New news at the top 31 December 2008 The Missouri state affiliate was unanimously approved today. Congratulations to our members in Missouri, and happy new year!

30 December 2008 Happy New Year to everyone. May 2009 be prosperous and full of greater freedom. On this day in 1903, the Iroquois Theater fire claimed 602 lives in twenty minutes, the deadliest single building blaze in American history. In 1972 Nixon stopped carpet bombing North Vietnam. In 2003, Ashcroft recused himself in the investigation into the Plame affair. In 2006, Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging. Today, about 152,000 coalition troops remain in Iraq.

Being the end of year message (now that I've gone weekly) I thought it well to report on some of our progress in this calendar year. We started 2008 with this site brand new, only five people having joined. The old site and membership going back to 2006 was lost in 2007. Today I am happy to report that a total of 835 people have joined the party on this site. We had 899 members of our largest Facebook group last I checked. Please invite your friends to be a part of our party.

We also had one state affiliate at the beginning of this year. We now have 12 state affiliates which have been officially recognised by the national committee. Fourteen more are being formed, and you are welcome to start one in your state. Check our social networking page to see if a group is being started, or contact Tom Knapp, myself, or any member of the national committee for help getting started (see the contact page for details). A thirteenth state affiliate, Missouri, has, today, applied for official recognition by the national committee.

During this election year we nominated one candidate for president, put him on the ballot in three states, registered him for write-in votes in ten states, and we're still getting in reports on the vote total. We endorsed another candidate for president in two states which illustrates our willingness to endorse an LP candidate for president. We also endorsed about three dozen candidates in various states, including some 22 LP candidates. Two of our candidates now hold office. This year was our first presidential election. We look forward to fielding many more candidates in 2010 and in 2012.

We are hosting a face to face gathering in Kansas City, Missouri, in late May 2009, roughly the anniversary of our first such meeting in May of this year in Denver.

23 December 2008 Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Felicitous Eid. Or we could just say happy holidays, meaning no disrespect to any particular holiday celebration. On this day in 1783 George Washington relinquished his command of the victorious Continental Army. On this day in 1913, Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act, which he later said was the thing he most regretted ever having done.

Nominations are in progress to choose a new vice chair, our vice chair having been elected to the seat of chair. So far, 817 people have joined the party on this site. Our largest Facebook group has 877 members. Please invite your friends to join the party, and to work with you in your state affiliate.

17 December 2008 The Boston Tea Party has a new national chair, Douglass Gaking. Congratulations to Doug. In a short time, another election to fill the vacancy on the national committee (the vice chair is now chair, so the vice chair seat is empty) is anticipated. Meanwhile, please recruit more people to the party, and get involved in your state affiliate. So far, 806 people have joined the party on this site. Our largest Facebook group has 875 members.

16 December 2008 Happy 235th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. On this day in 1773, the Sons of Liberty destroyed 90,000 pounds of tea to prevent any tax being collected on it. As a direct result of this act of rebellion, Britain sent thousands of troops to "pacify" Boston, and opened the American Revolutionary War.

On 29 April 2008, the Wikipedia article on our political party was deleted. The article is back, and our party has grown a great deal since then. We currently have 792 people who have joined our party on this site. Our largest group on Facebook has 868 members. We presently have eleven state affiliates, with some likelihood that Florida would return officially to the fold.

My own work now requires me to take some time off. My plan is to update this news page not more often than once a week until the new calendar year begins. E-mail me if you have something which urgently needs attention. I'll be focusing on creating state affiliates for the northeast and Southwest, along with my plans to attend the Liberty Forum in early March in New Hampshire and the FreedomSummit now scheduled for late March in Arizona. It has been one of the great pleasures in my life to be a part of this party.

14 December 2008 I'm back, briefly. So far, 780 people have joined our party on this site. Our largest Facebook group has 865 members. Thank you for joining our party. Please invite your friends. Members have privileges such as voting in the current special election (round 2) to replace our national chair, Jason Gatties, who resigned due to family concerns.

9 December 2008 The anniversary of the 1773 Boston Tea Party is coming up on the 16th. Start planning your celebrations now. So far 749 people have joined our party on this site. We have 857 members of our largest Facebook group. Thank you for joining our party and branch of the liberty movement. Please invite your friends.

7 December 2008 Today commemorates the lives lost and the terrible betrayal of "The Day of Deceit" when the Empire of Japan attacked the territory of Hawai'i and the USA Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Please observe these events in your own way. Remember that the battles for peace also take courage.

So far 746 people have joined our party on this site. We have 854 members of our largest Facebook group, a new record. (I guess all those intimidated by the Stewart Flood witch hunt have re-joined.) Thank you for joining our party, our band of friends, our liberty movement. We are eager to work together to advance the cause of freedom. Please invite your friends to join us.

The special election to replace the chair ends in the next two days or so. Check the poll above to make sure your vote has been counted, and for the date of the poll. Plus seven days is the end of it.

6 December 2008 The election lasts a week. If you haven't voted, feel free to do so, or not, in the poll above. So far 744 people have joined our party on this site. We have 845 members of our largest Facebook group. Apparently, quite a few LNC members left our group because Stewart Flood threw a fit demanding that the LNC discipline Angela Keaton for being a member of our Facebook group. Anyway, they are all welcome to come back any time. Please note we may have another special election to fill the office of vice chair in the event our current vice chair wins the election - as he is leading now.

4 December 2008 The election continues, see above to vote or view poll results. So far 735 people have joined our party on this site, a substantial surge owing to excitement related to the election. We have 846 members on our Facebook group (the usual drop resulting from sending a message to all members of the group, in this case mentioning the special election). Please invite your friends to join the party. Vote early, and if you manage to vote often please let us know so we can fix the software!

