Barr brags over Tuesday showing

Barr did terrible in Georgia. He isn't the man to make the Libertarian case. Ron Paul really is but he won't because of ballot access discrimination.

Bob (Patriot Act) Barr the drug warrior snubbed Ron Paul and lost many Libertarians. If he continues as the voice of the party, there is no hope. Libertarians had a chance to run a woman for President and/or Vice President and blew it big time. Reformed neo-cons like him are welcome, just not on the top of the ticket. Not until they have paid their penance for their damage to liberty.

Bob Barr is a complete tool. Granted the Libertarians are mostly tools and can not face facts that small government does not work for all the people. Sure it sound great but in reality it does not take into account the various needs of a society. Now I am sure some fool will say "oh you just want to give hand outs, blah, blah, blah" and no, I am not talking about that. You just need effective government, not small.

Imagine someone with Ron Paul's policy positions and Obama's rhetorical skills. Still couldn't get elected dog-catcher, but sure would be fun!

The only way for a third party to be taken seriously in a presidential election is to win smaller elections first. Putting third-party representatives in city and state offices, and eventually Congress is the only way to clear the path for a realistic third-party presidential candidate. How can you expect to win, or make an impact when the majority of voters have nothing to base you on? There are many good ideas that don't come from the big two parties, but there needs to be better organization and more realistic goals to make a difference.

So Barr is "crowing" and "bragging"? Why the snide tone of this article? Just report the events, please, Foon Rhee.

Bob Barr ran a campaign witth the deck stacked against him. All of you out there who think Ruwart would have done a better job? How so? With zero media? Would SHE magically make money appear after so many people had given to Paul and other candidates? Would her controversies(I am not saying they are right) suddenly go away?

And how many conservative-libertarians would have jumped ship to Baldwin then? Or how about those moderate foks who didn't vote for McBama? Apparently, the LP has to be all or nothing. And based on the course some want it to take, we could indeed have nothing.

If I may, I would like to respectfully disagree with LK about how to get 3rd parties elected. Let me start by prefacing: This country badly needs more powerful independent parties to give some much-needed competition to the entrenched Reps and Dems. That competition would force all parties to be less corrupt and offer better government services over all.

Now what I think is required, beside from starting at local levels (we don't totally disagree) is 1) campaign finance reform, 2) and end to jerrymandering and 3) the formation of a cohesive and coherent 3rd party coalition that is more moderate than the other two and could pull voters from both. If the government would subsidise campaigns for qualified politicians and disallow all other financial contributions, the playing field would be much more level. Also there needs to be some sort of innitiative to reverse the re-drawing of voting districts around Republican and Democrat strongholds. As many voting districts are today, no one but a republican or democrat can get elected to any office. Finally, as a moderate I feel supremely underrepresented, and I know that there are millions of others like out there like me who are equally if not more disenfranchised. A moderate coalition, I think, would attract many small third parties and hopefully some support from both Dems and Reps.

Thanks for listening, now lets go make it happen...

You know, right now, even though I'm a die-hard libertarian, there is a part of me that is very happy to see Obama elected. I disagree with much of his political philosophy, but his election should do wonderful things to improve our relations around the world, and here in the States. There are many of us who felt that there was a limit to how far we could go in this nation because of our ethnicity, or the color of our skin, and that "glass ceiling" was shattered last night. The "change" Obama brings may be more a matter of perception than anything else, but at least we as a nation have finally gotten over this "hurdle", and for that I am glad.
Having said that, I am still a "libertarian-winger", and I wish to see the country move in that direction in the coming decades..

You don't vote for a libertarian because you think they might actually win the presidency. You vote libertarian to sew seeds for the future, to get libertarians into the debates, etc.... It's a slow process, and may seem fruitless at face value, but we have to build up some sort of "libertarian" party that will one day be able to present a viable alternative to the Republican/Democratic establishment. Dems and Reps are both moderate authoritarians. Candidates who fall within the libertarian-wing, even moderate libertarians, can present a counterbalance to the two currently established moderately authoritarian parties. At present, there is no real counterbalance to those two complicit parties.

Crowing! Is that the really the best Negatone slurrrrr our beloved press can come up with. Do us all a favor drop the Neocon propaganda. If Obama campaigned and won on the quote "Change" then maybe just maybe we were all duped into believing he was the Democratic Parties Savior. The truth is Obama is and of himself a Third Party. Think about it, Sounds Crazy! OK let's go with this, Most of us have No idea what the hell his quote or un quote "Change" really means, has anyone seen his Outline for Change ?. DeeDaDe Most of his view and or opinions, and voting records have shown to be way Left of Nader. Do you honestly think Obama said to himself I really think I can Win under the "Green Party" It really does mirror most of my view. Please., There's not a Snow Balls chance in hell he could win under the Green Flag. Obama had to seduce the Blue Party Ah Yes! that Charming delivery and Charismatic Personality, and you gotta love that little tinge of a southern draw, where did that come from ?. By the way I have the the utmost respect for this man. He's Intelligent, brilliant, and knows exactly what he believes in, He's passionate about his purpose and agenda. The problem is he seduced the Democratic Party into believing something completely different than the Party ever intended or believed in the past. So pull the Stardust and Blue Mist out of your eyes and know that you are now a product of the "New Blue Party" and remember only Sheeple are lead astray.

Sung to the tune of "Barbara Ann". Bob, Bob, Bob.... Bob, Bob Barr ran.... Bob, Bob, Bob.... Bob, Bob Barr ra -a -a- a nnn.... ra -a -a- a nnn.... . Now he's a wishin' and a hopin', singin' while they votin', Bob Barr ran.

