Michael Avenatti in Iowa: 'I'm exploring a run for the presidency of the United States'

[oberliner]

Michael Avenatti has arrived in Iowa.

After three canceled flights and a 700-mile road trip, the lawyer known for representing adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels, in her case against Republican President Donald Trump, is ready to put his stake in the ground in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

"I’m exploring a run for the presidency of the United States, and I wanted to come to Iowa and listen to people and learn about some issues that are facing the citizens of Iowa and do my homework," Avenatti told the Des Moines Register in an interview Thursday.

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/09/michael-avenatti-iowa-wing-ding-president-exploring-run-caucus-2020-stormy-daniels/935636002/

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Try running for a state representative seat first.

Get some experience. Come back in 8 years.

[manor321]

2. I will vote first for people with government experience

I will vote first for people who have had to withstand an election cycle and have experience in government.

I don't want an outsider, just like Trump was.

I want someone who, if elected, feels an obligation to the Democratic party.

[SHRED]

3. Nah

I want someone with public employment experience.

[janterry]

4. Seems like his head got big pretty fast

I suppose he's better than Trump....and he could debate him with ease.....but before he finds a hat to toss in the ring, I'd rather nominate a few other 'party' favorites....

[Blue_true]

6. It will get brought down to size after the first primary.

He is a sharp lawyer who is in line to make many tens of millions and can have a big impact on society spending on worthy causes. He should stay in law.

[cilla4progress]

5. Hopefully it's putting some pressure on trump

time to start fighting dirty.

[renate]

7. you're awesome, Michael, but please don't

I hope he stays as he is, a thorn in Republicans' sides and a big fan favorite among liberals, instead of doing a Trump and starting his political life by aiming at the top job. A lack of humility is not appealing.

[Ccarmona]

8. Mr Avenatti, what's your Platform?

I’ll hear him out, then decide.
I’ve also seen reports that Rep Eric Swalwell (D-Castro Valley, CA) is exploring a run.

[samnsara]

9. nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[mucifer]

10. Something about him just isn't right. He is very smarmy

I would vote for him if he won the primary. But, I don't want to vote for him and I don't want to vote for Oprah. I would like to vote for someone I want to vote for. But, desperate times, desperate measures.

[Tracyjo]

17. I think you're right

I like the guy, but there's something about him that's...smarmy. I don't quite trust him. It's like he's hiding something.

[Kilgore]

11. I dont beleive representing a limber public fornicator

Qualifies you to lead a nation.

Please go away.

[Hekate]

23. True enough, but her occupation is not the issue, tho the Trump side would like it to be about...

...the naughty lady of shady lane who's no better than she should be and deserves what she gets.

As Stormy herself has pointed out: her career is legal.

The thing that flipped my opinion of Stormy's case was the way Trump's minions tried to shut her up. When she describes her daughter as being in a "backward facing car seat" she is specifically referring to an infant in the first few months of life.

"That's your little girl? Be a shame if anything happened to her mother," said the stranger in the parking lot. Like, I don't know, being forced off the road while both of them were in the car. Doesn't take much imagination, does it?

She deserves decent legal representation. Avenatti's showboating was useful for awhile, but seems to have gone to his head.

[Trust Buster]

12. He will slash and burn any Democrat in the primary. This would be a disaster.

How have so many been fooled by him ?

[NCTraveler]

29. I'm kind of with you on this.

A month ago I was saying the same thing. But he has been really consistent for a period of time and has to know damn near everyone on the left cheers him in one way or another. The second he entered he would lose a lot of love. He is really into the love.

I think I’m watching a guy who understands the media like Trump with the difference being intelligence. He isn’t running. He is building a bigger fan base. I’m ok with it.

[PSPS]

13. Just another grifter looking to fleece "donors."

I hope I live long enough to see a time when we stop electing fictional cartoon characters, which is really what every "media personality" is.

[Downtown Hound]

14. Dumb.

Stick to being a lawyer. If you want to run for office start with something smaller. Enough of this celebrity president crap. I want someone who actually knows how to do the job.

[PubliusEnigma]

15. Nope.

[Hekate]

16. Uhhhh, has he completed his lawyerin' on behalf of the woman whose actual baby was threatened ...

...by an actual thug in an attempt to shut her up? It seems to me he owes his client that much before running for elective office.

[oberliner]

19. It is sort of surreal that he is talking about soybeans and China with farmers in Iowa right now

Link to tweet

[procon]

18. If he really wants to do his homework then he should first run for a national office

and learn how government works at the federal level before he makes a presidential run. He also needs to build the network of political relationships with congress members and party leaders that he will need to be an effective president. A little humility would be a bad thing either.

I'm disappointed, he has a lot of potential, but what happened to his critical thinking ability? If he thinks the job of president can be so easily handled without any prior experience, then he's doomed. The country cannot afford another egotistical fool who thinks he can bluster his way through by OTJ alone.

[highplainsdem]

20. He has no real chance, and this undercuts his credibility as an attorney and as a Trump critic.

At the very least, it would have been much smarter for him to wait till next year, and until after the court cases against Trump are over, before announcing any political plans.

[oberliner]

21. Striking while the iron is hot, perhaps?

[Raine]

22. UGH , absolutely NO

this country can't take another unqualified president!

[GulfCoast66]

24. Well bless his heart.

[Initech]

25. ...

[Mr. Ected]

26. Too soon, Michael, too soon

You had one job to do. Seems you've gotten distracted by the fame and attention. Please return to Earth as soon as possible and resume your honorable mission.

[raging moderate]

27. Michael Avenatti: Try a lesser office first.

Yes, he does seem very smart and good. But he needs to start with a lesser office to gain experience and knowledge in the actual operation of government.

[BlueSpot]

28. Saw this coming

His ego expands daily. We've got a president now who loves the spotlight and attention. Not voting for the same thing on the Dem side.

I don't see a resolution to the Stormy Daniels thing yet. And that's lawyer shit, not president shit. What's the basis for this other than TV time and saying clever things? That doesn't meet my standards for qualification. Ask me tomorrow (Friday) who needs to fall back and it just might be him. Serious overreach, saying that.