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Former Libertarian Presidential Candidate Harry Browne Passes Away
HammerOfTruth.com ^ | 03-02-2006 | Stephen Gordon

Posted on 03/02/2006 1:31:36 PM PST by NewRomeTacitus

Harry Browne, who was the Libertarian Party presidential candidate in 1996 and 2000, is reported by multiple sources to have died yesterday. I just confirmed the general information with Jim Babka of DownSizeDC. DownSizeDC intends to be distributing pertinent information by e-mail and on their website later this evening.

Pending a statement from family or friends, the best (speculative) published source of information about his condition is currently on Wiki:

"In June of 2005 an unknown neurological illness confined him to a wheelchair. After spending a considerable amount of time in the hospital, he resumed some of his writing and speaking, though it was uncertain whether he will walk again. He succumbed to illness on 1 March 2006."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; Philosophy; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: deathofapatriot; harrybrowne; libertarian; libertarians; lp; obituary; restinpeace
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To: Sam's Army
However, comments like this after 9/11 from Mr Browne caused me to shift away from the LP for good:
"It is American foreign policy that has provoked the attacks, not anything inherent in Muslim fundamentalism."


He spoke the truth. Our state department has supported the rise of fanatical Islam since the 1960s.
.
161 posted on 03/03/2006 11:37:24 AM PST by mugs99 (Don't take life too seriously, you won't get out alive.)
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To: mugs99

I never heard Harry Browne's post-9-11 comments and don't agree with equating the U.S. Government -- even at its worst -- with bin Laden, but I do admire Browne's courage in speaking his mind regardless of the popularity of his opinions and his dedication to libertarian principles. His passion, energy, and eloquence were unsurpassed by any other Libertarian presidential candidate.


162 posted on 03/03/2006 12:17:19 PM PST by ravinson
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To: NewRomeTacitus

[`] R.I.P. Mr Browne. Truly great American patriot.


163 posted on 03/03/2006 12:33:42 PM PST by twinself
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To: Freedom_no_exceptions
Ummmm I think TCM has an old Fred Astaire move on this evening, I'll go there for my daily dose of tap dancing...nice try though.
164 posted on 03/03/2006 12:47:05 PM PST by JABBERBONK
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To: mugs99
Yeah, Browne was just right on target with every word that left his mouth, wasn't he? Here's another good one:

"If Afghanistan doesn't turn bin Laden over to our government, ask yourself whether you'd want your government to turn you over to the Iranian government if it accused you of a crime."

165 posted on 03/03/2006 12:59:10 PM PST by Sam's Army (Another unsuccessful attempt to refrain from posting)
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To: JABBERBONK

What did I tap-dance around? I admitted not having read a recent LP platform, then 1) read it, 2) agreed with it, and 3) answered the points you brought up. That's not tap-dancing. That's heavy-metal, mosh-pit slam-dancing. And the concert went past your bed-time.


166 posted on 03/03/2006 1:08:49 PM PST by Freedom_no_exceptions (No actual, intended, or imminent victim = no crime. No exceptions.)
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To: eleni121
Libertarians have this annoying but dangerous belief that the President can make policy unilaterally.

Except when they are "fuming," right? I think you know less about libertarians than you claim they know about the Constitution. Your comments on alpha male behavior are both silly and ignorant.

167 posted on 03/03/2006 2:00:28 PM PST by When_Penguins_Attack (Smashing Windows, Breaking down Gates. Proud Mepis User!!!!)
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To: Freedom_no_exceptions

"That's not tap-dancing. That's heavy-metal, mosh-pit slam-dancing. And the concert went past your bed-time."

OR

If it's too loud, you're too old.


168 posted on 03/03/2006 2:11:00 PM PST by the tongue
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To: ravinson

He didn't equate the U.S. Government with bin Laden. His comment was about American foreign policy, and he spoke the truth. Our State Department has been running our foreign policy in the mideast since the sixties, without interference from congress or the presidency. The rise of fanatical Islam is the direct result of the abysmal failure of the Department of State.

I agree, Harry Browne was courageous. He put honesty above popularity.
.


169 posted on 03/03/2006 2:27:30 PM PST by mugs99 (Don't take life too seriously, you won't get out alive.)
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To: Sam's Army
"If Afghanistan doesn't turn bin Laden over to our government, ask yourself whether you'd want your government to turn you over to the Iranian government if it accused you of a crime."

It's a valid point made at the time we were expecting them to do just that. We had the bin Laden family in America and we let them leave without so much as asking them where he was. We didn't allow Germans, Italians or Japanese to leave the country until they were interrogated when WWII began. If this were a war, why did we allow that?

Al Queda was financed with Saudi Oil money. 15 of the hijackers were Saudi's. If this were a war, why did we not take action against Saudi Arabia?
So many questions, so few answers.
.
170 posted on 03/03/2006 2:56:30 PM PST by mugs99 (Don't take life too seriously, you won't get out alive.)
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To: All

I dont' get here very often anymore, and I missed the story on Mr. Browne. I liked him also in the 2000 campaign...thought he would have made a good leader. Saw him on Fox a few times during the campaign, but that was about it. Alas, it's kinda hard to catch on if you belong to a third party -- everyone thinks you're a kook (a myth fostered by the mainstream media).

