http://www.campaignforliberty.com/

The press conference at the National Press Club had a precise purpose.  It was to expose, to as many people as possible, the gross deception of our presidential election process.  It is controlled by the powerful elite to make sure that neither candidate of the two major parties will challenge the status quo.  There is no real choice between the two major parties and their nominees, only the rhetoric varies.  The amazingly long campaign is designed to make sure the real issues are ignored.  The quotes I used at the press conference from insider Carroll Quigley and the League of Women voters strongly support this contention.

Calling together candidates from the liberal, conservative, libertarian and progressive constituencies, who are all opposed to this rigged process, was designed to alert the American people to the uselessness of continuing to support a process that a claims that one’s only choice is to choose the lesser of two evils and reject a principle vote that might challenge the status quo as a wasted vote.

In both political education and organization, coalitions are worthwhile and necessary to have an impact.  “Talking to the choir” alone achieves little.  I have always approached political and economic education with a “missionary” zeal by inviting any group in on issues we agree upon.

This opens the door to legitimate discourse with the hope of winning new converts to the cause of liberty.  This strategy led to the press conference with the four candidates agreeing to the four principles we believe are crucial in challenging the political system that has evolved over many years in this country.

This unique press conference, despite the surprising, late complication from the Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate, hopefully will prove to be historically significant.

Read More…

http://thirdpartywatch.com/…

Participating in this event was a backward step for Nader and McKinney, the two presidential candidates to the left of the Democrats with any kind of support this year.

In fact, Barr snubbed the gathering, arguing at his own press conference a few hours later that he wasn’t “interested in third parties getting the most possible votes,” but in building his own candidacy.

That’s what Nader and McKinney should have done. In spite of surface similarities on a few issues, Ron Paul is no ally of the progressive agenda that these two candidates have stood for.

They should reject Paul’s endorsement and distance themselves from any other initiative that unites third-party presidential candidates, regardless of their politics. If they don’t, they will have lost any claim on the votes of people who want to register their discontent with the two parties of the status quo as part of building a left that can pursue an alternative agenda.

Yeah… as Third Party Watch indicated “The Socialist Workers Party’s candidate got 10,800 votes (0.01% of the total) in the 2004 presidential campaign.”

If you don’t build bridges you’ll be stuck on an island. If you believe your philosophy is correct you should have no problem working with others on particular issues to move toward that goal.

The following is a statement presented Wednesday, September 10, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. It was presented to the media by Rep. Ron Paul, former Republican presidential candidate, joined by Cynthia McKinney, Green Party presidential candidate, Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party presidential candidate, and Ralph Nader, Independent presidential candidate. At a later press conference, Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential candidate, said he also agreed with the statement (see posting below).

We Agree

Foreign Policy: The Iraq War must end as quickly as possible with removal of all our soldiers from the region. We must initiate the return of our soldiers from around the world, including Korea, Japan, Europe and the entire Middle East. We must cease the war propaganda, threats of a blockade and plans for attacks on Iran, nor should we reignite the cold war with Russia over Georgia. We must be willing to talk to all countries and offer friendship and trade and travel to all who are willing. We must take off the table the threat of a nuclear first strike against all nations.

Privacy: We must protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons under US jurisdiction. We must repeal or radically change the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the FISA legislation. We must reject the notion and practice of torture, eliminations of habeas corpus, secret tribunals, and secret prisons. We must deny immunity for corporations that spy willingly on the people for the benefit of the government. We must reject the unitary presidency, the illegal use of signing statements and excessive use of executive orders.

The National Debt: We believe that there should be no increase in the national debt. The burden of debt placed on the next generation is unjust and already threatening our economy and the value of our dollar. We must pay our bills as we go along and not unfairly place this burden on a future generation.

The Federal Reserve: We seek a thorough investigation, evaluation and audit of the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationships with the banking, corporate, and other financial institutions. The arbitrary power to create money and credit out of thin air behind closed doors for the benefit of commercial interests must be ended. There should be no taxpayer bailouts of corporations and no corporate subsidies. Corporations should be aggressively prosecuted for their crimes and frauds.

I’ve been wanting 3rd parties to join up on common threads for years. This is a good start. I just hope they continue to work together and keep these issues raised.

