Gary Johnson will not be at debates

[Champ]

Gary Johnson employed the Rand Paul strategy. Cozy up as much as possible to the Repubs and the Dems seeking out their vote, while doing your best to not piss off your base too much. Both failed as their respective bases saw what they were doing, emoted disappointment, and the lack of energy and passion probably ended up hurting both of them to some degree. And the gains made from the cozying aspect was not enough to account for the loss of the base of support.

Whether these strategies were intentional or just who these men are, I don't know for sure. I'm guessing Rand's strategy was more intentional, based on his behavior/interviews before he became a Senator, whereas GJ is exactly who we are seeing when he speaks. If you feel one of these things make either of these people a better man, more power to you.

It's obvious this is a response to watching Ron Paul run twice and lose twice as a genuinely principled man and knowing something different needed to be tried. Well, now that all of these failed strategies are out of the way.. what's next? Genuineness 2020? It could potentially be a great thing to have Rand run on the LP ticket in 2020, seeing as the LP made more headlines and got arguably much more coverage this time around, elevating the LP in general.

 

[P3ter_Griffin]

Gary Johnson employed the Rand Paul strategy. Cozy up as much as possible to the Repubs and the Dems seeking out their vote, while doing your best to not piss off your base too much. Both failed as their respective bases saw what they were doing, emoted disappointment, and the lack of energy and passion probably ended up hurting both of them to some degree. And the gains made from the cozying aspect was not enough to account for the loss of the base of support.

Whether these strategies were intentional or just who these men are, I don't know for sure. I'm guessing Rand's strategy was more intentional, based on his behavior/interviews before he became a Senator, whereas GJ is exactly who we are seeing when he speaks. If you feel one of these things make either of these people a better man, more power to you.

It's obvious this is a response to watching Ron Paul run twice and lose twice as a genuinely principled man and knowing something different needed to be tried. Well, now that all of these failed strategies are out of the way.. what's next? Genuineness 2020? It could potentially be a great thing to have Rand run on the LP ticket in 2020, seeing as the LP made more headlines and got arguably much more coverage this time around, elevating the LP in general.

I think Rand has cozied up to the republican party a little to much at this point to run against them in a presidential election. He'd get painted as the spoiler candidate giving the election to the democrat and he'd receive so much hate even though it'd be no different than running any other principled libertarian candidate... wouldn't wish it on him for the world.

A lot can happen between now and then but it seems like Cruz will be getting the votes our desired candidate would go after in the GOP 2020 presidential primary. I think it would be nice to not have a GOP presidential candidate running in 2020. Influencing who the eventual nominee for the libertarian party is seems much more in reach. And winning the GOP presidential primary doesn't seem realistic. Unless someone from RPF decides to run I doubt we'll have a say in how the candidate will run (ex. genuine vs pragmatic) but I think it goes without saying we should support the most principled one in the primary and the candidate that will do the least harm in the general.

I'm making yard signs for Gary and making positive distinctions between him and HillTrump on the local newspaper website and in conversation but I don't expect that out of everyone. It would be really refreshing though if the focus of conversation was on how we progress forward and be influential in future elections. So I thank you for brining it up and I hope the future can get the attention it deserves.

 

[JohnM]

The LP wouldn't be looking at 8% in the general right now if Gary had come out against the CRA, or died on some other such hill.

We simply don't know that. GJ enthusiasts can maintain that he is the best person the LP could have chosen, and that his strategy has been the best one for the circumstances. GJ detractors can maintain that the LP should have chosen someone else, and that GJ should have been much more hard core libertarian.

The fact is that we don't know which, if either of these assessments are correct. I know of no strong empirical evidence either way.

My own personal opinion is that it would not have done GJ any significant damage to have come out against the CRA, because most GJ voters are not voting for GJ, they are voting against HRC and Trump - and they reckon that a former state governor with a decent track record is a safer bet than Jill Stein.

