Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
If Ron Paul Isn't Nominated, Christine Smith Would Be A Good Alternative Ron Paul has consistently stated that he will not run as a third-party candidate. If he isn't nominated by the Republicans, there is an alternative candidate to consider...but she needs help now in order to be available later.by Walt Thiessen
(Libertarian)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
One of the biggest questions that supporters of Liberty may face this year is...what happens if Ron Paul is not nominated by the Republicans? I join many of you in hoping that he does win the nomination, but if we're honest with ourselves, we have to admit that there is at least a decent chance he might not win it. What then?
Clearly, the revolution won't end, but it will need a new candidate for 2008. Dr. Paul has made it eminently clear that he will not seek a third-party nomination. I can't say I blame him. He already ran as the Libertarian nominee in 1988, and he knows first-hand how frustrating such a run can be. If he doesn't run as a third-party candidate, and if he doesn't win the Republican nomination, the Liberty-movement needs an alternative candidate, a backup, to support in November 2008.
I recommend Christine Smith as a good backup. Most people have never heard of her, but she is a candidate for the Libertarian Party's nomination next year. There are a number of declared candidates for that party's nomination, but of the group Ms. Smith is (to my mind) the best option. I don't agree with her on every issue. I don't agree with Dr. Paul on every issue either. However, I'm not interested in supporting only candidates whom I agree with 100%, because there isn't anyone out there who is just like me....which is probably just as well!
What I do know about Christine Smith is that she is very strong on the key issues.
She wants us to get out of Iraq and to bring our troops home from around the world.
She is committed to defending America's shores.
She wants to end foreign aid.
She is opposed to NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO, etc. and favors free trade instead.
She is a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment.
She wants smaller government and wants to end government overspending, eliminate the IRS, and abolish unconstitutional programs.
She wants to abolish the Federal Reserve and restore hard currency.
She pledges to veto every unconstitutional bill presented to her by Congress.
She opposes Real ID.
She favors restoring and protecting the Bill of Rights.
She opposes Federal discriminatory practices such as affirmative action and quotas, and she opposes preferential treatment.
She opposes the use of torture under any circumstances.
She wants to end Federal involvement in education.
She wants to restore control to parents on subjects such as religion, choice of schools, choice of curricula, etc.
She'll fight all forms of pollution by the Federal government, noting correctly that it is the #1 polluter in the world.
Smith has been particularly effective at getting herself onto talk radio, talking to millions of people across the country on numerous occasions. She told me in a phone conversation earlier today that she gets really energized when she hears the responses she receives from talk radio listeners to her message of liberty.
And let's be honest...most of us would like to see a woman president one day, but who wants the first one to be Hillary Clinton? Yuck!
As you can see, there is plenty here for all of us to support, to rally behind Christine Smith. But unfortunately it's not enough to simply say that she makes a good backup to Dr. Paul. The reality is that she still has to seek the Libertarian Party's nomination, and there are nearly a dozen candidates running against her...and she's out of money. I personally believe she is the best of the group of alternatives within the LP, but she doesn't have a group of grassroots supporters like Dr. Paul has to organize large money bomb campaigns for her. She has raised some money, but the demands of flying around the country to speak at Libertarian state conventions have eliminated what she has been able to collect so far, and without a quick influx of cash coming really soon, she'll be forced to withdraw from the LP nomination race.
Undoubtedly, the Libertarian Party will choose somebody as its nominee, but I submit that if we have the opportunity to keep the best candidate in the pack still in the race, and it only takes a little extra donation from all those who have already contributed to Dr. Paul's campaign, isn't it worth it to try to keep the best option available?
I think it's worth it. In fact, if for some reason Dr. Paul is unable to win the Republican nomination, I think it's essential. So much has been achieved due to his candidacy. It would be a shame if the energy his campaign has built up were lost simply because there was no really good option for his supporters afterward.
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2007 Walt Thiessen, all rights reserved.
Published: Thursday, November 29, 2007
Last modified: Thursday, November 29, 2007
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Just wanted to say that I agree with you. I investigated the various Libertarian candidates a few weeks ago and came away with the same opinion of Christine Smith. To me she came across as both a compelling and committed devotee to the cause of liberty, and definitely worth a look.
Yeah! great idea..Thats all we need someone who has never been in a battle, makes big promises with no track record. Ron Paul will not run as a third party canidate because if he ever gets even a little bit air time he kicks butt and brings home the supporters. Ron Paul will win, he will capture the hearts and minds of the American people who see, everything he has being talking about coming to be before their eyes. Platform planks are great but you need to be a statesman too and he has everything we need to be on top.
