Showing posts with label November. Show all posts
Showing posts with label November. Show all posts

Monday, June 27, 2016

Gary Johnson Could Officially be on the Ballot in Every State

News is coming in from across the country reporting Gary on the ballot officially. Vermont and Illinois are among those verifying his slot. Johnson himself has come forward to state he will be on the ballot in all 50 states.


So what does this mean for those of us backing the LP ticket this year? It's been said in the past that if Gary can win his home state of New Mexico that he has a chance at the presidency. Emerging polls indicate that Johnson could not only win electoral votes (something that independent candidate Ross Perot never achieved, despite winning nearly 19% of the popular vote in 1992), but could also—in admittedly extraordinary, but nonetheless possible, circumstances—win the presidency itself.

Some may scoff at this idea since even 12% in the latest Fox News poll seems a long way from victory, and it is. But naysayers are forgetting that Johnson’s target isn’t 50% plus one, as is the case in most two-way races. Trump and Clinton are polling in the 20’s and 30’s when respondents are specifically offered Johnson as an alternative, meaning he could win a state with as little as 34% of the vote, or thereabouts.

Johnson is polling especially well in Utah, one of the few states to show us more localized results. The 1,519 registered voters were first asked about Trump and Clinton, as well as a generic “other” option. 36% chose Trump, 29% Clinton, and 35% other. That alone is promising; considering the 2.5% margin of error, “other” could win Utah. But when respondents were offered Gary Johnson in addition to “other,” support for Trump and Clinton dropped to 29% and 26%, respectively, 16% chose Johnson, and 29% other, for a total of 45% who claim they’d vote for someone other than Trump or Clinton today. Even assuming that some will grudgingly vote for them when push comes to shove, these are the kind of numbers that could precede a third-party victory, particularly considering the possibility that Mitt Romney might endorse Johnson.

If Utah’s six electoral votes go to Gary, that alone could deprive both Trump and Clinton of the 270 required to win outright, though, of course, that would depend on the outcome in swing states. If he managed to win a couple of other states—even states with few electoral votes, like New Mexico (his home state) and Nevada—a House election would be much more likely.

In which case, the vote would go to the House. You might jump to the conclusion that the conservative/republican House would vote Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party. However, considering how many Republican insiders already want to dump Trump, as well as the certainty that he will continue to anger and embarrass them between now and November, it’s entirely possible that a two-term Republican governor will be their first choice by then. Factor in the possibility of Clinton being indicted or rocked by some new scandal, and the notion that a majority could back Johnson doesn’t seem as ridiculous as it might have had he faced different opponents.

So, if Johnson/Weld hasn't been announced as "officially" on the ballot in your state, keep fighting, you can turn the tide. He may be the "underdog" but he's no fringe candidate.

Let's get him in the debates and on the ballot.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Why 2016 Could Be The Breakthrough Year For Libertarians

I've been voting Libertarian as long as I've been legal to vote. From a very young age I looked at the bipartisan system and knew that it didn't serve me. I saw that it was broken, and that it was essentially "circe et panem", bread and circuses. The system we currently empower is divisive. The parties and their candidates seem to only hurl mud and point fingers. Everyone is so concerned laying blame on anyone else, they never take the time to look in the mirror. The problem with America, is the American people. All of us, collectively. Some in different ways than others. I could go over the minutiae of how each group and sub-group is negatively impacting our country but instead I'm just going to point out the one major flaw we all share: we keep supporting a corrupt, broken government. I think it starts in our education system, but that's another post entirely. The important thing is that we can still change it. We still have the right to vote, and we don't have to fall for the circulating propaganda telling us to vote against the worst candidate, rather than FOR the best one.

Gary Johnson is the best candidate.

Along with his running mate, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, he exemplifies fiscally conservative and socially liberal practices.  They believe in lower taxes and fewer economic regulations, but also feel government shouldn’t interfere with personal issues like gay marriage, legal marijuana and a woman’s right to choose.

How many of you reading this really want the government to be MORE powerful? Don't they interfere with enough of our rights as it is?

So why is this our year?

The Libertarian Party is on track to be on the ballot in all 50 states in this election. I can't say for certain that we stand a chance at WINNING this election, but they do offer voters a viable alternative to the amazingly unfavorable Trump and Clinton, along with a message the majority of Americans could possibly like. In 2012 Johnson won 1.3 Million votes, which is a drop in the bucket compared to what he would need to WIN an election, but it's the largest non bi-partisan showing anyone has ever made. He can do this. With Weld by his side they can at the very least scare the pants off Clinton and Trump. Johnson pulled 8 percent of the vote poll by Rasmussen Reports, which included him in a three-way match-up with Clinton and Trump. In a similar poll by Monmouth university, Gary jumped into the double digits at 11%. These same polls reflect that more of the democratic and republican parties look unfavorably on their own candidates than favorably.

Just because you're a registered democrat or republican does not mean you have to vote for whoever won the nomination of that party. You can say no. You can vote for someone you believe in. You can vote for Johnson Weld. You can vote for 2 men who have a history of standing up for their voters. Who will balance the budget AND protect your individual rights and liberties. You don't have to choose between being financially hurt, or socially hurt. You can have the best of both worlds. Don't vote on which rights you want to have taken away. (Dems: right to bear arms, Reps: woman's right to choose, etc) Vote to keep all of your rights. Say no to a government that has gotten too large, and say yes to the freedom that our forefathers fought so hard for.

The biggest obstacle facing the LP is media coverage. Not enough people know about the principles upon which the party, and these candidates stand. But this year, the electorate is HUNGRY for something DIFFERENT. So if you're with me, and I hope you are, help me spread the good word. get #GaryJohnson2016 trending. Post about him on your blog. Share relevant news articles to Facebook and Twitter. Put up a yard sign. Donate to his campaign here.

The thing is, I know sometimes the LP can come off sort of "crazy", because it's sort of a melting pot for everyone who has veered away from the bi-partisan system. Don't let them scare you away. Do a little research and discover what we stand for.





Don't tread on me.
Don't tread on anybody.