Ron Paul: Gary Johnson is best alternative for 2012

[tony hipchest]

it will never happen. just like bill richardson would never happen and thats too bad.

New Mexico is about as "purple" of a state as you will find. i have supported and voted for both recent governors through both of their terms. the best thing about them is they are non polarizing and the MAJORITY of people like them and are confident of the jobs they will do (regardless if rep or dem).

http://www.nolanchart.com/article7824.html

Two-time presidential contender Ron Paul is neither confirming nor denying that he will run for president a third time in 2012, telling news site The Daily Caller that he hasn't yet made a decision. But he is certain about a couple of things.

First, he thinks "there's no doubt" that prospects for a libertarian to win the Republican Party's presidential nomination look better in 2012 than ever. Second, he sees former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson as "the best" alternative should he not run himself.

The Daily Caller is an online conservative news site founded, in January 2010, by Neil Patel (a former aide to VP Dick Cheney) and talking head Tucker Carlson. Carlson was one of the first main stream media (MSM) pundits to promote Paul's campaign for the Republican nomination in 2007-8.

Paul predicted that the Republicans will be more open to a libertarian-oriented candidate in 2012 than they were during his run. "I think there's no doubt about it," he asserted:

Noting the "big libertarian influence in the Tea Party movement," Paul says libertarian beliefs are making their way into the lexicon of traditional Republicans.

"I think even the issue of the Federal Reserve -- that issue is almost mainstream," he said. "And I think things have shifted because of the financial crisis as well as the bogging down of our foreign policy. So the American people are looking for some different answers." (1)

Paul argued that a libertarian-Republican would also attract crucial independent support. "Not that I'm pumping my own campaign because I don't have one, but I think somebody did a poll that showed that when it comes to independent voters and they put my name up against Obama's, I can beat him by 18 percent," he told the Caller. " So I think the independents are much more open to fiscal responsibility and personal liberties and a different foreign policy."

Paul, whose anti-Iraq war views won him jeers at some Republican events in 2008, says a libertarian-minded GOP candidate will be better received when Obama runs for re-election. But he cautioned that he himself has not decided to run. "It's too early for me to talk much about that because I haven't made a decision. I haven't ruled it out, but I'm not on the verge of making a decision anytime soon," Paul said.

Asked to name other potential presidential candidates he could support, Paul replied, "I guess the best one would be Johnson from New Mexico -- Gary Johnson." (1)

Gary Johnson, who served as the Republican governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003, endorsed Paul's GOP presidential bid in January 2008, and spoke at his Rally for the Republic that September. (2)

Some Johnson boosters were ecstatic. For instance, conservatarian blogger Doug Mataconis, editor of Below the Beltway, wrote both there and at United Liberty: "Gary Johnson is someone I've been watching for awhile and I'd love to see him get into the Presidential race. Perhaps this will persuade him to do so." (3)

However, David Boaz, executive vice president of the libertarian Cato Institute, pooh-poohed the chances of either Johnson or Paul winning the Republican nomination: "Ron Paul may make some noise, and may run, but House members don't get nominated for president. Gary Johnson has a great libertarian record, but he doesn't yet have much national recognition." (1)

Indeed: the only MSM outlet to carry the story was the New Mexico Independent in the ex-Governor's home state. (4) Outside of New Mexico, Johnson is little known. Even the Johnson for America website is reporting that, as of a May 12 Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey, "81% had still yet to form an opinion of Gary Johnson." (5)

Like Paul, Johnson continues to neither confirm nor deny that he has presidential aspirations, citing his position as honorary chairman of a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, OUR America, as barring him from commenting on specific candidacies. Meanwhile, he continues to campaign.

Johnson spent a good part of June in California, "supporting the state's November ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for recreational use, allow small residential cultivation and permit local governments to tax and regulate pot sales" (as the Sacramento Bee put it) . "I'm here to promote it in any way I can," he told the Bee in an interview. "I liken it to the domino effect. This might be what brings rational drug policy to the rest of the country." (6)

He closed out the month in New Hampshire, spending the June 24-27 weekend attending (and addressing) the Free State Project’s annual Porcupine Freedom Festival. (7)

Dustin Krutsinger blogs at Caffeinated Thoughts that Johnson's recent TV "appearances include The Colbert Report, Neil Cavuto, Freedom Watch with Judge Napolitano, Hannity, and Real Time with Bill Maher." He also reports that in July Johnson is making his first visit to the crucial early-caucus state of Iowa: a week-long cross-state trip as a participant in RAGBRAI. (8)

[SteelersinCA]

I still wish Paul would run himself.

[SCMom]

I too wish Paul would run himself again also, but that will never go anywhere either. Unfortunately.

[ricardisimo]

Nader vs. Paul would be a positively dreamy election.

[zulater]

Originally Posted by ricardisimo

Nader vs. Paul would be a positively dreamy election.

for our enemies anyway. Reality shouldn't be a stranger to a political candiate.

[SCMom]

Originally Posted by zulater

for our enemies anyway. Reality shouldn't be a stranger to a political candiate.

Yes, because Palin and Obama are so rooted in reality LOL.

I'd be nice to not have to figure out who has their head stuck farther up their ass when choosing who to vote for.

[lionslicer]

It would be nice to have someone run that isn't a typical democrat or republican... The parties of dumb and stupid ideas. Ron Paul is atleast a libertarian, but he runs as republican because he knows no one will vote independant.

[steelerohio]

I'm one of those no ones who had voted third party in the last election...

I do hope Ron Paul go for it again and get the Repubs nomination in 2012, but that is still a couple of years off and a lot can happen between now and then.

[Vincent]

Originally Posted by ricardisimo

Nader vs. Paul would be a positively dreamy election.

Both are more compelling than the last two by orders of magnitude. And the previous two. And the two before them.

[SteelersinCA]

Vincent speaks the truth just this once.