3 December 2008 Boston Tea Party is conducting a special election to replace the party chair. The position of chair is vacant owing to the resignation, for family reasons, of Jason Gatties. See the poll further down the front page. So far, 716 people have joined our party on this site. We have 850 members on Facebook. Please invite your friends to join the party.

2 December 2008 Boston Tea Party chair Jason Gatties resigned in late November owing to family medical issues. The party is currently accepting nominations for chair in a special election to be conducted shortly. Currently two candidates, George Donnelly and Matty Grossman, have been moved, seconded, and have accepted their nominations. A third candidate, Angela Keaton, has been moved and seconded but has not indicated her acceptance. So far, 712 people have joined our party on this site. We also have 848 members for our largest group on Facebook. We are currently seeking members in Maine to help organise a new affiliate there. See the forum topics and blog entries at right for details on these news items, and others.

30 November 2008 So far, 710 people have joined our party here. Facebook lists 834 people for our group there. We are actively seeking to form new state affiliates, and to organise for ballot access in 2010. Please invite your friends and relatives to join - never any fee for joining.

28 November 2008 So far 709 people have joined our party here. Facebook lists 828 people for our largest group there. We also have a number of state groups and a youth caucus, each with many members. We thank you all for joining our party. Please invite your friends to join - there is never a membership fee for joining.

26 November 2008 So far 700 people have joined our party here. Facebook lists 825 people for our largest group there. We also have a number of state groups and a youth caucus, each with many members. We thank you all for joining our party. Please invite your friends to join - there is never a membership fee for joining.

25 November 2008 692 people have joined our party here. We show 820 on our Facebook group. Please continue to invite your friends.

24 November 2008 690 people have joined our party here. We show 817 on our Facebook group. Please continue to invite your friends.

23 November 2008 Shazam! 812 people have joined our group on Facebook. We now have 688 members who have joined on this site. Please continue to invite your friends and family. A free country would be a fabulous reward.

21 November 2008 There are now 682 people in the Boston Tea Party who have joined here on this site. We are very pleased to have 797 members of our Facebook group. Please invite your friends and family.

20 November 2008 Growth continues with 681 who have joined here, 794 members on Facebook. Please invite your friends.

19 November 2008 Growth continues, 680 here, 789 on Facebook. Please invite your friends to join.

18 November 2008 Growth continues, with 679 people joining the party here. Facebook shows 778.

15 November 2008 We show 675 have joined the party here. On Facebook, 771. Our newest group on Facebook, for South Carolina, has 8 members. California leads the state groups with 44. Is your state listed on our social networking page?

14 November 2008 So far 669 have joined the party on this site. On Facebook, 769. Please invite your friends to join. New ideas on the Youth Caucus thread, see below. We have a new Facebook group for a new South Carolina affiliate. Check the social networking link in the menu above.

13 November 2008 So far 667 people have joined us here. On Facebook, 769. Please invite your friends to join.

12 November 2008 So far 665 people have joined us here. On Facebook, 767. Please invite your friends.

11 November 2008 On this site, 659 people have joined. On Facebook, we have 761 members of our largest group.

It is Veteran's Day. We used to call it Armistice Day because at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the First World War was brought to an end - the fighting stopped, the negotiations began shortly thereafter in Versailles, and the rest is dismal. We no longer call it Armistice Day because an end to fighting isn't in the plans. Veterans should stand proud today for doing what you thought was right. The troops should be honored and brought home.

On this site 657 people have joined our party. At Facebook, 759 have taken an interest. Invite your friends, please!

10 November 2008 IPR reports Charles Jay has received 2,346 votes. George Phillies has received 518 votes. Write-in votes have not been counted in most states.

Growing is fun! We have 656 who have joined here. Thanks for joining our party! We also have 758 members on our largest Facebook group. Please invite your friends. "The freedom message is very popular."

9 November 2008 We continue to grow with 650 people who have joined here - thank you for joining! We also have 735 on Facebook. Please invite your friends.

8 November 2008 It has been several days since the election, and our party continues to grow. Thanks to everyone who has invited all their friends. Please keep up the good work. So far 648 people have joined here. Facebook shows 732.

7 November 2008 IPR reports
on a new documentary featuring Charles Jay and another candidate.

We've seen 646 join here on this site. Facebook has 728 members of our group there. "Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it," is to invite all your friends to join the party. Also, if you have news items for this part of the site, contact the author of this thread, planetaryjim. (Clicking on an author's name anywhere on this site gives you access to information on that person, including a contact form for sending them e-mail.)

6 November 2008 643 people have joined the party on this site. Facebook shows 724. Please invite your friends.

Marc Reeder is running for Congress in 2010 on the Boston Tea Party ticket. He writes, "I am planning on running for US Congress in 2010 against Corrine Brown. I am at this time looking for help anyone who would like to help may join my yahoo group."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarcreederforUScongress/

5 November 2008 We had a very exciting time yesterday during the election. Tonight, just before midnight (mountain time) there are 641 members of our party who have joined on this site, 722 on our largest Facebook group. Let's keep the growth going - invite two friends!

Victory! Jeff Hunt has won the Duval County (Jacksonville) Florida soil and water board seat. With 99% of precincts reporting, he has 8,000 more votes than his opponent. We endorsed Jeff as part of our work with the Florida Boston Tea Party under John Wayne Smith's leadership.

Victory! Also victorious tonight is James Reef (aka Jim Y. Casarjian-Perry) who won his race for Billerica planning board in Massachusetts.

