Libertarian leaders join chat on party founder’s facebook wall

As requested by several IPR readers, this is a transcript of a conversation that took place on Libertarian Party chief co-founder David Nolan’s facebook wall. Participants in the chat included at least two of the candidates for Libertarian Party national chair, Wayne Allyn Root and John Jay Myers. Other participants included LNC members and candidates, as well as some rank and file party members and possibly some small-l libertarians as well.

One thing that several people considered notable about the conversation is that at one point Wayne Root said that his media appearances are a “positive step for the GOP.” Most people who have discussed this believe it was a simple typographical error, however, in IPR comments one or more people have also alleged that Wayne Root also said that he does not make typographical errors.

Neither myself nor IPR is taking any positions by presenting this transcript, and personally I (Paulie) have not even read it yet. Also, my apologies for not taking time to fix the formatting. Those who are interested enough to read it will have bear with the formatting as it is. The most controversial portion of the chat is also screencapped here. For those able to view it, a downloadable version which may be easier to read is here.

Again, this is only being posted because several of our readers have asked for it.

Thanks to Michael Seebeck for sending me the transcript and Ayn R. Key for sending the screencap.

Kimberly Ruff Who’s facebook page is this? I see a picture of David Nolan, but all I see on the wall is WAYNE ALLYN ROOT.
April 22 at 8:35am
David F. Nolan Funny about that. Ego-man has posted something like 27 messages here in the last two days. I’m leaving his messages up because they reveal more about him than he probably realizes!
April 22 at 8:55am
Kimberly Ruff It looks like he’s having a conversation with one nay-sayer, but hasn’t yet mastered the ability to comment on a thread. That, or the more conspiratorial argument, is that he’s trying to hijack your page so he can bury the Father of Libertarianism under his LINO rhetoric. Either/or – he needs to get it together! 🙂
April 22 at 8:59am
David F. Nolan @Ben – because WAR posted 27 messages there….. which I find quite bizarre. I’ve never seen anyone post that many items on someone else’s Wall. See Kim’s comment immediately above yours.
April 23 at 4:45am
Wayne Allyn Root I agree with most if not all of what you just said…and I say it carefully…in a subtle way…in a positive way…in a fun and colorful way…on talk shows all across the USA. Of course I believe that spending cuts are more important than tax cuts…of course I’ve said on hundreds of stations that reagan’s big mistak…e was not cutting spending dollar for dollar with his tax cuts…of course I believe the war on drugs is a failure…and I’ve stated on conservative talk radio that Bush started this mess…and opened the door to Obama with his own waste, bloated spending, bailouts and stimulus. I’ve said on numerous shows that we need to end both wars and bring our troops home…and we need to dramatically cut foreign aid and close military bases across the globe. Thats not Libertarianism to you? And I do it all in a way that makes fans and wins converts.
April 21 at 4:39pm
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.Wayne Allyn Root Hello Steve. It’s just amazing how you speak of me. I happen to be home the last 24 hours…the first time in months. So I thought I’d actually talk to my critics and try to engage. But it appears you don’t want real conversation. You only want to attack and misrepresent. It’s hilarious how you continue to misrepresent… my views. I’m on radio for 30 to 60 minutes all the time talking about every single thing you claim I don’t talk about. I know you love to hate and tear down with venom…but it’s time to stop because I’m on your side. You’ve never even bothered to listen to any recent interviews.
April 21 at 4:35pm
Wayne Allyn Root Last point of the night…

True media appearances like mine…10 minute one on one interviews…sometimes 30 to 60 minutes…and invited back every week in front of millions of listeners…that is good for LP.

Let me take a guess you say CBS News…can I see it? Is it you with a 6 second sound bite…without your name on… screen? Just a guess.
That is not a media appearance. That doesn’t count at all.

I say Lp more times a day in media…with millions listening…then my LP Chair competitors have a chance to reach in a lifetime.

Nonetheless…you do work hard and deserve credit.
See how nice and positive I am to you.
But you haven’t tried that once tonight.
I debunked every one of your misrepresentations. That silenced you.
But still no apology. No attempt to make friends or extend the olive branch.
I write books. You criticize them. I star on TV. You criticize it. somehow I think you have the far easier job.
Just try to remember- NO STATUE HAS EVER BEEN ERECTED FOR A CRITIC.
April 20 at 11:11pm
John Jay Myers DMN:
http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/04/at-castle-hills-tea-party-john.html
WFAA:
http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Tea-party-hears-from-libertarian-candidate-90901704.html

notice that the whole point of the Wfaa was to come see me because the guy had heard my anti-war speeches, and wanted to know how it was going to go over at the tea party.
As you can see from the first video, I didn’t have any problems with the crowd.

Wayne, I just think you have the wrong message for this group. I think it’s great you are trying to get the word out there, but it’s not working for us. So we should try something new… something that we can see works right now.

If you have these plans for new members and donations, how come you don’t implement them?
When I am LNC chair, I will have lots of face time with the media to win them over to our side of things.
You have an advantage over me right now. But isn’t that the point of being chair?
April 20 at 11:31pm
Wayne Allyn Root Brian,

The key to happiness…is rationalization. If you can NEVER in your lifetime get on TV or radio..,I guess you’re forced to say ignorant things like that. Just plain amazing. A party with 1% of the vote…totally ignored and anonymous…no seat at the table…no way to effect change…as freedom and capitalism slips away…doesn’t want or need national MSM? Right. Try another line out. You must have something better than that?
April 21 at 12:38pm
Wayne Allyn Root P.S. End of argument…no need to say anything else…at Missouri LP Convention…with me alongside Ernie and John Jay…guest speaker of the day was head of “Show Me Institute.” Arguably as Libertarian a group in the USA…a smaller Missouri=-version of CATO. Doesn’t get more credible than that. They were asked “How does a Libertarian measure success?” Answer from the most Libertarian organization possible- “BY THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOU ARE IN THE MEDIA.” Case closed.
April 21 at 12:40pm
Susan Hogarth Just a but of nitpicking here: there are in fact statues erected to honor critics. Criticism is vital work; think Mencken.
April 21 at 2:16pm
Steve LaBianca More ad nauseum emphasis on process, rather than substance.

It is difficult to get my mind around it, but W.A.R. seems to just pound and pound out the process of exposure (a good thing for liberty, if in fact liberty is promoted), but continue to neglect to embrace libertarianism. Heck, if Hillary Clinton could be persuaded to run as a Libertarian…, I bet she could get 1,000 times more exposure than W.A.R., but would her exposure as a “libertarian” be a “positive step for the LP”? Thus, to a lesser degree, but certainly not different in kind, W.A.R.’s exposure as a “Libertarian” isn’t positive either.
April 21 at 4:30pm
Mike Seebeck No statue has ever been erected for a critic?

Does Samuel Clemens, Sam Adams, and Thomas Paine ring any bells? How about Patrick Henry? Thomas Jefferson? Declaration of Independence, anyone?

C’mon Wayne, my 7-year old kid can do better than that!
April 22 at 12:31am
Steve LaBianca “”Show Me Institute.” Arguably as Libertarian a group in the USA…a smaller Missouri=-version of CATO.”

