Michael Badnarik(Libertarian) can be our Ralph Nader!

[a_random_joel]

http://www.badnarik.org/

I am not here to promote this guy to DUers or any other progressives for that matter. I am certainly more of a liberal than a libertarian.

BUT, I know some people who dislike or are at least wary of Bush, but can't quite jump over to Kerry.

For these people, if a Kerry pitch gets you nowhere, I would consider informing them about Badnarik.

3rd party candidates can cut both ways...

[mandyky]

1. He can be their (GOP) Nader

Personally I think most libertarians are WORSE than the GOP, but sure tell your capitalist pig GOP friends to vote Badnarik.

[noahmijo]

2. Actually you'd be surprised how you'd agree with libertarians on

a few key items.

Libertarians want to ban the FCC, corporate welfare, strongly oppose putting restrictions on gay marriage.

[mandyky]

4. Yes, but they also don't believe in ANY

business regulation. No thanks - shrub is bad enough.

[a_random_joel]

5. That is not completely true.

And you are missing the bigger picture here, which is the defection of possible Bush votes.

[mandyky]

8. Isn't Neal Boortz supposedly a libertarian?

He's no better than shrub. Hey I'd love it if GOPs would vote for Libertarians, I just don't want to be considered one of them. I voted Nader last election cycle, and I personally will not vote 3rd party this year. Others are free to do whatever.

Yes, I know Libertarians are ok on civil liberties and social issues -BUT when it comes to business, the economy, and gov't spending - they are the GOP on steroids!

[noahmijo]

7. I didn't say I or you would agree with them on EVERYTHING

They also advocate opening our borders and banning border patrol.

But they have a few things I can agree with them on, and I've found libertarians to much easier to talk to then repugs.

As the saying goes overall "even a broken clock is right twice a day"

[ContinentalOp]

10. You're presuming an awful lot.

I have the opposite opinion on almost all of these issues you mention. Why on earth would you want to ban the FCC? I want to see more media regulation not the final step in a long process of dismantling all media regulation. On the other hand opening our borders is something I might be more inclined to support.

[noahmijo]

14. So you would support more air wave regulation but zero border policy?

So in other words some guy who uses the f-word on the radio is more of a threat to you than a terrorist able to pass himself off as a Mexican (and believe me it is possible) and can just casually stroll across the border?

Also the other issues I named were gay marriage and corporate welfare. Libertarians support gay marriage and oppose corporate welfare.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but to my knowledge a common liberal would agree with libertarians on these two issues.

[a_random_joel]

3. Take it easy. First of all...

Libertarians are not worse than the GOP.

They stand with us on social issues, at least.

Secondly, capitalist pigs? I happen to believe in capitalism myself, although regulated. Your language is a bit strong.

Lastly, yes... sometimes people have friends or family members that consider the GOP. That doesn't necessarily make them bad people, just misinformed.

And better they vote for Badnarik than Bush.

[mandyky]

6. When corporations care more for their bottom line

than their country - sorry they are capitalist pigs. When the head of Pfizer get 2 billion a year and has the audacity to say drug companies need to do research and development money and cannot be expected to lower prices for govt agencies, such as medicare and veterans and poor people, well the only thing I'd can say to make it plainer is GREEDY capitalist pigs, but that is redundant!

[Cat Atomic]

13. Libertarians are far worse then the GOP, in my opinion.

They're much more extremist on the issues that matter most; corporate regulation, social services, etc. Sure, they seem to agree with progressives on a few social issues, but even there, the agreement is rather superficial.

A Libertarian might be against banning gay marriage, but they'd also have no problem with a business refusing to serve married gays. Or to landlords refusing to rent to them.

[leftyandproud]

9. I don't think many pubs will become libertarians

the LP HATES Bush and Ashcroft...they were probably more against the war in Iraq than most lefties, for completely different reasons though.

badnarik wants to legalize marijuana, bring the troops home immediately and stop all foreign intervention...he is also pro-choice...Think many pubs will buy that? NOPE!

[Owsley]

11. Anyone read this part?

http://www.badnarik.org/Issues/IraqWar.php

from "Military Policy and the War in Iraq"

The War in Iraq is a failure, and the U.S. government should never have waged it. As your president, one of my first tasks will be to begin the orderly process of bringing our troops home as quickly as can safely be accomplished.

snip

First, allow me to dispel a myth. People in the Middle East do not hate us for our freedom. They do not hate us for our lifestyle. They hate us because we have spent many years attempting to force them to emulate our lifestyle.

snip

It was because of American troops in Saudi Arabia, lethal sanctions on Iraq, support for states in serious violation of International Law, and siding with Israel in its dispute with the Palestinians to the tune of more than $3 billion per year in taxpayers' funds that terrorist leaders were able to recruit those individuals who caused 3,000 Americans to pay the ultimate price on September 11, 2001.

snip

The U.S. government has never succeeded in establishing freedom and democracy in any of its foreign adventures in the last fifty years. Freedom and democracy are blessings any people must establish for themselves.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

more...


These statements strike me as pretty agreeable with many people at DU. Call Libertarians selfish if you will (lord knows I agree), but as far as foreign policy is concerned, this guy is dead on.

Owsley

[Moderator]

15. Owsley

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.

Thank you.

DU Moderator

[leftyandproud]

17. damn, he nailed it. *nt*

[a_random_joel]

12. Not all "registered" Repugs...

Are tried and true Repugs.

You are also neglecting a chunk which considers themselves independent, although they may lean Repuke rather than Dem.

Again, ultimately I am not discussing the merits of the LP platform.

I am discussing the potential for them to siphon off votes from Bush.

[sendero]

16. Libertarians...

... are the most deluded bunch since Communists, and share the same sort of human-nature myopic worldview that permits them to believe the stupidass things they believe.

But, if this guy wants to run, great. It might be the first time a Libertarian has ever been useful.

[MattNC]

18. most Libertarians I know

are either gun nuts or crazy about drug legalization.

[formernaderite]

19. You understand the Libertarians get about 1% or less of the vote...

..I seem to remember that's what Harry Brown ended up with in 2000. He was also a stronger candidate with more name recognition. Of course the republicans complained that in some states they could have won without the Libertarian vote..but that's just a stupid as democrats whining about Nader. These guys attract voters who would NEVER vote for anyone but a third party. Last time Nader actually got a percentage of Libertarian voters who decided to bolster up a third party candidates numbers knowing he couldn't possibly win. My wife is one of those...although we agree in principle on many ideas....our implementation is diametrically opposed.

[a_random_joel]

20. This post was made based on personal experience.

I know many former Repugs, or Repug leaners who can't quite make the jump to Kerry, but are pretty wary of voting for Bush.

Better this, than having them hold their nose and vote for Bush.