Lee Wrights participated in a debate with five other candidate for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Libertarian Party of Florida convention in Orlando. Watch the full debate on UStream and judge for yourself which candidate will best represent a true, principled, unequivocal and uncompromised Libertarian message in the 2012 presidential race. Lee’s closing remarks at 1:56:30 ending the debate brought the crowd to its feet.
Video streaming by UstreamLee was also interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel, the only media outlet to cover the event.
Lee Wrights for President
Contact: Brian Irving, press secretary
[email protected]
919.538.4548
Re: 76
Thanks!
This is not the first time the results of an LP Presidential Straw Poll have not been published quickly or sometimes, not at all.
I talked to Stewart Flood again. He has data on the straw poll including second and third choices, LP delegate votes vs. all attendees etc., and wants to give the Florida LP first crack at releasing it. he sent it yesterday morning and will send it to me/us when they release it, or at some point soon if it takes them too long to release it.
Was anyone in charge of running the Florida debate? What kind of hoax is being perpetrated?
Where is the official count of the Straw Poll? If I attended, I would have had it up in 2 minutes.
@71 I am quite sure I have heard Lee’s press secretary specify what you said in the first sentence of your final paragraph.
Typo in sentence. Correction: “Someone who doesn’t like abortion but thinks other people should be able to do choose it legally is still “pro-choice” as far as common parlance goes.”
Paulie: “Do you know if that’s in writing anywhere? Andy has told me that Lee Wrights has told him he’s pro-life, but I’m also pretty sure I’ve seen Wrights criticize another candidate during this campaign for wanting to make abortion illegal.”
No, I don’t. I heard from someone that he was “pro-life.” Since this term is generally used to refer to someone’s view of government policy and not someone’s own personal preference, I assumed that meant LW thought abortion should be illegal. Someone who doesn’t like abortion but thinks other people should be able to do choose it legally is still “pro-choice” as far as common parlance goes. If LW was using it only to refer to what he’d want in case of a partner’s unexpected pregnancy, then I was wrong as to him wanting it to be illegal, but very understandably so.
Do you know if that’s in writing anywhere? Andy has told me that Lee Wrights has told him he’s pro-life, but I’m also pretty sure I’ve seen Wrights criticize another candidate during this campaign for wanting to make abortion illegal.
If he has changed his mind on this issue, I would be curious to know when and why. That’s not necessarily a criticism – I’ve changed my mind on it before too. Although of course I am not running for anything, I’m not going to hold it against a candidate if his or her views evolve, but I am always interested to find out when and why they evolved.
It’s also possible that by pro-life Lee may have meant personally opposed to abortion, but doesn’t think the state should be involved. If so I would be curious to know whether that’s what he meant. If anyone knows where he has specifically said otherwise, please let me know.
Well, they weren’t. Maybe they were the only ones whose reporter the Wrights campaign noticed there, but I saw other reporting.
It’s possible that other reporters were not actually present on the scene, or maybe Wrights and staff did not notice others that were there, dunno.
Good luck with that.
Will they run on time? LOL
67 jt, in the past, when I or others try to get clarification from GP, he leaves us hanging, wondering how he reaches his apparently incongruous conclusions.
Perhaps he’ll change that trend on this thread….
Phillies: “Wrights supports our platform ‘government should have no role in this matter’ os such is the impression that I had following his New Hampshire debate and his Press Secretary’s appearance at my state convention.”
Don’t you think you should make sure this is true and not just an impression? Given that you always invoke this issue against conservatives, I’d think you’d want to verify it.
66 gp, yes, we’re all trying to be as charitable and filled with good will as we can be, even you, I have to assume, despite calling those who disagree with you “stupid.”
As you’ve given your endorsement to Wrights, are we to assume that he’s “not stupid” and therefore agrees with you on the cause of global climate change, i.e., it’s man made.
If Wrights doesn’t agree with you on global climate change, is he “stupid” and yet merely the “best available choice for 2012,” by your way of thinking?
I’m very interested in your thought processes here, especially this latter option.
