From Wayne Root, 2008 Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential nominee:
Wayne will be appearing on Fox & Friends, the #1 morning show on cable TV on Sunday at 7:50 AM ET/4:50 AM PT to discuss his commentary “The Party That Booed God” and why Wayne, the former Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee, has just resigned from the LP to re-join The Republican Party as a Tea Party Libertarian Republican, and is endorsing Mitt Romney for President of the United States.
Root resigned yesterday from his LP leadership positions, but his email signature still said he “now serves as Chairman of the Libertarian National Congressional Committee”.
Root would not be the first member of a previous LP presidential ticket to subsequently endorse a Republican for President. 1972 LP presidential nominee John Hospers endorsed George W. Bush in 2004, and 2008 LP presidential nominee Bob Barr endorsed Romney in May of this year. 1988 LP presidential nominee Ron Paul later returned to the GOP, but Paul has not endorsed any Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan.
Update 7Pm: In the comments below, Gene Berkman cites cites several other examples of LP (vice-)presidential nominees subsequently supporting Republicans for president:
John Hospers endorsed the re-election of Ronald Reagan in 1984. Roger MacBride, 1976 nominee of The Libertarian Party, returned to the Republican Party and helped organize the Republican Liberty Caucus. According to FEC filings, Ed Clark (1980 nominee) and David Bergland (1984 nominee) contributed to Ron Paul’s primary campaign for President in 2008, as did David Nolan, founder of The Libertarian Party. David Koch was a Co-Chair of the Bob Dole for President committee in 1996, he raised money for George W Bush in 2000, and he was a delegate to this year’s Republican National Convention supporting George Romney.
Comments removed from this thread; see archive.org to find them.
Jim @ 119 & Paulie @ 120 – There was an interesting side effect to David Cobb’s “safe states” strategy.
Ohio was closely contested in 2004, so David Cobb declined to petition for the Ohio ballot.
After it was announced that George W Bush carried Ohio, which gave him an electoral college majority, the John Kerry campaign wanted a recount in Ohio. They did not want to ask for it, because they would look like sore losers, so they asked David Cobb to ask for a recount, with Kerry backers putting up the money to pay for a recount.
David Cobb had not been a candidate in Ohio, so he did not have standing to request a recount, so he asked Michael Badnarik to ask for a recount. Badnarik requested the recount, and put the Libertarian Party firmly in the anti-Bush camp.
Thanks Mike!
Some people criticized Cobb for a “safe states strategy” which conceded battleground states.
@79 So I don’t keep up with Green politics, but what is wrong with David Cobb?
Andy @ 112 – you are correct that Jim Gilchrist quit the AIP and returned to the Republican Party about 2 years after he ran for Congress.
In any case, in the run-off he got 25% of the vote, losing to Republican John Campbell.
If somebody disagrees with you, it’s because they’re insincere, and they secretly know you’re right.
So you don’t have to think about why they disagree with you.
I don’t believe it either.
Why do we have to make these suppositions that Root needed to be paid off or that he is hoping to get paid off?
As far as I can tell his sincere opinion appears to be that a second Obama term would spell the end of civilization and that Romney, while not perfect, is admirable because he has made a lot of money as a businessman. Given those premises, how could he endorse anyone except Romney?
Is there any reason to believe that his motivation is anything other than exactly what he says it is?
@ 101: Root is bankrupt. He took a bribe from the GOP to make the move. “Take the money and we’ll make you a senator!”
I don’t believe that. No principled Libertarian would . . . wait a minute . . .
Well, the way the mainstream (big money) left hates Nader, for costing Gore the election.
@ 101: Root is bankrupt. He took a bribe from the GOP to make the move. “Take the money and we’ll make you a senator!”
No, I can’t believe the GOP would bribe Root to switch. Surely the GOP knows that Root is a non-entity.
Root’s switch might get a few days of sound bites in the right-wing echo chamber, but I doubt even one Johnson voter, even in Nevada, would switch to Romney because of Root.
More likely, Root switched of his own accord, in anticipation of pleasing his right-wing media hosts. His only payoff is the (hopefully) increased chance of future bookings on right-wing media.
If Johnson is blamed for costing Romney the election, Root will not want his right-wing media hosts to hate him (and not book him) the way the left hates Nader.
