And Some More Choir Preaching...

From the Aiken Standard Letter To The Editor: Consider the Libertarian Party

In the Oct. 28 edition of the Aiken Standard, the Standard refused to endorse President Obama or Governor Romney, instead saying “The bottom line is that Obama has been given an opportunity and in some ways has squandered it. It’s time to give someone else the opportunity to fix our economy.”

I put forth that the best person to fix our economy is former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s nominee. Gov. Johnson’s plan to submit a balanced budget to Congress every year in office – and veto any spending that imbalances the budget – will give our economy breathing room. His plan to cut 43 percent of federal spending in order to eliminate deficit spending entirely will help our economy for generations to come by lowering their tax burden. His plan to implement the fair tax will streamline government collection efforts while saving money and encouraging economic growth.

Johnson took a state that had rarely seen a period of more than 2 years without a tax increase, and never increased taxes in his entire 8 years. He, in fact, cut taxes 14 times. He reformed Medicaid and Medicare within his state to both save money and enhance patient care. He left his state with a $1 billion surplus.

I ask you to be Libertarian with Johnson one time. If you don’t like the results, you can always go back to voting for men who will continue to destroy our economy.

 

Jeff Sexton

Graniteville, South Carolina

We Know This Is Preaching To The Choir!

From The Westford Patch Newspaper Letter to the Editor: Vote Libertarian

Dear Editor,
Take the long-term approach. This is for 2014 and 2016. Voting Libertarian means you help put MANY House and Senate seats in play for 2014 and 2016.
We lament that so few congressional seats are in play; third and fourth parties change that!
Your vote counts MORE if made for a 3rd party candidate. 4% of the vote in just ONE state makes a difference. It could put the U.S. Senate into one party or the other party's hands. Even if it doesn't, it gets the party NOTICED in two years.
Your vote counts MORE when it is used to punish wayward incumbents. Republicans in Congress who wouldn't stop Medicare Part D, McCain-Feingold, and "bridges to nowhere" DESERVE to be punished. Democrats in Congress who wouldn't stop The Patriot Act, Guantanamo, "Don't Ask Don't Tell", Wall Street bailouts, big-bank protections, Social Security theft, and NDA imprisonments DESERVE to be punished (and to have their heads examined). Third parties are here to MAKE wayward politicians lose.
3rd party candidates are almost always more principled public servants than their Republican counterparts. Main party candidates almost always compromise their principles to get elected or stay elected. (In the last 12 years, every Republican Congressman except Ron Paul was a sell-out.) Just once, try someone who is not a proven compromiser.
In the last 24 years, every Republican presidential nominee has been a sell-out. That includes Mitt Romney, who is unprincipled on immigration, on health care, and on abortion. By contrast, Gary Johnson had the principle to govern New Mexico for 8 years using 750 vetoes. This is a man who can and will say "no" to special interests.
Obama isn't about to change things for the better Romney's proposed changes are only incrementally better.
WE need a RADICAL change.
Voting for the best candidate...gets us BETTER candidates in the future.
Lesser of two evils -- means you just voted for ..."evil"
Make this an election you don't have to say "I regretted my vote". Make this an election where you don;t feel you are deciding between "Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-dum". This is at the state OR federal level. Yes, voting for a faceless, unaccomplished name on line C or D (Libertarian) is BETTER than voting for someone less moral, or more corrupt, or with a proven track record of BAD.
Romney -- will not attempt the radical steps we need. Either he doesn't get it, or (worse) he does but chooses to compromise to gain personal power. That means he's a "career compromiser", so America doesn't benefit.
Romney -- politically he deserves to lose. This electorate can't let "Romneycare" slide. He foisted on Massachusetts a freedom-denying regime for health coverage. He's not apologetic. Romney-care was not an accident. Third parties are there to MAKE wayward politicians lose.
Obama -- his collectivism is repugnant. Individual responsibility makes families better, makes students better, makes communities better, makes the economy better, and makes the nation better. Not even avowed socialist (5-time US Presidential candidate) Eugene Debs stood for dismantling some individual responsibility. And Debs was at least proud of America. Obama keeps apologizing for America. Debs wanted America to stand for something. Obama wants America to just "blend in" to a Euro-cracy.
To the extent you want to eradicate evil, third and fourth party viability DOES THAT.
Bad Republicans take half of us for granted. Keeping a two-party system means Republicans who are statist know you can't go elsewhere (McCain and now Romney are statist Republicans.) Bad Democrats take half of us for granted. Keeping a two-party system means Democrats who violate civil liberties know you can't go elsewhere (Obama has violated more civil liberties than any president of my lifetime, and the recently passed legislation regarding "disloyalty" portends even more.)
Look at the libertarian credentials. If Gary Johnson were the Republican nominee, conservatives would hail him as the best candidate since Ronald Reagan.
Look at the libertarian once again. If Gary Johnson were the Democrat nominee, civil libertarians would hail him as the best candidate since Eugene McCarthy.
Look at the libertarian a 3rd time. If Gary Johnson were the nominee of either party, the "99%ers", independents, and Ron Paul supporters would be ecstatic that they finally had an electable reformer.
Just ONCE, do something politically "wild". It's like the rave you were scared to attend, but this is safer.
Just once, help start something politically important.