Bob you made the most sense, but had the least cents to win.

I would disagree with Mark. I think small government is the answer on the federal level. Necessary services can be administered on the local to state level. That is how you keep government efficient, and keep it from becoming overpowering. If the federal government follows the constitution and lets all powers not granted to it by the constitution fall to the states, then the successful state and local programs will be used in other states and cities, and the unsuccessful programs will be canceled. That way the whole nation does not suffer for bad policy. Unfortunately, few people understand that the point of the constitution is to keep the federal government from overstepping its bounds and taking liberty from everyone like we see now.

The American public, after 50 years of being dumbed down, voted for sound bites and charisma. Nothing will change until we hit bottom and have another revolution. "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another . . . requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. . . . whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government." In other words, it has to get bad enough that the American people throw off the yoke of the DemoPublicans and are ready to really want freedom from the government stepping on our necks.

Every vote for Bob Barr or a third party candidate is one vote less for the two party duopoly that is increasingly moving towards unsound economic roadblocks for our workers and buisnesses and huge deficits.

Gore would have won in 2000 if he had the libertarian vote, and eventually, with rising levels of third party voters and libertarian voters, these candidates will have to face the trade off when formulating their positions. I would love to vote for a main party candidate and I would, too. I just can't presently with their platforms.
And to the other poster: A libertarian for president or for national office doesn't prevent states from having socialist policies. The commerce clause means something, and it will not be the province of the national liabertarian to quash the people's rights to whatever economic, social, or healthcare programs they want locally or statewide- this isn't a one or the other option here. Stop promoting the false choice you've erected.

Underrepresented moderate? Laaaaaame. You don't even get a dignified late night response to your incredibly illogical view of what an improved America would be.

James E Stevenson: SmallER government IS effective government. I'm really sick of this worst-case-scenario nonsense some people use to try and ignore the clearly sound logic of libertarian policy positions, but I suppose (since you opened your comment with "...Libertarians are mostly tools...") I can't expect someone that throws stereotypical generalizations around so flippantly to be capable of recognizing sound logic.

Sure, there's some libertarians and Libertarian supporters that want infinitesimally small or even no government, but there's extremists and hard-liners in the mix when it comes to ANY cause. That's no reason to dismiss libertarian policy positions, but more an excuse or cop-out for those that refuse to open their eyes and acknowledge points of view that differ from their own.

Fact is, regardless of how small is too small for you (or how big is too big for anyone else), it's generally accepted that government is far too big in the present day. It doesn't really matter what the endpoint is. Most people agree that we need to turn this ship around and at least begin the process of reducing the size, scope, power, waste, corruption, intrusiveness, unresponsiveness, and influence of the federal government in Washington. Power, money, and influence needs to be returned to a more local governmental setting where accountability is realistically obtainable.

We need to return to something that more closely resembles the system of government that we originally inherited. $10 trillion+ of debt on the books (and far more on the horizon) is grossly unacceptable stewardship of the public Treasury. This was only made possible via over a century of gradual acquiescence to the illogical notion that an exceedingly large and powerful centralized government was acceptable in the United States of America.

Mr. Stevenson,
Small government will work for all people. Trimming excess social programs will force everyone to take care of themselves. Citizens will no longer rely on others to provide for them and become productive members of society. Isn't this best for everyone? Lower taxes and a higher GNP are the result, my friend. Do the math.

As long as the Libertarians regard 1% as a great victory, the rest of us probably remain safe.

hey! All you so called libertarians.What was the first job barr took after leaving congress?THE ACLU. So those votes were for a libertarian?

This is depressing. Nineteen comments so far and not one calling for a bigger push for instant-runoff voting. How many people buckled at the last minute and voted out of fear for the lesser of the top two evils? IRV will remove that fear and the whole spoiler argument. If we want to start electing Libertarians we MUST get IRV implemented at all election levels.

LK is absolutely right in opining that the key to a viable third party is to begin with small elections. When the greater electorate can observe the policies and performance of a new political paradigm, only then will they take a chance on the supporting it for the top job. There's much work to be done and no time for internal squabbling. There is also abundant opportunity for those with a penchant for leadership to start the process moving. The current cadre of leaders had their chance, let's find new blood just as the Obama tide so convincingly demonstrated. Any volunteers?

I vote for Bob Barr because I did hate that wantabee Double A, Half Black Alabama and Insane McCain would have a heart attack two months in.
Plus Bob Barr has a ex Las vegas as a running mate. Go Wayne Root.

Mr. Stevenson,
Small government will work for all people. Trimming excess social programs will force everyone to take care of themselves. Citizens will no longer rely on others to provide for them and become productive members of society. Isn't this best for everyone? Lower taxes and a higher GNP are the result, my friend. Do the math.

AMEN!

I voted for Barr. And I'll tell you what Mr. Stevenson, I'm a man and I'm game. I work, think, raise a family and create. I make sound decisions and it shows. I voted for the party that has principles. I voted for people that want to protect my rights to make decisions for myself. I'm not a ward of the state. Judging from your comments you voted for a party that calls people names. Consider yourself called out.

I voted for Bob Barr because he was for my core values LESS GOVERMENT LESS TAXES. The federal goverment is not a charity. Charity begins at home since the new deal everyone thinks the feds should bailout anyone in trouble.Now it's big business that's looking for a hand out. What people should understand is we in America have a right to win and or fail not to be bailed out Wake up America who's going to bailout the tax payers. Oh i guess China when they takeover

In response to James E Stevenson, smaller government IS effective government.