The Libertarian Party Presidential Field

Brian Doherty | September 24, 2007

Anything can happen at the LP's national convention next Memorial Day weekend in Denver when they actually nominate their presidential candidate for 2008, but here's who will be on the primary ballot for the LP nomination in California, via Ballot Access News:

John Finan of New York, NY; Barry Hess of Glendale, Az; Dave Hollist of Alta Loma, Ca; Daniel Imperato of West Palm Beach, Fl; Bob Jackson of Constantine, Mi; Michael Jingozian of Sherwood, Or; Steve Kubby of Fort Bragg, Ca; Alden Link of Newburgh, NY; Robert Milnes of Camden, NJ; George Phillies of Worcester, Ma; Wayne Allyn Root of Henderson, Nv; and Christine Smith of Arvada, Co.

I haven't yet looked into what criteria go into qualifying, and the Ballot Access News piece doesn't say either. But there you are.

Comments

|9.24.07 @ 5:14PM|#

Bob Jackson
Damn, I briefly thought it was Bo Jackson.

Edward|9.24.07 @ 5:16PM|#

Here's Chrsitine Smith's answers to some questions onForeign Policy & National Security:



I Choose Peace

I will end U.S. government meddling in the affairs and conflicts of foreign nations.

I will immediately withdraw our troops and close all U.S. bases in all areas worldwide which pose no direct threat to America.

I will defend American soil and shores. Our troops and military resources will be used only to defend America...the American people.

I will immediately lift all restrictions imposed upon Cuban-American relations and commerce/trade, and respect Cuban sovereignty.

I will end all U.S. government intervention/intrusions in the governments and elections of foreign nations.

I will stop the U.S. government's arming of Israel's enemies.

|9.24.07 @ 5:20PM|#

The only one I've heard of is Steve Kubby. If he feels up for the campaign I wouldn't mind supporting him.

Edward|9.24.07 @ 5:27PM|#

Warren,

But Kuby says that if Ron Paul gets the Republican nomination, he will drop out and urge Libertarians to vote Republican. Sounds like a sort of lukewarm candidate to me.

|9.24.07 @ 5:35PM|#

Edward,
Not at all. Ron Paul as the GOP candidate is a thousand times better than another 2% LP candidate nobody ever hears of.

If Ron Paul wins the nomination, I'll be dancing every day till the election. If he doesn't win, I'll support the LP candidate.

Dave Weigel|9.24.07 @ 5:37PM|#

Ugh, Imperato? He's a kook's kook. Check out this report from his vanity news service iConnect. Best bit:

Daniel Imperato is currently a candidate for the office of the Presidency in the United States. Based upon i1connect's research, this would be the first time that someone of a noble appointment such as Grand Prior, is running for President in the United States.

Mrs. Imperato also received her noble appointment as the Lady of Zenobia.

Edward|9.24.07 @ 5:37PM|#

Warren,

I suspect you'll be supporting the LP candidate. All that dancing would be hard on your feet anyway.

|9.24.07 @ 5:38PM|#

In 2004, David Beito suggested the LP nominate Penn Jillette. I still think that's a brilliant idea. He's very libertarian, quite smart, and funny as hell. And the media coverage and cool factor would be invaluable to the LP.

But the history of the LP suggests that, even if Penn was willing, they'll find a way to blow up even the best idea for getting their message out.

|9.24.07 @ 5:39PM|#

Draft Stanhope!

|9.24.07 @ 5:40PM|#

Barry Hess of Glendale, Az

.. any relation to Karl Hess??

.. Hobbit

Edward|9.24.07 @ 5:41PM|#

February 13, 2007 (Press Release) -- Orden Bonaria is an internationally recognized humanitarian organization that is officially recognized by the United Nations and many other countries around the world.

Famous honorary members of the Orden Bonaria include the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and former United States President, Jimmy Carter.

"This is truly a great honor," stated Imperato. "My sincere gratitude goes out to Orden Bonaria for commissioning me to help in their humanitarian mission. I will do my best to spread goodwill and bring the people of the world together."

The Orden Bonaria dates back as early as the 13th Century and is one of the world's longest running global humanitarian organizations.

