I have today contacted six active or prospective 2012 Libertarian presidential candidates — Michael Jingozian, Angela Keaton, Thomas Knapp, Robert Milnes, Wayne Allyn Root, and Barbara “Joy” Waymire — offering them the chance to “tell IPR readers what your plans are for 2009 and beyond” in 500 words or less. I will post “without edits or commentary on my part” any messages received from them by Sunday, December 28, and “anything exceeding 500 words will be cut off.” If I have forgotten to include any active or prospective candidates, I hope IPR readers will let me know.
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Some years ago a guy named Wendell Wilkie decided to run for president. Wendell was listed as a Democrat but thought he’d run as a Republican against FDR. James Watson who had been the senate majority leader made the following comment to Wilkie:
“Well, Wendell you know that back home in Indiana, it’s all right if the town whore joins the church, but they don’t let her lead the choir the first night.”
Enjoy.
#42 Why would your advice be any less applicable to Root than to other contenders?
#43 Not everything has been a loss, we have also gained freedom in some areas. This incessant backward focus inadvertantly makes us sound like we want to go back to the past, including all the bad parts of it – not the best PR, IMO.
We have tried named candidates and principled candidates. We have tried national races and local races. I would think, with the professed anti-incumbent attitudes of the Tea Party movement a great opportunity would exist, but alas, we watch as this is being kidnapped by the likes of Palin who is simply another big government Christian-Socialist Republican.
I just do not think America is ready to rediscover its foundational principles. I do not think true American liberalism, which is what we are talking about, check Merriam-Webster if you disagree, is ready to reemerge yet. I also have no idea what it will take or even if it is possible to restore what our nation has lost.
Sad.
YOU GUYS WHO ARE LIBERTARIANS THAT WANT TO run for president. Let me suggest. You need to run for CONGRESS, SENATE. These are just as very important. And we do not have enough libertarians candidate to go around. Innercompetition for the same thing is not going to help. We need to be everywhere we can be. Some of you who want the firsthand limelight of being president when you haven’t even got the foot in the door for Congress, Senate, or even lesser then that need to be realistic. We really need to support WAYNE ALLYN ROOT. It doesn’t matter if we agree on everyone. He has got most of it right and the IMPORTANT THING is. WE NEED TO GET A LIBERTARIAN IN OFFICE PERIOD. Personally libertariansssss in a lot of officesss If we don’t band together, we will have NOTHING AGAIN YET AGAIN BECA– USE OF EGOS TALKING. We are stronger banding together. Things are very serious the way this country is going.
Although there are others out their the name that comes to mind is Ventura. He has the benefit of having been elected as something other than a D or R.
Governed more or less as D(FL). Same thing when he was mayor. Ran as a moderate libertarian both times.
The name that comes up for me when I think of libertarians with name recognition is Lew Rockwell.
Opposed to running for office, voting. Not a celebrity among non-libertarians.
Not sure where he stands on foreign policy otherwise.
Pretty good. Doesn’t buy the 9/11 ommission report.
Then again, one might ask the very same question of Robert Milnes. How libertarian is he, really?
Well, adequately libertarian, I think. Just read his wikipedia bio. Ventura is off the mark on light rail, but good on prostitution, marijuana, religious minorities, gay freedom, etc. I liked his statement on Cuba. Not sure where he stands on foreign policy otherwise.
@36 How libertarian is Jesse Ventura, really?
The name that comes up for me when I think of libertarians with name recognition is Lew Rockwell.
If pure name recognition is all that is wanted the mostly libertarian except on some things authoritarian with the huge name recognition now is Ron Paul.
Peter Orvetti, I have not received any communication from you about this. FYI [email protected] is not functioning. It got huge amounts of spam. I tried to get an anti-spam program put in by my webby. He said it had a charge and I assume he wanted a fee to install it. I’m in credit card debt so I could not pursue it. But now that I have found out about this I will try to respond by Dec. 28.
Barr and Root, especially Barr, were not libertarian enough. Those looking for an alternative heard Barr’s name and if the new it or did the research they found he was just a Republican. Someone with a recognizable name and a proven track record on libertarian issues is what is needed. Although there are others out their the name that comes to mind is Ventura. He has the benefit of having been elected as something other than a D or R.
derkel: “What the LP really needs is someone with a name that will attract a lot of voters.”
