Why do Libertarians run as Republicans?

[morningfog]

6. Libertarians share social positions with Liberals and economic positions with Conservatives.

The reason libertarians have recently aligned with Repubs instead of Dems is because the Repubs touted the "small government" position and exploited the libertarian's fears and embraced (manufactured) the Tea Party.

The Dems, for their part, have done little to bring the libertarians in by appealing to the social and civil liberties. They could have, but essentially have ceded the libertarians to the repubs for the moment. With the Dem's latest embrace of civil liberty infringements certainly won't help.

But, I think the repubs are losing the libertarians again, by giving them lip service in much the same way they have to the religious right. They use them as election wedges and then never return on the support.