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Bob Barr Talks
The best-known nominee in Libertarian Party history talks to reason about war, drugs, pornography, Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Ayn Rand.
(Page 5 of 5)
I think one thing the Libertarian Party needs to do is to present its message of freedom and liberty to the American people through candidates that the American people can relate to, and in words and priorities that the American people can understand. So that, for example, rather than talk hypothetically about executive branch power or hypothetically about the high cost of regulation, talk about these issues in ways that the small business owner, that the American family, that the individual voter and citizen in this country can understand.
If you talk about these issues in very vague, hypothetical terms, or you talk about issues that are going to scare the American public, I think you're making a mistake. You can make the same point, you can move that Libertarian agenda forward much more rapidly, if you keep in mind that your audience is not necessarily going to be fellow Libertarians, it's going to be fellow Americans. And you have to recognize also that in the heart of every American beats a libertarian about something. Every citizen in this country, I believe, has some area of their lives—whether it's their personal behavior within their homes, whether it's how to educate and discipline their children, whether it's about how to run their business, their political thought, their religious practices—where they want to be left alone. The Libertarian Party, I think, needs to recognize that and appeal to that and draw that out from the American public and the American voters, rather than talk just generally about great philosophical principles.
reason: How do you feel now about losing your House seat in 2002?
Bob Barr: I didn't set out to lose in 2002, and I certainly was not happy about losing in 2002, but to be honest with you, I lost not one moment of sleep over it. It happened. We moved on. You look for new opportunities. Those new opportunities presented themselves to me, to some extent, in the form of the Libertarian Party.
The fact that the Libertarian Party worked against me in 2002 caused me to look very hard at the Libertarian Party. Not as an adversary—not with any bitterness. I looked at the Libertarian Party because I believed there was something that they did and stood for that they were able to tap into that maybe I should pay closer attention to, and look at why I lost that election, not blame somebody else for it. I never blamed the Libertarian Party or anybody for my loss. That irritates me a little bit with the Republicans and the Democrats who denigrate any third-party candidate who might have the audacity to rear their head above the weeds and say "I'm going to run."
The two major parties seem to think that they have a God-given right to be the only players on the political field, and therefore if somebody else runs and gains enough votes, the major-party candidates can somehow through their flawed logic say, "Aha, I lost because this third-party candidate took votes." It's absolutely inappropriate. It's un-American. What Sen. McCain, if he is unsuccessful in the 2008 election, ought to do, is look back, along with his colleagues in the Republican Party, and do some soul searching. Why did we lose the election? What was it about our message and our platform, if there was one, that didn't resonate sufficiently with the American people? Why was this candidate not attractive enough to the people? Do that, and try to improve their message and their platform perhaps, rather than simply blame somebody else.
reason: Do you worry about being ostracized, as Ralph Nader was by liberals in 2000, or losing influence and the ability to speak out on some of this stuff?
Bob Barr: No, I don't worry about it. I believe I have developed over the years a marketable credibility on the issues about which I was asked to speak. That's not going to change. I fully intend to continue working on the same areas, and continue, I hope, to have credibility on issues like privacy, separation of powers, executive power, and congressional oversight.
|10.27.08 @ 12:12PM|#
The reformers have had their way with my party for the past four
years. I was much more comfortable being one of the fruits and
flakes that were committed to the principals of personal autonomy,
property, and peace, that lost elections, than I am as one of a
band of respectable partisans committed to political expediency,
that lose elections.
If the radicals can't retake the LP, I don't know how much longer
I'll be able to support it.
|10.27.08 @ 12:17PM|#
Why does every. single. Barr. discussion have
to rehash the same shit over and over and over again?
I want to see some goodwill from the whiners. Wish Barr the best of
luck or show that you're just being obstinate and malignant at this
point. It is WAY too late in the game to sit here and hash out this
shit for the twenty-thousandth time.
fyodor|10.27.08 @ 12:18PM|#
I think he was the best known libertarian candidate for president until he became the libertarian candidate for president.
BakedPenguin|10.27.08 @ 12:22PM|#
TAO, it's about ABSOLUTE FREEDOM IMMEDIATELY!!! If a Libertarian candidate isn't for ABSOLUTE FREEDOM IMMEDIATELY!!!, he's obviously a whore and a traitor.
