~Putting Legal Structures in place..a Short & Long-term National campaign for Freedom

[nayjevin]

I was such a fool to sit around for 7 years thinking no one was doing anything about our nations problems. This is one of those threads that reminds me what awesome people are in this movement. Thanks, Kat!

 

[liberteebell]

The consitution was written with the assumption that rights were acquired by birth, endowed by our creator. and those rights are unalienable.
So the constitution doesn't speak of rights, it speaks of restrictions for our government assembly. which they are not following!

Too bad everyone in office and running for office doesn't understand this concept.

 

[nayjevin]

some quick thoughts:

Books
pamphlets
small softcover (25-50 pp) (reprint public domain classics? the law/bastiat etc?)
volumes (there's a box set called the Joy of Conservatism which sticks in my mind as an example)

Magazines
part of membership? possible to get on newsstands, or just subscription based?

Newspapers
so localized it's probably down the road, but another media avenue

Video
public domain documentaries on DVD?
create documentaries to sell on DVD
public access television
youtube shorts
Illustrative skits (might work for radio too, i'm thinking kind of the politically minded animation shorts on SNL, but just as an example. could also be revolutionary re-enactments, comedy sketches etc - something a bit more palatable to the masses than, say, the money masters)

Marketing
team of roving online networkers (bloggers, commenters) - would recommend strict guidelines for netiquette
membership cards for wallets (conversation starters)

Audio
Radio - internet radio/podcasts - call adam curry, he might be down for sound
Audio books?
Interviews?

Revenue
Amazon book links on website
Novel T-Shirts, stickers, buttons etc
Copper/Silver/Gold member levels

 

[Mckarnin]

I have your phone number and will call this evening or Monday to talk about the organization. I'm so glad to hear that you were thinking along these lines.

Katharine

Kat,

Whats interesting is that on this past Thursdays "National Meetup Conference Call" I spoke about an hour asking for other people's opinions (roughly 11:00pm to midnight) about the future of the movement, and I was very much describing the same exact thing which you have successfully started up AND named.

I would like to call you about this and see how do we go about starting a "Freedoms Ground" chapter in NJ.

When you get a chance, check your myspace for a phone number from me and contact me when you can...

Thanks,

Joe.

 

[Mckarnin]

Thanks for the great suggestions! I am pulling this information into our collaboration site. You bring up several new ideas and you're definitely thinking along the right lines in terms of approachability, fun and accessibility. If you have more please post or email to me: [email protected]

some quick thoughts:

Books
pamphlets
small softcover (25-50 pp) (reprint public domain classics? the law/bastiat etc?)
volumes (there's a box set called the Joy of Conservatism which sticks in my mind as an example)

Magazines
part of membership? possible to get on newsstands, or just subscription based?

Newspapers
so localized it's probably down the road, but another media avenue

Video
public domain documentaries on DVD?
create documentaries to sell on DVD
public access television
youtube shorts
Illustrative skits (might work for radio too, i'm thinking kind of the politically minded animation shorts on SNL, but just as an example. could also be revolutionary re-enactments, comedy sketches etc - something a bit more palatable to the masses than, say, the money masters)

Marketing
team of roving online networkers (bloggers, commenters) - would recommend strict guidelines for netiquette
membership cards for wallets (conversation starters)

Audio
Radio - internet radio/podcasts - call adam curry, he might be down for sound
Audio books?
Interviews?

Revenue
Amazon book links on website
Novel T-Shirts, stickers, buttons etc
Copper/Silver/Gold member levels

 

[tajitj]

That has been on my mind lately. Wondering why HQ can not use the HighTide Ad. I know there are legal issues. An organization like yours it exactly what we need to figure them out.

I will donate.

 

[Mckarnin]

katherine


awesome!

thanks!


good to see you around again, and i hope this gets lots of traction!

Thanks! I have been so busy working on this that I haven't had much free time to keep track of the forums...I really need to though. It keeps my energy up.

 

[DeadtoSin]

I know there were some rough patches occasionally with the Blimp at times, but I have to say you guys handled it pretty well in my opinion. I think you guys did well especially since it was your first time doing ANYTHING like this, and you actually got a blimp up in the air.

What can I help you guys with? I'm a Texas college student, but I've got free time, a tiny bit of money and a willingness to work.

If you don't need me immediately for anything, thats cool. (If you guys are just starting out in a small area.) Just let me know how I can help.

 

[Mckarnin]

I know there were some rough patches occasionally with the Blimp at times, but I have to say you guys handled it pretty well in my opinion. I think you guys did well especially since it was your first time doing ANYTHING like this, and you actually got a blimp up in the air.

What can I help you guys with? I'm a Texas college student, but I've got free time, a tiny bit of money and a willingness to work.

