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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 7 years, 7 months ago
    This is the best ad I've seen this year for any presidential candidate.

    A few minutes ago I stopped to get lunch Two employees were watching a TV showing Trump with the volume down. The caption said he was speaking about increasing military deployment or something. One person said, "God I hope he doesn't get in, or we're totally screwed." The other person said, "Yeah, but the only other choice is Hilary who isn't that great either." This was minutes ago. I told them Gary Johnson is on the ballot in all states and polling around 10% in a 3-way race. They said they'd never heard of him. I'm not sure if they even believed me. Or maybe they didn't want to get into politics with customers. Either way, I'd like to see this ad get out to more people.
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 7 years, 7 months ago
    Hello freedomforall,
    I want to see him on the debate stage. He has some excellent positions that need the exposure. Without that opportunity he hasn't much of a chance at that four years.
    Regards,
    O.A.
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    • Posted by Ed75 7 years, 7 months ago
      I don't believe Johnson can accomplish anything but draw votes away from Trump which would lead to a Clinton victory. The pragmatic view suggests that the most important item for the next 4 years is the Supreme Court openings.
      The second important thing is that nobody owns Trump. He may be rough around the edges but he knows how to get things done.
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      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 7 years, 7 months ago
        Hello Ed75,
        It is of course for each of us to decide and no one is supposed to know for whom you pull the lever once in the voting booth. I have seen polls that swing both ways, making it hard to determine who he will take more votes from. I quite agree the most compelling argument is who will be selecting SCOTUS replacements. We all must weigh the choices and live with the consequences. I can accept and even respect people choosing whomever they choose, so long as they never let me know they voted for Hillary. If that is one's choice, I would rather not know, because I see her so clearly as an irresponsible grifter and a threat to the Republic of which we could probably never recover.
        Respectfully,
        O.A.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 7 years, 7 months ago
    That was a great ad. Upbeat, focused on track record, positive. I especially liked the "I'm running with him" from Weld. It added just the touch of humor it needed to make it personable.

    I really want to see him on the debate stage with Hillary and Trump. I'm not big on all his policies, but he's a better option than either of the other two.
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 7 years, 7 months ago
      But he's not gaining enough points to get there. Only five polls are considered ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox and each have more than one poll. That's why I posted the important ones. Absent those five averaged he's still sitting at nine. how are those five polls worded? Who knows? Did we forget the word rigged already?

      Really frustrating. But it's a realistic objective way to look at it. Cherry picking fairy tails don't really provide anyithing of value.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 7 months ago
    He still has no clue on illegal immigration, the immense problems with TTP and our right of association...I don't think he knows history as well as he should either.

    BUT! he sure would be better than the other choices.

    Do you think he has the ability to adapt and learn?

    Your thoughts...
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      I think you and I agree on those issues, and yes, I think Johnson will listen to free market, pro-liberty arguments and adapt in that direction when needed. I think his TPP stance would change easily if elected. I think he would keep the fedgov out of right of association issues. I do not think he will put up a wall on the southern border to deal with illegal immigration.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 7 months ago
    Johnson is beginning to seduce me.
    Plus, 3rd party candidates have traditionally taken votes from Republicans, but it looks as if Johnson is taking them from Democrats. If true, it is a win-win.
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  • Posted by cappyak 7 years, 7 months ago
    not my fav Libertarian for sure .... wish he knew what Aleppo is ....
    still has my vote
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      Aleppo? We don't need no stinkin' Aleppo.
      Sounds like a joke, but I am serious.
      I want an ethical person as president, not some jackass who is good at photo ops, condesceding use of insults as a distraction from truth, with expertise at fielding questions without answering them, or a traitorous liar whose only arguable qualification for office is her alleged gender.
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  • Posted by wmiranda 7 years, 7 months ago
    One of two people is winning this election. It's not Gary Johnson. Maybe a different election cycle but not this one. Right now he's a distraction that may help Hillary be the one to chose the next two supreme court justices and increase the Invasion by Invitation initiated by BHO.
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      So you think that its a distraction to propose liberty and free markets are superior to statist facist socialism that Hillary and Trump support.
      Hillary and Trump instead invent side issues that inspire fear, hate, and divisiveness, and distract the voters from the issues to vote in fear not based on merit or principle.
      Sorry, your argument is without merit.
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      • Posted by wmiranda 7 years, 7 months ago
        I didn't present any argument. I just presented facts. These elections, one of two is going to be president and Johnson is not one of the two. Every republican vote for Johnson has the same cause and effect as if voting for Hillary.
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        • Posted by $ CBJ 7 years, 7 months ago
          Re: “Every republican vote for Johnson has the same cause and effect as if voting for Hillary.” Not true! Scenario: 100 Republican voters and 91 Democrat voters. If all voters vote their party line, Trump wins. If 5 Republican voters defect to Hillary, Hillary wins 96 to 95. If those same 5 Republican voters defect to Johnson, it’s Trump 95, Hillary 91 and Johnson 5 – and Trump wins easily. Conclusion: A vote for Johnson is not the same as a vote for Hillary.
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          • Posted by wmiranda 7 years, 7 months ago
            Easy to understand example, if that were going to be the real numbers. I see your point. These elections, I'm not chancing a vote on someone who is not even coming close to winning anything. There is no prize for second and third place. Johnson knows it. I'm not chancing putting SCOTUS in Hillary's grasp. To me, it seems an ego trip for Johnson (not much different than the other candidates, but no hope of winning). To me, he would have been more credible joining the fight against Hillary and influencing the Republicans from within. Then later on getting a good following for a third party run. Tall order to ask for. However, if he doesn't have the persuasion skills to do that from within, he won't from without. But I understand his age is working against him and he got impatient.
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            • Posted by $ CBJ 7 years, 7 months ago
              Gary Johnson tried influencing the Republican Party in 2012. You saw how far that got him. He has since become much more credible and obtained a "good following" for his third party run. As for "persuasion skills," look at the polls. He has been much more effective at persuading independents (and some Republicans and Democrats) as a third-party candidate than he was ever able to do within the Republican Party. As for Gary's alleged "ego trip", he comes across as much less of an ego-tripper than either Trump or Hillary - and the contrast will be noticeable if he makes it into the debates. As for his age, Gary is six years younger than Trump and Hillary. And if you're in favor of Trump, you should be delighted that Gary's in the race. Most polls show Trump doing better with Johnson in the race than without him.
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  • Posted by $ AJAshinoff 7 years, 7 months ago
    There something about this advertisement that bugs me....I do not like his position on illegal immigration, this will prevent me voting for him (especially after his PC rant).

