Very well stated and very well written. The Republicans need to find themselves and make a commitment of where they are destined to go in the future. They must find a base and grow from it or the life lines from the Libertarians will continue to be severed and the Democrats will continue to squander our lives away with explicit spending that has put a burden upon us the taxpayers who will never be able to pay it back in our lifetimes or our childrens lifetimes.

Do to the fact that I have many libertarian friends that came from the left... I believe Jason is right to also mention the other half of the story. Yes, the Dems won nationally. But that was partly due to the fact that a lot of libertarians voted for them. That may not be the case if the libertarians continue to grow, get better organized and run electable qualified candidates.
I can only speak for myself, but I will never vote for the lesser of 2 evils again, as long as I am breathing and have a libertarian candidate to vote for. I know that doesn't help as far as convincing the other 2 parties to give us easier ballot access... like they would anyway (they don't believe in the benefits of competition and fair play).
I care as much about civil liberty as I do financial liberty. The other parties aren't selling what I want to buy... they just seem to pretend when they're loosing and would like to win again. But I’m with Stephan in that… the gop probably won’t make it “to the next oasis”… especially with their current attitude and actions. I don’t even think it will help those that are at least exhibiting faux remorse. As people start to realize Obama's great plan doesn't yield the promised land either, I'll be glad to set the DNC adrift betwixt "oasis" as well.

"If that trend continues into 2006 and 2008, Republicans will lose elections they would otherwise win.

The libertarian vote is in play. At some 13 percent of the electorate, it is sizable enough to swing elections.Pollsters, political strategists, candidates, and the media should take note of it."

That was from Oct 2006. Apparently nobody did take note.

Morning all,

Mr Gordon's article has some salient points, but I think the larger question is what do Libertarians or Independents need the GOP or the Democrats for? Both political brands are trashed and spinning in the wind, the republicans for the oft repeated abuses of the past eight years and the democrats for their astonishing excesses of the last 120 days or so.

A Gallup poll published 18 MAY 09 titled "GOP losses span nearly all demographic groups" reveals some startling data for my Libertarian brothers and any independents out there. When asked their basic party identification, 37% of the respondents to the poll answered "Independent" as opposed to 36% who identified themselves as Democrat and a measly 27% who identified themselves as Republican. Imagine that, the largest group of respondents in this latest poll declared themselves not to be either democrat or republican. So once again, why should Libertarians be concerned with helping either side gain or retain political power? Neither side has shown much concern for our basic positions of smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom. Both sides have squandered their political capital and the public's money in massive efforts to reward their respective core constiutencies at the expense of all of us.

It would appear that a major shift is occurring in America. The Tea Parties that sprang up nationwide in April are evidence that americans of all stripes are not satisfied with the status quo, and this poll reinforces that perception. The task at hand for the Libertarian Party is to get the word out to the 37%'ers that there is a third political party with a national organization that gives voice to their concerns and provides a viable alternative for change.

As Libertarians we should take heart from these developments and continue to raise our voices and our our keyboards to defend the republic, support the constitution and, most importantly, vote Libertarian.

Until the GOP adopts a platofrm in practive and in application that is conservative financially and libertarian on social issues, they will continue in their wilderness. The GOP will pick up the House in 2010 not because the public loves their neoconservative interventionist views but because the public desires to check the runaway Obama train. In 2012, if the GOP could see themselves to nominate a true conservative then they could win. I believe they will nominate another moderate, most likely Mitt Romney. Obama will win but government will be in divided from this point forward for any many years to come. The status quo will not adopt the libertarian platform they would rather go the way of the whigs then do that. So what is the answer? I don;t see one unless we can get someone like Ron Paul as the GOP nominee which will reinvigorate the GOP and the Republic with it. I believe chances are very high that we as a nation will self destruct before freedom and liberty can be given a chance to reign again.

Hope i am wrong but i see no hope until we hit rock bottom as a nation.