Decius wrote:
Will contact with Libertarian thinkers at Reason and Cato cause these conservatives to reconsider their authoritarianism...?

I doubt it, at least not in significant numbers. I think most of them care more about social conservatism than capitalism and limited government, and as you pointed out, there's more to libertarianism and the Libertarian Party than that. There might be more conservatives who vote against McCain by voting for Barr (or whomever - we find out in three days), but their votes won't be in support of libertarianism. It'll be a one night stand, because they wouldn't divorce the Republican Party over McCain.

RE: Barr could put Georgia in play, and the Obama campaign knows it | Political Insider