Fewer and fewer libertarians are arguing FOR the CATO Institute these days, as they are shills for “public policy”. I thought libertarians supported elimination of, or at least drastic reduction of “public policy”.

Try the Ludwig von Mises Institute, or The Independent Institute, among others – now THESE are REAL libertarian organizations!
April 22 at 12:51am

Wayne Allyn Root John I’m going to sleep. But you should also be celebrated for all you do for the LP.

By the way…last I checked your #3 ranking of all liberty candidates is for $300 raised. I sent that in one check to Joe Kennedy.

Everything your doing is GOOD. I applaud you. But it’s too small thinking. We need millions of new voters and millions of dollars.
April 20 at 11:09pm
Steve LaBianca “We need millions of new voters and millions of dollars.” True, but the process is secondary to the principle. If these millions of dollars and votes are for something other than liberty, what’s the point?
April 21 at 4:23pm
Wayne Allyn Root As for you David…it’s 11 PM , I’ve done EIGHT media interviews today…and had about 50 phone calls…and answered about 200 emails. I’m typing at 100 MPH. So there are no freudian slips. I’m just the hardest working man in LP politics…and that bothers you. I work 24/7/365 for LP. Period. Obviously everything i’m d…oing is a positive step for LP. I have no time to spell check every word at this late time of night. But I’ve certainly made many friends in GOP for the LP, that is true. And will continue every day for many years to come. That should be applauded and celebrated. Goodnight.
April 20 at 11:03pm
Steve LaBianca “I work 24/7/365 for LP. Period. Obviously everything i’m doing is a positive step for LP.” Obvious . . . to whom? If
a pool construction company has workers who dig the hole with spoons 24/7/365, that shouldn’t be so obvious as a “positive step”.

By the same token, if W.A.R. believes in and promotes a tax cut, but fails to realize and promote …that the spending of the state is the REAL culprit having adverse effects on an economy THAT also is NOT a positive step. Additionally, failing to realize and promote that taxation as a funding vehicle is coercion, the initiation of force, theft, etc., is also not “a positive step for the LP”. Such failures and fundamentals may be good for the Republican Party, but it isn’t for the LP, or libertarianism.
April 21 at 4:21pm
Wayne Allyn Root John,

Time to stop taking credit for Texas like your the Chairman. You’re not. Texas’ record belongs to MANY hard working, dedicated people. You are like a private taking credit for winning the war. I think a few 4 star generals might argue with that. Second you argument is bogus and pathetic…but worse it’s irrational… You are from the left. You turn off every Tea Party person, every Republican, every conservative, and every independent you meet. I know how they think. i’m winning them over every day. i can quote every national poll. 60% or more of independents…by 2 to 1 bordering on 3 to 1…call themselves conservatives. Your views are a huge turn off to them. So if you THINK I turn off the left and thats bad in your eyes…how come it’s okay for you to turn off the right…where 70% to 90% of our potential is?
April 20 at 10:59pm
John Jay Myers I just spoke at a Tea Party, and they clapped the entire time. So if you don’t know what you are talking about, you might consider…not saying it.

Texas does succeed because of the work of a lot of people. I can only tell you what I have done. If you ask the people in Texas they will tell you it is remarkable.

My point is that if we split the right what do we have? They are not going to split…by the way. Most of their worst fear is “splitting the vote”. …
You help to perpetuate their fears with your constant drumming “Pelosi, Ried, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Obama” you think you are running them to us with that nonsense?
You are running them to the GOP.
If you want to win people over you say “our government” evvery time you think about saying “obamba” substitute “our government”.

You think you are winning these people over? Where are the new members where are the donations?
Seriously… where?
I don’t know anyone on this blog besieds David, so this is just a random samplling of people, that I apparently appeal to.

just so happens. they are Libertarians, last time I checked that was the party we belong to.
April 20 at 11:16pm
John Jay Myers The Chairman line shows me why your logic is flawed, like I mentioned our county gets as much in donations as some states, we have more people on our county executive committee than most states, we have more people show up to my house for events, than most state conventions.

When I started working the county we had none of that.
We had no people, so the solution is not state chairs, but county chairs and it is by doing what we do/did across the United States.
…
The solution is not top down, it is grass roots, but it’s in providing the tools they need that national can assist with.
April 21 at 1:00am
Susan Hogarth Our greatest potential comes from neither right nor left, but libertarian. Trying to prove to Republicans that libertarianism is conservative is about as pointless as trying to prove to Dems that it’s progressive. We need to make issue alliances with both left and right, while at the same time identifying real libertarians. And I doubt most real libs will be found in the ranks of those upset that the Republican Party is not being true to its conservavtove roots.
April 21 at 2:22pm
Carolyn Marbry It’s all well and good to talk about wanting millions of dollars and millions of voters and all that pie-in-the-sky stuff that appeals to Libertarians who are tired of losing elections, but that’s not where we are, folks. We’re LOSING members. We’re LOSING donors. We don’t have enough money in the national coffers to pay all our overhead AND do the party’s actual work, so we just pay overhead and sit on our thumbs. I’m seeing folks talk about what kind of lavish new draperies they’re going to put up in a burning house.

THAT is what top-down gets you. THAT is what re-electing the same people who have been on the LNC gets you. THAT is what not listening to the party membership gets you.

The point of this party is politics. Activism. Educating people and getting them to grow a pair and vote their conscience instead of voting between the prepackaged choices offered. If we can’t even manage to budget monies for those activities that promote liberty and promote libertarian ideals, if we’re all about image and sucking up to the GOP and not about promoting Libertarian ideals, what the hell is the point of even BEING a political party?…

So while Wayne is out talking and buliding recognition for the party, and god love him for doing so, that’s where he’s best used, we need folks on the LNC who are interested in running the BUSINESS of the party. Media appearances? Those are for candidates. The chair has work to do.

Those of us in party leadership will need to be putting out those fires and running the business of the party to get it back into stable solvency so we DO have the money to hold our convention every 2 years without having to play the floor fee game, and we DO have money for activism and activist support, and we DO have money to promote Libertarianism. We need to show our donors that their money isn’t being wasted on, well, lavish new draperies for a burning house.
April 21 at 4:46pm
John Jay Myers To add a little to that Carolyn, think of it this way, if we put all your hope in someone charismatic sending people our way (which hasn’t panned out so far for Wayne)… what do they see when they get here?

Do they see organization?
Do they see a group with it’s act together?
Is there someone locally who can help them get involved?…
We need to put the infrastructure in place and get the tools out there that people can use to grow the party.

Not just a guy who sounds like the “male Sarah Palin” (did he really say that?)
Who divides all our possible recruits in half. He said in this post that “you don’t apeal to the right” well that’s a lie, I just don’t appeal to the GOP hard core… but don’t worry Wayne has them covered. ; )

The most notable thing about me is the fact that I appeal to both the left and the right… not to just get on their shows… I actually appeal to them. I don’t think Wayne actually knows anything about me.
He thinks I am an anarchist/lefty and I am not.
I am a Libertarian.
April 21 at 5:02pm
Jill Stone Pyeatt Wayne, please understand that 70 to 90 % of the right being our highest potential is alarming to me. Most conservatives don’t embrace some of our key beliefs, such as gay marriage and non-interventionist wars. A healthy balance between right and left should be our goal (ottherwise, if it’s too heavy on the right, we might tip over Guam). Some of us “radicals” and party lefties are some of our party’s best activists.
April 21 at 6:01pm
Wayne Allyn Root Jill,

I know that and I will embrace the left leaning radicals and ask them to continue left outreach. We want that. No one is arguing.
April 21 at 6:07pm
Susan Hogarth If you want to be Chair, you cannot focus on one-sided outreach.

