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Live at the final day of NORML’s 2010 “Just Say Now” convention in Portland, OR: former New Mexico Governor and marijuana legalization advocate Gary Johnson (also: probable 2012 GOP Presidential candidate).
The AP recently profiled Johnson as a “dark horse” presidential candidate who not only supports marijuana legalization, but marriage equality, sensible immigration reform, and ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Despite two terms as governor of New Mexico and recent visits to 26 states, most Americans have never heard of Gary Johnson.
The former Republican governor is mulling a run for president, and his libertarian views and small government platform fit the disenchantment many voters feel toward Washington. Among his supporters is Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul, who drew a committed following in his 2008 campaign for president and was quoted in the conservative online website The Daily Caller as saying if he didn’t run again in 2012, the best candidate would be Johnson.
Johnson says he knows most people have never heard of him, but he’s hoping to change that.
“There are two courses of action. One would be to do nothing and the other would be to burn some shoe leather and see what happens,” Johnson told The Associated Press during a recent stop in Davenport. “I’m burning some shoe leather.”
Johnson, who served as governor from 1994 to 2002, supports slashing government spending, including big cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. He also calls for simplifying and reducing taxes.
Those stands might please many Republicans, but some would likely bristle at his opposition to the war in Iraq or his support for cutting defense spending, legalizing marijuana, expanding legal immigration and legalizing civil unions for gays and lesbians.
Watch Governor Johnson live below:
15 Comments
Thanks — Just Say Now
I’ve noticed a lot of ex office holders are pro legalization. Too bad they weren’t when they were current office holders.
Where does he stand on abortion rights? How about EFCA and Unions?
Sheesh, this cannabinoid slideshow i’m seeing is amazing
thx so much FDL
Science aside, there’s also this. One would think legalization would put a pretty good dent in cartel-driven violence. If 19 passes, Whitman goes down in flames, and my current (criminal) congressman gets driven from office, it will give me a much-needed shot of optimism, if for only a short while.
He was. And everyone thought he was nuts. but that slashing the safety net doe not appeal to me at all.
If Gary Johnson were a presidential candidate, I’d probably vote for him. Seriously.
Slash taxes? Only if the Pentagon is the target for this first 90% of the tax cuts.
His successor, Bill Richardson, is a far better candidate, in spite of his many shortcomings. Johnson was a terrible governor.
Gary Johnson spoke at a NORML conference while he was still Governor. He didn’t come to support legalization only after leaving office.
In addition he made life safer for opioid addicts in his state while serving – immunized people bringing OD victims to ERs from being investigated, and made opioid antagonists available over the counter so an OD victim can get treatment at home before respiratory function stops altogether.
Remember, he was known as “Governor NO.” Been there, done that.
Thank NORML too – they are putting on a very good conference (they NORMLy do).
Yes, legalizing marijuana is an absolutely GREAT IDEA! Do it!
He is apparently somewhat pro-choice, with caveats:
On unions, I’d bet he’s pretty anti-union, but I don’t know. As for EFCA, it’s dead.
Don’t let her kid ya, the best part of her trip out here was when she got to meet Suzanne and me.
LMAO!
I can truly say Jane is a sweetheart, just a very pretty, nice lady, who happens to have sparkly beautiful blue eyes, kinda like me.She is quick to smile and will interrupt what she is doing to chat for a bit.
Just a sweetie.
Yeah, this is a day late and no one will notice but it was a great pleasure to meet her and Teddy. Both of them are wonderful people.