Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

Have Libertarians Forgotten the Republican Primaries?‏

March 23, 2012 By steven-j-gulitti

Back in September of 2010 I detailed in an article “Where Have all the Libertarian’s Gone?” how for all of the attention paid to Libertarian ideas there was little in the way of Libertarian electoral success to show for it. To wit: “In the din and roar surrounding politics in America today much is made of the importance of Libertarian thinking. Some have pointed out its importance to the Tea Party Movement…That said it’s interesting to consider the following two questions: First, if Libertarian ideas are so compelling, how come Libertarians garner such a small portion of actual votes during major electoral campaigns? Secondly, if Libertarians command such low voting totals, how is it that there is such a disproportionate number of Libertarian organizations and who is putting up the money to support them?”
 
Well when one stops to analyze the 2012 Republican Primaries the results continue to prove out my original premise. That is, for all of the continuing talk about the importance of Libertarian ideas there is precious little to show for it when actual results are examined. To date the have been 27 Republican Primary contests and 1031 delegates awarded. The Libertarian candidate, Ron Paul, has not won a single state and has only accumulated 50 delegates. His take equals 4.8% of the overall number of delegates awarded so far. Thus once again, based on empirical evidence, we can only conclude that Libertarians occupy a space on the American political landscape as nothing more than a sideshow to the big show, if not as an outright political oddity propelled forward by its own inertia. If Libertarians truly commanded a healthy amount of respect and political power they would have something to show for it and clearly they don’t. Some have made the case that Libertarians don’t need to vote for Libertarian candidates to be important within the electorate but if that’s the case then that would suggest that they don’t truly hold to the conviction of their own ideas. If the members of a movement won’t adhere to their core convictions and belief system then how can that movement be seen as viable or effective? Surely a Libertarian voting for any of the candidates other than Ron Paul would have to compromise his principles in so doing based on the political track records of Romney, Santorum and Gingrich, none of whom can be considered even remotely close to being a Libertarian.
 
Some political commentators have said that Ron Paul isn’t a true candidate, he’s a movement. Some have said that his stake in the 2012 Republican Primaries is an attempt to affect his own political rehabilitation or to pave the way for his son’s  political future. Whatever his motives one thing is for sure and that’s that he has made little impact if any in the race to defeat Barack Obama. Ron Paul has often complained that he isn’t getting the media coverage that he and his campaign deserves, but based on his performance thus far and his movement’s historically, he’s getting all the coverage that he deserves. Whatever Ron Paul’s goals one thing is for certain and that is that for all of the money pouring into Libertarian organizations like the Cato Institute via folks like the Koch Brothers, ad infinitum, the Libertarian message still fails to resonate with the Republican electorate in particular and the wider electorate in general. It’s either the aforementioned or America’s Libertarians have failed to notice that there’s a Republican Primary season underway and in full swing.
 
Steven J. Gulitti
3/23/12  
 
Sources:
The Washington Post: The delegate race; http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/primary-tracker/
 
Republican Primary Map; http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/results
 
Where Have all the Libertarian’s Gone?; http://open.salon.com/blog/steven_j_gulitti/2010/09/06/where_have_all_the_libertarians_gone
Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: User Tagged With: 2012 Presidential Election, barack-obama, cato-institute, koch-brothers, libertarians, mitt-romney, newt-gingrich, Republican Primaries, Rick Santorum, ron-paul

Recommended Posts

  • No posts liked yet.

Recent User Posts

Predictions Open Thread

December 22, 2022 By jconway

This is why I love Joe Biden

December 21, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Garland’s Word

December 19, 2022 By terrymcginty

Some Parting Thoughts

December 19, 2022 By jconway

Beware the latest grift

December 16, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Thank you, Blue Mass Group!