Guy Montag|10.27.08 @ 12:29PM|#
Wait! He voted FOR the Patriot Act?
I have thrown my vote away. I am leaving the country.
|10.27.08 @ 12:30PM|#
Warren - the whole point of the "reform" movement was that there is supposed to be room for both. The "diehards" are the soul and anchor of the philosophy...but remember the lesson from Office Space? "The engineers don't have people skills".
|10.27.08 @ 12:39PM|#
TAO
I am voting for Barr. But this will be the first time I have to
hold my nose to vote for the LP candidate.
I know what the point of the "reform" movement was. I didn't
support it, but I was amenable to it's goals. But what have been
the fruits of it's efforts. A bland platform, and a Republican
Wannabe spokesman + no increased penetration into MSM or voter
appeal = FAIL
Gabriel |10.27.08 @ 12:41PM|#
This guy is so far off from being a libertarian (big 'L' or little) that I'm almost glad he's being ignored by the media.
|10.27.08 @ 12:43PM|#
Warren - the "reform movement" has run ONE election, outcome not
even determined yet! And yet you declare it a FAIL?!
I mean, it's obvious that you WANT it to fail, but whether or not
it will remains to be seen. Furthermore, what is your definition of
"failing"? For a candidate, Barr has garnered more media attention
than anyone else.
|10.27.08 @ 12:44PM|#
Yeah, Barr did some stuff while he was in Congress I thoroughly
disagree with. But, he's the only person on the ballot who, about
85% of the time, says stuff I agree with. The rest of the pack
appear to be running as far away from libertarian principles as
possible. And, Barr ISN'T gonna be president. Not gonna happen.
ZERO percent chance of that. So, who fucking cares how we would
actually govern if we got in office?
So, your choices are this:
1) vote for Obama / McCain and send the message that to get
libertarian votes, politicians only have to be slightly less
hardcore statist than the other guy to get your vote.
2) don't vote, and send the message that libertarians can be safely
ignored.
3) Vote, but leave the presidential vote blank, sending an
ambiguous message that your vote can be had, but not really
signaling whether they need to be MORE statist or less to get your
vote.
4) Vote for Bob Barr, and send a clear, unmistakable message that
to get your vote, they must become considerably more
libertarian.
I'm going with option 4, because it communicates very clearly
exactly what it takes to get my support. The others, not so much
so.
|10.27.08 @ 12:53PM|#
But this will be the first time I have to hold my nose to
vote for the LP candidate.
The first time? You were actually thrilled with the choice of
Badnarik?
|10.27.08 @ 12:54PM|#
@prolefeed
Despite my earlier "Scalia???" comment, I agree with you
completely: it's option 4).
Tsu Dho Nihm|10.27.08 @ 12:54PM|#
In general, I agree with prolefeed. But I'll probably write in Cthulhu anyway.
Citizen Nothing|10.27.08 @ 1:07PM|#
I'm curious to know who the purity faction views as the best LP
presidential candidate of all time.
I'm guessing Hospers.
tarran|10.27.08 @ 1:18PM|#
I'm curious to know who the purity faction views as the best
LP presidential candidate of all time.
It was Rothbard.
But he didn't run!
PRecisely. ;)
parse|10.27.08 @ 1:23PM|#
Regulars at Hit & Run likely remember the Genarlow Wilson
case, where a 17-year old boy received a 10-year prison sentence
for consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old partner. Barr laments
the "attempt by some to transform the case from one involving child
molestation into the latest great civil rights crusade." He goes so
far as to defend the prosecutor's rabble-rousing effort to turn
public opinion against Wilson by circulating copies of the video
tape of the teens having sex. Barr wants to pretend that it was
just an attempt to comply with Georgia's Open Records law regarding
evidence in criminal prosecutions.
This goes a long way to legitimize doubts about the depth and
sincerity of Barr's road to Damascus conversion to libertarian
philosophy. At heart, he still seems an anti-sex, pro-cop
zealot.
Click on my name for a link to Barr's defense of the prosecutions
disreputable smear.
|10.27.08 @ 1:24PM|#
I STILL don't get all the people who are saying "He's not a REAL
libertarian", "He can say that stuff, but doesn't mean it", "He
voted for all that bad stuff, he still thinks that way".
