There has been some speculation as to who Gov. Gary Johnson will pick to be his running mate. During the course of campaign, his advisers largely brushed off the question, noting that they hadn’t gotten to the point of making a firm decision, only that names were being thrown around.
Reason reported yesterday that Judge Jim Gray floated the idea of serving as Gov. Johnson’s running mate. But this morning The Daily Caller is reporting that Gray has indeed been picked by Johnson:
Libertarian presidential candidate and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has picked California Judge Jim Gray, a prominent pro-marijuana legalization advocate, to be his running mate, The Daily Caller has learned.
The decision to run with Gray “puts pot front-and-center in the campaign,” one Johnson adviser told TheDC, before adding that Johnson’s opposition to the war in Afghanistan will likely remain the campaign’s defining issue.
[…]
“Gary had liked him from the very beginning,” the Johnson adviser said. “Every time we would bring up somebody else, Gov. Johnson would say ‘what about Jim Gray?’ He was Johnson’s favorite from the beginning.”Gray was a conservative Republican who later became a Libertarian after deciding that the nation’s drug laws did more harm than good. He is the author of several books about law, politics and the drug war, and helped spearhead Proposition 19 in California, which would have decriminalized marijuana in the Golden State had it passed.
The vice presidential nominee will be chosen separately, as has been customary in the past, on Saturday. As many of you already know, just because a Libertarian presidential nominee picks someone to be their running mate, doesn’t necessarily mean that the body will go along.
Disclosure: Jason currently serves as Gov. Gary Johnson’s state director in Georgia. You can follow Jason on Twitter and “Like” his page on Facebook.
@3
At the 1991 convention, nominee Andre Marrou urged delegates to select Mary Ruwart as his vice-presidential running mate. Instead, delegates chose Nancy Lord. I remember this, since I seconded Mary’s nomination and still have the video footage of the C-Span coverage.
See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Tonge (spam filters willing) Just one example of media jumping all over people for tiny misspeak. Don’t worry, I won’t be quoting it in any press releases. Just a WOW moment…
“In January 2004, while still a Member of Parliament, Tonge was asked to step down as children’s spokeswoman by Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy after saying of Palestinian suicide bombers: “If I had to live in that situation – and I say that advisedly – I might just consider becoming one myself.” Tonge refused to apologise: “I was just trying to say how, having seen the violence and the humiliation and the provocation that the Palestinian people live under every day and have done since their land was occupied by Israel, I could understand…”[10][11]”
Not seeing anything too out of the mainstream in the statement.
He supports Israel’s right to exist and humane treatment for Palestinians.
I think the cutoff is 5. Not sure if exactly 5 is too many or not.
By the way, the reason I posted the link about the suicide bombers is because any time any high profile person says anything like that in their history it ends up in the newspapers so it’s one of those things he might want to tweak some more before that happens. But Gray sounds pretty gun ho, so we’ll see how he deals with any media questions.
I assume you mean my post. Will remember. So only one link at at time?
Too many links and a comment will not post. I fished that one out of spam but I can’t do that most of the time.
Jed @ 19 yep….
GRAY RESPONDS:
On 5/1/2012 10:50 AM, Jim Gray wrote:
> Dear Mr. Moore,
>
> Thank you for your note. I still completely stand by the information set
> forth in those two links, and as Vice President of the United States will
> doggedly pursue those objectives. And they will be successful!
>
> Judge Jim Gray (Ret.)
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Carol Moore [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 6:43 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Cc: L4P
> Subject: Still Supporting Liberty and Justice for the Palestinians???
>
> Judge Jim Gray still support liberty and justice for the Palestinians like
> he did during these meetings he organized in 2004
> http://digital.library.ucla.edu/websites/2004_996_049/index.php%5EmenuID=Pag
> e&pid=98.htm
> http://digital.library.ucla.edu/websites/2004_996_049/index.php%5EmenuID=Pag
> e&pid=99.htm
>
>
> Sending out a Libertarians for Peace press release about libertarians
> opposing the Israel Lobby in the Libertarian Party and wanted to see if
> you still support these positions when I mention them in the press release.
>
> Going to transfer some of the content from
> http://carolmoore.net/libertarianparty/bootroot
>
> to
>
> http://libertarians4peace.net
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Carol Moore in dc
> Member of LP since 1979
>
Fascinating quote from Judge Gray:
FASCINATING….
http://judgejamesgray.blogspot.com/2011/03/justice-must-come-before-peace-by-judge.html
Probably the biggest tinderbox in the world today is the Holy Land, with the problems between Israel and Palestine continuing to deteriorate. But before I say more, I want to affirm as forcefully as I can that I completely support Israel and its right to exist, live peacefully, and thrive.
Some people will misunderstand my suggestions, and some may even do so intentionally. But having said that, the best way for peace in Israel to be obtained is to provide justice to the Palestinians!…
I hope I would be sensible enough never to be manipulated into lobbing grenades at civilians or becoming a suicide bomber, but I could see that others could be led into these acts as well.
Agreed.
@22: The LNC has nothing to do with it. The delegates make that call.
