Whatever anyone may think of Root, this is too soon. To leave the LP and only a few days later endorse Romney smacks of opportunism. He should have given it a little time.
Steven Berson
Well – I expected this to happen.
Aaron – if I can say one thing that is a silver lining in the cloud though, I am happy to see that reaction from you.
Jill Pyeatt
Again, I sincerely wish Wayne and his family well, and I thank him for doing the LP a favor by resigning. He’ll diss us for a while, then everyone will forget about it. There’s SOO much more to do than worry about Wayne now.
“For me, it’s all about the money … I live for it. …. I want high rollers who can afford to lose. … Guilt? I don’t have any guilt. I think zero about why things are. I just accept what they are and find a way to take advantage of them.”
He presents as a narcissist, but is more likely a solipsist.
None of this is information which was not readily available — indeed, put in Libertarian Party members’ faces by myself and a number of others — throughout the entirety of his association with the party.
The LP bought the ticket. The LP took the ride. And this is the part where the ride ends and you kick yourselves in the ass for what you paid versus what you got.
The Republicans launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iraq. To justify their crimes against peace, they stages an unprecedented series of bald faced lies, all parroted by their sock puppet of a Secretary of State on the floor of the Security Council.
When their occupation of Iraq was met with the staunch resistance of Iraqi patriots, exactly as American Patriots would resist occupation of the United States by a foreign army, the Republicans arranged for the Iraqi city of Fallujah to be substantially razed to the ground, a crime against civilization whose obvious historical analog was the destruction of the city of Lidice during World War 2.
The Republicans then violated the Geneva conventions by imprisoning and torturing thousands of foreigners in secret prisons in Poland and elsewhere.
On the home front, Republicans caused the National Security Agency to create massive wiretapping systems that intercepted most phone calls. That’s electronic warfare, warfare against the American people, warfare supported by almost every Republican in Congress. When Americans wage war on America, that’s the one crime specified in the Constitution.
Republicans deserve fair trials in Nuremberg, not votes on November.
…George Phillies
Above taken from the front pages of Liberty for America.
He got one thing right. His kids future are at stake, starting with his daughter’s legal right to access to an abortion to protect her health, a right that the Republicans would steal from her.
Stewart Flood
Disappointed and saddened wouldn’t cover it for me. Disgust of his facial expression as he said “no” when asked about Johnson. The mask is finally off, and his full betrayal is revealed, both of the cause and those who still supported him long after his treachery was uncovered back in the fall of 2008.
I also still hold as some amazement (not anger) of the delegates who were fooled into voting for him in May after he had publicly supported Romney. No one in our delegation voted for him.
Robert McHugh
I repeat myself, who cares who Wayne Root endorses. A non entity if ever there was one.
I agree with Tom in that I cant imagine why anyone would be surprised , in fact I predicted as did many others that he would eventually do exactly this and declare to run as a Senator
howvever not even I thought he would break weak so low and jump ship at the worst possible time for our campaign . Thats more than simple opportunism that more like intentionally fucks over…..
what a unscrupulous tool of epic proportions….lets not mention his name any longer…..
be done with it
Michael H. Wilson
Benedict Arnold!
Jill Pyeatt
LG @ 15: I agree, let’s forget him and move on. I’m already over him!
Wayne Root never really changed. I saw through him the entire time. People in the Libertarian Party who thought that he was a sincere Libertarian are suckers.
Endorsing Romney is nothing short of betrayal, particularly for a person who was a Vice Presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, and who served on the Libertarian Party’s National Committee.
There is nothing that is libertarian about Mitt Romney. He’s as far from being a libertarian as Obama is.
Cognitive Dissonance
To those of you who begged Wayne to leave the LP and go to the GOP, told him he didn’t belong here, said he wasn’t a Libertarian:
Now he finally does what you’ve been begging him to do, and you’re angry that he did it? Can’t make you happy, I guess.
You’re mad that he’s not stumping for the LP candidate? What exactly did you think he would do as a Republican? He’s doing what you told him to do. You begged him to go compete against us. You’re the ones who begged him to take his influence and support the opponent. If he pulls more votes away from the LP, some of the fault belongs to those of you who advised him to do it. Don’t you try to think even one step ahead?
So quit your yapping. You got exactly what you wanted – Wayne using his media prowess to work for the other team.
Wayne was a gentleman in the way he left. He could have railed on the LP for its faults, but he didn’t. Instead, he chose to take the high road – he says nothing but nice things about us on the air even though the host was itching for him to say bad things about the LP and Gary Johnson. Wayne didn’t take the bait. He’s been far nicer than many posters here.
I for one nominate that if Wayne is no longer Libertarian, then we should stop covering him or paying him any attention.
Be Rational
@20 Other than himself, Wayne Root didn’t make any measurable difference in bringing money, members or votes into the LP.
He won’t make any difference in money, members or votes by leaving the LP.
Root is simply not important. Never was, outside his own mind. It’s hard to imagine that Republicans are so desperate that they’d recruit him.
As future events unfold, Libertarians may all be glad that he has gone back to the dark side.
Mark Axinn
NF @ 2 wrote:
>In the grand scheme… what does this really matter? Virtually nobody even knows who he is.
Which one? Wayne or Mitt?
Andy
This quote from Samuel Adams is how we should regard Wayne Root:
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
? Samuel Adams
Timm Knibbs
I warned in ’08 that Root makes his political decisions on what he thinks is best for his business not on a set of principals of right and wrong.
JT
I agree with what Knapp said in post 7. I can’t imagine why anyone would be the least bit surprised by any of this Root news.