Edward|9.24.07 @ 5:46PM|#

Root graduated Valedictorian from his high school, then attended Columbia University as a Political Science major (graduating in 1983 in the same class as Barack Obama). Root has been married to a former Miss Oklahoma, Debra Root, for over 16 years. The couple have three children: Dakota, Hudson and Remington Reagan.

Remmington Reagan?

LibertyPlease|9.24.07 @ 5:49PM|#

If Ron Paul wins the nomination, I'll be dancing every day till the election. If he doesn't win, I'll support the LP candidate.

Me too

Edward|9.24.07 @ 5:55PM|#

LibertyPlease

In the unlikely even that Ron Paul doesn't get the Republican nomination, you should invite Warren to go dancing anyway. I'll bet you two have a lot in common.

|9.24.07 @ 6:00PM|#

I'd vote for Penn. And Teller.

VM|9.24.07 @ 6:01PM|#

FRANK GONZALEZ!!!!

Edward|9.24.07 @ 6:02PM|#

Off topic, but funny:

Libertarian Reluctantly Calls Fire Department
April 21, 2004 | The Onion Issue 40•16

Libertarian Reluctantly Calls Fire Department

CHEYENNE, WY-After attempting to contain a living-room blaze started by a cigarette, card-carrying Libertarian Trent Jacobs reluctantly called the Cheyenne Fire Department Monday. "Although the community would do better to rely on an efficient, free-market fire-fighting service, the fact is that expensive, unnecessary public fire departments do exist," Jacobs said. "Also, my house was burning down." Jacobs did not offer to pay firefighters for their service.

|9.24.07 @ 6:17PM|#

I've actually heard of Wayne Root before and been entertained by his website. He seems to have the money and personality to actually make some good press for the LP. I have faith in their ability to find someone who refuses to get a driver's license, though.

SIV|9.24.07 @ 6:31PM|#

Root is the only one I'm familiar with.
He is a tout or sports handicapper of some sort- an excellent backgound for a LP candidate.
When I saw his profile I though he looked good and stood a chance of getting low single digits of the popular vote.I think he is "pro-war" so that will probably cost him the LP nomination.
Maybe if he was some sort of Royalty in an Ancient secret Soiety along with Jimmy Carter and Mandela (the live one not the Iraqi Mandela Bush was talking about) or had swallowed enough colloidal silver to turn blue he would actually have a shot at the monination.......

SIV|9.24.07 @ 6:36PM|#

uh nomination....

Root looked like he could be entertaining and offer a challenging debate.He appears to be smart enough and an excellent self promoter.A sucessful career as a self-made success as a sports tout is quite fitting to the American Character. I bet he has a valid drivers license and pays taxes too.

|9.24.07 @ 6:38PM|#

Kelly Carr has the best idea.

Stanhope trumps Penn just for his ability to get under the electorate's skin.

What Libertarian wouldn't love a candidate that claimed to be from a "genre of comedian that lives in the cracks, that may or may not be drunks, do drugs, be insane, paranoid, nihilistic, verbose or violent, unprofessional, anti-social or just roundly misunderstood. Too uncool to be alternative, too unique to be mainstream, too unmarketable to be bookable, too unstable to be invited to the party."

Plus the Unbookables getting all the crony jobs!

Nigel Watt|9.24.07 @ 6:41PM|#

Ugh, Imperato? He's a kook's kook.

Seriously, he's awarded himself all sorts of crap, and is running his company down the drain.

LibertyPlease|9.24.07 @ 6:47PM|#

LibertyPlease

In the unlikely even that Ron Paul doesn't get the Republican nomination, you should invite Warren to go dancing anyway. I'll bet you two have a lot in common.

We both belong to the Church of the SubGenius?

|9.24.07 @ 6:54PM|#

Barry Hess of Glendale, Az ... any relation to Karl Hess?

I wondered the same thing myself, Hobbit.

Seth|9.24.07 @ 6:55PM|#

Eh, if you want to see the real kooks, look up Jonathan "The Imapler" Sharkey, Jackson Kirk Grimes, and Emperor Caesar. Easiest place to see them is http://votesmart.org/election_president_search.php?type=party

|9.24.07 @ 7:20PM|#

Barry Hess is NO relation to Karl Hess. Barry is what I would consider a far Right kind of libertarian. Not my cup of tea at all. I think he's one of "revisionist" libertarians who now embrace statism on immigration.

|9.24.07 @ 7:34PM|#

I've found my Libertarian candidate and she's gorgeous

|9.24.07 @ 7:41PM|#

That clears that up. For I while I was thinking he was the love child of Barry Goldwater and Karl Hess.

|9.24.07 @ 7:53PM|#

Where's DOOOONDEEEEEEEEEERROOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! on that list?

|9.24.07 @ 8:02PM|#

Where's DOOOONDEEEEEEEEEERROOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! on that list?