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Funny that McCain people are still trying to get Paul to endorse him. Don’t they understand he simply will not do so?

The missing Bob Barr really annoys me. He had a press conference in the same building at 12PM. Why wasn’t he there? Some are saying he blew them off, some think perhaps he was just running late. Given that Austin Peterson (who I know) was tossed out by an angry Jesse Benton it seems there was definitely some crossed signals. At least between the Barr people and the LP, but if what Don Rasmussen says is true the Barr campaign has serious explaining to do. At this point I’ve still not heard what Barr’s conference was about.

UPDATE:

According to a fellow Manhattan LP member:

Barr’s folks say Barr didn’t want to “dilute the libertarian message” or
some shit and didn’t want to be on stage with greens, crazy baldwin, or
crazy mckinney. The person I spoke with said that instead Barr had his own
press conference and that he also has written a private letter to Ron
offering ron the VP spot (and that wayne is okay with it).

Now I’m not too sure what to make of it, but my 2 working hypotheses are:
1) it’s legit and Barr intended well
2) Barr offered the “private letter” to Paul knowing Paul wouldn’t accept
and that it could be leaked out to hardcore paul fans and probably wouldn’t
make the mainstream media. This way Barr has it both ways: in the eyes of
the mainstream Republicans who he is trying to impress, he can continue to
be a mainstream Republican who isn’t really a “crazy libertarian” and has
managed to keep his distance from Paul and those loons. But to hardcore
Paullers, he offered Paul a VP spot and may gain their respect (which he
doesnt care about) and their moneybombs (which he does care about).

UPDATE 2:

Here’s the answer.

Barr may have just lost my already reluctant vote.

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/…

Friends,

Dr. Paul just authorized me to send this press release to the national wire. Stay tuned!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jesse Benton
September 5, 2008

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA – On the heels of his historic three-day rally in Minneapolis that drew over 12,000 attendees, Congressman Ron Paul will make a major announcement next week in Washington at the National Press Club.

More details will be announced Monday.

The last major announcement was a bit of a let down. Hopefully this one has more substance. An endorsement perhaps? Rumor is Barr and Baldwin will be there. Barr’s site lists Sept. 10, Joint Press Conference at the National Press Club at 10:30am.

http://washingtontimes.com/…

The McCain campaign, acting through the Republican National Committee, has been negotiating with Rep. Ron Paul to win his support and acquire the names of his sympathizers among the 4,607 delegates and alternates at the Republican National Convention, according to a senior aide to the Texas congressman.

The aim is to try to win support for the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket from Paul sympathizers, some of whom formally committed to Mr. Paul during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and others of whom are closet sympathizers of his libertarian brand of Republicanism.

Sen. McCain and national party strategists worry that Mr. Paul’s sympathizers will vote for Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate and former Republican congressman who shares many of Mr. Paul’s views.

Mr. Paul has refused to endorse Mr. McCain, and Mr. McCain’s operatives have refused to let him address the Republican National Convention.

As a result, Mr. Paul decided to hold a rally of his own Tuesday billed as the “Campaign for Liberty.” Initially set to be held at the University of Minnesota’s 11,000-seat Williams Arena, it has been moved to the far-larger Target Center in Minneapolis. Mr. Paul said in an interview that he expects to attract up to 18,000 people.

Mr. Benton said Mr. Paul is negotiating with convention officials - who are in effect McCain campaign representatives - for permission to make the rounds on the convention floor Wednesday in the company of his personal security guard, communications director and political aides.

Earlier negotiations to have Mr. Paul address the convention fell through because the congressman would not change his position on the war in Iraq, which he opposes as needless and self-defeating for the United States.

He also was denied permission to address the Republican Platform Committee last week in Minneapolis, Mr. Benton said. He said Mr. Paul wanted to discuss the foreign-policy planks in the platform, but the McCain forces who controlled the platform proceedings, as well as the Rules Committee and the Credentials Committee, objected.

I’m not surprised. McCain would love some of the Paul zeal. He won’t get it though. Most Paul supporters wouldn’t even consider McCain. Those that did would likely be canceled out by the Obama leaning Paul supporters.

I think most Paul supporters will be staying home, voting for Barr or Baldwin.