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Pledge your support for a Gary Johnson 2012 Presidential run here:254 supporters as of March 10, 2010 |
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| | Gary Johnson announces his Three Point Plan for Economic Prosperity | | | |
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Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, who vetoed 750 bills during his two terms and left office with a budget surplus without raising taxes, has issued his "Three Point Plan for Economic Prosperity" during a press conference in Washington D.C., hosted by the Reason Foundation. GARY JOHNSON’S THREE POINT PLAN FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
Free markets and limited government are the foundation of prosperity. Economic policy should foster entrepreneurship, innovation, and individual choice, not direct economic activity to satisfy political interests in Washington. Americans should be free to make their own economic decisions because individuals, not government, know what is best for themselves and their families. This freedom unleashes the creativity and enterprising spirit that fuels economic opportunity and an equal playing field for all Americans.
To achieve these goals, the U.S. must adopt three approaches:
1) SLASH EXPENDITURE: Excess spending is rampant in the U.S. budget, producing an unsustainable path for federal debt. The U.S. must restrain spending across the board: - Scale back entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which threaten to bankrupt the nation’s future.
- Eliminate the costly and ineffective military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan; target defense spending to actions that truly protect the United States.
- Stop spending on the fiscal stimulus.
- Reduce subsidies for agriculture, transportation, energy, housing, and all other special interests.
2) CUT TAXES: The U.S. tax system imposes an enormous toll on productivity through high marginal rates, absurd complexity, loopholes for the well-connected, and incentives for wasteful decisions. The government must lower the tax burden to stimulate the economy. This means: - Eliminate punitive taxation of savings and investment.
- Simplify the tax code; stop using it to reward special interests and control behavior.
- Adopt a flat tax on income or consumption.
Much federal intervention is a payout to special interests or counterproductive meddling that stifles competition, innovation, and growth. We should: - Reject auto and banking bailouts, state bailouts, corporate welfare, cap-and-trade, card check, and the mountain of regulation that protects special interest rather than benefiting consumers or the economy.
- Restrict Federal Reserve policy to maintaining price stability, not bailing out financial firms or propping up the housing sector.
- Eliminate government support of Fannie and Freddie.
- Reduce or eliminate federal involvement in education; let states expand successful reforms such as vouchers and charter schools.
- Legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana; emphasize harm reduction for other drugs.
- Expand free trade and legal immigration.
The OUR America Initiative is a national issue-based advocacy committee. Key issues include: Solving the Economic Crisis and Creating Jobs; Lowering the Federal Deficit; Civil Liberties; Fighting the War on Drugs; Immigration Policy; and Taxes. Additional information regarding the committee’s position on these issues can be found at www.ouramericainitiative.com. For information regarding OUR America, or to schedule an interview with Gary Johnson, please contact Sue Winchester at 801-303-7924 or via email at media@ouramericainitiative.com. | |
| 2012 Republican Hopeful Gary Johnson Takes On His Party's 'Cardboard Cutouts' | | | |
| ABC News’ Teddy Davis and Matt Loffman report: Gary Johnson, the former Republican governor of New Mexico who is eyeing a 2012 run for president, swung by ABC News’ Washington bureau on Tuesday.
As someone who is operating a 501(c)(4) political advocacy committee, he is technically not permitted to discuss a run for federal office. But he is already testing the themes that we might hear when the Republican presidential debates get underway.
“All the other candidates-- all the other suspects … if you put a piece of cardboard over their caricature and did some voiceover on what it is they were saying, they would all sound alike,” said Johnson.
So how does Johnson, who was recently in New Hampshire and is headed back soon, differ from the mainline Republican candidates who are weighing a presidential run?
He wants all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. He thinks the U.S. should never have gone into Iraq. And he thinks it’s time for the U.S. to begin treating marijuana the same way it does tobacco and alcohol.
While there is substantial overlap on national security and drug policy between himself and Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas congressman whom he backed for president in 2008, Johnson said there are also several areas in which the two Libertarian-leaning Republicans differ.
In particular, he cited abortion, immigration, and the Federal Reserve.