“111 Mark Seidenberg // Sep 9, 2012 at 9:52 pm
Andy,
In my own Congressional District in Orange County a few years back we ran Jim Gilchrist”
Yes, I am aware of that campaign. That was like 6 years ago. The only reason that this got a lot of publicity was because Jim Gilchrist was a well known person due to being one of the founders of the Minutemen Militia (a vigilante group that patrols the border).
This was one of the rare instances when anyone did anything noteworthy under the American Independent Party banner, and I’m pretty sure that Jim Gilchrist left the American Independent Party not too long after this and went to the Republican Party.
The fact of the matter is that overall, the Libertarian Party and the Green Party are both bigger and better organized in California than the American Independent Party is.
Andy,
In my own Congressional District in Orange County a few years back we ran Jim Gilchrist
for the House of Represenatives. On Election
day vote this AIP candidate came in with a
strong first place, leaving both the DEM’s and
GOP in 2nd and 3rd Place. As I recall Bruce
Cohen came in a far 4th place.
Even though we are small we elect people to
public office in California.
“Mark Seidenberg // Sep 9, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Andy,
You do not know what you are talking about.”
Yes, I do know what I’m talking about. I was involved in politics in California for years. I personally registered thousands and thousands of people to vote in California.
Now that you mention it, I think that the California voter registration form did change recently, but the fact still remains that the vast majority of people registered to vote under the American Independent Party banner have no clue what it is, and in fact think that they are registered as independents, as in with no political party.
Don’t be fooled by anyone who waves around the number of people registered under the American Independent Party banner in California, because the fact of the matter is that the American Independent Party of California has very little real support.
Make that @ 105.
Andy @ 102.
We have the same problem in New York with the Independence Party, a successor to the Reform Party and kept alive for several years by a Rochester billionaire (Tom Golisano) who used it to run for Governor.
Most people mistakenly think they’re enrolling as Independents if they choose the Independence Party.
Not surprisingly, it doesn’t stand for anything at all.
Andy,
You do not know what you are talking about.
First it has been years since “decline to state”
has been an option on the ballot.
With Romney writing off California, it should
be an idea for third parties to pick up electors
in California if the party has something to sell.
The AIP has the ticket of Tom Hoefling and Robert Ornelas in 2012.
Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman,
American Independent Party of California
The same thing has happened here in AZ with Libertarians who write “LIB” on their registration form. They get entered into the Liberal Party.
The majority of people who are registered to vote in California under the American Independent Party banner have no clue what the party is, or even that it is a party at all. Most of the people who are registered to vote under the American Independent Party banner in California mistakenly think that it means that they are registered as independents, as in that they do not have a political party. If one wants to registered without a political party in California, they are supposed to check the Decline To State A Political Party box which is on the far right side of the voter registration form, however, many people do not notice that box, so they check the American Independent Party box thinking that that is how to registered as an independent.
I know this as a fact because I worked as a petition circulator in California for several years and I helped register thousands of people to vote while gathering signatures on California petitions. I never once had a person register to vote under the American Independent Party banner on purpose. It was also extremely rare that I’d ever run into anyone who’d tell me that they were a supporter or member of the American Independent Party.
The American Independent Party’s support in California is wildly overstated. The Libertarian Party and the Green Party both have more real support in California than the American Independent Party does.
I’m not saying that they don’t have any supporters, I’m just pointing out that their 434,318 registered voters in no way reflects their true level of support, because most of those people do not even know that it is a political party, and many of those people would disagree with the American Independent Party if they knew what it was.
Most of the people who are registered under the Libertarian Party and Green Party banners actually have at least some clue as to what those parties are.
I’m not saying this to pick on the American Independent Party, I’m just letting those who are not aware know what the truth really is.
No worry, I just read your party platform. The answer to my question is “zero” true libertarians in your party.
How much of that change is a result of Top Two in CA and how many true libertarians are in your party? I’m guessing not many.
Dora Nash
Why do you think that the GOP “silenced Ron
Paul” and how? I do not believed the GOP
silenced Dr. Paul!
I am a libertarian, but I have never joined the
LP. I have fund many Recovering LP members
leave the LP and joined the American Independent Party of California. The LP
electorate in California at last count was 93,657.
However, to be ballot qualified in California
for 2014 the figure of electors will need to be
near 103 thousand electors.
