Bob Barr "Joins" Libertarian Party?
It's something that's been bothering me for quite some time, the direction in which the party [GOP] has been going more and more toward big government and disregard toward privacy and civil liberties," said Barr, 58, a lawyer and consultant living in Atlanta. "In terms of where the country needs to be going to get back to our constitutional roots ... I've come to the conclusion that the only way to do that is to work with a party that practices what it preaches, and that is the Libertarian Party."- Bob Barr, quoted by Fox News.
Some of you might be familiar with former congressman, Bob Barr, probably best known for his role in the Clinton impeachment hearings. Barr, considered a far right wing conservative by most, spent eight years in congress before being unseated in a combined effort by various groups which included the Libertarian Party.
This doesn't come as a complete surprise to me. Despite his hard right wing views on many issues- including being a rabid drug warrior- Barr seems to have mellowed since he left office. He's now become a consultant, or some such, for the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations and seems to have reversed his position on the PATRIOT Act.
What is surprising is that he gained a seat on the Libertarian National Commmittee as a Region 4 representative which covers the Southeast U.S. and did so with with apparently little debate from the powers that be.
Why he would actually join the Libertarian Party is beyond me. The LP doesn't really have a history of being an effective tool for political success. But, perhaps that will change if more well known figures follow Barr's lead.
A couple things I'm curious about: Did Barr re- register to vote as a libertarian, assuming Georgia allows people to register as libertarians (some states don't)? I also can't help but wonder how many current members will quit because he joined and how many future members will join because of him?
Here's the Libertarian Party's press release on Barr.
Now, if we can just get some hard core lefties to join the LP, I could really say the Libertarian Party is the party that brings people together.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 7:37 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Barr lost his safe congressional seat due to redistricting. Voters in Georgia do not register with a political party (nor are sample ballots mailed out). On primary election day candidates of all parties are listed on the ballot. There are often crossover voters who will vote for a weak candidate in the party they oppose just to weaken the opposition. This is what cost Cynthia McKinney her seat in 2002 even though she came back to plague us in 2004. Fortunately she lost this time.
What the heck. Why not? Then we'll really be a hodgepodge of political ideas.
Leonidas wrote, "Barr lost his safe congressional seat due to redistricting.".
Oh, that's right. That's why a number of people and groups saw him as vulnerable and thus went to some effort to defeat him. If they had districting in Georgia like they do in California, I suppose they wouldn't have bothered.
Fred, how do Libertarians feel about impeaching Bush?
Fred: Maybe it is time you join a really radical political organization. Maybe the HCDCC? Now those people are way out there.
Greg asks, "how do Libertarians feel about impeaching Bush?".
Oh, I'm sure there's as many opinions on that as there are libertarians. From what I've read, most think it wouldn't accomplish much. After all, then you'd get Cheney.
Myself? I'm indifferent, although I kind of like it when congresscritters get caught up in things like that. Makes for less time for other forms of mischief for them to engage in.
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