Looks normal enough.
Posted on 10/13/2009 12:57:15 PM PDT by TheThirdRuffian
I’ve been in New Mexico less than 10 minutes when I realize that no ordinary politician rules the Land of Enchantment. After the young woman working the rental car counter discovers I need wheels to visit her very own governor, she starts talking excitedly and positively about his efforts to pass a school choice bill. One of her co-workers, a Democratic activist, tries to straighten her out, and the conversation soon grows to include other employees, all of whom are surprisingly well-informed due to the governor’s high-profile efforts to pass a statewide voucher program. The Democrat wants to make something else clear about New Mexico’s top pol: She doesn’t appreciate his crusade for drug legalization. Struggling to come up with the worst possible epithet, she finally spits out, "I think he’s a liberal," adding that as one he embarrasses her state. (Such is the New West that even Democrats think of liberals as lower than rattlesnakes.)
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
He's no liberal; certainly a libertarian in the fiscal-conservative since. Anti-drug, but anti-war-on-drugs.
A non-crazy Ron Paul, perhaps?
Pretty good speaker; I've seen him.
Huh? Is this the same Gary Johnson who was gov before?
Yes, a 2012 PRESIDENTIAL candidate.
Note, not endorsing the guy, but he lowered taxes, balanced the budget, and left us alone. That’s OK.
Spare me... he’s too busy being Peter Pan and shacking up with some Santa Fe hardbody that he cheated on his late wife with.
The guy’s an idiot. Even his dad Earl said he didn’t know what the hell he was doing while he was Gov.
Why does Reason magazine have a UN flag on it’s website?
He is certainly more libertarian than conservative.
(e.g., on abortion he says “state issue”).
Can’t blame a guy for a Sante Fe Hardbody. Enjoyed those myself.
I did a Google search "mexico governor gary johnson girlfriend" it came back with nothing.
Why are you asking me?
It was barely reported in the local news.
It is common knowledge in New Mexico that, VERY shortly after his divorce proceedings started, he had a new girlfriend.
No idea if she really is a Sante Fe Hard Body. But that’s a good thing.
Was he governor at the time?
From his CATO speech:
I’d like to end this talk with my “Seven Principles of Good Government.” This is something that I authored when I took office and you’ll find that these principles dictate everything that I do.
Become reality driven. Don’t kid yourself or others. Find out what’s what and base your decisions and actions on that.
Always be honest and tell the truth. It’s extremely difficult to do any damage to anybody when you are willing to tell the truth—regardless of the consequences.
Always do what’s right and fair. Remember, the more you actually accomplish, the louder your critics become. You’ve got to learn to ignore your critics. You’ve got to continue to do what you think is right. You’ve got to maintain your integrity.
Determine your goal, develop a plan to reach that goal, and then act. Don’t procrastinate.
Make sure everybody who ought to know what you’re doing knows what you’re doing. Communicate.
Don’t hesitate to deliver bad news. There is always time to salvage things. There is always time to fix things. Henry Kissinger said that anything that can be revealed eventually should be revealed immediately.
Last, be willing to do whatever it takes to get your job done. If you’ve got a job that you don’t love enough to do what it takes to get your job done, then quit and get one that you do love, and then make a difference.
The article is dated 2001. Richardson was elected in '02.
We should print that out and hand it all politicians.
Abortion is a state’s rights issue.
Yeah, but cheat on your wife? Kick her to the curb because she has health problems and can’t keep up with you on the ski slopes anymore? Never mind she was the brains behind Big J suceeding early on.
With Gary, it’s all about Gary.
No.
Agreed. But he is Governor of a state. What does he think his state should do?
I generally agree, but, if you recall Fred Thompson was called “pro-abortion” by Huckabee supporters for taking the same state-rights position.
I suspect his libertarian tendancies will kill his ability to get past social conservatives.
That's about 7/8 of the battle right there. I could totally live with that.
Was governor; he was term-limited out.
(And left politics to go back to construction business.)
“That’s about 7/8 of the battle right there. I could totally live with that.”
I could, too.
But could the “Moral Absolutes” crowd get behind a states rights, libertarian-leaning Republican?
Of course not, because they like Big Government...they just want to start using it for their own ends.
The South and the West have a fundamental disconnect on this that is going to challenge Republican Presidential candidates for a long time to come.
He’s been doing the ponytail thing since leaving office.
On the issues:
Limited Government
Gary is a staunch advocate of limited government and fiscal restraint. He believes that “every law passed is a little bite out of freedom,” and that removing government regulation unleashes the forces of the free market that raise our living standards. As Governor of New Mexico, he cut the rate of government growth in half, balanced the budget deficit, left the state government with 1200 fewer employees, and vetoed 750 bills (more than all the other 49 Governors in the country at that time, combined).