    Even so his, "They suck. I may suck too, but I not as much as them, why not give me a shot." Doesn't impress me very much. This is the best the libertarians have to offer?

    anemic choices 2016, none of them worth my vote.
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      Want someone who boasts he is better than anyone although the facts show otherwise? Trump is your guy. C'mon. AJA, there is no perfect candidate, and you know it. Are you just looking for a reason not to vote? ;^) That is a valid choice, although some would irrationally say you can't complain if you don't vote. If none of them are up to your principles, you are right, they haven't earned it.
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      • Posted by $ AJAshinoff 7 years, 7 months ago
        Freedomforall, I don't have to look for a reason.

        You have the D, the D posing as R, and the L talking like a D on key subjects. I'd rather drink a coffee or read/write a book and listen to the farce unfold on the news without having stood on line. My vote isn't worth a damn anyway.

        Where is the choice?
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    • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
      Very well put! I have not been impressed by Johnson at all.
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      • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
        Who did you find that's exactly what you want?
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        • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
          No one freedomforall. I am just disappointed that Gary Johnson is running for the Libertarians. I will probably vote for Trump reason I explained earlier. Of the three, I think he will fight for freedoms and common sense for our country. I certainly do not agree with him on everything, but he does not claim to be something he isn't. What you see is what you get. I just do not trust Gary Johnson in that I am not sure what he stands for.
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          • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
            I can understand your reticence. Johnson is not strictly libertarian. I disagree with some of his choices, too, but he does have the larger ideals in place. Reducing government's size and power, and stoping the tax on productivity would have a wide reaching effect. Johnson is the only one who even considers taking on the task. Trump promises policies that enlarge government and impair the free market. That's what Trump has done in the past, and its a trait of a looter.
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            • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
              That is my main big problem with Trump. His trade policies, and the fact that he is a hypocrit as he uses other countries labor because it is cheaper. I think he should be backing things like Right to Work rather than penalizing consumers with higher prices. But then again, I have not heard Johnson backing Right to Work either. Only Rand Paul seemed to understand how important that was.
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              • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                "According to Johnson, right-to-work laws are important because they keep unions from forcing workers to meet compulsory membership requirements."

                “I think it [right-to-work law] does send an important message and along with that it saves people money.”
                https://voicesofliberty.com/2015/03/0...

