Convention Business

Per the bylaws, the convention is closed as of 01:00 on Tuesday 28 October 2008. Thank you for attending!

Per the instructions of the national committee, as of 9pm Eastern, October 24th, 2008, the Boston Tea Party's biennial convention was put in session.

Admin Note: In the election of at-large national committee members, any vote but a "yes" vote for any candidate has no effect whatsoever. This is approval voting. Vote "yes" for any and all candidates you support. If you vote "--" that will take you to the results, but it won't affect the vote total. Votes for "--" have no meaning or impact.

Election of Officers

Per the bylaws, each member may vote for one candidate for each office; polls repeat as necessary until either one candidate, or NOTA, receives a majority. Each polling cycle runs 24 hours, beginning at 9pm Eastern, October 24th, 2008. Human candidates listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Chair
• George Donnelly
• Jason Gatties
• None of the Above

Results

George Donnelly: 12 votes
Jason Gatties: 39 votes
NOTA: 6 votes

Jason Gatties is elected.

[Click here to view closed poll]

Vice-Chair
• Douglass Gaking
• Matty Grossman
• None of the Above

Results

Douglass Gaking: 28 votes
Matty Grossman: 10 votes
NOTA: 7 votes

Douglass Gaking is elected.

[Click here to view closed poll]

Secretary
• Michelle Luetge
• None of the Above

Results

Michelle Luetge: 34 votes
NOTA: 8 votes

Michelle Luetge is elected.

[Click here to view closed poll]

Election of At-Large National Committee Members

Per the bylaws, at-large national committee members are elected by "approval voting." Each member may cast one vote for each candidate whom that member supports; the four candidates who receive the most votes are elected. Because of technical issues (no "approval voting" module available for this version of the site's software), each candidate appears in a separate poll. YOU MUST VOTE IN A SEPARATE POLL FOR EACH CANDIDATE WHOM YOU SUPPORT IF YOU WANT THAT SUPPORT TO COUNT. These polls remain open for the duration of the convention. Candidates listed in reverse alphabetical order by last name.

Candidates
• Steve Trinward 17 votes (tied for 4th place) [click to view closed poll]
• Neil Kiernan Stephenson 18 votes (elected) [click to view closed poll]
• Darryl W. Perry 30 votes (elected) [click to view closed poll]
• Steve Newton 17 votes (tied for 4th place) [click to view closed poll]
• Andrew Martin 6 votes [click to view closed poll]
• Thomas L. Knapp 44 votes (elected) [click to view closed poll]
• Bill Jones 9 votes [click to view closed poll]
• Matty Grossman 13 votes [click to view closed poll]

The tie between Steve Trinward and Steve Newton was resolved with a virtual "coin flip" in which I chose the side (heads) and Steve Gresh chose the meaning of the sides (heads=Trinward, tails=Newton) independently of each other and mailed those choices to the chair, the vice chair and the secretary (so that three officers would be able to verify the result). Since I chose heads, and since Mr. Gresh chose heads to mean Steve Trinward, Steve Trinward is the fourth at-large commiteeperson chosen.

Bylaws Proposals (from committee)

This space will link to bylaws amendments recommended by the national committee/bylaws committee for polling. Each member may cast one vote ("yes" or "no") on adoption of each proposal. Per the bylaws, polling on these proposals will last 24 hours, beginning at the opening of the convention, with with 2/3 or more of voting members' support required to adopt an amendment.

Committee Bylaws Proposal #1

The Bylaws Committee proposes a change to Article 9,
Section h, which states,

"Any action of the National Committee may be appealed by Party members comprising 5% or more of the membership, said appeal to be transmitted or called to the attention of both the Chair and the Secretary. In the case of such appeal, the appeal shall be published to the Party's web site and the Party's membership shall be polled on the question of whether to sustain or uphold the Committee's action to suspend. The poll shall open within 10 days of the appeal's publication, and shall remain open for 10 days. The National Committee's action shall be overturned by a vote of 2/3 or more among voting members."

The change would be the section which says "5% or more of the membership" to "5 or more party members," so that the complete section will be as follows:

"Any action of the National Committee may be appealed by Party members comprising 5 or more party members, said appeal to be transmitted or called to the attention of both the Chair and the Secretary. In the case of such appeal, the appeal shall be published to the Party's web site and the Party's membership shall be polled on the question of whether to sustain or uphold the Committee's action to suspend. The poll shall open within 10 days of the appeal's publication, and shall remain open for 10 days. The National Committee's action shall be overturned by a vote of 2/3 or more among voting members."

