Barrwatch: Wayne Allyn Rootwater?

Wayne Allyn Root, that other VP nominee who looks better every day, announces a new book that'll hit shelves in April.

The Conscience of a Libertarian… is modeled after Root's hero Barry Goldwater and Goldwater's all-time best-selling conservative book The Conscience of a Conservative.

Root said of his new book, "The Conscience of a Libertarian will honor the ideals of freedom and limited government as communicated by great political leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater, Ronald Reagan and, most recently, Dr. Ron Paul. My views are simple- the government that governs least, governs best. I believe the constitution is clear- power does not belong to the government, or the politicians, or the career bureaucrats, or corporate interests, or lobbyists. It belongs to the American people. The day that I take office, I vow to dramatically cut government; to dramatically lower taxes; to dramatically increase freedom; to fight to make my own political office obsolete; to make government so small, you won't even notice it's missing; and, most importantly, to give power back to the people- where it belongs."

Root said of his political future, "I want to thank great patriots and freedom-fighters like Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr and Republican Presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul for reinvigorating the modern- day Libertarian freedom movement. I would do anything, make any sacrifice, to move the freedom agenda forward. The media has called me "Ron Paul on steroids!" A quarter of a century from now, I'll still be younger than Ron Paul is today. That's a very good thing- the freedom movement can benefit from the unique combination of energy, passion and youthful enthusiasm that I bring to the table."

I met with Root last month and he was, as you'd guess, extremely excited about the book, and about the potential to increase his visibility for a possible run at mayor of Las Vegas. If London can elect an ideological pundit to run the trains on time, why not Sin City?

Also, Atlanta magazine profiles its favorite son. It's one of the better Barr-ologues out there. One tidbit:

Even though it doesn't seem to be resonating with voters, Barr's almost obsessive attention to the government spying issue continues unabated. Richard Viguerie, a Barr friend and longtime Republican operative, says he's urged Barr to focus less on privacy issues and more on the corruption of incumbents. "I share Bob's concerns about privacy," he says, "but it doesn't affect the voters right now; it's not where they live."

The new Zogby poll puts Barr at 3.7 percent, way out ahead of the third party pack, and with him in the race a 1.2 point Obama lead swells to 3 points.

Comments

[Brian Defferding]

Eck! Zogby? Hardly reputable. But still, I'll take it.

[Matt]

Based on what I've read from other sites, Root seems like a war-mongering xenophobe nutbag to me. God help us if he's the voice of libertarianism in the future.

[matt]

"Excited" is where Wayne Allyn Root lives. He punctuated every other sentence of his LP nomination acceptance speech with fistpumping and the word "BANG!". I've never seen such a display.

Barr and Root will underperform. Conservatives who would otherwise be friendly to them won't dare leave McCain for fear of Obama, they've alienated at least 2/5 of the LP and all of the Ron Paul movement, and Democrats won't go near them.

[J sub D]

The new Zogby poll puts Barr at 3.7 percent, way out ahead of the third party pack, and with him in the race a 1.2 point Obama lead swells to 3 points.

More Republicans have had it with their party than Democrats.* Listing the reasons would just be tiresome.

* Being out of power for most of the century helps in that regard.

[hlm]

I run screaming to my room at the very thought that a clown like Root wants to explain libertarianism. How? Shouldn't he coprehend it before he seeks to write about it. He isn't a libertarian but a conservative. He was supporting Leiberman right up until he decided to take the LP out for a ride. I was wondedring exactly how it was that Root was going to try to make money out of this -- considering how poorly he understands libertarianism himself I must say I never considered he'd peddle a book. I didn't know he'd even read one let alone written one. I shall just pray to the gods that be that its ghost-written.

[HLM]

One last comment on Bozo. He says the media calls him "Ron Paul on steroids." Can one post the word "bulls..." here? I've seen a couple of times the term is used and every time it is Root saying that about himself. At best the "media" is merely quoting Root's own delusional views of himself. I'd like to see one reference to the media using this term where Root is not being quoted. He says it, then "reporters" like Wiegel quote him saying it about himself. Then he pretends that means the media said it about him.

This eleciton is one where most libertarians I know have decided to stay home and Barr/Root are a major reason for that.

[Episiarch]

It's kind of sad that even when the LP has the most media-friendly presidential candidate in, like, evar, they still have a maniac in the VP position.

[The Angry Optimist]

This eleciton is one where most libertarians I know have decided to stay home and Barr/Root are a major reason for that.

Good job! I love it when libertarians gripe about how little play libertarian ideals get while simultaneously sitting at home and pouting.

FWIW, I was a Barr supporter, but I still would've voted for Ruwart had it come to that. I wish we would get the same deference from the "Permanent Whiners / Debating Club" Crowd.

[Derrick]

Libertarian attention and energy is better spent on the gubernatorial bid of Mike Munger in North Carolina. He's articulate, intelligent, highly-qualified, non-nutty, and *in the televised debates*. He's just about the strongest LP candidate I've ever seen. Ignore the Presidential race and instead send money, encouragement, etc. to Munger.

[The Angry Optimist]

Ignore the Presidential race and instead send money, encouragement, etc. to Munger.

Why not do both?

[Bingo]

His eyes are piercing my soul and his grin pulls at my heart.

[Citizen Nothing]

"He's articulate, intelligent, highly-qualified, non-nutty."
Why, then, he's just got to be a sell-out, doesn't he?
Don't tell me the Kochtopus has gotten to you, too, Derrick! Or was it the Rockwellians?

