Awash In Amash
Does Justin Amash have a chance? The previously independent 5-term Michigan congressman has formed an exploratory committee about running for President as the Libertarian candidate and the one candidate who is not a geezer.
Matt Welch writes at Reason:
Like former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson in 2012, and former-and-future Texas congressman Ron Paul in 1988, Amash is currently arguably the favorite nationally known politician among both small-l and big-L and libertarians. He has long been touted as the heir successor to Paul on Capitol Hill, has described himself as "the only libertarian member of Congress," and told Reason back in July 2017 that he prefers the descriptor "libertarian" over "libertarian-leaning Republican." He has led congressional attempts to deconstruct the surveillance state, restore legislative-branch responsibility, and stand athwart the federal firehose yelling "Stop!"Yet that does not make him a shoo-in for the nomination.
Future of Freedom Foundation founder Jacob Hornberger, an anti-war/anti-Fed stalwart who has been the dominant candidate thus far in non-binding Libertarian primaries and caucuses, has been withering in his critiques ever since Amash publicized his interest in the party's potential 50-ballot prize two weeks ago.
"How many LP conventions has Congressman Justin Amash attended in the last year? None," Hornberger wrote last week, in the fifth installment of a series he titled "Justin Amash, LP Interloper." "How many LP presidential debates has Amash participated in? None. In fact, the very obvious reason that Amash has not attended LP state conventions and participated in LP presidential debates is that he does not want to subject his conservative positions to scrutiny, examination, and challenge by LP members and the other candidates for the LP presidential nomination."
Hornberger's critique reflects his self-interest, but it will nonetheless find resonance among even Amash-enthusiast Libertarians, who have become snippy about the congressman's long Hamlet act.
...At the January 2019 LibertyCon conference in Washington, D.C., Amash, with several L.P. officials in attendance, told Reason Editor in Chief Katherine Mangu-Ward that the ideal Libertarian candidate "wears Air Jordans" (he was wearing Air Jordans at the time), should not be a "squishy Republican" like controversial 2016 L.P. vice presidential nominee (and later a failed 2020 GOP challenger) Bill Weld, and should be "a person who is persuasive to other people, can bring Republicans and Democrats on board, or bring a large part of the electorate on board, because you can't just appeal to diehard libertarians and win the election."
My bet: He'll make a little noise that only libertarians will notice and then he'll disappear.
Am I wrong?
Who are you betting on in November? Who does Biden need to choose as VP. And an offbeat question (and not because I'm on board with him politically): Should Cuomo run?
And Orin Kerr, and he's probably right:
Ugh. I have voted LP for President before, and I have supported Amash in his House reelection. But I find it hard to see how the effect of this isn't just to help Trump in his reelection bid. Huge boost for Trump, not so much for classical liberal ideas.https://t.co/mjmB6Axe7U
— Orin Kerr (@OrinKerr) April 29, 2020
And another view on the election:
Sure. Because Trump voters are a cult. We saw this in 2016 and since. They are an immovable, non-poachable bloc. Amash gives voters who might have faced a binary choice a way of protesting while letting Trump slide. This is what happened in 2016, as well. /1
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) April 29, 2020
Might not vote at all. I voted for whoever Amy Alkon told me to vote for in 2012 — she seemed to be paying attention — but forget the person's name. It was the libertarian candidate. In 2016 Gary Johnson earned a sincere and eager vote because Trump & Hillary. But after ten of these, I'm probably done. I am not from your violent planet, and the pretense of engagement is no longer tenable. Whoever wins, cry your eyes out: -I- didn't do any of this to you.
Crid at April 28, 2020 11:37 PM
Future of Freedom Foundation founder Jacob Hornberger, an anti-war/anti-Fed stalwart who has been the dominant candidate thus far in non-binding Libertarian primaries and caucuses, has been withering in his critiques ever since Amash publicized his interest in the party's potential 50-ballot prize two weeks ago.
Hornberger has been intellectually honest by Libertarian standards when it comes to the farce of "school choice" — it's only a "choice" for those who get the Uncle Sam vouchers.
Both Amash and Gary Johnson are all in on the redistribution of wealth exemplified by school vouchers. I understand why some would agree with them, but it fits the Libertarian philosophy about as much as grabbin' 'em by the pussy fits the Christian philosophy.
Kevin at April 28, 2020 11:58 PM
I'm voting for Biden if I can bring myself to do it, but if I were betting money I'd bet Trump.
NicoleK at April 29, 2020 12:45 AM
At this point, Amash's run seems more opportunistic than principled. He seems to be running as a quasi-Republican not-Trump, instead of an actual Libertarian candidate.
