Dear (insert editor's name here), I support Bob Barr

We hate to spoil surprises here on The Ticket. But any newspaper editors out there, be on the alert for a slew of similar-sounding letters suddenly supporting Bob Barr.

He's the not-so famous former Republican representative from Georgia who's now the presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party. Kind of like a Ron Paul with an old-fashioned mustache. Not that there's anything wrong with such handsome facial hair.

Anyway, Stephen Gordon is the eCampaign Manager for Barr, and if you're not printing your own money by the millions like Barack Obama's crowd in Chicago, then you need to do a lot of really cheap -- even free -- things to attract attention to your campaign and try to break out of the 1% cellar.

Bob caught a break. He'll be interviewed Monday on PBS's national "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," where serious voters study.

Meanwhile, Stephen wrote an e-mail to Barr supporters, linking them to a web page where he has quite thoughtfully stored a whole batch of sample letters about Barr's policies. Coincidentally, they all involve an avowal of a vote for Bob Barr on Nov. 4 and a request for others to consider the same thing.

Stephen suggests, if you're perhaps maybe probably too busy to write your own letter, you might want to copy down one or three of these and fire them off to your local newspaper or website.

Since Bob's been barred, so to speak, from all the presidential debates, Stephen's also collected Barr ads and videos on their website, which people can watch at no cost to Bob. Or Stephen.

Many newspaper letters editors these days will Google common phrases from letters and find them showing up all over the web, and maybe they won't publish that letter or maybe they'll publish just one version.

But maybe someone will see the letter somewhere and decide to vote for Bob Barr. And that's the kind of thing your shoestring campaign has to do to compete if you're not That One.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: BobBarr2008.com

Comments

[Dave Pilliod]

Joe the Hedge Fund Manager

Joe is a typical American. Last year he made $225 million managing a modestly sized hedge fund with assets of $20 billion. Then again, as we all know, it’s the small entrepreneur who is the job creating engine of our economy.

Joe is a Country First Republican. How do we know this? Well it’s quite simple. He donates money to candidates and 527’s that promise a reduction in taxes during this time of peace, prosperity and balanced budgets. Born in 1948, Joe is part of that large demographic known as the “Baby Boomers”. Graduating from high school in 1966 he did the patriotic thing and took a draft deferment to go to the Wharton School of Business and majored in finance. Then it was on to Wall Street where the embodiment and ideal of the “American Work Ethic” is on display in a dazzling setting for the entire world to watch. History reveals that Joe played a role in the creation of the “derivative” and the “collateralized debt obligation”. Most historians feel his place in history is secure and his name will be mentioned in the same sentence as Frances Collin’s and his work on the human genome and Kilby and Noyce’s semiconductor research.

Chairman of the Bush/Cheney Reelection Committee in Ohio in 2004, Joe rolled up his sleeves and embarked on the toughest sales assignment of his career. Throughout that long autumn he urged Ohioans to “stay the course”. On election night 2004 a beaming Joe was seen on television promising another four years of determined and competent leadership not seen since the presidency of Herbert Hoover. Under Hoover, Joe reminded the audience, we enjoyed four years of peace and low inflation (high deflation?). Anyway, the Great Depression had its genesis in the flawed monetary policies of Woodrow Wilson. Joe was going to develop that thesis into a book but he never got past page five.

What happens to people who help reelect the president? Joe was appointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission overseeing the activities of banks and insurance companies. In that position his true talents and industriousness were soon on display for all to see.

But something got in the way of Joe’s ascension to the pinnacle of American Business. In 2008 he was long on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. His derivatives portfolio reflected a bias towards higher interest rates. Joe lost it all.

However, this is America. Out of the ashes the Phoenix rises. Never to proud to take a job beneath his former status, Joe enrolled in a plumber’s apprenticeship program. It was federally funded and the enabling legislation was sponsored by Senator John McCain. The starting pay was only $259,000 a year but with the help of food stamps Joe felt confident the worst would be over soon. Country First.

