Republican pleads to Libertarians: Please drop out!
Submitted by WhitfieldGeorge on Mon, 08/04/2008 - 17:44
The Austin American-Statesman reports:
A former Republican state representative called three Libertarian Party candidates for the state House on Friday to request that they drop out of their races rather than take votes from their Republican opponents.
Suzanna Hupp, who represented District 54 in Central Texas for 10 years, said she made the calls Friday because of concerns that the Libertarian candidates would take Republican votes and ultimately give Democrats control over state and national seats.
Democrats need win only five seats in November to take control of the state House, which controls redistricting every 10 years.
Here is the link:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/08/...
Libertarians Campaign
I would like to see the Libertarians that are running in Texas actually get out there and campaign for office. Most of the ones in my area don't even have a decent website up. One of them is actually a software developer and still doesn't have a decent website up. If you're going to be putting your name on the ticket do something with the opportunity. Don't just sit there and suck up a few votes just to have your name on the ballot.
JOhn
Feel Free to Volunteer!
I know one prospective candidate in Texas. I'm sure he could use the help. It's a largely thankless task, as you can imagine, with the press even more biased against Libertarians than against Ron Paul.
See my strategy note previously in the thread. "Here's How it Can Work."
IMissLiberty
IMissLiberty
This is almost enough to
This is almost enough to make me want to vote straight ticket Libertarian again.
But then I remember Bob Barr and Wayne Root, and my mind snaps back to reality.
SUPPORT OUR FOUNDERS' AMERICA
Support the Constitution of the United States
SUPPORT OUR FOUNDERS' AMERICA
Support the Constitution of the United States
The wasted votes are the ones for the incumbent
"The most perfect slaves are those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves"
Mike
"Fire Team for Freedom" and "Revolutionary Business"
visit www.mikeandjake.com
Mike
"Fire Team for Freedom"
visit www.mikeandjake.com
The MD5 idea is a bad one.
The MD5 idea is a bad one. The idea is not to split the vote, and by allowing the libertarian candidate to prosper you allow him to peel off your votes. Also, having two libertarians in the race doesn't somehow "win the audience". Yes, it helps, but it also hurts, UNLESS one candidate were to drop out and endorse the other. If that's the plan, go for it. If not, don't drop up another candidate unless they're a third party that will split votes with your opponent.
Do you work for the Hupp campaign??
This is exactly the thinking that has kept third parties from ever entering political debates, and consequently kept the masses from ever hearing alternative viewpoints. More viewpoints and more openness is ALWAYS desirable. This is what we in the Ron Paul movement have been railing about for ages. Wouldn't it be the height of hypocracy for us to turn around and ban third parties from our debate once the shoe was on the other foot?
I, for one, refuse to play this slimy political game just to improve our chances of getting elected. It is job 1 to first win the philosophical debate. If we can't do that, then getting elected will mean nothing because we will be powerless to accomplish anything without the public behind us.
I stand behind my prediction that having a like minded Libertarian in the debate will make Hoyer look like the oddball - the lonely defender of a very unpopular Congress. I also am convinced that this can only improve our vote totals. Not only will the libertarians of our district discover a Republican that they can vote for, but having 3 parties in the debate will vastly increase the interest of the average Joe who has been disgruntled with politics as usual. Disgruntled Joe's are a greatest constituency.
Again, the main goal is to win the philosophical debate. Only then can electoral victories have any impact.
I take my marching orders from the Constitution!
I take my marching orders from the Constitution!
What Hupp Campaign?
I don't believe she is running for office.
My bad.
I misread the original forum topic story. I now see they refer to her as FORMER Republican state representative.
That said, it really is irrelevant to my point, which is that trying to get like minded opponents to drop out is not only against all that we supposedly stand for in this movement, but it is also counter productive to getting elected and especially to getting the message of freedom out to the masses.
I take my marching orders from the Constitution!
I take my marching orders from the Constitution!
How we handled the same problem in MD's 5th District
Here in MD's 5th district, we have a Ron Paul Republican, Collins Bailey (the candidate who received the largest donation total in the July 4 moneybomb nationwide), who is running against Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. In addition, a Libertarian candidate has filed to run in our district.