Charles Jay and Tom Knapp received 1,012 votes in Tennessee with 98% of precincts reporting. In Colorado with 85% of precincts reporting Charles and Dan Kilo received 507 votes. In Florida with 99% reporting, Charles and John Wayne Smith received 770 votes. It may be some time before write-in ballots are counted in the dozens of states where no pre-election write-in registration is required, or where write-in registration papers were filed. (At least one state requires post-election write-in registration.) AOL is reporting 2,280 ballot votes cast for Charles Jay. WSMV is reporting 2,310 votes for Charles Jay. (The winner in his race received over 63 million votes.) To our knowledge, none of the write-in votes have been counted. At this stage, Charles needs 1,264 votes to exceed the number John Hospers received in 1972 (the first year the LP ran a presidential candidate). Assuming 10 registrations for write-in and identifying 10 states with no pre-election registration requirement, Charles needs an average of 57 votes from each percent of the 2% of precincts not reporting and from each state where write-in ballots may be counted to beat the Hospers vote total. Seems doable.

George Phillies and Chris Bennett (endorsed by BTP) received 470 votes in New Hampshire.

In Alabama, we do not expect to see a full count of write-in votes for Darryl Perry for some time. Jeff Sessions (GOP) has won the senate seat.

In California, Joy Waymire (write-in, endorsed by BTP) has lost state senate district one to Dave Cox (GOP). With 47.6% of precincts reporting, Mike Benoit (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Congress (52nd district) to Duncan Hunter (GOP). Mike received at least 4,992 votes for 4.1%. Jim Eyer (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Congress (9th district) to Barbara Lee (DNC). With about 60% of precincts reporting, Jim received at least 3,414 votes for 4.0% in his race.

In Delaware with 100% of precincts reporting, Mark Parks (endorsed by BTP) has lost to Mike Castle (GOP). Mark received 3,583 for about 1% of the vote. Tyler Nixon (endorsed by BTP) has lost his state house race to Gerald Brady (DNC). Tyler received 118 votes for 1.2% of the total as a Libertarian and 2,487 votes as a Republican for 25.4%.

In Florida Ilene Davis (endorsed by BTP) has lost to Robin Fisher (DNC) with 99+% of precincts reporting. Ilene received 3,390 votes for 6.52% in her race. As above, Jeff Hunt has won his race with 51.38% of the vote or 148,515 votes.

In Indiana with 100% of precincts reporting, Andy Horning (endorsed by BTP) has lost to Mitch Daniels (GOP). Andy received 56,651 votes for 2% of the total. Rex Bell (endorsed by BTP) has lost state house (district 54) seat to Tom Saunders (GOP). Rex received 8,374 votes for 33.5%.

In Kansas William Stewart-Starks (endorsed by BTP) lost his race for state house (district 10) to Tony Brown (DNC with 49%) but proved to be the "spoiler" with GOP hopeful John Coen taking 45.5%. William received 604 votes, or 5.45% of the vote. Patrick Wilbur (endorsed by BTP) has lost his state senate (district 2) race to Tom Holland (DNC). Patrick was also the deciding factor, carrying 2,057 votes for about 5% in a race where the GOP incumbent Roger Pine received about 46% to Holland's 49%.

In Massachusetts Jim Y. Casarjian-Perry has won his race. Also, Massachusetts voters approved a reduced criminality referendum on marijuana. They failed to end the state income tax.

In Michigan Neil Stephenson (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Congress (10th district) to Candice Miller (GOP). He received 1,473 votes, or about 49 more than the Green party candidate. Neil's total was about 1.3% of the votes cast in his race. Jason Gatties (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Lake Michigan College Board to Mary Jo Tomasini, Renee Williams, and Paul Bergen. Jason received over 10,274 votes in the election.

In Missouri, with an unknown number of precincts reporting, Wes Upchurch (endorsed by BTP) has lost the race for Secretary of State to Robin Carnahan (DNC). Wes received at least 27,730 votes for 1.4%. As of this hour, 03:32 in Missouri, he was leading the Constitution Party candidate by 2,300 votes. Tom Knapp (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Congress (2nd District) to Todd Akin (GOP). Tom has received at least 6,138 votes for 2.4% of the vote.

In New Hampshire I phoned Morey Straus to learn he had lost his race to Nick Levasseur (DNC), Robert Walsh (DNC), and Leo Pepino, GOP. NH pubic radio reports he received 328 votes for 4%. AOL shows 465 for Phillies/Bennett.

In North Carolina, Michael Munger (LP) has 120,608 votes for governor for 3% of the vote. Chris Cole (endorsed by BTP) has 131,072 votes for 3% of the total - he has lost to Kay Hagan (DNC). Susan Hogarth (endorsed by BTP) has lost her race to Deborah Ross. An unconfirmed report shows 4,703 votes for 15% in her race. Phil Rhodes (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Lt. Governor. Same report shows 124,832 votes for 3% in his race. BJ Lawson (endorsed by NC BTP) has lost to Price (DNC). NY Times reports Lawson at 36.6% of the vote.

In Tennessee Lisa Leeds (endorsed by BTP) has lost her race to Mary Pruitt (DNC). WSMV
is reporting 2,692 votes for about 15% in her race. Daniel Lewis (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for US Senate. The NY Times reports he received 9,306 votes for 0.4% in his race.

In Texas Ron Darby (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race to the GOP incumbent Fred Brown. Texas says he received 8,052 votes for 17.79% in his race. John Roemer (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Brazos assessor/collector. KBTX reports he received 7,360 votes for 16% in his race.

