Ron Paul would... Gary Johnson might.... but the Libertarians must

[bbwarfield]

The other day while doing some research on the "sore looser laws" i ran across an interesting little piece of information. In a number of states the Libertarian party ceases to exist after each election. Why? Because in those states (will be looking up exactly how many later today) your party MUST recieve 10% of the vote in the last presidential election or in the last state wide election, which rarely happens. Ballot access must be re applied for EACH election cycle till this threshold is reached. Massive amounts of the work and money by libertarians is simply ballot access and not actual campaiging. Only two parties meat the requirement of automatic access each year and hence why we are stuck in the two party rut.

Here is my thought. If Gary Johnson thinks that he will garner 9.9999% of the vote he should step aside. He owes that to the Libertarian party because all the hard work of ballot access is null and void if he cant get the 10% threshold. Ron would get that threshold and leave a lasting legacy as them man who broke the two party cycle. How many times have you been told the libertarian party isnt a real party? Well up until this point thats true.... morning after each and every election they a removed from the ballots and must basically restart for the next cycle. I want to run some day, not as a democrat cause I disagree with them nearly 100%, not as a republican cause they talk an ok game but always end up doing exactly what happend in Tampa and the libertarian heart of the party is stifled by its entrenched leaders.

I could run as a Libertarian.... but... getting on the ballot would be hard enough to start with id probly run out of funds before I printed my first flyer.

A generation of Liberty minded people want to run..... but will be hobbled by the lack of automatic ballot access enjoyed by the only two parties, one I am not welcome in, the other I would not want to associate with...... take it back i really dont want to associate with either right now.

In 2016 they can start the process all over again in the endless cycle, OR Gary Johnson can step aside and let Ron keep the party viable.

 

[hrdman2luv]

Or we could all understand that RP is sick of politics. He's planted the seed. And it's up to us to do what ever we can to make it grow.. I'm throwing my support towards Johnson. I have very few minor issues with Johnson. About the same as I had with Ron Paul. Which all are very minimal and unimportant. I have MAJOR issues with the RNC and DNC.
All the Libertarians need are more members, more support and more people helping them acheive.
Gary Johnson probably has about 5%. Ron Paul has about 10%. Now, throw in the disinfranchized republicans that understand just how liberal & fascist Romney is, and you're likely to pick up another 2%. And the same goes for the disenfranchized democrats. Put them all together, and your talking looking at 20%............

The Libertarian Party could be the new home of the TeaParty, Liberty movement and the decent minded OW's.

But, if we stay divided on this issue, we will always be divided. Which is exactly what the RNC and DNC wants. It's how they stay in power.

 

[bbwarfield]

I do want Ron to be able to retire in peace and leave the whole sorted affair behind him.... he planted the seed... im asking for 2 months of watering so we can have a harvest next election.... other wise many seeds will be lost to the obstacles they would have to overcome.

He would be allowed a low key victory lap.... we are talking 2 debates and a couple of rallies.... not a primary schedule election

 

[erowe1]

What are you suggesting? That we get Johnson to pull 10% of the vote? On the scale of realistic endeavors, I'd rank that well below getting Ron Paul into the White House by convincing members of the electoral college to change their votes.

 

[bbwarfield]

Im suggesting Johnson let Ron run the last two months and get the 10% so the libertarians party future burns a lot brighter..... other wise they have to spend more time getting on ballots than running for office.... 10% in a presidential election is the golden ticket that lets you into the "major party" club

 

[erowe1]

Im suggesting Johnson let Ron run the last two months and get the 10% so the libertarians party future burns a lot brighter..... other wise they have to spend more time getting on ballots than running for office.... 10% in a presidential election is the golden ticket that lets you into the "major party" club

OK. So like a fantasy football thing.

 

[bbwarfield]

OK. So like a fantasy football thing.

Gary Johsnon hitting 10% is a fantasy.... Ron being persuaded to take the reigns is a longshot.... his getting 10% is not

You think Republicans run people for office every year in loose loose races just for fun? they run cause it maintains certain numbers and percentages and keeps doors open for future elections.

Im saying if Ron can be persuaded to do it (wich there is evidence he could.... no matter how slim) this is a strong argument for him doing it. the libertarian party can grow.... but not if it has to rebuild every dang election, which it will if it doesnt start trying to hit the basic thresholds of being a party..... one of wich is 10% and they just dont do that.... its a bloated conservative party, constitution party, reform party, communist party or whatever laughing stock party you wanna call it until it hits some basic numbers.

Libertarian party is just a bloated PAC right now.... till it can get perpetual ballot access its not going to amount to anything. Ron very likely would get that for them.... Johnson would most likely not.

Im still a Republican and have no intention of going Libertarian till they get ballot access assured or Ron switches over....... and those two things this cycle are mutualy dependent

 

[Peace&Freedom]

Ron did what he really needed to do before he retired, which was seed the election of liberty successors in Congress. We now have that in the form of Rand, Amash, Bentivolio, and several others. We have a specific template (Paul's career, positions and voting record) to work from in evaluating who is a 'real' liberty politician and who is not. We have a specific minimum agenda set by Paul (anti-war, end-the-Fed, anti-police state, pro-Constitution). And the campaign and grassroots developed tools (moneybomb, the Paul mailing list, CFL, meetups, etc) that can be used to back future candidates while circumventing the media.

Yes, I want Paul to run third party now, but it looks like he won't. Let's be happy he has set us up very well, and hope we can carry the baton from here.

 

[hrdman2luv]

What we need to do, is support any GOP candidate that supports the Liberty movement. And those that don't, we should support the Libertarian candidates.
There's no reason why we can't support both. After all, it's not the candidate or the party we are actually supporting. It's the movement to change the way DC does business.
In my district, I have RINO (war monger)for a representitve (Jeb Hensarling (R)). And so I'm supporting the Libertarian candidate.