Posted on 04/16/2012 7:25:14 AM PDT by mongrel
I would appeal to Sarah Palin, Gary Johnson, and the Libertarian Party to make Sarah Palin the candidate for President at the Libertarian Party convention next month.
The Libertarian Party has never has a candidate that had a viable chance of winning. There is no reason to think that it will be different this year with Gary Johnson. Palin, however, has been vetted and would draw together a coalition of disenfranchised voters that would put her over the top above Romney and Obama. Romney has zero enthusiasm and hardly any group that could be considered his base. Only 25% of the country identifies as liberal and that is Obama's base. That leaves 40% enthusiastic conservatives as Palin's base which would join libertarians and Reagan Democrats to put her over the top. Palin's three groups of supporters would be enthusiastic, have great turnout, and get the mushy middle to join them. It would be the anti-establishment "cool" choice, rejecting the media and both "mainstream" political parties.
Gary Johnson would have a place in history as a king-maker rather than in a long list of forgettable 3rd party candidates. This coalition would pull together the core of what this country needs right now, a check on government power and corruption.
Palin is not the perfect fit for the Libertarian Party, but would provide significant support and movement for many of their goals. Neither Obama or Romney do that.
After the election, the establishment in both parties would be embarrassed and destroyed. The mainstream media would also take a significant hit. The conservative movement would have several potential moves to shape the future, with a great leader as the voice of that movement. A President Palin could keep the movement together to either take over the GOP, bring the Conservative Party to national prominence, or to continue with a coalition within the Libertarian Party. The GOP-E sunk to new lows this year in their disempowerment of rank and file voters this year and the voters will remember that when they reject Romney and vote for Palin.
I suggest the Libertarian Party because they are the 3rd party that has the best chance of getting a candidate on the ballot in all 50 states at this late date. They are the party that has some history and ties to Palin. Perhaps other conservative 3rd parties could make the same move and put Palin on their ballot also.
Palin has some history of social conservatism which is not a part of the Libertarian Party platform. However, at this point in history most social conservative issues are more about keeping government activism in check rather than imposing new restrictions. Libertarians do not support activist judges and government spending and social conservatives are fighting their wars on these same front lines.
This has the potential to be the disruption we are looking for.
I think winning is the easy part. The two challenges will be whether Palin would be willing to risk alienating the GOP-E in making the run. Secondly, is the Libertarian Party willing to set aside some of their pursuit of ideological purity to form a coalition with others.
A 3rd party run puts Palin's strengths front and center. She fought corruption and big government in Alaska and won. She would have a majority of voters nationwide that care about the same things and would rally behind her.
Taking the presidency in this way, along with strong conservative wins in Congress would provide Palin with the support she needs in both houses to enact legislation to draw down the debt, repeal Obamacare and roll back the Obama regulations.
The Libertarian party is for clowns and carnies.
The only reason I am suggesting forming a coalition with the Libertarian Party is because they are the only path to ballot access at this late date.
The two-party system in the US has thrived because of the many comments above. If we borrowed (for this election) some of the coalition-building style of the parliamentary system, we could get the fiscal issues front and center. And the majority of the country supports that.
>>Its a huge gamble, but the GOP-E has already declared war and the Tea Party isnt fighting back.
The Tea Party officially jumped the shark last weekend when they held a Rally For The Troops. America is going to hell, the economy is in the tank, and our choice in November is Socialist vs Commmunist and they’re wasting energy on a “safe” and polite rally for a cause that everyone can agree on.
We’re going to lose in November anyway so let’s drive a stake in the heart of the lifeless GOP that rises from the grave every four years to nominate the guy who is next in line.
We need to learn the ways of Alinsky and other radicals so we can do meaningful civil disobedience. The TP is not going to be ready for next year.
Please describe “social conservatism” and how it differs from just plain, ordinary conservatism.
Perfect storm indeed!
“HOPE”....for America!
Are you old enough to remember 1992? It may be a cliche but the advice to divide and conquer still applies.