(the changed section is in bold)

Results

Yes: 37
No: 7

Proposal passed.

[Click to view closed poll]

Committee Bylaws Proposal #2

The Bylaws Committee proposes the addition of Article 8, Section i:

"Officers of the National Committee may serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same national party office."

Results

Yes: 33
No: 10

Proposal passed.

[Click to view closed poll]

Committee Bylaws Proposal #3

The Bylaws Committee proposes the addition of Article 9, Section i:

"National Committee members, under any circumstances, are strictly prohibited from working for the party's nominated Presidential or Vice-Presidential candidates in a public, official capacity while serving their terms on the National Committee. Officers who wish to engage in such activity shall either resign their seats from the National Committee or recuse themselves from an official public and political capacity while serving on the Board.

"1) Official capacity is defined as any campaign officer, manager or coordinator of campaign activities, any person listed in campaign web sites or documents as member of the campaign, and anyone otherwise involved with the national campaign in a paid or voluntary capacity.

"2) Other activities such as assisting with ballot access in a voluntary capacity, donating personally to a campaign, and promoting the campaign as an individual supporter are acceptable.

"3) Members of the National Committee may run for the party's nomination for President or Vice President. While running for the party's nomination, National Committee members must recuse themselves from all voting in any National Committee decisions until after the nomination is complete. If nominated to run for national office, a member of the National Committee must resign from the committee."

Results

Yes: 29
No: 13

Proposal passed.

[click to view closed poll]

Bylaws Proposals (from the membership)

Member proposals moved and seconded at this link> are polled below. Polls remain open for 24 hours. Each proposal receiving the support of 2/3 or more of the voting members shall be deemed adopted.

Member-Proposed Bylaws Amendment #1:

That Article 7, section a of the bylaws be amended to read:

"The National Committee may recognize, and accept affiliation with the Party of, new or previously existing state or local political parties. Such recognition shall be predicated upon the unanimous consent of the National Committee and upon adoption by the prospective affiliate of the Party's platform and acceptance by the prospective affiliate of the obligation to run the Party's presidential candidate, nominated in convention, as its own candidate for that office on its ballot line."

and

That Article 7, section b(1) be amended to read:

"Written statement of cause, defined only as repudiation or betrayal of the Party's platform or program, denial of its ballot line to the Party's presidential candidate, or irremediable fraud or corruption in the affiliate's organization. Said statement shall include particulars and supporting evidence, and shall be provided to the affiliate party's chair at least 30 days prior to the National Committee's action to disaffiliate."

and

That a new section (if added with no other amendments, this would be section s) be added to Article 11, reading:

"The vice-presidential nomination outcome of the national party notwithstanding, each state affiliate may nominate its own vice-presidential candidate by any method of its choosing, and place that candidate on the party's ballot line in its state as the vice-presidential candidate with the party's nationally nominated presidential candidate. Should the party's ticket carry any state in the presidential election, the national committee shall request of that state's electors that they cast their votes in the electoral college for the national party's vice-presidential nominee in preference to their state-selected vice-presidential nominee."

Results

Yes: 5 votes
No: 2 votes

Passes.

[click to view closed poll]

Member-Proposed Bylaws Amendment #2:

That the final sentence of Article 11, section k, be changed from:

"If the program includes less than five points as of the close of polling for election of party officers and National Committee members, then the program shall be deemed complete, and futher motions and polling on it closed, at the expiration of (and including the results from) any polls running as of that time."

To:

"If the program includes less than five points as of the close of polling for member-proposed bylaws amendments, then the program shall be deemed complete, and futher motions and polling on it closed, at the expiration of (and including the results from) any polls running as of that time."

[click to view closed poll]

Results

Yes: 7 votes
No: 0 votes

Passes.

Member-Proposed Bylaws Amendment #3:

That the first sentence of Article 11 Section m be amended to read:

"Notice of the party's intent to nominate candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency of the United States shall be published on the Party's web site one year before such election and nominations shall be opened, to be made through the appended comments form."

Results

Yes: 5 votes
No: 0 votes

Passes.

[click to view closed poll]

Member-Proposed Bylaws Amendment #4:

To amend the bylaws so that the position of "Vice-Chair" is instead identified as "Vice Chair" (no hyphen) by

Changing article 8, section a to: "The officers of the Party shall include a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. Officers shall be members of the Party."