Yeah, thats what I was wondering.

LibertyPlease|9.24.07 @ 8:03PM|#

I've found my Libertarian candidate and she's gorgeous

That's a beautiful Shemale

Anonymous Albert Anderson|9.24.07 @ 8:05PM|#

Hahahahahaha a guy with the last name Phillies thinks he can actually win something???

Maybe he needs to change it to Yankees.

Xmas|9.24.07 @ 8:15PM|#

George Phillies is my man for the Libertarian Party candidacy!

He is the advisor for the WPI Science Fiction Society! That's leadership in action! We need a President who can run The World's Largest Dungeon.

And the author of the thrilling paper, "Experimental demonstration of multiple-scattering suppression in quasielastic-light-scattering spectroscopy by homodyne coincidence techniques"

Seriously though, he's a smart cookie.

|9.24.07 @ 8:27PM|#

I've found my Libertarian candidate and she's gorgeous
That's a beautiful Shemale

At least she's not blue. For the LP, that's a big step toward the mainstream.

|9.24.07 @ 8:32PM|#

Phillies is also a "published" (electronically, that is; he's awaiting a print publisher to decide to publish his work) author of stuff such as The Minutegirls.

"Minutegirls...

Nice young women
who just want some good clean fun
with power armor,
plenty of high explosives,
and a few cute Minuteboys.

It is 2174.

From the hills of American Manchuria
to the depths of Outer Space.
America's Girl Militia
battles Franco-German Treachery
to shield the American Stellar Republic."

His academic site lists the following in his biography:

"Phillies, 57, has never married, and rents a townhouse in Worcester, Massachusetts, a block from The WPI Campus. His hobbies include science fiction. For several years he edited a small-press fiction magazine for the Greater Medford Science Fiction Society. As a nonprofessional fiction writer, several of his short stories have won awards at national conventions. His completed novel `This Shining Sea' has been published electronically by Third Millennium and is now in search of a paper publisher. Phillies collects strategy games and is Treasurer of the International Strategy Gaming Society."

Idea-wise, he seems to be a great candidate:

"Previous political activities: Phillies was a Republican until the late 1980s. He left the Republican party because of the national Republican Party's actions on the deficit (it got bigger), government (it got bigger), taxes (they kept going up), and social issues ('I am not a social conservative. When George Bush attached himself to the 'Christian Right', he took the Republican Party his way and I went my way.')

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 against Democratic Party incumbent Jim McGovern and Republican Matt Amorello. One of his three-way debates was later carried coast to coast on CSPAN-II, 7PM EST, the Thursday before the election. In 2004, Phillies was elected as one of the two Regular members of the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts State Committee."

But the whole lifelong bachelor [eccentric?] college professor thing makes him almost totally unelectable.

I'd almost say that he has Asperger's Syndrome or something...

|9.24.07 @ 8:35PM|#

It is a nice sign of cameraderie, though, that several of the LP candidates have friended each other on Myspace...

http://myspace.com/philliesforpresident

|9.24.07 @ 8:37PM|#

Who knew that Dave Attell supports George Phillies?

The Stanhope/Attell ticket would certainly be the most entertaining ticket ever...

|9.24.07 @ 8:57PM|#

Why does anyone still take the LP seriously?

Jerry|9.24.07 @ 9:23PM|#

If Ron Paul does not get the Republican nomination, can the LP still nominate him at a later time? Or can they only provide for ballot access?

SIV|9.24.07 @ 9:31PM|#

If Ron Paul does not get the Republican nomination, can the LP still nominate him at a later time? Or can they only provide for ballot access?

Ron Paul has said if he doesn't secure the GOP nomination his campaign ends.

|9.24.07 @ 9:36PM|#

Why does anyone still take the LP seriously?

