How many Americans are turning libertarian?

That is a good question. I know that people are changing their party affiliation status to independent at record numbers.

I bet the numbers are staggering. (or will be over time)

I have generally libertarian beliefs, just didn't know what to call it until 5 or so years ago. I always checked Independent before that.

Turning? I've always been.

have been for years

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121403/Sp...ly-Moving.aspx

Gallup says people are heading to the right again. If the Republicans would get back to small government and be more libertarian (practice what they preach), I wouldn't be surprised to see them capture both houses and the presidency again by 2012.

That would be a very tall order. Right now they can't even get their own party together.

For starters if Obama is doing well and still has good approval ratings he will get reelected. It is very difficult to beat an incumbent president. It is nearly impossible if he is doing well. If things are going badly he could be vulnerable, but the overall view of the nation doesn't really matter because of the electoral college. If every person is Texas responded that they are now more conservative than they were 2 years ago, it doesn't matter because Obama will never win Texas. What matters is how people's views in swing states are changing.

When it comes to the senate, they could make some gains but to gain 10 seats would be nearly impossible.

As for the house there will be a census in 2010 and a redistricting. The last time this happened the house was controlled by the republicans and it took almost 8 years for the democrats to regain control. It is pretty damn hard for the republicans to control the congress in any year because the districts go by population so the population centers of the country end up with more representatives and those areas are typically more liberal. Since 1945 the republicans have only held the house for about 14 years.

Unless things go really badly for Obama I think the republicans will wait until 2016 to really make a big push

Redistricting isn't as big a deal as people make it out to be. Republican states and purple Neveda are projected to pick up seats. Nevada is the only currently controlled Democrat state projected to pick up a seat. 27 Democrat controlled state legislatures (that's doubtful after 2010) with all of them but Nevada losing one or more seats. 23 are either split or Republican, so with mostly Democrat states losing the seats I actually predict more competitive districts this time around for Republicans in Democratic states, those RINO in the northeast pickup possibilities if Republicans weren't stupid and want to run off people who vote with the 85% of the time.

I have been for over 12 years... if people were educated and didn't buy into this 2 party crap I think the majority would be.

Ron Paul did not make it all the way to the White House but maybe someday someone like Ron will.

LOL.

Without holding executive office and forced to execute a party doesn't have to put it's platform in action. Thus, for a party that looks at rational self-interest, it actually seems to be far from a rational position as a party. (Rather than prioritizing the parts of a particular candidate that can actually _win_ that are most important to you, and thus vote for that viable candidate -- you throw your vote away.)

Now, if you mean libertarian beliefs -- that's something different than the Libertarian Party.

I wish their was an anarchist party

I walk between the party lines.