by Gregg Juster

The third district in Tennessee typifies what’s happening in America today. An open seat that will go to the Republican winner of the primary August 5, it is the Republican establishment vs. the liberty groups like RLC and the Tea Party.

Ten candidates are vying for the seat that Zach Wamp help for 16 years, but only three candidates have a chance:

1) Robin Smith. Former head of the TN Republican party and Zach Wamp acolyte, she is the choice of the Republican establishment. She will be just like Zach — good on many issues until the Constitution gets in the way. Zach Wamp voted for TARP. Robin will be more of the same.

2) Chuck Fleischmann. The choice of establishment Republicans that don’t like Robin. Better than Robin, but I don’t know if he is strong enough to fight off orders from above and would be a Republican puppet. Both Robin and Chuck are very well funded.

3) Van Irion. Endorsed by the RLC, and the favorite of 95% of Tea Party members in the 3rd district. Has one rule book, the Constitution. Van is a true believer in the 2nd Amendment with a carry permit. (View this clip.)

Van Irion has acted on his beliefs by filing a federal lawsuit against the Constitutionality of the recently passed Health Care bill. You can join in as a plaintiff at http://www.obamacareclassaction.com.

Van (pictured below) has been endorsed by Congressman Ron Paul. His goal in getting to Washington is to leave with less power by giving it back to the people and the states. For more information go to www.van4congress.org.

Gregg Juster is Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Tennessee.

An endorsed Republican Liberty Caucus candidate from Tennessee won his primary for County Commission in Madison County, all but securing victory in the county general election this August because he has no other opponents.

Adrian Eddleman, who the RLC endorsed just two weeks before at the annual Tennessee RLC Convention, received 362 votes to his opponents 227 votes. A third opponent gained 86 votes. The county general election is August 5th.

You can view Adrian’s biography here.

“I wish to extend my congratulations to Adrian and look forward to him upholding limited government principles while serving in office,” said Tennessee RLC Vice-Chair Matt Collins. Continued Collins, “It should also be pointed out that with local races often times only a few dozen votes determine the outcome of the election. Hopefully this will serve as an inspiration for you to get involved in races in your area.”

Remember, remember … all politics is local. Congratulations to Mr. Eddleman!

MAINE

Republican Liberty Caucus, Maine chapter, will hold a free public information meeting Saturday, April 10, at noon at Portland Airport Hilton Garden Inn, 145 Jetport Access Road off I-95 (Exit 46). The meeting will introduce the national volunteer grassroots movement of libertarian-oriented Republicans and its goals.

The meeting is free. Lunch is optional from the hotel menu. Membership applications will be accepted at the meeting.

Dues-paid members will be eligible to participate in the RLC-ME State Convention on May 7, which will be held in Portland concurrent with the Maine State Republican Committee Convention. Dues-paid members can vote endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate before the primary and for RLC Maine Chapter officers. Dues-paid members are also eligible to attend regional and national RLC conventions.

Local chapters can be formed with a minimum of five dues-paid members who apply to the state executive board. Please attend and learn about this grassroots movement which is independent of any official party committee and committed to individual liberty.

Hilton Garden Inn by the Portland Jet Port
Saturday April 10th 2010
12noon to 2:30 PM
145 Jetport Boulevard, Portland, Maine, USA 04102
RSVP on Facebook

TENNESSEE

It is time for Tennesseans to have our biennial convention to elect officers for 2010. In order for the our group to grow and be effective, we need people willing to commit to the time and energy required to make an impact.

Please mark your calendar for April 24 at Doughhead Pizza (124 Harrison Ln.) in Soddy Daisy. The event will occur from 11am to 1pm.

If you are interested in running for a position, please contact Gregg. The future of the RLCTN depends upon you! You can RSVP to the event on Facebook.

VIRGINIA

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia is hosting former New Mexico Governor Gary E. Johnson on Saturday, May 1 at 4:30pm at Ireland’s Four Courts, which is located less than a block away from the Courthouse Metro Station (Orange Line) in Arlington, VA. Parking in the area is somewhat limited, so please arrive a bit early to allow time to find parking. Ireland’s Four Courts is allowing us to have a private back room for free, so please be prepared to buy some drinks or appetizers (or dinner) to help us support their business.

To help propel our small organization forward, we are requesting a small $10 donation from attendees who are not members of the Republican Liberty Caucus. Those who are members (including out-of-state members) can enter free of charge. RLC dues payment is available at http://www.RLC.org/, or dues can be paid in person on May 1.

We look forward to seeing you there. You can also RSVP to the event on Facebook.

Three more Republican Liberty Caucus affiliates are hosting Conventions in the coming months. These three Conventions are in addition to the four state RLC conventions I previously blogged about that are coming up in Arizona, California, Michigan, and Utah. The three other RLC state affiliates hosting spring Conventions include DC in February, Tennessee in March, and Nebraska in May.

District of Columbia RLC Convention: February 8

Join the Republican Liberty Caucus of DC for our biennial Convention on Monday evening, February 8.

Gary Johnson, former two-term New Mexico Governor, will be joining us.