I’ve heard some Libertarians laud Root’s appreciative letter & admiringly say that Root was a friendly gentleman toward them when they met him. So what?! He’s a SALESMAN. How many good salesmen have you met who’ve acted like assholes? Any salesperson who’s even moderately successful is friendly to customers or people he views as potential customers. If a salesman can smile at you, pat you on the back, say “how’s it going, friend? I want to help out” & you then believe that person is honest & sincere, well, you really shouldn’t be so naive. Actions speak much louder than words & Root’s actions have never benefited the LP–only himself. This is just par for the course.
Robert Capozzi
Who will lead the LNCC?
NewFederalist
@24… uh, I meant Root but when the electoral votes are counted in January 2013 you could make a case for Romney I suppose.
Jared King
What’s funny is that no one outside of the LP cares who Wayne Allyn Root is, let alone who he endorses. Root highly overrates the level of fame attached to being a third party VP nominee from 4 years ago.
Michael H. Wilson
Much like Benedict Arnold Wayne is going to find himself a man without a party.
People in the Republican party are not stupid. They will see him for what he is, a self promoter.
I doubt that he can win the Nevada senate race since he has not held office before. And if he does get elected what is he going to do? He doesn’t seem to have the willingness to work with. others.
Time for us to move on. Take the pins out of the Wayne dolls and go on to other things like outreach to your local community.
Yawn… How can anyone be surprised by this? And how can anyone really care?
Robert Capozzi
the only reasons I might care are:
1) It undermines GJ somewhat
2) Possible fiduciary issues with the LNCC
Oranje Mike
I must admit I felt a bit sorry for Wayne as I left the the suite parties at Red Rock. He was in the hallway talking with someone and desperately wanting to know why so many people disliked him. The concern seemed genuine and I felt a bit sorry for him in that moment despite my displeasure with him. Watching this…whatever feeling I had for that guy is gone, gone, gone.
“To those of you who begged Wayne to leave the LP and go to the GOP, told him he didn’t belong here”
Care to name any of these people whom you imagine exist?
Losty
Wasn’t LNCC involved with the Computer Program? Any News on that front?
Revfatsax
Gonna take a month or so off from ipr, hopefully when I check it again we are discussing something other than a former member of the lp.
Jill Pyeatt
CD @ 20: I’m delighted at Root’s decision to leave the LP; it was definitely what I felt the only appropriate action would be after the blatant non-Libertarian comments from the last couple years. I appreciate very much that he has done us the favor of resigning. If you see him and talk with him, please do thank him for me.
clay
Why even care about this guy?
Joe Buchman
This reminds me of Saturday Night Live’s “Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead” sketch.
Six months from now I intend to post an IPR Headline —
I think Wayne Allyn has made a big mistake by returning to the Republican Party rather than continuing his slow transformation into a Libertarian.
Root's Teeth Are Awesome
@ 43: I think Wayne Allyn has made a big mistake by returning to the Republican Party rather than continuing his slow transformation into a Libertarian.
Root was not transforming into a libertarian. He remained what he always was — a huckster willing to say whatever he thought his current audience wanted to hear.
I’m glad he’s gone.
Maybe I should get a new handle?
George Whitfield
#44, yes I think you should get a new handle. One that is more representative of you.
I really don’t feel like I have to comment on Wayne here, I am sure most of you know how I feel.
However, let’s analyze the video:
The commentator talks about a teleprompter letting people know in advance about the 2/3 vote. The same thing that happened at the Republican convention. Did they mention it?
However the big news is not that they considered removing whether Jerusalem would be the capital of Israel, but it should be that the Democrats removed planks about Habeas Corpus. Gitmo, The Patriot Act and warrant-less wire tapping. This is the story. With the side story being why our news ignores that and focuses on something else entirely.
I am sure that what the capitol of Israel is the number one issue on every American’s mind. Not the fact that the Democrats just flushed the constitution down the toilet. We are all aware that the Republicans did that years ago.
“Booing God” What are these guys talking about?
Anyone that thinks that Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan are going to “save” this country must have been out “booing God” because apparently he has cursed you with ignorance.
Just for the record, I was being sarcastic about Israel being the number one issue on every American’s mind.
Melty
these were the true colors all along…
looking forward to a WAR-free Independent Political Report
Melty
The whole parallel universe effect of the teleprompter/decider at both taxpayer paid party conventions was laughably pathetic.
The two entreched parties’re lookin so much the same, it’s as if they’re clones of one another.
I don’t fault the LP for thinking a media savy, well connected businessman like based out of Las Vegas with connections to potential big donors would give the party a boost. I’m just curious what WAR believed he would get out the relationship.
Trent Hill
“I believe this thread should be deleted. This is no longer relevant, IMO, and has been fully covered here.”
I suspect this will be the last time we cover him. Im not going to make any rules–because he might do something of note to IPR, but as of right now he’s a Republican stumping for Republicans. His only notable third party attribute is a “used to be” thing. This video was appropriate to post, but anything beyond that, posters probably should clear it with me first.
As for Root–yawn. No surprise, no real disappointment, since we all kind of knew it was coming anyway. The guy is a real clown and is only out to promote himself–has been from the start.
Trent Hill
“I’m just curious what WAR believed he would get out the relationship.”
A small donor base and some very small amount of name recognition amongst a subset of voters. Most of that he burned away with this endorsement and his classlessness anyway.
The guy is going to get crushed in Republican politics. Crushed. Hell, there’s plenty of material in our email and post archives to show him for what he is.
Sean, I think WAR believed he would be the LP nominee in 2008. (He was in the race long before Bob Barr jumped in.) When he didn’t get it in 2008, he thought he was the heir apparent in 2012. When he figured out that he was too toxic to ever be the nominee, he bolted.
