Michael Badnarik:
The LP Picks a Winner
by L. Neil Smith
[email protected]

Publisher, The Libertarian Enterprise

It gives me more pleasure than I can possibly express to be able to announce—to the three or four cave-dwellers who haven't heard the news yet —that the Libertarian Party's nomination for President was won on the third ballot this past Sunday, May 30, 2004 by Michael Badnarik.

So thoroughly out of step have I become, not only with the culture I grew up in, but with the political party of my own choosing, that it's a rare luxury for me to see an individual I was among the first to recognize as worthy and endorse, actually win. So I am happy for myself, as well as for Mike (who richly deserves the honor) and for an LP, that, at this desperate and crucial moment in its own history, as well as that of America and the world, sorely needs a nominee of this quality.

I need to say a word, here, about Aaron Russo and his trusty right hand, Stephen "Flash" Gordon. I have greatly enjoyed my association with these classy gentlemen, and hope that it continues. It was Aaron, with his high principle and enthusiasm for the fight with tyranny, who made this a race worth running. If he will stay, now, within the party and the movement, I will be honored to back his play and Steve's, as well.

Our thanks and appreciation to Gary Nolan, too.

The simple truth is that the freedom movement needs every single individual of intelligence, competence, and integrity that it can find right now. The LP is the last hope that the America we remember has left.

All of us must begin telling everyone we know—especially if they're not libertarians—that if they're fed up with this mess the Republicans have made in Iraq and Afghanistan, if they want to see the USA Patriot Act go down in flames, along with all the unconstitutional intrusions and limitations that it has inflicted on us, if they want to see drug laws, the income tax, and federal gun laws repealed, and if they don't believe life under a Kerry Administration would be any better than it has been under Bush, their only option is to see both "major" parties shocked and embarrassed by a high turnout for Michael Badnarik.

Any way you slice it, November will be a turning-point in history. We can frighten and humble the other two parties (all it would take is 10% of the vote) or let them be emboldened to do even worse than they have.

Congratulations again, Mike, and condolences, as well. The road ahead of you is long, hard, twisted, and uphill all the way. And yet it is the road that must be taken if the torch of liberty is to be relit. Count on this journal, and this journalist, to help you all we can.

Three-time Prometheus Award-winner L. Neil Smith is the author of 23 books, including The American Zone, Forge of the Elders, Pallas, The Probability Broach, Hope (with Aaron Zelman), and his collection of articles and speeches, Lever Action, all of which may be purchased through his website "The Webley Page" at www.lneilsmith.org. Autographed copies may be had from the author at [email protected].

Neil is presently at work on Ceres and Ares, two sequels to his 1993 novel, Pallas, a decensored and electronically published version of his 1984 novel, Tom Paine Maru, and on Roswell, Texas, with Rex F. "Baloo" May. A 180-page full-color graphic novel version of The Probability Broach will be released this summer.

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