Gary Johnson please run for the senate

[The Dark Knight]

I think its pretty clear that the Liberty movement has backed Ron Paul. Having you in the debates was ok but I don't think it helped out Ron as much as some thought it would. I really don't think your campaign will go anywhere and you have a much better chance at winning the senate and fighting for Liberty there. Please consider running for senate and drop out before the Ames straw poll. The Liberty Movement must unite around one candidate and Ron Paul needs every single vote.

[RileyE104]

Johnson helped the debate. There's no doubt about that and there's no reason to tell him to get out right now.

I was originally opposed to his campaign and wanted him to run for Senate but I think it's good he's in the debate with Ron.

Imagine if Ron was the only person to not raise a hand in favor of torture last night!
Imagine if Ron was the only person talking about reforming drug policy last night!
It would have been 2008 all over again for Ron Paul.

Also, the way Gary Johnson was treated last night by FOX shows that they are (for the most part) treating him like the Ron Paul of 2008.
No offense (I know it's wrong) but this will overall help Ron Paul.

[nobody's_hero]

Also, the way Gary Johnson was treated last night by FOX shows that they are (for the most part) treating him like the Ron Paul of 2008.

That's exactly how I saw it. It's almost as if Gary Johnson is playing a role of 'sacrificial lamb' to help the Paul campaign. When Ron Paul wins, I sincerely hope that GJ gets a role in his cabinet, because I find him to be a good man, but he stumbled a lot last night and yes, they're largely ignoring him.

[sailingaway]

Johnson helped the debate. There's no doubt about that and there's no reason to tell him to get out right now.

I was originally opposed to his campaign and wanted him to run for Senate but I think it's good he's in the debate with Ron.

Imagine if Ron was the only person to not raise a hand in favor of torture last night!
Imagine if Ron was the only person talking about reforming drug policy last night!
It would have been 2008 all over again for Ron Paul.

Also, the way Gary Johnson was treated last night by FOX shows that they are (for the most part) treating him like the Ron Paul of 2008.
No offense (I know it's wrong) but this will overall help Ron Paul.

I think he hurt Ron by people tying them together. The GOP knows Ron by now, they KNOW he is against torture. Now they wonder about Gary's issues.

Gary has a right to run for anything he wants but to pretend this does anything but hurt his opponents, particularly Ron who has overlapping issues, is disingenuous, imho

[cindy25]

same here. he only helps.

2 of the 5 were liberty candidates; plenty of time to unify later on. and the exposure only helps Johnson for senate

[RileyE104]

to pretend this does anything but hurt his opponents, particularly Ron who has overlapping issues, is disingenuous, imho

I disagree. If Johnson wasn't there Pawlenty, Santorum and Cain would have dominated the entire debate and Ron's views would have been largely marginalized.

[trey4sports]

Im glad GJ was there, even though he brought his jazz hands

[RCA]

Are you kidding me? How can anyone NOT see that Gary being there helped RP?? When the two guys on the end didn't raise their hand regarding water boarding, I got goosebumps. It was $#@!ing awesome. We're building a liberty army.

[The Dark Knight]

you are not thinking long term. Gary is missing out on a chance to be in the senate. yeah its great he will be in a few debates but overall his campaign doesn't help Ron Paul as much as some think

[RileyE104]

Are you kidding me? How can anyone NOT see that Gary being there helped RP?? When the two guys on the end didn't raise their hand regarding water boarding, I got goosebumps. It was $#@!ing awesome. We're building a liberty army.

Exactly.

However, I'm disappointed that Gary didn't speak up on WHY he opposes torture when Santorum started attacking Ron after Ron declared that it doesn't help.

[HOLLYWOOD]

'Carl Sagan on Quaalude' needs public speaking advisers/skills...

The rigged polls are trying to push Gary out so Ron Paul will be exploited in the future as fringe/radical/unelectable/etc... compared to these establishment fixed hacks.

[RileyE104]

you are not thinking long term. Gary is missing out on a chance to be in the senate. yeah its great he will be in a few debates but overall his campaign doesn't help Ron Paul as much as some think

It helps in the debates. That's all that matters.
As long as Gary doesn't try to attack Ron.

[TIMB0B]

I wouldn't mind seeing a Paul/Johnson ticket.

[JohnGalt1225]

I like GJ there and he's fine hanging around a little longer, building a profile. Hopefully he uses that to drop out of the Presidential race, endorse Ron, and then run for Senate.

[sailingaway]

It helps in the debates. That's all that matters.
As long as Gary doesn't try to attack Ron.

I don't think it helps at all, except Gary. I see why Gary is doing it, for Gary. But it isn't helpful to Ron to be lumped in as 'one of the libertarians' in every discussion of debates, particularly when Gary's views on abortion etc are NOT Ron's and would to GOP primary voters underline the stereotype of what libertarian means.

[drednot]

Ron's always said it's about the message not the man.

It's clear to me that having a two-time governor backing up his positions on stage helps legitimize Ron with curious Republicans.

If Gary is denying him delegates post New Hampshire, only then we can talk about detrimental effects.

[Matthew Zak]

The way I see it is if we're going to change as a society, we need this message to be broadcast as much as possible. Even if Johnson and Paul cancel eachother out and some hack ends up president, the people will be more likely to elect the message in the future. Johnson as a Senator, and get Rand Paul in the white house in 2016.