@63 My remark appears to have disappeared. Wrights supports our platform ‘government should have no role in this matter’ os such is the impression that I had following his New Hampshire debate and his Press Secretary’s appearance at my state convention. He also has his own personal opinion on the topic.
@64 I’m trying to be charitable in my descriptions.
63 jt, interesting, if true. That appears to be a direct platform violation.
Global climate change is sidestepped in the platform, near as I can tell. My quick research doesn’t find Wrights taking a position on the matter, but that’s another one where GP labels those he disagrees with as “stupid” or equivalent terms.
Phillies: “Lee Wrights is our best available choice for 2012.”
I thought Wrights believes abortion should be illegal. If I’m wrong about this, then let me know. But if he does, then your statement doesn’t square with what you’ve repeated ad nauseam about people who believe that, which is that they’re unacceptable.
@60 I got my info from this post, see above!
“Lee was also interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel, the only media outlet to cover the event.”
Would be nice to give Mr. Wrights the $2,400 you gave Mr. Gary right about now ! Would be a REAL boost to the campaign! Especially if you did a matching funds type deal, You know get 50 more people to match you on a pre-convention limit of $2,500 for 2012! Let’s see there, 50 X $2,500 = $125,000. That could be some real leaverage going into the Convention for Mr. Wrights.
I must say Phillies changing “horses” in midstream doesn’t seem like you! However your first man, who is sound no doubt, never really blossomed did he, hardly left his stall !? That was a shame to me as well ! The MORE voices the better and all that you know !
Another year and another R stealing the show. Oh well at least this guy is a long time libertarian, leaning conservative (a MODERATE libertarian if you will) and NOT the other way around like last time !
Time to get ON BOARD friends the TRAINS won’t be stopped before Vegas !
“Dr.Strangelove” Krauthammer gets owned by Gary Johnson on China – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdgZLUhm5o&feature=related
Not true.
Doesn’t make it anything like a general election presidential debate.
No one seems to notice the saddest part of all ! The Orlando Sentinel was the “ONLY” (the only) media outlet to cover the event. My God people I can draw more media to an eight year old girls soccer match! The third or forth most populated state in the country, one of the larger state LPs and one friggin newspaper shows. These FL people invite these men to travel hundreds of miles for this “major” event and ONE newspaper is covering the event.
SHAME, SHAME, the people in charge of this event need to RESIGN last year !!! A disgraceful job, deserving of NO mercy , Yet no doubt they are still in their same positions. Enough already !
I’m the one who tries to show you of the major media’s LACKEY ways, but ALL local media is NOT owned and controlled by the Military Industrial Complex. Local TV, Radio and ALL newspapers in the area should have been notified (minimum TWICE). Media coverage is the only way the LP will ever break 1M votes in a P race. By dropping the ball here not drawing most ALL of the local media they missed at a minimum of over one million more people touched by the LP label that weekend and early part of the next week. Orlando and surrounding area is a heavily populated place with a heavy tourism trade as well.
Please, Please whenever you participate in a LP event, attempt to get as much LOCAL media as possible. ALL the TV stations NOT just the one you watch. ALL the Radio Stations, not just the one you listen to, ALL the newspapers (even the Alternatives, College and yes even High School papers) NOT just the one you read ! (Less than one hour of your time for LIBERTY) This is how you help grow the Party. One friggin Newspaper shows up, A DISGRACE !!!
2.0 Economic Liberty
Libertarians want all members of
society to have abundant opportunities
to achieve economic success. A free
and competitive market allocates
resources in the most efficient manner.
Each person has the right to offer
goods and services to others on the
free market. The only proper role of
government in the economic realm is
to protect property rights, adjudicate
disputes, and provide a legal
framework in which voluntary trade is
protected. All efforts by government
to redistribute wealth, or to control
or manage trade, are improper in a
free society.
gp, thanks. Wrights is your man. Is he a global warmer denier, or does he agree with you that the science is overwhelming and beyond any significant question?
Well, I did send the following to all my 2008 donors, as seen also in Liberty For America magazine:
George Phillies
48 Hancock Hill Drive
Worcester, MA 01609
508-754-1859
[email protected]
Dear Friends,
In 2008, you were the people who were generous enough to support my Presidential campaigns with your hard-earned dollars.
