Gillespie gives a quick – but representative – expression of libertarian thinking on where the GOP went wrong. There was much about which to disagree over Pres. Obama’s policies, but in the three areas Gillespie mentions, a decidedly more libertarian direction (truly smaller, less intrusive government) would have helped Republicans. As for social conservatism, profound…
Presidential race 2012
Daily Adams, Presidential race 2012
The Debates & Predictive Markets
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
I follow the presidential predictive markets from Intrade and the Iowa Electronic Markets from the University of Iowa. One can watch how shares are bought and sold, in response to debate performances or any other campaign-related developments. The aftermath of the first debate saw Gov. Romney’s share price rise; Pres. Obama’s shares are seeing a…
Presidential race 2012
The Biden-Ryan Vice Presidential Debate
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Daily Adams, Presidential race 2012, Wisconsin
Which Romney for Wisconsin?
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
In January, looking ahead to Wisconsin’s big political year, I thought that Gov. Walker would be recalled in June, and Gov. Romney would win both Wisconsin and the presidency in November. The first prediction was well off-the-mark. (Gov. Walker actually did better in 2012 than he did in 2010.) The November contest is yet ahead,…
Presidential race 2012, US Senate Race 2012
Wisconsin: The State of the Race
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
There’s a new Marquette Law School Poll today, that shows a continuing double-digit lead for Obama over Romney, but a closer US Senate race between Baldwin and Thompson. It’s Obama 53, Romney 42; Baldwin 48, Thompson 44. A few quick impressions – 1. Obama still leads by eleven, on this poll, despite Ryan’s spot on…
Laws/Regulations, Presidential race 2012
Reason’s Interactive Nanny of the Month: Obama v. Romney
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Politics, Presidential race 2012
Does Mitt Romney Really Want to be President of the United States?
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
I don’t think so. All America has seen the surreptitious recording of Romney at a Boca Raton fundraiser, answering donors’ questions, and in one clip opining that almost half of America is a vast, parasitic class. Some conservative activists think Romney’s right to have said this, but most pundits (regardless of ideology) think it’s a…
Campaign Ads, Presidential race 2012
Gary Johnson Ad: ‘America Needs a Handyman’
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Libertarians, Presidential race 2012
Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson @ PAUL Fest
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
One major-party convention over, and another yet to go. Outside the GOP convention in Tampa, at PAUL Fest (People Awakening and Uniting for Liberty), Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson spoke about his campaign: Nothing glamorous, of course, but something sincere, dedicated, and hopeful. Also posted on 8.31.12 @ Daily Adams.
Libertarians, Presidential race 2012
LP Pres. Candidate Gary Johnson on the Daily Show
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Libertarians, Presidential race 2012
Is the 2012 Libertarian Party National Ticket the Strongest Ever?
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Connor Friedersdorf at the Atlantic thinks so: A former governor of New Mexico, he was re-elected by that state’s voters, left office popular after two terms, and therefore has the most executive experience of any Libertarian Party presidential nominee. He can also cite the state he ran as evidence that nothing radical happens when he’s…
Presidential race 2012
Gingrich ‘Endorses’ Romney
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
In his oh-so-humble way. Maybe, with high-quality, major-party candidates like this, there’s hope for libertarians in the fall: “I think you have to at some point be honest with what’s happening in the real world, as opposed to what you’d like to have happened,” Gingrich said. “Governor Romney had a very good day yesterday. He…
Daily Adams, Presidential race 2012
Argue Against Obama Seriously or Not at All
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Libertarians harm themselves when they criticize Pres. Obama in the simpleminded way that the Right does. The Kochs may be sure that more and more money into Americans for Prosperity will defeat Pres. Obama, but we have reason to doubt that it will work (the GOP candidates will have choppy sailing), and those GOP candidates…
Libertarians, Liberty, Presidential race 2012
Not fear, but principled opposition, from libertarians to Rick Santorum
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Smart, conservative blogger Jennifer Rubin asks Why are libertarians afraid of Santorum? Our resolute opposition to his conservatism comes not from fear, as though irrational, but instead from our own liberty-oriented principles. (Rubin crafts her post title carefully to frame the discussion most favorably to Santorum.) David Boaz of Cato answers her question in the…