Bob Barr and Ron Paul are John McCain's Worst Nightmare(s)?

By: Lowell
Published On: 5/12/2008 11:03:41 AM

You think the Democrats are divided?  Well, how about this on the Republican side?

...quietly, largely under the radar of most people, the forces of Rep. Ron Paul have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against Sen. John McCain when Republicans gather for their national convention in St. Paul at the beginning of September.

[...]

They hope to demonstrate their disagreements with McCain vocally at the convention through platform fights and an attempt to get Paul a prominent speaking slot. Paul, who's running unopposed in his home Texas district for an 11th House term, still has some $5 million in war funds and has instructed his followers that their struggle is not about a single election, but a longterm revolution for control of the Republican Party.

I'm sure John McCain is thrilled about this.  But wait, it gets worse!

Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr is expected to announce that he's running for president as a Libertarian.

His candidacy would be a wild card in the White House race that many believe would hurt Republican Sen. John McCain.

Barr had scheduled a news conference Monday...

As The Moderate Voice puts it, "McCain will face Republican opposition from within (Paul) and outside (Barr) his party."  Is this John McCain's worst nightmare or what?  

Comments



Has Richard Viguerie's support. (Bernie Quigley - 5/12/2008 11:55:02 AM)
This is indeed a wild card as Ron Paul has pretty much been adopted by Richard Viguerie. Viguerie brings management skills and a host of networks throughout the South that are church based. Viguerie was the organization figure who brought the Christian Right to political power. If Viguerie and his constituents morph with Ron Paul it could be a very interesting development. With Bob Barr on board, it might be called Christian Libertarianism. These three, Viguerie, Barr and Ron Paul could could well represent a new phase; Robertson, Falwell and Pastor Hagee a folkloric prequel to something more organized, intelligent and determined.


Bob Barr's website (Lowell - 5/12/2008 3:48:16 PM)
is up and running.


Not a big deal (snolan - 5/13/2008 8:05:53 AM)
So long as the United States sticks to undemocratic voting methods, the two party system has a strangle-hold on most people's votes.  Winner takes all means in November you must chose the least of all evils instead of rank-ordering your preferences.  In a rank ordered world, voters could freely express their opinions and then Paul and Barr might get noticed.

No, because of our ~230 year old system (which so badly needs an overhaul), McCain will not have to worry at all about Paul and Barr.  He can even afford to joke about it on the Daily Show and be friendly with them because they are no real threat.

McCain's worst nightmare is also Paul's and Barr's worst nightmare.  People under 45 years old are ready to consider a candidate who is not an old white guy, and the old white guy candidate club's supporters are dying off (literally).  McCain's worst nightmare is a game-changing election with a fresh new candidate who is stirring up interest in politics, civics, government, and voting even amongst the young; and getting them to vote in record numbers.  McCain's worst nightmare is Obama, and a million volunteers.  It's voters who expect and demand to take part in the decision making process.