Posted by Michael Matthews on 02/21/10

WHAT IS A PCP?
The smallest geographical area of elected representation is the precinct. It usually contains up to about 5,000 registered voters. The PCP, or Precinct Committeeperson, is the representative of registered voters in that precinct. Precincts are "neighborhoods" and, depending on density, can range from a few dozen blocks to a few square miles. In counties such as Harney, however, they can be as large as several hundred square miles. For every 500 registered voters in a precinct (regardless of party affiliation) party members can choose 1 male AND 1 female "Precinct Committeeperson". The PCPs can be chosen either in the primary election of even numbered years or appointed throughout their two year tenure by the other PCPs in the party. Both major parties have the same number of PCPs which are selected by county.
 
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
While I appreciate and support third parties, the reality of Oregon is that political press and organizations only give platforms to the two major parties. Therefore, the two opportunities to have any substantial "voice" in the political debate are the Democrats or the Republicans. The party leadership and focus are determined by the PCPs. They vote on everything that comes before the party from the county through the national levels. This includes platforms, officers and delegates to the state party, congressional district and national parties. The PCPs also determine the "State Electors" for the party who actually vote on the presidential candidates. From the precinct up to the national party, they determine who runs the show and what are the governing policies. If you want a party's focus to be firmly planted on small g (government) and small t (tax), it all begins in the bedrock of electing and appointing PCPs who hold these values and priorities.
 
If you want your personal values and principles to be the foundation of the political power centers of governance, you have to elect individuals who hold those values and principles. The entire structure of the political power centers is based on who is or is not a PCP. No matter how many wealthy and influential individuals there may be at the top of the pyramid of power apparently determining the direction of the party, it ultimately CAN be defined by a foundation of PCPs. For far too long, we have been trying to rule from the top down without success. Changing the capstone on the pyramid makes no difference. However, if a principled and unified foundation moves in a particular direction, the capstone has no choice but to follow. If, however, the foundation abdicates it's responsibility and power, the entire structure can be co-opted and commanded by a very few elite, powerful and usually unprincipled willing collaborators.
 
DUTIES OF PCPs
The barest minimum is attend the County Central Committee meetings (usually from 4 to 6 a year). From there the answer depends on how much you want things to change and how sincere you are in putting time and energy into the process. Ideally, the "involved volunteer" job description includes walking or calling your precinct in support of small g, small t candidates and issues, registering voters, attending town halls of and occasional visits to "representatives" to voice your concerns for/praise of their representation, phone banking for issues, candidates, meetings and educational opportunities. You may be called on to distribute campaign materials, gather signatures or even hold gatherings for candidates. It really depends on how determined you are personally to increase the net amount of freedom and replace command, control and regulate hierarchy with constitutionally representative and principled leadership.
 
TIMELINE
You only need 3 votes to be elected a PCP. If your name is on the ballot, you can pretty much be guaranteed of that. However if there are more people than places, the positions go to the greatest number of votes.
You must have been registered Republican by September 8th to fill out the SEL105 form and be on the ballot. Filing deadline is March 9th
You must have been registered Republican by November 18th to be a write-in candidate on the ballot. Write-in up to 8pm on election day May 18th .
Each county determines how long you must have been registered Republican in order to be an appointed PCP starting in June 2010. 
 
The forms are filed in each county and there is a county coordinator for every PCP Push effort. You can also contact me directly Renee@EnufWaste.com or 503-238-6973 or download the PCP form from http://www.sos.state.or.us/elections/publications/pdf/forms/SEL105.pdf and mail it to MCRP, PO Box 2241, Portland Oregon 97208. Even if you're from another county or another party , I will make sure your form is sent to the appropriate individual in your county. You can also go to the Multnomah County Republican Party website www.MultnomahGOP.org and fill out the volunteer form there. 

Posted 07/13/11 possumsfreedom hb, CA

I will be in Oregon in Aug, and Sept and wonder if there are any events in Oregon during that time?

Posted by Michael Matthews on 02/14/10

Survey Questions: 

1. Will you cosponsor and call for roll call votes on Ron Paul's Audit the Fed bill, designed to bring transparency to the Federal Reserve (H.R. 1207/ S. 604 in the 111th Congress)?

2. Will you support legislation removing capital gains and sales taxes on gold and silver coinage?

3. Will you vote to oppose any legislation that allows the federal government to prohibit the sale, use, or carrying of firearms?

4. Will you support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that includes hard spending limits and allows for no increase in taxes or other federal revenue enhancements?

5. Will you support legislation that forbids U.S. troops from serving under United Nations command?

6. Do you support and will you vote to protect states asserting their rights under the Tenth Amendment?

7. Will you oppose Big Labor's Card Check bill and any other legislation designed to empower union bosses?

8. Do you support U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations?

9. Will you support the American Sovereignty Act to restrict the Executive's ability to forge international agreements that lessen our sovereignty?

