Another right-winger abandoning the Repubs.

[rockymountaindem]

This guy I know (I won't call him a friend) just sent me an e-mail responding to a debate on religion saying that he disavows the Repub. party because they are just like the Democrats!

He ends his message with the cry "Libertarianism forever!!!!!"

Is that a good thing?

[kanrok]

1. Yes

[tedoll78]

2. You bet.

A vote taken from Bush's column is one step closer to victory for us.

[Brian Sweat]

3. Not really

My money says that you acquaintance will claim to be Libertarian, but will continue support Republican candidates, continue to spout GOP talking points and only support Libertarian views when they agree with Republican views.

Almost all of the libertarians that I meet sound just like Republicans. Very few of them seem to have a problem with the patriot act or the office of faith based horse manure even though these are two things that should really upset a true Libertarian.

[rockymountaindem]

4. Yeah,

I'd bet you're right. Still, it's better than nothing, I guess.

[I Lean Left]

5. Agreed

I've never met a libertarian yet that didn't vote Republican. Just their way of saying the party isn't pure enough for them.

[Doctor_J]

8. I know a few

who find the GOP just as distasteful as us. I have 4-5 freinds who vote LP whenever available (Harry Browne every 4 years) and the rest of the boxes blank. So it's possible youir friend is bring honest

[pocoloco]

11. Not all of them, Charley Reese has been down on bush* for

quite a while. drudge dropped his link after his first harsh words for bush, Reese used to be widely syndicated.

"But if I had my druthers, I'd choose Howard Dean as Bush's replacement. Unfortunately, the very qualities that would make him a great president make him a poor candidate in today's hyper-media world. He tells the truth, pleasant or unpleasant; he speaks briefly and bluntly; and he shows his emotions. All of which do not play well on the cool medium of television."

http://reese.king-online.com/Reese_20040202/index.php

His archives also make for some good reading to get a Libertarian
viewpoint that is not very happy with the way things are now going.

[el_gato]

14. every libertarian i know hates the pat act

[central scrutinizer]

21. parallels

The Republicans and Libertarians have almost exactly the same arguments as the Democrats and the Greens: if you vote your conscience, you are helping the other side win versus if you don't vote your conscience, nothing will ever change.

[belle]

22. If it means he won't be voting for Dubya, it's a good start, anyway

[Pushed To The Left]

6. Definitely a good thing

Libertarians and liberals tend to agree on social issues. Even though I disagree with Libertarians on a lot of issues, at least they are not social conservatives. I think social conservatism is a very bad thing with a bad history. I'd like to see Democrats become more like Libertarians on issues like the drug war and vice laws.

[mike1963]

9. Right on CarlW......welcome to DU!

:D

[Pushed To The Left]

13. Thanks!

[FatSlob]

15. I like that!

If we could co-opt the Libertarian issues of personal freedom, that would be great! Make us the party of personal choice! Good idea, CarlW!

[mac56]

16. Welcome, FatSlob!

:hi:

[FatSlob]

17. Thanks!

I appreciate your kindness!

[Renew Deal]

7. Yes

[IronLionZion]

10. Hell YES!!!

It's nice to see Bush lose votes.

Man Dave Chappelle cracked me up the other night when he went to the all-white country club and said there's a lot of Bush votes in here!

[rockymountaindem]

12. WOAH!!!

I asked this dude if he would vote for Bush*, and he told me probably (which doesn't surprise me in the least), but then he said that since he wants to go back to the "Constitution as originally established" we would need secession or a revolution. Holy shit!

[AffirmativeReaction]

18. Not sure if it's good

But it's definitely an improvement

[BiggJawn]

19. So he hates Bush but wants to fire up a Chronic...

That's all "Libertarianism" means to me.
Dope-smokin' ReTHUGS...

[pnb]

20. You evidently don't know much about Libertarians then...

...there's a tad bit more to it than that and true Libertarians are certainly NOT happy with Bush.

[BiggJawn]

24. I don't CARE to "know much about Libertarians"

IMO, they're dope-smoking ReTHUGlicans who don't want to pay taxes and go on and on about how they're "being held at gunpoint" to pay for stuff they don't use (like roads, cops, and firemen) UNTIL their house catches fire, then its "Oh, Save me! SAVE Me!!"

The ones I've read would have me in indentured servitude so my boss could "maximize" his profits.

they're a blight on the landscape, and if you happen to be one, too bad. People aren't always nice to me as a Liberal, either.

[Az]

23. In the end Libertarians are more dangerous than repukes

But that is an unlikely outcome. Its a good thing in the short term as it splinters their vote off. In our 2 party system (blech) any vote not for the repuke operates as a vote for the oposition (thats us).

Libertarianism however is pure insanity in regards to economic and regulatory issues.