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View Full Version : Gary Johnson Gary Johnson says he might run as a libertarian after all




bluesc
11-16-2011, 04:27 PM
A day after Gary Johnson told TPM he plans to stay in the presidential race as a Republican, he said he will “not rule out considering” dropping out of the GOP race and running as a Libertarian.

“If I continue to be locked out, I would not rule out considering it,” Johnson told TPM Wednesday.

http://theswash.com/2011/11/16/gary-johnson-says-he-might-run-as-a-libertarian-after-all/

He better not if Ron is the nominee.

*capital "L"

kylejack
11-16-2011, 04:29 PM
If Ron fails to secure and decides not to run independent, I'd be delighted to vote for Johnson on an L ticket.

jmdrake
11-16-2011, 04:29 PM
I doubt the libertarians will field an official candidate if Ron is the nominee. But if he's not, and if he doesn't run 3rd party himself, I hope there's a strong 3rd party alternative. Nobody but Paul.

FreeTraveler
11-16-2011, 04:32 PM
I would LOVE to see Gary Johnson accept the Libertarian Party nomination, then issue this statement to the press.

"As I mentioned in one of the Republican debates, I would like to choose Ron Paul as my Vice Presidential running mate. However, since he's currently a candidate for the Republican nomination, I feel that would be inappropriate at this time. However, if by chance Dr. Paul is not selected to head his party's quest for the Presidency, I intend to make that offer. On the other hand, if Dr. Paul does become the Republican nominee, I will ask the Libertarian Party to throw their full support behind Dr. Paul."

Heart attacks within the Republican Establishment, and much hilarity, would immediately ensue. :D

CaptainAmerica
11-16-2011, 04:32 PM
Gary Johnson the snail from spongebob squarepants is a democrat.

flightlesskiwi
11-16-2011, 04:32 PM
question is, will the big "l" accept him after he expressed that he believes intervention (wars) for "humanitarian" causes are a-okay??

bluesc
11-16-2011, 04:33 PM
question is, will the big "l" accept him after he expressed that he believes intervention (wars) for "humanitarian" causes are a-okay??

..


Yesterday, Politico reported Libertarian leaders are urging Johnson — who polls show has failed to find traction among the GOP primary electorate — to follow his ideological heart and run for the Libertarian nomination.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 04:34 PM
Granted, Johnson's not perfect, but he's a hell of a lot better than Bob Barr, and certainly better than any candidate except Ron.

trey4sports
11-16-2011, 04:36 PM
If Ron doesn't get the nomination I'd love to vote for Gary.

flightlesskiwi
11-16-2011, 04:37 PM
..


Yesterday, Politico reported Libertarian leaders are urging Johnson — who polls show has failed to find traction among the GOP primary electorate — to follow his ideological heart and run for the Libertarian nomination.

i guess they are just willing to look past his disturbingly hawkish stance.

desperation, maybe?

bluesc
11-16-2011, 04:38 PM
i guess they are just willing to look past his disturbingly hawkish stance.

desperation, maybe?

Since they urged Ron to join them, and were ignored, I'd say yes. They want someone who has had exposure.

cdc482
11-16-2011, 04:42 PM
If Ron wins the nomination, Johnson won't run.
If Ron doesn't win the nomination, Ron should DEFINITLY run third party (He could do better than Perrot did)...
As much as I love Johnson, there is no senario where I want him to run as a libertarian...

Verrater
11-16-2011, 04:43 PM
Since they urged Ron to join them, and were ignored, I'd say yes. They want someone who has had exposure.

No one but Paul.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 04:45 PM
i guess they are just willing to look past his disturbingly hawkish stance.

Yes, they nominated Barr who voted for the Iraq War, and his VP nominee, W.A.R.

Elwar
11-16-2011, 04:51 PM
The LP would go down in flames if they supported a nominee against Ron Paul.

I would re-join the party if they endorsed him.

specsaregood
11-16-2011, 04:57 PM
Yes, they nominated Barr who voted for the Iraq War, and his VP nominee, W.A.R.

Still, would either of those guys support trumping property rights by backing a nation-wide smoking ban? Cuz last I heard, Johnson would.

flightlesskiwi
11-16-2011, 04:58 PM
Still, would either of those guys support trumping properties rights by backing a nation-wide smoking ban? Cuz last I heard, Johnson would.

mmm mmmm mmmmmmm. not good.

Johncjackson
11-16-2011, 04:58 PM
If Ron fails to secure and decides not to run independent, I'd be delighted to vote for Johnson on an L ticket.

Same here.

Johncjackson
11-16-2011, 05:00 PM
I doubt the libertarians will field an official candidate if Ron is the nominee. But if he's not, and if he doesn't run 3rd party himself, I hope there's a strong 3rd party alternative. Nobody but Paul.

