New campaign strategy for Libertarians

Right Wing News (Humor/Politics site) ^ | 2/10/2004 | Mac Johnson

[mackster]

The Two And A Half Party System: A Call To Libertarians by Mac Johnson

The Libertarian party is a party of principle. This fact is an enormous comfort to the party each election year when its candidates lose every major race. Being free from the burden of mattering, we can all be proud of the purity of our untested principles. OK, it is a little harsh to say that the Party does not matter. After all, occasionally one of its candidates may, in a tight race, siphon off just enough votes from the least abominable candidate to push the more abominable one over the top and on to Washington! Husah!

At some point though, even the purist must wonder just what it might be like to actually put a Libertarian into office and see our principles put into action and law. If you are among the select group for whom principle alone is wearing thin, then please take a moment to indulge me in an immodest proposal to overhaul the movement's playbook just a little.

[mackster]

It's time for all those groups that believe in limited government to put aside their comparatively small differences and work toward changing minds, changing Congress, and keeping at least one major party, the party of small government.

The article linked in this thread proposes just such a strategy, and calls for some new thinking on the part of Libertarians and their sympathizers.

Read more:

http://www.rightwingnews.com/reader/calltoliber.php

[anniegetyourgun]

Welcome to FR.

[EggsAckley]

Welcome to FreeRepublic..........?

[Maximilian]

Reminds me of the Onion article from the 2000 campaign: "Libertarian Party Holds Nominating Convention in Los Angeles Apartment."

http://www.theonion.com/onion3624/libertarian_convention.html

"The convention is expected to be the largest in party history, drawing upwards of 45 Libertarians to the second-floor apartment in the Mulholland Terrace complex. In preparation for the event, 15 extra folding chairs have been ordered by party leaders, as well as 12 two-liter bottles of Pepsi, Sprite, and Diet Mountain Dew."

[cyborg]

Welcome. Be Thou troll or human?

[Zavien Doombringer]

the Libertarian movement is a farce. The party is designed to take otherwise republican votes and cause a democrate to win.

A true libertarian would want the country to return to the constitution and bring rights to the people. Reduce government interference and allow states to be soveriegn again. Libertarian = one who brings liberty.

Oh, by the way, welcome to FreeRepublic, home of the Viking Kitties, we will be watching.

[Not A Snowbird]

Again?! I can't keep up. I'd better start ordering "Troll-B-Gone" by the case.

[cyborg]

Better get a supersoaker attached to a two ton honey wagon.

[EggsAckley]

[JoJo Gunn]

Another question mark. Let's see if it'll talk.

[Triple]

Which major party is the party of small government, in practice?

[Mr. Mojo]

A leftist/Democrat friend of mine roots for the Libertarians in elections for exactly the same reasons as I (and many other conservative Republicans) root for the Greens.

Go Ralph (or Dean) Go.

[cyborg]

drat! what was that pic?

[dead]

Thanks for the ping.

At some point though, even the purist must wonder just what it might be like to actually put a Libertarian into office and see our principles put into action and law. If you are among the select group for whom principle alone is wearing thin, then please take a moment to indulge me in an immodest proposal to overhaul the movement's playbook just a little.

Geez, Mac Johnson has an absolutely torturous writing style! Very difficult and ponderous to read.

I think the point in all the verbosity was that Libertarian-minded candidates would do well to try to win Republican primaries and force a change towards smaller government from with the party.

If that was the point, I agree.

[EggsAckley]

It was a baby mouse, diapers and all. Can't seem to find it in MY pix, so I "borrowed" it from the source. My bad.
Will keep looking. It's very cute.

[Pest]

I usually vote Libertarian for local officials, where they frequently win. I think they can have more of an impact at that level anyway since they will never have a majority in the house or senate.

In major state and national elections, I usually vote Republican.

I believe that the only reason that Libertarians field candidates in national elections is for publicity so they can further their grass-roots efforts.

[kevkrom]

I think the point in all the verbosity was that Libertarian-minded candidates would do well to try to win Republican primaries and force a change towards smaller government from with the party. If that was the point, I agree.

I would agree with that point as well. We live in a two-party system, like it or not. It is better to work within that system than to sit on the sidelines. Just remember that party leaders generally don't care about ideology, they care about who can deliver money and votes. If ("little-L") libertarian candidates can deliver them enough votes or money to be better than the status quo, they'll take it.

[No Blue States]

Yawn..

I get so tired of these 3rd party parasites trying to siphon off Republican votes.

Most of the Republicans here are fully aware of it if there is better choice in this election. Few if any need help in figuring out who to vote for.

And Etherzone was a pretty good site till Libertarians took it over.

[EggsAckley]

The silence is deafening...........

[fritzz]

Again?! I can't keep up. I'd better start ordering "Troll-B-Gone" by the case

LOL:Where do I go to Download it.