Barr discusses presidential run with CNN
June 29th, 2008 by Jason PyeBob Barr was on CNN today with Mark Preston to discuss some of the issues that have presented themselves over the last few years as well as this election, such as privacy and spending:
So why did Barr abandon the Republican Party in 2006?
“It probably wasn’t any one thing,” he said during our conversation last week outside the White House.
“But perhaps listening to the attorney general of the United States, in a purportedly conservative Republican administration of George W. Bush, justify to the American people that the writ of habeas corpus, the great writ, the foundation of civilized society as we know it, is no longer important. Watching a president and his attorney general try and torture the language of the law and the language of the Fourth Amendment to justify warrantless spying on American citizens in their own country in the name of being a commander in chief.
You can watch the video of the interview here.
[VIDEO] The video has been added to the Bob Barr 2008 YouTube Channel (make sure you subscribe!).
June 29th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
As a conservative I cannot in good conscience support John Mccain for President.But when I look at the Libertarian positions I am scared off by your position on surveillance.No Americans have lost their constitutional freedoms as a result of our efforts to gather intelligence against jihadist fanatixcs who want to kill us!There have been no documented instances of American citizens being spied upon by our own government.This kind of position makes you all sound just too far out there for conservatives to support.Somehow I cannot help but see you people as just a smidgeon to the left of anarchy!
June 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
This is my first visit to Bob Barr’s website.
I am disappointed as a result of reviewing the “Issues” area. Virtually no mention of the #1 issue to be facing us over the next few decades: government policy and spending in the area of catastrophic man-made global warming.
Do I assume correctly that Mr. Barr does NOT subscribe to catastrophic man-made global warming, as do his counterparts Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain?
There are ALOT of us in both the Democratic and Republican Parties who are concerned that this most important of issues does not have anyone presenting an opposite view.
Advice for Mr. Barr: if you want to garner at least 10% of the vote and be a spoiler, annouce your candidacy as a one-issue candidacy: opposition to global-warming.
The votes will flock to you.
June 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
io decided to write in huckabee
June 29th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Man made Global Warming is a fake. The earth is still colder now then it was when the vikings frist came over to North America. Bob Barr belives that its all a fake and that the media is useing this to gain power for the (D) and now (R) are trying to get on board too.
“What the American people don’t know, makes them the American people.” as we can see with global warming and the oil prices( that are Gov is causeing).
Go Bob Barr Money Bomb July 2nd!!!!!
June 29th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Tony,
You are correct in assuming that Bob Barr is opposed to the idea of man made global warming. He clearly stated that position during the interview with Glenn Beck, which you can view here: http://www.bobbarr2008.com/media-center/play/93/
I would also advise reading the articles section, as it gives you a little more insight into Bob Barr’s positions. Also, feel free to ask questions like you did in a blog comment. There are plenty of people who can answer your questions.
June 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Richard,
I used to have the same mindset as you. But I started to think after hearing the following argument presented to a socialist “you wouldn’t want Bush running a socialist country would you”? Which I thought was a great argument against giving socialistic powers to a government. Then I started to think in terms of privacy. Well maybe right now the government is not abusing it, but will this be true for the next president and the next president. After thinking about it in that prospective is when I started vehemently apposing the Patriot Act and any policy suspending Habeas Corpus. The constitution was written to protect us from tyrant governments, just cause one dictator is just does not mean they all will be. Communism is probably great is the dictator is Jesus, but what happens when it is Hitler? We have to keep government in check even if they are not abusing the power now.
June 29th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I believe that Global Warming is happening, and that humans contribute to it, but I’m still behind Barr 100%, because there is no way we can trust the government to deal with this issue no matter who is in charge!! We’ll end up with nothing but counterproductive regulation, more levels of bureaucracy, more entanglement in treaties which prevent us from acting in our own sovereign interest, and a new excuse for jacking up corporate welfare under the guise of “incentives” or “cap and trade” — does anyone really think Obama/McCain is going to do anything but?
