Comments for Bob Barr: Libertarian Presidential Candidate…is this a joke? at http://theprometheusinstitute.org , comment 1 to 5 out of 5 comments http://theprometheusinstitute.org Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:30:12 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://theprometheusinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=658:bob-barr-libertarian-presidential-candidateis-this-a-joke&catid=94:blog&Itemid=26#comment-231 Barr may have been the antithesis of the Libertarian Movement, at one point, but how are we ever going to grow as a group if we constantly ostracize new 'converts'? Lets assume for a second that Barr is not entirely forthright with his motives for joining the LP. As the presidential nominee, he will either work to help our Liberty, or against it, by not spreading the message and sitting our the race. If we were to support this person, and he then later turns back to the GOP, what have we lost? Nothing, except what we thought was an ally. The movement, the progression toward having a better political system, wouldn't take a step back because a former captain jumps ship. In this season, where Obama should have no trouble beating McCain, we need to be working harder than ever to support the LP, as Barr has just about as much chance to 'win' as does McCain, and we can use this to diffuse any talk about not 'wasting' their vote. If you are choosing to not support Barr, and not campaign for the LP, what are you doing to help? - Jusitn Altman Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:13:57 +0100 http://theprometheusinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=658:bob-barr-libertarian-presidential-candidateis-this-a-joke&catid=94:blog&Itemid=26#comment-222 My problem with Barr is that he still sees him very much as a conservative. Libertarians generally appeal to the public in general, such as the Prometheus Institute does, explicitly both liberals and conservatives, whereas Barr targets himself only towards conservatives or discontented Republicans. He seems to be that sort of hypocrite the GOP specialize in. It's funny how many of the chief prosecutors of Bill Clinton in Congress had incongruities in their own relations. With Barr as the current standard-bearer, libertarianism looks simply like a right-wing movement, of those in the GOP unsatisfied with the current leadership. On his Facebook group, he calls himself a conservative's conservative. Barr has said that one of the benefits of his candidacy is that he will increase the chances of GOP candidates for Congress as conservatives who mightn't have voted for McCain would vote for him. If anything, that's the inverse of what I think should be a Libertarian strategy. I think the idea of voting for a third-party candidate for President in the United States at the moment does not make sense, as people have to make a practical choice, and take responsibility for the implications of either an Obama presidency or a McCain presidency. But it would be fine to work for increasing LP presence at a local level. - William Wed, 28 May 2008 21:25:29 +0100 http://theprometheusinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=658:bob-barr-libertarian-presidential-candidateis-this-a-joke&catid=94:blog&Itemid=26#comment-221 I entirely concur with the purpose of this organization. As a moderate libertarian, not associated with the LP at all, I believe it is vital that moderate libertarian policies based upon obtainable political objectives is the only way libertarianism will have any impact on the U.S. electoral system. Doctrine Libertarians have held the governing philosophy hostage for far too long, with their insistance on philosophical purity while libertarianism gains no political momentum whatsoever. Political compromising to achieve a politcal goal in the advancement of liberty is not a compromise of principles nor ideals. There are many moderate libertarians who stand ready to make the journey out of the political wilderness and present to the American people policies that will appeal to them not because they are 'philosophically' pure, but because they are the same ideals that inspired the words of the Declaration of Independence, and the Framing Generation to sacrifice all for liberty. I, for one, applaud this organization and the vital and important work that it is doing. More organizations such as this one are urgently needed if libertarianism is ever to grip the imaginations of the American people. Kindest Regards, Ryan Christiano National Political Science Honor Society Inductee. - Ryan Wed, 28 May 2008 18:25:34 +0100 http://theprometheusinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=658:bob-barr-libertarian-presidential-candidateis-this-a-joke&catid=94:blog&Itemid=26#comment-219 Yeah, they should have nominated Mary Ruwart instead because she's such a REAL libertarian. In particular I think she would really do well in the general election with her "Children should be allowed to consensually have sex with adults" and "Child porn should not be regulated ideas." That's a great way to break the "Libertarians are extreme" perception. Libertarians have to learn to be inclusive. We need hardcore libertarians (Ruwart), left-libertarians (Gravel), and right-libertarians (Ron Paul, Bob Barr), and we also need to get used to the fact that they are ALL "real" libertarians. All the libertarian movement ever does is call out those who aren't "Libertarian enough." If you think less government is almost always better, the libertarian movement should include you. Otherwise we can get used to the election results we've seen for the Libertarian Party (.21%, 1.1%, .25%, .47%, .28%, .5%, .36%, .34%) Or we could stick to people like Michael Badnarik (who lived in his parents basement while campaigning in 2004) or Mary Ruwart (yay child porn)... - Robert Barr Wed, 28 May 2008 06:48:36 +0100 http://theprometheusinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=658:bob-barr-libertarian-presidential-candidateis-this-a-joke&catid=94:blog&Itemid=26#comment-218 As a libertarian before there was an LP, yes the LP might have chosen one better aligned, but Barr shows really mean political savvy, while Root provides great energy, charisma and seems on-track. I'll stick with Barr/Root as the best available. Our alternative is only the 3-stooges, all seeking more government and more debt for somewhat different objectives. Neither those candidates nor the media are addressing the moral/economic collapse of which each is a cause. Only the Libertarians espouse the rational morality needed to bring us back out of the next Dark Age. Barr/Root are now our only voice, not just to make noise, but to win. - Dean Striker Wed, 28 May 2008 03:18:39 +0100