Posted on 05/16/2020 11:39:06 AM PDT by be-baw
Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) announced Saturday he will not run for president as a Libertarian, saying the circumstances do not “lend themselves” toward a successful third-party campaign.
“I’ve spent nearly three weeks assessing the race, appearing in media, talking to delegates and donors, watching the Libertarian Party’s convention plan unfold, and gathering feedback from family, friends, and other advisers,” Amash tweeted. “After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate.”
Amash maintained that a third party candidate could contribute a fresh outlook on politics for American voters but said that the intensely partisan atmosphere surrounding the 2020 race would hinder a successful Libertarian campaign.
“I continue to believe that a candidate from outside the old parties, offering a vision of government grounded in liberty and equality, can break through in the right environment. But this environment presents extraordinary challenges,” Amash said. “Polarization is near an all-time high. Electoral success requires an audience willing to consider alternatives, but both social media and traditional media are dominated by voices strongly averse to the political risks posed by a viable third candidate.”
Amash teased a third party campaign late last month when he launched an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. The Michigan lawmaker, who had formerly belonged to the Republican Party, had been toying for months with the prospect of launching a third party White House bid.
Known as a conservative with an independent streak, Amash began souring on the GOP after President Trump’s inauguration, accusing the party of abandoning fiscal conservatism and turning a blind eye to “misbehavior” to appease the president.
His national profile steadily rose with his increasingly vocal barbs against the president and some of his House colleagues, which came to a head when he said he would back Democrats in their impeachment effort and left the Republican Party.
“This president will be in power for only a short time, but excusing his misbehavior will forever tarnish your name. To my Republican colleagues: Step outside your media and social bubble. History will not look kindly on disingenuous, frivolous, and false defenses of this man,” Amash said before supporting the House’s impeachment resolution in October.
If he had run, Amash would have easily been the highest-profile third party candidate in the race, with no candidate thus far this cycle rising to the name recognition held by the Green Party’s Jill Stein or the Libertarian Party’s Gary Johnson in 2016.
Amash expressed concerns over the Libertarian Party’s organizational footing in the 2020 race, citing struggles to get on the ballot in all 50 states in November and unity around an ultimate nominee. However, he said he was optimistic about Libertarian candidates’ chances down the ballot and will help the party make electoral gains.
The Hill's Campaign Report: More Republican women are running for... “I’ve been speaking directly to delegates about this opportunity for only a short time, but these conversations have solidified my belief that the Libertarian Party is well positioned to become a major and consistent contender to win elections at all levels of government,” he said. “I remain invested in helping the party realize these possibilities and look forward to the successes ahead.”
Amash’s decision frees him up to focus on reelection in his Michigan House district, which the GOP is eager to flip. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, rates Amash’s seat as “Lean Republican.”
Updated at 2:36 p.m.
Bwahahahaha
No one wants him
It’s a dichotomous choice. At this point, it’s either Biden or Trump; last time, after the Indiana primary, it was either Hillary or Trump.
Among the things rolled into this choice are about 5,000 appointments to lifetime positions in the federal judiciary, long-term positions in the independent commissions, U.S. Attorneys, and cabinet and subcabinet appointments. A re-elected Trump will continue the work of cleaning out the swamp one appointment at a time.
Every Senate seat we can possibly win, every Congressional seat, every Governor, every state legislator, and every Mayor, city councilman and county supervisor, each and every one, we need to win.
I encourage everybody to consider if the circumstances align in favor of their running, or if they should support somebody else.
Oh, and lest I forget, cancel your subscriptions to the fake news, and think about subscribing to media that will pursue honest and fair journalism.
Well, if he’s not going to run, neither will I.
“saying the circumstances do not “lend themselves” toward a successful third-party campaign. “
gosh, i wonder what made him think THAT?
Justin Amash should join the rest of us Orthodox Christians in prayer and repentance, and prepare for the joy of finally receiving Holy Communion! That should (Lord willing) be happening relatively soon!!!!
It’s no time for a bogus presidential campaign!
Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!!!!
I answered a phone survey last week, and happily gave a “very unfavorable” when asked to rate him. Proud to say I didn’t vote for him the past 2 elections. May he go away forever!
How many offices has the Libertarian Party actually been elected to?
(Amash doesn’t count because he was elected as a Republican)
Anyone???
I agree with the other posts saying his internal polling most likely said he would take are RAT votes from Biden than GOP votes from Trump. That’s most likely the only reason this egomaniac douchebag didn’t run for POTUS.
Taking back Amash’s seat will be critical in case something crazy happens and the Presidential election goes to the House. The House voted by state, and you need a majority of all states to win. There are currently exactly 26 state delegations with Republican majorities and 22 with Democrat majorities. Michigan is 4 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 1 Amash. Pennsylvania is 9-9.
Some freepers fear he could have hurt us but Biden loving Never Trumpers like Joe Walsh urged him not to run, fearing the exact oppostie.
I hope he does not reenter to the race for his House seat.
The Libertarian Party has been infiltrated by hedonists, communists, potheads and human hemorrhoids. They’ve gotten so stupid that they refuse to recognize private property, the primary tenet of libertarianism back in the 1990s.
Wasn’t the last batch of libertarians to run for president anti-2nd amendment, pro-abortion and in favor of open borders? I believe so.
Unless the Dems choose not to run a candidate, Amash won’t be reelected as a Loonertarian. Even Ron Paul wasn’t going to take the risk to run as one. Amash would be better off making a clean switch to the Demonrats at this point. He already votes like one.
I heard that his family, friends and political partners in crime told him very succinctly about his desire to run as a Libertarian Party presidential candidate were:
“No way, Jose”
“Hit the Road Jack”
“Say What?”
“WTF, are you crazy?”
“A snowball has a better chance of running for the presidency in Hell than you have in running for anything beyond your present and final political position”.
“Nobody likes a turncoat. Just ask Benedict Arnold”.
“We know that you are a politically ambitious political turncoat and you continually prove it every time your open your mouth”.
With a name like Justin Amess, your voter appeal is less than that of Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer.
Amash has a zero% chance of ever winning a rat primary.
It’s too late for him to file as a Libertarian, he could run as a write in in the Libertarian primary (presumably he’d win cause I don’t think anyone even filed) or run as an Independent (July deadline for the latter). He’d 100% come in a poor third but could potentially tip it to the rat.
The rats have a real candidate, Obama DOJ lackey Hillary Scholten. I don’t envision a Greg Orman scenario.
Thanks be-baw.
The only way to start a viable 3rd party in the usa is to have a large part of a current party(ies) resign and join a new party. If a third of the house and senate became libertarians overnight, then the libertarians would have a base of power, incumbency, and involvement.
Interesting, Justin. I gave that same advice to the "Tea Party" people making excuses for YOUR treasonous record in Congress back when you had a primary challenger.
Ask any of 'em now, they regret not taking my advice!
Looks like The Justin Amash Fan Club ended up on the "wrong side of history"
Ah, but if he officially joined the RATS (instead of just routinely voting with them), he couldn't make the media rounds claiming to be a "principled constitutional conservative" anymore like he does now as an "Independent".
Since it looks like he's not running for re-election though, I could see him becoming a card-carrying RAT once he's an EX-Congressman though, just to "stick it" to the GOP more and stay in the public spotlight trashing them.
Probably spew the usual "I didn't leave the party, they left me" nonsense.
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