NO FEAR

-- by L. Neil Smith --

Folks I've spoken to lately seem to want to know, more than anything
else, who I support for the LP presidential nomination.  Or -- if they
know I support Rick Tompkins, recent Arizona LP Chair, or that I've
agreed to head Rick's campaign -- they want to know why.

Simple:  Rick Tompkins is unafraid.

Rick Tompkins is unafraid to discuss publicly, in a loud, clear voice,
the critical issues of the day that other candidates seem frightened
of or -- even worse -- embarrassed by.

Rick Tompkins is unafraid to talk about the atrocities at Ruby Ridge
and Waco or to link them with other incidents of state terrorism like
the Philadelphia MOVE bombing and the murder of Gordon Kahl.

Rick Tompkins is unafraid to promise that when the Tompkins
Administration comes to power, those responsible for such terrorism
will be brought to justice and pay the full penalty the law ordains.

Rick Tompkins is unafraid to acknowledge the importance of the Second
Amendment to _all_ our liberties; it was the fact that he's an
enthusiastic gun owner himself -- not just somebody who talks about
it -- that first drew my attention to him.

Earlier this year, another person asked what I thought was the most
effective thing he could do as a candidate for the LP nomination.
I replied, "Get yourself photographed shooting a semiautomatic rifle
with a long, curved magazine; in the right places, it'll do you more
good than a dozen speeches."  The fellow blinked -- then blew me off.
Later, when Rick announced for the nomination, I gave him the same
advice.  A few days later he called to say, "The pictures are back
and they look _great!_"

Rick Tompkins is unafraid to declare that the Bill of Rights is the
highest law of the land and that the first goal of the Tompkins
Administration will be to _enforce_ that law, prosecuting office
holders from city council to the US Senate, from the local sheriff
to former presidents, who violate that law by violating our rights.

Rick Tompkins is unafraid, as a leader in the struggle to advance the
cause of individualism, to promise that, second only to enforcing the
Bill of Rights, the goal of the Tompkins Administration will be to
eradicate every remaining trace of socialism from American political
life.

Finally, Rick Tompkins is unafraid to _define_ his Libertarianism and
to conduct his life within the ethical bounds of the Non-Aggression
Principle, the heart and soul of Libertarian philosophy.

Other candidates I've spoken with appear mortally afraid to do these
things, although I don't know why.  You may want to write or call and
ask them -- if you don't get shortstopped by some gladhanding flunky
who'll feed you a ration of mushroom nutrient and blow you off, as well.

Or you may just do what I've done:  give all the time, energy, and
money you can to the Rick Tompkins for President Campaign.

Your great-grandchildren will thank you for it.