If you don't need me immediately for anything, thats cool. (If you guys are just starting out in a small area.) Just let me know how I can help.

Thanks. See PM.

 

[Mckarnin]

BTW, We have raised the $1,200 for state legal and incorporation already and have raised $270 for logo and $150 for Federal Legal. We still have a ways to go but these things will give us a lot of return on our investment.

Katharine

 

[Mckarnin]

That has been on my mind lately. Wondering why HQ can not use the HighTide Ad. I know there are legal issues. An organization like yours it exactly what we need to figure them out.

I will donate.

Thank you for pledging to support Freedom's Ground!


While it will be awhile before Freedom's Ground runs ads advocating the election of a specific candidate (our reputation as a non-partisan/non-sectarian educational organization has to be firmly established first) you are right that in future this is exactly the kind of situation where we could come in and put up the money to get a grassroots created ad up ASAP.

We will shortly be able to raise money to put out timely educational ads and educational campaigns about the Constitution, our foreign policy, personal freedoms, the dollar/our economy/inflation, education/health/energy choice, possibly about the new power being seized by the Fed if we can find a way of pitching it that smacks substantially more of education than finger pointing/people bashing, etc... Eventually we will have savings so that we can place time sensitive ads quickly and raise money while putting initiatives into place to replace what is being spent rather than waiting on starting and launching initiatives until we raise money.

We plan to track down all the professional level talent we can find and look for new talent (we can reach new people with our message through our ad creation/graphic creation contests, especially if the prizes are good) to help create our television ads, the graphic side of our educational campaigns and more. Back when I worked to run Super Bowl ads via Liberty Political Advertising I was in contact with Hightide Adam, Frankdogg, Brickfilm Adam and several others who had created or were creating ads. In the process of trying to run Super Bowl ads I learned about the nitty gritty of ad preparation, music royalties, end label creation and the legal requirements for what has to be disclosed and how. I also called many local television stations and took quotes and made reservations for ad time in addition to working with a national Fox advertising sales coordinator and reserving ad time with them. What made that initiative fall through was a red flag thrown up by our FEC lawyer. After further review, under Liberty Political Advertising's legal designation, there was no way we could run the ads and be compliant with the laws governing content or reporting of who paid for the ads. FYI--All monies donated (some $14,000) were refunded in full within 3 hours of my finding out we could not legally run the ads under LPA.

That experience was one of the initial things that really made it apparent how badly we needed a pre-existing national legal structure to support quick action coming out of the grassroots, in particular advertising. The legal structure of Freedom's Ground was chosen and is being crafted with this in mind. The legal designation of Freedom's Ground will allow us to run as many educational ads as we want. It will also allow us to run ads advocating for legislative action or a particular candidate.


Sorry if that's more than you ever wanted to know but I think all the legal pitfalls and requirements are interesting challenges so feel free to ask questions if this raises any.

Katharine

 

[raystone]

I would NOT recommend trying to put in a completely new legal structure. Taking over the Republican Party is the key. We might not be able to do that this cycle - with all the attention and media smearing and activity. But things will quiet down in 2010 - an off-year. We will be able to completely roll over primaries, caucuses, local conventions, etc then.

There is no practical point in creating from scratch some new "group" interested in governance. There are only two groups that know how to govern and that have the skills to do so. Dems and Reps. All other parties are churches. All non-parties can only influence parties.

TAKE OVER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Start in your local area. And then work up - to create an effective counter to the national/DC folks. And THEN take over DC.

+1

 

[Bryan]

+1

Freedom Ground isn't in conflict with the Republican Party, if anything it is in support of it with educational means and organizing a voting block. It isn't running any candidates for office.

 

[Mckarnin]

+1

We aren't trying to start a new party. This message is bigger than any one party and that is how we are treating it, as a universal meant for all Americans. Like Bryan said, we aren't running our own candidates or anything like that. We are all about education, reaching out to all Americans with accessible, attractive and accurate information on the constitution, foreign policy, the economy, personal liberties, etc... We want people's hearts and minds...their vote is for the candidates to fight over and the education individuals get from Freedom's Ground will empower them when making that decision.

 

[raystone]

Freedom Ground isn't in conflict with the Republican Party, if anything it is in support of it with educational means and organizing a voting block. It isn't running any candidates for office.

Every time a new group is formed splintering the Ron Paul movement, valuable time and resources are used on efforts other than taking back the Republican party.

It feels good to grow a new group, and be with like minded individuals. However, I would argue with historical examples they do little to stop collectivism. John Birch is one example of a STRONG national group that, as a group, done little to impede socialistic movements in the U.S. No offense to its' dedicated members.

Our 3rd party examples, and Independents have been given decades to give it a go, without success. Again, no offense meant.

