Justin Amash’s presidential candidacy threatens to fracture the Libertarian Party. Maintaining his seat as the first Libertarian in Congress would accomplish more for the party than a presidential campaign that could chase away the Libertarian constituency.
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As the last to enter, of the current presidential candidates in the Libertarian Party, Justin Amash has a special place. A place that will cause a great deal of resentment and dissent within the party, especially since so many feel so used by Bill Weld. There are benefits to the party since he brings a certain amount of press as a sitting congressman. But we weren’t always happy with the press interactions of the last “carpetbagger” to come over to our party.
If Representative Amash ever gets on that debate stage with Trump, Trump is nearly certain to point out that he was going to lose his seat in Congress, and this presidential run is just an attempt to spite Trump.
And, whether it’s an attempt to spite Trump or an attempt to save the world from the further ravages of the Duopoly, there are many people, and not all of them MAGA’s, who are going to see this as just an attempt to spite Trump.
And if it’s not just an attempt to spite Trump, but a real change of heart and an embrace of the Libertarian Party, where were you a year-and-a-half ago when you left the Republican Party but became independent?
I think there’s a far better role for Justin Amash to play in the struggle to liberate our country from the ruling oligarchy. I believe that if Justin Amash were to retain his seat in Congress as a Libertarian, that would be far more valuable than this almost certain to fail presidential run.
I would hope the powers-that-be in the Libertarian Party can see that having a sitting congressman is very, very valuable. I hope they would put every bit as much support behind Amash retaining his seat in Congress as they would in him running for president.
Because if Amash, as a reasonably popular representative in Michigan and a native son, fully supported and worked for whoever the Libertarian Presidential candidate is, I believe it is within the realm of possibility that the Libertarians could win Michigan in the Presidential election. And, the Libertarians winning one state or being even just ahead in the polls in one state might tip other states into the Libertarian balance.
Denying those electoral college votes to either the Republicans or the Democrats may mean that neither of them gains the majority needed to be elected President.
Without a president properly elected by the electoral college, the decision then goes to the House of Representatives. There is at least some possibility that since the Republicans don’t want the Democrats to have it, and the Democrats don’t want the Republicans to have it, the house might just say we can let the Libertarian have it for this turn.
Maybe not, but I bet we get closer that way than with Amash heading up the ticket. Especially since Amash at the head of the ticket is likely to fracture the party. Even if he gets the nomination, he may not get the support of the Libertarian constituency.
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