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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Flirts With the Libertarian Party
dnyuz ^ | Sep 24 | dnyuz

Posted on 09/23/2023 10:52:29 PM PDT by RandFan

For months, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he plans to continue his long-shot challenge against President Biden in the Democratic primary rather than dropping out to launch a third-party bid.

But lately Mr. Kennedy’s message has seemed to shift, including publicly telling a voter who asked about his plans that he was keeping his “options open.”

If Mr. Kennedy does decide to leave the party of his famous father and uncles to run in the general election, one potential landing spot may be the Libertarian Party, which at the moment lacks a widely known candidate but has excelled at securing ballot access.

In July, Mr. Kennedy met privately with Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian Party, at a conference they were both attending in Memphis — a meeting that has not previously been reported.

“He emphasized that he was committed to running as a Democrat but said that he considered himself very libertarian,” Ms. McArdle said in an interview, adding that they agreed on several positions, including the threat of the “deep state” and the need for populist messaging. “We’re aligned on a lot of issues.”

“My perspective is that we are going to stay in touch in case he does decide to run,” Ms. McArdle said. “And he can contact me at any time if that’s the case.”

(Excerpt) Read more at dnyuz.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: libertarian; nevertrumpers; rfkjr; robertfkennedyjr
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To: RandFan

A key to dealing with corruption.


21 posted on 09/24/2023 1:05:54 AM PDT by Bogie
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To: digger48

GOOD—Drain off some Biden Voters (or Harris, or Newsom, or Witmer?)


22 posted on 09/24/2023 1:06:29 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade ( Ride to the sound of the Guns!)
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To: RandFan

Time to put an end to the Democrat’s death grip.


23 posted on 09/24/2023 1:09:28 AM PDT by Bogie
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To: PGR88
The problem is: RFK is hardly a libertarian.

That may not be a problem. Libertarian candidate Bob Barr (2008) wasn't much of a libertarian, either. He polled at 7% and then won 0.4% of the popular vote.

(True, he had much less name recognition than a Kennedy.)

24 posted on 09/24/2023 4:01:02 AM PDT by Sooth2222 (“Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite.” /"Every nation has the government it deserves.” )
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To: PGR88

Libertarians, by their very definition, are a rather loose and highly eclectic collection of diverse opinions, not always focused upon the same criteria as conservatives or those who take an originalist view of the Constitution.

RFK Jr. may or may not be able to fully fit in with a certain minority of libertarians, but his goals do tend to overlap a lot of many or most other libertarians. If he so chooses to take this route (the Democrat Socialists is giving him VERY short shrift), it would be a game changer.


25 posted on 09/24/2023 4:06:11 AM PDT by alloysteel (Be kind to your web-footed friends. That duck may be somebody's mother.)
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To: RandFan
Yep.

He has seen plenty of evidence over the years that the Democrats are not going to permit him to run on their ticket.

For RFK, Jr, it's either "independent" or nothing.

And frankly, he's just the kind of person to run as an independent. He's a tough, independent-minded cookie or he would not be where he is at present.

26 posted on 09/24/2023 4:26:04 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (A person who seeks the truth with a strong bias will never find it. He will only confirm his bias.)
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To: Nextrush
#4: "Maybe Newsom is running for POTUS."


Ya think? Climate Kid Newsom just flew in a jet to some East Coast political event. Must be important enough to disrespect Gaia.

27 posted on 09/24/2023 4:44:20 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie
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To: Nextrush
"Maybe Newsom is running for POTUS.

Yup, the demoncratic primary looks to be Newsom vs Big Mike.. (Blow flies everywhere vomit at the very thought).

28 posted on 09/24/2023 5:50:39 AM PDT by unread (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC..!)
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To: RandFan

Uh, no. He’d take more votes from Trump than from Biden. (Not that I expect Biden to make it to the general election, but thw same Dem/Pubbie principle applies.


29 posted on 09/24/2023 5:51:00 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: Right Brother

Again, he’d siphon from the right more than the left.


30 posted on 09/24/2023 5:51:44 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: RandFan

Always thought the majority of the Libertarian vote came from Republican leaning voters. Would rather he just run as an independent as Perot did.


31 posted on 09/24/2023 6:21:18 AM PDT by MagillaX
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To: fieldmarshaldj

You nailed it.


32 posted on 09/24/2023 6:26:55 AM PDT by daler
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To: 9YearLurker

*He’d take more votes from Trump than from Biden.*

Lurker-you’re the only one using his brain here. Libertarians should not be dumb enough to want him. They take votes from the republicans. Libertarians would go along for party publicity.

RandPaul as VP would be a good firewall against those leaners.


33 posted on 09/24/2023 6:32:10 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (e allowed )
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To: PGR88

No more so is Sanders an independent.


34 posted on 09/24/2023 6:36:04 AM PDT by DownInFlames (P)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Yes, but Trump already did the white guy veep. I doubt he goes for that again.


35 posted on 09/24/2023 6:48:27 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: digger48

The Green Party has a candidate, Cornel West, a black nationalist and Marxist, now on the faculty of Union Theological Seminary (which is affiliated with Columbia University).

RFK Jr. better matches the Green Party in terms of his (RFK Jr.’s) background as an environmental lawyer and activist; but, he (RFK Jr.) is currently playing in the Democrat sandbox.

