The Only Real Alternative
10 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted Politics
in≈ Comments Off on The Only Real Alternative
10 Sunday Jul 2016
Posted Politics
in≈ Comments Off on The Only Real Alternative
13 Monday Jun 2016
There are several other choices — there’s Stein and the Greens, or you can go with the Libertarians, who are fielding two successful two-term governors on their ticket — Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, to amazingly calm, thoughtful, and practical choices.
Yes, Johnson’s a bit too laid-back and occasionally weird. Yes, he does love to talk about this first love too much (mountain climbing), but in a year where the two main parties are pushing fascist, war-mongering crooks, and there’s no mention of freedom in their parties’ platforms, Johnson’s “why don’t we leave people alone and not kill them or take their stuff” platform is pretty damned palatable
Here’s a piece on his science policies…
22 Monday Jul 2013
Posted Politics
in≈ Comments Off on More Republican Election Shenanigans in Arizona
Tags
2012 election, arizona, electoral misconduct, government corruption, hb2305, j.d. mesnard, libertarian party, republican party
The East Valley Tribune has an article on HB2305 — a blatantly undemocratic and unethical bill that was written by Republicans to keep Libertarians out of the general elections. It’s not the only time this happened in the 2012 election, either; Montana made similar moves to keep libertarians off ballots in their state.
Representative J.D. “Just a Douchbag” Mesnard, R-Chandler, tells us the “problem”: “All they have to do right now is get a dozen or 15 signatures and on the ballot they go…”
Oh, no! How dare the proles not vote for our party! Could it be we’ve betrayed all principle of small government, economic sanity, and personal freedom? No…it couldn’t be that!
Hey, Republicans, if you want to eliminate the libertarians as a opponents, hew to you own elucidated economic values and principles, and leave people the hell alone.
20 Friday Jul 2012
Posted Politics
in≈ Comments Off on Gary Johnson Pulling 13% in New Mexico, 5% or So Elsewhere
It’s not much, but it could make him a hell of a spoiler this year, depending on where he’s pulling his support from, which — having some idea of Johnson’s cross-party popularity — could be just as bad for Democrats as Republicans. If the Ron Paul fans were smart, they’d jump to Johnson…with their support, he could make that 15% polling necessary to get him on the debate stage, where he could force Obamney to explain their policies (or lack of…)
He was a fantastic governor, effectively joining the parties to make hard choices on fiscal responsibility in one of the most corrupt and dysfunctional states in the Union. He is, quite possibly, the best presidential candidate running in decades.
28 Tuesday Feb 2012
Posted Politics
in≈ Comments Off on Just a Reminder Libertarians: Bob Barr Was Not a Libertarian
2008 saw one of the worst disappointments for me as a libertarian — the nomination of Bob Barr as the presidential candidate. This establishment turdbag was so terrible a member of Congress that the Libertarian Party worked with Democrats to get his ass fired. Barr made an “outreach” to his opposition to understand why they’d gone after him — after all, he’s Bob Fucking Barr and deserved his seat! — and this led to an alleged conversion to libertarian policies.
This is what is known in criminal circles as a “con job.” The libertarian were the “marks.” (And was why I had no choice but to leave the presidential boxes unchecked that election. There was no way I was voting for McCain or Obama.)
Now, just to hammer home how badly punked the LP had been, Barr is endorsing Newt Gingrich — a corrupt, corpulent, and autocratic Washington bagman (and close friend, I’m sure) — and pushing libertarians to vote for him.
This is like so-called “Tea Party” folks (I’m talking the economic conservatives, not the social conservatives) looking to the sweater-vested hamster for some kind of non-invasive, thrifty policy.
The obvious choice for Tea Party and libertarians is obvious: if you have to vote Republican, it’s Ron Paul; if you’re a libertarian, it’s Gary Johnson.
31 Saturday Dec 2011
Posted Politics
in≈ Comments Off on Many Ron Paul Supporters Not Interested in Supporting Another GOP Candidate
…and that’s fine — especially as the GOP long since reneged on the small-government promises they toss out. The real platform of the Republican Party, as with the Democrats, is the classic line from Plato: Promise, promise, promise…it costs nothing.
