Gary Johnson It's time to throw our full weight behind Gary Johnson.

[BenIsForRon]

Only the Liberty movement can get this guy to the 15% he needs to get in the national debates.

I think it's obvious we need to try, and there is nothing to lose from trying. Rand Paul and the national delegates are building goodwill for us in the Republican Party, so the rest of us need to refocus for the next 5 months on Gary Johnson. He's already at 8% nationally, we just need to add 7%. I think if we utilize all the tools we have for Dr. Paul, we can make this work.

So, what I want to hear from all of you is, if you agree, how do we get started? If you disagree, why?

Here's the daily show interview from last week. I think it proves that he's serious and ready to present a focused message to the American people.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-5-2012/gary-johnson

 

[GeorgiaAvenger]

I'd rather sit this general election out.

 

[BenIsForRon]

You're already breaking the rules. I said:

If you disagree, why?

 

[sailingaway]

I'm not interested in Gary Johnson.

 

[TheTexan]

Federal elections are exciting, but essentially a fool's errand. Elect from local upwards, skipping the local work to try to elect a president instead is a mistake.

Ron paul's campaign was good because it woke people up, but now that we're awake we need to do something useful. Pushing GJ is not useful.

 

[BenIsForRon]

I'm not interested in Gary Johnson.

Why?

 

[sailingaway]

Why?

he doesn't adhere to principles, and his cost benefit formula is so squishy it forbids nothing, really. I just have no interest in him.

 

[GeorgiaAvenger]

You're already breaking the rules. I said:

Because he cannot win, and cannot get the 15% either. Even if he did, it would not help the liberty movement. Ron Paul has already given it national attention, and Gary comes off as odd. The effect would be that libertarians in general are marginalized as the next Ross Perot movement that gave the election to Obama.

 

[cheapseats]

he doesn't adhere to principles...

Jesus wept.

 

[BenIsForRon]

Federal elections are exciting, but essentially a fool's errand. Elect from local upwards, skipping the local work to try to elect a president instead is a mistake.

Ron paul's campaign was good because it woke people up, but now that we're awake we need to do something useful. Pushing GJ is not useful.

You're totally right about local action being the most important, we all need to be active in civil society at the local level. I'm talking more than being a delegate in your county GOP, I'm talking support your local farmer's market, participate in local government, and all kinds of stuff that encourages positive change.

But I think there is a way we can get Johnson the extra 7% he needs to have a shot at the presidency. Between social media, universities and other places where we can get our message out, there is a real shot to build some national support. So it's definitely not a lost cause.

 

[cheapseats]

It's time to throw our full weight behind Gary Johnson.

Only the Liberty movement can get this guy to the 15% he needs to get in the national debates.

I think it's obvious we need to try, and there is nothing to lose from trying. Rand Paul and the national delegates are building goodwill for us in the Republican Party, so the rest of us need to refocus for the next 5 months on Gary Johnson. He's already at 8% nationally, we just need to add 7%. I think if we utilize all the tools we have for Dr. Paul, we can make this work.

So, what I want to hear from all of you is, if you agree, how do we get started? If you disagree, why?

Stridently agree, with a caveat:

Not "OUR FULL WEIGHT", but weight.

Abortion Hysterics & Hypocrites could not in good conscience vote for him. They would "logically" remain with the "pro-life" Republicans.

SINK OR SWIM step-over-corpses-in-the-streets people would "logically" remain with the Republican Party.

Lifelong Republicans who thought Bush/Cheney got outta hand but who, overall, are PROUD Republicans..."dyed in the wool", true blue-I-mean-red Republicans...would REALLY LOGICALLY remain with the Republican Party.

Republican Office Holders and Republican Office Seekers and people who MAKE LIVINGS by assisting Republican Office Holders and Office Seekers would LOGICALLY remain with the Republican Party.

Our objective is NOT to have Good Guys in one "party" and Bad Guys in the other.

"In a perfect world", we DO want to break the two-party stranglehold...do we NOT?

 

[Sola_Fide]

I don't think Gary represents a principled libertarian standpoint.

 

[BenIsForRon]

he doesn't adhere to principles, and his cost benefit formula is so squishy it forbids nothing, really. I just have no interest in him.

He was a great governor. You are going to die disappointed if you wait around for another Ron Paul

Because he cannot win, and cannot get the 15% either. Even if he did, it would not help the liberty movement. Ron Paul has already given it national attention, and Gary comes off as odd. The effect would be that libertarians in general are marginalized as the next Ross Perot movement that gave the election to Obama.

Gary Johnson's message will resonate with many, many Americans. Over half of Americans support pot legalization. Over three-quarters want us out of Afghanistan. I'm sure just about 99% oppose the bailouts. So if they see him on the stage, there is a huge opportunity for him to grab democrats and republicans. Independents will flock to him, just like Paul.

As far as his oddness, I think he's worked on that quite a bit, he's seemed pretty cool in his recent Daily Show interview:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-june-5-2012/gary-johnson

 

[Christopholes11]

I agree. I can enthusiastically back him. He's no Ron Paul, but he's great nonetheless. I understand not everyone here is as happy with him, but I have no major qualms with the guy. At the very least he's far better than Obama and Romney, and getting him to 15% so he can debate the two would be a win in itself.

 

[jay_dub]

I think what you're calling for is premature with RP supporters. This can wait until after Tampa.

Would I like to see someone else on the debate stage? Sure. A Romney/Obama debate, if that's the matchup, would be a yawnfest. It would be child's play to paint them as 2 peas in a pod. The American voter needs to see that. It would open a lot of eyes to just how little 'choice' we really have.

 

[BenIsForRon]

getting him to 15% so he can debate the two would be a win in itself.

Indeed.

It's strange, 2 years ago, before we all thought Ron would run again, there was a lot more enthusiasm for Johnson. I think what's happening now is people are demoralized by the past few weeks, and everyone who's not Ron just sucks.

 

[cheapseats]

I agree. I can enthusiastically back him. He's no Ron Paul, but he's great nonetheless. I understand not everyone here is as happy with him, but I have no major qualms with the guy. At the very least he's far better than Obama and Romney, and getting him to 15% so he can debate the two would be a win in itself.

It will compel Obama and Romney to distinguish themselves from one another, or to sound more and more alike.

Either way, Obama and Romney getting more specific OR Obama and Romney sounding more the same will promote Independence/No Party/Critical Thinking.

It is unfortunate that LIBERTARIAN PARTY has some negative baggage, as a label . . . but so do Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal, CHRISTIAN and Patriot.

He plays Party DOWN in his ads. He doesn't "just" not pimp the Libertarian PARTY, he emphasizes NO PARTY POLITICS.

"Give elephants and donkeys the bird?" This is not your father's former Republican.

 

[jmdrake]

At this point I'm voting for Gary Johnson.

 

[BenIsForRon]

I think what you're calling for is premature with RP supporters. This can wait until after Tampa.

Maybe premature for some supporters, the same crowd who are mad at Rand because they think Ron still has a chance. But for the rest of us, it wouldn't hurt to get a 3 month jump on things. That is a lot of friggin time. We got Ron from 5% to 25% in Iowa in less time.

 

[cheapseats]

I think what you're calling for is premature with RP supporters.

RON PAUL'S SON RAND ENDORSED OPPOSING CANDIDATE MITT ROMNEY, AND EXPRESSED INTENT TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

No, it is not premature.

This can wait until after Tampa.

No, it can't.