Who is the most charismatic libertarian(s) out there?
Unfortunately, it appears that many individuals out there follow charisma as opposed to reason, a positive feeling as opposed to coherent logic. Anyone know of any charismatic libertarian(s), whose reason matches their charisma?
Larry Sechrest strikes me as a positively charming fellow.
Freedom of markets is positively correlated with the degree of evolution in any society...
Walter Block is also extremely engaging, but in a less general sense than Larry Sechrest.
But that's coming from me, and I'm about as charismatic as a cinder block.
A burned cinder block.
Pro Christo et Libertate integre!
I'm thinking John Stossel.
"He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper." Edmund Burke
MacFall: Walter Block is also extremely engaging, but in a less general sense than Larry Sechrest. But that's coming from me, and I'm about as charismatic as a cinder block. A burned cinder block.
You don't give yourself enough credit. I think you've got plenty of charisma ^_^
I'm a big fan of Thomas Woods
I would say Penn Jillette, when it comes to charisma, by far; I happened to watch Bullsh*t just at the right time to fully appreciate it.
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Me!
minorgrey: MacFall: Walter Block is also extremely engaging, but in a less general sense than Larry Sechrest. But that's coming from me, and I'm about as charismatic as a cinder block. A burned cinder block. You don't give yourself enough credit. I think you've got plenty of charisma ^_^
Aw shucks, miss lady...
Ron Paul. Some disagree because they don't like his run. But I haven't seen someone so inside politics be so knowledgeable about what the Mises Institute is all about. And hasn't backed down one bit.
We're in trouble if RP is the most charismatic we can come up with. He has a whiny voice and demeanor, and is only average looking. Hard to believe he got the cult of personality thing going, but God bless him...
I thought he was very articulate and clear. I don't really care if he isn't cool looking or the owner of nice hair and suits like Romney. Nor for that matter would a cosmopolitan "intellectual" appeal to me. I think there is more to charisma and likeability to the average person than that, though. That is a major vote-getter probably in some ways (Obama is definitely that stereotype). But I think libertarianism itself is hard to push in today's statist atmosphere. That was Ron's biggest problem -- is facing the establishmentarian monster. Which is both the RNC and the Kochtopuss. And I was very proud to see that he did better than I would have imagined in a million years. It's just gotten so hard to gauge what the American people want anymore. There are so many areas of this country that like what he said, but did not enjoy everything he said. But they liked that he spoke the way he did. Most would vote for him on a few issues, but did not feel he could win against the establishment monsters at the DNC and RNC -- nor could he move the mountain of statism that is congress and the senate. Most libertarians on TV are very condescending and/or not good at explaining their position. But Ron cut right through. Particularly on some of the financial shows. People downplay the fact that he got a lot of great moments in on TV for someone that was marginalized in the actual race by the Party. No one was asking for Kucinich or Gravel to chime in on the housing bubble or the fed.
Michael Badnarik seems pretty charismatic.
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Stefan Molyneux.
Rand (although she'd object to being called a libertarian) and Friedman were also very eloquent speakers in their day. I also consider Hoppe to be a good speaker, though perhaps not charismatic (he has an element of frigidity to him.)
-Jon
P.J. O'Rourke.
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I would also second Rand as well, despite her own objections, as instrumental (in parallel) to libertarian thought, Rothbard fall-out or not. Drew Carey seems to be attracting a good amount of attention for his videos over @ Reason; although I probably wouldn't agree with everything in them. I'm generalizing a bit since the videos are on Reason, which I would itself consider cosmopolitan / vulgar libertarian. He has a good amount of charisma though, and I'm probably not the only one who liked his show as well.
maxpot46:We're in trouble if RP is the most charismatic we can come up with.
I agree with whoever mentioned Walter Block. The only thing about Block is that he is not as well known as Rand and RP.
...And nobody has ever taught you how to live out on the street, But now you're gonna have to get used to it...
I would say charisma is a subjective concept, due to the vast difference of opinion regarding who has charisma. As for RP's charisma, I would actually attribute that to a reluctant or forced upon charisma that a number of individuals perceieved RP as something he may or may not be, or if he was, exagertated such attributes. For example, the mainstream concept of a "dark horse" candidate: another word for 'underdog', but that's not used widley in the mainstream as it would imply a heroic or good candidate; whereas you find the both word's used widley in Internet coverage. The mainstream media knows a story can be made from using such concepts, and while Kucinich, for whatever reasons you can sum up, was at some point their choice for such a story, he was no where near as controversial as RP as he was running as a Republican, despite his more Libertarian resume. A certain amount of attention, charisma, etc. is foisted upon an object, figure, or event by outsider viewers, while another amount is more related to the actual effects of said object, figure or event. That's my 2 cents, at least.
