The need for a strong Libertarian Party candidate in 2020

[givemeliberty2010]

I will not change my belief that the Liberty Movement should focus on state and congressional offices first and only spend a little time on the 2020 presidential race. But I will admit this seems a little harder (and that is beyond how immensely hard it already was). Most Liberty Movement candidates will run as Republicans, but the many independents and liberals who supported Ron Paul and Rand Paul probably want nothing to do with the Republicans right now. And it will probably be difficult to tell how much any Liberty Movement candidate is willing to break with Trump anyway.

I think one plan that might help is to try to trip up both Trump and the far left with a strong Libertarian Party candidate in 2020. It would be awesome if we can get the candidate into the debates. I have some hope that the recent legal controversy will make the debate threshold a little more realistic in 2020. Then the candidate could campaign to take electoral votes usually thought secure by both the Republican and Democrats. This strategy might work best if the Democrats nominate someone from the far left instead of a more centrist option. If this were especially successful, the LP nominee could keep both presidential candidates from 270 electoral votes and send the election to the House of Representatives for only the third time in history. The last time this happened led to one of the major political realignments in American history.

This is far-fetched, and this plan should not take away from any strong contender for lower office. But this may help to draw distinctions for candidates in races for all levels of government. Despite the past failings of the party, it might be helpful to have candidates running as Libertarians for a short time until they can influence either of the major parties.

 

[PierzStyx]

Honestly, and I feel dirty saying this, but if the LP wants to win, or have a very strong showing, they need to nominate Austin Petersen. I don't think he is even a real libertarian, his rejection of the NAP and insistence on the idea that the government needs to force some things to happen make him a minarchist in my eyes. But he is smart, well-spoken, has a strong personality, and serious, everything you want in a Presidential Candidate. I am still convinced the LP would have made a much stronger showing if he had been nominated over Johnson.

 

[opal]

Anyone but Johnson.. really

 

[TheTexan]

Anyone but Johnson.. really

The LP would indeed benefit if they nominated someone who wasn't a pothead.

But this is the LP we're talking about.

 

[merkelstan]

The sharpest talking guy i know is Tom Woods - doubt he's interested in politics though.

 

[fisharmor]

They had like five strong candidates last time.
And they chose Johnson.

Honestly, and I feel dirty saying this, but if the LP wants to win, or have a very strong showing, they need to nominate Austin Petersen. I don't think he is even a real libertarian, his rejection of the NAP and insistence on the idea that the government needs to force some things to happen make him a minarchist in my eyes. But he is smart, well-spoken, has a strong personality, and serious, everything you want in a Presidential Candidate. I am still convinced the LP would have made a much stronger showing if he had been nominated over Johnson.

You forgot that he's well dressed and good looking with great hair.
Probably the three most important things for a POTUS candidate.

You're not going to find a candidate who can't name something to make the government force to happen - even Ron Paul has some things he won't let go.
But if Petersen had won the candidacy I might have voted. Hell, I would have tried to convince a lot of people to vote for him, too.
I certainly wouldn't have called all his supporters retards, like I did with Johnson.

 

[givemeliberty2010]

I was actually rather pleased with Johnson's 3.3 percent. I doubt anyone else could have done significantly better. Of course, I hope the LP chooses someone other than Johnson next time. Maybe Petersen will run again. However, the LP should get someone who can compete in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, or at least in the Democrat-leaning swing states of Nevada, Colorado and Virginia. On the other hand the candidate should also be able to do well in Arizona, Missouri and North Carolina, and that might be Petersen.

 

[Superfluous Man]

both Trump and the far left

Redundant.

 

[opal]

McAfee - cybersecurity - the one with the best grasp on it both foreign and domestic

 

[dean.engelhardt]

I will not change my belief that the Liberty Movement should focus on state and congressional offices first and only spend a little time on the 2020 presidential race. But I will admit this seems a little harder (and that is beyond how immensely hard it already was). Most Liberty Movement candidates will run as Republicans, but the many independents and liberals who supported Ron Paul and Rand Paul probably want nothing to do with the Republicans right now. And it will probably be difficult to tell how much any Liberty Movement candidate is willing to break with Trump anyway.

I think one plan that might help is to try to trip up both Trump and the far left with a strong Libertarian Party candidate in 2020. It would be awesome if we can get the candidate into the debates. I have some hope that the recent legal controversy will make the debate threshold a little more realistic in 2020. Then the candidate could campaign to take electoral votes usually thought secure by both the Republican and Democrats. This strategy might work best if the Democrats nominate someone from the far left instead of a more centrist option. If this were especially successful, the LP nominee could keep both presidential candidates from 270 electoral votes and send the election to the House of Representatives for only the third time in history. The last time this happened led to one of the major political realignments in American history.

This is far-fetched, and this plan should not take away from any strong contender for lower office. But this may help to draw distinctions for candidates in races for all levels of government. Despite the past failings of the party, it might be helpful to have candidates running as Libertarians for a short time until they can influence either of the major parties.

If the race is Trump v Elizabeth Warren v a decent LP candidate, I could see no one getting to 270. I agree that having a Liberty Movement candidate in the debates will only help down ballot candidates.

 

[undergroundrr]

I was actually rather pleased with Johnson's 3.3 percent. I doubt anyone else could have done significantly better.

Yes. The LP way outperformed any previous election results. I have the same objections to Johnson as everybody else, but it's hard to complain about how the LP could have gotten more votes with a different candidate when they broke all previous records.

I'd be okay with a Petersen/McAfee double bill. If Petersen refines his communication skills before next time, he can be very effective. I didn't think the petulant kid persona he was sporting in 2016 was too great.

Really, I found the whole LP batch pretty spasmodic and/or eccentric last time, including of course Johnson. I'm still waiting for somebody principled and charismatic to come out of nowhere. Somebody on the level of a Badnarik or Browne, but it's getting tough to believe such a thing exists. A strong female candidate in the Pres or VP slot would be ideal politically. Tonie Nathan still has the distinction of being the first woman to get an electoral vote. There is a great opportunity in 2020 if the right person steps forward and captures the nomination.

 

[fisharmor]

The LP could have run a vial of bubonic plague and broken 3% in that field.

 

[TheTexan]

I might have voted.

+rep thanks for thinking about voting. Maybe next time!

 

[oyarde]

I predict the libertarian party cannot field a strong candidate and will get a lower percentage of the vote than they got with johnson . And , that tells you everything you need to know .

 

[William Tell]

Anyone but Johnson.. really

William Weld/Bob Barr 2020 thank you for your endorsement of their ticket

 

[RonZeplin]

Chuck Baldwin/Austin Petersen?

 

[undergroundrr]

Chuck Baldwin/Austin Petersen?

Sounds nice. But I'd love to see some relatively big name media figures like Stossel/Napolitano. It really needs to be somebody who knows how to get MSM attention.

 

[opal]

William Weld/Bob Barr 2020 thank you for your endorsement of their ticket

*puts ketchup on her crow*

my bad

I'd vote for dead people first

 

[tod evans]

McAfee - cybersecurity - the one with the best grasp on it both foreign and domestic

'Twas my choice last go-round...(After Rand dropped out)

At least he has lumps.......

 

[Brian4Liberty]

William Weld/Bob Barr 2020 thank you for your endorsement of their ticket

Let me be the first to say it: Lindsey Graham. His discontent with the GOP and Trump are obvious. He can bring in GOP voters. He can raise money from wealthy donors. He is well known, and the media will go crazy with it. It would be a very high profile campaign. He will be LGBT and pot friendly. McMullin, who also gained some fame as a POTUS candidate can be VP. That would solidify the Romney camp support.