Despite all the negative things I said about Libertarians, I certainly share common ground with them when it comes to civil liberties vs. security and keeping the political sphere free of religious ideology. I think they have a mixed record on national security issues. Many Libertarians, like Andrew Sullivan, were early supporters of the Iraq war because of their fears about Islamic extremists. There are also what might be described as corporate Libertarian who while they embrace Libertarianism’s minimalist government and no taxes ideology, look at war as good for business.
Ron Paul seems to avoid both the Sullivan fear pitfall and corporate greed pitfall, and that’s why he’s a political irrelevancy in the Republican Party. Nevertheless, it’s refreshing that at least one voice speaks a language that doesn’t stink of b.s. at the GOP debates. And how Romney stinks to high heaven in comparison. Hard to believe that Massachusetts elected that empty suit as its governor. But then there’s Kerry.
Update: Glenn Greenwald at the Cato Institute in his introductory remarks also describes the common ground with Libertarians: It’s not about conservative and liberal anymore; it’s about who’s for the rule of law and who’s for giving the president unlimited power to keep us safe. Real Libertarians are in the first group. Audio of his talk and its rebuttal by Lee Casey is worth listening to if you have the time.
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