I met Bob Barr yesterday.....

[RonPaulVolunteer]

The president of the union can only do so much, and the congress can only do so much more...

Pull your head out of the sand... You're talking like it's still 1999.

 

[Rangeley]

If Ron Paul doesn't win the nomination, I would urge everyone to vote for Obama.

No way.

 

[JosephTheLibertarian]

If Ron Paul doesn't win the nomination, I would urge everyone to vote for Obama.

For anyone to believe that McCain is better than Obama, you are just not very studied on the two. If McCain wins, we send this country to WW3 without a doubt. And i don't believe America will win that war. The world is itching to put the USA in it's place, and McCain provocative attitude will only encourage them to do it. If Russia and China want to attack the US together, along with most of the middle east, I don't see the USA winning.

Obama is a socialist, yes, but 4 years of heading towards socialism is more preferred than McCains Armageddon.

TIM RUSSERT: So we could have two wars at once?
SEN. McCAIN: I think we could have Armageddon.
- John McCain, on the Iran crisis. April 2nd 2006, on Meet The Press.

Might as well vote for Josef Stalin. I bet that's his secret idol.

 

[TheEngineer]

Republicans losing the election BECAUSE of Libertarians sends them the message that if they deny their libertarian roots, they won't win again.

Republicans winning with a neo-con McCain says they can abuse fiscal policy and true-conservative voters without retribution.

Out of any announced candidate thus far (aside from Ron Paul, who will not be on the ballot in Nov.), Barr has the most credibility with disgruntled GOP voters, and the most in common with Paul's message.

Why write in Ron Paul's name when it won't count when you can vote for Barr who will send the GOP a message they won't soon forget. You want to do something for the Movement, and for the revolution? Teach Republicans that they can't win without their conservative/libertarian roots.

I agree with this 100%. Additionally, Barr has good connections with the MSM (unlike any past Libertarian candidate). Even if he can't get in all the debates, he'll get his message out there sufficiently to peel away enough libertarian Republicans to ensure that they won't win. The GOP will have to respond by rejecting (or at least moderating) their big government social stands.

 

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

Yeah, Barr needs to run if Ron Paul is absolutely not on a Presidential ticket. If for no other reason than he's guaranteed to help bring down McCain, and is just palatable enough for a good number of Ron Paul supporters. If there is any hope to follow Ron Paul's GOP reform efforts, McCain CANNOT win this one.

A McCain victory means continued domination of the party by the neo-cons, no Ron Paul Republican running in the 2012 GOP primary (at least, any credible campaign--McCain or his VP would be nominated for President automatically), and even further tarnishing of the GOP label in the eyes of the American people. By the time four years of McCain are through, a Republican with twice the shining record of Dr. Paul's would be ignored out of knee-jerk outrage by the average voter. We can't let this monster in. I'm not willing to vote Obama to keep him out, so a third party candidate like Barr is the only choice.

 

[Nash]

I don't support Barr for the following reasons:

-He doesn't have the record to back up what he says. I tore Romney apart for flip-flopping, and I won't ignore Barr's similar actions just because I agree with what he says now. He strikes me as thoroughly insincere.

While he certainly has flip flopped on some issues it's not like what he's saying now is super popular with the general public. I don't think he's necessarily doing it for political gain I really think the guy has just changed his mind.

Also he joined the LP 4 years ago. He's not exactly a Johnny come lately on the whole liberty thing in terms of the presidential race.

Another thing regarding the Liberty movement. There aren't that many of us. We're gonna have to accept and encourage reformed people into our movement. That's the only way to grow it.

-Despite being passionately libertarian, I do not support the LP. It's a waste of time. It is essentially a think tank full of bickerers that want to run for President, which calls itself a political party.

I agree with you and that's why I'm a registered Republican instead of a Libertarian. Fortunately for us we can still vote out of party in the general. This is especially important this year since my party's nominee is a warmongering liberal.

-From the three personal acquaintances of mine who have met him, the unanimous opinion is that he is just unpleasant to be around.

I've never met him so I can't argue with that. He's a pretty accomplished speaker though.

