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Bob Barr Announces Bad News for McCain
Former Representative Bob Barr (R, GA) just announced that he's running as a Libertarian. This is potentially bad news for the McCain campaign, as his positions on the issues tend to be much more in line with the hillbilly core of the Republican Party.
Good luck and Godspeed, Mr. Barr.
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Comments (19)
Here's to forcing McCain to defend Georgia of all places.
May 12, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I see this helping Obama in Georgia, Connecticut. I wish he would team up with Ron Paul. That would really hurt McCain, but I think Paul likes his paycheck and House gig too much to do that.
What do you think, little rabbit?
Thank you for your excellent commenting over the past weekend.
May 12, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I think you're right. I also think there are a lot of Republicans who are just dying to punish the Party this year. Their nominee choices were so crappy. McCain won by default, but the base hates him.
I think some Democratic 527 should get together and pour a ton of money into ads for Barr.
Did I accidentally say something intelligent? My bad. :)
May 12, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's the cat. He looks real sharp.
May 12, 2008 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Am I missing something? Shouldn't this be a bigger story here? Why is this not on the front page? Seems to me, we should be playing up Barr's candidacy to attract McCain supporters.
May 12, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
It should be. I sent an email to Josh earlier today, but I haven't seen anything so far. Maybe there's still some grease left in the bong...
May 12, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
At least they're keeping up with the really important news--there's a link on the main page to a story about how Jimmy Fallon is the new host of Late Night. Gotta have priorities...
May 12, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like your bong, TPM is all about the number of hits.
May 12, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
And McCain will now have to put money and time in to Alabama as well. Life just got more interesting.
May 12, 2008 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, recommended. This is very good news, and the story needs to get play, for the reason PeachesNYC mentions.
This could help in every close state, by soaking up perhaps 1% of the Republican vote.
May 12, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is interesting. I wonder if he realizes that McCain winning would be worse for the Republican party than Obama winning and would happily lose this election if it meant he could get his party back.
May 12, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bob Barr is a flip-flopper who is consistent: subpoena after supbpoena against Clinton, critic of the Bushit criminal enterprise.
But in all cases an extremist right-winger to the right of even the Bushit criminal enterprise.
As concerns Ron Paul, who recently accused the Republican Party of rigging a vote against him. Why would he belong to and support a party which rigs voting and elections? Because when a "truth-telling" "Libertarian" lies down with Republicans, he gets up a Republican.
May 12, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yet further evidence of why, though I am a lifelong libertarian, I have not voted for any of their presidential candidates since 1980.
Bob Barr is as much a libertarian as I am a Communist.
And the party wonders why it cannot gain any traction whatsoever.
May 12, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Might be interesting to see some infighting in the GOP for a change. Might even be fun.
May 12, 2008 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have mixed feeling about Paul joining or endorsing Barr because the Paulistas I know are so vehemently against the war that they're planning to vote for Obama.
May 13, 2008 3:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should start to court Ron Paul NOW. If he gets Paul's endorsement, he's home free. The Paul base is more fanatical than Obama's in its devotion and grassroot fund-raising capability, and I'd say ideologically, they're not that different from obama.
May 13, 2008 6:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
What are you all talking about? This great news for McCain. It's bad news for the reform party which was the black box default. Way easier to explain expected Obama supporters going for the "legalize it" candidate. That whole minorities voting for Pat Robertson thing was kinda suspicious and hard to account for with a straight face.
May 13, 2008 8:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Regarding the comment by hrebendorf, "hillbilly core of the Republican Party": Were I from the states that contain "hillbillies" I would be offended, and turn my back on anyone who spoke about me in this way. This kind of comment is class-ist and only serves to drive a greater wedge between potential allies.
I have read very little about class ism during this race, and it is the one thing, under it all, that Hillary and John have in common: they both come from money and power. This is a basic truth to point out to voters. This is a class conflict, and Barack comes from "the other side of the (money and power) tracks". That is why every worker and poor person should support Barack and vote for him.
Remember: the very wealthy have always used the strategy "divide and conquer". They hold to the adage, they squabble, we win.
I believe we need to respect all people at all times, and not label them with a devaluing slur.
May 13, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
But he still has to win the nomination. What about Mike Gravel?
May 13, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
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