Biggest LP Contenders

Well I will put my two cents in. I had the opportunity to escort Senator Gravel to the Wash Libertarian convention this past weekend and I got chance to spend time with him there and I will tell you that he has a good shot to get the LP nomination. I watched the contenders who were there speak and I will tell you that Wayne Allen Root is just a personality. He says vote for me because I can get on FAUX noise network, big deal so can Obama, does that mean I should vote for him. Plus the fact Root was late to the convention. He didnt bother to show up until almost the last hour of the event.

Root has no experience other than telling people he is the son of a butcher. What is that?

Barr was not at the convention, he had there someone there by proxy. Butt I saw him on FAUX noise with Sean Vanity, and Barr was pathetic. That fact that he is back and forth on issues is bad enough, but then goes on with Vanity with a defeatist attitude that the libertarians will not win and concedes this to Sean. That is the last thing we need, especially now that the Repubs and Dems are empoding themselves. Mike is in it to win, not just get 3% like Barr is suggesting.

And that Mary Ruwart woman is to busy trying to envoke the spirit of Ron Paul, doesnt say too much about her policies and that she does is all about privitizing govt which is a non starter. The other guys werent to bad, but they lack the fire Mike has.

Bottom line anyone who can get to Denver CO on May 21-26 should go, be registered as a delegate for the libertarians and vote for Mike. We have a window of opportunity, it may be small, but it is there and we need to take advantage of it.

Ha Ha! I agree completely with both of you about the used car salesman! That style might work on the Strip in Las Vegas but I hope most Libertarians are more thoughtful than to fall for it. He reminds me of a caricature of Bill Clinton.

Anyway here's my opinion of the candidates:

-Sen Gravel towered over the others, on the issues, on "elecatability" and in real "presence."  His comments were well-received and he really positioned himself well as truly libertarian.

-Mike Jingozian was the only other one who mentioned empowering the people; much of what he said was in line with our own Issues page. I left Tacoma with the intention of supporting Jingozian in 2012. When I told him so, he asked that if I go to Denver, to vote for him on the first ballot because Gravel is sure to get more votes anyway! (Sadly, Denver is out of reach for me.) His run this year seems to be part of his long range plan to help the people break the two-party sytem.

-George Phillies is pretty good on the issues, but not very electrifying as a leader.

-Wayne A Root wears a nice suit and talks loud

-Mary Ruwart talks quietly; she's mainstream Libertarian with a capital "L" -- apparently, she "wrote the book" on it. Strikes me as Ron-Paul-Lite, though maybe the proper interpretation is that Paul is right-wing-Ruwartian.

-Rep. Bob Barr was represented by Bob Jackson- they may be good choices for disappointed Huckabee supporters, but that's the far edge of libertarianism, opposite the side I'm on.

As for a schedule of upcoming conventions: I can't find a single list either. Phillies is going to Connecticut, Indiana. New York is coming up.

The national website has the states mapped- I guess you have to click each state to check their 50 separate web sites to find out?

Barr voted for the Patriot Act.  That's reason enough not to vote for him.

I wouldn't discount Christine Smith, Mary Ruwart, and George Phillies. Smith has an excellent stage presence and is very good with libertarian issues. Ruwart and Phillies are long time party activists with much name recognition in the party.

I think it will come right down to the convention itself. The candidate who convinces the delegates at the convention that he/she will do the best job representing the beliefs of the party will be one one who will be awarded the nomination. In 2004, Badnarik was not a front runner. Yet he gave such a good performance at the National convention that he walked away with the nomination.