 

[m72mc]

Apparently he teaches a class at my college. I didn't even notice him on the elevator until someone next to me said something about it.

I asked him what he thought about Ron Paul. He said he likes Ron Paul's message, but he thinks he is not a very good speaker.

I said I voted for Paul on Super Tuesday and that I was going to be writing his name in come November if I had to. He replied that I should vote for him instead, and that he is running as a Libertarian.

We then started talking about Mike Gravel, and how he thinks that Gravel's big government stance does not fit with the Libertarian party.

After he had to leave I went back to what I was doing. (I missed my floor cause I was talking to him )

I am still going to be voting for Ron Paul this November. Sorry Barr.

When Ron Paul speaks, I get exited.
When Bob Barr speaks I fall asleep.

 

[jbuttell]

Well, I don't see how Republicans losing would help us. The way I see it Obama and Hillary are a little bit worse than McCain (not by much).

A 3rd party gaining ground would always be beneficial, but it's a long term goal.

If Barr is on the Ballot and Ron Paul is not, I will vote for Barr.

Sorry, we use Diebold in my District, so unless we can change that before Nov. there's no way I'll be able to write in Ron Paul, and I'm willing to bet 98/100 people who say they will write in Ron Paul are in the same situation as me.

Ok, hear me out. Anything is possible yeah? Like, a libertarian winning... Ok, now considering what's most likely to happen based on history - the Libertarian candidate will most likely not win. With that said, why would you NOT vote for Ron Paul - even as a write in? I'd bet Ron Paul in this situation may likely get far more writins than an actual libertarian candidate on the ballot this year. Barr voted for the Patriot Act - despite him regretting it, I remain highly skeptical of where he truly stands.

 

[ClayTrainor]

If Ron Paul doesn't win the nomination, I would urge everyone to vote for Obama.

This is an example of exactly what not to do!!!!

CFR is CFR... obama, hillary and mccain are all the exact same candidate in my opinion.

vote obama, vote mccain, who cares, u'll get pretty much the same shit anyways.

 

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

Ok, hear me out. Anything is possible yeah? Like, a libertarian winning... Ok, now considering what's most likely to happen based on history - the Libertarian candidate will most likely not win. With that said, why would you NOT vote for Ron Paul - even as a write in? I'd bet Ron Paul in this situation may likely get far more writins than an actual libertarian candidate on the ballot this year. Barr voted for the Patriot Act - despite him regretting it, I remain highly skeptical of where he truly stands.

Write-in votes don't count and are not reported unless Ron Paul were to register as an official write-in candidate in each state. I can't see him doing this, so it's a complete waste. Just as you never hear votes counted for Mickey Mouse or George Washington, you won't have any write-in votes for Paul counted unless he's registered.

 

[porcupine]

I dunno. I'll keep working on my state for now. I haven't given up on the Republic. The president of the union can only do so much, and the congress can only do so much more... and for proof look at Montana's governor saying f-u to the federal government.

I agree that there is a great deal of liberty to be won at the state level and a state can really stand up to the federal government. That's why I support the Free State Project. I disagree with you though. I think our federal government is a lost cause. If we want freedom, we'll have to unite and work to make one small place free. Freeing this entire country is just too big of a task I think

 

[Conza88]

Agreed. He doesn't measure up to Ron Paul standards, he's too much of a coward and doesn't take a true stand.

He doesn't deserve our financial support or our vote.

Like I said a few days ago. FK Barr.

Ron Paul till I die!

 

[TruthAtLast]

With that said, why would you NOT vote for Ron Paul - even as a write in? I'd bet Ron Paul in this situation may likely get far more writins than an actual libertarian candidate on the ballot this year.

Because I CAN'T write him in even if I wanted to and about 90% of the Country also can't write in candidates. So assuming writing in ANYONE was off the table because it isn't even an option, then what? Do I not vote or do I vote for someone other than McCain, Obama, and Hilary? I'm not saying it MUST be Barr but what are my choices? Ron Paul isn't running. Ventura isn't running. Barr IS. Maybe that changes after the Convention. I hope it does. But if it doesn't, I have no choice but to vote for the man that will at least help the Movement move one step closer (no matter how small that step may be).

