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The Spectacle Blog
Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s (D-NM) decision to retire raises an interesting question for former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. Right now, Republicans who are libertarians, constitutional conservatives or antiwar have three major national figures: Johnson, Ron Paul, and Rand Paul. It currently looks like two of those leaders — Johnson and the elder Paul — will run for president. But should Johnson instead set his sights on joining Rand in the Senate?
Johnson could conceivably win the Republican nomination for the Senate seat. It would then be within the realm of possibility for him to win the general election too. Neither of those things are possible in the presidential race. If both Paul and Johnson run for president, the best thing that could happen — from the perspective of promoting their shared ideas — is that they form a tag team in the debates. The worst is that they just split the liberty vote.
I’ve made my case before that a second Ron Paul GOP presidential campaign would be more effective than a first Gary Johnson one. There are obvious counterarguments, such as that Paul should run for Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Senate seat in Texas instead (one poll shows him within the margin of error of the primary lead). Moreover, the chances of this happening are probably slim to zero: once the presidential bug bites a politician, they have trouble running for little things like the Senate. But it seems to me that a nascent movement would benefit more from having two senators than two presidential candidates.
View all comments (34) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/18/jeff-bingaman-gary-johnson-and
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Bob K.| 2.18.11 @ 6:24PM
The chances of either one winning the Presidential Primary are "slim to zero" too.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.18.11 @ 6:26PM
They are both stupid. Our country can no longer stand stupid.
Red Phillips | 2.18.11 @ 7:01PM
A Duke Medical School graduate is "stupid?" Try again Ken.
Occam's Tool| 2.18.11 @ 9:38PM
Some are, says this UTMB grad.
Occam's Tool| 2.18.11 @ 9:39PM
Dear Red,
as a Mensan, and an MD at the age of 25, yeah, some MDs are stupid, and some are graduates of Duke.
Clint| 2.18.11 @ 6:53PM
"In answer to an audience question at a YAF meeting, Ann Coulter said: "Ron Paul is very smart. So I don't want to talk to him too long for fear that he will convince me."
Occam's Tool| 2.18.11 @ 9:39PM
He's a worthless nazi maggot, like you, Clint.
Clint| 2.18.11 @ 11:38PM
Uh Oh ! Israel Firster Head Case Tool Job Plays The Nazi Card on Tea Party Patriot Clint.
Apparently once again, The Fixated Israel Firster Troll, Tool Job is all PMS'y & Angst Ridden over Tea Party Senator Dr. Rand Paul and Tea Party Favorite Congressman Dr.Ron Paul.
Tough ! Little Creepy Coward.
A Balrog of Morgoth| 2.19.11 @ 4:31AM
The scalded troll yeps loudest.
Clint| 2.19.11 @ 9:57AM
Israel Firster Trolls Crybaby The Loudest.
Occam's Tool| 2.21.11 @ 8:32PM
No, I just said you are A NAZI SCUMBAG. Truth is truth. You're brain damaged from chasing cars, Clint.
Occam's Tool| 2.21.11 @ 8:36PM
Clint, you want to see 6 million Jews murdered. I rest my case. The fact that you worship terrorists is a different issue, but supportive.
Ron and Rand are both worthless, stupid idiots. I share their degree; I'm not impressed.
trotterpm| 2.24.11 @ 6:15PM
Woah, Crazy pants! What is up with the vitriol? You sound like a guy about to shoot a lot of people.
You should follow in Gov Johnsons footsteps and smoke a bit of weed.
Sean| 2.18.11 @ 8:50PM
Johnson would have a good chance of winning in NM.
Jamie| 2.19.11 @ 3:03AM
...And that's about it.
Occam's Tool| 2.18.11 @ 9:41PM
Both represent the worst aspects of the Republicans---antisemitism and the desire to see little girls raped and mutilated.
Occam's Tool| 2.18.11 @ 9:41PM
Obviously, this doesn't represent most Republicans, just the Paulite vermin.
Clint| 2.18.11 @ 11:44PM
Look Out !
Now, The Israel Firster Troll Tool Job Plays The Double Anti-Semite/Rapist Card.
Jamie| 2.19.11 @ 3:04AM
Freak.
Clint| 2.19.11 @ 9:52AM
RINO-CINO.
Ronald Reagan:
" If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.
