Gary Johnson would get my vote.

That is, pending his Libertarian nomination. He's pro-choice, pro-gay rights, pro-marijuana legalization, pro-online gambling... yet he doesn't come with all the 19th century economic policies of Ron Paul.

I don't understand why Ron Paul appeals to people more than Gary Johnson. I guess it's name recognition and a more rabid fan-base. But pragmatically, Gary Johnson would be the best libertarian choice. He doesn't go to the extreme philosophical libertarian viewpoints, arguing that bestiality or owning nuclear warheads should be legal based on the "non-aggression principle" and a very stretched interpretation of the 2nd amendment.

His views come from what makes sense financially , and being freer both economically and socially is the answer to that. Ultimately, the libertarian party should appeal to those who wish to have less government intervention than we do currently, without a purity test to see how "free" you can go before you're considered a libertarian.

I fear that the LP may end up putting up another anti-immigration bonehead who just happens to say the right words to appeal to them. But if Gary Johnson were the nominee, I would vote for him over Barack Obama. People love to paint me as some Obama fanatic, but I like him for different reasons than a lot of others do.

A lot of people seemed to expect him to be the answer to all their liberal prayers, but he's really just center-left in our country, or center-right in most other democracies.

I am really beginning to sense that Obama's election is inevitable with the way the Republicans are attacking each other, and even if it's a close election, my vote for Gary Johnson in Cauliflornia (state name changed in honor of Ahhnold) wouldn't make a difference.