Too Conservative poses this question to persons such as myself supporting Bob Barr’s bid for the Libertarian Party’s Presidential nomination:
Do you genuinely believe that Bob Barr is the best person in the country to lead the United States in 2008?
I’m tempted to respond to this by asking — what makes you think that John McCain is the best person in the country to lead the United States in 2008 ? Quite clearly, he isn’t. There are more than a few people, including people who didn’t run for President this year, who are arguably more suited, in terms of experience, beliefs, and temperament to hold the Presidency. But that’s an academic question because, in November, we’re going to be left with the choice of John McCain, Barack Obama and several third-party candidates including, hopefully, Congressman Barr.
Of those three I don’t think Barr is any less qualified and, at least in terms of values I would argue that he’s more qualified than either a big-government Bush Conservative like McCain or a big-government liberal like Obama.
Or are you supporting him as a protest against John McCain’s nomination?
Well, that’s certainly part of it for me. If enough fiscal conservatives and libertarians jump ship from the GOP in November — either by voting for Barr or not voting for President at all — then my hope is that it will send a message to the rest of the Republican Party that the past seven years of big-government “compassionate” conservatism combined with international misadventures that were executed without proper intelligence or proper planning were a big, huge mistake. If that leads to the rise of Republican politicians who can bring the party back from the disaster that George W. Bush and the Republicans who controlled Congress from 1998 onward have created, then it will be for the better.
TC goes on:
If it’s the latter, however, then I’m moved to ask: where’s your protest against Barack Obama, and the massive increase in the size of government and amount of taxes you pay that, and the return to LBJ’s Great Society that his Presidency will bring?
To which I feel compelled to ask — where is the Republican Party’s protest against George W. Bush, who has surpassed LBJ and FDR as the biggest spender and the biggest regulator in American history ?
May 21st, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Right on Doug. And, how does TC explain why McCain, a loser, is worth voting for? After all, why not vote for a winner like Barr? Barr has the best chance of winning. McCain will not win. He is not electable.