Gary Johnson 2016 - You In?
The LP ticket is getting a lot more press this year due to how awful Clinton and Trump are. I met Gov. Johnson a few years back when I was still an undergrad and the guy couldn't be more down to earth. More importantly, I think his brand of practical libertarianism is what is most appealing and it gives the libertarian party more legitimacy. I've been a libertarian my entire voting life and we're not all off the grid anarchists. So, is anyone else here voting or considering voting for Johnson/Weld this year?
The second I saw him go on Colbert wearing Nikes with a suit, he got my vote.
In all seriousness though, I think he stands on an attractive platform with some compelling policies, I will certainly consider him.
YES, PLEASE
look at his platform. its so reasonable
And what's unreasonable about the Democratic platform?
I could go on for paragraphs but to make it easier, 75% of what Hillary proposed last night in her speech. Both sides (one more than the other) have become populist statists. If you held a gun to my head and I had to pick the GOP or Dems this year, I would go with the Dems though.
I'd pick the gun
Would love to see him poll high enough to make it to a national debate stage. I think if the country on a broader scope is exposed to him, he will stand out as far more appealing than the other two. I wouldn't consider myself a libertarian but Gov. Johnson is, as stated above, a balanced approach to true conservative principles and rationalism.
Yes, I think his biggest hindrance rn is people don't know about him. I've heard countless times this election season, "I'm voting for (Trump/Hillary) because I don't want (Hillary/Trump) to be president". What a terrible way to use a vote, vote with your conscience, vote for a candidate with a platform you can support.
I hope he clears the 15% hurdle to get into the debates and a rumored Mitt Romney endorsement would help in a big way. I'm not a die hard, large "L" Libertarian because some of their ideas are a bit odd, but as a livelong Republican who fits the millennial stereotype of "fiscally conservative, socially liberal" I'll always have a soft spot for the party and for Gary.
I'll vote for him if my state isn't close and I've already donated small amounts to his campaign. If it's neck and neck though, I'm holding back my vomit and voting Hillary. Tim Kaine is a good guy and I'd rather maintain the status quo than see the country go to hell. Hillary will make political decisions I disagree with, but she's not going to crash the economy and embarrass the country on a national stage.
I think we're one more Wikileak or idiotic Trump comment away from Gary Johnson clearing 15%. He's polling around 13% now.
I've been a libertarian for a long time (although I am not as fiscally conservative as a diehard L cuz I believe in things like universal healthcare and mostly free higher education) and my thoughts are, what's the point? I am in Texas, Trump will win Texas, I doubt I am even going to waste time voting. Additionally even if I were in a swing state I would most likely go blue just so Trump can't win because Gary has no shot anyway. The death of one or both parties is the only way the Libertarian party can start becoming a driving force; either that or we have a slow change in either party and they become libertarian by policy even if they are Democrat/Republican by name.
Since I started my career out in public policy this stuff still has a special place in my heart. Yeah, he won't win the election but what I hope it does is increase awareness and legitimacy to the libertarian party. I would love to see more libertarians elected at the state and municipal level after this election and maybe in a few election cycles, member or members of congress who are actually affiliated with the libertarian party.
Do you realize the irony in your comments? You like GJ and his policies the best out of the 3 options, but don't want to vote for him because he doesn't have a shot? Well how could he have a shot.. maybe if more people voted for him! I'd say this election your reasoning for voting (so the other party doesn't win) is the most common reason for voting, and if people changed their perception and voted for their own favorite candidate instead of trying to game the system then your vote would count and he would have a shot!
My state is going red regardless, so I'm considering voting for him since my vote is essentially meaningless.
Same. Louisiana is bastion of Trump mouth breathers, so my vote for Johnson isn't going to move the needle but I certainly wouldn't vote for anyone else. I voted for him in 2012, so it's really cool to see him get so much more support this time around.
mine's a battleground state, I wonder what voting for johnson would do: help hillary or help trump?
Neither. It would help America.
FeelTheJohnson
Couldn't have had a better slogan.
Anyone else concerned about his stance on the environment?
I'm probably voting for Johnson, or begrudgingly choosing the Donald. This is a pretty crucial time for a third party candidate to step in given how bad the two-party candidates are, even if he doesn't win this election, since it'd help the party in the long run.
I'm not really concerned about his stance on the environment. From what I understand, he knows that climate change exists, but realizes that 1) the government shouldn't create costly regulation that's forced upon taxpayers for an issue that doesn't seriously, measurably harm us, and 2) it's against the idea of a free market for the government to give tons of subsidies to tons of large energy corporations.
It would be hard for them to be more different
No. Libertarianism is astrology for men.
He is not a true libertarian though. His policies are really middle of the road, there's really nothing he propose that I am against. I am really sadden he is not getting more coverage, especially given the 2 main candidates are without a doubt the worst in at least the last century.
I don't mind their platform, I just wish it was Johnson's VP pick running as president rather than Johnson himself. Saw a few minutes of them on the townhall last week and was struck by how much more impressive his VP was. Never a good thing when your VP seems more confident and has more to say than you.
Yeah, Weld is no shrinking violet. I look at it as a 2-for-1 deal rather than the more traditional subordinate VP. They were both impressive Republican governors of hardcore blue states.
Eddie Braverman agreed, based on their talking points and from the townhall the other night on CNN it seems like Johnson is targeting disenfranchised conservatives while Weld is targeting the NeverHillary left.
How could you not vote for him this year? It's the buffoon vs the reptilian.
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