Over the weekend I read somewhere (The Economist, I think) that Bob Barr displayed a hint of a libertarian streak, long ago. Prior to 9/11 he sponsored a bill to prohibit the government from designating foreign organizations as terrorist groups and denying them entry visas. Way to go Bob!
An interesting thing about Bob’s candidacy is that he may put the state of Georgia in play for Obama, drawing votes from McCain due to his name recognition in the state, and his appeal to social conservatives (despite his now being a phoney-baloney libertarian). Therefore, I have a strategy. Starting in September some time I will flood the Atlanta paper, and other papers in the state, with letters to the editor. They’ll be full of outrage that any libertarian could think of voting for such a staunch social conservative. I’ll point out his conservative positions and his anti-immigrant positions, and how much more socially conservative he really is than John McCain. Somehow I’ll work in McCain’s leniency on immigration, and the fact that Barr still runs a GOP PAC. The target of course will be the not-so-bright right-wingnuts who are tempted to abandon McCain anyway.
Eh, I have to do something to keep myself amused.
Filled up the Jeep this morning at a record price: $3.969 at the station on North Avenue across from the Varsity. Sixty two dollars and change, which was not a personal record (which still stands at $64.32) because it only took 15.7 gallons.
The search for new wheels continues, with increasing emphasis on fuel economy.
September 23, 2008 at 11:31 am
Open the debates! First one is Friday!
I’m not a bot, I know you care about the democracy of our government, so we need to get this done. There are 6 Presidential candidates this year all of which are qualified and capable of winning, so why are there only 2 people on the debate! Bigotry, two party bias! Let’s flood the email inbox and the phone lines with: Open the Debates.
It takes 5 mins. Please help me make a difference . Below is a script but please feel free to appropriately modify it to support your candidate .
Step one:
Call Barack Obama at 866-675-2008.
Hit 6 to speak with a campaign volunteer.
Once connected, politely deliver the following message:
Hi, my name is …
I was wondering if Senator Obama, being a believer in equal opportunity and equal rights, could insist that Bob Barr and other ballot qualified third party candidates be included in the upcoming Presidential debates?
After all, Bob Barr is on 45 state ballots.
And she’s polling well nationwide. And he could help Senator Obama challenge the corporate Republicans.
True, Bob Barr would critique Senator Obama for his corporate ties also. But isn’t that what democracy is about? Could you please leave this message for the campaign manager? Thank you.
Step two:
E-mail Janet Brown jb@debates.org, the executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates.
Here’s a sample e-mail:
Dear Janet Brown:
Greetings. You must be busy. Preparing for the first Presidential debate this Friday. So, I won’t take much of your time. Just wanted to let you know that the American people were not born yesterday. We know the deal. Take that little private corporation that you run. Controlled by the two corporate parties. And funded by big business. For the purpose of excluding independent minded candidates. Friday, two Wall Street candidates are scheduled to be in the ring. Barack Obama and John McCain. The one candidate who represents the American people, Main Street, if you will, will be on the outside looking in. So, here’s a simple request. Drop your exclusionary restrictions. And let Bob Barr into the debates.
It will be good for your conscience. Good for the American people. (I believe it was The League of Women Voters that called your corporatized debates “campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity, and honest answers to tough questions.”) And good for democracy. Let the American people have a real debate for once. Main Street vs. Wall Street.
Thank you.
Signed
your name.