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Ted Cruz Speech Nods to Increasing Libertarian Views within Republican Party
Cato Institute ^ | 9/26/13 | David Kirby

Posted on 09/30/2013 9:24:47 AM PDT by shego

During his Ironman 21-hour speech, Sen. Ted Cruz read excerpts from Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, name-dropped "libertarians" at least six times, and yielded to Sen. Rand Paul, who invoked Frederic Bastiat's "What is Seen and Unseen," a favorite among libertarians.

Ted Cruz, who retained remarkable composure over the long night, seems in all things deliberate. Political leaders seem to have become more comfortable talking about libertarians, even identifying themselves as such. Libertarians may have reached a tipping point within the Republican Party.

Last week, a FreedomWorks study on public opinion found that libertarian views within the Republican Party are at the highest point in a decade, today representing 41 percent of Republican voters....

We define libertarians as those who favor "smaller government" and think government should not promote "traditional values." Using this method, FreedomWorks data show that 41 percent of Republicans and Republican leaning independents are libertarian today.

Two separate data sources, Gallup and ANES, show the same trend: that libertarian views are at the highest point in a decade....

Of course, as I've have noted previously, not all these libertarians self-identify as such and many don't know the word. But even that seems to be changing, and it's not just Ted Cruz.

Sen. Rand Paul calls himself a "libertarian-leaning Republican." Glenn Beck now considers himself libertarian, saying "I'm a lot closer to Penn Jillette than I am to Chuck Hagel." Matt Drudge recently tweeted his frustration with Republicans on Syria, saying it's now "authoritarian vs. libertarian." According to FreedomWorks' poll, only 10 percent of Republicans "don't know" the word libertarian, compared to 27 percent nationally.

The data confirm that libertarian views may well have reached a tipping point in the Republican Party.

(Excerpt) Read more at cato.org ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 113th; bigbrother; cruz; freedom; influence; libertarian; libertarians; liberty
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To: shego

Reagan was no libertarian, that shouldn’t be news to you.

He also disagreed with you and the libertarian position on homosexualizing the military and gay marriage.


61 posted on 09/30/2013 11:09:50 AM PDT by ansel12 ( 'I'm on That New Obama Diet... Every Day I Let Vladimir Putin Eat My Lunch' .)
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To: shego
"Obviously, when the ship of state is headed toward a fiscal iceberg, the rearrangement of deck chairs and polishing of band instruments need to be put aside for the duration."

Bullcrap. If you think the ship of state can be righted by supporting a queer-loving, anti-gun abortion-supporter, you're delusional.....or worse, amoral.

62 posted on 09/30/2013 11:10:23 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon (Support Christian white males----the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.)
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To: jboot

Well, that’s your take on it. Personally I don’t care about the drugs themselves. It’s the “war” that is being waged on every american by every level of government in the name of fighting drugs. You might like the police state, but some of us could do without it. And as I’ve tried to tell people for a long time...the government is just sharping it’s claws on the pot heads. When they’re done practicing, their attention will turn to gun confiscation or raiding homeschoolers or some other group you may have some affinity for.


63 posted on 09/30/2013 11:10:24 AM PDT by Orangedog (An optimist is someone who tells you to 'cheer up' when things are going his way)
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To: KC_Lion

LOL, are you so out of touch that you don’t know what “traditional American values” are as you promote a liberatrian/leftist social agenda?

You support this left wing agenda? Count how many your fellow travelers have already succeeded at during the last 50 years, and then ponder the result, it moves us farther to the left and makes conservative economics impossible.

Here is the leftists agenda hidden behind the Libertarian Party curtain.

Throw open the borders completely; only a rare individual (terrorist, disease carrier etc.) can be kept from freedom of movement through “political boundaries”.

Homosexuals; total freedom in the military, gay marriage, adoption, child custody and everything else.

Abortion; zero restrictions or impediments.

Pornography; no restraint, no restrictions.

Drugs; Meth, Heroin, Crack, and anything new that science can come up with, zero restrictions.

Advertising those drugs, prostitution, and pornography; zero restrictions.

Military Strength; minimal capabilities.


