The most interesting Republican you've never heard of

[Jefferson23]

* I never heard of him, any DU members from New Mexico want to weigh in, please do.


This ex-governor supports abortion rights, gay unions and legalized pot. And he's probably running for president


By Niall Stanage


Gary Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico and a likely candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, is talking about hookers.

"It's never been a consideration that I would enlist the services of a prostitute, myself personally," he says. "But if I were to do that, where would I want to enlist that service? Well, it would probably be in Nevada, where it's legal, because it would be safe."

When's the last time Mitt Romney engaged in a hypothetical like that? But Johnson doesn't even blink. It's not like this is the only topic on which he risks offending the GOP's base. He also favors legalizing pot, supports abortion rights, and opposes the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Oh, and he doesn't go to church. "I don't think you'll ever hear me invoking God in anything I do," he tells me.

It is an incongruous foundation from which to seek the mantle of a party whose last president, George W. Bush, famously claimed that his favorite philosopher is Jesus Christ.

Johnson faces other obstacles, too. Aside from his low name-recognition, he has no discernible power base. After eight years on the job in Santa Fe, he was term-limited out of the governorship at the end of 2002 and stepped back from public life thereafter. Fundraising will be arduous. And his ambitions are the object of outright scorn from the Washington establishment.


remainder in full: http://www.salon.com/news/2012_elections/index.html?story=/news/feature/2010/05/05/gary_johnson_most_interesting_republican

[Mz Pip]

1. I doubt it

A pro-choice, pro-legalization, pro-gay union Republican would never make it through the primaries. The base of the Republican Party is far too reactionary to get behind someone with such liberal social policies.

[Jefferson23]

3. Yea, I agree. But wouldn't his running make all the candidates

address issues that are otherwise givens within the GOP? I think so, in addition, it wouldn't be a bad thing for Obama to have
to answer why he would/would not support policies this man would like to see changed.

I couldn't believe he included defense spending on his list to reduce spending, lol.

I'll say one thing for him, he's about the only normal Republican I've heard about in a long time.

[Wapsie B]

2. The gop would quickly find a way to silence him.

Even though he does represent a certain constituency in the party that bloc does not control the gop. The teabaggers and bible worshipers would never allow someone like him anywhere near the nomination, and it's doubtful he'd ever be included in any part of a new administration.

[Gman]

4. If the GOP base goes ape shit because an American citizen was Mirandized

this guy is a non-starter in the primaries.

[TransitJohn]

5. The GOP will "Kucinich" or "Gravel" him. n/t

n/t

[FSogol]

6. Gary Johnson will play the part of Mike Gravel in the 2012 election.

Or we can all go back to never hearing of him.

[Angry Dragon]

7. Perhaps he should switch parties

[Regret My New Name]

8. I think he's too fiscally conservative for that

I think he should stay in the GOP and work toward helping bring some sanity over there. Which may sounds counter-productive to the democratic party, but I think it would be a very positive thing for the country if more republicans were similar to that guy... I mean, they do have about a 50/50 chance of winning elections.

[Angry Dragon]

9. If anyone over there would listen to him

Perhaps it would be better to just get rid of parties and just be able to vote for the person instead of all the garbage that comes with the party. It just seems to me that the parties think the first allegiance is to the party and not the people.

[Jefferson23]

10. Me too, we have a two party system, and the GOP right now is as

unhealthy as it could possibly be imo.

[lovemydog]

11. hi

I live in New Mexico. I didn't vote for him, but I think he was a pretty good governor. He wasn't one to tow the line of any political party. He was strict about not overspending. Some felt he vetoed too much. He's a bit of a libertarian but not in a crazy sense. I like his pro choice and legalize pot attitudes. He was originally a successful Albuquerque business man. He is not the demagogue or straight up whacko that typifies most republicans. From what I can tell, Johnson is intelligent and ethical. Sadly, that is not true of all the 'old line' democrats in this State. Obviously, it's just my opinion.

[Jefferson23]

12. Thanks for the post, I was hoping to hear directly from a NM resident.

I hope he runs, the Republican primary debates alone would be great.


Welcome to DU:hi:

[lovemydog]

13. thanks

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, it would be fun to see him in some debates. The rest of the republican field will likely look like people campaigning to turn our country back to the pre-civil rights era.