The Battle of Trenton - a poem

Woke up early this morning, wrote this and edited it throughout the day between working and a couple of drives I had to take. 

On Christmas night they crossed the river

To march on New Jersey with a shiver

General Washington with stakes so high

Knowing that without a victory, the end was nigh

The Delaware was icy, the weather was too

He planned to cross when night was new

George bravely standing, leading the men,

Through the crossing in Colonel Glover’s command

Gates Sullivan Mercer also braving the storm

Along with the flag held by future President Monroe

Crossing over the river the entire army

Marching 8 miles through conditions icy

In the dead of night through exhaustion

No one knew who was next day’s misfortune

Colonel Rall and his well trained men,

Germans paid by the crown again and again

Proud professional soldiers, they thought themselves

Occupiers to us, in Trenton they dwelled

Early in the morning, the Hessians were stirring

Hung over from celebration or just another morning?

With powder wet, in charged America with steel bayonet

Plus a couple of cannons in tow, to drag through the snow

The army, to gaze onto which was a splendor

Did surprise and overwhelm the mercenaries who were forced to surrender

An army of less than 2 years existence

To win this battle without losing a man,

was certainly divine providence

and maybe also a great plan. 

- A Marc Tancer original

Motion to Suspend the Membership of Augustus Invictus

To be considered by the LPF Executive Committee Sunday, April 16, 2017.

Text: I move to suspend the membership of Augustus Invictus under Article II Section 6 of the LPF bylaws.

Description: On Saturday night, February 11, 2017 in Miami at a debate between Augustus Invictus and Walter Block, Augustus Invictus threatened to kill “any Antifa…sitting here” watching the debate. Below is the entire quote:

“As a preliminary remark, I know this is out of the ordinary, I didn’t do this last time either, I have to make a legal disclaimer. The communists have already tried taking me out once. And considering what’s been going on in the news lately, I’m not taking any chances. So if any antifa come through the door, or if any are sitting here, I will kill you. For the entire world to see. So, you are 6 feet under ground, you’ve now had legal notice. I’m not going to prison for it.”

His entire quote starts shortly after 7:11 in the following youtube video of the entire clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opt-d7lE0iM

LP Nevada comments on the LPF

I thank the LP Nevada for putting out this smart response to Libertarian Party of Florida goings-on. They published a good article on doing things the right way. The article described that there is a right way and a wrong way (and a Max Powers way) of doing something (I do love the Simpsons reference).

There are many people who want the LPF to completely disassociate with certain members. A few days before today, some self proclaimed libertarians threatened to shut down the annual LPF convention if the LPF does not keep certain individuals out of the convention. I don't see any way to do so as per our bylaws and constitution, so the threat was absolutely nonsensical (I also view the threat as completely fake, but this is purely speculative). Even more importantly, threats to violence in calling for political change are violations of the non-aggression principle, they are also violations of the LP pledge to uphold the NAP (although these self-proclaimed libertarians stated that they were not LP members).

The article says that this is the wrong way to attain the goals of the party disassociating with whom some want to disassociate. The article astutely points out that all shutting down the convention will do is "preserve the status quo indefinitely."

I agree. Initiating violence or threats of violence is morally wrong and as the article explains, is counterproductive. The article suggests that people who have a goal for the LPF bring people to the Convention to get done what they want to get done... to elect agreeable regional representatives, for example.

Yet, a certain member of the Libertarian Party of Florida's Executive Committee sent this article to the rest of the EC without comment except on the subject line "Nice job emboldening them Marc, now the threats against us are doubled down. Sweet."

His comment was directed toward me since I had just introduced a motion for consideration by the LPF EC at tomorrow night's meeting, to suspend the membership of Augustus Invictus. This article does not contain any reference to this motion, nor does it threaten the LPF. The idea that this article is a threat to the LPF and that it was put out due to my motion to the EC is baseless and without evidence, but baseless claims without evidence are not new from this person. I am happy about the email because without it, I may not have seen this article.

I would also note that the article is right on in suggesting that there is someone in our party who calls everyone who disagrees with him a communist. He'll also call his dissenters "Antifa."

Marc Tancer

Brief statement on recent actions taken by the Libertarian Party of Florida

I speak for myself and not for the Executive Committee, the Convention Committee, or any other individual members of the EC, nor for the party as a whole.

I voted, along with most of the EC, to give Char-Lez Braden authority to mediate on our behalf with Augustus Invictus. While I consciously knew the risk of allowing one person to mediate on behalf of the EC  - that the result of the mediation might be unsatisfactory to me - it was a risk that at the time, I was willing to take.

The result of the mediation can be found HERE .

I regret the decision now. I made a mistake. I assert that the result of the mediation helps obfuscate the truth and provide for an alternative narrative to the truth.

Most importantly because I always care about the truth, I will first dispel some inaccurate notions that many commentators have on the issue of the mediation. 

