Why would Libertarians nominate this guy? I just read up on him and all I've learned is that he's strictly pro-Drug War and strictly anti-abortion. He also voted for the Patriot Act. How is this Libertarianism?

He also proposed that the military ban the practice of Wicca.

AHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA

Where's the cry of outrage/support from all those FARK "libertarians" that appeared mysteriously when being a douchebag Bush supporter went out of vogue?

I heard it's really Rosanne Barr in drag.

If he would kill himself we would all be better.

jmr61: If he would kill himself we would all be better.

If we would Nader McCain and then kill himself. . .

.

god dammit. this sucks. i guess i'm sitting out this election.

Suck it, Glibertarians

News: Bob Barr wins Libertarian convention, hopes to form coalition of weirdos, goldbugs and real conservatives.

Not news: McCain craps his pants

Fark: ??

Bob Barr was one of Congress's most virulent drug warriors. He is a libertarian like I am the pope.

I believe Barr has changed his tune on the drug war.

Echoic: Why would Libertarians nominate this guy? I just read up on him and all I've learned is that he's strictly pro-Drug War and strictly anti-abortion. He also voted for the Patriot Act. How is this Libertarianism?

He was a loyal, lockstep, hard-right Republican tool, until it became clear that the successful co-option of the "Conservative Revolution" by the neo-conservatives was leading to a Republican meltdown.

Then, like so many here and elsewhere, he suddenly discovered he'd been a Libertarian all along.

ThunderPelvis: Bob Barr was one of Congress's most virulent drug warriors. He is a libertarian like I am the pope.

I had no idea, your holiness.

I'm convinced Barr's changes of heart are sincere- for the simple fact that it made absolutely no sense for him to do what he's done otherwise.


I am, however, pissed to all hell with this douche of a running mate he has.

Churchill2004: I'm convinced Barr's changes of heart are sincere- for the simple fact that it made absolutely no sense for him to do what he's done otherwise.

Publicity? The chance to hijack and disarm a third party?

...and if Obama hadn't been in the race, this would have probably been my choice. (Voted Hagelin in '96, Brown in '00).

ceejayoz: Publicity? The chance to hijack and disarm a third party?

Possible, except that all that publicity comes at the cost of probably never getting elected to anything as a Republican again, and he has given every indication that he is serious about staying with and building up the party.

Churchill2004: I'm convinced Barr's changes of heart are sincere- for the simple fact that it made absolutely no sense for him to do what he's done otherwise.


I am, however, pissed to all hell with this douche of a running mate he has.

Ok. I'll bite.

What's bad about Root?

Churchill2004: I'm convinced Barr's changes of heart are sincere- for the simple fact that it made absolutely no sense for him to do what he's done otherwise.

except that he saw how much money Ron Paul raised and now he wants to line his own war chest with those monies.

Pillager: What's bad about Root?

1) Obnoxious douche. A more energetic Mitt Romney.
2) The most contentious issue of this convention has been the "reformers"- right-libertarians Barr and Root- and the more purist "radicals". He should have chosen Kubby- who was a "radical" but would have made a very good (probably a better) running mate and would heal the party. Instead he choose the other right-libertarian.

Corvus: except that he saw how much money Ron Paul raised and now he wants to line his own war chest with those monies

And then he's going to spend all that money on a Libertarian Presidential campaign. He'll then most likely give any remainder he has to the LNC.

By the way, the AP story is wrong about Ruwart. She wasn't the "the party's presidential nominee in 1983". I don't even know where they got that- she's never been the presidential nominee and how could you have a Presidential nominee in a year there was no election?

Goldbug? (NSFW language).

"I thought I could still go by Bumblebee."
"Shut up Goldbug."

BuckTurgidson: Then, like so many here and elsewhere, he suddenly discovered he'd been a Libertarian all along.

Yup.

I'll probably wait until `12 to see who they run then, but I find it quite unlikely that I will remain a Libertarian after this.

Churchill2004: Pillager: What's bad about Root?

1) Obnoxious douche. A more energetic Mitt Romney.
2) The most contentious issue of this convention has been the "reformers"- right-libertarians Barr and Root- and the more purist "radicals". He should have chosen Kubby- who was a "radical" but would have made a very good (probably a better) running mate and would heal the party. Instead he choose the other right-libertarian.

Steve Kubby?

Man, he's been through Hell.

Steven "Steve" Wynn Kubby (new window)

andrewagill: Yup.

