MSNBC: This morning in Concord, NH, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (R) said something he hadn’t uttered before.
“I’m running for president of the United States,” he told a couple of supporters and cameramen gathered for his announcement outside the New Hampshire State Capitol. Skipping the exploratory committee phase, Johnson jumped right into the slow-to-start 2012 race.
…Johnson, a libertarian, differs with much of the Republican Party’s base on several issues. He supports a guest-worker program … he also favors legalizing marijuana … Where he and the GOP don’t differ is on the scope of the government. “I really do believe in smaller government. I really believe that there are consequences of legislation that get passed and maybe it isn’t in our best interests to pass all the legislation that we pass,” he told the small audience.
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I did it again, I ventured in to Teabagger territory to see how they were reacting to Johnson’s, um, big announcement. It looks like he has a bit of work to do:
“I’m not enjoying having to Google presidential candidates to find out who they are.”
“If the GOP runs more than a dozen candidates in the primaries, can they get some kind of bulk discount for printing and TV time?”
“All I can say is…who the HELL is Gary Johnson?”
😆
*****
Curiously, Glenn Greenwald, while being worshipped by the Professional Left, is an admirer of Johnson ….
Rooted Cosmopolitan: According to the 2002 edition of the Almanac of American Politics, as governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson cut taxes on the rich while cutting social services for the poor. He tried to pluck money out of public schools and funnel it in to private school vouchers. He vetoed a minimum wage bill. He signed in to law a late-term abortion ban. He won’t affirm a belief in global warming, and says even if it is happening that the effects are exaggerated and too much money is being wasted on it. And he vetoed a bill that would have continued the collective bargaining rights of public employees. That’s right, without the bluster but apparently to the same intended effect he did the same thing to public employees in New Mexico that Scott Walker did in Wisconsin.
There’s more on Johnson/Greenwald at that link, and at the always brilliant Reid Report (here)
Thank you for the links Majii 😉
The Obama Diary 
Those are actually some pretty clever comments from the teabaggers. Didn’t know they had it in them.
I was surprised too, Tien – I liked the “bulk discount” comment, but I think this one (which made me literally LOL) …
“I’m not enjoying having to Google presidential candidates to find out who they are.”
….was deadly serious 😆
Chipsticks did u really have to high-light a “couple of supporters” in red. That made me LOL. What will we do without u?
😆
I’m trying to find photos of the announcement, surely he could have gathered more than a “couple” of supporters 😕 Or does he not have any friends?
He also supports same gender marriage. Good luck with getting the Republican nomination on that platform.
Talk about skeletons in the closet.
Lee
I was confused about that one Lee – most places I’ve read that he does support gay marriage, but that Rooted Cosmopolitan post said he doesn’t.
http://rootedcosmopolitan.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/glenn-greenwald-neither-a-liberal-nor-a-progressive/
Although, when you click their link (where they claim this) it brings up a pdf that says Johnson’s position is unclear.
???
thank you for this Chipsticks and Majii. I just posted it at TPV.
Excellent work Chipsticks. dr
Sorry, but some of this stuff he saying sounds like he has been smoking some legalizing marijuana.
All I have to say is OBAMA/BIDEN….2012 OBAMA/BIDEN….2016 OBAMA/BIDEN…..2020 That’s Michelle Obama/Jill Biden!!!!
“Johnson, a libertarian”…….nuff said. Sorry stranger, a vote for you and/ or any of your ilk is a vote for the Koch brothers, 3M CEO Buckley, BP oil, Arianna Huffington’s of the world. No thanks.
Even with the pro-choice stance and the other stuff, he sounds like the perfect Republican-TeaParty candidate. I put his chances at zero of winning the presidency, but perhaps at 20% at entertainment value.
Incidentally, the campaign committee in Utah attempting to get Jon Hunt, former U.S. Ambassador to China, to run against our President in 2012, is gearing up in hopes he’ll run for president. Others are hoping he’ll run against Hatch for the Senate. See, Jon Huntsman is sane. They think he might have a chance to neutralize teapartier Mike Lee and make the Utah delegation less of a joke.
I could see Huntsman running as an indie for the Utah senate if Hatch gets teabagged out. Huntsman will also try and run the “Rick Snyder” campaign on a national level, the “one tough nerd” moderate in a sea of teabagger pandering far right candidates in the hope they split the far right vote 4-5 ways, leaving him the 35% of the moderates and cross-overs all to himself with the belief that should he win the nomination that he’d get those wingnut fringe voters simply for no other reason than that would stick it to Obama. Looking at the field right now, Huntsman might be the only moderate, but if another moderate declares then he’s finished. As it is, I think he and Pawlenty will probably split the same pool of voter.
I think what interests Huntsman is the Presidency. I would be VERY curious of his thoughts on the Ryan radical budget. I just can’t begin to think that any “moderate” who has some brains and some integrity can endorse this lunacy.. I wonder if it may make him wait till 2016. That’s what I wish anyway. (And I wish the budget debate will be part of the 2012 campaign; it’s a winner for democrats…)
First of all, Gary Johnson is no Mr. Excitement. I mean, look at him. Has as much appeal as Jindal lurking from the shadows during that rebuttal last year. Secondly, with all of these rethugs coming out of the woodwork announcing their desire to run for president, what the hell have any of them done for ordinary people, and how do they think they can even stand next to President Obama in personality, sincerity, affability, smarts, ideas, and accomplishments? Give me a f’ing break. What’s it, if the black guy can be president, by golly so can I? Jeez, I’ll be glad when this damn circus is over. I’m tired of the hatefulness and racism, the bad ideas and arrogance. I really wanted to enjoy PBO’s presidency and I am trying to do just that. I’m grateful for this as well as the other, yes, pro-Obama sites, and I actually refuse to read many of the articles posted here as I just don’t give a damn what those other clowns are saying. I choose what I need to know, and squash the rest of the noise. I made up my mind to be content with my president after 8 years of debauchery and deceit, so I choose to partake of all the positive, but will fight the negative in the extreme. Nonetheless, I appreciate knowing what we are up against, but I don’t delve into it too deeply.
Hey, here is a ‘Name that child’ picture someone (CarolD) shared at BWD’s! Can you recognize him? 😉
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!
That is so cute!