The registration of the American Independent
Party of California as of last May was at 434,318
electors. If others in the LP what to look for a
new home from the LP, do through away your
votes in the GOP on Mr. Stirecycle and look for
a new home in the AIP.
Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman,
American Independent Party of California
Root is bankrupt. He took a bribe from the GOP to make the move. “Take the money and we’ll make you a senator!” Let’s see how that works out for him. True Libertarians are uniting behind Gary Johnson in an effort to get him on the debate stage with Obamney. The GOP silenced Ron Paul but we still have a champion competitor Gary Johnson in the mix.
Lieberman and Bruce Cohen very well might. Starr, probably not; look at his comment on the other thread, and he has given even more long-term service to the LP and has more sincere libertarian views on more issues.
Does anyone think that Starr or Scott Lieberman will leave the LP now?
@95 AT some point the full story needs be told.
Let’s see. Root (last Vegas Odds Maker and holder of all knowledge) predicted it would be Romney in a Landslide.
I wonder how the results will change now that he’s fully aboard their campaign?
Why do you think I call them key-holders? 🙂
Teeth@93,
You have it backwards. The leaders are still present. All they lost was their spokesman with the fancy ties, hair and teeth. He never voted for or against anything on the LNC without asking how he should vote.
Root was not a key-holder, he was simply a key. They lost an important key, but still only a key.
Hey concerned citizen, if you republicans are so repulsed by the blatant unconstitutional activities of the president, and his exec orders concern you so much, why have you not started impeachment procedures against the pres? Maybe you dont want to poison the well, because your pres candidate loves exec orders and you dont want dems to impeach your guy when he acts like a dictator. Your party has no principles, no backbone, about all you have going for you is an oddsmaker who thinks the lesser of two evils is something to be proud about. Thanks, but no thanks…sophies choice is your game, i’ll just throw my vote away…or maybe i will vote for obama…i hear nevada is gonna be close and nothing gives me more pleasure than ruining the republican establishments plans.
@90: I wonder how many folks are regretting their name and picture on his slate sheet in Vegas. We had success taking out Root’s allies and now he his gone.
It is kinda funny how Root hung his supporters out to dry.
Men like Aaron Starr and Scott Lieberman put their reputation behind Root. Root was their best hope to transform the LP into their Republican Lite version of “respectable” libertarianism.
Starr was so proud and giddy when Root got on the cover of that Vegas magazine. The one in which Root said he was going to transform the LP.
When people were slamming Root on IPR after the 2008 election (late 2008, or early 2009), I recall Starr chiming in that Libertarians should all get used to Root, because “Wayne’s going to be with us for a long, long time.”
And now the Great Republican Lite Hope has slunk off the libertarian battlefield, leaving his troops without a leader.
Yeah, it’s kinda funny, 🙂
I think Root spent his time in the LP walking a tightrope, trying to simultaneously ingratiate himself to the conservatives without totally alienating the libertarians. Now that he no longer has to worry about the latter, I expect that he will revert to many of the same positions that he held before “converting” to libertarianism.
In particular, I expect him to come out as an unapologetic hawk. After all, this is a guy who once touted a possible McCain-Lieberman ticket. That says a lot about who WAR really is.
Obama is easily on of the worst presidents we have had and should be ripe for the picking. He should be scrambling against Romney. That says a lot about Romney and the GOP for backing Romney. He is futile. Part of that is not his fault. The Obama propaganda machine might be the strongest this country has seen. His followers are blind and lies spew from his mouth daily. Romney is failing greatly to demonstrate that he’s actually different from Obama.
The one upside to another 4 years of Obama is that 4 years of Romney would not be any different and this might be the election where the regular rank and file voters finally see there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats.
Not only is Root showing his true colours but he’s showing how out of touch he is by joining the GOP. Good riddance.
I wonder how many folks are regretting their name and picture on his slate sheet in Vegas. We had success taking out Root’s allies and now he his gone. No more Root and perhaps no more Republican influence in the LP. I like where we are going.
We will be the choice for those seeking refuge from the madness of The Big One, er, I mean, The Big Two.
@89 I agree with your description of Barr.
Mentioning descriptions, I hope that you are working on The Greatest Story Yet To Be Told.
GP@70,
Very possible. But at his events, a number of which I attended, he did a great job of presenting the case for both personal and economic freedom. As far as the campaign spending went, the mice in the pantry ate all the cheese! No question on that point.