December 15, 2022 By methuenprogressive

Recent Comments

  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftSo where to, then??
  • Christopher on Some Parting ThoughtsI've enjoyed our discussions as well (but we have yet to…
  • Christopher on Beware the latest griftI can't imagine anyone of our ilk not already on Twitter…
  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftI will miss this site. Where are people going? Twitter?…
  • chrismatth on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022I joined BMG late - 13 years ago next month and three da…
  • SomervilleTom on Geopolitics of FusionEVERY un-designed, un-built, and un-tested technology is…
  • Charley on the MTA on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022That’s a great idea, and I’ll be there on Sunday. It’s a…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

mainenewshound mainenewshound @mainenewshound ·
1h

📛Your Today's shopping list
eggs
products made with eggs
gasoline
products made with gasoline
products delivered by trucks
(PRICES HIKING; Massive egg Fire at US supplier "Gas prices surging"',Biden is President,Soros bleeding USA)
#mepolitics #mapoli #nhpolitics #breaking

Reply on Twitter 1620012645083672576 Retweet on Twitter 1620012645083672576 Like on Twitter 1620012645083672576 Twitter 1620012645083672576
mainenewshound mainenewshound @mainenewshound ·
2h

📛Your Today's shopping list
eggs
products made with eggs
gasoline
products made with gasoline
products delivered by trucks
(PRICES HIKING Massive egg Fire at US supplier "Gas prices are surging this month')
#mepolitics #maine #mapoli #mapoli #nhpolitics #breaking #massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1620011269641375746 Retweet on Twitter 1620011269641375746 Like on Twitter 1620011269641375746 Twitter 1620011269641375746
legislataapp Legislata @legislataapp ·
4h

Tweet summary for MA State House for 2023-01-29: 87 tweets from 30 legislators. Top words: police, housing, boston, senjehlen, repdaverogers, samvmontano, mikeconnollyma, morning, violence, 15. #mapoli

Reply on Twitter 1619970379933523968 Retweet on Twitter 1619970379933523968 Like on Twitter 1619970379933523968 Twitter 1619970379933523968
bostonianrap Bostonian Rap @bostonianrap ·
6h

How much time have you spent in #Cambridge, Massachusetts? If I had not commented on the Sayed Faisal case, would you have done it? Be honest, @rasheednwalters. #mapoli

Rasheed N. Walters @rasheednwalters

In the People’s Republic of #CambridgeMA politicians, comrade citizens, and far left activists expect a officer to not defend themselves against a man charging at them with a Kukri Knife which is akin to a machete. These people are insane! They all wanted that officer to die!

Reply on Twitter 1619943006064500736 Retweet on Twitter 1619943006064500736 Like on Twitter 1619943006064500736 Twitter 1619943006064500736
bostonianrap Bostonian Rap @bostonianrap ·
7h

I will say this for the @JimLyonsMA crowd - They are quick to weigh in on the events that others first highlight, without adding insight or offering any solutions. Isn’t that right, @rasheednwalters? 😉

#mapoli

Rasheed N. Walters @rasheednwalters

Walters: Left quick to make assumptions about Cambridge cops. #bospoli #mapoli https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/01/28/walters-left-quick-to-make-assumptions-about-cambridge-cops/

Reply on Twitter 1619935991204319235 Retweet on Twitter 1619935991204319235 Like on Twitter 1619935991204319235 Twitter 1619935991204319235
ronaldvining Ron Vining @ronaldvining ·
7h

🇺🇸🐘📢 MUST WATCH! Candidate for MA GOP Chair, #RonVining, to host 3rd "Fireside Chat" with #MassGOP State Committee Members about "The #Future" of #MaGOP State Party via @YouTube.
https://www.magopchair.com/ron-vining-to-host-final-fireside-chat-with-massgop-state-committee-about-the-future
#RonVining, #MApoli, #MassGOPchair, #Republican, #GOP, #Vision, #Strategy

Reply on Twitter 1619931435988848640 Retweet on Twitter 1619931435988848640 Like on Twitter 1619931435988848640 Twitter 1619931435988848640
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2023 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.