News
Video by C-SPAN, article by George Miller 5-25-24
Former President and 2024 presumptive GOP presidential candidate nominee Donald Trump led off with: “I’ve been indicted by the government… so if I wasn’t a Libertarian before, I sure as hell am now.” He said this, even adding “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” and a blessedly shorter than usual 39 minutes more. The podium had a huge LP “Become Ungovernable” banner behind him, which refers to their party’s minarchist philosophies.
View Speech Video HERE
Trump made an unprecedented address to the Libertarian Party (LP) National Convention tonight- first time ever by a major candidate or past President- a very bold move. He stressed that he and Libertarians both realize that they have many common interests and enemies and proceeded to name them. Both the GOP and LP are divided over this. Never has a major party presidential candidate or past President done this. This and his major outreach to black and latino voters could be decisive this year.
You may think that the Libertarian vote is insignificant, but many people with Libertarian sentiments vote with the major parties, for the least damaging side, because they realize that LP isn’t strong enough to win most open positions. In fact the Libertarian vote splits according to their major internal factions, so-called “Left” and “Right” Libertarians.
Many independent voters would also respond to his message tonight, which was far more specific at this point in the campaign than with other candidates I have seen over the years. The question is- how will voters respond to it all? On some of the items, such as immigration and strong military, the mostly activist audience response was lukewarm at best, but more enthusiastic on lots more. Liberal Democrats will hate much of it when they hear about it- even more when it’s filtered and spun by corporate media. Make no mistake- this speech was aimed at generic Libertarians, independents/undecided, which form a large segment of the electorate. He said “The Libertarian Party can make a big difference… I will be a true friend to the Libertarian Party in the White House.” “Send a message to all people who want to take your liberty…they are the most menacing, vicious opponents ever.”
So, what was his message? (in very brief summary):
~ Identified with many Libertarian principles (outlined below)
~ Said they can win together.
~ Cited Deroy Murdoch endorsement and nomination recommendation.
~ Asked for their nomination, or at least their, vote, acknowledging their potential swing vote power and need for both parties to get rid of the Democrat Biden regime.
~ End and prevent wars, including Ukraine, N. Korea, Mideast. Interestingly, we did not hear him mention China (and their threats to Taiwan) the USA’s greatest potential threat. He boasted about having defeated ISIS and said the Gaza and Ukraine wars would never have happened with him in office. He said he would restore peace and civility, stop the Biden march to WWIII.
~ Vigorously defend First and Second Amendments (freedom of speech, stopping illegal censorship, spying and FBI/CIA weaponization to perpetrate that.
~ Support Tenth Amendment/state/individual rights.
~ Vigorously defend property rights.
~ Oppose the sovereignty-robbing World Health Organization treaty, which Biden is attempting to ram through as an executive order (many Senators and Governors also oppose).
~ Take steps to control inflation, which he described as a hidden Biden tax, of printing trillions to plunder us.
~ Fight record proposed Biden tax hikes and extend his own largest ever tax cuts which expire next year. What wasn’t explained was how he could manage the gigantic expenditures while cutting taxes. He ran trillion dollar deficits too.
~ End what he described as tyranny, fascist, anti-Democratic and communist government. (Biden admin has also accused him of being a threat to Democracy).
~ Root out the “Marxist, Leftist, Deep State, with its government security/surveillance, a hideous perversion of the American system.” “Liberate the nation from Fascist frauds, free our nation once again.” Said he is “the best hope to defeat the weaponized Biden & evil regime.” (approx. wording). Inherited, fired James Comey and many others. Will root out the sickness that has taken over the FBI/DOJ.
~ Said he took down the Military-Industrial Complex and NeoCons” (that’s news to us).
~ Unbound us from Globalist tyranny such as the UN anti-gun treaty, Climate Change agreement and World Health Organization participation/funding. He would “protect American sovereignty from world government, stop redistribution of wealth.” Biden is bringing that all back, so the challenge remains.
~ Would cut all federal funding for anything to do with Marxist, racist, gender theory (presumably including DEI, SEL, CRT, etc.).
~ Eliminate/defund vaccine mandate.
~ Shut down federal Dept of Education and return authority to the states/people where it belongs.
~ Secure fair elections.
~ Ushered in the biggest (federal) criminal justice reform ever.
~ Further exposed the DC “swamp” and “Lamestream Fake Media.”
~ Best ever economy 2017-19 (tacitly admitting the disastrous COVID era plunge). Record black, Hispanic, women, jobs/prosperity.
~ Major reduction of red tape- claimed 8 regulations eliminated for every new one.
~ Ushered in record oil production and will reinstate “drill baby, drill!”
~ Repealed onerous/unfair sexual harassment accusation handling.
~ Torpedoed some Obamacare mandates. Helped reduce drug prices- will do more.
~ Pressured NATO member countries to pay “hundreds of billions” (an exaggeration, but it was a lot) more toward defense obligations.
~ Will reform weaponized FB/DOJ, to gain fair, equal, impartial justice under constitutional law.
~ Will pardon the persecuted including all peaceful January 6 protesters- “never has a group been treated so unfairly …”
~ Will protect cryptocurrencies/Bitcoin, self custody. Keep Elizabeth Warren and her goons away from it.
~ Will never permit a Central Bank Digital Currency CBDC, which he believes gives govt. too much control. (Biden did an Executive Order setting it in motion. System is developed and already in pilot mode).
~ End the human disaster on the southern border. End the border crisis immediately. He tailored the message a bit to the LP audience, omitting deportation and Build the Wall talk. It was a mixed reaction from the audience, many of whom hold the “free movement of people” philosophy.)
~ Cancel the Green New deal. Cancel EV mandate.
~ Reduce energy costs by 60-70%
~ Many in the crowd held signs up or shouted “Free Ross” referring to (claimed political) prisoner Ross Ulbricht. Trump did promise to act on that by commuting his sentence to time served, seeming to believe that he did at least something wrong. This got the biggest round of applause during the speech.
Conclusion
He put all this in terms of what he and LP could do, without including the Republican Party, which he will be the head of if nominated, though. He already has allies taking it over. Asking for Libertarian votes and even the party nomination directly threatens party candidates and is sure to infuriate some. But given the huge gulf between Democrat and Conservative (I didn’t say Republican) visions for the country- and the perception of a constitutional democratic republic slipping away, the times call for drastic action. Trump is betting that Libertarian leaning voters can be persuaded to go with him. He said “Libertarians want to vote for me and probably will.” “Without our victory, we risk 4 more years and we may not have a country left.” “This is no ordinary election. Freedom itself is in jeopardy.” This speech certainly brought a lot of desired attention to the LP. Let’s see what they do with it.
Comment received from Angela McArdle, LP National Chair:
Sun, May 26 at 12:01 AM
I’m extremely optimistic about the pledge to free Ross Ulbricht. We have done our jobs tonight. We have pushed the Overton window and persuaded a major presidential candidate to adopt our positions and free one of our most cherished activists. That is a huge accomplishment.
George Miller is Publisher and Co-Founder of Citizens Journal Florida, based in Fernandina Beach. He is a “retired” operations management consultant, software and publishing executive (10 years) and manufacturing management professional.