JB@76,
Dead on. Root is only happy if he is being listened to, but I do have to echo the comment that others made: Johnson nominated him! Major mistake. I told both the Governor and Ron Neilson that it would take a while for some members of the party to get past his mistake. In the last six weeks of the campaign we have more important stuff to worry about.
Andy@78,
No, I don’t believe he is a worshiper of big government. Dr Phillies’ comment about wanting to be a footnote in history may be more accurate. I had a lot of conversations with Bob Barr, and he really did “get it”. He just had too much baggage, and many libertarians refused to help bring him the last few steps. He wasn’t faking the way Root was. You could see in his eyes and in his body language that Root was faking most of what he said.
Bob Barr has slid back to the dark side, but in his case I do not believe his time in the LP was simply a calculated step to build a future in politics or as a pundit the way Root used us. Root’s teeth are awesome only because they are fake.
“Root might think he’s cut a deal with the Nevada Mormons promising him a Senate seat (or nom) in exchange for the Romney endorsement.”
Would that also include one Harry Reid, also a Mormon? I’m assuming its his Senate seat up for grabs we’re talking about.
The GOP in Nevada is like Syria right now so uniting the party behind his candidacy will be his biggest challenge,
@ 80
Agreed.
I have been saying this about the GOP for years.
Look at the demographics and platform of the GOP. Where will they be in 10 years, let alone 20 years? So will another political party rise up or will it be basically one party (Dem) in the USA? Time will tell.
BR@80,
“Romney is going to lose in November. The electoral vote won’t be close.”
Congratulations on being one of the few who look behind the raw popular vote poll numbers and to the electoral college.
Even the most GOP-biased polls show Obama well ahead of Romney in the electoral college. If all toss-up states go the way they are currently leaning, Obama hits 320-odd electoral votes, well over the 270 required to win.
81 teeth: Root’s ship is not Republican Political Power. Root’s ship is Conservative Punditry.
me: Ya know, I could imagine these thoughts have passed through Root’s head. I can also imagine that he sincerely believes that Obama is the Anti-Christ.
So, it might go like this in Root’s head:
a) Obama must be stopped, and I must lend a hand.
b) The LP is hopeless, filled with crazy anarchists, atheists, and anti-Semites.
c) Fighting them is pointless
d) I might as well go back to the Rs, maybe run for Senate.
e) If Obama wins, this would be good for my career even if it’s bad for the country.
more…
I do hope I’m misreading this situation….
77 gp: It was your guy [GJ] who *nominated* Root for re-election to the LNC.
me: Ah oh. This sounds like an enemies list is being maintained. I note few attacks on GJ from GP since the nomination, but, based on history, could this be the quiet before the storm? Could we be seeing the precursor to a return of “Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Professor”?
I do trust that you have the good sense not to file another complaint with the FEC this time….
@79… you sure did!
@ 80: Romney is going to lose in November. The electoral vote won’t be close. Root is jumping ON a sinking ship.
Not true.
Root’s ship is not Republican Political Power.
Root’s ship is Conservative Punditry.
The best thing that can happen for Root is for Romney to lose. That way, his claim to have been “Obama’s classmate” will continue to have some cachet over the next four years.
Root is washing his hands of any blame for the coming Romney defeat, so he can (hopefully) cash-in on the largely conservative — and lucrative! — post-election, four-year Obama-ba$h-a-thon.
Of course, Root’s too unimportant to sway Johnson supporters and deliver Nevada to Romney. But post-election, he’ll try to spin himself as a very important and “principled” conservative team player, who was there when they needed him. (And by the way, did you hear that he’s also Obama’s former classmate!?)
A smart rat will flee a sinking ship.
Romney is going to lose in November. The electoral vote won’t be close.
Root is jumping ON a sinking ship.
The Republican Party is dying. In a year they shouldn’t lose, they will fail to win the White House and fail to retake the Senate. Beyond 2012, the future is all downhill for Republicans.
The “oddsmaker” has miscalculated.
Well Well
Told ya folks. Wayne Allan Root was the David Cobb of the Lib Party.
Like I said, I had no dog in that fight- just advice from an ally.
BTW- big news coming from Minnesota soon enough…..
