Via Alasdair Watson, we have this fine campaign video starring Mike “The Latest Crazy Old Guy To Be The Libertarian Party Candidate For President” Gravel. (I think it’s a rule that the Libertarian candidate has to be at least 65, white, and unreasonably privileged.) I know it’s a trial, but try to watch the whole thing. You will not in any way feel as if your time has been completely wasted, I promise! (For given value of “completely wasted,” of course.)
For a real treat, click to the Youtube site and read the comments, which like all libertarian gathering points are the usual clustering repetition of Ayn Rand and Ludwig von Mises quotes, none of which actually address the salient point that the video is fucking insane and presents no actual argument worth mentioning. (But of course, the wisdom of libertarianism is self-evident, you see.)
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I’m a little sad that he’s going for the Libertarian nomination, instead of the Greens or something. All the web polls told me that he was the guy I should vote for after Kucinich gets assassinated or whatever.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=551330&in_page_id=1811
Rex the Wonder dog! He exists!
Libertarianism was best described to me on an Atheist website as an admission to the fact that the American government is corrupted by corporate influences and as such, the only Libertarian solution is to get rid of government and hand everything over to the corporate lobbyists.
Although, it was through Libertarianism that I learned an important lesson. It is entirely possible for people to be intelligent in one area and be complete morons in all other aspects.
Libertarians are entirely responsible for the fact that I’ve voted for the occasional Republican. Because when the choices are the republican incumbent who is not batshit insane (say, Senator John Warner, ex husband of Elizabeth Taylor) and the Libertarian Candidate?
I’m going to vote for the non-batshit republican. Just to guarantee the libertarian doesn’t get the seat.
There is another group that is even nutter. I’m totally blanking on the name. Half libertarian, half cult. All wackadoodles.
Are you referring to Lyndon LyRouche and his merry band of lackwits? (Bravely fighting the Anglo-American conspiracy!)
MY LIFE HAS CHANGED
I envision a new trend of Beatles-cover political ads: McCain’s “I am the Walrus,” Clinton’s “Eleanor Rigby,” Obama’s “Come Together.” We can do retroactive ones, too: JFK’s “Across the Universe.”
That’s just so bad…
Mike Gravel is already the best Libertarian candidate for President ever.
…wow…..
Link’s broken.
I’m at least pleased that the quotes don’t include quotes from Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth. It’s Randian fan fiction with swords and painfully transparent slams at every political system ever.
And rape LEGIONS. Not just rape gangs. Not rape battalions. Not rape armies. Rape. Legions.
It’s Manson-rific!
Is this kind of the same thing where teenage wannabe ‘punk’ anarchists can’t get it through their thick skulls that the first order of anarchy will be for me to take all their shit and leave them crying and homeless?
(Lamentations of their women, etc etc)
MDK: Pretty much.
Basically these libertarian nuts want a completely free market (abolishing the FDA, the ATF, and all anti-trust laws), all the social freedoms (all drug laws repealed, no religious based laws) and they don’t want to pay any taxes to protect their “freedoms” because all the gun bans will be lifted.
And they think this will all work out because true Libertarians simply wont be able to take advantage of other people (kinda like Nancy Reagan believing hard core drug addicts will go cold turkey because she said “Just Say No”). Libertarianism is as socially naive as Communism is economically naive.
Let me know when you make a raid. I’ll cover your flank.
…What the fuck? When did Gravel start courting the Libertarian party?
I mean, I like Gravel (well, what I’ve read/understand about his positions–his ads are amusingly crazy, I admit)… but the Libertarian party is fucking nuts. I’ve got some Libertarian leanings, sure, but the Libertarian Party…
Maybe they should rename themselves the AnarchoCapitalist Party, that seems more accurate (and more readily signals their insanity).
So is he running for president, or running for William Shatner?
Ok, so now that the video’s back, I have to ask. Does Libertarianism advocate race war?
As a rule, Libertarianism seems to advocate anything that keeps black people “in their place.” But don’t worry, it’s not like they’re racist or anything… it’s just that their political platforms are, in thought and deed, entirely indistinguishable from those of racists. So, you know, entirely different.
I never heard that Clayton. Though they do tend to feel that somehow racism and other forms of elitism should subside naturally once everyone is free and all taxes and the social programs they fund are abolished.
Libertarianism is a pet peeve of mine. What truly shocks me though, is how deeply these crackpots will cling to it… even tighter than a southern baptist to an inappropriately-placed monument of the ten commandments.
Zenrage:
You said exactly the same thing that I would have if I didn’t go into blind liberal rage every time I hear the word “libertarian.” But I do think it’s important to note just how many racists there are who advocate libertarian “principles” to further their own goals.
Oh I’m sure they do, Clayton. Its a political philosophy that doesn’t do anything to prevent the social application of irrational ideas, like racial bigotry, because that (by Libertarian standards) would infringe on people’s freedoms.