Are you going to switch to Libertarian after the elections, or stay Republican?

[krott5333]

I've been thinking about this for awhile now, and I think the best bet in the long run is to stay Republican.

The libertarian ideals of freedom and liberty are mainstream views, but often people don't realize its exactly what they want until they actually hear the message. And in my opinion, the best way to get that message to the masses is through mainstream parties and changing the Republican party from the inside-out, ground-up.

Run for office. Get involved locally. Talk to your neighbors. Continue to be the spreaders of truth.

Just never forget who you are and for whom you work.

 

[sirachman]

Stay Republican and take back the Republican party!

No matter where we all came from whether it be apathy, the Democratic party, the Republican party, the Constitution party, the Libertarian party, or any other we have all come together as Ron Paul Republicans and we should stay so in order to STAY UNIFIED in a fight for the good of all American citizens, a fight that will not end on election day but continue on throughout the 50 states and beyond. We have a mission to elect deserving representatives who believe as we do in the fifty states and to master campaigns of future presidents. We can do this we the children of this new R[EVOL]UTION but to do so we must not waver, we must stand together to take back the Republican party and the country!

 

[jbuttell]

Respectfully, if Ron Paul doesn't get in, I'll be switching to Libertarian. I will seriously consider staying republican if Ron Paul is elected.

 

[krott5333]

It would not be a bad idea for our newly-revised Republicans and Republican groups to coordinate with libertarians and libertarian groups.

 

[sirachman]

It would not be a bad idea for our newly-revised Republicans and Republican groups to coordinate with libertarians and libertarian groups.

Unite them all under the banner of the revolution, we are all under the Ron Paul banner now but after the election we will still be a part of a unified revolution and hopefully we will unite as Ron Paul Republicans to elect local leaders and look ahead at future presidental elections like I said. I have nothing against voting for a libertarian thats running on the paul platform but if we all united under the same banner in a currently existing and currently damaged party we could take it completely with work and have more name recognition plus the boast that we pushed out the neocons.

 

[krott5333]

Unite them all under the banner of the revolution, we are all under the Ron Paul banner now but after the election we will still be a part of a unified revolution and hopefully we will unite as Ron Paul Republicans to elect local leaders and look ahead at future presidental elections like I said. I have nothing against voting for a libertarian thats running on the paul platform but if we all united under the same banner in a currently existing and currently damaged party we could take it completely with work and have more name recognition plus the boast that we pushed out the neocons.

When many of us become prominent Republican party leaders, a public endorsement of a Libertarian candidate, while controversial, could be very powerful.

However, in the nearer future, libertarian (small l) Republicans will be far easier to elect and mobilize, because as Ron Paul has stated, freedom is popular.

 

[libertarian4321]

If Ron Paul wins the nomination, I'll stay in the Republican Party.

Otherwise, screw the neocon warmongers, I'm out...

 

[Benaiah]

I think that we should stay Republicans and take the party back.

 

[krott5333]

I think that we should stay Republicans and take the party back.

I agree, and I don't think it will be as difficult as it sounds. Many people are leaving the party, tired of the big government lies and big government wars. The party is going to have to change, and it WILL change as it is flooded with Ron Paul Republicans. The party is not merely an intangible entity. The party is defined by its members and supporters.

 

[Russellk30]

I think I'll stick with the Libertarians. The Republican Party may be salvageable, but the light at the end of the big government social tyrant warmonger tunnel of doom has yet to appear.

 

[krott5333]

I think I'll stick with the Libertarians. The Republican Party may be salvageable, but the light at the end of the big government social tyrant warmonger tunnel of doom has yet to appear.

So you'll rely on people like myself to provide that light?

 

[LibertyRevolution]

I think that trying to takeover the Republican party is hopeless and thats what this election is showing. They are too well rooted, to wel funded, its an impossible goal. Right now people hate Republicans, they hate bush. We are better off being an indepentant or Libertarian.

 

[misconstrued]

Seeing how many in the Libertarian party have treated Paul (Reason, Cato, etc) gives me serious reservations about joining the party.

