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Jim Cole / AP file
Libertarian presidential candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson on Saturday won what he called his first foray into a statewide Libertarian presidential race.
Johnson, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race in December to seek the Libertarian Party nomination, garnered 42 of the 60 Florida delegate votes cast in the straw poll, state Libertarian party finance co-chief Chris Hill told msnbc.com.
The vote was cast after Johnson and five other Libertarian candidates held a debate.
Johnson, who had campaigned extensively throughout the state in the week before the convention, told msnbc.com after the debate that he found the issues on voters’ minds “not different here than anywhere else.”
“The country’s in really deep trouble,” Johnson said.
He said the Republican and Democratic parties contributed equally to woes centered around too much spending and regulation.
He reiterated promises to submit a balanced budget to Congress for 2013 and cut federal spending by 43 percent.
“Our country is not immune to monetary collapse,” he said. “The resulting inflation that is going to hit us … will be catastrophic.”
He also repeated a call for the “fair tax"– a progressive national sales tax – to replace federal personal income and corporate taxes.
“It reboots the American economy,” Johnson said, making Americans more savings driven and less consumptive driven.
He said he takes the best of both established parties in calling himself a fiscal conservative and social liberal.
Johnson has supported same-sex marriage, abortion rights and looser immigration rules. As governor from 1995 to 2003, he sought legalization of marijuana. He also touts his 750 vetoes of spending bills in New Mexico, which he left with a $1 billion surplus. He has opposed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Keep the government out of the bedroom,” said Johnson, who backed Republican Ron Paul in 2008. He said he still has similar viewpoints as Paul does on many issues but not all of them.
“I don’t see Ron Paul getting the nomination,” Johnson said, adding he wouldn’t support Paul even if he did get the GOP nod.
“No way. I’d still continue to talk about these issues,” he said. “People need to hear it from more than one source.”
Supporter Hill said he hopes voters nationwide will hear Libertarians’ “common-sense” approach to issues at national debates if his party can garner 15 percent support in polls.
A Libertarian candidate has never received more than 1 percent in a U.S. presidential election, according to NBCMiami.com.
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Yawn. The ring is already full of clowns from the republican campaigns.
Anyone who doesn't think Gary Johnson is a serious candidate would be wrong. Obama has angered many Americans and no one is going to vote for Romney. Gary Johnson did a great job as governor. He is ready to make history.
Well, the Democrats must like "clowns" as well then, considering Johnson won election twice in New Mexico, which is majority Democrat. Of course, that wouldn't matter to you because you are one of the sheep that doesn't research any candidates, you just pull the D lever regardless of who is on it. Stalin could be on the ticket. As long as he has the D, he's got your vote.
New Mexico is the #1 welfare State recieves $2.+ dollars from the Fed. for each dollar they pay in taxes.
And one SURE way to bring that about is to suddenly cut government spending by 43%.
What a maroon.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't 40% of the federal budget go towards entitlements...... in all their shapes and forms?
I am curious for any third party that comes in the ring. Better then the Repulbican or Democratic options to me.
If you Google the current slate of Republican Candidates, you will find that they are, or have been, of the Libertarian mindset. Mostly of the anarcho-capitalist view which holds that a government is unnecessary because private companies working for profit should provide the court systems, military, police forces and most Government functions.
Can we believe in this system of Government and survive as a Nation very long? I say NAE! That would be Tyranny.
There are several "3rd parties", but the only one that has both national coverage and has been able to get elected to any offices is the Libertarian party.
The Libertarian party has some good ideas, but like other 3rd parties, it tends to go way overboard on its political philosophy, which is why it rarely succeeds.
If someone could put together a coalition third party with a platform built strictly on consensus driven issues it would be powerful enough to beat the R/D's.
Bwahaha, divide the Republican vote.
Gary Johnson will get some republican votes, sure. But he will also take some votes from democrats who are tired of Obama's endless war mongering and he will get votes from moderates who want a balanced budget but don't want all the social conservative crap. Balance the budget and stay out of my private life.
I used to be a Libertarian, both registered voter when I could, and occasionally a dues paying member. But they stopped talking about government, and started blaming Obama. They began sounding so much like the Tea Party I started to question the Party of Principle, and I realized many in my state leadership were working for the government or drawing a government pension, while at the same time complaining about government spending. I'm registered Democrat now, but I consider myself a moderate. What this country needs is a truly moderate third party. The right has been pulling so hard over the last few years, the Democrats are looking more and more like moderates. I can be a conservative Democrat, but I don't think I'd be welcome as a liberal Republican.