In just a few short months, Ron Paul supporters have begun CHANGING the Republican Party. RP Supporters are now on Executive Boards of local GOP parties across the country. Resolutions are being passed by those local groups actually CHANGING the GOP platform.

The following are examples in 2 states (TX and MO), it's also happening in Washington State, Alaska....please add states I've missed. Here in my Wisconsin district, we just voted in 1 delegate and 2 alt. delegates that are Ron Paul supporters out of 6 total who will be attending the convention.

-----------------------------------

FORT WORTH -- Ron Paul supporters fought with local Republican leaders Saturday over control of local conventions and may have won the right to push their agenda at the state GOP convention.

Supporters of Paul, a congressman from Surfside who got 4.5 percent of the votes in the presidential primary, tried to overwhelm the senate district-level conventions by sheer numbers. The party regulars, aware that Paul's supporters won a similar campaign in Missouri, brought in extra troops of their own.

The two largest conventions in Tarrant County were still nominating their delegates at 9 p.m., and it may be days before the full effect is known.

"This is not unique to Dallas/Fort Worth; it's happening all over the state," said Stephanie Klick, Tarrant County Republican chairwoman.

Paul's supporters oppose GOP presidential nominee John McCain and want to push the party toward Paul's brand of conservatism, including reining in federal spending, ending the Iraq war and abolishing the Federal Reserve and other government agencies. Any delegates to the state convention will be required to support McCain, but they could still vote for changes in the state party platform.

Peace broke out early at the Senate District 12 convention.

Convention Chairman Tom Quinones worked out a deal to give the Paul camp delegates based on their numbers.

Chad Bishop, a Paul delegate, gave a speech seconding Quinones' nomination, saying the district's "conservative heritage is not lost on us."

Quinones said later, "I think the Ron Paul delegates will be well-represented on our state delegation list."

In Senate District 10, Paul supporter Jeremy Blosser challenged longtime Republican organizer Stuart Lane for chairmanship of the convention.

Blosser bristled at Lane's characterization of Paul's supporters as "outsiders bent on taking over the party."

Blosser said: "We are Republicans. I don't know how you take over something you're already part of."

Lane won the election by 2-to-1, but it took hours to count the votes, and the convention still bogged down with debate over the platform.

"Did we accomplish something today? We're here, and we stood up for ourselves," Blosser said.

================

this vid has been posted several times in the forum, however, it's the concept that is working

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6015291679758430958


if you can't watch another video, here's the synopsis..

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

1) Run for office

2) Persuade someone you know to run and support them.

3) Support someone you know already running

 

[Mckarnin]

Raystone,


I agree with what you are saying about 3rd party and Independent runs. You make several good points about taking over the Republican party. Chances are most Congressional and Senatorial candidates running and winning on a "Ron Paul" platform in the near future will be doing so as Republicans . That said, there is a major hearts and minds/informational disconnect between the "mainstream" msm and public discourse version of what is wrong in our country and what is actually wrong. Ron Paul has encountered that difficulty...not only did he have to convince people that he was the right man to lead our country but he also had to convince them that many issues they had never heard about or had certainly not heard from his angle are THE major problems we face. Freedom's Ground will be working on a national level to remedy that informational disconnect with education.

Freedom's Ground has no clear enemy except for thoughtless political discourse and voting. As an organization we will not be discussing or educating on conspiracies or any of the more fringe beliefs of our members. Not because they are untrue but because belief in them rarely leads to positive action and tends to give rise to fear, a cliquish sense of our having insider information and an "us" vs "them" mentality. We need to reach out to our nation with a clear, accurate and attractive presentation of our core ideas. The fragmentation and weakness of which you speak is the result of so many groups wanting to bring their own personal pet ideas and theories into their organizations or even make them the core of their organizations, even when said organization is intended for a national audience. Freedom's Ground will not be further fragmenting our movement by promoting a few secondary ideas, but instead, will join us together in greater unity than we have known for a long time and bring new people into our movement with the respect, optimism, knowledge and energy they find here.

What you are talking about when you say that we are changing the Republican Party is true, our ideas do not deserve to be relegated to 3rd party status, in fact many of our ideas should be universally accepted by all political parties as the Constitution is the core document that our politicians swear to uphold and that constitutes much of what we are fighting for. What we are seeing is people who actually believe in our nation's founding principles + a mainstream political party and it is powerful. As an organization Freedom's Ground wants to see people who believe in our nation's founding principles + a non-partisan/non-sectarian mainstream organization with a high degree of legitimacy and the hope is that we can educate people from all parties (or who have no affiliation at all) and make the message the core of their voting behavior rather than a particular party.

We must firmly believe that every American is capable of understanding and desiring Constitution based government, a strong economy, a foreign policy of communication and trade, personal liberties and more without being scared into it and educate with that in mind.