10. Will you oppose using U.S. forces to occupy a foreign nation without a declaration of war?

11. Will you oppose any attempt to nationalize our health care system, including any sort of public option for insurance?

12. Will you oppose so-called "Cap and Trade" legislation?

13. Will you vote to eliminate the IRS?

14. Will you vote against any budget that increases our debt?

15. Will you oppose federal power grabs like roving wiretaps and warrantless searches, and oppose Patriot Act renewal that includes such items?

16. Will you oppose any legislation that requires states and citizens to participate in a National Identification Card program?

17. Will you oppose the so-called "NAFTA Superhighway" and any move toward a North American Union?

18. Will you support legislation that ensures Members of Congress have at least 72 hours to read any bill before it is allowed to come to the House floor?

19. Will you oppose all tax increases?

20. Indicate the tax cuts you are willing to vote for: 
Across the Board Income Tax Cut 
Capital Gains Tax Cut 
Business Tax Cut 
Estate Tax Cut

Posted 02/15/10 Sid Payne Prineville, OR

Way to go, Michael. This form of platform pledge is a very useful tool to both evaluate a candidate as well as to measure their performance in office. I strongly support its use by C4L members. To that end, I suggest the following. 1. The issues of border security and the handling of legal/illegal immigration deserve a spot on the list. 2. Support for the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, as understood by the Founders, should be supported. 3. The Membership should express their opinion of the importance of each platform plank, after which the number of planks should be reduced to something more like ten. This would promote acceptance by our diverse group while still offering an effective window into a candidate's belief system. (I believe this will also maximally attract support from non-members as well.)

Posted 02/16/10 brian grattan Gresham, OR

Do we have one that is specific to Oregon to ask the candidates for state office?

Posted 02/17/10 garygray Hood River, OR

Michael, Here's one of me asking your first question to Ron Wyden on 1/17 in Hood River. It was picked up by infowars and wearechange. Audit the Fed is the 2nd question. -Gary

Posted 02/17/10 garygray Hood River, OR

Woops forgot the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQw7b43sia4

Posted by Michael Matthews on 05/11/09

 I want to do a few things with this entry. One is to say welcome to all the new members.  We have had 38 new members in the last 30 days join the C4L in Oregon. If I were to include the previous months you would see it growing exponentially. This is great news for all of us and I must say the country as a whole. With this I encourage all the new members to contact your County/Regional Coordinators to get plugged in. If you live in an area where these positions have not been filled, or you just feel like it, you may contact me.

 Secondly, we (State Coordinators) just had a wonderful conference call with headquarters where we discussed making states partners with national Campaign for Liberty.This was a call inititated by headquarters to let us know that they have laid the ground work for this and will be working with the states that are interested in reaching this goal.There are many wonderful advantages to this. Mostly they would fall under all the lattitude and benefits of the states being their own non-profit entity but it also incorporates strenghtening the states. I am excited about the things that were discussed and would look forward to going over this with those wanting to pursue this.

 In closing I will say that I am very excited about what is going on locally and nationally. This is a wonderful time to be alive.

 Your friend in liberty,

 Michael Matthews

 Oregon State Coordinator

Posted 07/22/09 Curtiss Springfield, OR

I am active locally. Have been for some time. Looking for others that I can link with to have more clout. greer6085@comcast.net

Posted 07/30/09 Jaynee Germond Roseburg, OR

Micheal, Can you help me get Ron Paul's endorsement? Jaynee

Posted 08/18/09 akghs05 Portland, OR

We are currently forming a large social movement in city of Portland that supports the C4L's ideology and abolishing the Federal Reserve. I believe your proposed march to the capital on Sept. 12 is an excellent idea for assembling and would give us enough time to prepare in Portland. If you have any other information, resources or support that may be beneficial to these ideas please feel free to let me know. Thank you Adrian Kokich akghs05@hotmail.com

Posted 07/04/11 RonPaulOregonSupport Salem, OR

I'll be helping out 2011-2012 as well.

Posted by Michael Matthews on 05/04/09

 I would like to mention that we currently have one cosponsor and that is Rep. DeFazio. These are just a few of the updates that we have in Oregon on our efforts to garner cosponsors for HR 1207.

