Friday, October 08, 2004

Another Debate Tonight

Bush and Kerry debate again tonight, and I'll be watching this time- mainly because I'll be in the Fox-59 TV studios watching, and then giving opinions on the performances of the two after they conclude.

It should be another nice chance to let people know that there are more than two Presidential candidates on the ballot in Indiana, and across the US.
Welcome!

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm betting that most visitors are here as a result of my recent Blogcritics debate with Natalie Davis.

If you agreed with the things I said, and the Libertarian perspective, I'd like to ask you to do some things:

  • Vote for Libertarian candidates on Tuesday, November 2, in the General Election
  • Join the Libertarian Party and become active in your local party
  • Get yard signs and bumper stickers promoting Libertarian candidates and display them
  • Consider running for office as a Libertarian candidate in the next election cycle

I'm doing all of these things, and I find it very rewarding. If you agree with the Libertarian perspective, I have no doubt that you will derive great value and satisfaction as well.

Here are some Indiana LP links: Gubernatorial candidate Kenn Gividen; LPIN Central Committee District 5 Rep Chris Ward's blog; US Senate candidate Al Barger's (L-IN) candidate page; the Libertarian Party of Indiana page; Indiana candidates.

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Blogcritics Debate Posted

The debate took place, and there was a lot of agreement between Natalie Davis (and independent who represented the Green Party) and myself. It wasn't total agreement, of course. Where there was disagreement, it was sharp and nearly diametric opposition. Still, to those only aware of left-right, Republican-Democrat, our positions had to be eye-opening. The transcript, with site visitor comments.

We covered a lot of ground: Iraq/foriegn policy, unemployment/outsourcing of jobs, war on drugs, human rights/equality, democracy, and even the Pledge of Allegience. I wish we had gotten into health care, but you can't solve all the world's problems in one sitting.

Thanks to Blogcritics' Dawn Olsen for inviting me to participate and for moderating. Thanks to Natalie for a spirited, even-handed debate.

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

Hoosier Proud

My New York friends make fun of me for living in what they alternately call 'flyover country' and 'Indianowhere'. I tend to fight them tooth and nail, reminding them we have some fine advantages here. For instance, it is not a liability to own a car here. Monthly parking can be paid for with coins instead of the equivalent of my mortgage payment.

Sometimes, the locals do things in support of your team that make you think, "I wish they were on the other side". Fortunately, it has been increasingly the case that the other teams have been caught being ridiculous far more than us. The latest? A Bedford, IN Kerry supporter who offered to place an anti-Bush tattoo on her head for the highest bid on Ebay.

Sheesh.
Blogcritics Debate

I have been invited by the moderators of the Blogcritics website to represent the Libertarian view in an online debate with a member of the Green Party. I am a contributor to their site, and often post comments advocating libertarian solutions to policy issues.

Just like with the Presidential "debates", I guess I would prefer a round of debates that puts a Libertarian along with the D's and R's, because these are the three parties on the ballot throughout the US. But hey- I'm not complaining. Any chance to further the libertarian message with a significant audience is a great idea in my book.

This will probably happen on Thursday evening. Check Blogcritics for updates!

Sunday, October 03, 2004

Badnarik Visits, Charms

Libertarian Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik's personal touch has improved enormously since his 2nd 2004 Indiana visit back in April (this one was his 4th), where he scarcely mingled throughout the room to ask people for their support and votes. Now he does just that, seeking out every person he hasn't yet spoken to. He joked about how he has media in four locations claiming him as their own, with local-boy-does-well stories.

Of course, he was on the trail, giving his stump speech, seeking financial support. Badnarik's entire presentation was extemporaneous. He has Iraq as his top issue, with the economy as his second. Unlike Kerry's "opposition" to Bush, Badnarik in unequivocal in the Iraq adventure as a mistake, not to be corrected by a lengthier, more expensive stay, but by getting out. He took questions from the crowd, and would have done Q&A all night had I allowed him to go on.

A nice event yesterday. A couple drove all the way from St. Louis to see Badnarik, along with another couple from the southern Indiana border. A full room, with many LP candidates and state officials present, along with other supporters.

I had the honor of introducing him to the crowd, reminding them and the reporters present that unlike Bush and Kerry, Michael Badnarik is still campaigning across the 50 states, not just Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

I thanked him for his visit and told him that it was important to me as a county chair that he is continuing to go to non-swing states like Indiana. After all, a visit like this boosts the state and local parties, and especially the local candidates. That's what matters to a county chair. Pity the D's and R's here, who couldn't get their candidates to visit Hamilton County under any circumstances.