Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson will be speaking to Ron Paul supporters at a festival in Tampa days before the Republican convention in August.
The festival is one of three planned by different organizers, for the days leading up to the convention.
He'll probably get a better reception, than if Rand Paul appeared.
I consider Johnson Ron Paul-lite and Rand Gary Johnson-lite. Johnson certainly would be better as president than Romney or Obama, but he has no firm grasp of libertarian principles. Although he talks a half decent game, he never freed those convicted of drug crimes, from the state of New Mexico while he was governor. In fact, he, until recently, proclaimed that one of his major achievements in New Mexico was making the prisons more efficient.
If one considers the only use for politics at the present time is spreading the libertarian message, Johnson is not the one. He barely understands libertarianism himself.
It's going to be an easy year to not vote.
I have to wonder if Ron Paul is using Gary Johnson as his hole card. If he doesn't get anything from the Republicans at the convention, then he endorses Johnson.
ReplyDeleteAnyone have any word on Johnson's progress and/or experience with Economics In One Lesson and For A New Liberty? If he takes them to heart, perhaps he'll start dropping some sweet liberty melodies here and there before the November election.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the letters Rand wrote to his school newspaper while in college. He may be pragmatic but I'd wager he intellectually "gets" libertarianism better than Gary. The letters are good.
ReplyDelete"Getting it," but ignoring it is arguably worse than not getting it in the first place.
DeleteI think Johnson should announce that he will make Ron Paul Secretary of the Treasure, or Czar of Dismantling the Fed, if elected. Something involving the Fed, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteAnd also announce that he'll make Judge Napolitano AG. We have got to get these twerps with no grasp of of the Constitution out of such a powerful and influential role and if anything, Napolitano understands the Constitution.
I have noticed that Gary Johnson has started putting @RonPaul on his tweets, even when they have nothing to do with Ron. I assume this is to draw in people that have Twitter searches running for @RonPaul constantly. He is clearly going to try to appeal to us.
ReplyDeleteIf I try to look at the proverbial glass as "half full", let's look at the fact GJ is going to a Ron Paul rally as a good thing.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious that GJ is going to be the one swayed towards liberty, not Ron Paul or 95% of his supporters towards tyranny.
:)
Here is a real interview with Gary Johnson done by NPR. They actually ask him substantive policy questions, unlike Wenzel. Johnson is as libertarian as it gets, arguably more that Ron Paul even, despite what Wenzel would have his readers believe. The only difference is that he isn't wearing a tin foil hat like the Wenzel/Rockwell crowd.
ReplyDeleteJohnson sums up libertarianism in a few sentences (in the interview). Shocking, who knew that one doesn't actually have to read numerous books and articles to be a "knowledgeable libertarian?"
Like this interview where Johnson says keep Guantanamo prison open? Supporting bases where the government can detain prisoners without habeas corpus -- the new libertarianism.
DeleteEither you have very little reading comprehension or you don't have a frigging clue what libertarianism is.
DeleteThat's the conclusion i draw if you think that interview of yours would impress any true libertarian.
In the transcript of that interview of yours i've read NOTHING but the usual watered down version of what a libertarian is according to some confused people who still need to shed their liberal or conservative indoctrination. He has said NOTHING that certifies him as a staunch libertarian rather than just a political moderate floating somewhere in the middle of liberalism and conservatism. The positions he explains having have been dealt with numerous times already, here and elsewhere.
I just have to mention the fact that he believes in "humanitarian intervention" (which he doesn't mention in the interview, btw) to show he is NOT a true libertarian. You probably don't even have a clue why that would be the case.
But hey, prove you so-called "point" again by saying true libertarians are a "cult". I'm sure we'll be more impressed next time.
"JOHNSON: Well, so using a broad brushstroke, I think Libertarian - most of America are socially accepting and fiscally responsible. I'm in that category. I think, broadly speaking, that's a Libertarian. A Libertarian is going to be somebody who's really strong on civil liberties."
DeleteAnd this is where Johnson fails. These are not the marks of libertarian philosophy. They are an inevitable outcome of it(for a given definition of fiscally responsible and socially accepting), but not the essence.
The difference between the johnsons and the rockwells is that the rockwells understand the philosophy, and the johnsons don't.
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/21/155504668/gary-johnson-offers-third-choice-in-2012-elections
ReplyDeleteI find every year is an easy year not to vote.
ReplyDelete"Although he talks a half decent game, he never freed those convicted of drug crimes, from the state of New Mexico while he was governor."
ReplyDeleteSeriously? Grow up, Wenzel. Just because GJ doesn't want to be a part of your cult. I wonder if he even had the authority to free them in the first place, especially if many of them were convicted on a Federal level.
Doesn't matter. Fact is that if any libertarian got elected, he/she wouldn't be able to acclomplish much. Even Ron Paul has admitted that almost all of his goals would not be achieved and that he would have to find areas to cut where there is unanymity. Johnson did an excellent job as Governor and it's pathetic that you won't acknowledge it.
"Grow up"?
DeleteCued in, you're not.
Freedom and liberty,... what "cult" is that?
Seems to me Johnson was the same as any other governor.
Aren't they all?
"Just because GJ doesn't want to be a part of your cult."
DeleteGary Johnson doesn't want to be part of a "cult" that wants to free people who are in jail for victimless crimes?
Well, then we know how much of a libertarian he would be, wouldn't we? And we also get a clear indication of how much of one you are, if you don't think he should do what is in his power to get all people in jail "guilty" of victimless crimes released.
Ron Paul started a movement, but while in office what actual legislation did he get passed through the 3 branches? Anything significant? No. Johnson acclomplished much more as Governor than Ron Paul did as a congressman.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is, Johnson's "accomplishment" was nothing more than expanding the power of the state.
DeleteSome accomplishment that is.
Obama and Bush have passed even more legislation through the 3 branches than Johnson, and "accomplished" even more.
DeleteYou have a funny idea of why libertarians should praise "accomplishments" or "passing legislation".
That's what you get when you still believe that participating and being 'successful' in the political apparatus is some kind of standard of accomplishment to libertarians.
Libertarians aren't supposed to "pass legislation", they are supposed to minimize it.
Gary Johnson is an earnest guy and though he may not be the second coming of von Mises, he can balance a budget, has greater respect for liberty than 99% of post WW2 U.S. politicians, and speaks what he thinks is right, not what politics demand of him. IMHO.
ReplyDelete