The 3 Most and Least Libertarian Moments of The First GOP Debate

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The 3 Most and Least Libertarian Moments of The First GOP Debate

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Since its brand has continued to bleed favorability over the years, the GOP has at times talked a big game about reaching libertarian voters.

With 10 candidates crowding the stage, and a handful of others waiting in the wings, how'd the libertarian outreach go in the first GOP debate of 2015? 

Watch Reason TV's video, "The 3 Most and Least Libertarian Moments of the First GOP Debate" to find out.

Produced by Zach Weissmueller and Paul Detrick. Approximately 1:30 minutes.

Scroll down for downloadable versions, and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube channel for daily content like this.

Comments

[Rockabilly]

Our leaders and politicians are stupid !!

Agree !!!

[This Is My Last Post]

Did you notice how, even after being given more time by the moderator, Trump could not produce any "proof" that the Mexican government itself is behind sending "rapists and murderers" across the border into Los Estados Unidos?

[mfckr]

He said something about how Border Patrol peeps supposedly told him this was the case. But yeah, just alleged hearsay.

[straffinrun]

He knows. He talks to people all the time. They tell him this.

[soflarider]

He most likely heard it from Harry Reid.

[gphx]

Actually going places and talking to the people beats getting your talking points from the polls like some of the other candidates.

[John Deere WC-12]

Trump is an idiot, but I do believe that the Mexican government is indeed doing this. Castro did it, so why wouldn't they?

What was glossed over last night was the very quick point someone made that most illegals coming in from Mexico are't actually Mexican, but Guatemalan or Ecuadorian, etc.

The fact is that the Mexican government is very aggressive in enforcing their own borders and deporting illegals from their own country, but quite obviously allowing illegals who are 'just passing through' to have an uninterrupted path through Mexico into the United States.

[Jay Dubya]

"Castro did it, so why wouldn't they"

Just off the top of my head, Castro was nearly assasinated by the CIA several times, the US funded an invasion of Cuba, Cuba was at the forefront of nuclear brinksmanship and the closest, most vehement enemy of the US for decades. Oh yes and they are a Communist regime that because of the embargo has only an illicit economic relationship with the US in addition to remittances.

Meanwhile Mexico is one of our closest allies, receiving billions from the US in return for jumping through drug war hoops. The last several Mexican presidents have lobbied at least as hard to the White House as they did to their own countrymen pre-election. Mexicos open sovereignty policy with the US has allowed our law enforcement personnel to routinely perform paranilitary actions inside their country including rendition and assassination. The economic relationship between our two countries is even tighter, with thousands of US businesses manufacturing and hiring workers from Mexico, US citizens medical shopping in Mexico and a million other free market activities including of course immigration.

Only a racialist lunatic would equate the Muriel boatlift - where prisons were opened to let political prisoners come to the US - with Mexicos refusal to prevent its own citizens from leaving the country. not everyone looks on East Berlin of the 80s with fawning adoration.

[Crazyotto]

We do know that the $20-$30 billion in US greenbacks that illegals send home is a boost to their economy. We do know they publish information in order to assist illegal border crossings, e.g. where best to cross , items to make the journey safer. We do know that the Drug lords use them as mules to carry product into the US and that the Mexican Government looks the other way.

[MattFC]

Some are. Some aren't. Trump is in the former category though. Guys a fucking idiot.

[ClassicLib-NeverProg]

He's only an idiot if you think he actually wants to win this election. That is not his goal here.

[macsnafu]

Which means that Trump fits in with them just fine.

[D.D. Driver]

Christie is apparently so fat he doesn't even fear the woodchipper anymore.

[rudehost]

I always figured trying to put Christie in a woodchipper would be like trying to put a hardback dictionary in a 5 sheet paper shredder.

[Will4Freedom]

Don't talk about my Governor that way! This is New Jersey. We don't use woodchippers like that.

Off Topic... Was anybody into the Sopranos when it was on? Shame about Pussy, huh?

[plusafdotcom]

You haven't seen some of the new woodchippers, have you?
They could handle the challenge. Even our city workers have "equipment" big enough.(for that kind of woodchipping...)

[Set Us Up The Chipper]

This ought to do the trick

[ianthefish]

Trump is a megalomaniac and his followers love that about him. This is proof that Ben Carson is wrong, America is full of idiots.

[ianthefish]

Trump is a megalomaniac and his followers love that about him. This is proof that Ben Carson is wrong, America is full of idiots.

[gphx]

says the guy who just posted the same exact thing twice

[Sirius Slayton]

What they are calling debates is a joke. It has become little more than a game of "Who can say the most attention grabbing, people pleasing answer to maintain poll numbers in order to assure they get to the next GOP debate?"

Ben Carson: he said the "sequester" is ripping the heart out of our military. As I'm sure many of you know, Reason has even pointed out that the sequester barely puts a dent in spending, much less puts us where were in 2004 and nobody says we weren't "safe" then.