I'll probably wait until `12 to see who they run then, but I find it quite unlikely that I will remain a Libertarian after this

I still so no actual evidence that Barr is being insincere, and I also see in him the capability to really build the party.

I'll take "What The Hell?" for $600, Alex.

Pillager: Steve Kubby?

Man, he's been through Hell

Yes, and is much less of an asshole than Root. He's actually sympathetic, as opposed to Root's arrogance.

Pillager: Steve Kubby?

Any relation to the lawyer The Dude wanted?

Well, at least now I don't have to feel like I need to even lob a protest vote this year.

/Yay for not having to waste a half hour this November!

Smellvin: Well, at least now I don't have to feel like I need to even lob a protest vote this year.

/Yay for not having to waste a half hour this November!

You don't see Barr as acceptable?

Echoic: Why would Libertarians nominate this guy? I just read up on him and all I've learned is that he's strictly pro-Drug War and strictly anti-abortion. He also voted for the Patriot Act. How is this Libertarianism?

They are moderating.

Failing_Junk: They are moderating

To a degree, but not to the degree Ehoic thinks. Barr no longer supports those things, and his vote for the Patriot Act was only because he successfully got the sunset provision inserted. Without that the Patriot Act probably would have remained law forever without any serious discussion of renewal being forced.

Bob Barr wins Libertarian convention, hopes to form coalition of weirdos, goldbugs and real conservatives. McCain craps his pants

Yeah.. because the democratic party doesn't have any weirdos and goldbugs in it. Uh huh.

/WTF ever a goldbug is.

I guess there are now two black candidates running for President.

Triaxis: WTF ever a goldbug is

Someone who advocates the usage of gold as currency.

The Dems have weirdos amongst themselves. I don't know about goldbugs.

czerno: I guess there are now two black candidates running for President.



?

It would please me all to Hell if the Democratic party became the liberal/left wing of American democracy, the Libertarian party became the conservative/right wing of American democracy, and the Republican party became the backwards ass troglodyte fascist "traditionalist" party of morally ambiguous liars over which the Libertarians and Democrats; who are mostly in power, are forced into some sort of patriotic unity to defend the country against. That's the meaning of democracy to me...two voices of reason and emotion, devoted to the country, and never incestuous in their philosophies and politics, due to the constant threat of those guys from The 120 Days of Sodom in the third party.

Needless to say, the Republicans have done their part.

Churchill2004: You don't see Barr as acceptable?

Nope. He now is (at the least claiming to be) a civil libertarian and anti-drug warrior, but other than that he isn't terribly different from another Republican candidate. Voting is inherently futile since you're just one out of hundreds of thousands (tens of millions in a national election) but, now since no one who is running represents me even at least 50%, I won't even feel like putting in a good showing for the team.

Eh, still haven't quite caught up to the loony UK political party...Monster Raving Loonies~

He's no Ross Perot or Nader.

Smellvin: Nope. He now is (at the least claiming to be) a civil libertarian and anti-drug warrior, but other than that he isn't terribly different from another Republican candidate

And he's opposed to the massive increase in Federal government size and power that the Republicans have instituted. He wants to make essentially the same cuts to the Federal government that Ron Paul wanted, and you supported him.

Churchill2004: And he's opposed to the massive increase in Federal government size and power that the Republicans have instituted. He wants to make essentially the same cuts to the Federal government that Ron Paul wanted, and you supported him.

I was also voting in the NH primary and, therefore, had far more individual power as my vote counted for more. Whatever the internal calculus may be, Bob Barr in a general election fails it for me.

/I'm at least slightly opposed to the idea of elections beyond town-level anyhow, so I can pretend that I'm taking a principled stand.
//Slipping back into apathy is like rediscovering your old, favorite coat that you'd lost in your attic.

I've always like the "real conservatives" bit people like to associate with the libertarians. It's funny.

Churchill2004:
And he's opposed to the massive increase in Federal government size and power that the Republicans have instituted. He wants to make essentially the same cuts to the Federal government that Ron Paul wanted, and you supported him.


Yeah, but I believed Ron Paul.

Obama supporters should unite and give the guy 5 bucks a piece -- that should buy enough air time to draw some serious 'real conservative' votes.

TheOmni: Yeah, but I believed Ron Paul

I see no reason not to believe him.

Wow! They nominated Bob Barr? Libertarian is now as meaningless a term as Conservative.

TheOmni: Yeah, but I believed Ron Paul.

Yeah, and you were a fool for doing so. (Does the "We the People Act" ring a bell?)

At least you're not voting McCain.