Losing Libertarians

Washington Times ^ | 11/6/06 | David Boaz

[libertylovinactivist]

Take a look at independent voters. There are more of them than before, especially in the West. More than 25 percent of Arizona voters now register as independent or third-party voters. And according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll, they've shifted sharply toward the Democrats in this fall's elections.

[steve-b]

It's Democrats who are against privatizing Social Security.

Actually, social conservatives (e.g. Gary Bauer) stabbed Dubya in the back on that one.

It's Democrats who undermine your private property rights. Not social conservatives, Democrats.

Social conservatives support the right of a private property owner to sell Debbie Does Dallas anywhere where he could sell Green Eggs And Ham?
News to me....

[steve-b]

all parties - individuals, groups, nations - will pursue ends that are disastrous by their own standards if they are not checked in some meaningful way

That is precisely why libertarians support the only check that is at all meaningful in the long run -- keep the government too weak to mess up the country.

[Small-L]

"If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals -- if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is." --Ronald Reagan in an interview published in Reason (July 01, 1975)

I wouldn't exactly call Reagan "someone perpetually pi$$ed off about something and want a better term to call them self then "sourpuss"."

[stacytec]

I'm a fiscal conservative and my wife is as liberal as they come, yet no one in our household uses drugs, gambles is on welfare, has been incarcerated or has a social disease and we both have great jobs. Having support for a strong, healthy family and good work ethic isn't something that social conservatives can claim exclusive ownership of. It is our understanding of the outcomes of policy and the effects government power that those on the right tend to squabble over.

[PerConPat]

-- keep the government too weak to mess up the country.

Fair enough, but let's be careful not to make it too weak to protect itself.

[Dead Corpse]

Fair enough, but let's be careful not to make it too weak to protect itself.

From who? It's own citizens? Or an external threat? 80 million gun owners in full possession of their Second Amendment Rights would make one hell of a Self Defense Force if properly utilized.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Washinton ComPost/ABC News Poll?

BWAAAHHHAAAAAHAAAAHHAAAAHHAAAAHHAAAA>..................!!!!

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Keep not voting, letting the Democrats take back power, and you can kiss your Second Amendment rights goodbye!

They were very close before they lost control in '95, they will try it again with renewed vigor. They love the Liberalterians who chase the third party bubble in the wind. It's true what they say; "Divide and Conquer!"

[PerConPat]

From who?

I thought that would be obvious; however, I'm willing to admit that 80 million gun owners could kick some terrorist butt. It might be a little problematical calling them up and organizing them for a campaign in say- the Middle East.

[Dead Corpse]

Keep not voting, letting the Democrats take back power, and you can kiss your Second Amendment rights goodbye!

1. Soap Box
2. Jury Box
3. Ballot Box
4. Cartridge Box

They take option 4 away from us and it is time for CWII.

If you want to avoid this, return the GOP to it's conservative roots before you slide any further Left.

[Dead Corpse]

It might be a little problematical calling them up and organizing them for a campaign in say- the Middle East.

Letters of M&R. Private security companies are already raking in profits over there. Allow us to keep what we capture as far as material goods are concerned, with a cut for Uncle Sam, and we'd clean up in no time.

Also, individuals carrying personal arms would have prevented 9-11 from going down as it did. Those planes might still have crashed, but they would have had dead jihadi's on-board instead of live ones and they wouldn't have hit thier targets.

[King of Florida]

Libertarians are Goldwater Republicans.

BINGO!

What amazes me is how difficult it is for so many here to understand that. All of this crap about drug-addicts and sexaholics and ideologues and big "L" libertarians is pure BS.

The GOP needs to come home to its Goldwater roots.

[Dead Corpse]

The GOP needs to come home to its Goldwater roots.

If they ever want to see a Reagan type landslide victory again, yes they do.

[PerConPat]

No argument here...Voting for a Libertarian candidate for county sheriff etc. might be a good idea when it comes to promoting Second Amendment rights where it counts the most. However, not opposing Liberal candidates for national office can weaken our national defense posture. And that can hurt us where it counts the most with respect to our country's security from foreign attack.

[Dead Corpse]

I'm all for opposing "liberal" candidates. Whether they have an "R" or a "D" next to their name is irrelevant.

[eleni121]

Notice I include individuals in that group of people who tend to mess up. A balance is always best.

[PerConPat]

I guess it all boils down to everyone's approach to the old dilemma of the perfect being the enemy of the good.

[Dead Corpse]

Perfect my arse... I want Constitutional. "Beyond this line government does not cross". It isn't too much to ask.

[PerConPat]

I want Constitutional..

So do I...The rub is that we, as a nation, have been trying to figure that one out for a couple of centuries, plus.

[Blue Jays]

Hi All-

Well, I did what I said I was going to do. Voted a straight Republican ticket except for my RINO congressman who has betrayed me one time too many. I selected the Libertarian candidate in that slot because both the NRA & GOA had given him top ratings...as compared to the "F" ratings for everyone else in the race. I'll continue to make the primaries my main area to let my voice be heard. Couldn't let this RINO slide yet again.

~ Blue Jays ~