For earlier IPR coverage, see here, here, and here.
Posted at LP blog:
The political news site Politico.com suggests that "Gary Johnson emerges as the next Ron Paul." Johnson is a former New Mexico governor.
The story quotes LP Executive Director Wes Benedict:
What seems clear is that for now Johnson has no plan to leave the GOP. He resisted a draft effort from the Libertarian Party leading up to the 2000 presidential race and now, while noting his disillusionment with the party’s fiscal record during the Bush years, says: “I am still a Republican.”
Wes Benedict, executive director of the Libertarian National Committee, said he suspects Johnson is trying to nudge the GOP closer to libertarianism.
“It would not bother me one bit if both the Republican and Democratic parties move towards the Libertarian Party positions,” Benedict quipped. “If Johnson fails to convince Republican candidates to support ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq and to legalize marijuana, his results will probably benefit Libertarian Party candidates.”
6 responses so far ↓
1 Robert Capozzi // Dec 18, 2009 at 8:24 am
Nice pickup.
However, I’d be surprised if Johnson were trying to “nudge,” per se. A candidate tries to attract people to support him or her, which is a less direct thing.
2 Aroundtheblockafewtimes // Dec 18, 2009 at 10:21 am
I know several Libertarians who changed registration to Republican in 2008 so they could actively back Ron Paul’s effort. When RP failed, they returned to Libertarian and supported Barr.
Libertarians who want to be engaged in politics may consider the same scenario for Johnson in 2012.
3 Robert Capozzi // Dec 18, 2009 at 10:47 am
anyone know if Johnson has skeletons in his closet, such as hate-filled newsletters?
4 paulie // Dec 18, 2009 at 10:57 am
I’m not aware of skeletons. The worst I’ve heard is that he is not a hardcore libertarian, but then he doesn’t claim to be.
Gary Fincher also says that Johnson promised to pardon him and his late wife for wearing a Libertarian t-shirt while voting,for which they were criminally charged, but never did.
5 Robert Capozzi // Dec 18, 2009 at 4:51 pm
pc: …not a hardcore L…
me: hmm, leaky, is he? What’s he weak on…civil war revisionism…kiddie porn…meth vending machines in middle school…debt repudiation…fire sale of national parks…?
6 paulie // Dec 21, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Hmmm. Truthfully I don’t remember.
Did he use his power as governor to pardon everyone jailed for victimless “crimes”?
Did he use his executive authority to keep state employees (troopers, etc) from initiating coercion as much as possible?
Did he veto most state spending, or propose budgets that cut the state budget to a small fraction of its size?
ETC
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