My fellow Libertarians,
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for all of the time, money, and energy that you have put forward over the last six months in supporting your party and your candidates. Do not underestimate the value of your efforts. It is tempting in the weeks after an election to give up on the Libertarian Party or, even worse, to give up on yourself. If anyone feels that way, please call or email me.
I would like to applaud the amazing efforts of Dan Connell, our nominee for the Circuit Court. In the face of overwhelming opposition from the Democratic and Republican parties, the Washington Post, and the Montgomery County Gazette, Dan still garnered 11.5% of the vote. His work in reaching out to the community, putting yard signs up all over the county, and reaching across boundaries to get votes has been an inspiration to me.
I would also like to applaud the grassroots efforts on the Badnarik campaign. Ralph Nader outspent us by a 4 to 1 margin, but has so far only eked out 17,495 more votes nationwide. Badnarik raised less than half the money that Harry Browne raised in 2000 and has already exceeded Browne's vote totals, in spite of this being an even more hotly contested election.
Our major party opponents have become very good at the politics of fear. They will do whatever it takes to prevent people from leaving the two-party tent. I applaud every last one of you who were not scared into wasting your vote. Your steadfast refusal to vote for someone you don't want will bear fruit. Keep the faith and keep fighting for what is right.
To those who are surrounded with gloating Republicans, do not be dismayed. Ask yourself, "What have they won?" Four more years of small-government talk combined with big-government spending? Four more years of nation-building? Four more years of culture wars? If that's what they really wanted, then they deserve your congratulations on their success. If it's not, then they deserve your pity.
In summary, we're not giving up on the cause of Liberty, we're not giving up on the fight for our neighbor's freedoms, and we're not giving up on each other. Thank you again for all that you've done.
Yours truly,
Nicholas J. Sarwark
Chair, Libertarian Party of Montgomery County
...never give up, never surrender...