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Politics : View from the Center and Left
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To: Sam who wrote (37860)5/25/2007 1:16:02 PM
From: JohnM  Read Replies (2) of 542239
 
The libertarian wing of the GOP is still pretty strong. They thought Bush was their man, that the Christian business could be controlled, and that Bush wouldn't do anything crazy, but would just keep lowering taxes and not enforcing regulation. They found out differently. They have been outmaneuvered both by neocons and by the Christians, and have received far less attention than their numbers in the party warrants, IMHO. So they are pissed. Paul is a voice for them. He will appeal to the people who voted for Perot in '92. I think he'll do a lot better than the media is expecting.

Hmm, I've understood it a bit differently. Let me state my view and then let me know where we disagree.

I've seen the Reps as an uneasy alliance between two groups: big business interests (with some tag along small business constituents) and social conservatives. Principled libertarians were tolerated and, since they certainly couldn't find an ideological home in the Dem party with its commitment to a large state, they went along with the Reps for the ride.

The big business group wanted a small state in so far as regulation issues were concerned but a more munificient state in so far as infrastructure issues were involved--education, transportation, etc.

So I haven't seen the principled libertarians as having much influence inside the Rep Party.

And, some hope they might swing to the Dems, sort of because of their preference for choice in life styles and women's health issues. Sort of the "keep the big brother out of our lives" vote.

So where do we differ?
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