Now, I can’t say that I will agree with all the things that the present group who call themselves Libertarians in the sense of a party say, because I think that like in any political movement there are shades, and there are libertarians who are almost over at the point of wanting no government at all or anarchy. I believe there are legitimate government functions. There is a legitimate need in an orderly society for some government to maintain freedom or we will have tyranny by individuals. The strongest man on the block will run the neighborhood. We have government to insure that we don’t each one of us have to carry a club to defend ourselves. But again, I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are travelling the same path."
Jamie| 2.19.11 @ 8:23PM
Reagan was not an isolationist--nice try though.
A Balrog of Morgoth| 2.19.11 @ 4:33AM
Look Out!
Now, The Ron Paul Rump-Swab Plays The JOOOOS!!!! Card.
Clint| 2.19.11 @ 9:48AM
Look Out !
Now, The Israel Firster RINO-CINO Asshat Plays The Arlen Specter Was Our Friend Card.
Occam's Tool| 2.21.11 @ 8:33PM
No, Arlen was an a-hole. So are you.
M. Simon | 2.19.11 @ 4:50AM
I think it is a little early for Johnson. What he is doing is prepping the battle space for a later run - i.e. raise his name recognition. OTOH he may be running for VP.
Drug prohibition is falling out of favor. Stories like this one:
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_.....ck_check=1
of prohibition agents selling drugs will accelerate the trend.
I believe the number of med-pot states will have to go to around 30 to give Johnson a good chance.
My dream ticket for 2012? Palin/Johnson. Palin will draw the socons of the R party and Johnson the libertarians. In many ways they are quite complimentary.
Ironically Palin was put on the R ticket to draw libertarian and Libertarian votes. It worked. And now that the country has moved more libertarian Palin could use some help with the libertarians. A lot of Ds could be drawn from that party on legalization issues. Of course the Rs would have to be a lot nicer to the bong hitters.
Why McCain Picked Palin
Eric Dondero | 2.19.11 @ 8:21AM
James Antle once again, gets it entirely wrong on the Liberty Movement. Gary Johnson and Ron Paul are worlds apart on foreign policy. Johnson acknowledges the threat of Radical Islam. Ron Paul thinks Islamo-Fascism is a "fantasy."
Even Rand Paul disagrees with his Dad on Gitmo prisoners relocation to the US, and the threats of Iranian nukes.
Antle, simple rule of blogging: Think before you post.
Clint| 2.19.11 @ 10:05AM
" Michael Scheuer, who was the head analyst at the CIA’s bin Laden unit, Alec Station, and authored the books Through Our Enemies Eyes and Imperial Hubris, said “I thought Mr. Paul captured it the other night exactly correctly. This war is dangerous to America because it’s based, not on gender equality, as Mr. Giuliani suggested, or any other kind of freedom, but simply because of what we do in the Islamic World – because ‘we’re over there,’ basically, as Mr. Paul said in the debate.”
Scheuer also agreed with Dr. Paul’s statement in the debate that the war in Iraq was a diversion from capturing or killing Osama bin Laden and that bin Laden was “delighted” that the U.S. is occupying Iraq as it has become a training ground and recruiting tool for new jihadists joining the movement."
Jamie| 2.19.11 @ 8:25PM
Scheuer's a crank.
george| 2.19.11 @ 2:46PM
Just don't be poor in any of their imagined worlds...white and male helps too!
Zachariah Wiedeman| 2.20.11 @ 2:13PM
I completely agree here. Paul would be more effective in the Senate, and Johnson would be better positioned to run for President with a little Senate experience on his resume. Now here's a thought - why can't Johnson run for both just like Paul ran for President AND his House seat in 2008?
Sal| 2.21.11 @ 12:39AM
Neither will ever be president, moron.
Zachariah Wiedeman| 2.24.11 @ 10:38PM
At least I'm not so moronic to believe I can predict the future. At least I'm not so moronic to think that name-calling will add "strength" to what I have to say. Who knows? No one would have expected Obama to have a chance at being President 10 years ago. A *lot* can change in the next decade and no one really knows what is possible and isn't.
ROLLTIDE| 2.23.11 @ 10:01AM
Both men's chances will increase exponentially once this country bankrupts.
trotterpm| 2.24.11 @ 6:26PM
or shortly after inflation starts to get out of control.