http://dailycaller.com/2011/06/07/presidential-candidate-gary-johnson-on-cnns-silence-really-disheartening/
Anybody losing sleep over this? While I'm not quite a fan of Johnson's "beltway libertarianism" and "cost-benefit analysis", at least in relation to Paul's stalwart stance against State intervention, Johnson completely turned the first debate on its head because he could play off of Paul's appeals to liberty with a more utilitarian outlook. It made Paul sound less crazy and put the neoconservatives on the defensive.
Basically his presence broke up the echo chamber. Somebody other than Paul could actually challenge a Santorum type on matters of foreign policy and it could also show how Bachmann (who is going to be debating) as the face of the Tea Party isn't really for liberty in any meaningful sense. I think in the first debate, the candidates couldn't say silly things without getting attacked on it by two other members on the stage. I could almost hear Herman Cain and Pawlenty yearning to say something neoconish, but was almost apologizing for having those sentiments.
What's silly about this is I believe there are only going to be 7 candidates there. What, they couldn't have room for one more?
Eric080:What's silly about this is I believe there are only going to be 7 candidates there. What, they couldn't have room for one more?
Not one who's a "crazy anarchist wants-to-lock-Americas-door-and-throw-away-the-key pothead kook."