Justin Amash Announces He’s Running For President

Motherfucker, don't do this. We must defeat Trump. Anything that takes away votes from Biden is a disaster. Another goddamn Ralph Nader and Jill Stein.

This takes votes from Trump too.

I think the Libertarians were Trump fans.

I think this will absolutely help beat Trump.

This will embolden hardcore Bernie Sanders supporters, who may end up voting for Amash as a protest vote and because Amash has the reputation that he could shake up the system, which is what Bernie bros want. Sanders better get his ass out there and tell his supporters to vote for Biden, every day, all the time--not just a one-time endorsement.

Bernie bros hate Trump, but they are not excited about Biden and are just looking for a reason to vote against Biden. Amash needs to stay the hell out of the race. This is a Ralph Nader disaster waiting to happen. In some of the swing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, Amash getting two or three percent could spell defeat for Biden. This is making me sick. Trump must be defeated.

Here we go, this bullshit again.

If he fucks up the election, he's going to catch hell.

CNN is reporting: Justin Amash announces presidential exploratory committee

Justin Amash, a Republican-turned independent congressman from Michigan, announced Tuesday night that he is launching an exploratory committee for long-shot presidential bid as a Libertarian.

Amash launched a website announcing he has formed an exploratory committee for a presidential campaign. "Americans are ready for practical approaches based in humility and trust of the people," he said in his announcement. "We're ready for a presidency that will restore respect for our Constitution and bring people together. I'm excited and honored to be taking these first steps toward serving Americans of every background as president."

I think all the Amash people are very brave, and I admire their simple lifestyle and modest dress.

CNN continued:

Whether a strong Amash showing on Election Day could hurt the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate more remains unclear.

Trump has continually earned high approval ratings among the overwhelming majority of self-identified Republicans throughout his presidency, but Amash could win support among traditionally Republican or conservative voters who are dissatisfied with Trump. He could also appeal to progressive voters who are unhappy with Joe Biden's candidacy and agree with Amash on issues like civil liberties and foreign policy.

Gigantic ego dooms America...again

Fucking ego out of control. Amash has no chance to win--and he has no chance to even make a difference with his point of view. He only has a chance to fuck up the election. Goddammit!! Don't do this.

Meh, starting a campaign in the middle of a pandemic when everyone is out of work? I'd be surprised if this is still going by mid-summer. Amash voted against the most recent stimulus bill - granted, not perfect, but something had to be done to stop the economy from crashing. For a libertarian, he seems like a reasonable guy, so the MAGA & hard core Bernie Bros will be bored by him & his decided lack of crazy

He formed an exploratory committee. That committee will quickly find out that most people don't know who he is nor do they care. And unless he's on Putin's payroll or the payroll of a Republican billionaire; he doesn't have the money.

He is my congressman and from the comments I read on local news articles the Deplorables view him as a traitor.. So I think Repugs are not going to vote for him and he will take votes away from Biden. Fuck him

For someone who hates Trump so much, it sure looks like he wants to help him win.

But he's under 80! He gets my vote.

I'm sorry please explain to me how a conservative Republican running for Pres takes votes away from Biden? I know he left the Republican party but that doesn't change his history or the fact that he's a conservative through and through. Just because he voted for impeachment doesn't make him a Democrat. So did Mitt Romney and no one thinks he would take votes from Biden if he ran.

If he take any votes at all 90% or more of them would come from Trump.

Thanks R17

R17 R18. Trump has the support of between 80-90 percent of Repigs. The 10 to 20 percent of Repigs that Trump does not have are not the most conservative, instead they are the Never Trumpers--and the Never Trumpers are not voting for Amash. The Never Trumpers are voting for Biden.

However, Amash is kind of a rebel and a disruptor. I could certainly see the Bernie supporters, who also considers themselves rebels and disruptors, voting for Amash. But, we need every Bernie supporter ti be voting for Biden. Amash is from Michigan where he could have support. Michigan is a swing state that Biden must win since it was lost in 2016. Amash hurts Biden. Amash cannot do this. Amash will hand the election to Trump--and Trump must be defeated. Amash DROP THE FUCK OUT!

It gives non-Trump Republicans and disappointed Trump voters an alternative to Biden.

However, I don’t think he’ll get any traction.

Biden needs Never Trumper Republicans to win because the young intersectionalist squad/Bernbot types will be staying home and sulking. This is bad for Biden, and therefore the viability of America. Bye. ☠️

Rupugs hate this man and have been saying he hates Trump "only" (as if) because he has heavy family business interests in China. My brother is a huge Ayn Rand libertarian and I've seen what he and his friends are posting on FB tonight. They'll paint him as the Pro-China Candidate. No republican-leaning libertarian will vote for him . He's obviously doing this because he's going for the Biden votes since he thinks Biden is weak. This is not good news for us. Fuck Amash.