I gave you the best-organized nominating campaign of the 2008 Presidential cycle, with ready-to-go radio ads, position papers, trifolds, bumper stickers, and volunteer groups across America.
Unfortunately, campaign organization wasn’t what our National Convention wanted.
Now it’s almost 2012. Once again, our national party is about to choose a Presidential candidate.
No, I am not running for President. Not next year.
In 2012, it would be great to have a strong, effective Libertarian candidate, a candidate dedicated to building our national party.
Fortunately, we have the candidate we need.
He’s a long time activist. He talks about Libertarian issues that matter to our fellow Americans. He knows that campaign organization counts, and pays attention to it. He declared early, not at the last moment to hide his record.
I’m talking about my good friend R. Lee Wrights.
Lee Wrights is the founding father of Liberty For All. He served on our National Committee as an At-Large member and as National Vice Chair. He’s a former LPNC state ballot access director.
Lee Wrights has real practical experience with effective Presidential campaigns. In 2008, he was Mary Ruwart’s Presidential campaign manager. He didn’t quite win, but he came very close.
Lee’s message is very simple. End all Wars! The War on Afghanistan, the War on Somalia, the War on Drugs, the War on our Civil Liberties. End them all, because war is the health of the state, but peace is the health of liberty and prosperity.
I’ve been watching our Presidential campaigns for several decades now. I moderated two of our 2011 Presidential debates.
I am positive. Lee Wrights is our best available choice for 2012.
He’s a real Libertarian, not a Republican carpetbagger. He’s vigorous and energetic. He talks about Libertarian positions that most Americans already support. And he’s building a real campaign team.
Please join me in supporting Lee Wrights as our next Presidential candidate. He’s not independently wealthy — he truly needs your money and your volunteer time.
Yours for liberty,
George Phillies.
@49 One of the debates was televised during prime time.
p, yes. Stock.
Not zero. Are you assuming that they are operating on their own power with no additional leverage?
They didn’t decline substantially during Browne, and were at that point still well above what they were before Browne, if we count Browne as starting in 1994 (or 1993, if we count the LNC that supported him as part of the same group).
There was a lot of decline afterwards, but if we are below 1993 numbers now, I don’t think it’s by much.
If I’m not mistaken, Phillies is supporting Wrights for the nomination.
He can correct me if I’m wrong.
Completely different dynamic from a presidential general election debate, seen by a lot more people.
Mind you, I agree with Knapp that it’s not very likely that any of those vehicles are going to get me to the moon, or in this case, that any of the LP’s p-nom candidates this year including Johnson are any more likely to poll 15% in September or 5% in November than a car is to get one of us to the moon.
GP@48,
Actually, Capozzi has a very valid point.
Presidential debates appear on network television in prime time, not on C-SPAN or cable access on Saturday afternoon.
Presidential debates receive front-page newspaper coverage, not two paragraphs on page G-7.
Every polling organization in the country does “who got a bounce, who got knocked down a notch” polling after presidential debates. If congressional campaigns want polling data, they pay for it themselves and then decide it’s probably wiser not to do a press release on the fact that the majority response is “who the fuck are those guys again?”
The high points of presidential debates get recycled on cable news and talk radio for a week or so. Congressional debates might get mentioned on cable news … if someone gets shot or dies on stage of a heart attack.
@44 It depends. How many of teh people who showed up were actually accessible to having their minds changed, and how many were supporters of one candidate or another.
@45 Thank you for reminding us that you are not the world’s brightest bulb.
In 1998, the D congressman was a one-term incumbent, having defeated the Republican officeholder two years prior.
RC @41 Please let us know when you’re taking your Corvette off the ramp …
“I like to watch.”
41 tk: But it’s the equivalent of saying that a 2012 Corvette, as opposed to a 1973 Pinto or a 1960 Rambler station wagon, is my best shot at getting to the moon by jumping a car off a ramp.
me: Actually, that’s a false analogy. Those cars all have absolute 0 chance, barring a suspension of the laws of physics.
