Gary Johnson Gary Johnson just announced that he is running for President

[JP2010]

Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson said today he is running for president in 2012.

Johnson, a Republican who was governor from 1995 to 2003, made his announcement on the steps of the State House in Concord, N.H. On Twitter a short while ago, his staff tweeted for him:

First time to say it. "I am running for president."

Johnson has libertarian views and is perhaps best known for his efforts to legalize marijuana and for cutting New Mexico's budget and taxes. He's been traveling to early presidential contest states such as Iowa and New Hampshire talking about the nation's debt and U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Libya.

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...gary-johnson-president-new-mexico-governor-/1

 

[eduardo89]

I like Gary, but I don't want him running against Ron Paul. I'd much rather have him in the Senate so we have 3 voices of reason there (4 with Demint on a good day)

 

[sailingaway]

Shock, that.

You know, he'd have had support running for Senate. I'm thinking of David Adams, Rand's campaign manager. He had the good will of Rand's supporters, then to get his new campaign attention, really undermined Rand in the final days of his campaign. His new candidate tried to get support from Rand's followers, and it was a nonstarter. Gary may get his name out there, but while he may appeal to some, he may turn off many others.

 

[acptulsa]

Well, having heard him speak at the R4R (above), I don't think he's going to set the world on fire at the debate. Or subsequently, either. Yeah, some of us appreciate soft spoken reason, but I don't see this getting to Iowa, or at least not past New Hampshire.

I'm still hopeful that another voice of something resembling reason will help Ron seem less isolated (if not less 'isolationist' ) at the debate. Cross your fingers.

 

[JP2010]

I think having him and Ron in there will dilute the neocon rhetoric.

I see it as a plus.

 

[acptulsa]

I see it as a plus.

For a while.

 

[libertybrewcity]

We'll see how this goes. Not sure if it will be a plus or minus. Honestly, I don't think he will pick up much traction. I don't think he will even have the numbers to get into the debates..

 

[Inkblots]

This is a good thing. We now are guaranteed that at least one candidate who cares about liberty and Constitutionally limited government will be in the race. And if Ron runs, as seems quite likely, it'll mean two voices calling for real change and the rule of law.

 

[kahless]

I like the fact that he is for vouchers, otherwise as a Libertarian the man is a fraud. The establishment and Progressive news media will use him to divert the idiot and young people vote away from Ron Paul by using his beliefs on drug use and legalization. He will not be considered a credible candidate for the Republican primary.

A candidate with no prior history of drug use such as Ron Paul on the other hand can be taken seriously when it comes to drug legalization. I guy known as Mr. Pot that claims he used several days a week will on the other hand will not.

 

[sailingaway]

I think having him and Ron in there will dilute the neocon rhetoric.

I see it as a plus.

I see it as competition for overlapping votes, as Bachmann takes votes from Palin, Huckabee and Palin from eachother, and Pawlenty from Romney. He is running AGAINST Ron, and I support Ron.

 

[Matt Collins]

I like Gary, I think he's a good guy and he's way better than anyone up there now, with of course the exception of Ron, Rand, and maybe Amash and Lee. But I hope he goes far, just not at the detriment of Ron. Hopefully this campaign will set him up for something bigger next time around. If for whatever reason he is still in the race if Ron drops out he'll get my full support.

 

[acptulsa]

He's taller than I remembered.

 

[TNforPaul45]

GNN News: "Gary Johnson announces his candidacy for President today and launches his 'Ron Paul Sucks Vote For Me Instead' 2012 73 State Campaign!"

http://www.gnn.com/stupidconstitutionalists/Gary-Johnson-Ron-Paul-Sucks.htm

 

[JohnEngland]

Nice website: http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/

 

[kahless]

gnn news: "gary johnson announces his candidacy for president today and launches his 'ron paul sucks vote for me instead' 2012 73 state campaign!"

http://www.gnn.com/stupidconstitutionalists/gary-johnson-ron-paul-sucks.htm

lmao!

 

[BuddyRey]

Awesome!

The presence of two libertarians in the debate will only help us. People won't see Ron as the "lone kook on the end of the stage" anymore.

The neocons this time around will have two cans of whoopass opened up on 'em!

 

[acptulsa]

Just wish he'd loan Rep. Paul his hair for the duration. Trump wouldn't stand a chance against a head of hair like that.

 

[TNforPaul45]

Awesome!

The presence of two libertarians in the debate will only help us. People won't see Ron as the "lone kook on the end of the stage" anymore.

The neocons this time around will have two cans of whoopass opened up on 'em!

It won't, because Gary Johnson cannot be trusted to not attack Ron Paul and put him down, trying in a political fashion to make Johnson look better instead. I see it as highly unlikely that Johnson will try to jump in and defend paul, or even remain neutral.

Johnson is an opportunist. He will be among 7-10 other GOP candidates that hate Paul. Johnson will try and make himself seem like one of them, that he's not like that "crazy old Paul."

I'll eat an onion if he doesn't.

 

[Fredom101]

This is just more evidence pointing to the fact that both campaigns are educational, not "to win". Paul & Johnson both running has been in the making for 3 years. They want to go to the debates and make the libertarian view more normal, mainstream, by having 2 of them. RP will be laying down the principles, i.e. get rid of income tax, end the drug war, pull all the troops home, etc. while GJ will be the more moderate one, i.e. lower the income tax by x%, legalize marijuana but not the other drugs, end the wars but leave some troops behind to "keep the peace".

I quite frankly don't see the point of having a so-called "moderate libertarian" in the debates. To me it's all or nothing. We need principles, otherwise it's just Bob Barr again and the media will have a field day making GJ look like a crack pot, because it will be based on personality over principle.

 

[sailingaway]

It won't, because Gary Johnson cannot be trusted to not attack Ron Paul and put him down, trying in a political fashion to make Johnson look better instead. I see it as highly unlikely that Johnson will try to jump in and defend paul, or even remain neutral.

Johnson is an opportunist. He will be among 7-10 other GOP candidates that hate Paul. Johnson will try and make himself seem like one of them, that he's not like that "crazy old Paul."

I'll eat an onion if he doesn't.

I think he'll try to say he is Ron Paul but without 'any of this crazyness'. I've seen his interviews. "How do you differ from Ron Paul?" "Well, MY votes MEANT something because I was governor ...." [what, 20 years ago?] He wants to ride on what Ron built now that it is a force to reckon with.