Posted on 12/15/2006 3:29:05 PM PST by flixxx
A former Georgia congressman who helped spark President Clinton's impeachment has quit the Republican Party to become a Libertarian, saying he is disillusioned with the GOP on issues such as spending and privacy. Bob Barr, who served eight years as a Republican congressman before losing his seat in 2002, announced Friday that he is now a "proud, card-carrying Libertarian." And he encouraged others to join him.
"It's something that's been bothering me for quite some time, the direction in which the party has been going more and more toward big government and disregard toward privacy and civil liberties," said Barr, 58, a lawyer and consultant living in Atlanta. "In terms of where the country needs to be going to get back to our constitutional roots ... I've come to the conclusion that the only way to do that is to work with a party that practices what it preaches, and that is the Libertarian Party."
Barr said he has no plans to run for office. In his new role as the Libertarian Party's regional representative for the South, he will help promote the party's message and recruit candidates, he said.
Barr helped manage the House Republicans' impeachment case before the Senate in 1999.
Interesting.
I hope the party heeds his warning.
Ping-a-ling-a-ling!
Barr was a schmuck when he was a Republican and now he's a Libertarian schmuck. If the Libertarians want him, I say they're welcome to him.
Barr jumps the shark, film at 11.
Bob Barr is most famous in post-Linder years for eating cheese made from a Kazakh woman's breast milk. Mmmm...
Good riddance. I wish he'd take the rest of the Donner Party conservatives with him.
If we have a Presidental Candidate like Rep Mike Pence in '08, then he and our Policies would be likely to revert most of the libertarian and constitutional types back to the Republican Party..
I like Bob Barr and agree with his sentiment, but I don't think the Libertarian party is a good vehicle for the reform he wants. Maybe he has something up his sleeve, like drastically reforming the Libertarian party itself.
Bob Barr has been a faithful friend to those who value limited government. I wish him the best of luck no matter what party he joins.
Despite the philosophical Libertarian support found here at FR, it is foolish to vote one for President until they can snag lots of state legislative offices, a few governorships, a couple dozen seats in the House.
Well said bb.
Perhaps he is just bored and is looking for something to do?
Liberal Democrats are very happy!!
Still laughing about Donner Party conservatives. They probably have a party cookbook: Compassionate Conservative Cocktails before barbecued RINO steaks. Mmmmm, RINO...
sign of things to come... bump
Don't give the stuck-on-stupid GOP any ideas.
Apparently, Bob Barr would rather hang out with the ACLU.
I'm with you. I like him and found him to be one of the few Republicans with guts.
Me too.
I'd vote for Bob Barr—and move him right up there with what's-his-name.
The Republicans would control the next US Senate if a Libertarian had not received enough votes to cause the defeat of Republican Burns in Montana.
As much as it pains me to say this, the Republican party is F.U.B.A.R.
Heh, yeah. A hobby project for his retirement.
The Libertarians were a big reason Bob lost in the primaries. His support of the WOD was his undoing. I don't understand this move. Good luck to him, he will need it.
Hey Bob, don't let the door hit you on the a$$.
If Barr is doing this - I wonder how many other, non-famous pubbies are leaving? The spending, the smug arrogance and the corruption sure got to me!
No respect for Barr since he worked with the ACLU.
Damit, had the Libertarians fought within the party (as Reagan did) America would be almost back to it's constitution.
Fractionalization will only screw us all, we need to fight for the heart of the party.
I'll bump to that.
lol; but seriously policy it would be a Good Idea, (from your tag name I am sure you agree)!
It seems that valuing limited government has fallen out of fashion. It apparently didn't survive majority.
On second thought, considering the mess electronic voting is in, and the inability of some voters to make sense of the simple ballots we have, maybe I'm asking too much.
Bob Barr is nuts.
Not for leavng the GOP...lots of people are thinking of that option. Pretty much a useless bunch unless they get their act together, and SOON.
And not for joining the Libertariians--the party that would become viable the instant they changed their Pro-Choice Stance. It's A Life issue, not a Choice Issue.
It has nothing to do with politics. Bob Barr is just nuts.
Well I have become disillusioned with Barr over the last few years so we're equal. AMF.
Burns did his part.
Burns was 100% conservative. I say he earned it.
yawn.
I wonder how many current freepers know of Bob Barr's history with FR. He's the guy who took the lead on impeaching Clinton, and invited us to Washington to rally against Sick Willie. Barr later said that without the activism and support of FR, Clinton's impeachment never would have taken place.
I prefer the original over your version. Libertarians are spoilers resulting in unnecessary splintering of the conservative vote.
The Republicans would control the next US Senate if a Libertarian had not received enough votes to cause the defeat of Republican Burns in Montana.
A politician isn't entitled to votes; they earn them. The notion that someone is automatically due a vote is in large part what led to the debacle in November.
I DO Know Bob Barr's career.
I DO respect the part he played in clinton's empeachement.
I also know about the rest of it.
One thing doesn't give him a pass on the rest.
I hope he doesn't let the door hit him in the ass on the way out. I got fed up with this jughead when he joined the aCLU and allowed them to scream that conservative "republicans" were joining the aCLU "in droves." IMHO, he's gone past "libertarian" and is a liberal 'RAT.
Keep laughing. Libertarians are a huge voting bloc within the GOP.
Bob Barr---divorced three times, and recent menber of the ACLU.
Conservative without principle, and plays with libs to gain public exposure.
Like I say...NUTS.
NUTS to him, and NUTS to his political aspirations.
The Republicans would control the Senate if the voters hadn't wasted their votes on that RINO Burns instead of voting for the Libetarian. Ahh well.
So what has a dem done to deserve election? Throwing away a vote for a libertarian is the same thing as voting for a dem. Even a RINO is better than a socialist.
This far down the postings before a mention of Borat? If he could fall for that, he'll fall for anything.
How 'bout some sexy time with my sisters milk cheese.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.