“Many of us, including myself, saw Bob Barr for what he really was: a former Republican who was finally realizing the difference between liberty and what he used to think.”
Then you didn’t see Bob Barr for what he really was, because he’s really a con-man and a worshipper of big government.
Also, note that in addition to endorsing Newt Gingrich, Bob Barr later endorsed Mitt Romney (after Newt was eliminated from the primaries).
The actions of Barr and Root show what a joke the Libertarian Party’s 2008 Presidential ticket really was. I’m sure glad that I didn’t vote for them.
@76 It was your guy who *nominated* Root for re-election to the LNC.
Stewart @ 59,
>>Again, my motion to address the problem (Root) got no support. <<
I called my reps and asked that they support your motion. Response was "we'll let the delegates deal with it."
I can also say that one of Wayne's frustrations which contributed to this decision was apparently not being as involved in the leadership of this campaign as he clearly wanted to be — his counsel to ignore left-leaning issues (as far as I can tell) utterly ignored around here.
Joe
Mark @ 71 – it has just about nothing to do with it, but it was in response to another question.
SS @ 61 and 67–
Two great songs.
Thank you for posting them.
Now I’m in the mood to watch Jonathan Demme’s “Stop Making Sense”.
Stuart @ 67 that’s a little too radical. Let’s do it!
Eric @ 40.
Thank you for your kind words. I’m supporting Sundwall in 2013.
Gene Berkman
I am at a lose as to what Dana did before he worked at the White House has to do why Mr.
Root in his backing of Mr. Stirecycle!?
Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman,
American Independent Party of California
@59 No, in my opinion Barr was clearly there to put his name in the history books as a footnote and incidentally have donations that went in some part to some of his good friends and relatives. Where was his advertising spending?
@63
I personally believe it matters not a whit which ideological realm Libertarians come from. The factor that matters is how sincere that person’s beliefs are. Mike Gravel was an interesting recruit from the left and was considered for the LP Presidential nomination in 2008. If selected he could have disappointed us every bit as much as Barr and Root have.
I continue to present the ideas of liberty and responsibility and could care less whether those that are inspired by them used to be leftists or rightists. One day freedomtarians may well reclaim the word liberal though I think that possibility is still years away.
damn typing Representatives
@64 & 66
Glad you enjoyed it, thought it was appropriate.
@66 MHW, they can play this while introducing candidates for the House of Representitives:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6r2uvnRjQQ
Jill @ 64 The LP should open the next national convention with that song.
We really need to start getting people from the left but seeing how many conservatarians we have fallen for, makes it difficult.
SS @ 61: Great post. I’ve stolen it for Facebook.
he talks about bob barr too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfMnzoxcuDE
Adam Kokesh talks about WAR leaving the LP. Thought it was relevant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dKAX7Jp8wo
Tell you what, I’ll give $10,000 to anyone who “wastes his vote” on Gary Johnson and whose state gives its electoral votes to either Obama or Romney by reason of a one vote
margin in the popular vote in that state.
GP@48,
What attempt to sabotage the party? Many of us, including myself, saw Bob Barr for what he really was: a former Republican who was finally realizing the difference between liberty and what he used to think.
I can’t speak for everyone, but those that I know who supported Bob were not trying to sabotage anything. Unfortunately, he made the mistake of trusting his campaign to the wrong people. That, coupled with the opposition from some members of the party, led to a situation where, although he clearly gave his personal best effort, he was continually abused even after the election.
I followed his campaign closely, and while it was not perfect, he did not slide back into promoting non-libertarian beliefs. His articles published after the campaign ended continue to promote libertarian ideals. But he was snubbed and rejected, and eventually gave up on us.
I disagreed with his endorsement of the newt, but I still consider him a libertarian and a supporter of our cause.
Root is another case entirely. I saw through him when he started faking his supposed libertarian positions and began to show his racist and bigoted side (Reason, Sept 2008 interview). We should have removed him from the ticket then, but my motion got no support, even from the “radicals” on the LNC.
It was clear this spring, long before the convention, that he was supporting Romney. Again, my motion to address the problem (Root) got no support. Unlike Bob Barr, Wayne Root was openly trying to use the LP for personal and financial gain AT ANY EXPENSE TO THE CA– USE OF LIBERTY!