Simon
"Obamas constant war mongering".....lmao
geez - educate yourself - you just sound foolish!
btw - I guess if you think Obama is the "war monger" do you feel the GOP is now the party of "peaceniks"?
b dune, I know many who voted for Obama because they wanted an end to the Bush wars. Iraq is not over, despite what they say, Afghanistan has no end in sight, Pakistan has been the target of hundreds of drone attacks, so too several other Arab countries. And Gitmo is still open. This is not the Hope and Change that you were promised. War is the health of the state.
Simon, do you honestly believe that these wars that were started ten years ago and closing of gitmo can be done overnight? These are tangled messes just like our economy. There is no easy solution. And just for the record, President Obama did try to bring gitmo prisoners to trial and there was such an uproar that he had to back down. Remember the GOP crying that we would be murdered in our beds if these prisoners were put on trial? That no federal prison could hold them - even though those prisons are holding horrific murderers already with no escapes? Or do you just like to blame because things don't happen overnight? I'm tired of adults acting like spoiled children because they don't get immediate satisfaction.
That would be nice, but all we get are whack jobs like H. Ross Perot or Ron Paul.
I'm not gonna hold my breath.
Obama's "endless warmongering"?! Are you kidding, or simply detached from reality?
I have to know more about the Liberterians party in order for me to vote
for them.
There is this thing called Google...
Well you've seen what Bush and Obama stand for. They are the leaders of their parties. Do you like how they ran and what they've done to this Country?
They push their parties agenda along with their own agendas and how has it helped or hurt this country? It hasn't.
Obama was given a mandate for change and the power to implement that change yet what did he do with that power. Nothing.
Now maybe its the right time to send a message to both parties and this Gary Johnson is the right man to deliver it. Too soon to tell.
Google what a Libertarian believes in. The Libertarian anarcho-capitalist view which holds that a government is unnecessary because private companies working for profit should provide the court systems, military, police forces and most remaining Governmental Agencies. Then Google the Koch Bros. and then Google each Candidate, including the drop-outs, and their relationship with the Koch Bros. You will find a distinct relationship in each.
The Koch Bros. relationships also extends outward involving GOP State Governors.
WOW Ron Paul wouldn't win the Libertarian straw poll. Is this the end of Ron Paul? not winning of the Primary's or Caucasus. And now this added to it. Yes i would say Ron Paul is done in politics. Once he is out the race he can back to finish up his term. Then he can head off to a nursing home. Good Bye Ron Paul once and for all.
But Ron Paul wasn't in the Libertarian straw poll, he is running in the Republican race this year.
Note to Browser makers: Please make a browser with the option to not see any comments on articles. I really get irritated after wasting time reading them, and even more so when I get sucked into responding!
Roger, Ron Paul is running as a Republican, not as a Libertarian. Ergo, he was not part of the Libertarian straw poll.
Why is your lack of self control someone elses problem? Personal responsibility isn't your cup of tea?
If they made it so you had the option to hide the comments, you would still expand them to comment. Your obvious lack of control has proven that quite well.
Instead of others changing things to suit what you see as negative, how about practicing a little self control?
Since Ron Paul claims to be a Libertarian then he is being very disengenous running as a Republican. The man has a problem with his identity. He seems to be with whoever can give him air time and money.
Peter, I thought libertarians were for personal freedoms and less interference. Take responsibility for yourself.
Moderate - He doesn't have a problem with his identity. MSM will not carry any news outside of the two or I should say one party system. He had to run on the Republican ticket in order to get air time in the debates. Talk about disengenous that is MSM's first and last name.
As a former NM state employee, I'll tell you the guy's got stones. Mountain climber, marathoner, business owner. His social postures scare me a bit though.
What the hell has climbing mountains and running marathons to do with governing? I don't care if a politician is an obese, donut eating diabetic with high blood pressure, as long as I believe in their platform!
True libertarians have no social policy to begin with. There's a difference between having personal beliefs, versus shoving those beliefs on others.
Unless your name is Ron Paul.
that's right !!!!!!!!!!
Peter, don't get too discouraged. As it stands, 8 out of 10 voters will continue to vote "stupid" regardless of what thier candidate's stand on issues are. The minority of voters still vet their candidates AND parties. We just got to put on really something good on TV when election day rolls around to keep "stupid" voters from actually voting!
No more of this.. "I'm voting because he's black, she's a woman, he's got great hair, she's famous" mentality.
