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highplainsdem

(48,650 posts)
Tue May 21, 2019, 09:49 AM May 2019

Buzz grows Rep. Amash will challenge Trump as a Libertarian

Source: The Hill

There is growing buzz that Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) will leave the Republican Party to mount a challenge against President Trump as the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate.

Amash, a former attorney who was first elected to Congress during the 2010 Tea Party wave, has thrust himself into the spotlight by becoming the first Republican in the House to support impeachment proceedings for Trump based on special counsel Robert Mueller’s findings.

-snip-

In interviews this year, Amash has toyed with the idea of abandoning the Republican Party to run for president as a Libertarian. That could have major implications for Amash’s home state of Michigan, which Trump carried by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2016.

-snip-

“There are a lot of Libertarian Party members actively encouraging Rep. Amash to switch parties and seek the Libertarian nomination,” said Nicholas Sarwark, the chairman of the Libertarian National Committee. “This is probably the most organized recruitment effort I’ve seen going back to 2012 when people were trying to recruit [former Texas Rep.] Ron Paul.”

-snip-

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/444653-buzz-grows-rep-amash-will-challenge-trump-as-a-libertarian

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Siwsan

(26,123 posts)
3. Could be, but I'm still thinking he's got his eye on Gary Peter's Senate seat
Tue May 21, 2019, 09:56 AM
May 2019

So he's trying to position himself at a distance from trump*, who, in all likelihood, won't "win" Michigan, again, but still keep republican voters and gain some moderate Democrats.

mitch96

(13,766 posts)
4. "mount a challenge against President Trump"
Tue May 21, 2019, 10:00 AM
May 2019

Oh Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please
I forgot where I read it but no republican prez candidate who was up for re election and had a challenger was ever elected in the past 50 yrs or so..
If that's the case I'd register as a republican and vote for Amash in the primarys to split the republican vote..
Then vote for the Dem in the general election... A Rodger Stone ratfuck.... I'm for any Dem who will unseat the orange shitstain in white house now... VOTE HIM OUT...
What cha tink?
m

highplainsdem

(48,650 posts)
6. Amash is speculating about running as the Libertarian nominee, so you wouldn't have to register as a
Tue May 21, 2019, 10:07 AM
May 2019

Republican to vote for him in the primary.

If he peels ANY votes away from Trump, I think it will help the Democratic nominee. At least I hope Amash might be able to get votes in the GE from some Republicans who can't stand Trump but can't quite bring themselves to vote for a Democrat.

DrToast

(6,414 posts)
5. That would be great. I don't agree with Amash, at all, but I respect him
Tue May 21, 2019, 10:05 AM
May 2019

Amash is everything conservatives claim to be.

 

watoos

(7,142 posts)
7. I wouldn't be 100% sure
Tue May 21, 2019, 10:08 AM
May 2019

that he would take votes away from Trump. I live among Trumpers in central Pa. and I can guarantee you that they are not going to vote for anybody other than Trump. Amash may end up taking votes away from Never Trumpers who were going to vote for the Democrat.

LiberalLovinLug

(14,144 posts)
11. The Never Trumpers. That's a good point
Tue May 21, 2019, 01:44 PM
May 2019

It may actually harm Democrats even more than help them. Now many will have someone else to voice their protest vote with other than those "socialists Dems". Some may have even been considering voting for a Democrat. Either way, it reduces votes for Democrats.

patphil

(5,989 posts)
10. I think Amash is better by either hanging tough and fighting through the Republican primary
Tue May 21, 2019, 12:53 PM
May 2019

Or, switching parties and running as a Democrat.
Becoming a Libertarian is the best way to bury yourself as far as any political future is concerned.
I also think that as a Libertarian he would actually help Trump.

Maxheader

(4,363 posts)
12. Whats the difference between a libertarian and
Tue May 21, 2019, 02:12 PM
May 2019

a winger? (conservative)

Don't they portray themselves (lib) as more moderate?

Maybe they provide the vaseline, where as the wingers screw us with passion and abandon....

dry....

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