Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who ran as the Libertarian Party nominee for president in 2012, says he's ready to pursue the White House in 2016.
"I hope to be able to do this again," Johnson said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV. "I'd like to. I would like to."
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Johnson revealed his interest in taking another stab to become the nation's commander-in-chief as he said he was not impressed with this year's midterm elections.
"The whole election is a big yawn. Who cares who wins, because nothing's really going to change? It's like a debate between Coke and Pepsi. They're debating over which one tastes better," he said.
"They start talking about tax policy, Coke wants to reduce the corporate tax rate to 30 percent, and Pepsi wants to drop it to 28 percent.
"Where's the libertarian viewpoint, which says do away with it completely? Do away with income tax, corporate tax? Abolish the IRS. If you're going to replace it with anything, replace it with a national consumption tax. That's real meat on the bones. I just don't see any meat anywhere."
Johnson acknowledged that libertarian candidates have not resonated at the polls — but said some of their ideas are being used in Washington.
"It hasn't resulted in anyone winning an election as a libertarian, but if you look at the issues, military nonintervention. Here it was, Congress and the president," he said.
"They're ready to dot the i's and cross the t's on going into Syria, and low and behold, 80 percent of Americans said no way. Drug reform, drug policy, marijuana legalization; libertarians have been talking about this forever, and now it's finally here.
"Marriage equality, that's been a libertarian issue from day one. When you look at these issues and what's really changing in America in spite of the politicians, I'm going to argue that these have been libertarian issues for a long time."
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In New Mexico's gubernatorial race, Johnson is not supporting Republican incumbent Susana Martinez, nor is he backing her opponent, Democrat Gary King.
"I voted for Suzanna Martinez the first time. This time I didn't vote for either one," he said.
It was a disappointment . . . It was a terrible campaign, from the standpoint of everything's negative," he said.
"I ran two campaigns for governor in a state that's 2-1 Democrat where I did not mention my opponent in print, radio, or television. I don't know if any other politician at a gubernatorial, congressional, or a senatorial level can make the claim."
"People are clamoring to hear good ideas as opposed to the lesser of two evils . . . Either the Democrats are going to win or the Republicans are going to win, but the losers are all of us out here as citizens that really do want meaningful change, and none of it's happening. There's no dialogue regarding meaningful change."
Of Sen. Rand Paul, a noted libertarian and potential 2016 GOP contender for president, Johnson said:
"On half the issues he's right, but on the whole social issue thing . . . Look, libertarians are flaming liberals when it comes to social issues, when it comes to civil liberties. A woman's right to choose, drug reform, immigration, marriage equality. He's not there."
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