Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico (1995-2003), is the most pro-liberty politician of any prominence. It looks as if he may be considering a presidential run.
On the face of it, Johnson comes right out of libertarian central casting. He has fought tenaciously for the 2nd Amendment and for marijuana legalization. He slashed taxes and spending, and he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. He also supported Ron Paul for president in the primaries last year.
Johnson’s photogenic demeanor and extracurricular activities are grist for the media mill (in a good way). Among his accomplishments was the scaling of Mount Everest with a broken leg.
Sounds too good to be true? Let’s hope not. If Johnson stands by his dovish foreign policy views, he might be the only candidate to appeal to Americans in both parties who are sick and tired of the Afghan and Iraq quagmires.