It?s official: Barr to run for LP prez nomination

USA Today story here. I’m sure TPW publisher Stephen Gordon will offer more details as soon as humanly possible, either in an edit to this story or a full separate piece—this is just the “news flash!” version. Feel free to take it away in comments, though.

Baldwin Aims at Youth

Chuck Baldwin’s campaign is, more and more, resembling Ron Paul’s. With the obvious change in rhetoric, the emphasis of non-social issues, and the championing of the non-interventionist foreign policy, Baldwin is quickly becoming a known name amongst Ron Paul supporters. Here in Louisiana, I’m getting calls daily—mostly from my fellow Ron Paul activists—wanting to know [...]

A Denver Accord for the Libertarian Party?

Over at LRC, Less Antman has declared the Dallas Accord dead. Here’s how he describes the informal agreement among Libertarians: At the LP Convention in Dallas, Texas in 1974, disagreement on whether police, courts, and large-scale defense ought to remain government functions or be provided on the free market threatened to derail hopes for libertarian [...]

Ruth Bennett to run for LNC chair

From a release distributed by Ruth Bennett: Several of you have talked to me about running for Governor of Washington State this year. A couple of you actually volunteered to help! I have been thinking about it since I ran in 2004 when I got about 63,000 votes and the difference between the winner D [...]

More Barr media

From the LA Times: Paul’s presidential candidacy has been correctly dismissed all along in terms of winning the nomination. He was even excluded as irrelevant by Fox News from a nationally-televised GOP debate in New Hampshire. But what’s been largely overlooked is Paul’s candidacy as a reflection of a powerful lingering dissatisfaction with the Arizona senator among [...]

Pat Dixon back in office

It looks like Libertarian National Committee member Pat Dixon is holding public office once again. Here’s an e-mail from his campaign: Marcia Gully 239 votes, 42% Pat Dixon 336 votes, 58% Thank you to everyone who supported me. I appreciate the donations you have made to my campaign to get phone surveys, direct mail, newspaper ads, [...]

A proposal to Alabama legislators: The Truth in Labeling Act

I’ll be traveling for the next few days and won’t be able to write much here, so I thought I’d provide a quick parting thought. The current version of the Alabama Constitution still contains these words: “That the sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment [...]

Phillies calls ITAR an American subsidy against American competition

From Phillies 2008: Libertarian Presidential candidate George Phillies today condemned ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) export restrictions as “a highly effective American subsidy for foreign manufacturers,” and said they should be repealed. “ITAR makes sense if you believe that America has a monopoly on high-tech engineering and research,” Phillies said, “and if you believe that foreigners [...]

Bob Barr media wrapup

The AJC’s Political Insider, John Martin at Politico, CNN’s Mark Preston, Reason’s David Weigel and others report that Bob Barr will be holding a press conference on Monday. According to Martin and Preston, inside sources have confirmed that Barr will announcing a presidential race. It’s no big secret that I’m a campaign insider, but [...]

Really, Really Behind the scenes footage of Mike Gravel and Obama Girl

Graphic by anonymous. All in fun, not a real dig at the Senator.

Behind the scenes footage of Mike Gravel and Obama Girl

Past as prologue? Hostile takeovers and third parties

One of the recurring themes of third party politics in America seems to be the phenomenon of the “hostile takeover.” A disgruntled major party politician, an eccentric multi-millionaire, or perhaps a group of major party factional schemers decides that rather than working within the party of their putative loyalty, or perhaps forming a new party, [...]

Phillies: Bush War Waste Endangers America

From Phillies 2008: Libertarian Presidential candidate George Phillies today condemned the War on Iraq as an overwhelming financial catastrophe. “We will spend three trillion dollars,” he said, “on a war without a reason. Beyond the irreparable loss, the Iraqi and American war dead, an astronomical financial loss is now being visited on the American taxpayer. “Thanks to [...]

Several Libertarian Party Presidential Candidates Sign Libertarians For Justice Pledge

Dear Fellow Libertarians, On April 19th, the Libertarians for Justice Caucus officially launched its new website – www.LibertariansforJustice.org. Presidential Candidates, Mary Ruwart, Mike Gravel, Michael Jingozian, Daniel Imperato and Steve Kubby have already signed the pledge. These Candidates have all been invited to speak at our Opening Night Celebration at the Libertarian Party National Convention on Thursday, May [...]

