Gary Johnson for President

Colbert was particularly funny in his show this Monday, May 10. You can watch the full episode here:

http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/mon-may-10-2010-gary-johnson.

Particularly interesting, though, was his interview with former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, a two-term Republican who says he’s not running for president in 2012, a clear indication he’s running for president in 2012. Here’s what his Website says about Johnson’s stand on drugs:

“More Effective Drug Policy
Gary has been a leader of the movement toward a new, more effective drug policy that is more in line with conservative principles of fiscal discipline, limited government, and personal responsibility. Gary advocates an end to the failed prohibition of the past seventy years, and an honest discussion about the drug issue with America's youth. Specifically, he advocates the legalization of marijuana and the decriminalization of other drugs. While Gary himself abstains from all drugs, including nicotine and alcohol, he recognizes that the billions of dollars wasted on a big-government anti-drug policy have not been responsibly invested.”

Is there hope that we might be moving toward a realistic discussion of the failed prohibition policy known as The War on Drugs, first named by Richard Nixon and so far delivering only what I call “The Three Cs” : Corruption, Cartels, and Chaos on the Border? (Help me out here: I’m looking for a better third C. P is also an open letter, but I’d have to start over.)

Is it possible I could one day vote for a Republican for president?

In fact, Johnson is a GOP libertarian from the Ron Paul school of Ayn Rand, but if I had to be a conservative, I’d definitely want to take it to the extreme like they do. Ending drug prohibition, though, isn’t an extreme position at all (insert all the relevant arguments here), and I would be thrilled to see at least a few mainstream politicians begin to consider it under the rubric of reforming America’s drug laws.

Maybe this guy Johnson can help jump start the conversation. He’s one of the few guests who can keep up with Colbert’s machine gun interviewing style, so he should be able to hold his own on a stage with a few merely mortal candidates for President.