ZERO Percent: Libertarian Party Humiliated Yet Again

[Oliver]

Do you support the libertarian platform?

I followed the whole election circus in the media for the last 18
months and I learned virtually nothing about the libertarian platform.
Do I support them? Not really since we don't have a Libertarian Party
as far as I know.

 

[Giggywig]

I followed the whole election circus in the media for the last 18
months and I learned virtually nothing about the libertarian platform.
Do I support them? Not really since we don't have a Libertarian Party
as far as I know.

So since you weren't spoon fed the information, democracy is somehow lacking?

 

[Suddenly]

So since you weren't spoon fed the information, democracy is somehow lacking?

This guy ran as well....

Given he had the same chance that Barr did, did democracy fail because it failed to educate everyone about his platform?

 

[geni]

Apparently the Libertarians, like other third parties, expect to lose bigtime and run only to find a public platform from which to expound their talking points. This can be a useful addition to political discourse. I wonder whether any Libertarian candidates are actually prepared to assume office, should they ever win.

I think they have had a few wins at the very local level where they have assumed office.

 

[Suddenly]

I think they have had a few wins at the very local level where they have assumed office.

I did an analysis of this once. Almost all wins are unopposed and in races that were non-partisan but where the winner self-identified as a Libertarian.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

"ZERO Percent: Libertarian Party Humiliated Yet Again"

That's a wrong statement - factually it should be:

Zero Coverage = Zero Percent for Libertarian Party.
Democracy humiliated yet again.

Incorrect. The Libertarian party earned ZERO percent of the vote. Which is the same percentage I earned.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Chuck Baldwin. He was endorsed by Ron Paul. Anyone who thinks Ron Paul is some sort of freedom fighter and who in any way sees the seperation of church and state as an important issue as to freedom should browse that party's platform...

That fact alone is enough to make me kick Ron Paul to the curb. See ya!

 

[MattusMaximus]

They are creeping up on 1%. On 2004 Badnarik got 397,265 votes, 0.32%. According to FoxNews Barr got 486,928 votes, 0.40%. At this rate by 2016 they will round up to 1%!

Cool, only another 200 years to a majority vote! Win!!111

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I did an analysis of this once. Almost all wins are unopposed and in races that were non-partisan but where the winner self-identified as a Libertarian.

And where the office being contested was for dogcatcher or county water commissioner or mayor of Bumblefukc, North Carolina, population 86.

 

[Grizzly Bear]

I followed the whole election circus in the media for the last 18
months and I learned virtually nothing about the libertarian platform.
Do I support them? Not really since we don't have a Libertarian Party
as far as I know.

The 3rd party candidates don't get much attention here, but they run in every election cycle. The socialist party candidate made a stop at my University earlier last month but that was the only mention I heard about that candidate in the entire presidential bid. I think you can guess the results for the other 10 parties that ran as well (excluding the two major ones)

 

[timhau]

They are creeping up on 1%. On 2004 Badnarik got 397,265 votes, 0.32%. According to FoxNews Barr got 486,928 votes, 0.40%. At this rate by 2016 they will round up to 1%!

Or alternatively, by 2016 they've split into two parties/movements, both of which are rounded to 0%.

 

[Travis]

So the media is supposed to give loads of coverage to every insane little political party that can pop up? That's the only way democracy doesn't fail?

I think I'll start the Raspberry Pop-Tarts for Dinner Party and get all that media coverage on my pet issue of getting those delicious breakfast treats established as a dinner main course.

 

[drkitten]

So the media is supposed to give loads of coverage to every insane little political party that can pop up? That's the only way democracy doesn't fail?

I think I'll start the Raspberry Pop-Tarts for Dinner Party and get all that media coverage on my pet issue of getting those delicious breakfast treats established as a dinner main course.

You'll get trounced by Blackadder's "Standing-At-The-Back-Dressed-Stupidly-And-Looking-Stupid Party." Which will also get zero percent of the vote.

And frankly, has more (and better) media exposure than the Libertarians.

 

[Giggywig]

And where the office being contested was for dogcatcher or county water commissioner or mayor of Bumblefukc, North Carolina, population 86.

I'll have you know Bumblefukc is a very quaint and charming little mountain town, not at all populated by inbred hicks.

 

[ZenFountain]

Or alternatively, by 2016 they've split into two parties/movements, both of which are rounded to 0%.

Actually the most likely scenario. I thought it was hilarious when the Ron Paul crowd tried to commandeer the libertarian party after Paul was rejected, only to find them "too beltway".

 

[Mister Agenda]

I think they have had a few wins at the very local level where they have assumed office.

In NC, just enough Libertarian votes accross the board to get automatic ballot access for the next two elections (about 3%). It's a very small milestone, but it will save the LP probably over a hundred thousand dollars in petition expenses. Maybe we can invest it in a one-minute ad next election. Near midnight. With that leap in exposure I can practically smell 1% nationally in 2012!

 

[Mister Agenda]

Or alternatively, by 2016 they've split into two parties/movements, both of which are rounded to 0%.

Arguably, the '9/11 changed everything' , 'truthers', and 'immigrants are destroying the country!' factions are already in the process of moving to the Constitution Party. And good riddance. It may leave us little bit smaller but we're better off without that baggage. JBS, I'm talking to you!

 

[Darth Rotor]

The socialist party candidate made a stop at my University earlier last month but that was the only mention I heard about that candidate in the entire presidential bid.

Huh, Obama stopped by your university and you didn't share with us?

Ba dump, tsch!

Don't forget to tip your waitress . . .

FWIW, none of the five Libertarians I voted for, in various local elections, won. I enjoyed my protest vote anyway.

DR

 

[Mister Agenda]

So the media is supposed to give loads of coverage to every insane little political party that can pop up? That's the only way democracy doesn't fail?

I think I'll start the Raspberry Pop-Tarts for Dinner Party and get all that media coverage on my pet issue of getting those delicious breakfast treats established as a dinner main course.

It's on us if we can't earn the exposure. Whining won't get us anywhere. Besides, I don't want the RP-TDP to have it easy when it's taken us thirty years to get nearly half a percent of the vote.

 

[Darth Rotor]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/...ium/index.html?SITE=CSPANELN&SECTION=POLITICS

Too bad Shanek isn't here anymore. He could tell us how the Libertarian Party is growing and winning all sorts of elections across the country. It was always good for a laugh.

Shanek is still around, here, and is still a member of the JREF. IIRC, he got tired of posting here on libertarian issues, and Libertarian issues, due to the Howler responses he kept getting. If any of you would be kind enough to call me a liar the next time I disagree with you, I'll get a nostalgic shanek buzz for a few seconds. He really is a nice guy, all internet arguing aside.

Aside from his political interests, Shane is a proud skeptic who loves learning about science and approaching all subjects, including politics, from a rational, skeptical viewpoint. He loves debunking claims of paranormal psychic powers, including talking with the dead, bending spoons with the mind, and foreseeing the future. He is a member of the James Randi Educational Foundation which is dedicated to the examination of paranormal claims by scientific testing.

Unless otherwise noted, all content © 1996-2008 by Shane D. Killian - all rights reserved.