I’m not Redpath’s biggest fan, but at least he is mostly careful to not come off as right-lib or left-lib, but as simply libertarian. That is one thing I think we need in a chair.
April 21 at 6:30pm
John Jay Myers It’s also not “left leaning radicals” it’s just plain left. That’s the problem. You see people who are not on the right as some sort of crazy people.

When I see them as people who are only one economics lesson away from being Libertarian, you have an easier time teaching a liberal Economics, than teaching someone from the right that you don’t have to mix religion and politics.

My brother didn’t vote for Barack Obama because he wanted healthcare or welfare, he just didn’t want more George Bush…
Who would? … so how do you win that guy? By screaming Obama Obama Obama, no… by explaining economics.

If we can prove we are not all religious, anti-gay, pro-war nanny state embracers to that giant segment of people we will get the left quite easily. If you blame all our current problems on one guy, the left will think you are a partisan hack and the right will vote Republican.

Let’s try uniting people instead of dividing them.
April 21 at 7:15pm
Wayne Allyn Root John…you are so funny…but you mean well…and when I win…andI will win…you will do your left outreach…and I will help you. And we’ll see the results. If it works, I’m open. I listen and learn. Do I think it will work…no. It can’t. I’m the one on left media…they LOVE big government and want more govt, more spending, more taxes, more …social nets. They are the group that can never be converted to a party that supports smaller government. And they will vote 90% for Obama’s re-election. But…I will absolutely support you in trying. And I will do more than that…I will come to Texas and campaign with you and help you raise money. You still don’t get it- I’m here to build a SERIOUS threat to 2 party system. I am a gifted orator…and a prolific fundraiser. That is what this party needs. You will handle the left outreach.
April 21 at 7:44pm
Wayne Allyn Root John…or have you forgotten that I already did you a massive favor and spoke at your fundraiser last July at your home in oppressive heat and humidity…on my vacation with my daughter. You asked…and I delivered for a complete stranger…because you are a Libertarian. You don’t seem to mention that in all these posts. Has anyone on this page …ever volunteered to help me in ANY way? I’ll make a bet with you…afyer I’m elected Chair…I’ll get dozens of requests by radicals to campaign with them…and fundraise for them. Perhaps hundreds. How do i know. Because they are already calling! they badmouth me to you…but call me to ask if I’ll headline a fundraiser in the Fall. LOL. But guess what John…I’ll do it. Goodnight.
April 21 at 7:47pm
John Jay Myers Wait… who did you call and who delivered and who spoke on your behalf to the Dallas Tea Party, one of the biggest events you ever spoke at.
I talked to Ken and Crew and that was all me baby.

Also… I am already converting people who voted for Obama, tons. Because I don’t say what you just said, they don’t “love” big government, they don’t know any better.
When we were in Missouri I signed up two county chairs who voted for Obama… Camden and Miller county, they are already working on setting up their counties, and are great spokesmen for the party…

We are here to teach them, not verbally abuse them.
April 21 at 7:53pm
John Jay Myers Also, the event at my house wasn’t a fund raiser it was just a meet up, and it was you who called to see if we had an event you could speak at. So I guess that was another mutual favor, I do appreciate you doing it, but you wanted to do it.
I admire your enthusiasm but we should be clear.
April 21 at 7:59pm
Chris Bennett http://reason.com/archives/2008/09/05/wayne-allyn-roots-million-doll

Hey Wayne, I’m still waiting on an apology assh@#%!
April 21 at 8:42pm
Rachel Hawkridge “Has anyone on this page … ever volunteered to help me in ANY way?”

Actually, yes – Hugs and I spent some considerable time trying to get you to sound more libertarian, and to better understand Libertarian principle. We also invited you to participate in the Prez panel at LPWA Convention, then had to cover for your late ass, and stall while you… did telephone interview than ran into our event. I put together the nominating petitions, gathered the sigs, ran around and got the dozens of declarations signed and notarized, and filed the subsequent 2″ thick packet with the SecState, with no cooperation from the campaign – I couldn’t get you “busy” candidates to bother yourselves enough to sign the paper and send it back.

And yes, we’ve heard straight from your mouth who and what you appreciate. You appreciate Starr, Redpath, et al.

You equate me with Radical LP. Which is freakin’ hilarious – when the LP is reduced to having minarchists counted as Rads. We (Hugs and I), minarchists (to our everlasting shame) look like Radicals to you, and to the people you associate yourself with.

We are Libertarians. Who work with people across the spectrum, on issues we agree on.

One thing we don’t agree on is your theory that the Chair is the spokesperson of the party.

Per Bylaws –
4. The Chair shall preside at all Conventions and all meetings of the National Committee. The Chair is the chief executive officer of the Party with full authority to direct its business and affairs, including hiring and discharging of National Committee volunteers and paid personnel, subject to express National Committee policies and directives issued in the exercise of the National Committee’s plenary control and management of Party affairs, properties and funds.

None of which is part of your skillset. Being the spokesperson is an entirely different skillset.
Wednesday at 12:42pm
Wayne Allyn Root And I’ve said on numerous occasions that our national debt is over $100 trillion dollars counting unfunded liabilities for Soc Sec, Medicare and Medicaid. That figure is 100% accurate. It has been used by hundreds of economists and experts including the former CBO chief. It has also been used by perhaps the most famous… and adored Libertarian columnist in America Walter Williams- who is a genius. In a sound bite you only have time to give that one line. If I had time I’d break it down to about $12 trillion in actual debt…plus over $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities…not counting $13 trillion in bailouts…and trillions more in under-counted government employee pension liabilities- also all unfunded. The actual debt is probably closer to $125 trillion or more.
April 20 at 10:41pm
John Jay Myers Our national debt is our national debt:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt
The rest of that is simply other unfunded liabilities.
April 21 at 1:02am
Steve LaBianca W.A.R. has also stated that he is for a gold standard AND a fiat money standard. This is very much like saying that one supports the initiation of violence and pacifism at the same time!
April 21 at 4:11pm
Wayne Allyn Root So please stop misrepresenting me. I believe in smaller government, less spending, lower taxes, more freedom and choice, and individual rights and free markets as the solution for EVERYTHING…for every problem in America…but I’m a smart marketer who has sold almost $200,000,000 on TV…and has figured out how to sel…l Libertarianism in a positive way to convert mainstream voters. Until you’ve made millions of dollars with your talents…created million dollar businesses from scratch…been paid hundreds of thousands per year as a national spokesman by 3 major companies at once…sold 7 books for 6-figure advances from biggest publishers in world…and sold 3 TV shows to Hollywood…you should learn to be quiet…listen and learn. There is nothing wrong with not knowing something John…that’s human…but being unwilling to learn from someone who is good at it…that’s just ignorant.
April 20 at 10:37pm
Lidia Seebeck So money means everything, rather than Principles, Wayne?
April 21 at 9:53am
Susan Hogarth Lidia, that’s an unfair leap from what Wayne wrote.

