Paul-Barr Meeting

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

I've heard from several sources now that there were talks on Tuesday between Bob Barr and Ron Paul. To me, this can almost certainly only mean one of two things:

1. Ron Paul and Bob Barr are going to announce an independent ticket together.

OR

2. Ron Paul is going to continue the movement and endorse a Bob Barr third party/independent run for President.

The details should be known to the rest of the world shortly, possibly through the Third Party Watch blog.

What do others think went down?

 

[mtmedlin]

I wouldnt be suprised at choice number 2. I also would be inclined to support it.

 

[acptulsa]

I wouldn't be surprised by, and will heartily support, either possibility.

 

[SteveMartin]

I spoke to Bob Barr last week and urged him to consider an Independent run with RP. He seemed excited about the idea. Then, I called him on Tuesday morning, and he said he was meeting with RP at 5:30 PM. I asked him to wait until we did some more organizing from the grassroots to urge RP to accept before pushing the idea too hard, and he said he would "just go in and listen."

He said he would call me Wednesday, but he didn't. I reached his secretary yesterday who said he was in a hearing but that he told her to tell me he would call last night or today...

I heard a rumor (totally unsubstantiated) that the meeting went OK, and that "Paul would endorse Barr." Now we wait to find out if that is true or not.

Last night's "hints" that RP may be dropping out of the Republican race give me some hope that Bob Barr convinced him, but it is only a hope.

I will report back if I do hear more from BB today that he will permit me to post...

 

[speciallyblend]

i would support barr if ron paul endorsed him but i want ron paul at least to be a vp or otherway around. I will send 100 bucks a month of money i dont have if that happens

 

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

Also hoping Ron Paul is at least being swayed into being somewhere on the ticket with Barr. One would think he'd be at least thinking about it, why else would he be pulling up stakes and suspending the GOP run?

 

[limequat]

What's the group's reading on Barr?

Seems like he's had a bit of a coming-to-Jesus since leaving office, but had exercised poor judgement while a representative. The guy clearly has skeletons in his closet. While I'd love to see a viable liberty-minded candidate, this guy just doesn't have the cred of Ron Paul.

 

[speciallyblend]

if ron paul doesnt run,i hope he can return my money i donated. I gave money for a run for 2008 for president. If ron drops out and doesnt run as a vp or prez candidate .then i will remove the R from my name quicker then a refresh button.

 

[SteveMartin]

Bob Barr isn't perfect, but he is better than 95% of what we've had representing the people in Washington over the past 20 years.

In the late 90's and forward until 2003, you could always count on 2 guys to vote the right way---Barr and Paul (among the Republicans in the House), and sometimes Dennis would come over and join them.

 

[uncollapse]

Paul/Barr ticket .... sounds like an excellent idea!

 

[mtmedlin]

What's the group's reading on Barr?

Seems like he's had a bit of a coming-to-Jesus since leaving office, but had exercised poor judgement while a representative. The guy clearly has skeletons in his closet. While I'd love to see a viable liberty-minded candidate, this guy just doesn't have the cred of Ron Paul.

A few skeletons but doesnt have a graveyard.

 

[Richie]

Sign the petition!

http://www.bobbarr2008.com/

 

[280Z28]

Ron Paul could stay in the Rep. Party, trying to get the Rep. nomination, while Bob starts an indy run. The message continues, and we get a chance at the WH while Paul doesn't lose his seat in Congress.

Can Ron run as VP for Barr and for Congress at the same time? He can't for President, but is it different for VP?

 

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

Ron Paul could stay in the Rep. Party, trying to get the Rep. nomination, while Bob starts an indy run. The message continues, and we get a chance at the WH while Paul doesn't lose his seat in Congress.

Can Ron run as VP for Barr and for Congress at the same time? He can't for President, but is it different for VP?

Again, Ron Paul doesn't automatically forfeit his seat by running for President as an independent. He could run as either President or VP with Barr, with few problems. Even the "sore loser" laws are usually overturned as unconstitutional, and are only in four states anyway.

All the GOP could do is expel him from the party, but so what? Ron Paul will almost certainly be unopposed in November, and even if he wasn't, there's very little to worry about when he wins by 70% margins against no-name opponents.

 

[BuddyRey]

Paul/Goldwater ticket sounds even better to me. Paul needs a household name to be on his third party ticket and the Goldwater name carries a lot of weight in the south. I've asked a few about Barr and no one has heard of him. Most people do not stay as informed as we do, unfortunately. The Goldwater name is like having Reagan on your ticket.

My part of the south hates McCain and ready to abandon the republican party if given a good alternative.

Come on Paul, don't let us down. I'm ready for the third party fight.

