A 2008 LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
By Andrew Moreno
In 1975, Phillies moved to California, working as a postdoctoral fellow in the U.C.L.A. Chemistry
department. Phillies in 1978 moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was employed as an Assistant
Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan.
In 1971, Phillies joined the United States Army Reserves, eventually rising to the rank of Specialist, 5th
Class, a rank that no longer exists, in a Boston unit, the 338th Medical Detachment. He received an
honorable discharge in 1977.
In 1994, the Libertarian Party gained major-party status in Massachusetts. Phillies has since
participated actively in Libertarian Party organizing efforts in Central and Western Massachusetts. In
1996, he was elected Executive Director of the Massachusetts Libertarian Association, and was the
party nominee for United States Senator from Massachusetts. In 1998, he ran for Congress as a
Libertarian. In 2004, Phillies was elected as one of the two Regular members of the Libertarian Party
of Massachusetts State Committee. In 2006, Phillies was re-elected to the LPMA State Committee,
where he was elected to be Vice Chair of the State Party.
As I researched the vast accomplishments of Dr. Phillies, I was eager to learn where he stands on
important issues like the war in Iraq and global warming. What I encountered in Dr. Phillies is a well-
read, polite, sophisticated American who is eager to serve this country as President of the United
States.
Moreno: Dr. Phillies thank you for joining me today. You're seeking the 2008 Presidential bid on
behalf of the Libertarian Party of the United States. What are your qualifications that make you
confident you're ready to be President?
Phillies: Several former Presidents have emphasized that no one is actually 'ready' for the job. The job
takes you and you do the best you can, starting with developing a competent, honest staff. However, I
have a strong knowledge in fundamental national, military, and world affairs.
I also remember that I am running for President, not National Trivial Pursuit Champion. Miscellaneous
facts are things your staff hands you when you need them; the President should keep his mind free of
trivia so he can focus on the fundamental issues underlying sound policy.
Unlike my opponents, I have committed to do what is right, not what is expedient. That makes life
much simpler. Besides, I really am a rocket scientist, and most of our national challenges just are not
as complicated as real rocket science. The hard part of national policy is persuading Congress to
support your positions.
Moreno: Are there any additional items in your background that you think serve as qualifications
for this job?
Phillies: As a college professor, I have enormous practice in taking complex ideas and explaining
them in small pieces so that ill-read, unmotivated students actually understand them. I expect this skill
will be extremely effective in dealing with Congress and the Federal bureaucracy--the American
people will, I am sure, enjoy my explanations and wonder why Congress is taking its time following
them.
Moreno: Interesting perspective, Dr. Phillies. Let's briefly talk about the other presidential
candidates. What will you bring to the Presidential race that your other opponents, like Senator
Obama, Senator Clinton, and Rudy Giuliani do not bring?
Phillies: I will have a love for civil liberties, for the freedoms that America used to have. I will bring an
attachment to sound Libertarian solutions to our national difficulties, difficulties that the other parties
created and cannot solve. A Libertarian President will have no claims on his attention due to political
party or private special interests; he will be able to preside for the good of the Republic.
Moreno: That's definitely something the American people need to hear. As president, what are
your plans, thoughts, and actions regarding the war in Iraq?
Phillies: I will seek to end the war on Iraq as swiftly as possible by bringing the troops home. I will also
bring most of the rest of our forces home from around the world.
Moreno: It seems clear to me that you feel very strongly about that issue. Thank you for sharing
your thoughts on it. Dr. Phillies, you have an impressive resume. If elected, you will be one of the
most educated presidents. What was your experience like at MIT?
Phillies: At MIT, you work hard and learn a great deal, not only about particular fields, but about how to
analyze problems and see the loopholes and fallacies that mislead less thoughtful people. You learn
how to cope with very large amounts of information in an effective way.
Moreno: Since we're on the topic of higher education, what are your thoughts on affirmative
action? Statistics state that our population, among certain ethic groups, continues to become
polarized. How does this influence your thoughts on affirmative action?
Phillies: I believe in race-blind administrative policies. As the Supreme Court has noted, affirmative
action was a temporary expedient, and the rationales for continuing it become weaker and weaker. I
hope to move us toward a libertarian society in which freedom and tolerance are the norms.
