McCotter, who has represented Michigan's 11th congressional district since 2003 and who last year ran a brief, quixotic campaign for the presidency, was embarrassed last month when his campaign failed to turn in enough valid signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Even worse, there were enough fraudulent signatures that the campaign is now facing criminal investigation. This week he announced that he was dropping his write-in bid (Michigan is one of the tougher states in the country to run a write-in campaign.)

That leaves one Republican on the primary ballot - a Vietnam and Iraq war vet (yes, you read that correctly), part-time farmer and beekeeper, and high school teacher named Kerry Bentivolio.

If elected - which is probably more probable than not, although former State Senator Loren Bennett has announced a write-in primary campaign and he'll probably draw a solid challenger in the general election - Bentivolio would presumably be one of the most libertarian members of congress.

A few excerpts from his campaign web page:

On free speech:
The freedom of speech is vital to our society. I pledge to protect it even though some people abuse that freedom in vile ways. To do anything else would lead us down a slippery slope toward tyranny.

... The Constitution makes little distinction between what is good and bad protesting. It makes no value judgments. It is what it is and I must stand by in defense of the freedom of speech, even for those people who I strongly oppose.

On the Economy:
When government picks winners and losers, giving subsidies to a few select companies, every other person and business pays the difference. The government shouldn't make investments in certain businesses because they have the best lobbyists. Too many politicians are bought and sold that way and it rarely produces the most efficient outcome. It certainly doesn't lead to innovation by lone entrepreneurs or small businesses that hire local workers. What corporate welfare promotes is the use of capital, not wise investment. Instead of government providing incentives to specific businesses or industries, it should return the money it has taken from individuals and small businesses. ... then the market can decide who has the best ideas.

On Civil Liberties (how many GOP candidates give an issues heading to "civil liberties" these days?):
Our civil rights are the cornerstone of our society. The United States is unique in the history of World. We are not unique because we have the most powerful military today or because we have the largest economy today. Many countries before us held those distinctions. We are unique, however, because our government is the first modern government that is limited in its powers, that derives its powers from the consent of the People, and that guarantees the People certain rights. More accurately stated, the People reserve those rights that are essential to their liberty.

Among the Bill of Rights, the People have reserved for themselves the rights to free speech, free exercise of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the right to due process under the law, property rights, and the right privacy. These rights and other civil rights maintain freedom of thought and prevent tyranny.

On government:
... any right that the Federal Government has not been explicitly granted is reserved for either the States or the People.
Except for one term representative Raymond Clevenger, elected in the LBJ landslide of 1964, this seat has been held by a Republican since 1939. While Bentivolio would be favored in the general election, it's not a sure thing. The district, which is anchored in the Detroit suburbs of Oakland County, is not a rock-solid GOP bastion. McCotter won the seat with 59 percent of the vote in the big Republican year of 2010. In the bad GOP years of 2006 and 2008 he held on with 55 and 51 percent, respectively. As a political unknown, Bentivolio could draw a strong Democratic challenge. But if he wins, Bentivolio could be the kind of guy who shakes things up in Congress.