Libertarians Emerge as a Force (Losertarians deep-six the GOP)

The Economist ^ | November 8, 2006 | Unattributed

[quidnunc]

New York – Glum Republicans might turn their attention to the Libertarian Party to vent their anger. Libertarians are a generally Republican-leaning constituency, but over the last few years, their discontent has grown plain. It isn't just the war, which some libertarians supported, but the corruption and insider dealing, and particularly the massive expansion of spending. Mr Bush's much-vaunted prescription drug benefit for seniors, they fume, has opened up another gaping hole in America's fiscal situation, while the only issue that really seemed to energise congress was passing special laws to keep a brain-damaged woman on life support.

In two of the seats where control looks likely to switch, Missouri and Montana, the Libertarian party pulled more votes than the Democratic margin of victory. Considerably more, in Montana. If the Libertarian party hadn't been on the ballot, and the three percent of voters who pulled the "Libertarian" lever had broken only moderately Republican, Mr Burns would now be in office.

Does this mean that the libertarians are becoming a force in national elections, much as Ralph Nader managed to cost Al Gore a victory in 2000? Hope springs eternal among third-party afficionadoes, but the nature of the American electoral system, which directly elects representatives in a first-past-the-post system, makes it nearly impossible for third parties to gain traction. The last time it happened was in the 1850's, when the Whig party dissolved over internal disputes about slavery, opening the way for the emerging Republican party to put Abraham Lincoln in office. And acting as a spoiler is dubiously effective at achieving one's goals. In theory, it could pull the Repubicans towards the Libertarians, but in practice, it may just elect Democrats, pushing the nation's economic policy leftwards.

[CWOJackson]

"When you start seeing everyone who doesn't completely agree with you as a Democrat, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."

You mean like the LP litany of "there is no difference between the Democrats and Republicans" we've been subjected to for years?.

[Majic]

"Compared to the strategy of a small hand full of people whining that they'll crap in the pool and spoil if for everyone if they aren't taken seriously? Conservative Americans don't usually respond to blackmail threats nicely...and they tend to remember who the little brats were who crapped in the pool."

The Democratic Party appreciates your support.

[CWOJackson]

LOL! More Libertarian logic on parade.

[steve-b]

The point today is to drive off everybody except the central conservative core because they are all to blame for last night. If we can get down to that pure central core then we will win every election.

Nah -- the GOP needs to drive off everybody but the single most dedicated member in each state. Once the party is purified to a cadre of fifty true believers, victory will be assured.

[DesScorp]

"2. They're more closely aligned with the Democrats anyway (that's why they're called "liberaltarians")"

Libertarians are nothing but cheap Democrats that don't want to pay their taxes. Fire up that Ganja, Losertarians, you helped put the Democrats in power. Like that idiot Lew Rockwell, do you actually think your "free market reforms" are going to get much support from Democrats?

[tacticalogic]

Compared to the strategy of a small hand full of people whining that they'll crap in the pool and spoil if for everyone if they aren't taken seriously? Conservative Americans don't usually respond to blackmail threats nicely...and they tend to remember who the little brats were who crapped in the pool.

Nobody crapped in the pool. You ran them off, and then bitched because there weren't enough people left to keep the pool open. Enjoy your tantrum. Yeah, we'll all be paying more taxes. If we keep this up we'll all get what we deserve, and that includes you.

[CWOJackson]

Ran them off? No one ran them off...they ran themselves off.

[VaBthang4]

Loserdopians: GIVE ME LICENSE OR GIVE ME DEATH!

[Majic]

"LOL! More Libertarian logic on parade."

At least I offer logic.

"Vote for us, you idiots," on the other hand, isn't working out so well.

Enjoy the election results.

[DesScorp]

"Another whiner thread about Libertarians."

And another pathetic response defending the bastards.

[CWOJackson]

Logic? Libertarianism is not based on logic.

[aculeus]

the only issue that really seemed to energise congress was passing special laws to keep a brain-damaged woman on life support.

To me "life support" means breathing tubes, oxygen tank, etc. Shiavo breathed on her own.

[DesScorp]

"Try blaming American stupidity, gullibility, and intellectual laziness."

Ultimately, that's where most of the blame is, especially the last two. After the Democrats find that "taxing the rich" wont get them all the cash they need for their new social programs, they'll hit the "next-to-rich", the upper half of the middle class, where a lot of these new democratic votes came from. And those people will deserve all the pain in the wallet that's coming to them.

[CWOJackson]

Folks need to remember who was standing next to them on the battle lines yesterday...and who wasn't.

[democrats_nightmare]

Libertarians handed the dhimmicrats and terrorists a victory. I hope they are really please with themselves.

That is a crock of sh**. The GOP lost it all on their own through their abandonement of the conservatives that elected them. If we would not have had the massive explosion in big government and a secure border policy by the GOP we would not even have this thread right now. Fingerpointing at stuff like this is denial of reality. Lets stop this crap and look at the source (GOP) and fix it.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Change your part of the title in parenthesis to: RINOtarians deep-six the GOP.

Enough with the Libertarian bashing. We're supposed to only get .00001% of the vote and be insignificant anyway, right? So why every other thread here on FR is a Libertarian-bash fest?

Republicans lose because of Republicans. Libertarians (no I'm not a card-carrying member but I'm a small-L and sympathize with Libertarians in general) don't owe the GOP jack.

[personalaccts]

If Repbulicans would govern like Conservatives (no earmarks, no entitlements, privatize social security) Talent, Burns (kept his hands clean) wouldn't have this problem (losing).......It's time to get back to basics. I'm conservative (but have libertarian leanings when it comes to gov't)

[Tamar1973]

If the GOP were true fiscal conservatives, libertarians would have voted GOP. Since they caved on spending and illegal immigration, many didn't see a reason to vote GOP this time and stayed home.

I voted yesterday, but I'm sure a lot of true conservatives didn't bother.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Libertarians handed the dhimmicrats and terrorists a victory. I hope they are really please with themselves.

More hysteria, what a bunch of crock.

You guys are pathetic with your excuses.

[alarm rider]

Amen to that, and additionally, all of you quivering alleged "Republicans" who were so swiftly crying, "vote for anyone with an "R" after the name raised the white flag early and often.

I held my nose and voted a straight "Republican" ticket, although I knew deep down that very few of them were conservatives. Not only do we have the "liberaltarians" to adress, but also the facade Republicans running scared.

A pox on both of your houses.

Fire away.