You like to say that most Americans are libertarians, but they don’t realize it. What do you mean?

Just that philosophically, I think most people can balance a checkbook and understand that there's fiscal responsibility that goes along with life, and that should also apply to government. And when it comes to you and I as individuals, shouldn't we be able to make decisions in our own lives that, as long as those decisions don't adversely affect others, those are our decisions to make, not government? And lastly, I think that these military interventions have resulted in the unintended consequence of making things worse—less safe, as opposed to more safe.

Your biggest issue is ending wasteful spending, and you’ve pledged to balance the budget. What’s your plan to make that happen?

First, you have to have a template to make that happen. If we're elected, coming up with that balanced budget. (2) Also, recognize that if we were to just decrease the rate of spending, that would be unprecedented, because of the entitlements. Entitlements are what they are. They're entitlements. They are an escalating sum of money from one year to the next, and I'm confident that we will significantly reduce the historic rate of growth in government. But there should be a goal. And that would be to balance the federal budget. That would be commensurate upon, in fact, reforming the entitlements.

Your slogan is “Make America Sane Again.” Why don’t you want to make America great again?

I think America is great right now. Period. Have things ever been better? We get along better. Kids are smarter than ever. We have smartphones that enable us to live our lives outside of what historically has been bricks and mortar and 8 to 5. America is great, right now. We've got some issues, but I think these issues are definitely approachable, workable.

You and your running mate have called Donald Trump a huckster, a racist, and a pussy. How do you really feel about him?

Well, "pussy" was a misfire. (3) I was trying to be humorous. I'm better than that. I apologize for that. Like I say, that was just a misfire when it comes to humor. What is the saying? "If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's a duck." Well, the "racist" comment was also in that same context. Gee, if the things you're saying sound racist and are racist, aren't you a racist?

Are you ashamed of your former party, the GOP, for standing behind him?

Yes. And I think it will be the demise of the Republican Party.

You’ve called Clinton a “wonderful public servant” and recently said that you don’t think there was any criminal intent as far as her separate server at the State Department. But you’re running against her. Why have you shied away from going after her?

Hillary Clinton is about as establishment as it gets. Her answer to everything is "more government." And that will result in higher taxes. I'm not saying that she's done this on purpose—she hasn't—but she's been an architect of our foreign policy that has us in support of the opposition forces in Libya and Syria, and those opposition forces are aligned with ISIS, Al Qaeda, jihadists. That's not intentional, but that's what's happened. And you can't make that up. So I don't see her changing that course being elected president. Things are gonna get more dangerous, not less.

The major party candidates are two of the most disliked politicians ever. Do people like you?

Yes, they do. People in New Mexico wave at me with all five fingers, not just one. [laughs]

You’ve pledged not to consume marijuana as president. Wouldn’t that be nice to have in the situation room?

[Laughs] People need to make their own choices. So what I don't want to be saying here is, if you consume marijuana, or have a couple of drinks every evening, I don't want to say that you shouldn't be doing that. Okay? Make decisions in your own life. And I am not casting judgment on you. I don't care if you knock yourself out every single night, as long as you don't get behind the wheel of a car. That said, for me, I haven't had a drink of alcohol in 29 years. It has everything to do with being as immediate and effective as I possibly can be. I've always maintained that you shouldn't be on the job impaired. And running for president is a 24/7 job. And being president is a 24/7 job.

"Google Gary Johnson. That's my elevator pitch."

You said you last “ingested marijuana products” two months ago. Do you vape?

I have vaped. I have given that a try. Personally, I think there's something wrong with it.