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Libertarians Seeking 'True Conservatives'
GOPUSA ^

Posted on 02/24/2005 6:27:01 AM PST by Happy2BMe

Libertarians Seeking 'True Conservatives'

By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Morning Editor
February 24, 2005

(CNSNews.com) -- The Libertarian Party says its representatives were "very well received" by conservatives at a recent conference in Washington.

"We met a lot of people who are either supportive of our ideas or who simply support having an alternative to the big-government ideal put forward by the Republicans and Democrats," said Sam New, who organized the Libertarian Party's activities at the Conservative Political Action Committee Conference in Washington.

The Libertarian Party was a first-time cosponsor of the Feb. 17-19 CPAC Conference, and its involvement was a "big step forward" for the Party, said Executive Director Joe Seehusen in a report on the group's website.

"Our profile has been low for some time, and we were able to showcase our party in a positive light to many people and groups, including a large number of students and small business owners."

Seehusen, who considers President George W. Bush a socialist, said the Libertarians' support for limited government and appreciation for individual rights strikes a cord with many people who call themselves Republicans or conservatives.

"Many of them stopped by our booth to learn more," which is exactly why the Libertarians decided to take part in CPAC this year, he said.

The Libertarians believe they can appeal to "true conservatives" (as opposed to "big-government neo-conservatives") on a number of issues.

"By taking part in this CPAC conference, we hope to show that Libertarians are the true fiscal conservatives -- much more so than the Republicans are," Seehusen said on the Libertarian website.

He said the party is studying how successful groups market themselves, so the Libertarian Party "can more effectively reach out to conservatives" in the future.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: conservative; conservativism; cpac; libertarian; lp; republican
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The Libertarians are free to believe any way they want - its a free country.

I will never vote on their ticket. I have voted Republican for nearly 35 years, and that is the only ticket I have ever voted on..

But 'conservativism' is undergoing an identity crisis now in the Republican Party.

1 posted on 02/24/2005 6:27:03 AM PST by Happy2BMe
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To: Happy2BMe
The Libertarians believe they can appeal to "true conservatives" (as opposed to "big-government neo-conservatives") on a number of issues.

They are right- but I don't think the Libertarian party can win national elections anytime soon.

They need to infiltrate the Republican party and move it farther right, and they need to learn how to play politics.

2 posted on 02/24/2005 6:36:12 AM PST by jsmith48 (www.isupatriot.com)
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To: Happy2BMe

As long as they want felons to vote and legalizing recreational drugs in this country, they can sure as hell count me out.


3 posted on 02/24/2005 6:39:59 AM PST by conservativecorner
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To: Happy2BMe

Conservatism in the Republican party died with Ronald Reagan.

R.I.P.


4 posted on 02/24/2005 6:40:57 AM PST by Capitalism2003
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To: Happy2BMe

The Libertarians are on the mark on most fiscal issues, way off on foreign policy, and sometimes right, sometimes wrong on social issues. The problem is this-most Republicans I know are more libertarian than they realize, but think that most Libertarian party candidates are nuts.

Give me Reaganite conservatism any day of the week.


5 posted on 02/24/2005 6:42:04 AM PST by RockinRight (It's NOT too early to start talking about 2006...or 2008.)
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To: Happy2BMe

True moral-liberals looking for true conservatives.


6 posted on 02/24/2005 6:42:34 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: Happy2BMe
said the Libertarians' support for limited government and appreciation for individual rights strikes a cord with many people who call themselves Republicans or conservatives.

Sure does with this life-long republican.

7 posted on 02/24/2005 6:43:18 AM PST by JPJones (First and foremost: I'm a Freeper.)
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To: Capitalism2003

How true. I think that the Republicans will split into the old Zell Miller DixieCrats, and conservatives.


8 posted on 02/24/2005 6:44:22 AM PST by Yancey (Yancey)
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To: Happy2BMe
I have always wished the Libertarian Party would decide not to run National party candidates and instead "endorse" either the Republican or Democratic party candidate. Building a viable party requires success at the local level first.
9 posted on 02/24/2005 6:44:30 AM PST by Katya (Homo Nosce Te Ipsum)
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To: conservativecorner

A lot of folks, including conservatives, want another look at the drug war.


