Straw Polls for the LP – right now just one for president, but with others to follow:
Update: screenshot at 11:50am ET
Disclaimer: this is the author’s (SH) site.
50 Comments
Comments are closed.
June 8, 2026
Your Premier Source on Third Parties and Independent Candidates Since 2008
Straw Polls for the LP – right now just one for president, but with others to follow:
Update: screenshot at 11:50am ET
Disclaimer: this is the author’s (SH) site.
Comments are closed.
paulie wrote;
“…would you expect the existing [or new] LNC, …, to be different in this respect?”
I don’t expect any change ever. I tried as best as I could for a number of years at the local, state and national level.. Some day someone better equipped than I, might succeed. Until then I can just try to keep the discussion honest and assist those who are not willfully blind and deaf.
My assumption is that if any third party succeeds in changing public policy for the better, it probably won’t be the LP.
So how would you expect the existing LNC, or one likely to be elected next, to be different in this respect?
Paulie wrote;
““focused strategic plans” have taken up a lot of time on past LNCs”.
They were neither focused nor strategic plans, they were unfocused brainstorming sessions masquerading as strategic planning. They included everything anyone could thing of into the “plan” in order to achieve “consensus”.
There is an old saying, “you put a tuxedo on a monkey, but that won’t make him into a dancing partner”.
The LP is all form over substance and won’t get anywhere until it understands that..
Knapp has revived the shadow cabinet
http://shadowcabinet.us/
I’m trying to revive active campus recruitment, without much success as of yet.
“focused strategic plans” have taken up a lot of time on past LNCs, and I think some actually passed, only to be forgotten after some time. I know for a fact this has been the case at state levels.
Robert Milnes wrote,
“If you want to lose, Ruwart 2012. If you want to win, Milnes/Ruwart 2012.”
If you want to lose, pick anyone.
If you want to win, begin concentrating on the most local races every year. My opinion is that the LP an an organization has decided (not publicly) that it really has no desire to win, only to participate.
As David Nolan stated recently, the LP is not good at running candidates so they just should concentrate on debating. An activity at which they believe they have some facility…
This would have been a good time for the LP to win elections to high office if they had laid the ground work years ago and had developed anyone with executive, legislative or judicial experience. It would also be a good time for a shadow Libertarian cabinet if that strategy had been pursued. Ever wonder why that project was dropped along with active campus recruitment?
Ron Paul gave up on the LP years ago, but he is not likely to publicly dis the LP since many LP members support him financially.
The LP should develop a focused strategic plan before it starts another cycle of repeating the same activities and expecting different results.
WAR is off already. He was only on a couple minutes to promote the LPO convention.
I thought he was supposed to be on the entire show. That’s what I get for thinking!
PEACE
WAR is on 610-wtvn right now:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/radio-delidirk
Until 3p.
PEACE
@ # 6 and # 10 – Information that I have is that Barr will not be seeking any political office – at least not LP. It was with that understanding that he felt comfortable endorsing his old friend Saxby Chamblis for Senate in the runoff election here in Georgia.
@ # 19 – I was very impressed with Dr Lark at the LNC in Charleston. He would be a good ‘un.
Current
LP 2012 Presidential Nomination Straw Poll
1/5: The Pack – Choose One
Bob Barr 4 (4.35%)
Mary Ruwart 17 (18.48%)
Ron Paul 38 (41.30%)
Wayne Root 13 (14.13%)
Michael Jingozian 3 (3.26%)
George Phillies 5 (5.43%)
Tom Knapp 6 (6.52%)
Steve Kubby 6 (6.52%)
2/5: Head-to-Head: Barr vs Ruwart
Bob Barr 29 (31.52%)
Mary Ruwart 63 (68.48%)
3/5: Head-to-Head: Barr vs Root
Bob Barr 54 (58.70%)
Wayne Root 38 (41.30%)
4/5: Head-to-Head: Barr vs Paul
Bob Barr 12 (13.04%)
Ron Paul 80 (86.96%)
5/5: Head-to-Head: Barr vs Jingozian
Bob Barr 42 (45.65%)
Michael Jingozian 50 (54.35%)
Hmmmm…just noted something odd.
Going to above link, this article
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/12/libertarian-party-2012-presidential-campaign/
says it has 29 comments but actually has 41
Oh, yeah, I remember that now. thanks.
