C-SPIN: Presidential Candidate Bob Barr...

This could be fun...he could draw pissed off Paulbots in some key states. Gramps has just been "Naderized".

:popcorn:

Discuss....

If Bob Barr becomes viewed as a viable alternative among those who will not vote for Barack Obama under any circumstances because he's a mooslim / angry black man / elitist, then there's no harm done to our side and McNasty's support suffers a grievous wound.

Gramps is walking a tightrope without a net and not doing a good job keeping his balance. Look at the mess the Hagee and Parsley situation turned into...his pandering now has pissed off fundies who weren't too crazy about him in the first place. But Gramps biggest problem is with the "independent" wing...the Paulbots and other libertarians who had voted for booosh, but now are on the fence.

I think the real fun begins at the GOOP convention. The Paulbots want their man to have a prime time speaking slot. I can't see the RNC going along with an hour of boooosh and Gramps bashing. So what'll the Paulbots do? I could see Barr sucking away 5-10% from Gramps in the West and also being felt in the Midwest.

Yep, Gramps will be stuck with the racists and the lobbyists.

but the Libertarian Party track record in presidential elections is pretty dismal up to this point. Still, my enthusiasm is undampened and I hope he picks up millions of conservative votes!

I've long felt there was an opening for a third party to make some noise in this election...those disenchanted with both parties and Libertarians tend to benefit. I've seen it here in Illinois...the state party imploded and the vote that once was rock solid in the "collar counties" of Chicago has fractured. The Paulbots have been very active in these areas as well.

Again, we're talking a few points here or there. A great example is Montana. Right now Obama is within the MOE, but if Barr can draw away a couple thousand votes, things could look bad for Gramps in a hurry. I could also see him being a factor in Alaska and Nevada.

A lot hinges on how well the Paulbots get treated in Minneapolis. If they storm out of the convention and Barr gets Paul's nod, things could get quite interesting.

Here in Texas Paul got near 5% in the primary. Huckabee got an amazing 38%.

Lot's of factors involved there, but mostly it's our Libertarian leaning population of Republicans and too many religious extremist who see McCain as too liberal for their liking.

The Paul followers will probably wander to Barr, however, he may even suck a few of the Huckabee people in if he plays his cards right. He is after all anti same-sex marriage and he wanted the Pentagon to ban the practice of Wicca in the military. With the right tweaking of his message he could pick up more followers.

Goodness knows he's corrupt enough to know how that game is played.

I agree...Gramps has been drawing only 75% or less of the vote in the uncontested GOOP primaries and his support has been a mile wide and an inch thick. But look at the stupid things he's just done.

His messy handling of the Hagee and Parsley situation surely have pissed off fundies...who never liked him in the first place. If he passes on Hucklenutz for Veep, the rift will become even bigger (especially if he takes Mittens instead). Then there are the immigration racists...small, but significant in the swing states...and it looks like Gramps has flipped on that issue again...he may actually get hurt by his own wedge issue!! :rofl:

Remember, there's a different "math" at work this year. Gramps needs every vote boooosh got in 2004 to be competitive as Democratic turnout and registration is so much higher this year (and we're not staying home!!)...if he loses 5 or 10% of that vote, he's toast.

Cheers...

Kicking myself...damn, I rarely do that around here...

He IS Republican Nader 2008 - and what a way to get back at the Republicans for their Hillbot-ting of OH and IN!

When they come with their petitions, remember: SIGN THEM! And get your neighbors to sign them, too!!

f--k him with a glow stick

McSame's appeal to to moderates (that only watch network news) is that he is supposedly a moderate Repug. Barr will challenge him on some of the right libertarian issues and force McSame to move more to the right. He'll agree with Obama on some of the civil liberty issues which will reinforce Obama's message. The electorate may end up with a picture of a stark difference between Obama and McSame if Barr can get any media attention.