Paul, for all the taunts of racism and anti-Semitism, and the repeated claims that his foreign policy would be “crazy” (I would agree it’s often naive, but I don’t find a sharply reduced military presence around the world crazy at all) — his policy plan for solid monetary and fiscal policy is precisely what the Tea Party types claim they want. He’s not a social conservative, nor — I would suggest — should we choose one. Social conservatives are just as much a bunch of busyboies as Progressive nannies; better would be a candidate that, regardless of his personal beliefs, recognizes that tolerance of other beliefs and practices safeguards Christian, conservative values.
Hard to have a culture war if you teach your children properly (or what you consider properly) while respecting that Muslims, Jews, Hindus, atheists, and other groups might not be right in your opinion…but are entitled to the same protects. And before the gang of whinging atheists get all fired up on that statement — that means you have to stop crying about exclusion at Christmas. You’re welcome to buy shit too. That means if someone wants to wear a cross while they’re teaching in school, they get to. That means Tim Tebow gets to pray on the football field; have a hot dog and shut the fuck up.
Here’s the best part Ron Paul fans. If he doesn’t win the nomination, either because the GOP faithful subscribe to the fatalistic notion pushed by the likes of Andrea Tantaros that it’s an “arranged marriage we’ll grow into” or the GOP hierarchy arrange an accident/illness for the old man, you do have a choice…if we get Obama and Obama without the black to vote for, there will be a Paulian choice: Gary Johnson over in the Libertarian Party.
All of the domestic goodness of Paul, none of the foreign policy and newsletter dings. Best of all, he’s a tried and true small government guy with executive experience. He’s a bit boring, yes; but we just might need a boring, solid fellow after decades of all flash, no substance. And best of all, with the complete support of Paul fans, he just could pull a plurality against the Dems and GOP this year.
And that would be a slap to the face of every meddlesome Progressive on both sides of the isle.
28 Wednesday Dec 2011
Posted Politics
in≈ Comments Off on After Shoddy Treatment, Gary Johnson Turns to Libertarian Party
…and I will have a principled candidate I can vote for this year…
Here’s his announcement:
Dear Friends,
By now, you have probably heard the news.
This morning, I stepped before the microphones at a news conference in the New Mexico capitol and announced that I am seeking the Libertarian nomination for President of the United States. The Libertarian Party nominee will be on the ballot in all 50 states – as was the case in 2008.
It was both a difficult decision – and an easy one. It was difficult because I have a lot of Republican history, and a lot of Republican supporters. But in the final analysis, as many, many commentators have said since watching how I governed in New Mexico, I am a Libertarian – that is, someone who is fiscally very conservative but holds freedom-based positions on many social issues.
Frankly, I have been deeply disappointed by the treatment I received in the Republican nomination process. Other candidates with no national name identification like Herman Cain, Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman were allowed to participate in the debates.
Incredibly candidates with no executive experience like Michelle Bachmann and Rick Santorum were allowed to participate while I, a successful two-term governor with a solid record of job creation, was arbitrarily excluded by elitist media organizations in New York. My appeals to the Republican National Chairman for basic fairness were ignored.
I had hoped to lay out a full libertarian message on all the issues in the Republican contest. I think this election needs a libertarian voice. While Ron Paul is a good man and a libertarian who I proudly endorsed for president in 2008, there is no guarantee he will be the Republican nominee.
When I announced that I was running for president, I promised you I would be a voice for bold ideas to bring government and its spending under control. I promised I would put my record as the ‘most fiscally conservative’ governor in the nation in front of the voters. And I said that, unlike too many Republican politicians, I think Americans’ government should be smaller and less intrusive and let people make decisions for themselves.
My Agenda for America is clear:
– I want to end deficit spending and cut federal spending by 43%.
– I want to enact the Fair Tax to stimulate real economic growth and jobs.
– I want to end the manipulation of our money by the Federal Reserve.
– I support the Second Amendment and oppose gun control.
– I oppose expensive foreign wars in places like Libya and Afghanistan.
– I support a woman’s right to choose.
– I support marriage equality for gay Americans as required by the Constitution.
– I support legalization of marijuana, which will save us billions and do no harm.
– I support returning strict adherence to Constitutional principles to our government.
