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Libertarian seeks tax-raising Republican's Oregon House seat
www.lp.org ^ | 3 28 04 | www.lp.org

Posted on 03/29/2004 5:25:31 AM PST by freepatriot32

Oregon Libertarian Tom Cox is following up on his promise: He said last year -- when he was chairman of the state Libertarian Party -- that Republican legislators in his state who voted to approve a tax hike would be opposed when they came up for re-election. He is now running against one of those Republicans.

And his move has been noted -- and applauded -- by local media and lawmakers alike.

The Salem Statesman Journal, in the capital city, pointed out that both Libertarians and some Republicans said they would do their utmost to kick those lawmakers out of office, but that Republicans had not stepped up to the plate to challenge GOP incumbents.

Only Libertarians are fielding opposition to the 10 tax-increasing Republicans, and Cox stands a good chance of winning his campaign against incumbent Rep. Mary Gallegos for the state House District 29 seat, the Statesman Journal reported.

Cox ran a high-profile gubernatorial race in 2002, then was a spokesman on three state-wide ballot initiatives -- including Measure 30, which would have raised taxes by $1.2 billion over three years -- so he enjoys strong name recognition in the state.

The facts that Measure 30 was defeated in February by 59 percent of the state's voters and that the Libertarians were given much media attention in the tax hike's defeat shed an even more positive light on Cox's race, since he was a primary opponent of the measure.

Cox also has the public support of at least three incumbent legislators: "He's had several Republicans coming to him, saying 'I think you have a real good shot at this,' said Elizabeth "Pith" Lourdes, one of Cox's campaign workers.

"We have an extremely good chance against Gallegos," Lourdes said. "She is not doing an entirely bad job, but she voted to raise taxes a couple of times."

And those tax-raising votes are enough reason to want any incumbent out of office, she said.

"Gallegos is a very nice lady, but nice doesn't get the job done," she added. "She was under pressure, and she took the easy way out."

Two Democrats -- Chuck Riley and Elena Uhing -- have also filed in the District 29 primary. Riley was the party's nominee in 2002, when Gallegos won her first term.

Cox doesn't have to run in the primary, making for a three-way race in November.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: culturewar; govwatch; house; libertarian; libertarians; oregon; philosophytime; priorities; raising; republicans; seat; seeks; tax; taxreform; taxreformthreads
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To: Dane
"Cox also has the public support of at least three incumbent legislators"

Demo or Pubbie?

I don't know. Either way, it weighs against ServesURight's claim that Cox will "throw the election to the Rats."

61 posted on 03/29/2004 8:26:35 AM PST by Sweet Land
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To: Dane
I really can't imagine that you possibly don't understand what I'm saying, because that would be truly amazing.

I'll say it one more time though, just as plain and simple as I can, and then I'm through.

The merits of abortion, be they bad or good, has absolutely nothing to do with whether the Libertarian Party is generally more conservative or less conservative compared to the two major political parties.

I'm done.
62 posted on 03/29/2004 8:28:53 AM PST by Il Duce
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To: Sweet Land; ServesURight
I don't know. Either way, it weighs against ServesURight's claim that Cox will "throw the election to the Rats."

Well if those three "incumbant" persons, whose political affilation is unmentioned in the LP press release, are democrats, they certainly would give private support to Mr. Cox, IMO. We will never know since the "incumbants" political affiliation is never mentioned in the LP press release.

63 posted on 03/29/2004 8:33:12 AM PST by Dane
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To: Il Duce
The merits of abortion, be they bad or good, has absolutely nothing to do with whether the Libertarian Party is generally more conservative or less conservative compared to the two major political parties.

IMO, abortion on demand has no "merit".

But what the hey I can understand why you want to run away from the issue of abortion, like most liberals do.

It brings up moral questions, and it is just easier to run a way from such questions.

64 posted on 03/29/2004 8:39:16 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane; xrp
I am a pro-life conservative and I am all for having a gay marriage.

Shoot, FRom time to time, my first ex-wife and I had a gay marriage. But then, she had her mid-life crisis, became a sourpuss and put an end to our gay marriage, so I divorced her.

BUT HST, I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED TO HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE! THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW?

When, oh when, fellow FReepers, are we going to stop dignifying homosexual behavior by using the term "gay" to describe that abnormal, perverse behavior?

Homosexuals are made, not born, and we should do all within our power to marginalize those perverts and PUSHEM BACK INTO THEIR DARK CLOSETS!

Not using the term "gay" and truthfully describing them as homosexuals is one way to do that.

65 posted on 03/29/2004 8:41:26 AM PST by Taxman (So that the beautiful pressure does not diminish!)
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To: Taxman; xrp
When, oh when, fellow FReepers, are we going to stop dignifying homosexual behavior by using the term "gay"

Semantic point noted.

Although screaming about semantics doesn't reconcile the poltical points being debated on this thread, IMO.

66 posted on 03/29/2004 8:48:32 AM PST by Dane
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To: Hank Rearden
Because the evidence, at state and federal levels, shows that Republicans are tax-raising, deficit-increasing, Big Stupid Government-growing weasels.

It's not just in Oregon either. Way too many RINOs at the state levels.

I'd like to see more libertarians win office, if only just to shake up the status quo, but that won't happen. The Republicans and democrats will fight back. They have too much of an interest in maintaining an unholy two party system.

67 posted on 03/29/2004 8:48:50 AM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: af_vet_rr
They have too much of an interest in maintaining an unholy two party system.

