About What’s Next
By: BJ Lawson
After much consideration with family and friends, I have decided not to run against David Price again in 2010.
I remain grateful to the support of over 4,500 donors across the country, giving on average over $100 and helping us wage a surprisingly vigorous campaign against our twenty-two year incumbent. I remain grateful to over 200 grassroots volunteers who helped us staff every polling place from early voting until election day, and our out-of-state volunteers who called thousands of voters.
Our campaign would have been nothing without you, and thanks to your contributions we were noted for running a strong campaign in a district where gerrymandering gives Republicans a base of 26%.
I’m a big fan of return on investment, however, and while I was curious and passionate enough to run once, 37% is a long way from winning. Ultimately, I can’t justify spending my time and your money in North Carolina’s 4th District* at this time.
Instead, my attention will be focused on principled challengers like Dr. Rand Paul (KY-Senate), Peter Schiff (CT-Senate), Dr. Mike Vasovski (SC-03), and my friend Adam Kokesh (NM-03). I hope you will join me in supporting them, and other candidates we discover who have the courage to fight our slide into corporate fascism disguised as Keynesian neoliberalism**.
Additionally, we in North Carolina need to elect more principled Republicans to state legislature in 2010 so our next redistricting can empower voters to choose their politicians, instead of vice versa. We must also eliminate our state’s tyrannical involuntary municipal annexation laws, and stop our Californicating state budget… but who’s counting?
While our governments’ insanity is overwhelming, ultimately, there is strength in numbers. If you haven’t already, please join DownsizeDC.org so we can apply continued, transpartisan pressure to vulnerable legislators (well, at least those who haven’t been gerrymandered into eternity). I also look forward to staying in touch with you through the Campaign for Liberty and Republican Liberty Caucus.
Finally, please don’t get too focused on politicking that you forget to prepare yourself and your family for the challenges ahead. While we strive for change through the ballot box, recent reports suggest that our nation is sliding dangerously close to economic and social limits:
- The FDIC has failed to close down several large insolvent banks, thus leading to informed speculation that it is bankrupt.
- Alabama’s most populous county anticipates calling the National Guard for law enforcement as a result of its pending bankruptcy.
- The Army National Guard is advertising for Internment/Resettlement Specialists to assist with supervision and management of confinement and detention operations. Probably not related :-).
- Healthcare “reform” driven by established special interests further reduces doctor and patient freedoms and, as a special bonus, features a government mandate to encourage “death with dignity“.
- Just last week, Congress passed the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, which grants the FDA the authority to regulate how crops are raised and harvested, to quarantine a geographic area, to make warrantless searches of business records, and to establish a national food tracing system. Great news for Monsanto, bad news for your local foodshed.
- Goldman Sachs revealed yesterday that its trading operations achieved a new record of 46 days (out of a possible 65) of greater than $100 million in profit. Yes, that’s trading profits of $100 million per day on 46 separate days. It appears they’re really good at trading, despite only being in business thanks to the U.S. taxpayer — or perhaps your growing distrust of our capital markets is justified.
- I’m not even going to comment on the continued sequelae of our endless bailouts and corporate welfare in the real, wealth-producing economy. As eminent economist and humanitarian Dick Cheney said, “deficits don’t matter” — and we’re about to find out.
If you’re looking for a thoughtful community of people working to increase self-sufficiency in this hostile environment, keep an eye on Chris Martenson’s excellent Web site.
In liberty,
BJ
* There is another Republican candidate who has declared his intent to contest Price in NC-04. While he was kind enough to seek my endorsement, we fundamentally disagree on the value of the Federal Reserve and its communist, debt-based money. Plank 5 of the Communist Manifesto details how we have been turned us into Wall Street’s debt slaves, and until we correctly diagnose our underlying economic illness, the mad scientists in Washington and on Wall Street are simply making things worse. His defense of this unsustainable system is understandable, as he is a currency trader previously employed by Societe Generale — the French bank that profited handsomely from your (and my) bailing out AIG. Caveat emptor.
** This comment should not be construed as respect for, or endorsement of, equally dangerous neoconservatism. Un-American partisan ideologies on both sides (of the same coin) have been consolidating power, sacrificing our sovereignty, reducing individual liberties, and advancing corporate fascism at an accelerating pace.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I had such confidence that 2010 would be an unqualified victory for you, and for those of us who believe in liberty. Though 37% may not seem like enough, consider that it was in a year of Obama’s wide coat-tails and your first foray into the 4th district. Now, public opinion is turning, and the liberty message is gaining ground. If you don’t run as a republican, run as an independent, a position that probably has more support than the GOP in this region anyway. Please reconsider!