The event will be held at the Old Dominion Brewhouse (9th and M St, near the Convention Center) from 7:00 to 8:30pm.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Tennessee RLC Convention: March 15

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Tennessee is holding its annual Convention on March 20, 2010 in the Chattanooga area. In order for the our group to grow and be effective, we need people willing to commit to the time and energy required to make an impact. The future of the RLCTN depends upon you. RSVP to attend the RLCTN Convention on Facebook.

Nebraska RLC Convention: May 15

On Saturday, May 15, 2010 (time TBA) in Omaha (site TBA), the Republican Liberty Caucus of Nebraska will host special guest Governor Gary Johnson. Gary E. Johnson recently founded, and serves as the honorary chair of the Our America Initiative. He is a longtime member of the National RLC’s Board of Advisers. As Governor of New Mexico from 1994-2002, Johnson vetoed 750 pieces of legislation–more than all of the 49 other governors combined during the same time frame. Stay tuned to the Nebraska RLC 2010 Convention page for details and registration.

2009 is the year of the party purge.

That’s one way of characterizing what has been taking place in the Republican Party as it relates to Republican Liberty Caucus members.

As voters that identify as Republicans continue to plummet to new lows (just 20 percent according to an October ABC/Washington Post survey), some state or local Republican Parties have targeted their most liberty-oriented members (undoubtedly members of the Republican Liberty Caucus) for removal.

An interesting strategy to build the Republican coalition — let’s boot out the Republicans that most value the Republican Party platform!

RLC members in Florida and Indiana — and, now, Tennessee — have been removed from elected positions, or have been targeted for removal.

Last week, the Davidson County Republican Party — representing the largest county in Tennessee — announced an effort to remove Vice-Chairman Matt Collins from his elected position. The Davidson County Republican Party Executive Committee voted 14 to 5 to begin the process to remove Mr. Collins from his position.

Collins is also the Vice-Chairman of the recently formed Republican Liberty Caucus of Tennessee. In response, the RLC has issued a press release defending Mr. Collins.

“This is the third state in the last year in which party insiders have tried to purge grassroots activists belonging to the Republican Liberty Caucus,” said Dave Nalle, National Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus. Purges also took place in Marion County, Indiana, where RLC member Liz Karlson was removed from her Ward Chair position, and in Florida, where five Republican Liberty Caucus members were removed from the party for criticizing party leadership or opposing candidates with a history of fiscal irresponsibility and raising taxes.

The Republican Party has a tradition of diversity, tolerance, and support for freedom of speech and the right of dissent. The Republican Liberty Caucus is encouraging its members to contact RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Tennessee RNC Committeemembers Peggy Lambert and John Ryder to ask for their intervention in the matter. The RLC press release includes additional contact information for interested parties.

According to RLC Chairman Dave Nalle, “It looks like a weak faction which barely gained control of the county party decided that Matt Collins and his supporters threatened their positions of power, so despite the fact that he has not violated any rules, they decided to override the party members who voted him into office and force him out.”

According to the Tenth Amendment Center, last week Tennesse Governor Phil Bredesen signed House Joint Resolution 108 (HJR0108), authored by RLC-endorsed State Representative Susan Lynn. At a meeting several months ago, Tennessee RLC Vice-Chair Matt Collins encouraged Lynn to draft the resolution.

Six other states have had both houses of their legislature pass similar resolutions — Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Louisiana — but Tennessee is the first to have such a resolution signed by the Governor.

The Tenth Amendment Center says that “[p]assage of this resolution appears to be part of what is now a growing state-level resistance to the federal government on various levels. Similar 10th Amendment resolutions have been introduced in 36 states around the country, and various states are considering single-issue legislation in direct contravention to federal laws.”

Most recently, the Arizona Legislature passed a measure for public approval on the 2010 state ballot that would give Arizona voters the opportunity to nullify, or opt out, of any potential national health care legislation.

The resolution will be forwarded to Congress and the President for their information.

As I previously reported, RLC Tennessee Vice-Chair Matt Collins tied the GOP establishment candidate to become Davidson County GOP Chair and there was a run-off election on April 4. Unfortunately, Matt did not win that run-off election, but he did come in second place.

Mr. Collins’s race was an uphill battle from the start, but it was entirely worth it: he advanced our message of individual liberty and limited government and showed that limited government Republicans can compete with the establishment in party races.

Mr. Collins not only received enough votes to be elected Vice-Chair, but also helped half-a-dozen other pro-liberty Republicans join the Dadidson County GOP Executive Committee. According to Matt Collins, “It is now time to move towards [liberty] by recruiting, fundraising, and supporting conservative limited-government candidates for office.”

Matt Collins proved that a young man with principles and ambition can have an impact on the process — that one man can make a difference in the largest county in Tennessee.  He is encouraging all other RLC activists and advocates to come out of the woodwork to take a stand for limited government.

There’s never been a better time to recapture the GOP for limited government.

Jacksonville RLC volunteers stuffed bags for the Convention on Thursday night in anticipation of the RLC National Convention from March 27-29.

