Meet the Losertarians!

The American Enterprise ^ | November 14, 2002 | Michael Medved

[seanc623]

It's quite amusing to see some people around here completely dismiss and belittle both the voting percentages attributed to Libertarians and their stated political ends on one hand, and then simultaneously whine, snivel and pout about the very same Libertarians costing the Republicans an election. Logical consistancy is our friend.

Well said; you've summed up perfectly the reason why I've decided to rejoin the GOP after voting a straight Libertarian ticket a week ago. The truth is my votes would have gone to the GOP if Libertarians hadn't been on the ballot, so I did (unfortunately) hurt their chances in my own small way.

Having accepted responsibility for this, I know what I have to do now. I have to work within the GOP, including running for local office, to advance my libertarian agenda wherever possible. I also need to support fellow Republicans (even RINOs) in the general election if they prevail over a conservative in the primary. Experience has shown me that even a bad RINO is better than a Communist Democrat.

[seanc623]

There is a place in the Republican party for Libertarians.

Amen! I'm a proud LINO now and looking forward to helping conservatives/constitutionalists take back the CA GOP from the RINOs.

[Austin Willard Wright]

The LP will probably not go away as long as the Republican party keeps giving it openings by shifting to the left through its support of a big government agenda including its embrace of the Departments of Education and Energy, support for agriculure and transporation budget busting plans, support for socialization of prescription drugs, etc. Unfortunately, conservatives have completely dropped the ball on the fight against big government....so the LP moves to fill in the gap on the political spectrum.

As to vote totals, you might be right....but people have been saying this for thirty years. Please note that the LP has more elected officials than ever before and won 10 percent of the vote in highly liberal Wisconsin for governor. The upshot is that the problem arises from conservative abandonment of their principles. Unfortunately, conservatives are not self-critical enough to realize this.

[Moby Grape]

Conservatives are plenty self critical, FAR more so than the monolithic democrat party...the problem the LP faces is that conservative republicans are NOT about to join up with the LP...NO WAY...and the LP, as it shows itself ever more to be a party of kooks, and self-serving self-righteous anti-republicans, will find that it is the stuff of parody, and not the new home of conservatism. It is fringe, and will remain so, REGARDLESS of what happens in the GOP. Your critique of the GOP is over the top, like so much of the hyperbole from the LP. The GOP is NOT conservative enough, has far too many so-called moderates, BUT, the conservatives, even if unhappy, are NOT going to the LP. The LP serves to pull those 1-2% unhappy GOP voters who are just enough in some races to elect the democrats.

[Austin Willard Wright]

So it is "over the top" to hold the GOP accountable for abandoning its formerly courageous stance for abolition of the Departments of Education and Energy as well as its current support for transporation and agricultural boondogles and socialized medicine for prescription drugs?

Welcome to world of Rockefeller Republicanism! Thanks but not thanks. You can march down the primrose toward bigger government path but, as much it might bother the new generation of Rockefeller Republians, many conservatives and libertarians will continue to dissent and make their voices heard.