy.

Finally a candidate we can all get behind.

###

US Congressman Dr. Ron Paul has breakfast in NH
Manchester, NH
Saturday, February 24th, 2007

The Coalition of NH Taxpayers, NH?s largest taxpayer advocacy and government watchdog group, likes to meet one-on-one with candidates and those exploring the possibility of becoming candidates and endeavors to introduce them to the people in the ?grassroots?. Ed Naile is the Chairman and he had breakfast with US Congressman Dr. Ron Paul on Saturday morning. Dr. Paul was in NH appearing at the NH Liberty Forum in Concord.
Ed writes:

I had about an hour and a half breakfast with Texas Congressman Ron Paul at the Merrimack Diner in Manchester yesterday morning. Some old friends from past campaigns were there as well. About a dozen of us. No press.

Congressman Ron Paul is legendary among many Libertarian leaning Republican conservatives and Libertarians in general. He is a living, breathing, elected, example of what our Founding Fathers had in mind for limited government. From speaking with him I think he realizes that the march FORWARD to the time in our past when US citizens had so much more freedom is going to be long one.

He seems to agree with what I believe could be the starting point of that return to less government, and that would be a financial crisis created by our dependence on foreign banks to float our economy. Many voters pay little attention to our dollar?s value. The ones that do pay close attention to Congressman Paul.

Later in the day he was shown a grand evening at a private residence with about 150 people attending. It was set up with the help of our of our CNHT Directors. You won?t see much in the press about it, but 150 is quite a large crowd for a Congressman this early in the campaign. Enough to make some of his issues part of the debate on the Republican side, I would say.

Here are some of his core principals:

- Rights belong to individuals, not groups.
- Property should be owned by people, not government.
- All voluntary associations should be permissible ? economic and social.
- The government?s monetary role is to maintain the integrity of the monetary unit, not participate in fraud.
- Government exists to protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth or to grant special privileges.
- The lives and actions of people are their own responsibility, not the government?s.

Congressman Ron Paul is also pro-life and pro-family. Note that is pro-life stand includes ending capital punishment and unnecessary war.

He is for returning to the gold standard.

100% tax fighter! He gets awards consistently from national groups for his anti-tax/big government votes.

Congressman Paul holds an anti-intervention view of foreign military involvement with a provision for hunting down and dealing with terrorists on an individual level.

He is not your average US Congressman by any standard, and a close look at his votes will always stir an interesting debate.

[error]

Jane, please let me know as soon as you have something like an official number for how much money was raised (and how much of it was Liberty Dollars!) so I can run this post I'm holding. Thanks!

[CNHT]

Jane, please let me know as soon as you have something like an official number for how much money was raised (and how much of it was Liberty Dollars!) so I can run this post I'm holding. Thanks!

I think I collected about 3 paper 'things' that were not regular money and two large coins. And I only saw half of the money and it was in the thousands. I may not get to repeat the exact amount. But I know it was in the thousands because there was one check alone for $4200 and one for $1000 and several for $500.

If you wish, just repost my article where it says 'thousands' of dollars. I know that Edwards did not make thousands. 

[error]

It's done.
http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2007/02/25/ron-paul-grassroots-support-proved/