August 6th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
BJ, I’m sorry to hear that you won’t be running in 2010, but I certainly understand it. I do hope you’ll be open to changing your mind if Price should happen to self-destruct as smug incumbents have been known to do, whether it’s getting caught taking bribes, or being caught in bed with the proverbial dead girl or live boy.
The district was gerrymandered especially for David Price, but with our economy going the way it is, that may not be enough to keep him in office through the entire second great depression.
-jcr
August 7th, 2009 at 1:16 am
BJ,
It has to be a great sacrifice to spend so much time campaigning. I don’t think we have many golden years left and I hope you get to spend lots of that time with your family.
Thank you for running in 2008, I am sure you free’d many minds.
Josh
August 7th, 2009 at 1:28 am
I followed your campaign last year; you made a great run! Now I must say I hope you do stay involved in politics somehow. Maybe run for state senate or state house in the future!
August 8th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Aw come on. The freedom movement is gaining ground. Please reconsider.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:01 am
I cannot thank you enough for that link to Chris Martenson’s website. I watched all the videos this weekend and was blown away. None of the ideas were entirely new to me but to see them all together, presented so clearly, was mind-blowing, to say the lease.
I am shifting my lifestyle and putting together a few basic emergency plans, which I should have started doing a long time ago anyway. I feel a great relief knowing that I am preparing as best I can for whatever the future may hold for us. Thank you so much for sharing the information.
August 10th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
I agree with Daniel and John. I don’t know if you would win in 2010, but at least Price can’t hide behind Obama this time around. I’m sure you’ve considered that, and I respect your decision, but like John said, if Price makes a big blunder, you need only say the word, and your revolutionaries will come charging. Thanks again for the great race in ‘08. We’ll be watching for you in the future.
Jeff
September 10th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Mr. Lawson,
I am deeply saddened by your news of not seeking the election win over Mr. Price in 2010. I truly think that you are the “change” we need in Washington. I urge you to reconsider. We all know that the election results for this upcoming season will be dramatically different from this past whirlwind campaign. We in NC desperately need someone of your character and ideals to represent our concerns. I do thank you for a wonderful race and the spirit to which you bring for the Our Great State.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:52 am
BJ, you were nationally my favorite candidate of all in ‘08. I understand your decision not to run this cycle, but I hope you keep involved. Is there any chance you could run in another district at some point, or is that not possible?
And hey, I know you’re probably well settled in NC, but if circumstances ever change — we’d love to have you in NH (where, as you probably know, liberty minded people tend to be converging).
Above all, don’t be discouraged.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
BJ< I am an overseas follower and admirer of your excellent campaign last year. Understand your reasons for not running in 2010, the system is so biased, but hope you run in 2012. Your replacement may well get less than your excellent for the district 37%, but in 2012 your chances should be very good. Or maybe there is a nother disctrict you can run? In any case, two years go away quickly, and with the CfL and RLC etc. you can build up more contacts etc. and would be in a very strong position in 2012. Perhaps you can run for city council or state senate and then perhaps directly after that for senate, iinstead of congress. Think about it. Now I know Kay Hagan;s fterm will only expiring in 5 years time, but perhaps the GOP senator retires, who knows. Otherwise congress - perhaps in a different district - would also be good. DO not worry if it is not your own district, last year Tom McCLintock - from South CA - won a race in North CA and CA is much larger than NC. Perhaps David Price would retire or something happen to him that he has to resign. With an open election you should stand a very good chance. You have a good and positive name recognition already now and one learns from a campaign as well. Must have been a terrible strain on your family as well. Next time the primary should be easy, so that you can only focus on the decisive race. God bless.
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
You’re a coward for not running again.
That idiot George Hutchins in 2010? We’d be lucky to win 3.7%
Of COURSE you lost in 2008. It was an Obama year. Now is the time for the minority party to come back. You’d have a great shot. Near 50%.
Thanks, like 2008, for nothing.
December 30th, 2009 at 1:12 am
So I came across this site from watching Adam Kokesh’s videos on youtube. I see this post saying Mr. Lawson is not running. What about the hundreds of thousands of dollars raised. What will happen with that money? Will it be returned to the voters/donors? Will it be divided amongst other liberty candidates? Will you keep it for yourself? Please sir, tell me what will happen with that money?