In Utah Joseph Buchman (endorsed by BTP) has lost his race for Congress. Utah reports he received 2.2% or 6,287 votes.

3 November 2008 Here: 614 Facebook: 698

2 November 2008 The party continues to grow, with 605 people here, 684 members on Facebook. See what you can do to startle them!

1 November 2008 Happy All Hallow's Day to everyone in the Boston Tea Party from your saintly friends. This site shows 602 people have joined. Facebook sez 669 for our main group there. A new recruiting drive for our BTP California Facebook group may some day threaten the national group's lead in Facebook members. (State affiliates, please see this statement as a challenge to recruit.)

31 October 2008 A happy Hallowe'en to everyone in the Boston Tea Party from your ghoulish friends. This site shows 587 people have joined. Facebook shows 667 members in our largest group there.

30 October 2008 582 people have joined the party on this site. The Boston Tea Party endorsed Jim Buchman for Congress in Utah, an LP candidate. The party endorses a total of 22 candidates from the LP on its voter guide. We have 660 members in our largest Facebook group.

29 October 2008 A total of 578 people have joined the party on this site. There are currently 651 members of our largest Facebook group.

28 October 2008 We have 575 members on this site. Thank you for joining, please invite your friends. The convention went well, thanks. The contact page is up to date with new officers.

27 October 2008 Tom Knapp, Darryl Perry, Neil Stephenson and Steve Trinward are the at large members of the national committee. Steve Newton was eliminated by a random process which is validated by Tom Knapp, Jim Davidson, Todd Barnett, and Michelle Luetge.

Well, we have 570 members on this site, 650 on our biggest Facebook group.

Our resolution against police brutality passed. Our resolution against foreign wars of occupation passed.

25 October 2008 A day without sunshine is like...night! Jason Gatties is your new chair. Douglass Gaking is your new vice chair. Michelle Luetge continues as secretary. All bylaws changes and all four program points passed. At large seats are still open for voting. New resolutions have been proposed and are available for your consideration and votes. You may now propose bylaws changes or additional program points. There are now 560 members of our party on this site.

Evening update, we have 625 members on Facebook. We have 558 members here. (Fifty to a page, so the membership list "goes to 11!" Sweet.) First balloting ends within the hour. Resolutions from the convention members are to be considered next, and two have been moved and seconded.

John Wayne Smith reports from Florida that we have 51 registered voters in Florida with the party affiliation Boston Tea Party.

Early morning. We have 551 members on this site. I've compiled tracking numbers on the races as of the time of this blog entry: http://bostontea.us/node/402

24 October 2008 The convention starts tonight, in 6 minutes!

We have 604 members on Facebook, 541 on this site. The fun begins!

23 October 2008 We have 529 members on this site. Please invite your friends. The convention starts tomorrow night at 9 p.m. eastern.

Come down to our web site mate.
Follow the exciting theme!
Y'all come don't hesitate
To join the ever-lovin' down home Boston Tea Party team!

We're havin' a convention with a little swing
And if you can't type then you can't sing.
If you can't sing you got company!
Nobody's singing in the same key
So we compromise and play it in G.
We're the ever-lovin' team for Boston Tea Party tea!

With many and profuse apologies to Diana Gallagher.

22 October 2008 We have 521 members on this site. Facebook shows 597. Please invite your friends to join. Our convention starts this Friday at 9 p.m. eastern time, on this site.

21 October 2008 We have 519 members on this site, 595 on Facebook. Please invite your friends to join. The convention starts this Friday at 9 p.m.

This evening, Charles Jay has a significant lead over his nearest competitor in this poll. http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/ The comments section of the poll is here: http://answers.polldaddy.com/viewPoll.aspx?view=results&id=978281 and contains an accusation of "they're spamming the poll" without any details.

20 October 2008 We have 504 members! Please invite your friends. The convention is less than a week away!

19 October 2008 We have 493 members! Invite your friends, please. If someone you know is planning to attend our convention next weekend, they have to join here, first. It is a members-only event.

The Florida state affiliate of the Boston Tea Party today voted to disaffiliate. Charles Jay asserts, "Apparently Davidson feels he has the right to monitor private conversations that take place between BTP Florida members, including those that exclusively concern my campaign..." to which Davidson responded, "I don't claim any such thing, and never did. Tom Knapp forwarded a series of messages to me in which Darcy Richardson, Tom Knapp, and Charles Jay heap calumny on Todd Barnett for delivering the message of Ms. Barnes's accusations to the national list."

18 October 2008 We have 476 members on this site. Ten pages of members. 24 more and "this one goes to eleven!" Facebook shows 586 members. Lots going on - get ready for the election. Last time I looked, Charles Jay was edging out Ralph Nader in this poll: http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/

17 October 2008 We have 473 members on this site. Thank you for joining! Please invite a friend, today.

16 October 2008 We have 459 members here, 585 on Facebook. Please invite your friends to join our party.

15 October 2008 We have 456 members here, 577 on Facebook. Please invite all your friends. The poll at http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/ gives you the opportunity to vote for Charles Jay or some other people.

14 October 2008 We have 450 members here, 565 on Facebook. Please invite your friends. Also, consider voting in the poll at http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/

13 October 2008 Happy "Columbus Day" to bank and other federal employees. As of noon, we have 446 members here, and 564 on Facebook. Ralph Nader is winning the poll at
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/ with Cynthia McKinney second and Charles Jay a reasonably close third. You might enjoy voting in it.