How many libertarians do you actually know who *weren't* part of
one of the two major parties? Who didn't realize, over time, that
things were wrong with what they were doing, how they were
thinking, and looking for a new way? How come it's believable in
Joe Shmoe, but not a guy like Bob Barr?
Maybe he's not Harry Browne, saying he's going to cut the Federal
government in half in the first 100 days he's in office. But what's
the biggest problem people have with libertarian issues? "How do we
get there from here." We gotta start somewhere, and really, it's
not like Barr is saying that he's going to only be libertarian on
the things he wants to be. Every thing I've heard him say is
'government shouldn't be in that, whether I think it's right or
not.' And that's what my idea of government is as well.
I'm voting for him.
|10.27.08 @ 1:28PM|#
Barr is far from ideal, but he's at least saying things pleasing to a libertarian now and then. Obama and McCain are not. Barr's got my vote.
|10.27.08 @ 1:29PM|#
First, Bob Barr gets my vote next week. So does tle libertarian
who's running for the house in my district.*
Second,
... you can move that Libertarian agenda forward much more rapidly, if you keep in mind that your audience is not necessarily going to be fellow Libertarians, it's going to be fellow Americans. [emphasis added]
That is reality based wisdom.
* I could look the name up, but I plead TLTG.
svf|10.27.08 @ 1:32PM|#
I'm guessing Hospers.
Well, the man will likely continue to be the all-time electoral
vote getting LP presidential champion. Gotta hand it to him for
that.
|10.27.08 @ 1:32PM|#
Barr wasn't on the DC ballot anyway, so I just wrote in "Ron Paul." Ron Paul I can feel good about, Barr, no way. (Early-voted last week.)
|10.27.08 @ 1:42PM|#
Highway, my comments are about things Barr is saying now. The article I linked to about Genarlow Wilson is on the"Bob Barr 2008" campaign website.
|10.27.08 @ 1:46PM|#
Actually, Barr will be the first Libertarian for President I will have voted for. Couldn't quite do it earlier, but Obama or McCain? Ugh!
Les|10.27.08 @ 1:50PM|#
I was thinking I'd consider my vote for Barr a vote for the
Libertarian Party, but I don't think the LP deserves my vote for
nominating someone like Barr.
Sure, he admits he made "mistakes," but he doesn't seem to know
what a bigoted, hypocritical douchebag he was. As if his actions in
congress weren't enough (and I think they are, considering their
number and the degree of wretched statism involved), he admires
Scalia. He pretends there was reason to trust the government's case
for going to war in Iraq. He voted for the Patriot Act. And, as
parse above points out, he supports the state's case against
Genarlow Wilson.
At this point, I think it's perfectly reasonable to say, "Fuck that
guy." And fuck the LP for nominating him.
Guy Montag|10.27.08 @ 1:55PM|#
Barr wasn't on the DC ballot anyway, so I just wrote in "Ron
Paul." Ron Paul I can feel good about, Barr, no way. (Early-voted
last week.)
DC is really that backward? We have 8 choices for president and 8
choices for Senator in Tennessee. I voted L in both. However, my
House Rep. is an R and does vote the way I like (from the comments
here some of the Ls would prefer Jimmy Duncan to be in their party,
so there).
Anyway, these stupid hoops so many States and the District throw at
candidates are just silly.
kinnath|10.27.08 @ 2:01PM|#
The only choice at this time is stay home or vote for
Barr.
I haven't missed a presidential election since 1980, but I am
tempted to stay home next week.
zoltan|10.27.08 @ 2:01PM|#
The Genarlow Wilson comments by Barr are pretty horrific. Still
better than socialism and foreverwar though.
I'm even voting for the Libertarian running for Senate in my
state.....and she's a Scientologist. I'm holding my nose in the
booth.
kinnath|10.27.08 @ 2:06PM|#
November 5th, 2007
The only day in my adult life when I actually thought the world
might be going the correct direction.
|10.27.08 @ 2:18PM|#
he supports the state's case against Genarlow
Wilson.
That's actually not true at all. Barr just doesn't see the need for
raising a big hue and cry about it.
|10.27.08 @ 2:22PM|#
DC is really that backward?