I agree with the person above who said he thought Root genuinely didn’t understand why he aroused such intense emotions in people. Root is a visceral Red (as in Red State/Blue State, not Communism). Therefore he didn’t see a problem in making visceral appeals to other Reds. The problem for Root is that a lot of LP activists are visceral Blues, or at the least don’t want to be associated with Reds, so they disliked Root on a visceral level.
All you have to do is look at the comments on Root threads to see that we are not just talking about ideology or electoral strategy. Root arouses emotions that have to do with how people identify themselves at a visceral level.
ATBAFT
Enough WAR. Back to the campaign. I’m going to use my time constructively to write an op-ed for the local paper about why I’ll be voting for GJ and not the two douches.
JT
RTAA: “Maybe I should get a new handle?”
Why? Your handle was stupid to begin with & it might as well remain just as stupid.
Ryan C
WAR is just another anti-liberty, big government statist. Disappointing.
Back to the campaign. We’re organizing our big event here in Charleston. The Rs think they have the state wrapped around their finger, the Ds were going to bring O to South Carolina while he was in Charlotte for the DNC, but they didn’t.
Time to go for the throat. This area is about as libertarian as you can get. We’ve actually won a race (given that local races are “non-partisan” but that everyone knows the party affiliation of the candidates anyway).
We’ve been given funding from the state party for a big event, hopefully big enough to attract attention from the media as well as the public.
By then, even Fixed News will be saying “Wayne who?”
BOBERT GRILNES
I think Wayne should run for president in 2016 as a PLAS Republican-Democrat hybrid.
Joe Buchman
ATBAFT @ 56 — on behalf of the campaign, THANKS!
Might note there are FOUR douches. Judge Gray makes the other two VP candidates look like idiots and he would eat them alive in a debate.
Joe Buchman
John Jay,
>>Anyone that thinks that Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan are going to “save” this country must have been out “booing God” because apparently he has cursed you with ignorance.<<
Brilliant, and even better than the SNL clip I posted. YOU SHOULD BE IN THE DEBATES IN TEXAS!!! The media bias down there is just as egregious.
Before I go through a read all the comments, I just have to say that I think it is ridiculous that Root is spreading lies calling Romney a Capitalist. He is a Keynesian at best, a corportist at worst. Either way, he is no capitalist.
“He is a capitalist at best, a capitalist at worst. Either way he is no capitalist.”
Fixed that for ya, but it still doesn’t make a lot of sense.
wolfefan
The next step is for folks to start talking about other people enough for the WAR subject balloon to no longer be the largestt
John Balzer
Root sold out. He was bankrupt and took a bribe from the GOP. He figured it would secure him a senate position. We’ll see how that works out for him. Meanwhile despite Root’s sour grapes it’s Gary Johnson who we are supporting. We need to get a true voice for liberty on the debate stage next month. Afterall this is still America.
If you have the Stones to back up your claim….put ’em on the table, pop open a Miller, and Roger that.
In the meantime, until/unless you do, that’s just mud slinging.
Root has been saying for months that a second term for Obama would be something akin to the Biblical plagues in Egypt and talking about how great he thinks Romney, Ryan and virtually everyone who spoke at the Republican infomercial are.
To my knowledge, that is what he actually believes. I’ve spent some time talking to him, and did not detect any insencerity.
If I believed as he does, I’d be endorsing Romney too; wouldn’t you?
Why should anyone believe that he needed to be paid off to reach the logical conclusion of what he has been writing about continuously, which some of us pointed out months or even years ago, especially absent any evidence for the claim?
Well said, Paulie. I agree that Root definitely believes that Romney is exactly what the country needs now. I think, toward the end, he really didn’t understand why the rest of us didn’t believe that also.
If Obama loses (which I don’t expect to happen), I wonder if Wayne will forget about bashing him? That is something I really can’t guess.
Andy
“Jill Pyeatt // Sep 11, 2012 at 10:37 am
Well said, Paulie. I agree that Root definitely believes that Romney is exactly what the country needs now. I think, toward the end, he really didn’t understand why the rest of us didn’t believe that also.”
If Root doesn’t understand this then he’s really not much of a libertarian, if he’s any kind of libertarian at all.
Endorsing Romney is just as bad as endorsing Obama.
Jill Pyeatt
Andy @ 72: “If Root doesn’t understand this then he’s really not much of a libertarian, if he’s any kind of libertarian at all.”
My point exactly.
Robert Capozzi
Not to justify Root’s decision, but I severely doubt he thinks THAT highly of Romney. It’s more likely that he thinks very poorly of BHO, and that on a relative basis Romney’s far superior.
In terms of what side his bread is buttered on, though, he’ll have more success as a “conservative pundit” if Obama wins a second term. Democratic administrations are “make hay while the sun shines” time for the conservative punditry. Attacking the other guy is much easier, and much more engaging to readers/viewers, than trying to defend your own side’s actions.
Robert Capozzi
75 tk, yes, but that was true in 09. Root coulda gone back to the Rs then. The timing tells me there’s more to this story…
Kevin Knedler
WAR wants to run for US Senate as a Republican in 2016– its out there. He has to play nice and suck up to the GOP if he wants any support. It’s about Wayne.
Kevin Knedler
And further more, what if Romney wins? And what if they win the US Senate? We saw that in action just a few years ago.
They spent us into debut another 4 trillion or so.
Jill Pyeatt
The irony is, Kevin, that if Romney wins, Root won’t be able to write his articles bashing Obama, and there’s even more danger he’ll fade away.
Ya know, I hope that having such a divisive character as WAR out of the way will allow us to focus less on the infighting, and more time preparing that “outward facing firing squad”, or whatever Paulie’s calling it.
Andy
Trent Hill said: “I suspect this will be the last time we cover him.”
Even though I’m not a Wayne Root fan, I still wouldn’t have a problem if he continues to get coverage at IPR.