In Gary's favor, it can be said that his polling numbers have held up, while Jill Stein's have dwindled: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ep...rump_vs_clinton_vs_johnson_vs_stein-5952.html

On the other hand, with the very unimpressive performances of Trump and HRC over the past 3 months, one would have hoped that GJ's support would have increased more than it has.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Gary Johnson employed the Rand Paul strategy. Cozy up as much as possible to the Repubs and the Dems seeking out their vote, while doing your best to not piss off your base too much. Both failed as their respective bases saw what they were doing, emoted disappointment, and the lack of energy and passion probably ended up hurting both of them to some degree. And the gains made from the cozying aspect was not enough to account for the loss of the base of support.

Whether these strategies were intentional or just who these men are, I don't know for sure. I'm guessing Rand's strategy was more intentional, based on his behavior/interviews before he became a Senator, whereas GJ is exactly who we are seeing when he speaks. If you feel one of these things make either of these people a better man, more power to you.

It's obvious this is a response to watching Ron Paul run twice and lose twice as a genuinely principled man and knowing something different needed to be tried. Well, now that all of these failed strategies are out of the way.. what's next? Genuineness 2020? It could potentially be a great thing to have Rand run on the LP ticket in 2020, seeing as the LP made more headlines and got arguably much more coverage this time around, elevating the LP in general.

Rand isn't a Libertarian.

 

[RonPaulFanInGA]

The polls are usually right. I think we will get the predicted 5-10%

Not for third parties. Johnson was polling 9% early on in the 2012 race, and 5% in September.

How did he finish that year? <1%.

 

[specsaregood]

Gary Johnson employed the Rand Paul strategy. Cozy up as much as possible to the Repubs and the Dems seeking out their vote, while doing your best to not piss off your base too much. Both failed as their respective bases saw what they were doing, emoted disappointment, and the lack of energy and passion probably ended up hurting both of them to some degree. And the gains made from the cozying aspect was not enough to account for the loss of the base of support.

One really big difference in strategies between the two is that Randal tried to bring in generally non-gop/lp groups using conservative principles. he made his case as to why freedom oriented governing would help them solve their root problems. Johnson has just gone at them with typical liberal principles, from what I've heard. big difference

 

[Working Poor]

one would have hoped that GJ's support would have increased more than it has.

The brainwashed minions believe the media that's why.

 

[Champ]

Rand isn't a Libertarian.

If you mean in name only, then as of 2016, you are correct.

If you mean in principles, I would check out some of the videos of him giving speeches before he ran for Senator, when he was helping his father campaign in 2007/2008. He seemed a lot more libertarian than he does now as a senator.

 

[Champ]

One really big difference in strategies between the two is that Randal tried to bring in generally non-gop/lp groups using conservative principles. he made his case as to why freedom oriented governing would help them solve their root problems. Johnson has just gone at them with typical liberal principles, from what I've heard. big difference

Agreed for the most part. I think both had an outreach strategy, which unfortunately did not work in either case. Maybe it will work better in the future, who knows.

 

[undergroundrr]

Nothing is going to work for a libertarian-ish presidential candidate, let alone a hardcore libertarian or ancap, unless an alternative means has been found to insert the candidate's name and face into the awareness of at least, say, 200 million Americans. MSM won't let it happen.

 

[True_Libertarian]

No problem for me, Gary Johnson is not a true Libertarian.

 

[undergroundrr]

No problem for me, Gary Johnson is not a true Libertarian.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[69360]

No problem for me, Gary Johnson is not a true Libertarian.

You joined RPF in 2016 and have made posts bashing Johnson and promoting Trump.

Yeah that's real credible.

 

[eleganz]

You joined RPF in 2016 and have made posts bashing Johnson and promoting Trump.

Yeah that's real credible.

Bro, he is a True_Libertarian. Do not question!

 

[True_Libertarian]

You joined RPF in 2016 and have made posts bashing Johnson and promoting Trump.

Yeah that's real credible.

Johnson is no Ron Paul. I'm not feeling the Johnson.