Uh, like yeah. Cynthia McKinney is on the ballot in DC this year,
but the libertarian candidates for president are not. Which is odd,
since there was one libertarian candidate for a local position.
Guy Montag|10.27.08 @ 2:24PM|#
Tobycat,
Cynthia McKinney is on the TN ballot too. How many choices got
placed on your ballot?
abu hamza|10.27.08 @ 2:31PM|#
my recollection of barr in his inquest vs clinton during the impeachment is a lot different than his recounting in this interview. barr was the ringlead not about foreign money to the clinton administratino, but on the tawdry sex scandal. in retrospect, the entire impeachment was just about sex, or about lying about sex anyway. in the mean time, there was a gathering threat overseas against our country and congress and the president were distracted by monica lewinsky.
|10.27.08 @ 2:32PM|#
Once again Mr. Weigel distorts facts. His reporting on Denver
was terrible at the time and worse now. The "anonymous flyer" he
refers to was clearly a satirical one and not a serious one. Most
people took it as a joke. Not Mr. Weigel, who clearly had a horse
in this race and is backing him to the hilt. Now he reports it as
if it were serious. if Weigel can't tell the difference between
satire and campaign literature he ought to resign -- better yet,
Reason ought to find a better reporter.
Please note that once again Barr only limits his criticism to a
federal war on drugs/obscenity. He's perfectly fine with local
authoritarianism.
|10.27.08 @ 2:40PM|#
In Florida, we've got a ballot chock-full of presidential
candidates:
John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican Party of Florida)
Barack Obama/Joe Biden (Florida Democratic Party)
Gloria La Riva/Eugene Puryear (Party for Socialism and Liberation - Florida)
Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle (Constitution Party of Florida)
Gene Amondson/Leroy Pletten (Prohibition Party)
Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root (Libertarian Party of Florida)
Thomas Robert Stevens/Alden Link (Objectivist Party of Florida)
James Harris/Alyson Kennedy (Florida Socialist Workers)
Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente (Green Party of Florida, Inc.)
Alan Keyes/Brian Rohrbough (America's Independent Party of Florida)
Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez (Ecology Party of Florida)
Brian Moore/Stewart Alexander (Socialist Party of Florida)
Charles Jay/John Wayne Smith (Boston Tea Party of Florida)
|10.27.08 @ 2:40PM|#
Wait... A person admitting he's human is running for president?
And he thinks he has a chance?
We want superman on the job, not a human. John McCain or Barrack
Obama wouldn't make mistakes.
Silly human.
|10.27.08 @ 2:41PM|#
Well, I'm gonna go early vote at the mall now for the two
libertarians on the ballot (president and U.S. House), a few people
who are Teh Bad but better than all the other choices on the
ballot, and leave the rest blank.
Y'all do whatever you feel is right, even if it is to vote for
McSameOle-bama, and then feel kinda sick when they betray most
every value you hold dear.
Later, dudes and dudettes.
Les|10.27.08 @ 2:46PM|#
That's actually not true at all. Barr just doesn't see the
need for raising a big hue and cry about it.
From his article:
...an attempt by some to transform the case from one involving
child molestation into the latest great civil rights
crusade.
and
As distressing as are the continuing efforts by many community
leaders to clothe Wilson with the halo of victim-hero...
Nowhere does Barr condemn the case and only defends the state's
actions. Even if he only didn't "see the need for raising a big hue
and cry about it," "it" being the imprisonment of a 17 year old for
having consensual sex with a 15 year old, that would be bad
enough.
Barr has, throughout his career, consistently been an utter
hypocrite regarding consensual actions he doesn't approve of.
JLE|10.27.08 @ 2:47PM|#
I don't see how anyone in good conscience can vote for Barr. Or those other two bigwigs. I don't see the point in voting at all anymore. Might as well have Rupert Murdoch run for president. The end game is the same.
Dave Weigel|10.27.08 @ 2:56PM|#
Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez (Ecology Party of
Florida)
I'm old enough to remember when Nader's reason for running for
president was to build up the Green Party. Ironically, between
ruining their image with bitter Democrats and splitting the Green
vote every year, he's probably the worst thing that's ever happened
to them. The whole "run on different party label in different
state" thing is an example of this.