He used to be a fatty. But about six months ago lost weight and started working out. Now he's a decent looking Arab man with great arms. He's sorta hawt now so I might vote for him!

^^Aaron Schock

[quote]This will embolden hardcore Bernie Sanders supporters, who may end up voting for Amash as a protest vote and because Amash has the reputation that he could shake up the system, which is what Bernie bros want.

Would they be stupid enough to vote for someone who is basically the complete antipode of everything they say they want?

What am i saying, of course they are.

I’m done liking him now.

[quote]I’m done liking him now.

When are people going to learn to stop liking Republicans after they do a single good thing?

Akshully, he's no longer a Republican, R27.

[quote] I'm sorry please explain to me how a conservative Republican running for Pres takes votes away from Biden?

Never Trumpers, dear. Do keep up.

Looks like the Russians got a possible spoiler again.

[quote] Would they be stupid enough to vote for someone who is basically the complete antipode of everything they say they want?

Yes. They did it before.

libertarians all voted for that gary guy, or trump - they hate the democrats

He'll be tarred and feathered when Trump wins.

My boss said "Oh of course he hates Trump, he's a Muslim." I pointed out he was Greek Orthodox. She said "How is that possible?"

[quote] Biden needs Never Trumper Republicans

Biden needs Democrats to turnout to win, like every other Democrat. There are 2 never Trump groups running very effective ads against Trump. The Lincoln Group is also running ads for Biden. However, Democrats need to turnout Democrats to win. Registered Democrats continue to outnumber Republicans.

This is what all you russsia gaters/impeachment fanatics get. This guy became a hero for democrats for simply doing the right thing even tho he’s always been a republican asshole who hates human rights. Maybe this will teach the #resistance to stop propping up republicans who are simply anti Trump. This asshole will hurt Biden more than he will hurt trump. The easiest path for Biden is a consolidated “not trump” vote. Amash gives the bitter Bernie bros a home and never trump republicans another option. Trump voters aren’t leaving Trump.

R23 he is kind of tasty isn’t he?

I read he reduces Biden's lead in Michigan but Biden is still ahead. Maybe if he goes full frontal on Trump it at least helps with messaging. It depends on how he runs.

R37 have you been in quarantine too long?

I'd have to think more Republicans would vote for him than Dems. Many Republicans just flat out refuse to vote for a Dem - but an Independent? Sure!

I have to hope this will hurt Trump much much more than Biden.

[quote] This is what all you russsia gaters/impeachment fanatics get. This guy became a hero for democrats for simply doing the right thing even tho he’s always been a republican asshole who hates human rights. Maybe this will teach the #resistance to stop propping up republicans who are simply anti Trump. This asshole will hurt Biden more than he will hurt trump. The easiest path for Biden is a consolidated “not trump” vote. Amash gives the bitter Bernie bros a home and never trump republicans another option. Trump voters aren’t leaving Trump.

Hero Fuck No!

Bitter Bernie Bros who were never Democrats were never going to support anyone but Bernie! Fortunately that’s not the majority of Bernie’s supporters.

Biden needs Democrats to turnout to win, like every other Democrat. There are 2 never Trump groups running very effective ads against Trump. The Lincoln Group is also running ads for Biden. However, Democrats need to turnout Democrats to win. Registered Democrats continue to outnumber Republicans.

You folks spend your days looking for something over which to be defeated. It’s ridiculous!

Since he is going to run for President and will be distracted, why don't the Democrats focus on taking that House seat back?

I say this knowing nothing about his district, it could be far right looneytown, so maybe this would be a wasted effort....

Biden/Amash 2020!

In the last few days Jesse Ventura has suggested that he’s potentially either going to run as an independent or as the Green Party nominee, and Mark Cuban has said that he’s itching to run independent/third party as well

Amash wont siphon away too many democratic votes. We are tumbling into a global recession. People are going to be looking for solutions that rebuild the middle class - including government intervention on a massive scale. Amash is a boot-strappin' Libertarian and will essentially present empty rhetoric around moxy, the American spirit and tax cuts for businesses as the way out. That shit will land like a lead balloon.

[quote]People are going to be looking for solutions that rebuild the middle class

Austerity measures, duh. Drown it in a bathtub.

Does Amash count as a person of color?

This guy is awful! He voted against the national suicide hotline?! WTF!