Moreno: Conventional voters of the United States are sometimes cautious when it comes to
independent parties. How will you address the American public that voting Independent is the best
choice?
Phillies: To win an election, we must sell the voters that we are right on the issues and that we can be
trusted with the ship of state. On several issues, notably the war on Iraq, the American people are
already completely on our side and opposed to the stances of the Republicans and Democrats. "For
more of the same, vote Democratic-Republican. For real change for the better, vote Libertarian."
Moreno: I see your point. As a scientist, there is a lot of debate, particularly in the political arena,
regarding the effects and causes of global climate change. As President, what are your plans for
reducing greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide?
Phillies: The scientific debate ended some time ago. It is entirely clear that there is ongoing man-
caused global warming. I intend--this is also an energy security issue--to move the Federal
government over to renewable energy, though that will not happen during my term in office.
Moreno: Although it might not happen in your term in office, what would you try to encourage as
part of a renewable energy plan?
Phillies: I have called for substantial changes in Federal energy policy, namely that the Federal
government should seek to shift entirely over to renewable energy sources. "Renewable" includes all
sorts of alternatives, of which wind and solar (photovoltaic, thermal, direct photo-decomposition of
water) are the most promising.
Moreno: Continuing our conversation on ethics, where do you stand on military tactics such as
torture?
Phillies: I support the Geneva and Hague conventions, and other parts of the Law of Nations saying
how wars may be fought. Torture ("enhanced interrogation methods") is not a military tactic. It is a
crime against civilization and a crime against the laws of the United States. Its use is forbidden, and
will not be countenanced by a Phillies administration.
As President, I am obliged in the end to enforce the laws on the books, up to the point that those laws
become offenses against the Constitution. I anticipate that Congress is going to put into place the
gentle solution to the immigration issue, namely that Congress will insist that Social Security taxes
are reliably credited to the legal person who did the work, leading to the result that illegal aliens will be
unable to get new jobs in this country and will be voluntarily leaving with their families. It takes a while
for 10 million people to move, but it took them a while to arrive, too. I would not anticipate having the
political capital to change this enforcement approach, given the other radical changes that I want.
Moreno: Dr. Phillies, describe your political base. What characteristics make up a Libertarian
voter?
Phillies: One of my major challenges is that there really is not a large Libertarian voter base. I must
recruit my base, not assume it is there at the beginning. Libertarians are often well-educated, often
relatively well-to-do, and willing to push for their opinions even if chances of victory do not always
appear overwhelming.
Moreno: On a previous CBS news program, they dedicated a segment to the ban on online
gambling. You want to end the Internet poker ban. Why?
Phillies: The internet poker ban was simply a political payoff from a Senator to in-house gambling
interests. Tens of millions of Americans gambled online, and the ban was totally lacking in merit.
Moreno: What does your calendar look like? Are you scheduled for any presidential debates?
Phillies: See www.phillies2008.com/appearances for up-to-date information. I have already debated
my opponents for the Libertarian nomination, and expect to do so many times in the future. I have
already had a competitive appearance with one Democratic candidate. So far as I know no one is
scheduling general election debates yet.
Moreno: If you are successful in your Libertarian nomination for US President, at what time will you
announce your Vice Presidential candidate?
Phillies: The Libertarian Party handles matters a bit differently than other parties do. People run for our
Vice Presidential nomination, just as other people run for President. The Presidential candidate is
allowed to give the convention his opinion of each of the candidates. The convention may or may not
agree. At least one prior candidate gave advice, and found his advice was not followed. Another
worked effectively behind the scenes and scuttled an unsuitable person.
Moreno: What are your thoughts on the US engagement with NAFTA, WTO, and CAFTA?
I support legitimate free trade between free countries, but at many points these agreements do not
resemble free trade, and include many countries where labor is not free, or in which literal slave labor
is used in the economy. You cannot have free trade in goods made with enslaved labor, and I would
urge Congress to bring it to an end.
Moreno: Do you think the country is ready for an independent party President?
Phillies: If I am elected, the people are ready. We have created new parties before, such as the Whigs
and the Republicans. I think the American people are ready to be convinced that they do not want to
stay with the current major parties.