The Libertarian Party is a political party that would like to continue to exist. Of course they would run a candidate. As of right now the guy with the best campaign is a guy who previously ran for office as a "Ron Paul" type Republican.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 05:01 PM
Still, would either of those guys support trumping property rights by backing a nation-wide smoking ban? Cuz last I heard, Johnson would.
Didn't he say he wondered if employees are hostage to a smoking environment? Anyway, he's imperfect, but would still be better than any current non-Ron candidate.

Johncjackson
11-16-2011, 05:02 PM
question is, will the big "l" accept him after he expressed that he believes intervention (wars) for "humanitarian" causes are a-okay??

They've accepted Bob Barr ( who seems to have become genuinely more libertarian over the years) and W.A.R. So, why not.

craezie
11-16-2011, 05:59 PM
Heck yeah, I'd love to vote for Gary Johnson if Ron Paul doesn't get the Republican ticket. Although I do find it disappointing that he doesn't care about protecting the rights of children in the womb.

low preference guy
11-16-2011, 05:59 PM
Heck yeah, I'd love to vote for Gary Johnson if Ron Paul doesn't get the Republican ticket. Although I do find it disappointing that he doesn't car about protecting the rights of children in the womb.

In practice his position is the same as Ron's: let the states decide.

sailingaway
11-16-2011, 06:00 PM
question is, will the big "l" accept him after he expressed that he believes intervention (wars) for "humanitarian" causes are a-okay??

they were fine with Barr, I don't get the feeling they are all that picky.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 06:01 PM
In practice his position is the same as Ron's: letting the states decide.
He believes in letting the individual woman decide, actually. Ron Paul wants to let the states decide.

sailingaway
11-16-2011, 06:02 PM
I'm not drawn to Johnson at all, regardless of whether Ron gets the ticket, but whatever.

The only big L libertarian I know I'd vote for if Ron didn't get it is Ruwart, though. She, like Ron, goes from moral right and doesn't drift - at least, from what I know of her.

I sure wouldn't vote for Johnson to make a statement, because he doesn't represent anything I particularly want to say.

This is another reason why the GOP needs Ron as nominee, though. Johnson wouldn't take many votes if Ron were GOP nominee.

low preference guy
11-16-2011, 06:02 PM
He believes in letting the individual woman decide, actually. Ron Paul wants to let the states decide.

That would be his position if he was a state legislator. As a President, his position is to let the states decide.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 06:03 PM
Ruwart disgusted me with her child porn comments.

pauladin
11-16-2011, 06:03 PM
what if ron paul were to win the republican nomination? would the libertarian and constitution parties even run candidates or would they just endorse ron paul?

Sola_Fide
11-16-2011, 06:07 PM
I'm not drawn to Johnson at all, regardless of whether Ron gets the ticket, but whatever.

The only big L libertarian I know I'd vote for if Ron didn't get it is Ruwart, though. She, like Ron, goes from moral right and doesn't drift.

I'm not onboard with Johnson. If I am going to vote third party, then I am going to vote on principle, and I can't support a candidate who supports restricting the protections of the law to certain people. I can't think of a more authoritarian position than that.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 06:10 PM
That would be his position if he was a state legislator. As a President, his position is to let the states decide.
I don't know...he seems pretty passionate about it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Kq4hbMtS0

sailingaway
11-16-2011, 06:12 PM
Ruwart disgusted me with her child porn comments.

Wow, that sounds like one of those vague but provocative 'too bad about the newsletter' comments.

From what little I know of what she said it sounds like she was if anything musing in a too doctrinaire manner, and if that is correct, it wasn't actually applicable. I'd ask for her to clarify it but am not disturbed by that sort of over academic distraction in the abstract.

low preference guy
11-16-2011, 06:14 PM
I don't know...he seems pretty passionate about it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Kq4hbMtS0

Gary on abortion: (http://ouramericainitiative.com/issues/abortion)


Life is precious and needs to be protected. Deciding to have an abortion is a very difficult decision. As Governor, Gary Johnson supported legislation that banned late term abortions and allowed for parental notification for minors seeking an abortion. He believes that ultimately it is a woman’s right to make such a decision during the early stage of pregnancy.

Judges should be appointed who will interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning. Any court decision that does not follow this original meaning of the Constitution should be revisited. That is particularly true of decisions such as Roe vs. Wade, which have expanded the reach of the Federal government into areas of society never envisioned in the Constitution. With the overturning of Roe vs Wade, laws regarding abortion would be decided by the individual states.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 06:16 PM
Wow, that sounds like one of those vague but provocative 'too bad about the newsletter' comments.