 

[Andrew76]

I've heard from several sources now that there were talks on Tuesday between Bob Barr and Ron Paul. To me, this can almost certainly only mean one of two things:

1. Ron Paul and Bob Barr are going to announce an independent ticket together.

OR

2. Ron Paul is going to continue the movement and endorse a Bob Barr third party/independent run for President.

The details should be known to the rest of the world shortly, possibly through the Third Party Watch blog.

What do others think went down?

Let's hope Ron's been convinced to run third party. Bob Barr... who? My point being, we just spent the last year and tens of millions of dollars getting Ron Paul's name and message out there. Us supporting a Barr independent run would be the ulimate in futility, and I myself do not support the idea, unless it's a Ron Paul/Bob Barr (as v.p.) ticket.

And some more thoughts on the matter...

Ron Pauls going independent far outweigh the negatives.

I mean seriously, what are the negatives?
1) he may lose
2) he might/would be blamed for a democratic win
3) it will be hard and/or expensive
4) if he wins, he gives up his congressional seat
5) the GOP may fuss a bit and say, "see we told you he wasn't a republican!"

my responses...
1) he may win.
2) John McCain is going to get absolutely crushed in the election.
3) who said this was going to be easy? So, you leave now because it's gonna get difficult?
4) I think I'd be fine with that tradeoff!
5) The GOP isn't republican anymore. They've made themselves obsolete and irrelevant, nevermind the fact that they've almost entirely sold out to the huge government, neocon empire of war and endless spending.

Positives for going indie...
1) He may win
2) The message will continue to be delivered to an American audience that needs it badly.
3) It would very likely re-energize his campaign, generate new recruits, new interest, new money.
4) Anything to help break up the two party system is a wonderful idea
5) It would be HUGE news. Huge.
6) Everyone loves an underdog.
7) There's still a massive grassroots network who'd be ready and willing to work hard IF he announced he was going independent.
8) the message will continue to get out
9) the message will continue to get out
10) the messsage will continue to get out...

etc.

 

[WilliamC]

I will support Ron Paul whatever he decides to do, but I'm hoping he is NOT going to relinquish his house seat.

When McCain loses to Clinton/Obama in November the Republicans will need someone to rally around, someone to be their standard bearer.

Ron Paul should be that someone.

But he can still give his endorsement to Bob Barr over John McCain and stay in the Party, and honestly claim he is not betraying Republican Party principles but supporting them since McCain is the Conservative traitor.

 

[libertythor]

What's the group's reading on Barr?

Seems like he's had a bit of a coming-to-Jesus since leaving office, but had exercised poor judgement while a representative. The guy clearly has skeletons in his closet. While I'd love to see a viable liberty-minded candidate, this guy just doesn't have the cred of Ron Paul.

Asking for group think?


Well, I see him as a former neocon who has moved on over to the side of freedom. I would vote for him in November, even if Paul wasn't with him....over Wayne Root.

 

[libertythor]

Same here. That is why it has to be independent.

I will support Ron Paul whatever he decides to do, but I'm hoping he is NOT going to relinquish his house seat.

When McCain loses to Clinton/Obama in November the Republicans will need someone to rally around, someone to be their standard bearer.

Ron Paul should be that someone.

But he can still give his endorsement to Bob Barr over John McCain and stay in the Party, and honestly claim he is not betraying Republican Party principles but supporting them since McCain is the Conservative traitor.

 

[Lovecraftian4Paul]

I will support Ron Paul whatever he decides to do, but I'm hoping he is NOT going to relinquish his house seat.

When McCain loses to Clinton/Obama in November the Republicans will need someone to rally around, someone to be their standard bearer.

Ron Paul should be that someone.

But he can still give his endorsement to Bob Barr over John McCain and stay in the Party, and honestly claim he is not betraying Republican Party principles but supporting them since McCain is the Conservative traitor.

Thinking they will come to Ron Paul after a McCain loss is crazy. They would just trump it up to any number of reasons for McCain's loss--too old, too many "brainwashed" liberals, liberal media, etc. Besides, the war mongers and apocalyptic evangelical Huck types aren't going anywhere. Where would they go? The GOP is their party. They will just wring their hands, still call Paul and his supporters deranged kooks, and then proceed to carry on as they always have. I don't believe there are enough true conservatives and libertarians even left in the party to outweigh the drooling neo-cons.

The only choice to carry this thing on is an independent run. And as it's been pointed out before, there is absolutely no threat to Ron Paul's House seat. He isn't even opposed now. Even if the GOP kicked him out and ran Peden again, he would easily win re-election to the House as an independent if he doesn't win the Presidency. Incumbency is a mighty advantage.