                "I support the notion of right-to-work [legislation that lets employees decide for themselves whether or not they want to join a union or financially support it] and worked hard to see that happen in New Mexico. It didn't while I was governor of New Mexico, but that didn't take away from my support. The only basic problem that I have with unions is the union gives me two workers. One is the worst worker that I've ever seen, the other is the best worker that I've ever had. I can't reward the best, I can't get rid of the worst. Right-to-work, I think, is a decision that states should make. I think based on right-to-work legislation in states across the country, those states that have passed right-to-work have shown much greater economic prosperity as a result of that legislation."
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                • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                  My only response to his remarks are, "Duh!" Rand Paul started this program.
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                  • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                    You said you hadn't heard Johnson backing right to work. He does and the quotes posted show it.
                    So he agrees with what you want and that makes you call him names as if he is stupid?
                    Rand Paul isn't running.
                    He LOST. He did the same things that libertarians have done in the past and he LOST. Just as libertarians have been losing for 30 years.
                    Repeating the same action and expecting a diffferent result is not rational.
                    Johnson decided not to repeat the same action and it has broadened his support while losing the support of a few. Johnson supports your alleged principles. Trump doesn't.
                    "Duh!"
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                    • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                      And Gary Johnson has lost. Do you really think he has a chance? I sure don't.
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                      • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                        With all due respect to Rand Paul, Johnson has more support than any libertarian has ever had. Yet a few alleged libertarians say they would rather vote for a strong looting liar who will not support anything libertarian.
                        But Johnson doesn't complain, he keeps his eye on the prize and works to get in the debates so libertarian arguments can reach a wider audience.
                        Will he win? We shall see. The battle goes on.
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  • Posted by RonC 7 years, 7 months ago
    Freedom! It could be handy if Mr. Johnson took a remedial world geography course.
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      It would be more helpful if people could reason instead of salivating at all the distractions the biased media stick under their noses.
      For the media and their ignorant salivating masses, not getting a question on Aleppo is more important than criminal actions hiding criminal conduct at Benghazi.
      In the world of geography, Aleppo is a pimple next to Hillary's anus. Irrelevant and of no possible interest to anyone but a Hillerite!
      Such people get the socialist government collapse they deserve.
      Unfortunately in a demoncracy, they can drag the rational 20% into the abyss with them.
      (No offense intended, RonC ;^)
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      • Posted by Dobrien 7 years, 7 months ago
        Love this "For the media and their ignorant salivating masses, not getting a question on Aleppo right is more important than criminal actions ........."
        Think about Howard Deans whoop and the media destroying him for it. I didn't favor him personally but I always found the destruction swift and curious.
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      • Posted by RonC 7 years, 7 months ago
        None taken. It is simply the gauntlet a candidate must run. As in Trump's answer regarding "Generals turned to rubble." Suddenly, he has insulted the military when in fact it was 0 that displaced all of the warriors with politicos. Whoever is next will have to search for warriors when they are needed.

