Barr's official stated reason for missing the conference

[pauletteNV]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out

this movement died today as far as I'm concerned.

People just can't see the forest through the trees and it is a waste of my time and energy to hope this will ever change.

Truth Warrior - sign me up. I'm finished with politics for good.

You keep posting your disappointment and that you are leaving. The door is open.

 

[acptulsa]

It is this type of myopic thinking that has gotten us where we are. Minor factions fighting for the left over tablescraps instead of joining together, standing up and taking back what is rightfully ours.

I can now see that Barr = pathetic, puny little man. He just lost my vote today for creating yet another pointlessly stupid rift within our group over nothing more then his foolish pride.

Anyone who would get his panties in a knot because Ron Paul is smart enough to see that liberals--even socialists--want to take this nation back for the people and address these individuals with respect is less a politician than a fool.

 

[jabrownie]

If Ron Paul REALLY wanted to shake up the system and fight the good fight against the status quo NOW (not 10-20 years later), he could have accepted the LP nomination that was offered to him on a silver platter. No, he wouldn't win but he could have achieved 49-50 state ballot access and spread the liberty message far more effectively than anyone else this election cycle (especially with a credible VP pick such as Gary Johnson, Ventura, or... perhaps even Bob Barr.) No doubt it would have been the best 3rd party vote total since Ross Perot and established a solid foundation for a political force to be reckoned with in the years ahead.
QUOTE]

Sore loser laws in many states prevent someone who ran in a major party primary and lost from appearing on the ballot as a third party in the general.

 

[Shotdown1027]

Good for Adam Kokesh, I respect him SO much.

 

[svf]

Sore loser laws in many states prevent someone who ran in a major party primary and lost from appearing on the ballot as a third party in the general.

Actually that's not true in almost all cases for presidential candidates. This has been mulled over extensively before, for the details see this Ballot Access News post. Texas presents a potential problem, but there's an easy way around it.

Truth is, Ron Paul just didn't want to keep running for President. He wasn't very interested in the first place, really -- we're the ones who took him for a ride he never expected. He's off the bus but we're still driving it (hopefully not off a cliff....)

 

[afmatt]

"Leadership is not just about knowing when to lead, but knowing when to follow," Kokesh said. "You failed that test today and I retract my endorsement of you."

Thanks for telling it like it is Adam.

 

[ARealConservative]

You keep posting your disappointment and that you are leaving. The door is open.

 

[Mental Dribble]

I know BobBarr's pissed most of you off for good at this point, but I have to grudgingly agree with his refusal to participate in a Ron Paul "any of the above" quasi-endorsement of theocrat Baldwin, socialist Nader, and even mega-Marxist Cynthia McKinney for f***'s sake.

Instead, it appears he prefers to "play nice enough" with the GOP to preserve his Congressional standing while continuing to take pot-shots from the sidelines and encourage folks to "explore all 3rd party alternatives".

All due respect for the man, but that's not active leadership -- it's passive "spokesmanship."

You just dont get it man. Ron Paul was not giving any "Quasi-endorsement". What he was doing was highligthing the hypocrasy and strangle hold the two party system imposes. Ron Paul stood up there today to announce that ALL LEGTIMATE THIRD PARTIES / INDEPENDANT Candidates deserve a spot on the medias agenda and at the debating forums. Once again he has shown himself to be the BIGGER MAN by saying, look, we don't agree on EVERYTHING but we are bound by the common thread of oppresion from the presidential debate commission and the national media and if we want to fix this we have to work together. Vote for who trully represents you, is what Ron spoke about today. He happens to be a believer in freedom and realizes not everyone agrees with his stance but that doesn't warrant their exclusion from a fair and legitimate process.

What Barr did is no better than what the two big parties do. ME OR NO ONE is what Barr painted on his donkey end today.

Very very sad.

and yes, I was at the press conference.

 

[CasualApathy]

 

[BLuegreengrey]

So, he was basically refusing to share the stage with non-libertarian conservative candidates. Idealism is his excuse, I guess. It isn't about learning how to vote for someone other than the Demopublican bull, but learning how to vote LP period. Sweet.

I'm with Dr. Paul on this one. Bad move, Barr. We need everyone, not just us, to reject the status quo.

thank you

 

[pilby]

Yesterday Barr sent Paul a letter ... asking Paul to run as Barr's vice presidential nominee.

If Barr had any idea of his own importance and credibility compared to Dr Paul, he would have offered to step down himself and offer Dr Paul the presidential slot. Instead, he's gracious enough to kick Root out in order to offer a biscuit to Paul.

Real cool, Bob.

 

[dawnbt]

you just dont get it man. Ron paul was not giving any "quasi-endorsement". What he was doing was highligthing the hypocrasy and strangle hold the two party system imposes. Ron paul stood up there today to announce that all legtimate third parties / independant candidates deserve a spot on the medias agenda and at the debating forums. Once again he has shown himself to be the bigger man by saying, look, we don't agree on everything but we are bound by the common thread of oppresion from the presidential debate commission and the national media and if we want to fix this we have to work together. Vote for who trully represents you, is what ron spoke about today. He happens to be a believer in freedom and realizes not everyone agrees with his stance but that doesn't warrant their exclusion from a fair and legitimate process.