When you look at the people running the National LP Committee, I don’t there will be problem getting Gov. Gary Johnson & Judge Jim Gray on the ticket together. I mean look at Barr/Root ’08, the people with the money will get the ticket they want for the LP.
ctomp @17:
Gray has been a LP member since at least 2003 when he ran for US Senate in California against Barbara Boxhead,
For everyone else:
It is a little presumptuous to call this a Johnson/Gray ticket, because the Presidential nominee does not have carte blanche to pick his VP. That decision still falls to the delegates. The nominee can certainly endorse anyone they want for the spot, but it isn’t their final call.
Johnson hasn’t won the nomination yet.
Unless he gets his act together on taxes and foreign policy, he shouldn’t, either.
Pursuit of yet another “name” candidate is simple folly.
I give it two ballots max for both Pres and VP.
I have terrible concerns about the Fair Tax but there is no question in my mind that Governor Johnson’s libertarianism is far more instinctive than Rep. Barr’s is/was assuming he has any.
Gray v Root, no comparison.
My “infighting” will be aimed at the LNC.
Bob Barr – Supported the failed drug war, which he later “apologized” for.
Gary Johnson – Long opponent of the drug war
Bob Barr – Voted for the PATRIOT Act. Again, regrets it.
Gary Johnson – Vocal in his calls to repeal the PATRIOT Act.
Bob Barr – Long opponent of gay marriage, authored the DOMA, later said it should be decided at the state level.
Gary Johnson – Long supporter of civil unions, recently switched to being a gay marriage supporter, and has been very public about it. Unlike Barr’s “apologies”, I felt this change was more sincere.
I do have some problems with Johnson, but no way is he as bad as Barr.
Not that I would endorse AE or their “Insider” backers, but if you look at their requirement for their candidate(s), there are very few current LP members who would qualify for P/VP under their rules!
IINM Johnson and Gray would be two of the very few on that list. I will continue to submit til the day I die, Johnson (on actual record) is more qualified and would be a better POTUS than Obama or Romney. Both of whom I submit were & are used by special interests who BOUGHT the nomination for each and bought the P for Obama in ’08.
Federal Records Show Romney Campaign Bought And Paid For By Big Banks – http://www.conservativeactionalerts.com/2011/10/federal-records-show-romney-campaign-bought-and-paid-for-by-big-banks/
People Obama had his own campaign station on Dish Network 24/7 the last few days of the ’08 election. Never seen before. Romney wasn’t a good gov. In fact Romney was a failure as gov. Obama is a failure and has signed some very “dangerous” bills lately! Johnson is BETTER than both ! Naturally we won’t have the funds to advertize that to the masses but Johnson is the absolute BEST candidate this time around. Johnson would be the BEST POTUS of these three – Johnson – Romney – Obama.
*> Facts are FACTS on Jobs friends – http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n2vcGhT0ZWI/TxlmZCJdB9I/AAAAAAAAACs/LYbGCWt8qG0/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2012-01-20%2Bat%2B8.03.44%2BAM.png
Got Jobs? Johnson, Romney, Obama – http://garyjohnsongrassrootsblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/charles-lupton-created-nice-job-growth.html
Gary Johnson 2012: Our America & Drugs – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsowQ0hE9gA&feature=related
When I announced my decision to seek the Libertarian nomination for president, I stated my belief that there is a majority of Americans who are looking for a real home in American politics — a home they are not finding with either the big “R” or big “D” parties….There is a freedom agenda America is ready to endorse: freedom from crushing debt and freedom from crushing government. It is that agenda that has prompted me to unapologetically call myself a libertarian, and which WILL find its rightful place in the 2012 election.
-Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate
CARPE DIEM
How long has the Judge been a LP member? Who has he endorsed in the past?
This is 2012, decades past time for a credible Presidential campaign calling for RE-Legalization of Hemp and ALL the major benefits it can provide for the U.S. economy. (It has been said old Ben Franklin and Thom Jefferson smoked MJ regularly and most signers of the Declaration of Independence were growers and even the paper used was HEMP paper ! )
It is also time for the Empire and U.S. troops to COME HOME from Afghanistan, Europe, Japan and South Korea. (The U.S. Gov’t minded their own business for the first 140 plus years of existance, we need to do it again for at least 140 more years !)
LIVE FREE – JOHNSON/GRAY 2012 !!!
Gary Johnson 2012: End the Drug War Now – http://www.youtube.com/user/govgaryjohnson?feature=BF#p/u/16/MBOXUjHhrVM
Gary Johnson On Weed RE-Legalization (was legal for Hundreds of years until 1937) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOPQiGZURmA&feature=related
Gov. Gary Johnson – Contribute to Tax Cannabis 2010 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcH-H8bhdNQ&feature=related
Gary Johnson 2012: LIVE FREE http://www.youtube.com/user/govgaryjohnson?feature=BF#p/u/2/R1MD6qoJJN0
Nope Friends this ain’t Knapp/Blanton 2012, however this will be a year you as a LP member can look any friend or family member in the eye and tell them the LP POTUS candidate could be POTUS tomorrow morning, and upon studying each record, Gary Johnson would do a better job than Romney or Obama BECA– USE he already has been much BETTER! Gary Johnson has the courage to stand up to the waste and fraud of this runaway special interest politics that has captured the federal gov’t ! Gary Johnson can put the brakes on this runaway spending that is destroying our future. Gary Johnson’s record shows he is qualified and that record also shows he is a much BETTER Chief Executive Branch Officer than both Obama or Romney ! America needs an Executive in the White House who can right the ship, Gary Johnson is that man ! The LP can grow with this moderate Libertarian ticket, reaching the vast Independent voters. JOHNSON/GRAY 2012 !!!