Now, it just so happens that Collins is more libertarian than the Libertarian candidate, so we invited their candidate to be included in a debate that we are planning with Mr. Hoyer (who amazingly is open to having the debate).
We feel that having 2 candidates espouse libertarian/Constitutional viewpoints and only one defending statist viewpoints will help us win the philosophical debate with the audience. In addition, with Collins' uncomprimising Constitutional views on full display, we should easily win any libertarian voters over to our side that otherwise would have just voted for the Libertarian candidate without even bothering to check out the Republican candidate.
This is how to handle competition from "friendly" opponents. Perhaps Miss Hupp could learn from Collins Bailey.
I take my marching orders from the Constitution!
I take my marching orders from the Constitution!
Here's How It Can Work: Libertarian Leverage
This is a strategy Libertarians have used in the past: they can run to the right or left of either the D or the R.
For example, when we want to unseat an incumbent Republican in a close race, we can have the Libertarian emphasize their pro-gun freedom, pro-tax freedom stance, by saying "get rid of the IRS and get rid of gun laws, including laws against automatic weapons." By running far right on those issues they can win votes that might go to the Republican and help a Democrat who is more reasonable than the R. I believe something like this was done to get rid of Bob Barr back when he was a major anti-drug warrior.
If the Democrat is the unreasonable tax and spender, and the Republican the better choice, then we can run a candidate to the left by saying they want to legalize all drugs and let people speak whatever language they want in school.
You should approach the Libertarian candidates and make such a deal with them in exchange for promising to refuse to debate the Democrat unless the Libertarian is included.
Note that Libertarians are all individuals, and the degree to which they campaign for office varies according to their temperment and resources. But you shouldn't be afraid to work together with them when the agenda is to advance freedom.
One of the reasons I voted for Barr was that he, by being more of a threat to McCain, is more of a help to Ron Paul during the months leading up to the nominating convention. He also provides a way for both D's and R's to punish their parties for their choices of candidate (if the R's don't nominate Dr. Paul).
The LP and LPT (Texas) make a point of not running anyone against Dr. Paul in his congressional district. We have to pick our battles.
We look, especially, for races where we can tip the balance one way or the other (or at least appear to!) in races where there is a good reason to want either the D or R to beat the other one. The details vary by race and by the local political culture and issues.
IMissLiberty
IMissLiberty
Nuts!
To the Republican Commander: Nuts! - The Libertarian Commander
o_O¬
Regardless if their Republicans or Democrats...send them HOME!
It's time for the incumbent party to go home!!!
Mike
"Fire Team for Freedom", "Operation Daily Paul" and "Revolutionary Business"
visit www.mikeandjake.com
Mike
"Fire Team for Freedom"
visit www.mikeandjake.com
No Obama. No McCain. No Way. No How.
That was the last line from an article about the Presidential campaign in Nevada: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/05/betting-th...
Today on 5 August there is a money bomb for Bob Barr. Please donate here: https://www.bobbarr2008.com
Thank you all for helping the Libertarian Party bring Liberty to America.
Does anyone have Suzanna
Does anyone have Suzanna Hupp's email address?
If so, please post it. We can all email her to ask if she is a Ron Paul supporter.
If she replies that she is not, then we can reply back asking that she back off from politics in order to make more room for our fellow Ron Paul Republicans.
I don't know much about
I don't know much about Suzanna Hupp, but I recall reading something about her being very pro gun rights. The reason, as I recall, her parents were killed along with two dozen other people in some restaurant... If her gun was in her purse even though the law didn't allow it, instead of in her car, she would have been able to fight back against the gunman who entered the establishment.
Anyhow, it seems like she has done some good things in her time - but I don't believe this is one of them.
Im really not sure why this
Im really not sure why this is a debate.
We are in America, she has every right to ask them to drop out.
I mean, really, She has every right to say whatever she wants to say, and to anyone she wants to say.
But of course. The libertarians have every right to say,
go to hell.
I consider myself a very conservative republican. However, those libertarian/austrian economists are dead on. Love the Lew Rockwell podcasts.
screw them is right!
The thing about conservatives and Republicans is they "think" we are friends but with friends like these, Libertarians don't need enemies.
My great grandad use to say, just because a person agrees with your position, does not mean he agrees with you.
