Libertarian challenges Bush

Daily Texan ^ | 8-26-04

[ambrose]

The Daily Texan - Top Stories

Issue: 8/26/04

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Libertarian challenges Bush

By Daniel K. Lai

Libertarian presidential candidate and Austin native Michael Badnarik has been vigorously campaigning in crucial battleground states over the summer, plugging a strong message of a better future for the American people and a call to change in the November election.

Badnarik, a former computer programmer for Evolutionary Technologies International, accepted the Libertarian party's nomination in May at its Atlanta convention. Badnarik said voters looking for change aren't going to get it by voting for President Bush or U.S. Sen. John Kerry.

"If you continue doing what you've always done, you're going to get what you've always got," Badnarik said.

The Libertarian Party of Texas will offer 60 candidates for public office in the election, according to Patrick Dixon, Libertarian state chair.

"The presidential battle in Texas is a two-horse race between Bush and Badnarik," Dixon said. "The Texas Democratic Party has already conceded the state [to Bush] and told its members not to support the Kerry campaign."

However, Mike Lavigne, chief of staff for the Texas Democratic party, said that this is not the case.

"There was a call by the Texas Democratic party chairman that asked, when possible, Texans should keep their contributions in Texas, but Kerry has not given up on Texas," Lavigne said. "The poll numbers show Bush has problems down there too."

But the Bush campaign does not view Badnarik or Kerry as any deterrent in its path to the White House.

"I think voters recognize this is going to be the most important election in a generation and there are only two clear choices between President Bush and Senator Kerry," said Danny Diez, a Bush campaign spokesman. "President Bush has made significant progress for the American people, and they see that."

Ben Woosley, president of the Libertarian Longhorns, said the group actively campaigned last spring to get Badnarik's name on the ballot.

"For the first time in 30 years, we had to gather signatures to get a candidate on the ballot," Woosley said. "Students from UT were gathering more signatures than most counties in Texas."

Libertarians believe Badnarik, who ran for office in 2000 and 2002 for the Texas House of Representatives, could shift the tide on election night, Woosley said.

"This whole election is going to be close, but Bush being re-elected would be far worse than Kerry winning," Woosley said. "We are definitely trying to be the spoiler, and there is a lot of battleground-state campaigning going on."

Badnarik said he believes college students and young adults have a "vested interest" in the outcome of the election and that it could very well be a "life-or-death" decision. Badnarik said he opposes the war in Iraq and would bring American soldiers home if elected, while both Kerry and Bush plan to continue the occupation.

"Both Kerry and Bush want to reinstate the draft. I consider that involuntary servitude, and I would veto any act for it," Badnarik said. "If young people don't change things now, they will be paying for it the rest of their lives."

Badnarik also said if elected he would reduce the military influence in countries abroad and stop "politically poking other countries in the eye with a sharp stick."

Badnarik said in order to stop the war on terrorism, the United States has to stop creating terrorists.

"Every time we bomb a building and kill innocent civilians, we may kill five terrorists, but we create 50 more," he said.

Badnarik also plans to eliminate the Social Security program, which he said is "doomed to failure" and requires young people to invest money into it which they may never see again.

If elected, Badnarik said his administration would work toward decreasing the size of the federal government by eliminating the IRS and the Department of Education, which he blames for American students falling from No. 1 in 1953 to No. 29 worldwide in math and science.

"It is insufficient when our children are becoming dumber and not smarter," he said.

Badnarik said he also plans to stop the federal government from requiring licenses for concealed handguns.

"Most of what the government does these days is unconstitutional; they operate like they are the supreme power in the U.S.," Badnarik said. "It's ludicrous for the government to require a license in order for us to protect our families and children."

[olde north church]

It's quite obvious the membership of the LP have retained their spectacular sense of humor since I refused to sign a membership card stating [paraphrase]
"I do not support the overthrow of the United States government by violent means, etc, etc, etc"
It was at that point, I recognized the LP for what it is, a gathering place for those too afraid to become anarchists [real anarchists, not the trust fund kind], too smart to become Democrats and too immature for the personal responsibility necessary to become a Republican.
I read the literature. Had it been an earlier time, it would have been next to the Sears catalog in the small building with the half-moon on the door. it actually would have had a purpose then.

[Protagoras]

Ever try de caf?

[Protagoras]

I refused to sign a membership card stating [paraphrase] "I do not support the overthrow of the United States government by violent means, etc, etc, etc"

So you DO support the overthrow of the US government by violent means?

[Shryke]

See post 5! I canna believe it, cap'n! JR's a beeber?!

BEEBER to the SAF list!

SAF is the Smart A$$ed Freeper list, dedicated to levity. Please email me to be on or off.

[Shryke]

Whoops! I mean post 3!!!

[olde north church]

That's not the point.
Being an "anti-government, strict constitutionalist rebel" and having a membership card to prove it is and it's an absurd one, at that.

[Protagoras]

Which group is "anti government"?

[TheBigB]

JimRob is the HEAD beeber! ;)

[Shryke]

Unbe-stunable! Did you know this before-hand?

[kevkrom]

JimRob is the HEAD beeber! ;)

Did you just call JimRob a beeber-head?

[Richard Kimball]

[TheBigB]

Yup, JimRob has made hugh and series posts before. ;)

[TheBigB]

Uh-oh. I don't think I did. If I did, 'twas unintentional. :)

[jmc813]

Says all there is to say about the attitude of the big-L Libertarians ... and a good number of the small-L's

Name one small-l libertarian who would rather see Kerry defeat Bush or shut up.