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Johnson gives up on GOP nomination, may run as libertarian
Former N.M. Gov. Gary Johnson
Former N.M. Gov. Gary Johnson is considering running for president as a libertarian and conceding that he won’t become the GOP nominee.
From Capitol Report New Mexico:
“Gary Johnson says he’s not sure when he’ll make up his mind on pursuing a third-party candidacy for President but he definitely says his chances of turning in a respectable showing in New Hampshire are practically non-existent — and that’s because, he says, he’s been unfairly excluded from nearly all of the Republican presidential debates.
“‘There’s no expectation, none whatsoever’ of a strong finish in the New Hampshire primary, which will be held in little more than six weeks (Jan. 10) Johnson said in an interview in Santa Fe Monday afternoon (Nov. 28).
“Back in August, Johnson announced he was concentrating his campaign’s attention — and money — in New Hampshire, doubling his staff in the Granite State and ‘making a strategic decision to spend our resources and time doing retail politics in New Hampshire.’
“But Johnson has been excluded from 14 of the 16 Republican TV debates thus far. ‘We were hosting town halls every night (in New Hampshire) and basically nobody was showing up,’ Johnson said. For that, Johnson blames the debate hosts. ‘It all ties together,’ Johnson said, adding that ‘it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy’ in which TV networks hosting the debates say they’re not inviting Johnson because of his low polling numbers but by not inviting him, Johnson’s message is guaranteed of not getting out.”
You can watch Johnson’s full interview with Capitol Report New Mexico and The Santa Fe New Mexican here:
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LIBERTARIANISM! I am telling you folks. The Constitution matters.
Senate Votes To Let Military Detain Americans Indefinitely, White House Threatens Veto
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/senate-votes-to-let-military-detain-americans-indefinitely_n_1119473.html
The Senate voted Tuesday to keep a controversial provision to let the military detain terrorism suspects on U.S. soil and hold them indefinitely without trial — prompting White House officials to reissue a veto threat.
The measure, part of the massive National Defense Authorization Act, was also opposed by civil libertarians on the left and right. But 16 Democrats and an independent joined with Republicans to defeatan amendment by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) that would have killed the provision, voting it down with 61 against, and 37 for it.
Gary Johnson might have a slight chance if he had more name recognition; if took more middle positions to attract independent voters; and if he separated himself from the Republican flock of candidates. The media isn’t giving him much of a chance to show his stuff – instead, they let delusional candidates (Bachmann) spout their nonsense.
Johnson is perhaps the smartest of the bunch and doesn’t seem to carry much baggage like Gingrich and Cain do. But as a Libertarian, Johnson will certainly go after entitlement programs and downsizing federal government, the latter of which is badly needed. If Johnson’s tenure as NM Governor has any predictability, he’ll veto any and all legislation that doesn’t fit his Libertarian views.
I agree with Titlemike, Johnson could garner plenty of Democratic votes. If you think I am kidding, go to your local farmers market and talk to the vendors/organic farmers there. They are left wing small business people that have lost faith with the big corporatist Democrats. Libertarian is not GOP. Democrats are fed up with Obama. In fact, Democrats that are going to vote for Obama anyway should change their registration so that they can vote in the Republican primary for Ron Paul. Libertarianism is far and away superior an ideology these days than the craziness of the Republican right. A strong vote for the Libertarians would send a populist message to our corrupt and paid off pols. Voting libertarian would curtail the crazy Theocrats while sending a message to the Democrats.
While titlemike seems to be living in a mathematical fantasy that Gary Johnson could win even one of those states (New Mexico included), never mind all eleven, I’m all for him running as a Libertarian; if he does do well enough, it might do some spectacular damage to whichever poor candidate the GOP ends up with, in addition to whatever damage they inevitably do to themselves. For that matter, it might actually have a further beneficial effect; people who would not be voting for the President but are so dissatisfied with whoever the GOP nominee is that they would have otherwise stayed home will be somewhat more likely to turn up at the polls, and anyone who is going to vote for Johnson is likely to be a split-ticket voter… this can only help in down-ticket races.
Amazing it takes some people so long to recognize reality, what causes that? Ego maybe?
I think Gary Johnson should run as a Libertarian. He has a message that needs to be heard. If he campaigned hard in the following eleven states CA. NY. NJ. FL. MI. NC. TX. PA. IL. OH. and GA. he could become the next president. All he needs is one third of the republicans and democrats. He would get support from the pot smokers and online poker players. I would love to run his campaign behind the scenes. He now has the support of The Mootsa Gootsa Society, google it for details, it will take you to my site.