Wayne Allyn Root's "Lessons Obama Should Have Learned From Watching the Super Bowl"

Matt Welch | February 8, 2010

My favorite 2008 Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee is back with another searing indictment of his former Columbia classmate, with an oddsmaking twist. Excerpt:

#2) Taking risks is central to success. The Saints pulled the huge Super Bowl upset by taking a huge gamble. Their onside kick to start the second half was the key play of the game- and one of the most daring calls in Super Bowl history. Obama doesn't understand how important risk-taking is to success in life. [...]

#3) Sports gambling (and all forms of online gaming) needs to be legalized. Our country is bankrupt. We need to use Nevada as a role model for the nation and legalize, regulate and tax "sin," like any other business. Legalizing medical marijuana and online gaming has the potential to bring in $300 billion in new tax revenues. That could pay down government debts, or allow us to lower taxes for our hardworking American taxpayers. [...]

#5) Government wastes our money. During the Super Bowl I witnessed a perfect example of why our government is broke and failing...and why only the private sector can save our economy. I saw a TV ad created by the federal government. It was an advertisement for the U.S. Census Bureau. It was stale, stupid and ineffective. But worse, it wasted $2 million of taxpayer money. Yes, that ad cost $2 MM of your money. For what? This is how government wastes your money every hour of every day. It's easy to waste a million here…and a million there, when it's not your money. Remember that joke about the difference between Vegas and D.C. This is a perfect example of government bureaucrats gambling and failing miserably with someone else's money- YOURS.

Whole thing here. Reason's Rootiness here.

Comments

|2.8.10 @ 12:35PM|#

You don't understand. If you make it legal to have sex with dogs, people will have sex with dogs. It's not rocket surgery.

|2.8.10 @ 1:56PM|#

Sex with animals? There's no time, man!

|2.8.10 @ 12:39PM|#

When you are President and risk taking involves the lives and livlihoods of 300 million people, risk taking is not the best of ideas. Wayne Allen Root is an idiot.

ph|2.8.10 @ 1:09PM|#

watch as point flies far over John's head.

|2.8.10 @ 2:17PM|#

Can we get a slo-mo replay of that?

|2.8.10 @ 12:43PM|#

I'd be a little concerned about a Libertarian Party front-runner that doesn't seem to "get" Obama...

Obama doesn't care about the outcome of any of his policies--other than the outcome of the next election.

...at least it might concern me if I cared about the Libertarian Party or any other political party.

|2.8.10 @ 12:45PM|#

legalized medical marijuana and gambling will bring in $300 billion?

That about $1000 just in sin taxes for every man, woman, and child in America!

WAR really needs to get a grip.

Sudden|2.8.10 @ 1:35PM|#

Why is it that when WAR proposes this idea he is universally scoffed by the reason commentariat, yet when NORML gets a proposition on the california ballot for legalization, heavily pitching it as a revenue generator, it is almost universally appluaded.

I just hope for some consistency here. I don't like taxes, period. And I certainly don't approve of the pernicious nanny-nag "sin" or "vice" taxes on cigs, booze, or ganja and I always share my criticism of "legalize weed for tax money" arguments. But it seems like a lot of people here are willing to say its a great idea on a california ballot (eventhough under 28.5 grams is less than a driving-w-a-cell-phone ticket here) but are willing to skewer WAR for suggesting the same thing.

|2.8.10 @ 1:49PM|#

Because NORML doesn't proclaim to be libertarian.

|2.8.10 @ 1:49PM|#

NORML doesn't suggest that it will generate $300 billion in revenue.

Zeb|2.8.10 @ 1:50PM|#

I think that the complaint about WAR was more for the figure he presents, not the idea of the tax.
I think that sometimes you need to take these issues one at a time. Legalization is a good thing, even if sin taxes are not simultaneously eliminated.

anonymous|2.8.10 @ 11:21PM|#

NORML isn't an asshole, for one thing.

***|2.8.10 @ 1:53PM|#

legalized medical marijuana and gambling will bring in $300 billion?