        As for the people reasoning, that takes effort. It is much easier to sit back and be spoon fed.
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  • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
    Good slogan. I wish it could get him to win !!! But Hillary is bought and paid for by the cronyism contingent, and they are going to protect their 'investment". They arent getting after Johnson because they dont think he is a threat
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  • Posted by starznbarz 7 years, 7 months ago
    Gary Johnson : " My vision of the border with Mexico is that a truck from the United States going into Mexico and a truck coming from Mexico into the United States will pass each other at the border going 60 miles an hour. Yes, we should have open borders. " Deal breaker.
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      I respect your opinion and decision. Its something I disagree with Johnson on, too, but Johnson's promise to close the Dept of education, balance the budget by reducing costs, and getting rid of the income tax are more than enough to keep my support for Johnson. OTOH, if there was a secure way to have free trade as he described, I might even agree with him on that.
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      • Posted by starznbarz 7 years, 7 months ago
        You have to back what you believe is best, Johnson is sincere, but I have to agree with the others that have pointed out the legitimate power of the executive doesnt include the power to grant his ideas. Politicians have been blowing those smoke rings for decades.
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      • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
        He cannot balance the budget without Congress' approval. He cannot get rid of the income tax on his own. He is just like Trump on saying he can do all this stuff when we all know they are not Gods. I truly wish it could happen, but to think the POTUS has that kind of power is preposterous.
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        • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
          Yes, Johnson knows that, and as he said on the stossel show, he got such things done as a republican with a democrat controlled state legislature as a governor. He thinks it can be done with a coalition of republicans and democrats. Its a promise, not a guarantee, but I think he has a better chance to deliver than a candidate who has not even promised to try.
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        • Posted by CircuitGuy 7 years, 7 months ago
          "to think the POTUS has that kind of power is preposterous."
          He has a video where he says just this, that he cannot solve all of it as POTUS, that he will only be one piece of the puzzle.
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  • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
    Theres two months to go. NO way can he win. He isnt intellectually consistent either. Marijuana is ok, but prohibition of other drugs is OK. Doesnt make sense.
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      Supporting the same solutions that have destroyed the liberty of Americans over the past 30 years is what doesn't make sense. Same old fascist policies, same old results. I know, you feel Trump is different, but his record doesn't support that conclusion. We can disagree ;^)
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      • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
        Trump is less bad than Hillary, and the choice WILL be one or the other unfortunately. The culture has deteriorated to the extent that no reasonably intellectually consistent candidate has a snowball's chance in hell, especially when the system is rigged against third parties.
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        • Posted by $ CBJ 7 years, 7 months ago
          Gary Johnson is polling between 9 and 12 percent - and more among independents and young voters - even without huge amounts of spending and publicity. If he gets to debate two extremely unpopular candidates, who knows what could happen? (Both Romney and Sanders now support three-way debates, making Gary's participation a distinct possibility.)
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          • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
            it would be a good opportunity to speak about libertarian principles, although Johnson is not a really good speaker ( at least he wasnt during the anderson cooper townhall a couple of months ago)
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            • Posted by $ CBJ 7 years, 7 months ago
              I think he would do okay against an unscripted Trump and an over-scripted Hillary. The contrast would be obvious and would work in Gary's favor. He doesn't have to be perfect.
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              • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
                it would be a cake walk for Johnson. He wouldnt be considered a threat to either Hillary or Trump or the moderators, so they would all leave him alone !!!!
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              • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                I totally disagree having seen him handle questions.
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                • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                  When? If it was the latest Stossel town hall then I don't see what you are tallking about. Be specific, please.
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxEJd...
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                  • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                    His emotional shock and indignation when someone asked him if he could hold his own in a debate against Trump or Hillary. His answers about bakers serving gays, his emotional answers on illegal immigration. He is just not my cup of tea.
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                    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                      I don't agree with him on free association and would violate any such law, but I think it isn't an issue that would ever get to his desk. While I also disagree with him on illegals, it means he is more free market than I am, so I have a weak argument against it. I don't get your comment on shock and indignation. I didn't see that at all. I can understand deciding he isn't an ideal candidate, but compared to Trump the royalist and Comrade Hitlary, Johnson isn't evil and he has integrity. He isn't claiming perfection, like Trump irrationally does all the time. He's a real person who has a record of success as a governor and businessman without looting.
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                      • Posted by $ puzzlelady 7 years, 7 months ago
                        Yes. And he is getting better all the time in interviews without seeming to be trained or "handled". He is honest and natural, not omniscient. He is willing and able to learn, and having sound principles he can answer on issues without rehearsal. He doesn't mind admitting that he doesn't know everything--he's a real person. Whether he becomes President this year is not as important as getting his message and America's core values to as many Americans as possible. We need a rebirth of that consciousness, and we need to hear it articulated uncompromisingly in the midst of our current political rot. Gary Johnson is that voice.
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        • Posted by Dobrien 7 years, 7 months ago
          "Especially when the system is rigged." The only way to make a difference for the future is to groom an objective constitution supporting candidate who rejects collectivism and irrationality.
          One who champions the individual! Turn him into a mouthpiece for reason and sanity. Also must educate the masses some how to give them common sense.
          Other wise the rest is just talk and wishful thinking.
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    • Posted by CircuitGuy 7 years, 7 months ago
      " Marijuana is ok, but prohibition of other drugs is OK. Doesnt make sense."
      He does not believe in a criminal-justice or "war" approach to any drug abuse issues. But he also is not for radical change. The notion of treating drugs like a criminal problem started 100 years ago and it became a "war" on people who use drugs in 1970. He's not going to dismantle the whole thing overnight.
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      • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
        Intellectually inconsistent.
        Less so than the other candidates
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        • Posted by CircuitGuy 7 years, 7 months ago
          "Intellectually inconsistent. "
          Support he wants to decriminalize the least harmful drugs first. Marijuana fits that. Suppose he wants to decriminalize all drugs safer than alcohol. That would include things like khat too. If that rule applies to prescription drugs, it would decriminalize benzodiazepines. Suppose he wants to treat all drugs as not a criminal problem. (This is what I think his opinion is.) He has no obligation to go into his philosophy on it if he thinks it's completely impractical to implement in eight years. He'll be lucky to dismantle just the marijuana part of it.

          The funny thing is no other candidate is even talking about this rationally. The unofficial policy is "no new drugs." Alcohol and caffeine got grandfathered in, despite that there have been efforts in the past to ban them. Marijuana and khat are demonized. N2O (nitrous oxide) can be purchased without a permit, but it's usually only a few geeks who do it, so it missed the wave of crimalization in the 70s; so it's grandfathered in. Even if I thought the drug war didn't hurt liberty in multiple ways, the way we execute it is illogical with penalties being completely unrelated to the properties of the drug.

          Imagine if govt allowed pharmaceutical companies to compete to produce a drug that got users the effect they wanted, was less harmful to the body than alcohol, was less addictive than alcohol, and was less likely to cause violent behavior than alcohol. Imagine they invented something really good. Imagine it even had an antidote (similar to opiod antagonists) that would cause most of the effects to fade quickly if someone needed their faculties. Gov't would be at war with it. It doesn't matter that it's safer than anything else because there's no logic behind the drug war. We gave gov't these powers, reasons to conduct searches, budgets for agents, and it's very hard to take them away.
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          • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
            In thinking further about it, if Johnson wants to be intellectually consistent and non-PC, he should say that prohibition is bad and doesnt work all the times its been tried. It should be stopped, and the first place is with marijuana. He can say its a process to get prohibition removed. I would go for that.

