Note: I’m headlining this with “FIELD REPORT” in the hope that other IPR contributors and readers will submit reports from around the USA (and around the world) reporting on their experience with, or media exposure to, Independent political campaign activity.
This is a field report on the Gary Johnson billboard campaign in Utah.
Late last night I parked by one of the electronic billboards just south of Salt Lake City Utah (the west side of I-15, just north of exit 284; near Thanksgiving Point) and photographed the following billboard images. They appeared for about 7 seconds each, and were in rotation with 7 other non-political ads.
The tag line at the bottom reads: “PAID FOR BY GARY JOHNSON 2016”
Initial research into the sources cited shows the following – BETTER, National Review (nearly impossible to find a one word quote without a citation to the exact article/date of publication); ELECTABLE, The Hill (302 hits result from a search at The Hill for “Gary Johnson” and “Electable” – none appear to be the source of this quote (none are conclusions by contributors to The Hill that Governor Johnson is “electable.” There is THIS opinion piece authored by Gary Johnson himself, and published at The Hill however), FISCALLY SOLID, ABQ Journal (a search of the Albuquerque Journal archives for “Gary Johnson” and “Fiscally Solid” resulted in zero hits.); ABSURDLY HONEST, GQ magazine (it appears the original quote was “Compulsively Honest” and not “Absurdly Honest.” See the link above); THE REAL DEAL, Rep. Rigell, VA (this one is an easily verified direct quote by Representative Rigell); SANEST CANDIDATE, GQ (it seems this last one was in the form of a question rather than a conclusive statement; see the article at the link associated with the quotation).
This was not an exhaustive search and the failure to find the associated quotations is likely more the fault of the researcher or due to time constraints. IPR readers are encouraged to provide citations.
Although the graphics for the billboards do not appear to be downloadable, additional billboard graphics, as well as those above, can be found on the campaign website’s downloads page HERE.
“The good news is, by your own admission you don’t count; candidates picked to “educate” and their supporters ultimately can’t beat candidates picked to win and supported by people who think winning elections actually matters. The LP is a political party, not a debating club. Look at the last 3 nominees (Johnson twice and Barr); regardless of what you think of them it’s not going to get any easier for the Losertarian Caucus.”
yeah…a political party operating under the scientific constraints of political duopoly, Duverger’s law. Do you understand these concepts? is the topic of political science beyond your grasp? Do you understand the difference between ranked choice preference voting and plurality voting systems? Anyone who promulgates what you are pushing that a minor party can rise to major party status in a plurality, winner take-all voting system by simply offering minor variations from a major party is either an ignoramus or a con man. Period. Having a minor party candidate going around saying I’m the true major party candidate absolutely hurts the minor party…short term and long term.
In a comment at kn@ppster’s blog, I outlined the basic science and historical gist of the problem.
http://knappster.blogspot.com/2016/08/another-conversation-starter.html#comment-2850559581
I doubt you can offer any type of rejoinder to that position b/c you simply haven’t demonstrated much intellectual capacity beyond a middle-schooler throwing out “purist,purist,” i.e, “libertarian,libertarian.”
“Given that the immediate objective is not to win but to educate, the result is not measured by the vote totals. ”
Translation: pay no attention to objective standards, success is whatever dL deems it is by his arbitrary whim.
The good news is, by your own admission you don’t count; candidates picked to “educate” and their supporters ultimately can’t beat candidates picked to win and supported by people who think winning elections actually matters. The LP is a political party, not a debating club. Look at the last 3 nominees (Johnson twice and Barr); regardless of what you think of them it’s not going to get any easier for the Losertarian Caucus.
But you’ll get to bitch and moan on the sidelines, which is my guess what you want.
“As opposed to the remarkable success the LP had when in Purist hands. lol.”
Given that the immediate objective is not to win but to educate, the result is not measured by the vote totals. You on the other hand, measure the result by the vote totals and do no better. Or do better by .5%. That makes you incompetent, a loser, stupid and delusional.
I do not put the presidency, or any other government office on a pedestal. If anything, my view is the opposite. I have a low opinion of most politicians, and of government in general.
I do not think that political experience is necessary to run for political office. I have zero experience and I believe that I would be the best President that this country has ever had. Why? Because my goal would not be to run the big machine of government, but rather to shut it down, or at least to shut as much of it down as I could.