Why? Because, for better or worse, he was in the Libertarian Party almost 6 years, and during that time period he became the Libertarian Party’s candidate for Vice President in 2008 and he also served on the Libertarian National Committee. Therefore, even post minor party involvement, news about him still has relevance to this site.
Ron Paul has received a lot of coverage here for similar reasons.
Wayen has a lot of talent. I do wish him well. I even agree with post #20 in that he left as a gentleman. Couldn’t agree more.
But he’s not “dry water”, a “round square” or a “libertarian republican”. None of these exist in reality.
And he’s too terrified to see that there’s no difference between Romney and Obama (even to the point where he actually thinks Romney would abolish the IRS according to this interview).
As far as the LNCC goes (or any other leadership position), it’s really not a question of whether he’s for or against our ship – he just put his brown pants on and joined the pirates the second pirates fired the first cannon.
The bottom line is that the GOP held Barack Obama to Wayne’s head like a loaded gun, and Wayne put the money in the bag because he thought he knew what was good for him. Ironically, this sort of negotiation with terrorists is the very essence of the nuke Iran crowd Wayne joined.
Ya know, I hope that having such a divisive character as WAR out of the way will allow us to focus less on the infighting, and more time preparing that “outward facing firing squad”, or whatever Paulie’s calling it.
for better or worse, he was in the Libertarian Party almost 6 years, and during that time period he became the Libertarian Party’s candidate for Vice President in 2008 and he also served on the Libertarian National Committee. Therefore, even post minor party involvement, news about him still has relevance to this site.
Once in a while may be OK, but not frequently like in the past.
Joe Buchman
Trent @ 53 —
” posters probably should clear it with me first”
I’d like to go ahead and clear my headline of “Root: Still NOT a Libertarian” to run sometime next Spring. Maybe on the anniversary of that SNL sketch. Or maybe April 1st (except then it should be Root: New Discovery In IPR Archive Proves He was “Right All Along”
🙂
Waaaay “Right”
Joe
Actually I know to be fact
A lot of people in the libertarian party didn’t back him up. So you finally got what you wanted, for Wayne to leave. So what did you expect. The party stood a good chance while Wayne was in the LP party to make something big. If you remember a lot of you all did was complain. Now your acting like Wayne did something wrong. He did a lot for this party. You missed the boat. Now this LP party will be non-important even worse then ever before. When Wayne was in the party, all should have worked together to do what should have been done. Now it is tooo late. This party will actually be smaller than it was before in a matter of speaking. An irrelevant party.
So Good luck to you all. I did a lot to try to help myself. I knew a lot sooner that I was beating a dead horse.
Kevin Knedler
@ 86
But it is growing in Ohio. Numbers don’t lie.
We did it on our own by the way. Nobody else helped us– LOL.
Mark Axinn
@86.
In New York, we achieved ballot status this year without Wayne Root, and I raised over $40,000 to get GJ, Judge Gray, a half dozen federal candidates and six more for State Assembly, all without Wayne Root. Oh, our membership (both State and national) grew dramatically this year (sorry Kevin–we are now number 4 and the buckeye state is number 5!), all without Wayne Root.
Wayne is a real nice guy and he worked hard for what he believed in, and devoted quite a bit of his time and energy in the good fight, but he was not the Libertarian Party any more or less than any of its thousands of other devoted members are.
I assure you we are not irrelevant; otherwise the Republican Party, scum that they are, would be spending so much effort to try to get us off the ballot in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
JT
@86: “He did a lot for this party.”
Like?
justwondering
Since Wayne Root left LP, did Bruce Cohen go with him to The GOP. That would be a double bonus for The California LP. I am sure Wayne will need at least one Yes Man to help him the GOP.
wolfefan
Wayne’s approach was to hire mercenaries to do work instead of developing passsionate, caring volunteers. It was also to emphasize one side of the Libertarian coin and hope that new supporters would not bolt when they discovered the other side, denigrate the states for not nominating winnable candidates (how did he do with that in NV?) and do it from the top down with nothing but condescension and name calling for those in or out of the party who disagreed with him or dared to question him. He always reminded of the occasional prediction that came true, but how often did he mention that WHILE A CANDIDATE he predicted a McCain victory based on his choice of Sarah Palin? HE never mentioned his private-school upbringing, and claimed kudos for his family that he was never willing to document. He promoted himself – the party was ancillary. If he gets serious about GOP politics he will learn how easy he had it in the LP, and if the relatively mild criticism he received here upset him wait til he gets in a debate with people who do this for a living. He was a man of no principle beyond himself in the party of principle. He may be a nice guy, and in person I am sure he is and wish him no ill, but he was a bad marriage for the LP.
wolfefan
#91 was in response to #86.
Joe Buchman
Mark @ 88 —
>>In New York, we achieved ballot status this year without Wayne Root, and I raised over $40,000 to get GJ, Judge Gray, a half dozen federal candidates and six more for State Assembly,<<
ALL of us, including Governor Johnson, are aware of your incredible, successful, hard work in New York and I can say on behalf of the campaign how grateful we are.
If every state were as well organized and successful as New York, the LP would be about 50 times bigger than it is! And you're correct, there are forces in both the other omni-Party (the ReDemPubCrans) that work to stop that from happening.
Thanks for being right there on the front lines of that battle!
Joe
I’m disappointed and saddened.
In the grand scheme… what does this really matter? Virtually nobody even knows who he is.
I believe this thread should be deleted. This is no longer relevant, IMO, and has been fully covered here.
That said, Aaron, I share your disappointment but rather than sadness am left with anger.
This a$$hole about 120 days ago was begging for Gary Johnson’s endorsement.