Barr and Root said they’d be great candidates because they were “famous.” (Root promised millions of poker players.)
Barr’s and Root’s names turned out to be worth not too much.
derkel, Magic Bullet Syndrome has always shown to not work with the LP. It won’t now, either.
derkel – I’d take either of those candidates in a hearbeat. But Napolitano is no more famous than Barr (he is MUCH more libertarian, though; and much more libertarian than Ventura, too).
What the LP really needs is someone with a name that will attract a lot of voters.
A couple of people that come to mind off hand are: (I don’t know a whole lot about all of them)
1. Jesse Ventura – should make the troofers happy
2. Andrew Napolitano – has libertarian views, but don’t know how much
Me too.
I am considering a run for president.
Oldie but goodie. Sorry for the all caps
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NEEDED :
HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: LOTT DUFFER
DEAR SIR / MADAM,
I AM LOTT DUFFER, Cousin of Allen Hacker, AND CURRENTLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF Particulate Campaigns. THIS LETTER MIGHT SURPRISE YOU BECA– USE WE HAVE NOT MET NEITHER IN PERSON NOR BY CORRESPONDENCE. I CAME TO KNOW OF YOU IN MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS TRANSACTION, WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF A HUGE SUM OF MONEY TO AN ACCOUNT REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.
I AM WRITING YOU IN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE PRIMARILY TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ACQUIRING campaign FUNDS THAT ARE PRESENTLY TRAPPED on a moon of Jupiter. MY PARTNERS AND I SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING A TRANSACTION BEGUN BY MY Cousin, WHO HAS LONG BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE EXTRACTION OF Cash IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND BRAVELY SERVED HIS party AS DIRECTOR OF THE Badnarik for Congress Campaign.
IN THE year 2006, MY Cousin, THEN Campaign Manager for Badnarik, SOUGHT TO Bring Freedom to Planet Earth for Ten Thousand Years. THIS UNSUCCESSFUL VENTURE WAS SOON FOLLOWED BY A FALLING OUT WITH HIS former lover Mike Nelson, WHO went on to single handedly sabotage the Badnarik for Congress Campaign and bring on the ten thousand year reign of the Dark Lord Pizuzu.
MY Cousin then SECURED THE campaign ASSETS on his secret Jupiter Moon Base. BUT MY Cousin’S FORMER Lover Mike Nelson was given CONTROL OF THE REPUBLIC OF America by the Dark Lord Pizuzu in return for betraying the People of Earth.
MY FAMILY IS CALLING FOR YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IN FUNDING THE REMOVAL OF THE Lord Pizuzu and his vassal Mike Nelson, whom he has made immortal. AS COMPENSATION FOR THE COSTS OF REMOVING them FROM POWER and re-aquiring the campaign funds from the Jupiter Moon Base we will need a good faith deposit of 200 BILLION DOLLARS, BOTH IN THE INITIAL ACQUISITION AND IN LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT.
WITHOUT THE FUNDS FROM OUR 2006 Campaign for Congress, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THE Planet held captive by alien reptiles. THAT IS WHY MY FAMILY AND OUR COLLEAGUES ARE URGENTLY SEEKING YOUR GRACIOUS ASSISTANCE. OUR DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES IN THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION INCLUDE THE SITTING VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, RICHARD CHENEY, WHO IS AN ORIGINAL secret PARTNER IN THE Badnarik for Congress Campaign, AND CONDOLEEZA RICE, WHOSE PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION TO THE VENTURE WAS DEMONSTRATED IN THE NAMING OF A Major Texas University and a Chinese Food Staple AFTER HER.
I WOULD BESEECH YOU TO TRANSFER A SUM EQUALING TEN TO TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT (10-25 %) OF YOUR YEARLY INCOME TO OUR ACCOUNT TO AID IN THIS IMPORTANT VENTURE. THE Bank of Nigeria WILL FUNCTION AS OUR TRUSTED INTERMEDIARY. I PROPOSE THAT YOU MAKE THIS TRANSFER BEFORE THE FIFTEENTH (15TH) OF THE MONTH OF December.
