This article has real problems, but it does get to the heart of the question that every libertarian should be asking, “It took William F. Buckley, Jr. and his National Review to establish control and set a new course for the conservative movement (in the 1950’s). But can anyone do the same for the libs?”
Discuss among yourselves.
3 Comments Received
Personally, I think that the LP threw away a perfect opportunity to finally arrive in the “mainstream”…. What they have done by nominating Bob Barr, is no different than what the GOP has done by picking John McCain as their new poster boy. The claim is that Bob has changed his colors, and I hope that is true. Unfortunately, the base of the LP more than likely fears his neo-con past, and seeing as how his past actions don’t support his present views, I believe it is going to cost the LP a great deal.
Ron Paul did the LP a great service this year, by bringing to the forefront of our minds all of the many faults within the GOP. If McCain is the nominee, many of us will not vote for the GOP nominee. The LP, in my opinion, squandered their chance to capitalize on this. There is no telling if they will ever have this opportunity again.
Heather, I guess the question that leaves me with is which of the LP candidates would have better parlayed Ron Paul’s successes into the general campaign? Ruward would have been the typical, invisible LP pick, same with Kubby. Root and Gravel would have faced the same charges that Barr has.
I know that many LP insiders feel that Barr is a carpetbagger, but walking away from a major party where he had respect and influence to join a small party that has never elected anyone to congress or gotten more than 1% in a presidential election strikes me as a pretty principled move and utterly irrational unless he really believes what he is saying.
Don, You make some very good points. To be honest, I don’t really know who would have been a better pick for their ticket. Personally, I am not a fan of Mary Ruwart, and I believe that she would have been the sort of nominee that would have absolutely kept the LP on the back burner.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I believe that Ron Paul and Bob Barr are good friends. My hope is that Bob has turned over a new leaf, and the good Doctor has had and will continue to have a positive influence on him. Please don’t take my previous comment to mean that I hold animosity for Bob; I understand that we all make mistakes and sometimes, we recognize it and repent. I was always saddened when Bob placed a bad vote, as I have always considered him to be better than the majority of politicians. Having said that, the overwhelming opinion on a lot of blogs seems to be one of anger from the LP members towards those who chose Bob as the nominee. They seem to be experiencing the same sort of division that the GOP is now facing. It remains to be seen if Bob can pacify the dissenters and get the entire party behind him.
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