Believing in liberty: Another view

by Steve Kubby Dear fellow Libertarians, I’ve got a secret that I want to share with you. Some of you may find it a startling revelation. Some of you may find it disappointing. Still others may read things into it that you shouldn’t. So I’ll have a little bit of explaining to do. But it’s been bothering [...]

[Dumbass] Bush will discuss oil prices with Saudi King. He actually says "Of course I'll bring it up"

AP

[Dumbass] John McCain: "Abortions for all." GOP: "Booooo." McCain: "Abortions for none, flag lapel pins for all."

Crooks & Liars

[Interesting] Wonder how this election could be even weirder? It turns out there's a pretty good chance both McCain and Obama will win exactly 269 electoral votes

The Atlantic

[Sad] A John McCain supreme court could overturn Roe vs. Wade in less than a year. Suck it, women

Huffington Post

[Amusing] If the GOP's new slogan, "the change you deserve", sounds familiar, that's because it's also the slogan for Effexor, an anti-depressant drug

Huffington Post

[Asinine] US Treasury starts seeking title loan on Air Force One

Marketwatch

All Eyes on West Virginia

Voters head to the polls in West Virginia from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm ET. There are 28 delegates at stake.

CQ Politics: "An expected victory for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in Tuesday's primary in West Virginia might have the anticlimactic feel of a badly defeated football team scoring a meaningless late game touchdown that the winning team didn't try very hard to contest."

Nonetheless, CNN notes that in the expectations game, Sen. Barack Obama set the bar high for his rival: "I think President Clinton said that they are going to get 80% of the vote. We'll take him at his word."

Obama Leads McCain as Bush, GOP Hit Record Lows

"Americans are gloomier about the direction of the country than at any point since 1992, and Democrats have matched their biggest advantage in 25 years as the party better able to deal with the nation's main problems," according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

"Overall, Democrats enjoy a 21-point advantage over Republicans as the party best-equipped to handle the nation's problems."

However, in a general election match up, Sen. Barack Obama leads Sen. John McCain, 51% to 44%, indicating McCain "continues to elude some of the anger aimed at his party and at President Bush."

President Bush got a record low 31% approval rating in the poll.

McCain Will Face Rebellion at GOP Convention

Quietly and "largely under the radar of most people," allies of of Rep. Ron Paul "have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against Sen. John McCain when Republicans gather for their national convention in Minnesota at the beginning of September," according to the Los Angeles Times.

"They hope to demonstrate their disagreements with McCain vocally at the convention through platform fights and an attempt to get Paul a prominent speaking slot. Paul, who's running unopposed in his home Texas district for an 11th House term, still has some $5 million in war funds and has instructed his followers that their struggle is not about a single election, but a long-term revolution for control of the Republican Party."

Bush Hits Another Record Low

"Public disgruntlement neared a record high and President Bush slipped to his career low in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll."

"Eighty-two percent of Americans now say the country's seriously off on the wrong track, up 10 points in the last year to a point from its record high in polls since 1973. And 31 percent approve of Bush's job performance overall, while 66 percent disapprove."

Key finding: "Bush now has gone 40 months without majority approval, beating Truman's record (also during economic discontent and an unpopular war) of 38 months from 1949-52."

Dole Faces Tough Challenge in North Carolina

A new Public Policy Polling survey in North Carolina finds Kay Hagan (D) closing in on Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) in their U.S. Senate race.

Dole now leads Hagan by just five points, 48% to 43%.

CQ has a backgrounder on the race.

Obama's Closest Adviser

The Wall Street Journal profiles Valerie Jarrett who is one of Sen. Barack Obama's "oldest advisers and closest campaign aide -- an insider widely tipped for a top position in an Obama administration."

"Unlike Burt Lance, who arrived from Georgia with President Carter and became his budget director, or Karen Hughes, who was President Bush's communications manager, Ms. Jarrett isn't a confidante with a particular portfolio. What she does share with these counterparts is a fierce sense of loyalty and a refusal to publicly say anything that may reflect poorly on the candidate -- or steal his thunder."

Meanwhile, the Washingtonian skips ahead of the November election and speculates on who might be in Obama's Cabinet.

Romney May Eat $35 Million Debt

Washington Whispers says that Mitt Romney, "who loaned his campaign $35 million, isn't even trying to recoup his loss. The reason: He's focused on raising money for Sen. John McCain and other Republicans."

"It helps, of course, that Romney entered the race after amassing a fortune of at least $200 million. And even if he had planned to eventually recoup the money after Election Day, he can thank McCain for messing that up: There is a provision in the McCain-Feingold campaign reform act that says fundraisers to pay off debts must end on Election Day, effectively the convention."