Once he received that, IMO, he should have honored it at least through this election.
Whatever anyone may think of Root, this is too soon. To leave the LP and only a few days later endorse Romney smacks of opportunism. He should have given it a little time.
Well – I expected this to happen.
Aaron – if I can say one thing that is a silver lining in the cloud though, I am happy to see that reaction from you.
Again, I sincerely wish Wayne and his family well, and I thank him for doing the LP a favor by resigning. He’ll diss us for a while, then everyone will forget about it. There’s SOO much more to do than worry about Wayne now.
I am surprised that anyone is surprised.
No one who has read Root’s books or interviews from prior to his association with the LP should be surprised.
Root’s criterion always has been, is, and likely always will be “what benefits Wayne Allyn Root most at this very moment?”
Benefit to his customers or other associates has always been a very distant second priority AT MOST. Or, as he said in a 2007 interview with the New York Times Magazine:
“For me, it’s all about the money … I live for it. …. I want high rollers who can afford to lose. … Guilt? I don’t have any guilt. I think zero about why things are. I just accept what they are and find a way to take advantage of them.”
He presents as a narcissist, but is more likely a solipsist.
None of this is information which was not readily available — indeed, put in Libertarian Party members’ faces by myself and a number of others — throughout the entirety of his association with the party.
The LP bought the ticket. The LP took the ride. And this is the part where the ride ends and you kick yourselves in the ass for what you paid versus what you got.
Democrats hate God and Israel?
Odd since Obama is a Christian who supports the same foreign policy as Bush.
And the result?
Obama got an 8-point boost (-4 to +4 on Rasmussen) out of Wayne’s Words of Wisdom, and whatever else Obama may have done in the last few weeks.
Let’s call it like it really is.
Vote Republican?
You Must Be Joking?
The Republicans launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iraq. To justify their crimes against peace, they stages an unprecedented series of bald faced lies, all parroted by their sock puppet of a Secretary of State on the floor of the Security Council.
When their occupation of Iraq was met with the staunch resistance of Iraqi patriots, exactly as American Patriots would resist occupation of the United States by a foreign army, the Republicans arranged for the Iraqi city of Fallujah to be substantially razed to the ground, a crime against civilization whose obvious historical analog was the destruction of the city of Lidice during World War 2.
The Republicans then violated the Geneva conventions by imprisoning and torturing thousands of foreigners in secret prisons in Poland and elsewhere.
On the home front, Republicans caused the National Security Agency to create massive wiretapping systems that intercepted most phone calls. That’s electronic warfare, warfare against the American people, warfare supported by almost every Republican in Congress. When Americans wage war on America, that’s the one crime specified in the Constitution.
Republicans deserve fair trials in Nuremberg, not votes on November.
…George Phillies
Above taken from the front pages of Liberty for America.
Coincidence, or a reaction to Wayne’s disclosure?
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blnudeprotest1.htm
He got one thing right. His kids future are at stake, starting with his daughter’s legal right to access to an abortion to protect her health, a right that the Republicans would steal from her.
Disappointed and saddened wouldn’t cover it for me. Disgust of his facial expression as he said “no” when asked about Johnson. The mask is finally off, and his full betrayal is revealed, both of the cause and those who still supported him long after his treachery was uncovered back in the fall of 2008.
I also still hold as some amazement (not anger) of the delegates who were fooled into voting for him in May after he had publicly supported Romney. No one in our delegation voted for him.
I repeat myself, who cares who Wayne Root endorses. A non entity if ever there was one.
I’m sorry you feel sad Aaron, I really am….
I agree with Tom in that I cant imagine why anyone would be surprised , in fact I predicted as did many others that he would eventually do exactly this and declare to run as a Senator
howvever not even I thought he would break weak so low and jump ship at the worst possible time for our campaign . Thats more than simple opportunism that more like intentionally fucks over…..
what a unscrupulous tool of epic proportions….lets not mention his name any longer…..
be done with it
Benedict Arnold!
LG @ 15: I agree, let’s forget him and move on. I’m already over him!
Wayne who?
Wayne Root never really changed. I saw through him the entire time. People in the Libertarian Party who thought that he was a sincere Libertarian are suckers.
Endorsing Romney is nothing short of betrayal, particularly for a person who was a Vice Presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, and who served on the Libertarian Party’s National Committee.
There is nothing that is libertarian about Mitt Romney. He’s as far from being a libertarian as Obama is.
To those of you who begged Wayne to leave the LP and go to the GOP, told him he didn’t belong here, said he wasn’t a Libertarian:
Now he finally does what you’ve been begging him to do, and you’re angry that he did it? Can’t make you happy, I guess.
You’re mad that he’s not stumping for the LP candidate? What exactly did you think he would do as a Republican? He’s doing what you told him to do. You begged him to go compete against us. You’re the ones who begged him to take his influence and support the opponent. If he pulls more votes away from the LP, some of the fault belongs to those of you who advised him to do it. Don’t you try to think even one step ahead?
So quit your yapping. You got exactly what you wanted – Wayne using his media prowess to work for the other team.
Wayne was a gentleman in the way he left. He could have railed on the LP for its faults, but he didn’t. Instead, he chose to take the high road – he says nothing but nice things about us on the air even though the host was itching for him to say bad things about the LP and Gary Johnson. Wayne didn’t take the bait. He’s been far nicer than many posters here.
P my number is 7026453611
I for one nominate that if Wayne is no longer Libertarian, then we should stop covering him or paying him any attention.
@20 Other than himself, Wayne Root didn’t make any measurable difference in bringing money, members or votes into the LP.
He won’t make any difference in money, members or votes by leaving the LP.
Root is simply not important. Never was, outside his own mind. It’s hard to imagine that Republicans are so desperate that they’d recruit him.