[BakedPenguin]

I have to agree with TAO. I was not a Barr supporter, and I think Root was one of the worse choices they could have made for VP. They have done nothing since getting nominated to make me believe I was wrong.

For all that, I'll be voting for them in November. Even if they are lesser-of-evil carpetbaggers, they are much less evil than Hopey McChange or the Angry Invasion Geezer.

[Citizen Nothing]

Don't be a fool, BakedPenguin! That's just what the Crain Machine, or maybe zombie Murray Rothbard, want you to do!

[BakedPenguin]

Zombie Murray Rothbard eat brains, but no can stomach government bailout...

[Brian Courts]

He says the media calls him "Ron Paul on steroids." . . . I've seen a couple of times the term is used and every time it is Root saying that about himself. . . . I'd like to see one reference to the media using this term where Root is not being quoted.

Heh, he seems to like that little self-important rhetorical bit. I remember hearing his ads for his sports handicapping business a couple years ago where he said "I'm Wayne Allyn Root, the man the media calls 'America's Handicapper'!". Yeah, if by "media" he means his own newsletter or something.

[SugarFree]

He looks like a horrible miscegenation between stadium-sized church evangelist, reality TV host, and Vegas magician.

[Ska]

Or as my friends in the music promotion business say - Fake it until you make it.

[JohnL]

The LP got it right on their very first try with the nomination of John Hospers -- a rational, thoughtful philosopher who could, by virtue of his academic background, clearly explain libertarian principles. He was also a very credible potential president. The LP nominees since have been a parade of con men, closet conservatives, self-promoters, weirdos and rodeo clowns. Until the LP finds another Hospers, I'll continue to vote Republican for president.

[Episiarch]

The only way to take down Zombie Rothbard is with Zombie John Maynard Keynes.

"Who died and made you fucking king of the zombies?"

[Citizen Nothing]

"I'll continue to vote Republican for president."

Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I, Dole, Bush II.

"A parade of con men, closet conservatives, self-promoters, weirdos and rodeo clowns."

[Citizen Nothing]

We need the Super Best Friends on this pronto, Epi.

[Joel]

I want to thank great patriots and freedom-fighters like Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr...

Thanks a lot, Reason. Now I have to go claw my eyes out.

Fuckers.

[Episiarch]

We need the Super Best Friends on this pronto, Epi.

"Aquaman--you go talk to some fish! HAHAHAHAHAHA"

[Ska]

Not to pull a total threadjack, but the WSJ is reporting that the bailout bill is not going to pass based on the current vote count.

[ChrisH]

the WSJ is reporting that the bailout bill is not going to pass based on the current vote count

The one magic crystal that l/Libertarians can rely on is Gridlock.

We may not be able to elect someone to do what we want, but you can't elect someone to do what YOU want, either. Ha!

[rana]

That picture is a cross between Bill Clinton and Stuart Smalley. It gives me the creeps.

[jtuf]

We should of had Steve Kubby as VP to balance the ticket. The LP is developing subgroups. I hope it has the critical mass to stay afloat and heal the rift.

[tj]

You political pundits on here who think the Barr is somehow hurting the Libertarian party are not in the same world I am.
When has the Libertarian candidate polled at 3.7% and got cable news interviews on a weekly basis. Never.
Barr will bring more people into the libertarian party than any of the other candidates who were running, combined.

[Stevo Darkly]

That picture is a cross between Bill Clinton and Stuart Smalley.

I was about to say "Bill Clinton and Donnie Osmond," myself.

[JohnL]

tj,
Get a clue! The only reason mainstream media types are paying attention to the LP this cycle is because they know how close this election will be, and every vote for Barr is, in effect, a vote for Obama. That's all there is to it.

[Andy Craig]

Root is damn near insane, and placing him on the Presidential ticket was a huge mistake, but I can say I would have no problem supporting him for Mayor of Las Vegas (if I lived in Las Vegas). We should be much more nit-picky about the Presidential ticket than local offices.

I bet that's why he's not pouring his (by all accounts rather large) fortune into the Barr/Root campaign (aside from the fact that the two men despise each other)- he's saving it for a run for Mayor of Las Vegas.

If there's any major city that could elect a Libertarian mayor, it's Las Vegas.

[NickM]

Ron Paul on steroids???
More like Ron Paul on crack.

[JenX]

Eww. Root is full of it. I can't knock his book just yet, as I haven't read it. But everything that man does reeks like a car salesman snow job.

I'm voting for Barr. Still the lesser of three...

[hlm]

Angry Optimist opines: "I love it when libertarians gripe about how little play libertarianism gets while simultaneously sitting at home and pouting." First, he seems to assume that the Barr/Root campaign is getting attention for libertarian ideals. I see them running a state's rights, not individual rights campaign. I see them pushing issues that get the Right-wing interested and running from social freedom. We have the LP promoting conservative ideals not libertarian ideals.

Second, A.0. has absolutely no idea what I, or anyone else is actually doing. He seems to think the petty, meaningless act of voting in an eleciton, where you accomplish zero, is some sort of valiant activism. And not voting is "sitting at home and pouting". Actually I work full time, literally, at libertarianism. That means every day working on spreading libertarian ideas as my job. The people who accomplish nothing are those who vote, change nothing, but think they are superior and accomplish something. Not only are they actually lazy but deluded as to the importance of their ballot.