[MikeHu]

I like the Libertarian Party platform.

I just wonder why they need a party -- because a party seems anathema to their ideology. They should maintain their ideas and piggyback and vote Republican as a practical matter -- so they can concentrate on what they do best, which is to formulate ideas on freedom and independence.

That way they can leave the politics to the politicos -- and become the Libertarian-Republicans, where they can grow their ideas more effectively. It'd be a symbiotic win-win situation for both. Quite conceivably, they could even take over the Republican Party -- just as the MoveOn fringe is taking over the Democrat Party.

But by remaining apart and on the fringe, they're probably going nowhere -- as good and needed as many of their ideas are. If they really want to promote their ideas to ultimate success, that would seem to be the logical path -- rather than win elections, which they are notoriously poor at doing.

Meanwhile, they'd probably be welcomed as visionaries in the Republican Party. There's no rule that says they have to do things as they've always been done before. Politics is an evolving life form.

[kidd]

An intelligent response.

Party leaders are not as ideologically "pure" as you would like to believe. They are politicos just as much as John McCain is.

[mugs99]

They should maintain their ideas and piggyback and vote Republican as a practical matter

The majority of libertarians are Republican now. The Libertarian Party was formed in 1971 when Nixon implemented price controls. Many Republicans felt the party was swinging to the left and abondoning the libertarian principles of the founding fathers.

Many Republicans today feel the same as those who left the party in '71. I think this new platform is a reflection of that. Many of us are tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. The LP may not win, but at least I will no longer feel like I've betrayed the Constitution when I vote.
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[marinamuffy]

I was a registered Libertarian until after 9/11/01. I was very dissapointed with the anti-American, leftist propaganda I saw coming from many in the LP after the WOT began. I decided to become a Republican after reading Larry Elder's chapter on why he switched to Republican (in the paperback edition of Showdown). He talks about just what you mention,essentially being able to do more from within a party with some actual power.

[beltfed308]

Very well said and I fully agree it would be a good strategy.