From the Archives: Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson to speak in Charlottesville on May 3

Publisher's note: This article was originally published on Examiner.com on April 25, 2010. The Examiner.com publishing platform was discontinued July 1, 2016, and its web site went dark on or about July 10, 2016.  I am republishing this piece in an effort to preserve it and all my other contributions to Examiner.com since April 6, 2010. It is reposted here without most of the internal links that were in the original.


Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson to speak in Charlottesville on May 3

Former Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico will give a speech in Charlottesville on Monday, May 3, hosted by the Charlottesville Republican Committee, Albemarle County Republican Committee, and the Republican Liberty Caucus of Virginia. Governor Johnson will speak at the Northside Library in Albemarle Square at 7:00 p.m.

A triathlete who has climbed Mount Everest, Gary Johnson was elected to two terms as New Mexico's governor after a successful career as an entrepreneur. He is currently honorary chairman of the OUR America Initiative.

CPAC Speech
When he spoke to an audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, Johnson laid out his vision of politics in 21st century America:

“Our politics have failed us in America,” Johnson said. “Our leaders on both sides of the aisle are making things worse for us every year, not better. And the proof is all around us. Take a look at our America today, take a look at the brink of economic collapse that our government has led us to, and tell me that we're busy living the dream. We're not. We're busy getting deeper into debt. We're busy losing the freedom that so many have given their lives to achieve.”

He continued:

“Thomas Jefferson said that it was our patriotic duty to stage a revolution every generation just to kick out the riff-raff. He was right. He understood politicians and politics perfectly. We do need a revolution in America in this generation, an armed rebellion. Let's arm ourselves with common sense. Let's stop spending money we don't have. Let's live within our means. This is our America. How can we justify borrowing money for our retirement and health care and hand the bill to future generations?”

Staying with that Jeffersonian theme, Johnson added:

“Our country is about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let every Member of Congress and the President of the United States take an oath to take on these difficult spending issues that we face and vow that they're not going to be re-elected: understand that they won't be re-elected.”

Presidential Run?
The idea has been floated that Gary Johnson might run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, but currently he is not a candidate for any state or federal office.

According to his official biography:

“As Governor of New Mexico, Johnson was known for his common-sense business approach to governing. He eliminated New Mexico’s budget deficit, cut the rate of growth in state government in half and privatized half of the state prisons.

“Johnson also shifted state Medicaid to managed care (which led to better healthcare by creating a statewide healthcare network that previously did not exist and which saved money) and reduced state employees by over 1000, with no firings. During his term, New Mexico experienced the longest period without a tax increase in the state’s history.

“While in office, Governor Johnson vetoed 750 bills (which was more than all the combined vetoes of the other 49 Governors in the country at the time) and thousands of line item vetoed bills.”

Additional Information
For more information about Governor Johnson's May 3rd lecture in Charlottesville, check out the event page on Facebook. The event is free and open to the public.