I wrote about this in comments on IPR, and told every libertarian I met about the danger we faced with Root on the LNC and “in charge” of the LNCC as its puppet head for the cabal, but not enough people heard or paid attention.
It sickened me that he was re-elected, but fortunately he has resigned. It will be news for a day, or maybe two. Fox and Idiots will soon forget him and move on to the next idiot on their list.
Since this is to be a public resignation, there will be no doubt that Root is no longer even pretending to be a libertarian. He is a con-artist, a documented racist, and a political whore.
51 bh: My top complaint about Johnson is that he too often falls into Ross Perot mode, and argues that America just needs someone honest and competent to run the government.
me: Interesting that you make this critique that I’ve not heard so much from our Nonarchist brothers and sisters! I do hear you. OTOH, I think it’s a true statement…honest and competent are vital qualities for a prez.
It’s certainly not enough for a L candidate’s campaign. OTOH, it’s esp. important to be taken seriously, and GJ is actually qualified to be prez, resume-wise.
Root might think he’s cut a deal with the Nevada Mormons promising him a Senate seat (or nom) in exchange for the Romney endorsement.
That doesn’t mean it would actually happen, as the crooks involved may be lying to one another as well the general public.
If Wayne Root endorses Mitt Romney, then every Libertarian Party member should be glad that he resigned from the party.
Mitt Romney is a big government Republican. There’s nothing that is libertarian about Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is just as bad as Obama.
A-hole.
I’ve heard GJ say we should have allies, but I don’t remember hearing him ever advocating “military aid” to any allies. Gotta cite?
My images cover foreign policy:
I’d like Holtz’s images better if they covered foreign policy.
Libertarianism is three-pronged: Civil Liberties, Economic Freedom, Foreign Non-Intervention.
Alas, Johnson supports “humanitarian” wars and continued military aid to “allies.”
Brian, @51…… I tip my hat to you….
@43 I’m relatively enthusiastic about Johnson. He does a better job than Barr or Root at the most important task of Libertarian candidates: differentiating us from Left and Right by defending ownership of your money and your body.
My top complaint about Johnson is that he too often falls into Ross Perot mode, and argues that America just needs someone honest and competent to run the government.
Concerned Citizen: You’re out of your mind if you believe warfare is an issue. The economy is on life support. Anyone basing their vote on an issue other than that is not voting rationally.
Imagine if there was a free election in Germany in 1942. What might the average German neo-libertarian have said?
German Neo-Libertarian: Sure, I oppose Herr Hitler’s war policies. But I’m tired of these “Blame Germany First” types who lie about our troops killing innocent civilians. The economy was on life support before Hitler came to office. Maybe in four years, Libertarians should vote against Hitler. But with the economy at stake, this election’s too important to lose.”
Yeah, I know the “internet rule” that whoever is first to invoke Hitler “loses.” Big deal. I’m not hear to “win” but to make a point. Which is…
Shame on those “libertarians” who would sacrifice the lives of foreign civilians — the victims of U.S. war policies — for the sake of their own damn bank accounts.
and some people think George wants to lower the Barr
Gary Johnson’s LNC member quit us to endorse Rmoney. Bob Barr’s VP choice quit us to endorse Rmoney. Barr, of course, has already quit us, but the people who gave us Barr with their nomination, support, and front page articles in LP news are still here. We should make sure that they do not get another chance to sabotage our party.
@46… now you are speaking my language…. but then I am a founder of Ice Climbers for a Nuclear Winter.
What was I thinking let me endorse Newt… I mean Mitt now.
CC @ 38: If our wars escalate to include nuclear activity, which is certainly possible, and we all blow ourselves up, the economy will be a moot point. I say war should be the very top issue for everyone, but, hey, that’s just the opinion of this Libertarian.
Israel isn’t the 51st state. Mitt isn’t worried about the health of the US much beyond protecting the corporate interests. Same as Obama… The difference between Obama and Mitt is only if the upper income should pay 5% more in taxes then they do now or not.
Two peas in a pod… You are more like a “Typical Citizen” and I strongly suggest you click the link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp6-wG5LLqE
You’re all basing your votes on assumptions without evidence. If Israel attacks Iran, it won’t be based on who is the U.S. President. Notice how Romney didn’t even talk about war in his convention speech? He knows that spending must be under control and that that will decide whether he’ll be reelected. Obama doesn’t care. He wants to further build an underclass that depends on government to increase the number of reliable Democrats.