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As I reported earlier, Matt Collins, Vice-Chair of the newly chartered Republican Liberty Caucus of Tennessee, is in a run-off to be elected Davidson County Republican Chair in the Volunteer State. His opponent is an incumbent, establishment candidate, who he tied in a previous Convention. Yesterday, Collins was on the Mike Church Show promoting his candidacy, the Republican Liberty Caucus, and a return to basics for Republicans. You can listen to Mr. Collins via mp3 by clicking here.

On the radio, Collins advocated more individuals becoming involved in their local Republican parties to take back the party from those who believe in establishment big government policies. The RLC wishes Matt the best of luck in his April 4 run-off election.

Additionally, Will Pitts of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Northeast Florida, was on the Mike Church show yesterday.  Mr. Pitts is running to become Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida.  He promoted the National Convention and the Republican Liberty Caucus on the radio program.  You can listen here.

As those advocating Keynesian economics and the vast expansion of the federal government continue to control our country, the grassroots movement to return American to Constitutional principles continues to expand. The Republican Liberty Caucus is leading the grassroots effort to take back the Republican Party.

As part of the RLC effort, three new state affiliates have recently chartered to provide resistance to government growth and to a GOP that has lost its core principles.  Activists from across the states of Alabama, Tennessee, and Washington have come together to form new RLC chapter affiliates.

RLC members recently chartered their affiliate in Alabama.

In Alabama, the new affiliate includes former Birmingham City Council member Dr. Jimmy Blake, homeschooling mom Shana Kluck, and longtime libertarian activist Steve Gordon.  The Chair of the affiliate is attorney Scott Boykin.  The Alabama affiliate plans to set up a web presence shortly.  According to Gordon, the group is extremely energetic and ready to recruit more members.  A press release about the group’s formation is available here.

The Tennessee group came together under the skilled leadership of Dr. Joe Dumas and former Hamilton County School Board candidate Gregg Juster.  The group has already established a website and is selling RLC merchandise to reach out to prospective members.  Additionally, Tennessee RLC Vice-Chair Matt Collins, 27, recently tied an establishment candidate in a competitive and multiple-ballot race for Davidson County GOP Chair.  A run-off will occur soon to determine the winner of the race.

The Washington RLC is now off the ground, thanks to organizer John W. Herr of Pierce County. The affiliate is hoping to expand its membership and capitalize on the 23% received by Ron Paul in the 2008 GOP Presidential primary in the state.  Interested parties should visit the Washington RLC page to become involved in the affiliate.

The District of Columbia RLC affiliate recently held its re-organizational meeting, the Maryland RLC will soon be submitting its charter, and the Virginia RLC is hosting a re-organizational Conference Call this Sunday night. Across the country, the movement for limited government is alive and well — thanks to the Republican Liberty Caucus.

Don Guymon (photo at left), a RLC activist, is running for Davis County GOP Chair in Utah. Guymon’s is running to:

(1) promote the GOP party platform. Republicans should stand for our core values of limiting government and protecting our rights (including our most fundamnental right; the right to life);
(2) Grow the party. As we promote our principles we draw people into the party;
(3) Make every person in the party feel important. Whether you attend your precinct caucus for the first time or are an elected official for years, every person has an important role to play. Every individual in the party should feel that they are important; and
(4) Ensure the party is run in the proper manner.

Mr. Guymon served as Davis County Rules Chair from 2006 to 2008 and as Davis County Elections Chair in 2001. He has been a member of the Utah GOP State Central Committee since 1999, was Vice-Chair of the Utah GOP Constitution and Bylaws Committee from 2001 to 2002, and served on the Utah GOP Rules Committee in 2000, 2001, and 2002.

In Tennessee, the Vice-Chair of the newly chartered RLC affiliate is running for Chair of the Davidson County GOP, according to The Nashville Examiner.  According to the article, “Matt Collins, a sound engineer and producer at Supertalk 99.7 WTN, said the 2008 presidential election showed in rather stark terms that the GOP needs to start embracing a ‘younger, more philosophically-motivated’ brand of ‘limited-government conservatism’ of the sort Ron Paul aroused during his primary run last year.”

Collins is waging an uphill, but necessary, battle. An email from TNGOP chief of staff Mark Winslow that circulated around Tennessee Republican circles last month said the Old Guard of the Party “can do without the zealous peace and freedom-purists that Rep. Paul’s campaign so emboldened,” according to the paper.

The article continues: “Outgoing Davidson County GOP chairman Tom Lawless told Examiner.com he won’t officially endorse a favorite in the race to succeed him. But Lawless said he’s long believed expanding the party base to include new voters and new demographics will require new leaders with new visions. Collins appears to fit the mold, said Lawless.”

“Continued Lawless, ‘(Starnes) is clearly a status-quo candidate, and she’d be the pick of the older generation that currently has the reins of power. But you’ve got to pass those reins at some point. I recognized very early in Matt the strength of his energies and of his traditional conservative beliefs that go back, not just to the ideas of Ronald Reagan, but to the ideas of the Founding Fathers. Matt has exhibited to me some extremely good leadership qualities in a very, very short period of time’,” concluded the outgoing Chair.