Poor wording on WAR's part maybe? I could see tax revenue plus money saved on prisons, enforcement, etc. adding up to $300B.

|2.8.10 @ 2:16PM|#

So, dollars created or saved?

brotherben|2.8.10 @ 2:41PM|#

nice.

iowahawk|2.8.10 @ 12:48PM|#

I thought the Census ad was very instructive.

$2 million of complete government waste in the span of 30 seconds: extrapolates to $2 trillion of complete government waste per year.

About right, I'd say.

|2.8.10 @ 12:49PM|#

My favorite 2008 Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee...

Why do you hate the Libertarian Party Matt.

|2.8.10 @ 1:08PM|#

He was my favorite....but i think Matt was being sarcastic.

Matt Welch|2.8.10 @ 1:49PM|#

I don't hate the LP. Nor do I hate making dumb jokes.

Jersey Patriot|2.8.10 @ 12:50PM|#

If you think the government needs to cut spending, and you start by mentioning "waste", you're not serious about cutting spending.

|2.8.10 @ 2:46PM|#

Ding! Ding! Ding!

|2.8.10 @ 2:47PM|#

Not to mention that no one is against "cutting waste" - except maybe those who think all government spending is stimulus and a goodt thing.

|2.8.10 @ 12:55PM|#

Legalizing medical marijuana and online gaming has the potential to bring in $300 billion in new tax revenues. That could pay down government debts, or allow us to lower taxes for our hardworking American taxpayers.

Lowering taxes via taxation. Brilliant!

brotherben|2.8.10 @ 12:56PM|#

Those super bowl census ads don't cost that much when you figure in all the new sin tax revenues this Libertarian is calling for.

brotherben|2.8.10 @ 12:59PM|#

Oh Sweet Jesus. Couldn't find a picture of him without the "Heil" pose?

Sorry for the Godwin but damn. The photo Godwins the article.

Matt Welch|2.8.10 @ 1:50PM|#

First, I think the hand is too high and flat to be a properly understood "Heil." Second, do a Google image search on his name, then tell *me* what pictures I should use.

|2.8.10 @ 1:59PM|#

This works.

|2.8.10 @ 2:00PM|#

What's wrong with this one?

|2.8.10 @ 2:01PM|#

Your google skills are a match for my own, capitol l. Pistols at dawn.

|2.8.10 @ 2:03PM|#

I thought it'd be harder to find a goofy piture of Root, but that's the second result on google images.

|2.8.10 @ 2:04PM|#

Pitcher piture piure pture

Ah...piCture.

|2.8.10 @ 2:06PM|#

The AMC Gremlin General Lee picture is nice too.

John Tagliaferro|2.8.10 @ 8:55PM|#

Who likned that for you SF?

|2.8.10 @ 2:18PM|#

then tell *me* what pictures I should use.

I like the direction this is going. Frankly, us commenters should be in charge of selecting all pictures and their accompanying alt-text.

|2.8.10 @ 2:19PM|#

oh, when i say "us commenters", i'm actually excluding myself. I'd just vote for lobster girl for every post's image.

brotherben|2.8.10 @ 3:02PM|#

There are certainly many pictures available of Root that don't evoke the heil image in my feeble mind. And you are certainly free to include whatever picture you like of the man. I just thought that it was a poor choice considering the libertarian party's reputation for attracting seperatists and other outliers. The sad fact is that in politics, image is very important. As far as me picking pictures for your articles, hellfire man, I barely pull my own weight around here. Surely you don't expect me to do your job too?

|2.8.10 @ 1:06PM|#

My favorite 2008 Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee

Really? or are you being sarcastic?

Citizen Nothing|2.8.10 @ 1:16PM|#

And who was your favorite 2008 LP vice presidential nominee?

Mo|2.8.10 @ 1:13PM|#

Does WAR understand that the president doesn't control legislation and 90% of gambling laws are regulated at the state, not federal, level? Why do you insist on forcing this self-aggrandizing moron onto us Matt? Are you taking your former warblogger status too literally?

Matt Welch|2.8.10 @ 1:52PM|#

That last line is funny. Especially when I finally got it!