12 October 2008 We have 446 members here. Facebook shows 555. Charles Jay is winning the poll at
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/

10 October 2008 We have 440 members here. Facebook shows 552. Charles Jay is winning the poll at
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/

9 October 2008 We have 436 members here. Facebook shows 546. Charles Jay is winning the poll at
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/

8 October 2008 We have 432 members here. Facebook shows 540. Charles Jay is winning the poll at
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/

7 October 2008 Interesting poll:
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/978281/

We have 425 members on this site. Facebook shows 535. Still 141 electoral votes available to Charles Jay. Candidates on our voter's guide: 33. Alexa reach for bostontea.us up 110% in three months. Alexa traffic rank up 374,814 in three months.

6 October 2008 419 members on this site. Wow! Last I checked, Facebook read 533. Are the google ads working?

4 October 2008 396 members here, 531 on Facebook. We currently endorse or have nominated 30 candidates on our voter's guide, including the only branded Libertarian Party candidate we know of in Florida. Charles Jay has registered as a write-in candidate in Utah, with Marilyn Chambers as his running mate there. Charles is now on the ballot, registered as a write-in, or available as a write-in for states with no pre-election write-in requirement for a possible total of 141 electoral votes. We just learned that New Jersey has no write-in registration requirement, though they also say the won't count the write-in votes unless they are enough to challenge the election.

3 October 2008 389 members here, 527 on Facebook.

2 October 2008 385 members here; 521 on Facebook.

30 September 2008 We have 376 members on this site, 508 on our largest Facebook group.

29 September 2008 The Boston Tea Party continues to grow, with 372 members on this site. We also have 502 members on our main Facebook group. We have 12 state affiliates, groups forming in ten states, and in DC. Voters in states with 121 electoral votes (see the entry for 28 September for details) can vote for our presidential nominee on the ballot or by write-in.

28 September 2008 Here: 365. Facebook: 488. Electoral votes available to Charles Jay: 121. States without pre-election write-in registration: Alabama, Delaware, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming. States where Charles Jay is on the ballot: Florida, Tennessee, Colorado. States where we've completed write-in registration: Montana, Arizona. States where we have affiliates: 12. States where we have groups in formation: 11. Candidates we've nominated or endorsed: 26.

27 September 2008 Here: 363. Facebook: 486. We have added candidates in Kansas to our voter's guide.

26 September 2008 Just created pages for Maine and Delaware on Facebook, see social networking link above. Here: 359 members. Facebook: 480.

25 September 2008 Here: 355 members. Facebook: 479. We currently have 12 state affiliates. On our voter guide (see link above) we have two nominated candidates and 22 endorsed candidates. Eighteen of the candidates we endorse are from the Libertarian Party, four are members of the Boston Tea Party, one is a Republican, and the rest are not affiliated (several LP and unaffiliated candidates are also members of our party). I'm told tonight that we may have official write-in status in Arizona. Still selling T-shirts and coffee mugs at http://www.cafepress.com/bostontee for those that love such things. Still seeking more state affiliates, more candidates to endorse.

24 September 2008 Here: 348 members. Facebook: 467. We now have 12 state affiliates. Check our voter's guide for a current list of candidates endorsed by our national committee or state affiliates.

21 September 2008 Here: 329 members. Facebook: 461. Today we received the final vote to make the national committee unanimous. We now have a state affiliate in Kansas.

19 September 2008 Here: 321 members. Facebook: 457. We continue to grow. The national committee is considering the addition of a Kansas state affiliate, for a full dozen of state affiliates. The chair has asked each state affiliate to send their list of candidates endorsed to be added to our voter's guide as soon as possible.

17 September 2008 Here: 315, Facebook 449. Looking for a new state affiliate this week.

14 September 2008 We now have 434 members on our Facebook group and 306 on this site.

13 September 2008 Today is Friday the 13th what come on a Saturday, to quote Pogo from years gone by. Today we have 300 members on this site, 405 members of our largest Facebook group. We have 20 groups on Facebook for state affiliates, and a total of 11 formally approved state affiliates. We have 22 candidates for various offices endorsed or nominated on our voter's guide. Our party's presidential nominee, Charles Jay, has endorsed Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty's four point agenda, as has our national committee.

One of our enthusiastic supporters in Texas mentions that 300 men were important to defending the pass at Thermopylae 2500 years ago when freedom in Greece was threatened by imperial Persia. Today three hundred Boston Tea Party-goers are standing for freedom and integrity against the imperial ambitions of the neo-conservatives in the GOP (including the one running for president on the LP ticket). I'm very proud of you all.

12 September 2008 This evening we added a Facebook group for Arizona. http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26515302647 This makes 20 state affiliate groups, or nearly 40% of the states (since one group is for DC). How about your state?

The Boston Tea Party endorsed Wes Upchurch for secretary of state in Missouri. The national committee has agreed to the four points of the C4L program and asks the members to adopt them as our national party program in convention this October.

11 September 2008 The Boston Tea Party commemorates today the loss of lives on 11 September 2001. We also commemorate today the lives lost in the war in Afghanistan and in Iraq. May peace come to our world.

Boston Tea Party presidential candidate Charles Jay has endorsed the Campaign for Liberty's four point program. The chair of the Boston Tea Party has asked the national committee to consider using all four points in developing our program for the convention this October.

Members here: 292 Facebook: 400

10 September 2008 Here: 286 Facebook 393. Please invite your friends to join.

8 September 2008 Here: 285. Facebook 375. Our party is now about ten times the size it was on 1 May 2008. Please invite your friends.

Today we added a Facebook group for Georgia.
http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=40207191032
It is our nineteenth state-specific group on Facebook. Please help us form an affiliate in your state.

