“A Libertarian Moment in the GOP?” Let’s hope so!

I realize my posts are few and far between these days compared to what they have been, but I’m utterly delighted, tickled pink, happier than a clam, etc. to see that Glenn Reynolds has interviewed Gary Johnson.

The title is “A Libertarian Moment in the GOP? Gov. Gary Johnson On the Politics of the 2012 Election.”

What can I say? I have supported Gary Johnson from the start. A lot of Ron Paul supporters have complained that Johnson is some sort of distraction from Paul, but with all respect to them, I think they forget that having two libertarian-minded candidates in and of itself sends a much more powerful message than having one.

It broadens the scope of the ideology.

Just as there is more than one social conservative in the race, and more than one statist-style Republican, it is entirely reasonable that there be more than one libertarian Republican.

Why should libertarianism be identified in the public imagination as inextricably linked only with the thoughts and statements of Ron Paul?

I say this not only as someone who has supported libertarian principles for a decades, but as a longtime Libertarian Party voter. (I voted for Roger McBride in 1976, and I have never regretted that vote.)

I would like to think that the future of libertarianism lies with the Republican Party (and let’s face it, the future of libertarianism sure as hell doesn’t lie with the Democratic Party). Gary Johnson certainly thinks so, and for cripe’s sake, he has the track record to prove it. As a two term governor, he is better qualified to be president than most of the GOP candidates, and he not only has more executive experience than Barack Obama, but he has more experience in actually vetoing bills than all of the candidates combined. Which is great, because we have enough laws. Unless they repeal invasive legislation, all bills should be vetoed.

I hope I will be allowed to vote for Gary Johnson when the primary rolls around to Michigan.


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4 responses to ““A Libertarian Moment in the GOP?” Let’s hope so!”

  1. joshua Avatar

    “I think they forget that having two libertarian-minded candidates in and of itself sends a much more powerful message than having one.

    It broadens the scope of the ideology.”

    I think I agree with this. I’ve been thinking recently that the point of debates is not so much what any individual candidate claims to support – because we all know from history that presidents’ actions rarely resemble their campaign promises. But the point of debates is that it gives you a feel for the current state of the overall party, what it believes, what it is debating about believing, and where it is going. So in those regards, going from 0 to 1 to 2 libertarian-ish candidates in the ’04, ’08, and ’12 election cycles definitely seems like good progress.

  2. Veeshir Avatar

    The problem is that the GOP establishment doesn’t like libertarianism, they like to have power.

    That’s why the last two presidential election cycles they’ve been pushing Romney.

    I’d like to think that most GOP voters (and independents) are much more libertarian than most GOP pols.

    That’s why, IMO, you won’t be seeing too much of Gary Johnson.

    Both the GOP establishment and Minitrue don’t want Teh Peepul to see him, they might like what he says and then the whole “Power Over the People” edifice they’ve been building for 200 years comes crashing down.

  3. Jenny Avatar

    I don’t know how you’re going to avoid selling your souls to the Repubs. We liberals are committed to getting the government out of our homes.
    And I hope to see much more of Mr. Johnson.

  4. […] when he was a Republican candidate, and I wish he had not given up on what he said about the future of libertarianism being in the GOP. Like it or not, this is still a two party system, and I don’t like seeing […]