I post WAR stuff because A) it comes into my in-box, B) he was the LP veep candidate & has aims to be the next LP prez nominee, C) we have a readership that cares about LP politics, and D) sometimes I think what he says is funny or interesting or otherwise noteworthy.

|2.8.10 @ 2:11PM|#

Also as Wayne is so fond of pointing out, Americans LOVE Las Vegas. If a political party has someone with the courage to stand up to the president's persistent attacks on this national treasure then the skies the limit for them.

Mo|2.8.10 @ 1:19PM|#

Also, WAR may be the only person on earth that likes the GoDaddy ads. If guys are going to the internet to look at T&A, there are better sources than GoDaddy. Not to mention, no good libertarian should praise GoDaddy after shutting down RateMyCop.com after getting pressure for police groups.

|2.8.10 @ 2:54PM|#

Except that it's all about context. A Go Daddy girl - say Danika (spelling)Patrick - almost exposing part of a boob ranks approximately as high on the erotic scale as Jenna Jameson doing double penetration while orally pleasuring one of her girlfriends.

|2.8.10 @ 1:27PM|#

Achtung, baby!

Tank|2.8.10 @ 1:38PM|#

The onside kick wasn't [i]that[/i] daring. I mean, the Steelers did the exact same thing in the 1995 Super Bowl.

|2.8.10 @ 1:51PM|#

Not at the BEGINNING of the second half. What the Saints did was a major gamble.

|2.8.10 @ 2:04PM|#

Didn't the Patriots do this in a regular season game this year?

|2.8.10 @ 1:46PM|#

Why do I just want to fricking punch wayne allen root every time he makes a good point? Why??

cls|2.8.10 @ 2:03PM|#

Please hand out vomit bags prior to posting articles about Root. If South Park knew Root they wouldn't have named John Edwards as The Biggest Douche in the Universe. The LP's flirtation with this man is signs of how desperate the party has become and a good reason why I have dropped supporting the LP.

Franklin Harris|2.8.10 @ 2:10PM|#

WAR, STFU. KTHXBYE.

|2.8.10 @ 2:14PM|#

Root is partly responsible for the common phrase, small l libertarian.

|2.8.10 @ 2:14PM|#

Daring? Daring is going for it on every fourth down. Daring is onsiding every kick. Daring is a eleven-man blitz. . .every play.

SIV|2.8.10 @ 2:32PM|#

That was my strategy with some analog "computer" football game in the 1970s.

|2.8.10 @ 3:30PM|#

Your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

brotherben|2.8.10 @ 2:40PM|#

If South Park knew Root they wouldn't have named John Edwards as The Biggest Douche in the Universe.

Yes but does Root have a sex tape coming out soon? Hmmmmm?

|2.8.10 @ 2:56PM|#

Pls. pls. pls. let that tape leak to the intertoobz. I will actually pay for it if it does. I'm begging on my knees, here.

brotherben|2.8.10 @ 3:08PM|#

I believe that there exists no power on earth or in Heaven that can keep Edwards' little smut film from going viral.

Mo|2.8.10 @ 4:37PM|#

Wrong John Edwards. It was the talk to ghosts John Edwards. Poltician John Edwards is a pretty run of the mill douche.

John Tagliaferro|2.8.10 @ 8:51PM|#

#3) Sports gambling (and all forms of online gaming) needs to be legalized. Our country is bankrupt. We need to use Nevada as a role model for the nation and legalize, regulate and tax "sin," like any other business. Legalizing medical marijuana and online gaming has the potential to bring in $300 billion in new tax revenues. That could pay down government debts, or allow us to lower taxes for our hardworking American taxpayers. [...]

SCREW HIM! He is just like the "tax the hell out of it" pot freaks. Nooo, we can't just fucking legalize it and have MINIMAL government interfearance and theft, oh hell no, he just wants to suck more and thinks we'll make more.

How about stop spending so damn much, legalize drugs and regulate/tax them LESS than cigarettes, legalize gambling and regulate it LESS than Goddamn car dealerships and quit trying to control everything.

sweet|3.2.10 @ 8:40PM|#

Wayne Allen Root is a thief and I hope he dies a very painful death.