I think his point may have been more that if he can sell mediocre books and other products, he can interest people in libertarianism.

Not sure I agree, of course. But I think it’s unfair to assume that W is saying money is more important than principle here.
April 21 at 2:27pm
Steve LaBianca “I believe in smaller government, less spending, lower taxes, more freedom and choice, and individual rights and free markets as the solution for EVERYTHING” . . . so do most Republicans, but this isn’t the same as believing in liberty; it only means a belief in a reduced encroachment of liberty by the state.
April 21 at 4:07pm
Carolyn Marbry Where was all that amazing ability to get money and support during the Barr/Root campaign?
April 21 at 4:50pm
Wayne Allyn Root Carolyn…I was the top fundraiser for LP President other than Barr (a 4 term Congressman)…I also was #1 BY FAR in raising money at the LP.org web site for the LP itself out of all 2008 LP Presidential candidates…I won the VP nomination as a complete newcomer and outsider…after I received the nomination I was never asked to raise one dollar … by the Barr campaign…they decided they had that covered…that was a mistake but they thought they had Perot’s top fundraiser so I understand the reasoning…but I take ZERO blame for that…I became a major presence on FOX News and 2000 other media stations since the election…and wrote a best selling Libertarian book. Now I am a columnist for the Las Vegas newspaper and the 12th biggest web site in the world…and have TV networks chasing me to film a reality show about my life and the LP…and I will have a huge radio announcement soon. I’d say my whirlwind has miracles that no one thought possible in a few months…with no background in LP politics. If elected Chair…I will spend 2 years traveling the country training all LP candidates how to attract media and raise money. I will raise large amounts of money- that’s a promise.
April 21 at 5:08pm
Carolyn Marbry The whole Barr/Root thing was a mess from the get-go, and I do remember your presentation at the LNC meeting in Dec 08 where you outlined exactly how they’d screwed you over. They still owe you substantial money from that, as I recall.
April 21 at 5:16pm
Steve LaBianca W.A.R., here claims to have “figured out how to sell Libertarianism in a positive way to convert mainstream voters”.

First there really ain’t no such thing as “Libertarianism” proper. There is only “libertarianism, the various libertarian organizations and the Libertarian Party. Any reference to capital “L” Libertarianism could only be related to… the Libertarian Party. For many years, the Libertarian Party and the promotion of libertarianism within the political/electoral process were virtually synonymous. Today, “Libertarianism” (if the term has any meaning) bears little resemblance to libertarianism if Bob Barr, W.A.R., Aaron Starr, Brian Holtz and the LRC are the major “spokesmen” for it.

The real question is, given that the LP traditionally followed libertarianism closely, does W.A.R. effectively sell “libertarianism” and persuade mainstream voters to embrace it? I say resoundingly, “NO”!
April 21 at 5:19pm
Steve LaBianca Separately, W.A.R. says above, “you should learn to be quiet…listen and learn”. This is obviously something of value for one who is first exposing others to libertarianism, as well as the one who himself is first exposed. However, W.A.R. himself, had failed to heed his own advice as he threw his hat into the LP presidential ring. No LP candidate has ever promoted the “islamofascist” concept or term . . . other than W.A.R. himself.

Cart before the horse . . .
David F. Nolan Latest quote from Wayne Root, in a message to John Jay Myers: “The key John is…I get on TV and radio again and again. And I get asked back every week by hosts all across the country. Last I checked thats a great achievement…and a very positive step for GOP. Freudian slip much?
April 20 at 10:33pm
David F. Nolan There was supposed to be a close-quote after GOP. What’s interesting to me is that subconsciously Wayne is still thinking in terms of helping the GOP, not the LP!
April 20 at 10:38pm
Alexander Benjamin Ramiresonty hahahahaaaaaaaa
April 20 at 10:43pm
Jill Stone Pyeatt Honestly, I’ve never seen a more arrogant or self-serving individual in the entire media. Can someone who’s a friend of his try to get him to chill out before he chases away any Libertarians who happen to be on the fence? Not everyone is automatically enamored with him. Most people would never vote for someone they don’t like, no matter what he says he stands for. He may be making friends, but he’s making a lot of enemies. too.
April 21 at 1:26am
Emily S. Goldberg Eeek. Maybe *not* Freudian slip, much. Maybe stealth candidate, much.

I’ve not been following him in the media, is he bass-ackwardly (or even forthrightly) supporting Republicans/mainstream Republicans in things he says or policy recommendations he makes?

Maybe his wheeling-dealing ways include some kind of ‘prodigal son’ ‘return to the fold’ when they (or he) deem the time/the political landscape in Nevada is right/ripe for him?
April 21 at 1:47am
Austin White Wayne Root is just a neocon who likes libertarian rhetoric becuase its becoming extremely popular.
April 21 at 6:34am
Carolyn Marbry When and where did he say this, and more importantly, how do we get this out to the delegates in a meaningful way?
April 21 at 11:53am
David F. Nolan @Carolyn – scroll down my Wall, and you’ll find the quote. Wayne got into a heated exchange with John Jay Myers, and that was one of his remarks explaining how great he supposedly is. As to “getting it out” – use your imagination!
April 21 at 12:11pm
Carolyn Marbry Ah, there it is. Wow.
April 21 at 12:40pm
Wayne Allyn Root I never said we had to be in Middle East to protect Israel. You are misquoting me. I said thats what a large majority of Americans think- both Jews and tens of millions of Christian voters. And I said you scare them off by screaming, ranting and raving about Israel…when there are smarter more positive ways to discuss… the issue. How about saying that we support dramatic reductions in foreign aid and military bases all around the world. And I always say lets start by letting wealthy countries like Germany, Japan and South Korea pay for their own national defense. That doesn’t scare anyone. I’ve gotten conservative talk hosts to agree with that. To bring up Israel FIRST is a tragic mistake that has chased away millions of voters from even considering the LP. My way reaches for consensus and opens their minds. It takes time. No sound bite on Israel will EVER change anyones mind…but the wrong sound bite has damaged if not destroyed the LP for 39 years. it’s all about wording.
April 20 at 10:32pm
John Jay Myers It will be a “he said/he said” thing, but what I remember was a very straight forward “John, you realize we have to be in the middle east to protect Israel”
I have no way to prove that.
But it is one of the main reasons I am here, second only to not allowing the commentary to be so devisive we no longer appeal to the left.