George Conway and the others absolutely HATE this idea because it will take votes from Biden.

Harry Enten's analysis shows that Amash is not likely to be much of a factor:

[quote]My Amash thoughts. 1. He's at like 2%. Early polls tends to overestimate, not underestimate 3rd party candidates. 2. Polling shows that the voters who disliked Biden/Trump are disproportionately liberal... Not the libertarian type. (1/?)

[quote]3. I went back and looked at Johnson voters. Most said they would have stayed home without Johnson on the ballot. Without Johnson on the ballot, the national margin would have shifted by less than 0.2 pts. 4. The one question I have is Michigan (2/3)

[quote]But Biden holds a pretty clear advantage in MI right now... and few voters there volunteered a third party option in recent polls... So we'll have to see on that... But things would need to get tighter for Amash to be a player... (3/3)

Jill Stein sat at the same table as Putin and Michael Flynn at a banquet in Russia before the 2016 election. Has Amash been seen in Russia? Does his itinerary include Moscow? I see a handsome gratuity with Putin's signiture on it.

er.... 'signature". Pardon my English.

R51 I know it's been said before but it bears repeating: Fuck that cunt Jill Stein. She still has never given a good explanation for sitting at Putin's table.

This is a disaster for Biden.

Amash: GTFO!!

This helps Trump. You can spin it the other way, but anything that helps Trump get re-elected with 45% of the vote helps him. He can not win a two man race. Trump 100% loses if he needs 50 or even 49% of the vote in swing states. He can get to 45% just fine. It's possible he won't, it's possible that Amash hurts Trump on election day, but he's a chaotic factor that brings Trump closer to what he needs to achieve on election day: 47-48% in swing states.

This is very, very bad. It also reinforces the tendency of Republicans to vote third party when their candidate is unacceptable and their vote is needed for the Democrat. You don't see that happening as much when it's time for Democrats to vote Republican -- if you don't believe me, ask the Republican governors of Maryland and Massachusetts.

I'd rather have him naked in my bed than Aaron Schock

Who is his pick for VP - Pat Paulsen?

As Harry Enten points out, Amash is starting from a weaker polling position than Gary Johnson did in 2016.

Early polling had Johnson as high as 11% in 2016, and he ended up with 3% on Election Day. Amash is starting out with only 2-3% in the current polls.

He can't go out and meet people. Will Susan Sarandon supply him with enough money to put out TV ads?

He'll be a smash!

Wow this thread is hair on fire nuts.

Never Ters will NOT vote for Amash. Why? He has zero chance to win. The Never Ters are ALL IN for Biden. This only hurts cult leader. It will bring down his numbers in red states because a lot of red staters will vote Amash because they hate cult leader and won't vote D.

Moderates will be turned off by Amash. He is very conservative. Too conservative. Biden is Goldilocks for most voters. Just right.

I don't see what the big problem is?

He will get Bernie Bros and Republicans that don’t want to vote for Trump. He will also get a chunk of independent voters that are over the democrats and republicans.

Egomania. I hope he can handle the aftermath if Trump wins. Lots of us will not be happy!

I'm not supporting Amash but R51 is using McCarthy tactics of an accusation of treason against Amash without any proof. Did he sit at Putin's table. The answer is no and you can produce nothing to back up your claim. There is something really disgusting about such tactics. Amash, if you have followed him, is an honorable man, albeit misguided in his beliefs.

If he makes the debates he will win.

“Bring The Boys Home” and “Protect Our Civil Rights” will resonate with a large fraction of Democrats.

R65

That’s the reason he will win if he gets on the debate stage.

The media will lavish praise on him, assuming Dems will never vote for him.

Libertarian ideals will have to accommodate the need for new public health policies in the face of pandemics and changes in industrial policies that will keep essential industries state side. This is not the time for Libertarianism. Biden may not be up to the job quite, but he needs to come in as an FDR.

[quote] This helps Trump. You can spin it the other way, but anything that helps Trump get re-elected with 45% of the vote helps him. He can not win a two man race. Trump 100% loses if he needs 50 or even 49% of the vote in swing states. He can get to 45% just fine. It's possible he won't, it's possible that Amash hurts Trump on election day, but he's a chaotic factor that brings Trump closer to what he needs to achieve on election day: 47-48% in swing states.

[quote] This is a disaster for Biden. Amash: GTFO!!

