Posting Towards Gomorrah - Page 203

Gattigap · 10-12-2006, 11:33 AM

That endangered species of Libertarian Republican (or, I suppose, Libertarian Democrat), long cast into the darkness in favor of today's Authoratarian Conservatism, may soon be getting the love, care and attention that it deserves, according to a new study by the Cato Institute.

For those on the trail of the elusive swing voter, it may be most notable that the libertarian vote shifted sharply in 2004. Libertarians preferred George W. Bush over Al Gore by 72 to 20 percent, but Bush's margin dropped in 2004 to 59-38 over John Kerry. Congressional voting showed a similar swing from 2002 to 2004. Libertarians apparently became disillusioned with Republican overspending, social intolerance, civil liberties infringements, and the floundering war in Iraq. If that trend continues into 2006 and 2008, Republicans will lose elections they would otherwise win. The libertarian vote is in play. At some 13 percent of the electorate, it is sizable enough to swing elections. Pollsters, political strategists, candidates, and the media should take note of it.

***

... 10 to 20 percent of Americans could be described as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, or libertarian. They tell pollsters that they tend to oppose government involvement in both economic and personal affairs, meaning they don't fall into either the liberal or the conservative camp. That's a substantial part of the electorate in any election and especially in elections as close as recent presidential and congressional votes. There is evidence from polling data that libertarians shifted significantly away from Republican candidates in 2004. Libertarians are increasingly a swing vote, and they are a larger share of the electorate than the fabled soccer moms and NASCAR dads. And lately neither party has shown much interest in the libertarian vote, as Republicans counter big government liberalism with their own big government conservatism.

Look for 2008 politicians to start showering us with promises of new civil liberties and social tolerance (except for the soon-to-be-purged-of-all-gays GOP). Yay, us!

Gattigap

Gattigap · 10-12-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by taxwonk
Any particular reason you're looking to pick a fight?

Be fair - Spanky's still learning. Most of us have become accustomed to starting fights with a premise that's a bit more colorable.

We haven't seen someone rather artlessly unzip and plop it on the table like this since Hank did it several years ago, so perhaps we should view Spanky's attempt here with wistful nostalgia.

Gattigap

taxwonk · 10-12-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gattigap
Be fair - Spanky's still learning. Most of us have become accustomed to starting fights with a premise that's a bit more colorable.

We haven't seen someone rather artlessly unzip and plop it on the table like this since Hank did it several years ago, so perhaps we should view Spanky's attempt here with wistful nostalgia.

Gattigap

Why do you hate the Politics Board?

Replaced_Texan · 10-12-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spanky
I really hope they sentence this guy to death...

http://reuters.myway.com/article/200...-QAEDA-DC.html

I am sure all the liberals would like to see him rehabilitated

I posted about this guy a few weeks ago. I'm not particularly interested in rehabilitiation for someone like that. I would, though, like to know how he got converted and involved with Al Qaeda, to prevent other idiots from doing the same thing.

Shape Shifter · 10-12-2006, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
I posted about this guy a few weeks ago. I'm not particularly interested in rehabilitiation for someone like that. I would, though, like to know how he got converted and involved with Al Qaeda, to prevent other idiots from doing the same thing.

Or learn how to infiltrate. If this guy could join AQ and John Walker Lindh could join the Taliban, surely we could get some CIA guys in.

Shape Shifter · 10-12-2006, 12:23 PM

Dear Prudence,
An individual with the same name as mine has recently been in the news. A lot. For some not very nice things. It's not simply the supposedly "just joking" jibes from friends and co-workers I'm enduring. I'm not looking forward to going through the rest of my life guilty by association. Besides growing rhino skin or changing my name, how do I deal with this, other than repeating over and over that I am ...

—Not That Mark Foley

http://www.slate.com/id/2151333/

sgtclub · 10-12-2006, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
I'm not sure I follow.

The ugliness I'm anticipating has to do with GOP Congressmen getting indicted in the Abramoff thing, etc., after the election.

I think there will be plenty of ugliness on both sides. I viewed the Reid story as a leak and a warning.

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 10-12-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gattigap [/list]Look for 2008 politicians to start showering us with promises of new civil liberties and social tolerance (except for the soon-to-be-purged-of-all-gays GOP). Yay, us!

Gattigap

I suspect the question boils down to whether the GOP loses/gains more votes by pandering to the evangelicals or not pandering to them and giving the appearance of a big tent.

Oliver_Wendell_Ramone · 10-12-2006, 02:29 PM

Warner won't run.

Tyrone Slothrop · 10-12-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oliver_Wendell_Ramone
Warner won't run.

One big step backwards for Warner, one small step forwards for John Edwards.

Warner is kicking himself for not running for Senate this year.

Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) · 10-12-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
One big step backwards for Warner, one small step forwards for John Edwards.

Warner is kicking himself for not running for Senate this year.

Question is: Did he do this because he knows Hilllary will win the primary or because he knows Hillary will lose to an R in the general election? Tees him up nicely for 2012, when his youngest child will be nearing/into college.

Gattigap · 10-12-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Question is: Did he do this because he knows Hilllary will win the primary or because he knows Hillary will lose to an R in the general election? Tees him up nicely for 2012, when his youngest child will be nearing/into college.

Shee-it. Noone will remember him by 2012, because so few know him now.

Spanky · 10-12-2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by taxwonk
Any particular reason you're looking to pick a fight?

Its the politics board isn't it? What else are we doing here?

:trout:

Spanky · 10-12-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
I personally don't think that just joining up and making videos merits the death penalty --

What you call making videos could also be described as giving aid and comfort to the enemy. He is helping Al Queda organize so they can kill Americans. This guy, if caught, she be executed just like the Rosenbergs.

Spanky · 10-12-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Since you brought it up, is there anything that this Administration has done since taking office to improve our position vis-a-vis North Korea?

eta: Jacob Weisberg has a good piece on the subject in today's Financial Times, but it's behind their Wall Of Payment.

What can be done? They are holding a gun at the head of South Korea. If that administration ever feels that their power is threatened they can take out Seoul in a matter of minutes. But at least the Bush administration didn't give them some nuclear power plants where they could process unranium and a few billion dollars they could use to buy material on the black market. How can anyone argue that what the Clinton administration did, did not help the North Koreans a long with their Nuclear program. At least Bush cut of aid so they would stop using our money to aid their program.