From what little I know of what she said it sounds like she was if anything musing in a too doctrinaire manner, and if that is correct, it wasn't actually applicable. I'd ask for her to clarify it but am not disturbed by that sort of over academic distraction in the abstract.
It wasn't just an off-handed comment, though. She actually published it!

For reference:

Children who willingly participate in sexual acts have the right to make that decision as well, even if it's distasteful to us personally. Some children will make poor choices just as some adults do in smoking and drinking to excess. When we outlaw child pornography, the prices paid for child performers rise, increasing the incentives for parents to use children against their will.

My belief is that children cannot participate in informed consent to sexual contact. Now we can quibble about when the age of consent should be, but not about whether or not children can consent. Totally wrong.

TheDrakeMan
11-16-2011, 06:22 PM
I don't like this. Ron Paul had a pretty bad reputation among Republicans for a while due to his association with the LP. Why can't Gary Johnson take the Ron Paul route and work on changing the GOP from the inside? Like we're doing? I'm liking G.J. less as time goes on.

Birdlady
11-16-2011, 06:36 PM
No one but paul...

I'm not even voting 3rd party this time around because there is no one better than RP out there. I have never been that impressed with the 3rd parties. Most of them would rather fight amongst themselves than to actually do the principled thing for the betterment of the country.

QuickZ06
11-16-2011, 08:17 PM
Gary, Gary, Gary.

He really thinks he can go from last place to first b.c he thinks he can win NH. He just needs to drop out 12' is not his time. NOBP!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezdA2uUyZb8&feature=grec_index

realtonygoodwin
11-16-2011, 08:44 PM
If Johnson were the LP nominee, and Ron, Bachmann, or Huntsman aren't the GOP nominee, then I guess I will vote CP.

craezie
11-16-2011, 09:02 PM
It wasn't just an off-handed comment, though. She actually published it!

For reference:


My belief is that children cannot participate in informed consent to sexual contact. Now we can quibble about when the age of consent should be, but not about whether or not children can consent. Totally wrong.

Thats it for me. I totally rescind everything I said about possibly supporting him in an earlier post. I am not a one-issue voter, but someone who cannot see that children need to be protected from predators has something morally deficient about him. On top of the lack of respect for the rights of the unborn, he has a real problem. Children cannot consent, because they do not have the rational and moral development to make the right choices. That is one of the big problems with our society today (putting situational and moral content on children that they do not have the capacity to handle). No child makes such a choice apart from coercion, and coercion of someone incapable of resisting is the opposite of liberty.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 09:05 PM
Thats it for me. I totally rescind everything I said about possibly supporting him in an earlier post. I am not a one-issue voter, but someone who cannot see that children need to be protected from predators has something morally deficient about him. On top of the lack of respect for the rights of the unborn, he has a real problem. Children cannot consent, because they do not have the rational and moral development to make the right choices. That is one of the big problems with our society today (putting situational and moral content on children that they do not have the capacity to handle). No child makes such a choice apart from coercion, and coercion of someone incapable of resisting is the opposite of liberty.
Please understand we were talking about Mary Ruwart, not Gary Johnson. The poster said he would support Mary Ruwart.

jkob
11-16-2011, 09:10 PM
I'd probably vote for Gary if Ron doesn't get the nomination. Hopefully his ego is big enough to run against Ron when he gets the GOP nomination.

Echoes
11-16-2011, 09:10 PM
Yeh, i've heard of Ruwart but dont know much about her. Thx for the 411 on her views of kid sex, what a slimey peice of dogshit she is !

anaconda
11-16-2011, 09:11 PM
Granted, Johnson's not perfect, but he's a hell of a lot better than Bob Barr, and certainly better than any candidate except Ron.

Perhaps Dick Cheney would accept the Libertarian nomination. A Cheney/Rumsfeld ticket would get a lot of votes.

Fredom101
11-16-2011, 09:13 PM
Funny because Johnson is more of a republican and RP is more of a libertarian.

NewRightLibertarian
11-16-2011, 09:17 PM
I hope he does if Ron doesn't get the nomination. I hope Ventura runs in the Constitution or Green Party as well.

Nathan Hale
11-16-2011, 09:18 PM
There are a lot of factors in play here. I doubt he would go up against Paul if Paul made it out of the primaries (or lost the primaries and ran an indy campaign himself). In fact, I'd like to think that the two would end up running mates.

anaconda
11-16-2011, 09:29 PM
There are a lot of factors in play here. I doubt he would go up against Paul if Paul made it out of the primaries (or lost the primaries and ran an indy campaign himself). In fact, I'd like to think that the two would end up running mates.