 On Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 2:30 in the afternoon, Jamie Jackson, Lynne Wadley, Ron, Frances and Kammi Finster met with Jonathan Pugsley, District Aide to Congressman Kurt Schrader, to deliver petitions in support of HR 1207. The petitions, as revealed by the names of the signers, represent the view of _(number)_ of Congressman Schrader’s voting constituents. We were warmly received by Mr. Pugsley who carefully wrote down all of our concerns and reasons for Americans’ need to demand an audit of the Federal Reserve System. He assured us that he would transmit our concerns and the petitions delivered to him to Congressman Schrader’s office in Washington. He indicated that he would follow up with this to assure us that the petitions were received and duly acknowledged in the Washington office. ( Roughly 210 signatures turned in on this day)--- report by Ron Finster

 Hi All,
I delivered the petition signatures we had gathered at the Grant County Tea Party to Greg Walden's district office in LaGrande on Tuesday.
Arleigh Isley met me there and we visited with Colby Marshall about the Tea Parties and various Ag and Natural Resource issues.
We submitted over 70 signatures on the petition to urge Congressman Walden to Co-sponsor HR 1207, the Audit the Fed bill. I also had signatures on this petition that were gathered in Salem, Oregon and mailed to me, as well as petitions urging him to support HR 450, The Enumerated Powers Act, which requires that "Each Act of Congress shall contain a definite statement of the constitutional authority relied upon for the enactment of each portion of that Act." , and a T.axed E.nough
A.lready petition.
 As you all know, (and I explained to Colby) I organized the Tea Party at the last minute and if I had planned two weeks in advance and advertised, we would have had many more people show up, and at least twice as many signatures!
We discussed that the Tea Party must be an ongoing, growing effort. Today there is a Tea Party day in Boise, Idaho to protest Governor Butch Otter's attempts to raise taxes, so the grassroots is energized!
I plan to organize another Tea Party on July 4th, and hope to lots of help! ; ) Prairie City and Dayville have Celebrations with a parade that day, so it would be wonderful if we could have a presence in both parades. Let me know if you want to be involved with this.
After I delivered the petitions, I went to Wallowa County for a few days to visit family. My grandson and friend told me that they could not buy 22 shells in LaGrande, and none were available in the John Day valley! On my way home I checked at Bi-Mart in Baker City, and they had none, could not say when they would have some!
The sage rats are just coming out here, and no ammo available? In Harney County many of the ranchers supplement their income by allowing hunting for sage rats on their property. If the fee hunters can't find ammo, this income will dry up and ranchers will need to resort to other methods to control the sage rat population. What is going on here?!!
Do we have Ammo Control instead of Gun Control?!--- report by Elaine Smith

 As a footnote I would like to mention that I feel Oregon is one of the more challenging socialist states in the country. As a positive observation I would like to note that I have noticed as our members activate the results grow exponentially. Thank you all.

Posted 05/05/09 Elysiumboy Billericay, United Kingdom

Set up a mock court of Natural Law, gather evidence and put the US government on trial for p*****g on humanity!

Posted 05/05/09 duewell Eugene, OR

I voted D but wish you had a A,B,D, button. the rest should happen naturally.

Posted 05/06/09 Joel Redmond, OR

The majority of Oregonians are brain washed. They need to understand the issues, but more importantly the solutions, that any American with half a brain could support, no matter what party they might be affiliated with.

Posted 05/08/09 RichardTaylorAPP Ashland, OR

Educate people to the foundations; Teach not just the Constitution, but the "Constitutional Debates" and Common Law (John Locke) that define both the Constitution and the intent of the Founders. Then discuss the issues with those foundations in mind; I Voted "other" as this should be first. Combating ignorance is the first obstacle that must be overcome.

Posted 05/08/09 A Strong America Portland, OR

The initial and most likely continued success of this campaign will come from the effort on the ground. Hosting small "coffee" "voter" "game night" etc. parties with friends family etc. that have an educational topic or theme for the night such as why is HR 1207 important? Or "Why doesn't America print its own money?" is the way to go. Build a sense of community first that is the goal. Martin Luther King started talking at church events, he was building a sense of community where people get together. It needs to be fun to participate in our democracy. Ask your friends how their local representatives voted this week. But do it in a fun atmosphere. Summer is just around the corner and BBQ's for Freedom sound fun. Have one person do a short speech or presentation. Let the message work it's way through the people. Finally give people a tool for change, a time line, and expectations that we can meet. Remind them that how long this process can be and that it will only come to happen when we are ready to fight for it. If it is fun, if it is social, if it is valuable people will come. The more people who come the more everything on the list begins to happen. People want to feel empowered lets get together and empower the great people of our great country!

Posted 05/08/09 Elaine Prairie City, OR

I think every item on the poll is important, but right now we should focus on getting people to attend the C4L Regional Conference and training. We have had some good results with lobbying recently, and lobbying goes hand in hand with educating the congressmen on the issues. (Joel who posted above did some awesome lobbying with the same congressman!) I have learned from friends that attended the training in Minneapolis last fall that the training is very important, as well. One friend made extensive notes and gave me some pointers---which I have used to good advantage with my congressman. I will attend the training in Seattle and I am taking my 20 yr. old grandson, too. I am looking forward to meeting, and putting a face to, my friends in Liberty.

Posted by Michael Matthews on 03/27/10

I thought that this would be a debate that we all deserve the privilege to see and contemplate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoK1uWmCXVM