Posted on 10/31/2004 12:43:54 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
There's more than one Texan on the ballot for president this year.
Libertarian Michael Badnarik — the only third-party or independent presidential candidate on the Texas ballot — is from Austin.
Badnarik campaigned in Houston on Saturday and will spend the rest of his time on the trail in his home state.
"I'm a legitimate candidate from a legitimate party," he said at a gathering of about 25 people at a Clear Lake-area Fuddruckers.
Badnarik is actually on the ballot in more states than Ralph Nader. Badnarik is on 48 ballots. Nader is on 35.
Election Day could be a watershed year for the party, Badnarik said, if it is able to garner 1 million votes.
He's been traveling the country since January; he packed up his place in Austin, put all of his belongings in storage and hit the road.
Within five months he put 25,000 miles on his car.
He tries to get media attention wherever he goes, often doing six interviews a day with local media.
He has been largely ignored by the national press.
Badnarik was arrested in St. Louis for trying to gain admittance to the presidential debate.
"It's been like living on a roller coaster without getting off," he said of his bid for president.
He's spent about $1 million on his campaign, with $300,000 going toward TV ads in a few states, primarily New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona.
Badnarik is running, he said, because he can't vote for President Bush or Democratic candidate John Kerry and respect himself in the morning.
He cannot support a candidate who will continue the war in Iraq or operate government in a deficit, he said.
Badnarik, a computer consultant, stresses individual rights over government intervention, and limited regulation of business.
He says the war in Iraq is a failure and that there is no exit strategy. He has maintained that Libertarian philosophy supports gay marriages, arguing that government should not decide who can engage in a marriage contract.
The federal government's job is limited to three things, he said — national defense, coining money and operating the post office. He says the government should not have a Department of Education, the Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency.
Badnarik says he wants to cost both Bush and Kerry the election, but at the same time he isn't packing his bags for the White House just yet.
"We are just beginning this fight," he said. "We will continue to exist, and we will restore liberty."
kristen.mack@chron.com
Most of them voted for Gore. A few voted for fringe candidates. And in many cases, elections were decided (state and nationally) by a small number of votes.
As it says in the LP press release, in their own words, they hope to capitalize on that and dupe enough people into falling for their BS to spoil an election...not to elect anyone. Lots of integrity there.
Talk about paranoia.
Sheesh. The LP holds to a stricter interpretation of the Constitution than the GOP and the incumbent and you label them as tools of the left.
Absolutely amazing.
LOL! In what dimension? The LP holds nothing...that is exactly how much influence they have on the governance of this nation. NONE, ZIP, NADA. And rather than "elect" a candidate, they are campaigning to spoil an election. That is absolutely amazing.
Oh, and not just tools...willing tools.
I see. You're not like a Democrat. You're like a LP Presidential candidate.
I don't care who is making the assertions if they are unfounded and wrong, it typifies the behavior of the Dems. You saying that the LP does the same thing doesn't refute my position at all.
Quit while you're ahead. Oops. Too late. LOL
Which doesn't seem to apply to your own assertions, or to those of the LP candidate...
As for refuting your position...let me know when you actually have one.
I feel like the Libertarians have played their hand very badly in this election. In such an apparently tight race (whether it actually is or not is another matter), they could have gotten concessions from the Republicans in return for an endorsement - for example, such as say, stronger commitments to repeal income tax.
Running their own candidate was foolhardy and did not play to the strengths of the situation, and does nothing to advance libertarianism. Strategists, they're not.
Regards, Ivan
I think 600,000 vote would make him the second-highest presidential vote-getting in LP history.
I hope they do receive "due" and just consideration when the election is over.
To: faithincowboys
This guy is a fraud. It's easy to claim you're a big libertarian when you're really a tool for the Left."
That's a pretty serious accusation. Do you mind posting your proof? Not assertions. Proof.
And if you don't have proof, please post your apology.
Without proof, you are no different than the Democrats who throw charges around. And what's really funny is that while you call Badnarik 'a tool of the left', you overlook the the growth in government, infringement of liberty, and cost of government under Bush. Those are all characteristics of the left, aren't they?
I made the mistake of wasting my time engaging these two. They do not engage in debate, only in gamesmanship. They make accusations and run in circles to avoid answering legitimate question about their assertions. Then, they accuse their antagonist of being the problem.
LOL! You are good for a humor break. Cheer up, humor breaks are necessary during a tight election.
Try to read and understand the question and answer it.
Most of them did not vote for Gore. Only 50 million did. Why didn't those 50 million vote for Bush? Why didn't the other 100 million that didn't vote at all? If Bush's policies were so so mainstream, why did he miss out of those other 150 million votes (and potential votes)?
LOL! Why waste time. Kind of like you not reading the LP's press release...or not being able to comprehend how utterly without principle their actions are. Naw, you'd rather defend the willing tools of the left.
-"I'm a legitimate candidate from a legitimate party," he said."-
When you have to TELL people that, you're already in trouble.
Fellow Libertarians should not vote with the party this year. "Libertarian" Michael Badnarik is a dangerous fraud. Badnarik--who has taken tons of cash from the American Muslim Alliance (the group from which even Hillary returned the contributions) has disturbing ties to supporters of Islamic terrorism. The Muslims are using the "Libertarian" label to hurt Bush. Badnarik is a total phony. Libertarians should not be fooled by this Wahhabist stooge!
It sounds like he has as big a character gap as John Kerry.
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.