            In the meantime, he might want to check out where Aleppo is located....
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            • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
              He knew Aleppo.
              He couldn't tell from context what the question was about. A LEPO ?
              The question was unclear and the biased media made the most of the confusion.
              You are better than that, term.
              Intellectual consistency is not going to change your mind anyway, term, since your chosen candidate wouldn't know consistency if it bit him on the nose, and you admitted as much.
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              • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
                But Trump is not an objectivist or even a libertarian, and doesnt claim to be. I would have expected more from libertarian Johnson to be honest, and it would have been refreshing. But, I agree if he was intellectually consistent, his approval rating in this election would probably be closer to 1% instead of the 9% it is.

                Hillary just scares the hell out of me. She will ruin my manufacturing business and is already causing me to make plans to move the rest of our manufacturing to china in an attempt to save it.

                I am not getting on Johnson's case for not knowing Aleppo. I thought it was in Iraq actually, so I cant complain. But I am not running for president either. I did like the fact he admitted that he wasnt up on that issue. Truth is always better than lies. Hillary would have just covered it over somehow and lied.

                For me, Trump is just the last chance our country has to at least slow down the march to socialism and complete government control by cronyism. It will still get there, but maybe a little slower for 4 years.
                If there was ANY chance for a libertarian, I would vote that way. But Its too late for a libertarian (or maybe too early...) and Johnson just doesnt have it to win THIS time.
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                • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                  Your excuses are the same ones made for the past 30 years of voting for evil in fear instead of voting on principle.
                  You are making excuses and holding Johnson to a standard you won't hold Trump to, You accept all of Trumps faults even though they are against your supposed principles, while you nitpick everything that Johnson says even though he supports your alleged principles.
                  Freedom isn't free, and freedom isn't easy.
                  You can't have it or keep it by giving in and rationalizing your actions. Its damned hard and most people just cave, like the cowards and traitors in con-gress. The only way we get to have freedom is by fighting for it, even when winning appears unlikely.
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                  • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
                    I think you are overlooking why I would vote for Trump. Its because he might win over Hillary, which Johnson cannot do. All Johnson COULD do is education by being intellectually consistent (like you would want a president to be, incidentally). He cant win this time, but he could take the longer view and perhaps through a lot of work during the next presidential term of whoever gets in, set himself or another libertarian candidate to get a bigger showing next election, and perhaps even win.

                    I suspect its your view that no matter whether Hillary OR Trump wins, the result will be same destruction of the country so one might as well be a voice of dissent.
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            • Posted by CircuitGuy 7 years, 7 months ago
              "he should say that prohibition is bad and doesnt work all the times its been tried. It should be stopped, and the first place is with marijuana."
              I agree with this completely. I think this is what he thinks and he's not saying it explicitly.

              BTW, it's a reasonable position that some drugs be treated criminally and others not. We already have that policy. It's also reasonable to rework that. Maybe there could rate drugs according the level of craving they cause, the level of risky behavior they cause, and the harm they do the user. So maybe a drug that just harms the user but doesn't cause unpredictable behavior would be considered a medical problem while drugs known to cause unpredictable or violent behavior would be criminal.

              I don't think Johnson thinks this. I think you're right about him not being intellectually honest. I think he wants to treat known of it as criminal problem, but he accepts the political reality that this "war" on Americans will not be dismantled overnight.
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              • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
                Really it's the actions that people take that should be the subject of criminality- not some chemical substances themselves. This idea of regulating people before they violate others rights is a slippery slope. It could lead to things like genetic tests to see if there is some propensity to not obey government laws for example. Or maybe some test to categorize and regulate people likely to be conservative
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                • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                  You are right about actions being more important, term, but it isn't a valid reason to criticize Johnson.
                  Trump and Hitlary will continue the sam unjust drug war. Johnson wants to take a practical step in the right direction using facts that support benefits from a specific drug without debilitating side effects. That is a difficult task by itself in a country full of brainwashed people who have been purposely frightened so the state can continue to expand its police state for an unwinnable false war on drugs.
                  You complain about Johnson's consistency when he alone is promising a more rational (and the only achievable) policy on drugs that will reduce the insane cost of imprisoning marijuana users who are not dangerous to anyone except to the power of the state.
                  Trump and Hitlary will just keep on expanding the state and ruining the lives of innocent people.
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                  • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
                    Actually I think marijuana is going to be de criminalized through popular support regardless of the election, maybe state by state

                    I am excited to see libertarian ideas get more exposure After all the statist ideas rammed down my throat, I was hoping that FINALLY we can be exposed to free market ideas on an intellectually consistent basis !!

