Comments on: Libertarian Party Convention This Week: World Waits http://toddseavey.com/2008/05/18/libertarian-party-convention-this-week-world-waits/ Conservatism for punks. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:59:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: Kevin B. O'Reilly http://toddseavey.com/2008/05/18/libertarian-party-convention-this-week-world-waits/#comment-14428 Sun, 18 May 2008 20:01:17 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/05/18/libertarian-party-convention-this-week-world-waits/#comment-14428 I just don't see how Barr, should he get the LP nomination, will have a decisive impact in any state. First, he will not be able to raise Paul kind of money because he does not inspire the kind of loyalty and enthusiasm that Paul did. Paul had a long, long record of opposing overseas intervention and big spending at home. Barr has neither. Second, I think it's clear that strategic voting in general election contests is pretty rare. Indeed, the closer the race is the fewer protest votes there will be. And recall that Republican primary voters clearly *rejected* Paul's message (unfortunately). Rather, they split their votes among a pandering technocrat (Romney), an honorable warmonger (McCain), and a funny Bible-thumper (Huckabee). Where's the libertarian protest vote there that would actually make a difference in fall? I just don’t see how Barr, should he get the LP nomination, will have a decisive impact in any state. First, he will not be able to raise Paul kind of money because he does not inspire the kind of loyalty and enthusiasm that Paul did. Paul had a long, long record of opposing overseas intervention and big spending at home. Barr has neither.

Second, I think it’s clear that strategic voting in general election contests is pretty rare. Indeed, the closer the race is the fewer protest votes there will be. And recall that Republican primary voters clearly *rejected* Paul’s message (unfortunately). Rather, they split their votes among a pandering technocrat (Romney), an honorable warmonger (McCain), and a funny Bible-thumper (Huckabee). Where’s the libertarian protest vote there that would actually make a difference in fall?

]]> by: Mike http://toddseavey.com/2008/05/18/libertarian-party-convention-this-week-world-waits/#comment-14427 Sun, 18 May 2008 19:40:16 +0000 http://toddseavey.com/2008/05/18/libertarian-party-convention-this-week-world-waits/#comment-14427 Ventura wins every election he enters. And lets face it a guy that doesn't pay his taxes is going to lose out big time to a Ventura type. I' just not going to get into who he pulls more votes from when he's 2 for 2. Ventura wins every election he enters. And lets face it a guy that doesn’t pay his taxes is going to lose out big time to a Ventura type. I’ just not going to get into who he pulls more votes from when he’s 2 for 2.

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