Dave Pilliod (D-Swanton) is a candidate for Ohio’s 74th House Seat

[Darryl Schmitz]

Rep. Barr's action of skipping the important joint press conference that Ron Paul's staff put so much effort into planning to make a statement about the Democratic/Republican stranglehold on power was very discouraging. The Constitution Party nominee, Chuck Baldwin, attended the press conference, has the governing philosophy and record of respect for the Constitution that Ron Paul has... and earned Ron Paul's endorsement.
I will be casting my vote for Chuck Baldwin.

[Heather Czerniak]

My husband and I are certainly voting for Bob Barr. Enough of the Dem/GOP monopoly on Washington!

[AFH]

Obama and McCain are both running on progressive democrat platforms. The only notable difference in them is that one is for war, the other claims he isn't but has supported the idea of instituting a draft.

A DRAFT!!!

Joe the Plumber needs Bob the Builder or Joe may find himself and his children in a New Deal style work camp.

ALIVE * FREE * HAPPY
Libertarian

[JohnRJ08]

Sorry for being so indelicate, but Bob Barr is an opportunistic dope who is defrauding his supporters out of money in order to build some virtually non-existent political capital. Barr was the infamous apologist for the Republican Congress when it tried to impeach President Clinton for lying in answer to a question that should NEVER have been asked in the first place. You may not have agreed with Clinton, but he left this country in a whole lot better shape than the two Bushs on either side of his Presidency.

[joe]

Don't worry ..you live in a "free" country where your told to vote for only two candidates ... the other parties are excluded from any serious discussion .. I'll be voting 3rd party and for Barr thanks to McCain telling me he's going to buy up all the bad mortages in America. I guess I can default on mine if he gets elected. What a moron.

[Dave Zawislak]

I love how, after endorsing Obama, the first thing you deride about Barr is his moustache. I guess the new ownership don't care anymore.

[Jay]

Libertarian ideology to me still rings thick with selfish every-man-for-himself tones. It's a huge turn off for those of us who believe in some form of altruism.

[Idaho]

Libertarian idealism requires altruistic ideals and we know it. People should help people, and be allowed to retain the means earned from our own labor to do so.
After all, forced charity by tax and redistribution isn't usually considered an altruistic virtue.

[Stuart]

If you want altruism, you'd better not look to Democrats. Though I'm sure they'd rather hide their head in the sand about the actual effects of their policies, they support violence in the name of "altruism." Tax-funded social programs are merely charity at gunpoint -- give to the government-approved "good cause" or, if you resist paying your taxes enough, you WILL be taken by gun-toting force to be punished with imprisonment (under armed guard) for your lack of "altruism." Thanks, but I'll take the freedom to choose my own charities that only the Libertarians seem to offer.

[doob]

Bob Barr is NOTHING like Ron Paul. As a Republican, Barr voted against the Constitution.

Dr. Paul wouldn't think of doing such a thing.

I'm voting third party, but it certainly isn't for Barr.

Baldwin '08

[Mark Ferguson]

Unfortunately, Bob Barr isn't really a Libertarian, but a RILO, "Republican Inside, Libertarian Outside". Some of us Libertarians simply got enamored with his name recognition (as if there really was any) and voted this ex-Republican as our candidate. Dumb!

Well Ron Paul endorsed Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party, and after listening to Chuck speak, he's a lot more libertarian than Mr. Barr. So this Libertarian will be voting for Chuck Baldwin. Go Chuck!

http://baldwin08.com

[Jeff Balla]

Seems there's a army (brigade?) of people who despise Barr, somewhere on the internet.

To Malcolm and the rest of the Ticket crew, I recommend reading the book '1984'. And I'd like to thank you for ratting out those doubleplus sneaky crooks trying to spread the word about their candidate.

[AFH]

Baldwin people are great people when they aren't hating.

Tell me what's great about Baldwin. Sell me on what he is... Ron Paul would never play the lesser of two evil cards either.

I'll be voting Bob Barr.

ALIVE * FREE * HAPPY
Libertarian

[Danny S]

I think Bob Barr was the best choice for the libertarians absent Paul. However, I think Mary Ruwart failed in not coming up to the plate and making a deal with Barr.