Fondly, and in liberty,
Mark Greenstein
Former Libertarian Candidate for U.S. Senate 2006 Massachusetts

Libertarian Vice-Presidential Candidate to Visit Kansas and Missouri!

Judge Jim Gray, vice-presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, will visit Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City on Monday, November 5.

With over 10,800 registered Libertarians in Kansas and the Libertarian Party being the fastest growing political party in Kansas over the past four years, the national Libertarian Party recognizes the importance of a strong presence in Kansas during this election cycle.

Judge Gray was the presiding judge of the Superior Court of Orange County, California.  In 2004 he was the Libertarian candidate for the United States Senate in California.  He is the author of several books and a play.

Judge Gray’s Kansas and Missouri itinerary and schedule:

Topeka

6:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.  Judge Gray will be available for interviews with local newspapers and radio and television stations.  These interviews are currently being scheduled.  If you are interested in a one-on-one interview with Judge Gray, please contact Media Spokesperson Stacey Davis at Policy@LPKS.org

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Judge Gray will be at Blended for Better Health, 720 S. Kansas Avenue.  He will speak briefly, and then will be available to meet with the public and local business owners.

Lawrence

12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.  Judge Gray will speak at the Kansas Union, Alderson Auditorium, on the Kansas University campus, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd.  Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is helping host the event.  Introductions will be made by Anthony Orwick of YAL and Al Terwelp, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Kansas.  There will be a question-and-answer session after Judge Gray’s speech as well as opportunities for media interviews.

Kansas City

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Judge Gray will be available for media interviews.  Interviews are currently being scheduled, and may be held on location or at the Kansas City Public Library at the Plaza, 14 West Tenth Street, Kansas City, MO.

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill, 817 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO.  Judge Gray and several LP candidates will speak.  The public is invited to purchase dinner.

 Who is Gary Johnson?
The Libertarian candidate for President is Gary Johnson, 2-term governor of New Mexico.  The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the nation.  Judge Gray’s visit is an excellent opportunity for the voters to learn more about choices available to them other than the two major parties.


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For more information, contact

Al Terwelp
Chair, Libertarian Party of Kansas
785-665-7581chair@lpks.org

Stacey Davis
Media Spokesperson, Libertarian Party of Kansas
785-231-9524policy@lpks.org

Cisse Spragins
Chair, Libertarian Party of Missouri
612-309-9232chair@lpmo.org

We Missed This One When It Happened!

New Hampshire Jury Nullifies Major Felony Marijuana Case

Written by  Alex Newman

 

 

Following the adoption of a new state law on jury nullification in June, a New Hampshire jury nullified its first major felony marijuana case on September 14 when jurors decided to free Doug Darrell, a 59-year-old father of four grown children who was growing illegal plants in his backyard. Activists hailed the decision as a significant victory for the jury nullification movement, which aims to revive awareness about the power inherent in juries to protect citizens from overzealous prosecutors and bad laws by nullifying cases.  

Darrell, a Rastafarian piano tuner and woodworker who has been married for almost four decades, was arrested after a National Guard helicopter spotted some marijuana plants on his property in Barnstead. State prosecutors charged him with cultivation, a felony that could have carried up to seven years in prison.

It was clear that he had been growing the marijuana — nobody disputed that. Eventually Darrell was offered a deal that would have allowed him to avoid jail time and fines in exchange for a misdemeanor guilty plea. He refused, however, citing his religion and its view that marijuana is a sacrament. So the case went to trial.

