Johnson is considering a US Senate run in NM

[itshappening]

If a pro-life presidential candidate can never win, how did George W Bush become president? Of course he flip-flopped when he became president, but on the campaign trail he was firmly pro-life.

he never did anything to stop abortions as president, despite having house and senate. None of them do because it's a losing issue, polorazing, not certain to pass and even if anything passed there's the court cases to come.

It doesnt matter if a pro-life president gets elected because they wont do anything. This has been proven time and again. The issue is settled as far as politicians are concerned and no president will waste time on it despite what they say beforehand.

 

[RandRevolution]

The achillies heel of the liberty movement is that we are political perfectionists and refuse to vote for someone like this who has honest convictions and agrees with us on some of the most crucial issues.

Look at Gary Johnson - he wanted to cut 1.4 trillion year one, repeal NDAA and PATRIOT Act, abolish the department of homeland security, extremely pro 2nd-amendmant, anti-torture, anti cap and trade, anti Obamacare, anti bailouts and corporate welfare, would end funding of Fannie and Freddie, legalize weed and decriminalize other drugs, leave Afghanistan and Iraq, end medicare part D, end many military bases, believes in due proccess for everyone including foreigners, abolish the department of education, EPA and a few other departments I can't remember, pretty anti-fed and he clearly has real convictions.

All of this and some people here have the nerve to call him "the lesser of three evils". No, he's the lesser of two goods.

This is someone who takes a year out of his life to promote our ideas and not only do people here refuse to vote for him (instead doing a write in for someone who wasn't even running and remained intentionally silent the entire general election) but we actually had so many people here act hostile towards him, calling him things like "Scary Johnson". Yes there are some things I disagree with Gary Johnson on and he's not as good as Ron Paul but he's right on 99% of the issues and his overall philosophy of fiscal conservatism, social liberalism and free markets is great.

Not giving our votes to Gary Johnson is one of the biggest mistakes the revolution has made.

Instead of going

"What? He doesn't want to legalize all drugs? Fuck that guy."

we should be like

"What? He wants to legalize weed and decriminalize other drugs? What a huge step forward, awesome!"

But we've been spoiled by Ron Paul so we end up with too many perfectionists who refuse to vote for anything less than someone as perfect as Ron Paul. If not for Rand, Ron would have endorsed Gary in a heartbeat. He endorsed 3 left-wing lunatics in 2008 because they signed a pledge saying they agreed with him on Afghanistan, Iraq, The Federal Reserve and the Drug War.

 

[Kotin]

The achillies heel of the liberty movement is that we are political perfectionists and refuse to vote for someone like this who has honest convictions and agrees with us on some of the most crucial issues.

Look at Gary Johnson - he wanted to cut 1.4 trillion year one, repeal NDAA and PATRIOT Act, abolish the department of homeland security, extremely pro 2nd-amendmant, anti-torture, anti cap and trade, anti Obamacare, anti bailouts and corporate welfare, would end funding of Fannie and Freddie, legalize weed and decriminalize other drugs, leave Afghanistan and Iraq, end medicare part D, end many military bases, believes in due proccess for everyone including foreigners, abolish the department of education, EPA and a few other departments I can't remember, pretty anti-fed and he clearly has real convictions.

All of this and some people here have the nerve to call him "the lesser of three evils". No, he's the lesser of two goods.

This is someone who takes a year out of his life to promote our ideas and not only do people here refuse to vote for him (instead doing a write in for someone who wasn't even running and remained intentionally silent the entire general election) but we actually had so many people here act hostile towards him, calling him things like "Scary Johnson". Yes there are some things I disagree with Gary Johnson on and he's not as good as Ron Paul but he's right on 99% of the issues and his overall philosophy of fiscal conservatism, social liberalism and free markets is great.

Not giving our votes to Gary Johnson is one of the biggest mistakes the revolution has made.

Instead of going

"What? He doesn't want to legalize all drugs? Fuck that guy."

we should be like

"What? He wants to legalize weed and decriminalize other drugs? What a huge step forward, awesome!"

But we've been spoiled by Ron Paul so we end up with too many perfectionists who refuse to vote for anything less than someone as perfect as Ron Paul. If not for Rand, Ron would have endorsed Gary in a heartbeat. He endorsed 3 left-wing lunatics in 2008 because they signed a pledge saying they agreed with him on Afghanistan, Iraq, The Federal Reserve and the Drug War.

there are more than one achillies heel for the liberty movement but it is certainly one of them.. hehe

 

[69360]

he never did anything to stop abortions as president, despite having house and senate. None of them do because it's a losing issue, polorazing, not certain to pass and even if anything passed there's the court cases to come.

