Avens O'Brien

In a culture war, be a conscientious objector.

Xander: A watched customer never buys. Anya: They would if they were patriotic. Xander (to Willow): Okay, I'm going in. (Then to Anya) Patriotic? Anya: Yes. I've recently come to realize there's more to me than just being human. I'm also an American. Giles: Yes, I suppose you are, in a matter of speaking. You were born here — your mortal self. Anya: Well, that's right, foreigner. So I've been reading a lot about the good ol' us of a, embracing the extraordinarily precious ideology that's helped to shape and define it. Willow: Democracy? Anya: Capitalism. A free market dependent on the profitable exchange of goods for currency. A system of symbiotic beauty apparently lost on these old people. Look at 'em — perusing the shelves, undressing the merchandise with their eyeballs. All ogle, no cash. It's not just annoying, it's un-American. #buffyseason5

@AustinShiloh1 It's giving this from years ago

He pushed me off the mic to make yet another announcement. Very important.

One of the most powerful things I learned to do when dealing with certain people was to recognize when they weren't actually competition. This happens in politics, in business, and in love. The moment I can look at another human being, especially one that seems to be determined to be awful to me, and decide "this person is not my competition, I won't dignify them with my reactions" the faster I stop giving a shit what they think or say and the faster I am just happy and proving what I already know - to be the best, you gotta keep moving forward. If you spend too much time looking back to see who might be catching up, you'll let them catch you. Or you'll run into a tree. 😉 (Originally posted this on Facebook May 26, 2015, still relevant.)

@avensobrien We get knocked down but we get up again for sure

I'm quite shocked, disappointed, and sad to be on the outside of this LNC looking in. I've been trying to get elected to the LNC since 2018. I tried in March 2018 in special elections for Region 8 Rep and Region 8 Alt - lost to Justin O'Donnell In a tiebreaker and to Alex Merced respectively. I was nominated for At Large from the floor in 2018 by Tim Yow. I came in 40th of 50th. I didn't have high hopes on that one. I ran for Chair at the 2020 convention - losing to Joe Bishop-Henchman and finishing third. I was subsequently nominated for Vice Chair and so came in third, losing to Ken Moellman. Upon JBH's resignation in 2021, I was nominated by an LNC member for the Chair vacancy. That race was won by Whitney Bilyeu - who, for the record, called me the next day - and I had once again finished third. I ran HARD in a doomed Chair race in 2022, coming in third to Angela McArdle and Steve Dasbach and having the additional indignity of being excluded from the Chair debate by the body. I was subsequently nominated for Vice Chair and did poorly, losing to eventual winner Joshua Smith. I ran for At Large at the DC Convention in 2024,and came in EIGHTH, which made me very proud. The two other finishers ahead of me who were not elected were Mimi Robson and Evan McMahon, who did both fill vacancies during that term. I asked several LNC members to nominate me for vacancies during this last term. In addition to the Chair vacancy (I didn't ask) and Vice Chair (I offered to run and was told it was covered) and Secretary (I offered to run and was told there was a nominee) vacancies, I pushed hard for a nomination for the two At Large vacancies that went to Sam Bøhler and Doug Knebel. This weekend, I ran HARD for Vice Chair and came in third to Amanda Griffiths. I then ran for At Large.... and came in 6th in the first round. Three were elected in that round and there was a second round of voting for the final two spots. I TIED for second with Richard Longstreth and behind Steven Nekhaila. The election was thrown to the LNC and they chose Nekhaila (the highest vote getter) and Longstreth. ELEVEN TIMES I have tried to earn a spot on the Libertarian National Committee - twelve if you count the time the members declined to nominate me. I've worked my ass off for this party - on multiple LNC Subcommittees, on TWO state boards in several capacities INCLUDING Chair and Vice Chair, in local affiliates - my own and others - and in several campaigns in several capacities. I've been someone to unify and bridge divides - not just in the theoretical sense, but ACTUAL membership recovery. I'm going to continue to do that hard work - doing the hard work for a strong Libertarian Party in our lifetime. To call this weekend's events heartbreaking and demoralizing is an understatement. Yes, we have a good LNC. I wanted desperately to be part of it. I have fought tooth and nail to serve in a unpaid position for nearly a decade because I believe I can make a REAL difference, like I have in every other role I've held in this party. It's why I'm willing to serve. I believe it's my duty to serve. I'm asking this LNC - kindly - for that opportunity when such an opportunity is presented.

@LearnToToad @LPNH Ok, this one made me laugh out loud.

The communist theater kids running the Libertarian Party just made quite a mistake. The tried to disaffiliate the greatest Libertarian affiliate in America. The only? We need your help: Reply or quote endorsing us, or share a favorite old post. Thanks - we need you!