Jurors, led by liberty-minded activist Cathleen Converse of the Free State Project, decided Darrell should be set free. “Mr. Darrell is a peaceful man, he never deals with the darker elements of society and he grows for his own personal religious and medicinal use,” Converse said during an exclusive interview with Free Talk Live, a freedom-oriented talk-radio program. “I knew that my community would be poorer rather than better off had he been convicted.”

So, to prevent that, she helped convince other jurors to do as the defense suggested: vote their conscience and declare Darrell a free man. “Many of us wondered what kind of precedent this would set,” Converse continued. “But after chewing on all of the possibilities and re-reading the definition of nullification, we all decided that the only fair thing to do was to vote with our consciences and acquit the defendant of all charges.”

Jury nullification, of course, is a time-tested practice that goes back to before the American Declaration of Independence. Essentially, it occurs when members of a jury decide to free somebody even though prosecutors prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused did indeed violate a criminal statute.

Juries have historically relied on nullification for various reasons including to reject unjust or unconstitutional laws, to free defendants in cases where laws have been misapplied by overzealous officials, and more. During alcohol prohibition it became commonplace as jurors refused en masse to convict their compatriots for drinking illegal substances.

Before that, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay informed a jury in 1794 that jurors have “a right to take upon yourselves to judge of both, and to determine the law as well as the fact in controversy.” Numerous other Supreme Court justices and Founding Fathers have touted the practice, too. And despite being largely overlooked today, activists across America are trying hard to build awareness about it.   

In June, those nullification advocates secured a major victory. New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch signed HB 146 into law allowing defendants to inform jurors about the jury’s “right to judge the application of the law in relationship to the facts in controversy.” That law does not officially take effect until January, but it has already made waves throughout the state’s judiciary system.

“It's a really important development,” Darrell’s defense attorney Mark Sisti told the New Hampshire Union Leader, adding that most state residents have no problem with moderate marijuana use by adults and that legislatures across America are rethinking their laws on the controversial plant. “We're moving along a path we should have been on years ago.”

Sisti acknowledged, though, that the judge’s decision to instruct the jury about nullification was crucial to the victory. Judge James O'Neill, following the state’s model jury instruction on nullification, told jurors that "even if you find that the State has proven each and every element of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt, you may still find the defendant not guilty if you have a conscientious feeling that a not guilty verdict would be a fair result in this case."

While warning that jury nullification is not a “get-out-of-jail-free card,” Sisti celebrated the ruling and the clearing of his client. "Cases like this shouldn't be brought," he was quoted as saying. "And when they are brought, I think that safety valve, that nullification safety valve, is very important. Other states had better start waking up, because without it, people are going to be convicted of very serious charges through hypocrisy. The jury's going to think they can't do anything else, and that's wrong."

The prosecutor who brought charges against Darrell for his illegal plants also admitted that the judge’s decision to instruct the jury on nullification was key to the government’s defeat, but she tried to downplay its effect going forward. “I don't see it as being that significant in changing our practice and the practice of the court,” the prosecutor told the Union Leader. 

Cathleen Converse, the juror who reportedly helped push the case for nullification, however, is among a growing number of Americans who believe that there should be a victim for something to be considered a crime. “Mr. Darrell seemed to be the only victim here,” she explained after the acquittal. “Almost everyone said this just shouldn't have happened to these peaceful people.”

In New Hampshire — the official state motto is “Live Free or Die” — such views have become increasingly influential. That’s in part due to the birth of the Free State Project, an ongoing plan to have thousands of liberty-minded people from across America move to the Granite State to build a more libertarian society. FSP activists have already elected more than a few lawmakers, and their influence continued to grow.

"So far, over 12,750 participants have pledged to relocate to the state, and more than 1,000 have already moved, over a dozen of which are currently elected members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives," said Free State Project President Carla Gericke in a press release touting the acquittal. "Once here, participants are free to pursue their own causes and I'm excited to see that progress is being made."

While the Darrell case probably will not be shutting down the unconstitutional, trillion-dollar federal drug war anytime soon, analysts said it was an important milestone in several respects. For one, it illustrates the growing opposition to imprisoning people for drug use, which has been a key contributor to the fact that the United States has far more prisoners per capita than any other nation in the world. Well over a dozen states have already nullified federal marijuana laws. 