No need for the Progressives to pout about this, just run for office and put forth your LP beliefs the way you prefer in your campaign for ?!? whatever. Please keep the infighting to a minimum after Saturdays vote is complete! Use this week to sound all the alarms you wish. We all need to start rowing in the same direction Sunday to gain the most in 2012 and beyond !!! (Stop the public negative talk about any LP member after Saturday Night, use all the NEGATIVITY on the Rs and Ds starting Sunday morning through Nov.6 they truly deserve it!)
CARPE DIEM
It was official when I reported it, jerks 😛
I’d say it’s official now. Hardy Macia is posting about a Johnson/Gray ticket on facebook.
This would be consistent with Steve Kubby’s reporting that the Johnson campaign’s choice for VP and called him and that he was (I believe he said thrilled).
Just looked at Steve’s Facebook page. Steve now has a link to this reason article there:
http://reason.com/blog/2012/04/30/gary-johnson-wants-jim-gray-as-his-vp
Joe
Barr had a much worse record in Congress than Johnson had as Governor. He pointedly refused to make an issue of dissociating himself from his record as a presidential candidate, per his direct answer to me in person.
At the time he was already seeking the LP nomination, which did not take place until close to convention time, Barr was backing Plan Colombia and a drug war in Georgia.
He did not debate other candidates for the nomination
except in a very limited way.
While I have some problems with Johnson, I think he is a lot better than Barr, and I also think Judge Gray is a better “message” as VP than Wayne represented in 2008.
I am an undecided delegate at this time.
However, I don’t think it is correct to say that Johnson is as bad or worse than Barr. I was never an undecided delegate in 2008.
In 2008 I voted Kubby for President on every ballot; Ruwart on the remaining ballots and Kubby for VP on every ballot.
This year, we’ll see.
Although I guess it slipped my mind. Sorry for that
Bob Barr stresses the need for tax reform stating that any reform of the system would be better than what the United States has now. Bob Barr has been the supporter of the Fair Tax which is essentially a national sales tax plan. Bob Barr does mention he is open to other types of tax reform plans including a flat tax plan
http://calulmann.com/category/fair-tax
Key here: Bob Barr mention to other forms of flat tax.
Johnson – fair tax as written
“Cutting spending would allow America to implement real tax reform. The best approach would be to adopt a national sales tax, replacing the Internal Revenue Service and all federal income taxes as well as payroll taxes.
“The Fair Tax is an example of a well-researched alternative to the current oppressive system of taxation.
“Our goal should be to reduce both the tax burden on Americans and the intrusion in their lives resulting from IRS enforcement of the income tax.”
-Bob Barr, 2008 LP Presidential candidate
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairTaxLee/message/110
I think he’s significantly better than Barr, and Barr supported that same tax too BTW. Although Johnson does make a bigger issue of it unfortunately.
At least Bob Barr didn’t try to gain millions of votes by supporting a new federal sales tax
The more and more I read and watch the more it seems as if Johnson is the second coming of Bob Barr
Out of curiosity has there ever been a case where the Presidential nominee choice for VP didn’t get the nomination of the LP?
I’m not sure all presidential candidates even had a choice for VP. I don’t recall one in 2004 or even necessarily in 2000.
Are we all that certain that Gov. Johnson will actually get the Libertarian presidential nomination?
I’m pretty certain he will,
This is just the sort of thing that could put off some undecided delegates. I’m probably wrong but it’s just my sense.
Speaking as an undecided delegate, I don’t really see the campaign as being responsible for a state volunteer quoting a media article from one internet publication to another.
My sense is that in most of his interviews Johnson has been pretty good about acknowledging that he is a candidate for nomination, not the nominee, but he can’t control what media reports say.
Are we all that certain that Gov. Johnson will actually get the Libertarian presidential nomination? Virgil Goode was a shoo in for the CP nomination and barely won it on the first ballot. I would think a bit more modesty from the Johnson campaign would be in order. This is just the sort of thing that could put off some undecided delegates. I’m probably wrong but it’s just my sense.
Out of curiosity has there ever been a case where the Presidential nominee choice for VP didn’t get the nomination of the LP?
Jason, good to see you posting here. I would recommend taking this part out as being too editorial
“though I don?t imagine that there will be much about Gray to turn off delegates.”
See previous comments on https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/04/judge-jim-gray-posts-vice-presidential-question-on-his-facebook-account/
I do think Gray will get the VP spot but I don’t think it will be as unanimous as you seem to believe.
I am pleased that the Johnson/Gray ticket should give the LP its best chance ever to garner more than a million votes this year.