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The Libertarian laissez-faire approach to both economic and social issues appeals only to a very few--a few, unfortunately, who manage to draw support from Republican candidates in tight elections when those votes are needed the most.

I see. Those that actually read the Constitution and know better draw the support away from the Republican candidates. Of course it couldn't be the Republican candidates by not running on proper platforms have anything to do with it. No sir. You'll take what one of the two main parties gives you and like it or else they'll blame you for their inefficiencies. Who cares if that candidate actually supports your views. We're playing a team sport here, don't you get it? Of course that's makes perfect sense....

Lastly, states' rights is a viable issue for insertion into the national debate since the federal government is seemingly in a state of perpetual overspend and overreach, but the moment proponents of states' rights start sounding like Posse Commitatus charter members is the moment that issue drops from the discussion.

Ah yes. States have only the rights we say they have now. Again forgoing intent as too much power to the states doesn't allow those 537 idiots in Washington to crow about what they can do for you. They may jump from mediocre to absolutely useless overnight. Then what would happen to our national team sport? That's rich. Republicans redefining states' rights to fit their agenda. Nope, that's never happened before....

You wrote, "That's rich. Republicans redefining states' rights to fit their agenda. Nope, that's never happened before...."

Unless I'm mistaken, you're making a reference to the Civil War, where the core issue was the 'state right' to impose the institution of slavery within its state borders, and to implement that 'peculiar institution' in similarly inclined territories.

And you wonder why that particular issue gains no traction in the national debate. Stating the obvious, any candidate who argues a de facto pro-Confederacy position is doomed politically, and rightfully so.

A descendant of Union veterans, I'm very, very glad the Confederacy lost, although troubled the issues igniting that conflict still somehow manage to come up--usually with sour-grapes neo-confederates who confuse the personal greatness and nobility of men like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson with the utter moral bankruptcy of the cause they served.