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Romney might vote Libertarian, and that’s a good thing

Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 10 months ago to Politics
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Mitt Romney is considering voting for the Libertarian ticket in November:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/20...

This is good news, because if Romney is taking a closer look at the LP, many others in the “mainstream” wing of the Republican Party are probably looking also. Despite substantial policy differences between the two parties, the LP's political positions and principles may have more appeal to many Republican voters than those of a Trump-led GOP.

As the most viable alternative to both Hillary and Trump, the LP can expect to attract rising interest and support this year from across the political spectrum. Without changing who we are and what we stand for, those of us who are LP members should welcome these new supporters and strive to give them good reasons to vote for us through many elections to come.

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  • Posted by $ blarman 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I completely agree with how he muffed the election. He destroyed Obama in the first debate. It was a no-contest rope-a-dope-fest which saw Romney skyrocket in the polls. Then suddenly he wilted to an incredible extent for no explicable reason. The media had fun with the lock incident and the car carrier incident, but no sane person (or one who had actually looked into the accusations) took serious stock of them. The fact was that the second and third debate performances were just woefully lacking.

    Of course a little ballot stuffing never hurt Obama's choices either and you can bet the same thing is going to happen with Hillary this fall.
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  • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I never served either, but I bet I've done more for the defense of this country than many that have, and certainly more than I could've carrying a gun (and I am a damn good shot, and not timid). How, by helping to design and build the most capable defense platforms in the world.
    Not sure if the Romney's are in this category or not, but I'd argue serving in the military is not a prerequisite or definition of patriotism.
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  • Posted by $ Thoritsu 8 years, 10 months ago
    I live in MA, so there is only upside to me supporting LP/Gary Johnson!

    Who knows, the last time MA went anywhere but socialist was Reagan in '84 (my first vote), and before that was Eisenhauer in '56.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    We shall see. Blarman corrected me on Romney's original healthcare bill, so I may be wrong on other stuff as well. I must admit upon thinking about it, I'm prejudiced against him because of the way he muffed the '12 election.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Interesting. I have a gaggle of cousins in Worcester and checked this out with the sanest of them. He says you're correct and thinks the amendments are good. He is a commie-lib, but a 1st cousin, so what can you do? OK, a point for Romney. I still don't like him. I knew his dad. Liked him.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Except the Republicans and Democrats are a one party system in real life and work hand in hand. Vote for one you get both. Rinos and Dinos are called that for a reason. IN NAME ONLY they are both under the socialist umbrella, both left wing, and both fascist in nature.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    and besides draftees are more trouble than they are worth in my professional military opinion unless all you need is cannon fodder.

    But the sad fact is we stiull have that GD law on the books and it's still operating and the young folks at 18 still don't know what it means when they sign up for college money and government jobs and it's still a fact when the anti draft law movement was inches from winning they quit or were bought off.
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  • Posted by $ mpgmr 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Great sentiments but if the neo-cons, one worlders, et. al. gather en masse I have a difficult time believing that the Libertarian party's principals would not be subverted. What better name than Liberal for Socialists/Communists (absconding with the classical definition of liberal) and Libertarian for those with an anti-Libertarian agenda. I have been a card carrying and dues paying Libertarian for years and have run for County office as same so I understand the enthusiasm for the notoriety, but please do not underestimate the enemy.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Great talking points from the Democratic Party.

    I'd strongly recommend you go look at the original bill Romney championed and not what it has since been amended by the liberal Massachusetts Assembly to say. The Heritage Foundation was a big supporter of the original bill because it didn't mandate anything. Those provisions were ushered in as amendments after Romney left office. That was the huge mistake Romney made when debating with Obama in the 2012 elections - he failed to distinguish between the bill he had originally championed and what it had since morphed into.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    ..
    1. Because the law was an unconstitutional abrogation of First Amendment rights.
    2. See #1. He never should have been forced to leave in the first place.
    3. So what? You're saying that only someone who has served in the armed forces can love this nation? BS.
    4. So you're saying that his First Amendment rights and a legal deferment are trumped by your definition of "patriotism"? BS.
    5. See #3 above. I have tremendous respect for and many friends who serve or did serve in the US military. I also know some soldiers who disrespect the uniform they wear. See Nidal Hasan. Your blanket statements are pure logical fallacy. Patriotism is judged case by case - and not by you.

    Take your hate and empty accusations elsewhere.
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  • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Two Republican state legislators (from different states) have already jumped ship and re-registered Libertarian. At least one of them is up for re-election this year, and will be running as a Libertarian. More early signs of a paradigm shift.
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  • Posted by $ jdg 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I resisted the draft too. A government that is willing to resort to a draft is not worth fighting for.
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  • Posted by $ jdg 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    But the RINOs seem to control Congress (Boehner and his successor), and they just nominated another. The tail is wagging the dog.
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  • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    If Romney really backed Hillary, he would be urging his political allies to stay home, not discussing the LP candidates. By raising the profile of the LP in "establishment" circles, he is also strengthening the credibility of the libertarian wing of the Republican Party and opening up a whole bunch of issues for debate. I think he is serious when he says he is considering voting for Gary Johnson this time around.
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  • Posted by $ CBJ 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I don't see any mechanism by which Romney and his allies could take over the LP (even if he wanted to, which he doesn't). On the other hand, his recent remarks have given the LP instant credibility and a higher profile among Republicans who previously dismissed it as a "fringe" group. Many of them will give its platform and principles a closer look, thanks to Romney. A few of them might even come over to the side of liberty permanently.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 8 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Now we go to addition. The started with 10% have 12% they need 4% more to qualify with a one percent fudge factor. 12 plus 4 is 16.
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