I'm quasi-Libertarian - -I don't agree with everything, but the party does have the right idea about a lot of things. The downsizing of government for one. Republicans claim to be for less government, but they really just pay lip service to the notion.

But the Libertarian stance on illegals is most troubling. I will give 'em credit though for being open and honest about it. The two major parties sure aren't.

Anyway, may Mr. Browne rest in peace.


171 posted on 03/03/2006 3:09:52 PM PST by fatnotlazy
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To: Freedom_no_exceptions

When you grow up, you'll learn to be a Republican.


172 posted on 03/03/2006 5:44:21 PM PST by JABBERBONK
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To: JABBERBONK
When you grow up, you'll learn to be a Republican.

One reason I liked Harry Browne is that he made his points without dismissing his opponents as intellectually inferior - as you've done repeatedly. I've matured a great deal since I voted for Bush Sr. in '92. Unfortunately, the Republican Party has NOT.

See my tagline. It'll take far more than accusations of immaturity to convince me I'm wrong. Until then, have a good night, kid.

173 posted on 03/03/2006 6:28:36 PM PST by Freedom_no_exceptions (No actual, intended, or imminent victim = no crime. No exceptions.)
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To: NewRomeTacitus

RIP Harry Browne. I voted for him in 2000.


174 posted on 03/03/2006 7:14:51 PM PST by Ptarmigan (Proud bunny hater and killer)
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To: Freedom_no_exceptions; All
Mature? try reading the entire Libertarian party platform, it swings from lunacy to anarchy.But what get me is the dishonest positions of Libertarians who know full well of the outlandish positions of dangerous nutjobs like Browne, and simply run away from them, the same way you have tried and failed to rationalize the bizarre tripe in the Libertarian platform. also let me add;

O'REILLY: All right, would you have prescriptions for those drugs, or just anybody could walk up?

BROWNE: No, anybody could walk in. A 10-year-old child could buy drugs before the first World War in America. But they didn't, because nobody was plying them with it and it wasn't forbidden fruit.

The ten year-old was an example of what he meant by "anybody could walk in" and buy heroin; he used the historical context to try to make it seem reasonable. It served as an example of what would be allowed if drugs were legalized as he would advocate. He didn't think kids would be buying lots of heroin (whether that's correct is another issue), but he was for allowing it. I didn't misrepresent Browne's statements one iota.
175 posted on 03/03/2006 7:19:22 PM PST by JABBERBONK
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To: JABBERBONK
I'm sure you realize what Browne was trying to communicate - how the national drug problem would be microcosmic compared to it's current state had we never indulged in the moral crusade against drug use to begin with. Now much of our government's efforts (through OUR tax dollars) revolve around this never-ending war against Oceana. Why punish the users when they're already doing an excellent job of punishing themselves? Let them take themselves out of the picture on their own dime and time rather than continuing to grow the already mammoth judicial and incarceration industries.

When addicts infringe on the rights of others through crime, THEN prosecute them for their crimes. This would greatly restore respect for the judiciary process while freeing up resources and prison space.

Don't sweat it...Americans have been immersed in the War On Drugs for so long that any attempt to stop it would seem blasphemous. Hence no threat to the prison lobby nor any opium lollipops leading youth to ruin.
176 posted on 03/03/2006 8:23:26 PM PST by NewRomeTacitus
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To: NewRomeTacitus

Very sad, I enjoyed listening to his radio show. I also heard him speak several times, and voted for him both times he ran. He was truly a champion of liberty. He will be missed.


177 posted on 03/03/2006 8:40:45 PM PST by jazzo (RIP Harry Browne)
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To: winston2
Republicans campaign like Libertarians and govern like Democrats.

Sadly, there's a lot more truth in that statement than I'd wish there was.

178 posted on 03/03/2006 8:49:25 PM PST by Marathoner
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To: NewRomeTacitus
The former Libertarians of conservative bent went to the Constitution Party.

That's an interesting hypothesis. Is this the case nationwide or just in your neck of the woods?

Comparing and contrasting the respective parties' platforms, one would be hard pressed trying to resolve their differences on "social issues" such as abortion, drugs, conscription and police powers to the satisfaction of many on FreeRepublic, let alone the general population.

Aside from both parties' opposition to undeclared pre-emptive wars and higher taxes to fund them, I see little commonality.

Perhaps this move to the Constitution Party you observe is done to support a particular candidate?

179 posted on 03/03/2006 9:19:21 PM PST by logician2u
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To: logician2u

That was the primary sentiment expressed by conservatives when the LP got so shafted in 2000, though where they actually landed is not known to me. I believe the liberal faction that showed up in 1996 stayed on to make the party an adjunct to the Democrats in function if not name.

True, the Constitution Party differs from the Libertarians on approach but come close on eventual goals. I believe their platform is noble and should be examined by Republicans rendered aimless by corrupt influences.

No particular candidate, just no pseudo-conservatives like John McCain (who will probably be the Republican candidate). Nothing more comforting than a new face leading us down the familiar road of ruin, is there? God help us all.


180 posted on 03/03/2006 10:05:09 PM PST by NewRomeTacitus
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