Advice for Ron

Based on the magnificent insights of Justin Raimondo, I am convinced not, as he says, that Ron should drop out of the Republican race for the presidential nomination and go third party, but, rather, he should stay in this race, but, also, seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party. I don’t much care if this is legal or not. If it is, fine; if not, even the attempt to do so will garner benefits for Dr. Paul in particular, and for the spread of liberty in general.

There is certainly precedent for this sort of thing. In New York State for example, there are four major parties: Republicans, Conservatives, Democrats, and Liberals. It is far from unusual for a person to run for statewide office on both the first two of these tickets, or with the latter pair. In any case, by the time the courts pass judgment on this, it will be long past the election of 2012.

So, Congressman Paul should seek to run for President of the U.S. in November 2012 on both the Republican and the Libertarian Party tickets. If he gets the nod from each of them, well and good, he runs on both tickets. If he is nominated by either one but not the other, then he runs in November on the one ticket that supports him.

What are the benefits of seeking the LP nomination while continuing to seek Republican delegates? It will put the GOP on notice that they can no longer trifle with Ron Paul, changing the rules of delegate elections in mid stream, (allegedly) stealing votes from him (as in the case of Massachusetts, among others), and in every other way they can to undermine his candidacy. It will guarantee that the rEVOLution will continue long past Tampa in August, 2012.

What are the benefits of seeking the LP nomination in May 2012? This party is already on the ballot of most of the fifty states; that is a great advantage over running as an Independent and struggling for ballot status everywhere. And the philosophy of the Libertarian Party, despite putting Gingrich supporter Bob Barr at the head of their 2008 ticket, is certainly more in conformity with Dr. Paul’s than is that of the Constitution Party.

What are the disadvantages of such a course of action? For one thing, it might well reduce votes for Congressman Paul in upcoming Republican state elections. But this is a minor loss, in that his motivated minions will still try to squeeze out as many delegates as possible, and Ron’s main supporters are not within the GOP; rather, they are to be found among Independents, and disaffected Democrats, unhappy with Obama’s foreign policy. Another disadvantage will be the disappointment and opposition of New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who would otherwise likely obtain the LP nomination. But, Dr. Paul could choose Johnson as his Vice Presidential running mate, whether for the GOP or the LP, or both. Do NOT expect Johnson to step aside for Paul if the former wins the LP nomination due to the procrastination of the latter. So, the time is now: My advice for Ron Paul is to stay in the Republican race, and also seek the LP nomination, a.s.a.p.

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3:20 pm on March 15, 2012