Another presidential race
Its not just the Democrats who’re having an interesting race for presidential nomination. The Libertarian Party is too.
Various factions are up against each other (in what I’m sure is a fairly common scenario).
A lot of this is probably due to the candidacy of Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman from Georgia. I share the view of many that he is not really a libertarian, but more of a small government conservative. The argument in his favour is that he would not be so extreme as other candidates might, but his candidacy is also seen as an attempt of the right to take over the party.
Personally my preferred candidate is Dr Mary Ruwart. She’s an impressively articulate libertarian and makes the left-wing case for libertarianism very very well (that is the policies will benefit the disadvantaged most). I do understand the reformists point, but I think that education and getting libertarian views heard is more important than just getting votes in an election you cannot win…
Mike Gravel is also standing, having left the Democrats, so in celebration of that fact, here’s another bizarre YouTube video from him…
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May 24th, 2008 at 1:29 am
Barr is considered very likely to get it from what I’ve heard. He and his rockwellian fellows have apparently been doing a good job convincing the party he will get the most votes at a general and so they should pick them. Essentially he is running as the man who can win Ron Paul voters. Given my views on the paleos I’m sure you can guess how I feel about that. Rumour is there are a few people from Perots era helping him out though, so its interesting at least.
Really though, I’m not enthusistic about any of them. Ruwart does represent the section of the party I am most in sympathy with. However, she has shown very little discretion in her campaign. Shes on the record saying for that children can consent to sexual acts in a campaign interview, for example. Really that sort of thing leaves her unable to reach out beyond a very narrow band of libertarians, hit below the waterline before she even starts.
May 25th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Barr gets the nod, beating Root in the last round. Looks like appealing to the mainstream predictably beat sticking to their guns. Its just a shame they are reaching out to the conservative mainstream.