Changing article 8, section f to: "The Vice Chair shall assist the Chair and act as Chair Pro Tem in the Chair's absence or incapacity."

Changing article 9, section c to: "... with the Vice Chair and Secretary attesting to the fairness and honesty of results of said process."

Results

Yes: 5 votes
No: 1 vote

Passes.

[click to view closed poll]

Program Proposals (from committee)

This space will link to program points recommended by the national committee/program committee for polling. Each member may cast one vote ("yes" or "no") on adoption of each point. Per the bylaws, polling on these points will last 24 hours, beginning at the opening of the convention, with 2/3 or more of voting members' support required to adopt a program point. If fewer than five program points are adopted, the floor will be open for member proposal of additional points.

Committee Point Proposal #1

Foreign Policy: The Iraq War must end as quickly as possible with removal of all our soldiers from the region. We must initiate the return of our soldiers from around the world, including Korea, Japan, Europe and the entire Middle East. We must cease the war propaganda, threats of a blockade and plans for attacks on Iran, nor should we re-ignite the cold war with Russia over Georgia. We must be willing to talk to all countries and offer friendship and trade and travel to all who are willing. We must take off the table the threat of a nuclear first strike against all nations.

Results

Yes: 43
No: 4

Proposal becomes point #1 of the party's program.

[Click to view closed poll]

Committee Point Proposal #2

Privacy: We must protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons under US jurisdiction. We must repeal or radically change the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the FISA legislation. We must reject the notion and practice of torture, elimination of habeas corpus, secret tribunals, and secret prisons. We must deny immunity for corporations that spy willingly on the people for the benefit of the government. We must reject the unitary presidency, the illegal use of signing statements and excessive use of executive orders.

Results

Yes: 43
No:1

Proposal becomes point #2 of the party's program.

[Click to view closed poll]

Committee Point Proposal #3

The National Debt: We believe that there should be no increase in the national debt. The burden of debt placed on the next generation is unjust and already threatening our economy and the value of our dollar. We must pay our bills as we go along and not unfairly place this burden on a future generation.

Results

Yes: 46
No: 1

Proposal becomes point #3 of the party's program.

[Click to view closed poll]

Committee Point Proposal #4

The Federal Reserve: We seek a thorough investigation, evaluation and audit of the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationships with the banking, corporate, and other financial institutions. The arbitrary power to create money and credit out of thin air behind closed doors for the benefit of commercial interests must be ended. There should be no taxpayer bailouts of corporations and no corporate subsidies. Corporations should be aggressively prosecuted for their crimes and frauds.

Results

Yes: 43
No: 2

Proposal becomes point #4 of the party's program.

[click to view closed poll]

Program Proposals (from the membership)

No member program point proposals were made in the contention space for doing so. The party's 2008-2010 program is complete in the four committee-recommended points adopted.

Resolutions

Resolutions were proposed in the forum space at this link. The following resolutions were moved and seconded within 24 hours of the opening of solicitation space, and will therefore will be polled. Polls will run for 24 hours; resolutions supported by 2/3 or more of voting members will be adopted. Resolutions are listed in the order proposed and seconded.

Proposed Resolution #1

Resolved, that

The Boston Tea Party supports the freedom of all people to peaceably assemble and to engage in active political speech; and that

The Boston Tea Party condemns suppression of peaceable assembly and active political speech by police and other government organizations wherever it may occur; and that

The Boston Tea Party in particular and specifically condemns the police riot which occurred outside the presidential candidate debate venue at Hofstra University on October 15th, 2008 -- a police riot in which American veterans were targeted for brutal assault under color of law and in which one such veteran was trampled by a police horse. We call for the arrest, trial and punishment of the conspirators who organized and/or participated in this illegal and unconscionable suppression of political dissent.

Results

Yes: 11 vote
No: 1 vote

Resolution passes

[click to vview closed poll]

Proposed Resolution #2

Whereas the United States of America has a military presence in over 130 countries and

Whereas in accordance with Article 1 Section 8, the Congress has not Declared War since 1942 and

Whereas such War ended in 1945

Be it RESOLVED that the Boston Tea Party calls for an immediate cease-fire of all military conflict and

Be it RESOLVED that the Boston Tea Party calls for an immediate removal of all military personnel from all foreign nations and

Be it RESOLVED that the Boston Tea Party calls for an immediate closure of all military bases in all foreign nations.

Results

Yes: 11 votes
No: 2 votes

Resolution passes.

[click to vote on Proposed Resolution #2]