I KNOW THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WOULD MAKE ANYONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED. BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY. A BOLD STEP TAKEN SHALL NOT BE REGRETTED, I ASSURE YOU. PLEASE DO BE INFORMED THAT THIS BUSINESS TRANSACTION IS 100% LEGAL. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO CO-OPERATE IN THIS TRANSACTION, PLEASE Put your head in the oven and shut the door tight.
I PRAY THAT YOU UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT. MY FAMILY AND OUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL. PLEASE REPLY IN STRICT CONFIDENCE TO THE CONTACT NUMBERS BELOW.
SINCERELY WITH WARM REGARDS,
Lott Duffer
To Chuck and others, I’m not suggesting the candidates announce a couple months before the convention. I think Barr and Ruwart announcing early didn’t really make a difference. Infact, I actually have some disrespect for Barr for announcing only two weeks before the convention. But what I’m trying to say is that there is a pattern. Root did surprisingly well, and he announced at the perfect time for the ’08 nomination (I think it was February 2007). What I’m saying is one should announce around January or February in the year before the convention. I’d also advocate for many more primaries, the LNC doesn’t have a stranglehold over the convention. Half and half would be the best. It seems very primitive to me that only two states have primaries.
http://pauliecannoli.wordpress.com/2006/12/26/what-fools-these-mortals-be-2/
Yep. The campaign crashed on the moons of Jupiter.
Yeah, too bad he blew it in ’06. He would have been a great, post-Ron Paul nominee in 2008.
Badnarik won the LP nomination in part because he attended a lot of state conventions.
Hell, he attend *county meetings* in NC (his home state was TX, remember) a year or two before the convention. Drove around, photocopying his book to pay for next meal… may not be glamorous, but it certainly struck me as dedicated!
+1
Like usual Chucks right:)
I disagree with Dodge. Ruwart and Barr did well in spite of their late announcements, not because of them.
George Phillies improved his speaking ability worlds by speaking at many, many state conventions leading up to the nomination. I strongly believe if Mary Ruwart had polished her speaking more by practicing as Phillies did, she would have easily run away with the nomination.
In my opinion candidates should start campaigning at least a year before the presidential convention and I see starting even earlier as a good thing (as long as they recognize it’s a marathon and don’t waste all their energy sprinting).
Badnarik won the LP nomination in part because he attended a lot of state conventions. Unlike Gary Nolan who flew in, made a speech, and left, Michael Badnarik was usually the first guy to arrive and the last guy to leave each state convention. He really got to know the delegates.
In 2008 Barr flew in and out to the state conventions. But again, I think he succeeded in spite of this rather than because of it. Barr won the nomination due to his credentials (former Congressman) and superior conventioneering (better booth, branding, and organization), not due to his campaign leading up to the convention.
Gross. I cannot believe we’re talking about the 2012 election already.
You know, I’m going to have to leave, because I just don’t want to know about a Presidential election this early. I mean, I want to know nothing.
I’m too libertarian for the Libertarian Party.
Dodge
1) Not sure what you are composing in, but it takes out your paragraph breaks and makes it hard for me to follow what you are saying.
2) I disagree about waiting around to campaign. Our candidates are not the major parties. They don’t get massive amounts of money, volunteers and media by announcing. The more time they get to build these up, the better.
3) My biggest criticism of Ruwart, and the #1 reason I stuck with Kubby, was that she jumped in so late. If she runs again, I hope she makes up her mind much sooner this time.
4) Bob Barr got in the race way too late, was not in my view properly vetted (nor do I think he wanted to be), and I believe that was to the significant detriment of the LP.
5) I wish the Kubby campaign had been more proactive earlier in the process. Tom Knapp can confirm that I provided frequent and voluminous advise to that effect. I also have most of that correspondence saved.
6) In Denver, Tom told me that there were many things that I had been right about as far as how the campaign should have been run. I hope he learns from those for his own campaign for 2012. I’m available for consulting as needed.
7) I don’t know if Keaton is still running, and she isn’t talking to me. I asked Garris, and he said that he did not think she was very serious about it, but I don’t know if he can speak for her on this or not. Shinghal has referred to the campaign on her blog since then, and at least one person said that he has been contacted about working on that campaign subsequent to Keaton resigning from LNC.