It doesnt matter if a pro-life president gets elected because they wont do anything. This has been proven time and again. The issue is settled as far as politicians are concerned and no president will waste time on it despite what they say beforehand.

It's not settled, the country is about equally divided.

Rand Paul isn't going to shut up about it and he's not going to flip on the issue.

The achillies heel of the liberty movement is that we are political perfectionists and refuse to vote for someone like this who has honest convictions and agrees with us on some of the most crucial issues.

Look at Gary Johnson - he wanted to cut 1.4 trillion year one, repeal NDAA and PATRIOT Act, abolish the department of homeland security, extremely pro 2nd-amendmant, anti-torture, anti cap and trade, anti Obamacare, anti bailouts and corporate welfare, would end funding of Fannie and Freddie, legalize weed and decriminalize other drugs, leave Afghanistan and Iraq, end medicare part D, end many military bases, believes in due proccess for everyone including foreigners, abolish the department of education, EPA and a few other departments I can't remember, pretty anti-fed and he clearly has real convictions.

All of this and some people here have the nerve to call him "the lesser of three evils". No, he's the lesser of two goods.

This is someone who takes a year out of his life to promote our ideas and not only do people here refuse to vote for him (instead doing a write in for someone who wasn't even running and remained intentionally silent the entire general election) but we actually had so many people here act hostile towards him, calling him things like "Scary Johnson". Yes there are some things I disagree with Gary Johnson on and he's not as good as Ron Paul but he's right on 99% of the issues and his overall philosophy of fiscal conservatism, social liberalism and free markets is great.

Not giving our votes to Gary Johnson is one of the biggest mistakes the revolution has made.

Instead of going

"What? He doesn't want to legalize all drugs? Fuck that guy."

we should be like

"What? He wants to legalize weed and decriminalize other drugs? What a huge step forward, awesome!"

But we've been spoiled by Ron Paul so we end up with too many perfectionists who refuse to vote for anything less than someone as perfect as Ron Paul. If not for Rand, Ron would have endorsed Gary in a heartbeat. He endorsed 3 left-wing lunatics in 2008 because they signed a pledge saying they agreed with him on Afghanistan, Iraq, The Federal Reserve and the Drug War.

You're right, it's a major problem, but not mine. I voted Johnson. My only issue with him was that he's not pro-life. But he was the best choice on my ballot, obviously without a chance to win but still. So I put aside one very important belief and voted for the best candidate. We have to do that sometimes.

 

[MozoVote]

If he runs as a Republican ... will he keep wearing the "peace" shirts ?

 

[TCE]

Udall will be a tough out. Johnson had his chance in 2012. Some of us were fighting this battle in 2010 and 2011 and Johnson spit in our faces. If he wants to do all of the heavy lifting and then we put the cherry on top, then that's fine, but I've had enough games from him. Don't get me wrong, I voted for him for President and all, but clearly his advisers are horrible for suggesting he run for President.

@Rand Revolution: It is one of the liberty movement's flaws, but I would argue a bigger flaw is throwing so much money and support behind guys who can't win. We're such a small group that every dollar is precious. The "Can they win?" question should be the second one asked after finding out if they are a legitimate liberty candidate.

 

[LibertyIn08]

Udall will be a tough out. Johnson had his chance in 2012. Some of us were fighting this battle in 2010 and 2011 and Johnson spit in our faces. If he wants to do all of the heavy lifting and then we put the cherry on top, then that's fine, but I've had enough games from him. Don't get me wrong, I voted for him for President and all, but clearly his advisers are horrible for suggesting he run for President.

@Rand Revolution: It is one of the liberty movement's flaws, but I would argue a bigger flaw is throwing so much money and support behind guys who can't win. We're such a small group that every dollar is precious. The "Can they win?" question should be the second one asked after finding out if they are a legitimate liberty candidate.

Remember that Ron also ran a Libertarian candidate for President to subsequently win a Federal election as a Republican.

 

[trey4sports]

Yeah buddy. I'm all in either way. LP or GOP.

 

[Galileo Galilei]

good move.

 

[TCE]

Remember that Ron also ran a Libertarian candidate for President to subsequently win a Federal election as a Republican.

