SocraticGadfly: RFK Jr going Libertarian? Cornel West flirting? Why Jill Stein?

February 01, 2024

RFK Jr going Libertarian? Cornel West flirting? Why Jill Stein?

Via Ballot Access News, first, Bob Jr. told Robert Smerconish, per Newsweek, that he's eyeing seeking the Libertarian nomination.  

Second, also via BAN, both Bob Jr. and West are speaking to Cal Libertarians at their state convention.

Now, several comments.

First, do the Libertarians want Bob Jr.? Would he ditch his stance on climate issues to become more palatable? On gunz? And, if he did, would many still think he's too much of a squish?

On the second piece, are Libertarians, at least some, now getting a hard-on for ex-Democrats instead of ex-Republicans? Their two names are splashed at the top of the home page. Bob Jr. gets an hour to speak during lunch Saturday, the same as the Saturday keynote speaker and far more than the 5 minutes each for declared candidates. He's also on a 90-minute Saturday evening panel with two, but not all four of the above-noted, LP presidential candidates. West is on a similar panel Sunday with one of the other two. But, that's the last item at the convention and will surely be skipped by many. Hornberger gets semi-screwed of the four LP candidates and Balley gets no love at all for whatever reason.

And, on Cornel, is there any political party that he's not going to whore himself out to?

OK, to add new news, as of Feb 8. A new piece at BAN says Jill Stein will be at the Cal Libertarians convention, too. Why?

First, why are Libertarians inviting a Green? Yes, the two parties might agree on things like the War on Drugs, but each one runs its own presidential candidates. Has any other state Libertarian party gone down this road, or does this say something about Cal Libertarians? (That said, can a Cal Libertarian at the event ask Stein if she has divested or not from her oil, tobacco and defense-laden mutual funds.)

Second, why are Stein, or even West, going there, re the reasons above?

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