buttonpusher
Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2008
- Messages
- 13
I have to first explain how I've come to where I am now, it's been a long road. I am a libertarian leaning, fiscally conservative republican and strict constitutionalist. Notice the small letters. I am not enamored with any party.
I've been a life long democrat leaning socialist/communist. (don't taz me bro!!) I moved more to the Independent minded voting group in the mid 80's and found out about 8 years ago that I am a libertarian, small "l," by taking the "diamond" test. http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html
I only joined the gop so I could vote for Ron Paul. Imagine my dismay/consternation when I discovered that I actually find myself agreeing with most of the Republican's Platform (snip reference to local politics) There are things I don't agree with on the platform.
Ron Paul cured my apathy, I became involved, and yes, passionate about politics for the first time since the 60's. I would give my life to save this country (I'm a Vietnam Era Vet) and it pains me to the core that I cannot vote for Ron Paul in the election this fall. I vowed last year that I would never, ever again vote for "worse or worser" no matter what happened. I was naive. Sometimes the person you feel is best for the job doesn't get included in the final ballot and you do have to make a choice. I would rather someone vote for a candidate that they are passionate about than vote for someone because they feel like they have to vote the party line, or the candidate they choose is the lesser of two evils. That is no reason to vote for anyone and leads many people to say they will write in Ron Paul's name.
My husband <snip reference to local politics> and in the fall, if the name you vote for is not on the official ballot, as either one of the three recognized candidates (McCain-R, Obama-D or Barr-L) or as an official write in candidate (hopefully Baldwin-C) your vote will be thrown away and not even counted as a protest vote. Ron Paul cannot submit his name as a write-in candidate for the R party since he lost the nomination as a Republican. The only way he can be on the ballot is if one of the other candidates step down and allow him to take his place and let's face it folks, that ain't gonna happen.
Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party,http://www.constitutionpartync.com/ is a fine man, and gave his support to Ron Paul.
Bob Barr, Libertarian Party, http://lpnc.org/ is also a fine man, and also gave his support to Ron Paul.
Neither one will get Ron Paul's endorsement.
I respect both of these candidates and their efforts. IMHO, as a write in candidate, Baldwin's impact on the total vote will be marginal at best. The MSM may not even recognize the votes for Baldwin and may not include them as protest votes against McCain, which they will be. That's fine, if you feel that's where your vote should go, vote for him. But I urge you to read on anyway and hear me out.
IMHO, the only vote that will be recognized, other than the R's and D's, if the numbers are there, is the vote for Barr. The Libertarian Party is the only well organized and active party out there with half a chance. Will Bob Barr get the POTUS position, unlikely, but stranger things have happened. There are enough pissed off voters out there from both of the main parties and the independents that he actually has a chance to really make a difference. Remember, Ross Perot cost the Republicans the race in 1992 AND hurt the Republicans in 1996
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot
<quote from wikipedia>
Electoral history
United States presidential election, 1992
Bill Clinton/Al Gore (D) - 44,909,806 (43.0%) and 370 electoral votes (32 states and D.C. carried)
George H. W. Bush/Dan Quayle (R) (Inc.) - 39,104,550 (37.4%) and 168 electoral votes (18 states carried)
Ross Perot/James Stockdale (I) - 19,743,821 (18.9%) and 0 electoral votes
Andre Marrou/Nancy Lord (L) - 290,087 (0.3%) and 0 electoral votes
United States presidential election, 1996
Bill Clinton/Al Gore (D) (Inc.) - 47,400,125 (49.2%) and 379 electoral votes (31 states and D.C. carried)
Bob Dole/Jack Kemp (R) - 39,198,755 (40.7%) and 159 electoral votes (19 states carried)
Ross Perot/Pat Choate (Ref.) - 8,085,402 (8.8%) and 0 electoral votes
<end quote>
The point I'm trying to make is that things are different this time around. Yes, we have a large group of unhappy, disenfranchised voters searching for someone to vote for and Ron Paul isn't available. This time the split will be even more pronounced than in years past. I predict that it will more closely resemble the 1992 election results with the additional prediction that Barr will actually pull a larger percentage of the vote, IF the campaign is run well, IF the wheels don't come off the bus and IF the grassroots unite and back the candidate most likely to win (as a third party candidate.) This is why a vote for Bob Barr may actually change the coarse of history. He may actually tip the apple cart over and surprise all of the pundits by gaining a percentage of the vote that no other third party candidate has ever received. That's where we come in.
If we unite behind Bob Barr, we may actually change the political landscape forever. No longer will a third party candidate be ignored. The Republicans are weak and don't really support their presidential candidate, they are toeing the line and reciting the party mantra--"I'm going to hold my nose and vote for McCain so Obama doesn't win and so he can hold the office til a better candidate comes along." The Dems are energized behind a man who doesn't have the experience to hold the office, but gives a fine speech. Both are different feathers on the same bird--they are socialists.
First, the local perspective: We may not have a candidate who can win, but it only helps the cause of liberty if Libertarians remain on the ballot <snip local reference> Whether or not they win elections, having an LP candidate virtually forces competitors to address issues that we are concerned about (ie. smaller government, fewer restrictions, more liberty). So it is in the best interest of Ron Paul Republicans to make sure the LP has ballot access <snip local reference> For example, just 2% of the vote in some states will keep the LP on the ballot for another 4 years, and make sure that donations in the party can be spent on educating voters on liberty issues and promoting liberty candidates as opposed to getting signatures just to get on the ballot. "The LPNC spent an estimated $134,000 and logged 2,200 volunteer hours to collect the nearly 70,000 valid signatures needed in NC alone." http://lpnc.org/news.php?news=20080522.php I think we can do better than 2%, <snip local reference> IMHO, RP supporters everywhere should cast their vote for Barr and other Liberty minded folks.
Now, the national perspective, and this comes from Andrew Sullivan's blog: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.co...ing-up-to.html
"If Obama were to win the Presidency, but under conditions in which McCain would have won without Barr drawing off conservative votes, isn't that the best of both worlds? It's a rejection of the collectivist strands of Obama liberalism, it's a rebuke of the current GOP, a tacit endorsement of Obama's approach to politics and it's a signal that the balance of power for both parties is held by a small but sizable libertarian impulse in American politics."
So, as Ron Paul Republicans, the best way to send a message to the party that it needs to change, would be to guarantee a McCain loss by tossing your support to Barr. In order for this strategy to work though, there has to be enough votes for Barr to make it clearly obvious that he is the reason for McCain's loss, and that liberty minded folks are NOT going to tolerate picking the lesser of two evils anymore.
If the ultimate goal of the Ron Paul movement is to take control of the Republican party, a victory for McCain is absolutely the worst thing that can happen. It will be a clear sign to the GOP that the liberty vote is not necessary for a victory. Be prepared to be ignored forever if this happens. By voting for Baldwin, or writing in Ron Paul and not being counted, you are not contributing to the numbers that will be looked at by analysts when deciding why McCain failed. By voting for Barr, you absolutely will be part of what will determine the future.
IMHO