More importantly, perhaps, the acquittal of Doug Darrell represents a significant revival of jury nullification. The centuries-old practice has always been a critical tool in the fight against government tyranny. So, with the victory in New Hampshire and many more anticipated in the near future, liberty-minded activists across America are hoping the trend spreads quickly to other states.

Dear Liberty Lover,
Libertarian candidates are campaigning hard for local, state, and federal offices all over the country to bring you less government – and more freedom. Here are some of their stories recently posted to the LP.org blog:
Libertarian Cox Could Swing Key Senate Race in Montana
Scandal-Plagued Republicans Leave Opening for Libertarian Menger in Race for CO House
Florida Libertarian Takes On Big Government Republican in 2-Way Race for State House
Libertarian Walters Only Partisan Candidate in Race for SC State House
Libertarian Passarelli Could Win Ballot Status for LP in Connecticut
Utah Libertarian Barry Short for State Rep Seeks to Shrink State Regulatory Agencies, Cut Budget
AZ Libertarian Joe Cobb in 2-way for U.S. House
NH Libertarian John Babiarz for Governor seeks Ballot Access for LP
2% for Libertarian Brubaker in Wyoming U.S. House Race Would Secure Ballot Access for LP
Like what you see?
Don’t stop there -- share!
Do you have friends and relatives who are open to voting Libertarian? To voting for Governor Gary Johnson and Judge Jim
Gray for president and vice president? To voting for other Libertarians in their states?
Share the links above with your friends, family, co-workers, church members, club members and neighbors – and show them how Libertarian candidates are working for their freedom. Ask them to vote Libertarian.
We’ve updated our 2012 Candidates page here so they can easily see all the Libertarians running in their respective states.
If some of your friends, family and acquaintances are only interested in the presidential race -- and if they’re less than thrilled by Mitt Romney and Barack Obama -- show them this table which compares the 3 leading presidential candidates – Romney, Obama and Gov. Gary Johnson.
If they’re worried about high government spending, try showing them how much the Romney/Ryan plan would drive up federal government spending.
If they’re anti-war, try showing them this video.
If they’re Ron Paul fans or want to end the Federal Reserve, link them to this video.
And if they like to lighten up -- or if they’re horrified by bank bailouts -- send them this graphic:

Or heck, just forward this email to them.
Don’t keep this a secret. Don’t be stingy. Don’t hoard it --  share it. Spread it around-- and ask the people in your life to vote Libertarian. The Mainstream Media won't do it. But you can.
It may be the most important thing you’ll do today.
Yours in Liberty,
Carla Howell
Executive Director
National Libertarian Party 

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2600 Virginia Ave, N.W. Suite 200, Washington D.C. 20037
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Dear Fellow Libertarian,
Are YOU willing to do something simple, but powerful today – to make a Big, Big, Big Difference for liberty and the Libertarian Party in Tuesday’s Presidential Election?
We have only 4 days left to Get Out the Libertarian Vote – for Our 567 Libertarian Party Candidates

• “Your Libertarian Presidential candidate Gov. Gary Johnson could change the outcome in several Battleground/Tipping Point states. No guarantees, but it’s very, very possible,” say 7 pollsters and 13 Republican Campaign Operatives.

• 5 nationwide Presidential polls found that 3% to 6% of likely voters plan to vote for Libertarian Presidential candidate Governor Gary Johnson.

• Razor’s edge close, Tipping Point states – New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, and Nevada – Gov. Gary Johnson is polling 2% to 10.6%. Enough to determine the results of the Presidential vote.

But the Only Way This Makes a Difference Is…
IF you and I Get Out the Libertarian Vote for November 6th.
IF you and I and our fellow Libertarian Party members and supporters get our voters to go to the polls and vote Libertarian.
Election Day is the ONLY Poll that Counts.
Are you boiling mad with the Big Government Politicians folding, shredding, and mutilating liberty?
Are you fed up with knee-buckling, back-breaking Big Government Taxes, Borrowing, Spending, Legislation, Regulations, and Mandates? Are your family, friends, and neighbors?
Are you straining, sweating, and bleeding week after week to shoulder the ever-heavier burden of Big Government?
You can make this stop. You can turn it around.
With your Libertarian Vote – and by helping us to get other Libertarian voters to the polls for November 6th.
Your vote is your voice. When you vote Libertarian.
Want to tell the Washington politicians you’re not going to take it anymore?
Want to Send Them a Message They Can’t Ignore? A Message They’ll Never Forget?
Help us Get Out the Libertarian Party Vote – during these irreplaceable last 4 days until November 6th.
You are one of 93,000 Libertarians receiving this email message.
There are 282,357 registered Libertarian Party voters in America. (Only 30 states permit us to resister Libertarian.)
2,100,000+ votes were cast for Dr. Ron Paul, our friend and hero, in the Republican Presidential primaries. Congressman Ron Paul and Governor Gary Johnson are both champions of individual liberty and the Constitution. They are implacable foes of Big Government. Brothers in arms for freedom and small government.
Over 67% of polled Ron Paul activists plan to vote for Libertarian Presidential candidate Governor Gary Johnson – BECAUSE a vote for Gary Johnson is a Vote for Ron Paul.
PLUS there are several million uncompromising Tea Partiers and Independents and new libertarians.

