All through our coverage of Campaign 2008, I have focused on the candidates from the Republican, Democratic and Libertarian parties. If you count the vice presidential picks, there are six of them, but I have, admittedly, only covered five. On several occasions it has been brought up by readers that the math seems a bit off. This was mentioned yet again this week in my virtual mail bag.
Jazz,
You talk at the time about Palin and what a rotten choice she was and how Biden was a dubm pick for all the stupid things hes said about Obama and everyone and you are always talking up Bob Barr. So when do we see your story on Wayne Root?
Fair enough, sir. (Or madam.) I’ve been called out and I shall not shirk from the task. The handsome gentleman pictured above and to the left is Wayne Allen Root, Libertarian Party candidate for Vice President. You can read up on a lot of Wayne’s information at this web site, but let’s start off with the basics. We’ll first take a look at Mr. Root’s experience in terms of elected office and government background.
Wayne’s resume is a throwback to our Founding Fathers. He is the quintessential “ANTI-Politician.” He is a second generation American; small businessman (and son and grandson of small businessmen); home-school father of 4 young children (Dakota, Hudson, Remington and Contessa); and the classic citizen politician.
He has never worked (directly or indirectly) for or with any state or federal government. None of his small businesses have ever done business with the government. He has never collected a check from government (other than a student loan). He has never worked in Washington D.C. He has never done business with a lobbyist.
Ummm… well, that was quick at least. So… there you are. I’m sure many of you are already admiring Wayne’s consumate status as a “Washington Outsider” which many people clearly feel is important in this election cycle. Let’s face it… you don’t get much further outside of Washington than Wayne. The guy has never even been elected dog catcher. It should definitely show that he will bring a … errr… unique perspective to the office. And I’m sure none of us want to spend weeks on end combing through voting records and signing statements of yet another politican.
We also like our elected leaders to be literate, scholarly types. And once again, Wayne fills the bill nicely. He is not only well read, but the author of five books. (More than Obama and Palin combined, by the way.) And we should remember that governing is, in some regards, very much about risk management… calculating the odds, making smart decisions, etc. So it will be comforting to note that these books are on the subject of … gambling.
Ok, look…
(aside) could one of you please pass me that rather large tablespoon of sugar over there so I can choke this next bit out? Thanks.
Ok, look…
I don’t know why Bob Barr selected Wayne as his running mate. I’m not here today to defend it. Wayne seems like a great guy with an interesting life story. But the fact is that I was highly critical of Obama’s decision to select Joe Biden initially. He seemed far too gaffe prone with a long history of embarassing comments and a huge Senate voting record to dig up against him. And if you’ve followed my writings at all, you know that I found Senator McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin nothing short of disastrous, based in part by her lack of experience and readiness to take the helm.
With those thoughts in mind, there is simply no way that I can defend Bob’s decision to give the nod to Wayne Allen Root. If what’s good for the goose is good for the rest of the avian world, then it must speak to his judgement even more than the Palin pick speaks to McCain’s. And should, God forbid, something happen to Barr in Februrary- remembering that he’s no spring chicken either – there is simply no way that I can say (at least with a straight face) that Root is ready to step in for him. If Wayne Allen Root is ready to be POTUS tomorrow, then so am I. And trust me… I know ME better than anyone, and you most certainly do NOT want me in that chair. By way of “compare and contrast,” for the question of judgement in selecting a running mate, Barr comes in dead last behind Obama and McCain. We now have three tickets which each include one candidate of questionable – to say the least – experience.
This is something which, in order to be at all honest, I will have to take strongly into consideration when I make my final decision as to who I will endorse and vote for this November. (A choice, by the way, which is going to have to come pretty soon.) As much as I admire many, many of Barr’s principled stands on the issues which matter to me, Root is a big anchor on his bid for President. And as a special thank-you to all of my readers who forced my hand, driving me out of my soft, comfortable zone of supporting Bob Barr, you can all just… well, never mind.