While Paul believes life begins at conception, Johnson thinks pre-viability abortion decisions are best left to the individuals involved. While Paul is an amnesty foe, Johnson thinks that illegal immigrants should be allowed to pay taxes and help shoulder the social costs of their presence in the United States. And when it comes to monetary policy, Johnson is calling for the Federal Reserve Bank to be scrutinized and audited. He is not, however, joining Paul in calling for it to be abolished.
One area where Johnson could find common cause with conservatives is on the issue of spending: during his eight years as governor from 1994-2002, Johnson held down spending by vetoing 750 bills -- more than all the vetoes of the other 49 governors combined. Conservatives might also like his stance on taxes: similar to Steve Forbes, the Republican he backed for president in 2000, Johnson would like the U.S. to adopt a flat tax.
Citing a Monday story in USA Today which reported that a rash of retirements in 2009 is pushing Social Security to the brink, Johnson, a 57-year old marathon runner who has scaled Mt. Everest, said the retirement age needs to be raised perhaps to 70 or 72.
“This is the reality, we're broke,” said Johnson. “We're broke.”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/02/2012-republican-presidential-hopeful-gary-johnson-takes-on-his-partys-cardboard-cutouts.html | |
| Gary Johnson and Our America | | | |
| Nolan Chart- by George Dance
On Dec. 10, 2009, Gary Johnson unveiled his new political advocacy committee, Our America (1), leading to speculation that he will be running for President in 2012.
Johnson, a former two-term governor of New Mexico, is a self-made millionaire. He founded Big J Construction in 1976 and turned it into a multi-million dollar company before selling it in 1999. (2) He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico in political science. He is also a triathlete and mountain climber, who climbed Mt. McKinley in 1993. (3) (He also climbed Mt. Everest in May 2003. (4) )
Before the 1994 election, Johnson approached the state Republicans about running for Governor; the party was "polite but dismissive, telling him that as an unknown businessman he couldn't win." Disagreeing, he invested $500,000 of his own money to win the Republican primary, and went on to defeat incumbent, three-time Gov. Bruce King in the fall, 50% to 40%. (5) He was re-elected in 1998 with 55% of the vote. (2)
During his two terms in office the Johnson administration:
- Reduced taxes by $123 million annually.
- Cut the rate of government growth in half.
- Eliminated New Mexico's budget deficit.
- Downsized the state government by 1200 employees (without firing anyone).
- Left the New Mexico government with all-time-high bond ratings.
- Enacted major welfare reform, which cut state welfare spending by 30%.
- Shifted state Medicaid to managed care.
- Brought the state government and the Navajo nation leadership together to resolve century-old disputes over water, gaming, and other issues.
- Privatized half of the state prisons.
- Repealed the Little Davis-Bacon Act, allowing non-unionized labor to be employed in construction of new schools and other public works.
- Oversaw the construction of 500 miles of new, four-lane highway (designed, financed, built, and guaranteed by the private sector).
- Vetoed campaign finance legislation.
- Vetoed over 750 bills in total (earning himself the nickname, "Governor No"). (6)
In 1999, Johnson came out publicly for the legalization of marijuana, prompting controversy. Bill Clinton's drug czar called his position "preposterous," "astonishing," "embarrassing," "pro-drug," and "a terrible message" (7). Two years later, Johnson told Reason magazine (which ran its interview with him under the title of "America's Most Dangerous Politician"): "No politics in my future. I have effectively pulled the pin on my political career with my stance on drugs, and I recognize that up front." (5)
After being term-limited out of office in 2003, Johnson did stay out of politics for the next five years. What brought him back in was the Ron Paul rEVOLution. He endorsed Paul for President in January, 2008. (8) That September he spoke at the Rally for the Republic, the founding convention of Paul's Campaign for Liberty, in Minneapolis. (9)
At the Rally, Johnson began musing about running for President himself in 2012 "as an antiwar, anti-Fed, pro-personal liberties, slash-government-spending candidate -- in other words, a Ron Paul libertarian." The following April, he told American Conservative that he was he was "keeping his options open for 2012." (10)
Supporters quickly set up at least two unofficial websites to promote his candidacy, Gary Johnson 2012 and Johnson for America. (11), (6)
By December, online newsmagazine Politico was already hailing Johnson as "the next Ron Paul." (12)
Politico adds that Johnson may be even "better positioned to ride the populist wave than the longtime Texas GOP congressman. For one thing, the anti-establishment energy was not at the fever pitch then that it's nearing now. And, unlike the unlikely Paul, a 73-year-old who got interested in elected politics when Richard Nixon abandoned the gold standard in 1971, Johnson is telegenic, is media savvy and, equally important, has twice been easily elected to statewide office."
