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The Spectacle Blog
Before we get too excited about a Gary Johnson surge we might want to see if other national polls join CNN in showing the former New Mexico governor at even 2 percent. But the basic point that Johnson should be included in the debates is sound. Whatever you think about him, the networks are including candidates doing little better, and in some cases worse, in the polls.
My view is that this early in the campaign, debate organizers should be liberal in their inclusion criteria. Sitting members of Congress and former governors (even Buddy Roemer) should generally be invited. Candidates should be given the opportunity to build name recognition and advance their arguments. Then as the race progresses, organizers can tighten their participation requirements based on the polling and actual primary results. Let’s let the voters decide who the serious candidates are.
View all comments (26) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/08/29/free-gary-johnson
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JimH| 8.29.11 @ 3:34PM
Besides, it might split the libertarian vote and dilute Paul's support.
Oldefarte| 8.29.11 @ 4:11PM
Even though I disagree with some of his positions, I agree that his political experience dictates his legitimacy as an includable entrant!!!!
Butch| 8.29.11 @ 4:16PM
I would like to see him in there, too. His AmSpec one-pager on bringing the budget under control by eliminating unconstitutional departments is very articulate and persuasive, and needs to be repeated regularly.
Occam's Tool| 8.29.11 @ 4:17PM
Yeah, it could dilute Paul's support---Gary may sound more rational. And he is a pothead---which accounts for a lot of his decisions while Governor (he sucked).
Oldefarte| 8.29.11 @ 4:51PM
Many of us will take a 'pothead' over a COMMUNITY ORGANIZER anyday!!!!
Pecos Pete| 8.29.11 @ 6:41PM
Well now, OT, Johnson did leave the state with a surplus and he didn't invest in a railroad to nowhere or be the subject of a grand jury. To say he "sucked" is an overstatement.
Occam's Tool| 8.29.11 @ 8:41PM
Well, he's also the reason NM can't attract MDs well. I did live in NM for a year. As an MD, I can tell you he was worthless. He alienated every psychiatrist in the US. You boys have great difficulty recruiting, and terrible Mental Health stats. I agree, Bill Richardson was worse.
Clint| 8.29.11 @ 8:29PM
"Rasmussen Has Ron Paul Running Closest With Obama
Erik Hayden Aug 24, 2011 3,301 Views Comments (19)
Who does the president fare worst against in a head-to-head matchup? On Wednesday, Rasmussen released its latest nationwide early campaign survey. And right now, Barack Obama does well against Mitt Romney (46 to 38 percent) and narrowly leads Perry (43 to 40 percent) and Michele Bachmann (43 to 39 percent).
Which means, if you combine these results with the Rasmussen poll released Tuesday, the GOP candidate doing the best against the president is....Ron Paul? Yesterday's head-to-head poll showed the libertarian trailing the president 39 to 38 percent, by presumably the same methodology."
NMDromero| 8.30.11 @ 10:55AM
Yea his leadership in NM sucked.
He took a 500 Million deficit and turned it into a 1 Billion dollar surplus, darn him. He took a dismal employment rate over 8% and helped create over 20K private sector jobs and brought the employment rate down to 6% range, damn him. Rebuilt NM's infrastructure, improving more roads in NM in 8 years then the previous 40 years. He reduced government jobs in the state by over 1000 to under 12,000 and now under the last governor (richardson) it's up to over 16,000.
Damn he was horrible, can we PLEASE get him back, the incredible leadership of Bill Richardson (his successor) has NM back in 500 Million + deficit
john dubose| 8.29.11 @ 5:44PM
I do not know many potheads, but I would bet that most are prone to wasting money. Especially other people's ( public ) money. Whether or not he was in a broad sense a good governor, it is clear that he is authentically and consistent tight with money. That plus a lot of real world experience should make him a prime choice for president.
Pecos Pete| 8.29.11 @ 6:42PM
JD: Agreed.
Solo| 8.29.11 @ 6:56PM
Who the hell is Gary Johnson?
;)
Oldefarte| 8.29.11 @ 7:51PM
He was a former governor of NM [which is saying he has almost as much political experience as a former mayor of Wasalla, Alaska]!!!!!