Moreno: As president, you will constantly have to work under pressure and many times against
opposition. To handle the pressures of the job, what are your great strengths and weaknesses?
Phillies:
Strengths: Assembling the facts and the people to get policies in place. Willing to work long hours
sometimes with little result. An eagle eye for discrepancies indicating people are trying to hide things.
Weaknesses: Not a screamer or a bellower. Sometimes people accustomed to bellowers do not
realize that I think an issue is important until I blow it up in their faces, and then remind them that I
actually said this was an important issue.
Moreno: Outside of your political accomplishments, what are your personal interests/hobbies?
Phillies: Reading. Gardening. Game collecting (that's led to two books, so far). Modern melodic jazz.
Moreno: How would a close friend describe you?
Phillies: Patient. Quiet-spoken. Extremely inflexible when I believe an issue of honesty is involved.
Determined. Well organized, with great attention to detail yet an ability not to lose sight of the forest for
the trees. "The conscience of the WPI Faculty." (that was a former WPI Provost who said that.)
Thank you again Dr. Phillies. I wish you well on your political, professional, and personal endeavors.
For more information on the Phillies campaign please visit,
www.Phillies2008.org or www.myspace.com/philliesforpresident.
.
By Andrew Moreno
- George Phillies was born July 23, 1947 in Buffalo, New York.
Phillies grew up in Kenmore and Williamsville, New York,
finished as salutatorian at the Williamsville Central High School
[now Williamsville North], and went to M.I.T. in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. While at MIT, Phillies earned degrees of
Bachelor of Science in physics and in life sciences, as well as
Master of Science and (in 1973) Doctor of Science degrees in
physics. Phillies then joined the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences
and Technology program as a researcher.
In 1975, Phillies moved to California, working as a postdoctoral fellow in the U.C.L.A. Chemistry
department. Phillies in 1978 moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was employed as an Assistant
Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan.
In 1971, Phillies joined the United States Army Reserves, eventually rising to the rank of Specialist, 5th
Class, a rank that no longer exists, in a Boston unit, the 338th Medical Detachment. He received an
honorable discharge in 1977.
In 1994, the Libertarian Party gained major-party status in Massachusetts. Phillies has since
participated actively in Libertarian Party organizing efforts in Central and Western Massachusetts. In
1996, he was elected Executive Director of the Massachusetts Libertarian Association, and was the
party nominee for United States Senator from Massachusetts. In 1998, he ran for Congress as a
Libertarian. In 2004, Phillies was elected as one of the two Regular members of the Libertarian Party
of Massachusetts State Committee. In 2006, Phillies was re-elected to the LPMA State Committee,
where he was elected to be Vice Chair of the State Party.
As I researched the vast accomplishments of Dr. Phillies, I was eager to learn where he stands on
important issues like the war in Iraq and global warming. What I encountered in Dr. Phillies is a well-
read, polite, sophisticated American who is eager to serve this country as President of the United
States.
Moreno: Dr. Phillies thank you for joining me today. You're seeking the 2008 Presidential bid on
behalf of the Libertarian Party of the United States. What are your qualifications that make you
confident you're ready to be President?
Phillies: Several former Presidents have emphasized that no one is actually 'ready' for the job. The job
takes you and you do the best you can, starting with developing a competent, honest staff. However, I
have a strong knowledge in fundamental national, military, and world affairs.
I also remember that I am running for President, not National Trivial Pursuit Champion. Miscellaneous
facts are things your staff hands you when you need them; the President should keep his mind free of
trivia so he can focus on the fundamental issues underlying sound policy.
Unlike my opponents, I have committed to do what is right, not what is expedient. That makes life
much simpler. Besides, I really am a rocket scientist, and most of our national challenges just are not
as complicated as real rocket science. The hard part of national policy is persuading Congress to
support your positions.
Moreno: Are there any additional items in your background that you think serve as qualifications
for this job?
Phillies: As a college professor, I have enormous practice in taking complex ideas and explaining
them in small pieces so that ill-read, unmotivated students actually understand them. I expect this skill
will be extremely effective in dealing with Congress and the Federal bureaucracy--the American
people will, I am sure, enjoy my explanations and wonder why Congress is taking its time following
them.