Also, I didn’t come here from the left… I didn’t come here from the right. I really had no interest in politics, and then went…ohh this feels right…
April 21 at 1:09am
Wayne Allyn Root Let me get this straight…I find a way to explain Libertarianism in a simple, positive way that attracts mainstream voters…and you don’t like that…I make 20,000 people at a Tea Party rally scream in joy and get standing ovations…and you don’t like that…you turn off every non Libertarian you meet…but you thin…k thats good. You never get invited on any media…you think thats good…and if you did, you’d scare off and frighten anyone not a “pure” Libertarian…you think that’s good. This is 39 years of chasing good people away because they aren’t “pure” enough. This is GROUNDHOG DAY. I prove my strategy works every day. And instead of spreading liberty…you choose to denigrate me. wow great strategy.
April 20 at 10:26pm
Steve LaBianca “I find a way to explain Libertarianism in a simple, positive way that attracts mainstream voters” is like me finding a simple, positive way to explain gambling and odds-making to potential gamblers. I don’t purport to know how to do this, even though I am university educated in mathematics and statistics through calculus, differential equations … and theory of probability and statistics (courses which actuaries take), and you W.A.R. shouldn’t purport to know how to “explain Libertarianism in a simple, positive way”. You aren’t qualified to do so.
April 21 at 3:48pm
Wayne Allyn Root The key John is…I get on TV and radio again and again. And I get asked back every week by hosts all across the country. Last I checked thats a great achievement…and a very positive step for GOP. You aren’t asked once…anywhere…anytime. How does that spread liberty? By badmouthing me…unprovoked here on FB to 12… people who already think like you…you are achieving nothing. The progress is nil. You are in quicksand. i’m getting HUNDREDS of emails and Facebooks per week supporting me- and all are supporting a Libertarian for FIRST time in their lives. Thats bad in your book?
April 20 at 10:22pm
Phred Lysander ? a positive step for the WHAT?
April 21 at 6:20am
Wayne Allyn Root Of course I praised Scott Brown on election night…it was a good chance to win over mainstream voters to our team…thats our job…to compliment them for wanting to stop universal healthcare and the spread of big government. Pointing out what idiots and fools and hypocrites Republicans are on election night is just plain stupid and counterproductive.
April 20 at 10:20pm
John Jay Myers It would have been an excellent opportunity to differentiate ourselves. In my opinion.
April 21 at 1:06am
Susan Hogarth Wait. I don’t follow the logic here. How does praising a Republican (a lying one, but I’ll give you credit for gullibility) win people to the LP?

I can see saying something like “Clearly the voters are crying out in the dark for relief. I think they had a much better shot with Kennedy, but I hope that Brown hears that cry.” Sadly, I don’t think he will.

In contrast, praising Brown gives the impression the LP thinks a Republican will actually work for smaller government, and that those who are put off by the LP but who want more freedom can get it by voting Republican. …

Praising a Republican candidate = endorsing Republicanism. Please DON’T.
April 21 at 2:37pm
Jason Gonella Wow, Wayne really seems to have it out for you.
Tue at 10:18pm
Wayne Allyn Root I endorsed Joe Kennedy…I produced a nice video for him…i sent him $300 or $350…and I mentioned him on NATIONAL radio 5 times to hosts who never heard of him in their lives. What exactly did you do for Joe Kennedy? I did more for him with that list than you ever did…or ever will. You give him $300 of your money John?
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
John Jay Myers Just post a link to your “Tea Party Shot Heard around the world” article and we can let the audience decide how they feel we were represented.
I think even Ron Paul wrote something about Joe Kennedy after the fact and he is a Republican.
I supported Joe, I don’t remember if I donated, but I did change my icon to his sign for a week.
April 21 at 1:05am
Wayne Allyn Root John, there you go again. You have nothing positive to report about your own achievements. so you choose to misrepresent, slander and denigrate me. start telling people what you’ve done. What’s your record of remarkable s=political or business success? Stop talking negative about others. That violates your Libertarian …oath, does it not? Self defense is fair. Unprovoked personal attacks are not Libertarian. Or did you not know that? Everything you just said about me is incorrect. ever bother to check your facts before you slander and misrepresent someone?
April 20 at 10:16pm
John Jay Myers I am acting in self defense.

As for me, I have a record of growing the party in Texas…
our budget in Texas is 1/3 the size of nationals, my county raises more money than most states.
Our grass roots methods = more people, more money, and hopefully in November more great election results…

I have a solid plan as to exactly what national needs to do to help, and could implement it quite easily. In the mean time, I am actually doing it in Texas.

I am considered the perpetual motion machine for the Texas Libertarian Party.
I also feel I have a much better way of “selling” the party to the left, right or independent minded voter, than you do.

Maybe not better to the right than you, but you are practically a member of the GOP, so that is hard to do.

If elected I will make the appearances, the difference will be that I will grow the party.
April 20 at 10:51pm
John Jay Myers Texas is running over 200 candidates this year 17 from my county.
Though it’s not much, this week:
I was in Ohio with you.
I made two videos.
I was on CBS News (for being anti-war/pro tea party)…
I spoke at a Tea Party
and was written about in the Dallas Morning news
Did 3 radio interviews
I am number 3 of 126 liberty candidates for donations in their money bomb.
Was written about by the “the examiner”3 times.
So it’s not much, but hey I am just getting started.
When I am the chair, it will be a lot easier to get people interested in what I am saying.
April 20 at 11:03pm
Wayne Allyn Root And for the record David I’ve never insulted you first about anything…nor will I ever. The LP believes in self defense last I checked. ANYTHING is fair in self defense. Not once, not EVER have I hit a fellow Libertarian first. I have run for National Chair based on my remarkable record of achievement and success. I d…on’t need to tear down anyone else. If you can only tear down others…you don’t deserve to be elected to anything. Stop with the negativity. this is exactly what has damaged the LP for 39 years and put us in quicksand.
April 20 at 9:53pm
Steve LaBianca Earth to W.A.R. . . . ANYTHING is NOT fair in self defense.

If one is defending oneself from theft, it doesn’t follow that one kills the thief and his entire family and circle of friends!

Even if one is defending oneself from being killed, one doesn’t legitimately wipe out every person who holds to some similar beliefs (which may or may not have… anything to do with the aggressive behavior) as the one who initiated the threat. Yet, W.A.R.’s line of thinking is precisely why Republicans and most war-mongers embrace the concept that it is OK to invade a country, wreak havoc, death and destruction on the entire population of it because a few others of the same religious faith have killed people.
April 21 at 3:36p
Wayne Allyn Root What is so annoying is that we ALL have better things to do than argue at Facebook…or denigrate fellow Libertarians. Funny…if I didn’t know better I’d think Republicans or Democrats put you all up to this…because while I do 8 media appearances in a day…your all talking and complaining and rudely insulting other… Libertarians. A gameplan right out of the GOP and Democratic playbook. Stop and get to work spreading liberty.
April 20 at 9:48pm
Steve LaBianca Again, it is all about process. While “proceeding” you neglected to embrace libertarianism, W.A.R.
April 21 at 3:40pm
Jill Stone Pyeatt That’s funny, Wayne, because I was wondering if you’re here to divide us. Really. We need a chairman who can unite the squabbling sides.
April 21 at 5:52pm
Wayne Allyn Root I have ZERO interest in dividing LP Jill…I’m not sacrificing 24/7/365 so we can lose 30% of our base. I want everyone on board, committed and dedicated. That’s why I named Mark Rutherford as my Vice Chair. We are a team. Everyone here at David’s site knows Mark. He would never join forces with me if my goal was to divide the party. We are a team…

