this is one of Rand's best speeches

[idiom]

His father was more libertarian than him. The trend is now going the other way. You can bet that if he's elected he's going to become even LESS libertarian once in office (gotta get that second term). Once the message and rhetoric becomes watered down, the policies are doomed. And then the unlibertarian policies become the new definition of libertarianism in the eyes of everyone else (see Reagan). Gradualism in theory is perpetuity in practice. I can't think of one politician whose actions were more libertarian than his rhetoric.

It has happened in plenty of countries, but you need the people to move. You can't sneak libertarian policies through the legislative process in the middle of the night.

The people can be lead there, or they can do the leading, but they have to show up with you.

This is why Rand will need us more than ever.

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

"Get used to it or enjoy Bush vs. Clinton once again."

Actually I'm counting on it because only then will the LP have a chance to gain a foothold in U.S. politics. No offense to Rand and I wish him the best of luck but he's going on a fool's errand and its just going to end up bad for him I'm afraid.

Why? Just so we can have a LP candidate champion intervening in Africa "for humanitarian reasons" and to "find Kony"?

 

[JohnGalt1225]

I felt he struck a nice balance between non-interventionism and moderate hawkishness. For better or worse Americans, especially Republicans, like their presidents to sound tough and they want to feel that they will protect American interests abroad.

 

[liveandletlive]

i know a lot of hardcore Ron fans that are still killing Rand but im confident they will come around

 

[LatinsforPaul]

ISO the YOUTUBE of STEVE SCHMIDT's review of the speech on MSNBC!!

Adjectives used include "flawless", "perfect", "best".

 

[eleganz]

"Get used to it or enjoy Bush vs. Clinton once again."

Actually I'm counting on it because only then will the LP have a chance to gain a foothold in U.S. politics. No offense to Rand and I wish him the best of luck but he's going on a fool's errand and its just going to end up bad for him I'm afraid.

Sorry, never going to happen, please don't think that it will ever happen. LP is a mess, not saying GOP isn't but LP is a straight up mess.

 

[liveandletlive]

there are several things there that Ron probably wouldnt have agreed with, but I think its a sell-able message for mass consumption there by Rand.

 

[Working Poor]

Is there supposed to be a video in the OP? I don't see it for some reason.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

I totally agree with Schmidt. It was a great political event and the platform will definitely resonate. I guess it's just a tad depressing but inevitable that he's going to sacrifice some of the libertarian and ancap supporters who loved his father in return for being palatable to the hawkish right and general(ly ignorant) public.

I would like to see the LP respond by nominating the most radically pure and consistent libertarian (ancap) they've ever had, not for the purpose of winning, but to serve the same purpose that the socialist party used to serve. The more libertarian the GOP becomes (marginally of course), the more libertarian the LP ought to become, thus maintaining purity of message for educational purposes and pulling the overall dialogue in their direction. Take the ethical high ground. Keep moving the goal posts towards total liberty. This should be the goal of the LP (in addition to achieving small, local electoral victories in the process).

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

I agree, his father was more libertarian than him (at least if we go by what they say in public). That being said, I think Rand has principles and I think he will only go so far when it comes to stretching some of those principles. Maybe I'm being too hopeful, however, I hope I'm right.

I hope you're right too.

 

[presence]

 

[WD-NY]

You = AWESOME!!

Thanks so much for sharing

Steve Schmidt on Rand's speech: "flawless", "beautifully staged", "incredibly sophisticated" "tremendous resonance".

 

[iamse7en]

He has ZERO chance of getting elected

FTFY. No way the PTB would ever allow someone who grew up learning from Ron Paul in the White House. They have too much control over the narrative, information, and elections. I hope his very watered-down messaging can help move people as close to liberty/anarchism as possible, but really this is all a waste of time and resources.

 

[AuH20]

FTFY. No way the PTB would ever allow someone who grew up learning from Ron Paul in the White House. They have too much control over the narrative, information, and elections. I hope his very watered-down messaging can help move people as close to liberty/anarchism as possible, but really this is all a waste of time and resources.

Not if he can bring us closer to the 10% rule.

http://freakonomics.com/2011/07/28/minority-rules-why-10-percent-is-all-you-need/