As future events unfold, Libertarians may all be glad that he has gone back to the dark side.
NF @ 2 wrote:
>In the grand scheme… what does this really matter? Virtually nobody even knows who he is.
Which one? Wayne or Mitt?
This quote from Samuel Adams is how we should regard Wayne Root:
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
? Samuel Adams
I warned in ’08 that Root makes his political decisions on what he thinks is best for his business not on a set of principals of right and wrong.
I agree with what Knapp said in post 7. I can’t imagine why anyone would be the least bit surprised by any of this Root news.
I’ve heard some Libertarians laud Root’s appreciative letter & admiringly say that Root was a friendly gentleman toward them when they met him. So what?! He’s a SALESMAN. How many good salesmen have you met who’ve acted like assholes? Any salesperson who’s even moderately successful is friendly to customers or people he views as potential customers. If a salesman can smile at you, pat you on the back, say “how’s it going, friend? I want to help out” & you then believe that person is honest & sincere, well, you really shouldn’t be so naive. Actions speak much louder than words & Root’s actions have never benefited the LP–only himself. This is just par for the course.
Who will lead the LNCC?
@24… uh, I meant Root but when the electoral votes are counted in January 2013 you could make a case for Romney I suppose.
What’s funny is that no one outside of the LP cares who Wayne Allyn Root is, let alone who he endorses. Root highly overrates the level of fame attached to being a third party VP nominee from 4 years ago.
Much like Benedict Arnold Wayne is going to find himself a man without a party.
People in the Republican party are not stupid. They will see him for what he is, a self promoter.
I doubt that he can win the Nevada senate race since he has not held office before. And if he does get elected what is he going to do? He doesn’t seem to have the willingness to work with. others.
Time for us to move on. Take the pins out of the Wayne dolls and go on to other things like outreach to your local community.
Disappointing. Not surprising.
Yawn… How can anyone be surprised by this? And how can anyone really care?
the only reasons I might care are:
1) It undermines GJ somewhat
2) Possible fiduciary issues with the LNCC
I must admit I felt a bit sorry for Wayne as I left the the suite parties at Red Rock. He was in the hallway talking with someone and desperately wanting to know why so many people disliked him. The concern seemed genuine and I felt a bit sorry for him in that moment despite my displeasure with him. Watching this…whatever feeling I had for that guy is gone, gone, gone.
Good Riddance!
CD @ 20,
“To those of you who begged Wayne to leave the LP and go to the GOP, told him he didn’t belong here”
Care to name any of these people whom you imagine exist?
Wasn’t LNCC involved with the Computer Program? Any News on that front?
Gonna take a month or so off from ipr, hopefully when I check it again we are discussing something other than a former member of the lp.
CD @ 20: I’m delighted at Root’s decision to leave the LP; it was definitely what I felt the only appropriate action would be after the blatant non-Libertarian comments from the last couple years. I appreciate very much that he has done us the favor of resigning. If you see him and talk with him, please do thank him for me.
Why even care about this guy?
This reminds me of Saturday Night Live’s “Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead” sketch.
Six months from now I intend to post an IPR Headline —
Wayne Allyn Root: Still NOT Libertarian.
(not)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalissimo_Francisco_Franco_is_still_dead
I think Wayne Allyn has made a big mistake by returning to the Republican Party rather than continuing his slow transformation into a Libertarian.
@ 43: I think Wayne Allyn has made a big mistake by returning to the Republican Party rather than continuing his slow transformation into a Libertarian.
Root was not transforming into a libertarian. He remained what he always was — a huckster willing to say whatever he thought his current audience wanted to hear.
I’m glad he’s gone.
Maybe I should get a new handle?
#44, yes I think you should get a new handle. One that is more representative of you.
@45
Root’s Teeth who?
I really don’t feel like I have to comment on Wayne here, I am sure most of you know how I feel.
However, let’s analyze the video:
The commentator talks about a teleprompter letting people know in advance about the 2/3 vote. The same thing that happened at the Republican convention. Did they mention it?
However the big news is not that they considered removing whether Jerusalem would be the capital of Israel, but it should be that the Democrats removed planks about Habeas Corpus. Gitmo, The Patriot Act and warrant-less wire tapping. This is the story. With the side story being why our news ignores that and focuses on something else entirely.
I am sure that what the capitol of Israel is the number one issue on every American’s mind. Not the fact that the Democrats just flushed the constitution down the toilet. We are all aware that the Republicans did that years ago.
“Booing God” What are these guys talking about?
Anyone that thinks that Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan are going to “save” this country must have been out “booing God” because apparently he has cursed you with ignorance.
@43
How about “Dentures?”
Just for the record, I was being sarcastic about Israel being the number one issue on every American’s mind.
these were the true colors all along…
looking forward to a WAR-free Independent Political Report
The whole parallel universe effect of the teleprompter/decider at both taxpayer paid party conventions was laughably pathetic.
The two entreched parties’re lookin so much the same, it’s as if they’re clones of one another.
I don’t fault the LP for thinking a media savy, well connected businessman like based out of Las Vegas with connections to potential big donors would give the party a boost. I’m just curious what WAR believed he would get out the relationship.
“I believe this thread should be deleted. This is no longer relevant, IMO, and has been fully covered here.”
I suspect this will be the last time we cover him. Im not going to make any rules–because he might do something of note to IPR, but as of right now he’s a Republican stumping for Republicans. His only notable third party attribute is a “used to be” thing. This video was appropriate to post, but anything beyond that, posters probably should clear it with me first.
As for Root–yawn. No surprise, no real disappointment, since we all kind of knew it was coming anyway. The guy is a real clown and is only out to promote himself–has been from the start.
“I’m just curious what WAR believed he would get out the relationship.”