There are, though, some potential weaknesses in a Johnson candidacy (should he decide to run). Josiah Schmidt, the administrator of Johnson for America, is remarkably candid in discussing them:
Gary is fundamentally a conservative: he believes in limited government, fiscal discipline, personal responsibility, and a secure homeland. However, he boldly takes these beliefs into areas where many other conservatives have not yet extended them. For instance, Gary has the courage to point out the fiscal irresponsibility and unsustainability of our government's limitless commitment to nation building in the Middle East. He departs from the party line on the issue of Drug Prohibition, pointing out how prohibition goes against the principle of individual responsibility for one's self, and more importantly, how prohibitions breed organized crime that threatens our national security. And while, at heart, he is a conservative when it comes to social issues, his limited government beliefs lead him to a position of strict federalism when it comes to things like abortion and gay marriage (i.e. he believes these issues are the reserved domain of the 50 states, not the federal government). He will have to take care to point out the consistency in his conservative philosophy, and not let other Republican candidates paint him as a "liberal". (13)
http://www.nolanchart.com/article7243.html
Submitted by Elwar | |
| Gary Johnson's new web site! | | | |
| Update News - Former Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, has created a PAC to get his issues out to the voting public of the United States in what could be a step toward a possible 2012 presidential run. Today his PAC, Our America Initiative, has released a website ouramericainitiative.com to kick things off.
On the site you will find a list of his issue stances as well as a place to sign up and offer your support to his efforts. A picture on the main page of the website shows a book cover "Seven Principles of Good Government", his book to be released soon.
Further, he has also created a Facebook group, YouTube page, Twitter and Myspace pages. Be sure to check out the Our America Initiative to find out more about the man who could possibly become your next president. | |
| Gary Johnson has been working on a new 527 PAC called the Our America Initiative. The initiative allows Johnson to express his views to the voters but does not allow him to campaign as a candidate. The PAC has been coming together and will be kicking things off on Thursday, November 19th with a $500 per head cocktail party fundraiser.
Though websites such as http://www.garyjohnson2012.com and http://www.johnsonforamerica.com have been laying the groundwork for his grassroots support, an official website, ouramericainitiative.com has been in the works.
The following is the information you will need if you'd like to attend this historic event hosted by our future president, Gary Johnson.
When: Thursday, November 19th
Where: Albuquerque, NM
Cost: $500 per person.
To RSVP or find out any other information, please contact Elizabeth@ouramericainitiative.com | |
| Gary Johnson 2012 picking up steam | | | |
| The push to draft Gary Johnson to run for president in 2012 has picked up some steam in the past month. The site, garyjohnson2012.com, set up as a grassroots effort to draft Gary Johnson has garnered over 6,000 views in the month of October, more than doubling the previous month's views.
As the Internet community starts hearing about the former New Mexico governor, who is known for his fiscal discipline and vetoing over 750 bills during his two terms, they seek out more information. The website comes up #1 on a google search for "Gary Johnson 2012" and #2 after wikipedia on a search just for the name "Gary Johnson".
Considering Governor Johnson has not been in the public spotlight as a possible Republican candidate for 2012, this is a significant start for what could be a repeat of the Internet dominance held by Ron Paul in the 2008 presidential campaign. The website compete.com shows the website charliecrist.com with just over 5,000 views for the last month, this from a candidate who is actively running a Senate campaign.
The chart below shows a rise in activity for the website over the past month or so, with a good push already into the second day of November.
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| Breaking: Johnson Laying Groundwork for President Run | | | |
| Via http://race42008.com/2009/10/26/breaking-johnson-laying-groundwork-for-president-run/ Gary Johnson is preparing to launch his Our America PAC shortly, as soon as he gets all of his legal ducks in a row. He will be hitting the trail hard soon, traveling the country to speak in support of issues and candidates, re-immersing himself in the public policy debate.
This December, Governor Johnson will also be releasing a book entitled “Seven Principles Of Good Government,” published by The Heartland Institute (a conservative-libertarian think tank).
