Chicago Trib Just Endorsed Johnson
The Chi Trib editorial board joins that of the Detroit News in endorsing Libertarian candidates Johnson and Weld.
They write:
We reject the cliche that a citizen who chooses a principled third-party candidate is squandering his or her vote.
More from their editorial:
As Nov. 8 looms, a dismayed, disconsolate America waits and wonders: What is it about 2016?How has our country fallen so inescapably into political and policy gridlock? How did pandering to aggrieved niche groups and seducing blocs of angry voters replace working toward solutions as the coin of our governing class? How could the Democratic and Republican parties stagger so far from this nation's political mainstream?
And the most pressing question: What should tens of millions of voters who yearn for answers do with two major-party candidates they disdain? Polls show an unprecedented number of people saying they wish they had another choice.
This is the moment to look at the candidates on this year's ballot. This is the moment to see this election as not so much about them as about the American people and where their country is heading. And this is the moment to rebuke the Republican and Democratic parties.
...With that demand for a principled president paramount, we turn to the candidate we can recommend. One party has two moderate Republicans -- veteran governors who successfully led Democratic states -- atop its ticket. Libertarians Gary Johnson of New Mexico and running mate William Weld of Massachusetts are agile, practical and, unlike the major-party candidates, experienced at managing governments. They offer an agenda that appeals not only to the Tribune's principles but to those of the many Americans who say they are socially tolerant but fiscally responsible. "Most people are Libertarian," Johnson told the Tribune Editorial Board when he and Weld met with us in July. "It's just that they don't know it."
Theirs is small-L libertarianism, built on individual freedom and convinced that, at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, official Washington is clumsy, expensive and demonstrably unable to solve this nation's problems. They speak of reunifying an America now balkanized into identity and economic groups -- and of avoiding their opponents' bullying behavior and sanctimonious lectures. Johnson and Weld are even-keeled -- provided they aren't discussing the injustice of trapping young black children in this nation's worst-performing schools. On that and other galling injustices, they're animated.
...This year neither major party presents a good option. So the Chicago Tribune today endorses Libertarian Gary Johnson for president of the United States. Every American who casts a vote for him is standing for principles -- and can be proud of that vote. Yes, proud of a candidate in 2016.
He'd better be doing Jeopardy-level prep and watching "Eight Mile," or I will kill him myself.
Insufficient Poison at September 30, 2016 2:23 PM
We've got to this awful position because of PC stifling of real debate and the ethos of multiculturalism.
Mike H at September 30, 2016 5:57 PM
Welch
Crid at September 30, 2016 6:03 PM
Since the winner of the overall state-wide vote gets all of Illinois' electoral votes and Illinois has a significant number of electoral votes this is a major win for Johnson.
The Chicago area holds 65% of Illinois' population, so the Tribune's endorsement could help Johnson wrest the state from the Democrats.
Newspapers may not be as influential as they once were, but a Chicago Tribune endorsement could serve to get Johnon's name in front of voters who have not heard or considered voting for the Libertarian Party.
Conan the Grammarian at September 30, 2016 6:27 PM
This is why I like Paul Ryan. He seems to prefer governing the country to winning the argument. And that's why so many Republican partisans have dubbed him a RINO, they want to win the argument, no matter what, even if it destroys the government and the country.
Conan the Grammarian at September 30, 2016 6:33 PM
Chicago IMO (having spent lots of time) is overwhelmingly Democrat, even at the local level. More so than LA (also spent lots of time). You go outside of Chicago proper and its obviously another matter. But Johnson wont make a mark there in Chicago itself. The insane levels of corruption the dems engage in in Chicago and still tbh nobody would really consider anyone else. I cant picture it.
The Tribune btw said they would never ever endorse Trump back in March. They have wanted Rubio since god knows when...if memory serves. One of the ppl on the board did an interview with NPR and she sounded meh about the whole Johnson endorsement.
ppen at September 30, 2016 11:33 PM
Libertarians need a ground game for places like Chicago. But they're too busy trying to win the whole pot on one roll of the dice.
Conan the Grammarian at September 30, 2016 11:37 PM
> Libertarians need a ground game
> for places like Chicago.
It's not sports.
It's politics!
Crid at October 1, 2016 1:58 AM
@Conan:
Since no one in Chicago's cemeteries read the Tribune, they'll still vote for the Democrat Party candidate.
Wfjag at October 1, 2016 6:07 AM
Politics is our national sport. We spend two years discussing the upcoming election and two years complaining about the previous election.
And, if the Libertarians are serious about becoming a valid political party, they'll need to establish a base of voters, a get-out-the-vote campaign, and a presence in local politics, in other words, a ground game.
The fact that the Tribune, once reliably part of the Chicago Democratic machine, did not come out for Hillary tells you that the Dems' hold on Chicago is weakening. With the Daleys out of office, the machine is sputtering.
Go Cubs!
Rahm Emanuel has made such a hash out of his mayoralty that over half of Chicagoans favor him resigning. He's destroying the Democrats' iron grip on the city. Trump pointed out in the debate that over 4,000 people have died from violence in the city since 2008. The Daleys brought order and with it the illusion of prosperity, so people voted the way they were told.
Conan the Grammarian at October 1, 2016 7:23 AM
Not to mention that four out of the last seven Illinois governors have gone to jail, Republicans and Democrats, and you've got a population that has to be pretty soured on political parties and machines. And Hillary represents the political machine.
It's no coincidence that the Tribune has endorsed a third party candidate after Illinois' experience with the existing parties.
Conan the Grammarian at October 1, 2016 7:31 AM
The Tribune is a conservative newspaper by all accounts....and has been for long while....however they have had a longstanding love affair with Barack Obama since his very start in politics.
So they would never endorse Hilary---ever out of love and loyalty for Barack.
Nobody was really surprised by the Johnson endorsement---it was very lukewarm.
ppen at October 1, 2016 9:23 AM
they would never endorse Hilary---ever out of love and loyalty for Barack.
Say what? Hillary winning would be like Obama getting a third term.
Rex Little at October 2, 2016 7:06 AM
Obama is like their golden son, they've been pro Obama since his very start in politics before the senate and certainly before the presidency.
However they are a conservative newspaper so my impression is that they have never been pro Obama due to his stances but rather his charm and potential.
Think about the way Hilary has attacked Obama. Firstly they are a conservative paper and secondly she attacked their fav. son. Never were gonna endorse her.
ppen at October 2, 2016 1:16 PM
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