But None of these Numbers Make any Difference –

UNLESS you and I and our fellow Libertarian Party members and supporters contact and connect and convince them to go to the polls and vote Libertarian. 
For our Libertarian Presidential Ticket of Governor Gary Johnson and Judge Jim Gray
For our 567 Libertarian Party candidates on the November 6th Ballot.
What We Must Do These Last 4 Days before Election Day.
We must notify or remind every Libertarian to vote. To vote early if they can – in case something comes up on November 6th.
We must publicize and advertise and mobilize every libertarian or libertarian-leaning voter, every Tea Party voter, every Ron Paul or Ron Paul-leaning voter, every Gary Johnson or Gary Johnson-leaning voter to vote for Governor Gary Johnson for President – and vote for every Libertarian Party candidate on the ballot in their state.
We must send a loud and clear call-to-action to several million people these last 7 days.
We must raise $70,000 to $90,000 during these 7 days to have a chance to get the lion’s share of these likely Libertarian voters to the Polls.
Everything that Gary Johnson has done this year, Everything that our 567 Libertarian Party candidates have done this year…DEPENDS on what YOU and I do now. DEPENDS on whether we can contact and connect and convince over a million of us to show up and vote on November 6th.
You and I and our fellow Libertarians can seize this huge opportunity – IF we pour it on these last 4 days before Election Day.
We must move fast – to give YOU the maximum Libertarian votes from this 4-day surge.
Will you help us massively boost our outreach now, our Get Out the Libertarian Vote Avalanche of Activism, pump up our blog promos NOW?
Now is the time. Every dollar you donate -  gives 10  times the impact.
If you can possibly donate $10,000 or $5,000 or $2,500 now, you can make a huge difference now. Will you please make this generous donation today?
Will you, can you donate $1,500 or $850 now – during these maximum-impact last 4-days?
If you can contribute $250 or $500 today, will you please?
Or $35 or $85 or $150. Won’t you please help us help you advance liberty?
Please either click and donate now or mail your donation to the address below with "Get out the Libertarian Vote" in the memo.
We Must raise $70,000 to $90,000 in these last 4 days – to send the Big Government Politicians a Message They Can’t Ignore: Liberty is On the Rise.
Your donation delivers Libertarian votes this November 6th. Thank you.
Yours in liberty,

Carla Howell, Executive Director
Libertarian Party
P.S. We only have 4 days left to Get Out the Libertarian Vote. We’re nearly broke.  Please help our Libertarian Party candidates campaign, get publicity and news coverage, and get votes - NOW.  Will you please donate $25 or $50 or $100 or $1,000. Your donation is our budget.

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Who Is Gary Johnson? And Why Is the GOP So Mad at Him?

By Joel Stein from TIME Magazine at www.time.com Nov. 01, 2012

Michael Friberg for TIME

Johnson bodysurfs the crowd at a recent town-hall meeting in Salt Lake City

As soon as libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson rolls up to the restaurant in Scottsdale, Ariz., his driver, Tom Mahon, jumps out of his seat and hands me a Sharpie. Mahon says that as a libertarian, he wants me to sign the campaign vehicle wherever I like and write whatever I like. So just below Johnson’s head, I write, “I didn’t do this,” and draw an arrow toward the mustache, beard and marijuana cigarette already on Johnson’s face. Being a true libertarian means driving around in a van with graffiti on your face.
Johnson isn’t one of those incapable, extremist, wacky, millionaire third-party candidates. He is extremist: he wants to abolish the IRS, legalize marijuana and allow the private sector to create competing currencies. Sure, he’s a little wacky: he’s finished 75 triathlons, climbed Mount Everest eight weeks after breaking his leg in a skiing accident and crashed while paragliding. And yeah, he’s a millionaire: in 1999 he got $10 million for a handyman business he started his junior year of college and built into a 1,000-employee construction firm.

