Is there room for both Ron Paul and Gary Johnson in 2012?
Recently Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson (Republican) announced that he was planning to visit a state that in two short years will play pivotal role in deciding the GOP nominee for President in 2012.
Johnson will be traveling to New Hampshire for the Republican Liberty Caucus on January 23rd. This will be one of his first public appearances as a politician with an eye on national office.
Gary Johnson much like Ron Paul is criticized by the left as simply existing as a politician that is against things and really stands for nothing. This however is a skewed and partisan view of his philosophy.
In reality Johnson has taken a firm stand against the ever expanding role of government because he is for more personal freedom and responsibility. The only way to do that is to first reduce the role of the Federal government.
Ron Paul and Gary Johnson agree on virtually all of the top issues that are relevant in a nationwide election. The differences come in the emphasis placed on the different issues. Johnson tends to focus more on civil liberties and a non interventionist foreign policy than sound monetary policy and the Federal Reserve.
In the past Johnson has been know for opposing what he calls the failed war on drugs. He has also pushed for legalization of marijuana and decriminalization of all now illegal drugs. He says he sees drug abuse as a health issue, not a criminal issue. Johnson also , like Paul, spoke out against the invasion of Iraq back in 2003 and opposes the current state of the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Johnson does however say that he would advocate a strong military defense at home and a strong presence around the world. This is one area where he differs sharply with Ron Paul. Although as a state governor, he has no record on this issue and the public will be able to listen to him clarify his position.
Mainline publications such as the New York Times and Politico have anointed him the potential leader and organizer of the Tea Party movement as a voting bloc in the 2012 presidential election.
If this is indeed the path that Johnson attempts to take, it may be the reason that he does not go as far as Ron Paul in saying that the US should bring home their troops from all bases around the world. Often in 2008 that is where many in the GOP base departed from Ron Paul’s platform.
What Ron Paul should inform Gary Johnson and the rest of the Tea Party movement is that in order to lower federal taxes, some of our bases around the world need to be shut down and the troops brought home. Big budget defects and debilitating income tax rates can be directly traced to the overwhelming presence of our military in countries around the world.
In the 2012 GOP Presidential primary it would be beneficial for the message of freedom to have both Johnson and Paul participate. Johnson would be educating the GOP base about the failed war on drugs and Ron Paul driving home his message of sound economic policy and the spelling out the damage done by the Federal Reserve. They would both be outlining the benefits of a non-interventionist foreign policy.
The problem comes when the actual votes are cast, as they would likely split the vote among the ever growing sub group of the GOP, the libertarian leaning Tea Party movement.
I think ideally Johnson would change his position on continuing to spend billions of tax payer dollars on US foreign bases. Then he could run as the new young and charismatic voice of the movement Ron Paul launched more than three years ago.
Ron Paul could transition into the role of the philosophical advisor and campaign hard on the airwaves, saving him the strain of vigorous travel. He would be 76 by the time of the general election, making him the oldest first term US President in history.
If they could form a partnership early on in the race they would have a much better chance at taking the nomination from the likes of Palin, Romney or perhaps Petraeus. And their messages both become more timely with each passing day and each job lost.
Comment by spinnikerca on 9 January 2010:
Ron Paul’s entire, holistic and consistent message galvanizes people.
There are many other offices and many liberty candidates needed but if RP runs for president, he will get the enthusiasm.
Comment by Gary Johnson 2012 on 9 January 2010:
I think Gary Johnson DOES support closing the foreign military bases around the world. At least that’s what he said during his speech at Ron Paul’s Rally for the Republic.
Comment by ron_paulite on 9 January 2010:
if gary johnson is for strong military presence all over the world, he won’t get the support of the ron paul crowd. and if he does not emphasize sound fiscal and monetary policies, he won’t be able to save the usa from going the way of Rome.
gary johnson is far from ron paul. he could be just another neo-con in terms of his world view.
we need somebody to bring down our deficits, to abolish or drastically cut taxes so as to make usa competitive again. how can we cut taxes and bring down the deficits and yet have strong military bases all over the world? i don’t really believe gary johnson will be any different from any of the recent presidents we have.
ron paul is the only one who can save the usa.
Comment by Gary Johnson 2012 on 9 January 2010:
According to JohnsonForAmerica.com, Gary Johnson was known for:
* Vetoing 750 bills (more than all the vetoes of the other 49 Governors combined).
* Reducing taxes $123 million annually.
* Cutting the rate of government growth in half.
* Eliminating the state’s budget deficit.
* Leaving the state government with 1200 fewer employees (without firing anyone).
* Leaving the state government with all-time high bond ratings.
* Enacting major welfare reform, which cut government welfare spending by 30%.
* Shifting state Medicaid to managed care.
* Bringing the New Mexico state government and the Navajo nation leadership together to finally resolve century-old disputes over water, gaming, and other issues.
* Privatizing half of the prisons in the state.
* Shooting down campaign finance legislation.
* Attracting many new private and parochial schools into the state.
* Repealing the Little Davis-Bacon Act, thereby allowing non-unionized labor the ability to be employed in construction of new schools and other public works.
* Overseeing the construction of 500 miles of new, four-lane highway (designed, financed, built, and guaranteed by the private sector).
* Running 100% positive campaigns, never mentioning his opponents once in print or ads.
* Coming from outside of politics with no political machine behind him to beat a former Republican Governor in the Republican primaries and then unseat an incumbent Democrat Governor in the general election by a 10 point victory margin, even at a time when Democrats outnumbered Republicans 2-1 in the state.
Comment by todd on 9 January 2010:
I’m not sure anyone can save the USA anymore considering we have a such a large bunch of morons living in it. However Marijuana should defiantly be legalized and if the Republicans wish to stage a comeback that would do it for sure. Obama got the young vote, but many are disappointed with him on this issue. This web page sucks it keeps refreshing itself.
Comment by Matthew Garrison on 9 January 2010:
I will vote for Gary Johnson if he runs in 2012.
Comment by tajitj on 10 January 2010:
Remember many of the debates come long before any voting. So I see a tag team ability on the neocons being the best outcome. One dropping out before Iowa is probably best also.
Comment by George Dance on 11 January 2010:
Ron Paul is a year older than John McCain; despite the fact he’s in remarkable mental and physical shape for his age, the fact I have to add “for his age” may indicate why I think he won’t run two years from now.
On the other hand, if his son Rand Paul wins his Senate race (and he’s currently in the lead in Kentucky), he’d be an obvious choice as the Ron Paul rEVOLUtion’s 2012 presidential candidate.
On the third — um, appendage — if Paul’s elected, he’ll be in for six years, and IMO he’d do better running in 2016 with more of a record behind him.
Comment by Roberto on 18 January 2010:
As soon as Gary Johnson gets into the race, I’m sure Ron Paul will immediately endorse him and campaign for him too. Much as I admire him, he will be too old, at least in the eyes of most voters.