When the only other option are Republicans and Democrats, it shouldn't be too surprising that people would hold out hope the LPtards could get it together. Also, they'll occasionally nominate a semi-credible candidate like Harry Browne.

|9.24.07 @ 9:41PM|#

Ok Number 6, I'll bite. I still take the Libertarian Party seriously because way back in 1984-ish, a card-carrying member of the Libertarian Party introduced me to the party of principle, and to liberty. I never looked back, and despite most of the time identifying myself more as a "small L" libertarian, I _still_ to this day vote for the party nominee in the presidential races. I voted for Ron Paul in 1988 whenever I didn't know anything about the Good Doctor at all except that he had an "L" beside his name, and I _knew_ what that meant!

I intend to vote for Ron Paul in the Repugnican primaries this winter, and am reserving my vote in the general election in November based on what transpires between now and then. But I may vote Libertarian, or I may write in Ron Paul, whichever I judge will make the most powerful statement for liberty at that time. One thing is for certain though, and that is that I will _never, ever_ vote for "the lesser of two evils". I learned that lesson through the Libertarian Party, and that, in my mind, is why they are still relevant and worthy of my support.

|9.24.07 @ 9:53PM|#

Doug Stanhope actually WAS running ( well, he decided not to run officially) but dropped out and threw his support to ROn Paul.

I actually have heard of every candidate on the list, but then again I do read ThirdPartyWatch and used to be in the LP.

I think most of us who follow it seem to think at this moment, the "main" candidates are Phillies ( long time party activist who has lost many runs for LNC positions), Kubby ( smewhat famous for his medical marijuana prosecution, fleeing to Canada, 1998? CA Gov run,etc), and Wayne Allyn Root ( you've probably seen him on TV, either on FoxNews pushing his book "Millionaire Republican", or on one of the sportsd/mens networks with his sports betting commercials).

Imperato- he writes stories about himself having lunch with George Clooney. Appears deluded. Tries to appear like a" big deal."

Finan- opps, never heard of that one.

Hess- previous candidate, well known in LP circles. I did not think he was running, though.

Hollist- runs for LP Prez every election. Has a very lame website and brochure about contract insurance. I think he drives a bus.

Jackson- opps, never heard.

Jingozian- I think he is supposed to be wealthy ( at least in LP terms- In the LP, the guy who did Supermarket Sweep and the dude from Ski School are celebrities and Wayne Allyn Root is a billionaire)- not sure why.

Link- I think he owns or manages ( or founded/ used to) a company that manufactures Jmaba Juice machines.

Milnes- He posts on TPW all the time. I dont think he can claim a single supporter. I think he aspires to be a left/Green fusion candidate.

Christine Smith- She is a woman. She is not particularly attractive ( not that I care or think it matters), but this is the LP. This is the world where Imperato is running with Clooney, Root is a wealthy celebrity,etc. So for some reason some LPers have kinda implied Smith is some kind of babe.

|9.24.07 @ 9:55PM|#

With all due respect to Steve Kubby and George Phillies who are fine and decent people with great intellect and ideas, this is the sorriest lot of LP presidential candidates in a long time.

|9.24.07 @ 10:05PM|#

...this is the sorriest lot of LP presidential candidates in a long time.,/i>

Really? then how'd they wind up with Bednarik in 2004?

|9.24.07 @ 10:29PM|#

FRANK GONZALEZ!!!!
You acctually know who he is? Holy shit.

|9.24.07 @ 10:34PM|#

I don't know, Badnarik was pretty awful.

|9.24.07 @ 10:37PM|#

Badnarik got the nod because ..well, my opinions anyway- Nolan was a Republican-lite and Russo was batshit. So Badnarik, the principled libertarian ( without much of a resume, hence nothing indicating he was "bad" or insane) snuck in.

|9.24.07 @ 10:40PM|#

Plus, the fact that Nolan and Russo appeared to really hate each other ( with a lot of negative campaigning and campaign staff circulating rumors). So Nolan threw all of his support Badnarik's way.

