Libertarian Party to cosponsor upcoming conservative conference

www.lp.org ^ | 2 11 05 | J. Daniel Cloud

[Madeleine Ward]

I find a lot of merit in the Libertarian party ideas.

I, too, think that Republicans and Democrats both like to tax and spend, and I'm getting pretty tired of it myself.

I disagree that Libertarians are irrelevant. They do steal votes from Republicans. I have voted for a Libertarian presidential candidate in the past.

[cajungirl]

Oh never mind, I am tired of posting today.

[fish hawk]

BIG MISTAKE LETTING THESE DOPERS IN.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>I could go on.

So could I. Instead, read the Libertarian Party platform for yourself. Why is membership in the Libertarian Party a drop in the political bucket? Because most of their ideas are way out of the mainstream. AKA: wacky.

Three wacky Libertarian Party ideas that come to mind are, drug legalization, demilitarization and support for abortion rights.

[dfrussell]

I kind of like libertarians, Conservatives that haven't grown up yet and like to smoke dope.

LOL... many libertarians would think the same of Republicans... particularly the "grown up" part :-)

Kindly understand there is a difference between believing someone should be allowed to toke if he wishes and personally smoking dope.

The criminalization of marijuana only serves to put people in jail who could be paying taxes, creates a often violent distribution mechanism and adds a cachet that probably attracts more stupid kids than it would otherwise.

Legalize it for certain ages, tax it and continue to enforce laws like DUI.

[Scholastic]

Thanks for the post. Welcome aboard LP and libertarians! Of course, for what CPAC is worth, they might have well set up their own conference.

[dfrussell]

In Oregon Libertarians have put up candidates against Republicans because they weren't "fiscally conservative enough," and thus acted the spoiler and elected a Democrat.

Sorry, there is no point in voting for a Republican who isn't "fiscally conservative".

Voting Libertarian is often a protest vote... but given the spending habits of the current Republicans, that might be changing.

[JohnnyZ]

CPAC -- welcoming the Log Cabiners, Libertarians, and the ACLU.

Granted that part of conservative thought is small-l libertarian, what in the world is the point of those organizations being involved???

[dfrussell]

I disagree that Libertarians are irrelevant. They do steal votes from Republicans. I have voted for a Libertarian presidential candidate in the past.

I don't find them irrelevant and have personally run as a Libertarian candidate... but frequently vote Republican.

Libertarians no more steal votes from Republicans than do Democrats. Anyone voting libertarian did so because it offered them something the other options did not... even if it's only a protest vote.

That said, I don't see Libertarians sweeping to victory in 2006 -- which is what I meant :)

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

I've never met a Libertarian that liked to smoke dope and I have met quite a few of them.

What exactly are you smoking?

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

Lots of Libertarians vote Republican.

[Reagan Man]

I disagree. See post RE:#10.

[libertarianben]

What personal and economic freedom too wacky for ya?

[penowa]

"In Oregon Libertarians are NOT our friends."

In Ohio they are NOT our friends or the friends of taxpayers either. They seem to be in bed with the Greens and Democrats, Kerry in particular. I used to regard them as I do the Constitution party, but not anymore. The Libertarians have shown their true colors after the past election and told us who their real friends are.

[Reagan Man]

Personal and economic freedom are basic tenets of living in the USA.

[Little Bill]

We obviously don't hang in the same circles. My clearest memory of libertarian campaigning was in 2002. A green haired libertarian for Carla and a Young Republican for Mitt got together and decided that the UMass Conservatives were too radical.

We were doing a FReep at the time and we thought the UMass types were too liberal. Smoking a Prince Phillip right now.

[libertarianben]

I agree. That's why I'm not a member of either major party. I'm going to get flame for this but it's the truth.

[Libertarian Jim]

As my name shows...I consider myself a libertarian, though I am not a member of the party. What surprises me the most about the LP is how it can be so anti-war...that doesn't make sense to me. But a political party for libertarians is not the answer, in fact, based on our philosophy, it makes little sense. The Republican Party is our only options. Libertarians and Conservatives share many things...Milton Friedman being the prime example. I'm glad to hear these groups are getting together.

[libertarianben]

If the Republican Party is the only alternate to the Democrats , then we are in big trouble. Big spending and expanding the government are things both major parties excell it. Think spending has decreased since the Republicans took over? No, it has increased. Has government gotten smaller? No, it too has increased. Just because someone is a Republican doesn't mean they're a conservative especially a economic one. I am a member of the LP but I am pro-war. I have little disagreements with the national party. Libertarians don't always see things the same way. It's amazing in a democracy that we should only have a choice of two parties with any chance of winning.

[LibertarianInExile]

A lot of us do. Most LP folks don't vote either party, though they seemed to enjoy fomenting interparty squabbles in WA and OH.