Thats why I TRIED to engage my critics here the last 24 hours…I thought my willingness to talk and debunk the many myths and misrepresentations flying around about me would really be met with appreciation (and surprise at my openness). Instead it was met with venom. Why on earth would Libertarians speak so viciously to fellow freedom-fighters? Save the venom for the big government proponents. We need to fight together- and forget our disagreements. We agree on 80%. Why would we divide over the remaining 20%. Thats the GOp and Democrats’ dream.
April 21 at 6:00pm
Jill Stone Pyeatt Good, Wayne, I’m glad to hear you want to unite us. We need everyone who is passionate about the LP to concentrate on growing our party and our core beliefs. I recently bought your book because I’m really trying to understand you. I’ll try to get it read in the next few weeks.
Plus, one of my fiends on the current LNC speaks very highly of you.
April 21 at 6:09pm
Wayne Allyn Root I have tried to be fair and nice to everyone in LP and on LNC…but some of the viciousness has shocked me.
April 21 at 6:10pm
Steve LaBianca Sorry Mr. W.A.R. you have barely engaged. Your problem with libertarians, unless you’re too blinded by your own rhetoric, ought to be clear as day. You have not indicated that you have learned the essence of libertarianism. Shooting from the hip doesn’t work in libertarian politics.

Instead, you come out like gangbusters (beginning in 2007) with what seems to be visions of grandeur, leadership, and knowing it all before you know anything. My suggestion would be to learn a little humility. Learn that you ought to learn more before coming out like a know-it-all, be-all for the libertarian movement, or even the smaller libertarian electoral politics movement.

Your entrance and presence into the LP reminds me of the …
old adage, “open mouth, insert foot”. It not only SHOULD be an embarrassment for you, but IS an embarrassment for me and other libertarians. THAT, should be crystal clear. If it isn’t, then you’re blinded by your own visions of grandeur.

David Nolan was a founder of the Libertarian Party. Mary Ruwart was an early leader in the LP, yet you come in and make declarative statements to the effect that these folks
are wrong for the libertarian movement, are wrong for the party, etc, when these folks KNOW WAY MORE THAN YOU COULD HOPE TO KNOW IN 3 YEARS!

Learn a little humility. Get involved in your local party, learn about and embrace the Zero Aggression Principle, learn how the consequences of liberty in ALL realms of human life and interaction are positive, not just what Republicans and conservatives are likely to embrace.

But no . . . you come into the LP with “all the answers”. So, you START this entrance by running for the LP presidential nomination?! And now, instead of vying for a seat at the LNC table, Regional Rep, even At-Large Rep, no . . . you have to run for chair. Did you ever consider running for your state house even? No, you’re the self-proclaimed answer for the LP, as its standard bearer for the next 4 presidential elections!

Let me tell you W.A.R.;after three years, you still don’t know much about libertarianism, yet tout yourself as THE answer to the LP, when you haven’t even figured out the difference between a gold standard and a fiat money standard. (Yes, I HEARD you say that in a radio interview . . . such statements simply discredit you as ignorant)

Learn a little humility. You DON”T have the answers, you don’t have the support of principled libertarians, you don’t effectively convert conservatives to libertarianism. You simply speak to conservatives as if they already ARE libertarians!

I say, go back to square one, and learn. Then, and only then can you use your promotion skills effectively for a libertarian America.
April 21 at 8:52pm
Steve LaBianca How presumptuous – “That’s why I named Mark Rutherford as my Vice Chair.”

Does W.A.R. realize that the “naming” of the Vice-Chair, irrespective of the success or failure of W.A.R.’s vying for LNC chair, is DONE BY THE DELEGATES IN CONVENTION?
April 21 at 9:29pm
Steve LaBianca More presumption – “we ALL have better things to do than argue at Facebook”.

Thank you, but I’LL decide what “better things to do” for myself. ANY true libertarian understands that.

When one presumes to KNOW what is best for others, THAT, in and of itself discredits that person’s libertarian credentials…

From my perspective, W.A.R. would be better off LEARNING libertarianism before attempting to run for high political office as an alleged libertarian.
April 21 at 9:37pm
Wayne Allyn Root As recently as 3 days ago, my book was #3000 among all 4 million books at Amazon. It goes up and down based on how many people buy that day…but I looked up numerous other Libertarian books by Libertarian legends like David Boaz, Mary Ruwart, Michael Cloud, Charles Murray…my book was raked far higher…#3000 versus …100,000…400,000…500,000…and higher. Based on how many media appearances I make it flucuates…but it has remained #1 or #2 in Libertarian books at all times.
April 20 at 9:46pm
Arvin Vohra Love how libertarians will argue about anything. Wayne and David, both you guys are heroes of mine, but I feel that this time both of you are overlooking the fact that the greatest book ever written is The Equation for Excellence: How to Make Your Child Excel at Math.
April 21 at 12:59am
Jill Stone Pyeatt I like “Goodnight, Moon”.
April 21 at 5:50pm
Wayne Allyn Root David, if you go to Amazon.com and enter “Libertarian books” you’ll find my book is ranked #1…as it has been for 10 consecutive months. Not once…not ever will you find me anything but factual and on the money in all of my comments. if I say it, it’s true.
April 20 at 9:43pm
John Jay Myers Like your “tea party nation” comments where you commend them for electing Scott Brown? (over the Libertarian Candidate) Scott Brown is a pro socialized health care, pro war he is like the worst of both worlds, he is worse than Martha Coakley.

Like telling me that we have to be in the Middle East to protect Israel? (after your book was written). We don’t.

Like telling people 6 months after Obama was elected that he was the reason your friends were having to close their businesses in Vegas?…
When I asked you to give me one piece of legislation that had passed to back up this claim, you told me “he is a commie socialist”.

Like our national debt being 70 trillion dollars?

We do need to stop fighting each other after this election. But that’s what happens in elections people fight. It’s been going on like that for a while now, not sure if you got the memo.

But I am not saying this because I want to win, I am saying it because I don’t want you to win. I want the party to have a voice that will grow the party from the left and the right.

Doing so is absolutely necessary, it is the key to our winning.

You don’t seem to get that. It scares me.
Hopefully after the election you will continue to be the ambassador to the right. Maybe you would consider using your fund raising skills. Another good time to use your fund raising skills, would have been anytime in the last 3 years.
April 20 at 10:10pm
Wayne Allyn Root David, Please stop arguing and distorting. If you enter “Libertarian books” in Amazon…my book is #1 in the country…as it has been in that category for 10 consecutive months.
http://www.amazon.com
April 20 at 9:42pm
David F. Nolan Wayne, I stated that if you enter the word LIBERTARIANISM, your book is #10. Obviously, the ranking of search results depends on the word or phrase you enter. But so what? I personally think your book is a mediocre piece of self-promotion. You think it’s the best book ever. Others can draw their own conclusions; that’s how (relatively) free markets work.
April 20 at 10:48pm
Wayne Allyn Root David, Please stop arguing and distorting. If you enter “Libertarian books” in Amazon…my book is #1 in the country…as it has been in that category for 10 consecutive months:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=libertarian+books&x=7&y=16
http://www.amazon.com
April 20 at 9:41pm
Wayne Allyn Root LP radicals have always complained that I’m not going on enough liberal media…in just the past couple of weeks I’ve been on Larry King on CNN, MSNBC, The Thom Hartmann Show…and minutes ago “The Young Turks” (formerly on Air America…now XM Radio). Where are my competitors for National Chair? Why aren’t they getting calls from the left media? Why aren’t LP radicals and anarchists getting on national media like this? While you’re debating and denigrating me…I’m doing right AND left media. I’ve made the breakthrough. Now you should all be cheering me, not attacking and denigrating and being rude.
April 20 at 5:53pm
John Jay Myers Simply put, Wayne has been out selling Wayne and his brand of Libertarianism for the last few years, with countless media appearances that have resulted in less membership and less donors.
What title does Wayne use to get media appearances, “former Libertarian VP nominee”. When our new chair is able to say “I am the Libertarian National Chair” I am sure they will get more media attention.
I can say that when I speak at Tea Parties, I sound like a Libertarian. I do not change my message so I sound just like a Republican, in an effort to appeal to more people.