A.G. Pym|10.27.08 @ 3:07PM|#
The political system is a machine running without a sufficient
feedback mechanism. What we really need is a "None of the Above"
slot to show the two wings of the national party that a ballot
marked for one does not necessarily mean a vote _for_ them, but
against the other.
"None of the Above" universal campaign signs available at
cafepress.com/gigb.
|10.27.08 @ 3:08PM|#
Looking at the Florida ballot, I'm reminded of Life of
Brian. One would think that the various socialists could put
aside their differences to stand united as one socialist
party--ditto the Greens and the Ecology Party.
Just for fun, here's a list
(linked page has links to party web sites) of all of the
authorized parties in Florida right now (many without presidential
candidates, of course):
Major Political Parties
* Florida Democratic Party (DEM)
* Republican Party of Florida (REP)
Minor Political Parties
* America First Party of Florida (AFP)
* American Party of Florida (APF)
* American Poor People Party (APP)
* American Reform Party of Florida (ARP)
* America's Independent Party of Florida (AIP)
* Boston Tea Party of Florida (BTP)
* British Reformed Sectarian Party (BRS)
* The Christian Party (CHR)
* Constitution Party of Florida (CPF)
* Ecology Party of Florida (ECO)
* Faith & Patience Inc. N.P.G.G. (FAP)
* Family Values Party (FVP)
* Florida Socialist Workers (SWP)
* Florida Whig Party (FWP)
* Green Party of Florida, Inc. (GRE)
* Independence Party of Florida (IDP)
* Independent Democrats of Florida (IDF)
* Independent Party of Florida (INT)
* Libertarian Party of Florida (LIB)
* The Moderate Party (MOD)
* Objectivist Party of Florida (OBJ)
* Party for Socialism and Liberation - Florida (PSL)
* Possibility Party (POS)
* Progressive Libertarian Party (PRL)
* Prohibition Party (PRO)
* Real Food Party of the United States of America (RFP)
* Reform Party (REF)
* Socialist Party of Florida (SPF)
* Southern Party of Florida (SFL)
* Surfers Party of America (SPA)
* Term Limits for the United States Congress Party (TLP)
* Unity08 (UNI)
* Veterans Party of America (VET)
Good to see that the Whigs are back, at least. And I wonder what the Surfers Party of America's platform looks like?
|10.27.08 @ 3:21PM|#
"Get rid of the Dept. of Education"!!!
WTF
I know the US is falling behind in terms of education but that is
no reason to completely throw in the towel.
Maybe of generation of young people exclusively learning from
Church, TV and parents will help bring about 'End Times'? One can
only hope.
Boston|10.27.08 @ 3:26PM|#
Today, the Modern Whigs are the fastest-growing
non-fringe party. We represent middle-of-the-road voters from all
walks of life who cherry-pick between traditional Democratic and
Republican ideas.
Sounds like the modern democratic or republican parties
|10.27.08 @ 3:31PM|#
I don't trust Barr because his change of heart was in his late
40's... a couple of years ago. But he's trying to play off that
shit like a youthful indescretion. Bullshit! I don't need a perfect
candidate, but I dislike Barr too much; I'd be ashamed to vote for
him because people could ask, "You voted for that social
conservative Replubican?" or "...that drug warrier?" or some such.
I won't put up with it.
On those 4 voting options and what message they deliver... doesn't
writing in Ron Paul send the right message without the Barr
baggage?
Tsu Dho Nihm|10.27.08 @ 3:35PM|#
zoltan,
Try here:
http://shop.cafepress.com/cthulhu
I've been proudly displaying a bumper sticker for months now. Next
Tuesday I'll swap it for my "Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Cthulhu"
sticker.
|10.27.08 @ 3:50PM|#
4) Vote for Bob Barr, and send a clear, unmistakable message
that to get your vote, they must become considerably more
libertarian.
I'm going with option 4, because it communicates very clearly
exactly what it takes to get my support. The others, not so much
so.
Bingo. Anyone voting for Obama to send a message to Republicans
that they need to get back to their small-government roots has it
exactly backwards.
svf|10.27.08 @ 3:51PM|#
doesn't writing in Ron Paul send the right message without
the Barr baggage?
