Posted on 04/03/2008 11:33:40 AM PDT by 300magnum
Can a conservative former congressman who helped impeach President Clinton, is a board member of the National Rifle Association and has done contract work with the ACLU dent Sen. John McCain's presidential bid?
That's exactly what Mr. McCain would face if Bob Barr, the former Republican who joined the Libertarian Party two years ago, wins his adopted party's presidential nomination.
"Barr obviously is dangerous. At least he negates any possible Nader benefit," said David Norcross, a New Jersey member of the Republican National Committee and its Rules Committee chairman, arguing Mr. Barr would hurt Republicans at least as much as Ralph Nader, who has announced his own independent presidential bid, would hurt Democrats.
Republican campaign pros said a Barr bid could range from causing them some damage all the way to being the equivalent of Ross Perot's 1992 presidential bid, which many Republicans think split their party's voters, unseating then-President Bush and electing Democrat Bill Clinton.
"Sure, it will hurt. We'll just have to see how much. Will it be like Perot's run? Always that chance," said South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson.
Dinan on the Republicans: McCain not an alien
A source familiar with Mr. Barr's thinking says he likely will announce his bid this weekend, at the Heartland Libertarian Conference in Kansas City, Mo., where he is scheduled to speak.
Mr. Barr declined to say whether he would make an announcement, but told The Washington Times, "I will be there certainly, and will be addressing the convention."
He said he has detected "significantly deep dissatisfaction with particularly the Republican Party and the Republican likely nominee," and that leaves an opening for someone with his views.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Yeah, but it's BIG, filled to the brim with Democrats and Republicans pretending to be something they aren't and hoping nobody notices until after the election.
Wait a minute. I thought John didn’t need conservatives?
John has worked very hard to curry favor with democrats. I’d hate to soil his big victory by tarnishing it with dirty filthy conservative involvement.
Go John. You da man...
In the case of Newt, I would argue that he was "perfectly suited" to being in the opposition, but a complete disaster as Speaker ... and his personal problems (and hypocrisy with respect to them) were his ultimate undoing.
Bob Barr was fine in an adversarial role, and as such he was perfectly suited to the impeachement battle. But he was not at all well-suited to demonstrating the day-to-day respectability that goes along with being a responsible member of the majority party. He quit Congress and the Republican Party because his loud-mouthery no longer played well. And he, like Newt, turned out to have zipper problems of his own, which made his impeachment stance seem a bit hypocritical.
I tend to agree with you about Dick Armey, though.
... former conservative congressman ...
There, fixed it.
If everyone that has a problem voting for McCain took your advice, the Republicans would be trounced in the House and Senate also. Some of the races DO have someone worth voting for.
ping
I think Newt got sucker punched by the media . . . and he gave them the rope to hang him with because of his ego and inexperience in being in the majority party (50 years for the Republicans since they had to be Congressional leaders . . . they never got it right). Barr’s “zipper” problem was overblown. He didn’t testify under oath in his divorce of his 2nd wife whether he had slept with his 3rd wife. It’s not exactly a Clinton or Spitzer level of skirt chasing.
Then he's already ahead of the RNC...
I put “sucker punched” in the same sentence with “rope to hang him with” . . . sincere apologies for the mixed metaphors there. Pull your socks up if you wade into that sentence because the dog there won’t hunt; not to beat a dead horse but the sentence is more jumbled than a jigsaw puzzle.
"Bob, if you want attention, how about studying Brittany. Maybe you could walk around without underwear and flash yourself..."t
“Newt Gingriches”
I for one am glad to see this one go, recently he started supporting the GOREbal warming message of the Liberals.
He has become just another RINO Whor* IMHO.
Of course BBs bid will hurt McCain. the MSM will see to it. It’ll be in stark contrast to the way they’ll ignore old Ralphie-boy
I can already anticipate the news reports of all the House and Senate Republicans riding into office in 2008 on Bob Barr’s coat-tails.
I hope Bab Barr has long coat-tails!
Bar 08!
True ... and the impeachment issue was not about sex, but rather lying under oath. Nevertheless, politics is heavily influenced by perceptions, especially those of the "cast the first stone" variety. Barr was perceived as being guilty of pretty much the same things as Clinton or Spitzer -- and for him to attempt to get political mileage out of their errors was not well received.
More to the point, however ... My recollection is that Barr got increasingly shrill as time went on. I know that I stopped paying attention to him years ago.
But that’s part of why they are right for Congress. They aren’t Presidential material . . . but they are two cuts above the average Congressman. Look at Ron Paul. I wish we had 50 of him in Congress. But I wouldn’t vote for him for President at all.
You have to be shrill to consider running for the Libertarian nomination or to get it! I’m sure your recollection of Barr is correct. I’m no Barr expert — I knew about his wife thing because I googled it when I saw he might get into this Presidential race. I have the general view that there is nothing wrong with libertarians, shrill conservatives, one passion type Congressmen (when their passion for the military, or prolife, or taxcutting or whatever happens to correspond to my views). At the Presidential level you need a broader man though . . . the one issue Congressmen, or the overly abrasive and overly honest Congressional firebrands, or the radical idealogical types really belong in Congress where they can do a lot of good and don’t need to be as politically circumspect if their district backs their view.
Can a conservative former congressman who helped impeach President Clinton, is a board member of the National Rifle Association and has done contract work with the ACLU dent Sen. John McCain’s presidential bid?
The answer to that question is hell yes! I’m going to vote for him and if he needs help getting on the ballot in NC I’ll help him do that too.
And he, like Newt, turned out to have zipper problems of his own, which made his impeachment stance seem a bit hypocritical.
Clinton wasn’t impeached for getting a Lewinsky. He was impeached for committing perjury. Some people never get the message.
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