Posted by Donny Ferguson at LP blog. Reposted to IPR by Paulie.
The Libertarian Party is now on Twitter! Just go to http://twitter.com/lpnational to sign up and stay up to date with America’s only mainstream political party, The Party of Principle.
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…And don’t forget, IPR is on twitter and facebook too.
-Paulie
“We’re not going to get into the mainstream by moving to it, we’re going to get into it by moving it to us.”
Wow, that’s an ambitious goal. Doubt you’ll have much luck there, but best of it to you.
I think the tug of war analogy is a good one for politics. Your just trying to move the marker your way a little at a time. But you have to be close enough to center to grab the rope. What you’re saying strikes as trying to win the tug of war from a couple backyards away.
“So far as I can tell, they didn’t get ‘mainstream’ by catering to every weird whim that came down the pike, but rather by capitalizing on issues where the public in their state already leans libertarian and running candidates who connect well with voters.”
Well said.
We could have a long discussion on what it means to be mainstream, and I’m not advocating we do. But I’ll briefly discuss (I’ll try to be brief anyway) what I think. Part of it is perspective – seeing issues from the same perspective as a bunch of other people. Not saying you necessarily have to have the same opinion on an issue, but the same approach, same perspective as those on the mythical Main St.
For instance, the drug war isn’t about theories and principles – it about trying to keep that stuff away from your kids. Not saying that’s the right way to see it, but if you don’t look at it way, you aren’t in the mainstream, I’d argue.
One other point to add – I don’t think the party always can be mainstream. It would be boring, and it would undercut the party’s reason for being. Here’s where the art comes – you have to sense when its best to approach issues from the mainstream perspective and when to be a little more interesting. Not an easy art to master – if it was, the major parties wouldn’t pay their consultants millions.
adp,
You write:
“advocated trying to be more mainstreet, or branding the party as already there?”
Both, with varying definitions as to what the term even means.
I think it’s premature to classify the LP as such as a mainstream party, let alone the mainstream party. We’re not going to get into the mainstream by moving to it, we’re going to get into it by moving it to us.
At the state level, however, there are LPs which can plausibly claim to be in the mainstream — the Indiana LP, for example — and that’s not a bad thing. So far as I can tell, they didn’t get “mainstream” by catering to every weird whim that came down the pike, but rather by capitalizing on issues where the public in their state already leans libertarian and running candidates who connect well with voters. Nothing wrong with that.
Point taken, Austin. Just another reminder how its easy on the internet not to address one another the way we would in person.
Austin we work at it.
Wow you all are sure mean.
Thomas – advocated trying to be more mainstreet, or branding the party as already there?
Because, if it isn’t readily clear already, calling the LP the only mainstream party is about as factual as claiming the LNC flag football team can beat the Steelers, and about as honest as saying it already did.
HS,
You write:
“is it a new tactic for the Libertarian Party to be pushing this notion that they are ‘mainstream?'”
Nope, nothing new about it. The particular implentation changes from time to time, but elements of the LP have advocated taking that general tack for as long as I’ve been a member (since 1996), and it’s previously been ascendant in various forms (i.e. a few years ago it was all about “branding” and being “the party of small business”).
I said it before, and I’ll say it again: Twitter is a plot to destroy the world.
This is really jacked up. I’d rather see honest people with integrity communicating.
http://twitter.com/lpwv
Tad has set one up for the LPWV, as well.
Sorry, cheap shot I know, but I’m bored at work and it struck me as funny.
“We’re mainstream, dammit, and if you don’t believe it, you’re a statist!”
Followed by a look of puzzlement…
“What’s a statist?”
“America’s only mainstream political party? I’m all for literary license, but that’s a wee bit of a stretch, don’t ya think?”
I guess my question is when did the LP start promoting themselves as “America’s only mainstream party?” I think the LP platform is a bit too naive and theoretical to be within mainstream values, but that is just my personal opinion. Calling themselves “mainstream” seems like a new tactic.
America’s only mainstream political party? I’m all for literary license, but that’s a wee bit of a stretch, don’t ya think?
I can do that here. Who needs twitter? 😛
Twitter: Proving that you’re an attention whore in 140 characters or less every 3 minutes.
I know this has been discussed in the past, but is it a new tactic for the Libertarian Party to be pushing this notion that they are “mainstream?”
I know the Modern Whigs were doing that since it started last year and I am not making any insinuations since I firmly believe that the LP leadership has no clue about the existance of such a party. But am curious nonetheless.
The Hunt For Ashton Kutcher
“TLOT.us is party of the “Daily Conservative Project”?
Ewww … no thanks.”
Nice of you to do research before blurting out inane comments. The Daily Conservative, my blog, is very Libertarian. Then again if you read one or two of the articles you’d know that. I can’t expect you to do such a thing before making the intelligent remark “ew” though.
Oh goody, now we get inane stuff only 140 characters at a time.
TLOT.us is party of the “Daily Conservative Project”?
Ewww … no thanks.
Blog talk radio.
DEAR LORD AND MERCY, THEY’VE DISCOVERED THE INTERNET!
What’s next? Fundraising, fliers, leadership, and posters?
Make sure you checkout TLOT.us (Top Libertarians On Twitter) for a comprehensive list on L’s on Twitter. There are a lot of people on Twitter sharing the LP message. Thx 🙂