I've never heard Amash espouse Libertarian policies or positions, but then again, I've not heard him espouse much other than "Trump sucks" or "both parties suck." A position, which, given Trump's excesses and Biden's frailties, might be enough to finally get the Libertarians at least 5% of the vote; that is, if their party chairman keeps his pants on at the convention.
Unfortunately for the Libertarians, Amash is just the sort of second-string politician they seem to attract - one with enough name recognition that voters recognize the name, but not enough experience or gravitas to attract voters who are not living in their parents' basements, spending their minimum wage job earnings on pot, video games, and Red Bull.
Conan the Grammarian at April 29, 2020 5:51 AM
I thought the reason Amash got crosswise with Trump to begin with, is that the Amash family business has a huge glaring Chicom problem.
It may not be the year for politicians neck deep in China.
Isab at April 29, 2020 6:22 AM
aaaaand Kevin wins the thread with:
Hornberger has been intellectually honest by Libertarian standards when it comes to the farce of "school choice" — it's only a "choice" for those who get the Uncle Sam vouchers.
Both Amash and Gary Johnson are all in on the redistribution of wealth exemplified by school vouchers.
-------------------
... so vouchers aren't a good political strategy to meet people where they are and pivot them away from big gubmint dependence, to leverage the self-interest that is always part of politics to mainstream libertarian ideas.
Not ideologically pure enough!
This comment that self-explains poor libertarian performance at the polls.
Ben David at April 29, 2020 7:46 AM
Well, that and the pants-less party chairman candidate.
Conan the Grammarian at April 29, 2020 8:01 AM
Well, that and the pants-less party chairman candidate.
Well, everyone working from home during Xi's Disease is pant-less. Wait...this happened before Xi's Disease? oh.
Vouchers, school choice. That's a nice little wedge issue in the black community. The only reason Andrew "Party in Miami" Gillum isn't the governor of Florida is because he steadfastly promised to end school choice. That won him the union vote, but peeled off enough of the black mom vote to cost him the election.
Insisting on party purity will never get you where you want go. The Democratic Socialists didn't get us to where we are now in one fell swoop. It took the better part of 100 years to get here. It will not be reversed in one fell swoop, either. The Ship of State does not turn on a dime.
as grabbin' 'em by the pussy fits the Christian philosophy
I keep hearing/seeing this argument. Tell me, how can a Christian of good faith ever vote for someone who is enthusiastic about abortion up to and perhaps even after birth? Square peg, round hole, some assembly required.
I R A Darth Aggie at April 29, 2020 8:40 AM
I've been wearing pants (and shirts) on my conference calls. Am I doing it wrong?
Conan the Grammarian at April 29, 2020 10:49 AM
I've been wearing pants (and shirts) on my conference calls. Am I doing it wrong?
Conan the Grammarian at April 29, 2020 10:49 AM
Only if you work for Adult Friend finder. :-)
Isab at April 29, 2020 10:57 AM
Or GMA:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8265577/Christopher-Reeves-son-appears-GMA-no-pants-home-broadcast.html
I R A Darth Aggie at April 29, 2020 12:17 PM
I doubt any Democrat has a chance.
Patrick at April 29, 2020 1:14 PM
Does Justin Amash have a chance?
He doesn't even have a chance at winning re-election to Congress in a safe Republican seat. This is just an attempt at extending his 15 minutes. If he follows the normal course, he'll be a Democrat in about 2022, at the latest 2024. He'll probably be brought on by Captain Bill "Ahoy!" Kristol to write for The Bulwark.
I R A Darth Aggie at April 29, 2020 2:06 PM
While I liked Amash's Constitutional approach in the beginning of his Congressional career, the inconvenient problem with his family is that they own a business that has ties to the People's Republic of China -- that is, the people who just made the entire planet miserable. I'm sure that fact is part of what animated him to oppose Trump's tariffs against China and vote to impeach him.
If Amash wins the Libertarian nod, I will not vote for him, as he will be a Panda-compromised candidate.
mpetrie98 at April 29, 2020 7:57 PM
If Amash wins the Libertarian nod, I will not vote for him, as he will be a Panda-compromised candidate.
mpetrie98 at April 29, 2020 7:57 PM
No principles, just another rent seeking politician.
Isab at April 29, 2020 8:03 PM
What difference does it make? The Democrats will turn their sights on him. He has no idea what he is in for if he wins. He will have no control over either house of Congress.
My guess is the Democrats are going to put their effort into taking the Senate. That will effectively decapitate Trump. Nancy Pelosi will become the De facto President.
If Biden wins he will become a useful puppet, and largely be locked away. Again making Nancy Pelosi de facto President.
So Trump vs Nancy Pelosi is the real question. Sleep well.
Bill O Rights at April 29, 2020 9:58 PM
Has he raped anybody? My current criteria for voting might just be "Doesn't just grab 'em by tge pussy"
NicoleK at April 30, 2020 5:06 AM
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