And that is the case with Conservatives and Republicans. Take min.wage issue for example. I submit we libertarians have more in common than the Republicans and Conservatives on this issue, even though the liberals and dems disagree with abolishing the minimum wage, indeed they always want to raise it.
We libertarians want to abolish the min wage because, BECAUSE it hurts the working poor, causes MORE not less unemployement. Of course liberals and dems think otherwise, but that is just because they just are economically illiterate.
Now on the other hand, conservatives and republicans agree with abolishing the min wage, but not out of any CONCERN for the poor or unemployed. My experience tells me that the reason is form their position has zero to do with economics of the matter, and everything to do with being "pro business". .... which is another self interest group all together.
Though there is little I agree with liberals and dems, I find their genuine concern for the less fortunate endering in an honest sort of way, if not sadly uninformed. Though there is plenty points of agreement with Conservatives, I find how they got to that position as Faulty, strange and just plain wrong.
So I say we libertarians have VERY little in common with Conservatives or Republicans, and much more in common with our economically illiterate and foolishly misguieded liberals & dems for the reason that "their heart is in the right place to start with".....(what transpires between their heart and to their brain is another thing entirely, but I will take friends with the right heart any day.)
In Peace & Liberty,
Treg
A Vote for McCain
...is a vote for Obama.
Carpe Denim!
Professor Bernardo de la Paz
Phantasmophage
Sic Semper Tyrannis
Screw them
I remember when they tryed to redistrict RP out of his office. Lets beat the crap out of them
I couldn't agree more with
I couldn't agree more with you if it's only Neocons we're talking about! But it seems that Suzanne Hupp is a libertarian-leaning Republican from what I read. Focus on killing the Neocons, bring the libertarian-leaning Republicans on our side and convert them.
Here's an idea. Why not
Here's an idea. Why not broker a deal with the Republicans? If they support the Libertarian candidates in 3 districts at random, the Libertarians would have their candidates step down in question and support them. Or could it backfine? It doesn't hurt to try I think.
Uhhmmmm.. Hey. Can you all stop
training for the olympics so that I am assured I have my chance to participate and that I am the one chosen to represent my country? Do you guys mind? Oh Thank you, you're so kind.....
I don't wan't dems in any more than most of us, but I sure as hell am not going to forfeit my run for presidency or any office for that matter, to put the same old fake republicans we have had in power right back in.
A little scare from the competition, goes along way toward a revision of loyalties.... call it 'motivation'. Motivate, or vacate. Nice to see them in a corner with the choice of an entire career to make. The beauty is, the ability to bullshit their way back in is fading fast. I hope they wise up and see it.
Become a fan: www.facebook.com/dailypaul
It's quite simple, actually
As you learn more about the English language, you will learn the difference between asking and telling.
I'm asking
Libertarians to Republicans: Please drop out (you fucking losers)!
wow
"The fact is, we've got redistricting coming up in a few years," said Hupp, from Lampasas, who served in the House from 1997 to 2007, "and if the Republicans lose the (Texas) House of Representatives because there are a handful of people mad at them and vote for the Libertarians instead, then we could be in big trouble at the federal level."
They should have thought about the consequences of their decisions. This is clearly a political move.
handful? well if it's just a handful, then no need to worry eh?
You made your bed people. You will sleep in it.
-A Texan Tired Of Bullshit
Correct me if I'm wrong...
But aren't we already in big trouble at the federal level?
I don't want democrats who have socialist views in office, and I don't want republicans who support a wannabe dictator as a president, either. I suspect those republicans in office right now, would support Hitler if he were their "leader". Anything for a WIN... ANYTHING.
All I want, is for the voting system to actually work... honestly. If that means a democrat wins, then so be it. Either way, none of the crooks are going to give a crap what their constituants have to say. They think we put them in office so that they can vote according to their views, not ours.
Please Pardon The Punn
In God We Trust!
Please pardon the punn but it appears that Susanna shot herself in the foot!
Oh Susanna oh don't you cry for me. lol
" In Thee O Lord do I put my trust " ~ Psalm 31:1~
tell her to quite being a
tell her to quite being a liberal republican and she wouldn't have to worry about it
as for me and my home, we shall worship the LORD
"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."
