In Reagan's first term, Executive Intelligence Review, a LaRouche-tied magazine, ran interviews with such officials as Agriculture Secretary John Block, Defense Undersecretary Richard DeLauer, Associate Attorney General Lowell Jensen, Commerce Undersecretary Lionel Olmer and then-Sen. John Tower (R-Texas), at the time chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, The New Republic reported.
One can never be entirely certain — and we should always keep our eyes open — but so far the attacks on Kwiatkowski look like a load of chaff thrown out in lieu of facts, for the purpose of smearing her and minimizing the impact of her statements.
Kwiatkowski is not a "perfect" candidate. It would be nice if she'd made full colonel or even picked up a general's star, or served on the National Security Council, or held elected or appointed office; and if she plans to seek the LP's 2008 presidential nomination, I hope she'll start hitting on domestic policy issues (without, of course, slacking off on foreign policy).
However, her credentials in the public policy — especially the foreign policy — realm far outstrip those of any prior LP presidential candidate with the possible exception of US Representative Ron Paul, and she's a bona fide public figure with three years of intensive experience in the public eye. She also states that she has been a member of the Libertarian Party since 1994, and an ideological libertarian since adolescence, which makes it seem unlikely that she's interested in using the party's nomination for purposes which would be detrimental to the party's interests.
Unless I'm missing something — and it's certainly possible that I am, so let me know if you know what it is — Kwiatkowski is so far the LP's best prospect. Unless a former governor or congresscritter actually takes the leap and seeks the nomination, I suspect she'll remain so.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
How would she hold up as a candidate if one of the limited number of LP state legislators decided to run against her. I imagine that's the real question.
Of course, there's no job more thankless or pointless than running as a LP candidate and having half your own party reject you if you make even one pragmatic compromise or sensible statement.
Dave
2 - Thomas L. Knapp
Dave,
I think she could probably prevail over a former state legislator, even one who had been elected on the LP ticket or a "fusion" ticket.
On the other hand, if a former US congresscritter, governor or cabinet official sought the nomination, even though they were previously affiliated with another party, things would be different.
As far as positions go, most of her public comment has been on foreign policy (and that's a fight we're going to have to have in the LP -- might as well get it done with). However, she's written for some pretty hardcore ideological libertarian sites (LewRockwell.Com and Strike the Root come to mind) and has been an LP member for more than a decade, so I suspect that she'll pass most "purity tests."
Regards,
Tom Knapp
3 - Dave Nalle
Hell, I've been a LP member for 30 years and was a paid employee of the party and I probably wouldn't pass the kind of 'purity test' some of the extremists are inclined to give.
Dave
4 - Mo
Let's see if the neocons attack Kwiatkowski the way they have attacked General Zinni.
5 - Mo
In “The New Pentagon Papers”, Kwiatkowski says --“But there were other enemies within, anyone who dared voice any skepticism about their grand plans, including Secretary of State Colin Powell and Gen. Anthony Zinni.”
If Kwiatkowski ever achieved a serious possibility of becoming president, she would receive the full wrath of the neocon media for her views on foreign policy.
6 - Dave Nalle
Got Neocons on the brain do we, Mo? There are no Neocons in the LP. Not one. Which would be exactly equal to the number of Neocons in the media.
Dave
7 - Mo
Dave says:
"Got Neocons on the brain do we, Mo?
Dave likes to refer to the singular as "we".
It is well known that Dave likes to magnify himself to be plural by saying "we". He is accustomed to doing this.
Is Dave more than one person? Does saying "we" make Dave a larger dispenser of truth, or just a larger purveyor of his assertions?
Dave goes on:
"There are no Neocons in the LP. Not one."
We can all be thankful for that.
The next statement shows Dave can't count:
Dave says:
"Which would be exactly equal to the number of Neocons in the media."
Not even one?
How about one that Dave just referenced elsewhere:
And Dave must not watch the Fox News Channel either.
8 - Dave Nalle
So now all Jews are Neocons? Are the terms literally interchangeable in your fevered mind, Mo?
And when I say 'we' when referring to you, Mo, that's because I'm being condescending.
Dave
9 - Lumpy
Sounds like moe is a one man hate machine. I wonder who else is on his list after the jews and the neocons.
10 - Thomas L. Knapp
It really all comes down to how you define "neocon."
"The neoconservatives" proper are a relatively small group of intellectuals who share certain goals for certain reasons, i.e. because they prescribe to particular common theories of history and policy. Not everyone who shares one or more goals with the neoconservatives is a neoconservative, any more than everyone who wants a tax cut is a supply side economist.
There are certainly some neoconservatives "in the media." For one thing, the neoconservatives have their own media (including but not limited to The Weekly Standard), and for another, neoconservative think tanks offer talking heads for TV policy shows and sponsor columnists whose work appears in "mainstream" newspapers.
I doubt if you'd find a proper neocon in the Libertarian Party, though, even if you might find a few LP members who support the war on Iraq, or think the US should tangle with Iran, or whatever.
Tom Knapp
11 - Mo
Dave references a website that promotes the neocon agenda.
Dave gets my response that identifies it as website that promotes the neocon agenda.
Dave then says that it is not a website that promotes the neocon agenda.
Go figure.
And Dave has a secret.
He thinks the Fox News Channel doesn’t promote the neocon agenda.
12 - Mo
The term "neocon" has evolved to extend the definition of "neo-conservatives" to include their fellow travelers.
A neocon is one who supports the positions of the "New American Century".
13 - Mo
Karen Kwiatkowski is not a neocon.
That would make her a target for the neocons if she ever got close to being elected.
14 - Mo
Lumpy wonders who is on my “hate list.”
Only two, Lumpy.
1. Liars.
2. Warmongers.
Can’t stand either one.
15 - Lumpy
So you don't hate terrorists or nazis or bigots or antisemites or Bush? just neocons, jews, our troops and libertarians. Wh you're full of love or at least full of something.
16 - Mo
Lumpy -- you are dense.
“Liars and Warmongers“ includes terrorists, nazis, bigots, anyone who hates people because of their religion -- and anyone else who fits the bill of being either a liar or a warmonger. Use your imagination…
17 - James roth
jews are liars and warmongers and cheerleaders of united states, They can ignite wars in muslim countries for usa..