Would Barr be spoiler for McCain?

barrLibertarian presidential hopeful Bob Barr is unlikely to win too many votes. But in a close election, it’s possible that the former GOP congressman could tip the race away from John McCain. Ron Paul certainly showed during the GOP primaries that there is a significant number of Republicans who favor libertarian ideals. Barr’s complaints with the GOP include government eavesdropping, runaway spending and the war in Iraq.

17 Comments

  1. SolDevVB
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 7:34 am | Permalink

    HELL YEAH Go Bob Barr. Get the conservatives back on track.

  2. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 7:57 am | Permalink

    I guess the best thing about Barr is that he is st. obama’s best hope for taking the oath of office next January. I think he’ll be a non-issue, a nice novelty.

  3. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 8:02 am | Permalink

    Actually, Barr sounds a lot like the democrats, except, well Pelosi and Reid cant get us out of Iraq, refuse to do a DAMN thing about eavesdropping, and they continue to fund the bloated war budget and all the pork their friends can eat.

    Ok. Nevermind. The democrats in congress just SOUND that way. Their actions? Not so much…

    I wonder if Barr will solve these problems with more “strongly worded letters”?

    I mean, since it’s worked so well for pelosi and reid.

  4. SolDevVB
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 8:03 am | Permalink

    I am guessing 7-10% for Barr in Nov. But maybe, with the help of Ron Paul at the convention (or at least RP supporting delegates) and Bob Barr, the GOP will realize how far from its roots it has fallen. Go Bob Barr !!!

  5. SolDevVB
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 8:04 am | Permalink

    Barr has no chance at the White House, but he does have a chance to make a difference in the conservatives.

    If elected, he would not get all the things done he wants to, but he would put us back on the right track. Get us out of Iraq, limit government and limit spending.

  6. writerdog
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 9:19 am | Permalink

    Sol that was one of the concisions I made about RP I knew he could not make all the changes he would want to. But at least he would be a driving force in the right direction.

  7. LLTVET
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 9:56 am | Permalink

    Agreed dog and sol. Barr isn’t really a spoiler, merely a voice for the Goldwater types.

  8. MaxGrobnik
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    I like Barr, he’s far closer to being Conservative then McCain.

    As much as I dislike McCain, Obama still sucks more then McCain.

    This election is about voting for the lessor of two eeeevils.

    A vote for Barr or Paul is a vote for Obama.

  9. MaxGrobnik
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 10:08 am | Permalink

    And yes, I know Barr serves on the NRA Board. (Max, your not supporting the NRA?!?)

    But a 3rd Party candidate serves the role of spoiler only.

    If the conservative vote is split, Obama wins.

    C+ Rated McCain is still better then and F- Rated Obama.

  10. bth
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 10:11 am | Permalink

    As I recall Barr was one of the leaders of the witch-hunt against the Clinton’s back in the early 90s.

  11. LLTVET
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 10:52 am | Permalink

    Yes Ben. I think he spearheaded the impeachment. I agree that what Bill Clinton did with a cigar isn’t a matter of National Interest. But hey, give the guy a break he was a Limbaugh republican at the time.

  12. bth
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 11:10 am | Permalink

    VET - sorry, it’s not like he was just a part of the crowd. He was a rabid leader of it.

  13. TomPaine
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 11:20 am | Permalink

    First he has to get the nomination of the libertarians they dont often do what would be the smart decision and theirs a lot of Lib candidates Mike gravel is one now, Steve Kubby. and despite that a few conservatives dont like Mcain. I think it would take a lot for them to cross over to the Libertarian. Ideologically Cons are the Libs aren’t even close to the same; Military Spending, Iraq, war on drugs and on and on.

  14. Regular
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 12:22 pm | Permalink

    Barr reminds me too much of Waxman on the Democratic side. Both are Euphobia inspired attack dogs and get carried away with their own agendas.

  15. Predestined
    Posted May 14, 2008 at 12:26 pm | Permalink

    Barr’s complaints with the GOP include government eavesdropping, runaway spending and the war in Iraq.

    Ya think? Surely, none of this is happening in the U.S.!

    (removing sarcasm hat) It’s time the Republicans got a taste of the medicine the Democrats have swallowed and lived with for several elections.

    This election is about voting for the lessor of two eeeevils.

    Isn’t it always? I’d have to look to know how many elections I’ve voted in, and forget about how many I’ve watched, but one thing I’ve noticed is that there has never been one candidate that encompasses everything each of us wants.

    But then doing so would be absolute boredom.

  16. Posted May 14, 2008 at 1:09 pm | Permalink

    I gained respect for Barr when he joined up with the ACLU to combat Bush’s war on the American people and the Patriot Act. Now he gets even more kudos for taking on McBush, um, I mean McSame, er McCain.

  17. Kev
    Posted May 15, 2008 at 5:58 am | Permalink

    Will he be a factor? I doubt it. He was my Congressman for a long time and then the Republicans redistricted him out and he might be doing this to get back at them.

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