Former Republican announces race for the White House

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
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I'm not sure why this wasn't reported here earlier. Normally I wouldn't think twice about this candidacy. However, considering the amount of Republicans that are appalled by the Bush Administration and cannot stomach John McCain's liberal policies, I think Barr may do some damage to McCain. Then again, it depends on how much the media helps him by giving him free airtime.

http://politicalticker.blogs.c...nces-presidential-bid/

Barr announces presidential bid

(CNN) ? Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr formally jumped into the White House race Monday as a candidate for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination.

Barr, the onetime darling of conservatives who led the impeachment fight against former President Bill Clinton, said he is running because voters want a choice beyond the two political parties.

"They believe that America has more and better to offer than what the current political situation is serving up to us," he said Monday at the National Press Club in Washington. "The reason for that is very simple, they believe in America as I believe in America. We believe in an America that is not and should not be and should never be driven by fear as current policies on behalf of both parties are in this country."

Barr, 59, represented Georgia's 7th congressional district from 1995-2003, and became an increasingly vocal critic of President Bush, especially over the president's support of the Patriot Act. He formally left the Republican Party in 2006.

It remains unclear how much support he will draw, but CNN's Bill Schneider says Barr could be to John McCain what Ralph Nader was to Al Gore in 2000.


"If this is an extremely close election, even if Bob Barr gets a handful of votes, it could make a difference, just as Ralph Nader once did," Schneider said. "He is a conservative who attracts mostly Republican voters. He is critical of the Iraq war. McCain supports the Iraq war. There are many conservatism and Republicans who ware critical of the war in Iraq and some of them may decide to vote for Bob Barr to register their protests.

 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,030
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He needs to ask Paul to be his VP to ensure he takes enough votes away from McCain.

The Republican party MUST learn that they need to again be the party that focuses on fiscal responsibility, civil rights, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
 

Dari

Lifer
Oct 25, 2002
17,134
38
91
Originally posted by: bamacre
He needs to ask Paul to be his VP to ensure he takes enough votes away from McCain.

The Republican party MUST learn that they need to again be the party that focuses on fiscal responsibility, civil rights, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.

The last Republican President like that was Eisenhower. It's been a while since America has had a truly conservative President.
 

Stoneburner

Diamond Member
May 29, 2003
3,491
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Bob Barr was hardly the paragon of Barry Goldwater conservative values. He's been a nutcase for years.

 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,030
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Originally posted by: Stoneburner
Bob Barr was hardly the paragon of Barry Goldwater conservative values. He's been a nutcase for years.

Well, its not like he can actually win. ;)
 

dphantom

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2005
4,763
326
126
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: Stoneburner
Bob Barr was hardly the paragon of Barry Goldwater conservative values. He's been a nutcase for years.

Well, its not like he can actually win. ;)

No, like Nader he will not win. But it gives conservatives an opportunity to vote against the destruction of the Republican party that Bush started and possibly McCain will continue.
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
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Originally posted by: dphantom
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: Stoneburner
Bob Barr was hardly the paragon of Barry Goldwater conservative values. He's been a nutcase for years.

Well, its not like he can actually win. ;)

No, like Nader he will not win. But it gives conservatives an opportunity to vote against the destruction of the Republican party that Bush started and possibly McCain will continue.

I agree, but it certainly wasn't Bush who started said destruction.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,816
83
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what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
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Originally posted by: loki8481
what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:

We can't begin to change the country without first changing our party. It is a seemingly ironic goal, in giving the presidency to Obama, but our options are limited.

I only wish there was such a movement trying to improve the Democrat party.
 

dphantom

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2005
4,763
326
126
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: loki8481
what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:

We can't begin to change the country without first changing our party. It is a seemingly ironic goal, in giving the presidency to Obama, but our options are limited.

I only wish there was such a movement trying to improve the Democrat party.

I have to agree. Obama certainly is not conservative, but a McCain presidency will almost certainly cause irrepareable harm to the conservative part fo the Republican party, its true base and constituency.

While there has always been a liberal wing to the Republican party just like a conservative wing to the Democratic party, todays so called Republican conservatives are nothing more than dressed up socialists trying to fool us into believing they hold to conservative principles.

McCain was on the opposite side of almost every conservative agenda over the last several years yet he now supports many if not all of them. Tax custs, border control, etc all were opposed by McCain originally.
 

jonks

Lifer
Feb 7, 2005
13,918
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Originally posted by: bamacre
He needs to ask Paul to be his VP to ensure he takes enough votes away from McCain.

The Republican party MUST learn that they need to again be the party that focuses on fiscal responsibility, civil rights, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.

Dems can only hope, we need all the help we can get.
 

Mxylplyx

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2007
4,197
101
106
Originally posted by: loki8481
what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:

Such thinking is why nothing changes. People are too busy voting against the other guy to see the turd that is getting elected in their place.
 

Mxylplyx

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2007
4,197
101
106
Originally posted by: sirjonk
Originally posted by: bamacre
He needs to ask Paul to be his VP to ensure he takes enough votes away from McCain.

The Republican party MUST learn that they need to again be the party that focuses on fiscal responsibility, civil rights, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.

Dems can only hope, we need all the help we can get.