Lower Taxes
Gary supports much lower taxes, and fought relentlessly against a Democratic state legislature for all kinds of tax breaks, including significant income tax reductions. As Governor, he was able to achieve a reduction in taxes of $123 million annually, and gave New Mexico the longest period in its history without a tax hike (eight years).
National Defense
Gary believes in returning to the responsible, Constitutional foreign policy advocated by our country’s Founders. He endorses a strong and capable military that is not stretched thin over 700 bases around the world in 150 different countries. He opposed the Iraq War from the start, and believes that American men and women should only be sent into harm’s way when our national security is truly threatened and military action is truly justified.
Sound Banks, Sound Money
Gary supports Congressman Ron Paul’s efforts to open up transparency and accountability of the nation’s central monetary planner, the Federal Reserve. Gary believes that the free market can do a better job at setting interest rates and ensuring a stable financial system than can a handful of unelected bureaucrats. He recognizes the importance of having a strong Dollar that is not debased by reckless monetary inflation.
Quality Education
Gary believes that quality education is the key to our children’s future, and understands the need for a sleeker and more effective education system. As Governor of New Mexico, Gary reduced government expenditures, but increased the percentage of the budget devoted to providing better education. Gary fought hard, year after year, to bring a state-wide school voucher system to New Mexico, but while continually thwarted by his state’s Democratic legislature, he did manage to attract many new parochial and private schools into the state. Gary understands that the forces of free competition are needed to help drive down education costs.
More Effective Drug Policy
Gary has been a leader of the movement toward a new, more effective drug policy that is more in line with conservative principles of fiscal discipline, limited government, and personal responsibility. Gary advocates an end to the failed prohibition of the past seventy years, and an honest discussion about the drug issue with America’s youth. While Gary himself abstains from all drugs, including nicotene and alcohol, he recognizes that the billions of dollars wasted on a big-government anti-drug policy have not been responsibly invested.
Protecting the Unborn
While Gary himself is personally pro-choice, he understands the proper role of government, and would return the abortion issue back to the 50 states to decide, as the US Constitution mandates. As Governor of New Mexico, he received the endorsement of the Right To Life Committee for his work in reducing abortions through parental consent, informed consent, banning partial-birth abortion, and ending Medicaid funding for abortions. As Governor, he supported every piece of legislation offered by the Right To Life Committee.
Free Trade
Gary wholeheartedly supports free trade, and understands that people free to make voluntary transactions will do so precisely because they are mutually beneficial. Gary understands that free trade benefits all countries involved and helps expand the division of labor. Gary also recognizes the need for American industry to become more open and competitive as the global economy emerges.
New Energy Sources
Gary believes that states, and not the federal government, must play the pivotal role in electrical power decisions. Gary believes that the government ought to enable new exploration and development of the full spectrum of promising energy resources. He also supports federal tax incentives for companies who want to develop new sources of energy, and believes that free market forces must come into play to reduce energy costs and increase the efficiency with which energy is delivered.
Freedom to Bear Arms
Gary believes in the individual right to bear arms and upholds the US Constitution and its Second Amendment which protect that right. Gary understands the clear crime prevention benefits of gun ownership and the freedom to carry a concealed firearm for self defense.
http://www.johnsonforamerica.com/
Why do people keep projecting Dems as running in 2012? Presidents don’t get opposed in the primaries for their re-election, not unless the party has completely imploded, while that would be nice I don’t think it’s happening.
“What does he think his state should do?”
It’s pretty libertarian/states rights:
Protecting the Unborn
While Gary himself is personally pro-choice, he understands the proper role of government, and would return the abortion issue back to the 50 states to decide, as the US Constitution mandates. As Governor of New Mexico, he received the endorsement of the Right To Life Committee for his work in reducing abortions through parental consent, informed consent, banning partial-birth abortion, and ending Medicaid funding for abortions. As Governor, he supported every piece of legislation offered by the Right To Life Committee.
“Why do people keep projecting Dems as running in 2012?”
?
He’s Republican (although certainly of the libertarian/states rights mold).
The article only talks to Dems made me assume, guess he makes sense then. But really it’s not even time for mid-terms yet, we’ve got a couple hundred elections to try to win before 2012.
Thanks for posting this. GJ seems like a good candidate. I look forward to the debates in 2012.
Of course the Romney-bots will find something to criticize him for...lmao
~SC
No.