-Thomas Jefferson
I am more concerned about the return of my money than the return on my money. --Mark Twain
Do you have any idea
Do you have any idea what kind of a Republican Susanna is? I doubt that you do, based on your remarks. Do you know anything about the Libertarians in question? How much do you know about the particular Republicans in these races? Maybe you should be better informed before spouting off.
I have an idea.
Why not have the Republicans in question drop out and put their full support behind the Libertarian canidates. That when they win (with the R support + the libertarian vote), we could have someone in trust as a small but very powerful swing minority to make sure that neither the Republicans or Democrats get away with bullcrap power play politics.
Well, it's just an idea.
An excellent
idea!
Well gee why would they do
Well gee why would they do that? If the Libertarians win those seats then I guess they would be the swing vote on who controls the house... Perhaps she should be nice to them...
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Libertarians Win Seats
Isn't that an oxymoron? This is Texas.
LOTS of angry Texas GOP members
in my part of the state.
I expect that LIB candidates will be getting unusually high numbers this election cycle. That whole Trans-Texas Corridor fiasco is still very fresh in the minds of citizens throughout at least 2 large swaths of the state (including mine).
I'm a member of the local Republican party and I'd never see a reason for our party to ask anyone NOT to run for office.....It's just stupid. If our party can't put up good candidates, then we deserve to lose....Just like McKeating5 will lose in November.
Gawd, how embarrassing that this stuff keeps happening in Texas.......
NO, I WILL NOT COMPLY! PERIOD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbNIU2KEz4g
(Better) to be confused in the search for truth than fully confident and sound asleep in a dream of lies.
-Michael Nystrom
--------------------------------
Lets face it, the average Amerikan is an idiot..
-Ira Freeman
If she wants Libertarian votes...
Then she should support Libertarian measures in the state house. Has she voted against the drug war? Has she voted to reduce taxes? Has she voted against spending that's not authorized by the Texas constitution?
If I were any of the candidates she'd called, I'd tell her to get bent.
-jcr
"The problem with trying to child-proof the world, is that it makes people neglect the far more important task of world-proofing the child." -- Hugh Daniel
As I said,
I can't believe the smug self-righteousness of some Libertarians.
Susanna is a strong advocate for liberty. If each of us would dedicate ourselves to pushing for just one liberty reform of the magnitude of the one she accomplished, we would live in a free country today.
By the way, Susanna is no longer a member of the legislature.
As *I* said...
Get bent. Even if she were single-handedly responsible for ending the income tax, that wouldn't entitle her to tell anyone else not to run for office.
-jcr
"The problem with trying to child-proof the world, is that it makes people neglect the far more important task of world-proofing the child." -- Hugh Daniel
bump on this worthy comment
here here!
Susanna Hupp is a heroine and national treasure.
Do you kids have any idea who Susanna Hupp is?
Check out any of these search results:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=susanna+hupp+lubys&btnG...
Susanna lost both her parents in that Luby's shootup, and rather than campaign against guns, she ran for the Texas House as a Republican and was effective in pushing through the Texas concealed carry law. You should have heard her speak at our Republican Liberty Caucus convention a few years ago. What a lady!
If she had run as as a Libertarian we would not have concealed carry in Texas today.
If Susanna thinks those Republicans are worth electing and keeping the Democrats from having a majority, I believe her.
I can't believe the smug self-righteousness of some Libertarians. As though they were going to suddenly gain a majority in the Texas legislature and usher in a golden age of peace and light.
I don't believe I would go so far as calling her a "national
treasure" I did a little research on her and found out she was the co-author of Senate Bill 6 which according to the homeschoolers would have increased the states authority over parents, not a very "libertarian" concept to say the least. See here: www.hslda.org/Legislation/State/tx/2005/TXSB6/default.asp
So please don't try to persuade me that just because she defends the right to carry that I should assume she is correct about those "worthy" Republicans.
Heard it all before
Every single one of Nebraska's congressmen was suppose to be some great republican. Big defenders of liberty, the constitution, the 2nd amendment, yada yada yada.
The only thing they've stayed true to, is the 2nd amendment. Otherwise, they have done nothing except trample liberty with every vote they've cast.
They all talk big, but they don't deliver. I'm sick of these rhino's. I'm sick of being promised that they are great american's who I can trust.