 

[Harbinger]

I voted Michael Badnarik in 2004 although I was not a registered Libertarian. I do like most of the positions of the Libertarian party (essentially, libertarian [little L] positions), but I think there is still more name recognition with the Republican party. Many people will simply vote for whoever the Republican (or Democrat) candidate is and consider voting "third party" to be "throwing away their vote".

While I think that the Republican party has been seriously damaged by the neocons it may still be salvagable. You can agree with the Libertarian party platform and candidates, and even vote for them when they run, but I think the best way to make an impact will be through the Republican party.

Consider how little air time Dr. Paul gets in the main stream media. Now think of how often you have heard the Libertarian party mentioned for any reason, much less the Presidential election. As more people become aware of the issues facing our country, and the real solutions that libertarianism and fiscal conservatism / small government provide, the Libertarian party may stand a chance at increasing its profile. Until then it seems best to work on the Republican party.

 

[dblee]

You can't take over a major political party in one election cycle.

It takes time. I think I'll stay republican and try to change the party from within.

At any rate, I can not agree with the libertarian stance on illegal immigration. Also, it seems like a lot of the more old guard libertarians are just as snobby and resistant to change as the old guard republicans.

 

[Aballistar]

I would call myself a libertarian, but I reject the whole idea of parties on principle. I vote based on individual persons, not the party they represent. I will continue to stay an independant, but will switch to whatever party I need to each election year to vote for my guy in the primaries.

 

[Harbinger]

I think that trying to takeover the Republican party is hopeless and thats what this election is showing. They are too well rooted, to wel funded, its an impossible goal. Right now people hate Republicans, they hate bush. We are better off being an indepentant or Libertarian.

Honestly, I think a huge impact has been made. The so-called "neo conservatives" hijacked the party in short order (although admittedly they were working on their socialistic platform at least as early as George Bush Sr.) and rapidly turned the party into big-government pro-welfarism out-of-control big spenders.

Ron Paul gets, on average, 10% or so of the support among Republican voters, at least per the early primaries and caucuses. The support would likely be significantly greater if people could be convinced that he were a "viable" candidate. Very few disagree with the message Dr. Paul puts out (except for those who are so deeply entrenched, personally or financially, in continuing the Iraq war).

This 10% (possibly far greater) is a wedge right in the middle of the giant crack that has been breaking up the Republican party. The neocons managed to hijack the party in less than a few years time. The momentum of this libertarian / small government / fiscal conservative / Constitutional movement has a real chance of continuing to build, driving out the neocons and socialists, and restoring the republic.

At no point in recent history has the libertarian message seen such massive support. Even Michael Badnarik, who did a great job campaigning in 2004 as the Libertarian candidate did not come close in the amount of support, both in voters and in money, as Ron Paul has running on a very similar message but as a Republican.

 

[Russellk30]

So you'll rely on people like myself to provide that light?

I wont rely on you. I like the Libertarian philosophy just fine and have no problem staying and expanding that party, but if individuals like yourself are able to promote limited government from within the Republican Party, good for you.
The Republican evolution into an aggressive liberal organization was decades in the making and I don’t have the passion to reverse that trend because it started around the same time I was born.
Besides that, I think a viable third party in this country would be good for politics in general. I don’t want to choose between a turd sandwich and a giant douche, that’s just not very productive.

 

[Russellk30]

Seeing how many in the Libertarian party have treated Paul (Reason, Cato, etc) gives me serious reservations about joining the party.

Reason and Cato (liberal libertarians/cosmo's) are not associated with the Libertarian party. The Libertarian Party has actually been more than receptive toward Ron Paul. Many potential candidates have endorsed him and the party administration has said they would like it if he sought their nomination. They have also provided party resources to help out his republican campaign.

 

[Russellk30]

I would call myself a libertarian, but I reject the whole idea of parties on principle. I vote based on individual persons, not the party they represent. I will continue to stay an independant, but will switch to whatever party I need to each election year to vote for my guy in the primaries.

That is a great philosophy. I am sure it will serve you well. If everyone could be convinced to follow suit this country might actually resemble what the founder intended.