http://gawker.com/5070108/jack-shafer-voting-for-nutcase

Another example:

http://shirazsocialist.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/cockburn-gets-it-all-wrong/

I don’t think Barr will close in on either.

Plus, voting for Barr could be interpreted as voting for the LP brand more than voting for Barr himself. That’s probably how most people see it.

Except for those who will see it as a signal that the LP should run more Barr-like candidates in the future. ‘Tis a perplexing paradox.

Plus, voting for Barr could be interpreted as voting for the LP brand more than voting for Barr himself. That’s probably how most people see it.

http://gawker.com/5070108/jack-shafer-voting-for-nutcase

Sorry, but you’re dead wrong about that, Joey. And here’s why:

Bob Barr’s flipflopping on the issues.Barr continues to flip flip on the issues as much as a fish flips in and out of the water in a fish bowl. He has never retreated from his pro-Drug War position, saying that he only supports the Drug War at the state — rather than at the federal — level. This was done to assert his favoring of “states’ rights,” which is a bullshit argument. Either you’re for the Drug War at all levels or you’re not. Case closed.

He even flip-flopped on the Defense of Marriage Act issue as well. At the Convention, he “apologized” for his support for DOMA, only to subsequently come out and say that he would partly repeal the law if he were elected to the presidency, keeping the “good part” in the bill.

He was for the recent bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but then backpedaled from that because of our criticisms of him on the issue. (His support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,382881,00.html)

He was even on Fox News a while back, calling for America’s need to restore “people’s faith in government.” Um, excuse me? Who the hell does he think he is?
Bob Barr praises the late Senator Jesse Helms. Barr issued a press release eulogizing the vile, repugnant late Senator Jesse Helms who has been known through his history as a racist, evil bigot.
Barr’s snubbing of Ron Paul.Oh, and let’s not forget Barr’s snubbing of Ron Paul at his third party unity press conference weeks ago, which quickly become known as Snubgate.

Shall I continue?

The LP presidential ticket has done more to harm the liberty movement becaue of this vile antics. This marriage of Libertarians and Republicans in the LP has quickly and assuredly killed the Party.

As far as I’m concerned, Dauben, your Party is an embarrassment. It is the reason why I’m no longer a member of it.

Even if you cannot stand his glasses, Barr has done more for the Libertarian Party in several months by getting on some major news shows. Where’s your Boston Tea Party been? Not even close.

Do you even bother doing your homework before you make these swipes against my party the BTP and our presidential ticket?

The BTP has done more to build a grassroots movement this year than the LP has ever done in its 30-plus year history. We formed 12 (now temporarily 11) state affiliates. We have over 560 members on the Party’s website and over 640 on the Facebook group (which I created, btw).

Charles Jay appeared on Fox News, in print, and even in the third party debates at a small handful of venues. Your candidate Bob Barr (sure, he’s appeared on Fox News too and in print) didn’t even snap a finger and agreed to appear at any of the debates.

What does he have to show for it? I mean, really, Joey?

So yes, I’ll give you a few of the things about Barr’s missteps, but if not for Barr, you wouldn’t see this election worry about the LP.

You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re joking!

The LP isn’t even a relevant party to begin with. It’s a joke of a party. The next time it holds a convention, let it be held at Barnum & Bailey’s Circus events.

If it weren’t for Barr, the LP might have had a snot’s chance in hell of getting anywhere. But, thanks to Barr, the LP base is shrinking and deflating like a tire.

Before long, there won’t be any air left in that tire.

For once we might – just might – crack over 1 million votes.

Riiiiiight, and I’m Ghenghis Khan reincarnated.

I’m predicting that your party will get a fraction of a mil. It won’t get anywhere past 1%.

Yours in Liberty,

Todd Andrew Barnett

1 – Ducking the Third Party Debates using the age old “scheduling conflict” excuse.

2 – Another that isn’t the fault of Barr… The fear many have of Obama’s socialism is likely going to shift disgruntled potential conservative voters from Barr to McCain.

I thought the campaign did ‘ok’ with ballot access. Fingers can be pointed at them starting late in some areas… but given the situation and the idiotic court rulings it turns out that Barr’s name will appear before more voters (on a percentage basis) than any other Third Party candidate.

The many media appearances were/are by far the best part of the campaign. Those can be chalked up to being “lucky” rather than “good” thanks to Barr’s name recognition and history in the GOP.

I still hold out hope for him breaking that million vote barrier, but now it’s certainly far from a sure thing.

Enjoy,
Marc

Well, the LP has had 46 or more ballot lines since 1988, and 49 or more since 1992. The last candidate to have fewer ballot lines was Bergland in 1984. In terms of the percentage of voters who will have him on their ballot as an option, Barr is probably doing better than Ron Paul did in ‘88, but worse than every ticket since then.

Why wasn’t that fundraising system turned on full blast for Barr/Root 08?

It’s a list of Republican donors, so would probably translate poorly to an LP campaign. It would probably most serve to kill the list if Barr even tried that.

Even if you cannot stand his glasses, Barr has done more for the Libertarian Party in several months by getting on some major news shows. Where’s your Boston Tea Party been? Not even close.

So yes, I’ll give you a few of the things about Barr’s missteps, but if not for Barr, you wouldn’t see this election worry about the LP.

For once we might – just might – crack over 1 million votes.

That helps people down the ballot and in state parties such as Texas, where I’m from. It’s a huge boost to have such a media-savvy ticket.

How was Barr’s behavior in any way principled? And how was Barr’s campaign manager guy Shane Cory telling one of Ron’s people to go f#ck himself in any way principled? Snubgate is one of the most bizarre elements in the campaign.

Other sources of disappointment to many LP folks I know: the ballot access petitioning work was left to the last minute in many places, including the turning in of papers. When has it been managed this poorly? There were a couple of years of 50 state ballot access. This year isn’t one of them.

There was also an expectation of a $40 million campaign. Where did that go? I know Barr’s PAC was contributing money to GOP opponents of LP candidates around the country this year. Why wasn’t that fundraising system turned on full blast for Barr/Root 08?

I’m drafting up the article now, and will send it to you guys first.

This will get to you guys before it gets posted on my newspaper’s Web site.

Email it to us. Contact.ipr@gmail.com