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| Election 2008 Discuss the upcoming election in 2008. |
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09-30-2008, 11:50 AM
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Obama/Barr '08
Obama/Barr '08
Strange bedfellows could make for some interesting politics. by RS Davis (Libertarian) Tuesday, September 30, 2008 The Nolan Chart  The brouhaha in Texas presents Barack Obama with a unique opportunity to lock in his victory for President of the United States. As I've been reporting, John McCain and Barack Obama missed the filing deadline in Texas to be included on the state-wide presidential ballot. The Texas Secretary of State, violating the Texas Election Code, went ahead and certified them anyway. Bob Barr then filed a writ of mandamus, trying to force the courts in the lonestar state to eforce their laws and remove the mainstream candidates from the ballot. In true political oligopolist fashion, the Supreme Court of Texas - faced with an airtight case against the GOP and Democratic candidates - simpy denied the writ, giving no explanation. A lot of people just shrugged, dropped their heads, and went home dejected, but there is still a chance for Mr Barr if he appeals this decision to a higher court. If he does this, he should look for an ally in Barack Obama - it would be a shrewd political move for the Obama campaign, a gambit worthy of Bobby Fischer. You see, in chess, a gambit is a strategy where you sacrifice an important piece to gain position on your opponent - and Texas could be that piece for Barack. Let's go to the map. According to the interactive electoral map on RealClearPolitics (RCP), right now John McCain has 163 probable electoral votes, Obama 249. It also has Texas' 34 electoral votes going solidly to John McCain. Obama has nothing to lose in Texas, but by joining Barr in his cause, he has everything to gain. If Obama can help shift 34 votes to Barr, that leaves the race at 249 for him and 129 for McCain, with only 126 up for grabs. Now, the magic electoral number is 270. With Texas' electoral votes, McCain only needs 107 votes - a tough task, but not impossible. Take those away, and that leaves Obama needing 21 votes, with McCain facing the Herculean task of getting 141 more votes to secure GOP victory. When there only 126 votes in play, losing the Texas electors makes an Obama victory an almost sure thing. Obama is no stranger to this type of campaigning - in 1996, when he was running for the Senate, he had his campaign go over the signatures of his Democratic primary opponents' ballot-access petitions and didn't stop "until every one of Obama's four Democratic primary rivals was forced off the ballot." That was a bold, cynical move that had one opponent lament: "Why say you're for a new tomorrow, then do old-style Chicago politics to remove legitimate candidates?" If he employed my strategy, he could do almost the same thing, but shroud it under the notion of principle and the rule of law. He could say, "America, I am willing to risk those electoral votes to ensure an election that plays by the rules, follows the law. Both my campaign and John McCain's campaign failed to meet the requirements of the Texas Election Code to be included on the ballot, and we should have live with the consequences of that. Anything else would undermine this nation of laws and damage the electoral process forever." If Barr loses the case, no harm no foul for the Obama campaign - they are in the exact same position as now. But if he wins, it's oath of office time. It's a win-win for Obama. He knows, as we all do, that Barr has absolutely no chance of beating him in the general election, so throwing 34 votes to him poses no risk, but the benefits to both men of an alliance are also undeniable. It would assure Obama a victory if they win, and for Barr, it assures crossing the 15% threshhold and ushering in unprecedented access for the Libertarian Party to the mainstream political machine - uncontested access, invitation to future debates - legitimacy. So, I offer it up to the Obama campaign - ensure a victory for the Democratic Party, and at the same time herald your machinations as striking one for open and honest elections, and a blow against the party elites who try to keep alternative points of view out of the national debate. ____________________________ Why Bob Barr is Right Barr Gets Smacked Down Barr Finally Fights For Texas Barr Fights for Texas Bob Barr Wins Texas (And the Election Hasn’t Even Started!) ______________________ If you liked this article, please click the link and then click on the thumbs up at the top of the page.
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 Libertarians: Trying to get people to mind their own business since 1971. The Freedom Files 
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09-30-2008, 12:32 PM
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Quote:
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A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air. "Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes toward the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. "I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up." The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation. "Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
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09-30-2008, 12:34 PM
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Libertarians: Trying to get people to mind their own business since 1971. The Freedom Files
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09-30-2008, 12:35 PM
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Quote:
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A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air. "Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes toward the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. "I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up." The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation. "Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
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09-30-2008, 12:36 PM
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Been trying to get my Dem Sister to go with this.
I agree RS....press the issue.
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The law perverted! And the police powers of the state perverted along with it! The law, I say, not only turned from its proper purpose but made to follow an entirely contrary purpose! The law become the weapon of every kind of greed! Instead of checking crime, the law itself guilty of the evils it is supposed to punish! - Frederick Bastiat
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09-30-2008, 12:38 PM
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Libertarians: Trying to get people to mind their own business since 1971. The Freedom Files
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09-30-2008, 12:39 PM
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BTW, please show your support. Click the link and hit the thumbs-up!
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Libertarians: Trying to get people to mind their own business since 1971. The Freedom Files
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09-30-2008, 01:25 PM
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Alright - I sent the links...
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Libertarians: Trying to get people to mind their own business since 1971. The Freedom Files
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10-02-2008, 11:22 AM
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__________________
A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air. "Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes toward the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. "I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up." The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation. "Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
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10-02-2008, 04:06 PM
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Well, when you look at it, Obama nearly has the election already, he is ahead in the polls, EC, and public opinion over McCain. Now if he were really looking at a close fight with McCain where Texas would actually make a difference, then I could see him doing this, but it really has no real benefit for him. He is so far ahead, why would he want to be even further? At the risk of legitimizing a party that is nearly the complete opposite of his ideals? It will only hurt him and the democrats in the future. His goal (as a cold hearted politican) would be to keep the LP down and out so that the only party he and the democrats need to worry about is the republicans.
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Set your destination with your heart, get there with your mind. "The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides
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