Katharine

Every time a new group is formed splintering the Ron Paul movement, valuable time and resources are used on efforts other than taking back the Republican party.

It feels good to grow a new group, and be with like minded individuals. However, I would argue with historical examples they do little to stop collectivism. John Birch is one example of a STRONG national group that, as a group, done little to impede socialistic movements in the U.S. No offense to its' dedicated members.

Our 3rd party examples, and Independents have been given decades to give it a go, without success. Again, no offense meant.

In just a few short months, Ron Paul supporters have begun CHANGING the Republican Party. RP Supporters are now on Executive Boards of local GOP parties across the country. Resolutions are being passed by those local groups actually CHANGING the GOP platform.

The following are examples in 2 states (TX and MO), it's also happening in Washington State, Alaska....please add states I've missed. Here in my Wisconsin district, we just voted in 1 delegate and 2 alt. delegates that are Ron Paul supporters out of 6 total who will be attending the convention.

-----------------------------------

FORT WORTH -- Ron Paul supporters fought with local Republican leaders Saturday over control of local conventions and may have won the right to push their agenda at the state GOP convention.

Supporters of Paul, a congressman from Surfside who got 4.5 percent of the votes in the presidential primary, tried to overwhelm the senate district-level conventions by sheer numbers. The party regulars, aware that Paul's supporters won a similar campaign in Missouri, brought in extra troops of their own.

The two largest conventions in Tarrant County were still nominating their delegates at 9 p.m., and it may be days before the full effect is known.

"This is not unique to Dallas/Fort Worth; it's happening all over the state," said Stephanie Klick, Tarrant County Republican chairwoman.

Paul's supporters oppose GOP presidential nominee John McCain and want to push the party toward Paul's brand of conservatism, including reining in federal spending, ending the Iraq war and abolishing the Federal Reserve and other government agencies. Any delegates to the state convention will be required to support McCain, but they could still vote for changes in the state party platform.

Peace broke out early at the Senate District 12 convention.

Convention Chairman Tom Quinones worked out a deal to give the Paul camp delegates based on their numbers.

Chad Bishop, a Paul delegate, gave a speech seconding Quinones' nomination, saying the district's "conservative heritage is not lost on us."

Quinones said later, "I think the Ron Paul delegates will be well-represented on our state delegation list."

In Senate District 10, Paul supporter Jeremy Blosser challenged longtime Republican organizer Stuart Lane for chairmanship of the convention.

Blosser bristled at Lane's characterization of Paul's supporters as "outsiders bent on taking over the party."

Blosser said: "We are Republicans. I don't know how you take over something you're already part of."

Lane won the election by 2-to-1, but it took hours to count the votes, and the convention still bogged down with debate over the platform.

"Did we accomplish something today? We're here, and we stood up for ourselves," Blosser said.

================

this vid has been posted several times in the forum, however, it's the concept that is working

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6015291679758430958


if you can't watch another video, here's the synopsis..

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING

1) Run for office

2) Persuade someone you know to run and support them.

3) Support someone you know already running

 

[raystone]

Freedom's Ground will be working on a national level to remedy that informational disconnect with education.

Katharine, thanks for your information. How will Freedom's Ground complement/duplicate Break the Matrix organization efforts ?

 

[Mckarnin]

Katharine, thanks for your information. How will Freedom's Ground complement/duplicate Break the Matrix organization efforts ?

Raystone, thanks for your questions.

We are not affiliated or working with Break the Matrix although I do know several of those who are working on it and am keeping track of the initiative. Freedom's Ground plans to work "within the Matrix" to break it by reaching into people's homes, schools and offices with our information and changing hearts and minds. It will be some time before new media initiatives like Basic Media (aka Break the Matrix), Nolan Chart's new media company, Free Media Networks (formerly Ron Paul Radio), etc. are doing anything besides preaching to the choir. Forming a listener/viewer base takes time. Also, TV and radio listener/viewership requires consistent commitment of time and has to compete with other media outlets for that time and for legitimacy. Right now Freedom's Ground doesn't have much competition since no one is reaching out to people with political information in the way we plan to do so. Depending on the content over at Basic Media or the other new media groups people who we "bring to water" might strengthen their viewership.

If you have more questions please feel free.

Katharine

 

[nayjevin]

boredom resulted in this tonight:

does this do anything for you?

no worries if it doesn't

 

[Mckarnin]

boredom resulted in this tonight:

does this do anything for you?

no worries if it doesn't

Fun! I would love lots of grassroots type imagery for Freedom's Ground in addition to the "official" logo. I like the grass...and it ties into the Web-a-thon banners....and of course "grassroots" so feel free to put it around and see if you get good feedback. How did you get the grass blades to show up pointy against the words..that's cool? Keep your eye on the collaboration site...I'll be putting up our Web-a-thon t-shirt designs as soon as they come in.