How does Gary Johnson fit into 2012?

[Matt Collins]

How does Gary Johnson fit into a Ron Paul 2012 Presidential run?

 

[rancher89]

as vice president, she says again and again....

 

[Imperial]

I think most roads start with a Gary Johnson exploratory committee. If he got into a couple of debates and then dropped out, that would probably be best for the Paul campaign (as he would then likely endorse Dr. Paul).

So where would he go next. Three major directions, which would likely not be mutually exclusive in some cases.

1. Campaign with Ron Paul as a significant elected official with a national name.
2. Wait in the wings to be Dr. Paul's VP (delivering New Mexico to the Republicans and providing an executive for the ticket).
3. Run for Senate in New Mexico, giving us a liberty candidate with good funding and huge name recognition for an important position.

Number 3 is my personal favorite. I think there are better options for Dr. Paul in the VP department (I have stated many times I would love to see Mitch Daniels in that role, but there are others too).

 

[Matt Collins]

Yeah #3 is a good idea too. Many Senators used to be Governors prior to the 17th Amendment.

 

[MozoVote]

Running for President and then dropping out quickly just douses the flame thoroughly - it demonstrates weak fundraising, and such candidates are not taken seriously in the future. I don't think Gary should try it unless he can at least finish 3rd to set himself up for 2016.

Few people would take Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo seriously in 2012 for example. You need to do WELL in a prior cycle. They were 2008's "quick roadkill".

 

[K466]

Gary needs to run for the Senate out there in NM. What's President Paul going to do if he has no allies in congress?

 

[Ethek]

Gary would be useful in the debates. It would shift the center of debate dramatically towards a comprehensive liberty platform. I like Gary, I think I understand him. He is sincere and completely honest. He will come across as aloof, in your face frankness, a little awkward and maybe unsympathetic sometimes, but that is him being so sure that he will innately assume some things do not need to be explained. He wont win, but I think he can server a purpose to give ron the edge in the fight this time around. Gary will find a spot in that future but It wont be as president.

 

[Bergie Bergeron]

A Johnson aide said on this very board he wasn't going to run for Senate.

 

[Matt Collins]

Gary would be useful in the debates. It would shift the center of debate dramatically towards a comprehensive liberty platform. I like Gary, I think I understand him. He is sincere and completely honest. He will come across as aloof, in your face frankness, a little awkward and maybe unsympathetic sometimes, but that is him being so sure that he will innately assume some things do not need to be explained. He wont win, but I think he can server a purpose to give ron the edge in the fight this time around. Gary will find a spot in that future but It wont be as president.

But how will his presence relate to Ron's?

 

[angelatc]

Think Carter.

 

[BenIsForRon]

I would like to see him as president, but he has too many aspects of his personality and personal life that would turn off Americans, because Americans are just weird like that.

Ron Paul was a obstetrician and has been married for 50 years. No one can say anything bad about this guy. So I'm really thinking Paul is just about our only option, his age being the only minor hurdle to acceptance.

So where does Gary fit in? Senate, VP, early presidential candidate that drops out... all sound good. The last option might be too expensive and distracting. You could always combine options two and three...

But all I know is he needs to get back in some sort of office. That's where I think he can do the most good.

 

[Elwar]

Johnson has said that he's in it for the long haul. Ron Paul has one last shot at being president and that's 2012. Johnson is the backup plan from there on.

Johnson should stay in through the summer and see how things go in Ames. If he's up there in the top 4, he should stick around through the fall debates. Otherwise, drop out and work on the Paul campaign early.

Politics aint beanbag so you never know if his message becomes the mainstream message of the day and all of the stars line up. He'll be propped up if the California marijuana bill passes...he'll get a lot of coverage as the marijuana legalization candidate. Who knows, that could become the main topic of the day. If he's out front and Ron Paul is back where he was in 2008, he might play it smart and drop out to give him his support if there's a chance of Johnson winning.

You can't speculate too much in politics. As of August 2007, John McCain was done. He was broke and the other candidates were praising him during the debates because they knew he didn't stand a chance.

 

[Nathan Hale]

Few people would take Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo seriously in 2012 for example. You need to do WELL in a prior cycle. They were 2008's "quick roadkill".

I don't consider Hunter or Tancredo analogous, because they stuck it out for the whole cycle and got trounced. Johnson, if he followed that plan, would stay in for a debate or two and drop out. He'd be more like Tommy Thompson or Sam Brownback. But, to the point, I don't think either would do better in the primary this time around either.

 

[Nathan Hale]

I personally support Johnson running in 2012 instead of Ron Paul, but it seems at this point like Paul is gearing up for another run. I just wish he'd moderate a little to capture more of the base.

 

[TheeJoeGlass]

I think most roads start with a Gary Johnson exploratory committee. If he got into a couple of debates and then dropped out, that would probably be best for the Paul campaign (as he would then likely endorse Dr. Paul).

So where would he go next. Three major directions, which would likely not be mutually exclusive in some cases.

1. Campaign with Ron Paul as a significant elected official with a national name.
2. Wait in the wings to be Dr. Paul's VP (delivering New Mexico to the Republicans and providing an executive for the ticket).
3. Run for Senate in New Mexico, giving us a liberty candidate with good funding and huge name recognition for an important position.

Number 3 is my personal favorite. I think there are better options for Dr. Paul in the VP department (I have stated many times I would love to see Mitch Daniels in that role, but there are others too).

Why Daniels?

 

[trey4sports]

WAY WAY WAYYYYY to much "what if's" here guys. I don't understand how you guys come on here trying to nitpick every little thing about Gary Johnson. With the exception of Ron Paul it's been a LONG time since we've had a credible "liberty" candidate running for president and now that we will most likely have 2! running for office you're going to bitch about it?

This isn't something that happens overnight, and we cannot simply shift public opinion in our favor in 4 years, or 8 years. We need to wholeheartedly support liberty candidates instead of bitching about them splitting the vote, or their speaking skills. Beggars can't be choosers

 

[Matt Collins]

Gary would be useful in the debates. It would shift the center of debate dramatically towards a comprehensive liberty platform. I like Gary, I think I understand him. He is sincere and completely honest. He will come across as aloof, in your face frankness, a little awkward and maybe unsympathetic sometimes, but that is him being so sure that he will innately assume some things do not need to be explained. He wont win, but I think he can server a purpose to give ron the edge in the fight this time around. Gary will find a spot in that future but It wont be as president.

You don't think he'll split Ron's support?

 

[Nathan Hale]

You don't think he'll split Ron's support?

Or will Ron split *his* support?

With the exception of "cult of personality" logic, Johnson is the stronger candidate.

 

[Bergie Bergeron]

Johnson will have to start from scratch, he's a no-name.

 

[Nathan Hale]

Johnson will have to start from scratch, he's a no-name.

Sometimes it's easier to start from scratch. Digging into Johnson's background will only reveal two very successful terms in office filled with great, moderate-yet-libertarian musings and issue positions.