I can’t say that I am glad that Wayne is on more left leaning shows, because he is not going to win over those people, and will increase the divide between them and us…

We will never succeed as a party if we do not appeal to all the people who are just fed up with government as a whole. The only way we can win is to not divide that base but get them to work together to one end.

We need to stand apart from the Tea Party as a real alternative to the giant machine,
which is the two party monopoly that currently rules this country.
April 20 at 6:13pm
Eric Bell Wayne, I don’t have a problem with you going around and talking to radio stations. As long as you say the right thing. I don’t think someone who describes himself as the “male Sarah Palin” should represent the Libertarian Party. That is like saying Justin Bieber should headline at Ozzfest.
April 20 at 8:50pm
Carolyn Marbry male Sarah Palin? Ouch… That’s like being the male Paris Hilton or the female Janet Reno. Ow…
April 21 at 12:52pm
Eric Bell Also Wayne you criticize “radicals” and speak of success. Here’s a question do you think you and Bob Barr did your very best in 08? Has it occurred to you that if you and him were more radical, you could have built on the success of Ron Paul’s campaign. Think of how many more voters you would have had that didn’t support Chuck Baldwin or write in Ron Paul even where their votes would literally not have been counted. You and Bob Barr would have at least beat Ralph Nader.
April 21 at 12:58pm
Steve LaBianca ” LP radicals have always complained that I’m not going on enough liberal media.”. Maybe so, but more fundamentally, radical libertarians mostly complain that W.A.R. has yet to understand, embrace, and promote libertarianism, rather than pick and choose a few stances that libertarians agree with, which conservatives and other Republicans cheer.

That is, to the extent that radical libertarians care to take notice of W.A.R. at all. I do so, onlhy because of the halo effect of W.A.R.’s disinformation, perversion and misunderstanding of libertarianism which potentially casts a bad light on the pursuit of liberty.
April 21 at 4:00pm
Wayne Allyn Root By the way David…we both agree that Obama is awful…I’m sure we both agree that Goldman Sachs is awful…so theres something to build on. Let’s try to be on the same team. Attack Democrats and Republicans- not me for sacrificing day and night to spread liberty.
April 20 at 5:51pm
Wayne Allyn Root I continue to take the high road. Yes I believe in me…yes I talk about my PROVEN success and PROVEN results…a Libertarian getting in media nonstop is truly an achievement. A Libertarian winning over THOUSANDS of non Libertarians is truly an achievement. A Libertarian reaching millions of voters on national media an…d winning over hosts is truly an achievement. Stop attacking and denigrating and do something yourself- all of you. If all you can do is badmouth me…your not advancing liberty.
April 20 at 5:16pm
Steve LaBianca Proven results . . . like getting a smaller percentage of the vote than Harry Browne and Ron Paul when THEY ran on the LP presidential ticket?
April 21 at 3:52pm
Jill Stone Pyeatt I don’t badmouth you, Wayne. I’m really trying to like you.
April 21 at 5:48pm
Steve LaBianca I don’t refer to W.A.R. in his personal life. I don’t know him personally. As a would-be LP leader, as a libertarian, there is, however much to refer to, and criticize. THIS is the realm I limit my comments. I couldn’t care less about W.A.R.’s personal life – as a father, husband, businessman, consumer, what brand of toothpaste he uses, etc. What I… do care about, is the misrepresentation of libertarianism, which his “brand” of it espouses.

If W.A.R. can’t take this heat, i.e. criticism of his positions as they relate to libertarianism, then he’s indisputably a lightweight, and is in WAY over his head.
April 21 at 9:25pm
Wayne Allyn Root In any job in the world…whether it’s CEO of company…or a small business…or CEO of the Libertarian Party…the guy or gal with proven results and vision wins…not the people obsessed with badmouthing their rivals. All my opponents do all day is badmouth me. If only they’d put the same effort into growing the LP…we’d be growing by leaps and bounds. Time to stop attacking and denigrating. Time to take the high road. If you or anyone else wants to beat me- outwork me. Outsell me. Get on more media than me. But if you can’t, be quiet.
April 20 at 5:13pm
Wayne Allyn Root The true pompous ass is the man who denigrates a fellow Libertarian in public without calling first and speaking to him privately. Check my web site. CXheck my facebook page. I don’t say a negative word about you, or my opponents, or your radical friends. Not a word. The 11th commandment is if you don’t have anything nice to say about a fellow Libertarian, shut the heck up.
April 20 at 5:10pm
David F. Nolan Wayne, you’ve posted MANY insulting remarks about me, while the worst I’ve ever said about you is that you have a HUGE ego, and you are a Libertarian-Republican hybrid, not a consistent Libertarian. I stand by both of those observations.
April 20 at 9:38pm
Wayne Allyn Root If only the LP had a CEO who could build multi-million dollar businesses from scratch in a depression…who could guide their daughter as a homeschooler to Harvard…who could write a book that David Nolan predicted would be in the dust bins by holiday season…yet is still the #1 or #2 Libertarian book at Amazon. and …soon you’ll hear a big announcement about radio. Soon David you’ll hear me all over the airwaves. It ain’t bragging when you make it happen. It’s hard work and dedication and tenacity and passion and talent and faith in yourself and dare a Libertarian say it…faith in God.
April 20 at 5:08pm
David F. Nolan I just entered “libertarianism” in Amazon’s search engine. Wayne’s book is listed at #10 in the results, #79,458 among all books carried by Amazon.
April 20 at 9:38pm
Susan Hogarth Wayne, can you please stop making snide remarks insinuating that most libertarians are atheists? I can’t imagine how you think that’s a good thing for the LP. It feeds a sense of religious hostility within the Party.

I say this as an atheist. I do think many libs are atheists, and I think that’s because both libertarianism and atheism appeal to …rational people. But I don’t think that making religion a political issue is a good idea, and it near about drives me nuts when I see people doing that within the Party. Please think about this and stop with the snide you’re-all-atheists remarks.
April 21 at 2:48pm
Steve LaBianca “If only the LP had a CEO” . . . who actually held to libertarianism. Being a CEO isn’t about process, execution if you will, until THE GOAL IS DEFINED. W.A.R. may be a good candidate for CEO, but not for the LP, as he has yet to learn what liberty is. The goal of conservatives like W.A.R. is to reach people . . . the goal of libertarians is to reach and persuade people of the morality and practicality of libertarianism. One must first EMBRACE libertarianism to effectively persuade other people to embrace it.