7 September 2008 Here: 284. Facebook: 367. State affiliates: 11. Presidential candidate on ballot: 3 states.

6 September 2008 We continue to grow. I make it 281 members on this site and 364 on our largest Facebook group. Next month we have our convention, and you have to be a member if you want to participate.

5 September 2008 We received word today that the Tennessee government has certified Charles Jay and Tom Knapp to appear on the ballot there. We still have a few states with active teams working ballot access for our presidential nominee, and many with write-in registration work going on.

Here is the link in Tennessee:
http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/election/cand/2008%20Presidential%20Candida...

Here on this site we have 278 members. Our main Facebook group continues to be our largest membership social networking site with 358 members. Some of our state affiliate sites on various networks have no overlap to either this site or the main FB group, so our total reach is slightly larger. Please invite your friends to join our party.

2 September 2008 Our party continues to grow, with 274 party-goers officially members of this site. Our main group on Facebook has 350 members today. We now have eleven state affiliates from North Carolina to California, and more groups forming. Today is the Ron Paul Rally for the Republic in St. Paul, Minnesota (clever of him to have the RNC in his namesake city) where legions of Campaign for Liberty enthusiasts are being trained in local political action. The future of freedom is coming into sight.

31 August 2008 Lots of candidates are being reviewed by the national committee and by our state affiliates for endorsement. We're also having success recruiting members. On Facebook, our main group has over 340 members, on this site 270 members. We're now represented on six different social networking systems with over 25 sites.

30 August 2008 The big news is the best. Florida is our third state for ballot access work, following impressive work in Colorado and in Tennessee. We are very grateful to Florida state chair John Wayne Smith, to registration and elector team Paulie and Andy, and to Darcy Richardson who has done yeoman work there. Congratulations to Charles Jay are also in order. His one-trick pony campaign in 2004 was only on the ballot in the state of Utah, but he has inspired considerable effort now in three states.

If you are interested in working with us on ballot access in your state, please get in touch. We have active teams for write-in ballot access in states where deadlines have passed, and we have teams on the ground in Louisiana and Alabama.

29 August 2008 The national committee has been inundated with requests for endorsement. We're organising these now to speed things along. Having the state affiliates take up the work of endorsements would help a great deal. In the interest of more state affiliates, we have created social networking pages for New York and many other states - check the list on this page:
http://bostontea.us/socialnetworks

Management at Freeople have contacted us about extending our network there - 26 people are involved on our group on their site. If you are interested in taking the lead in our Freeople social networking presence, please contact the chair.

Here: 269 members. Facebook: 337

25 August 2008 The Boston Tea Party's national committee has unanimously approved our state affiliate in California. We now have affiliates in eleven states. We anticipate hearing of a number of candidate endorsements from each affiliate soon.

We currently have 259 members listed on this site and 332 at our Facebook group. Please invite your friends and family to join.

24 August 2008 We have 254 members on this site, 324 members on Facebook. Please invite your friends to join.

New products, including fun slogans like "Opposing Tyranny Since 1773" are now available at http://www.cafepress.com/bostontee in various products. Special orders are available from the chair if you want him to design something in particular.

Our favorite model has received T-shirt and thongs for much anticipated photos. Stay tuned for news. We also anticipate much photography at the wet T-shirt contest in Alabama.

We've received a formal request to help us form a state affiliate in New York.

22 August 2008 As anticipated, we have completed our work to get on the ballot in Tennessee. From news reports there, it looks as though we'll likely be approved. We now have crossed over 250 members on this site. My personal goal as chair through the convention of 24 October 2008 is to have 500 members of the party on this site, so we are halfway there.

Facebook continues to lead the way for us, with now 318 members of our main group there. The chair of our affiliate in California promises we'll have bylaws for that affiliate, our 11th (this one goes to 11!) on Sunday. We should have at least some group or e-mail listserv for every state by the 24th of October. Well over half the states are represented graphically at cafepress.com/bostontee and on various Facebook groups.

"You're all doing very well!" Thank you for your kindness, enthusiasm, and support.

20 August 2008 The membership on this site stands at just under 245 whereas 308 have found their way to our Facebook group. Please recruit your friends who believe a better government would be smaller.

Tomorrow we anticipate meeting the requirements for ballot access in Tennessee and adding a state affiliate in California. The Boston Tea Party continues to grow. Would you please help organise your state for us? Thanks!

19 August 2008 We have over 305 members of our main Facebook group, and about 240 members on this site. Recently, I was asked why these numbers are important. After all, if our cause is just, what difference how many agree? The answer is: politics. Our success as a political party is judged in part by how many people we bring...to the party, as it were. Growth in membership indicates our message continues to percolate in the community of libertarians generally. Later this week, I expect to see the California affiliate apply for official sanction and begin endorsing candidates. Please help us by forming a state affiliate, or becoming active in your state's affiliate. Endorsements should be handled as locally as possible.

Given the very large number of candidates from California now (suddenly - did they hear about my plans to have BTP endorse more than they list on their site?) shown on the LP.org candidates page, having an affiliate in that state is key to our growth and success. I've been told that more libertarians live in Orange County than in any other part of the country. The national committee continues to field requests for endorsements.

17 August 2008 As of today there are about 236 members of the Boston Tea Party on this site, and 290 members of our main Facebook group. We continue to get endorsement requests for the national committee to consider. Adding more state affiliates would help that process a great deal, so if you have the opportunity, check out our social networking page and join your state's affiliate - or help us form one in your state. If you are a candidate, please contact your state's affiliate first, and the national committee if you can't get in touch with them.

14 August 2008 There are now 225 members of this site, 285 of our main Facebook group. Please invite your friends to join. Please invite candidates you know to be endorsed by our party.

