Ezra Klein Explains Why You Should Consider Voting For Gary Johnson

The Washington Post's house progressive (OK, OK, he's not exactly alone over there) Ezra Klein explains today with astonishing succinctness why you should consider voting for Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson.

The Washington Post's house progressive (OK, OK, he's not exactly alone over there) Ezra Klein explains today with astonishing succinctness why you should consider voting for Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. Without further ado:

This election isn't a collision between a candidate who believes in unregulated free markets and a candidate who believes in state control. It's not a fight between big government and small government (just look at Mitt Romney's plans to boost defense spending by $2 trillion). It's not a choice between rugged individualism and compassionate communitarianism, heartland values and coastal elites, or even Keynesian stimulus and austerity economics.

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama are well within the American consensus. In fact, they're well within the Acela Quiet Car's consensus. They're blue state, Harvard-educated technocrats who like their information in chart form and their advisers sporting PhDs. They both believe in the genius of free markets, the necessity of a federal safety net, and the importance of a strong military. They don't question the wisdom of the drug war, drone strikes or even most of the Bush tax cuts. Their records show they govern prudently, analytically, and honorably.

Genius of the free market? Obama? Really? Anyway, on the whole Klein's right and that's why I voted Johnson this morning.

Comments

[sarcasmic]

They both believe in the genius of free markets, the necessity of a federal safety net, and the importance of a strong military. They don't question the wisdom of the drug war, drone strikes or even most of the Bush tax cuts. Their records show they govern prudently, analytically, and honorably.

I'm glad I didn't have coffee in my mouth when I read that or it would be all over the screen and keyboard.

[Rick Santorum]

Klein is a hack and should be unemployed.

[fish]

Nonsense.....he remains a vital contributor to the Rachel Maddow show! When ever Ezra subs no wardrobe and make up changes are required!

[AlmightyJB]

Except that Maddow's more masculine.

[BarryD]

To be fair, Maddow is more masculine than a bar after the Highland Games.

[sloopyinca]

Anyway, on the whole Klein's right and that's why I voted Johnson this morning.

Oh yeah? And who, exactly, are you, mystery reason contributor?

[Rick Santorum]

Overall, he's right in that Romney and Obama are very, very similar.

[sloopyinca]

Oh, of course he is. I just wanted to know who wrote this fucking piece. And Mr Bailey has finally obliged me.

[Another David]

The site has taken on sentience. Probably voted in the Anon guy's name.

[Randian]

That would be awesome. reason ought to not ever sign any blog post, article, brickbat, etc.

[The Hammer]

Tiggy Foo for Johnson?

[Corning]

Epi should write a a program that takes random sentences from comments and collate them into article form.

[T]

OT: I have some bacon flavored bourbon at home. What should I do with my bacon bourbon to make a Salty Ham Tears cocktail to drink tonight as I watch election results?

[Joe M]

Add sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters, drop some grains of sand into the bottom and call it a Salty Sandy Manhattan.

[AlmightyJB]

A Sandy is just a watered down manhatten.

[sloopyinca]

Soda water and a few grains of salt. Let it dissolve and then bottoms up!

[sarcasmic]

test

[Alack]

Simple syrup (for sweet revenge), ice (because it is best served cold), and bitters (because, though you can rejoice in one candidate's defeat, one still gets to be president).

[T]

So, a bacon old-fashioned?

[Alack]

No sense messing with perfection. Which, really, you're already doing by insisting on making a cocktail instead of just drinking it straight.

[Rights-Minimalist Autocrat]

I keep experimenting with cocktails, but it turns out I just like my whiskey straight up.

[Randian]

Add olive juice and a toothpick with ham squares on it.

[$park?]

What then, drink it then jam the toothpick in your eye?

[sarcasmic]

When I drink mine I usually put a few drops of real maple syrup in a shot glass, pour the baconated bourbon on top, then let the sweet maple finish soothe the smokey burn.

[AlmightyJB]

Have you tried the maple crown?

[The Late P Brooks]

IT'S A TRAP!

[Sudden]

John Impersonation:

SEE!!111!!!11!1!!1! I TOLD YOU. A VOTE FOR GAYJAY IS A VOTE FOR OBAMA. WHY ELSE WOULD EZRA KLEIN SAY THIS!1!!!!!!1111!11!!!

*flings spittle all over the room*

[Corning]

*flings spittle all over the room*

I don't see John has frazzled or hectic. More like Orson Welles reading allowed a Dick Morris article as if it were stereo instructions.

[GILMORE]

Whoa dude, now that you think about it, that actually does make a lot of sense.

And no, I'm not mocking the anonbot.

Well, a little.

[Will Nonya]

We've been hearing this for some time, yes the two major candidates are extremely similar yet they are also starkly different men.

If I had the option of voting for Johnson I certainly would have but he didn't make the ballot in my state. Maybe someday the L party will learn how to organize for a major election and perhaps while they're at it they can focus on principles rather than niche issues which turn off most voters who aren't informed about the principles at stake.

[Timrek]

What the hell is a "World Teacher"? Who the hell is Ryuho Okawa? Why do adds for him follow me about the internet?

P.S. I recently voted for Gary Johnson. I did write ins for everyone running unopposed. I almost put in Ezra Klein but wrote my own name instead. I made the right choice.

[FD]

...not a "choice between rugged individualism and compassionate communitarianism, heartland values and coastal elites, or even Keynesian stimulus and austerity economics."

"Austerity economics."
He's brainless to the end.
As transparent as his hypocrisy.

[Anonymous Coward]

Their records show they govern prudently, analytically, and honorably.

Ha, ha, ha! Little election day humor is appreciated.

[BarryD]

Well, shit.

I was all set to vote for Gary Johnson, but if Ezra Klein says to do it, I won't. I don't have to know more than that; whatever Klein says, it's the opposite of true.

[Jena]

Things must be really dire for Obama if Klein is trying to get all Libertarian sounding.

[GILMORE]

Anyway, on the whole Klein's right

NO!!!!O!!O!!!O!O!OOOOOO!!!!!!NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NONO NO NO NO GOD WHY IT CANT BE POSSIBLE EVERYTHING IS GOING CRAZY UP IS DOWN BLACK IS WHITE WE MUST BE IN SOME ALTERNATE DIMENSION OR LIKE INCEPTION SOMEONE SHOOT ME!!!! SHOOT ME!!!! WAKE ME UP!!!!