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Ted Cruz Speech Nods to Increasing Libertarian Views within Republican Party
Cato Institute ^ | 9/26/13 | David Kirby

Posted on 09/30/2013 9:24:47 AM PDT by shego

During his Ironman 21-hour speech, Sen. Ted Cruz read excerpts from Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, name-dropped "libertarians" at least six times, and yielded to Sen. Rand Paul, who invoked Frederic Bastiat's "What is Seen and Unseen," a favorite among libertarians.

Ted Cruz, who retained remarkable composure over the long night, seems in all things deliberate. Political leaders seem to have become more comfortable talking about libertarians, even identifying themselves as such. Libertarians may have reached a tipping point within the Republican Party.

Last week, a FreedomWorks study on public opinion found that libertarian views within the Republican Party are at the highest point in a decade, today representing 41 percent of Republican voters....

We define libertarians as those who favor "smaller government" and think government should not promote "traditional values." Using this method, FreedomWorks data show that 41 percent of Republicans and Republican leaning independents are libertarian today.

Two separate data sources, Gallup and ANES, show the same trend: that libertarian views are at the highest point in a decade....

Of course, as I've have noted previously, not all these libertarians self-identify as such and many don't know the word. But even that seems to be changing, and it's not just Ted Cruz.

Sen. Rand Paul calls himself a "libertarian-leaning Republican." Glenn Beck now considers himself libertarian, saying "I'm a lot closer to Penn Jillette than I am to Chuck Hagel." Matt Drudge recently tweeted his frustration with Republicans on Syria, saying it's now "authoritarian vs. libertarian." According to FreedomWorks' poll, only 10 percent of Republicans "don't know" the word libertarian, compared to 27 percent nationally.

The data confirm that libertarian views may well have reached a tipping point in the Republican Party.

(Excerpt) Read more at cato.org ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 113th; bigbrother; cruz; freedom; influence; libertarian; libertarians; liberty
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The trend lines are particularly interesting:


1 posted on 09/30/2013 9:24:47 AM PDT by shego
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To: shego

Might better read Progressive Views in the Republican Party.....not Libertarian... which is just another name for “soft” Progressives.


2 posted on 09/30/2013 9:27:46 AM PDT by caww
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To: shego

I am not sure that the Libertarian views are increasing so much as not being for Expanded Government (against Program “A”) was defined once as Conservative because said government intrustion had not happened, and now being for Decreased Government (against Program “A”) is defined as Libertarian.

If your views were always that Program A is bad, you were conservative because you were against expanding government to it and now you are libertarian because you want to cut it.


3 posted on 09/30/2013 9:28:59 AM PDT by donmeaker (Youth is wasted on the young.)
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To: caww
I'll thank you for not calling Patriots of Liberty nasty names like progressive.

In return we will refrain from calling Republicans nasty names like soft fascists.

4 posted on 09/30/2013 9:29:46 AM PDT by rawcatslyentist (Jeremiah 50:32 "The arrogant one will stumble and fall ; / ?)
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To: caww

Libertarian (in the idealized term for “Liberty Loving”) is going to be re-branded as “Anti-Progressive” pretty soon for the next election...

Expect the Dems and RINOs to start using the term “Anit-Progressive” as they try to brainwash the masses into thinking that Liberty = Anti-Progress....

Which is a Lie, which is what Progressives ie. Statists are very good at!


5 posted on 09/30/2013 9:30:19 AM PDT by GraceG
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To: rawcatslyentist

In return we will refrain from calling Republicans nasty names like soft fascists.

Soft-Statists is what Establishment Republicans are Hard-Statists is what Establishment Democrats are!


6 posted on 09/30/2013 9:31:17 AM PDT by GraceG
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To: donmeaker

More traditional conservative views in my opinion. Basically restraint in spending, taxing, global affairs, and lawmaking.


7 posted on 09/30/2013 9:31:55 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: shego

I did not realize that frugal, small government advocate Thomas Jefferson was a Libertarian?!

Who knew?

I always thought that Jefferson was a Patriot !

Does that mean that Ted Cruz is not a Patriot, but instead is a Libertarian?


8 posted on 09/30/2013 9:32:15 AM PDT by Graewoulf (Traitor John Roberts' Marxist Obama'care' Insurance violates U.S. Constitution AND Anti-Trust Law.)
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To: caww

I submit you need to look up the difference between progressive and libertarian.

Cutting federal government spending and activity, whether the ‘war on some drugs’ or government regulation of healthcare insurance would not be progressive, but would be libertarian.