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/?s=waymire
Who’s Waymire?
Wait, how many have officially declared they’re running in 2012 so far?
Declared or quasi-declared:
Knapp
Root
Keaton
Jingozian
Waymire
Milnes
Good luck on the cigarettes thing.
I started early (age six or seven) and quit early (age fifteen) and was chain smoking constantly by the time I quit. By then I was doing a lot of coke too, so I’d go through cigarettes real fast.
I went on the natural no-additives tobacco, and then went cold turkey.
Been pretty good on staying off them too, with very few exceptions, even when I had relapses with other drugs, and even in the cigarette junkie 12 step meetings.
For many years I didn’t mind being around them, but in more recent years I really don’t like being around cigarette smoke anymore at all.
Wait, how many have officially declared they’re running in 2012 so far?
“Knapp is the only declared candidate.”
Out of you, Kubby and Ruwart. Sorry if that wasn’t clear. I know of 5 others.
Paulie,
“Knapp is the only declared candidate.”
Incorrect.
Root is a de facto declared candidate. His web site is explicitly titled “Wayne Allyn Root’s Libertarian Presidential Candidate Web Site” and has a “Support Wayne for President” link that invites readers to “JOIN THE ROOT REVOLUTION 2012.” Whether he’s de jure declared or not probably depends on when you ask him. In the 2008 cycle, he formally declared, then undeclared, then said he was considering declaring, then formally declared again.
Keaton/Shinghal formally declared some time back.
“Great writer, but I don’t know how he is as a campaigner. I know he’s done that plenty enough at the local/state level (I won’t count the BTP VP thing).”
I’m told I speak reasonably well. The next formal speaking gig I have scheduled so far is at the Boston Tea Party’s “meatspace gathering” in Kansas City this May.
“I know he loses his voice sometimes”
Working on that — trying to give up the cigarettes.
“and I’m not sure if he can afford a lot of travel.”
I can’t — but that’s a self-correcting problem. When I start raising money, either enough will come in to cover reasonable campaign travel, or my campaign will fail.
Regards,
Tom Knapp
I came out in favor of NI4D also. Judging from these comments you all learned very little from 2008 & are almost certainly going to fall into the same losing pattern as usual. Born again losers.
She is, but she’s also taken.
Jericho on the other had, no idea.
I love Carolyn , she super smart and super hot !
her sons not hard to look at either! lol
Debra, that he did, and you can thank Carolyn Marbry for that. She’s offering that training for other candidates if they are interested.
Phillies kicked ass on improving his public speaking.
Between Ruwart, Kubby and Knapp:
Ruwart needs to add some assertiveness/zing to her presentation. If she is willing to do the work, there’s plenty of time left. Phillies improved his public speaking a lot in 2006-8.
I think Kubby is well on his way to solving the problems that made 2008 too early for him – mainly financial (directly and indirectly). His public speaking was back on track in Denver. If he wants to run again, I think he could do much better. I haven’t asked him myself, but I’ve heard second hand he is not interested. Still plenty of time to decide.
Knapp is the only declared candidate. Great writer, but I don’t know how he is as a campaigner. I know he’s done that plenty enough at the local/state level (I won’t count the BTP VP thing). I know he loses his voice sometimes, and I’m not sure if he can afford a lot of travel.
Root – still plenty of time for him to work on fine points of ideology. Same with Barr.
So any of them could be good if they work on their weak areas between now and then.
It’s nice to see that there are two pro-Ni4D people in the running – Knapp and Jingozian.
President:
Ron Paul if he wants it, which I very much suspect he won’t. However, I do think he will seek the Republican nomination again, and I don’t think he is necessarily too old to run – though he won’t get their nomination.
I wasn’t enthusiastic when he first started running for 2008, because he deviates to the right on several important social issues. However, he showed an ability to mobilize left-leaning constituencies that the LP never has. That brought me around.
So, if he somehow wanted the LP nomination again, it wouldn’t make sense to oppose it – nor would anyone have a chance of denying it to him in any case.
But, I don’t see him wanting it.
Of the remaining choices you list, I’d like to see Ruwart, Kubby or Knapp. However, at this point I see Root or some other right-leaning candidate beating any of them head to head on the last ballot unless we do a much better job of organizing our support within the party and/or bringing in new people than we did in 2006, 2008, or thus far since then.