But Ron Paul is sharp and articulate, so I think he'll win the battle between the two. It's healthy. I see no real downside here.

[RileyE104]

it isn't helpful to Ron to be lumped in as 'one of the libertarians' in every discussion of debates

It's better to be "one of the libertarians" than "the libertarian" of the debate.

particularly when Gary's views on abortion etc are NOT Ron's and would to GOP primary voters underline the stereotype of what libertarian means.

In the debate, Ron was properly classified as pro-life, no question whatsoever, when Johnson was called out for being the only "pro-choice" candidate.

[speciallyblend]

gary can run for senate after he runs for president so mute issue if i am correct!! drop it and move on geez

[sailingaway]

Ron's always said it's about the message not the man.

It's clear to me that having a two-time governor backing up his positions on stage helps legitimize Ron with curious Republicans.

If Gary is denying him delegates post New Hampshire, only then we can talk about detrimental effects.

'denying him' one percent in a poll can be the margin between the three way ties he's been in for third place and being in third by himself which is very different and gives a much more 'electable' image. Support whom you want, he isn't helping Ron.

[sailingaway]

It's better to be "one of the libertarians" than "the libertarian" of the debate.




In the debate, Ron was properly classified as pro-life, no question whatsoever, when Johnson was called out for being the only "pro-choice" candidate.

No it isn't because Ron defines what that means when it is just him, as far as the GOP is concerned.

Some here really want Gary in, but I don't see how anyone can colorably pretend it is to Ron's benefit.

[BamaFanNKy]

Support whom you want, he isn't helping Ron.

Yet many pundits and others on this board who were in your camp, now disagree.

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

I'm still divided on whether having Johnson in these early debates helps or not. Who knows, if the other "big names" get in for the next one, he may not even be around next time if they set a 1-5% threshold.

I kind of felt sorry for Johnson last night. They really asked him a lot of poor questions (that reality show jibe - what the heck?), and he was not a polished debater. Ron Paul isn't always a perfect speaker, but he has the advantage of being passionate and clever with humor and certain turns of phrase. Johnson lacks that.

[sailingaway]

Yet many pundits and others on this board who were in your camp, now disagree.

Pundits who want Gary more than Ron....who who want Ron to win?

I believe there are some in the wider 'liberty movement' who have been waiting for Ron to quit sucking the oxygen from the room, and with Rand coming on see this as their last chance in a generation, potentially. I couldn't say if they are right about that or not, since I don't think the candidates they are picking would ever be picked above Ron or Rand by people who like Rand. However, they call that being better for the movement, but only for the aspects the Pauls don't represent, which aspects happen to not interest me much. I AM interested in maximizing Ron's run.

[The Dark Knight]

How long does Gary have before he can jump out and run for senate? I think its fine if he stays in till august and the endorses Ron. In the end its votes that count and if Gary ends up taking votes away from Ron (in Iowa and New Hampshire) we have a problem.

[BamaFanNKy]

Pundits who want Gary more than Ron....who who want Ron to win?

I believe there are some in the wider 'liberty movement' who have been waiting for Ron to quit sucking the oxygen from the room, and with Rand coming on see this as their last chance in a generation, potentially. I couldn't say if they are right about that or not, since I don't think the candidates they are picking would ever be picked above Ron or Rand by people who like Rand. However, they call that being better for the movement, but only for the aspects the Pauls don't represent, which aspects happen to not interest me much. I AM interested in maximizing Ron's run.

Actually, a few were Ron Paul supporters. Even Peter Schiff likes Gary there. You and the few anger bears pre-debate are left on the limb thinking Gary was aiming at RP supporters. Dude went straight after moderates (non Social Cons) and mainly dems last night.

[sailingaway]

How long does Gary have before he can jump out and run for senate? I think its fine if he stays in till august and the endorses Ron. In the end its votes that count and if Gary ends up taking votes away from Ron (in Iowa and New Hampshire) we have a problem.

The straw poll is in June.

Yeah Bamafan but Schiff didn't get much support and probably thinks some is because so many pitched behind Rand. You remember how his supporters used to come onto Rand's forum and pitch him. He's better about it than some, in part I think because he really doesn't care as much if he wins office, and thinks the running is good for business, but I think the oxygen thing has crossed his mind, too.

You are mischaractorizing my concerns. It was about Gary's supporters here.

[BamaFanNKy]

The straw poll is in June.

Yeah Bamafan but Schiff didn't get much support and probably thinks some is because so many pitched behind Rand. You remember how his supporters used to come onto Rand's forum and pitch him. He's better about it than some, in part I think because he really doesn't care as much if he wins office, and thinks the running is good for business, but I think the oxygen thing has crossed his mind, too.

You are mischaractorizing my concerns. It was about Gary's supporters here.

I think only one supporter actually tried to get money. The rest defended wrong data on Gary. I did the same and got labeled a GJ supporter. I just knew that it was going to look good that we had 40% of the right message on stage last night.

[sailingaway]

I think only one supporter actually tried to get money. The rest defended wrong data on Gary. I did the same and got labeled a GJ supporter. I just knew that it was going to look good that we had 40% of the right message on stage last night.

i disagree that that was the case, but clearly there is more than one interpretation. I feel as strongly about mine as you do about yours, however.

[BamaFanNKy]

i disagree that that was the case, but clearly there is more than one interpretation. I feel as strongly about mine as you do about yours, however.

So, you would have preferred Ron be the only person with his hand raised on the controversial topics?