Chris Christie: He should've ran against Bush with all that 9/11 pandering. We don't want more police and surveillance State shit. Go home, Chris, you're drunk...with power hunger.

Donald Trump: He's just a bag of hot air that gets the Tea Party wing going. He'll never be taken seriously by most Republicans.

Jeb Bush: He is among the herd thinking his failed Governorship will make good talking points. Not if you spend more than ten minutes looking at what his administration did to Florida. Let's not forget, he stumbled and fumbled on the now infamous, "Should your brother have gone into Iraq question.

John Kasich: He seems to be running for Governor again, continually citing his record here. Though, he lied multiple times about the size and scope of tax cuts and job growth under his administration.

[Sirius Slayton]

Marco Rubio: He wants to extend the NSA and Patriot Act indefinitely. Next.

Mike Huckabee: Provided he got his way, we'd have a good old fashioned Theocracy. No, just no.

Rand Paul: During the paltry 4:48 they allowed him to speak, he consistently championed Libertarian values and refused to apologize for it.

Scott Walker: He also seems to be running on his terrible Governorship while adding some feel good juice to it.

Ted Cruz: He largely agrees with Rubio that what we need is to double down many of the same failed policies from the past.

To recap, it looks to me like we still have a Republican Party shattered from the Bush years that doesn't know what it's stances or plans actually are and they're hoping you and I don't care.

[ace_m82]

He also seems to be running on his terrible Governorship...

Not a fan of my (now) Governor, but please pray tell.

[Sirius Slayton]

I'd take the time to compile a thorough analysis in break down form for you, but Reason already has.
http://reason.com/blog/2015/07.....cott-walke

[ace_m82]

Actually, that article is all about how his Governorship was pretty good, but how he's "changing his mind" on some important issues.

So, again I ask, what did he do that was so terrible as Governor?

[Sirius Slayton]

I like how you just nonchalantly say that like he gets a pass. He has "changed his mind" on important issues like immigration, the Drug War, and State Surveillance, but hey, if you wanna take a chance at voting for 2016's equivalent to Mitt Romney be my guest.

[ace_m82]

Read my original comment one more time. Slowly, please.

Don't assume, you make an ass out of u and me.

Why was he terrible as a Governor? (3rd time)

[Sirius Slayton]

Assume what? You're the one who acts as if his flip flops on issue central to the Libertarian Platform are just fine. I don't blame you entirely as Reason has had some pro Bush, pro Hillary, pro Cruz, and pro Walker shit over the last few months, albeit some from third party writers.

[Sirius Slayton]

Issues*

[Sirius Slayton]

I think some here and perhaps at Reason are confused as to who they really support.

[Sirius Slayton]

Stop trying to convince me another Republican't would be better than a Libertarian in the White House. If Scott Walker's administration was "pretty good" to you, why aren't you posting over at FOX News instead?

[Zunalter]

Ug, team L, just as annoying as R,D, et. al.

[soflarider]

"Jeb Bush: He is among the herd thinking his failed Governorship will make good talking points. Not if you spend more than ten minutes looking at what his administration did to Florida. Let's not forget, he stumbled and fumbled on the now infamous, "Should your brother have gone into Iraq question."

Please elaborate.
Not a fan of Jeb's big government tendencies but this sounds like something you'd read on DailyKos or HuffPo.

[Sirius Slayton]

I don't consider either of those "sources" to be reliable. I'll bite though. Jeb massively expanded Florida's budget instead of cutting it, he is on record as supporting the Bailouts of banks, he wants to "cut taxes for job creators" (you know that's code for ultra wealthy folks, right), he supports longer prison sentences and building more prisons, he promotes fear mongering such as when he said, "We are not safe, not on our homes, not anywhere.", he brought "3 strikes" laws to Florida, he wants to continue the Drug War even saying medical Cannabis is "a guise for legalization, he wants to put U.S. troops on both sides of our border with Mexico, he said Common Core is not Federal interference in education...take your pick and then educate yourself some more. http://www.ontheissues.org/Jeb_Bush.htm

[Sirius Slayton]

He also said "Russia is a bully" and that he "would expand U.S. troops to countries around it...

[Zunalter]

Curse you for putting me in a position where I am defending Jeb Bush 😛

"he wants to 'cut taxes for job creators' (you know that's code for ultra wealthy folks, right)"

Yea...I don't think that the poor are creating a lot of jobs for people...

And, unless you are some economic progtard illiterate, anything other than a flat tax is immoral, so reducing the ridiculous top tax rates are a GOOD THING.

[gphx]

Agree with your synopsis, especially Rand, but he won't win so if we're going to have suck it might as well be entertaining suck - Trump

[Zunalter]

...nice try but you are obviously a Trumptard from the get-go, not just a reluctant onlooker concerned about the entertainment value. All of your posts have been pro-Trump in this thread.