-         Some suggest that the Executive Committee voted in favor of the result of the mediation; this is patently false. The EC only voted to give the chair authority to mediate on our behalf .The EC did not vote for the final result of the mediation. Once we gave up control, the result was out of our hands. I fully acknowledge that I bear responsibility for the result along with almost all other EC members, as we voted for the mediation. But that DOES NOT MEAN that either me or other EC members agreed with the result. Of course, hindsight is 20-20 and knowing the result, I would not have voted for mediation.

-   Some suggest that Randy Wiseman “found in favor of Augustus Invictus.” While I am not privy to the direct conversations between Randy Wiseman, Char-Lez Braden, and Augustus Invictus, I do think I have a basic understanding of what a mediator is. It is not the mediator’s job to come to conclusions or to “find in favor of one side or the other.” It is the job of the mediator to pass information from one side and the other; it also might be his job to give suggestions to either side based on his general life experience and based on presentation of information. But my understanding suggests that the decision to amicably conclude mediation was left to Char-Lez Braden and Augustus Invictus.

EDIT (including one more inaccurate notion)
 -  Some have pointed to what I saw right after the conclusion of the mediation to be a lightning rod line in the statement released by the Chair, that mentioned that Augustus Invictus was an LPF member in good standing. By definition, this is true, it simply means that he signed up to be a member of the party and that his membership has not been suspended (and if we had membership dues, it would also reflect that he had paid his dues). In my correspondence to the chair and to others during the week of mediation, I cannot find any comments from me expressing a question as to why that line was included. I cannot find any text of the proposal for the LPF statement from before the mediation was concluded, as the proposal was on google document that was being changed as mediation was happening, but I do believe that this line was included in the proposal on which the chair consulted me. I opposed the statement on several grounds, but I did not express any thoughts on the "member in good standing" line before the mediation concluded. This is another regret I have. On the Friday that the mediation was concluded and the results were made public, I did express to a friend that this was a bad line and that I knew that the public would not like it. I knew that it had a connotation different from it's definition.
 

If I am weak willed, having been accused of such as a result of voting for mediation, I don’t think that was reflected in my decision to vote for mediation. My decision was based on hope that mediation would help clarify the truth and help resolve longstanding issues. And given that many of us run businesses and have many commitments, we do not necessarily have the time or the brain capacity to consider all possible options. The entirety of events leading up to the decision for mediation was very disheartening, and it was very difficult to think clearly. So my decision, I believe, was an error in judgement, not a lack of will. 

I run my own business, and I chair the LPF’s Convention Committee, and I serve on the LPF EC as Director At Large 3, and I am active with our local affiliate, and I serve on the Palm Beach Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, I cannot consider every decision with as much care as I should. I wear way too many hats. This was one reason I chose not to run for my position on the EC again. 

Regardless of what else happens, I will continue to serve as Chair of the Convention Committee at the pleasure of the EC and with the support of my fellow committee members. And I will continue to do so in a dispassionate way – honestly, quickly, and concisely answering questions about the Convention to anyone who asks. I will continue to do so in a way that is fair to all committee members, all of who’s input I greatly value.

In the near future, I will elaborate on the circumstances surrounding my vote for mediation and on my assertion that the result of the mediation has helped obfuscate the truth and was bad for the party.

Finally, let me express that it is my opinion that Char-Lez Braden came to the decision he honestly thought was best for the party. I told him privately that I thought the best decision would be what ever decision would help put all of this behind us. I don’t know what that best decision would have been, but I strongly believe that upholding the truth would have been an integral part of that decision. I saw the final resolution before it was accepted, and I voiced my strong disagreement with it.

Marc Tancer

Result of the LPF Mediation with Augustus Invictus

As a result of mediation, the LPF made a statement about the press released they issued October 4, 2015 about Augustus Invictus, and Augustus Invictus signed a release of liability for issues arising out of the press release initially issued by the LPF Executive Committee in October 4  2015. 

Mediation Result

04/06/2017

The mediation between Augustus Sol Invictus and The LPF is concluded.

The two statements below have been approved by both parties.

This ends this mediation.

Randy Wiseman (mediator)

Note to parties. You may now disseminate this information. 

Statement Regarding Augustus Sol Invictus

The Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF) has conducted a review of a press release regarding Augustus Sol Invictus that was published on October 5th, 2015, and has concluded that it exceeded the mandate of the executive committee as discussed in its monthly meeting on October 4th, 2015.

The LPF, in accordance, has withdrawn this press release. Further, two items regarding “eugenics” and “state-sponsored murder” are mentioned in the press release. For example, “unwillingness to reject eugenics”, “call for eugenics”, and so forth.

Upon review of current information, the LPF concluded that Mr. Invictus, has on at least one occasion before the press release and several times after, disavowed government eugenics programs. And the item of “state-sponsored murder” is ambiguous.

