How Much Help Can Barr Count On From The Revolution?
Posted on May 26, 2008 at 1:13 pmJonathan Martin is skeptical about Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr’s ability to catch fire without the help of Ron Paul:
And in my conversation with Paul last month, he showed little enthusiasm for Barr.
Without Paul’s passionate legions, Barr would have a difficult time attracting grass-roots and financial support.
In other words, if Paul stays on the sidelines and does not get behind Barr, the Libertarian nominee could be as much of a non-factor this year as in every other recent presidential cycle.
Sadcox wonders, whether Paul endorses or not, whether Barr can get his hands on Paul’s all important mailing list.
Right Libertarianism Wins The Day
Posted on at 12:39 amFormer GOP Congressman Bob Barr has won the nomination of the Libertarian Party for President. From his hometown paper:
It took six ballots and nearly five hours of voting at the Libertarian National Convention before the former four-term congressman defeated Texas business consultant Mary Ruwart for the party’s bid.
Barr, who until 2006 was a Republican, took 54 percent of the vote after Las Vegas odds-maker Wayne Allyn Root dropped out following the fifth ballot and endorsed Barr. Delegates subsequently selected Root to be Barr’s running mate.
“Y’all party today,” Barr told the more than 600 delegates at the Sheraton Hotel. “I hope we celebrate, because I’m sure we’ll all leave here with the strongest ticket in the history of the Libertarian Party.”
Barr’s name recognition and his history as a conventional conservative Republican will put him in a strong position to play spoiler in this year’s election.
Most interesting about Libertarian politics, however, is the parallel political spectrum it holds within its confines. Just as there is a mainstream political spectrum of left, right and center, so too are there similar divides among leftists, centrists and rightists in the Libertarian universe.
The contrasts between the right wing libertarians of Bob Barr and the left wing libertarianism of Steve Kubby and Mike Gravel are just as distinct (if not more so) than those between mainstream politicians.
It seems ironic that a true independent voter with libertarian leanings, leanings many independent voters possess, would find it just as hard placing themselves on the libertarian spectrum as they likely do a more traditional spectrum.
SEE ALSO:
Joe Lance
Barr’s Victory Speech
Brendan Loy
The Libertarian Party Of Tennessee
Jonathan Wright (II)
Bear Creek Ledger
Sadcox
Sharon Cobb
The Other McCain
Jesse Walker
David Weigel (II)
Anthony Gregory
Daniel Larison
The Libertarian Nod
Posted on May 18, 2008 at 1:44 pmJon Wright, a left-libertarian currently identifying as a Democrat, shares his thoughts on the wide open Libertarian nomination for President between the right-wing Bob Barr, libertarian purists like Mary Ruwart and a left-libertarian like Mike Gravel:
As for what I want to happen? I’m actually torn. The part of me that wants to see the LP take bold strides towards a left-libertarianism that I can really get behind clearly favors Gravel. The part of me that wants to see the LP at least try to save its own soul wants to see it go to Ruwart as above. The part of me that thinks it’s too late for that wants them to go ahead and give it to Barr — effectively destroying the party — but I’m not the only libertarian radical who thinks that might be a good thing. Go out in a blaze of glory and help us elect Obama. Though I do hate to see the term libertarian itself besmirched with the “true conservative” meme — it already is.
Post Politics: 3 April 2008
Posted on April 8, 2008 at 9:47 amJust one week after announcing her intention to seek the 71st District State House seat currently held by the retiring Rep. Randy Rinks, Dwana Pusser-Garrison, daughter of legendary McNairy County lawman Buford Pusser, has withdrawn from the race citing health concerns. Pusser-Garrison has multiple sclerosis.
Harold Ford, Jr. schedules his engagement party in Memphis on the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Church Hill attorney Mike Faulk celebrates his Scots-Irish heritage and cites a book by a Democratic U.S. Senator in officially announcing his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the Tennessee Senate’s Fourth District. The Senate’s lone independent, Senator Mike Williams, currently holds the seat.
A blog dedicated to bringing retailer Trader Joes to Nashville claims victory.
Former Democratic candidate for president turned Libertarian Mike Gravel covers the Beatles’ Helter Skelter on YouTube.
Jackson Baker reports that a recent poll conducted by Ethridge and Associates shows Congressman Steve Cohen in good position for reelection despite announced opposition from Democrat Nikki Tinker and independent Jake Ford.
Terry Heaton links up to panel discussion involving Al Gore, John Siegenthaler and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.
Media Bistro discusses the ideological diversity of the talking heads on the cornucopia of political chat shows on the cable news networks.
A magnanimous Barack Obama tells reporters that he would be more than happy to hire revered former Vice President Al Gore for a high level cabinet post.
Knoxville TV blogger Katie Granju wonders who exactly is in favor of “mountaintop removal” mining.
Both of Tennessee’s U.S. Senators praise a tentative bipartisan agreement on a bill to alleviate the mortgage “crisis.”
A Zip Code breakdown of Mayor Karl Dean’s submitted list of Metro Board and Commission appointees shows the mayor following through on his goal of geographical diversity.
61 year-old Ed Lawhorn, a Vietnam veteran and political independent, announces his intention to run for U.S. Senate versus Lamar Alexander. He will join Green Party member Chris Lugo on the general election ballot. Democrats Bob Tuke, a former party chairman, and former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett are currently vying for the Democratic nomination for the seat.
In an increasingly digital world, Ben Cunningham warns that reliance on email rather than face to face meetings make relationships fragile in the face of conflict.
Nashville Scene editor Liz Garrigan announces a retooling of the alt-weekly’s blog Pith In The Wind and shows off some great artist renderings of political and media reporters Jeff Woods and Matt Pulle.
Deft political maneuvering in the state house Criminal Practice Subcommittee yesterday insures that the state’s gun permit records shall remain open until at least 2012. The bill created a Class E felony of unauthorized publication of permit information or records. An attorney general’s opinion stated that the bill might have been vulnerable on First Amendment grounds. Angelia Gibson-Herrell discusses.
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