Libertarian Debate at 9:00 EST Tonight on C-Span
May 24, 2008 by Elizabeth Cable
It is May 24th, and the Libertarians are in the midst of their National Convention in Denver. The Convention started on May 22nd, and will continue until May 26th. This year, there are many candidates for Libertarians to choose from. Six of those candidates acquired enough “tokens” today to participate in a Live Libertarian Debate on C-Span tonight, at 9-11 o’clock Eastern time, 6-8 o’clock Pacific time.
Concerning “tokens” the Libertarian Party website clarifies, “The 12 presidential candidates who made the trip to Denver for the National Convention have been petitioning Libertarian delegates for their support in the form of delegate tokens, which go towards qualifying candidates for certain events at the national convention.”
The candidates debating will be Former Alaskan Senator Mike Gravel, Former Congressman Bob Barr, Mary Ruwart (a Libertarian party activist), George Phillies (Libertarian activist and professor of physics), Steve Kubby (Libertarian activist and cancer patient), Michael Jingozian, and Wayne Allyn Root (business mogul). Other Libertarian candidates who did not acquire enough tokens to debate were Christine Smith, Daniel Imperato, and Alden Link.
If you have any interest in the campaign for the 2008 Libertarian nomination, be sure to tune in tonight. Again, it starts this evening at 9 o’clock Eastern time on C-Span, and goes on until 11 o’clock. If you had the interest to watch the debate, please leave a comment here on what you thought about it.
I’m watching this debate on tv right now. I just gotta say this is the biggest loserfest I’ve ever seen. We got Gravel, Phillies, Barr, Root, Jingo, and Kubby. (All of Koko’s friends.)
I also find it funny that Gravel, who was participating in Democratic debates just last year, is now participating in Libertarian debates. Does he have no shame?
I did not check my email inbox yet but its probably filled with 100 emails from Christine Smith attacking the LP.
After watching that debate I predict a Barr/Root ticket.
Which is a shame, because they’re both Jerks.
I definitely think Barr is going to get the nomination. (Sorry Phillies, I still love ya though.)
And, I think Gravel might be the running mate.
I think Gravel and Barr are too different
Christine Smith hasn’t sent me very many emails, just one about “vote buying” in the Libertarian race. I wonder if there is anything to that, or if it is just paranoia?
Mr. Solis, I’m glad that you have so many nice words for the Libertarians and Senator Gravel.
Mike Gravel should get the Presidential nomination, and anyone aside from Root is fine and well with me for the Vice Presidential nomination, though I would prefer Kubby or Phillies.
Further C-Span coverage of the Libertarian convention starts at 10:30 EST tomorrow morning. There will be candidate speeches and things like that.
I think by combining the name recognition of Barr and Gravel (however much they have) they’ll definitely have a big shot of forcing themselves into national debates in the Fall.
BTW, like most people here, I can’t stand Wayne Allyn Root either!!! He reminds me of an infomercial car salesman.
I completely agree with the fact that Barr/Gravel would get alot of traction, I just don’t believe that the LP will be smart enough to go with that ticket. I think that Barr has the top spot locked up, I hope that the second slot goes to someone like Phillies or Kubby, but I think LP will make a stupid move and give Root second billing.
Jeff was right. Now they just have to confirm Root as the VP.
So Bob Barr will be the Libertarian nominee for president…
Jeff, I think you just wanted Barr because you thinks Republicans, in protest, will vote for Barr over McCain, and give Obama a greater chance to win the election (a la ‘92).
Barr is much more moderate than McCain, so this idea that Barr will somehow be a spoiler for McCain just doesn’t make any sense. Barr is also a card carrying member of the ACLU, and that’s the last person protesting Republicans will turn to. They will come home to McCain, and more so than Democrats because their primary has been much less contested and prolonged.
But if there is still this idea that anti-McCain Republicans will vote for Barr, it will soon fade after they find out more about Mr. Barr.
If Hillary does not win the nomination , I am going with the Barr/Root ticket. Christine Smith seemed pissed off , I thought she was going to give Barr the finger lol
I was just watching Barr give his acceptance speech, and as he was walking off the stage, a man asked him, and the mics barely picked this up, the man asked, “Are you supporting Mr. Root for vice-president?” Mr. Barr responed, “Yes.”