64 posted on 09/30/2013 11:14:53 AM PDT by ansel12 ( 'I'm on That New Obama Diet... Every Day I Let Vladimir Putin Eat My Lunch' .)
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To: shego

I am an unapologetic social conservative, and I will remain that way regardless of whether the Republican Party is controlled by liberals or libertarians. If you want my vote, you have to earn it. It won’t be given away. You can’t have my vote without respecting my values.


65 posted on 09/30/2013 11:20:30 AM PDT by Engraved-on-His-hands (Conservative 2016!! The Dole, H.W. Bush, McCain, Romney experiment has failed.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Fence sitters. Not taking a stand is not a conservative platform.


66 posted on 09/30/2013 11:22:37 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: ansel12
I just try and trust the American people. Up until 100 years or so ago pot was legal. And look what the government has done with the war on drugs. When before it was up to the individual. That is why we caution against "well intentioned" meddling like that.

We are on the same side. This is why the founders hated parties. Its a time for learning and growing for us all.

67 posted on 09/30/2013 11:26:57 AM PDT by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)
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To: jboot

In other words drugs are the most important thing to Libertarians, to be dwelt upon ad nauseum even in the face of looming national crisis.


The good news is that you’re winning the argument with words like that.

The bad news is that the argument is with the deluded little man in your head.

I’m a libertarian before Republican, don’t give a hoot about drugs (except that non-druggies like you and me would suffer a less intrusive and costly police state if we got feds out of the drug enforcement industry), oppose abortion and support the right of state voters to defend innocent unborn life, and believe that drugs and abortion are irrelevant if the government leviathan continues its unsustainable course.

Now, do you want me on your side, or do you want to pi$$ off those who truly understand the principles of liberty?


68 posted on 09/30/2013 11:28:54 AM PDT by Founding Nephew
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To: Founding Nephew

“Abortion is irrelevant”

Really?


69 posted on 09/30/2013 11:34:20 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon (Support Christian white males----the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.)
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To: Engraved-on-His-hands
"Social" issues are issues for society. Healthy societies are not controlled by government policy.
70 posted on 09/30/2013 11:34:56 AM PDT by shego
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To: CatherineofAragon

All you need to do on this board is say the word “libertarian” to set some folks hair on fire!


71 posted on 09/30/2013 11:35:34 AM PDT by Blackirish (Forward Comrades!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Blackirish
"All you need to do on this board is say the word “libertarian” to set some folks hair on fire!"

(shrug) Not for me. But pushing a pro-abortion, anti-gun, pro-queer racebaiter for governor of my state? Or saying that "abortion is irrelevant", no matter how you qualify it?

Oh, yeah. That will get me started. I would think any other conservative would feel the same, right?

72 posted on 09/30/2013 11:42:35 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon
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To: shego
""Social" issues are issues for society. Healthy societies are not controlled by government policy."

Then why does your candidate for VA governor, Robert Sarvis, want to push his leftwing social views on the state?

73 posted on 09/30/2013 11:47:07 AM PDT by CatherineofAragon
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To: CatherineofAragon
Then why does your candidate for VA governor, Robert Sarvis, want to push his leftwing social views on the state?

He wants to make people take drugs, marry somebody of the same sex, etc? News to me....

74 posted on 09/30/2013 11:50:50 AM PDT by shego
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To: Blackirish
All you need to do on this board is say the word “libertarian” to set some folks hair on fire!

So it seems. It's like trying to explain to leftists that you can't keep spending more than you take in.

75 posted on 09/30/2013 11:51:32 AM PDT by shego
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To: Logical me

There are still people here who would like to use your rifle.


76 posted on 09/30/2013 11:55:35 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (My PV2 is my hero.)
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To: cripplecreek

BINGO.

You nailed it with your parade analogy...


77 posted on 09/30/2013 11:58:40 AM PDT by DrewsMum
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To: Uncle Miltie

Barf Alert indeed.

This is not the first article - nor will it be the last - to attempt to insult Cruz in this fashion.


78 posted on 09/30/2013 11:58:42 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: BarnacleCenturion

I see you’re still trolling FR with your liberal lies and BS.


79 posted on 09/30/2013 12:00:11 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: Founding Nephew

Now, do you want me on your side, or do you want to pi$$ off those who truly understand the principles of liberty?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, since you DID ask...

PISS OFF!

(see tagline ya newbie troll)


80 posted on 09/30/2013 12:06:29 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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