10 posted on 02/24/2005 6:45:48 AM PST by A Ruckus of Dogs
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To: conservativecorner

I don't get this thing about felons. Why shouldn't a felon vote if/when they have completed their sentence and done something to prove that they are no longer a criminal threat? Now, before you pull out the flame thrower, hear me out.

I am not saying a 2-time convicted child rapist should be voting. I am talking about people (and there are many) who, a decade or so ago, did something stupid and have now changed their lives. I think those people should be allowed to vote. What about this example:

Take someone who was involved in a bar brawl in the early 90s and was charged and convicted of felonius assault. They did their time, then after prison started a business and a family. This person is now a good "model citizen" and still can't vote.


11 posted on 02/24/2005 6:46:53 AM PST by RockinRight (It's NOT too early to start talking about 2006...or 2008.)
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To: jsmith48
They need to infiltrate the Republican party and move it farther right, and they need to learn how to play politics.

I think that's the mission of the Republican Liberty Caucus.

12 posted on 02/24/2005 6:47:00 AM PST by A Ruckus of Dogs
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To: conservativecorner

"As long as they want felons to vote and legalizing recreational drugs in this country, they can sure as hell count me out."

That makes you a big government supporter. The "war on drugs" has eroded the 4th Amendment, lead to rampant government spending, and limits personal liberty. Moreover, the black market in drugs leads to a spike in real crime associated with that market. If people want to get high, just let them. Do you want to ban alcohol next? Alcohol is a recreational drug, so I guess you want to interfere with my 23rd Amendment rights? You are anti-constitution!

My guess is you lack sufficient faith in yourself to not do drugs, so you want the government to play daddy.


13 posted on 02/24/2005 6:48:11 AM PST by New Orleans Slim
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To: RockinRight

I agree. If they've completed their sentence, then their debt to society is paid and their rights should be re-instated.


14 posted on 02/24/2005 6:48:50 AM PST by A Ruckus of Dogs
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To: Katya
Building a viable party requires success at the local level first.

That's where they concentrate now. I think the national candidates are just for name recognition.

15 posted on 02/24/2005 6:48:54 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: Happy2BMe

"As long as they [libertarians]want felons to vote and legalizing recreational drugs in this country, they can sure as hell count me out."

They also want to legalized porn & prostitution to have open borders, and believe that greed is good.

Libertarianism would spell the death of the Republic. With them, no real social cohesion is possible.


16 posted on 02/24/2005 6:49:24 AM PST by Pittsburg Phil
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To: Happy2BMe

I used to have libertarian leanings. The Libertarian Party is isolationist, wants totally open borders with Mexico, and has no philosophy that shares my cultural values. I have no use for them.


17 posted on 02/24/2005 6:50:12 AM PST by doug from upland (Ray Charles --- a great musician and safer driver than Ted Kennedy)
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To: Pittsburg Phil

I don't think those things should be legal.

HOWEVER-those should be STATE issues, not FEDERAL.


18 posted on 02/24/2005 6:50:53 AM PST by RockinRight (It's NOT too early to start talking about 2006...or 2008.)
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To: A Ruckus of Dogs

Part of that debt paid to society can be the loss of rights. It is perfectly valid for the people of a society to mandate the avoidance of another individual, or a weapon, or any number of things.


19 posted on 02/24/2005 6:52:54 AM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: RockinRight
The Libertarians are on the mark on most fiscal issues, way off on foreign policy, and sometimes right, sometimes wrong on social issues. The problem is this-most Republicans I know are more libertarian than they realize, but think that most Libertarian party candidates are nuts.

I don't think the Libertarians would be very good running the country either. Here's my dream scenario right now: We elect quite a few Libertarians state and federal levels, not enough to sieze power and implement their crazier ideas, but enough to be able to stop the current government expansion and abuses.

For example, you know we wouldn't be seeing these eminent domain abuses currently in front of SCOTUS if the Libertarians had any significant representation. I certainly don't see the Republicans or Democrats doing anything for these people.

20 posted on 02/24/2005 6:55:04 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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