                    Maybe I am expecting too much at this point in time so I shouldn't complain about Johnson being a bit halfway. Ron Paul was more on point, but look how far he got.
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                    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                      If the federal drug laws are not changed, then they will still be used to advance statist goals, to persecute innocent people, and to manipulate the state governments, e.g., no federal funding unless federal drug laws are enforced by state and local police. State laws will not matter. That's another reason states rights was so important to the founders.
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              • Posted by term2 7 years, 7 months ago
                Really it's the actions that people take that should be the subject of criminality- not some chemical substances themselves. This idea of regulating people before they violate others rights is a slippery slope. It could lead to things like genetic tests to see if there is some propensity to not obey government laws for example. Or maybe some test to categorize and regulate people likely to be conservative
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  • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
    I lost all interest in Gary Johnson when he stated he wanted a carbon tax. Anyone who has fallen for the global warming myth is not someone I want running our country. I also saw in on John Stossel and was not impressed at all.
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      I did too, until I heard his explanation and reversal of his carbon tax comments. I don't see Johnson imposing more government. He has said he will not impose any taxes and will cut the ones in existence, along with balancing the budget by reducing spending. The other candidates give no such assurances.
      I want an ethical person as president, not some jackass who is good at photo ops, condesceding use of insults as a distraction from truth, with expertise at fielding questions without answering them, or a traitorous liar whose only arguable qualification for office is her alleged gender.
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      • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
        Gary Johnson is extremely wishy washy. He does not come across as a strong leader. I think our country would be in serious trouble with him in charge.
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        • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
          I see Johnson as honest, thoughtful and ethical, but not as forceful as he could be in delivering his message.
          The other two candidates are forceful in their statements, but they both deliver inconsistent irrational promises that have no reasonable basis in reality. See the inconsistency:
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12iBi...
          Neither Trump nor Hitlery has any economically sound proposals.
          Johnson is admirable and qualified to the office based on his actions as governor.
          The other two are lying hacks that I wouldn't trust to pick up my garbage.
          Actions matter. Campaign promises are empty talk.
          Johnson walks the walk. The other two are nothing but talk, and unsupportable, irrational, unreasonable talk at that.
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        • Posted by CircuitGuy 7 years, 7 months ago
          "I think our country would be in serious trouble with him in charge."
          He has a tough idea to sell: the executive branch not being as in charge of the gov't and the gov't not being as in charge of the people.
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          • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
            Yeh, I know. But he does not sound like he even knows what he stands for or what he is selling. I am just not impressed. If he made it to the debates I think he would just look silly.
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            • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
              Aren't you placing more importance on the delivery of the message than the content of the message?
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              • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                I place importance on the person and his belief system and how I believe he will be able to influence Congress towards individual freedom. I just do not see this with Gary Johnson. I do not agree with Trump an many things either, but he does love America, he is successful and he is strong.
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                • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                  A strong dictator is not a solution. Trump loves himself and places his needs above those of the people. His past actions are a better indicator than his conman jibber jabber. Strong? Trump has a strong irrational conviction that he is superior to anyone else.
                  It is much easier to learn to be convincing than to learn to be ethical.
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                  • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                    Well, I just disagree. I appreciate your values and I do see where you are coming from. I just wish a more solid objectivist would have run. Gary Johnson is not the hill I want Libertarians to die on.
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            • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
              Johnson's performance on Stossel shows an honest, believable person with rational thought supporting his convictions. Trump and Hitlery are irrational blowhards in comparison whose skill is in not answering questions instead of treating the people with respect. Trump is a slick liar; Johnson doesn't have that flaw. Hillary doesn't even deserve a comment on her ethics and skills. I think she is a murderer and deserves punishment.
              What did Johnson say specifically that you disagree with?
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              • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                His emotional shock and indignation when someone asked him if he could hold his own in a debate against Trump or Hillary. His answers about bakers serving gays, his emotional answers on illegal immigration. He is just not my cup of tea.
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  • Posted by wiggys 7 years, 7 months ago
    why did he say vote a trump or Hillary back into office when they haven't been there yet.
    it is unfortunate they are not on the D or R ticket then they would win. however, people like these men would never get the approval of either [party unless of course they compromised themselves so we are stuck with a t or h.
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    • Posted by Kittyhawk 7 years, 7 months ago
      I think he said "vote a Trump or Hillary back into office" meaning that Republicans and Democrats keep running the same big-government type of candidates over and over, and will in the future as well.
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      We could nit pick for weeks, wiggys. I don't agree with some things, johnson has said, but I reason that his admirable goal is to get into the debates and he is trying to broaden his appeal by not proposing all the libertarian platform in the campaign. (dbhalling made a good argument about this here in the Gulch but I can't find it.) I base my conclusion on Johnson on his actions in the past as governor, not on some campaign comments. Most voters are ignoring Trump and Hillary's past actions and taking their campaign comments as gospel. Universal suffrage is a mistake.
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  • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 7 months ago
    this from the man who will put a gun to your head if you do not sell your cake to whoever Gary demands you sell to...

    why elect someone who will poison the well for future libertarian candidates...