Posted By: Michael McDonnough
Date: 2007-11-29 14:27:49
Walt,
While I agree that her platform is fairly in line with that of Ron Paul I, like the last poster must contend that someone with experience in public office or in the operation of a large enterprise of some sort would be required to lead this nation.
Ron Paul has the voice and the experience and the credibility to lead the nation into this new century but as much as I like Christine she should try and run for Governor of a state or perhaps the senate before trying to enter the race for the Presidency of the United States.
They call Ron Paul's run for the Presidency quixotic how do you think they would characterize Christine's?
My States primary is late, and if Ron drops out by then, I am going to vote for the biggest, most evil crook on that stage, the one that will NUKE IRAN, and spend this country into irreversible bankruptcy. At this point, I am not sure if it's Gouliani or McCain.
Then when the race is down to Hillary or Rudy McRomneson, it doesn't matter who wins at that point, they are all NeoCons. War will be eminent with IRAN, and soon we will be competing for jobs with former illegals because they will receive amnesty due to the North American Union.
Finally, when the dollar is inflated sky high, and the working class has to work two jobs just to put food on the damn table, and may even risk loosing their jobs to China or former illegals, I will laugh in everyone's sad, solmn faces and tell them they got what they wanted.
I was watching the post debate interview and the commetator tried to get Paul to say that he would not seek a 3rd party ticket 100% and Paul said he really didn't want to run in a third party ticket but would not give a 100% no. Just would say one day at a time. So I think he is pondering it if the primaries look promising.
I wish the Libertarian party all the best. I worked with the Reform party back in the days of Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan. It eventually imploded with unresolved social issues that eclipsed the message of smaller government. I've come to the conclusion that the message of minarchy and lesser intervention needs to be infused into both existing political parties. But what do I know?
Don't be fooled by Paul's very wise response to a third-party run. The premature acceptance of a third-party candidacy would utterly ruin his already small chance of winning the nomination. He will, in fact, run as an independent. His unsuccessful bid in 1988(something he says, rightfully, that he would not like to do again) was absent of the possible 50 million or more he would have in the bank. Perot won nearly 20% in 1992, spending 60 million. Paul, in my humble opinion, could out-fund that Perot campaign and beat that 20%. The American public WILL NOT vote in another Bush(Hillary? Giuliani?). In conclusion, the race will not end with a republican nomination.
Posted By: Christine Smith
Date: 2007-11-30 12:16:22
Dear Ron Paul Supporters & Mr. Thiessen:
I thank Mr. Thiessen for his endorsement and his excellent article. It meant much to me.
A couple nights ago, because of the GOP debate, I was both happy and disappointed.
Happy, because Ron Paul was able to again advance liberty with his uncompromising get out of Iraq message & happy because he was the only candidate to eloquently clearly state tax cuts happen only with spending cuts, and express other principled statements of the platform so many of us appreciate and agree with. I particularly liked it when he said, "The real question you have to ask is why do I get the most money from active duty officers and military personnel?" That put everything into perfect perspective.
But also I was disappointed, again, because Ron Paul seemed to be given so very little time to talk.
Then, I woke the next morning morning to an email message from a devoted Ron Paul supporter, Walt Thiessen. After all the hard campaigning I've been doing this past week, receiving such a nice note from another one of Dr. Paul's supporters was a pleasant and welcome surprise.
Ron Paul supporters have been the most enthusiastic political campaigners I've ever witnessed. I've had the pleasure of meeting many at the 5 Libertarian Conventions I've already attended.
I think it's fantastic to see such political enthusiasm and fervor for the only major party candidate who speaks for liberty! Frankly, I never thought I'd see the day when a GOP candidate shared so much libertarianism with the whole country. That's something for all to be grateful for.
And though we all hope Ron Paul gets the GOP nomination (and do not want to think about the alternative), Mr. Thiessen has chosen to also endorse me.
Needless to say, I was deeply touched, as I realize nobody wants to think about what happens if Ron Paul doesn't get the nomination--and certainly not someone who is supporting Dr. Paul as strongly as Mr. Thiessen is.
Mr. Thiessen's support for me now, while still being a devoted Ron Paul supporter, is very encouraging.
Yes, I'm a Libertarian presidential candidate and I want to see the LP survive and grow stronger, but I am also (and foremost) an advocate of liberty.