12 August 2008 The Boston Tea Party's national committee has voted to endorse Tom Knapp for Congress in Missouri. Tom represents the Libertarian Party in that race. Our Indiana affiliate has voted to endorse Rex Bell in Indiana.

10 August 2008 Our ranks continue to swell. We now have 222 members on this site, 276 on our main Facebook group. We added a Kansas group to our set of affiliate groups on Facebook. http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27131827190

Invite your friends to join the party today!

8 August 2007 The Boston Tea Party national committee has unanimously endorsed George Phillies for president of the United States and Chris Bennett for vice president in the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, where the two are on the ballot representing the Libertarian Party. The vote was six in favor with one not voting (Chris Bennett is an at-large member of the Boston Tea Party's national committee and chose not to vote given his conflict of interest in the result).

Commenting on the news, Boston Tea Party chair Jim Davidson said, "We nominated Charles Jay and Tom Knapp for the offices of president and vice president of the United States because we did not find the nominees of the Libertarian Party to be suitable. We did not do so because we have any essential objection to the Libertarian Party, nor to many of the fine people working within it. We did so because we wanted a libertarian candidate to be on the ballot. Obviously, we don't have time to get our candidates on the ballot in every state. So, we were especially gratified to learn that actual libertarians who favor smaller government on all issues and at all levels are on the ballot in New Hampshire and in Massachusetts."

Charles Jay may qualify as a write-in candidate in either state for those Boston Tea Party enthusiasts for whom there are no substitutes. New Hampshire has officially declared that George Phillies will be on its ballot, and unless a lawsuit brought by the ACLU changes things in Massachusetts, George and Chris are also on the ballot there. While it is clear that neither Charles nor George is going to be president at the beginning of next year, it is essential that there be presidential candidates to carry the message of libertarian values to the American people in this election year. The national committee of the Boston Tea Party regards it as excellent news that there happen to be two presidential candidates qualified to carry that message this year.

7 August 2008 BTP at-large representative Chris Bennett has accepted the request of George Phillies to be his running mate in New Hampshire. The national committee is considering an endorsement for the two in NH and Massachusetts, where they'll be on the ballot.

29 July 2008 Good news everybody! We're officially a party in Florida, so members there can register to vote as Boston Tea Party-goers. We have a team in Florida putting together electors for the ballot application there. The same is true in Tennessee and in Louisiana. The Jay campaign is raising funds for ballot access work in other states - visit CJ08.com for details.

We have affiliates forming in several states. If your state isn't listed on our contact page, please contact the chairman for help in forming one! We now have over 200 members on this site and nearly 250 members on our Facebook group.

24 July 2008 The national committee has unanimously approved our new North Carolina affiliate. Good work guys! We now have 189 members of this site.

22 July 2008 Our Facebook group has something in common with the show "Room 222," speaking of things long ago. We now have 222 members there. Kinda cool. North Carolina's state affiliate is one vote away from required unanimous consent of the national committee - they already have more than 50 members!

20 July 2008 On this day in 1969, an American walked on the Moon, thanks to an enormous undertaking which started by holding guns against the heads of many Americans to make them pay taxes. To no one's surprise, the government still holds guns to our heads, but nobody gets to go to the Moon.

19 July 2008 Our Indiana affiliate has endorsed Andy Horning for governor of that state.

18 July 2008 Christopher Cole has been endorsed by majority vote of the national committee. He is running for the USA Senate from North Carolina. By majority vote of our Texas affiliate, John Roemer for Brazos county tax assessor is endorsed. By unanimous consent of our Texas affiliate, Ron Darby for statehouse is endorsed.

16 July 2008 Our Colorado affiliate is meeting formally to endorse Bo Shaffer who has been approved by the members of that committee meeting by e-mail exchange. The national committee has endorsed Susan Hogarth for North Carolina statehouse by majority vote, and is considering a new motion to endorse Christopher Cole for US Senate from North Carolina. The North Carolina state affiliate is organising tonight in an online chat session.

admin note, 16 July 2008 -- thanks to the work of various members, we now have groups on four social networks -- so they have their own page.

16 July 2008 New Facebook groups for California, DC, and Illinois suggest that we can expect new affiliates in those places soon. The interim chair's goal is to have 50 state affiliates by the end of his term in October. North Carolina's Facebook group has 49 members. Their first meeting is coming up later tonight.

The national Facebook group now has over 200 members. This site shows 165 members of the party.

14 July 2008 Happy Bastille Day, everyone. The Boston Tea Party's national committee has unanimously endorsed the application of the Louisiana state affiliate. Laissez les bon temps roulez! Let the good times roll!

By majority vote both Lisa Leeds and Daniel Lewis are endorsed by the national committee. The state of Alabama affiliate, the Alabama Statesmen, have endorsed Darryl Perry for US Senate. Darryl is a Boston Tea Party candidate and will be filing as a write-in candidate unless we qualify for ballot status there.

Our Facebook page now has more than 190 members.

13 July 2008 The Michigan affiliate of the Boston Tea Party has endorsed Jason Gatties for Lake Michigan college board and their Vice Chair, Neil Kiernan Stephenson, for Michigan's U.S. congressional seat, 10th District. Two additional endorsements, Lisa Leeds and Daniel Lewis, are under consideration by the national committee.

New logos for the states where we have affiliates have been created. Over 180 people have joined our Facebook group. One vote remains for approving Louisiana's state affiliate. Our Florida team put the papers in for Charles Jay to appear on the ballot there.

