the company foc keeps

[Van Cruncheon]

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=5e5abfbb-46eb-464b-9095-4df1d1f8159e

funny -- if a bit pointless -- article about the sideshow that was the Libertarian Party Convention, and the outsider tragedy that is their collective existence.

All and more of these groups are on proud display in Denver. Vendor booths trumpet Native American mysticism, the "inflation-proof Liberty Dollar," and, perhaps inevitably, Shotgun Willie's, a local strip club. One group is raffling off a motorcycle, with a disclaimer of opposition to helmet laws ("Those who ride should decide"). Another is showing The Matrix on mute, with custom subtitles. "Purity? You mean Rothbardianism?" says Keanu Reeves. Come to think of it, it's not too far from the film's original dialogue.

Bob [Barr] was already an ostensible Libertarian. More than $4 million of that money went toward further fund-raising and "administrative" costs--including a salary for Barr's son, Derek. He says he now regrets much of this resumé. Some take him at his word. "Bob saw the light," says Aleq Boyle of Chickamauga, Georgia, a Barr lieutenant and a former Republican himself. (Libertarians use this terminology quite a bit--revelation, conversion, epiphany.)

Most of the assembled purists save their loudest cheers for "Dr. Mary" Ruwart, a party veteran with a soft, hypnotic voice that doesn't break its motherly cadence even when she explains how the right to carry concealed weapons could have prevented September 11. (She's also on the record suggesting that children should have a right to consent to sex with adults.) Her mostly male fans have come equipped with posters that say "Mary" inside a red heart. Another old-school favorite is Steve Kubby, a cancer-battling marijuana activist who drives a 1984 Mercedes that runs on cooking oil. The Mary-Kubby people are fast congealing into an anti-Barr alliance. From my informal survey of signs and pins and hats and paddles and T-shirts, Mary has the ears of about 25 percent of the delegates and Kubby another 20 percent: enough to make Barr nervous. Ruwart suggests that she would pick up Hillary Clinton supporters, who "can't wait to vote for a woman," and the heart-Mary signs fly up.

Barr gets to speak first and uses the opening statement to sound every note he thinks the audience wants to hear. He delivers a forceful apology for much of his legislative record. The Patriot Act? "Shoot it, burn it, scatter the ashes." The Kyoto Protocol? "Don't force a Kyoto anything on the American people." Favorite thinker? Why, "the best philosopher of the twentieth century, Ayn Rand."

it's the very face of freedom! what's more american than a good old fashioned tent revival? *slaps knee; blows on jug; hoots; falls on knees before jesusron paul*

[Phoenix Dark]

Lyndon LaRouche>Bob Barr

[FlameOfCallandor]

uh, im not a huge fan of Bob Barr or anything.

[Joe Molotov]

Laissez-faire capitalism

[FlameOfCallandor]

Laissez-faire capitalism

Ayn Ran

[bagofeyes]

Is this some kind of nutty American thing?

[FlameOfCallandor]

Is this some kind of nutty American thing?

What, Freedom?

[bagofeyes]

  Yep, thought so.

[recursivelyenumerable]

what-the-fuck-ever, Barr = paleocon-libertarian = appeals to disaffected Republicans = takes votes from McCain = God's own instrument on this earth.  Therefore the tent revival atmosphere is entirely appropriate.  Barr Libertarians

[Mandark]

You know who needs to make a third party run?

Roy Moore.

[Fragamemnon]

Roy Moore should run for Governor of Alabama in 2010 (he tried to get the GOP nom in 2006). That would make for an extremely interesting race.

as for libertarians, keeping them around is only necessary until the Republican party can be properly reduced to regional status only. Then we should give them their own autonomous US territory to relocate to (forcefully) and once they get all comfortable and settled in, seal the thing off to the outside world.

Cutting off their internet access should cause the things to die of withdrawl in a few short weeks, world rejoices as internet forums everywhere now can have reasonable political threads.

[Human Snorenado]

Roy Moore should run for Governor of Alabama in 2010 (he tried to get the GOP nom in 2006). That would make for an extremely interesting race.

as for libertarians, keeping them around is only necessary until the Republican party can be properly reduced to regional status only. Then we should give them their own autonomous US territory to relocate to (forcefully) and once they get all comfortable and settled in, seal the thing off to the outside world.