Occam's Tool| 8.29.11 @ 8:44PM
New CNN Poll:
By Domenico Montanaro, Political Reporter, NBC News
Rick Perry has shot to the top of yet another national poll.
The Texas governor now leads in a new CNN/Opinion Research poll 32%-18% over Mitt Romney.
Rep. Michele Bachmann is third with 12%. No one else cracks double digits. Newt Gingrich pulls in 7%, Rep. Ron Paul 6%, Herman Cain 3%, Gary Johnson 2%, Jon Huntsman, Rick Santorum, and Thaddeus McCotter all at 1%. Neither Huntsman nor Santorum has been able to break through despite full-fledged, on-the-ground campaigning.
OOOHHH. 6 percent. Gary Johnson at 2 percent.
Sorry, boys. Looks like a Perry /Bachmann ticket. No Jackbooted thugs ticket.
Pecos Pete, I do like your stuff. But google Gary Johnson and Medicine sometime. NOT pretty.
Clint| 8.29.11 @ 9:17PM
Like this CNN:
"Rudy Giuliani leads new national poll: 5/27/11:
A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll shows the former New York City mayor atop the slow-forming Republican primary field.
CNN Reports Ron Paul At 0% While CNN Online Poll Shows Him At 75%
The survey shows Giuliani getting 16 percent of independents and Republicans, with nominal frontrunner Mitt Romney a point behind at 15 percent."
Aaaand this CNN:
"CNN Reports Ron Paul At 0% While CNN Online Poll Shows Him At 75%
June 14, 2011:
While the online poll conducted by CNN shows Ron Paul as the clear winner with 75% of the votes, CNN reporters pull a fast one by citing a lesser known poll hosted at National Journal claiming Ron Paul came in at 0%.
CNN discards their own poll in favor of another poll that shows results more to their liking.
This is overt propaganda.
The National Journal poll cited by CNN now shows Ron Paul in the lead with 33% of the vote."
Occam's Tool| 8.29.11 @ 8:45PM
OH, and I DO support cutting Cabinet Departments. That's just sensical.
Clint| 8.29.11 @ 9:25PM
Rick Perry supported Lance Armstrong's 3 billion dollar Texas taxpayer funded medical research center. That’s like ObamaCare. That’s not free market.
Rick Perry, secured a 300 million dollar business handout slush fund for him and just the two leaders of the legislature to dole out to whomever he felt like being friendly to. That’s corporate welfare, a recipe for corruption, and as bad as the TARP bailouts that caused the Tea Parties to explode all across America. In fact, Perry gave 20 million dollars to Countrywide Financial which later went bankrupt.
He supported a new state business tax. He set up toll road tax collection booths all over Texas highways. The Austin Tea Party and the Austin Toll Party booed him on the steps of the state Capitol for that.
Rick Perry, signed an executive order forcing young Texas schoolgirls to get the HPV vaccine even if it was against their will — even if it was against their parents’ will — while his former chief of staff was a lobbyist for Merck. Perry's judgment was so bad the Texas legislature revolted against him and overturned his decision,"
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Carpe Diem.
Clint| 8.29.11 @ 9:27PM
More Correctly,
"Rick Perry, signed an executive order mandating young Texas schoolgirls to get the HPV vaccine, while his former chief of staff was a lobbyist for Merck. Perry's judgment was so bad the Texas legislature revolted against him and overturned his decision,"
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Carpe Diem.
Occam's Tool| 8.29.11 @ 8:53PM
Here's gary Johnson on Immigration. Source: HIS OWN WEBSITE : Gary Johnson 2012.
You like or don't like. Let the man speak:
America is a land of immigrants. Legal immigration should focus on making it easier and simpler for willing workers to come here with a temporary work visa, pay taxes, contribute to society, and fill jobs as the market demands.
As the former governor of a southern border state, I know fences and walls do not keep out illegal immigrants. Real border security means knowing who is coming here and why.
With workable employer verification systems, smarter border enforcement, and common sense, a national problem can be turned into a national benefit.