The notion that voters are so desperate for a 3rd party candidate that they will vote for anyone, regardless of ideology, is absurdly stupid. Protest voters who are that desperate are going to not vote or right some nonsense in. They don’t need a far right conservative to enter the race to do that. Biden’s supporters aren’t going to move from a moderate Democrat to far right Amash, just because he enters the race. Left of center voters are not going to switch over to a far right conservative (or libertarian or whatever he calls himself) just because he chooses to run. He’s not a Jill Stein nor the 3rd party candidate of the past who were not currently serving in office. He has a very recent far right conservative record to run on. Certainly his home state MI knows him and his record better than the rest of the country. They know that he is a far right Republican. He’s not Jill Stein. He’s not Gary Johnson.

[quote]“Protect Our Civil Rights” will resonate with a large fraction of Democrats.

Given that he's anti-choice (and Johnson is not), I doubt that.

R69

You underestimate the number of moderate Democrats who actually believe in civil rights and are opposed to endless foreign wars.

Someone unequivocally devoted to both ideals would be a persuasive candidate.

I believe the media will push him as an alternative to Trump, raising his profile substantially.

Immigrants will find his story appealing.

Plus, no sexual assault claims!

R70

Tenth amendment.

Look it up.

OMG some of you are so fucking stupid. NO, Amash will be a huge nothingburger you fucking morons. Libertarianism in this day and age do not fly.

He doesn't appeal to ANYONE but a small slice of the population. Biden has nothing to fear. The other one, does.

[quote] If he makes the debates he will win. “Bring The Boys Home” and “Protect Our Civil Rights” will resonate with a large fraction of Democrats.

Beating Trump is the main thing that continues to resonate with voters and voters know that a 3rd party candidate cannot do that. Democrats depend on government regulation to protect our rights. Libertarians oppose government regulations and believe that the free market is all we need.

[quote] That’s the reason he will win if he gets on the debate stage. The media will lavish praise on him, assuming Dems will never vote for him.

Again Amash is a far right conservative with a far right conservative record to run on. In addition to his embrace of libertarianism. He is everything that Democrats don’t want.

After getting burned in 2016, voters are not going to play this protest vote the country into a 2nd term for Trump. After Trumps mismanagement of this pandemic and economic collapse, voters are not going to be willing to play this cutesy 3rd party game and certainly not with Amash.

R73

Thank you!

Please keep pushing that line, loud and clear!!!

Amash will hurt Trump and help Biden!

When it backfires, I didn’t say anything.

R74

That’s the spirit!

Marginalizing him will hurt him, just like it did with Trump!

New post from Harry Enten:

[quote]In case it is clear, Biden's in the best polling position for a challenger at this point in a prez election since... well probably since FDR in 32. Obviously plenty of time to go, but yea.

[quote] Libertarian ideals will have to accommodate the need for new public health policies in the face of pandemics and changes in industrial policies that will keep essential industries state side.

Exactly at a time when Americans are looking to major government intervention (economic, healthcare etc.) to save the country. A far right conservative pushing Libertarianism just is going to fly, certainly not with Democrats,

This thread of full of trolls. Amash syphons voters from Trump, period. No one sane enough to vote for Biden would vote for a 3rd party spoiler. Only idiots who would vote for Trump would think voting 3rd party for president was a good idea.

R78

His campaign will ONLY hurt Trump!

Democrats will never pick ending the wars over abortion, or civil rights over Trannies.

He will help Biden!!!

R74, Bernie Bros are calling Biden a rapist and saying they refuse to vote for either of two rapists. They say that Biden and Trump are exactly the same. Amash is going to be like catnip for them.

They will all go to Amash. Not because they agree with him, but because they are angry with Biden for having the audacity to win when he was supposed to bow out and hand it to Bernie. Even if Bernie couldn’t win either the primary or the election. Yes, they were even saying that.

You have to figure Trump will make tons of commercials with vile unsubstantiated attacks on Biden. If he can drive Democratic and third party voters towards Amash by saying Biden is a bad person, or senile (the Bernie Bros argument), he can win.

I don’t know if Trump would attack Biden as a rapist, because he would bring the same attacks on himself, and honestly, I don’t think Trump thinks there’s anything wrong with rich white guys raping women. In his mind, that’s a rich white guy’s privilege.

[quote] Biden may not be up to the job quite, but he needs to come in as an FDR.

3+ yrs of a man who doesn’t even understand that household disinfectants cannot be ingested or that UV light is dangerous. Yet you believe Biden is the one is not up for the job. Both of them are in their 70s. Nancy Pelosi is 80. Mitch McConnell is 78. Chuck Schumer is 69. Congress is full of senior citizens.

[quote] R74], Bernie Bros are calling Biden a rapist and saying they refuse to vote for either of two rapists. They say that Biden and Trump are exactly the same. Amash is going to be like catnip for them.