Moreno: Interesting perspective, Dr. Phillies. Let's briefly talk about the other presidential
candidates. What will you bring to the Presidential race that your other opponents, like Senator
Obama, Senator Clinton, and Rudy Giuliani do not bring?
Phillies: I will have a love for civil liberties, for the freedoms that America used to have. I will bring an
attachment to sound Libertarian solutions to our national difficulties, difficulties that the other parties
created and cannot solve. A Libertarian President will have no claims on his attention due to political
party or private special interests; he will be able to preside for the good of the Republic.
Moreno: That's definitely something the American people need to hear. As president, what are
your plans, thoughts, and actions regarding the war in Iraq?
Phillies: I will seek to end the war on Iraq as swiftly as possible by bringing the troops home. I will also
bring most of the rest of our forces home from around the world.
Moreno: It seems clear to me that you feel very strongly about that issue. Thank you for sharing
your thoughts on it. Dr. Phillies, you have an impressive resume. If elected, you will be one of the
most educated presidents. What was your experience like at MIT?
Phillies: At MIT, you work hard and learn a great deal, not only about particular fields, but about how to
analyze problems and see the loopholes and fallacies that mislead less thoughtful people. You learn
how to cope with very large amounts of information in an effective way.
Moreno: Since we're on the topic of higher education, what are your thoughts on affirmative
action? Statistics state that our population, among certain ethic groups, continues to become
polarized. How does this influence your thoughts on affirmative action?
Phillies: I believe in race-blind administrative policies. As the Supreme Court has noted, affirmative
action was a temporary expedient, and the rationales for continuing it become weaker and weaker. I
hope to move us toward a libertarian society in which freedom and tolerance are the norms.
Moreno: Conventional voters of the United States are sometimes cautious when it comes to
independent parties. How will you address the American public that voting Independent is the best
choice?
Phillies: To win an election, we must sell the voters that we are right on the issues and that we can be
trusted with the ship of state. On several issues, notably the war on Iraq, the American people are
already completely on our side and opposed to the stances of the Republicans and Democrats. "For
more of the same, vote Democratic-Republican. For real change for the better, vote Libertarian."
Moreno: I see your point. As a scientist, there is a lot of debate, particularly in the political arena,
regarding the effects and causes of global climate change. As President, what are your plans for
reducing greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide?
Phillies: The scientific debate ended some time ago. It is entirely clear that there is ongoing man-
caused global warming. I intend--this is also an energy security issue--to move the Federal
government over to renewable energy, though that will not happen during my term in office.
Moreno: Although it might not happen in your term in office, what would you try to encourage as
part of a renewable energy plan?
Phillies: I have called for substantial changes in Federal energy policy, namely that the Federal
government should seek to shift entirely over to renewable energy sources. "Renewable" includes all
sorts of alternatives, of which wind and solar (photovoltaic, thermal, direct photo-decomposition of
water) are the most promising.
Moreno: Continuing our conversation on ethics, where do you stand on military tactics such as
torture?
Phillies: I support the Geneva and Hague conventions, and other parts of the Law of Nations saying
how wars may be fought. Torture ("enhanced interrogation methods") is not a military tactic. It is a
crime against civilization and a crime against the laws of the United States. Its use is forbidden, and
will not be countenanced by a Phillies administration.
- Moreno: Those are strong words. Outside
external affairs like military operations,
what about the United States internal
affairs? What do you suggest we do
about the 12-15 million illegal aliens
already living and working in this country?
- Phillies: America is a country of
immigrants. Our national life is enriched by
the millions of legal immigrants who arrive
on our shores on a regular basis.
However, the American people have
realized the obvious; namely that there is
no point in arguing about immigration until
we enforce whichever laws we choose to
have. You can say 'open borders' or 'no
immigration', but if the law is ignored it
does not matter what is says.
As President, I am obliged in the end to enforce the laws on the books, up to the point that those laws
become offenses against the Constitution. I anticipate that Congress is going to put into place the
gentle solution to the immigration issue, namely that Congress will insist that Social Security taxes
are reliably credited to the legal person who did the work, leading to the result that illegal aliens will be
unable to get new jobs in this country and will be voluntarily leaving with their families. It takes a while
for 10 million people to move, but it took them a while to arrive, too. I would not anticipate having the
political capital to change this enforcement approach, given the other radical changes that I want.
