It depends on what the meaning of libertarian is
November 26th, 2007 by Steve
If I was to suggest that I’m a libertarian who…
- wants to increase taxes and social spending
- opposes medical marijuana legislation
- thinks gay people should be incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay
- wants local police to become empowered to torture suspects
- wishes to invade Canada because their dollar is doing better than ours
- believes we should outlaw private gun ownership
- hopes we outlaw private schools and homeschooling
- wishes to expand our role in the United Nations
…you’d rightfully call me nuts.
If it’s possible to be known as a pro-life, pro-war, pro-wiretapping libertarian, then sign me up.
In my opinion, there are rational libertarian arguments on both sides of the abortion issue. However, one cannot be pro-war (except as a matter of self-defense) and be libertarian. One certainly can’t approve of the current administration’s view on wire-tapping and be even remotely libertarian. To support the Iraq War is the antithesis of libertarianism.
But, according to [Ruffini], unless we let the Islamofascist-obsessed Iran-bombers run things, that’s the extent of our victory…
…As Ron Paul would say, they’ve been wrong about everything; why should we listen to them now?
[Ruffini’s] heart is with libertarianism; but his head is with the Bush security state and current Republican coalition. When the two conflict, his brain hurts…
… But at a deeper level, conservatives have to decide what their deepest value is: security or freedom. And how many have the balls, like Paul, to choose the latter if it really comes to that?
Maybe Patrick Ruffini is a Libertarian…
Because I think he is smoking pot
Being a libertarian does not mean that one has to promote a hedonistic lifestyle, as Rusty Schackleford just described. Many libertarians I know are personally socially conservative; they simply don’t think government should impose their personal religious convictions on the rest of society.
Of course, the Republicans have been wordsmithing concepts like torture for a few years now. Why not go Orwellian about libertarianism, too?
In the mean time, if it doesn’t look like libertarianism, smell like libertarianism, or taste like libertarianism, be careful not to step in it.
9 Responses to “It depends on what the meaning of libertarian is”
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LittleJim wrote on 11/26/07 at 5:42 pm :
Donderoooooooooo!
Damn, Gordon. It seems you intentionally posted this as an excuse for more Donderospam.
Rick Fisk wrote on 11/26/07 at 11:14 pm :
When I read the first lines of this post I was sure you were talking about Eric “effing” Dondero.
Eric Dondero wrote on 11/26/07 at 11:29 pm :
So why is it that in your view there are “two rational sides on the abortion debate within the libertarian movement?”
Hey Stevie boy. I was recruited into the Libertarian Party of Florida straight out of the United States Navy in Jacksonville, Florida.
Nick Dunbar and Dianne Pilcher recruited me out of a National Abortion Rights League meeting. They told me “hey we Libertarians are the Pro-Choice Conservatives, and we hate Jerry Falwell.”
I said, hop-diggity-dog, sign me up.
It wasn’t until a year later that I learned that there was such a thing as an Anti-Defense Libertarian. I was shocked. I told Nick, “What the fuck dude?” He told me not to worry about it, and said they were just a small minority within the Libertarian Party. He referred me to the Libertarian Defense Caucus, and also told me that Bob Poole, Editor of Reason Magazine was hardcore Pro-Defense. That calmed me down.
Then a while after that I heard about something called a “Pro-Life Libertarian.” Once again, I was aghast! Again, Nick told me that they were a very small minority in the Party, not to worry.
Fast forward 20 years, and now a bunch of asshole Newbies in our libertarian movement are trying to justify Pro-Life libertarianism, and try to stamp out Pro-Defense libertarianism, as well.
Over my dead body. Come on with it. You want to turn the liberttarian movement into some Religious Right/Anti-Defense political movement? You’re going to have to go through me first.
Eric Dondero wrote on 11/26/07 at 11:58 pm :
Who can blame Stevie for being a little upset these days at Giuliani.
After all, the wife of the leading Libertarian candidate for President not only left him, but went back to the Republican Party to support Rudy Giuliani for President. And not only that, but she’s even raising money for Giuliani. And not only that, but Stevie royally screwed the pooch by reporting the story inadvertently.
I’m sure ole’ Tommy Knapp and other top LP/Ron Paul leaders took little Stevie to the tool shed over the Thanksgiving weekend, and told him he couldn’t have any turkey or cranberry sauce.
You’d be mad to if your toosh was red, and your tummy empty.
Eric Dondero wrote on 11/27/07 at 12:01 am :
And what about them polls, ‘eh?
RCP average for Giuliani staying steady as she goes at 28/29/30. Feb. 5 draws closer and closer and with each day it becomes clearer and clearer that the next Nominee for the Republican Party for President will be Rudy Giuliani.
And what does a partisan Paulist like Steve Gordon have to look forward to?
Ron Paul dropping out after not receiving a single delegate, probably some time in late February.
And, then that loveable ole inspiring handsome devil George Phillies for President. I can see it now, Steve Gordon knocking on doors all over Birmingham for Phillies. Wowee! That’s sure gonna be an exciting campaign.
Kaligula wrote on 11/27/07 at 3:59 am :
An important message for Benito
Rick Fisk wrote on 11/27/07 at 4:40 am :
“I was recruited into the Libertarian Party of Florida straight out of the United States Navy in Jacksonville, Florida.”
By whom? Jeb Bush?
Eric Dondero wrote on 11/27/07 at 8:18 am :
Read the post Fisk. By Dianne Pilcher and Nick Dunbar. Dianne was LPF Chair at the time, and Nick Duval County LP Chair.
They sold me on activism in the LP as a Pro-Choice/Fiscally Conservative group. Defense issues never came up, just the standard “Libertarians support the Troops.” Are you all saying now that they lied to me? That Libertarians are in fact Pro-Life and Anti-Defense?
Rick Fisk wrote on 11/27/07 at 1:14 pm :
Get a sense of humor you foul-mouthed, shameless windbag.