Finally, the LPF would like to note that Mr. Invictus has always been a member in good standing, is a past Chair of the Libertarian Party of Orange County, a sponsor of the 2016 and 2017 LPF State Conventions, as well as a dedicated volunteer on the Legislative Review Committee.

Char-Lez Braden Chairman of the LPF

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

RELEASE OF CLAIMS

GENERAL RELEASE

The undersigned, hereinafter the Releasor, for and in consideration of the issuance of a withdrawal of statements that were potentially found to be made in error by the Libertarian Party of Florida regarding Augustus Sol Invictus, does hereby completely and fully release and discharge the Libertarian Party of Florida, its Executive Committee, and its membership, hereinafter the Releasees, of and from any obligation, liability or responsibility arising out of the action of the issuance of the press release of October 5, 2015 by the Libertarian Party of Florida.

It is understood and agreed that this settlement is in full compromise of a disputed claim, and that neither this release nor the retraction made pursuant to this release shall be construed as an admission of liability.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES

Each party hereto shall bear all attorneys’ fees and costs arising from the action of its own counsel in connection with this matter, the terms of this settlement agreement, the matters and documents referenced herein, and all related matters.

RESERVATION OF CLAIMS

The parties recognize and acknowledge that the terms of this release are not designed nor intended to resolve all pending claims. The terms of this release are limited to resolve and release all pending claims which exist as to the defamatory press release of October 5, 2015 issued by the Libertarian Party of Florida.

Any and all claims which have been made, or which may exist, as to any other person, corporation, partnership or other legal entity shall not be compromised or extinguished by the terms of this release.

Signed this 6th day of April 2017.

_/s/ Augustus Sol Invictus_               

Augustus Sol Invictus, Esq.                           

Claimant/Releasor

Crosby Stills and Nash

Just in the past few weeks, I've seen Kiss and Def Leppard, Hank III, and Yes. Just Wednesday night, I saw Crosby Stills and Nash. This was the first time I've seen CSN, as opposed to Yes; last week I saw Yes for the sixth time. I have to say that overall, they were great. The concert was lots of fun. Everyone tells me that CSN, even in their older age, put on a good show. Everyone was right.

It helped that I was sitting second row center. And after one of the songs, Steven Stills threw his guitar pick and it landed right next to me and I snagged it.

The biggest, and one of the only disappointments, was that they did not play Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.

Steven Stills was really killing the guitar as I expected. David Crosby is more of the band's front man on stage than I realized; I thought he mostly kept silent and stood there and sang when it was his turn and strummed a rhythm guitar on some songs. I thank God that David Crosby turned his life around. Had he not, I would not have got to enjoy this wonderful concert. Graham Nash was having just as much fun as I've seen from him in youtube videos. They all have tons of talent.

I didn't keep track, but I estimate that they played from 7:40 to 10:35 with a short 20 minute break. So they played for about 2 1/2 hours, all solid stuff.

Anyway, here's the set list as I wrote it after each song (note, there were a few I don't know the name to, and there are a few I learned the name tonight and likely heard for the first time at the show. 'For what it's worth - pun totally intended - I starred the songs that I didn't know before)

Carry On/Questions
Marrakesh Express
Long Time Coming
Southern Cross
Lay Me Down
What's Broken *
Delta *
something I think by Stephen Stills or Buffalo Springfield
Cathedral
Back Home (Song for Levon)*
Deja Vu
Almost Cut My Hair
Bluebird by Buffalo Springfield

Brief Intermission

Girl From the North Country*
something from their new album with Graham Nash either on guitar or piano
another new song with David Crosby (I think a solo)
Guinnevere
Burning for the Budda*
Tree Top Flyer*
Our House
Wooden Ships
For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield
Love The One You're With by Steven Stills

Encore: Teach Your Children

I know they got Helplessly Hoping in there somewhere, but I forgot to write it down in my phone after they played it so I don't know where in the order it was.

Anyway, it was great stuff. I had never seen them nor had I ever seen a show at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Awesome venue. FAR BETTER than Hardrock Live at the Hollywood Hardrock Casino.

Monetary Policy Prediction

Since I don't have many previous predictions on record, I want to make sure that this one went on record: I believe that the Federal Reserve is going to increase the level of "quantitative easing" (money printing, debt monetization) from $85 billion per month to $125 billion per month, around the middle of next year. I think the announcement might be as late as September, but I think it's more likely to come around May or June. I predicted that the Fed would not taper back in September, as Peter Schiff also predicted in the face of the propagandist media literally laughing at him, as they did back in 2006.

Of course the Fed should NOT increase QE, and should drastically reduce it and actually reverse it. But I do not believe the Fed is going to follow this course because it would mean a very deep depression and it would mean that the banks would lose lots of money in the short term because higher interest rates means the assets the banks were already holding will be worth less (remember, the Federal Reserve System is a system of regional banks that are literally owned by their member banks, so the Fed does what benefits its owners - the banks - it is not doing any of this for the people, and in fact is doing it against the people).