But he’s capable. As a Republican, he won two terms as governor of New Mexico with no prior political experience, eliminating the deficit and creating a surplus before leaving office in 2003 with high approval ratings—which he recovered after dipping 30 points when he talked about drug legalization. “Ron Paul is a social conservative,” he says. “I’m not. Ron Paul would talk about legalizing marijuana, but he’s never smoked marijuana.”
For months, as Johnson ran in the Republican presidential primary, the GOP ignored him as best it could, hoping he’d just go away. Then he did, leaving the Republicans to join the Libertarians. When I ran into him at the GOP convention in Tampa, Johnson looked like a man far removed from his former party, blocks from the convention center, standing on a street corner in front of a Hooters doing interviews.
The GOP isn’t ignoring him anymore. Now that Johnson is threatening to siphon votes from Mitt Romney in close elections in Colorado and Nevada (he’s also on the ballot in 46 other states and Washington, D.C.), Republicans are doing whatever they can to limit his appeal. Michigan party officials kept him off the ballot because he filed his paperwork three minutes late. In Pennsylvania, the GOP hired a private detective who went to canvassers’ homes and flashed his old FBI badge before questioning the signatures they collected, a lawyer for Johnson’s campaign alleged. The state GOP and the investigator denied doing anything improper. (On Oct. 10 a judge decided that Johnson will be on the Pennsylvania ballot.) The experience has left Johnson, 59, alienated from some of his old comrades—which, it turns out, he doesn’t mind at all. “Going to Republican events, as I did a zillion times, I listened to Republican candidates do their spiel. I cringed at a lot of what they said, whether it was abortion, the terrorist threat, the homophobia, the ‘illegal immigrant is the source of all our problems’—man, that stuff made me crazy. The kook element of the Libertarians gets up, and I don’t cringe.”
Johnson lacks the passion of fellow Libertarian Ron Paul, but he projects far more humanity. Born in Minot, N.D., Johnson was a George McGovern–supporting anti–Vietnam War pot smoker who went to high school and college in New Mexico and started his empire as a door-to-door handyman. He still has a Midwesterner’s accent and decency: he says things like “holy cow” and “Katie, bar the door.” His running mate, Jim Gray, a former California Superior Court judge whom Johnson met at a drug-legalization conference, says Johnson often seems to lack ego. “He said to me, ‘If, during the campaign, you have different ideas than I do, feel free to say that publicly.’”

Johnson is running a tiny operation, flying commercial and carrying his luggage to avoid bag-checking fees. He’s spent a lot of his limited cash (he had $29,173 left at the end of September) suing to get on the ballot and doesn’t have a lot left to run his campaign, much less buy TV ads. “Fifty people a day are calling our office, offering to do anything for free. And we don’t have the resources to tap into them,” he says.
Not that anyone could really organize Johnson’s “coalition” anyway. After our dinner, a couple hundred people gather on a lawn at Arizona State University, which is pretty impressive, since it’s 100°F. The crowd: tatted-up students with marijuana-legalization shirts, young parents with little kids wearing Ron Paul shirts, crusty old men applauding wildly when warm-up speakers mention economist and austerity guru Friedrich Hayek, Constitution freaks with the Preamble on their shirts, guys selling cards with bits of silver who want to get us back to hard currency, a few Latinos who feel strongly about the Dream Act, antiwar activists in peace T-shirts. Libertarianism is the smallest big tent in the world.
Johnson isn’t the strongest speaker. After being introduced by Barry Goldwater Jr.—who recently endorsed Mitt Romney—Johnson opens with “So” and then talks about how even a homeless person could solve the country’s problems, but, unlike a homeless person, he is qualified. He says many things that no winning presidential politician has ever said: “I didn’t create one single new job in New Mexico. The private sector creates jobs!” followed shortly by a boast about how many liberty torches the ACLU has awarded him. It feels less like he’s running for President than for student president of the University of Chicago.
As he leaves the stage and heads to the airport so he can fly to the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, he reflects on his chances. “I’m planning to exceed expectations,” he says with a smile. “Which are zero.”