I voted in the Pres poll, and I’m not a libertarian. But I thought it was appropriate because there’s one candidate on that list (Tom Knapp) whom I’d consider voting for in the general election if he wins the nomination.
“as good as physical shape” => as good as physical shape as Dr. Paul.
We heard the “too old” argument in 2008, too. It was thoroughly debunked by the fact that the only other candidate in anything close to as good as physical shape was Obama. It’s not the age, it’s the age plus the maintenance.
As for the rest, that’s just rehashing the same argument every 4 years. Candidates at all levels have their purpose, and let’s leave it at that. For now, the focus should be on the 2010 campaign.
I think Ron Paul will be too old to run in 2012, and none of the other candidates have the credentials or the public recognition to be anything other than a protest vote.
Perhaps we should try to find some serious candidates for Congress, to oppose the headlong rush into statism and bankruptcy that the bipartisans have given us.
TK__I asked him to run for re-election in 2002, and he said no. He also said no when I asked him to run in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
I haven’t asked him yet to run in 2010.
LOL , I think many peope have been barking up that tree .
If he runs , he will absolutely have my support. I think I respect him more that ANY OTHER Libertarian/libertarian I know.
libertariangirl,
So far as I know, Lark has not said that he’s going to run.
I asked him to run for re-election in 2002, and he said no. He also said no when I asked him to run in 2004, 2006 and 2008.
I haven’t asked him yet to run in 2010. I’m hoping enough other people will join me in asking him to run that he considers doing so.
I work with Lee Wrights on a daily basis, and haven’t heard anywhere other than in this comment thread that he is a declared candidate. If he is, I’d certainly support him absent a Lark run.
has Jim Lark said he’s gonna run for Chair again or has he opted out?
I added a poll for Chair. Have at it:
http://lp-discuss.org/polls/
wouldnt that be perfect!!!
The question is, if the LP really picks Ron Paul would he get back together with his old party?
Wayne announced at the Nevada LP convention that he’s ers seriously considering running for chair but has not made up his mid yet.
I votefor who I think would best build the party
I voted Ron Paul #1
then, Bob Barr
my third pick would be Wayne
I’m an anarchst that is closely aligned with Mary Ruwart. But I just don’t think she has what it takes to grow the party. You know the media doesn’t interview no-name candidates.
As someone who voted for Barr over Root in this poll (the only vote I cast for Barr), I can only say that the thought of Root as a 2012 Presidential candidate caused such a disturbance in the force, like millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
I find it fascinating that Barr outpolls only Root in a head-to-head.
Wrong emphasis. What I find fascinating is that only Root doesn’t seem to be able to beat Barr handily. Perhaps that indicates dis-satisfaction with the entire Barr-Root ticket. Or just low numbers. Interesting, nonetheless.
Whole lot of Bob Barr going on in the poll.
That was simply because Barr is the most recent candidate, so the natural ‘standard’ against which the new crop should be judged – at least at first.
I don’t think Barr will be back for another round with the LP, actually. But my predictive track record is pretty bad.
I find it fascinating that Barr outpolls only Root in a head-to-head. So far, at least.
If you want to lose, Ruwart 2012. If you want to win, Milnes/Ruwart 2012.
This poll totally overlooks the possibility of the LP nominating an independent ticket or conominating a green ticket. So my name is left out because?….I am seeking both the LP & GP nominations technically. But since they are unreliable I have declared as independent. I anticipate obstinance from the parties but the grassroots will support my ticket & get it on many ballots. The parties’ presidential tickets will get left behind but my ticket will pull up all the downticket ballots on its coattails.
I seem to recall we have one declared chair candidate, Lee Wrights, and one plausible chair candidate, Aaron Starr.
The second round of Presidential poll might rationally use the first round to generate the legitimate pairings, e.g. Ruwart *the best-polling Libertarian on the list* vs people lower down.
Whole lot of Bob Barr going on in the poll.
Do we really think he’ll be a factor for the LP in 2012?
I mean, really?
He doesn’t even mention being the 2008 nominee on the front page of his new web page.
Lark.
Nolan
(still thinking Chair race)
Bennett!
I’d like to add a Chair ’10 poll, but I’m a bit at a loss for names to seed it with.
I can think of:
Redpath
Phillies
Hancock
Jingozian
but I’d like to include more. Anyone with intel, or even wild speculation?
Ruwart 2012!