The LP just picked prez and vice-prez nominees...

...and they strike-out at their first at bat.

Apologies for the lateness of today’s article. I’m still catching up on sleep from the week I spent in Washington DC at the 2024 Libertarian Party National Convention.

At that convention, the delegates selected the LP’s POTUS/VPOTUS ticket, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat, respectively.

Since the political reality is that the LP presidential ticket can’t actually win in 2024, what then is the “purpose” of the candidates in this race?

Part of it is to give citizens a loud protest vote against the US regime’s duopoly. These votes are often essential for many state LP affiliates to maintain ballot access. And also the “top of the ticket” can help promote down-ballot LP candidates during their campaign travels.

But probably the most important purpose is to use whatever attention you can get to educate the public on what libertarianism is. Be the best ambassador for the brand you can, and teach people to want more freedom in their lives.

The universe offered up Oliver and ter Maat a big opportunity to weigh in on important matters right away. Immediately after they were nominated, the announcement came that Donald Trump had been found guilty on all 34 of the “hush money accounting crimes” he was being prosecuted for.

To at least half the country, what is happening to Trump looks like political weaponization of the American system of justice by one party against another. Libertarian’s have a lot to say about the abuse of government power.

What did Chase Oliver say on social media about it?

Kinda weak, in my opinion. Also he quotes… himself, which is a little off putting.

Oliver acknowledges that “Trump’s trial exposes systemic flaws…”, but then implies that we shouldn’t think about that, but rather the abuses committed by the justice system to the “truly marginalized”.

I mean he isn’t wrong there. The US justice system commits anti-libertarian abuses to a whole lot of innocent people, and we should always point that out. But is he really not interested in this far more dangerous weaponization of the law by one party against another? No comment about that?

Mike ter Maat’s response on social media was even worse.

I mean, that’s just childish.

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by his casual disregard for an abuse of government power. Ter Maat is a retired cop after all.

Well, it’s early in their campaign, and I will hope these two get better at their messaging soon. It’s an important opportunity every four years when LP candidates for the top political office in the nation get some national exposure.

I hope they are able to make effective and persuasive use of that exposure.

Naturally,

Adam

Follow me on Twitter(X): @rerazer