12 July 2008 Good news, Colorado has officially placed us on the ballot there, with Charles Jay as our presidential candidate. I'm told that our former vice chair, Tom Stevens, is also on the ballot in Colorado as the presidential candidate for the Objectivist Party.

11 July 2008 Our Facebook group has grown to 175 members. We also have a presence on MySpace. We now have 155 members registered on this site. The party has sent out a press release on our first batch of endorsed candidates. Candidates seeking endorsement should click on "join" at the top of the page so we can be sure you agree with our platform. (There's always no fee to join the party.)

We continue to hunt for people to organize state affiliates and for money to pay for signature gathering now going on in several states. We should have our Louisiana affiliate approved, soon.

10 July 2008 Facebook at 170.

9 July 2008 The national committee has endorsed Tom Knapp's candidacy for Congress in Missouri. BTP has 159 members of our Facebook group. Our North Carolina group's Facebook page is growing fast, too!

8 July 2008 Some wag has suggested that the national committee endorse LP candidate for USA Congress from Missouri Tom Knapp. Seems likely he accepts the platform since he wrote it.

7 July 2008The national committee has endorsed the candidacies of Straus, Casarjian-Perry, and Rhodes, so far. If your state affiliate wants to handle the work, see the thread at node 165 on other candidates for a good starting point. If you don't have a state affiliate in your state, why not organize one? And if you are a candidate and would like our endorsement, send us a note about how you view our party's platform.

Jim Y. Casarjian-Perry is a member of the Boston Tea Party and an elected official in Billerica, Massachusetts. He has accepted our platform and requested endorsement of the national committee. He is also bringing members of his Liberty Party into a Boston Tea Party affiliate for Massachusetts.

It has been moved and seconded that the national committee of the Boston Tea Party endorse Phil Rhodes for Lt. Governor of North Carolina. In addition to Kent, who moved, and Todd, who seconded, Jim, Elle, and Michelle have voted for this motion, so far. Since such motions do not require unanimous approval, the motion carries. Jumping on the same bandwagon, Morey Straus has agreed with our platform and requested our endorsement. Morey is running for statehouse in New Hampshire, also as an LP candidate. http://youtube.com/watch?v=__fQBgCQ-44
Moved, seconded, and approved.

We now have more than 155 members of our Boston Tea Party Facebook group. Thanks to everyone who signed up there. We want money for the Alabama ballot initiative to go directly to professional signature gatherers. Contact the chairman for details. We are now seeking a Mississippi member to help organize a state affiliate there.

State affiliates may endorse candidates from other parties if each candidate accepts our party platform. Discussion at thread http://bostontea.us/node/165 here.

5 July 2008 Today is the IndyTruth interview with Tom Knapp and Darryl Perry. Scroll down for details, or check the events calendar at right.

We are now soliciting contributions for the Alabama ballot initiative to go directly to professional signature gatherers. Contact the chairman for details. We are now seeking a Mississippi member to help organize a state affiliate there.

4 July 2008 We have activists interested in forming state affiliate groups in Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, and Wyoming. If you would like to organize an affiliate for your state, please let me know. We are especially interested in Louisiana and Tennessee.

The national committee has unanimously approved the Florida affiliate. Congratulations to our Florida team. Florida becomes our eighth state affiliate.

We now have 130 members for our Facebook group. About 150 members are registered on this site.

Your humble transition chair asks that each of you recruit one person to join our party here on this site, or on Facebook. Tell your friends! The freedom you create may be your own.

Charles Jay has updated his campaign site. http://www.cj08.com/

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New Mexico became our seventh affiliate today with the unanimous approval of the national committee. Mike Blessing is the contact for that state.

Our Facebook group topped 100 members yesterday. We've spawned several state affiliate groups on Facebook, and two events. Darryl Perry added an event to get Boston Tea Party on the ballot in Alabama, and I added an event for 24 October - our national convention to elect officers and adopt a new program, as well as any bylaws changes the members seek.

We have a new state affiliate completely formed in Florida, though they have not yet requested formal approval by the national committee. John Wayne Smith heads the party there, and there are quite a few people subscribed to their Yahoo group. We should be on the ballot there by the first part of July. Assuming the Colorado government approves our application for ballot access, Florida would give us two states.

Alabama requires five thousand valid signatures, and Darryl has begun the signature gathering process there. We would like members who are willing to donate money to send it directly to the professional signature gatherers in that state, contact me for details. We'll likely need to submit about 7,500 or more to be sure enough are valid.

Rhode Island might be a good state to visit for signature gathering. I don't know if we have any members from that state. They only require a thousand valid signatures.

Louisiana is similar to Colorado with a filing fee and a small number of electors. Tennessee requires about 275 valid signatures, and we would need 11 electors. Now would be a good time to organize a Tennessee affiliate if any members there are interested.

Another good prospect is North Dakota. There signature requirement is a few thousand, but we would need very little extra since everyone who lives there is registered to vote, so nearly everyone's signature would be valid. But, of course, we have no organization in North Dakota.

So, anyone from any of the states where we do not yet have state affiliates would be welcome to contact anyone on the national committee about starting one in your area. Some states are easier than others for ballot access.

Remember, the more we do this year to build momentum, the more people we'll rally to our banner. Which ought to lead to better results in 2010 and 2012. Keep up the good work, and press forward.

Don't forget to make some trouble for the powers that be. If there is any chartered monopoly tea that badly needs to be ditched in the harbor, I'm counting on each of you to be a part of that effort.

Here's a link to Tom Knapp's latest blog.
http://myfrontporchcampaign.blogspot.com/

Any candidate seeking the endorsement of the Boston Tea Party should contact the state affiliate in your state, or form one.