'Send 'em a message'?

Bob Barr on Sean Hannity's radio show just now repeatedly emphasized that his prospective presidential run on the Libertarian Party ticket would "get a message out there" to a Republican Party that has "completely lost its philosophical moorings."

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: Liberals will surely howl about the resemblance between Barr's language and George Wallace's 1968 "Send 'em a message" slogan, but a message of dissatisfaction with the GOP status quo will surely resonate with many in Hannity's audience.

UPDATE 4:35: More from the Hannity interview: Barr said 2008 is a "very unusual year" and that "several things are coming together" to allow the Libertarian Party to have a "legitimate, positive impact" in November.

As to his own presidential hopes, Barr said he is "very, very seriously considering it," that he will make "a final decision shortly," and that he is getting "very strong support."

UPDATE 4:45: "Sooner or later, we have to put principle ahead of expediency," Barr said, responding to Hannity's complaint that "splitting the vote" would help elect a Democrat. He said he is "tired of hearing all the whining" from Republicans.

"If [Republican John] McCain is not able to pull enough votes to win outright, then shame on him," Barr said.

At the end of the interview, Hannity repeatedly played "gotcha," asking Barr about Libertarian stances on abortion and drugs, and also asking Barr about his work with the ACLU on privacy issues.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: Allahpundit scoffs at Barr's potential impact. But he scoffs at everything. I'm pretty sure he's contractually obligated as a professional scoffer.

UPDATE 8:40 p.m.: Barr spoke today in Rome, Ga.:

Former congressman Bob Barr told the Rotary Club of Rome Thursday he sees a disquieting trend of fear being the primary force driving public policy decisions in America today.
Quoting the 18th century philosopher Edmund Burke, Barr stated: “No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.”
Barr said he sees the trend increasing after 9/11 and that in discussions in Congress there is an attempt to “link (policy issues) to acts of terror or fear of acts of terrorism.”
“Fear does not lend itself well to rational thinking,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dave Weigel says Barr's going to make his announcement Saturday:

When former Rep. Bob Barr arrives in Kansas City on Saturday for the Heartland Libertarian Conference, organizers expect him to launch an exploratory committee for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination. Barr is meeting with his political team on Friday to firm up plans. Right now, he's expected to fly into the city at about noon Saturday and address the conference in the early afternoon.

Weigel notes that Barr and Ron Paul are both scheduled to appear at an April 15 "Take Back America" rally in D.C. Weigel also has Barr campaign's Web site -- the site's not up yet, but Barr's consulting firm has reserved the domain -- and reports that there will be a meeting of key staffers tomorrow (Friday) in Atlanta.

Stephen Gordon has a media wrapup here.

UPDATE 10:40 p.m.: Georgia blogger Jason Pye heard the Hannity interview:

The longer the interview got, the less friendly Hannity was (I know...big surprise there). Hannity implied that if Barr cost McCain the election that everything that happened after it would be on Bob Barr.
If you were listening in then you know that Barr sounded like a candidate. I thought he came off really well.

PREVIOUSLY:
4/3: Barr to announce?
3/27: Barr bandwagon rolling?
3/26: What about Bob?
2/11: Paulistas say, 'Why not Bob?'