Yeah like the blue senate nitwit in Montana
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
Not officially I'm sure, but a nod and a wink and there is surely a way.
Yep...ME! I'm also screaming at the muted set. LOL
Yeah like the blue senate nitwit in Montana
I'd be very interested to know in what areas they are running their ads. If you remember, buchanan spent almost all of his advertising money campaigning against President Bush in the hotly contested states.
It would be interesting to know if the LP is doing their most in the battleground states.
That is correct... If we withdrawl from Afganistan and Iraq right now, it is going to be real bloody over there if we leave. My guess if Bush wins Iran is next. It is going to be fought on three fronts. From Iraq, Afganistan, and Internally. Will fight with Iraq to attack Iran..
Don't forget the "Spitting Druid". He was my personal favorite.
Not if you're drawing only 25 people.
Especially if it's their national convention.
fiscal libertarian is good
I agree with you and others that this is not the time to risk putting Kerry into the White House. But let's never stoop as low as the left. There are anti-Nader websites that are simply there because they don't want Nader taking Democrat votes away. To me that type of politiking is disgusting - perhaps Democrats are in fact steeling Nader's votes? Maybe Nader deserves them more than the DemoRats.
I like your tag line. May steal it one day:-)
Bady doesn't have that kind of money and neither does the LP.Someone IS bankrolling him;that's for sure and certain.My guess is Soros and/or Terry Kerry's Tides Foundation.
I hope someone looks into this after the election. Something stinks.
I guess Fuddrucker's doesn't make good food for the munchies. The LP needs to stick to places where they sell Doritos and Oreos.
papa Smurf, Spitting Druid.... lol
It's a Reagan quote.
Bump!
"We will continue to exist..."
Yes, but will anyone still care?
Voting Libertarian means never admitting that you're really a Demo-rat in disguise.
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