Had Barr and Ruwart made a deal before the convention to accept the other as the vice-presidential nominee in the event it came between them, there would have been so many more people who weren't angry about Root. And, the radical Libertarian wing of the party would be happy. Plus, Mary Ruwart could swing some feminine votes.

Finally, I think there would have been no question between Barr or Baldwin. People would've rallied behind the Libertarian ticket.

However, that didn't happen. We must accept the fact that Baldwin and Barr will probably split their vote and make the best of it. Both campaigns seem to (luckily) be campaigning in different states. Now, all efforts must be made to support your candidate. There is some good in building both parties. The only thing to do is keep plugging away.

I have one thing that I wish Barr would do. He needs to make 3 campaign swings before this election is over. One through Georgia, one through Nevada, and finally a last through New Hampshire. He's done well with campaigning in swing states, but the 3 states I listed are all big ones where he can capitalize on his vote total and have an impact on the election.

[Fred C]

Root was a mistake, and Barr messed up by not supporting Dr. Paul at his press conference. This fact influenced my reduced financial support for the LP ticket.

Barr will still get my vote as a defender of Liberty without the baggage of Baldwin and the Constitution Party. I have not read or seen a video of Ron Paul endorsing Baldwin. All Dr. Paul said was that he will be voting for Baldwin because he was a friend who had supported him during his campaign. Voting for and endorcing are two different things.

I frankly agree with Danny that Mary Ruwart needed to put aside her disdain for Barr and provide the opportunity for a more Libertarian ticket. This election year was a perfect opportunity for a serious effort by a third Party, given the horrible choices of McCain/Obama.

[Cisse]

Bob Barr has my vote. He's the most (only) Libertarian candidate on the ballot. Down with the LP haters out there!

[Art Fountain]

As usual mass media fails to take third party candidates seriously or give them unbiased attention. This despite the fact that neither "major" party existed in the early history of the U.S, and in fact they were one and the the same (a bit like the current state of affairs).

This is not a form letter of any kind. I am a real human who will be voting for Barr on or before Nov 4th.

[Leslie Webb]

Dear Joe the Plumber,

With the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, Barack Obama will increase federal spending by $993 billion, and John McCain will increase it by $792.4 billion. Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr would stop the $700 billion bailout and would cut other spending by $200.9 billion, for a total decrease of $900.9 billion in federal spending. Which candidate will you vote for?

Leslie Webb

[Leslie Webb]

Dear Joe the Plumber,

With the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, Barack Obama will increase federal spending by $993 billion, and John McCain will increase it by $792.4 billion. Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr would stop the $700 billion bailout and would cut other spending by $200.9 billion, for a total decrease of $900.9 billion in federal spending. Which candidate will you vote for?

Leslie Webb

[z]

Libertarian ideology is UNLIKE Democratic and Republican ideology that "rings thick with selfish" corporation above every man tones SOLIDIFIED by the OBAMA and McCain votes to bailout corporate America. It is EXTREMELY blind and shortsighted to vote for someone like OBAMA who claims to be for those on Main Street while hypocritically voting into law the worst piece of legislation for Wall Street!

[Tom Black]

I'm voting Barr not because he has a chance, but because I live in a state that's bright blue. McCain has no chance here either. BUT! If Bob Barr puts in a decent showing, that may finally convince the big-government types in the GOP to get back to what the Republicans used to stand for: small government and less spending. Newt wanted to get rid of the Department of Education, which is just a huge waste of money - to improve education, how about we give all that cash directly to the state departments of education to be used hiring and training teachers? Surely money on training for teachers is a better use than money on paperpushers in DC. But then Bush decides to double the Department of Education - and the GOP members of Congress went along with it! If I'd wanted big-spending big government, I'd be a Democrat. The GOP has to change course. A vote for McCain in a blue state is a vote for the GOP to continue its slide into becoming the Democratic Party. A vote for Bob Barr is a vote that the idiots in the GOP who spent 8 years wasting money and increasing the debt get back on course.