@2 Brian, and you? sticking with Gary or are you going to endorse….?
Concerned Citizen,
but if you are willing to put the next war onto your own visa card. And leave me and the rest of the US out…. go for it.
Concerned Citizen,
The economy is based upon consumers and producers. And it is based upon confidence in the future direction of the economy. Low shared confidence consumers slow spending, producers slow spending and the economy slows. High confidence and consumers spend and producers spend and the economy grows… expands….
OK, lets go to war against Iran… put the federal government and us into another 3 trillion dept…. You think that increases confidence in the future or reduces confidence?
My belief…. it adds risk which reduces confidence…. and with Mitt it is almost a sure thing with Obama its just a highly likely thing. In other words ether Mitt or Obama I think our economy is in trouble.
He’s already busting out the evangelical torch. Wayne’s no dummy, he knows that’s where Romney’s weak. Without that Rove driven coalition, Willard can’t win.
Mark Axinn for LPNY chair in 2013! Even if he doesn’t, Intelligent designer bless him for three years to that service. An amazing run. Thank you Mark.
The LNC would be within its rights to censor Wayne for using his past association with the Libertarian Party when he endorses the current Republican presidential candidate.
Within their rights and they certainly should.
You’re out of your mind if you believe warfare is an issue. The economy is on life support. Anyone basing their vote on an issue other than that is not voting rationally.
cc @ 31: One issue for me trumps all others: that is our wars and the need to stop them, and to stop starting them. Obama and Romney are so close in their views that Obama is better for me because we can count on him being gone in 4 years. 8 years for Romney is not okay with me.
I seem to recall hearing about a candidate who has a plan to balance the budget next year. Wish I could remember his name…….
Of the two choices, based on what he’s done and what he says, Obama will not under any circumstances stop deficit spending. What George Bush did is irrelevant. Mitt Romney is his own man and he knows how the economy works.
Concerend Citizen @ 31 – George W Bush issued numerous executive orders, as did George HW Bush and Richard Nixon. There is no guarantee that Mitt Romney would not also be a “strong President” abusing his office.
George W Bush ran up record deficits, and his last deficit was 1.5 trillion dollars, equalled but not exceed by Pres. Obama. Mitt Romney loyally supported President Bush and even backed the bank bailout and other budget busting actions of Bush, so to rely on Mitt for a balanced budget is more faith than reason.
I live in Massachusetts. Gary Johnson it is.
Why would any Republican ever support such an anti-gun candidate as Romney? Or one who doesn’t have the cajones (and/or brains) to attack the auto-bailout? It’s really baffling; if you read what the political compass authors have had to say (from a British perspective), this election really makes no sense and most of the major party candidates (besides Paul) are essentially the same in their view.
Obama is issuing executive orders right and left. The composition of congress doesn’t matter when you have a dictator working unilaterally. It is beyond idiotic to believe a candidate that guarantees continued deficit spending would be better than a candidate that actually has a plan to balance the budget. If you don’t see how different these two candidates are then either you are blind or looking in the wrong place. It’s time to get your priorities straight.
Who in the hell cares who Wayne Root endorses?
@28 George Romney
NF @ 26 – did you not see the mention I made that David Koch was a Romney delegate to this years Republican convention, and I included a link to an interview with DK?
Gene, I added your info to the body of the article above. Thanks!
Gene @23… at least he didn’t support Mitt Romney! 😉
One of the many false premises that bothers me is this absurd argument that Romney is the lesser of two evils.
He is far more evil than Obama. Look at his atrocious record in Massachusetts.
One argument to support Obama is that Congress is likely to go Republican, so a Democrat in the White House will give us glorious stalemate like 1994-2000 instead of rubber-stamp, no veto one party rule like 2001-6.
Anyway, it doesn’t make a difference, as the lesser of two evils is evil and only someone who supports evil would vote using that idiotic criterion.
Thanks, Gene.
GD @ 22 – David Koch was a Co-Chair of the Bob Dole for President committee in 1996, he raised money for George W Bush in 2000, and he was a delegate to this year’s Republican National Convention supporting George Romney.
David Koch was interviewed at this year’s Republican convention. He said he supports gay marriage and he was against the Iraq War, and wants to bring the troops home from Afghanistan.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80483.html
Did David Koch ever endorse (a) Republican candidate(s) for President?
