Yes. It makes me wonder if that line about a democratic republic only working until people discover they can vote themsleves money from the public treasur is true.

Hello sjatkins,
He might have garnered a bit more attention too if the field was not so deep with others less desirable.
Respectfully,
O.A.

Quite right. We can lay cosiderable blame at the feet of those that support and thus reward the worst examples of these statists. It only creates a market for more and lowers the bar for the future.

"If he had kept focus on restoring freedom and restraining the government"
I feel like we're poised for a backlash. I thought there would be a backlash against President Obama. After years of politicians saying we need to terrified and let gov't borrow more money to fight evil-doers, people wanted "hope" and "change". Every weekend on the downtown Square there was a protest with puppets against the drone strikes, military occupations, and secret prisons. Immediately after the inauguration, we went straight to arguments of we need to be terrified and let the gov't borrow more money. The drone strikes and Guantanamo didn't go away. The borrowing got much worse. A hopeful person like me who wants change gets more frustrated. It seems like time for a libertarian backlash, but I don't see it materializing.

Rand Paul made the mistake of diluting his message with broadsides on pet issues that greatly divided his support. If he had kept focus on restoring freedom and restraining the government to something approaching its legitimate role without being sidetracked into topics such as abortion or by broadsides against Planned Parenthood he would have done much better.

Your thinking is beyond hopeless, CG. You don't belong here.

We both find each other to be unreasonable. Nothing more to say. So I will bid you, adieu.

"So are you voting for a third party candidate for president?"
No, not unless Bernie Sanders gets the Democrat nomination. Sadly, I probably never will unless something like instant runoff voting breaks the duopoly.

"The military industrial complex has a firm grip on their fate. "
I agree. The Founders of the US were afraid the military would indirectly influence politics and imagined a minimal standing army with armed citizens protecting the country. This approach would still work today.

I agree. So are you voting for a third party candidate for president?

What's your deal? I meant if most people won't vote for a third party until the third party is viable, it never will be viable.

Regardless of who or what led to the current situation, which I admit sucks and has been caused in part by our crappy foreign policy, but, when someone sincerely says they want to kill me, I take them at their word and take steps to prevent it from happening. After I feel secure, then I can take further steps to remedy the causes and if that means withdrawal or isolation, so be it.
Our inept foreign policy is just one of the idiocies Washington has perpetuated. Everything from the economy to lawmaking, to restriction rules, etc.etc. has gotten even some of the sleeping voters to wake up. Of course those newly awakened voters look favorably at Trump as their savior, not realizing that he will be, in the long run, the worst possible choice.

So you have irrationally decided to drown again. You are being led like a pig to be slaughtered, CG. There is no rope around your neck. Stop following the statists. They betray everything you claim to believe in.

I agree with all of this except the parts that try to blame the problems on a few evil people, As human history goes, we're going way above par when it comes to good gov't. There's obviously a long way to go. I see pinning it on a few villains as completely wrong; it's falling victim to the system which encourages an industry around this bickering and demonizing.

Again you make excuses for doing the irrational thing. GOP and Dems have both PROVEN repeatedly that they will betray their vows and destroy liberty. You use that as an excuse for voting FOR them?

Competition is the reason that markets work.
If you believe in free markets and liberty you must rationally vote for the third party.
You wnat to vote for the GOP because they have frightened you. Fear is the tool that the statists use consistenly to keep and increase their power.
Fool you once shame on them. Fool you repeatedly, shame on you.

Yes. It's like avoiding water until you learn to swim.

Yes, that might happen. But don't be naive enough to think that a third party candidate won't contact "Potomac Fever." either.

How many of that list would not be on the list if the fedgov didn't meddle, rattle sabres, and build empire?
The nutcase neocons are much more worrisome to me. Donald Trump with the power of the US presidency is much more frightening than Kim the Ill.
I do understand your point of view, but I think that Johnson does, too. The military industrial complex has a firm grip on their fate. Cui Bono.

Your experience and action proves my point.
"He seems to be sincere in his belief of limited government and big spending, etc. "
Of course he is. If he is new to the game he may even mean it, but he will learn that the GOP will not give him any responsibility until he becomes a statist. When he does he will get power and the game goes on.

Thanks, OA, much clearer and in character ;^)

Yes, it is. Jeb Bush is clueless.

Beside N. Korea? Lessee:
Russia, China, Iran,
ISIS, al Qeada, HAMAS
Also, many up and coming Middle East troubles such as Syria, Iraq.
Then there's the infiltration problem that IS involving us from the border with Mexico coming up from Central and South America.
As to N. Korea, it is being ruled by a nutcase that can involve us if he bombs S. Korea, Israel, etc. With all due respect, and I mean it because I do read your posts, that's a rather stupid question, is it not?.

I think the anger is much more than any establishment people can even imagine.

I need to tell you a story about why I am so hesitant to vote for a third party candidate. A very long time ago, my husband was an elector for a very conservative candidate in a federal presidential election. Because of the polling, it was thought that the candidate had a chance to win our state. We worked tirelessly and donated money to his election. So many of our Republican friends asked us not to give our support to a third party candidate because it was a wasted vote, but we stood on principle and continued to support him. Finally, the election came; he got about three percent of the vote in our state. His three percent almost led to a Democrat win. Both my husband and I said that we would never again back a third party. Right now, our son is working hard for a young man who is running for representative as a Republican. He seems to be sincere in his belief of limited government and big spending, etc. Perhaps that is the best way to go...one person and one election at a time. It's going to take awhile, but I think that it can be done because so many people are angry with.the establishment.