I believe it was some patented discostu sarcasm there.
Yep, unfortunately.
I agree.
I have been casting about for someone, however, for someone who has a shot against Obama.
Johnson was my Governor, and, amazingly, lowered my taxes and got the OCD (the New Mexcio EPA for oil) off my ass when I called his office. I actually ended up speaking to the Governor himself -— he called me back about ten minutes after I called.
I think he’s a bit too libertarian for National Republican politics — but I like people who mind their own business, and that’s his attitude.
Well, there you have it.
Pro-choice. Santa Fe. Ponytail.
I post to you as the keeper of the “Moral Absolutes” ping list to ask a theoretical question, not so much about this candidate, but in general:
Say you have a 2-term Republican Governor who came out of private construction business, lowered taxes 8 years straight, limited government, extreme fiscal conservative, pro-gun rights, etc., BUT
1. He took the states rights position on abortion (i.e., leave it to each state) AND
2. Was anti-drug, but pretty much opined the war on drugs was a waste of time and there more cost-effective ways to keep people off drugs.
SO HERE IS THE QUESTION:
Not so much as to this particular candidate, but could the “Moral Absolutes” crowd get behind such a states rights canidate?
I’ve never seen the guy in a pony tail.
But keep in mind, this IS New Mexico. Everyone has a pony tail phase.
Looking at his issues positions and his seven principles for good government, this is a guy I could support. As to why to discuss 2012, I’d say it is just a political reality that we have arrived at the everlasting campaign mode, even for the Presidency. Probably was true even in the 1970s and it paid off pretty well for Reagan when it came time to oppose Jimmy Peanut and his Misery Index. If you believe in cyclical history, this may be the turning of the wheel.
You left off this part:
” . . . he understands the proper role of government, and would return the abortion issue back to the 50 states to decide, as the US Constitution mandates.”
Pretty misleading to leave that off.
This guy vanished off the radar screen the day he left office almost 7 years ago. He has done nothing to help the NM GOP.
I guess it’s more or less rhetorical. You were on the first reply (because you posted it). I’m just very surprized that Reason has a UN flag. I can’t tell it it’s an ad or part of their website, but either way....maybe someone else knows.
This is just my personal opinion and I’m not speaking for anyone else, but I think that the candidate would certainly be viable at the state level, but not necessarily at the national level.
If a person truly believes that abortion is murder, then they also believe that the unborn baby is a human being with rights. Why would anyone believe that a state has the power to take away the rights of an innocent human being? For what it’s worth, my guess is that if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned by the Supreme Court the ruling WILL return abortion to the states, but I think the RIGHT ruling is to declare that the unborn babies are persons who enjoy constitutional rights just like everyone else.
As far as the drugs, I don’t think we need to make everything legal, but I also realize that the present policy isn’t exactly working.
The way the Obama presidency is melting down I think a bag of poo has a puncher’s chance against him in 12.
I agree we’ve hit endless campaign, and it kind of irritates me. Campaigns are getting more boring as they get longer, Obie wasn’t even sworn in yet when the pundits started talking about the field for 2012, we used to get a good year and a half off.
I would be curious if you could ping your list, or maybe selective members on your list, just to see.
He’s an actual, proven, fiscal conservative, which, candidly, I can’t think of any others in the RNC, except Ron Paul, and Ron Paul is insane.
This guy is PERSONALLY pro-abortion, but signed pro-life stuff as governor. (The exact opposite of the normal moral conundrum.)
As a President, his PERSONAL opinion would be irrelevant, as his intent would be to leave it to the states.
“This guy vanished off the radar screen the day he left office almost 7 years ago. He has done nothing to help the NM GOP.”
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
As a President, his PERSONAL opinion would be irrelevant, as his intent would be to leave it to the states.
In other words he would realize that he works for the American People. Therefore We the People are the ultimate bosses.
With the same reasoning, the late Texas Lt Gov, Bob Bullock was against term limits. There was a bill before the Texas House to overturn term limits in Texas municipalities. He blocked it. Why? He said that for example, Bob Lanier (mayor of Houston) was an example why there shouldn’t be term limits (his opinion of Bob Lanier, mind you). He added that the voters of Houston chose to have terms limits as part of their governance, and he thought the state should not meddle in that. Yes, Bob Bullock was a Dem, but his kind of Dem is just about gone.
I found his girlfriend, one Dr. Deborah Werenko, Family Practice/Endocronolgy.
She’s no beauty, but did apparently hike Mt. Everest with the guy.
FWIW, they started dating post-divorce proceedings.
Looks to be an ad for “Norwich University”
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