# GOP trying to suppress the Libertarian Party **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 15, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810 "2012-10-15T19:57:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/1 "2012-10-15T19:57:05Z")
[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/us/politics/gary-johnson-the-libertarian-partys-presidential-nominee-worries-republicans.html?src=twr](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/us/politics/gary-johnson-the-libertarian-partys-presidential-nominee-worries-republicans.html?src=twr) > [@](#): > > Around the country, Republican operatives have been making moves to keep Mr. Johnson (_the Libertarian candidate_) from becoming their version of Ralph Nader, the Green Party candidate whose relatively modest support cut into Al Gore’s 2000 vote arguably enough to help hand the decisive states of Ohio and Florida to George W. Bush. > > The fear of Mr. Johnson’s tipping the outcome in an important state may explain why an aide to Mr. Romney ran what was effectively a surveillance operation into Mr. Johnson’s efforts over the summer to qualify for the ballot at the Iowa State Fair, providing witnesses to testify in a lawsuit to block him that ultimately fizzled. > > Libertarians suspect it is why Republican state officials in Michigan blocked Mr. Johnson from the ballot after he filed proper paperwork three minutes after his filing deadline. > > And it is why Republicans in Pennsylvania hired a private detective to investigate his ballot drive in Philadelphia, appearing at the homes of paid canvassers and, in some cases, flashing an F.B.I. badge — he was a retired agent — while asking to review the petitions they gathered at $1 a signature, according to testimony in the case and interviews. The Karl Rove win at any cost philosophy at work. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/2 "2012-10-15T20:02:30Z")
Was the paperwork purposely delayed until the deadline is passed? If not, how long until after the deadline is passed would not qualify as win at all costs? The next day? The next week? Should the deadline have meaning at all? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/3 "2012-10-15T23:43:57Z")
Verily,it is written, that whatsoever shall go around, therefore shall it come around. And whomsoever shall covet his maidservant’s ass, thereupon shall he be bitten. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/4 "2012-10-16T00:44:57Z")
the democrats have tried to suppress the green party too, it goes both ways. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/5 "2012-10-16T00:57:03Z")
Reported for lameness. Mods please close. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/6 "2012-10-16T01:20:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Libertarians suspect it is why Republican state officials in Michigan blocked Mr. Johnson from the ballot after he filed proper paperwork three minutes after his filing deadline. Isn’t that what deadline means? I mean, it’s a deadline for a reason. If you could squeak in after the fact, it would be a maimline or a wiggleline (I’m not sure if it’s something that kills you or something that doesn’t move). ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/7 "2012-10-16T01:20:40Z")
If I had a nickle for every lame BBQ Pit thread I’ve seen, I’d have a dollar sixty five. But this really should be in Elections. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/8 "2012-10-16T02:47:31Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > But this really should be in Elections. Good call. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/9 "2012-10-16T02:48:13Z")
Also: They let retired FBI agents keep their badges? That seems… not wise. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/10 "2012-10-16T03:00:32Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Also: > > They let retired FBI agents keep their badges? That seems… not wise. I remember an SNL skit… “Ex-police! Freeze!” And, darn that big government. Kind of ironic, really. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/11 "2012-10-16T03:25:48Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Reported for lameness. Mods please close. Ohmigosh, it’s suppression of a thread on suppression! BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY DEPARTMENT ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/12 "2012-10-16T03:58:31Z")
They’re doing the same thing with Virgil Goode in Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/13 "2012-10-16T04:24:37Z")
> [@digs](#): > > BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR DEPARTMENT OF REDUNDANCY DEPARTMENT I know you; you’re the chairman of the Pedantic Society. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/14 "2012-10-16T04:25:14Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > They’re doing the same thing with Virgil Goode in Virginia. They’re moving his threads to the Election forum? ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/15 "2012-10-16T09:46:05Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I know you; you’re the chairman of the Pedantic Society. It’s the _Pedantry_ Society. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/16 "2012-10-16T13:21:22Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > They’re doing the same thing with Virgil Goode in Virginia. _Virgil Goode is the name, and I ran on the ConParty train 'Til the GOP came down, and tore up my ballot again._ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/17 "2012-10-16T13:37:18Z")
> [@Double\_Foolscap](#): > > It’s the _Pedantry_ Society. So long as the boys are cute, who cares? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/18 "2012-10-16T16:52:27Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > the democrats have tried to suppress the green party too, it goes both ways. Have they? Serious question. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/19 "2012-10-16T17:01:51Z")
Who cares? “OMG, they refused to accept paperwork filed after the deadline! Help! Help! We’re being repressed!” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810/20 "2012-10-16T17:41:39Z")
The Libertarian Party suppresses itself by having idiotic ideas that most of the country disagrees with. It’s had decades to build a constituency and it’s never risen to the level of a serious national party. It isn’t all about our two-party system, it’s about the fact most people, when they hear Libertarian ideas, disagree with them. Blaming another party is not going to change that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-trying-to-suppress-the-libertarian-party/637810.md?page=2)