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sugar_in_your_tea

Chase Oliver Is the Libertarian Party's Presidential Pick Chase Oliver is the Libertarian Party's Presidential pick (reason.com)

submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by sugar_in_your_tea to c/libertarian

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Oliver's victory on Sunday night was a blow to the Mises Caucus, the right-leaning faction that took control of the Libertarian Party at the 2022 convention and that had orchestrated Trump's appearance at the convention. That faction's preferred candidate was Rectenwald.

I'm not a fan of the Mises Caucus, so I think this is hilarious.

There was widespread media attention in recent weeks fixated on whether the Libertarian Party would nominate a prominent non-Libertarian like Kennedy or even Trump.

Neither got anywhere close to winning. Kennedy was eliminated after the first round of balloting, while Trump did not even qualify for the first round and received just six write-in votes.

Good on you LP.

Now, I know next to nothing about Chase Oliver, but being gay and young will certainly set him apart from the old men he's competing against. I hope he'll get a good amount of media attention to spread the libertarian message.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Did the convention make the right call? Would one of the other candidates have been better? Would you prefer no candidate?

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

Any libertarian who supports trump is no libertarian at all. Trump is an authoritarian, the exact opposite of the libertarian ideology.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I’m not a fan of the Mises Caucus, so I think this is hilarious.

Same. the Mises Caucus was to the LP as Trump was to the GOP - a takeover by opportunists.

I know next to nothing about Chase Oliver

Seems broadly in line with (pre-Mises Caucus) libertarianism. Definitely more in line with my thinking than anything the D or R parties are putting out.

being gay and young will certainly set him apart from the old men he’s competing against

I don't think young and gay necessarily carries intrinsic benefit, but I agree there is some instrumental benefit. It will set him apart as you say, and also will reveal bigots and reactionaries for what they are.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I'm watching some old videos, and his plan absolutely is to appeal to younger voters, and being young and gay should help pique the interest of young people. This is the video I'm currently listening to, though perhaps his strategy will change now that he has the nomination.

I think it's especially interesting that he's Christian as well. It really goes against the stereotype of young and gay people being anti-religion, which is awesome.

He seems well-rounded and well-composed, and on paper his views seem to largely align with mine. I'll be watching out for more information to see if he really is a candidate I can get behind. I wish he had more credentials, but he at least seems interested in working hard to run a real campaign.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

He has already campaigned in all 50 states. He seems extremely committed.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The platform seems great. I doubt the dude will have a chance at the Whitehouse though. If he gains any traction then the Dems and Republicans will band together to defeat him, like they've always done against any serious third party threat. Hell, man, the DNC has spent millions defeating moderate Republicans to put trump Republicans into office.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

The Libertarian Party is about gaining support incrementally. Chase is almost certainly not going to win this year, but if he gets even 3% it will show that Gary Johnson wasn't just a fluke of circumstance. And hopefully he brings a bunch of new people into the movement, not just the paleoconservative types again.