The McClatchy newspapers have an assessment of Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr’s impact so far. I think it’s half right — (1) Barr is having a great deal of trouble raising money, but it’s (2) not because he’s in Paul’s shadow (as quoted political scientist Steven Schier contends). I think a commenter remarking on the…

I don’t condone or support illegal drug use in any way. I would prefer, however, that each state had the option to change its laws so that medical use of marijuana was lawful, without federal interference. In California, and about a dozen other states, medical marijuana is lawful. Federal law does not recognize medical marijuana…

Here’s a video of a panel discussion at Freedom Fest 2008, a gathering of libertarian authors and scholars. This panel includes Steve Forbes, David Boaz, Richard Viguerie, and Bob Barr, discussing the Future of Politics. The event was held this year in mid July in Las Vegas. (Here’s a link to the impressive list of…

Over at Pajamas Media, there’s an article asking, “Will Barr Have an Impact on Presidential Race?” It’s an article that combines a description of Barr’s views with an assessment of his likely impact. Here’s the impact assessment: The campaign seems under no illusions about their chance of victory, describing it to me as “a long,…

Here’s an August 11th press release from the Barr Campaign, on a bungled police raid in Maryland, about which I posted earlier tonight: Atlanta, GA — “We typically make fun of bungled police operations by saying they were conducted by the gang that couldn’t shoot straight,” notes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president.…

Here’s a video with Libertarian candidate for president Bob Barr explaining the serious problems with a national ID, called a “Real ID” in federal legislation. Over at Reason, Kerry Howley offers additional arguments against this jump in federal power, in her article, “Hiding From REAL ID: Why Honest People Might Run from a National ID…

I have added a website called Third Party Watch to my blog roll. The site does a good job reporting on smaller political party news.

In Massachusetts, the ACLU has filed suit against the Secretary of State’s office for their refusal to place Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr on the November ballot. From Boston.com‘s Political Intelligence column, here are the details: The central issue in this case is the restriction of ballot access for third parties, which has been…

I have gained libertarian readers since I started publishing FREE WHITEWATER in May 2007. That’s a guess based on email, and on the sites from which I receive visitors, from Wisconsin and beyond. You are always welcome. I’m from a movement family, too. I know what it’s like to read what you’ve read, follow politics…

On Sunday, I posted a story about a former GOP office holder in Texas who tried to persuade Libertarian candidates to quit so that the Republican party might win libertarian votes. There is a subsequent story in the Houston Chronicle reporting that the GOP house speaker, Tom Craddick, had similar conversations with LP candidates. Naturally,…

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2008/08/04/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words/

Over at Reason‘s blog, Hit & Run, David Weigel contends that, all considered, the libertarian brand, so to speak, is strong. He’s right, of course, as Governor Mark Sanford tells Weigel, when being accused of being a libertarian: “I’m an unabashed conservative,” he told me, “and sometimes accused of being a libertarian, to which I…

The Associated Press has a story on the impact of Ron Paul’s support on the McCain campaign. Many of his supporters still oppose McCain, and will be vocal for Paul at the Republican convention. Others will support Libertarian Bob Barr in the fall. It’s telling, and inauspicious for both McCain and Barr, that Ron Paul…