A small donor base and some very small amount of name recognition amongst a subset of voters. Most of that he burned away with this endorsement and his classlessness anyway.
The guy is going to get crushed in Republican politics. Crushed. Hell, there’s plenty of material in our email and post archives to show him for what he is.
Sean, I think WAR believed he would be the LP nominee in 2008. (He was in the race long before Bob Barr jumped in.) When he didn’t get it in 2008, he thought he was the heir apparent in 2012. When he figured out that he was too toxic to ever be the nominee, he bolted.
I agree with the person above who said he thought Root genuinely didn’t understand why he aroused such intense emotions in people. Root is a visceral Red (as in Red State/Blue State, not Communism). Therefore he didn’t see a problem in making visceral appeals to other Reds. The problem for Root is that a lot of LP activists are visceral Blues, or at the least don’t want to be associated with Reds, so they disliked Root on a visceral level.
All you have to do is look at the comments on Root threads to see that we are not just talking about ideology or electoral strategy. Root arouses emotions that have to do with how people identify themselves at a visceral level.
Enough WAR. Back to the campaign. I’m going to use my time constructively to write an op-ed for the local paper about why I’ll be voting for GJ and not the two douches.
RTAA: “Maybe I should get a new handle?”
Why? Your handle was stupid to begin with & it might as well remain just as stupid.
WAR is just another anti-liberty, big government statist. Disappointing.
Back to the campaign. We’re organizing our big event here in Charleston. The Rs think they have the state wrapped around their finger, the Ds were going to bring O to South Carolina while he was in Charlotte for the DNC, but they didn’t.
Time to go for the throat. This area is about as libertarian as you can get. We’ve actually won a race (given that local races are “non-partisan” but that everyone knows the party affiliation of the candidates anyway).
We’ve been given funding from the state party for a big event, hopefully big enough to attract attention from the media as well as the public.
By then, even Fixed News will be saying “Wayne who?”
I think Wayne should run for president in 2016 as a PLAS Republican-Democrat hybrid.
ATBAFT @ 56 — on behalf of the campaign, THANKS!
Might note there are FOUR douches. Judge Gray makes the other two VP candidates look like idiots and he would eat them alive in a debate.
John Jay,
>>Anyone that thinks that Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan are going to “save” this country must have been out “booing God” because apparently he has cursed you with ignorance.<<
Brilliant, and even better than the SNL clip I posted. YOU SHOULD BE IN THE DEBATES IN TEXAS!!! The media bias down there is just as egregious.
Bobert Grilnes…lmao
Before I go through a read all the comments, I just have to say that I think it is ridiculous that Root is spreading lies calling Romney a Capitalist. He is a Keynesian at best, a corportist at worst. Either way, he is no capitalist.
“He is a capitalist at best, a capitalist at worst. Either way he is no capitalist.”
Fixed that for ya, but it still doesn’t make a lot of sense.
The next step is for folks to start talking about other people enough for the WAR subject balloon to no longer be the largestt
Root sold out. He was bankrupt and took a bribe from the GOP. He figured it would secure him a senate position. We’ll see how that works out for him. Meanwhile despite Root’s sour grapes it’s Gary Johnson who we are supporting. We need to get a true voice for liberty on the debate stage next month. Afterall this is still America.
@65 Sorry, but @64 was closer to the truth.
John Balzer
If you have the Stones to back up your claim….put ’em on the table, pop open a Miller, and Roger that.
In the meantime, until/unless you do, that’s just mud slinging.
Root has been saying for months that a second term for Obama would be something akin to the Biblical plagues in Egypt and talking about how great he thinks Romney, Ryan and virtually everyone who spoke at the Republican infomercial are.
To my knowledge, that is what he actually believes. I’ve spent some time talking to him, and did not detect any insencerity.
If I believed as he does, I’d be endorsing Romney too; wouldn’t you?
Why should anyone believe that he needed to be paid off to reach the logical conclusion of what he has been writing about continuously, which some of us pointed out months or even years ago, especially absent any evidence for the claim?
yeppers
Well said, Paulie. I agree that Root definitely believes that Romney is exactly what the country needs now. I think, toward the end, he really didn’t understand why the rest of us didn’t believe that also.
If Obama loses (which I don’t expect to happen), I wonder if Wayne will forget about bashing him? That is something I really can’t guess.
“Jill Pyeatt // Sep 11, 2012 at 10:37 am
Well said, Paulie. I agree that Root definitely believes that Romney is exactly what the country needs now. I think, toward the end, he really didn’t understand why the rest of us didn’t believe that also.”
If Root doesn’t understand this then he’s really not much of a libertarian, if he’s any kind of libertarian at all.
Endorsing Romney is just as bad as endorsing Obama.
Andy @ 72: “If Root doesn’t understand this then he’s really not much of a libertarian, if he’s any kind of libertarian at all.”
My point exactly.
Not to justify Root’s decision, but I severely doubt he thinks THAT highly of Romney. It’s more likely that he thinks very poorly of BHO, and that on a relative basis Romney’s far superior.
RC @ 74 is probably right.
In terms of what side his bread is buttered on, though, he’ll have more success as a “conservative pundit” if Obama wins a second term. Democratic administrations are “make hay while the sun shines” time for the conservative punditry. Attacking the other guy is much easier, and much more engaging to readers/viewers, than trying to defend your own side’s actions.
75 tk, yes, but that was true in 09. Root coulda gone back to the Rs then. The timing tells me there’s more to this story…
WAR wants to run for US Senate as a Republican in 2016– its out there. He has to play nice and suck up to the GOP if he wants any support. It’s about Wayne.
And further more, what if Romney wins? And what if they win the US Senate? We saw that in action just a few years ago.