There is nothing hypocritical about @LPNational wanting to have and enforce standards of any kind. Libertarians should understand that there is a difference between what the state does under a threat of violence, and what a private organization does under threat of "you can't be part of our organization anymore." And I think they do understand that largely. On the question of what sorts of standards an organization like the LP should establish and enforce, I can only speak for myself if I were in the position to run it. I'm not affiliated with the LP in any way, nor do I wish to be, but if it were up to me, this is what standards I would strive for: 1) The Party should be open and welcoming to anyone who wishes to learn about what liberty looks like. This means it shouldn't marginalize or be hateful towards individual person or group of people. The only thing it should actively hate is the state. 2) The Party should understand that with a lot of individuals comes a lot of ideas. Some of these will clash, and that is okay. The ultimate litmus test should rest on if the idea is voluntary or coercive. Some incompatible ideas can both be voluntary. Members should have those differences. 3) Members should conduct themselves professionally while serving in any representative capacity of the Party, whether that be on social media under a Party affiliate, or during official business. Perception is reality, and optics matter if the organization is to be taken seriously. Debates and discussions should be encouraged, but respectful. 4) Members should support one another. No one will ever agree 100%, but if the focus is on the true enemy (the state), then it should be easy to recognize that even those ideas with which one may disagree, again if voluntary, are better than the status quo. I really don't think there is too much more I can add. This seems pretty simple to me, and I think just adopting this would make the LP a much better organization.

@balancedbun In the future there may be something similar, provided we feel confident consumers won't abuse it.

@avensobrien Hi are there plans for a community pack of PLÜR?

Had an insane first day at January Champs Trade Show in Austin with the launch of plür. 😍 Read the long description. Judd elaborated. 😉 xumtrip.com/products/plur-…

I love the Conventions for @LPNational because I get to meet so many people I otherwise only interact with online. Many of us have differences of our preferences within the Party (and sometimes those become heated online), but then we turn out to get along socially. One example of someone I enjoyed meeting for the first time socially was @AustinShiloh1 , who played me some @aperfectcircle on his ukulele. Wherever we fall on party opinions, we can vibe on music, and I appreciate that. There are others in the Party I enjoy hanging out with personally but am opposed to some of their factional or ideological preferences within our spectrum of opinion and I actually really value that. It can be good to break bread, have a drink, and remind us that we're just people. 💕 Nice to meet you Austin!

@ODonnell4NH @NathanMadden98 Absolutely. No problem with that. We all see the world a little differently and that's beautiful.

@NathanMadden98 @avensobrien Ha, I love Avens, but we have wildly different styles. I can't count the number of times this weekend we ended up taking the same shot over each others shoulders, and I bet the edits will be wildly different

Who did it better. (Poll underneath) DC vs Grand Rapids Avens O'Brian Vs Justin O'Donnell

I'm disappointed we didn't get thru business.

I only regret not going to the LNC after hearing @avensobrien announce she was carrying around hundreds of free samples of psychedelics. That's the kind of friend you need.

@lather_dan @NathanMadden98 @ODonnell4NH I was in his pocket, actually, for I am smol

@NathanMadden98 @avensobrien @ODonnell4NH I was being facetious. 🙂

Thanks Jim! I've checked with a parliamentarian. If you go to the mic (preferably not while a vote or amendments are going on) and say "Point of Personal Privilege, Jim Ostrowski, delegate from NY, I wanted to take a moment to address the delegation to thank...." Etc etc The delegates will appreciate brevity, but you have that right. 💕

@avensobrien @TonyForLP @Wes_Benedict Was just there. On and off. Had a biz lunch to promote voting with feet (rejected by LP). I do appreciate your efforts. Back soon.

It wasn’t my idea but the LP convention voted against a motion to allow me to thank my supporters at the podium. No class. But somehow party insider Wes Benedict was given a chance to make an endorsement after he was eliminated. One percent for fifty years.

@TonyForLP @JimOstrowski @Wes_Benedict I went to the NY delegation to try to find Jim to invite him to speak. Couldn't find him.

@avensobrien @JimOstrowski @Wes_Benedict Yeah Jim make a PoPP to thank your supporters.

@JimOstrowski @Wes_Benedict Right now is a perfect time for you to do so while we are submitting ballots for something. This is the ideal time to be recognized.

I'm not a parliamentarian either. Most members aren't familiar with the process on the floor, and learn on the go, or seek advice from those who seem to know better. That's how I did, over 7 conventions. Please approach a mic and ask to be recognized to thank the body for your votes. You don't need to suspend the rules. I'm sure the body would be happy to hear you out. 💕 Thank you for a wonderful campaign. It was great to have you in the race, and you made the other candidates better as you all brought your own perspective to the race.

@ODonnell4NH @LPRadicals I don't disagree that it works I just don't want to carry around a flash.

@LPRadicals I had to prove a point to @avensobrien that flash works!

Thanks for visiting. At first we thought your flash was the cops 🤣

@AncapAir groups.google.com/g/lnc-public/c…

I didn't realize that the new LP Chair's criminal acts took place over 20 years ago. People can definitely change, and that's my bad. I just learned the dude's name today...