I agree with that assessment on principles, pragmatism, and voter greed. I think the pragmatic candidate tempers and prioritizes the principles to deal with the voter greed. Tell them how and why they'll get more from a libertarian candidate. The pragmatic part involves keeping it simple, focused, and limited. Inform but don't frighten. Keep in mind that our principles often scare or anger the unwashed.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 1:29 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Libertarian] The problem with Libertarian candidates... The debate is better framed as principled vs. pragmatic. It would be difficult to assert that voters want someone who is simply an opportunist, out for personal aggrandizement. However, voters may well prefer someone who gives them bread and circuses, even if it violates some principle. Chris > On Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 3:07 PM, Bob Giramma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > What's better, a thoroughly principled but unelectable candidate or a half > > principled but electable one? > > What's better, a false dichotomy or a bear on a bicycle smoking a pipe? > > > It seems that the former gets me nothing, while the latter gets me halfway > > to freedom. > > Well, when you're offered a choice between 'a thoroughly principled > but unelectable candidate' and 'a half principled but electable one', > you can choose the latter then. So far I've never seen this choice > exist in practice. Maybe you have an example. > > > You prioritize your principles for the same reason you choose your battles: > > to win. > > Are you speaking as a *voter* or as a *candidate*? Because if you're > speaking as a candidate, you're not doing yourself any favors by > saying such things publicly. > > If you're speaking as a voter, you're just a little bit sad. > > -- > Susan Hogarth | .38 Special > Libertarian for NC State House 38 > http://hogarth4house.com/ > > ------------------------------------ > > ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
