Barr secures Libertarian Party nod; looks to affect ‘08 election

[one...two...tree 2,762]

DENVER (AP) — The Libertarian Party on Sunday picked former Republican Rep. Bob Barr to be its presidential candidate after six rounds of balloting.

Barr beat research scientist Mary Ruwart, who also sought the party's presidential nomination unsuccessfully in 1983, on the final ballot. The vote was 324-276.

Barr endorsed Wayne Allyn Root, who was eliminated in the fifth round, to be his vice-presidential nominee.

Barr left the GOP in 2006 over what he called bloated spending and civil liberties intrusions by the Bush administration.

The former Georgia congressman said he's not in the race to be a spoiler.

"I'm a competitor and I'm in this to win. I do not view the role of the Libertarian Party to be a spoiler and I certainly have no intention of being a spoiler," Barr said.

Barr said he expects the party to be on the ballot in at least 48 states and perhaps all 50 if the party can qualify in West Virginia and Oklahoma. Barr said he also expects to be invited to the national political debates by qualifying with poll support of 15 percent or more of registered voters.

Sunday's election also marked the end of the latest chapter in the political career of Mike Gravel, a former senator from Alaska who recently dropped out of the Democratic presidential race.

"I just ended my political career," he said. "From 15 years old to now, my political career is over, and it's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die."

Gravel left the Democratic Party after he was excluded from some Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds. He said the Democratic Party no longer represented his values because it continues to sustain Iraq war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h__Y67I...RNfqYwD90T730G0

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

DENVER (AP) — The Libertarian Party on Sunday picked former Republican Rep. Bob Barr to be its presidential candidate after six rounds of balloting.

Barr beat research scientist Mary Ruwart, who also sought the party's presidential nomination unsuccessfully in 1983, on the final ballot. The vote was 324-276.

Barr endorsed Wayne Allyn Root, who was eliminated in the fifth round, to be his vice-presidential nominee.

Barr left the GOP in 2006 over what he called bloated spending and civil liberties intrusions by the Bush administration.

The former Georgia congressman said he's not in the race to be a spoiler.

yup

[dalegg 143]

I think Barr's time is here. We haven't had a President with a mustache for almost 100 years, and its good to see another whisker man taking a shot.

For a Libertarian he's got some quirky positions though, being Pro-Life and having voted for the Patriot Act and the Defense of Marriage Act. If by some stroke of wild imagination he was ever to get in a debate he'd be branded quickly with the deadly flip flop label.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think Barr's time is here. We haven't had a President with a mustache for almost 100 years, and its good to see another whisker man taking a shot.

For a Libertarian he's got some quirky positions though, being Pro-Life and having voted for the Patriot Act and the Defense of Marriage Act. If by some stroke of wild imagination he was ever to get in a debate he'd be branded quickly with the deadly flip flop label.

I watched a little bit of the Libertarian debates/selection process. The party is a long way off from being mainstream...about 3/4th's of candidates came across as loony.

[dalegg 143]

I think Barr's time is here. We haven't had a President with a mustache for almost 100 years, and its good to see another whisker man taking a shot.

For a Libertarian he's got some quirky positions though, being Pro-Life and having voted for the Patriot Act and the Defense of Marriage Act. If by some stroke of wild imagination he was ever to get in a debate he'd be branded quickly with the deadly flip flop label.

I watched a little bit of the Libertarian debates/selection process. The party is a long way off from being mainstream...about 3/4th's of candidates came across as loony.

Yeah me too. C-SPAN. I especially loved the part where they called out for the delegate votes from each state and they missed a couple states until one guy in a fishing hat called the chairman on it. ooops.

[Jenn! 918]

"I just ended my political career," he said. "From 15 years old to now, my political career is over, and it's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die."

Gravel left the Democratic Party after he was excluded from some Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds. He said the Democratic Party no longer represented his values because it continues to sustain Iraq war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism.

I Gravel.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"I just ended my political career," he said. "From 15 years old to now, my political career is over, and it's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die."

Gravel left the Democratic Party after he was excluded from some Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds. He said the Democratic Party no longer represented his values because it continues to sustain Iraq war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism.

I Gravel.

He's nutty, Jenn. He may espouse views that agree with, but the guy has got a few loose screws.

[Jenn! 918]

"I just ended my political career," he said. "From 15 years old to now, my political career is over, and it's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die."

Gravel left the Democratic Party after he was excluded from some Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds. He said the Democratic Party no longer represented his values because it continues to sustain Iraq war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism.

I Gravel.

He's nutty, Jenn. He may espouse views that agree with, but the guy has got a few loose screws.

That's your opinion, Steven.

I haven't seen anything that would make me characterize him as "nutty". I guess maybe I am "nutty" as well.

Edited May 27, 2008 by Jenn!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"I just ended my political career," he said. "From 15 years old to now, my political career is over, and it's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die."

Gravel left the Democratic Party after he was excluded from some Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds. He said the Democratic Party no longer represented his values because it continues to sustain Iraq war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism.

I Gravel.

He's nutty, Jenn. He may espouse views that agree with, but the guy has got a few loose screws.

That's your opinion, Steven.

I haven't seen anything that would make me characterize him as "nutty". I guess maybe I am "nutty" as well.

I watched him in the debates. He'd start ranting almost incoherently and was non-congenial, like a grumpy old man. Just my impression though.

[Jenn! 918]

"I just ended my political career," he said. "From 15 years old to now, my political career is over, and it's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die."

Gravel left the Democratic Party after he was excluded from some Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds. He said the Democratic Party no longer represented his values because it continues to sustain Iraq war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism.

I Gravel.

He's nutty, Jenn. He may espouse views that agree with, but the guy has got a few loose screws.

That's your opinion, Steven.

I haven't seen anything that would make me characterize him as "nutty". I guess maybe I am "nutty" as well.

I watched him in the debates. He'd start ranting almost incoherently and was non-congenial, like a grumpy old man. Just my impression though.

I also watched him in the debates. I got an entirely different impression.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

The question becomes how much will Bob Bar effect Sen. McCain's run for the white house?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The question becomes how much will Bob Bar effect Sen. McCain's run for the white house?

Well, he sure won't be helping the old man. Could tip a couple swingers away from him. Go Bob!

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

"I just ended my political career," he said. "From 15 years old to now, my political career is over, and it's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die."

Gravel left the Democratic Party after he was excluded from some Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds. He said the Democratic Party no longer represented his values because it continues to sustain Iraq war, the military-industrial complex and imperialism.

I Gravel.

He's nutty, Jenn. He may espouse views that agree with, but the guy has got a few loose screws.

That's your opinion, Steven.

I haven't seen anything that would make me characterize him as "nutty". I guess maybe I am "nutty" as well.

I watched him in the debates. He'd start ranting almost incoherently and was non-congenial, like a grumpy old man. Just my impression though.