June 29th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Richard
You sound like J Egar Hoover when you suggest that surveillance does not deprive individuals rights. It’s the same method that worked to discredit MLK when during the civil rights movement in the 60’s.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
It’s not a fair argument to talk about ‘documented’ evidence, when the government is operating in secrecy and you would be a felon to release any documentation.
If the government has asked for the opportunity to listen in on americans without warrant or oversight, then you can be sure they asked for that right, because they intend to use it.
Richard, I’ll be frank with you, most conservatives are happy to toss out freedoms and as Dennis Miller said, its OK if the government is listening in on their conversations without warrant. Its OK if some americans get arrested and held without bond or trial, and never charged with a crime. You may not feel that way, you may feel comfortable that lack of documentation (which the government will absolutely not document), is a type of proof that everything is OK.
But Bob Barr simply cannot expect to win over hard core conservatives. They may come around someday, but it will only be after they have a change of heart. Certainly don’t expect Bob Barr to condone these ultra conservative positions.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Richard,
I see in the conservative logic some inconsistencies. First the suggestion is made 1) the government needs the new powers to make th world safer, and 2) the government doesn’t actually use the new powers.
How does it make the world safer, if they don’t use it? Admit they use it. They asked for the ability to spy on americans without warrant, because they will spy on americans without warrant.
I don’t doubt, they intend to use this power to make the world safer, the issue is, frankly, it gives too much power to government, we could be brewing problems, big problems for ourselves, by creating a monster in our own backyard.
Libertarians are often called anarchists by those trying to belittle libertarians…not by anyone who has honestly looked at the party, certainly not by anyone who has heard Bob Barr. We’ve had a system in place for 30 years that gives the government sufficient powers to go after foreign terrorists…they have to get a warrant, but there is a special court system, available 24 hours a day, that expedites the granting of these warrants. It’s a traditional balance of power between the judiciary and the executive…and it works well and will allow the government, with a warrant, to go after these terrorists…even to spy on americans with cause.
thats hardly anarchism…not even close. Its responsible oversight, but with recognition that the government must, and will, go after the bad guys.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Kevin, you nailed it. Yes, global warming is probably occurring. But the UN’s own science shows that the greatest possible sacrifices won’t be enough to stop it. And if it will happen, we’d better have a robust economy to deal with it.
Tony, I don’t think a one-issue campaign is a good idea — but this is certainly an important issue. McCain and Obama both support cap-and-trade, which will raise the cost of gas, electricity and heat. The most economically vulnerable in our society have the most to gain from a Barr presidency. People are hurting out there and the major party candidates want to impose a substantial hidden energy tax — absolutely unbelievable.
Bob Barr all the way.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I have to agree with Tony on one thing, the issues tab on this site is just AWFUL! Please expand the issues section as soon as possible! The people need details about issues and proposed solutions.
June 29th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
“No Americans have lost their constitutional freedoms as a result of our efforts to gather intelligence…”? The very notion is anathema to Consitutional guarantees. I think I’ve heard something like 30,000 (illegal) wiretaps done on U.S. citizens every year. No court order required… If you think something like that is ok, you probably are living in the wrong country.
As far as issues, the only issue that matters is fiscal responsibility. If big government is not reined in, we won’t have to worry about any other issues… Worrying about any other “single issues” is just nibbling at the edges.
June 29th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I too think that man made global warming may be happening. To say it definitely isn’t is closed-minded and shortsighted. But can government fix it? I doubt it.
And Richard, Of course there are no documented instances of American citizens being spied upon by our own government. That’s why it’s called “spying.”