You’re talking about people who were never Democrats and who were never going to vote for Biden. Hell they didn’t even show up to vote for Bernie. They were always a lost cause.

The crazies who were going to write in Bernie or Santa Claus; they are going to that regardless.

This thread is FULL of TROLLS. Mostly from that shithhole Russia. Russia is a total and complete shithole.

This is good fortune. Justin Amash will take a great many more votes from Republicans; than from a Democrats, and it may be just enough to flip a state from Trump to Biden. There are a lot of former Trump voters who would never vote for Trump again, and former Republican Amash would allow them to vote Republican and still not vote for Trump .

We may flip some red states with Amash in there. MT? KS? IN? OH?

This thread isn't full of trolls, it's full of idiots.

How much is the rethug party paying him to do this, I wonder.

cheeto supporters will support him no matter what.

A viable third party candidate will throw a spanner in the works and improve his reelection chances.

A conservative 3rd party challenge from the limpdick Libertarians is not going to go anywhere but up in flames per usual.

[quote] R87: We may flip some red states with Amash in there. MT? KS? IN? OH?

Hillary lost Florida to Trump by a very small margin. The third or forth parties there, in total, had about twice as many votes as the difference between Trump and Hillary.

Amash ought to siphon votes from conservatives and libertarians, who otherwise would have voted for Trump, thus throwing the State to a Biden. if he runs a good campaign, he might throw a number of states to the Democrats, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is his goal.

R91 Which would make it even more delicious, for the Orange Anus to lose a bunch of red states too. Probably won't happen, but the mere thought of it makes me turgid!

FL is always razor thin. Always. It is a true swing state.

[quote]Amash ought to siphon votes from conservatives and libertarians, who otherwise would have voted for Trump, thus throwing the State to a Biden.

Except that as a libertarian, he also appeals to a big portion of Bernbros.

R94 In what world would someone vote for Bernie and Justin Amash? Amash is waaaay too conservative and everything Bernie is opposed to. Besides, I don't care. These voters likely wouldn't even show up to vote for Bernie if he was the nominee.

R95 is under the false impression that all voters are rational choice actors or that all Berners are really leftist.

There are polls that at least 15% of Bernie supporters would vote for Trump. Which is not brand new information at all, we saw that ever since 2016.

Amash is bad news. He can siphon off independents who might have considered a Dem vote.

That’s a goddamn ROUGH looking 40!

Trolls all over this thread.

[quote] He'll be tarred and feathered when Trump wins.

How so ? Biden has been losing presidential campaigns for a generation without this guy's help.

R99 Except he just handed Bernie his ass. Bernie, too, has been losing presidential campaigns.

Besides, Nixon lost a presidential campaign and came back to win two terms. Same for Reagan. Bush lost then won one term.

[R95] is under the false impression that all voters are rational choice actors or that all Berners are really leftist. There are polls that at least 15% of Bernie supporters would vote for Trump. Which is not brand new information at all, we saw that ever since 2016. Amash is bad news. He can siphon off independents who might have considered a Dem vote.

You're talking about people who were/are never going to support Biden. 3rd partiers = protect votes. Again, After getting burned in 2016, voters are not going to play this protest vote the country into a 2nd term for Trump. After Trumps mismanagement of this pandemic and economic collapse, voters are not going to be willing to play this cutesy 3rd party game and certainly not with Amash.

[quote] [[R95]] is under the false impression that all voters are rational choice actors or that all Berners are really leftist. There are polls that at least 15% of Bernie supporters would vote for Trump. Which is not brand new information at all, we saw that ever since 2016. Amash is bad news. He can siphon off independents who might have considered a Dem vote.

You're talking about people who were/are never going to support Biden. 3rd partiers = protect votes. Again, After getting burned in 2016, voters are not going to play this protest vote the country into a 2nd term for Trump. After Trumps mismanagement of this pandemic and economic collapse, voters are not going to be willing to play this cutesy 3rd party game and certainly not with Amash.

I don't know why people are pushing that Amash is going to be a thing but he's not.

As R102 said, no one is taking chances this time. Uncle Biden is very palatable to most voters.

Upchuck Todd treated him with kid gloves in a "live" MSNBC interview on Wednesday afternoon.

[quote]no one is taking chances this time.

I certainly am not. How you like my new bitch boy?

Pierre is the media RN.

They refuse to believe his negatives outweigh his positives with the average voter.

This year will bring many surprises.

“ third or forth parties”

Political genius alert!

[quote] Biden has been losing presidential campaigns for a generation without this guy's help.

Ouch!