Human action is far less predictable than whether automobiles flying into space.
Chance Gardner and all that….
43 gp, OK, GP, those are datapoints, the question is do you really believe that that’s sufficient data for us to be convinced by you? I’m not, and here’s why. Congressional races are not prez races. Congressional races in MA esp. so, since there are no MCs from MA and the surrounding states that are not all Ds, suggesting that you live in a largely one-party region of the country. (Brown is an anomaly.)
Have you done research on viewership of prez debates vs. congressional debates? How about follow-on press coverage of those 2 forms of debates? I haven’t, but my sense is that prez debates are closely watched and covered, disproportionately so.
The formats of the R debates in this cycle may or may not be optimal, but is there reason to believe that the prez debates in the fall will be as poor as you suggest?
Now, it could be that GJ should NOT angle to be in the ’12 debates, if nominated. Shooting for 15% in the polls might be an overreach, causing the campaign to lose focus on some other metric.
If that’s your concern, please lay out an alternative model. In your case, it’s pretty clear you oppose GJ as L nominee, although I’ve not seen you endorse a candidate as yet.
My take is GJ should run as if he could make the 15% threshold. Mentioning it as an aspirational goal makes sense to me. “Promising” it doesn’t.
Gary Johnson was the clear winner of the debate as evidenced by handily winner the subsequent straw poll of the delegates. Gary Johnson has the credentials and the crediblity to win.
Getting into debates is substantially wrong as an objective, especially with the trash debate formats seen in Republican candidate debate so far. I ran for Congress in 1998. We had 13 debates, one carried on national television (tape delay) within a few days of the election. Press coverage when it expressed an opinion said ‘Libertarian is surprise winner’. Did it contribute to my votes? Considerably less than my Democratic opponent’s ground game contributed to his votes. Net result of being in the debates? At best, zero.
@31: The numbers declined during Browne, and declined when the features of his campaign were unveiled afterward, starting with the phony claim that their were vendors who would go broke if he did not raise more money post election.
Getting into debates is substantially wrong as an objective, especially with the trash debate formats seen in Republican candidate debate so far. I ran for Congress in 1998. We had 13 debates, one carried on national television (tape delay) within a few days of the election. Press coverage when it expressed an opinion said ‘Libertarian is surprise winner’. Did it contribute to my votes? Considerably less than my Democratic opponent’s ground game contributed to his votes. Net result of being in the debates? At best, zero.
Pat@40,
True as far as it goes.
But it’s the equivalent of saying that a 2012 Corvette, as opposed to a 1973 Pinto or a 1960 Rambler station wagon, is my best shot at getting to the moon by jumping a car off a ramp.
It’s not very likely that any of those vehicles are going to get me to the moon, but at least the Pinto or Rambler won’t break my bank account to buy and then get my insurance premium tripled when they find out how I wrecked it.
Johnson is probably the LP’s best shot to reach the 15% and get into the debates. The Libertarian Party, America’s third largest party!
Mr.Ogle please desist from all psycosis behavior. We Alabama born folks have a hard enough time keeping these blue bellys from talking bout us “inbreds” wanting to marry our cousins all the time, then you show up attempting to PROVE their points……
If you or Milnes would just go ahead with the operation, you could melt together in your over/under ticket and perhaps live happier ever after ! Then again, with you two that is highly unlikely ! At least you have a job (I think) and can help Milnes afford his meds !!!
One good reason you aren’t hearing full results from the FL LP straw poll is BECA– USE everyone else is TOO embarassed to talk !!! WARTS and all, This thing is turning into a WALKOVER !
Who is Gary Johnson? – http://www.youtube.com/user/govgaryjohnson#p/u/13/XmzKH3iivYU
Help Gary Spread the Message of Liberty and Freedom! Donate to the Campaign Today! –
https://donate.garyjohnson2012.com/
Please Place -” 12013 ” ( ALL the way to Victory, what we all desire for Gary and the LP) in the “Referral Code” box [12013] above your occupation and employer on the Donor Form. Thanks!
https://donate.garyjohnson2012.com
“If you agree with what I say, donate something. Keep me talking. Take a second to send this to your friends and family —-… Please help me get this message out. This is OUR America. This is OUR fight. Let’s win it. LIVE FREE.” — Gary Johnson
Thanks, paulie!