Progressives support recreational drug use because it creates social ills which they can use to justify creation of social programs. Libertarians support legalization of recreational drugs because it reduces the Authoritah of the police state and opportunities for government corruption.


9 posted on 09/30/2013 9:32:38 AM PDT by donmeaker (Youth is wasted on the young.)
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To: GraceG

I’m sure they’ll try, but libertarians are good at repelling hysterical slanders (e.g. the “anti-morality” nonsense I’ve seen here from some people).


10 posted on 09/30/2013 9:32:48 AM PDT by shego
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To: caww

Majority of Senate Republicans Cave on Obamacare Funding

Republicans could have stopped the funding of Obamacare dead in its tracks, but the following Obamacare-supporting Republican Senators ignored the will of the American people and caved when it really mattered:

Alexander (up for re-election in 2014)
Ayotte
Barrasso
Blunt
Boozman
Burr
Chambliss
Chiesa
Coats
Coburn
Cochran (up for re-election in 2014)
Collins (up for re-election in 2014)
Corker
Cornyn (up for re-election in 2014)
Graham (up for re-election in 2014)
Hoeven
Isakson
Johanns
Johnson (WI)
Kirk
McCain
McConnell (up for re-election in 2014)
Murkowski
Thune
Wicker

Two Republican senators did not vote:

Flake
Hatch

As the law authorizing President Obama to spend more money on Obamacare expires this Monday, it is up to the House to make the final stand. As Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution requires, all spending bills in Congress must originate in the House. Therefore, funding of Obamacare cannot happen without Republican support.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/09/27/Majority-of-Senate-Republicans-Cave-On-Obamacare-Funding


11 posted on 09/30/2013 9:39:08 AM PDT by KeyLargo
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To: donmeaker

Libertarians have always ‘split’ what could be an overwhelming vote....they are divisive and always will be.

Am laughing now because it’s just laughable those who support Libertarians always “center” on the drug issues one way or the other, no matter what the main issues is we’re really facing.

Sorry but no sell for me on Libs......


12 posted on 09/30/2013 9:44:45 AM PDT by caww
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To: caww

“Borders, Language, Culture and I might add CONSTITUTION!!!!”


13 posted on 09/30/2013 9:47:02 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: KeyLargo
As Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution requires, all spending bills in Congress must originate in the House.

The Senate ran over that with a truck some time back. And outside of a few, the members of the House rubber stamped the unconstitutional legislation(s).

Some of the lawsuits against ObamaCare are on this basis. They are completely correct and thus will go nowhere in a venal and corrupt federal court system.

14 posted on 09/30/2013 9:48:29 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there)
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To: rawcatslyentist

But both are just that....and it’s those who are ruining this country as well as the Progressive/Liberal/Globalists.

In other words...Government Politics are not at all of or by the People....it’s all about who has the media and who has the revenue.


15 posted on 09/30/2013 9:50:26 AM PDT by caww
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To: donmeaker
I'm starting to find that conservatives are becoming stronger proponents of welfare that I used to think they were. They need it because welfare is their last excuse for justifying prohibition. "We can't legalize drugs because the drug users will just go on welfare!" Take that away and it just makes them look like a bunch of busybodies who want to meddle in the lives of others with stollen money.
16 posted on 09/30/2013 9:50:28 AM PDT by Orangedog (An optimist is someone who tells you to 'cheer up' when things are going his way)
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To: shego

Barf Alert!

LoserTarians couldn’t shift themselves to go after Osama and the Taliban.

Permanently Anti-War is not a foreign policy.


17 posted on 09/30/2013 9:51:58 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Ted Cruz for President!)
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To: shego

Unfortunately libertarians are good at driving people away usually starting with trying to jump to the head of the parade and claiming they’re leading.


18 posted on 09/30/2013 9:52:28 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: shego

“yielded to Sen. Rand Paul, who invoked Frederic Bastiat’s “What is Seen and Unseen,”

This is a great book.

Everybody should read it.


19 posted on 09/30/2013 9:54:57 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
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To: shego

Prepare for the “looks just like 1964” meme to get rolling. Assuming, of course, that the infantile journalists who report our “news” have any recollection or knowledge of the Goldwater days.

Had Kennedy lived or had Goldwater been elected we would be living in much different country than we are now. If we fall to the Marxists it will be Lyndon Johnson who will be remembered as the Father of the Downfall of America. And it will be a richly deserved title. (Some credits to Wilson and FDR who set the stage but it is Lyndon who pushed the button.)


20 posted on 09/30/2013 9:55:03 AM PDT by InterceptPoint
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