    ...anti-freedom...no thanks...
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      While I agree with your objection to Johnson's statement on free association, I don't agree with your conclusion. I think Johnson will not use fedgov power to interfere if elected, based on his actions in the past, unlike the past statist actions of Donnie and Hitlery. Just my opinion though.
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      • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 7 months ago
        when deny someone the right to property (the cake or your cake-making business), you have violated the individual's natural rights and, thus, have negated any claim to rights of your own...you are no different, in principle, than any other totalitarian...Hillary fits into that category...Trump would not even know the meaning of the words...
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        • Posted by CircuitGuy 7 years, 7 months ago
          "when deny someone the right to property (the cake or your cake-making business)"
          He said the current law is you could not discriminate on selling the cake but you don't have to write a message on it; or something like that. Then he said he would not want to change current law to make it easier to discriminate.

          The libertarian position is he would want to change the law, not because he wants discrimination but b/c he wants the gov't out of the business of deciding.

          He doesn't want critics saying he'd "encourage discrimination" so he says he won't try to change that law.

          If I want him to be a pure libertarian who loses, I want him to answer that question by explaining the role of gov't. If I want him to win, I want him to avoid any debate about cake and focus on his core message about reducing gov't.
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          • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 7 months ago
            when you freely choose one thing over another, you discriminate...discrimination is part of the move against freedom of speech and choice...these are natural rights not bestowed by any govt...because what is given by govt can be taken away...when he argues against individual choice, Johnson argues against freedom...i think he misses the message people need to hear loud and clear about freedom of choice...he scares me with his inconsistency and contradictory positions...but Hillary and Trump are absolute disasters...
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        • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
          I can see both sides of this argument. The public appeal of opposing discrimination (by the vendor) is strong. I don't agree with Johnson on that issue and I would violate any such law, but I don't think such a federal law would ever get to Johnson's desk, and he has not said he would initiate it. He has said he would close the Dept of Education, balance the budget via cost reductions, not raise any tax, and end the income tax. I respect your decision though.
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          • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 7 months ago
            i would like to see govt, at the national and state level, out of education...the system they have developed is set to create "good" citizens...not rational thinking individuals...Johnson tends to want to get rid of the federal level and keep state govt in education...solves nothing...all tax is theft...zero personal and corporate tax (corporations are just a tax collection agency for the federal govt),,,Johnson has not addressed the Federal Reserve (a private bank of who???) and the destruction of private wealth and property...we are bleeding from many sources...
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            • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
              "In a recent interview on Kitco News, Gary Johnson stated that he would gladly sign legislation to abolish the Federal Reserve. On the other hand, the Libertarian presidential candidate had grave misgivings about merely auditing the Fed, warning that might cause an economic panic."
              http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/gar...

              Beyond that, if you want a dictator to command everyone and all the state governments, you won't find it in Johnson. Is that really what you think is needed, a slavemaster?
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              • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 7 months ago
                good for Gary...did he say what he would replace it with...if he lives thru the dismantling of the Fed...they tried to assassinate Andrew Johnson when he took on the 2nd Fed...
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                • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                  When Johnson was asked about the gold standard...
                  Should the US Return to the Gold Standard in Which Coin and Currency Are Backed by Gold?

                  "[Reading question from listener] Would you support a return to a gold or commodity-based currency standard? Yes, I would. I think that, I think that would be very positive. And I understand the whole notion of competing currencies and how you could bring about a change from paper currency to commodity-based and I think that would be very very positive for the currency. It's the way the currency started out. It would bring increased value to the dollar as opposed to what we're facing, which is a monetary crisis where, hey, today our dollars are worth something and tomorrow they’re not and that’s just how quickly it happens."
                  http://2016election.procon.org/view.s...
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                • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                  Better question: Do the other candidates have any plan or even a promise to accomplish what is needed to reduce the size of government, increase individual liberty, and remove government impairments to the free market?
                  Only Johnson has such a plan and a promise. Only Johnson says he will close down the fed. Only Johnson says he will eliminate the tax on productivity.
                  If Trump's promise to build a wall (expansion of government) and pay for it by additionally impairing free trade means more to you than the things Johnson plans to do then you should vote for Trump.
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                  • Posted by mia767ca 7 years, 7 months ago
                    Trump will be compromised quickly...and he will think he negotiated a GREAT deal...
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                    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                      Back in the early 90's I knew a few people who supported (one was a campaign manager for) a republican candidate for the US senate because he promised to investigate the fed. After election at a town hall meeting my friends asked him publicly what he had learned about the fed. The senator claimed he talked to someone at the fed and he was satisfied no further action was needed. When my friend asked for more details, the senator's aides shouted him down from the back of the room.
                      It was an eye opening experience.
                      I think the senator had the fear of FED.
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                  • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                    Rand Paul was the only one who addressed these things with strength. He was my guy.
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                    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                      And Rand got so little support. I hoped he would succeed, but it will not happen in the GOP.
                      What did Rand have that Gary doesn't, in your opinion, ycandrea?
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                      • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                        A very clear and concise platform, strength in his value and belief system, and he is very clear headed. He and his father have been going after the FED for years, he sponsored the Right to Work program, he wanted us out of all of the Middle East wars as we have armed and caused a lot of the problems just by being involved, and so much more. I just really like him and I think, and still do, he would have been a great president.
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                        • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
                          Johnson platform supports all the specific items you mentioned, and Trump supports none.
                          I do get that you may trust Paul more than you trust Johnson, but supporting Trump is voting against all the things you say you liked about Rand Paul. If you search the internet you can verify this for yourself.