It is clear that the elite national media and the political “ruling class” don’t want this message heard. It frightens them. It frightens them because they know our message is one that actually reflects the true beliefs of millions of Americans – and they don’t want those millions of people to know there really is a candidate for president who represents them, whether they are Republicans, Democrats, Independents or Libertarians.
Sadly neither the Republicans nor Democrats will offer this agenda to the American people.
They can’t handle the notion of a successful two-term governor, elected and reelected as a Republican in a Democrat state, who could veto 750 spending bills to shrink government — while refusing to play the special interest game or impose a social agenda on people who prefer to make their own judgments about “values”.
In other words, there is no room in the national two-party club for a candidate who actually proved that governing as a libertarian works – and whose platform on every issue is clearly supported by a majority of the American people.
Sometimes the best answer is the simplest. I’m a Libertarian in belief. I successfully governed as a Libertarian in everything but the name, and I am running for president as a Libertarian.
Even before I announced my decision, polls are showing that I would today gain more votes than any Libertarian presidential candidate in history – and have a very real impact on the election nationwide. And that is before our campaign even begins.
If I earn the Libertarian nomination, I will be on the ballot in all 50 states. I will not be held hostage to a system rigged for the wealthiest and best-known candidates in a handful of states who happen to have early primaries. And most important, we will offer a political “home” for millions of Americans who are not finding one in the current political establishment or its candidates.
I am excited. I am liberated. And I am committed to shaking the system as it has never been shaken before. Just the speculation that I might run as a Libertarian has garnered more national media attention than I ever received as a Republican candidate whose voice they didn’t’ want to hear.
Depending on which poll you read, at least 40% of Republicans are not satisfied with the “field” of candidates the media has produced for them. At least 1 in 4 Democrats is having real second thoughts about Barack Obama. Do the math, and it confirms what I have seen for months on the campaign trail: The only political majority in America today is the one made up of voters who are looking for leadership they haven’t found yet. America is ready for a President who will restore common sense to our fiscal and foreign policies and get government out of the boardroom and the bedroom.
A credible Libertarian candidate for president is the real path to liberty, opportunity, and a government that is put into its proper and limited role.
In a recent national poll 63% of Americans said they wished there was a third choice for 2012. There is, and I intend to educate the voters about what we offer America.
Together, you and I are going to offer that majority a choice. They will see that Your support in the past few months has created this amazing opportunity. I may be the messenger, but this isn’t about me. It is about seizing a moment in history and bringing America back from the brink.
I want you to be with me as we launch this great endeavor. I ask for your continued support. I ask for your advice. And I am asking for your contribution today to provide the spark for the movement we are igniting.
You are one of my most generous supporters, and I must depend on you to be as generous as you can once again. Please send your contribution of $2,000, $1,000, $500, or $250. It will be used wisely to take our message to every corner of this great country, and to provide a voice that will otherwise never be heard in 2012. Go to: Gary Johnson 2012.com.
As a candidate for the Libertarian Party nomination my campaign will be eligible for Federal Matching funds — which means whatever you send will ultimately be matched. A $100 contribution is worth $200. A $250 contribution is worth $500. Please send your maximum contribution today.
Thank you for your support and your friendship. It means more to me than you will ever know.
Sincerely,
Gary
P.S. For those who say my decision to run as the Libertarian Party candidate will only draw votes from the Republicans and re-elect President Obama let me predict that, as my full platform based on freedom becomes known, my candidacy will draw votes from both the Republicans and Democrats and many, many independents.
28 Monday Nov 2011
It’s a better fit for the governor, anyway, and since the Republican establishment has pointedly excluded the man as a threat to their already anointed its next big-spending big-government robot (Romney) and their fallback guy (Gingrich), there was no point in following the GOP presidential race, anyway.
Now news comes that Johnson, after trying to work with the corrupt would-be aristocracy of the Republican National Committee, is looking to do a third party run. This could be a bigger blow to the GOP than letting him take his place as the less-naive version of Ron Paul. There are enough independents, disgusted Dems and GOP, and libertarians out there that would be receptive to his message, if he could get it out.
Easily the best governor that New Mexico has had, he’s not the most charismatic fellow you’ll ever meet (he always seems like he’s sorry to be wasting your time) but if you’re looking for common sense solutions that don’t involve the government riding its tanks up your ass, you might want to head over to his website and have a look.