As you can plainly see, we got what we voted for.
Too true luke,
I wont even go out to vote for president in my state because of this, everyone just pulls the 'D' no matter what the name there, its insane how party "loyal" people are. But why waste time going out when its a foregone conclusion.
If they removed the party representation and just had names it would cause people to only vote for people they are informed about. Hopefully, for policy and not for color or hair style, but we know that wont change.
I think you are an optimist. I believe even fewer that 8 of 10 really check out their candidate, much less get a real understanding of their positions.
trudat6445: In SC and most Red States, Republicans just pull the R handle. Seems that no one really knows anything about who they are voting for. Just puppets jiggling the handle.
And that's somehow different than the Democrats? I've been watching elections since 1972. 45% vote loyal Democrat, 45% vote loyal Republican and the 10% who can think for themselves decide the elections.
Johnson will provide a good alternative for the fiscal conservative that is frustrated with the present state of politics. He will also attract Democrats that lean conservative on fiscal matters but heavily emphasize loose policy on social issues.
Unfortunately its very difficult to change the mind of a liberal, he wont be able to draw any from the left that arent immediately straddling the line.
Besides, congress will still be D/R and thats where the true failing of the country is. Get all of them out and we have a chance, but it has to be every single one.
I think I've met a few Democrats at TEA parties that would disagree with you.
Yep, then Corporations and the 2%ers will be forever in control 100%. Voters will be passe. No thanks.
So will the Ron Paul crowd switch to Johnson after Ron gets his son on the GOP ticket as VP?
Ron Paul is no more likely to get his son VP on the Repulican ticket than he himself. Rand Paul is however a consideration as VP on the Libertarian Party ticket.
Ron Paul is a conniving politician who's playing the game to get his son in power. They are both scary people. Ron Paul lies about taking federal money to help out his district in Texas and Rand Paul like his father likes big business money.
Wow a possible candidate that isn't Obama or the other junk that's trying passing themselves off as something they aren't; a leader.
We elected a President that bankrupted 3 companies he started with foreign money; Bush.
We elected a President whose only job experience was giving away money that wasn't his who produced a dept crises; Obama
Now we might have someone who actually has some successful experience at running something.
Well worth the effort to look into this man Gary Johnson considering the other limited choices that are available.
After all, there is no law yet that forces you to vote along one party line or the other.
Actually there is a law that states that. Its Darwins Law, people wont break from their party lines, they just arent smart enough to do it.
We need to have more parties so we can get over with this 2 party system that leaves us with only 2 choices, both of which seems worthless. www.sci-burr.com
3 parties is perfect...
let's see - we now have 2 parties and neither can get any legislation passed with just a "simple majority"...
so the solution is to have 3 parties - let's say one has 34% - another 34% - the last 20%.....32
yep - that will solve things!
Maybe the problem is that we have too much legislation. Maybe we should stop the endless piles of crap they call legislation and make them strip down the bills to make them gutless and readable.
Seems a good choice for independents, which i have to believe with the current options on the right and 'option' on the left are becoming more and more plentiful, time to drop party ties, the machines are too damn big and all about money and perpetual control, BREAK THE CYCLE while the country still has a fighting chance!!!
GARY JOHNSON 2012!!!
The LP is being a bit premature in their anointing of Gary Johnson. On the economy he doesn't sound much different really than the R's or Obama. He doesn't have a grasp on the fundamentals of the issues we face, including the national debt, the source of our money, the energy problems we face, that the era of the "job" is over, etc. He was given success while he was governor, but that success and experience as a governor does NOT translate to success as a president since the factors are quite different. We MUST return to sovereign money. We MUST have enough money in circulation. The distribution of NEW cash MUST be different. We MUST change the military paradigm, the immigration paradigm, the job paradigm, the health care paradigm, etc. We must decentralize rather than simply cut and slash. We don't need less money in circulation, we simply need to move it from the government to the people at the local level.
As I see it, returning to all States total control, will leave the Nation not a Nation but a Confederacy of States. Every State therefore will enact Laws contrary to other States, i.e. Anarchy. The U.S.of A. will fall as surely as Rome fell from internal conflicts.
Turning this Nation over to the rule of Corporations and 2%ers, will, also, turn us into a Nation of Tyranny.
Neither solution are tolerable.
Guardian, are you really that dumb. Rome fell because of centralization of power, which led to ineffective state control, and the massive welfare state. The exact things that have been bringing our country down for the past 30+ years. Federalism is a disease that will tear away our personal liberties, bankrupt our country, and breed corporate cronnyism.
anybody but the GOP asylum inmates !!!