June 29th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
On the issue of privacy, I consider what Ronald Reagan said, “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything away from you.” In the same way, a government big enough to know everything you do for the right reasons, is big enough for to know everything about you for the wrong reasons. I believe we need to be very cautious about heightened surveillance. Certainly, we live in different dangerous times and we need to find ways to protect our nation, but we have to be very careful. It’s a matter of principle, and a matter of practicality. Once you give the government power, even for a good reason, that power can become abusive. I am not totally against the Patriot Act, at least not the original idea, but it needs to be monitered very carefully and as I understand, it is being misused and some stronger restrictions need placed upon it. That is something I respect about Barr’s position.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I’m not saying global-warming isn’t a problem or that people shouldn’t be thinking about it, but the isn’t the idea behind being a libertarian that there should be less government. By that wouldn’t that mean that a candidate’s stance on that particular matter, not really matter? If I’m voting for a president as a libertarian I want him/her to keep their hands away from the environment, away from schools, and away from everything else the last 90 years of federal control has destroyed and give it back to the people. I want my president to tell me how are you making MY government work better for ME. How are you keeping my freedoms mine? How are you going to make sure that when my pay heck comes I’m not looking around trying to figure out where my hard earned money went? Don’t blow smoke up my skirt with talk about earth day. Tell me how you getting the government out of every facet of my life so I can live.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:13 am
FISA, and “Spying on Americans” are side issues on the civil liberties front. Most Americans care more about civil liberties that effect their day-to-day lives, like: Smoking bans!, mandatory Seat Belt laws, Beer and Wine sales in grocery stores, Speed Limits, and ever-encroaching Nanny-state regulations on people’s personal lives.
I agree with the “conservative” posters above, who say that Libertarians are too obsessed with side issues.
I wish my fellow Libertarians would get back to basics.
And for my conservative friends who were thinking of supporting Barr, please understand that there are Libertarians who feel the same way you do on these issues.
I sincerely hope you will reconsider your decision not to support Barr and us Libertarians because of this. We are actively working to move the Party towards a more mainstream, in-touch with middle America approach.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:29 am
@Dondero,
You can say about liberals that they ‘cling to guns and religion’. That was Obama talking about his own Democratic primary voters.
But, it won’t win you friends. I’m not ‘obsessed’ with FISA, but a question was raised about FISA, and so, showing respect for the person who raised the question, I answered about the subject he was concerned about.
What class, that you took a chance to bash your fellow Libertarians.
Quite frankly, I don’t think that sort of thing is useful, but more importantly, isn’t accurate. People aren’t random, those concerned with particular issues, have good reason to be concerned with them. They are side issues to you, but not to them.
As a matter of fact, I just posed your question to my office, most of whom are conservative, one liberal, and one other conservative.
It’s anecdotal, but I said to them, whats the side issue in this election ’seat belt laws, or FISA’….it turns out 100% of them thought FISA was a topical current event, and seat belt laws are not on the radar at all. In other words, your suggestion of what is important, was to them, a side issue.
I don’t doubt its important to you and bears discussing, but what a way to bring it up a subject by insulting and belittiling!
June 30th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I just read Bob’s position on the United Nations and wanted to say I agree 100% with it. Once again, the money wasted there could help with so many economic issues for many American families if the dollars were simply left in American pockets instead of flowing for so much beuracratic waste.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
As a meteorologist i can assure you that global warming is blown way out of proportion by the liberal media. Climate change is cyclical and happens with or without the presence of humans. Just ask the dinosaurs. It’s just another way for special interest groups to make Americans feel guilty for being alive and successful. I’m all about cleaning up our messes and recycling and things like that, but If you buy a hybrid car do it because you want to save money on gas, not because you want to “save the planet.” It takes a ton of pollution to create those batteries, google it sometime.
I have a sweet shirt that says “Al Gore didn’t invent the internet, but he did make up Global Warming.”
June 30th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Joel - just because Bush said it doesnt make it true. Just because you can Google something doesnt make it a fact. We’ve switched from being a media based society to a Google based, but between op-eds of newspapers or blogs, i see little difference.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I saw the ‘Raise the Barr ‘08′ slogan elsewhere on the site and I love it! it really is what this campaign is about!
June 30th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I’m an Independent voter and due to the corruption in Washington as far as I’m concerned I can’t vote for either of their Presidential Candidates. Both Parties respond to the wants and desires of Lobbyists, not the American People.
I saw you, Bob, on Chris Wallace’s Show, and those of us who have seen a lot of Chris know he is such an ardent Obama supporter that he was unlikely to be very fair with you. He did give you just one opening, though, to bring up an issue, and you brought up Fisa.