Dodge – You are right to an extent, and this certainly is VERY early, however, a few caveats: Some of these candidates are not necessarily really “in it to win it” –they’re trying to make statements or use their candidacies to serve some tactical purpose. And secondly, if Mary Ruwart had announced much earlier, I think she would have been the nominee. Not THIS early, mind you, but maybe 3-6 months earlier. The “kiddie porn” thing would have been soundly refuted and seen as old news by the convention.
Tom, thanks for your reply, and I had the chance to skim over what you said (I have my final exam today, so I can’t procrastinate too much), and I now see you’re running for a different point (and I’ll be able to read the statement at length when I’m done with my final exam). It seems to me that you’re running to raise awareness and general support for the radical wing of the LP, and now it makes a lot more sense for announcing early. It seems to me that the point of your candidacy is for a greater cause in general, not just winning, for which I strongly respect. Hopefully this campaign will be effective, and you can get supprot and in turn take the LP back to its more radical roots. Still, I think you actually have a decent chance of winning, so I would suggest running as serious of a campaign as possible. But now that I know that that’s not the point of your candidacy, it makes sense to announce now. As for Jingozian, I think it was extremely foolish of him to announce his run this year. In response to Jim Davidson, there was a typo. I meant to include 2011 in there, and that one should announce around February of that year. Then a convention should maybe be held the November of that year. That way, there’s plenty of time for ballot access, and candidates don’t seem silly for they won’t have to announce their campaign for years in advance. To Libertypoint, I agree with you on Mary Ruwart, but I’d be surprised with Phillies and Kubby. I think Phillies realized that celebrity status often trumps legitimate work, and all of his work was essentially for nothing. I’d also be surprised if Kubby was to run again, but maybe. I’d like to see him run for city council in his home city (hopefully it’s not something huge like L.A. or San Francisco, but midsize like Oakland or San Diego) for he pulled a pretty respectable 2% in the gubernatorial race if I’m not mistaken. I do think Barr will announce though and get trounced. But I see that Root is slowly rebuilding his reputation and reaching out to those who think lowly of him. It seems he’s trying to make friends with everyone, a tactic that I’d advise all of you on. Barr won by making friends with only the conservatives, but if someone has an alliance with both people of the LP (also a word of advice that I forgot: SPEAK EVERYWHERE, MAKE FRIENDS WITH EVERY CITY AND STATE LP CHAIRMAN!) it could be a killer combination. Barr will get maybe 3 delegate votes from pissed off conservatives, but the other ones will go to Root. If Keaton is to run, I’d suggest she bite her tounge and go after a few LNC people versus a whole movement. Christine Smith tried to go after the whole movement, and look where it got her. Knapp, I think you may be successful for only building an alliance with one group, but it will be a tough fought battle as to who the group goes to. If they’re split, then Root will probably take home the cake. Of course, there can be conservatives running too: ones that we don’t know. I’d say anyone who gets over 10% in a u.s. senate race or above (gubernatorial, senate, etc…) should be considered a potential candidate. Can anyone refresh me as to who got over 10%? I know Munger did well, and I heard someone got 20%, which is pretty impressive. I think it will be a crowded field though. And I wish everyone good luck. Even Robert Milnes. And by the way, where is Milnes? He always seems to disappear. And if he’s reading this, I heard you went goldmining with your friend. How’d it work out? Did you get some good returns? I’d hope so, and maybe you can use that to build a serious campaign. Still, maybe you should cool the campaign for a couple years until your mental health improves, then maybe run locally.
Jim,
Actually, I’m an announced candidate for the nominations of both parties — but I suspect that either the two will re-merge before 2012, or that they’ll nominate different candidates.
Dodge,
Much of your advice is useful, and all of it is interesting. As far as announcing this early goes, please see the next-to-last paragraph of the statement I submitted to Peter Orvetti in response to his invitation.
Best regards,
Tom Knapp
Good morning and isn’t it a little early for this .
I have more than 1 friend on that list and Im already wondering which one I’ll vote for and whose feelings Ill have to hurt:)
I suggest you add Mary Ruwart, Steve Kubby and George Phillies to your list of prospective LP presidential candidates.