Cutting off their internet access should cause the things to die of withdrawl in a few short weeks, world rejoices as internet forums everywhere now can have reasonable political threads.

Step one will be complete by 2012.  There are a bunch more vulnerable GOP Senate seats in 2010.  If the dems don't get their filibuster proof majority in the Senate this year they definitely will in 2010. 

[Fragamemnon]

Ensign over in the RSCC said that they wouldn't lose more than four seats this cycle.  .

I signed up to help out the Kay campaign this cycle. I'm not a big Obama person for reasons I've already stated (still voting for him and advocating others to do so as well, anything else would be treason), but Kay has struck me as being intelligent and quick on her feet, two things that I think will make her a pretty good candidate against the completely worthless Elizabeth Dole, this cycle's Jim Bunning (very little strong support for her re-election).

[Human Snorenado]

Yeah, regardless of who wins NC's electoral votes I'm of the firm opinion that ol' Liddy is gonna have a lot more free time to fight off Bob's viagra fueled advances next January.  And personally I see the best case scenario for the GOP is losing seven Senate seats- NM, VA, CO, NH are sure things, and NC, AK, MN, OR, MS, ME and TX are all possibilities.  Even KY and NE are remote possibilities, and in a perfect world GA would be competitive but all of the candidates running in the Dem primary suck, especially Vernon Jones who will probably win.

[FlameOfCallandor]

And i heard Obama is gonna win Texas too 

[Human Snorenado]

And i heard Obama is gonna win Texas too 

Probably not.  But he might be able to make McLame waste money defending it if polls narrow.  Especially if them wacky Texans like you start breaking for Bob Barr in meaningful numbers.  So by all means, please campaign and fight for the Libertarian candidate in your state, FoC.  You're helping Barack Obama become President whether you want to or not!

[FlameOfCallandor]

If you call MCcain "Mclame" can I call Obama "Osama"


Mccain isnt gonna spend anything meaningful in Texas you distinguished mentally-challenged if you think Mcain is worried about it. Thats like Cheebs distinguished mentally-challenged.

[Fragamemnon]

that's fine with me it makes you look even more ridiculous!

If Texas is in play at any point McCain has already lost. Obama will campaign there because at that point he'll be campaigning more for other candidates than for himself.

[Human Snorenado]

If you call MCcain "Mclame" can I call Obama "Osama"

How about we compromise:  I call McCain "Oldy McOlderson" and you get to call Obama "Mr. President" on January 20th, 2009?

[FlameOfCallandor]

that's fine with me it makes you look even more ridiculous

My point.

[Human Snorenado]

that's fine with me it makes you look even more ridiculous

My point.

[Fragamemnon]

I liked things better when it couldn't make new threads.

every foc post needs a little icon of dog poo in its box on the forum layout, if enough people click on it the post gets "poop scooped" to oblivion.

[Human Snorenado]

I liked things better when it couldn't make new threads.

every foc post needs a little icon of dog poo in its box on the forum layout, if enough people click on it the post gets "poop scooped" to oblivion.

Willco is being obstinate about re-lepering FoC.  Typical Republican inability to admit a mistake was made if you ask me.  "We must stay the course", etc etc.

[FlameOfCallandor]

I liked things better when it couldn't make new threads.

every foc post needs a little icon of dog poo in its box on the forum layout, if enough people click on it the post gets "poop scooped" to oblivion.

Willco is being obstinate about re-lepering FoC.  Typical Republican inability to admit a mistake was made if you ask me.  "We must stay the course", etc etc.

Typical republican behavior i mean who does he think he is trying to treat everyone the same. He should do the Democratic thing and assign labels to people so they can be pre-judged.

[brawndolicious]

I think if it's possible to include it, poop-scooping would be very convenient.  Give them a group that has something to do with corn/poop to match the new logo.  Like "dingleberry commandos" or something.

[Ganhyun]

I don't see GA turning Democrat completely anytime soon unless Zell Miller comes back.

He did a lot of good for GA.