They spent us into debut another 4 trillion or so.
The irony is, Kevin, that if Romney wins, Root won’t be able to write his articles bashing Obama, and there’s even more danger he’ll fade away.
Ya know, I hope that having such a divisive character as WAR out of the way will allow us to focus less on the infighting, and more time preparing that “outward facing firing squad”, or whatever Paulie’s calling it.
Trent Hill said: “I suspect this will be the last time we cover him.”
Even though I’m not a Wayne Root fan, I still wouldn’t have a problem if he continues to get coverage at IPR.
Why? Because, for better or worse, he was in the Libertarian Party almost 6 years, and during that time period he became the Libertarian Party’s candidate for Vice President in 2008 and he also served on the Libertarian National Committee. Therefore, even post minor party involvement, news about him still has relevance to this site.
Ron Paul has received a lot of coverage here for similar reasons.
Wayen has a lot of talent. I do wish him well. I even agree with post #20 in that he left as a gentleman. Couldn’t agree more.
But he’s not “dry water”, a “round square” or a “libertarian republican”. None of these exist in reality.
And he’s too terrified to see that there’s no difference between Romney and Obama (even to the point where he actually thinks Romney would abolish the IRS according to this interview).
As far as the LNCC goes (or any other leadership position), it’s really not a question of whether he’s for or against our ship – he just put his brown pants on and joined the pirates the second pirates fired the first cannon.
The bottom line is that the GOP held Barack Obama to Wayne’s head like a loaded gun, and Wayne put the money in the bag because he thought he knew what was good for him. Ironically, this sort of negotiation with terrorists is the very essence of the nuke Iran crowd Wayne joined.
Ya know, I hope that having such a divisive character as WAR out of the way will allow us to focus less on the infighting, and more time preparing that “outward facing firing squad”, or whatever Paulie’s calling it.
for better or worse, he was in the Libertarian Party almost 6 years, and during that time period he became the Libertarian Party’s candidate for Vice President in 2008 and he also served on the Libertarian National Committee. Therefore, even post minor party involvement, news about him still has relevance to this site.
Once in a while may be OK, but not frequently like in the past.
Trent @ 53 —
” posters probably should clear it with me first”
I’d like to go ahead and clear my headline of “Root: Still NOT a Libertarian” to run sometime next Spring. Maybe on the anniversary of that SNL sketch. Or maybe April 1st (except then it should be Root: New Discovery In IPR Archive Proves He was “Right All Along”
🙂
Waaaay “Right”
Joe
A lot of people in the libertarian party didn’t back him up. So you finally got what you wanted, for Wayne to leave. So what did you expect. The party stood a good chance while Wayne was in the LP party to make something big. If you remember a lot of you all did was complain. Now your acting like Wayne did something wrong. He did a lot for this party. You missed the boat. Now this LP party will be non-important even worse then ever before. When Wayne was in the party, all should have worked together to do what should have been done. Now it is tooo late. This party will actually be smaller than it was before in a matter of speaking. An irrelevant party.
So Good luck to you all. I did a lot to try to help myself. I knew a lot sooner that I was beating a dead horse.
@ 86
But it is growing in Ohio. Numbers don’t lie.
We did it on our own by the way. Nobody else helped us– LOL.
@86.
In New York, we achieved ballot status this year without Wayne Root, and I raised over $40,000 to get GJ, Judge Gray, a half dozen federal candidates and six more for State Assembly, all without Wayne Root. Oh, our membership (both State and national) grew dramatically this year (sorry Kevin–we are now number 4 and the buckeye state is number 5!), all without Wayne Root.
Wayne is a real nice guy and he worked hard for what he believed in, and devoted quite a bit of his time and energy in the good fight, but he was not the Libertarian Party any more or less than any of its thousands of other devoted members are.
I assure you we are not irrelevant; otherwise the Republican Party, scum that they are, would be spending so much effort to try to get us off the ballot in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
@86: “He did a lot for this party.”
Like?
Since Wayne Root left LP, did Bruce Cohen go with him to The GOP. That would be a double bonus for The California LP. I am sure Wayne will need at least one Yes Man to help him the GOP.
Wayne’s approach was to hire mercenaries to do work instead of developing passsionate, caring volunteers. It was also to emphasize one side of the Libertarian coin and hope that new supporters would not bolt when they discovered the other side, denigrate the states for not nominating winnable candidates (how did he do with that in NV?) and do it from the top down with nothing but condescension and name calling for those in or out of the party who disagreed with him or dared to question him. He always reminded of the occasional prediction that came true, but how often did he mention that WHILE A CANDIDATE he predicted a McCain victory based on his choice of Sarah Palin? HE never mentioned his private-school upbringing, and claimed kudos for his family that he was never willing to document. He promoted himself – the party was ancillary. If he gets serious about GOP politics he will learn how easy he had it in the LP, and if the relatively mild criticism he received here upset him wait til he gets in a debate with people who do this for a living. He was a man of no principle beyond himself in the party of principle. He may be a nice guy, and in person I am sure he is and wish him no ill, but he was a bad marriage for the LP.
#91 was in response to #86.
Mark @ 88 —
>>In New York, we achieved ballot status this year without Wayne Root, and I raised over $40,000 to get GJ, Judge Gray, a half dozen federal candidates and six more for State Assembly,<< ALL of us, including Governor Johnson, are aware of your incredible, successful, hard work in New York and I can say on behalf of the campaign how grateful we are. If every state were as well organized and successful as New York, the LP would be about 50 times bigger than it is! And you're correct, there are forces in both the other omni-Party (the ReDemPubCrans) that work to stop that from happening. Thanks for being right there on the front lines of that battle! Joe
Comments removed from this thread; see archive.org to find them.