Good decision by Root. Our country is becoming unrecognizable. We must remove Obama from office before our nation falls like the Roman Empire. If one lives in a swing state like Root, he cannot afford to vote third party. The stakes are too high. I doubt this nation can survive a second Obama term. Perhaps he will be the last president.
What a f*cking boob
Talking about who?
LOL – he’d pretty much endorsed him before he “left” the LP. I can’t think of anything more predictable than his leaving. He’s completely in it for himself and “himself” wasn’t being served by being in the LP. He wouldn’t ahve gotten the Pres nomination in 2016 or any other year. It was clear watching him while GJ was speaking at the private fundraiser event at the convention that he didn’t really like Johnson, because he basically stole what he perceived to be his thunder. Ok – so here’s to not talking about him anymore on IPR!
Okay, he’s not the first former national candidate to endorse outside of the party. But is he the first to have maintained a leadership position in the LP just before endorsing?
Officially endorasing Romney, not officially endorsing Romney two months ago . . . what difference does it make? W.A.R. had been promoting the GOP for his entire tenure inside the LP.
And don;t forget his endorsement, contribution for and support of Joe Lieberman!
RC@4,
I don’t anticipate ever returning to electoral politics, and if I do I have trouble imagining it being with either of the two major parties.
That said, I left the LP for a year and worked with the Democratic Freedom Caucus in the early 2000s (don’t remember which year at the moment).
NF – quite a few libertarians supported Ronald Reagan in his run for Governor in 1966, and his runs for President in 1968, 1976 and 1980.
Rep Ron Paul endorsed Reagan in 1976 and 1980. Dana Rohrabacher was a libertarian before he took a job with the Reagan campaign in 1976. Martin Anderson was a former associate of Murray Rothbard and Ayn Rand who was an advisor to Reagan.
For her part, Ayn Rand opposed Reagan, because she was pro-choice on abortion. She also thought that Reagan overstated the Soviet threat, because she understood a totalitarian socialist state could not have a strong military because they would not have advanced industry.
Who was?
NF
Hospers was not the first.
“So if Root isn’t in a third party anymore, how is this news for IPR?”
Because he’s the immediate past chairman of the LNCC and he just left the LP, quite publicly, yesterday.
His resignation letter said he was resigning from LNCC also.
So was Prof. Hospers the first “Reagan Libertarian”?
More trivia – John Hospers endorsed the re-election of Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Roger MacBride, 1976 nominee of The Libertarian Party, returned to the Republican Party and helped organize the Republican Liberty Caucus.
According to FEC filings, Ed Clark (1980 nominee) and David Bergland (1984 nominee) contributed to Ron Paul’s primary campaign for President in 2008, as did David Nolan, founder of The Libertarian Party.
None of these endorsements had much effect, but we can hope Wayne Root is as disruptive of the Republican Party as he has been of The Libertarian Party.
Aw come on Austin. The number of responses this thread is bound to generate will tell you why this is still relevant to IPR.
@5
I would say departures from and arrivals to third parties count as third party news.
So if Root isn’t in a third party anymore, how is this news for IPR?
2 bh, great question. I’d have to say No. I certainly see no reason to believe the GJ is not sincere when he says he’s with the LP for the duration. OTOH, people change. We need go no further than my “fav” L thinker – Mr. Nonarchy himself – Rothbard, who threw in with the paleocon crowd in the 90s.
I have the utmost respect for you, but could the day come when you might want to REALLY make a difference beyond the local level, and you decided to join the GOP as a vehicle to advance your electability prospects for, say, Congress? Certainly not impossible, though I also certainly don’t expect you to do so.
Heck, could Tom Knapp or Carol Moore someday become Ds? Possible, though also unlikely.
Worrying about future defections seems a waste of bandwidth….que sera….
Doesn’t Wayne Allyn Root have the Libertarian Party database?
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2012/01/george-phillies-slams-lnc-for-giving-member-and-donor-database-to-lncc/
I don’t mind libertarians infiltrating the GOP, but shame on Root (and Barr and Hospers) for tarnishing the Libertarian brand with such endorsements.
Can we trust Gary Johnson to never follow this example?
I wonder to what extent he will mention/make use of his former LP positions in his endorsement.