I do not consider Gary Johnson or Bill Weld to be qualified to run on our presidential ticket, or to be elected to the offices they are seeking. They are two of the least qualified candidates we have ever had (they are neck and neck with Bob Barr and Wayne Root).
I really do not give a rat’s ass that Johnson and Weld are former Governors. This alone does not impress me at all. If they had truly made great strides for liberty as Governors, maybe I would have some respect for them, but since they did not, all they are to me are a couple of washed up Republicans with over-inflated, over-hyped, and undeserved reputations and fancy titles next to their names.
“Here’s an insight into the human condition: for a lot of people, setting themselves up to ensure failure by insisting on an event that will never occur is the whole point. Or, as one character remarked in The 40-Year Old Virgin.”
No it’s not likely to occur, but if if it were to occur, the only way for it to occur would be via consistent adherence/broadcast of core principles. Your way(republican lite) on the other hand will never ever occur though you delude yourself into thinking it can occur. So you end up broadcasting inconsistent messaging w/ more or less the same voting result as a core principlist. Which is losertarianism(and/or delusionaltarianism). You are like the lunatic in an institution practicing to act credible for your run for the presidency, continuously blurting out to anyone within earshot : “You have no insight into the human condition. You are all setting yourselves up for failure.”
As opposed to the remarkable success the LP had when in Purist hands. lol.
“what accomplices/acolytes are you talking about?”
Anyone who concurs with your ignoramus drivel and/or puts it into practice…
“This is why it is the job of the Libertarian Party candidate for President to build the party/movement, and the brand, so that at some point in the future, we can actually run a candidate for President who actually does have a realistic chance at winning.”
As long as you nominate philosophizing blowhards whose resume wouldn’t qualify them to manage a pizza joint, let alone the federal government, you’re never actually going to reach that point of “realistic shot at winning.” It will forever be in the future.
Here’s an insight into the human condition: for a lot of people, setting themselves up to ensure failure by insisting on an event that will never occur is the whole point. Or, as one character remarked in The 40-Year Old Virgin,
“You’re problem is that your putting that p*ssy on a pedestal.”
In other words, the presidency is not some omnipotent religious office that has mystical philosophical meaning. Its just a job.
dL,
what accomplices/acolytes are you talking about?
“Anthony Dlugos
September 1, 2016 at 13:32
Its never gonna be a realistic goal if you think the job is to be philosopher-in-chief. That’s not what people are voting for, and it turns a Libertarian campaign into a tree falling in the woods with no one around to hear it. ”
This is why it is the job of the Libertarian Party candidate for President to build the party/movement, and the brand, so that at some point in the future, we can actually run a candidate for President who actually does have a realistic chance at winning.
“No, its not. The job of the Libertarian Party for President is the same as the job of any candidate running for president: convince the voters you are the best person for the job.”
Then you and your accomplices/acolytes are utterly incompetent. Fire yourselves. Jeez, talk about Losertarianism…
Its never gonna be a realistic goal if you think the job is to be philosopher-in-chief. That’s not what people are voting for, and it turns a Libertarian campaign into a tree falling in the woods with no one around to hear it.
Whatever slim chance a Libertarian has at winning, its a better option than thinking a presidential campaign is designed to “promote a philosophy.” I’m bored just reading that, imagine what the average voter, who spends about 5 minutes thinking about who to vote for, is gonna think when we present a candidate who drones on about the non-aggression principle.
Actually, I can imagine that. Its a nightmare that winds up with 400,000 votes and convinces NO ONE about a philosophy, because the only ones voting LP in that case are the already convinced.
Anthony, you need to read David Nolan’s list of reasons for forming the Libertarian Party.
The chances of a Libertarian Party candidate for President getting elected are so slim that we are nowhere near this being a realistic goal. The real goal should be building the Libertarian Party and movement and increasing recognition for the Libertarian brand.
” . . . . . .It is vital that every Libertarian Party candidate promote the brand and the philosophy and work to build the party and the movement. . . . . ”
The word “libertarian” comes out of his mouth dozens of times during each media appearance he makes. What more do you want?
“The job of the Libertarian Party candidate for President is to promote the philosophy and the brand, to build the party and the movement.”
No, its not. The job of the Libertarian Party for President is the same as the job of any candidate running for president: convince the voters you are the best person for the job.
