Cato Analyst/Fox Columnist Praises Webb, Slams Allen

By: PM
Published On: 9/19/2006 2:17:59 PM

balko

Radley Balko is a policy analyst for the Cato Institute and a columnist for FoxNews.com.  He's been published in Time magazine, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Slate, Forbes, the National Post, Worth, Reason, and several other publications. Balko has also appeared on CNN, CNBC, Fox News Channel, NPR, and MSNBC.  http://www.cato.org/... 
He also writes for Free Market News Network.  Here's some of his reaction to the Webb/ Allen debate:

http://www.freemarke...

Webb is by far the more libertarian of the two candidates. Allen's support for tax cuts is about the only libertarian position he has left. Webb's a libertarian on most social issues, on foreign policy, and on several civil liberties vs. war on terror issues. Webb's also an intellectual, Allen's a lightweight reactionary.

In this campaign we also have yet another example of a Republican who never served in the military accusing a war hero Democrat of being soft on national defense It's almost comical how often this happens.

The Washington Times reports that Allen's supporters say his backing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage along with a ballot initiative in Virginia adding a ban on gay marriage to the state constitution may be enough for the incumbent senator to eek out a victory. Swell. This is what has become of the GOP. It's best hopes for clinging to power now rest with intrusive, last-minute legislation banning private behavior, a flag burning amendment, and largely symbolic ballot measures (Virginia already has two laws outlawing same-sex marriage) designed to do little more than express popular contempt for gay people. How proud Republicans must be.

p.s. Does anyone remember when Jon Henke used to be a libertarian?

Comments



Attention: Hell has frozen over. (Bubby - 9/19/2006 6:00:15 PM)
Cato, Fox...an endorsement from the right...the hair on my neck is standing up.


I know, I know (PM - 9/19/2006 10:24:10 PM)
But the social part of libertarianism that says -- government should stay out of my bedroom, out of my religion, etc., is appealing.


Uh-oh Georgie (DukieDem - 9/19/2006 7:20:58 PM)
I know lots of libertarian republicans (whom I mostly consider potheads with a trust fund but some of whom actually back up their views) who held their noses and voted for Bush; they will not be doing the same for Allen and this article shows why.


Pot Smoking Republicans?? (Tony Mastalski - 9/19/2006 10:22:49 PM)
I've seen that comment several times now .... Gee count me in!! Oh wait a minute I just remembered out of my Purple Haze that I spent about half my adult life in the Marine Corps in defense of that very simple concept, LIBERTY. Give me Liberty or give me Death! I think that was some "Born Fighting" kind of guy who spoke that first way back when.

If you pay attention (get the Cato News letter) you find very principaled reasoned arguments at Cato.org for limited government. The very best arguments against Imperialistic Wars ....The very best arguments against illegal wire taps and Big Government Conservatism. Really about half of Jim Webb's planks.

  Thank God we have candidate who says forth rightly that "Government stops at your doorstep". Thank God that very same guy decided to run for office!!

You might be interested to know that Mr. Webb read a Cato Institute Policy Analysis 547 Paper that pointed out the statistical futility of running for office against an incumbent (you loose over 90% of the time!!!) way back when .... just before draftjameswebb got started???  Anyhow the point paper was arguing for increased competition in our electoral system ... with the remedy being Term Limits for Congressional seats.

Yes Mr. Webb read that "libertarian piece" and he chose to run for office anyway .... If I haven't said it enough in this blog .... Thank God.  The man is BRAVE ... no doubt.

So smoke em if you've got em .... for libertarians!  Welcome them all aboard the Jim Webb Express ... Independents Libertarians Republicans .... even Democrats. We need all the "Webbheads" we can get .... Cheers!