Bob Barr announces Libertarian bid for president

Former Georgia congressman Bob Barr has launched a bid for the libertarian party nomination for president.  Barr was the congressman who initiated impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton despite having his own history of extramartial affairs and requesting that his first wife have an abortion.

Details here.

With so many conservatives unhappy with the McCain nomination? Could Barr steal votes from McCain Nader-style?  Wonder what the boys from the Register think of this announcement.

9 Comments

  1. Dan: I assume by “the boys at the Register,” you mean those of us who work on the editorial page. My view, and this is only my view: It’s great news. Barr is an admirable guy, someone who moved from traditional conservatism toward no-nonsense libertarianism. McCain’s allies have made it clear that there is no place in the GOP for those of us who voted for Ron Paul, so I hope that libertarians are able to siphon as many votes as possible from McCain. Given that both major parties are big-government parties (Bush has expanded government more than LBJ), the country desperately needs a growing small-government alternative. If McCain loses, so what? Obama can’t be that much worse than Bush on the domestic front, but McCain will certainly be a nightmare when it comes to international affairs.

  2. Even more reason to vote for McCain. He’s Democrat enough for me.

    I will not vote for the late comer. The divider…..not uniter! Who stole the nomination from Hillary. The best chance in our history for a female to be president!

    He should have waited 8 and earned it!

    NOBAMA!

  3. RG. Greenhut’s description of McCain as a wasteful big-government politician who will be a nightmare on international affairs makes him acceptable to you as a Democrat?

    Please, just go join the GOP.

  4. Steve — Barr comes with a host of personal issues than the right so despised in Bill Clinton; a pro-lifer who made his first wife get an abortion. A serial adulterer who cheated on his second wife with his third. All the while pursuing impeachment against Bill Clinton long before the Lewinsky scandal erupted. Seems Barr has grasped his consititutionalism quote late in the process.

  5. Pa’ McCain supports Bush’s war, even more-so.

    He supports NAFTA – which exporting American jobs, which will never return.

    Prior to getting the Republican nomination, Pa McCain supported a $.50 per gallon gas tax INCREASE. Then panderingly, he flip-flopped to temporarly eliminate it. The oil companies loved that one.

    Trust Pa’ McFlip-flop? I don’t think so.

    BTW: Ross Perot recieved nearly 20% of the vote in 1992 – and cost GHW Bush his re-election!

  6. Maybe it’s time for a “new party, a third party, a wild party.” AC

    In 1992, 3rd party candidate H. Ross Perot recieved nearly 20% of the vote and cost President GHW Bush his re-election …

    Humm …

  7. Actualy Lefty, Perot pulled votes equally from Bush and Clinton. The recession and things like checking his watch in the middle of a debate cost Bush re-election.

  8. Dan,

    You know both sides play the selective morality game. I don’t know anything about Barr’s personal life, but he is not going to be president. So who cares? He could be a good vehicle for a libertarian protest vote — one that could even help defeat McCain. Those are two good arguments FOR a Barr candidacy.

  9. Steve —
    John McCain’s personal life is not much better. He cheated on wife #1 with wife #2. He’s hiding a considerable amount of his assets in hers and won’t release her tax returns despie the clamoring from the right for Teresa Heinz Kerry to release her returns in 2004 (which she did).

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