Sometime between seven and nine PM yesterday I made my first dollar as a writer. I've only previously just paid for the vanity of doing so (ie. this blog). I even posted an article without a crossover here. After changing my original boring title (Albany Libertarian Examiner) my channel manager fixed the title and I popped up number one on the Google News search for libertarian. Feels like the old campaign a couple months ago . . . Hope all this fame and fortune doesn't go to my head.
Henry Rollins and I will never hangout and smoke pot together. But in the dream I had the night after seeing him perform a two hour 'spoken word' at the Bearsville theater near Woodstock NY, we got along marvelously and I seemed to be in charge of his coat and ride as he bopped in between black clad aesthetes reveling in his innate coolness. 
Up close live, he's a bundle of anger, humor and uneasy energy that doesn't belie an almost fifty year mortal coil. A simple gray t-shirt and pair of dickies are testament to an underlying physical presence that houses a set of tatooed pipes attached to a taught chest. The only thing I recall from a Rolling Stone interview over a decade ago was how annoyed he was at the reporter for being late and messing with his workout regimen. Fortunately he just met the ten minute late rule, so as not to rouse my own internal ire of the moment. I didn't start laughing and buying his schtick the moment he graced the stage however.
Instead I was waiting to pounce on whatever political he revealed after expressing his relief at being in front of the enlightened Woodstock set.
" Kirk was a man who marveled and greatly appreciated the endless surprises presented to him by the universe...He didn't take things for granted and, more than anything else, respected life in every one of its weird weekly adventure forms." - William Shatner
A filibuster proof Senate should assure the big O a complete romp for this upcoming appointment. Why not do something daring with a nominee and appoint someone not so invested in gender, race or ethnicity ? The ultimate ambassador to free will, honor and decency. Someone like James T. Kirk, the fictional Captain of the space vessel Enterprise depicted on TV and the big screen. 
We need someone who can appeal to a sense of justice beyond our current federal hegemony. Someone who could check that power with say the United Federation of Planets. Perhaps this fresh new hot Kirk could inure us with a sense that the Universe wasn't completely absurd and beyond our daily control. Much like the current courts have done for decades upon decades. Rather, we might get something akin to the Prime Directive.
The campaign hiatus has kept me from this effort. No apologies per se, but I would like to just get back to basics soon. I'm currently handling many matters personal, business and party. I expect some renewal here soon. The whole new Obama deal seems so common and unremarkable at the moment. I suppose all the hacks are getting their kicks and licks in regardless of little 'ol me.
In terms of the campaign, I'm embarking on a new book about it as a supplement to the almost completed first campaign book. While writing or reading about a campaign conducted in 2006 is problematic for a number of reasons at the moment, this last effort should compliment the first nicely. With any luck, I hope to see results by mid-summer. So until then, I'll just muse a bit out loud, online. At least I didn't do the whole "I haven't posted in a long time . . . " bit. I hate that whole assumption of readership and some duty to write it. Maybe I did pick up a few new fans though . . . more likely enemies. Just swishing the 'long tail/tale' perhaps.
ECS
After the committee from Canada & the US consulted with the car czar, they agreed to a tentative discussion about restoring the prestige and name of the AMC Javelin. For too many years the forces of evil driving Mustangs, Camaros and Chargers have held too much influence in the muscle car heritage industry. This could be a good time for a reversal of past discrimination and wrongs committed by the American consumer. 
Sources close to the new car czar, say it is not based on the fact that Mitt Romney's dad ran AMC and the eventual acquisition by Chrysler is still stinging. Rather it's the insistence of many in the new administration that the Javelin never got it's dues. Instead, an entire generation grew up thinking the GM, Ford & Chrysler products were superior and better performing.
No word whether the Gremlin or Pacer will be hybrids or meet CAFE standards.
Ever since the death of Paul Newman the world hasn't been the same. I watched Cool Hand Luke a couple weeks ago and my favorite part is the egg eating contest. What I liked was Luke's approach. As George Kennedy hops up and down for his 'boy' and he comes and asks why he had to say fifty, Newman just smiles and mutters it's just something to do. 
This challenge comes under that heading. Lest anyone think I'm out to just get Wayne Root.
Wayne, I apologize for not sending an email first. The ice storm really did whack at least four of my various family's households. The folks down in TN caught me with my guard down. You should have been notified first. Mea Culpa
The Wes challenge after the jump.
Aside from all the brouhaha about the Keaton this past weekend, one thing that struck me was the mention of an essay included in the LNC packet regarding the temperament of anarchists by John Hospers, philosopher and first LP Presidential candidate. 
While I'm never that concerned about resolutions, bylaws or all the other interminable features of such temporary conclaves and enclaves, I did ask my regional rep for a copy of the aforementioned document. Seems I might be perhaps only part of a ten percent of anarchists who don't exude absurd or childish behavior in the course of political pursuit, at least according to Hospers . . . I may be wrong however.
Fellow Libertarians,
I was recently forwarded an item from my regional representative and former LNC colleague Dan Karlan, regarding a resolution involving the proposed suspension of At-Large-Representative Angela Keaton. While I have seen this resolution as such posted at various web logs on the Internet, I have not taken any time to respond to it in those formats. It is my feeling that doing so justifies any breach of confidentiality that may have precipitated as a result of said effort. Having said that, permit me the courtesy of doing so as a former member of the LNC and the current Chairman of the Libertarian Party of New York, now that the item has been officially shared.
Washington (January 2013) -
A stunned punditocracy was aghast as President Sundwall refused to take an oath of office after an incredible electoral coup. As Sundwall cited in the eventual inauguration speech;
" I cannot conscionably take an oath to a God I do not believe in or a document that is no longer abided by. I realize that this will be a shock for many, but so will this administration."
Speculation has abounded about what many consider the erratic behavior of the newly minted executive of the state. With statements like, " What part about decentralize and appealing, don't you get ?" and " martial law will desist on day one" many analysts feel the country isn't ready for such a radical departure from mainstream representation. Sundwall, of course, disagrees.
" We've been systematically deprived of our rights to labor, property and self-protection. Our economy is in the tank because mainstream politicians have raped the Treasury assuring us that the Keynesian logic is sound. Our troops are abroad in over 100 countries. What this administration will achieve is nothing short of the second American Revolution."
Was it the Return of Jason that brought IPR down the morning after ? Is the Last Free Voice that of Elf Ninos Dad ? Poor Third Party Watch, does anyone care anymore ? How did George do up in New Hampshire ? What about Bob ? In NY, the LPNY collected more signatures than votes it seems. Our numbers doubled from 2004 though, with a 47% increase from the Gubernatorial effort two years ago. That's my best Wes Benedict spin on the results . . .
Sorry if I chuckle the next day . . . but it ain't about winning folks . . . it's about the fight.