Breaking: Johnson Laying Groundwork for President Run

Race42008 ^ | 10/26/2009

[GoldStandard]

Gary Johnson is preparing to launch his Our America PAC shortly, as soon as he gets all of his legal ducks in a row. He will be hitting the trail hard soon, traveling the country to speak in support of issues and candidates, re-immersing himself in the public policy debate.

This December, Governor Johnson will also be releasing a book entitled “Seven Principles Of Good Government,” published by The Heartland Institute (a conservative-libertarian think tank).

[GoldStandard]

It has been rumored for awhile now that former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is very interested in a 2012 run for the republican nomination.

[devane617]

Who the heck is Gary Johnson?

[PhiKapMom]

Needs to wait until after 2010 and start helping our GOP candidates win back seats.

Last thing we need going into 2010 is having people concentrate on 2012. The day after the 2010 election, then that is the day to look toward 2012 IMHO.

[nonliberal]

Interesting. What I have heard from him I have liked. I could vote for him.

[lonestar]

He isn’t exactly a household name!

[doc1019]

Wonder what Palin thinks about this? Is she worried, I think not.

[GoldStandard]

Again, former two-term republican Governor of New Mexico.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_E._Johnson

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Under Johnson's administration, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state's history, the rate of growth in the state government was cut in half, half of the state's prisons were privatized, state Medicaid was shifted to managed care, and the state was left with approximately 1,000 fewer employees (with no firings) and a budget surplus.[6] Johnson vetoed 750 bills (which was more than all the vetoes of the other 49 Governors in the country at that time, combined), which earned him the nickname Gary "Veto" Johnson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_E._Johnson

[GoldStandard]

Is she worried, I think not.

She should be; she is below Huckabee and Romney in every 2012 republican primary poll to date.

[Jet Jaguar]

Ping

[toddausauras]

“She should be; she is below Huckabee and Romney in every 2012 republican primary poll to date.”

I doubt she’s very worried. She’s too busy turning the political world on its ear every time she feels like it.

[jla]

Someone needs to tap him on the shoulder and after getting his attention tell him we've already decided on our candidate.

[elpadre]

never heard of him!!!

[misterrob]

The worst thing the party could have is a bunch of qualified conservative candidates standing for election.

Not

[doc1019]

She is making a point of keeping a relatively low profile until the time is right. I think she is being very smart in this aspect in her bid for POTUS. Too much publicity now could mean voter awareness burnout. IMHO

[GoldStandard]

She’s too busy turning the political world on its ear every time she feels like it.

I'm sure John McCain agrees.

[SMCC1]

Interesting, Never heard of him. I don’t like Huck and Romney too much and I’m not sure if Palin can win nationally. Pawlenty is blah. I’ll have to research about this guy.

[misterrob]

We have? Speak for yourself.

[OldDeckHand]

"Who the heck is Gary Johnson?"

He was one of the biggest Republican (perhaps only) voices in the movement to decriminalize drugs. That was back a few years ago. I don't know if that is still his position.

[GoldStandard]

Excuse me if I have my doubts. The hardcore Palin base seems to engage in a lot of hyperbole. You’d think listening to them it’s a done deal in 2009 that she wins the 2012 primary and that she’ll win in a 50-state landslide against incumbent Obama.

[lmr]

The worst thing the party could have is a bunch of qualified conservative candidates standing for election.

Not

Exactly. I like Sarah as much as any Conservative, but we should hear what this guy has to say and evaluate his vision for America. He doesn't sound too bad to me.

[Need4Truth]

the rate of growth in the state government was cut in half

so when will government see actual cuts, not rate-of-growth cuts?

[listenhillary]

They would make a great team.

[truth_seeker]

“She should be; she is below Huckabee and Romney in every 2012 republican primary poll to date.”

I have my doubts she will even run in 2012.

[GoldStandard]

Someone needs to tap him on the shoulder and after getting his attention tell him we've already decided on our candidate.

If that is really the case, you posted the wrong image.

Rasmussen Reports: October 15, 2009

1* Suppose the Republican nomination came down to a choice between Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, for whom would you vote?

37% Palin
52% Romney
11% Not sure

2* Suppose the Republican nomination came down to a choice between Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin, for whom would you vote?

55% Huckabee
35% Palin
10% Not sure

3* Regardless of who you would vote for, which candidate would you least like to see win the Republican nomination in 2012….Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich or Tim Pawlenty?

9% Romney
21% Palin
8% Huckabee
20% Gingrich
28% Pawlenty
5% Some other candidate
9% Not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

[lmr]

Decriminalize which drugs?