You’re describing some other job
The job of the Libertarian Party candidate for President is to promote the philosophy and the brand, to build the party and the movement. If a Libertarian Party presidential campaign is not doing this, they are a failure and a waste of money, time, and effort.
The Libertarian Party is not like the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Those party’s have been around much longer, and everyone already knows who they are. They have lots of money, most of which comes from various special interest groups who feed at the public trough, or who benefit from state power in some other way. Democrats and Republicans run the government. They control everything.
It is vital that every Libertarian Party candidate promote the brand and the philosophy and work to build the party and the movement.
Who said anything about him being a Clinton Plant?
He’s just a crazy old man who has become enthralled with right wing media and started to drink the kool ade. So now he mixes his own batch for the faithful to devour.
Thankfully he will lose “bigly” in November
Krzysztof:
I can proudly say that I have only voted for ONE republican in my life – and even that I sort of regret. I voted for Rick Lazio against Hillary Clinton in 2000 for senate.
My comment that Trump is a national embarrassment is meant only toward trump, not republicans.
National Identity? That’s what he’s doing? Hardly! Our “national identity” is being welcoming and inclusive. Ninety-Nine percent of our ancestors came here from somewhere else and most of them were ridiculed (Irish, Italian, Chinese . . . ) What Trump does is disgraceful and disgusting. HIs “speech” last night was.
He foments anger and fear. That’s a national identity? He spews ridiculous and unrealistic ideas that get the misinformed and upset to cheer and chant.
I have several friends in Europe who just laugh at this Joke of a “leader.” He is incredibly uninformed on the issues and his speaking ability makes Gov. Johnson look like a statesman.
He has brought the worst kind of politics to our people. I feel bad for the 18-21 year-olds who will cast their first presidential ballot for him.
Mindful that an objective of the billboard is to affect vote percentages, here is one of the five key polls and its outcome
FOX NEW!
Aug 28 – Aug 30
1,011 Registered Voters
Johnson-9
Trump is an embarrassment? Yet Bush, Romney and Weld were stellar, am I correct? At Trump he doesn’t cower before the Altar of Political Correctness and is hated almost universally by the neocons. He isn’t advocating war with Russia and this is a major plus.
He’s restoring some sort of national identity in the American populace, and even a country with none like America needs something to bind it together.
Also keep in mind – no one has been able to provide any evidence whatsoever that he is a “Clinton plant.” All anyone has is some pictures from a wedding and contributions he made which stood for a minuscule amount of his total donations.
Jill, why? Almost all political ads I hear or see make no mention of what party the candidate belongs to.
Anyone seeing or hearing a Gary Johnson ad and then are interested in learning more will very quickly learn what party he represents.. I think you are making a much bigger deal than it is. Gov. Johnson mentions the word “libertarian” all the time during his media appearances.
The daily negativity on this board is sometimes hard to take. Gov. Johnson will be BY FAR the most successful LP candidate bringing the word and brand LIBERTARIAN to a very large audience. So some ( a very vocal minority) of LP members don’t think he’s Libertarian enough. That happens in EVERY PARTY.
Do you think most republicans think Trump is Republican enough? He is a national embarrassment.
Given all of the anti-libertarian statements that have come from Johnson/Weld, maybe it is a good thing that they are not mentioning or identifying with the Libertarian Party.
It is not okay that Johnson doesn’t mention and identify with the Libertarian Party.
It is not okay that Johnson doesn’t mention and identify with the Libertarian Party.
It is not okay that Johnson doesn’t mention and identify with the Libertarian Party.
It is not okay that Johnson doesn’t mention and identify with the Libertarian Party.
(I’m going to keep saying this in case he ever cares to listen to why key LP members don’t support him).
It is not okay that Johnson doesn’t mention and identify with the Libertarian Party.
It is not okay that Johnson doesn’t mention and identify with the Libertarian Party.
PurplePAC has run “The Honorable Alternative” Johnson/Weld ad on The O’Reilly Factor last night and tonight (8/30 and 8/31). A contrast ad that reminds people of how unpalatable Mr. Trump and Sec. Clinton are but no mention of the LP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPw7iu5S_e4
8/30 on WMAL (630 AM) during the Rush Limbaugh show there was a radio ad. WMAL reaches all over the DC area.
Money is being spent.