Posted on 09/21/2004 6:18:05 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
On October 5th, for purposes of a local TV program I host, I'll have the opportunity to conduct a one-hour, one-on-one interview with Michael Badnarik, Libertarian Party presidential candidate, who is said to be polling as much as 3% and who could conceivably impact the race in a number of states.
I'd be interested to hear from my fellow FReepers. What do you know about Badnarik? What questions would you want to see asked?
Your thoughts?
Would you be so kind as to post a transcript on FR?
Smoke Free Dope!
Smoke Free Dope!
Forget All Your Troubles, and
Smoke Free Dope!
Why does your party (and presumably its presidential candidate) support the legal killing of unborn children?
Michael is a friend of mine. I took a class on the Constitution from him..... twice. He knows his Constitution backwards and forwards. Most of your questions will be answered by what the Constitution says.
I know for a fact he is pro 1 & 2nd amendment. and all the others too. He doesn't do drugs either.
I disagree with him on the borders, but if he made it as President he will veto pork crap and CFR would be out the window.
In other words, once a single floodgate on that dam is cracked just a bit, where is the limit on abuse, or worse yet, what is the logical/rhetorical limit on total legalization?
In simpler words, why should we believe that use of marijuana in traumatic, palliative medical cases is not just a trojan horse?
I would like to second "null and void's" request for a transcript of how the interview went. I don't have any questions for Badnarik, but I think I can fill you in on why the Libertarian Party runs Presidential candidates when they have little chance of winning.
The idea is twofold:
1) To get publicity for libertarian ideas.
2) Pull enough votes to deny election to any Republican who abandons freedom. For example, with Kerry as the alternative, my vote goes to Bush UNLESS he signs a new gun-control law. Having the only "swing" voters on the left means the Republicans will chase the leftward drift of the Democrat party, and the whole country will move left. An alternative, (or several) on the right is necessary as a corrective influence.
The show is community-access and we don't have transcript facilities, but I'll post a recap.
Whoa! That question belongs to Kerry and Bush as they both want open borders.
What is your stand on Medicare? Medicaid? Health care? Importation of Drugs from Canada? Ability of Medicare/Aid to negotiate pricing on drugs like any other private HMO?
What is your stand on Education? Segregation of schools? Private schools? Religious Schools? Should federal funding be available for any schools, or should the States be responsible? What is the Community's responsibility for school funding? Community's rights / responsibilities for deciding curriculum? Religion in schools? Recognition of religious holidays in schools?
What is your stand on the 2nd amendment?
Is it a "federal" prohibition on infringement? or a State prohibition? BOTH? Are "the people" prohibited from infringing on the RKBA?
If the 2nd amendment is a "federal" prohibition, but not a "State" prohibition, then will you work to invalidate the Brady Bill, 1968 Gun Control Act, 1934 Gun Tax Act ?
If the 2nd amendment also prohibits the States, then will you direct the Attorney General to file actions against the states for violating the 2nd amendment rights of the people?
Or will you "live and let live", and allow the 2nd amendment to continue being ignored, and the constitutional rights of the people to be trampled upon?
What are your thoughts concerning the term, Militia? Can you justify it's present liberal interpretation as to the National Guard? Reserves?
Would you promote the constitution's directive that the federal government provide for the equipping of the militia?
Organized at least, Unorganized at the best?
What is your opinion of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ? ( Not sure if that's the correct title, but close..)
Does it interfere with "fair use" doctrine? Does it need to be (1) repealed? (2) amended?
What do you think of the Patriot Act?
Should it be (1) repealed? (2) amended?
Should be a few questions there, that could also be put to all the other candidates..
I didn't even get into the WOD, (War On Drugs) as that had been somewhat addressed, even if derisively..
Thanks for the chance to pose some questions, even if they never get asked...
Is it more important to make progress toward the goals of your party, or do you have to win it all in order to get anywhere?
If progress is OK, would George Bush or John Kerry move you closer to your goals?
If progress is not OK, you have to win it all -- why are you doing anything on the national level when you have done nothing to build local support to the point that you have even one statehouse?
You wrote: "If a super-majority of citizens and politicians passed a Constitutional Amendment outlawing drugs and guns, would Libertarians cease owning guns and using drugs out of their deeply-rooted respect for strict Constitutional interpretation?"
A super-majority has no more right to deprive me of drugs or guns than you as an individual do. The Constitution, or any other plan of government, deserves respect only insofar as it protects our unalienable rights. I don't know what Badnarik's answer would be. (I'd like to hear it.) But as a long-time libertarian, this is MY answer to anyone, foreign or Amarican, who would take my weapons: http://www.comeandtakeit.com/med1.html
If putting some of the more extreme views concerning party platform could be put on "the back burner", in order to garner a larger share of the voting population, would you do so?
Are the party platform principles more important than presenting a more publicly "palatable" platform?
When is your party going to start running good candidates for School Boards, City Councils, and County Boards, all across the country.
Since you can't possibly win, and no one is paying attention to you, does it not make more sense to throw your support to Bush and avoid the catastrophe that would ensue with a Kerry victory?
Yeah, just ask him his position on Israel...
So, if I pay you for the Pizza, will you get off my front porch?
"What Would You Ask the Libertarian Party Candidate?"
Why do you exist?
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