[bluecanarybythelightswitch]

I agree that Mike Huckabee is horrible, but you chose some clips that hardly count as the 'least libertarian moments'. Abortion is not a consensus issue for libertarians. Saying we shouldn't have the military paying for sex reassignment surgeries is very libertarian. Also, it's true that the military's ultimate purpose is to 'kill people and break things,' which is why libertarians are so cautious about deploying them - Huckabee wanting to give them even more money and send them out to kill and break even more people and things is what is horrible.

[ace_m82]

Yeah, but you and I don't subscribe to "Beltway think".

Huckabee is awful for misunderstanding what government is for, to punish those who violate NAP, not to make them moral. But any spending decrease is a win for liberty, period.

[bluecanarybythelightswitch]

If I ever find myself subscribing to beltway think I hope someone gives me a swift kick in the nuts.

[ace_m82]

Pain is a great motivator.

Maybe bring back Corporal punishment for small crimes (as in violations of NAP)? Better than a criminal record and a year or 5 in prison...

[Will4Freedom]

One smart Reasonoid suggested that they do brackets, like in Basket Ball. Brilliant, I say. Make it 20 minutes and divide the time equally.

Give audience response/on-line voting 30%
How clearly they answered the question, if at all. 20%
How the answer stands up against the constitution... 50%

Point off for personal attacks.

Winner advances to the following night.

We'd have a single candidate to get behind (or not) in a week or two.

[OneOut]

The progs would love to play in that game. The progs could then help the Repubs pick their candidate whom the Progs wouldn't vote for even if the Dem candidate had committed treason by selling influence of their office and left classified documents within easy reach of enemies of our country.

Not that any American politician who did those things would ever campaign to be President..

[Kaptaink]

I had to ask for a clarification on your least Libertatian moments- i didnt see the entire debate but you used Huck quote of the purpose of the military and then stated that "money is no object" when it comes to military spending. OK name it then. Support for the function of the military is not a blank check.

You also seem to agree that I should willing have my tax dollar go to pay for sex reassignment surgery. Why do I have to pay for something that I disagree with? And is not a proper function of government.

Finally why do you support illegal immigration? Can I not follow laws because they are inconvenient to me? Why do citizens of another country have the right to enter the US against our laws? If you dont like the current laws then say so and work to change them. I support legal immigration not illegal, do you know the difference? Because the quotes you showed were about illegal immigration not immigration over all.

You certainly didn't give me any reason to want Libertarians to join the Republican party.

[kimbererick]

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[dchang0]

Chris Christie believes we should hoover up all American's digital correspondence like he hoovers up donuts and steaks--how else can he tell a waffle apart from a burrito except by putting them all in his mouth?

[OneOut]

When Christie started his sarcastic response to Paul I wanted to reach through the screen and slap his fat ass. I hope everyone saw in his tone of voice his true colors and what a smug condecending self serving POS he really is.

I wonder if , in his mind, he though that snarky sarcastic attitude made him look "presidential " ?

[gphx]

Chris 'I'm a fascist cuz 9/11' Christie. Has anyone seen Giuliani in a while? Maybe Christie put him in his belly.

[JellyRev]

When Christie mentioned 9/11 I had to check what year it was. I felt the crowd think come on really dude.
Then Rand finished him with obama hug reference lol.

If christie pulls another like that he will be out of the top 10 debates.

He prolly is a bully but it's jersey a lot of em talk like that.

[dchang0]

He does think his bullying attitude is what's gotten him so far. You can tell from interviews since people began to suspect he would run for POTUS that his consultants have been advising him to tone it down and dial it back. But he just can't--he's an attack dog, and attack dogs only know how to viciously bite.

I'm hoping plenty of people see that he's capable of biting the people supposedly on the same side as him. He's certainly capable of biting millions of innocent Americans who have nothing to do with terrorism yet who have been and will continue to be harmed by the gov't rifling through their emails, phone calls, bank accounts, and social media posts.

[Crazyotto]

Christie is a slug. He is the RINO that we all all hate. He did not get the best of Rand as he never offered a rebuttal to the comments about warrants. Instead he chessily said he remembered hugging the families of 911 victims. We all of course don't but we don't remember him getting on his knees to praise Obama for bringing more money. What a sack of pus.

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[cstew19k]

using the government to pay for transgender surgery is Libertarian can i ask how?

[Zunalter]

I think it was put there to reiterate that we are supposed to hate so-cons or something.

[Chuckie]

Where do Libertarians go when they get offended by republicans? I guess they go to Democrats who are managing the anti Libertarian government: IRS weaponizing, EPA running as if it is it's own government, lack of borders and immigration controls?

"Maximum Freedom, Minimum Government" is that your motto, or the Republicans?

Give Libertarians what they want and if it's not enough, they go Democrat. That really is it, isn't it?

[RockLibertyWarrior]

I can't fucking stand that windbag Chris "Chrispy-cream-donuts" Kristi. What a fucking joke, what am I talking about? The whole line up of them were a fucking joke, the only one half sane was Rand Paul.

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