VIDEO: CPAC audience boos Bob Barr for condemning waterboarding as torture

By GottaLaff



I still can't get used to agreeing with Bob Barr on anything, but I sure do agree with him on this.

This afternoon, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held a debate titled “Does Security Trump Freedom?” that featured former GOP congressman and Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr, Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), and former Bush Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh.

Torture. Doesn't. Work.

What amazes me even more than my palling around with Bob Barr is the number of Americans who still don't realize the truth about waterboarding, or any form of torture-- that it does not produce usable testimony or reliable information.

Then again, I can't figure out that whole concept of loons wearing tea bags on their heads either.

Greg Craig Out

Sounds like the usual crap, nothing too exciting. Via Taegan-

NBC News reports "the long-rumored departure of White House Counsel Greg Craig will likely be made official tomorrow. Craig will be replaced by veteran Democratic Party campaign attorney Bob Bauer. This is the highest-level departure in the Obama White House this year."

"Bauer is married to outgoing White House communications director Anita Dunn. Among the reasons for Dunn's decision to leave was so that both of them weren't working in the administration at the same time for their own family situation."

Reached tonight by telephone for reaction, Craig told CNN, "I'm not going to comment" before hanging up.

Bob Barr will be on Pennsylvania ballot

By GottaLaff

Bob Barr will be on the Pennsylvania ballot. If there is a god, she is being very kind to us today:

A Pennsylvania judge rejected a Republican county leader's lawsuit on Monday and ruled that Libertarian candidate Bob Barr can remain on the state's general election ballot.

Cumberland County Republican Party Victor Stabile filed a lawsuit last month seeking to exclude Barr from the state's ballot. Stabile claimed Libertarians had gathered petitions for ballot access using the name of another candidate before replacing it with Barr's. The court said in a 7-page decision on Monday "the Party simply took reasonable action to abide by the Election Code while furthering its legitimate interest."

Barr, a congressman from Georgia's 7th district from 1995 to 2003, has so far qualified for ballots in 44 states. Observers believe he could eat away at Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) conservative base.

I hope he has a big appetite.

"We're happy that the Pennsylvania courts recognized the absurd nature of the Republican's lawsuit," Barr campaign manager Russell Verney said in a written statement. "It was very hypocritical of McCain to allow one of his agents to try to block a legitimate candidate like Congressman Bob Barr from the ballot. Fortunately, these hypocritical tactics of McCain's agents failed."

Pennsylvania is a key battleground state that has one of the largest number of electoral votes: 21.

I never thought I would agree with Bob Barr about anything. Lately, though, he and I have more and more in common, like, you know, respecting the U.S. Constitution and stuff.

GOP Strategists Say Georgia Could Flip

I just enjoy seeing the GOP'rs rattled.

According to Robert Novak, GOP strategists "are privately conceding that the GOP could lose Georgia's 15 presidential electors for the first time since 1992 because of Bob Barr's ballot position as the Libertarian Party presidential candidate."

"Third-party presidential candidates almost always run more poorly in the actual election than their showing in the polls, but Barr, as a former Republican congressman from Georgia, might sustain support in his home state."

Barr Barr Black Sheep

By GottaLaff

Which party would be most affected, hmmm?

Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr said he’s receiving backing from supporters of Ron Paul’s failed White House bid.

Barr told reporters on Thursday that he’s in contact with the Republican congressman from Texas. And he added that Paul supporters are contributing to his campaign and working as volunteers.

McCain and Obama tied in Georgia

By Paddy


Amazing. Bob Barr rulez!!!

June 19, 2008 — A New InsiderAdvantage / PollPosition survey conducted June 18 of registered likely voters in the November presidential contest shows Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Barack Obama by a single point in Georgia, making the race in Georgia a statistical tie. Libertarian Bob Barr, a former Republican Congressman from Georgia, received 6 percent of the vote. The telephone survey of 408 registered likely voters is weighted for age, race, gender, and political affiliation. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 5%. It was conducted with InsiderAdvantage’s research partner Majority Opinion Research. PollPosition is InsiderAdvantage’s new branding name (look for additional information and expansion of PollPosition in the coming months).

The Results:

McCain: 44%

Obama: 43%

Barr: 6%

Undecided: 7%

Check here for crosstabs.

Bob Barr helps Democrats

By GottaLaff

When I think back to the impeachment hearings of Bill Clinton, I remember being infuriated by Bob Barr. I now have blissful new memories to replace the painful ones of yesteryear:

Bob Barr's Libertarian presidential campaign is poised to play a serious role in this year's elections, with early polls showing him taking away enough votes from Sen. John McCain to give Democrats a chance to win states that should be safely Republican.

Polls in Georgia and North Carolina over the last two weeks show Mr. Barr winning 8 percent and 6 percent respectively of the presidential vote, and in both cases helping keep likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama within striking distance of Mr. McCain in those states — which, taken together, account for more electoral votes than Florida, Pennsylvania or Ohio.

But wait! There's more! Dun-dun-dun-n-n!

About those 10 debates that Republican presidential nominee John McCain has pitched to Democratic rival Barack Obama.

Bob Barr wants a piece of the action.

Oh re-e-e-eally?

This raises an interesting question. McCain would probably oppose Barr’s participation. A higher Barr profile hurts the Republican.

Does Obama insist on Barr’s participation — as Bill Clinton insisted on making Ross Perot part of the ’92 debates with George W. Bush?

I talked with one strategist earlier today, before this topic came up. He said the Democratic campaign is quickly coming to realize that Bob Barr is Barack Obama’s best friend.

Former Rep. Bob Barr Wins Libertarian Nod

By Paddy


Let the further fracturing of the GOP voters commence!!!

Former Georgia Congressman (1995-2003), Bob Barr, has won the Libertarian Party nomination as candidate for president. The party convention, held this week in Denver, nominated Barr on the 6th ballot, defeating Mary Ruwart - a research scientist.

Barr, probably best known for his role in the Bill Clinton impeachment trial, left the Republican Party in 2006 and shortly thereafter set up an exploratory commission for the 2008 presidential campaign.

Barr, long a favorite of some conservatives, leads some to think he might pull some votes from John McCain in November. However, since leaving Congress in '03 his personal platform has a decidedly leftist feel. Historically opposed to Bush administration thought on Iraq, Iran and the Patriot Act, Barr has recently joined the ACLU. As a Republican, he too was seen as a maverick, while at the same time his past record of social conservatism seems at odds with traditional Libertarians.