No, because in most states Ron Paul write-ins will not be counted,
tallied, or reported. But if that's what makes you happy, go for
it, bud.
zoltan|10.27.08 @ 3:52PM|#
I'm voting for Barr to help the Libertarian Party and he seems the best of the candidates who are still actually running. Obviously he's not a Republican or drug warrior anymore (so he says). Ron Paul's campaign is suspended, it's a bit useless to vote for him.
Les|10.27.08 @ 3:53PM|#
I know the US is falling behind in terms of education but
that is no reason to completely throw in the towel.
Getting rid of the Dept. of Education would only mean that state
and local governments could focus on what they need. Since it would
eliminate the interference and static from the feds, it would be a
step in improving state education.
Maybe of generation of young people exclusively learning from
Church, TV and parents will help bring about 'End Times'? One can
only hope.
Church and TV (most of it, anyway) are poor sources for education,
but if more parents realized that they are ultimately responsible
for how and what their children learn, we wouldn't be falling
behind at all.
|10.27.08 @ 4:00PM|#
The only possible glimmer of hope in this election is that an unusually high number of voters vote Libertarian. That isn't likely to happen, in large part because Barr screwed up in failing to woo Paul, but there's still the outside possibility. I think anyone who cares about liberty and free markets who votes for either major party's candidate is doing a disservice to us all. This idea that the GOP in particular needs punishment is folly of the greatest sort--both parties need punishing, and I don't mean the comfy chair, either.
cunnivore|10.27.08 @ 4:55PM|#
Planning on writing Ron Paul in?
Next time you take a dump, bring a magic marker into the can with
you, and write his name on the TP before you wipe your ass with
it.
It's probably more likely to be seen by poll workers that way.
|10.27.08 @ 5:41PM|#
svf has got this right, many places will not count write
ins.
And again...
HE'S the candidate, not gonna win, get over it. Come next cycle
this may put the LP over the hump for ballot access. Like him, hate
him, whatever; vote party lines like 90%+ of the sheeple(TM).
Unless you find Constitution or Green more in line with your
political leanings ... but you wouldn't be HERE then, would
you.
economist|10.27.08 @ 5:47PM|#
The Prohibition Party should rename itself the "Goddamn nosey asswipes who helped create organized crime" party. More accurate, you see.
Nash|10.27.08 @ 7:54PM|#
"If you talk about these issues in very vague, hypothetical
terms, or you talk about issues that are going to scare the
American public, I think you're making a mistake. You can make the
same point, you can move that Libertarian agenda forward much more
rapidly, if you keep in mind that your audience is not necessarily
going to be fellow Libertarians, it's going to be fellow
Americans."
I found this paragraph insightful.
Ron Paul energized his base because of generalized rhetoric but had
few votes to show for it. Barr is doing even worse because he never
energized the base. Regardless, the above hold true, I think you
just have to know who you're talking to when you say it.
|10.27.08 @ 9:16PM|#
WHY BARR IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!!!
Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr is running for President of
the United States for the following reasons:
1. He is a patriot. 2. He is the 'leader' of the nation's third
largest political party. 3. As he wants to promote his party's
belief in smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom, a
Presidential election season is an opportune time to do this. 4. In
a nation that believes in freedom of choice, he wants American
voters to have an additional option to vote for. 5. A Presidential
election season is a great time to bring attention to, and gain
members for, your political party. It's also a great time to help
set the national political agenda for the next legislative term. 6.
Two things will happen, if he and his running mate Wayne Allyn
Root, get at least 5% of the nation's popular vote on November 4th.
Beginning with the 2012 Libertarian Presidential Campaign,
signature petition drives for state ballot access would become
unnecessary. Also, the party's Presidential Campaign would qualify
for voluntary federal Presidential Election Campaign Fund money. 7.
He believes that America 'desperately needs' a third major
political party right now. So he is working very hard to help build
it. If he gets more than 921,299 votes or more than 1.1% of the
total votes this national election, he will set a Libertarian Party
Presidential record. 8. To get enough national popular and
electoral votes to become the next President and help return this
nation to greatness.
So as you can see, Bob Barr has many very important reasons to run
for President than just to win The White House! If you believe in
this his cause, and after studying him like him best, then simply
support him for President. Time will tell how many victories his
campaign won!
