Liberty Maven

There’s a phenomenon that has occurred several times since 1996 when I began voting Libertarian based on principle. It is that while watching “my” candidate(s) espouse views that are not considered mainstream, I put myself in the “average” american’s shoes, and cringe a bit because I just know how ill-received some of these views will be.

I had another such moment or two while watching last night’s GOP Presidential Debate. Ron Paul seems to have the views I (mostly) agree with, but I’m convinced he is the wrong messenger. He’s just not good on his feet (impromptu speaking). Him saying that he’d get rid of the IRS “immediately” was wonderful, but later when he stumbled around a question and ended up saying something like “I can’t remember having made a critical decision that affected a lot of people” I cringed. He then tried to make it better by saying that he voted against going into Iraq in the first place, but by then his alloted time was up.

The thing is if you read his speeches or watch him on the House floor he is a very different beast. He is rather eloquent. Unfortunately, for a candidate with his views to get anywhere he needs to own a personality that is as big or bigger than his message, in my opinion. In my limited history of supporting Libertarian candidates I think Harry Browne came close to that. I don’t think Michael Badnarik did. And now I don’t think Ron Paul can or will be that guy. Maybe it’s good then, that he is running as a Republican. He will not get the nomination, but he is a good spoil for the rest of the GOP dudes.

Watching the Debate last night convinced me that we will probably elect a Democratic President in 2008. The Republican would be the lesser of two evils, but it would still be evil. It’s certainly plausible that what Libertarian minded people need though is several more years under Democratic rule. The reason being that, when those years are up, the populace may be so dejected and demoralized of their leaders that they may look to a Libertarian to pull them out and back towards the Constitution.

Dare to dream.