Politico is reporting that former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld has had a tough time of it in Orlando at the Libertarian National Convention. Bill Weld could be out as quickly as he came in. Delegates have been vocal in their dislike of Weld calling him Republican-Lite, an association that is disliked by activists. When Gary Johnson spoke of Weld calling him “the original libertarian.” he was met with a chorus of boos.
So while Johnson remains popular, it’s doesn’t automatically mean that Weld gets a pass and is chosen as the VP pick, each nominee is selected separately.
While Johnson and Weld are trying to run as a ticket — they are handing out joint buttons and paraphernalia — the Libertarian Party convention actually picks their presidential and vice-presidential nominees separately. Delegates could select Johnson and then reject Weld.
To add insult to injury, Weld also stunk it up during the VP debate:
Weld did little to help himself at a Friday night vice-presidential debate in which he got a chilly reception from the hardcore audience of Libertarian true-believers. Asked who did more damage to America — President Obama or President George W. Bush — Weld gave a classic politician answer. “I’d rate it a tie,” he said. He used the word “miasma” in his closing statement.
But my favorite line of the night from Weld.
when people think of Libertarians they often think of “unattractive people” in their neighborhoods.
That’s how you sweet talk them Bill. Let’s see how Weld compares to Carly Florina’s VP run.
Christopher says
I’m not sure whether I should be rooting for this ticket to gain traction because I don’t know if it’s more likely to split the anti-Clinton or anti-Trump vote. I am convinced, however, is that Johnson-Weld or the like is what the GOP ticket would and should be if it were a healthy party.
Christopher says
Isn’t that what fiscal conservatives/social liberals are?
jconway says
He believes in the 16th and 17th amendments while being “weak”
on the 2nd by signing moderate gun control. He also endorsed two “big government” presidents in George W Bush and Barack Obama. If you’re one of those classic liberarians that hates the Patriot Act and Obamacare with equal fervor, Weld is not your man.
That said, he and Johnson were ahead of the curve on drug and criminal sentencing reform and he was always quite comfortable with the libertarian label even as a Republican. His WASPy language doesn’t help, it’s downright Chaffee-esque!
Christopher says
Are Libertarians on record opposing direct election of Senators? That seems counterintuitive.
marcus-graly says
According to one theory, direct election of senators strengthened the Federal government. Not really sure how, but that’s what they think.
Christopher says
…but I guess I figured Libertarians would like to have more direct “control” (for lack of a better word) over their elected officials by directly voting for them.
hoyapaul says
The argument is that the 17th Amendment separated the interests of the Senators from their states, since they no longer had to kowtow to the state legislature to get re-elected. Since Senators now had an independent power base (the voters directly), they could ignore state politicians and vote to grow federal government power at the expense of the states.
There’s some logic to that argument, though advocating for the repeal of the 17th Amendment is, perhaps needless to say, quite a fringe-y position.
Christopher says
…of not rubber stamping their nominee’s choice of running mate? Technically, the GOP and Dem conventions are free to pick someone else too.
jconway says
In 2004 the delegates picked a ticket of purists over “more electable”
nominees. It’s also quite possible they pick Johnson and don’t pick Weld. A decent number of libertarians are active in the UIP and the national LP, including our Beverly state rep candidate, and he and his friends seem to like Johnson/Weld. Supposedly Weld is a fundraising powerhouse too.
If the Kochs get in that changes the ballgame. Older brother David ran as the LP VP in 1980. It’ll definitely be more interesting if Weld gets it.
Christopher says
…at least if you are trying to make the case that UIP will out-progressive Democrats, though I did think that Falchuk himself came across as a bit libertarian. Just to be clear, are you saying in 2004 they rejected the preference of their presidential nominee for the second slot?
jconway says
I won’t speak to the LPs who joined or are interested in us, I think it has to do with the marijuana policy and that he was the only candidate talking about police militarization. And we have ballot status and they don’t, so it’s possibly a pragmatic move.
As to the LP, I know that their delegates picked an obscure nominee in 2004 because he gave a good speech and was closer to a classic libertarian with the gold standard and states rights stuff.
Weld, and to a lesser extent Johnson, are socially progressive Republicans so Johnson had a hard time breaking through the GOP in 2012 and the LP liked him then and picked him to carry the Paul fight past the general. Now, they seem to be having second thoughts since he has since embraced federal social liberalism on gay marriage, wedding cakes, and trans access to public facilities. He also is ok with using drones to take out terrorists which many of them are against.
So we will see. Austin Pederson seems to have some NeverTrump folks backing him as a conservative while some libertarians think he is closer to the purity stance. McCaffee could self fund and has the kind of Trump like celebrity factor going on, though he fled a country to escape a murder charge which seems very problematic. So we will see-but for all the talk about super delegates at least the Dems have a primary. LP it’s a free for all with pledged delegates.
johnk says
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/libertarian-party1
David says
from Gary Johnson’s speech: “PLEASE give me Bill Weld!” LOL
David says
there’s a comment on the livestream reading “I agree on that Gary is a good guy but begging is sad.”
johnk says
just breaking 50%
johnk says
jconway says
It looks like Weld could get it since he has no real competition.
Christopher says
Johnson was definitely the reasonable one, at least in relative term. One of the other candidates called Trump an “a**hole” which didn’t get bleeped. One of the candidates sounded like an outright anarchist.
Christopher says
Clinton ticket comes in overwhelmingly first
Johnson-Weld comes in a respectable second
Trump ticket comes in a very distant third
This is essentially what happened in 1912.
mike_cote says
By assuming that Clinton is going to be the nominee of the Dems, you are sure to piss off Sanders’ supporters everywhere. Tread carefully.
Christopher says
I have no problem with Sanders staying in through next Tuesday to give voters everywhere a choice, but Clinton is <100 delegates away from clinching and superdelegates aren't jumping ship.
mike_cote says
In the past, I have tried to add the sarcasm filter, but the On/Off flags get confused and undermine the actual sarcasm.
Christopher says
I did not mean to suggest that you were indulging in statistical fantasies.