If Ron wins the Republican nomination they need to decide if the VP is going to draw independents and conservative Democrats or whether they are going all the way to the right for votes with a VP. Johnson might figure into the former scenario.

Nathan Hale
11-16-2011, 09:34 PM
If Ron wins the Republican nomination they need to decide if the VP is going to draw independents and conservative Democrats or whether they are going all the way to the right for votes with a VP. Johnson might figure into the former scenario.

Plus he brings strong executive experience to the ticket.

Nathan Hale
11-16-2011, 09:34 PM
I hope he does if Ron doesn't get the nomination. I hope Ventura runs in the Constitution or Green Party as well.

Ventura is unfortunately DOA because he's a truther.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 09:35 PM
Only negative to Johnson VP is he has kind of a "weird dude" vibe. Could be a bit of a liability in VP debate.

Echoes
11-16-2011, 09:37 PM
Only negative to Johnson VP is he has kind of a "weird dude" vibe. Could be a bit of a liability in VP debate.

Good point. He speaks *****ish. Ditto with his body language.

lucent
11-16-2011, 09:40 PM
Funny because Johnson is more of a republican and RP is more of a libertarian.

No, he isn't. Johnson is pro-choice.


Only negative to Johnson VP is he has kind of a "weird dude" vibe. Could be a bit of a liability in VP debate.

He's pro-choice. Ron would never choose him as VP.

kylejack
11-16-2011, 09:42 PM
Is the VP able to pass laws now? Why should it matter? I see a VP just as a spokesperson of sorts.

craezie
11-16-2011, 09:44 PM
Please understand we were talking about Mary Ruwart, not Gary Johnson. The poster said he would support Mary Ruwart.

Thank you for the clarification; apparently I did not read closely enough! That being said, I find the idea that a woman could support such a thing is even more disgusting to me. Does she have no maternal instincts?

lucent
11-16-2011, 09:44 PM
Is the VP able to pass laws now? Why should it matter? I see a VP just as a spokesperson of sorts.

Doesn't matter. Ron Paul signed a pledge to only place pro-life people in his cabinet. I should also point out that the VP becomes the tie-breaking vote if the Senate is split.

Echoes
11-16-2011, 09:44 PM
Is the VP able to pass laws now? Why should it matter? I see a VP just as a spokesperson of sorts.

Unlike Johnson Ron is principled and would never choose an anti-lifer.

craezie
11-16-2011, 09:45 PM
Is the VP able to pass laws now? Why should it matter? I see a VP just as a spokesperson of sorts.

Considering that Ron Paul is quite elderly, his VP choice is going to be extra important. It isn't a stretch to see an untimely health condition or even death leading to the VP becoming president during the term.

heavenlyboy34
11-16-2011, 09:51 PM
I doubt the libertarians will field an official candidate if Ron is the nominee. But if he's not, and if he doesn't run 3rd party himself, I hope there's a strong 3rd party alternative. Nobody but Paul. You can always write in an imaginary character or RP. ;)

Nathan Hale
11-16-2011, 09:54 PM
He's pro-choice. Ron would never choose him as VP.

Regardless of his moral opinion, the two offer identical policy prescriptions for the issue: devolve it to the states.

And besides, the two are old friends who have been working together for a long time before both got popular in 2007.

ChrisDixon
11-17-2011, 06:29 PM
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/11/take-2-gary-johnson-says-he-might-run-as-a-libertarian-after-all.php

I've been hearing increasing rumors lately that this will happen...

sailingaway
11-17-2011, 06:33 PM
Thank you for the clarification; apparently I did not read closely enough! That being said, I find the idea that a woman could support such a thing is even more disgusting to me. Does she have no maternal instincts?

she doesn't support it is my understanding. Admittedly I only looked into it briefly but it looked like a hatchet job.

kylejack
11-17-2011, 06:38 PM
Not a hatchet job, she wrote it in her book.

sailingaway
11-17-2011, 06:47 PM
My understanding is that the 'it' she wrote in her book was a theoretical, academic discussion of free choice and while I would have to read the whole chapter, it was described by people I otherwise trust as a hatchet job. It may get down to 17 year olds for example. Having seen hatchet jobs on Ron, I can believe it is one. she seems awfully nice, in a similar way to Ron, as well. I'd have to read it to believe it, but I admit I haven't at this point. On the other hand, I don't know anyone else in the L party who attracts me. Christine whosis seemed ok but recently she wrote some things about Rand which seemed more angry than informed, and I dunno. WAR does nothing for me, Barr has a couple of points on civil liberties I appreciate but he seems smarmy. Whatever.

specsaregood
11-17-2011, 06:49 PM
Not a hatchet job, she wrote it in her book.

Have you read the book?