I don't see Romney actually becoming a member of the LP (he has already said he disagrees with its position on decriminalizing drugs), but his mere mini-endorsement of its candidates will encourage his political allies to consider voting Libertarian as an acceptable alternative to supporting Trump. This will add to Gary Johnson's standing in the polls, improve his chance of getting into the debates, and raise public awareness of the LP, its platform and its principles. It's all good.

You nailed the slime ball.
IMO, Mitt is slime of a different odor and slimy texture.
He wants to dump Trump more than anything.

On Meet the Press yesterday, Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona was stating that he could not see himself voting for Trump. When asked if he could vote for Clinton or Johnson he stated "I won't vote for Clinton." End of answer. Paired with the Romney comments, I sense the beginning of a mini-movement of public consideration of Johnson among prominent Republicans who are not up for re-election this year. If this gains momentum and does not meet with public opposition by party leaders we could be in for a significant shift in the next 60 days or so.

Pat Buchanan might be the slime ball you are referring to.

The debate threshold is 15%, not 4%. However, Johnson is already at 12%.

Would Romney actually be an asset to the LP? This is the guy who foisted "Romney Care" on Massachusetts. If he had his way, he would keep the do-nothing congress doing nothing while fearing to offend voters by strongly opposing Progressive follies. Yes, he is a well known public figure, but is he worth what he will strive to do to LP along with the cronies who will come in with him? If Romney takes an active part in the LP, they will become merely another sell-out -- perhaps even worse than the Republicans.

That last line pretty well backs up what I just posted at about the same time.

The LP's achilles heel is that the party is completely unwilling to even try to purge itself of kooks. I doubt it will effectively resist a takeover by anybody. Members are required to sign the NAP but I've never heard of anyone being threatened with expulsion for breaking that oath.

It's ironic that Romney would oppose Trump when Romney personally scuppered the GOP's chances in 2012 by being the only Republican who couldn't plausibly run against Obamacare.

Bet Rush Limbaugh can tell you what Mitt Romney is up to with this phony little show he's putting on. He already has in other words.
Romney is part of the same craven GOP "establishment" who would not mind the evil hag winning at all.

http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/rush-...

The Romneys wrap themselves in the American FLAG but NEVER wrap themselves in an American UNIFORM.
"patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"
(1) Great Grandpa Romney ran to Mexico to dodge American laws
(2) Grandpa Romney FLIP-FLOPPED back to America when Mexico got dangerous.
(3) Daddy Romney NEVER SERVED through WWII and Korea.
(4) MITTENS Romney used "missionary" deferments to DODGE the Viet Nam draft.
(5) FIVE sons, and NOT ONE ever wore an AMERICAN UNIFORM.
FIVE GENERATIONS, NINE "males", and NOT ONE actually LOVED America enough to SERVE this Nation. The only thing "conservative" about the Romney Family is conserving THEIR OWN BEHINDS.
They hide their money OUTSIDE this country ....so they are always ready for a quick get-away just like Grandpaw did when he ran to Mexico..
No Romney ever comes back missing a limb, in a box, or with PTSD ........ because no Romney ever SERVES.
The Romneys LOVE WAR ...... because they get RICH but THEY never ever .bleed.

Mitt Romney is sabotaging conservatives just like his father George Romney sabotaged Barry Goldwater.

Just goes to show what is not being taught in grade school today.
When I (now age 96) was a little hatchling, teachers put a special impressionable and unforgettable oomph on history lessons about the founding fathers and the Constitution.
Every class day started with putting our hands on our hearts, facing the American flag in the room and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as it was originally written.
Believe I was in the sixth grade when we all had to recite The Gettysburg Address from memory before the class.
It was a far cry from singing any "Um, um um, Barack Hussein Obama" Progressive drivel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ty7W...

Mitt Romney would give publicity to the LP for one reason only: to spite Donald J. Trump.

Nevertheless, any publicity at all for the LP will force everyone to take a good, hard look. I think an instrument like the LP can become very valuable, if enough people join it who have a grasp of the reality of the world outside the borders of the United States.

I am sorry to say that I think that if you picked a random group of people from across the country and read them the Constitution in modern language, that most would disagree with a nation founded on those principles.

"A third person trying to presenting a radical ideology"
This is true if the founding principles of the US are radical today. Maybe they are. Johnson says we don't have to agree on everything, just the important things.

"A recent poll shows Gary Johnson taking more votes from Hillary than from Trump:"
I was for Hillary Clinton until Johnson polled 10%-11%. I always would have wanted Johnson, but I consider it pissing in the wind to find the one unknown candidate who best represents me instead of supporting one likely to win. I also think, in the view of some like an abused teenage b/f or g/f, that if I support a candidate early and get to know their staff I can influence them.

But Johnson has a real chance. If either candidate has a serious scandal that everyone can understand, e.g. stealing money, sexual abuse, taking bribes from criminals, an an episode of mental instability, then Johnson will be likely to win.

Then next time we'll be asking if a candidate is taking away Gary Johnson's votes instead of the other way around.

A recent poll shows Gary Johnson taking more votes from Hillary than from Trump:
https://alibertarianfuture.com/2016-l...
If Gary Johnson can get into the debates (he's polling 12% now), it will be an interesting contrast between his laid-back style and the other two candidates in full attack mode. That contrast alone could gain Johnson some significant support at the expense of the other two candidates.

I think that the debates are going to be completely without content. A third person trying to presenting a radical ideology will not be heard above the mud-slinging and name calling. If Johnson gains any traction and draws more support from Trump than Clinton we will be certain to end up with a toady judicial branch for the progressives and we can kiss our country good bye.

Even if Romney’s mention of voting Libertarian is born of personal frustration, there are many others who will follow his lead and at least examine the Libertarian candidates as possible alternatives to Hillary and Trump. In the short run, Romney’s statements will shine a spotlight on the LP and may lift Gary Johnson’s poll numbers to the point that he will be included in the presidential debates. For their own purposes, there may be many Republicans and Democrats that would like to see this happen.

I think that our Republic is not well served by ideologues of opposites with no in between. The forces driving the left and right increase the distance daily and there will be a tipping point where future cooperation will be impossible. I have my own beliefs and they are pretty black and white but I realize that there is no chance of changing the minds of others and must settle for a situation where neither "my" side nor "their" side dominates.
I am confused how Romney, with his strong religious beliefs and statist leanings could be a Libertarian. I am afraid that he is just so repulsed by Trump that he is considering sabotage
for childish reasons. I am sorry to see this because I considered Mitt to be a decent person even though I never thought he was the man for the job but way more preferable than Obama. My previous, biggest disappointment with Romney is that he did not strongly defend Capitalism and this adds to my negative evaluation.
The Libertarians come much closer to matching my beliefs but I do not see that they have any chance as an independent entity and would be better off spread among the Republicans and Democrats providing good ideas and pulling each to more mutual understanding.

I might do the vary same...even if it's just a protest vote...

The risks of the LP being corrupted are minimal, compared to the opportunities given to us by the disarray in both major parties. Many voters (including mainstream political leaders) who have dismissed our ideas and principles in the past will seriously consider them this time around. The opportunities for libertarian outreach have never been better.

It’s worth noting that neither Johnson nor Weld is “in control” of the LP – they are simply the party’s nominees for the top of the ticket this time around. The LP can deal with a threat from outside forces if and when it arrives. In the meantime LP members and non-members alike can enjoy the extraordinary opportunity that this year’s election has opened up.