I trust this information has helped you in making your decision. I
will be voting for a 'real winner' in Bob Barr on November 4th! I
certainly hope that you will join me, by voting for him too!!!
pissed|10.27.08 @ 10:12PM|#
It was a huge mistake to nominate Barr. He does / did nothing to
spread Libertarian views. He does not even represent libertarian
views. What is libertarian about pre-emptive war? Scalia the ideal
judge? Puhleez!
The momentum of Paul came to a screeching halt with the nomination
of Barr.
Flake, 2012.
Les|10.27.08 @ 10:29PM|#
Jack,
With all due respect:
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/129676.html#1123231
Brandybuck|10.27.08 @ 10:36PM|#
This guy is so far off from being a libertarian (big 'L' or little) that I'm almost glad he's being ignored by the media.
If you look at the Nolan Chart, you'll see that "libertarian"
covers 20%. It's one quarter of the chart with a corner lopped off
for the centrists. You don't have to be a perfect 100/100 at the
very point in order to be a libertarian.
Bob Barr most certainly fits within that area. He ain't a purist
anarcho, but I guess to some people if you ain't arguing the finer
points of agorism you ain't genuine.
svf|10.28.08 @ 8:04AM|#
The momentum of Paul came to a screeching halt with the
nomination of Barr.
Uh... more like right after Super Tuesday.
By the time the LP convention happened, the "rLOVEution" had
already become so fragmented and divided into various caps that
there was no more momentum to build upon.
The Rally for the Republic MIGHT have presented an opportunity for
Ron Paul/C4L to make a meaningful third party endoresement of some
kind (whether it be for Baldwin, Barr, or whoever).
Instead, what's left of the RP "movement" will divide their million
or so votes between McCain, Obama, Barr, Baldwin, Nader, writing in
Ron Paul (or voting for him where they forced him on the ballot) or
staying home.
Divide and conquer -- mission accomplished!
The Democratic Republican|10.28.08 @ 3:22PM|#
One of these days, a radical is going to get elected, and I am
going to laugh my ass off when all of you radicals think that he or
she has "sold out."
You know, talk about limited government and then start doing things
like asking for earmarks, voting against bills protecting online
privacy, allowing his cronies to use his name for disgusting
purposes.
Oh...wait...it's already happened. Hello there, Dr. Paul!!!
Long story short: if people want to get into politics they will, by
definition, have to compromise.
The Democratic Republican|10.28.08 @ 3:28PM|#
Seriously, after reading some more of the comments, I have to
ask:
are you radicals really so enlightened that you so easily forgive
one candidate (Paul) for ALL of his MANY libertarian sins, not to
mention his completely incompetent campaign that put my money into
Lew Rockwell's hands via the CFL,
but you can't forgive the other (Barr) because he was anti-drug and
anti-gay?
The one (Paul) took money from racists in the campaign, and the
other (Barr) told all the racists and any other group that hated
anyone else to piss off. Tell me which one sounds more "radical" to
you.
And just in case anyone forgot, Paul endorsed a party's candidate
with a platform that supports theocracy and jingoistic nationalism.
That ought to show everyone where his true loyalties are.
Andy|10.30.08 @ 3:49PM|#
I voted for him. He's not perfect, but prolefeed's layout was
pretty accurate for why it's worth the effort. The other two
parties need to know that libertarians are out there to be
won.
Maybe when the Republicans lose big, they will rethink some of
their bullshit. You never know. (Well, sometimes you do.)
|11.3.08 @ 4:22PM|#
For a proper comparison on who falls where, see
http://muddythoughts.blogspot.com/2008/09/spectrum-standings.html.
As for Barr, those of us in the libertartain wing of the LP warned
you, and you didn't listen. We can now say, "WE TOLD YOU SO!"
And as for Barr, my votes against him in Denver were because of two
words: Fort Hood.
If he can't get the First Amendment right, he has no business being
a candidate in ANY race under the LP banner.
|11.3.08 @ 4:27PM|#
Andy, we're not out here to be won like some prize at a
carnival. That just adds to the bullshit idea that votes are
entitlements and mean nothing else, and denigrates voters as mere
chattel to be exploited then ignored.
We are out here to get our Freedom and Liberty back. The parties in
Big Government Left and Right Branches aren't. When the electorate
finally realizes that, things will change. I'm not holding my
breath, though.
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More Articles by David Weigel
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