Clinton Campaign Admits $20 Million Debt

According to the Washington Post, Sen. Hillary Clinton aides "continued to insist that she will remain in the race even while confirming that she is $20 million in debt."

The New York Daily News reports "the situation is serious enough that Clinton has summoned her top fund-raisers to a meeting at her Washington home on Wednesday to talk about the road ahead."

Why Obama Needs Clinton to Stay in the Race

The Los Angeles Times notes that the worst thing that could happen to Sen. Barack Obama "now is what so many party members are clamoring for: Hillary Rodham Clinton to drop out."

"Why? Because with her name still on the ballots, she'd be very likely to win in West Virginia anyway. And maybe Kentucky too, given the demographics in both places. And possibly Puerto Rico as well."

"How would that look if at the end of the Democratic race the winning candidate with clearly the most delegates and popular votes went down to defeat against a candidate who isn't in the contest anymore? Ouch! That would tend to overshadow his expected wins in Oregon and Montana."

Meanwhile, Ben Smith looks at six ways Clinton can leave the race.

Evaluating a Unity "Dream Ticket"

Sen. Ted Kennedy doesn't think it's possible, but The Week surveys other opinions on the likelihood of a joint Obama-Clinton ticket to take on Sen. John McCain in the general election.

Editor's Note: Readers can now sign up a free trial subscription to The Week. For other offers, please check our catalog.

When and Where Clinton Went Wrong

Hendrick Hertzberg notes that "it is not too soon to ask" when and where Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign went wrong.

"Well, here's one answer: eight years ago, in New York. If she had chosen, instead, to move to Illinois, where her accent is familiar and her connections deep (Chicago's her home town, after all), she could have settled in and sought her Senate seat there, in 2004. She didn't do that, presumably for reasons both marital (Bill's not really a Second City kind of guy) and political (she would have had to run for President as a first-term senator rather than as a reëlected one). But Barack Obama would still be a local or regional up-and-comer and, most likely, a Hillary supporter. Here's another: five and a half years ago, in Washington. If she had opposed authorizing the Iraq war, the activists -- grassroots and netroots -- might have mobilized for her rather than against her. She might have cruised to the nomination, and the Democratic Party might now be basking in the warm glow of being about to make history by electing the first woman President."

Quote of the Day

"Wouldn't taking his advice be a little like getting health tips from a funeral home director?"

-- Obama spokesman Bill Burton, quoted by the New York Times, on Karl Rove offering advice to the Obama campaign in his role as a Fox News pundit.

R2000: Clinton Leads By Wide Margin in West Virginia

A new Research 2000 poll in West Virginia finds Sen. Hillary Clinton leading Sen. Barack Obama, 58% to 31%, in tomorrow's Democratic primary.

However, in general election match ups both Democrats get crushed by Sen. John McCain. McCain leads Clinton, 53% to 41%, and tops Obama, 58% to 33%,

Suffolk Poll: Clinton Way Ahead in West Virginia

Just a day before the West Virginia primary, a new Suffolk University poll  finds Sen. Hillary Clinton leading Sen. Barack Obama among Democratic voters by a wide margin, 60% to 24%.

Said pollster David Paleologos: "Barack Obama may have to write off West Virginia come November. In 2000, Al Gore won seventy-two percent of West Virginia Democratic Primary voters and lost the state's general election to George Bush by six percent; in 2004, John Kerry won sixty-nine percent of West Virginia Democratic Primary voters and lost the state's general election to George Bush by thirteen percent. If Barack Obama can't even garner thirty percent of West Virginia Democratic Primary voters, what does that say about the West Virginia general election?"

Strickland Eyed as Possible Veep for Obama

Robert Novak: "Support is growing in Democratic ranks for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland as vice president. He would bring to the ticket maturity (he's 66), experience (six terms in Congress) and moderation (rated ''A'' by the National Rifle Association). He is very popular in Ohio, a state Republicans must carry to elect a president."

Another important factor: As a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton, Strickland could help unite the Democratic party.

Quote of the Day

"You're going to see people (superdelegates) making decisions at a rapid pace from this point on. We've been announcing several each day for the last few days. We're going to continue to unfurl these endorsements on a regular basis."

-- Strategist David Axelrod, quoted by the Washington Post, as Sen. Barack Obama has now surpassed Sen. Hillary Clinton in superdelegate support.

The Last Campaign

Here's another interesting book out later this month: The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America by Thurston Clarke.