Any good CEO must first know that he or she has or hasn’t embraced the goal. W.A.R. has not yet embraced the goal that libertarians strive for. Therefore, he is NOT a good candidate for CEO of the LP.

Seems to be a case of putting the cart before the horse…

I suggest that W.A.R. go back to square one, forget about being in a position of leadership, at least until the education and embracing process is completed. This IS a logical and rational process, except for the egomaniac and power hungry. Which are you W.A.R., a logical, rational person, or an egomaniac?
April 21 at 3:29pm
Wayne Allyn Root First you think you’re brilliant enough to read my mind and know what I’m thinking and saying, huh David? Now that’s pompous. No one thinks I’m a huckster but you David. In my lifetime I’ve NEVER bragged. As Mohammed Ali said “It aint bragging if you can back it up.” I’ve achieved amazing things again and again…again…st all odds…that no one believed were possible. My daughter Dakota- homeschooled since birth- just got accepted by Harvard, stanford, Chicago, Duke, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Cal-Berkeley. I predicted it, I made her believe, and it happened. is that bragging David?
April 20 at 5:05pm
David F. Nolan “No one thinks I’m a huckster but you David.” Yeah, right. Go to IPR, and read the comments people have posted there. About 70% are negative, and most focus on your hucksterism.

https://independentpoliticalreport.com/
April 20 at 9:40pm
Steve LaBianca To people who understand and hold to libertarianism, W.A.R., you have achieved nothing for liberty except pervasively misrepresent and pervert libertarianism. There is nothing wrong, and everything right about attracting people to libertarianism, and by extension to the LP (if in fact the LP holds to libertarianism), but there is everything WRONG about perverting libertarianism to mean what neo-conservatives like yourself think it means. The LP is useless as a promoter of liberty if it is barely distinguishable from the GOP and the neo-conservative agenda so prominent in it.

If you were as smart as you seem to actually think of yourself, and understood libertarianism, you’d separate the strategy and tactics of achieving liberty with liberty itself, you’d have actually won support from libertarians, rather than just war-mongering conservatives (i.e. neoconservatives).

And yes, the LP IS about (or appropriately WAS, about) opposing and ending ALL wars, because ALL war is destructive and bad for liberty, and ending prohibition on ALL drugs, as the WAR ON DRUGS is destructive and bad for liberty. And the strategy of devolving power of the federal government to the states, to the counties, to the localities, then to communities and neighborhoods and finally to families and individuals, is just that . . . A STRATEGY, not libertarianism itself. Republicans tend to believe that liberty is about “states rights”. Libertarians know that liberty is encroached upon by the state, AT ANY AND ALL LEVELS! You seem to have missed that, too. As a strategy, most libertarians support the move to devolving power to the local level, but for those who AREN’T libertarians and support it, the key is to persuade them that the REASON to support this isn’t necessarily constitutional, but libertarian, in that it moves individual sovereignty, rather than state sovereignty, into the spotlight as the goal to achieve…

Finally, W.A.R.f you are interested in learning about libertarianism, I’d be happy to teach you.
9 hours ago
Jill Stone Pyeatt Hahahaha! Wayne is calling David pompous!
April 21 at 5:46pm

David F. Nolan Wayne Root just posted a message describing his own book “the best book you’ll ever read.” My response: Great thinkers have been writing books for centuries, but yours is “the best ever” ???
April 20 at 9:02am
Gozer Dink methinks he’s biased.
April 20 at 9:03am
Susan Hogarth Scary thought: It may be the best book he has ever read.

Or, again scary: for his target audience his audacious claim just may be true.

After all, if you’ve only read one book, that’s the ‘best’.
April 20 at 9:08am
John Jay Myers ahhhh, I can’t bring myself to read it. I still have Human Action on my shelf I haven’t read, I have Lew Rockwells book “the left right and the state” I need to finish.
And… I don’t see me being in possession of Waynes book.
He could give me a copy.
April 20 at 9:09am
Hunter Schaeffer LOL Susan! I think you nailed it on both counts.
April 20 at 9:13am
David F. Nolan Here’s a list of great libertarian books, all of which are leagues ahead of Wayne’s self-promo piece. I wonder how many of them Mr. Root has read … or even heard of? (Not that Kinsella’s list is the final word; just a quick illustration of how conceited Root’s claim actually is.)

http://www.lewrockwell.com/kinsella/kinsella20.html
April 20 at 9:19am
Steve LaBianca David, the only problem with your line of thinking is that you may be alluding to, or giving credence to the idea that W.A.R.’s book IS a libertarian book! A conservative tract, I would agree . . .but, no matter I guess, as there ARE many excellent libertarian books, many of which are on the list you’ve supplied.
April 20 at 9:36am
David F. Nolan aaand Wayne deleted my comment. Apparently, in Wayne’s World, only fawning compliments are acceptable.
April 20 at 10:01am
John Jay Myers “learn how Obama is ruining the country” I was wondering if there was a book out there that could somehow explain how perfect our government was before Obama.

A book about how great conservatives and Tea Party people are. If only we had George Bush back, that guy was awesome.

Here is me on CBS talking about it:…
http://www.wfaa.com/news/politics/Tea-party-hears-from-libertarian-candidate-90901704.html
April 20 at 10:20am
Mariana Evica LOL David, we can’t be surprised at the deleted comment I suppose. Douche-y but not surprising. Consistently like him I guess!
April 20 at 10:32am
Jill Stone Pyeatt I really keep trying tom like the guy, but then he says stuff like this. I bought his book in an attempt to accept him, but I can’t bring myself to read it.

The problem is that my instinct about him is “Yuck”, and my instincts usually are right.
April 20 at 12:08pm
David F. Nolan Wayne would be easier to like if he didn’t make over-the-top, self-serving comments. If he had just posted a link to his book and said “Hey, you might find this interesting,” that would be fine. But by calling it “the best book ever,” he just looks like a conceited ass.
April 20 at 12:19pm
Steve LaBianca W.A.R. is (obviously) free to promote conservative ideas, but to come into the LP in 2007, as green as a 13 year old just learning about libertarianism, and immediately start making pronouncements, like David alludes to, that libertarianism is this, and libertarians have to do that; as if he is some authority, is the most crass, know -it-all self …serving pompous As* way to be, that completely turned me off to him when he first showed up on the libertarian scene. I saw W.A.R. speak, for the first time publicly as a candidate for the LP pres. nomination, at the LPF and State Chairs conference in March 2007, in Orlando, Florida. I have been thoroughly disgusted with him as a spokesman for liberty, and am disheartened that so many (alleged) libertarians have embraced him as a spokesman.
April 20 at 12:35pm
John Jay Myers I disliked the idea of him being chair so much that I have now flown to 4 different states just to combat his horribleness.
I don’t trust Wayne, I think he only appeals to the right, and sounds just like a Pundit on fox news, except on steroids, and willl make us appear as only right leaning.
I could easily see him make us not appear Anti-war, which I believe should be our bigest issue.
He just may destroy what we have worked for here in Texas, I can’t let that happen.