Nobody should be pressured into quitting their race for office. I don't care what your position is. Sure, people can pressure them all they want, but political parties.. hands off. Republicans, Libertarians, Democrats, etc, have no business trying to pressure eachother to drop out so they can win. That is up to WE THE PEOPLE. We need to decide who is, or isn't good for us and work hard to shut them down.
This game of politics, is not suppose to be only for those already in power or those with money. We are suppose to be in charge. We need to make the decisions on who should run or not run and work to force them out. We need to be digging up dirt on them, not just trust that those in power can be trusted with what they say about eachother.
Iowa republicans are the same.
At the Iowa republican convention, one of the neocon's favorite republican stood at the podium and wagged his pocket constitution for all to see and then bragged how the Supreme Court upheld the 2nd Amendment. But just 3 days before, he voted in favor of FISA.
In my view, the only part of the Constitution the Republican party likes is the 2nd Amendment. But their pretension for being more is aggravating at the very least.
Well said !
Let US decide who we want in there- and if the parties arent trying to pass more crap- they can be confident the people we like wont fight with them regardless of which clique theyre a part of.
www.dvds4delegates.com
"I can't believe the smug
"I can't believe the smug self-righteousness of some Libertarians. "
I can't believe YOUR smug self-righteousness, sunshine. They have every right to run for office, just like you do. They have no duty whatsoever to bow out and leave the major parties with no opposition at all.
-jcr
"The problem with trying to child-proof the world, is that it makes people neglect the far more important task of world-proofing the child." -- Hugh Daniel
Susanna Hupp is a heroine and national treasure.
Do you kids have any idea who Susanna Hupp is?
Check out any of these search results:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=susanna+hupp+lubys&btnG...
Susanna lost both her parents in that Luby's shootup, and rather than campaign against guns, she ran for the Texas House as a Republican and was effective in pushing through the Texas concealed carry law. You should have heard her speak at our Republican Liberty Caucus convention a few years ago. What a lady!
If she had run as as a Libertarian we would not have concealed carry in Texas today.
If Susanna thinks those Republicans are worth electing and keeping the Democrats from having a majority, I believe her.
I can't believe the smug self-righteousness of some Libertarians. As though they were going to suddenly gain a majority in the Texas legislature and usher in a golden age of peace and light.
Why doesn't she plead with the Republicans
to become more libertarian?
************************************************
Trolling in the defense of liberty is no vice.
************************************************
Trolling in the defense of liberty is no vice.
She is reflecting the entire mood of the GOP...Desperate.
But I gotta give her credit for trying. It is too funny. They disgrace themselves rather than admit that they have strayed far from true Republican principles, and they have none. None of them care about the party, but they would have you believe otherwise. But Hupp did one of the only things not tried yet (hmmm.....maybe if I just politely ask them to quit?). I figured it was about time, I know many of them are that stupid. Our own County GOP Central Committee Chairwoman is actively supporting a Democrat here, and working against our own local RP GOP candidates, even to the point of pushing her own choice for a PCO outside of her own precinct. Now, that's rich, and desperate.
Vali
'...truth is loved in such a way that those who love some other thing want it to be the truth, and precisely because they do not wish to be deceived, are unwilling to be convinced that they are deceived." --- St. Augustine, Confessions (10:23), 5th c.
'...truth is loved in such a way that those who love some other thing want it to be the truth, and precisely because they do not wish to be deceived, are unwilling to be convinced that they are deceived." --- St. Augustine, Confessions (10:23), 5th c.
Isn't it great? They're
Isn't it great? They're scared to death.
The downside is that Libertarians appear to be getting a lot more Republican.
SUPPORT OUR FOUNDERS' AMERICA
Support the Constitution of the United States
SUPPORT OUR FOUNDERS' AMERICA
Support the Constitution of the United States
If she's so worried about
If she's so worried about the Democrats winning seats then maybe she should ask the Republicans to step down and rally support behind the Libertarian candidates?
I mean if she is so "friendly" with the Libertarians such that she would call and ask them to back off, why couldn't she ask the Republicans to back off instead?
She just wants for herself. A very selfish person. Let's see if she is willing to talk the talk and make a sacrifice herself to keep the Democrats out of office.