Very true given the democrat's track record on running presidential campaigns
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,030
2
61
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Originally posted by: loki8481
what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:

Such thinking is why nothing changes. People are too busy voting against the other guy to see the turd that is getting elected in their place.

And we have a better option in doing what?
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
20,984
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Its long been my contention that the GOP electorate is far more rational than the GOP leadership. And when Paul and his far far right wing ideals struggled to get even 5% of the GOP electorate, its somewhat absurd to think
that even a Barr Paul ticket would have greater support when the democratic voter is added in. While Libertarians and Democrats can agree that we need a more isolationist and less of an interventionist foreign policy, but I think either a Obama or Hillary type more rational foreign policy will command almost all democratic votes.
 

DanceMan

Senior member
Jan 26, 2001
474
0
0
This is interesting. I personally think that Barr is a wolf in sheep's clothing in this case.

What I mean by that is that the Libertarian party is now starting to be taken over by what would be traditionally called 'conservative' elements. When Barr was a Georgia rep, he was out and out a true conservative, and I still believe he is today.

The problem for the conservatives is that McCain's at the top of the ticket, and many of them just don't want to hold their nose and vote for him. The only other party with the national reach besides the big two is the Libertarian party, which will give Barr at least a fighting chance for matching funds and television time.

There's just one problem -- the Libertarian party is too disparate in ideas. They advocate legalizing drugs and prostitution and probably letting each state decide the gay marriage question. I just don't see how Barr can square his conservative background with the general Libertarian party ideas.

I think if you see Barr go hardline conservative, he will be a influencing factor, as well as be a constant thorn in McCain's side, especially in issues like immigration. The right-wing talk show guys will give him just about all the free airtime he needs.
 

Cold Steel

Member
Dec 23, 2007
168
0
0
Originally posted by: dphantom

todays so called Republican conservatives are nothing more than dressed up socialists trying to fool us into believing they hold to conservative principles.

Yup. Big government, big spending dems or big government, big spending repubs. The only difference is WHAT they spend our money on. And there's not a whole lot of difference there, either. I say "No, thanks" to either.
 

Mxylplyx

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2007
4,197
101
106
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
Originally posted by: loki8481
what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:

Such thinking is why nothing changes. People are too busy voting against the other guy to see the turd that is getting elected in their place.

And we have a better option in doing what?

People have to take on a longer term view of the direction of this country. If you really want to steer the Republican party back on course, you cant reward them with yet another presidential term just because you dont like the dem candidate. The Republican party needs to pay for betraying the principles they were entrusted to uphold, and that can be done by voting for a third party, or simply sitting out the election. Not voting is actually something I'm heavily considering.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
72,326
6,039
126
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: loki8481
what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:

We can't begin to change the country without first changing our party. It is a seemingly ironic goal, in giving the presidency to Obama, but our options are limited.

I only wish there was such a movement trying to improve the Democrat party.

Oh but we do, and it is Obama.
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
20,984
3
0
The other question we must ask about the Libertarian party is, can they get on the ballot in all 50 States or even in a single State? In 2004, the Libertarian party polled something like 1% which falls far short of the 5% needed to get automatic ballot Status.

The former Party of Ross Perot had done well enough in 1992 to get that ballot access and also hit that 5% or so threshold in 1996. Then it was totally hijacked by Pat Buchanon whose entry on the dubious Florida ballot
butterfly ballot did much to sink Al Gore. Because many vision challenged voters accidentally voted for Buchanon. when they intended to vote for Gore. A fact even Buchanon acknowledged although alleging an republican conspiracy is probably a false case. The net effect was still the same even if unintended.

But still, unless a candidate can get on the ballot, its a real uphill struggle.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,830
3
0
Originally posted by: bamacre
He needs to ask Paul to be his VP to ensure he takes enough votes away from McCain.

The Republican party MUST learn that they need to again be the party that focuses on fiscal responsibility, civil rights, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.

When was the Republican party the one that focused on civil rights? When it was the liberal one you mean??
 

miniMUNCH

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
4,159
0
0
The constitution of the Us has been getting raped for the last 100 year or so.

We have two dominant political parties who are BOTH piecing our country out to corporate and foreign interests.

we gotta get a clue and right the ship... if we can.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,009
8,640
136
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Originally posted by: bamacre
He needs to ask Paul to be his VP to ensure he takes enough votes away from McCain.

The Republican party MUST learn that they need to again be the party that focuses on fiscal responsibility, civil rights, and a non-interventionist foreign policy.

When was the Republican party the one that focused on civil rights? When it was the liberal one you mean??

101st Airborne in Little Rock escorting black kids to class. 1957. General of the Army Dwight David Eisenhower was our President.

 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
11
76
Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: loki8481
what better way to express libertarian ideas than get pro-universal healthcare elected president. :confused:

We can't begin to change the country without first changing our party. It is a seemingly ironic goal, in giving the presidency to Obama, but our options are limited.

I only wish there was such a movement trying to improve the Democrat party.

I'm going to blow a gasket if you RP fuckers give Obama this election. You of all people should realize that the government never gets smaller. Once Universal Healthcare is imposed upon us, we will have it forever. No dream conservative from your future will ever be able to do away with it, ever.

Dreams and ideals are desirable and noble, but if you get fucked in the ass while you're staring whimsically at the stars, you're a dumbass.