Moreno: Dr. Phillies, describe your political base. What characteristics make up a Libertarian
voter?
Phillies: One of my major challenges is that there really is not a large Libertarian voter base. I must
recruit my base, not assume it is there at the beginning. Libertarians are often well-educated, often
relatively well-to-do, and willing to push for their opinions even if chances of victory do not always
appear overwhelming.
Moreno: On a previous CBS news program, they dedicated a segment to the ban on online
gambling. You want to end the Internet poker ban. Why?
Phillies: The internet poker ban was simply a political payoff from a Senator to in-house gambling
interests. Tens of millions of Americans gambled online, and the ban was totally lacking in merit.
Moreno: What does your calendar look like? Are you scheduled for any presidential debates?
Phillies: See www.phillies2008.com/appearances for up-to-date information. I have already debated
my opponents for the Libertarian nomination, and expect to do so many times in the future. I have
already had a competitive appearance with one Democratic candidate. So far as I know no one is
scheduling general election debates yet.
Moreno: If you are successful in your Libertarian nomination for US President, at what time will you
announce your Vice Presidential candidate?
Phillies: The Libertarian Party handles matters a bit differently than other parties do. People run for our
Vice Presidential nomination, just as other people run for President. The Presidential candidate is
allowed to give the convention his opinion of each of the candidates. The convention may or may not
agree. At least one prior candidate gave advice, and found his advice was not followed. Another
worked effectively behind the scenes and scuttled an unsuitable person.
Moreno: What are your thoughts on the US engagement with NAFTA, WTO, and CAFTA?
I support legitimate free trade between free countries, but at many points these agreements do not
resemble free trade, and include many countries where labor is not free, or in which literal slave labor
is used in the economy. You cannot have free trade in goods made with enslaved labor, and I would
urge Congress to bring it to an end.
Moreno: Do you think the country is ready for an independent party President?
Phillies: If I am elected, the people are ready. We have created new parties before, such as the Whigs
and the Republicans. I think the American people are ready to be convinced that they do not want to
stay with the current major parties.
- Moreno: If elected President, what would be your
first request of legislation?
- Phillies: I would first ask Congress to repeal the
Patriot act and various other acts that infringe on
our civil liberties. And then I would ask Congress
for a Corps of Special Prosecutors to prosecute
with utmost rigor a very large number of
government officials who have committed crimes
against the Constitution such as warrantless
wiretapping.
- Moreno: That would be interesting. As president,
like other national leaders, you will have to
confront public criticism. How will you handle
this?
- Phillies: If no one dislikes you for your deeds, you
must be a total failure. I am simply not bothered by
the certainty that many people of other parties will
hate me because I am trying to keep my campaign
promises.
Moreno: As president, you will constantly have to work under pressure and many times against
opposition. To handle the pressures of the job, what are your great strengths and weaknesses?
Phillies:
Strengths: Assembling the facts and the people to get policies in place. Willing to work long hours
sometimes with little result. An eagle eye for discrepancies indicating people are trying to hide things.
Weaknesses: Not a screamer or a bellower. Sometimes people accustomed to bellowers do not
realize that I think an issue is important until I blow it up in their faces, and then remind them that I
actually said this was an important issue.
Moreno: Outside of your political accomplishments, what are your personal interests/hobbies?
Phillies: Reading. Gardening. Game collecting (that's led to two books, so far). Modern melodic jazz.
Moreno: How would a close friend describe you?
Phillies: Patient. Quiet-spoken. Extremely inflexible when I believe an issue of honesty is involved.
Determined. Well organized, with great attention to detail yet an ability not to lose sight of the forest for
the trees. "The conscience of the WPI Faculty." (that was a former WPI Provost who said that.)
Thank you again Dr. Phillies. I wish you well on your political, professional, and personal endeavors.
For more information on the Phillies campaign please visit,
www.Phillies2008.org or www.myspace.com/philliesforpresident.
.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| A MOMENT WITH DR. GEORGE PHILLIES |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
