WSJ: The New Spoiler - Libertarian Candidate Could Hurt Bush

[Beloved Citizen]

By Jim McTague, Barrons Online, Wall Street Journal

Michael Badnarik, the software engineer who is the Libertarian Party's 2004 presidential candidate, is hardly a household name. But if the election stays as close as it is right now, then Badnarik, who is a critic of excessive government spending and the Iraq war, could pose the same problem for President George Bush that Ralph Nader poses for Democratic challenger John Kerry.

Badnarik could attract as much as 1% of the presidential vote, pollster John Zogby told us last week. One percent may not sound like a lot, but with 16 to 20 states considered "battlegrounds" that are too close to call, this slim margin could determine the outcome of the contest, Zogby says.


Where do I send my check?

http://www.zogby.com/Soundbites/ReadClips.dbm?ID=8646

[kayell]

1. Here you go, nice big red contribute button on the right side

http://www.badnarik.org/

Send it to all your repuke friends who won't consider switching to dem.

[peacetalksforall]

2. I heard him speak in an interview on C-Span - he was impressive.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. What impressed you?

[peacetalksforall]

4. If I lump him with all the third party candidates who have run and who

have talked about running....Perot, Buchanan, 'Ventura', Nader - he didn't grandstand and act. He spoke plainly and rationally. It was easy to listen to the content of what he was saying. His message didn't contain a lot of air. Nothing I heard him say offended me, but I didn't get to hear it all. I tended to think he was running out of ideology, not for personal grandstanding and monetary reasons (as Nader is doing, imo). He struck me as an adult. And I didn't think he was going to walk off the stage with a snear and a swagger.

[DrWho]

5. these 3rd parties

These 3rd party pipe dreams think they are so anti-estbalishment it's quite a joke.

If any 3rd party is going to gain any kind of momentum you have to have some of the following.

If you can somehow be charismatic and get your message out there, like Perot did for instance, you will have a shot. otherwise you will continue to remain unknown.

Even nader, and his switching parties or getting kicked out, is a joke and lack the charisma to garner nation wide support.

If you can't do that you do the next best thing and start filling up offices on all levels of Government to form a base for your party.

These 3rd parties have a lot of work to to get more than 5% of the vote.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. Election reform is the first step.

[peacetalksforall]

11. Agree, in these days of desparation, the only answer is to vote for

a group of people who are disorganized and not as orchestrated in their war against the people of the U.S. and the world as the PNACers and the Bush cabal are - because we can't let these people continue and we shouldn't have let them in in the first place - they gave off enough stink to know what there were planning between abortion, guns, and profiteering and preaching.

They are coming at us with full guns and Democratic leaders let them through the lines endless times. An Independent doesn't stand a chance to win and can only mess it up. We are left hoping that if there are two Independents, that the opponents Independent closest in ideology makes inroads on the enemy. Third Parties must start at grass root civic and state elections and grow - FAST. We need more parties. The Dems leaders are not doing a good enough job and the Pubs are terrorizing us.

When I access is all - I can only say that no one is representing me.

[leftyandproud]

7. I agree

He loathes the neocons and had many good points against Bush and Ashcroft...but you can bet the pubs will knock libertarians over the head because of their stance on medical marijuana, and pot legalization in general. I really wish they could get some momentum.

[sendero]

6. The libertarian philosophy....

... is one that sounds good until you think of the implications.

If someone would be a libertarian without the lassez-faire economic policies, they might be on to something :)

[fob]

8. Get this effin' guy in those damn 3-way polls! You know the ones

that currently read:

Vote for President(or president as case may be)
bush*
Kerry
Nader

well now they should all be changed to;
bush*
Kerry
Badnarik

or preferably

Kerry
Bednarik

[AspenRose]

9. He's a Texan

He could do some damage to you-know-who in the Lone Star State.