Libertas Email: "it is the grassroots upon which the success of our campaign depends"

[seabhcan]

Libertas must have had their irony gland removed. Just got an e-mail from them saying:

This week is a critical week for our movement. We are depending on YOU to help make it a big success.

There is still time to sign up for the first ever Libertas convention, being held in Rome this Friday 1 May 2009.

libertas.eu :: Libertas Convention

Unlike the usual party conventions – attended by the usual elites and party time-servers - we want ours to be open to the people. After all, it is the grassroots upon which the success of our campaign depends.

Never before in European politics has there been such a top-down 'movement'. Libertas doesn't even touch the tips of the blades of grass and has never known a single grassroot.

[blacbloc]

This is already being discussed on another thread. The attention grabbing headline value to your Yes cause doesn't really justify this separate discussion.

[marmurr1916]

Libertas must have had their irony gland removed. Just got an e-mail from them saying:

There is still time to sign up for the first ever Libertas convention, being held in Rome this Friday 1 May 2009.

So not all the convention places have been filled yet?

You'd think that such a 'grassroots' party would have long since filled the hall.

I wonder how many people have signed up so far?

[EoinMn]

The same email also states that (unlike other parties with their elites, yadda yadda) Libertas invites members of the general public to their convention.

I have a problem or two with this.
As far as I can see, other parties, in Ireland anyway, do allow the public, who are not party members, to come along to parts of their conventions. They only restrict attendance at the parts where voting on policy is taking place.
So are Libertas allowing non-members to vote on policy at the convention?
Or, are they not doing any voting? And if so, is it a pointless convention?

[passthedutchie]

Looking at the questionable attitudes to democratic principles espoused by Libertas so far, I expect this ‘party convention’ to be nothing like what one expects from such a gathering, but more like a Reichsparteitag-type rally. I predict with considerable confidence that:
1. There will be a lot of pomp; expect to see those gold-fringed flags again (note: fringed flags are derived from military tradition... I’m not implying anything, just saying...). Every effort will be made to make the meeting look grander –and more pan-European- than it actually is.
2. There will be no challenges to Ganley’s leadership. “Internal party democracy? What’s that?”
3. A minimalistic policy programme will be presented, short on specifics for fear it might expose the many internal faultlines. All of it will be pushed through quickly, probably without amendments, possibly even without a vote.
4. Several times during the event, some meaningless phrase from the Great Leader (“We're coming - whether they like it or not!”) will trigger the Libertazzers in the audience to applaud hysterically as if their lives depend on it.
5. After the gathering, some of Ganley’s tractable lackeys (you know who you are) will come on here, bleating about how wonderful it all was. “Ooh, it was the best day in my life. I saw the Great Leader, and He even allowed me to touch His hand! *blush*”