What Newt is doing is what we need to do. I will vote for him in the Texas primary. What he will do then is go to the convention and get "planks" in the party that will at least define what the "Republicans" believe in. I know many Christians fell behind Santorum to make their point, but now he's gone. Newt is the anti-Romney now. Santorum will throw his delegates behind Romney any day now, which is fine. He has no future if he looks like a sore loser. Anyone wanting to make a point now only has Newt to vote for. Stomping your feet and going home in tears isn't a game plan. To register your complaint to the Establishment Republicans, vote for Newt.
It's going to be painful to watch Romney stammer and stutter when Obama says Romney was his inspiration for Obama Care, and they bring up his votes for abortion and gay marriage, but that is reality that we face now. Conservatives voting for libertarians will just piss off the libertarians and waste a conservative vote. Reagan didn't win his first time out. Palin can return when people figure out she can do better than the others. Newt was the opportunity this go round, but again we squander our future on morons.
Ordinary conservatism is to keep historic platforms in the US in place: limited government, sodomy and abortion illegal, and a preferred place for Christian values in society.
We have common ground with libertarians on limited government.
On social conservative issues (the rest of the list), we have moved from government activism to make these historic values the norm, to government activism to punish and displace those who hold those values.
We have common ground with libertarians on not having government funding for abortions, on having freedom of practice for Christians and others, and possibly on getting government out of teaching sodomy to school children.
So the Libertarians should ignore thier principles and nominate someone that does not share thier values? Just to play spoiler and be left holding the bag when the Candidate then switches back to thier true party after the election?
That sounds like a real good deal to me! Maybe we can nominate Hilary Clinton! We’d get the female vote and a big part of the Dem’s to vote for her!
What Newt is doing is what we need to do. I will vote for him in the Texas primary. What he will do then is go to the convention and get "planks" in the party that will at least define what the "Republicans" believe in. I know many Christians fell behind Santorum to make their point, but now he's gone. Newt is the anti-Romney now. Santorum will throw his delegates behind Romney any day now, which is fine. He has no future if he looks like a sore loser. Anyone wanting to make a point now only has Newt to vote for. Stomping your feet and going home in tears isn't a game plan. To register your complaint to the Establishment Republicans, vote for Newt.
It's going to be painful to watch Romney stammer and stutter when Obama says Romney was his inspiration for Obama Care, and they bring up his votes for abortion and gay marriage, but that is reality that we face now. Conservatives voting for libertarians will just piss off the libertarians and waste a conservative vote. Reagan didn't win his first time out. Palin can return when people figure out she can do better than the others. Newt was the opportunity this go round, but again we squander our future on morons.
In the end, we will have Romney or Obama. I for one, can see the difference, even if only slight. Staying home or voting 3rd party doesn't work.
Any other option is better than that course. The Constitution Party and the Libertarians are the only other, even remotely viable, options at this point. The TEA Party coalition getting behind a solid candidate like Sarah in either one of these established Parties could get traction.
You want that she should commit political suicide?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Agreed. I would vote for Palin as a Republican. If she were to go third party, I would vote for her. I may even write her in in the general.
But if she did lose her marbles and join up with the Lib Party just to garner more votes?
I’d vote for Obamney just for General Principles.
That's the difference in a social conservative and a conservative. They aren't the same animal.
> The key to getting what we want is taking OVER the
> Republican party
Exactly!
That’s how the communists took over the Democrat party and made it into the DemonRAT party.
Sarah Palin is not a Libertarian. Sarah Palin is a Republican, --a powerful and influential Republican at that. As a powerful and influential Republican with a future in Republican politics, she will support whomever the party she belongs to nominates for president. She will be in Tampa during the convention and, rest assured, she will use her presence there to rally her followers to do the same.
And, rest assured, this place will have a melt down when the above occurs.
Oh please, do you really think that they care about our complaints?
Establishment Lackey: "Excuse me sir, but I have ...."
Establishment Politician: "Someone registered a complaint?"
Establishment Lackey: "Yes sir."
Establishment Politician: "Okay, duly noted. Please file it in the normal place. But empty it first, it has gotten rather full lately."
The overall consensus on this forum right now seems to be one where every influential conservative voice needs to fall on their swords and throw the election to Obama.
Take a look at the few "Dick Cheney is now a RINO RomneyBot" threads to see how they'll all getting tossed under the bus. Sarah Palin will be joining this list shortly.
I don't think it is nearly as much of a mismatch as you appear to think.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.