In an upset third ballot victory, Michael Badnarik has won the Libertarian nomination for President, besting the favorites Aaron Russo and Gary Nolan. I'm not particularly happy with the choice, but I'll reserve judgement on Badnarik for now.
Jeff Trigg explains how it happened. Doug Allen wonders about the LP's strategy.
Posted by Walter at June 1, 2004 07:23 AMKeeping in mind that I am not a libertarian, my opinion has to be suspect. Still, this seems like a suicide candidate to me. The LP has been making steady progress lately in gaining a share of the vote in local elections and seems to be (although this just might be a reflection of my own circle of friends) gaining mindshare with the politically minded.
Now that people might start paying attention (still losing, but with the capacity to make a strong name), though, the candidate that the party decides to run for the Presidency is promising to blow up buildings, repeal 20,000+ gun laws, and destroy the IRS on his first day in the job. While it might appeal to the big L types, it's the type of platform that seems about as fringe as the Green Party's promise to reform taxes by imposing a 100% tax on all income over x-dollars per year (I can't remember the number, but it was surprisingly low).
He's going to scare people right back to the big two (at least for this election).
Posted by: zombyboy at June 1, 2004 07:55 AMMy concern is not so much his message, but his ability to get that message out, he has raised 13 grand up until the election. He is a complete unknown outside of the LP and he doesn't have anything cool about him that people can associate with (like Jesse Ventura, who even if you didn't know he had been a pro wrestler before the sheer uniqueness of his run was memorable). I will support him, he is a decent speaker and good debater, but if he speaks and nobody hears then whats the point?
Posted by: severin at June 1, 2004 12:37 PM"...he is a decent speaker and good debater, but if he speaks and nobody hears then whats the point?"
-------------
Help Michael Badnarik be heard then -- donate $20 to the campaign. If one million freedom loving Americans did that, the Bush-Kerry ticket would have some serious competition.