IIRC, Badnarik gave a really good speech. the voting was really close with Russo 1st. Nolan was eliminated and told all of his supporters and everyone else to vote Badnarik.

|9.24.07 @ 10:42PM|#

ugg,
Should have mentioned the voting was close so the top 2 needed a Run-off- where Badnarik ( Michael Badnarik, not Chuck Bednarik- the guy who played both ways for the Eagles for $17,000 in 1960) won.

|9.24.07 @ 10:43PM|#

Nolan would have been a MUCH better candidate. I wouldn't have needed to write in Jefferson if he had been nominated.

|9.24.07 @ 10:52PM|#

IIRC, Badnarik gave a really good speech. the voting was really close with Russo 1st. Nolan was eliminated and told all of his supporters and everyone else to vote Badnarik.
It's what nearly single-handedly turned me liberterian.

|9.24.07 @ 11:12PM|#

J cjaxson3 - thanks for the info. I wasn't really following the LP closely in 2004. I voted for Badnarik, but it would probably be more accurate to say I voted for [Libertarian candidate].

|9.24.07 @ 11:28PM|#

Hmmm, I probably would have quit the LP if Russo had won. Wait! I did quit the LP! Not because Russo almost got the nomination, but because even the moonbatshit Greens were getting higher polling numbers.

|9.24.07 @ 11:29PM|#

Considering the crop of candidates from the big 2, odds are good I'll be pulling the lever for the Libertarian candidate, with one caveat:

I will never, ever, vote for Wayne Allyn Root. Anyone who makes his fortune off of the rare combination of greed and stupidity that is his client base is a looter, to borrow from Ms. Rand.

I have been tempted to set up one of those BS tout 1-800 numbers; the kind where on the "play of the week" every odd caller gets Team A and every even caller gets Team B. Half the idiots will think I'm a genius!

|9.24.07 @ 11:29PM|#

Russo was an idiot. He went way, way too far with his conspiracy nuttery for me.

|9.25.07 @ 12:36AM|#

Why am I seeing material now about Phillies 2008? We're still in the playoff picture THIS YEAR !!!

And Bednarik was the last really dominant two way player in the NFL, almost half a century ago. But for President? Maybe with Van Buren as his running mate? Throwback jerseys are one thing but . . .

iih|9.25.07 @ 1:42AM|#

In the meantime, here is another great Ron Paul speech in Chicago.

|9.25.07 @ 2:25AM|#

Wayne Allen Root is the candidate!

Thane Eichenauer|9.25.07 @ 4:28AM|#

Wayne Allen Root is a candidate. Christine Smith is the candidate!

ed|9.25.07 @ 8:32AM|#

They represent the Lollipop Guild.

|9.25.07 @ 9:14AM|#

Greg Raymer (of World Series of Poker fame) has indicated that he'd be interested in being the VP on the LP ticket.

It'll never happen: He's too well-adjusted and well-spoken.

|9.25.07 @ 9:36AM|#

how come Bugs Bunny ain't on the list? the rest of the looney toon crowd is.

VM|9.25.07 @ 9:54AM|#

Jonathan:

he was in Chicago ere he moved to Fla.

Tom W|9.25.07 @ 10:36AM|#

And if he doesn't win, we'll all be dancing in the truck as they haul us off to reeducation camps.

> If Ron Paul wins the nomination, I'll be dancing every day till the election. If he doesn't win

Sorry, I coudn't resist that reference to an early '70s issue of reason where a reader memorably took Rothbard to task for applauding the communist toppling of the South Vietnamese government (because it was the "death of a state") as well as Cambodia. The reader asked if Rothbard would be dancing in the truck as they carted him off to a reeducation camp.

|9.25.07 @ 1:09PM|#

I haven't read the article yet, but is Ed Thompson out? With Thompsons making big splashes in the major party pond, we in the LP should have a Thompson bombshell of our own. Fair is fair.

|9.25.07 @ 3:40PM|#

As a recent transplant to California, this is the first I'd heard of a LP Presidential primary in this state. If there's a Californian out there who can answer these questions, I'd be grateful:

-2004 CA LP primary results:

Nolan 11885 (59.2%)
Russo 4858 (24.2%)
Badnarik 3335 (16.6%)

Is the CA LP primary binding? Are delegates to the LP convention chosen per the results of the primary?

-Is the primary occurring per the wishes of the state party, or against the wishes of the state party?

|9.27.07 @ 6:59PM|#

I think that Daniel Imperato has the best shot of not only winning the Libertarian Party nomination, but of winning over the American people. He is charismatic, experienced, and is a breath of fresh air for American voters. I think he's our man for 2008.