RFK Jr. has some serious strengths, not the least of which is his name. But, it seems like he jumps on whatever is the latest conspiracy theory. I have a rule about that: you can only break one rule at a time. You go off the deep end on multiple issues, and you come across as a nut.

As a possible Libertarian Party candidate, RFK Jr. would appeal to left-libertarians and not so much to right-libertarians. In 2016, Gary Johnson, a former two-term Republican Governor of New Mexico, attracted many right-libertarians and, early in the year, was just short of the 15 percent in the nationwide polls used by the media as the test for inclusion in the presidential debates. He didn’t qualify, and subsequently faded in the polls. Almost entirely, Johnson’s fall in the polls equaled Trump’s rise in the polls so that, by election day, the election had considerably tightened up.

Getting back to RFK Jr., not only would he appeal to left-libertarians, it is possible he would qualify for the debates, and subsequently rise in the polls, rather than fall. This scenario seriously jeopardizes Joe Biden’s chance of re-election (and, if defeated, I don’t think Biden returns, Trump style, in 2028).

On the other hand, if one thing leads to another, if RFK Jr. qualifies for the debates and subsequently rises in the polls, and if RFK Jr. calibrates things right, he might run up the middle to win the whole shebang. The prospect of becoming president is enough to sober up most people.


36 posted on 09/24/2023 6:59:25 AM PDT by Redmen4ever
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To: Redmen4ever

The Green Party is Marxist. That doesn’t seem to be RFK.

He’s closer to a small-g and small-l green libertarian.


37 posted on 09/24/2023 7:01:15 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker

So, the Green Party is a watermelon party. Green on the outside, but red on the inside.

Yeah, I go along with that. Also, your description of RFK Jr. as appealing to certain libertarians.


38 posted on 09/24/2023 7:10:58 AM PDT by Redmen4ever
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To: Redmen4ever

Thank you for the info

Interesting times


39 posted on 09/24/2023 7:14:47 AM PDT by digger48
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To: Redmen4ever

Hs RFK Jr walked back any of these position?
These are hardly libertarian ideas!

RFK, Jr. wants me jailed … as a war criminal https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3211190/posts
RFK, Jr.: Climate Skeptics ‘Should Be at the Hague with All the Other War Criminals’ https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3206882/posts
RFK Jr.: Hog farmers bigger threat than Osama https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2178592/posts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wants To Jail His Political Opponents https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3206573/posts
Lessons in civility from RFK, Jr. https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3509601/posts
RFK Jr. spreads blame for environmental woes in New Bedford speech https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1913559/posts
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Blames Fairness Doctrine Abolishment for Conservatism Popularity https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2479527/posts
RFK, Jr: ‘We have so much to learn from Cuba’ https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3243628/posts
Watch RFK, Jr. lose it at climate change march when confronted about his hypocrisy https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3206578/posts
Andrea Mitchell Applauds RFK Jr.’s ‘Impassioned Plea’ for Obama to Stop Keystone Pipeline by Fiat https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3120692/posts
RFK Jr. Slams “Right-Wing Control of American Media” https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2967445/posts
RFK Jr: Right-Wing Controls American Media, Fox News Has Divided US to a Point not Seen Since Civil War https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2967311/posts
RFK jr: Sen. Inhofe is a “Call Girl” for Big Oil (But it’s OK to say it, he’s a Democrat after all) https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2855976/posts
Robert Kennedy, Jr.’s ‘Green’ Company Scored $1.4 Billion Taxpayer Bailout https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2808401/posts
RFK Jr. Claims Air America Was More Popular Than Conservative Radio https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2740193/posts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Endorses Charlie Crist, Attacks Tea Party (Video) https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2606809/posts
RFK, Jr. 15 months ago: Global warming means no snow or cold in DC https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2446226/posts
Robert Kennedy Jr.: right-wing hosts spread hate https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271218/posts
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr: Innocent ACORN Defrauded by ACORN Workers https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2109548/posts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: ‘There Is No Liberal Media’(video barf!) https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021728/posts
Kennedy Calls Skeptical Politicians ‘Traitors’ and ‘Corporate Toadies’ https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1864440/posts
RFK Jr. Says AGW Skeptics Should Be Silenced https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1864945/posts
Video: Stossel Takes Robert F. Kennedy Jr. On For Traitor Remark https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1864510/posts
RFK Jr. Calls Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck Lying ‘Flat Earthers’ https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1863207/posts
RFK (Robberbaron F. Kennedy) Jr. vs. Mike Gallagher on Energy Independence https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033812/posts
The Incredible Shrinking Credibility of RFK, Jr. https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1644744/posts
RFK Jr.: Bush, Barbour to Blame for Katrina https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1473838/posts
RFK Jr: You know, my uncle was also shot amid a climate of right-wing hate https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2655920/posts
Flashback - Palin’s Big Oil infatuation [End of snow forever in DC] https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3387273/posts
RFK Jr says Donald Trump has ‘discredited the American experiment’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7903551/Robert-Kennedy-Jr-says-Donald-Trump-discredited-American-experiment.html


40 posted on 09/24/2023 7:15:59 AM PDT by Reily (!!)
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