JMO, reading the press release which is the body of this thread, it seems that the Libertarians have an interest in helping demos in Oregon.

68 posted on 03/29/2004 8:51:46 AM PST by Dane
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To: ServesURight
Because conservatives, and Libertarians need to show the republicans we will not be treated as the Democrats treat minorities...
69 posted on 03/29/2004 8:56:44 AM PST by N3WBI3
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To: N3WBI3
Because conservatives, and Libertarians need to show the republicans we will not be treated as the Democrats treat minorities..

By helping democrats?

Also noted is your use of capitalizing Libertarians and Democrats, while leaving the first letter in republicans in a small case letter.

70 posted on 03/29/2004 9:00:35 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane
Note that I have poor typing skills all you want, just don't ignore the point. In many state Conservatives and Libertarians have been screaming at *R*epublicans not to ignore us. In states like OR, NY, CA, and others we have begged and pleaded to throw us a bone. Every so often we are promised something, a conservative viewpoint and yet in these states we never get it.

We have a president who has run up a tremendous deficit by refusing to cap government spending and a senate full of Republicans who have done nothing to stop it. This race is a preview of what will happen when the proverbial straw finally falls...

71 posted on 03/29/2004 9:08:14 AM PST by N3WBI3
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To: N3WBI3
Note that I have poor typing skills all you want, just don't ignore the point. In many state Conservatives and Libertarians have been screaming at *R*epublicans not to ignore us. In states like OR, NY, CA, and others we have begged and pleaded to throw us a bone. Every so often we are promised something, a conservative viewpoint and yet in these states we never get it.

We have a president who has run up a tremendous deficit by refusing to cap government spending and a senate full of Republicans who have done nothing to stop it. This race is a preview of what will happen when the proverbial straw finally falls.

I am not ignoring the point. The point is that the Libertarians in Oregon seem to have all their animus towards the Republicans and not against the demos.

72 posted on 03/29/2004 9:11:53 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane
Because the Demo's never claim to be conservative, nor court conservative votes. If Democrats are running in the race (3-way) than they *ARE* running against the Demo and the republican..
73 posted on 03/29/2004 9:16:40 AM PST by N3WBI3
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To: N3WBI3
Because the Demo's never claim to be conservative, nor court conservative votes. If Democrats are running in the race (3-way) than they *ARE* running against the Demo and the republican.

Looking at your above response, how can a demo run against a demo.

But what the hey, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, you are a Libertarian defender, and it may be the bong that is speaking.

74 posted on 03/29/2004 9:20:21 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane
I am not ignoring the point. The point is that the Libertarians in Oregon seem to have all their animus towards the Republicans and not against the demos.

Well, think of it this way...let's say you live in New York City and you have two baseball teams (political parties) to choose to be a fan of...Mets or Yankees. You choose the Mets because the Mets have 6 team members (issues) of which you are a HUGE FAN (you hold these issues dear to you). You aren't a fan of the Yankees at all because they don't have any team members that you are a fan of. Then all of a sudden, the Mets trade your FAVORITE 6 players whom you are a HUGE FAN of and don't offer a good reason. Why would you feel slighted by the Yankees? You never expected anything from them in the first place, because you were never a fan of their team. Does it make any sense to get upset at the Yankees?

75 posted on 03/29/2004 9:24:36 AM PST by xrp
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To: Dane
Either way, it weighs against ServesURight's claim that Cox will "throw the election to the Rats."

Well if those three "incumbant" persons, whose political affilation is unmentioned in the LP press release, are democrats, they certainly would give private support to Mr. Cox, IMO.

Why would that be less likely if the incumbents are Republicans?

76 posted on 03/29/2004 9:26:20 AM PST by Sweet Land
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To: xrp
Well, think of it this way...let's say you live in New York City and you have two baseball teams (political parties) to choose to be a fan of...Mets or Yankees. You choose the Mets because the Mets have 6 team members (issues) of which you are a HUGE FAN (you hold these issues dear to you). You aren't a fan of the Yankees at all because they don't have any team members that you are a fan of. Then all of a sudden, the Mets trade your FAVORITE 6 players whom you are a HUGE FAN of and don't offer a good reason. Why would you feel slighted by the Yankees? You never expected anything from them in the first place, because you were never a fan of their team. Does it make any sense to get upset at the Yankees?

Uh I would be upset with the Yankees in the first place, they are the adversary.

A corrollary, should I have gone and helped the nazis, because I was mad about Patton being reprimanded.

77 posted on 03/29/2004 9:31:27 AM PST by Dane
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To: Sweet Land
Why would that be less likely if the incumbents are Republicans?

Uh because it isn't mentioned in the LP press release.

Intellectual honesty and all that.

78 posted on 03/29/2004 9:33:28 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane
Democrat-Republican-Libertarian, three way race both the Demo and the Repub have to run against the Libertarian. BTW I am not a libertarian, I tend to vote conservative or Constitutionalist. Usually one of these parties endorse the Repub so I end up voting that way but I will not be a slave to a party that votes more and more like the democrats every year..
79 posted on 03/29/2004 9:35:38 AM PST by N3WBI3
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To: N3WBI3
Democrat-Republican-Libertarian, three way race both the Demo and the Repub have to run against the Libertarian.

Which in recent American political history helps the democrats win.

80 posted on 03/29/2004 9:38:51 AM PST by Dane
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