From the book jacket: "After John F. Kennedy's assassination, Robert Kennedy--formerly Jack's no-holds-barred political warrior--almost lost hope. He was haunted by his brother's murder, and by the nation's seeming inabilities to solve its problems of race, poverty, and the war in Vietnam. Bobby sensed the country's pain, and when he announced that he was running for president, the country united behind his hopes. Over the action-packed eighty-two days of his campaign, Americans were inspired by Kennedy's promise to lead them toward a better time. And after an assassin's bullet stopped this last great stirring public figure of the 1960s, crowds lined up along the country's railroad tracks to say goodbye to Bobby."

Looking Ahead to McCain vs. Obama

The New York Times has a must-read preview of the fall campaign.

Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama "are already drawing up strategies for taking each other on in the general election, focusing on the same groups -- including independent voters and Latinos -- and about a dozen states where they think the contest is likely to be decided this fall."

In short, McCain will try to paint Obama as inexperienced, liberal and out-of-touch with the mainstream. Obama will try to link McCain as the prime heir to President Bush and highlight his opposition to abortion rights.

Interesting: "The two sides said Saturday that they would be open to holding joint forums or unmoderated debates across the country in front of voters through the summer."

Emanuel Slams Kennedy

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) called the New York Times to criticize Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) "for remarks he made when asked about the possibility of" Sen. Barack Obama choosing Sen. Hillary Clinton as his running-mate.

Saud Enanuel: "I have a lot of respect for Ted Kennedy, but I don't know how the hell he comes off saying that. The gratuitous attack on her is uncalled for and wrong. He is a better senator than that comment reveals."

Poll Shows Race, Wright Impacts Kentucky Voters

Sen. Barack Obama's race "and inflammatory racial remarks made by his former preacher negatively affect how likely voters view the candidate," according to a new Herald-Leader/WKYT Kentucky Poll.

"More than one in five likely Democratic voters surveyed said being black hurts Obama's chances of winning an election in Kentucky, compared to 4 percent who said Obama's race helps him."

"Although more than half of respondents said his race isn't a factor in the election, many of those surveyed also said racially charged remarks by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright will play an important role as they decide whom to support in the May 20 primary."

Fossella Expected to Quit

Several top New York Republicans tell WNBC-TV that Rep. Vito Fossella's (R-NY) resignation will come very soon.

"There was political concern about how best to preserve the seat for the Republicans -- questions about immediate resignation versus finishing out his term and retiring -- but the calculation is there's nothing to be gained from Fossella sticking around. While Staten Island Republicans believe Fossella could at least serve out his term (the rest of the year) national Republicans want him gone. Now."

No real surprise here: CQ Politics changes the rating on Fossella's NY-13 seat from Safe Republican to No Clear Favorite.

Obama Open to Deal on Clinton Debt

Sen. Barack Obama said that "he would not rule out the possibility" of helping Sen. Hillary Clinton "retire her campaign debt to bring her into the fold and unify Democrats. But he said no discussions have taken place yet," the New York Times reports.

Said Obama: "Obviously, I'd want to have a broad-ranging discussion with Senator Clinton about how I could make her feel good about the process and have her on the team moving forward."

Political Insider: What does Hillary want?

Clinton Still Hopes to Win Popular Vote

With Sen. Barack Obama now leading in the support of both pledged delegates and superdelegates -- adding at least seven more supers to his tally today -- ABC News reports that Bill Clinton is making the case that Sen. Hillary Clinton can still win the popular vote if she gets 80% support in West Virginia next week.

Unfortunately, "many in the crowd seemed to lose interest as he began his speech -- even during his appeal for a high voter turnout."

Kennedy Says Joint Ticket Not Possible

In an interview to be televised later tonight on Bloomberg TV, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) said Sen. Barack Obama isn't likely to pick Sen. Hillary Clinton as a running mate.

Said Kennedy: "I don't think it's possible."

He said Obama should choose a running mate who "is in tune with his appeal for the
nobler aspirations of the American people."

Bonus Quote of the Day

"Well, I don't think that carries any more weight than anyone who will argue that the fact that she only got 8 percent of the African-American vote in North Carolina indicates that she cannot get African-American votes in the general election."

-- Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), in an interview with the National Journal, on Sen. Hillary Clinton's contention that Sen. Barack Obama cannot win over white voters.

Just Talking Politics - Apr 27,2008

Just going to shoot the breeze with Mo.Libertarian Candidate for Congress Kevin Craig and Mo Lib Foun