 

[Thor]

You guys piss me off. He's an asshole, but you give no reason. People think he is somehow bad cause he suggest voting for him rather than Obama or McCain, that you don't /have/ to write-in Paul if a Libertarian is in the race. Yep, asshole. I mean really.

I have yet to hear a reason why I shouldn't support his candidacy. Someone give me a real reason. I find him to be an articulate speaker and defender of civil liberties, why is that bad?

I will give you a reason. This is a second hand story, but true. My wife worked for the Rural Telecomm Assoc or maybe it was when she worked for the Retail Association, don't recall which, and there was a bill / issue they were backing and were trying to get support for legitimately, not by buying support.

Anywho, after the issue / bill passed, Barr had the balls to call up the office where my wife worked and ask for money from them because he supported the bill and then he got pissy when they told him no. From that day on my wife really disliked him and knew he was just another slime ball in DC.

And I grew up in GA and he was always in the news for something good or bad or whatever. Did not care for him much then either. He comes across as untrustworthy.

Can you imagine RP doing something like that? Never.

 

[Danny Molina]

As long as Mr. Barr has the (L) next to his name he's not going anywhere.

 

[Rhys]

As long as Mr. Barr has the (L) next to his name he's not going anywhere.

QFT

 

[jbuttell]

Because I CAN'T write him in even if I wanted to and about 90% of the Country also can't write in candidates. So assuming writing in ANYONE was off the table because it isn't even an option, then what? Do I not vote or do I vote for someone other than the McCain, Obama, and Hilary? I'm not saying it MUST be Barr but what are my choices? Ron Paul isn't running. Ventura isn't running. Barr IS. Maybe that changes after the Convention. I hope it does. But if it doesn't, I have no choice but to vote for the man that will at least help Movement move one step closer (no matter how small that step may be).

What's to stop you from writing him in? Respectfully, you know how to use a pencil right? Of course it doesn't necessarily add up to anything - just like how I was forced to file a provisional ballot on Feb 5th - I knew it would likely not count, but I did it anyway. I've voted Libertarian in the past, I knew they wouldn't win - but I did it anyway. It's a protest vote.

I feel what's most important is that you cast your ballot. Why you have to vote for someone other than Ron Paul who has virtually no chance of winning - I'm not certain. I suppose the only value you may have by voting for 3rd party this round, is to potentially influence the 3rd party %. But you're not even claiming to stand for any particular party (like the libertarian) so your ballot will just get dispersed through some random 3rd party candidate.

I'm not suggesting you do this every election - but Ron Paul is exceptional - why not go out with a bang? Either way, your vote won't go toward any of the Repub/Dem candidates. So whats the difference?

I'm not saying you're wrong - I just am not seeing the value in supporting a 3rd party candidate unless they're exceptional. I've yet to see anyone even come close to Ron Paul's character.

 

[jbuttell]

Obama is a socialist, yes, but 4 years of heading towards socialism is more preferred than McCains Armageddon.

McCain is a socialist too. So is Bush. The similarities don't end there. I don't understand how people consider themselves Ron Paul supporters and then turn around and assume that just because it's a Democrat we're talking about (Obama) they'll lead us away from war. Democrats don't have a great record either when it comes to foreign policy - and seem to adore the UN even more than Republicans.

Don't be fooled into thinking you're helping by voting Obama. You're just being played. Best learn now than later.

 

[Kludge]

Dr. Paul wouldn't be counted as a vote against the "establishment", and - in history, he's still a Republican, a member of the party of Neocons.

Voting Libertarian sends a message to politicians and others that many people AREN'T voting Republican because they support Pre-Lincoln thinking (no... I'm not talking about slavery >.>).

Writing in Dr. Paul will have no effect, and I'm willing to stake $100 that he will not win with a write-in campaign, nor will he be mentioned in the media.

 

[billyjoeallen]

It's likely that Dr. Paul will endorse Barr after the Republican convention. I will vote for Barr if RP endorses him. If not, I'll write in the good doctor.