The Conservative Case for a Gary Johnson Third-Party Run | ConservativeHQ.com - Andrew Davis:
November 29, 2011 - "In 2010, the Tea Party showed the Republican Establishment just how powerful it was.... However, the lessons of 2010 seem to have faded, and Republican leaders are back to their old tricks.
"What will it take to get them to listen to the grassroots? Nothing short of removing the power they’ve used to stay at the top.
"That is where Johnson comes in. His mass appeal, especially to fiscal conservatives who feel betrayed by the Republican leadership’s wishy-washy stance on spending cuts, ... could be doomsday for a content-free Republican candidate.
"This is what has the Republican establishment abuzz -- especially since they were the ones who forced Johnson into this position.
"Should Johnson run as a Libertarian, the only way to neutralize his campaign would be to nominate a fiscally conservative equal like Ron Paul, or have Paul as a Vice Presidential candidate. However, Paul is no favorite to the establishment, and has been boxed-out of the nomination process nearly as much as Johnson (although Paul was allowed to appear on stage at the debates).
"Without question, third-party candidacies -- even Johnson’s -- will likely never have much of a chance to win outright as long as ballot access laws inhibit the ability of third parties to participate equally in the democratic process. However, this is not to say that strong third-party bids are without purpose, and can’t be used as weapons to effect positive change within the major two parties. While Johnson’s third-party bid may be a long-shot electorally, its potential to weaken -- if not destroy -- the Republican establishment is much more real.
"Support of Johnson would not even have to be an endorsement of the Libertarian Party, or of third parties in general. It could simply be a wake-up call to the Republican establishment that their time has come, and that conservatives are no longer satisfied with candidates simply because they have an “R” next to their names."
Read more: http://www.conservativehq.com/article/5665-conservative-case-gary-johnson-third-party-run
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"What will it take to get them to listen to the grassroots? Nothing short of removing the power they’ve used to stay at the top.
"That is where Johnson comes in. His mass appeal, especially to fiscal conservatives who feel betrayed by the Republican leadership’s wishy-washy stance on spending cuts, ... could be doomsday for a content-free Republican candidate.
"This is what has the Republican establishment abuzz -- especially since they were the ones who forced Johnson into this position.
"Should Johnson run as a Libertarian, the only way to neutralize his campaign would be to nominate a fiscally conservative equal like Ron Paul, or have Paul as a Vice Presidential candidate. However, Paul is no favorite to the establishment, and has been boxed-out of the nomination process nearly as much as Johnson (although Paul was allowed to appear on stage at the debates).
"Without question, third-party candidacies -- even Johnson’s -- will likely never have much of a chance to win outright as long as ballot access laws inhibit the ability of third parties to participate equally in the democratic process. However, this is not to say that strong third-party bids are without purpose, and can’t be used as weapons to effect positive change within the major two parties. While Johnson’s third-party bid may be a long-shot electorally, its potential to weaken -- if not destroy -- the Republican establishment is much more real.
"Support of Johnson would not even have to be an endorsement of the Libertarian Party, or of third parties in general. It could simply be a wake-up call to the Republican establishment that their time has come, and that conservatives are no longer satisfied with candidates simply because they have an “R” next to their names."
Read more: http://www.conservativehq.com/article/5665-conservative-case-gary-johnson-third-party-run
'via Blog this'