It’s Ogle. I cleaned it up. Will do so again if needed.
“What the hell has happened to this thread?”
Either James Ogle is exacting revenge on paulie and IPR in general or someone is fucking with us on Ogle’s behalf. Either way it is a shame we have to endure it.
@16 “I doubt he actually believes either of those targets is realistic. It’s more likely that he believes that talking about them is a way to get donors and activists pumped up. Of course, I agree that it doesn’t do us good in the long run but I think he is looking more at the short run at the moment.”
me-IOW he lies like most all pols ?! Oh well it’s like the Paul camp starting to cry “FOUL” after never “officially” getting the #1 spot ! I think Paul has been cheated (but the majority prob don’t think so), SO he (they) must keep the “donor$” pumped up with something or the well run$ DRY !
I can understand the guy suing GJ saying his staff is worse than the ’08 Paul staff, hey GJ 12 has no money. The Paul 12 team has raised over $25M and has LESS cash on hand than Gingrich’s $2M !?! Talking about $taff HEAVY, Paul needs to CLEAN house as Johnson needs to clean HO– USE.
Is it me or is it each cycle a very small number of “Ls” seem to make money on these campaigns, while the numbers (votes-new members) never seem to improve ?!!! Watch closely and they will show up again when it’s MONEY time !!!
Give me $60M total over 5 years and squirky ol Paul and I guarantee we get him at least a PRIME TIME convention speech. This bunch will be lucky to get him on CSPAN after the lunchbreak on Thursday! What’s up with that?!?
What the hell has happened to this thread?
Much as I wish that to be the case, I don’t think it is.
With the current field, almost certainly true.
If Ron Paul goes LP, Johnson would be lucky to get VP, but I don’t think Ron Paul will do that.
If Johnson and Ventura both run, I don’t know who will win or how many ballots it will take.
I don’t think it would.
My guess is he would gain more votes than he would lose, but as the race stands, it doesn’t look like he needs them.
Fair enough, I thought it was something like that.
As opposed to how many before Browne and his friends started increasing the numbers?
And why blame Browne for the numbers declining after him?
Sure you were, joogle.
You actually showed up at the Florida debate, James?
Yes, I do know it’s you now.
Melty@25,
Well, there are at least three ways of looking at the “Fair” Tax as a Johnson campaign issue, outside the naked question of whether or not it is good/libertarian policy:
1) He needs to drop it in order to get the nomination; if he doesn’t, he won’t.
2) He doesn’t need to drop it in order to get the nomination; he’ll get it either way.
3) Reversing himself on a major issue so far into a campaign which has featured his take on that issue would actually damage his chances of getting the nomination.
My guess is that there are more people, or at least people he trusts more, whispering (2) and/or (3) in his ear than there are people whispering (1) — or that he’s independently arrived at (2) or (3) as opposed to (1).
Personally, I think that continuing to stick with the “Fair” Tax, coupled with his foreign policy divergences with the LP mainstream, may well cost him a first-ballot coronation.
It’s as if it doesn’t sink in that he switched parties.
Is Boortz his idea of a quintessential Libertarian?
Why would he not?
That’s what I mean. Why would not drop that hot potato?
Melty@23,
“Johnson sure seemed eager to talk about ‘Fair Tax’ which baffles me.”
It shouldn’t be baffling.
With respect to the LP nomination, he’s not allowed to ignore it — at both of the Internet “town halls” I’ve attended, he’s received a number of questions on it.
Since he can’t ignore it, he either has to abandon it or sell it.
And he doesn’t seem to want to abandon it.
I jus watched as far as the opening statements. I thought they all spoke well, for style at least, especially Leroy Saunders, Lee Wrights and R.J. Harris.
Johnson sure seemed eager to talk about “Fair Tax” which baffles me.
I got home late Sunday evening on the train. I crashed most of yesterday and didn’t get time today to send out anything.