Yep, it's kinda of contradictory to describe Ron Paul following has a cult of personality, but that he has no charisma. I mean, if the people are following him irrationally, merely because of his personality, as I guess that terms means, then Ron Paul should be the definition of charisma. ;)
Anyway, he sure got me very enthusiasmatic and I've read since some austrian and standard economic books from college. When I first read a small article on libertarianism, it was a critiscism, and I actually associated them with being against property rights (:-?). I thought they were some kind of communist / individualist group (like some of the greens here seem to be in some of their emotional rethoric; however they protest against things like the city privatizing a theater). I was very surprised to find otherwise, and excited about there being a political ideology I could identify with. (Thanks Ron Paul ;P)
Equality before the law and material equality are not only different but are in conflict with each other; and we can achieve either one or the other, but not both at the same time. -- F. A. Hayek in The Constitution of Liberty
I think Walter Block is like the opposite of those who want to be seen as charismatic (though he is likeable if you're like me and agree with everything he says). I think he has a particular charm in not being afraid to be the bad guy in the room. Which is very refreshing. Check out his videos in the Media section. Particularly the one where he debates the social worker, another one where he debates a the union guy, and the two Our Story appearances. It's often funny how hostile they get, even if he's just talking common sense and/or things most or all economists know from the get go.
Though one part of his populist side is that he is willing to take any premise and show how it would be better suited for a market-based solution.
JohnSchreimann: I think Walter Block is like the opposite of those who want to be seen as charismatic (though he is likeable if you're like me and agree with everything he says). I think he has a particular charm in not being afraid to be the bad guy in the room. Which is very refreshing. Check out his videos in the Media section. Particularly the one where he debates the social worker, another one where he debates a the union guy, and the two Our Story appearances. It's often funny how hostile they get, even if he's just talking common sense and/or things most or all economists know from the get go. Though one part of his populist side is that he is willing to take any premise and show how it would be better suited for a market-based solution.
Why haven't I bothered reading up on him? This will be fixed. He sure looks lonley on that wikipedia page D:
This thead seems to illustrate what I regard as a general problem with any lists of this sort - no matter what the topic, people will just list their favorites. This is particularly noticable, for instance, when someone asks for contributions to a list of "the greatest intellects of all time" or something similar. People will respond with the names of people whom they agree with a lot. That's why Hawkings gets mentioned so infrequently on such lists - he isn't ideological and so no one has an axe to grind in nominating him.
Nitroadict:Why haven't I bothered reading up on him? This will be fixed. He sure looks lonley on that wikipedia page D:
I'm reading "Defending the Undefendable", about 1/2 through now. I really like Walter Block. I may not agree with everything he says, but he has a way about him. Like Rothbard, but not at such a frenzied pace. I get the impression that Murray Rothbard had so much to say, that he had to rush through it very quickly when speaking.
liberty student: I'm reading "Defending the Undefendable", about 1/2 through now. I really like Walter Block. I may not agree with everything he says, but he has a way about him. Like Rothbard, but not at such a frenzied pace. I get the impression that Murray Rothbard had so much to say, that he had to rush through it very quickly when speaking.
Block is the man.
Andrew Napolitano. He has managed to pull off some amazing things as a libertarian in the mainstream, and I would largely attribute that to his charisma. It's just hard not to like the guy.
Also a point on RP. I think one needs to consider his age. If you watch earlier videos of Paul he really was a great speaker. I think there are still traces of it today, but he stumbles a bit more. If you watch any of his speeches, he almost never uses notes. He is incredibly focused and understands how to talk to people. I think he just has lost a step in his 70s. One ex-Federal Reserve member he was publically debating on the Gold Standard actually prefaced himself with a note about how he will come off as less convincing by default because of how commanding Paul was as a speaker.
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV. And you think you're so clever and class less and free. But you're still f***ing peasants as far as I can see.
There's room at the top they are telling you still. But first you must learn how to smile as you kill, if you want to be like the folks on the hill.
Robert LeFevre seems very charismatic to me
FreedomDefender: Robert LeFevre seems very charismatic to me
Yeah, I LOVED his folksy storytelling style in the one recording of him I heard (that story about Joseph that someone posted the link to the other day).