What barr did is no better than what the two big parties do. Me or no one is what barr painted on his donkey end today.

Very very sad.

And yes, i was at the press conference.

+1000

 

[Carole]

Dr. Paul tried the Libertarian route once and found it nearly impossible to climb that mountain. I am libertarian-minded (with a small "l"), but I have read a few things with which I have disagreed in that party. Thus, I never left the Republican party for the Libertarian party. If anything I might consider becoming Independent, disassociating myself with any party.

I have also read that former Congressman Barr does have a large ego. I neither know nor care. I do care that if one gives his word that he will do something, he should follow through.

It would have been a small thing for Barr to have kept his word today. He complains about not being invited to such and such. Was he not just at the Rally for the Republic?

He may have used poor judgment in staging the separate press conference today and eschewing the RP press conference. But I will defend his right to do so, even if I disagree.

It seems disrespectful to Dr. Paul.

 

[V3n]

What Barr is offering voters is...
bold, focused, specific leadership. That is not the amorphous kind that says "any of the above" or "none of the above." That's not leadershp. What is leadership is what I, and our campaign, and the LP are doing. Putting before the American people not a wish list, not a menu of things you can pick and choose, not a group of candidates, but a candidate for president, Bob Barr, who stands for very specific programs and policies and direction for this country.

I don't know how many times I've read on this site that Ron Paul supporters are looking for "some direction", "some endorsement", someone who will LEAD.

So here Bob Barr says (IMO) 'I'm not going to share the stage with the others and say vote for any one of us and you're cool - I want my own stage and say Vote for Me'' He wasn't snubbing anyone, he signed the agreement, he was just being a leader.

 

[Dorfsmith]

I don't know how many times I've read on this site that Ron Paul supporters are looking for "some direction", "some endorsement", someone who will LEAD.

So here Bob Barr says (IMO) 'I'm not going to share the stage with the others and say vote for any one of us and you're cool - I want my own stage and say Vote for Me'' He wasn't snubbing anyone, he signed the agreement, he was just being a leader.

That's no excuse for saying you are going to show up and not showing up. That's called a liar...not a leader.

 

[V4Vendetta]

wow, it looks more and more like Barr is a plant.
I suspected that the Libertarian party was infiltrated months ago, because of the sheer number of votes for Gravel and Barr.

However since Baldwin wasn't going to be on the ballot in my state, I was going to vote for Barr. Well now, I am not!

This is another tactic to destroy this movement. And the CIA is doing a damn good job of it.

 

[ceakins]

You know what, I think Ron Paul was wrong today. By not endorsing the LP candidate and just saying vote for whomever you want, or don't vote, he assured that one of the two parties will get elected. By guiding people to a single candidate, this would have increased the spotlight on that candidate, getting more votes. Ron Paul has just effectively watered down the votes for all the candidates. I came to this conclusion before seeing the fracas about Barr. I'm rather saddened by the lack of leadership in this regard, and wonder why I thought there would actually be real change, as apposed to faux change.

 

[Arklatex]

You just dont get it man. Ron Paul was not giving any "Quasi-endorsement". What he was doing was highligthing the hypocrasy and strangle hold the two party system imposes. Ron Paul stood up there today to announce that ALL LEGTIMATE THIRD PARTIES / INDEPENDANT Candidates deserve a spot on the medias agenda and at the debating forums. Once again he has shown himself to be the BIGGER MAN by saying, look, we don't agree on EVERYTHING but we are bound by the common thread of oppresion from the presidential debate commission and the national media and if we want to fix this we have to work together. Vote for who trully represents you, is what Ron spoke about today. He happens to be a believer in freedom and realizes not everyone agrees with his stance but that doesn't warrant their exclusion from a fair and legitimate process.

What Barr did is no better than what the two big parties do. ME OR NO ONE is what Barr painted on his donkey end today.

Very very sad.

and yes, I was at the press conference.

+1

 

[mmink15]

So did Bob Barr's press conference have any point to it, other than to give his reasons for skipping the press conference that had took place a couple of hours ago?

 

[acptulsa]

You know what, I think Ron Paul was wrong today. By not endorsing the LP candidate and just saying vote for whomever you want, or don't vote, he assured that one of the two parties will get elected. By guiding people to a single candidate, this would have increased the spotlight on that candidate, getting more votes. Ron Paul has just effectively watered down the votes for all the candidates. I came to this conclusion before seeing the fracas about Barr. I'm rather saddened by the lack of leadership in this regard, and wonder why I thought there would actually be real change, as apposed to faux change.

I hear you. But I believe that Ron Paul was attempting to get some liberals--and, yes, even socialists--to get their own movement going and/or get behind Nader and/or the Greens. And that cannot be done with a conservative group.