HOORAY! Now we get a 15 minute appearance from someone who is a good man. He wants to help the poor with an additional tax for them. He wants them to pay for medical care. He does not believe in food stamps. Ah yes, once more we see an individual rise to greatness by killing the poor. O Lord, how long, how long shall you tolerate this jungle of beasts. How long will you allow the rich to despoil the poor. How long o Lord? How long?
How long will the poor survive after we take away their personal liberties, bankrupt our country, and chase all jobs away and we are a third world country. I think you are a little short sighted. Federal welfare leads to lethargy, drains the coffers, and limits personal freedom. Private charities can do the same job, but much more efficiently and treat people like individuals and not numbers.
People need to understand that running the Government is totally different from running a Business because of the power in which the Executive Branch does not have. As a CEO or business owner theycan dictate where the company is going without much blowback cause they are the owners. A Prsident has to struggle with partisianship and sentiment that lingers from elections and political rhetoric.
In other words, congress can destroy the country with or without a president.
I have been looking for a fiscal conservative AND social moderate who would have the GUTS to lead America in across the board budget cuts, tax reform and responsible tax increases to start paying down the debt. It looks like Johnson comes a lot closer than the others:
"He said he takes the best of both established parties in calling himself a fiscal conservative and social liberal.
Johnson has supported same-sex marriage, abortion rights and looser immigration rules."
I disagress with the "looser immigration rules", but otherwise he may get my vote.
The GOP Presidential nominee will have licked the boots of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, the Koch Brothers, the Tea Party, etc. He will be a champion of big business and the wealthy, while putting the burden of "spending cuts" and "tax reform" on the backs of America's middle class and poor. He will have no respect for women's rights. If he doesn't do these things, he won't get the nomination.
Libertarian Now!
New Mexico is a third world country. It is hilarious how this guy says he will cut the Government by 43%? His state, New Mexico, receives more federal dollars than any other state per person. No one else is even close. The feds are New Mexicos biggest employer. It sure makes a Governor look good when the US taxpayer pays for the entire tax base of your state. Fraud and an idiot. Anyone can look good with the amount of Federal dollars that stone age hellhole of New Mexico gets. Give New Mexico back to The Mexicans and wall it off. Move the National Labs and there is nothing but some natural gas left. Did these idiots even look at his record? His state is ranked in the top 3 in every WORST category you can think of.
He hasn't been governor of the state in almost 9 years.
You would think that a "professor" would know that New Mexico is a state and not a country.
It was a jab at the state of "New" Mexico. It doesnt matter how long ago, he has no track record from this third world country known as "New" Mexico. I know it is a state. It is like a third world country right here in the US. How about this......New Mexico is the most backward, corrupt, crime infested, uneducated, violent, drunken, drug addicted state in the union? Don't believe me? Look up the stats in every category. Every political official in that state is a criminal. They take stealing federal dollars to a new level in that state because that is the only money available.
I am guessing you have never visited Louisiana..........
........and if that was not enough, New Mexico receives more federal dollars per person than other state. Its all in black and white. You want to save some money? Cut out New Mexico.
Professor -
Can we assume then, that you will not be visiting New Mexico?
On behalf of my fellow New Mexicans I'd like to thank you in advance.
Lived and worked in that hellhole. Visit what? A Stone Age society? A progressive university? hahahaha.
You can be 90% sure his claim that he would not drop out if Ron Paul gets the nomination is bogus, although it's totally reasonable for him to say that. You can't be viewed as a competitive candidate if you're saying "I'll bow out of the race completely if this other guy wins the nomination in his party." He endorsed Ron Paul in 2008. In of the two Republican debates he was invited to, he had no problem naming Ron Paul as the guy he would pick for VP. And I am pretty sure I recall him actually saying in a news conference before switching parties that he would absolutely drop from the race if he thought Ron Paul had a serious chance. This guy's smart enough to know what he's doing. He's just trying to make sure he is viewed as a strong candidate in the likely scenario where it's him vs. Romney & Obama.
New Mexico half their citizens can't speak English and spend most of their time hiding from the government.Hard to take their politics seriously
truedat6445,
Ron Paul would use certain presidential powers granted by the Constitution to repeal the anti-Constitutional laws that were signed by Executive Order. Obama and the other R candidates would never do that because they all support each other, if you look at each of their records.
Ron Paul 2012!
To learn about the Libertarian Party GO HERE:www.lp.org