As a conservative libertarian, I would like to believe that Badnarik is an option. I voted for Marrou in '92, Browne in '96 and 2000. The fact is that 80% of Americans will not have even HEARD of Badnarik by November 2. And even if there were awareness of his candidacy, he would not win, since the majority of people in this country want big government. I have come to believe that our only hope is to reform the GOP from within, getting libertarian policy (such as moving to a NST, or SS reform, or deregulating the FDA drug approval process) enacted through GOP legislators.
I think the differences between Bush and Kerry are small, but significant, and I support Bush this time, both politically and financially. I consider my support of the corporatist Bush a rear-guard action against Kerry's outright socialist domestic policy.
This is the all-defining statement of the discussion. Politicians will always go where the votes are. It makes no sense to rant against politicians who are simply trying to get elected -- because there is no point at all in being a politician if you are going to lose every election. You will just lead a wasted life (! that's meant to be a touch of humor, there).
The big point, that everyone ignores in their drive to "recruit" to third parties, or in their drive to "reform the G.O.P. from the inside" is that both efforts are pointless. Maybe 5% of the electorate (tops, absolute tops) is interested in limited, smaller government as defined by "libertarians" or "Constitutionalists". Why create or reform a party so that you lose every election from now until doomsday by huge margins?
As our society gets more and more urban -- and as people get packed closer and closer together (geographically), the desire for big government that inserts itself into the personal lives of the voter's neighbors is going to get greater and greater. As we live closer and closer together (physically), the desire for a big government to control your nasty neighbors (who do things you disapprove of) and take care of the human refuse squatting under your bridges and living in your urban dumpsters gets greater and greater. Extremely busy people living in urban settings want someone to call to take care of their nasty problems, because they don't have the time or means to.
That's why so many cities vote overwhelmingly socialist. And that's where most people live nowadays. Limited, small government works wonders in rural or low population settings, where life is a bit slower and time not quite so crunched -- and where the people are less stark-raving-mad. But that's not how the great majority of voters live anymore. And that's why the great majority doesn't go for limited government any longer.
I believe that your plan is self defeating. Bush has advanced the police state way too far in his first term to be trusted with a second. He will not have to be worried about reelection so all bets will be off.
A second Bush term will include a spreading war and a draft to supply that war. This will probably result in significant terror attacks in retribution. You can't go around the world making enemies without consequences. Unfortunately it will be American civilians that will pay for Bush's evil.
Before anyone thinks I will vote for Kerry-no way. That is why I think that we should all vote and support Badnarik, no matter if you think he can't win. You are not wasting your vote since it matters little to the nation whether Bush or Kerry is elected. It is disaster either way.