This is why nobody takes Libertarians seriously...

[eolesen]

How not to engage in a discussion when you're running for Senate:

I doubt it will change too many votes of the die-hard Libertarians, but it might sway a few of the independents.

This is the same type of negative attention that Ron Paul supporters tend to exhibit.

Until Libertarians address their public image problems, and stop acting like they're teenagers on Facebook, they'll continue to be treated as whack-jobs.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

How not to engage in a discussion when you're running for Senate:

I doubt it will change too many votes of the die-hard Libertarians, but it might sway a few of the independents.

This is the same type of negative attention that Ron Paul supporters tend to exhibit.

Until Libertarians address their public image problems, and stop acting like they're teenagers on Facebook, they'll continue to be treated as whack-jobs.

 
Why Eric ?  Because they 'tarians Refuse to be Re-Plug-Blicans  ???????

 

[delldude]

Shots fired.

 

[eolesen]

It's the stuff I'd expect if you were running for office, Bears.

I know most Libertarians don't care if mainstream people want to take them seriously. And when they do stuff like this, they aren't taken seriously. It's too bad, because I really do agree with a lot of the Libertarian agenda. But I also know that they're unelectable, and I'd rather get someone who is ~70% aligned with me and electable than someone who is 100% and an afterthought in the general election.

I personally know two guys doing live talk, and one of them used to just hit the dump button as soon as he heard "Dr. Ron Paul" mentioned, because it only goes downhill from there. The other left the caller to go on, because it usually generated a half hour or more of rebuttal calls from people calling the original Paulbot an idiot, which in turn generated some really good entertainment (and that's what talk radio is supposed to be -- entertainment, not indoctrination).

 

[signals]

Maybe if we ignore them they will go away.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

Republican "Dismissal" of Libertarians (think a third party) is EXACTLY like thier dismissal of a third type of class in the 'good ol' USA. (think the MIDDLE CLASS)  !!
 
I've got MINE.     " F " - Everybody else  !

 

[SparrowHawk]

Those who stand for nothing will fall for anything.
 
I find the dialog amusing. Kinda like watching a drunk walk home.
 
Voting for the lesser of two evils is still endorsing evil.
 
When you have new ideas (I'd argue old idea brought to the fore again) you attract a certain amount of the lunatic fringe types. Like for example the relationship between Bill Ayers and President Obama. Or how the media portrays the Koch Brothers using their wealth to alter elections is somehow evil yet Bill Steyer as publicly pledged 50MILLION to help the Democrats hold the Senate.
 
BOTH parties will stop at nothing to discredit ANY and ALL third parties as they have the potential to upset their little Crony Capitalist Scheme. It was Nader before, Anderson Before that and Ross Perot. Now it's the Libertarians in the gun sights. Dems and Reps can read. The polls and demographics aren't flowing their way with several groups of voters and potential voters. 
 
Ron Paul was mentioned earlier. He never polled higher the about 15% nationally. Yet the effort to discredit him was so far over the top because the underlying numbers are frightening if you're a status quo guy. Over 50% of those who voted for Dr Paul were under 30. When it came ti individual contributions from the US Military Dr. Paul raised more money then all other candidates including Obama COMBINED.
In Head to Head polling against Obama. Dr Paul was always dead even or no more than 2 points behind.
It should also be noted that because of Ron Paul, the RNC changed various rules. Rules that may backfire on them in 2016.
 
While people here may not take them seriously. The Money Boys on K Street and their bought and paid for representatives take the Libertarians damn seriously.
 
All we need is 2 pure Libertarians to win Senate seats and about 4 in the House and you'll see just how powerful the Party of Principle really is.

 

[eolesen]

Republican "Dismissal" of Libertarians (think a third party) is EXACTLY like thier dismissal of a third type of class in the 'good ol' USA. (think the MIDDLE CLASS)  !!
 
I've got MINE.     " F " - Everybody else  !

Meh. I'm all for a third party, but the Libertarians are no more ready to fill that role than the Green Party, Tea Party, or the Occupy Movement. Sure, each of those might get someone elected, but being able to grow the message? Always seems to get lost the moment someone acts like a nutcase.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Always seems to get lost the moment someone acts like a nutcase.

You are missing the Republican party's problem.

 

[777 fixer]

It's the stuff I'd expect if you were running for office, Bears.

I know most Libertarians don't care if mainstream people want to take them seriously. And when they do stuff like this, they aren't taken seriously. It's too bad, because I really do agree with a lot of the Libertarian agenda. But I also know that they're unelectable, and I'd rather get someone who is ~70% aligned with me and electable than someone who is 100% and an afterthought in the general election.

I personally know two guys doing live talk, and one of them used to just hit the dump button as soon as he heard "Dr. Ron Paul" mentioned, because it only goes downhill from there. The other left the caller to go on, because it usually generated a half hour or more of rebuttal calls from people calling the original Paulbot an idiot, which in turn generated some really good entertainment (and that's what talk radio is supposed to be -- entertainment, not indoctrination).

 
They are also unelectable because they can be rather annoying.  People tend to be "Libertarian" with things they either dislike or don't care about.  Standby though if you talk about cutting something they like.