Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr has released his own post-election missive, posted at bobbarr2008.com and lp.org:
Barr Says “This is Just the Beginning”
“This is just the beginning of the new Libertarian Party,” says Bob Barr, the 2008 Libertarian Party nominee for president. “In these next four years, there will be an even greater need for a political party fully dedicated to lower taxes, smaller government and more individual freedom—a voice for liberty.”
“This year, we set a solid foundation for freedom, on which we will build a strong and united political organization that advances freedom and liberty in the United States,” says Barr. “I, and all Americans who support true liberty, owe a great debt of gratitude to our staff, donors, volunteers and voters who helped support this campaign.”
“High” is a very polite rephrase, I would add.
cyrano3000,
Barr underperformed Harry Browne’s 1996 campaign in terms of percentage of vote, and barely outperformed it on raw numbers, in a year that was custom-made for his candidacy.
If you think that validates the reasoning underlying his nomination and the strategy driving his campaign, you’re high.
If we can get 400-500k votes running a libertarian, or 400-500k votes running a Dixiecrat, how is it more “effective” to run the Dixiecrat than the libertarian?
I think more important than the LP’s stances on the issues – because they can vary from person-to-person – is how they go about campaigning. If they are more strategic and narrowly and locally focused in the future, I believe the purist vs. reformer argument will be less important.
“with a threat like that.”
If you look for threats that is what you will see. I easily see that a new Libertarian Party is one that is more effective than the old Libertarian Party.
By and large (save for his minimalist Libertarian web signage, save for his unwillingness to debate until very late in the campaign, save for his very sad no-show at the Ron Paul We Agree event) I am happy with what Barr has put out (I will admit I didn’t read each and every release).
I’m still patiently waiting for the Arizona Secretary of State to count Charles Jay write-in votes.
I am not convinced that Bob Barr was a bad Libertarian candidate for President. He could have been a better Libertarian candidate.
I am looking forward to the 2010 congressional races.
Oh thank God. Hopefully he’ll take all the self-destructive purists and conservative reformers with him.
“This is just the beginning of the new Libertarian Partyâ€
Leave it to Barr to close the campaign with a threat like that.
Almost as pathetic as Nader.
Wait, Barr had a campaign? I thought it was the “Step on the Crank with the Golf Shoes Method Du Jour” show.
And what’s with this “new” LP crap? The old, principled one not good enough for ya?