Looking at your Issues Menu might I suggest that you speak about economic issues and the corruption and Congess’ neglect of the American People in solving their problems? For example, tale the issue of H-1B Visas, where greedy employers can outsource an American citizen’s job easily , and there is really no shortage of American workers to fill those jobs. Nielson, in Florida, just outsourced 1000 jobs. I went on the internet briefly and found 91 PACs located in Washington that are lobbying for an increase to yearly H-1B numbers. There are now 77 Lobbyists for every member of Congress. No wonder they never get anything done for the people. John McCain has a long history of both authoring and supporting increases in “outsourcing visas”. The Commprehensive Immigration Act was a big increase. A quote from John in 1998 from a July 12th letter to a voter: “”I am proud to have been an original co-sponsor of this bill, which would raise the temporary visa cap for skilled foreign workers. I say that we should eliminate these artificial [H-1B] limits altogether.”
The thing is, as President, people have to know that you could have a far reaching affect on visas, employee verification at the workplace, Border and Port Security, and many of the othe bread and butter pocketbook issues people are concerned about. That’s what they want to hear!! Hell, Congress just went home without accomplishing anything for the people, right?
Dave from Vernon CT.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I failed to see how Richard asking about FISA was OK, and my answering about FISA, was obsession with the topic. I’ll go down Dondero’s list: Smoking bans — generall this is a state and local issue mandatory Seat Belt laws — general a state issue, with some federal funding type interference, Beer and Wine sales in grocery stores –state and local issue, Speed Limits — largely state and local some federal input on interstate highways.
on a presidential campaign, its best to talk about federal issues…its more proper to talk about state issues on a gubernatorial campaign.
also, just me personally, but I don’t drink or smoke, or speed, and I always wear my seat belts…again, laws that are more onerous to me, tend to get my attention…unnecessary laws, that don’t harm me at all, necessarily get less attention. And I absolutely do support speed limits. I’ll agree with you some of the nanny laws are superfluous, like requiring seat belts.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
chris, what are you talking about? i was only half serious when i made the google comment. and i never knew nor did i care to know what Bush said about the issue. but at least i can agree with him on something. My knowledge of the climate is the result of earning a degree in meteorology, not from blogger sites or newspaper clippings. Pursuing a degree in meteorology requires quite a few climatology classes. You can google that too.
June 30th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Let’s get Bob over the $37,000 mark tonight before we go to bed!
Tonight is the last time to contribute for June!
June 30th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I’d prefer Barr be clearer on his past transgressions against individual liberties, why he was very wrong on very serious issues (not just that he was voting for what he hoped was something else, but that the actual votes and legislations were authoritarian and inconsistent with Libertarian goals), and why the Republicans and Democrats have been wrong all this time and why the LP had it right.
Now, that would be a much stronger, winning message, Bob.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:44 am
If Barr hasn’t demonstrated and explained his conversion effectively enough for you, then it isn’t possible. He’s made it clear: He was wrong, he’s seen the light. Isn’t this exactly what libertarians want of any American who hasn’t been voting Libertarian?
The time for Barr to reach out to Libertarians came and went in the end of May, in Denver. Now is the time for him to reach out to the American people more broadly- and he’s doing it. I’m really satisfied with the amount of mainstream press Barr’s getting. It’s about time a Libertarian candidate did.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:03 pm
NASA’s report on the “hottest year in history”
The hottest year on record is 1934, not 1998;
The third hottest year on record was 1921, not 2006;
Three of the five hottest years on record occurred before 1940; and
Six of the top 10 hottest years occurred prior to 90 percent of the growth in greenhouse gas emissions during the last century.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Sounds like Mr. Barr is skirting the issue of building the border fence and kicking the illegals out of this country. Also, he speaks of repealing the 16th amendment. I wish he thought the same about the 17th. I’d like him to see him delve into the issues more deaply instead of just glazing over them with soundbites and quick paragraphs. To what extent does he support the second amendment? Enough to consider repeal of the 1968 gun control act? How about the ‘34NFA. What does he think about term limits for congress? How about Roe v Wade, McCain-Fiengold, Kelo, etc.