Should get to it this evening or in the morning. It was a long weekend…
Stewart
@13, 16 We heard this magic breakthrough line from Harry Browne. Nothing of the kind happened, and he did a fine job of wrecking the party. We had 33,000 members when he was going through, and now we are down to 13,500 or so.
I understand the interest in private property ownership, but some people are just too extreme. I don’t like it at all. You can’t just walk all over people and expect to be well liked.
I really like what he was talking about. I’m not a Libertarian myself, I lean towards Green Party. But I do think there needs to be more conciliation. I’m so tried of the same old predictable results, year after year. We need some sort a change, and I don’t think business as usual is the way to go. Not at all.
The previous poster was probably that old lady. I was with security.
Oh no! That’s a surefire path to bitter disappointment and having nothing to do with the LP in the future. I hope he lowers his expectations a lot by convention time.
I doubt he actually believes either of those targets is realistic. It’s more likely that he believes that talking about them is a way to get donors and activists pumped up. Of course, I agree that it doesn’t do us good in the long run but I think he is looking more at the short run at the moment.
He was that guy that we threw out of the debate.
Who is Ogle?
LOL, I think you know better than anyone.
Doesn’t sound much like Ogle. There’s more than one “alternative voting system” advocate around.
Well, yeah, but “all parties and independents” is something of a giveaway, as is the IP range and style of fake email address, etc. He’s popped up here under a variety of similar fake IDs quite a few times.
I’m pretty sure it’s Ogle, but I’ll wait.
FL: “I watched the debate myself. Interesting how GJ claims his popularity alone will bring the LP the 15 million from the FEC by breaking a 5% threshold, and that he might actually be in the “big” debate should he break 15% in popularity.”
Oh no! That’s a surefire path to bitter disappointment and having nothing to do with the LP in the future. I hope he lowers his expectations a lot by convention time.
@9,
Doesn’t sound much like Ogle. There’s more than one “alternative voting system” advocate around.
Hmm…
Who is Ogle?
Extremely unlikely on either count.
Well, duh, he dropped out of the Republican race. Why would he get any votes at all from Republicans in their primary? Even getting 0.2% is more than he could have been expected to get there, and has as little to do with his expected November results as do straw poll votes at an LP convention.
Uh, I smell Ogle. If that is you, your comments will be taken down and your latest IP added to the blacklist very soon.
If anyone can get the type of ballots cast that would be interesting. Were they ranked choice ballots? It was obviously a winner-take-all or first-past-the-post election, single-winner style election judging from the announcement of his victory.
I watched the debate myself. Interesting how GJ claims his popularity alone will bring the LP the 15 million from the FEC by breaking a 5% threshold, and that he might actually be in the “big” debate should he break 15% in popularity.
He did pretty well from the reports of the votes counted at the Orlando event, but five days earlier in Missouri he got a mere 1/5th of one percent, or .2% of the GOP votes cast.
What’s the plan? How will he be able to suddenly go from .2% to 15% by next November? It sounds a little out of touch and bit unrealistic, to say the least.
One thing for sure, I doubt he’d be a proponent of fair elections for all parties and independents, I certainly didn’t hear any indication that he’s looking at alternative voting systems.
Doesn’t look like he has any long-range proposals for empowering third parties, and it doesn’t look like anyone in the debate was concerned about the mechanics of the voting systems and how to address the problem with US-style plurality elections.
Stewart Flood called me over the weekend saying he would let me know more accurate/complete results. I’ll ping him again about that.
Re: 4
I also have been seeking an accurate report of the certified results of the Presidential Candidate poll. I cannot find it on the LPFL website or anywhere else.
Does anyone know who would know? Please post the results.
Wilson wrote a comment, not the IPR article. Try again.
I’ve read that Johnson received 42 out of 60 votes cast at the FL straw poll. Does anyone know where the other 18 votes went?
steve wilson, just wanted you to put a partisan tag on the head line, here in Libertarian Political Report.
[You do know that your arrogance is off putting ?????????]
I just wanted to post it here because I thought it might be important to those of you who support Gary Johnson.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/02/13/43815.htm