Root will be the VP nominee.
My fav line out of all the candidates last night:
“The American people are smarter than their leaders. They just don’t know it yet!”
-Mike Gravel while giving a speech at the LNC.
“Bob Barr viciously fought for the impeachment of Bill Clinton , so I will not support him. But one thing , I will not support Obama if he is the nominee.” - Koko Chassid, May 22, 2008
“If Hillary does not win the nomination , I am going with the Barr/Root ticket.” - Koko Chassid, May 25, 2008
I did not know Barr 4 days ago , but after the debate and the speech he seems like a good candidate. So flip-flop resolved.
In all seriousness, though, the Libertarian Party let down all of their supporters by choosing arguably the two least Libertarian candidates (other than Mike Gravel) vying for the nomination to be their Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees. Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root are both Neoconservatives on a whole host of issues.
The Libertarian Party brings home the bacon by railing against the dirty political practices of the two major parties, but here they’ve displayed a willingness to throw their most authentic, hard-working candidates (Phillies, for example) under a bus in return for a ticket with a little bit more name recognition, but a complete sense of disrespect for the Libertarian Party’s constitution. That seems pretty dirty to me.
You know what else is dirty?
A Democratic nominee without a universal healthcare program, who re-disenfranchised voters of two states, who lies about taking money from lobbyists, and who wants to rely on emotions rather than ideas to get elected.
Mike Gravel never had a chance , because he is not a LIBERTARIAN.
Is Bob Barr a Libertarian?
Dan,
Take comfort in knowing that, were Hillary in Barack’s position right now, there would be absolutely no push whatsoever to have FL and MI delegates seated. Also keep in mind that Hillary has done her fair share of relying on emotions to get elected. As far as I know, she was the only 2008 Democratic candidate to run ads featuring 9/11 imagery (As I recall, she beat even the GOP to the punch on that one), and she’s the only Democrat to have run an ad featuring Osama Bin Laden. There was also the 3 A.M phone call ad in which she suggested that little kids in pajamas will be blown up by terrorists if Barack Obama is in the White House.
I’m just sayin’…
Elizabeth,
To answer your question, no, Bob Barr is most definitely not a Libertarian.
Just to clear it up, I wasn’t rooting to Barr to get the Nod, I just predicted that he would.
I would have loved to have seen that Ruward woman get the nomination, or George or Kubby.
New Question: does anyone here think Barr/Root will get more than 2%?
No way. They’ll get barely more than 1%, I would imagine.
If America loves Wayne Allyn Root as much as he seems to love himself, the Libertarians will take the White House by storm.
Johnny, it’s nice to see you’re sticking to the real issues…
Not once did you mention universal healthcare. Healthcare was something you once called your single most important issue. But, now you have bought into the fear of having a real universal healthcare program thanks to the Republican style attacks from Barack Obama himself.
Oh, health care is still my number 1 issue. I just don’t consider Hillary’s plan to be head-and-shoulders above Obama’s, even if it does include a national, practically-unenforceable mandate. That is why you think Hillary’s plan is so much better, is it not?
I’ll be honest, though, and say that Hillary is unquestionably superior on other “real issues.” Just look at her lauded idea for a summertime gas tax holiday.
Your argument against a “national, practically-unenforceable mandate” falls flat on it’s face when I say that Barack Obama’s healthcare plan does include a mandate. He has a national mandate that requires parents to have healthcare coverage for their children.
My question is…Why does Barack Obama think it’s appropriate to include a “national, practically-unenforceable mandate” for children, but not for adults?
The only conclusion I can come up with is that he is trying to play it politically safe. And if there’s anything we need more of this year, it’s a politician who is willing to play it politically safe on the most vital issue - healthcare.
Give up the argument. Have you ever heard the refrain, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still”? Besides, it’s like beating a dead horse. It’s old hat. All politicians play it safe on nearly every issue, because they don’t want to offend anybody, so that they can get elected. Politicians are boring like that. End of story.
I will never drop the argument. I want an explanation as to why Obama supporters are hypocrites, objecting about a mandate, when their own candidate has a mandate as well. (For children, not adults) And why they think that is better.
Dan,
Did you do some quick scribbling on “better” in “better choice for America”?
I did some quick scribbling on “Better” in “Better choice for America”.