There has been much abuzz in the blogosphere regarding the defection of Bob Barr to the Libertarian Party. He has been a champion of certain civil liberties and I've even been on the same side with him on a few coalition actions:
- https://jameslandrith.com/letters/2006-10-18coalitionletter.pdf
- https://jameslandrith.com/content/view/2840/40/
However, until he comes around on to the libertarian perspective on The Drug War and stops obsessing over who can call what a "marriage," he has some more growing to do before the title of libertarian will be accurate.
That said, I'll continue to side with Barr when he is right. When he is not, well that is another issue now, ain't it?
Relevant Links:
Why does it say that Barr defected, yet he is a “Life Member of the LP”? Barr is a “former congressman,” elected as LP? Does he hold an elected political office currently? How many LP’s hold office presently (e.g. state or federal legislature. I don’t know of any.)?
12/19/2006 14:34:00
Barr was previously a GOP Congressman. He gradually began the process of drifting toward libertarianism after he lost his seat to a Democrat, with the assistance of Libertarian candidate who more than covered the margin between the two. It is ironic that his rabid Drug War beliefs were used by the LP to oust him from Congress and now he is part of the Party leadership.
Being a \”life member\” in the LP means that you donated $1000 when you joined or renewed your membership.
There are a handful or so state legislators elected as straight LP or LP/GOP or LP/Dem fusion candidates. There are currently no federal level LP legislators. Some people count Representative Ron Paul as a libertarian, since he had previously been an LP candidate for president. He is a Republican, yet also a member of the LP. He campaigns solely under the GOP banner.
Most of the LP\’s elected officials are at the county or city level.
12/19/2006 15:19:00
Is there such a thing as an LP/Dem fusion candidate? I imagine that LP/GOP fusion candidates are more common, since they support similar political views: e.g. deregulation, lower taxes, minimal government.
Yes, there are LP/Dem fusion candidates – fewer than the LP/GOP candidates (as you could have probably guessed). However, I think the conduct of the GOP led Congress over the last several years has forced a shift in the libertarian/conservative coalition of the last 30 years. The problem with the GOP is that they talk a good line about \”deregulation, lower taxes, minimal government\” but have done the exact opposite since they won control of all branches of the federal government.
The conservative/libertarian alliance is busted (out of control spending, domestic surveillance, Big Government Wars of Intervention, etc.). You are going to see more libertarians hanging out with Dems than ever before. Also, the Democratic Freedom Caucus (libertarian wing of the DP, similar to the Republican Liberty Caucus) is starting to pick up steam and had a Congressional candidate in Florida (Frank Gonzalez) score big with 41% vs. incumbent Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who outspent him 60-1 and refused to debate him. Next election, Frank may take the seat if the DCCC pulls it’s head out of the sand and forks over some dough.
12/19/2006 20:43:00
Interesting. I would like very much to see more libertarian movement in the Democrat Party. I was once, a Democrat…but I refuse to vote that way for the most part.
Barr was on the local talk radio station here…I still need to listen to the podcast. Sounded like he defended the LP in the face of the cheap shots the host took against the local LP and the trouble we had with one LINO candidate.