Submitted by tajitj | |
| Group wants Johnson back on ballot | | | |
| Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson had little to say Monday about a new "grassroots" Web site promoting a Johnson candidacy for president. But Johnson said he soon will be launching a new Web site of his own as a platform "to speak out on the issues of the day." While Johnson wouldn't confirm or deny he'll run for president, he said in a telephone interview that he's been busy setting up a tax-exempt "527 committee," for which he'll be listed as "honorary chairman" and a Web site.
Besides being a vehicle to promote his libertarian, small-government ideas, the committee, to be called "Our America," will be a way to raise money, Johnson said. "It's days from going up," he said of his site......
Read the rest http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Group-wants-Johnson-back-on-ballot
Submitted by tajitj | |
| Breaking: Gary Johnson's New Book: Seven Principles of Good Government | | | |
| New Mexico - Former governor Gary Johnson has a book coming out, joining other potential 2012 Republican candidates in getting his views out to the voters. The book, titled "Seven Principles of Good Government", comes on the heels of an announcement of a new PAC called the Our America Initiative which sets the groundwork for a possible presidential run in 2012.
Johnson, who served two terms as a Republican governor of New Mexico, carries with him his Seven Principles of Good Government.
They are:
1. Become reality driven. Don't kid yourself or others. Find out what's what and base your decisions and actions on that.
2. Always be honest and tell the truth. It's extremely difficult to do any damage to anybody when you are willing to tell the truth-regardless of the consequences.
3. Always do what's right and fair. Remember, the more you actually accomplish, the louder your critics become. You've got to learn to ignore your critics. You've got to continue to do what you think is right. You've got to maintain your integrity.
4. Determine your goal, develop a plan to reach that goal, and then act. Don’t procrastinate.
5. Make sure everybody who ought to know what you’re doing knows what you’re doing. Communicate.
6. Don’t hesitate to deliver bad news. There is always time to salvage things. There is always time to fix things. Henry Kissinger said that anything that can be revealed eventually should be revealed immediately.
7. Last, be willing to do whatever it takes to get your job done. If you’ve got a job that you don’t love enough to do what it takes to get your job done, then quit and get one that you do love, and then make a difference.
The garyjohnson2012.com website lists the following accomplishments by Governor Johnson:
*He didn't raise taxes as Governor once.
*He vetoed over 1,000 spending items.
*He cut taxes 14 times.
*In a state dominated 2 to 1 by Democrats, he served 2 terms.
*He competed in the Bataan Memorial Death March, a 25 mile desert run in combat boots wearing a 35 pound backpack.
*He participated in Hawaii's invitation-only Ironman Triathalon Championship, several times.
*He climbed to the top of Mount Everest, despite a broken leg.
Johnson joins other potential Republican candidates for 2012 such as Mike Huckabee and Sara Palin in writing a book to set the stage for their future campaigns.
The book is slated to come out this December. | |
| Gary to appear at U. of New Mexico | | | |
| Trusted U.S. Officials Make the Case Against the Drug WarRSVP at Facebook Page and tell your friends!
Featuring former Governor of NM Gary Johnson and former Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Matthew Fogg
| Date: | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | | Time: | 7:00pm - 9:00pm | | Location: | Lobo Rooms A & B, Student Union, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque | | Street: | MSC03 2200, Bldg. 60, Suite 3020, 1 UNM | | City: | Albuquerque, NM |
DESCRIPTION:
Now that we've reached a place where it's accepted to talk seriously about legalization, let's get an insider's take on the why and how from two of the most trusted officials in the United States.
Governor Johnson is the highest-ranking elected official in the United States to advocate the repeal of drug prohibition.
U.S. Marshal Matthew Fogg ran a DEA task force, helping to track down and arrest hundreds of people, before speaking out about the need to end the failed and racist War on Drugs.
Come hear Gov. Johnson and Mr. Fogg tell their stories and share their insight!
Everyone is welcome (especially people in town for the DPA conference!) and attendance is free.
PRESENTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION (http://www.copssaylegalizedrugs.com/), BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT ALBUQUERQUE CHAPTER, AND STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY UNM CHAPTER
[Submitted by tajitj] | |
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Date published: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:39:04 +0000
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[ Gary Johnson 2012 ]