@ 3 This advice might have been wisdom in 1980 or 1992, but it isn’t clear how wise it is today. The election process has been getting longer and longer. There’s no reason not to announce early.
Indeed, I think there is good sense in having the LP and BTP and perhaps other parties convene in late 2011 for the 2012 silly season. Convening in June meant the BTP entered the campaign for president with several states unavailable for ballot access or write-in registration (Indiana, for example). There’s no reason to hamstring our own ballot access process by having a late convention.
@2 I would be surprised if Tom Knapp did not seek the endorsement of, or nomination of, the Boston Tea Party.
Peter, thanks for the compliment, and I was aware Waymire, Root, Knapp, and Keaton have officially announced. But they could always say that maybe it was too early. I didn’t hear about Jingozian signaling his intention, but there’s nothing too wrong about that. Signaling could be change the whole meaning of the sentence. By signaling do you mean:
He has posted or said publicly that he wants the nomination?
He has privately spoken to delegates saying he’s interested?
Or is he interested in building an exploratory committee to see if he has the support?
Oh, and Ruwart has been mentioned as a potential candidate, as has Bob Barr. His last message I think hinted that he may be back again. I’d love to watch him get one delegate in the convention. Michael Munger has been mentioned as well. He could be a very good candidate. Oh, and with my advice thing, I meant officially announce February of 2011. That’s not too early. But 2008 is faaaaar too early.
PS- I completely forgot Jingozian. He’ll be one of the main candidates, especially if he plays it cool and sensible.
Can I give some advice to all the presidential candidates and prospective candidates?:
Please don’t be silly. Announcing now makes your campaign seem ridiculous, and I now it’s not. Remember, Ruwart announced in March of election year and Barr announc in May. But if you announce now, it just makes you seem like Robert Milnes. I know Knapp and Keaton will be much more legitimate (if Keaton’s still running) candidates if they run a campaign that mirrors the campaigns for the big two (that’s in terms of timing, I mean). People will just think you’re a joke if you’re announcing for years early. You can post on IPR maybe that it’s too far away, but you can express your ideas for the future. Can I suggest a schedule:
2008: DON’T DO ANYTHING!! Just celebrate Christmas and not worry about the presidential election.
2009: By mid 2009 start building up your contacts. Perhaps by the VERY end (December probably) of the year say you haven’t started thinking about the election, but you’re not ruling out a run. State that the election season is just too far away. While you’re doing that, start building some key contacts with LNC members (even if you don’t like them). One of the reasons for Barr’s win of the nomination was because he had such a rapport with the LNC people as a regional representative. Maybe ask to serve in that capacity if you’re not on the LNC (Milnes, it may be a bit of a struggle for you, but just say you’ve been a strong activist).
2010: Now we have a national convention. One word of advice: DO NOT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE YOUR CAMPAIGN. Phillies, Smith and Jingozian did this, and look how far it got them. Form an exploratory committee slightly before the convention. Then privately speak with delegates and talk of how you’re THINKING (not actively campaigning) about seeking the LP nod for 2012.
2012: By February you should announce. Then again, our top two candidates announced pretty late in the game. Gravel, who got a respectable amount of votes, announced in March, as did Ruwart and Barr announced May (disrespectfully late in my opinion). Take note of their tactics. Remember, there are only a couple (maybe 5 at most?) state primaries. And if you win them, you only get a few delegates (Christine Smith was the winner of the LP primaries). There’s really no need to an active candidate in the primaries, although I’m sure it doesn’t hurt. Sadly, we still does the whole thing convention style. I would advocate half and half, so the LNC can’t highjack our nominating system and nominate a candidate that many didn’t want. But until then, don’t be insane and announce at this point. If by odd chance Jingozian is reading this, you’ve been doing a good job by not being vocal. Wayne Root is looking very silly announcing at this point, as is Knapp and Keaton. I think all three of thing are legitimate, serious contenders for the nomination (I see a battle between Root, Keaton, and Ruwart in the end though, with some strong numbers from Knapp). So don’t blow that seriousness by announcing now.
Peter – good idea.
Anyone have similar info for other parties (Greens, CP, etc.?)
It’ll be interesting to find out if Angela is still seeking the LP nomination. If she is not, perhaps she’ll be interested in seeking the nod from the BTP.