The U.S. must adopt two approaches:1Simplify Legal ImmigrationLEGAL IMMIGRATION STRENGTHENS AMERICA'S ECONOMY AND THE social fabric. It will also strengthen our relationship with our southern neighbor Mexico.
It should be easier for a potential immigrant to get a work visa. Potential immigrants should pass a background check, and then be issued a Social Security card, which would allow them to pay income, payroll, and all other taxes workers pay.
There should be a two-year grace period for illegal immigrants to attain work visas so they can continue contributing to America and begin taking part in American society openly.
Immigrants with temporary work visas should have access to the normal procedures for gaining permanent status and citizenship, and should be able to bring their families to the U.S. after demonstrating ability to support them financially.
2Tackle Illegal ImmigrationREAL BORDER SECURITY MEANS KNOWING WHO IS coming here and why.
Legalizing marijuana will reduce border violence and illegal immigration significantly, decreasing the U.S.-Mexican drug trade by 70 percent. Without a monopoly on the marijuana trade, Mexican drug cartels will have vastly diminished incentives to violate U.S. law and risk capture.
Streamline the legal immigration process to reduce illegal immigration and allow the U.S. to know who enters the country and for what reasons.
Enforce a 'one strike, you're out' rule for immigrants who circumvent the streamlined work visa process.
Impose and enforce sanctions on employers for noncompliance with immigration laws.
******************************************
Myself, I want a frickin' wall, and guns, and security, and moats, etc. Good fences make good neighbors. Legalizing MJ will do nothing regarding the Cocaine trade.
Like I said, boy's a loser. Listen to Doc Ock.
Occam's Tool| 8.29.11 @ 8:59PM
Link to immigration website:
http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/issues/immigration.
Occam's Tool| 8.29.11 @ 9:00PM
I'm not arguing on it. The man has spoken, and I think he's a pothead. Possibly better than Obama, but Ron Paul's tougher on National Security. That's problematic.
Clint| 8.29.11 @ 9:23PM
The Texas Tea Party & The New Hampshire Tea Party are after Perry for:
Rick Perry & TARP, The Trans Texas Corridor, Toll Roads, Business Margin Tax, HPV Vaccine Mandate....
Clint| 8.29.11 @ 9:41PM
" The Tea Party's gripe with Perry extends beyond fiscal issues, to matters of individual liberty as well. Although he's drawn cheers on the campaign trail with his pledge to make "DC as inconsequential in your life as I can," he has not applied that same approach to Austin. Perry's decision to make the HPV vaccine mandatory for adolescent girls (in an effort to reduce their risk of cervical cancer) elicited the ire of social conservative activists—and more recently, hits from right-wing bloggers like Michele Malkin.
And the governor sparked a mini-revolt within his party with his proposal for a Trans-Texas Corridor, a massive project that would, as its name suggests, build a toll road, rail lines, and telecommunication infrastructure across the length of the state. To clear the way for the project, the state would use eminent domain to confiscate land from rural Texans—playing into fears of big government and feeding conspiracy theories that the corridor was part of a looming "NAFTA Superhighway." (Ultimately, the plan fell through.)"
LC Jack | 8.30.11 @ 12:53AM
Perry's decision on the HPV mandate was stupid at the least and horrid at the worst. The difference is, he learned his lesson there and moved on. Same deal for the TT Corridor. We the citizens didn't like it and it withered on the vine. Unlike our current DC crowd that is more than willing to do ANYTHING to advance their agenda, the will of the citizens be damned. How 'bout we knock off the circular firing squads and get behind a viable candidate instead? Or do we really, REALLY want to do the Midiot Media job's for them? I'm sure Keller and the New-Pravda-On-The-Hudson editors, just love it when we shoot our own people down, don't you?
Ore Gone| 8.30.11 @ 3:57AM
Gary Johnson is a doer in a group of politicians. I think he could make a good president. Of course anyone looks good compared to the empty suit in there now.
howeecarr| 8.30.11 @ 9:06AM
For those criticizing Johnson, the point of the article was simply that he deserves to be included in the debates. If Huntsman, Santorum, and Cain are all considered "worthy" of inclusion certainly a two-term Governor who polls as well (or, take your pick, as badly) as those three is deserving of inclusion.