Rethinking Gary Johnson

[bobbyw24]

By W. James Antle, III on 12.8.10 @ 2:49PM

Here are a couple of more optimistic takes on a possible Gary Johnson presidential candidacy: Daniel Larison says he might "have a salutary effect on the primary contest," Jack Ross argues Johnson could become the anti-Palin candidate and actually win.

Larison's point may well be true. Ron Paul was able to gain exposure for his views on foreign policy, civil liberties, and the Federal Reserve through the Republican primary debates even if he didn't seem at the time to be gaining many converts among the GOP faithful. Gary Johnson ought to be able to do the same. But a big part of the argument for Johnson is that he can move the ball further than Paul, which the Weekly Standard interview does a great deal to undermine.

First, he is going to have even less credibility than Paul among most conservatives. One of the things that helped Rand Paul in the Kentucky Republican primary is that he did not conform to the libertarian caricature being drawn by his establishment opponents. Johnson already seems to be reinforcing that caricature

http://spectator.org/blog/2010/12/08/rethinking-gary-johnson

[Elwar]

It's all speculation at this point.

Politics aint beanbag. In 2008 the war was the main concern of Americans when McCain was elected on a shoe string budget. It quickly changed to the economy being center stage.

Had the elections occurred a year later Ron Paul would have been a front runner.

Who knows what the main talk of the day will be over the next year and which candidate will be percieved as the best person to deal with it.

Who knows, marijuana legalization could become the biggest thing over the next year and Gary Johnson hits the spotlight, or the Federal Reserve stays the focus and Ron Paul takes the mantle.

Or Russia could attack Alaska and Palin rises to the top.

A lot can happen in a year.

[fisharmor]

He will never get the pro-life vote.
He will never be a Republican president.
Think and rethink.... but facts are facts.

[Elwar]

He will never get the pro-life vote.
He will never be a Republican president.
Think and rethink.... but facts are facts.

"He backs every piece of legislation we're for," says Dauneen Dolce, of the Right to Life Committee of New Mexico. That includes "parental consent," "informed consent," and bans on assisted suicide, partial-birth abortion, and Medicaid-funded abortion. Johnson didn't win the group's endorsement in 1994, but got it four years later.

He also supports an end to Roe v Wade ala Ron Paul.

[muzzled dogg]

can he win with shit like this: http://www.mikecann.net/2010/12/gov-gary-johnson-i-smoked-marijuana.html

[Elwar]

can he win with shit like this: http://www.mikecann.net/2010/12/gov-gary-johnson-i-smoked-marijuana.html

That would actually be something that would energize some grassroots support for Johnson as opposed to his moving to the center tactic that he's been going with up to this point.

[silentshout]

can he win with shit like this: http://www.mikecann.net/2010/12/gov-gary-johnson-i-smoked-marijuana.html

He could in the west.

[Brian4Liberty]

Doing interviews with The Weekly Standard? Perhaps he is finding common ground there with support for Israel and open borders... :confused:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/meet-gary-johnson-ron-paul-2012_520775.html

[johnrocks]

Still a Ron Paul fan but I really like Gary Johnson, please don't let one article by that neo con rag Weekly Standard turn you off, probably what they want to do.

[Bman]

He could in the west.

Which means he could win. If he can win one coast he can win the other. Plus do we really think the South will vote for Obama? HAHAHA!!!

Alas, I don't see how he makes it out of the primary, I don't see him being able to win southern states. Never know until the debates however.

[speciallyblend]

He will never get the pro-life vote.
He will never be a Republican president.
Think and rethink.... but facts are facts.

well the gop better nominate Ron Paul in 2012 or to me they are dead in the water!!