Thus, I appreciate Dr. Paul bringing libertarianism to the American people as no one has ever done before.
Thank you to those of you who choose to support both of us. I am both pleased and grateful to be your second choice.
I also invite those who wonder about the LP and third party politics to read my recent article "I Will Not Compromise -An Open Letter to libertarians"...it expresses my pondering/wondering and watching of the LP as well...and is based on my own experiences as well as what others have shared with me (including Ron Paul supporters who I deeply respect who left the LP)...thus, I invite those interested to read my essay at:
Posted By: Walt Thiessen
Date: 2007-12-01 09:15:40
Hi Maria,
Many of George Phillies' positions on the issues are good ones, and I believe that at heart he is a mostly good libertarian. However, I remember that Mr. Phillies was also a hit man against a really great libertarian, the late Harry Browne. You can read Harry's own response to Mr. Phillies and judge for yourself.
In my opinion, Browne was a better libertarian than Phillies has ever been, and I don't believe that libertarians who actively engage in hack attacks on their own party's candidates during an election cycle deserve any support from libertarians when they themselves become candidates, do you?
I don't think it's any coincidence that Mr. Phillies is a perennial also-ran in the LP presidential races. He has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth, and some very strange things have come out of it at times. I've heard that his speaking ability has improved over time, to his credit. However, given his previous history, I would need to hear a lot more from him before I could be convinced that he is a better candidate than Ms. Smith.
Yes, yes, Ron Paul supporters, urge your man to run as a 3rd party candidate for President. This will mean he'll have to give up his Congressional seat here in South Texas, much to the great relief of mostly all of his constituents.
Most TX CD-14 voters are in open rebellion against Paul. They're absolutely embarrassed to have him as their representative.
Even Ron Paul's own local GOP Chairwoman has come out against him. And she's a longtime friend of Paul's going back 30 years!
Save us from Ron Paul! Urge your man to run on the 3rd party line for President in '08.
Couple corrections and notes:
George Phillies has never run for President before.
Harry Browne was indeed a bunco artist who scammed hundreds of thousands of dollars out of naiive LP contributors. Plus, he wasn't even a libertarian. The guy was a flaming Anarchist with a Capital 'A'.
Christine Smith has never even been elected Dog Catcher. The Libertarian Party currently has over 400 elected officials nationwide, including County Supervisors, Judges, Town Mayors and scores of City Councilmen. Any one of them would be 100 times more qualified to represent the Libertarian Party than Ms. Smith.
Hell, why doesn't the LP run Ed Thompson of Wisconsin? He's a City Councilman, former Mayor, and brother of a nationally known politician. That would be a hoot.
Please tell me where this attitude that American men have, that a woman can't be cute and smart at the same time? I see it all the time. My granny said that a 'pretty girl who is smart can rule the world' I think Ms Christine Smith is just that kinda girl. She's got the brains, she's got the priniciples. I think she would give Congress FITS if she were to be elected! (Wouldn't be anything the Supreme Court would do as it would all be constitutional).
The perfect presidential ticket? The one that I would bet my next child support check on? Dr. Ron Paul as pres, Ms Christine Smith as V.P. Think about it. His experience, her looks, both of their brains... it would be UNBEATABLE.
Read some of the bio on Ms Smith. She's founded and ran several charitiable organizations that help homeless, incarcerted, etc. She could probley figure out how to handle the fed budget while keeping the overhead cost low (that's what charities have to do). Listen to her speak. Read what she wrote. I've never met her in person, but I can tell that she is a smart, articulate person who will get the job done. So what if she's never been elected dog catcher? Neither had Washington when he became president.
Question is, do we want a candidate who will stand by the principles that we as Americans SHOULD hold dear, or do we want someone to represent us that will bend and sway with what ever wind of change Congress can bluster up?
Do you really want to keep voting for lawyers? Career politicians? Movie actors? They do not represent ME. Ms Smith represents ME. Everyday people... she represents you as well.
"Mostly all of [Dr. Paul's] constituents," according to some guy on the Internet, oppose their House representative. This must explain why this "mostly all" always votes for his opponent...oh, wait. That doesn't happen, for if it did, he wouldn't win repeatedly.
As for Mr. Browne, I fail to see how someone who supported taxes (albeit very little) was an anarchist.
There is no such thing as an "anarchist with a capital 'A.'"
Finally, Ms. Smith is a great candidate, especially for "any woman but Clinton" voters.
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2007 Walt Thiessen, all rights reserved.