Those were very different circumstances. Johnson had a following here in 2010/2011 of people who were willing to donate money, volunteer for him, and do countless other things to help him get elected to the Senate. He was cornered on the subject and essentially said, "I do not want to be a Legislator." Okay then. What has changed in two years? He had a golden opportunity along with tons of us who were willing to help out. He turned us down. I won't believe he's running for Senate until he actually announces.

 

[HigherVision]

Yeah buddy. I'm all in either way. LP or GOP.

Me too, what is up with all the GOP loyalists in the Ron Paul movement? Has everyone forgotten the fact that they're our enemy?? That the two party monopoly is the problem?

 

[Nathan Hale]

I'm all in either way too. The best thing to do would be to run as an independent, free of any party affiliation.

 

[Okaloosa]

Me too, what is up with all the GOP loyalists in the Ron Paul movement? Has everyone forgotten the fact that they're our enemy?? That the two party monopoly is the problem?

My enemy is the assault on the Constitution and our Liberties. We do not have two parties in my opinion we have one. Running in the GOP will actually give us a second party and a chance at winning. If you can't win you can't make policy.

 

[Smart3]

I'm all in either way too. The best thing to do would be to run as an independent, free of any party affiliation.

I concur, I wish he'd do something like Bernie Sanders and accept the Republican, Libertarian and Independent American (although that might be hard, since he isn't a pro-lifer) nominations, but still run as an Independent.

 

[LibertyIn08]

Those were very different circumstances. Johnson had a following here in 2010/2011 of people who were willing to donate money, volunteer for him, and do countless other things to help him get elected to the Senate. He was cornered on the subject and essentially said, "I do not want to be a Legislator." Okay then. What has changed in two years? He had a golden opportunity along with tons of us who were willing to help out. He turned us down. I won't believe he's running for Senate until he actually announces.

I concur, I wish he'd do something like Bernie Sanders and accept the Republican, Libertarian and Independent American (although that might be hard, since he isn't a pro-lifer) nominations, but still run as an Independent.

Fusion tickets aren't allowed in New Mexico and the GOP wouldn't abdicate their line for an independent unfortunately.

It'd be great if Johnson were running in a small state like Vermont that was conservative leaning but no such option exists, unfortunately.

 

[supermario21]

Fusion tickets work in New York for Republicans, but I sadly don't even think you could trust the Libertarian Party to accept a fusion ticket if it were possible even with a Liberty candidate. They'd still trot out a candidate even if GJ was the Republican nominee. Jon Barrie actually did pretty well in the Senate race for a 3rd party candidate this year. To be honest, Libertarians did well in Senate races this year. Montana, New Mexico, and Ohio (Rupert listed as nonparty, but he's libertarian) all pulled in between 4-5% I'm pretty sure.

 

[Adrock]

Fusion tickets work in New York for Republicans, but I sadly don't even think you could trust the Libertarian Party to accept a fusion ticket if it were possible even with a Liberty candidate. They'd still trot out a candidate even if GJ was the Republican nominee. Jon Barrie actually did pretty well in the Senate race for a 3rd party candidate this year. To be honest, Libertarians did well in Senate races this year. Montana, New Mexico, and Ohio (Rupert listed as nonparty, but he's libertarian) all pulled in between 4-5% I'm pretty sure.

They did better in AZ too.

 

[Eric21ND]

Me too, what is up with all the GOP loyalists in the Ron Paul movement? Has everyone forgotten the fact that they're our enemy?? That the two party monopoly is the problem?

The Ron Paul movement is the GOP in many places. Dr. Paul's idea to infiltrate the party was a stroke of genius.

 

[compromise]

Fusion tickets aren't allowed in New Mexico and the GOP wouldn't abdicate their line for an independent unfortunately.

It'd be great if Johnson were running in a small state like Vermont that was conservative leaning but no such option exists, unfortunately.

Could he do what Sanders did, win the Repub nomination, then back out and run as a Libertarian or Independent? That would mean there wouldn't be a Republican listed on the ballot. Johnson could also distance himself from the GOP to attract liberal voters.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Could he do what Sanders did, win the Repub nomination, then back out and run as a Libertarian or Independent? That would mean there wouldn't be a Republican listed on the ballot. Johnson could also distance himself from the GOP to attract liberal voters.

There's no point in doing that, his prominence in the state makes him a lock under the GOP esp if Paul folk get behind him. I could see him running as a republican, winning, then jetting to the LP to give them some national credibility and status. That would be pretty heavy and likely to backfire in the next election as the republican hard-ons will be a hatin.