[misterrob]

When they change the laws on entitlement spending or our economic crash leaves them no choice

[Krodg]

He endorsed Ron Paul...no vote from me.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I'm as libertarian as anybody. But if a politician supports abortion, then it's a no-go for me. I don't care how fiscally conservative he is, when you don't support liberty for the unborn, then the rest of your agenda is suspect. Per this 12/11/00 interview with Playboy magazine via cannabisnews.com, Johnson is pro-abortion.

[Krodg]

If those are the choices, I don’t vote.

[doc1019]

We shall see. I just can’t see Huckabee or Romney being viable candidates. Seems that everywhere Palin shows up, very large adoring and supportive crowds show up. And she is not even campaigning.

[GoldStandard]

Damn. That sucks. I thought he’d be a states’ rights guy on abortion.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Breaking: Johnson Laying Groundwork for President Run

I thought LBJ was dead. And even if he is...there's a term limit.

[jwalsh07]

The worst kind of libertarian, the kind who preaches the golden rule of libertariansim, non aggression, while he supports the ultimate aggression on unborn children.

Aside from that and the fact that he was wrong about Iraq, he's a good limited government/liberty kind of guy. Except of course for those defenseless ones who can't fight back against the agressors.

[GoldStandard]

Also, who knew Playboy gave such great interviews?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

It's very discouraging, because Johnson has a solid record and he's not that old. He should have ran in 2008 but the evangelicals wouldn't have voted for him anyway because of drug and abortion stand.

P.S. - Don't let FReeper Eternal Vigilance see your post about the states' right argument on abortion ROFL

[snarkybob]

“The hardcore Palin base seems to engage in a lot of hyperbole. You’d think listening to them it’s a done deal in 2009 that she wins the 2012 primary and that she’ll win in a 50-state landslide against incumbent Obama.”

I think you’re correct. They remind me a bit of the hardcore Fred Thompson supporters. IIRC many here on FR thought Thompson was a lock as well. I also seem to recall reading a lot of posts stating that the polls were all wrong(the polls at that time were showing FDT at about 12%)

Maybe Governor Palin can pull it out, but it’s way too early to tell.

[submarinerswife]

He was one of the biggest Republican (perhaps only) voices in the movement to decriminalize drugs

He is more of a Libertarian or Liberal than a Republican. We are trying so hard to get rid of RINOs. He needs a better platform or he will be toast.

The backlash is coming and hopefully we won't tolerate this garbage because he is the lesser of two evils.

[tet68]

She should be; she is below Huckabee and Romney in every 2012 republican primary poll to date.

Sure, ask any democrat.

[toddausauras]

What are you saying, that she was supposed to win the election for the actual presidential candidate? Guys like Romney and Huckabee are the ones who McCain agrees with.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Same interview, he's also pro-open borders.

PLAYBOY: Would you open the borders and make it easier to immigrate legally?

JOHNSON: My vision of the border with Mexico is that a truck from the United States going into Mexico and a truck coming from Mexico into the United States will pass each other at the border going 60 miles an hour. Yes, we should have open borders. It will help enormously with the drug issue, too, by the way. One of the huge raps on Mexico is that it is a drug supplier, that it's the drug corridor. But there wouldn't be drugs coming in illegally from Mexico if there weren't the demand in the United States. We have a militarized border with Mexico, and it's a shame. It doesn't work very well, either. Mexican mules get paid a king's ransom to carry marijuana or cocaine across the border, but they are just mules. If they get caught, they're the ones who get locked up, not the drug lords. One out of eight gets caught. Whoever's paying them south of the border knows that equation and understands the risk.

[EternalVigilance]

Johnson is pro-abortion.

[OldDeckHand]

"Decriminalize which drugs?"

I think all of them, but I'm not sure. I've only seen him interviewed just once, and that was quite a while ago - 7 or 8 years. I believe it was Nightline or Charlie Rose.

[toddausauras]

Just one question: WHO?! He’d have to be a pretty amazing and gifted human being to capture America’s heart and vote when even political junkies have no idea who you are talking about.

Plain 2012

[GoldStandard]

What are you saying, that she was supposed to win the election for the actual presidential candidate?

According to the more deluded of Palin's fans here, all you have to do to guarantee a victory is have Palin stand next to you at a rally.

"Palin should have a rally with Christie. A rally for Hoffman. That'll turn the tide!"

[snarkybob]

“Seems that everywhere Palin shows up, very large adoring and supportive crowds show up. And she is not even campaigning.”

Yep, that’s just what they said about about FDT too.

[MrEdd]

Yes, yes, we know, you picked the wrong week to give up crack cocain.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Meet Gary

Ideologically pure enough or not, he looks better than anyone else in the race, so far. But he should wait until 2016 so Romney can take his proper turn and lose to Obama.

[Gene Eric]

>> he looks better than anyone else in the race, so far.

Even better looking than Palin?

[elkfersupper]

The best years I ever spent in NM was when Gary Johnson was Governor.

I'm on board.