                          imo, johnson is specifically avoiding mention of his support in some libertarian areas, and he is doing this because he knows what happens if he does so. It happened to Ron Paul when he ran. It happened to Rand Paul when he ran. It happened to Johnson in 2012. It chases away voters who are vital to libertarian success at the polls. They are voters who have to learn about libertarianism before accepting all the prinsciples that are so obvious to libertarians. There is a vast audience who are beginning to understand the con, but they have been brainwashed in public schools and on tv for most of their lives. If we want to grow the support, we must educate. To educate we must get on the stage, make our rational arguments with verifiable proof, and be heard. If we don't get on the stage because we do what has failed in the past, we stay at 1% and the everyone loses.
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                          • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                            He is just not strong enough for me.
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                            • Posted by $ puzzlelady 7 years, 7 months ago
                              ycandrea, sounds like you want a dictator, a bombastic bully, a tribal alpha male. (No wonder Trump appeals to you.) We don't want a ruler. We want an administrator to uphold and defend the Constitution and individual freedoms.
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                              • Posted by ycandrea 7 years, 7 months ago
                                ??? You obviously have not read all of my posts here. But thanks for the shot. You know, freedomforall and I have had a nice exchange of ideas. I could get nasty like you and tell you what I think you want and put you down, but that would not be conducive to intelligent discourse.
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  • Posted by brs02 7 years, 7 months ago
    I still think he serves as a spoiler for Clinton. He picks up the #nevertrumps, but the DNC never fractures. All those Berners will fall in behind Clinton. Heck, the Communist Party endorsed her.
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 7 years, 7 months ago
      to soon to tell but his Republican style add didn't work and the pickup over two or three days is marginal.

      But both are message candidates as the saying goes.. Stein wants us all to adopt a tree to hug and Johnsone wants.....?????
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    • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 7 years, 7 months ago
      Good point and his main supporter has always been on the side of who ever help Hillary the most.

      So how much coverage did that speech get? Or was it an advertisment? In how many markets?
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 7 years, 7 months ago
    RCP Average 8/26 - 9/7 -- -- 41.2 39.1 9.0 3.3 Clinton +2.1

    Two days after the new ad went from 13.0 to 9.0. He needs a new message and not one that is and not vaguely reminescent of what we got from Republicans for 50 years.

    But he did get two 12's and one 11

    However with buth Stein and Johnson removed

    RCP Average 8/26 - 9/8 -- -- 45.6 42.9 Clinton +2.7 shows a point Six gane for Comrade Clinton overall Trump up three and Clinton up 3,5 So it appears Johnson may not be the spoiler everyone thought. Hard to tell

    and by the way thanks for the support.
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  • Posted by Donald-Brian-Lehoux 7 years, 7 months ago
    He wants to FORCE vaccinate people. Why don't he just have selective breeding? I have a better solution, Vote veteran someone that puts America B4 any party, we come from all backgrounds. Divide and conquer is what they do. End double standard,DC politician on Obamacare,SS mrpresident2016.com
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    • Posted by 7 years, 7 months ago
      GILLESPIE: Let's talk about vaccines. There are no federal laws mandating vaccines, and that's how it should be, as far as you're concerned.

      JOHNSON: Yes.

      GILLESPIE: Various states treat vaccines differently, and you're not wild about the range of individual choice and opt-out provisions, but you do believe it's a state-level decision—or certainly that it's not a federal-level decision.

      JOHNSON: Right.

      GILLESPIE: There are people who say vaccines cause autism [and other problems] or that vaccines don't work. Are you in that camp?

      JOHNSON: No, I chose to have my children vaccinated. I understand all the concerns that some people have, but for me personally, I made a decision to have my children vaccinated. I want people to make decisions and I believe in [opt-outs].
      http://reason.com/blog/2016/08/26/gar...
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