In my younger days I was a libertarian, and as I age I am more of a constitutionalist. Essentially, I am a republican that doesn't like bombing random people and corporate welfare.
That being said, Libertarians are friggin' weird. I remember being involved in the NY libertarian party in 2005 and they were splitting at the seams over the issue of circumcision. Apparently, REAL libertarians wanted circumcision to be illegal, because it deprived the rights of infant males. In fact, this is such a sore subject with libertarians, that if you raise it up it will become a friggin conflagration. I couldn't believe they found such a stupid issue so important and split the party over it. They say getting libertarians to organize is like herding cats. However, it is more accurate to say that organizing libertarians is like herding retarded cats.
Just look at this election cycle. Ayn Rand Paul was running for President, and his fathers own followers did not coalesce behind him. It was not because of his voting record (as he actually voted exactly the same as his father), but rather his rhetoric. THey did not like that he would try to play a little politics and not phrase everything to piss off regular Republicans. So, libertarians are such cry babies, they got pissed because Paul did not want to piss off the people they hate. THe result is they failed to support him and his campaign never gained steam.
So, for libertarianism to succeed, their movement has to be about substance rather than style. People might take serious an ideology that is cohesive and not stupid. Further, the main POD to make it possible is if Ross Perot dons the Libertarian mantle, something he may do if the Libertarians did not screw up their own brand and work with the man. Ron Paul was a closed border libertarian, so Ross Perot on the majority of his issues is very close to libertarian. If Perot runs a more serious campaign in 92, then you have all the requirements that are spoken of in the OP. FOr the heck of it, you can have Jesse Ventura run for President in 2000 under the LP mantle and then maybe DOnald Trump after him. LP can be a pretty strong brand with respectable electoral showings. THe problem is they siphon conservative votes, because ultimately people vote with their wallet. So, unless the LP coopts Republicans, which in time is possible without the national security scare after 911, maybe it can happen.
QUite frankly, if Bernie Sanders and Trump win the nomination, expect Bloomberg to run. The Republican party might never recover as their establishment totally lost control over who can win a Republican office.
That being said, Libertarians are friggin' weird. I remember being involved in the NY libertarian party in 2005 and they were splitting at the seams over the issue of circumcision. Apparently, REAL libertarians wanted circumcision to be illegal, because it deprived the rights of infant males. In fact, this is such a sore subject with libertarians, that if you raise it up it will become a friggin conflagration. I couldn't believe they found such a stupid issue so important and split the party over it. They say getting libertarians to organize is like herding cats. However, it is more accurate to say that organizing libertarians is like herding retarded cats.
Just look at this election cycle. Ayn Rand Paul was running for President, and his fathers own followers did not coalesce behind him. It was not because of his voting record (as he actually voted exactly the same as his father), but rather his rhetoric. THey did not like that he would try to play a little politics and not phrase everything to piss off regular Republicans. So, libertarians are such cry babies, they got pissed because Paul did not want to piss off the people they hate. THe result is they failed to support him and his campaign never gained steam.
So, for libertarianism to succeed, their movement has to be about substance rather than style. People might take serious an ideology that is cohesive and not stupid. Further, the main POD to make it possible is if Ross Perot dons the Libertarian mantle, something he may do if the Libertarians did not screw up their own brand and work with the man. Ron Paul was a closed border libertarian, so Ross Perot on the majority of his issues is very close to libertarian. If Perot runs a more serious campaign in 92, then you have all the requirements that are spoken of in the OP. FOr the heck of it, you can have Jesse Ventura run for President in 2000 under the LP mantle and then maybe DOnald Trump after him. LP can be a pretty strong brand with respectable electoral showings. THe problem is they siphon conservative votes, because ultimately people vote with their wallet. So, unless the LP coopts Republicans, which in time is possible without the national security scare after 911, maybe it can happen.
QUite frankly, if Bernie Sanders and Trump win the nomination, expect Bloomberg to run. The Republican party might never recover as their establishment totally lost control over who can win a Republican office.