Barr's website ... is up:

http://www.bobbarr2008.com

And, not surprisingly, looks like a near-relative of Ron Paul's. That web designer guy is doing well :)

Of most interest to me is the issues page, as it's been so hard to pin Barr down on issues until now:

http://www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/

Here's my take at first glance:

• Against "government spending" - for "Large and thoughtful cuts in spending". Hmm. That phrasing worries me - it sounds suspiciously like "cut the things we don't like" rather than "cut all government spending".
• For the national sales tax ("Fair Tax"). This will be a deal-breaker for many Libertarians (it is for me, for instance). I would hate to see the Party embrace any tax through its presidential candidate or platform.
  
• For privacy and less government intrusion, relying heavily on constitutionalist arguments (but also mentioning morality).
• Quote: Each American should be free to decide what is best for themselves and their family. Good. I decided I don't want a sales tax. Ha!
  
• Immigration: he quotes the LP Platform about the issue, but without explicitly embracing the LP's solution or transitional action. It's my personal belief that this platform plank is too restrictive and that Barr is painting himself (with vague and hard-to-pin-down wording, true) as a keep-them-out conservative.
• Quote: Our National Defense policy must renew a commitment to non-intervention. Nothing specific about getting American troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other place in the world.

My first impression is that Barr's presidential bid will be much like his AJC columns - carefully worded to avoid taking specific positions on specific issues, but liberally sprinkled with phrases designed to show (nonspecific) support for libertarian concepts. Disappointing, but pretty much what I expected.

--
Susan Hogarth
http://www.colliething.com/lnc   ¶ 4:00 PM